No tabs on drug industry
Solan, November 4
The manner in which a question mark has been put on the quality of drugs manufactured in the region by various agencies, including the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) of the US, has brought manufacturers as well as the drugs department under scanner. In the most recent case, the FDA has banned the entry of 30 medicines manufactured by Ranbaxy’s Poanta Sahib-based unit. The FDA has also decided not to grant any new approval to drugs manufactured here to be sold in the US.

In the light of LEDs
Shimla, November 4
The state government is distributing 72 lakh compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) free of cost to facilitate complete switchover to energy-saving domestic lighting. A non-government organisation has gone a step ahead and taken the initiative to introduce far more energy-efficient LED (light emitting diode) bulbs.

Sustainable development must in hilly areas: Experts
Hamirpur, November 4
While future strategies for carrying out development works in the hilly areas are being strongly debated, renowned architects of the country have suggested significant points for designing and constructing buildings in the hills in a two-day national workshop at NIT Hamirpur.
Document on sustained development of hill areas being released during the two-day national workshop at NIT Hamirpur. Photo by the writer

vignettes
Folkloric Chandrabhaga
I was in Lahaul in the month of June, the best time to be there. The entire Pattan valley from Tandi to Tindi was lush green with shoots of peas, potatoes and hops. It is the richest of the three other valleys in Lahaul with architecturally pleasant houses defining prosperity. The Chandrabhaga flows through the entire length of the valley.
The confluence of the Chandra and Bhaga rivers at Tandi in Lahaul and Spiti district.

shimla diary
Back with a bang
Shimla, November 4
Senior Congress leader Asha Kumari who had been lying low ever since she had to quit Virbhadra Singh’s cabinet in the wake of a land controversy three years ago is back in the reckoning.

Patience pays

Rajinder Rana/Ganesh Dut

In harmony with NATURE
The Chamera project has devised a unique way of dumping muck that not only helps in maintaining the wholesomeness of the Ravi but also has the potential to reduce the scouring of its banks
Chamba, November 4
The age-old practice of throwing debris into water bodies like nullahas and rivers is nowhere visible in Chamera hydroelectric project stage-III being executed by the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) in a remote part of Chamba district.
The site of Chamera hydroelectric project (stage III) in Chamba.

Commuting through chaos 
Palampur, November 4
The traffic problem in this important town has aggravated as the administration has failed to initiate appropriate steps to regulate the ever-increasing vehicular traffic. Despite the fact that the Holta bypass has become fully operational, the administration has been allowing the inflow of heavy vehicles via Palampur resulting in frequent traffic jams in the town, where the narrow Pathankot-Mandi national highway is a major traffic hazard.
Traffic jams like this have become a common scene in Palampur. Photo by the writer

Mid-day meal
Rope in panchayats, say teachers
Nurpur, November 4
The Kangra District Government Teachers Association has urged the Chief Minister to shift the responsibility of running mid-day meal scheme in government primary and middle schools from schoolteachers to gram panchayats.