The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Himachal Pradesh Edition

Govt justifies terminating services of PTA teachers
Our Correspondent

Palampur, October 14
The government has justified its action in terminating the services of PTA teachers.

A spokesman of the Education Department said in a press note here today that numerous irregularities were found in the appointments made by parent-teacher associations. This prompted the government to review all appoints made under the scheme. He said the government was not prejudice against PTA teachers and the action had been initiated as per law as a number of appointments were made ignoring qualification and merit. Favouritism had played an important role in those appointments, he added.

The press note said candidates were appointed without inviting applications and advertising the posts. In many cases, the applicants did not even appear for the interviews but were given appointment letters.

The government has said merit was ignored in cases of Sunil Kumar (DEP, GSSS-Sidhpur), Kashmir Singh (lecturer at GSSS-Sidhpur), Sheel Kumar (TGT at GMS-Rakhota), Anita Kumari (PET at GSSS-Masheran), Ramesh Kumar (lecturer at GSSS-Chandesh), Mangu Devi (DM at GMS-Tikkar), Asha Devi (lecturer at GSSS-Dhulara), Swaroop Kumar (TGT at GHS-Garnota), Bandhana Chambiyal (TGT at GMS-Jangla), Madhu Bala (lecturer at GSS-Tunai), Priti (lecturer at GSS-Sahala) and Rajesh Kumar (TGT at GHS-Awahan).

From Rohru, the government had received 134 complaints and names of 63 candidates were recommended for discontinuation of service. He said merit was ignored in cases of Vikram Singh (TGT at GSSS-Jangla), Sudhir Kumar (DM at GMS-Sasan), Ashish Kumar (DM at GMS-Sainj), Ashok Kumar (lecturer at GSSS-Dalgaon), Digvijay Singh (PET at GSSS-Bartu) and Santosh Kumari (TGT at GMS-Bhalara).

He said Jeevan Nand (PET at GSSS-Risa), Ajit Singh (DM at GMS-Bharuri), Bhupinder Singh (PET at GMS-Sudli), Milap Chand (PET at GMS-Banni), Archana Devi (TGT at GMS-Kathel), Gulvinder Singh (lecturer at GSS-Thulel) and Sikander (OT at GMS-Kathel) were appointed directly by the PTA pradhan without holding interviews.

Race for top post begins
Rakesh Lohumi
Tribune News Service

Shimla, October 14
With principal chief conservator of forests Pankaj Khullar due for superannuation by the end of the month, two 1975-batch Indian Forest Service officers are in race for the top post.

The next seniormost officer Vinay Tandon, presently posted as principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife), is considered to be a natural successor to Khullar. However, his batch-mate A.K.Gupta, additional principal chief conservator forests (projects), has filed a petition in the central administrative tribunal (CAT) claiming seniority over him. He has challenged the seniority of Tandon on the plea that he underwent training a year later than him. He has cited the orders of the Jabalpur bench of CAT in support of his plea.

The Governmetn of India has so far not amended the seniority rules and since the candidates were given the option to undergo training a year later, the claim of Tandon could not be overlooked. More over, he was already in the rank of PCCF, the exit of Khullar will only mean shifting him from the wildlife to the territorial wing. Moreover, it will take some time for the tribunal to decide the matter. Problem could arise only if the tribunal restrains the government from appointing a regular PCCF before October 31, the day when Khullar retires. Even in that eventuality, Tandon being the only PCCF in the department will have to be given the charge of head of the department.

After the implementation of the Sixth Pay Commission report it would not be easy for the government to ignore seniority in appointment of heads of police and forest departments. The commission has given an apex scale of Rs 80,000 (fixed) on par with the chief secretary for the seniormost officers of the IPS and IFS holding the top post in the respective departments. Other officers in the rank of director general of police and principal chief conservator of forests will be placed a step lower in the Rs 75,000 -80,000 scales. As such a junior officer even if given the top post will not be entitled to the apex scale. In short ignoring seniority will lead to pay anomalies.

Tandon is not only senior but also younger than Gupta who has two more years of service. He will retire in March, 2012 and as such in the normal course he would have a tenure of for three-and-a-half years at the top.

