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Raid-de-Himalaya goes hi-tech
‘We never thought Virbhadra, Ruskin would make it big in life’
Block Development Committee
Sweet ‘revenge’ for Bishop Cotton boys
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Guv unveils statue of Satyananda Stokes
Decks cleared for 4-laning of Parwanoo-Shimla road
Desi ghee samples sans milk fat
Supply of spurious seeds under scanner
Residents oppose village chief’s removal
Drug Menace
Rahul may visit state in November
Hamirpur first biomedical waste-free dist
Case against in-laws for suspected murder
13 NIFT students suspended
Four students booked for ragging
Man held for duping
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Raid-de-Himalaya goes hi-tech
Shimla, October 5 The rally, being organised by the Himalayan Motorsport Association, will takeoff from here on October 7 and conclude at Srinagar on October 12. All 108 vehicles participating in the X-Treme and Adventure Trial categories, will be mounted with the necessary electronic devices to help track the movement on the Internet during the course of 1,800-km rally. The biggest advantage of the system is that organisers will be able to spot the stranded vehicles promptly and send support teams to the spot instantly. The GPRS system will also be quite effective as most of the route in the Himachal territory has very good connectivity with cell towers in the remotest of areas. The association has entered into an agreement with the Geo terrestrial company for availing the GPS-GPRS tracking services. The X-Treme event with 750 km of competitive stretches, mostly dirt tracks, will put endurance of the vehicles and the driving skills of the participants to a severe test. The rally will pass through the most rugged and inhospitable terrain in the Western Himalayas and this will venture deep into the Zanskar ranges, covering about 500 km in the Padum valley. Vice president of the association Manjiv Bhalla said the duration of the rally had been reduced from eight to six days but the participants had been asked to keep allowance of two days so that the rally could be completed even if the weather plays foul. After taking off from Shimla, the rally will pass through Narkanda and Jalori Pass to end the day one at Manali. The next day the rallyists will enter the tribal Lahual valley through the Rohtang Pass and head straight to Kunzum Pass and return to reach Patsio for a night halt. On the following day, the rally will pass through Nakeela and Rumtse to arrive at Leh. The rally will have night halt at Rangdum for the next two days. On the fourth day, they will drive to Kargil and end the day at Rangdum. The fifth day will see the speedsters explore the Padum valley and return to Rangdum. On the final day, the rally will cross through Panikher and Kargil to culminate at Srinagar. Five-time winner Suresh Rana, last year’s first runner up and second runner up, Captain AS Brar and Anil Wadia, respectively, are in the race. The Indian Army has entered maximum number of seven teams and the Air Force three teams. There are six women teams. As many as 33 four-wheelers and 20 motorcycles will participate in the X-Treme event and 55 cars in the Adventure Trial. |
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‘We never thought Virbhadra, Ruskin would make it big in life’
Shimla, October 5 “Bond failed to secure even a first division in English in Senior Cambridge as he wrote an essay on ‘Indian Sweet Shop’ which obviously the evaluators sitting in London would not have appreciated,” remembers Narpinder Singh Chahal, who was a year junior to Ruskin Bond who passed out of the school in 1950. In his memoirs about school titled “Thank You-BCS”, Bond too wrote that the hot fresh samosas and jalebis made up for the rigours of early morning PT, occasional caning and having to write a “hundred lines” as punishment for some misdemeanour. “Bond was the best boxer in the BCS prep school and we thought he would become a professional boxer. Even though he was very good with English language, we never thought he would be such a renowned literary figure,” recalls Chahal. Bond, who was at the BCS from 1943 till 1950 and was fondly referred to as “horsy” by friends, has not been able to attend the 150th celebrations, which are still on. “In my time, the young Tata held the record of being caned the largest number of times and he went on to make a successful career in the hotel business,” wrote Bond about school friends. Bond, in his own admission, detested the marathon in which he