Shimla, September 6
The arbitrary manner in which changes have been done in the state cadre of the Indian Forest Service (IFS) has raised eyebrows and caused strong resentment among officers.

The last cadre review was carried out only in 2007 and by effecting major changes, that too without the approval of the Centre, the state government has made mockery of the cadre management system.

The state IFS officers’ association held an emergency meeting here yesterday to discuss the issue. Disapproving of the changes made in the cadre, members of the association even suggested handling over the responsibility of cadre management to the personnel department.

The association decided to take up the matter with Chief Minister PK Dhumal and called for a review of the decision. It has also decided to prepare a memorandum for the purpose in which other issues concerning forest officers will also be included.

In the last cadre review, held every five years, the total strength of the cadre was increased from 102 to 107. Besides, two principal chief conservators of forest (PCCF), one for territorial and other for wildlife posts, four additional principal chief conservators of forest (APCCF), eight chief conservators of forest and 17 conservators of forest were approved.

The strength of divisional forest officers (DFOs) went up from 31 to 32.

However, according to the latest decision, the post of PCCF (wildlife) has been held in abeyance and a new post of PCCF (working plan) has been created. While two posts, APCCF (projects) and APCCF (participatory forest management) have been scrapped, the post of APCCF (administration and finance) has been bifurcated into two. The post of chief conservator of forest, (finance) has been scrapped and that of conservator of forest (finance) created. A post of APCCF (management) has also been created.

The association is also not pleased with the action of the government in appointing non-cadre officers against cadre posts and has cited the example of DFOs of Kinnaur, Karsog and Rajgarh in this regard. The association will also take up the matter for appointment of IFS officers at senior positions in the Secretariat as had been done in many other states across the country.

Dharamsala, September 6
Just two days ahead of the medical council of India (MCI) inspection of Tanda medical college, the state government has promoted over 12 doctors. According to sources, the motive behind the move is to camouflage the shortage of staff in the college.

Highly placed sources told The Tribune that orders for promotion were issued only yesterday which stated that the promotions were a stop-gap arrangement.

The doctors who have been promoted in view of the MCI inspection include Dr Yashpal Sharma, who has been promoted from associate professor in the department of radiology to professor, Dr Dinesh Sood, in the same department, from assistant professor to associate professor, Dr Rupali Parlewar, from assistant professor physiology to associate professor, Dr Parveen Kumar from assistant professor pharmacology to associate professor, Dr Pawan Soni from registrar in the radiology department to assistant professor, Dr Saurabh from registrar pathology to assistant professor, Dr Som Raj from registrar, general surgery, to assistant professor, Dr JB Singh, from registrar, medicine to assistant professor in the same department, Dr Monika Rathore, from registrar, physiology, to assistant professor, Dr Gagan Mahajan, registrar, in paediatrics department to assistant professor, Dr Amit Gupta, medical officer, Kangra, to assistant professor in the department of gynaecology and Dr Ajay Sood, medical officer from Palampur to assistant professor in the department of gynaecology.

The recently affected promotions have, however, resulted in disillusionment among various medical officers who were aspiring to join the medical college as assistant professors. While talking to The Tribune on condition of anonymity, a doctor alleged that the health department had been dithering over holding the departmental promotion committee (DPC) meetings for promoting medical officers to the rank of assistant professors.

Authorities were not holding DPC meeting as they could resort to pick-and-chose policy while appointing assistant professors, he alleged. The delay in appointment of assistant professors would further cause vacuum at the higher echelons as associate professors and professors have to be promoted from the lower ranks, he added.

The sources available here said instructions had been passed by college authorities, asking the staff to refrain from any interaction with the media.

Recently, the authorities had appointed a few doctors in the medical college through the Rogi Kaylan Samitis which had also caused resentment.

Principal of the medical college was not available for comments despite repeated attempts to contact him on phone.

Shimla, September 6
The Himachal Pradesh Educational Institutions (Prohibition of Ragging) Act, enforced in the wake of the tragic Aman Kachru ragging murder case, has put in place stern measures required to deal with the menace.

