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Unregulated tourism destroying Sangla valley
Hamirpur mechanic designs unique engine
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Primate park experiment fails
Bad weather hits fruit, vegetable crops in Bharmour
Need to find alternative market for trout fish
LS Poll Results
Cement plant oustees demand rehabilitation
Bankers told to install security gadgets
Shimla diary |
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Unregulated tourism destroying Sangla valley
Shimla, May 26 The ongoing tourism boom is taking a heavy toll of the valley known for its pristine settings. There has been a spurt in construction activities and concrete structures, which do not blend well with the traditional tribal architecture. They are fast replacing the old timber and stone houses with steeply sloping slate-covered roofs, which are a unique specimen of the hill architecture. The grotesque structures stand out like eyesores in the sylvan settings. With the government showing no urgency to regulate construction activity, the concrete monsters are mushrooming, causing not only environmental but also aesthetic degradation of the landscape. New buildings are coming up in a haphazard way, as there is no plan for the development of the tourist destination. The increasing demand for tourist accommodation has encouraged the local people to built multi-storey concrete structures. Tour operators from outside the state, who take their properties on lease, are the real beneficiaries. Ban on green felling and non-availability of timber is also one of the reasons for discarding the traditional architecture. New buildings are coming up all over the place, along the narrow roads and amidst the apple orchards. Sangla and its surrounding areas have already become congested and the foreigners no longer like to spend their time in the village. They go further up to Rakchham and Chitkul, which are relatively unspoilt by tourism boom. Some huge concrete structures are also coming up in Chitkul, which is cited as a specimen of timber-based hill architecture. With a large number of hotels coming up in the area, disposal of garbage is becoming a problem and hills are being littered with waste. Another environmental fallout of concrete structures, which are not suitable for such cold areas where mercury remains below freezing point for a good part of the year, is that a lot of energy will be required for space heating. Encircled by snow-capped mountains, the valley has over the past few years emerged as a favourite destination for nature lovers and trekkers, mostly foreigners. However, there were no hotels and private tour operators provided tented accommodation to visitors till the date. “The ecologically sensitive high altitude area should not fall victim to commercial forces and focus should be on promoting agro-based eco-tourism by involving the local community,” says Dr Taj Pratap, vice-chancellor, Chaudhary Shrawan Kumar Agriculture University, who has taken initiative in this direction by organising the Sangla Tourism Festival last summer. The scenic splendour, bucolic settings, orchards, Yak-based farming, streams and the local culture were the most valuable resources of tourism. The aesthetic degradation of the valley, congestion and destruction of the environment will ruin these natural resources. Hence, there is a need for regulating development. The main tourists destinations like Shimla, Manali and Mcleaodganj have been already destroyed due to the haphazard growth but the authorities seems to have learnt no lesson. The government seems totally unconcerned about regulating construction activities in the state. In fact, it had been coming out with one retention policy after the other to regularise unauthorised structures. The government keeps harping about eco-tourism but it is reluctant to take any regulatory measures to ensure planned development and preserve the eco-resources and environment.
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Hamirpur mechanic designs unique engine
Hamirpur, May 26 He claims, “I have designed an engine which can run on recycled fuel and does not needs refueling after its initial refilling.” While talking to The Tribune, Madan said, “This engine is based on the principle of recycling of gases like the technique used in the compressors of refrigerators, air-conditioners, etc.” He claims, “This engine will not only save the fuel but also protect our planet from global warming and pollution from the smoke emitted from diesel or petrol-run engines, which can be improved after further research.” “My main emphasis on the engine is to run it on the air through gas circulation, which would make large savings on fuel cost and by making the engine running quite cheaper,” he adds. After getting diploma in electrical and mechanical engineering, he started working in his workshop as a hobby and used to experiment on engines. He is trying to get the design patented through an agency in New Delhi after which he would make his invention public. Pinning his hopes on the state government, he is planning to meet Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal to solicit the government’s help in getting his design patented.