Karan Singh joins Congress
Our Correspondent

Kullu, October 14
Karan Singh, former BSP nominee from the Banjar Assembly constituency, joined the Congress in the presence of Himachal Pradesh Congress party chief Kaul Singh Thakur at Asha Club Sarwari here today. Karan Singh had also remained a minister in the BJP government earlier.

Addressing mediapersons, Kaul Singh said booth-level party workers were consulted before welcoming leaders of other parties in the party fold. He said all these leaders were joining the Congress without any condition. He referred to the recent joining of Narender Thakur. Many other leaders from various parties would join the party soon, he added.

He said the popularity graph of the BJP had declined very rapidly and its workers and leaders were frustrated with the working style of the Dhumal government.

He lashed out at the BJP government for allegedly spoiling the dignity and standard of Kullu Dussehra. He said there was a large-scale fleecing of traders for allotments of plots for the festival. Many traders, who had come to Kullu from far-off towns for getting place to put up stalls, had to return dejected due to exorbitant prices of plots, he alleged.

Order reserved on Ahluwalia’s bail application
Tribune News Service

Shimla, October 14
In an interesting turn of events counsel of arrested IAS officer Subhash Ahluwalia today disputed records of the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau with regard to the income and details of the bank accounts of the officer and his wife.

The Special Judge (Forests) J.L. Gupta today extended the police remand of Subhash Ahluwalia principal private secretary of the former chief minister by another day even as the order on his bail application has been kept reserved till tomorrow.

Counsel raised certain doubts over the manner in which the income and deposits of Ahluwalia had been worked out. Citing specific cases he pointed out that the same money which was transferred from his wife Meera Ahluwalia, a college lecturer’s account into her husband’s account had been added twice. He added that besides this also there were certain miscalculations.

The Vigilance Bureau is learnt to have decided to present the details it had prepared on the basis of information gathered from various sources before the court tomorrow. Its accountants would also be present in the court to explain complete details with regard to the deposits in the bank accounts of the Ahluwalia couple.

The bureau had pointed out that more than Rs 1.34 crore deposits had been made in 16 accounts held by Ahluwalia, his wife and their two children, living in the US. The bureau also made assessment of the properties owned by the family in Shimla, Panchkula and Gurgaon and an orchard near Rampur.

Ahluwalia had been arrested from Panchkula on October 8 and has since been on police remand. However, since his arrest he has remained in the Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) as he complained of discomfort in the chest and high sugar levels. He also suffers from high blood pressure and was under treatment at Fortis Hospital in Mohali before his arrest.

Rs 1,200 cr for drinking water: Ravi
Our Correspondent

Nahan, October 14
Irrigation and public health minister Ravinder Ravi has said that the government has prepared a comprehensive plan to provide drinking water in every village in the state. Addressing a press conference here today, he said a sum of around Rs 1,200 crore would be spent on the programme. Out of the total amount, Rs 54 crore would be spent in Sirmaur district, he added.

He said 2,000 hand pumps would be installed in the areas where potable water was not available. He said budgetary provisions would be made for the augmentation of the century-old Nehar Sawar flow drinking water scheme and sewerage scheme for Nahan.

Ravi also laid the foundation stones of four lift-irrigation and drinking water schemes in Fatehpur, Kiratpur-Bhagwanpur, Kishanpura and LIS Badripur in the Paonta-Doon constituency to be constructed at a cost of Rs 7 crore. The minister was accompanied by MLA Sukh Ram Chaudhary.

Retention policies rewarding law violators
Rakesh Lohumi
Tribune News Service

Shimla, October 14
The government policy to regularise unauthorised constructions has encouraged influential landlords to build high-rise structures going well beyond their bona fide requirement in violation of the building laws. The high court has taken a serious notice of the inability of the government to enforce law and asked it to file a status report regarding the action being taken in the matter.

A survey conducted by the Town and Country Planning Department while formulating development plan for the city revealed that landlords generally carried out construction well beyond their bona fide requirement. The law allows regularisation of 10 per cent deviation from the approved plan. However, with the state government coming out with various retention policies allowing regularisation of up to 50 per cent deviation from the approved plan, these landlords don’t mind undertaking construction up to eight to 20 times of their genuine requirement.