The Act provides deterrent punitive action against perpetrators of inhuman practice of ragging and also makes management of educational institutions accountable for it. Measures had been initiated earlier also to check ragging but the action taken in such cases was more or less institution-based and lacked uniformity. Many institutions had been taking steps to check ragging earlier also and the initiative of Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishwavidyalaya in this regard was the most commendable. The unique approach adopted by the university not only helped in preventing ragging on the campus, but also established a bond between freshers and old students.

While dealing with a particular case of ragging, the university not only took action against the offenders, but also pulled up all those who witnessed the incident and failed to report it.

The Raghvan Committee has made similar recommendations and asserted that “those who do not report even when being witnesses or victims, should also be punished suitably.”

It all started in November, 2008, when a case of ragging was brought to the notice of the Vice-Chancellor, who immediately ordered an inquiry into the incident by a three-member committee. The probe confirmed ragging and two first-year students of Masters Programme, found guilty, were expelled for the academic year 2008-09 and fined Rs 25,000. Beisdes, three students of BSc (Ist year), the victims of the act, were fined Rs 5,000 each with conduct probation of one year for not reporting the incident to the authorities and changing their statements. Four others were fined Rs 3,500 each for suppressing information and not reporting the incident to the authorities despite being members of the Anti-Ragging Committee.

Now, that a law is in place, other institutions could emulate the university and effectively check ragging. It makes ragging a cognisable and non-bailable offence punishable with imprisonment up to three years and a fine up to Rs 50,000. Students found guilty of ragging will be expelled for a period of three years and would be ineligible for admission to any other institution. Head of the institutions have been made fully accountable and could be sentenced to imprisonment up to two years and a fine of up to Rs 25,000, if found guilty.

Shimla, September 6
Over 300 students from 41 schools participated in “Manthan”, an inter-school competition on “Population and Environment”, which was organised by the Rotary Shimla Midtown, here today.

Former District Governor Dhian Chand, in his inaugural address, called upon students to realise the importance of environment protection and to create awareness in and around their schools and communities. “The present generation must handover natural heritage inherited by it in the same condition as received,” he said.

Global warming is the biggest challenge of the recent times which, if not fought effectively, can spell disaster for future generations, he added. The competition included declamation contest, slogan writing competition and painting competition. Impact of population on environment was discussed in detail by all participants.

District Governor (Elect) Madhukar Malhotra presided over the function.

MP Virender Kashyap was the chief guest on the occasion. He called for effective steps to check migration of people from rural to urban areas and advocated selective approach to industrialisation to ensure that industries did not come up at the cost of environment.

Kamalpreet Kaur, Government Senior Secondary School, Totum, won the declamation contest in Hindi and Navneet Thakur , St Bede’s, Shimla, in English.

Military School, Chail, topped in slogan painting and also won the overall trophy.

Shimla, September 6
Having failed to resolve the issue of illegal charging of commission from fruit growers of the state at the Azadpur mandi, New Delhi, the Himachal government has moved the Delhi High Court for the enforcement of the law enacted in this regard.

This was stated here today by Horticulture Minister Narinder Bragta. He said the Agriculture Produce Marketing Act was enacted by the Delhi government when Sahib Singh was the Chief Minister at the instance of the Himachal government. However, by the time it could be implemented, the Congress came to power in both the states.

The matter was not pursued any further and as a result the Act had not been implemented so far and the growers were being charged illegal commission by the “arhtias”. According to the Act, the commission was to be charged from the purchaser but it was being illegally charged from the growers.

He had taken up the matter again with Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit more than once over the past 18 months in vain. There was no option for the state but to move the court in the matter. He said the government would withdraw the case if the matter could be resolved through out-of-court setllement.

He said the government had also succeeded in getting the crop insurance scheme introduced for apple and mango on a pilot basis. Under the scheme, 50 per cent of the premium would be paid by the government and rest by the grower.

The state-owned HPMC was facing problems in disposing of its apple juice concentrate as China had dumped huge quantities of juice concentrate which was being sold at Rs 50 per kg as against the cost of production of indigenous product of Rs 70 per kg.