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Primate park experiment fails
Shimla, May 26 The experiment to set up a primate park spread over 100 hectares near Tara Devi near here has failed. Consequently, the proposal to set up more such parks has been abandoned by the forest department. With changed food habits after being fed along the highways with bread and fruits, the monkeys are not very happy with channas and vegetables in the primate parks. “The primate park experiment has practically failed and as such we will focus on their sterilisation by opening two new centres in Una and Mandi so that their number does not increase further,” said Chief Minister PK Dhumal. He added that the issue regarding the export of monkeys for bio-medical research would also be taken up with the Centre. As per figures available with the forest department, a total of 5,500 monkeys have so far been sterilised at Shimla and Hamirpur centres. The centre at Goplapur in Kangra is to be made functional soon. The number of monkeys in the last census held by the forest department stood at 3.15 lakh. The animals devastate crops mainly maize, vegetables and fruits in villages. The problem is so grave that in many places farmers have abandoned growing maize and other crops as monkeys feast on it and damage the rest when they come calling. The monkey menace has assumed such alarming proportions that all major political parties had made a mention of it in their election manifestoes at the time of the Assembly elections. While all political parties admit that it is a major problem but with religious sentiments attached to the issue it has to be carefully dealt with. Vigyan Samiti (HGVS) and the Himachal Kisan Sabha under the aegis of the Kehti Bachao Sangharsh Samiti had taken up the issue at the highest level so that farmers could get relief from monkey menace. It was on the insistence of the HGVS that permission was granted to farmers for scientific culling of monkeys in Sangrah and Haban sub-tehsil of the Rajgarh area after seeking prior permission from the forest department. However, with stiff opposition from animal rights activists and other organizations, the culling programme had to be abandoned. With religious sentiments attached to the issue of killing monkeys along with opposition from animal rights activists, the problem has been aggravating. “The government should come out with a blue print which in a time-bound manner lists the strategies to be adopted to tackle the menace,” says Kuldeep Kanwar, a member of the Bharat Gyan Vigyan Samiti. He advocates the export of monkeys for bio-medical research as the best solution to the problem as monkeys from all over India were exported to US and European countries till 1978.
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Bad weather hits fruit, vegetable crops in Bharmour
Bharmour, May 26 The meeting was informed that nearly 80 per cent of the apple crop had been destroyed. In addition, there was also a huge loss to the vegetables crops due to the untimely rain and hailstorm. Speakers at the meeting appealed to the state chief minister to direct the authorities and experts of the horticulture and agriculture departments to take stock of the situation and assess the damage caused to the fruit and vegetables crops. They also urged the chief minister to provide relief to the affected apple orchardists and other farmers of the area. Meanwhile,preliminary reports gathered from field experts of the horticulture department show that about 50 per cent of the apple crop had been destroyed by the inclement weather conditions in Chamba, Salooni, Tissa and Bharmour regions of the district. The experts revealed that in Chamba district, the targeted production of apples was expected to be 12,595 metric tonnes, including 1500 metric tonnes of Bharmour during the current year, but it is being estimated that hardly 6,000 metric tonnes could be procured. “It will be a heavy damage to the apple crop for the thrid consecutive year”, the experts observed. Last year, the targeted production was 16,000 metric tonnes, but the production went down by nearly 35 per cent due to unexpected weather conditions.
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Need to find alternative market for trout fish
Dharamsala, May 26 The need for the alternative markets has been felt as the tradition market of fish in Delhi has dried up this year. Small fish farmers of Kangra district are finding it hard to sell their produce. Many small farmers in the area have taken to trout farming over the past few years. They have invested from their own pockets to build small trout farms near the natural rivulets in the area. However, this year they are not finding any market for their produce. Rajesh Kumar, a young farmer from the area, said he took a loan of Rs 50,000 and constructed concrete fish tanks in the Loharrari area that was the only place approachable by the road in the area. He also purchased seeds from a seed farm in Barot and raised trout fish. Now, his fish had reached the general maturity size of about 1 kg. Beyond this size, the fish is not viable as its feed as well as cost increases. “Recently, I went to Delhi market but there are no buyers for trout. Generally we used to sell the fish at rates ranging from Rs 300 to Rs 400 per kg. However, now nobody is ready to buy the fish at even half the price. Now, I have reduced the feed to my fish so that it does not grow in size before I could find a buyer.” Rajesh also alleged that there was no government support to market the fish. “We have to carry the fish in iceboxes to Delhi to market their produce. This is a tedious process and sometimes leads to losses to farmers.” Trout is produced only in the Chota Bhangal and Barot area in the state where chilled water is available in rivulets. Trout is single-bone fish like sal fish. The only difference between sal and trout is that the latter is smaller in size. Presently, the trout farmers are only selling their produce in Delhi. If the government helps the farmers, they can find markets in alternative states like Punjab where the demand for the fish remains around the year. Moreover, trout is famous as an angling fish. If the ample number of trout is released in the rivulets of the Chota Bhangal area, angling sport can be promoted in the area. This can boost tourism and provide alternative source of income to the farmers and the locals in the area. However, for that the roads need to be improved. Presently, there is a single road that leads to the area. Public transport is scanty and a few options are available for boarding and lodging.