Consequently, the permissible floor area ratio of (FAR) 150 per cent goes up to 400 per cent. The setback in front was reduced to 1.5 m from 3m, leaving hardly any space between two adjacent structures. People have to live in poorly ventilated houses where sunlight could not reach. In the long run, this is bound to have an adverse effect on the health of those occupying these buildings. Moreover, 30 to 40 per cent of the built-up area in such buildings generally remains unoccupied.

Unauthorised structures are galore all over the state as the provisions of the Act have been observed more in breach. Out of the total over 13,000 illegal structures detected officially, only 81 have been demolished and another 85 sealed. In another 2,567 cases, water supply and electricity connections have been snapped.

Senior officers maintain that haphazard development will continue in urban areas unless the government comes out with a comprehensive policy to effectively curb illegal construction. While demolition has to be carried out in cases of extreme violation, where the structures affect pubic services and the community, the government will also have to look for measures beyond demolition to uphold the rule of law. Making provision for vesting in the government the excess area built in violation of the law could prove to be a deterrent.

Further, in case of violation of building laws involving employees and other public servants, including elected representatives, action should also be taken under the conduct rules.

At present, the Town and Country Planning Department is virtually a helpless spectator such violations of law. Its role is limited to issuing notices and passing demolition orders, which are seldom carried out. The department has to seek assistance of the district administration for carrying out demolitions as it generally leads to law and order problem.

While the procedure is cumbersome and involves several agencies, district magistrates and superintendents of police, who have the final say in the matter, mostly go by the wishes of the political bosses.

The vesting of the excess area built illegally, instead of regularising it, will not lead to any economic loss and place a large accommodation at the government’s disposal that can be used for employees’ housing and other purposes.

Panel to move contempt petition
Tribune News Service

Shimla, October 14
Taking up the cause of protesting PTA teachers, the Global Human Rights Council (R and C) will file a contempt petition in the Supreme Court against the chief secretary and the SP for allegedly violating guidelines while arresting teachers.

Addressing a press conference here today, chairperson of the council Arvind Thakur said the brutal manner in which the police had handled teachers was unfortunate. “We will file a contempt petition for violation of the Supreme Court guidelines in handling teachers on October 21,” he said.

He said petitions regarding the shabby treatment being meted out to PTA teachers had already been moved before the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). “Since there is no such forum where the aggrieved PTA teachers can get justice, we decided to take up their case before the NHRC. The case will come up for hearing on November 2,” he said.

There was no need to use police force against the PTA teachers as they were fasting there peacefully. “What is even more shocking is the fact that no women police personnel was on duty when women teachers were arrested. That was a clear violation of the laid-down norms,” he said.

In the petition moved before the NHRC, the council has sought suspension of the police officials who took action against PTA teachers besides demanding release of the arrested teachers.

They have also demanded that the injured teachers be given compensation.

Meanwhile, PTA teachers staged a candlelight march from the telegraph office to Sher-e-Punjab here today. President of the PTA Teachers Association Vivek Mehta said they would resume their fast at some other venue near Sanjauli. “We will continue our protest against the injustice being meted out to us,” he said.

FIR against Thakur, supporters
Tribune News Service

Shimla, October 14
Sitting BJP legislator Virender Kanwar has got registered a police case in connection with a scuffle between his supporters and supports of former minister Ram Lal Thakur at Rampur where elections of the State Volleyball Association were held yesterday.

Addressing a press conference here today, Kanwar, accompanied by BJP MLAs Satpal Satti and B.K. Chauhan and former minister Parveen Sharma, accused Thakur and his supporters of indulging in ‘goondaism’ to gain control over the volleyball association.

District police chief R.M. Sharma said an FIR was registered against six persons on the complaint of Kanwar under Sections 147, 341, 323 and 506 of the IPC late last night.

Kanwar said how Thakur could float a parallel body when elections to the body had been already held. “In fact, only my name was proposed after which I was elected president unanimously. Interestingly, Thakur and local Congress MLA Nand Lal had congratulated me on that occasion,” he said.

Later on, Thakur got himself declared president of a parallel body, he alleged. He said an effort was made to prevent his entry into the election venue although he had the majority support. This resulted in a minor scuffle there, he added.

He lashed out at Thakur and his supporters for politicising sports and trying to gain control over sports associations using muscle power.

