Shimla, November 22
In a major initiative to study the impact of global warming on forests, the state government has decided to undertake a research project to study whether or not certain species are moving “upwards” due to rising temperatures.

The main objective of the project is to generate authentic data so that suitable strategy could be evolved to mitigate the impact. In western countries such studies are being carried out for the past almost three decades.

The studies carried out, so far, indicate that various species are moving upwards in altitude as a result of global warming. However, not much research has been conducted in the country, particularly in the Himalayan region, which accounts for a huge chunk of global bio-diversity.

Under the project, the forest department will set up observation plots in various transition zones to keep a record of presence and also absence of both herbal and tree species in different climatic zones and aspects mountain ranges. It will also carry out plantation in areas beyond the tree line to ascertain if global warming had actually improved the weather conditions to support vegetation in such high altitudes.

Each plot will have dimensions of 50m x 50m and the physiological changes, if any, in the species growing in transitions zones, will also be recorded and analysed, Additional Chief Secretary Avay Shukla said.

The tree line will end with birch species which is found at around 11,000 ft. This species will be planted at 12,000 ft and beyond and its survival will be an indicator of upward movement. Other species to be planted in high altitude transitions zones include fir and spruce which, unlike birch, grow tall.

The Abies Pindrow species of fir, which grows in relatively lower altitude, will be planted in the higher altitude which supports Abies Spectabilis species, which will be planted further up where it does not grow.

Varoius species of oak, which grow at different altitudes right upto 10,000 ft, will also be planted as part of the Rs 2 crore project. Studies conducted in Uttarakhand indicate that wild fruit species “kaafal” is moving up and invading the pine forests and another important conifer species, blue pine, is moving up at the rate of 19m per 10 years. The project will also focus on these two species. The forest department will engage botanists for the research project.

Shimla, November 22
The government of Israel has offered to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Himachal government for technological collaboration in the field of water management, agriculture, horticulture and renewable energy.

The Israeli authorities were keen to sign the document during the recent visit of Chief Minister PK Dhumal but it was not possible as agreements with other countries are signed by the states only through the Government of India. It was decided that Navtej Sarna, India’s Ambassador to Israel, would send a draft MoU, based on the pattern of an accord signed with a state of the US, so that the Himachal government could modify it to suit its requirement and pursue the matter further with the Government of India.

Apart form recycling of water and irrigation, the delegation from the state is interested in technological advances made by Israel in cultivation of apple, which is the mainstay of people of middle and higher hills of the state.

Israeli farmers were reaping almost eight times higher yield by growing apple at much lower altitudes and warmer climate than Himachal Pradesh where the yield had started declining due to lack of snow and minimum-chilling hours. As against the average yield of around 6 to 7 tonnes per hectare in the state, Israel was producing 50 tonnes per hectare, fetching a net income of Rs 6 lakh per hectare. The country was producing over lakh tonnes of apple from just about 2,500 hectares with just 800 mm of if irrigation per hectare per year.

Dhumal, who returned yesterday from Israel, said the state would evolve the MoU for collaboration after taking the farmers into confidence. He had asked the Israeli companies to come to the state and make presentations so that people here could have an idea of the available technology and could decide what was best for them. If required, groups of farmers could be send to Israel to have an on-field assessment.

A final shape would be given to the MoU only after carrying out this exercise to select the most appropriate technology for the state.

Advances made in field-water management, particularly recycling of waste water, had transformed Israel into a virtual oasis in the deserts of West Asia. The country was recycling over 80 per cent of waste water and planned to increase it to 95 per cent. Over 70 per cent of it was being used for irrigation. Similarly, it was leading in recycling of waste and had set a target to recycle 50 per cent of it by 2015, Dhumal said.

He visited the country to attend WATEC Israel-2009, an international exhibition- cum-conference on water-related technologies held in Tel Aviv.

Shimla, November 22
The weather-based crop insurance scheme, being introduced on a pilot basis for apple and mango crops, will go a long-way in securing the economic interests of fruit growers whose crop are largely dependent on the weather gods.

The scheme is being implemented for apple in Theog, Jubbal, Narkanda, Rohru and Chirgaon blocks of Shimla and Ani block of Kullu, and for mango, in Fatehpur, Nurpur, Indora and Nagrota Surian blocks of Kangra.

The Agriculture Insurance Company of India Limited will be the implementation agency and 50 per cent of the total premium will be paid by orchardists and the rest will be shared by the Central and the state governments in equal proportion. Chilling requirement, temperature fluctuations, deficit or excess rainfall are some of the weather perils which this scheme covers for the apple crop while frost, temperature fluctuation, rainfall and wind speed for the mango crop.

This scheme is compulsory for all those who are availing credit limit from any financial institution for these crops. State-level bankers’ committee, co-operative banks, besides the insurance company, have been entrusted the responsibility to implement the scheme.