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LS Poll Results
Shimla, May 26 If the voting pattern of the recent Lok Sabha polls is an indication, the two main contenders, BJP and Congress, will be contesting future elections on an even keel. The BJP has won three seats and the Congress one, but the difference of votes polled by the two parties is only about one lakh votes (3.7 per cent). The BJP, which rarely crossed the 50 per cent mark (only once in 1998), secured almost half the votes this time. The Congress has not been far behind with a share of more than 46 per cent. More importantly, the BJP, which has been lagging in the Shimla region, has covered huge ground. It has not only scored its maiden win in the Shimla seat but also managed to secure 50 per cent vote share. In the past, the highest votes it polled was 42.58 per cent. The BJP conceded a slender lead in the Shimla district and managed to secure substantial lead from Sirmour district. The Congress could no longer claim the two districts as its pocket borough. Similarly, the Congress has also covered much ground in Kangra and Hamirpur districts, the BJP strongholds, and it will not need a herculean effort to floor the rival in its home turf. The support base of the BJP has widened over the past two decades and its vote percentage has fallen below 40 per cent only once in 1996 when it polled 39.62 per cent. Interestingly, the Congress has also managed to maintain a vote share in excess of 40 per cent since 1977 and it polled the lowest of 39.52 in 1999 when the BJP-HVC combine swept the poll in the wake of the Kargil conflict. Another feature has been that the party had also strengthened its hold in the tribal areas where the Congress had been having an edge traditionally. The diminishing regional sentiment was also being reflected in campaigning with none of the parties raising the issue of regional discrimination. In the initial years, the BJP invariably raised the bogey of discrimination against the Kangra region to exploit the regional sentiment and consolidate its vote bank in the merged areas. However, having extended its support beyond its traditional area of influence and gaining much ground in the Shimla region, the BJP cannot afford to harp on the issue of regional disparity. The Congress had on the other hand taken steps like “winter move” and holding the winter session of the Vidhan Sabha in Dharamasala to assuage the feelings of the people of Kangra and bridge the regional divide. Indeed, the gap in the support base of the two main political rivals is narrowing down making electoral contest more or less even.
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Cement plant oustees demand rehabilitation
Bagha, May 26 The villagers have been on hunger strike for the past 35 days, demanding Rs 11.25 lakh per bigha as compensation for the agricultural land and an alternative housing site for their resettlement. “The company has paid Rs 4.25 lakh per bigha for cultivable land and Rs 1.25 lakh per bigha for non-cultivable land. While a select few influential, others have been paid up to Rs 11.25 lakh per bigha, why double standards?,” they charged. They further charged that the district administration and the cement company, which is commissioning its plant here, have turned a deaf ear since 2006 when the company acquired over 1,800 bighas. In fact, the plight of Bagha cement plant oustees has turned out to be worse than that of the refugees. “We have been made refugees in our homeland that our forefather have nourished since centuries together,” rued Shayamlal, Raj Kumar, Paras Ram and Devi Ram, who have been living in the tin shacks after their land was acquired by the company. “But aided by the police, the company has pressed into service its security men turning this peaceful area into a khakhi garrison, intimidating helpless oustees,” the villagers said. “My brother, Gita