He said the state had taken up the matter with Union Minister of Commerce Anand Sharma and urged him to impose anti-dumping duty on Chinese product. He said the duty could be increased from the present 33 per cent to 73 per cent.

The apple production this year was likely to be only about 6 per cent of the last year’s 2.56 crore boxes. So far only 60 lakh boxes had been exported out of the state, which was well below 50 per cent of the last year.

Chandigarh, September 6
Lawrence School, Sanawar, hosted the 5th inter-school Kirloskar Business Quiz on Saturday. Ten schools from across the country which participated in the quiz included Army Public School, Dagshai, Daly College, Indore, Eicher School, Parwanoo, Hansraj Public School, Panchkula, MGD Girls School, Jaipur, Pinegrove School, Subathu, Rashtriya Military School, Chail, St Xaviers Sr Sec School, Chandigarh, Vivek High School, Chandigarh, and the host school.

After appearing in a gruelling preliminary screening test, teams from APS Dagshai, Vivek High School, St Xaviers School , Daly College, Hansraj Public School and Lawrence School, succeeded in making it to the final round. The quiz comprised six brain-rattling rounds that included business world, corporate minefield, wars, hyper games, figure-it-out and ouick gun.

Following brainstorming sessions, the trophy was bagged by Lawrence School. The winning team comprised Abhi Jain, Ishwardeep Kohli, Feroz Dhanoa and Aashna Khanna. St Xavier and Vivek High, Chandigarh, were the first and second runners up respectively. Loyd Saldanha of Bangalore was the quiz master. Pradeep N Dhoot, president, Videocon Industries, was the chief guest on the occasion.

The quiz was organised by the commerce department of the school. It aimed at creating awareness among students about the latest developments in the corporate world and preparing leaders of tomorrow. The quiz was sponsored by Geetanjali Kirloskar, scion of the Kirloskar Group of Industries and an alumnus of Sanawar.

Bilaspur, September 6
The Bilaspur Sadar Congress Committee here has accused the BJP of framing Congress leaders and stopping all development works here in the district while inaugurating only those projects which were started and mostly constructed during the regime of the former Congress government.

This was stated at a meeting of the Congress held at Kandraur under president Jitender Chandel here today. He challenged the BJP to come out with a single scheme or project which had been started by the present government.

The BJP was trying to take the credit for schemes and projects launched and financed by the Central government and the Congress will no longer tolerate it, he added.

He also said the BJP was trying to divert attention of people from all issues of development by launching false and fabricated cases against Congress party leaders so that it could cover up its failures on all fronts.

Some BJP leaders here were encouraging alleged “contractor mafia” under their patronage to promote their near and dear ones and the state exchequer was being looted openly, he added.

Congress members decided to launch a campaign and also start “expose BJP campaign” in the area. Former MLAs Dr Babu Ram Gauttam and Tilak Raj Sharma , Congress Seva Dal state leaders Mehboob Khan and Pratap Kaundal, were also present among others at the meeting.

Chamba, September 6
The traders’ community here has opposed the shifting of bus terminus outside the town and sought the construction of its edifice at the existing bus stand by developing the site and raising a flyover based on the blueprint of the main bus-stand in Shimla.

After reaching a consensus, the traders said site of the existing bus stand could be developed as there was sufficient space.

“The existing bus stand will not be allowed to be shifted to any other site outside the town,” they said, adding that its shifting would adversely affect their business.

To resolve the burning issues of the town such as construction of new bus terminus, college building, development of parking lots etc, the traders of the town has formed an “action committee” (sangharsh samiti).

Bhuvneshwar Sharma and Sanjeev Mahajan have been elected as the president and vice-president of the committee.

Earlier, a deputation of the traders also submitted a memorandum to Chamba Deputy Commissioner Devesh Kumar with regard to matter.

Shimla, September 6
In a major technological initiative to minimise the losses suffered by fruit and vegetable growers due to hailstorms in the state, the government has decided to install anti-hail guns for the first time in the country.

The state-of-the-art acetylene-fired anti-hail cannon will provide effective protection over a radius of one kilometre and help cover an area of 80 to 100 hectares.

