Shimla, August 5
Heavy rain triggered landslides at various places in the state today. A number of trees were uprooted and traffic disrupted at a number of places.

Dharamsala received 127.4 mm rainfall, the highest in the state. It was followed by Sundernagar (37.7 mm), Bhunter (23.8 mm), Manali (20.1 mm), Mandi (15.4 mm), Una (12.4 mm), Shimla (9.2 mm) and Nahan (4 mm).

According to the Met office, the minimum and the maximum temperature at Shimla was 16.5°C and 22.7°C, respectively. The maximum temperature at Sundernagar was 20.9°C, while the minimum was 28.6°C.

The night temperature at Dharamsala was 17.3°C, while the day temperature was 24.8°C. The minimum temperature at Bhuntar was 20.4°C. Kalpa recorded a minimum temperature of 12.2°C while the maximum reading was 22°C. The minimum temperature at Nahan was 21.5°C, Solan 19.5°C, Manali 16°C and Una 19.7°C. The day temperature at Una was 29°C.

The Met office has forecast heavy rainfall at isolated places in state over the next 24 hours. — UNI

Shimla, August 5
China today stressed the need for greater relaxation in granting visa to its citizens and allowing more of its commodities to flow into India for promoting bilateral trade between the two countries.

Economic and commercial counsellor from the Chinese Embassy in India Peng Gang said there was no restriction on the Chinese side that followed an open door policy. “As compared to 5 lakh Indians who visited China, there were barely 50,000 Chinese who were allowed into India, be it for commercial ventures or for travel,” he said.

He was here to attend a seminar on “Growth of Himachal Pradesh with experience from China and economic cooperation” organised by the India-China Trade Centre, Delhi. “India needs to liberalise its policies and norms so that there can be easy market access, enabling free trade between the two nations that can gain a lot through mutual cooperation in various sectors,” he said.

“Ever since border trade has been resumed through the Nathula Pass after the signing of an agreement between the two countries, more than 50 commodities from India are being allowed into China while only about 15 items from there are being imported here,” he said. He said to reduce this imbalance in trade from the Indian side, more imports from China should be allowed into India.

He said there were still many areas where there was a great potential for cooperation, including road and bridge construction, tourism, steel, power generation, agriculture, rural development and fishing. “The Longjian Road and Bridge Limited Company is already engaged in two major road construction projects in Himachal Pradesh and the Chinese Embassy and other concerned agencies are keen to facilitate more such projects so that that India can benefit from the technology, experience and knowledge developed by China,” he said.

V.K. Mishra, chairman of the Indo-China Trade Centre (ICTC), said efforts were on to facilitate business efforts between Indian and Chinese entrepreneurs. “In order to resume border trade along the silk route through Shipkila, the Customs Department and other agencies are having a fresh look at the free-trade items so that more practical items are sent,” he said.

Even the ICTC was making efforts so that the list of free-trade items could be revised, he said. The chairman of the Longjian Road and Bridge Company said the company had decided to send sophisticated equipment and machinery worth $7 million to Himachal. He said the company was hopeful of getting work on two major projects in Himachal in the near future.

Shimla, August 5
Health minister Rajeev Bindal today asked China to allow the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage from the Himachal side as this would not only help in tourism promotion but also offer the shortest route for the pilgrimage.

He was speaking at a seminar organised by the India-China Trade Centre here. “This pilgrimage has a great religious significance for the Hindus and I urge the Chinese authorities to allow it from Himachal side,” he requested. This would also give a fillip to tourism in Himachal.

He said a Chinese company was already engaged in road construction in the state and more Chinese companies, both private and public, were welcome. “One area where China can surely show us the way is in making Himachal a herbal state,” he said.

Bindal said the government here would welcome proposals for production of raw as well as processed herbs as China was a world leader in that sector. He said Himachal was keen for tie up with Chinese companies in the field of hydropower generation, infrastructure development, agriculture, horticulture and tourism.

He said the two countries had age-old trade relations through the silk route and there was need to revive and strengthen it.

Shimla, August 5
The three-member committee constituted by the government to forward names for the selection of the new director-general of police (DGP) is likely to hold its meeting tomorrow.

The committee is headed by chief secretary Asha Swaroop. It has principal secretary (home) P.C. Kapoor and secretary (personnel) Daljit Dogra as its other members. It is likely that the committee forwards its recommendations to the government tomorrow itself.

In the seniority list of IPS officers, G.S. Gill’s name appears at the top. The race for the top police post is mainly between Gill, a 1974-batch officer, D.S. Manhas, ADGP, CID, and Sohan Singh, acting DGP.

While Gill, currently on deputation with the BSF, is due to retire in June, 2010, Manhas has four years of service left.

Though there are five other officers, including B.S. Thind, it is up to the government whether it goes by the seniority list or takes other considerations also into account.

Shimla, August 5
The recently notified Home Stay Scheme would go a long way in generating additional employment opportunities and income for those living in rural areas, Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal said here today.