invariably stood last. The fact that there were barely 10 boys in the 1950 batch and other classes around that time, made the students very close and well bonded. “Virbhadra Singh was probably the most disciplined and obedient boy who, of course, was a favourite of all teachers, including the class teacher Whitmarsh Knight. However, he was very shy and quite and we never thought he would be a political figure,” says Chahal, who along with his brother Joginder Singh Chahal, was in the same 1951 batch as Virbhadra. Bond, in his memoirs, mentions Whitmarsh Knight while remembering teachers whose influence on the students was very strong. He specifically mentions Knight who lent him his books and encouraged him to write while his wife made a failed attempt to make Bond a member of the school choir. |
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Block Development Committee
Hamirpur, October 5 The Congress-supported candidate Suresh Kumar Dogra, who was removed from this post unceremoniously in a no-confidence motion last year after the BJP government was elected in the state, has once again been elected as the chairman of Hamirpur BDC after defeating the BJP supported candidate Mehar Singh by three votes. In a House of 15 members, the Dogra member from Ser Baloni ward polled eight votes while his BJP rival Mehar Singh could secure only five votes. One member Karun Rana from Kutheda ward had resigned as a member of the BDC after his selection for a government job. The post of chairman of Hamirpur BDC had fallen vacant after the death of BJP supported chairman Ramesh Sharma a few months back. Though BJP leaders were trying hard to retain the top post in the BDC, the failure to bring unanimity on the name of its candidate, has been reportedly cited as major reason for its debacle in this election. On the other hand, while the Congress not only managed to keep its flock together, the clout of Narinder Thakur, who had jolted the BJP by reducing the margin of ruling party considerably in the last Parliamentary election, also helped in gaining back the support of a few members in today’s election. The election of Suresh Dogra once again was significant since his removal in the no- confidence motion by a “controversial vote of vice-chairman”, had led to a political controversy between the BJP and the Congress. Reacting on the victory, former Hamirpur MLA Anita Verma, while hailing this victory, has termed it as a befitting reply to policy of political vendetta and attack on democratically elected representatives of the Congress by the ruling BJP. |
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Sweet ‘revenge’ for Bishop Cotton boys
Shimla, October 5 Contrary to their own expectations, the BCS team was impressive as they were able to register victory within 11 overs by surpassing the target of 99 all-out made by the Lahore boys in 20 overs by losing only two wickets. “We were not really hoping to win in the cricket match as our boys were into soccer these days but pleasantly we won both the games,” said a beaming Praveen Dharma, housemaster of Curzon House. The day started with senior boys taking a heritage walk from the school till Ridge, carrying placards with messages for protecting the environment. They will also be undertaking a plantation drive tomorrow to send across the message for protecting forests and green cover. Later, in the evening, a former student, Vijai Singh Mankotia, Army man turned politician, was the chief guest at the centenary celebrations of the Curzon House, followed by a rock show. The sesquicentennial celebrations will conclude tomorrow with the release of a commemorative stamp and a coffee-table book on the school. |
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Guv unveils statue of Satyananda Stokes
Shimla, October 5 It is a tribute to the person who played a key role in making Himachal Pradesh the apple state of the country. Stokes introduced apple in the Shimla region, which revolutionised the local economy by providing a viable alternative to the people who found agriculture an unrewarding exercise in the steep hills. Lauding the contribution of Stokes on his 127th birth anniversary, Rau said the initiative taken by him had proved a boon for the people and apple cultivation was their mainstay today. She urged the local people to emulate Stokes and make all out efforts to protect the fragile hill environment. Leader of the Opposition Vidya Stokes also recalled the contribution of Satyananda Stokes. |
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Decks cleared for 4-laning of Parwanoo-Shimla road