Rural women sports meet
Sirmaur team lifts overall trophy
Tribune News Service

Overall champions Sirmaur team posing with the deputy commissioner; and (below) kabaddi final being played between Shimla and Bilaspur on the final day of the State Women’s Rural Sports Festival at Hamirpur on Tuesday. Tribune photos: Dharam Prakash Gupta

Hamirpur, October 14
The team from Sirmaur district won the overall trophy at the 25th state rural women’s annual sports meet that concluded here today. Teams from all 12 districts of the state participated in the meet.

Hamirpur DC Abhishek Jain was the chief guest at the concluding ceremony of the three-days meet in which around 600 players participated in athletics, table tennis, badminton, basketball, kabaddi and volleyball events.

Jain said games inculcated the spirit of competition among player. He said there was a time when it was difficult to adopt sports as a career in India. However, there were now numerous opportunities in the field of sports.

He gave away prizes to the winners.

Joint director (sports) Suman Rawat Mehta said the Sports Department was making efforts to provide the best possible facilities to the players and they should spend all their energy in excelling in their fields.

Results: In 100-m race: Pushpa (Hamirpur) 1, Reena (Mandi) 2 and Rishu (Hamirpur) 3; 200-m race: Jyoti (Hamiprur) 1, Sonika (Hamirpur) 2 and Reena Thakur (Mandi) 3; 400-m race: Jyoti 1, Sonika 2 and Nisha (Bilaspur) 3; 800-m race: Poonam (Sirmaur) 1, Rumma (Kangra) 2 and Nivedita (Shimla) 3; 1,500-m race: Rumma 1, Manju (Kangra) 2 and Poonam (Sirmaur) 3; 3,000-m race: Manju 1, Poonam 2 and Ruma 3; table tennis: Mandi 1 and Solan 2; badminton: Sirmaur 1 and Mandi 2; basketball: Sirmaur and Kangra 2; volleyball: Sirmaur 1 and Shimla 2; kabaddi: Shimla 1 and Bilaspur 2.

Rs 120 cr for Tanda medical college
Our Correspondent

Palampur, October 14
The Union Government has released Rs 120 crore as first instalment for the expansion and development of Dr RP Government Medical College, Tanda, in Kangra district. These funds were released under the Pardhan Mantri Swasthya Yojna (PMSY), a recently launched scheme, by the ministry of health.

Official sources said here today that in the history of past 40 years the state government had received such a huge amount in the field of health for the first time. It may be recalled that with the efforts of Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal, the Government of India had taken over the Tanda Medical College for its development and expansion on the pattern of the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences. Now, the Union Government would make all funding for this project.

It was also learnt that this amount would be spent on the infrastructure development of the institution. The state government would acquire more land for this project besides, new equipment would also be purchased. It had also been planned to set up more new departments like urology, gastro, cardiology etc. The state government had already directed the principal-secretary health to come out with a detailed plan so that necessary steps could be taken up to utilise the funds. The government would also consult the top brass of the AIIMS and other health institutions of the country in this regard.

Official sources said at present the college had over 72 acres of land, which would be utilised to its full capacity. The state government had already opened a new division of state PWD in the college complex to gear up the construction activities.

Dhumal, who visited the TMC last week, had ordered the filling of all vacant posts of teaching and non-teaching staff. He had also directed the state PWD to connect this institution with a double-lane highway in the next one year.

It was also expected that next instalment of Rs 140 crore would be released in March 2009 by the Union Government.

Postal Week
Deposits on rise in post offices
Tribune News Service

Shimla, October 14
The high interest rate on bank deposits and the drive to open a bank account for every household under the total financial inclusion plan has not weaned away people from post offices in the hill state.

The total deposits under the small savings in post offices and the number of accounts is constantly increasing, making evident the trust of people on the financial services being provided by the Department of Posts all these years. In Shimla, in the postal division alone the number of accounts increased from 2,37,332 as on July 2007 to 2,48,986 on July 2008. The total deposits amount to Rs 468.18 crore.

Senior superintendent of post office Nirmal Singh during a customer meet organised here today in connection with the postal week said the people in the state, particularly in the rural areas, had been relying on post offices and they have not be lured by high interest rates being offered by the banks.