Hail cannons were first developed in the early 19th century when cannon shockwaves were generated by gun powder, which was both dangerous and took a long time to reload. The latest hail cannons generate hail disruptive shockwaves at a greater frequency, which are more powerful, through the use of acetylene or butane gas.

The cannon shoot ionising (high energy) shockwaves up in the air at every four to five seconds which reach the high atmosphere (15,000 m) having extremely low temperatures (-50 degree Celsius) and reverberate by clouds and the troposphere, transferring a large ionisation potential to disrupt the growth of hail stones.

The gun uses weather data provided by hi-tech radar and the direction of the cannon is adjusted accordingly. However, it is effective only if used before the start of hail formation, and once hails are formed, nothing can be done.

A hail cannon operation has to be initiated at least 20 minutes before hail storm formation or storm arrival and any delay in the matter decreases efficiency of the cannon proportionately. Thus, it is important to use this means of protection in conjunction with weather radar.

A hail gun costs around Rs 1 crore along with radar but the price will come down if more guns are installed as one radar can take care of up to 10 cannons.

Horticulture Minister Narinder Bragta said an added advantage of the anti-hail gun is that it would provide an early warning which would enable the government to deal with disasters like storms, cloud bursts and heavy rains, more effectively. Tenders had been invited for supply of the hi-tech equipment as part of a pilot project and already a Rs 27-crore project has been submitted to the Centre for funding.

Though primarily the cannons were being introduced for protecting the fruit crops, these would be useful for all other crops, including vegetable and agriculture crops, he added.

Chamba, September 6
The tall claims made under the Rs 80-core Horticulture Technology Mission are open to scrutiny in Chamba district that has been aspiring to revolutionise apple farming.

In Churah subdivision of the district, the post of horticulture development officer (HDO) has been lying vacant for the past more than five years and the office of the HDO is being run by a peon at present.

In the absence of the HDO, the technical know-how about horticulture cannot be disseminated and shared with the orchard owners and farmers to boost the growth in the field of horticulture.

A number of orchard owners of Churah subdivision comprising over 42 panchayats, engaged in apple cultivation, are facing problems in the absence of horticulture experts. They remain deprived of the facilities provided under the various ambitious schemes of the government for boosting horticulture besides protecting their orchards of apple, plum, pear and apricot from the onslaught of diseases. They also need technical guidance for using insecticides and pesticides to save the fruit plants from various diseases. But the Horticulture Technology Mission was of no avail to them.

The officials of the Horticulture Department at the district level have already apprised the high-ups of the problems being faced by the orchard owners of the area, but nothing has been done so far.

Nurpur, September 6
An unidentified youth died on the spot when he made an unsuccessful bid to step down the moving train before its stoppage at Talara railway station last evening. He fell on the railway track after losing balance and was crushed under the wheels. The train was on its way from Baijnath to Pathankot.

The railway police, which recovered the body, tried to find the exact address of the victin by taking assistance of PAN card and driving licence found in his pocket. His name was identified as Praveen Kumar, son of Om Parkash Pathania. The PAN card and licence bore temporary addresses of Surat (Gujarat). A rail ticket from Pathankot to Nagrota Surian, dated September 3, was also found in his pocket. Surinder Kumar, inquiry officer of the railway police, said he tried to find the home town of the deceased from these temporary addresses by making telephone calls but failed to trace exact location and family of the deceased. The body has been brought here for postmortem examination after a case under Section 174 of the CrPc was registered.

Una, September 6
Rajya Sabha member Shanta Kumar today released a book on the freedom struggle of India written by former joint director of the HP Information and Public Relations Department Vinod Lakhanpal.

The book in Hindi titled “Freedom Struggle- 1757 to 1947- Main events and mutinies” runs into 410 pages and is a chronological collection of major events that took place all over the country.

The book has been published by the Samaj Dharm Publishers and chairman of the HP School Education Board Chaman Lal Gupta has written the preface.

The book is dedicated to Lakhanpal’s father Baldev Mitra “Bijli”, a freedom fighter from Tanda in Hoshiarpur district of Punjab, who had spent 17 years in prison during the British rule and was later associated with Jai Prakash Narayan.