With the weather playing truant more often than not, returns to the farmers from small land holdings in the hill state are becoming increasingly erratic. Their fortunes have been oscillating between drought and deluge, taking a heavy toll on the crops.

As a result, the state has not been able to achieve the target of foodgrain production of 16.50 lakh tonnes. The situation has worsened due to failure of the past two consecutive crops. Erratic and inadequate monsoon caused extensive damage to the recent kharif crop and a dry winter paid put to the rabi crop. Horticulture was considered relatively more remunerative but, of late, the fruit crops have also become vulnerable to the vagaries of weather.

To ensure remunerative returns, the state government has implemented the market intervention scheme (MIS) for apple, mango and citrus fruits.

This year, apple was procured at a price of Rs 5.25 per kg, kinnow, orange and malta of grade B at Rs 5.35 per kg and that of grade C at Rs 4.75 per kg and grafted mango at Rs 5.25 per kg.

Shimla, November 22
There is no shortage of wheat seed for current rabi sowing in the state but availability of complex fertilisers was much less than demand because of non-issuance of supply during October and November by the Government of India.

A spokesman of the state government said here today that due to poor harvest of wheat crop during the last rabi season the initial demand for wheat seed this year was assessed 56,729 quintals against which the Agriculture Department had arranged about 80,130 quintals wheat seeds. Further, against the original demand of 56,729 quintals wheat seeds in 10 districts, 78,230 quintals had been supplied and another 1,900 quintals was in pipeline to meet the additional demand. He said the reasons for all-time high demand was that the seed was being supplied on 50 per cent subsidy.

He said the requirement of various fertilisers for rabi 2009-10 season was assessed 75,600 tonnes and accordingly the distributing agencies in the state were asked to arrange the month wise required quantities from suppliers. The shortage of complex fertilisers like NPK 12:32:16 and NPK 15:15:15 was being experienced in the state due to non-issuance of required supply by the Government of India.

He said against the requirement of 17,500 tonnes of complex fertilisers for October and November, the Government of India issued only 10,950 tonnes and till date 9,065 tonnes had been supplied and a rake of 2,700 tonnes reached yesterday only.

He said one more rake from IFFCO was expected within a week. He said repeated requests had been made to the Union Department of Fertilisers to issue supply plan as per month-wise requirement and also to direct suppliers to ensure supply in the state. However, there was no shortage of fertiliser like urea, he added.

Kullu, November 22
Experts from different fields here yesterday made a strong point to over 150 farmers from Malana in Kullu, Chauhar in Mandi and Churah in Chamba — the illicit drug producing areas in the state — that better future for them lay in alternative crops and that they would assist them in all respects to make “Malana Vikalp” a success.

Addressing a seminar on alternative crop development here, chief guest Dr Tej Pratap Singh, Vice-Chancellor, Palampur Agricultural University, struck an emotional chord with over 100 farmers from Malana when he chose to address them in the Malana dialect. He urged them that illegal cultivation would ruin them as the police, government and other agencies would not spare the offenders.

“One should divert to more income generating crops like peas, rajmah, cut flowers, fruits, medicinal herbs that will give much more than what cannabis can give,” he said.

He said the university would give them training seeds and plants as and when they required. The Malana Vikalp will liberate them from the clutches of drug mafias, he added.

Jagdish Sharma, founder of the Churah cooperative, cited the success story of floriculturists as to how petty farmers started from scratch and today they produced the best quality cut flowers and sold directly in Delhi, Chandigarh, Jammu and even Holland.

“A small farmer can earn Rs 30,000 to Rs 50,000 in this field,” he said.

Anurag Garg, DIG, central range, said the police would assist the Malana Vikalp initiative and would enforce the NDPS Act, eradicating illegal cultivation.

Illegal cultivators should know that law never allow poppy and cannabis and the only way out is alternative crops, he said.

Christina Albertin, South Asia representative, UN Office on Drugs and Crime, gave a presentation on alternative crop development and how the office assisted illegal cultivators in growing alternative crops in Latin America.

“The office will assist Malana Vikalp, which will succeed if all villagers, including women, join hands,” she urged.

Malana Vikalp adviser made an appeal in the name of Malana’s presiding deity that the Jamlu devta would be with them if they gave up illegal cultivation of hashish and switch over to growing peas, rajmah, flowers, medicinal plants.

“The illegal cultivation is ruining health and environment that can incur the wrath of the devta,” he said, urging them to shun it forever and make Malana Vikalp a success story.

The seminar was an attempt to involve stakeholders, including cannabis cultivators, from different areas to interact with the experts from different fields, including NGOs working in drug de-addiction in the state.

Shimla, November 22
Member of the executive council of the Himachal Pradesh University (HPU) Waryam Singh has drawn the attention of Chief Minister PK Dhumal to the messy state of affairs prevailing in the institution due to “zero-level” of governance.