He said while the number of personal letters had come down due to increasing use of mobile phones, e-mail and other modern means of communication, the overall quantum of mail handled by the department was increasing due to billing mail and business letters.

The courier services run by the department, Speed Post, was also very popular as it ensures speedy delivery of articles. The small state had as many as five national speed post centres and 17 state speed posts centre.

Proposal on national highway
Our Correspondent

Chamba, October 14
The Union Government is planning to declare the Banikhet-Doda highway as the national highway. It would link Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh with Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir.

This was stated by MP Chander Kumar while addressing mediapersons here today. A proposal to that effect had been put up to the Central Government for clearance. The proposal also envisaged boosting tourism prospects in these picturesque regions. The step was likely to generate employment opportunities for the local people, the MP said.

Absence of blood banks hits patient care
Ambika Sharma

Solan, October 14
With little focus on developing blood banks in key hospitals, the Health Department is finding itself handicapped in dealing with major medical emergencies. Though as per the guidelines of the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), a first referral unit (FRU) is supposed to have a blood bank, the lone FRU at Nalagarh has yet to develop one.

A blood bank was opened in the Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh (BBN) industrial area, but it could not continue for long as the government failed to provide the requisite staff for it. Now the district has only one blood bank at Solan regional hospital.

Although the NRHM had provided funds for setting up such facilities, the Health Department failed to provide even the bare minimum facilities at its hospitals.

Being the home district of health minister Rajiv Bindal such lack of medical facilities raised a question over the working of health authorities. Bindal agreed that paucity of specialist doctors had reduced FRUs to mere announcements. He said incentives for specialists had now been enhanced from Rs 60,000 to Rs 75,000 and some specialists had been made available while more were expected to join soon. He said the government endeavoured to equip regional and civil hospitals first. The facilities would be then extended to other hospitals.

Pangi to be linked by tunnel: CM
Our Correspondent

Chamba, October 14
Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal today flagged off a Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) bus from Killar, sub-divisional headquarters of Pangi valley to Chamba via the newly constructed highest road from Killar to Chamba crossing over the Saach Pass situated at an altitude of 4413 metres linking the isolated but picturesque Pangi tribal valley with its district headquarters at Chamba today.

The road was constructed with an estimated cost of Rs 9 crore.

Dhumal said the Pangi valley would be linked to the rest of the district and the state with a tunnel.

On this occasion, the chief minister also laid the foundation stone of the college building to be constructed with an outlay of Rs 6.74 crore and the building of industrial training institute with a notional cost of Rs 5.62 crore.

Tribal area sub-plan for Bharmour
Our Correspondent

Chamba, October 14
The government is spending Rs 30.19 crore for the all-round development of Pangi tribal subdivision of Chamba district under the tribal area sub-plan during the current fiscal year.

This was stated by Vidhan Sabha Speaker Tulsi Ram while presiding over a meeting of the tribal project advisory committee at Killar yesterday. Later, he inaugurated a bridge constructed at a cost of Rs 1.72 crore under the Sechu panchayat.

The Speaker also inaugurated a Rs 40-lakh police checkpoint building and dedicated a Rs 16-lakh primary health centre to the people.

Mohalla festivities at Kullu
Our Correspondent

Kullu, October 14
The second-last day of Kullu Dussehra is called “Mohalla”. All participating deities register their presence at the camp temple of chief deity of Kullu, Lord Rama, and support the killing of Ravana on the last day of the festival. This year, 212 deities reached Dhalpur to participate in the seven-day festivities.

Idols of Rama, Sita and Hanuman, brought from Ayodhaya by the then ruler of Kullu, Raja Jagat Singh, in the 17th century were worshipped over the past five days at the camp temple at Dhalpur Maidan. The progenitor of Raja Jagat Singh, Maheshwar Singh, takes blessings from Shakti by performing Durga Pooja at the camp temple on the sixth day of the festival. Mohalla festivities are the final preparations towards conquering Ravana.

Tripura Sundari, one of the “Kul Devis” of the erstwhile rulers of Kullu, performed the final ceremonies and blessed Lord Rama to defeat the evil. Goddess Kali was also worshipped. Seven animals will be sacrificed to please her on the seventh day of the festival. Singing of love songs, community dancing and eloping of couples also marks Mohalla night.

