Shimla, November 19
Chief Secretary Asha Swaroop said the forest planning and development projects in the Himalayan region needed to be altered to address the likely impact of climate change to minimise the adverse impact and vulnerability.

Speaking at the inaugural function of the three-day national conference on “Forestry Solutions: Strategies for Mitigation and Adaptation of the Impact of Climate Change in Western Himalayan Mountain States” here today, she said adaptation strategies should ensure a proper balance between demand and supply of forest products.

“The population of the developing world is much more vulnerable to changes effected by climate changes as its vast population is dependent on climate sensitive economic sectors like agriculture, forestry and fisheries,” she remarked. She added that the impact of climate change on crop yields was predominantly negative for the tropics.

Swaroop said actions on climate change mitigation and adaptation in forestry would benefit from a more active engagement of forestry officials. She said ecological productivity and bio-diversity would be altered by climate change and sea level would rise with an increased risk of extinction of some vulnerable species.

Speaking at the conference, Additional Chief Secretary (Forest) Avay Shukla said there was an urgent need to have a separate forest policy for the western Himalayas. While stressing the need for revamping of forest policies, he said the optimum policy choices in containing deforestation and forest degradation required careful analysis.

“Warning signals like early departure of migratory birds from Pong Dam, early blooming of the rhododendron flowers in February, reduced snow and early egg laying by jungle fowl are indications of adverse impact of global warming and climate change, which will affect us much more,” he said.

Giving data, he said so far 10,000 hectares of forest land had been diverted for various project with 8,000 hectares being allotted for power projects alone.

Delegates from premiere institutes working in the field of climate change and environment and participants from the three Himalayan states of Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal attended the conference.

Shimla, November 19
The state government will have to relax building bylaws to allow additional storeys than permitted to ensure financial viability of four parking lots to be constructed in the PPP (Public Private Partnership) on build, operate and transfer (BOT) basis.

Expression of interest (EoI) has been invited for multi-storeyed parking lots near the Lift, IGMC hospital, Sanjauli and Chhota Shimla with a total capacity for 2,700 vehicles.

However, the project will involve an investment of over Rs 100 crore and private parties will come forward only if the project’s financial viability is ensured. According to the pre-feasibility report prepared by the state infrastructure development board, at least seven-storeyed structures is needed for ensuring viability.

Under the building laws, a maximum of four-storey structures are allowed. If the parking lots are limited to the prescribed number of storeys only, the total capacity will come down to around 1,400 vehicles, which will not be a viable proposition. For instance, a seven-storeyed structure for the biggest lot near the lift will accommodate 1,300 vehicles and four-storeyed only about 750 vehicles. Similarly, the one at the IGMC hospital will have a capacity of only 400 vehicles within permissible limits and over 700 vehicles if three additional storeys are allowed by relaxing the bylaws.

A relevant aspect is that the parking fee has to be reasonable as the residents have to use the facility on a regular basis. In case the rates are too high, they would avoid using it which will not only lead to its under utilisation, but also affect the viability of the project.

The project has been formulated for a parking fee ranging from Rs 20 to Rs 25 for the first six hours. There will be additional charges for the next six hours and for the whole day (24 hours). For the local residents, a provision of monthly charges has also been made to make it more reasonable.

The viability issue and the final form of project will be discussed at a pre-bid meeting with the parties. They will be given fortnight’s time to submit the EoI. The period for the transfer of project, after recovering the investment, will range from 30 to 40 years.

Shimla, November 19
Expressing concern over rising encroachments on the graveyards and cemeteries of Christians in the state, members of the National Minorities Commission said the state government must get them evicted.

Addressing a press conference here today, members of the National Minorities Commission, HS Hanspal and Spalzes Angmo said the Christian community in Himachal had raised the issue of encroachments in their cemeteries, which needed to be dealt with sternly.

They said people, especially in remote areas, were still not aware about the 15-point programme for the benefit of the minorities. “In the absence of adequate publicity, people at times cannot benefit from the schemes meant for them,” they said.

While stressing the need for giving more publicity about various schemes and welfare programmes for the minorities in the remote areas of the hill state, the two members of the commission said Himachal should set up a State Minorities Commission like many other states.

They said the procedure for awarding scholarship to minority students must be simplified and formalities be completed at the district level. “Bhoti should be included under the Three Language Formula and Punjabi and Urdu teachers must be appointed in the schools where it has to be taught,” they said.

