Hamirpur, January 24
Concerned over the slow pace of detection and deletion of ‘fake’ ration cards, the state government has decided to act tough to hasten this process. The additional chief secretary has issued directions to the district food civil supplies and consumer affairs officers (DFCSCO) of all districts to collect information about these cards by February 5.

The state government has also asked these officers to fix the responsibility of the inspectors concerned involved in the process. As there are reports of the existence of a large number of ‘fake’ ration cards, the state government and the central government have been trying to identify these cards since they are bearing huge subsidies for supplying subsidised ration through the Public Distribution System (PDS).

The exercise, undertaken by the Food and Civil Supplies, till now has not borne positive results and a minuscule number of ‘fake’ ration cards have been identified. According to an estimate, thousands of people are drawing subsidised ration not only on ‘fake’ general ration cards, but also on Below Poverty Line ( BPL) cards.

The state government at its own is paying an annual subsidy of more than Rs 100 crore per annum for supplying cheap pulses and edible oil through PDS shops besides the Central government’s subsidy on grains.

This problem came to the notice of the state government when number of ration cards exceeded much more than the actual population in many villages.

The DFCSCO, Hamirpur, AS Rana, has confirmed such direction from the state government and said they would take up this work fast and from March onwards all ration cards would be verified every month in a phased manner.

Shimla, January 24
The state has urged Punjab to initiate work on acquisition of land in 14 villages of Ropar to pave way for the construction of Bhanupalli-Bilaspur-Beri rail, a must for providing impetus for development in the hill state.

Chief secretary Asha Swaroop today held a meeting with her counterparts from Punjab- Ramesh Inder Singh, Haryana- Dharam Vir and adviser to Chandigarh Pradeep Mehra at Chandigarh today. The meeting was also attended by the chief engineer (construction), Northern Railways, the principal secretary PWD, Haryana, and the chief engineers, PWD, Punjab and Haryana.

She requested the Punjab chief secretary to initiate work of land acquisition in Ropar so that work on the Bhanupalli rail line could be taken up. “Besides, providing the necessary impetus for development in Himachal, the rail line will also benefit Punjab, Haryana and Himachal,” she said.

It was decided at the meeting that a notification under Section 4 of Land Acquisition Act, 1894, would be issued by February 20 so as to expedite the process of land acquisition.

The Punjab chief secretary directed the DC, Ropar, to make joint inspections with the railway authorities to acquire land in 14 villages.

Swaroop requested her Haryana counterpart to take up construction work of the Mandhala-Kalka road, as it would help energise economic activities along the border areas of both the states. She added that Himachal was keen to set up an educational hub at Mandhala. She also took up the construction of Basolana-Nayagram road with her Punjab colleagues, as it would provide the shortest possible route to the Baddi industrial township.

Solan, January 24
Stressing the need to promote the cultivation of aromatic and medicinal plants the state government has drawn a comprehensive strategy to market their produce by involving various departments.

The government will also facilitate the growers by opening a sale centre at Parwanoo sabzi mandi, where these aromatic and medicinal plants can be sold. This was disclosed by the Health and Ayurveda Minister Dr Rajiv Bindal while addressing participants on the occasion of one-day interactive workshop on medicinal and aromatic plants at Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, today.

Bindal while informing the gathering comprising of growers, traders, investors, scientists and representatives of renowned ayurvedic national and multinational companies said an information centre providing complete information about these plants would also be set up at Nauni which would facilitate interaction among the growers, scientists and the industry.

He advocated the need for holding a quarterly interaction among them so as to address the crucial issues and said such interactions should also be held in other parts of the state.

He emphasised the need for exporting them and said it was the first occasion in the history of the state that forest land had been made available to the user groups for cultivating herbs and shrubs.

He asked the industry to use tissue culture technique for mass production of herbs and shrubs so that farmers could get seeds of high quality from the market.

Vice-chancellor of Dr YS Parmar University Dr KR Dhiman while welcoming the chief guest briefed the gathering about various research projects on this subject.

Dharamsala, January 24
Chief Minister PK Dhumal raised the issue of establishment of Trans Himalayan Development Authority with Shyam Saran, former Foreign Secretary and envoy of the Prime Minister.