Solan, October 5 Though the state government was now stating that it would get the remaining portion of the NH stretching from Solan to Shimla also included in the four-laning, it was worth mentioning that the Union Government had already given its go ahead to this section as well. It was under the National Highway Development Programme-III that the Union Government had decided take up expansion work on 10,417 km of NHs comprising 71 stretches in two phases. While the first stretch comprising Parwanoo-Solan would be taken up for expansion in the first phase the remaining portion would be four-laned in the subsequent stretch. A stretch of 6,000 km would be covered in the NHDP Phase III-B. While work was in full swing to four-lane the Zirakpur-Parwanoo NH the approval for four-laning Parwanoo-Solan had come through. This portion had not been included earlier as the passenger car unit here was less than the requisite 30,000. The authorities now assumed that by the time the four-laning of Parwanoo-Solan section would be completed the remaining section from Solan-Shimla would also receive the approval. Delhi-based Span Consultants have surveyed the 111-km of NH, which starts from Tipra village on the Haryana-Himachal border and stretches till Dhalli, near Shimla. The existing two-way carriageway, which has been in use for the past several decades, is facing an ever-increasing influx of traffic, particularly of tourists, leading to a number of accidents. The survey report for the NH-22 points out that in order to facilitate expansion, land acquisition has to be undertaken both from the valley as well as the hillside. A 30-metre road is required to convert the highway into a four-lane carriageway. At least 20 metre from the hillside and another 15 metre from the valley side will have to be acquired. A 1.5 metre median bifurcating the two double lanes with to and fro tracks are proposed to channelise the traffic in an organised manner. With a view to conserving the forest over and reducing land acquisition, as many as seven tunnels have been proposed on the highway. The tunnels spread over 8.95 km, will be located at the Barog bypass, Solan Brewery, Ded Grat and two tunnels near Kandhaghat. |
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Desi ghee samples sans milk fat
Una/Dharamsala, October 5 The test results at a food laboratory have revealed that there was not even 1 per cent milk fat in the confiscated samples. It clearly proves that the ghee contained animal meat fat. A case against them has now been filed in Una court. Besides desi ghee, four samples of arhar dal (cereal) have also been seized. The laboratory reports have suggested that the dal was laced with synthetic food colours that could have an adverse affect on human health. In Angan Vanaspati oil, the content of sesame oil is much less than that prescribed in standards. However, the health authorities inferred that the vanaspati contained some unknown product instead of sesame oil. In another case, a sealed packet of Uncle Chips was found to be containing flies. Besides, the health authorities have also found adulteration in milk products as cheese, milk and open curd. The adulteration was found in the form of lesser fat. Una DC KR Bharti said under the drive launched in the district, 80 samples of various food items were seized out of which 20 had failed the tests conducted at the Himachal government laboratory at Kandaghat. He said he was trying to get a food-testing laboratory installed at Una so that people selling adulterated products could be brought to book. Inquiries by The Tribune revealed that despite widespread reports regarding adulteration of food and harmful affects it can have on the health of people, the state, till date, has no super speciality laboratory that can check the amount of pesticides in food items or presence of urea in milk. Most of the vegetables in lower areas of the state is supplied from Punjab. There have been reports regarding excessive use of pesticides in these vegetables. Officials, while speaking on the condition of anonymity, said they had sent certain items for checking the pesticide content at Kandaghat laboratory, as that was the only authorised laboratory in the state. However, chemists there have expressed their inability to conduct such tests. The Union Minister for Food and Civil Supplies, in the recent past, had floated a scheme under which food-testing laboratories could be opened. However, in Himachal nobody seems to have taken the benefit of the scheme as yet.