Ram, was checked out from our house by the policemen recently saying it does not belong to you as it is purchased by the company,” rued Meher Chand, a resident of Chalan village. “We have no house to live in,” he complained. Septic tanks set up by the company in its colonies uphill from Bhaga, Samtiali and Sinhiala villages are overflowing with sewage, polluting the water supplies in Mangal panchayat, the villagers charged. The company has destroyed water supply to Chalan as the water source at Kadhad Dhar has been destroyed by blasting for the mining site. “The company has blocked all shortcuts and village paths and has destroyed grasslands for domestic animals,” they rued. Deep Chand, pradhan, Mangal panchayat, said they had taken up the matter with the local administration several times, but they had been told that they had got an order from higher-ups and they were helpless. The villagers face acute shortage of water as company has also destroyed Treda and Padiar nullahs, traditional drinking water sources for the villagers in Mangal panchayat. “It has dumped debris into these nullahs,” they charged. The villagers have been either living in tin shacks or rented houses, almost breathing plumes of dust raised by the company trucks and blasting in the area for the past three years. “Neither the state government nor the company have done anything to build new house for us,” rued Shakuntla Devi and Kaushlaya Devi, who were hurt by the police lathi charge recently. Rallying round the protesting oustees are other plant-hit villagers in Chakoh, Dhar Jatoli Ravi Kotla, Khasi and Siu Subehar panchayats that fall in Bilaspur district. “The company has acquired land for the road but they have not paid them enough compensation. The trucks will pollute the areas once the plant is commissioned,” they said. CPI state secretary Des Raj, who was arrested under Sections 143, 147 and 149 of the IPC when he addressed protesting villagers recently at Sala Galu, charged that the police and the local administration were watching company’s interests rather than protecting houseless oustees. Meanwhile, Amandeep Garg, DC, Solan, chaired the meeting with oustees and officials of company at Arki on Sunday and said, “We will identify the site for the rehabilitation of colony and the company will develop it. But the rate of compensation part remains unresolved, as the company has not agreed to the rate demanded by the farmers. Dispute is over 200 bighas while the other has been acquired by the company. We hope to resolve this in near future.
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Bankers told to install security gadgets
Solan, May 26 IG (law and order) SR Marhi said the bank managers had been asked to set up burglar alarms and step up their security arrangements by employing armed men instead of simply relying on unarmed security guards. He said they had also been directed to keep the phone numbers of policemen so that they could come handy in such circumstances. Defending the police laxity, he said there was the shortage of police staff due to the polls but an additional reserve had now been sent to seal all exit points. Since the area had several escape routes, it was easy to keep vigil on all of them and hence it was expected that the banks, especially those located on the bordering areas, should adopt certain precautionary measures.
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Vignettes
From 1899 to 1905, India had a flamboyant viceroy in George Nathaniel Curzon. He was boastful, grandest and the most self-confident imperial servant that Britain ever possessed. His self-written doggerel is, “My name is George Nathaniel Curzon, / I am the most superior person. / My cheeks are pink, my hair is sleek, / I dine at Blenheim twice a week”. Blenheim Palace used to be and is still a large and monumental country house situated at Woodstock in Oxfordshire, England.