They said the chairman of the Wakf Board must be appointed immediately as all executive powers lay with officials, causing inconvenience to people.

Bilaspur, November 19
A total of 6,000 quintals of wheat seed had already been supplied to farmers in the district during this rabi season while another instalment of 700 quintals had been made available on this Monday from NAFED, Rudrapur, on the further demand of farmers by the Agriculture Department.

Deputy Commissioner Nandita Gupta stated this here today. She said since more demand for the seed had been made from various quarters in the district, another instalment of 1,100 quintals had been ordered by the government and was expected to arrive within the next two days.

She ordered officials of the department to ensure regular seed supply. She said these improved seeds were being supplied by the government on 50 per cent subsidy.

Earlier, District Kisan Manch led by former MLAs Krishan Kumar Kuashal and KD Dharmani had pointed towards the scarcity of wheat seed and the Congress party led by its district president Rajesh Dharmani had even organised a demonstration at Ghumarwin against this scarcity and also non- availability of LPG cooking gas in the area.

While reacting to these protests, Forest Minister JP Nadda and MLA Randhir Sharma said yesterday that these demonstrations and protests were being organised for cheap publicity and the government knows its responsibility towards farmers.

Shimla, November 19
With an early departure of migratory birds from the Pong Dam and untimely blooming of rhododendron flowers in February acting as alarm signals, scientists and environmentalists today stressed the need for incorporating climate impact and vulnerability into forestry programmes without any further delay.

“Seeing the accelerated impact of climate change, there is an urgent need to identify the most vulnerable areas and start dedicated pilot projects to arrest the adverse impact,” said Dr NH Ravindranath from the Centre for Sustainable Technologies and for Ecological Sciences, Bangalore.

He said the adverse impact of climate change would become much more pronounced in the coming years in the form of shorter monsoons but intense rainfall, leading to flash floods and great devastation.

“Almost half of the plant species, that are currently classified as ‘critically endangered’, could become extinct and in context of the Western Himalayan region, pine will the first casualty,” he warned.

He said due to the species movement from lower to higher altitude, Himachal should switch over from undertaking pine plantation to saal trees. “Himachal should take the lead in looking for forestry solutions to combat ill-effects of climate change which cannot be reversed,” he said.

He said the temperature in North India was likely to go up by almost four to six degrees during the next 50 years due to climate change. “The impact of climate change on bio-diversity is irreversible and as such we cannot afford to wait for scientific evidence. Hence, strategies to combat it must be enforced without further loss of time,” he said.

While admitting that hydro power generation was causing a lot of environmental damage, he said cement industry was the biggest culprit.

Dr Steven Hamburg, chief scientist, Environmental Defence Fund, International Work Programme, Massachusetts, USA, said forestry was a very powerful resource, which could address the issue of climate change effectively.

Shimla, November 19
The Israeli government has offered to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Himachal Pradesh for water management and renewable energy.

This follows the keen interest shown by Chief Minister PK Dhumal and the team who are on a visit to Israel to study irrigation and poly-houses technology so as to replicate it in the state. Some of the states in the US have also signed similar MoUs with Israel in these two vital sectors.

The nine companies, which gave presentation to the team from Himachal Pradesh yesterday, have also shown their eagerness to tie up with the hill state for sprinkler and drip irrigation.

Dhumal, accompanied by Narender Chauhan, Principal Secretary, Irrigation, Ram Subhag Singh, Secretary, and Arun Sharma, Director, Tourism, is on a visit to Israel these days to study agricultural and irrigation practices in vogue in Israel which is considered one of the best in the world today.

They undertook field visits to apprise themselves about the system and techniques being adopted in that country.

The Chief Minister saw poly houses and irrigation system in the farms and also the apple orchards. Israel is producing quality apple at the height of 3,000 to 3,500 feet and productivity is 40 to 45 tonnes per hectares.

The Chief Minister also visited grading and packaging houses, cold storages and factories which are manufacturing irrigation equipment. Dhumal said these would also be replicated in Himachal Pradesh to benefit farmers and fruit growers. He said this system would also go a long way in raising production, besides quality of the farming yield, and strengthen the economy of farmers. 