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Supply of spurious seeds under scanner
Mandi, October 5 The delegation of farmers from the Balh valley today registered a complaint against Durga Seed Store, Ner Chowk, and Dhanya Seed Company from south for giving them “spurious hybrid paddy seeds at exorbitant prices” at the office of the deputy director. They demanded action against them and due compensation as they had lost a major source of livelihood due to the “folly of the company and department as the seed seller was registered with the department”. Preliminary inquiry conducted by the Department of Agriculture revealed that the paddy crop sown in over 150 hectare was destroyed by the blight. It also turned out that neither the seed store seller nor the private company had tested the hybrid seed at the research station violating the seed selling norms, said scientists. Farmers — Kundan Lal, Devi Ram, Shiva Ram and others from the Balh valley — rued that they bought the seed from the Durga Seed Store at Ner Chowk at the rate of Rs 25,000 to Rs 30,000 per quintal after the company-Dhanya promised them that hybrid seed would give them a bumper crop. But when they went to examine the crop a few days back, they were shocked to see that the crop paddy flakes were empty. The delegation of the farmers today met the deputy director here narrating their tale of woe. “More than 75 per cent of the paddy crop is destroyed. We do not know whether the seed was tested or not as they bought it from the seed seller, which has been given licence by the Agriculture Department,” they complained, demanding compensation. Deputy director, Mandi, Manmohan Singh said the department had constituted a team and scientists would submit the report within a week. “We are issuing notice to the store owner and the company as to why their licence should not be cancelled as the seed was neither tested nor had undergone field trial,” he said. |
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Residents oppose village chief’s removal
Hamirpur, October 5 About 100 villagers today met Hamirpur DC Abhishek Jain to express their resentment on the removal of elected Bajrol panchayat president Hari Chand, who was removed by the government on October 3 for failing to appoint a widow, Shakuntla Devi, as a water carrier in Government Primary School, Bajrol. Director of primary education had directed Bajrol panchayat president to appoint the woman as a water carrier in the school sometime back and deputy director was ordered to get the orders complied within 10 days on September 23. Since the panchayat president allegedly failed to ensure joining of the woman in the school within this stipulated period he was removed from the post on October 3. Agitated over this action, hundreds of villagers today met the Hamirpur DC and have also sent a letter to the Chief Minister opposing the removal. Telling about the removal of Bajrol panchayat president Hari Chand, the DC said, “Hari Chand has been removed for failing to ensure joining of Shakuntla Devi as a water carrier in Government Primary School, Bajrol, despite government orders.” “Since the government orders were not complied by him, he has been removed from the post under Section 145(1) of Panchayati Raj Act, 1984,” he added. On the other hand, Hari Chand while clarifying his position said, “I received these orders on September 25 but many villagers opposed the appointment of Shakuntala Devi as a water carrier as she was already working under the mid-day meal scheme and also in a sewing centre, and had asked to take this issue in general house of the panchayat where 132 members opposed the appointment.” “A large number of the villagers have come out in my support on this issue and have taken up the matter with the CM,” he said. |
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Drug Menace
Kullu, October 5 The Chief Minister did not spell out what he intended to do, but his comment that the state government would initiate immediate steps to curb the drug menace, has been welcomed by NGOs active in
the district. The NGOs pleaded that some concrete steps were immediately needed to check illegal organised cultivation of both cannabis and poppy in Kullu, Mandi, parts of Shimla, Kangra and Chamba. They also asked the CM to initiate steps so that big smugglers, or those who had made money and had become role models in their villages, should be brought to book. OP Sharma, chief adviser, Malana Vikalp, a cooperative body working in Malana village to lure villagers from cannabis to cash crops, said these “role models” should be identified, their property confiscated and they should be prosecuted under the competent authority constituted under the NDPS Act. The NGOs asserted that unless smugglers in the valley are booked through investigation, other measures will prove cosmetic as has happened in the past. Drug cultivation has witnessed a shift from cannabis to opium in Kullu-Mandi belt, sources revealed. “Organised cannabis cultivation has come up in the Churah-Tissa belt in Chamba district this time that speaks volumes about the organised syndicate of smugglers,”
they added. Experts observed that poverty was the main reason for villagers taking to drug cultivation. “We need implementation of specific
alternative schemes to uplift them,” they opined. Dr BS Raval, adviser, Naya Savera, an NGO working in de-addiction of victims in Kullu, said, “Awareness should spread at all levels and not be a ritual during particular days. Certain tribal and local customs, that encourage use of alcohol and other drugs, need to be shunned in which society as a whole should come forward.” Dr Raval added that more social organisations should joint the war against drugs. The government and police should enforce the NDPS Act and Drug and Cosmetic Act in letter and spirit, checking misuse by certain chemists, he added. |