Decisions of the statutory bodies were not being implemented by various departments and even pay-fixation disputes were referred to sub-committee, headed by Vice-Chancellor’s nominee, and decided by the executive council had been awaiting implementation, he said.

The decision taken by the council clearly stated that there was no need to obtain further clarification in the matter and the local audit department be directed to settle the cases in accordance with the recommendation of the committee.

However, the matter was unnecessarily precipitated by the joint controller (audit) stationed at the campus, although directions were issued by the local audit department that the decision of the executive council should be implemented and no interpretation at any level be derived against the spirit of its decisions.

He lamented that no meeting of the council was held in October and November in gross violation of the rules of business and dilatory tactics of the administration was causing financial hardships to the employees concerned.

Further, for the first time in the history of the university, the revised pay-structure had not been notified in respect of the officers of the university along with the teaching staff, he claimed.

It was a departure from the past practice to allow “equivalent grade” to them on the UGC pattern which had been in vogue till the latest revision of pay scales.

Waryam Singh urged the Chief Minister to intervene and ensure that decision of the statutory bodies, like executive council, academic council and also various agreements with employees, were implemented in letter and spirit.

Palampur, November 22
Irrigation and Public Health Minister Ravinder Thakur today announced that limits of the Municipal Council (MC), Palampur, would be extended soon and eight adjoining panchayats — Lohana, Bundla, Ghuggar, Sugar, Bindravan, Choki Khalet, Maranda and Bharmat — would be added to it.

He said the limits of the MC were never extended since its inception in 1955. At present its population was only 4,000 whereas 35,000 residents were residing outside the municipal limits in eight panchayats lacking all basic amenities. He regretted that the Congress ruled the state for 40 years but never bothered for the welfare of residents of Palampur.

Thakur, who inaugurated a health camp at Kandbari, near here, said all paper formalities to this effect had been completed by the local administration and final approval from the state government was awaited. He said in the present set up, the panchayats had failed to provide facilities like streetlights, cemented lanes, metalled roads and disposal of garbage because of paucity of funds. Therefore the state government had decided to extend the municipal limits in principle in all fast expanding towns of the state.

He said disposal of garbage in many towns of the state had a posed serious threat to human health and environment. Therefore, the state government had planned to set up garbage disposal plants in all MCs. The MCs had been asked to submit a project report to the state government soon and thereafter necessary funds would be allocated to all MCs by the government.

He said the urban development department had also been preparing a master plan for the development of about 12 towns of the state. The Government of India had also been approached by the state government for funds.

He also disclosed that the Union government had agreed to include Palampur among 20 towns selected from all over India for its planned expansion and development.

Shimla, November 22
Dr SL Goel, editor of Indian Journal of Public Administration (IJPA), Indian Institute of Public Administration, New Delhi, has said lack of citizen-friendly administration was posing a threat to governance.

In his speech at the two-day national seminar on “Emerging trends and challenges in governance” here yesterday, Dr Goel said there was a crisis in good governance due to lack of faith and determination among the top officials, rampant corruption at every level and lack of commitment.

He said good governance implied utmost concern for people’s welfare wherein the government and its bureaucracy followed policies and discharged their duties with deep sense of commitment; respecting the rule of the law in a manner which was transparent, ensuring human rights and dignity, probity and public accountability.

Dr Goel said the issue of good governance had in recent times emerged in forefront of sustainable human development.

He added by empowering people for meaningful participation in the development process was one of the key interventions of the Government of India in its attempt to usher in sustainable development.

Vice-Chancellor Sunil Kumar Gupta regretted that only 10 paisas out of every one rupee being spent on development work was actually reaching the target segment.

He stressed the need for leadership qualities and decision-making for better results while implementing the policies and programmes.

More than 100 delegates participated in the seminar.

Mandi, November 22
Doctors at the zonal hospital got tips on new procedures on cancer treatment and emergency resuscitation of patients from experts from Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital and Dr Rajendra Prasad Medical College, Tanda, at the Continuing Medical Education on gynaecology and obstetric that concluded here today.

Addressing delegates, the experts urged doctors to bring down the infant mortality rate at the district level in each hospital.

The priority is to reduce infant mortality and manage complications that arise among premature babies, they added.

Dr Kumud Bala, professor and head, department of gynaecology, IGMC, urged doctors to take care of infant mortality rate by timely intervention, pre-natal and post-natal care. Besides, institutional deliveries should be encouraged, she added.

Dr SS Sodhi from the IGMC gave tips on the “emergency resuscitation” as to how to revive patients who suffered cardiac and respiratory arrest.

Dr Rajiv Seem highlighted treatment of cervical cancer by radio and chemotherapy. Early diagnosis and treatment are factors that can improve health of cancer patient fast, he added.

