Shimla, November 1
Himachal Pradesh has sought share in energy to be generated from ultra mega power projects (UMPPs) being established in different states of the country and urged the Centre to allocate at least 400 MW of thermal power from these projects.

Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal has written a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the issue and urged him to consider the request of the state in the meeting of the union ministry of power scheduled for November 3, 2008. The meeting will be convened for distribution of power from Akaltara UMPP in Chhatisgarh along with two other upcoming projects in Orissa and ensure that Himachal got a minimum of 400 MW power allocated. The hill state requires thermal power on regular basis to meet the shortfall during winter.

Dhumal pointed out that out of the aggregate capacity of 32,000 MW from the eight UMPPs allocated to 18 states across the country, most of the northern states had been covered and only Himachal Pradesh had been left out. The state had requested for allocation of 200 MW from Sasan project in Madhya Pradesh and Mundra project in Gujarat, 200MW from Cheyyur project in Tamil Nadu and 400 MW from Tilaiya project in Jharkhand. The state was assured that alternative additional 100 MW in the upcoming mega thermal projects of the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) but it was yet to be implemented. Dhumal urged the Prime Minister to allot adequate power to the state.

Dhumal said as winter was approaching, the state was expecting shortfall in availability of power as discharge in all the major rivers was reduced, lading to low generation. It would be in the interest of the people of the state if timely allocation of power was made to the state.

Appreciating the initiative for facilitating development of the UMPPs at coal pitheads and coastal locations, the Chief Minister said it would go a long way in narrowing down the ever-widening gap between the demand and supply of the power. Rapid industrialisation was taking place in the state and power was the major ingredient in industrial productions.

Dhumal also stated that Himachal Pradesh had an identified hydel potential of about 21,000 MW out of which only one third had been exploited so far and a target harness of 12,000 MW by 2012 had been set. He said with the increase in the demand for power supply it was becoming difficult to fulfil the power requirements of the state.

The Chief Minister has also requested the members of parliament from the state to pursue the matter at appropriate level and secure 400 MW thermal of power.

Shimla, November 1
The oral tradition has been continuing from ancient times and will keep evolving in future, too, albeit in new forms depending on the prevailing socio-cultural environment. This was stated by noted writer, poet, lyricist and cine personality Gulzar.

Sound came before words and language evolved and the oral tradition that handed down ancient wisdom from one generation to the next continued as a powerful medium even after the spread of written literature. The art of story telling is the finest example of oral tradition that had given birth to some classic works like the “Panchtantra” and “Alif Laila”. Even scholarship has been accumulated through oral transmissions as in the case of Patanjali’s grammar. Such was the magic of “orality” that some stories, which were actually written, virtually became part of the folklore over the years, Gulzar said while delivering the inaugural address at the two-week autumn school on ‘Orality as Resource’ that began at the Indian Institute of Advanced Study here today.

In a country like India, which was deeply rooted in oral culture, orality has been a rich source of literature, music and other forms of creative endeavour. It was a more dynamic and powerful medium of communication and with constant modifications and additions the folklore, acquired new dimensions down the generations.

The folk tales and songs, in particular, are treasure trove of information pertaining to the period they were evolved in.

Director of the institute Peter Ronald deSouja said over the centuries the line dividing oral and written traditions had been blurred. The Vedic system of meticulous recitation of Sanskrit “shlokas” gave a feeling of written word whereas a written literature created in the “stream of consciousness” mode acquired a veneer of orality. The oral tradition has taken modernised forms through the technology revolution for which one might look into the popular use of “sms” and “chat” sites for example.

Convener of the School Satish C. Aikant spoke about the richness and diversity of the subject and showed how Indian forms of orality had distinctive features. The objective of first school on the theme was to create a forum of academics and activists who would systematically explore the subject.

Shimla, November 1
The new principal chief conservator of forests, Vinay Tandon, plans to use “public awareness” as a tool to ensure accountability of the field officers, besides focusing on increasing community participation in the implementation of various forestry programmes.

“Raising the level of awareness among people about the programme and policies of the government was the key to make the field functionaries accountable. They should be well-informed and imparted enough knowledge on all aspects of forestry so that they were in a position to ask questions of the field staff,” Tandon told The Tribune after assuming charge.

Forestry and environment are closely related to day-to-day life of the people and it was imperative that they had a decisive say in policies and programmes of the department.

His endeavour will be to vitalise the village forest societies, the panchayati raj institutions and other community-based organisations to ensure greater public participation in the implementation of programmes and projects, he said while explaining his approach.

Focused publicity campaigns will be launched to create awareness among the people and at the same time their views regarding programmes will also be ascertained so that necessary changes could be effected to suit their requirements.

Having successfully completed the “jan jan sanjeevani” programme under which over 15 lakh medicinal plants were distributed to the people, the department would now pay attention to the marketing aspect. The programme had indeed underlined the need for raising medicinal plants and made people interested in herbiculture. The next step was to take care of the marketing of the produce.