He loved Naldera, today’s golf-link, a level green patch in undulating hill slope with a flow of deodars forming the backdrop. It was his camp away from “the despotism of dispatch boxes”, about 27 km from Shimla, from where he could eat and work outdoors and dish out a stream of orders, reports, diplomatic messages and reforms that flowed unceasingly from his pen. A fatherly note to his daughter in England is worth reading, “My sweet Simmy, Daddy is going to write you line while he is sitting out under the trees at Naldera. It is so hot that he has got no coat on. Little Fluffy is lying at my feet stretched out on her side pretending to be asleep. She never leaves me and has quite recovered her looks now that she is back in Simla. I am all alone now in the morning when I get up. No itty girls to come in and see me and help me to shave, Isn’t it sad? Kisses to Irene and Simmy from loving Daddy.” Such was his love for the place that his beautiful wife Mary Victoria Leiter, daughter of a Chicago millionaire Levi Zieglar Leiter, fittingly conceived her third child here in the summer of 1903. The child was born in England on March 20, 1904 and was baptised Alexandra Naldera as a tribute to the idyllic memories of the place of her conception. It is common in Himachal Pradesh to carry the name of the place of birth with the name of the person. For example, the suffixes of Baburam Mandyal, Ashok Guleria, Om Sujanpuri immediately disclose the linkages of the individuals with Mandi, Guler and Sujanpur, but associating the name of a Himachali glade with a member of the family was an exception for a bigheaded Viceroy of English birth. Lady Mary, her three daughters, two nannies, and a cow to give fresh milk for baby Alexandra left England in 1905, and came straight to health giving air of Shimla. Here Alexandra got another Indian name Baba (Hindustani baby) that stayed with her throughout. Charming Baba married Fruity Metcalfe, a serving Army officer, on July 21, 1925, despite Curzon’s objection and came to Shimla in 1926. Baba disliked Shimla and the rains. She was not keen to live like the other army wives and wanted to return to the promiscuous life of London she knew. She persuaded Fruity to leave the Army. Her several love affairs resulted in their divorce in 1955, but her commitment for Save the Children Fund, established in England in 1919, was exemplary to which she poured time, energy and much of her money and became its vice-president in 1968. This mission brought her back to Shimla in 1961 to help the Tibetan children who had fled to India with Dalai Lama’s entourage. The Fund bought Sterling Castle, where Baba had lived during her early married life in India, and was the right place to start a school for 500 children. She begged 500 uniforms and shoes for these children from Lord Seiff, the owner of Mark and Spencer, which he generously gave. Baba was awarded the Commander of the Order of British Empire (CBE) in 1975, and lived a fulfilling life till August 7, 1995, when she passed away. I used to see her quite often in the 60s when she used to take Tibetan refugee children for outings. Watching her dispensing love to the expatriates plus sharing their sad and glad moments, I had developed high respect for the graceful lady. At that time, I did not know that the elegant woman was none other than Baba Alexandra Naldera Curzon Metcalfe.
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Shimla diary The BJP regime in the state is caught in a tricky situation as having accused the UPA regime of discriminating with Himachal Pradesh, they are now pinning hopes on getting maximum assistance from the Centre without which the state cannot manage the show. As such not just Chief Minister PK Dhumal but also other BJP leaders while welcoming Anand Sharma’s induction as a full-fledged Cabinet minister have said they are confident that the minister will protect Himachal’s interest. It’s a different matter that not too long ago during the Lok Sabha polls discrimination was the major election issue raked up by the BJP. They said till date not a penny had been given as relief for the damage caused due to rains and floods and even the rice quota of 18,000 quintals had been cut drastically. The BJP made such a hue and cry that AICC chief and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi who had to clarify her party’s stand on the issue. Giving figures, she said as compared to Rs 13,000 crore spent by the NDA in five years, the UPA had given Himachal Pradesh Rs 23,000 crore during its rule. Now, it remains to be seen whether the Congress leadership, especially Sharma, will act with vengeance or will he be magnanimous in ensuring maximum possible help for his home state. Programme for war widows
The Veer Nari Sammelan orgainsed by the Army Training Command (ARTRAC) for war widows was a big draw. The widows were informed about the revised pension scales and other welfare schemes for them. On the occasion, the Army rededicated itself to look after the war widows whose gallant husbands made the supreme sacrifice while defending the country. Widows from remote villages came to attend the sammelan. They were informed about the financial benefit accruing to them on account of the revised pension as a result of the Sixth Pay Commission. Deputy commissioner Amar Singh Rathore, who is also the chairman of the District Sainik Welfare Committee, SP RM Sharma, Maj Gen ML Aggarwal and Brig Kushal Thakur were present on the occasion. The military hospital offered free medical camp as ophthalmologists, surgeons, and dental experts attended to the medical needs of the people. Patients with arthritis and bone-related problems were treated by osteopathy experts from Jaipur.
Craft exhibition
The National Tribal Craft Expo- 2009 at the Ice Skating Rink here is attracting huge crowds as tribal crafts from all over the country are at display. The craft expo, organised by the Tribal Marketing Development Federation of India, has exquisitely done handicraft items by artisans from the remotest corners of the country. Several items from Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Gujarat and Maharashtra are being appreciated by locals as well as tourists. The exhibition will be on till May 31.
— Pratibha Chauhan
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Shimla, May 26
Hamirpur, May 26
Vignettes
Sharma’s induction into Cabinet