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Rahul may visit state in November
Bilaspur, October 5 This was stated by Manthan Pathak, state election in charge, National Students Union of India (NSUI), while addressing mediapersons at the Circuit House here today. He said Rahul was scheduled to visit Shimla, Kinnaur and Bilaspur. Pathak, who had already helped in competing elections of the NSUI in states of Uttarakhand and Chhattisgarh recently and had been the general secretary of Maharashtra state unit of NSUI, said a target of 50,000 members had been fixed for the state and the membership campaign was in full swing presently which would be completed by October 15. He said first election to college campus would be held and then election of
the state president, would be held at Shimla and would be completed by November 15. Manthan said NSUI was the first students organisation in the country which had adopted election procedure instead of usual nominations. He said this was helping the organisation to strengthen itself as leaders and those desirous to get posts, were going to have direct contact with the grassroots level. |
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Hamirpur first biomedical waste-free dist
Hamirpur, October 5 For achieving this distinction, while the district Health Department is adopting proper biomedical waste management techniques, staff members from hospitals to primary health centres and community health centres have been trained to properly deal with it. All waste is collected in different pits specifically dug for the purpose of collecting and segregating this waste at every health centre and later disposed off. For segregating the waste, three pits are generally dug. In the first pit common bandages, waste cotton, etc are stored, in the second pit waste syringes and empty glass bottles are collected and in the third pit placenta and such other biomedical waste is stored. The collected waste after proper segregation is then disposed off by burying or burning at lower-level health centres. For big hospitals like District Hospital, Hamirpur, and Nadaun hospitals, the district Health Department has engaged a Pathankot-based private company to collect the segregated biomedical waste and burn it in their incinerators based at Pathankot. The medical staff from medical superintendent at the district hospital to CHC level has been trained to segregate the biomedical waste and its disposal. Hamirpur Chief Medical officer Dr DS Chandel who has obtained specialised training in biomedical waste management and had also authored a book on this subject took personal initiative to make all health centres of the district biomedical waste free. He said, “I first started a training programme for the staff for more than a year in biomedical waste management and its disposal and later created infrastructure in all health centres for its segregation and disposal.” He said, “Now every health centre is successfully disposing off the waste and Hamirpur has become the first district of the state as biomedical waste free district”. |
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Case against in-laws for suspected murder
Solan, October 5 While her in-laws had dubbed it as a suicide case, the preliminary post-mortem report confirmed that she was strangulated. Parwanoo SDPO Ramesh Pathania, who visited the spot, said the mysterious manner in which the news of her death was first conveyed to the mediator, who had got the alliance materialised about three months ago, and not to the parents of the deceased, showed that there was something fishy. Her parents were first told that the girl was sick and it was after two hours that they got to know that she had died. Her husband Ram Prakash worked as a daily wager. |
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13 NIFT students suspended
Kangra, October 5 Dinesh Kumar, director, NIFT, said 13 students of the institute indulged in drinking in the hostel during the birthday party of a student on the intervening night of October 1 and 2 and created ruckus. He said a team of faculty members raided the hostel and found them creating ruckus. The director said all 13 students were suspended from their classes till further orders. He said the case had been forwarded to the head office for further action. However, the director refused to divulge the names of the students who were involved in the incident.
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Four students booked for ragging
Kangra, October 5 Kangra SDPO Jeet Singh Thakur said cases under Section 3 of the Anti-Ragging Act had been registered against Nitesh Kumar, Pankaj Kumar, Rahul Singh and Rahul Sharma on the complaint of two students of first year, Manoj Kumar and
Charanjeet. He said all four accused were studying in second year and were absconding. Sunil Kumar Verma, principal of the polytechnic, said all four accused students were expelled from the college. He said the parents of the four students were summoned who tendered
an apology.
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Man held for duping
Mandi, October 5 The accused confessed not only to taking a bribe worth Rs 1.75 lakh from the complainant, but also confessed that he also took hefty amount of commission from three other victims the police revealed. The interrogation of the accused revealed that he also took Rs 1,25,400 from Tek Chand of Sainthal, Mandi; Rs 5,85,000 from Man Singh, Ghayana, Chachiot; and Rs 1,05,000 from Nishant Kapoor, Sayanh, Mandi; promising them jobs in the NHPC
and trip abroad for making money.
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