A strategy had to be formulated and systems put in place to ensure that those who cultivated medicinal plant did not face any problems in disposing of their produce. The farmers would grow medicinal plants only if they found it a remunerative proposition and so the department would look for tie up with bulk buyers on priority, he said.

Dalhousie, November 1
“Stern action would be taken against those caught using LPG for plying vehicles and simultaneously their vehicles would be impounded for which the licensing and registering authority would be entirely accountable,” said food civil supplies and consumer affairs minister Ramesh Dhawala at Chowari after conducting forays at fair price shops and kerosene oil sale centres in the Bhattiyat area of Chamba district last evening.

The minister said the state government was contemplating to rescind the registration of those gas agencies, which were not supplying the cooking gas regularly to the consumers in the state.

The minister said since there was complete ban on the fuel wood, the demand for cooking gas had increased manifold and directed the authorities concerned to see the things for themselves and ensure that the supply of cooking gas was being made regularly.

He said to curb black marketing ‘special flying squads’ had been constituted and the stringent action was being taken against the guilty.

The minister said raids were being conducted in the ration depots so that the supply of cheap ration to the poor families could not be affected in the state.

A new gas agency would be opened in Chowari for the convenience of people of Bhattiyat subdivision; the minister assured this to a deputation of the residents of this area, who submitted a memorandum to him stating that there was at present no gas agency in the Bhattiyat area. The residents alleged erratic supply of the LPG by an outside gas agency.

Palampur, November 1
The Palampur Taxation Bar Association in its meeting held here today again appealed the finance minister for immediate restoration of office of the commissioner Of Income Tax (Appeals), Palampur, which was arbitrarily closed in May 2006.

The office was dealing with the income tax appeals matters of eight districts of the state: Kangra, Mandi, Kullu, Una, Hamirpur, Bilaspur, Chamba and Lahaul-Spiti. The post of the commissioner from Palampur was shifted to Amritsar and this office was attached with the commissioner of income tax (Appeals), Solan.

In a resolution passed the association apprised the finance minister that there was adequate workload and office of the commissioner of income tax (Appeals) was justified here. It was also resolved that there were over 300 appeals pending before the commissioner of income tax, Solan, pertaining to this region (northern Himachal) of the state.

The association said the tax-payers had failed to get justice at the end of the Income Tax Department because of non-fixation of appeals cases as the commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals), Solan, had a heavy workload. Besides, because of difficult topography it was not possible for any officer to visit Palampur, Mandi, Dharmsala, Kullu, Chamba and Hamirpur time and again.

Briefing mediapersons R.C. Sood, president of the association, regretted that despite repeated requests the Income Tax Department had initiated no action causing great hardship to the tax-payers. He said Solan is at a distance of 370 km from Palampur; therefore it was not possible for the tax-payers or their counsels to go to Solan.

He said the request of the association to attach this region with the commissioner of income tax (Appeals), Jalandhar or Ludhiana, was also turned down by the department. Sood said this region of the state had highest number of tax-payers with maximum revenue receipts, but the tax-payers were getting raw deal at the hands of the department. He urged the finance minister to personally review the matter.

Nahan, November 1
The efforts to bring all courts at the district headquarters under one roof would materialise tomorrow with the inauguration of the newly constructed judicial complex at Nahan by Chief Justice, Himachal Pradesh High Court, Shri Jagdish Bhalla.

There was about one km distance between the session’s court and lower courts that was causing great difficulty to the litigants and the lawyers. With the construction of the new judicial complex that will house all the four courts of Nahan district headquarters, the long pending demand of the residents stand fulfilled.

According to V.K. Gupta, District and Sessions Judge, Sirmour, the complex has been completed within a period of two years with the cost of Rs 4.8 crore. The complex has six spacious court rooms for presiding officers, a bar room, separate libraries for judges and lawyers, conference hall, canteen, judicial lockups, parking and rooms for the staff, litigants and petition writers with all amenities and modern facilities.

Mandi, November 1
With over 700 hip and knee replacement and bone infection surgeries having performed successfully, the orthopaedic patients who otherwise used go outside the state either to the PGI, Chandigarh, or AIIMS, New Delhi, now get these surgeries done at the Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC), Shimla. Talking to mediaperons on the sidelines of the two-day long HIM Orthocon-2008, associate professor at the IGMC Manoj Thakur said, “We have performed over 700 surgeries, including hip and knee replacement surgeries on patients over a period of time at the IGMC.”

He said patients used to go outside the state for all specialised surgeries, which used to cost them dearly. But now, they are coming to the IGMC for these surgeries, he added.

Though the IGMC might not have the best available equipments that are available in country’s top medical institutes, the orthopaedic surgeons are no way behind in expertise needed in the field, the doctor added. Dr Manoj said the patients suffering from various bone infections and spinal injuries are getting successful surgical treatment at the IGMC. “We get patients from all over the state,” he added.

Meanwhile, PWD minister Gulab Singh Thakur inaugurated the conference here today.

Shimla, November 1
‘Chamba rumal’, known around the globe for its unique embroidery, has been registered under the Geographical Indications (GIs) of Goods Act.

