Vignettes
Roxy-Plaza-Rivoli
Shimla school back-benchers were taunted by the teachers, “Your three R’s are not reading, writing and ‘rithmetic, but Regal, Rivoli and Ritz - the cinema halls.” Shahi was added to this list in the 50s’ and Regal was shut after a fire engulfed it. The story of Rivoli (Ranzor Hall) is interesting.

Photo by S. Chandan

Suhi Fair
Quenching thirst for generations
A three-day long legendary Suhi fair in Chamba gets off to a colourful start tomorrow. The fair is held in the memory of of Rani Sunayana, who sacrificed her life to bring water to Chamba town. The fair will conclude on April 12.

Lack of staff, facilities leave patients sour
Though District Hospital Hamirpur is the main government run hospital providing health facilities to people of this region but lack of staff and resources here has left the patients’ sour many times when they have to go to other places for the treatment.

No one cares for Kala Amb Lake
The natural lake at Mein Thapal village, which is spread in a radius of nearly two km is becoming a new destination for tourists and home for thousands of birds, that have been camping here for the past three years. But in the absence of any care by the authorities, the place may be destroyed during the rainy season. The place requires protection against landslides and silting, says an engineer engaged in a private firm in the area.

Projects must have peoples’ approval, pleads samiti
The State Himalyan Neeti Abhiyan Samiti (Himalayan Policy Campaign Committee) has criticised the policy of the state government regarding the setting up of big hydel projects, cement plants and special economic zones (SEZs) without taking the local population into confidence and also without ensuring that these projects did not destroy the environment.

Kalka-Shimla Highway
Chaos rules here
With the Haryana government failing to find any solution to the chronic traffic problem on the Kalka-Shimla highway, travelling has become a driver’s dilemma. Though the tourist season is still to begin, huge traffic jams right from Kalka uptil Pinjore have become a problem. Peeved at Himachal being given a Central industrial package in 2003, the successive Haryana governments had failed to find any solution to this traffic problem.

Shimla diary
Tibetans draw sympathisers
The weeklong campaign of the Shimla Tibetan Solidarity Committee to draw the attention of the global community towards the attitude of the Chinese Government towards Tibetans in Tibet has been a great success. Over 25,000 persons participated in the signature campaign to express their solidarity with the Tibetan people.

Tibetans protest in Shimla.

CM reaching out to people
Chief Minister P. K. Dhumal, who completed 100 days in office yesterday has been virtually on the move all this while, travelling 8,119 km by road to reach out to the people in the remote corners of the state.

CITIZEN FIRST
Illegal trade practice
The prices have gone to an all time high, so have the road and travel charges. They have been increased by 25 paise per km due to the hike in the prices of petrol and the spare parts of vehicles.