(Bhambla) Hamirpur, November 19
Famous film actress Kangna Ranaut has strongly refuted her alleged links with David Headley and outrightly denied having ever met him.

Talking to mediapersons here this evening at her ancestral house, she said, “I do not know Headley, never ever met him and also deny having ever met Rahul Bhatt; therefore, there is no question of meeting David Headley.”

She said, “I have not heard a word from any agency or any other person in this connection and it is only the media persons who have been talking to me on this issue.”

Replying to a question she said, “Though there was underworld connection with Bollywood during the eighties or nineties but at present not even a single underworld don has any link with the film-making. Today corporate houses have entered film-making.”

She said, “I have already sued Zee TV and Punjab Kesari for dragging my name in this controversy and feel that this has been deliberately done by them to improve their TRP.

Commenting about Rahul Bhatt’s alleged links with Headley she said , “It is unfortunate that Rahul Bhatt’s name has been linked with Headley since as far as I know Mahesh Bhatt’s entire family is nationalist and has great regard for our country.”

In reply to another question Kangna said, “At present it is not possible to keep black money in film world since every penny is accounted now a days and if you even have a gold chain undeclared, income tax people would take that away.”

Talking about her coming films she said, she was doing eight new films. 

Kangra, November 19
Kunga Tsayang, a Tibetan writer-photographer, who was arrested on March 1, this year, was sentenced last week to five-year imprisonment on charges of disclosing state secrets, according to information received by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD).

TCHRD spokesperson Tashi Choephel Jamatsang said here today that Tsayang was arrested on the charges of posting political essays on Tibet on a website “Jottings” (Tib: Zin-dris) in Gansu province.

He said in a closed-door trial on November 12 Tsayang was sentenced to by the Kanlho Intermediate People’s Court in Gannan “Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture” (TAP) Gansu province.

He said Kunga Tsayang, a monk of Amdo Labrang Tashikyil Monastery, who wrote under the pen name “sun of snowland” (Tib: Gang-Nyi) was an amateur photographer, a passionate writer, essayist, and chronicler of the new Tibetan generation.

He hailed from Chigdril County, Golog TAP, Qinghai province, Choephel disclosed.

He said Tsayang also worked with the Nyenpo Yutsae Kyekham environmental protection group. He said he was the author of several “brave and compelling” essays on Tibet.

The TCHRD expressed its concern over the secretive and closed nature of the trial under which Tsayang was tried and sentenced.

Kullu, November 19
With Malana villagers still keeping their fingers crossed over the alternative cash crop experiment last year, the Malana Vikalp Cooperative Society, DRDA Kullu and experts have come down to brass stacks — to come out a policy to combat the menace of illegal cannabis cultivation in Kullu and Mandi.

In its bid to flush out contraband cultivation and fix accountability of the revenue, police and forest departments, the society, along with DRDA Kullu, is holding an interactive session in Malana village, an hashish hub, tomorrow where experts from different fields would come up with a strategy to make the “alternative development” in the area a viable model.

The interactive session will be followed by a seminar on alternative development at Kullu on November 21.

Talking to The Tribune here today, OP Sharma, adviser, Malana Vikalp, said the objective was to fight out the economic basis of illicit cannabis and opium cultivation in Malana and other parts of the state. “Its objective is to highlight villagers’ dependency on contraband trade and what preventive measures can be taken by various stakeholders,” he said.

The seminar aims at thrashing out the role of the revenue and forest departments as major stakeholders to flush away perpetrators of drug-related crime being committed on forest and revenue land in the region.

“The police, forest and revenue NGOs, de-addiction centres and cooperatives will come up with their preventive and regulation action plans to achieve the combined objective under the NDPS Act,” he said. Sharma said the pilot project would aim at preventing encroachments on forest land by cannabis cultivators.

Meanwhile, Malana panchayat pradhan Deli Ram said villagers had specific problems related to alternative crop as the last peas experiment was not cherished by many.

Kullu DC BM Nanta said the district administrative was positive and would assist the stakeholders on the alternative development model for villagers once the policy or strategy was put in place.

Regional representative, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) for South Asia, Cristina Albertin, will be the guest of honour in the seminar. Dr Tej Pratap, Vice Chancellor, HKPV, Palampur, Romesh Bhattacharjee, former Narcotics Commissioner of India, DIG, SPs of Mandi and Kullu and scientists will also be present on the occasion.