Organising secretary of the meet Dr Rajiv Malhotra stated that Health Minister Rajiv Bindal had announced a grant of Rs 15 lakh to upgrade the neonatal nursery at the zonal hospital.

He added that doctors should make efforts to combat female foeticide menace in the state. 

Malana (Kullu), November 22
The much hyped Jan Jan Sanjivni Abhiyan(JJSA) of the state government has yet to reach this remote village, a natural storehouse of medicinal plants and herbs, which, if tapped fully, can come in handy to the Malana Vikalp cooperative, which is trying hard to win over villagers into the mainstream economy.

Forest officials and ministers had made fervent appeals to villagers to grow medicinal plants in other parts of the state when the JJSA was launched a year ago. However, nothing has come Malana’s way, according to villagers.

Scientists have identified several medicinal plants and herbs in Malana valley. But no serious effort is being made to lure away villagers from their die-hard illegal cultivation of cannabis to plant and grow medicinal plants like kadu, patish and kuth, which are found in the wild in the valley, they added.

Deli Ram, Malana panchayat pradhan, and kardar of Malana’s presiding lord Jamlu Devta, Shukru, said a few villagers had been extracting medicinal plants from the forest area over the years. However, they were unable to generate a decent income because of ignorance, they added.

Meanwhile, villagers said they were not aware of any such scheme as nobody had bothered to inform them.

Chande Ram, secretary, Malana Vikalp, said the forest department had a nursery nearby but no one knew what it grew.

However, villagers are ready to grow medicinal plants if they get proper training, he added.

BS Rana, DFO, wildlife, briefed villagers on the forest department’s pilot project for the Kullu division in which the department was proposing to grow and promote patish, kadu and other medicinal plants in the forest areas under cannabis in Malana valley. “We will pay them for work. They can harvest plants and sell them to the forest corporation depot being opened at Shamshi,” he said.

OP Sharma, adviser, Malana Vikalp, said the society would train villagers on how to sow the seeds of peas and rajmah.

“The forest department plans to promote medicinal herbs in the forest areas under cannabis which can come in handy for alternative crop development,” he added.

Meanwhile, Anil Sharma, DFO, Parbati, said the JJSA was launched last year and he was not aware whether or not plants were given to Malana villagers as he had joined only recently. 

Manali, November 22
Bodies of nine persons, who died due to severe cold conditions while crossing the Rohtang Pass from Lahaul valley, were brought to Manali, by a rescue team this evening.

The rescue team of Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports, Manali, and the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) retrieved the bodies yesterday between Banta Mour and Rahni nullah, which were brought to Manali today.

Manali SDM Rajeshwar Goel said the postmortem would be conducted tomorrow. He added that most of the victims were migrant labourers from Jharkhand.

Goel further added that five persons who were stranded at Marhi were also brought to Manali by the rescue team. Three out of five persons were suffering with frostbite due severe cold conditions and were given medical aid at the Civil Hospital, here.

He said the district administration had given Rs 15,000 to those who had serious cold injuries and Rs 5,000 compensation to those with minor injuries. 

Palampur, November 22
The Palampur Taxation Bar Association, at its meeting held here today, appealed Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee for immediate restoration of office of the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals), Palampur, which was arbitrarily closed in May, 2006. This office was dealing with the Income Tax appeal matters of eight districts of the state — Kangra, Mandi, Kullu, Una, Hamirpur, Bilaspur, Chamba and Lahaul-Spiti.

The sanctioned post of the Commissioner from Palampur was shifted to Amritsar.

Advocate RC Sood, president, Palampur Bar Association, presided over the meeting. Members of Taxation Bar Associations of Una, Hamirpur, Chamba, Nurpur, Dharmsala, Mandi and Kangra were also present at the meeting.

Through a resolution passed, the Bar members apprised that there was adequate workload and office of the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeal) was justified here.

It was also resolved that there were over 500 appeals pending before the Solan Income Tax Commissioner for the past three years pertaining to this region and this figure would go up to 600 after December 31.

The Bar Association members said tax payers had failed to get justice because of non-fixation of appeal cases as the Solan Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) had a heavy workload. Besides, because of difficult topography, it was not possible for any official to visit Palampur, Mandi, Dharmsala, Kullu, Chamba and Hamirpur time and again.

Briefing mediapersons, Sood regretted that despite repeated requests, the Income Tax Department had initiated no action, causing great hardship to tax payers.

He said the request of the Bar Association to attach this region with Commissioner of Income tax (Appeals), Jalandhar or Ludhiana, was also turned down by the department.

This region of the state had the highest number of tax payers with a maximum revenue receipts. However, they were getting a raw deal at the hands of the department, he added.

He urged the Union Minister to personally review the matter and restore the office without any further delay.