‘Chamba rumal’ is a pictorial craft that represents unique embroidery that originated and flourished in Chamba district of the state during 17th and 18th centuries.

Its outlines are made with fine charcoal and brush by painters well-versed in Pahari painting. The embroidery done using the technique of double satin stitches known as “do rukha tanka” making the designs on both sides look identical in content.

The application for registration was filed through the patent information centre of the state council of science and technology on January 22, 2007, and the registration will come into effect from the date.

Member secretary of the council Nagin Nanda said registration of geographic indication has conferred legal protection to the producers of Chamba rumal and it would not only boost the export but also prevent unauthorised production and use of brand name of Chamba Rumal by any unauthorised producer outside the geographical regions of Chamba.

It was a community patent in which instead of an individual, the entire community of artisans, producers and other stakeholders of a geographical indication are benefited.

Nanda also said under the GI Act unauthorised use and infringement of the registered geographical indication by producers other than those from the region of origin of the products could attract a maximum of three years of imprisonment and a fine of a maximum of Rs 2 lakh.

Principal secretary (environment, science and technology) Sarojini Ganju Thakur stated that it was the third product of the state to be registered under the act. Kullu shawl and Kangra tea have already been registered.

She also said Himachal 
Pradesh was the first state to formulate a policy for the registration of geographical indications and set up a patent information centre as a nodal agency for the purpose.

Solan, October 1
With the Solan police still groping in the dark about the whereabouts of under-trial Ajmer Singh, who had escaped from the local regional hospital here yesterday, the laxity has become a major embarrassment for the police.

The fact that Singh had been arrested after much toil by the Narcotics Bureau and was handed over to the Solan police, his escape has put a question mark over the slip-shod handling of the case. Singh is a known opium smuggler. Though two separate police parties were sent to his various whereabouts, including his house at Baltana and Patiala, little information has been achieved.

Police officials said the neighbours of Singh at his Baltana house, however, said no one was residing in the house from the past one year. Help had been sought from the Patiala police to trace him. The police was also trying to trace the whereabouts of his daughter Priya whose associates Nitin and Ritesh had come to visit Singh a day before his escape.

Hailing from Baltana near Zirakpur in Punjab, Ajmer Singh is allegedly an informer of the Punjab police and his brother Hemraj is employed as an ASI at Patiala. He not only gave tip-off to the police about several opium smugglers but also share the profits with the cops. Sources said he owned several properties, including a palatial house at Shiwalik Enclave, Baltana, while another one was under construction at Sanaur near Patiala. While the police was yet to arrive at any conclusion about his modus operandi, his escape had definitely exposed the chinks in the security.

Police officials said Ajmer Singh escaped after a paramedical came to take his blood sample in the morning. Since only one policeman was present there at that time, Singh managed to give him a slip. Four policemen had been deployed to keep an eye on Singh. They were divided into two batches where each batch kept watch on Singh in shifts. While one batch had finished duty at night, the other was suppose to take over shortly when Singh escaped.

Bilasur, November 1
Acharya Mahinder Sharma of Baroha has been elected president of the Himachal Pradesh State Yoga Association while Yogacharya Raman of Jabbloo was elected general secretary of the association.

K.C Sharma from Hamirpur was elected vice-president; Geeta Thakur from Kullu finance secretary; Pawan Sharma from Solan, Prince Mohan from Kangra and Vrinder from Una were elected joint secretaries.

Vikas Khajuria was elected technical advisor, D.R Sharma from Hamirpur legal advisor and Ajay Rangra from Mandi spokesperson of the association.

Surinder, Geeta Ram, Jatiner Sharda from Solan, K.L Dabhra, A.K Saini of Bilaspur, Rajinder from Mandi, Ajay Sharma from Shimla, Chain Singh from Chamba, Jasbir Singh from Sirmaur, Tenazin Dolma from Lahaull Spiti and Deepika from Kinnaur were elected members of the state executive committee. ayanender Bhardwaj presided over the election meeting.

Hamirpur, November 1
A two-day national conference on sustainable development for the hill areas being organised by the Architecture Department at the NIT, Hamirpur, concluded here today.

Renowned architect Sanjay Kumar was the chief guest in the concluding ceremony of this conference. In his address Sanjay Kumar talked about various aspects of green buildings. He said the green buildings do not mean that it had to have many green trees inside it, but these buildings should allow and protect more air and sun rays inside the building.

He said trees in planned and systemic order should also be planted in these buildings and energy conservation had to be ensured.

Earlier during the day, architect K. Jaisism in his paper said how architecture is linked with the life of a common man and architect has to fulfil his social responsibility. He said his responsibilities have increased in the wake of threats of global warming and other environmental problems.

Chief architect of the PWD Department Vijay Uppal in his lecture talked about several problems related to construction in high altitudes of the tribal areas in places like Kaza and Lahaul-Spiti district. He also explained new techniques of construction using cement blocks and other materials.

Uppal also laid stress on allowing sunlight inside the building in snow bound areas and gave important information on Solarium and building blocks.

The conference ended with presentation of a cultural programme by students of the NIT.