The envoy visited Dharamsala yesterday evening and held elaborate discussions with the Chief Minister on the issue of environment.

Dhumal was of the view that residents of hill states should be compensated for maintaining green cover over the Himalayas. In Himachal also there is ban on felling of green trees. The people now cannot even fell trees for construction of their houses. The people should be compensated for maintaining the lungs of the country in form of green cover over Himalayas. In case the Trans Himalayan Development Authority is formed special funds could be diverted for improving life of the residents of the hill states.

Shyam Saran ensured to convey the view of the CM to the Prime Minister. However, in a press conference held today morning the PM’s envoy said such issues have to be debated at a national-level and quick decision could be taken in the matter.

The CM also raised the demand for including Himachal in the National River Action Plan. He said the state possesses forest wealth valued at over Rs 1.5 lakh crore.

Shyam Saran apprised the CM about the concern of the Prime Minister to safeguard the Himalayas. He emphasised the need for coordinated approach between the Union and State Governments in the Himalayan states to meet the challenge successfully. He said specific guidelines and decisions taken by the government of hill states were of immense importance to formulate a comprehensive and ambitious National Mission for sustenance of Himalayan eco-system.

Shyam Saran also stated that about 60 crore people of the country depend on three major rivers arising from Himalayas, including Indus, Ganga and Brahmaputra. So, it is high time that ecology of hill states is saved to prevent adverse impact on people living in the plains.

Saran lauded the environmental friendly measures taken by the Himachal government like distributing CFLs among the state residents to save power, banning felling of trees and use of plastic. He also met the Tibetan spiritual head the Dalai Lama today.

Shimla, January 24
With the presence of wild elephants at the Simbalwara Wildlife Sanctuary, near Poanta Sahib, becoming a regular feature, the wildlife authorities are now hoping to create a congenial habitat, which can attract tigers, whose pug marks have confirmed the presence of animals in the area.

With the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest keen on developing a tiger reserve in the Rajaji National Park, Simbalwara sanctuary and the Kalesar area falling in the three states of Uttarakhand, Himachal and Haryana, respectively, the wildlife authorities in the state are already working on creating a habitat, which will attract tigers.

It is only two days ago that the staff at the Simbalwara Wildlife Sanctuary spotted two full-grown male tuskers roaming in the forests. The presence of elephants in the Simbalwara area over the last one-year has become frequent as they come here from the Rajaji park of the Kalesar area of Haryana.

“Though we have not spotted a tiger in the Simbalwara sanctuary, the presence of pug marks clearly indicates that the animal strays into the area from Uttarakhand side and has seasonal presence here,” said KS Thakur, conservator, wildlife. He said efforts were on to create habitats and shelters in the sanctuary area so that the density of herbivorous animals increased and tigers made it their home.

He confirmed that the National Tiger Conservation Authority was keen to have a tiger reserve in the contiguous area falling in Uttarakhand, Himachal and Haryana.

“A joint task force of the authority has confirmed that the density of herbivores has increased considerably which would be favourable for attracting tigers,” said Thakur. He specified that the strength of deer species had gone up considerably in the recent past.

He said the dense growth of shrubs, herbs and trees was being ensured along with the creation of several water ponds and water harvesting structures so that tigers, elephants and other animals make Simbalwara their permanent home.

The wildlife authorities have planted lot of shrubs and trees like bamboo in Simbalwara which is liked by elephants. No other part of the state has the presence of animals. “It is probably the phenomena of climatic change and global warming which has led to shift in the habitat and behaviour change of animals like elephants, which we will like to capitalise by providing ideal habitats to various animals,” added Thakur.

Mandi, January 24
Former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, state president Kaul Singh Thakur and former Telecom Minister Sukh Ram are emerging as “three winnable contestants” from the Mandi Lok Sabha seat for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

Though the State Election Committee will meet in Shimla on January 31 to recommend the panel of the Lok Sabha candidates for all four seats in the state to the Central Election Committee, veteran Congress leader Virbhadra Singh, Kaul Singh Thakur and even Sukh Ram are staking their claims to contest the Mandi Lok Sabha seat this time.