He said any private household located in rural areas, especially those having a farmhouse, tea garden or an orchard, would qualify for registration under the scheme.

The scheme was notified by the government on July 15, 2008. Having one or more rooms with basic facilities like toilet was a must. A department committee before registering such stay units would ensure location, facilities, surrounding environment, hygiene, security, architectural design and safety aspects.

Shimla, August 5
The confederation of state fruit and vegetables growers associations has urged the government to immediately start production of apple cartons at the Gummah factory to save growers from being fleeced by private suppliers. It has condemned the indifferent attitude of the government towards the problem being faced by apple growers in marketing their produce and threatened to launch a stir if it fails to take remedial steps.

The confederation which met under the chairmanship of Ravinder Chauhan here today, pointed out that the decision of the government to close down the carton factory have had immediate implications for the growers who were made to pay about Rs 20 more for cartons and separating trays compared to the last year. It asserted that the situation could be saved if production of cartons was resumed in the factory even now.

The confederation expressed resentment over the failure of the government to clear the arrears of growers for the fruit procured under the market intervention scheme last year. The small growers in particular were finding it hard to purchase packing material for marketing their produce.

To cap it all there was an acute shortage of trucks and the freight charges had also been hiked steeply. Plucking of fruit was in full swing but there were not enough trucks to supply the produce to market.

It also charged the government with making false statements that growers would not be charged illegal commission at the Delhi market. There was no improvement and illegal commission was being extracted from growers. It also ridiculed the move to set up a market at Kundli and maintained that the government would not have any control on it, more so because it had not been able to regulate the markets within the state.

Announcements regarding insurance cover and anti-hail guns also seemed hollow as no groundwork had been done for implementing such schemes. It maintained that the increase of 50 paise pre kg in the support price for apple was too meagre in view of the steep increase in the cost of packaging material and freight charge.

Nurpur, August 5
The free vocational training in computers, imparted by the State Social Welfare Department to the children from below the poverty line in Kangra district, has failed to benefit trainees in lower Kangra district comprising Nurpur and Jawali subdivisions.

The Welfare Department had selected more than 300 trainees in the district under its social welfare scheme. It imparts free vocational training with stipend of Rs 1,000 per month at the district headquarters, Dharamsala, through the Department of Electronics Accredited Computer Courses (DOEACC).

The department assists trainees to get jobs after the vocational courses.

Intriguingly, the poor trainees’ from distant places in Nurpur and Jawali subdivisions either have to travel 60 to 90 km daily or stay at Dharamsala to join these computer courses.

Women are facing a lot of inconvenience. As a sequel, the free vocational training has failed to benefit them.

There is a demand to set up such training centre at Nurpur so that beneficiaries can get training at the nearest place in lower Kangra district.

Ved Parkash, the centre in charge, DOEACC, Shimla, said the Social Welfare Department had a tie-up with the DOEACC, a wing of the union ministry for information technology, to run computer courses. He said a request from the DOEACC affiliated computer centre was received for imparting computer education to trainees selected by the Welfare Department in lower Kangra district.

“The request has been forwarded to the higher authorities,” he added.

Shimla, August 5
More than 200 activists of the Tibetan Youth Congress and the Tibetan Women Association today took out a protest march in the town holding the Tibetan Freedom Torch.

The activists assembled at Shere-Punjab and took out a protest march through Lower Bazaar holding the torch, which started from Greece on March 10.

The activist, along with the local Tibetan population, sought the intervention of the international community in ensuring freedom and justice to the Tibetan in Tibet. They accused China of unleashing religious repression against people in their own country.

They said the current leg of the torch would end at Ladakh.

Hamirpur, August 5
With the wake of terrorist attacks in the country, security at all religious places is high on the list of priorities of the state governments. But here eyebrows are raised, when there is a delay in providing funds for installing metal detectors at the Baba Balak Nath temple, Deothsidh, by the temple trust.

The police had been raising the issue of installing six metal detectors on the premises of the temple for quite some time, but the temple trust did not provide Rs 60,000 for the purpose despite repeated reminders. The temple trust has huge funds at its disposal and has prepared an extensive plan to provide facilities on the premises of the temple, besides running several charitable programmes.

Hamirpur SP Asif Jalal said, “Installing metal detectors is very important to provide security cover in the temple area, as thousands of people come daily to pay obeisance. We have sent several reminders to the temple trust.”

Chairman of the temple trust SDM Badsar Sukh Dev Rana said, “We have taken up this matter at the meeting of the trust and soon metal detectors would be provided at the temple.”

Dharamsala, April 5
Agriculture scientists from across the country have expressed concern over dwindling funds for research in agricultural universities. They were of the view that grant reduction by the state governments and the Centre were bound to affect the research efforts in the field of agriculture.

The scientists were speaking at the inauguration of the 51st annual workshop of under the all-India coordinated maize improvement project at CSK Agriculture University.