Class X student raped
Our Correspondent

Kangra, October 14
A class X student of Soohi village, near Garli, was allegedly raped by a youth of a nearby village when she was on way to her school yesterday, the police said here today.

Kangra DSP O.P. Jamwal confirming the crime said an FIR was lodged last evening by the 18-year-old victim alleging that she was taken to an isolated place, near a local nallah, by a youth identified as Vikram Singh of Moohi village, when she was on way to her school yesterday.

The DSP said the victim in her FIR alleged that she was forcibly confined there till afternoon, but later she managed to give a slip to the alleged rapist and reached her home.

Her family members lodged the report and a case under Section 376 of the IPC was registered. The accused, Vikram Singh, was arrested.

He said the girl was sent for the medical examination, which confirmed rape.

Dairy farmers seek govt help
Our Correspondent

Bilaspur, October 14
Kaam Dhenu, a voluntary social organisation devoted to the cause of milk production here in the district, has urged the state government to properly assess its contribution towards society, farmers and consumers and help it solve its various problems to enable it to be much more beneficial to target groups here.

Addressing mediapersons, Kaam Dhenu president Nanak Chand Thakur and general-secretary Jeet Ram Kondal said they had started their “no profit no loss” organisation virtually from a scrap seven years back when they marketed only 37 kg of milk from three farmer families in a market here.

They went on with the mission of serving milk producers by providing reasonable price for the milk. They also provided this milk to the consumers at their doorsteps. Now they are fully satisfied that their efforts have borne fruit and they have one of the best run commercial milk organisations which has 585 families as its milk supplying members and above Rs 16.37 lakh monthly sale at an average milk supply of 2,800 litre per day.

They said they are purchasing milk from farmers at the highest price of Rs 12 to Rs 18 according to its quality and fat content and provide it to the consumers at Rs 21 per litre. Their milk collection network is spread in 17 gram panchayats of Bilaspur and Solan districts around the Namhole area.

However, now these farmers have started looking up and are also taking up much more lucrative farming activities like installing of polyhouses and growing of herbs and flowers in their fields.

They said they were not still satisfied that they have to spend at least one third of the consumer price of milk on its collection, preservation, polybag filling and distribution. They said this price could still be reduced if the state government comes to their help as it had done in case of government controlled Milkfed, which was provided financial help of Rs 2 per litre of milk supplied by it, which makes it Rs 2 crore per year.

They pleaded that they require help for proper defreezing machinery and distribution and transportation apart from land and building to do justice to their expanding activities in this field.

They said Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal has now agreed to preside over their annual function on October 21 in Namhole and they would now have an opportunity to apprise him regarding the role and contribution of the organisation and its practical difficulties in serving the people in this field.

Aromatic candles developed
Dharam Prakash Gupta
Tribune News Service

Hamirpur, October 14
A few scientists associated with a voluntary organisation have evolved unique aromatic candles in the country for the first time for domestic users which would not only emit soothing fragrances, but would also be efficacious for treating several diseases and providing planetary effects.

A voluntary organisation Yumudha, with its years of research, has now been able to develop aromatic candles in India and has now taken an initiative to popularise candle manufacturing among rural women as cottage industry to supplement their income.

The architect of this project, Vishnu Dev Mishra, who is an agricultural scientist, stuck the idea of evolving aromatic candles while working on a Science and Technology Project for Government of India in Jammu and Kashmir to popularise the aromatic plants during 2001.

After concerted research of seven years, Mishra developed aromatic candles and is now holding workshops for rural women to adopt manufacturing of aromatic candles as a cottage industry through his NGO with the support of NABARD.

Telling about his research in this field Mishra told The Tribune, “During our project we identified 35 aromatic species for value addition which can be used for making aromatic candles.”

“After popularising aromatic candles among rural women in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir now we have started an NGO in Himachal Pradesh and have organised seven training programmes for women, besides providing help in establishing the cottage industry”, he said. Mishra said, “Aromas used in candles are being used on the basis of properties of aromatic plants as described in ayurvedic and modern science which are beneficial for patients.”

Its manufacturers said, “Pleasant fragrance of aromatic plants has always been appreciated by people around the world and aromatic candles are very popular in countries like South Africa, Germany and Austria”.