Virbhadra Singh when contacted for his comment as to whether or not he would contest Lok Sabha elections from Mandi, said, “If high command desires him to contest he will not hesitate to contest but he has not expressed his willingness to contest as such to anyone and I stand by my earlier stand.” I will not apply for the ticket as well,” he asserted.

On the other indication to this was given to reporters here yesterday by Kaul Singh himself, who was here for paying obeisance to SC Bose, whose birth anniversary was celebrated here in the Gandhi Bhawan. Kaul Singh named Virbhadra Singh, Sukh Ram and himself as candidates for the Lok Sabha seat from Mandi.

However, Kaul Singh Thakur went on to assert that the Congress enjoyed advantage over the BJP, as it would field candidates who would win the election.

Kaul Singh said the party would field a candidate from Hamirpur this time and not from Una and Bilaspur, as tried unsuccessfully earlier. Narinder Thakur and Sukhwinder Sukhu could be the candidates from Hamirpur.

Sitting MP Dhani Ram Shandil could contest from Shimla and Chander Kumar from Kangra as the party would give preference to the sitting MPs as they have the potential to win.

However, Mandi MP Pratibha Singh had cited personal reasons for not contesting this time, he explained.

Shimla, January 24
Faced with the threat of opposition from fellow colleagues for being given the Lok Sabha ticket from Shimla, BJP candidate Virender Kashyap today said he was confident that all party workers would ultimately work unitedly to ensure his victory.

Addressing a press conference here today, he said everyone had the right to apply for the ticket but once the high command announced its decision, all party men must honour it to ensure the victory of the official party candidate. “Both of us made a commitment to each other that whosoever gets the party ticket, we will work for each other and I am confident that he will honour his word,” said Kashyap while referring to murmurs of dissent being aired by state BJP secretary H.N. Kashyap on his candidature.

While stating that it was unlikely that the BJP high command would reconsider its decision on his candidature, he, however, added that he would humbly accept their verdict even if it amounted to changing his nomination. “I have always abided by the party dictate and even in such eventuality I will work as a dedicated party soldier,” he said with all humility.

Commenting on the tag of defeats in his kitty, he said he truly believed in the moral of the story “King Bruce and the Spider.” “I firmly believe in the philosophy of “try try again” and this time the workers too have made up their mind to ensure my victory so that I get the reward for my struggle and hard work of three decades,” he said.

Accusing the sitting MP from Shimla, Dhani Ram Shandil of misusing his local area development fund, Kashyap said he had given money only to those close to him. “He unnecessarily wasted MP funds by giving money where the government had already made budgetary provision? he said.

He said despite representing Shimla seat in Parliament during the last two terms, Shandil had never raised local issues. “In case I emerge victorious with people’s support, I assure that I will raise matters concerning the people of Shimla Lok Sabha seat effectively,” he stated.

Mandi, January 24
A leopard allegedly killed 16 sheep kept under a shed owned by Jagannath of Chunani village on the intervening night of January 22 and January 23.

According to Jagannath, he had closed the shed but when he went there yesterday morning, he was shocked to see that the leopard had attacked them, leaving 14 of them dead on the spot. He said two were found missing. Pardhan of the panchayat said the leopard had been attacking domestic animals and it was a matter of concern for children also. He said the leopard should be caught and send to a zoo.

Nahan, January 24
Aimed at fostering a spirit of nationalism among students Kala Amb-based Himalayan Group of Professional Institutes is organising a marathon on the occasion of the Republic Day at Nahan.

Emulating the theme-national integration run for the nation-the event aims to inculcate a sense of safety and honour among citizens and carry forward the message that welfare of the country was foremost.

Rajnish Bansal, the institute chairman, while dwelling on the idea behind this event said all students and faculty members of their institute would carry forward the message of working for the unity and integration of the country.

He said the marathon would be flagged off by Education Minister I.D.Dhiman from the Chowgan Ground at Nahan.

Since it was after a gap of 10 years that such an event was taking place at Nahan an overwhelming response was being received from the students of various schools, colleges, faculty members as well as young and old alike.

Coordinator of the event Dr Vikas Arora said it would help boost the spirit of national integration and brotherhood among the citizens and would help disseminate the message that Indians were one and nobody could challenge them.