Dr P.L.Gautam, deputy director general of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, called upon the scientists to forge public-private partnership in research. Usefulness of maize was increasing in the industry and growing it in different agro-climatic zones could increase the productivity.

Dr R.B. Singh, former deputy director-general, FAO, and former member of the Farmers’ Commission, was the chief guest at the programme. He said all recommendations of the commission had been accepted by the Union Government. The national policy for farmers was also based on these recommendations. Maize crop could play an important role in the food security of the country, he added.

Dr Tej Partap, vice-chancellor of the university, said it was imperative to strike a balance between traditional and modern technology.

Dr S.N. Shukla, assistant director-general of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, said Rs 25 crore were made available under the 10th Five-Year Plan for maize and collaboration with many international institutes was forged for research.

Dr Sain Dass, project director (maize), said average maize production of Himachal Pradesh was higher than the national average. Area and production under the crop was increasing gradually in the country. Sixteen new maize verities were released in the last year, he added.

Dr S.C. Sharma, director of research at the university, said maize was the third most important cereal crop in India after rice and wheat. Seven publications on maize were also released on the occasion.

Kumarhatti, August 5
The dhabhawalas and other small-time vendors, along the Kalka-Shimla National Highway, fear unemployment due to the four-laning of the highway. With the fear of displacement looming large, these self-employed youths have no other options, but to look for other avenues.

Many dhabhas, tea, meat and vegetable shops have come up along the highway near this town. Heavy influx of traffic on the highway lured the local youth to set up their businesses along the highway.

For some local youths, the highway was the only means of employment. The guarantee of good business along the highway had prompted many other youths to try their luck. Now, these youths are a worried lot.

The government should first take steps to settle us, said a dhabawala near here. We were not against four-laning, but the government should take note of our displacement. It should chalk out some plans to rehabilitate the displaced, he rued.

The four-laning would only bring disaster, lamented a tea staler. 

Solan, August 5
The scheme of the state government for providing a monthly stipend to the children of HIV/AIDS patients has hit a major roadblock, as the state government has failed to allocate any budget to it this year.

The scheme, which began in September 2007, could not give any stipends to the hapless children this year due to lack of funds.

According to the AIDS Control Society, 250 children were provided an aid of Rs 3 lakh last year. But with no budget till now, thousands of applications were lying pending in all districts. According to this scheme, children from 0 to 15 years of age are provided with a monthly stipend ranging from Rs 300 to Rs 700 so as to facilitate their school education. As many as 28 children, including 14 boys and 14 girls, came forward to avail the benefit of this scheme this year. But with no budgetary allocation, the society was forced to disappoint the applicants in Solan district alone.

As many as five children in the age group of 0 to 3 years had applied for a stipend of Rs 300, another 11 children in the age group of 4 to 6 years had sent their applications for a stipend of Rs 400.

The society had also received applications from seven children in the age group of 7 to 9 years for availing a stipend of Rs 500, two children in the age group of 10 to 12 years had applied for availing a stipend of Rs 600 per month and three others aged between 13 and 15 years had sent forth their applications for availing a stipend of Rs 700 per month. Officials of the district AIDS control society said they were made to cut a sorry figure as the applicants were making repeated inquiries. The district was allocated a budget of Rs 1.4 lakh last year and at least six children, whose applications could be processed in time, were extended this facility, said district programme officer for AIDS N.K.Gupta. Director health Sulakshna Puri said since it was a new scheme, the budgetary requirements for this year failed to be projected in the annual budget.

Besides, there was some delay in the sending of utilisation certificates from all districts, which further led to some delay. The case was sent to the Finance Department and it would be ensured that the case was pursued for the availability of funds. 

Hamirpur, August 5
A glittering ceremony marked the end of a week-long national integration camp organised by the Nehru Yuva Kendra here today.

Youths from 10 states participated in the camp that began on July 30. The theme of the camp was “Youth action for harmony, peace, cultural exchange and society development”.

Cultural groups from the different states presented a show on the occasion. While girls from Puducherry presented Bhartnatyam and Mahishasurmardani dance, the youths from Haryana, Himachal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and other states presented their traditional cultural items.

Hamirpur DC Nandita Gupta was the chief guest at the concluding function. She said the youth should think globally but act locally and play a positive role in society. 

Dharamsala, August 5
The news item “Women alleges hijacking of husband’s name”, published in these columns recently, was based on a complaint filed by Shanti Devi of Kaloa village to the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau.

Shanti Devi had alleged that her brother-in-law Balbir Singh had hijacked the name of her husband. However, later she realised that there was a “clerical or typing error” in the complaint and got the name of the accused changed to Babu Ram. The Vigilance Bureau has initiated an inquiry into the complaint and recorded statements of the accused. A case has already been registered on the complaint of Shanti Devi against Babu Ram.

Since the story was carried on the basis of the initial complaint filed by Shanti Devi, the name of the accused was carried as Balbir Singh in The Tribune story. The error is regretted.