Shimla, January 12
The concept of “payment for eco-services” (PES) will be soon put into practice with the government deciding to spend 10 per cent of the funds under the catchment area treatment (CAT) plan for the purpose.

The Forest Department has already assigned the task of preparing a “scoping document” for PES for the Renuka Dam project to the Winrock International, a non-government organisation working in the areas of natural resources management, clean energy and climate change. The document will provide blueprint for the conservation of ecosystem with the involvement of local community. The document will take care of all aspects right from land use to cropping pattern to suggest a model to help preserve and restore the forest ecosystem by improving biodiversity, water sources and other natural resources, besides enhancing livelihoods.

The local community will be motivated to adopt the recommended model for which PES will be used as an incentive. For instance, a shift in cropping pattern or land use is conducive conservation of ecosystem and farmers can be paid for switchover, if required. The focus will be on meeting the needs of the forest-dependent communities through improved non-wood forest produce.

Additional principal chief conservatory of forests, CAT plan and eco-services, Jasjit Singh Walia said PES was an emerging area and a lot of documentation was required to make it an effective tool for environment conservation. The department would soon invite “expression of interest” for preparing a “scoping document” for the purpose for various catchments areas so that PES became an integral part of the CAT plans.

So far the scope of CAT plans was limited to reduction of silt by way of engineering structures and afforestation. However, with introduction of PES the focus would be on enhancing the water quality, preserving biodiversity and promoting sustainable livelihoods and above all local people would be actively involved.

Over the next four years a sum of Rs 266 crore would be available under CAT plans for the upper Sutlej valley in which two major projects, the Nathpa Jhakri project and Baspa project, have been commissioned and six more were coming up. Further, the funds deposited with the CAMPA (Compensatory Afforestation Management and Planning Authority) were also available and the Centre had already released Rs 36 crore. Thus, sufficient funds would be available for PES.

Shimla, January 12
The youth convention organised for launching the Twenty-Twenty campaign for AIDS awareness evoked a good response here today.

Symbolising 20 days and 20 nights of HIV awareness drive, the programme was formally launched by BJP MP Anurag Thakur, who is also the president of the state cricket association. During the 20-day campaign field camps will be organised during the day and the people will be sensitised through TV and radio awareness camps at nights.

In another symbolic act Thakur cut a red ribbon cake to mark the occasion and called upon the youth to come forward and spread awareness on HIV and the ill-effects of drug abuse. He also administered a pledge of commitment for fighting the AIDS stigma and dispelling the ignorance to the gathering. The convention was attended by over 800 youth volunteers from all over the state.

The 20-20 campaign started with the ceremonial flag-off of a motor bike rally from the Ridge and release of 20-20 logo on the big LCD screen.

Interactive skits were presented by youth members of red ribbon clubs at a function held at the Gaiety Theatre. The key messages were “Be Bold and Talk Openly About HIV AIDS”, “Be Bold and Go To the ICTC “and “Get Your HIV Test Done, Be Bold and Dial 1299 for more information on HIV AIDS.’’

Some dances by artistes from Sirmour were also performed to send across the message on prevention of the disease.

A 20-20 quiz on HIV-AIDS was conducted for the youth on the occasion. The winners were given away prizes.

Six HIV-infected persons from different parts of the state also participated in the event and shared their experiences and perspectives. They called upon the people to be bold and go for the test. Various religious leaders and legal experts shared their views on AIDS prevention and control.

Project director AIDS control Dr Sulakshana Puri gave a presentation on different aspects of the disease and the control programme in the state. They asked society to join hands with them to create enabling environment.

Shimla, January 12
If you want to witness the ‘ring of fire’ but continuous foggy conditions in the north Indian plains are bothering you, visit Himachal Pradesh to catch the glimpse of the rare celestial spectacle - the solar eclipse.

Popular tourist towns like Shimla, Kasauli, Narkanda, Dharamsala, McLeodganj, Chamba, Dalhousie and Manali are witnessing crystal-clear skies with long sunny days.

The millennium’s longest annular solar eclipse will start becoming visible in India on January 15 between 11 am and 12.30 pm and will end between 3 pm and 3.30 pm.

People in most parts of India, including northern cities, will witness the partial phases of the eclipse.

According to the Meteorological office in Shimla, the weather will remain dry across the hill state January 15.

“The western disturbances are approaching the region on Tuesday and Wednesday and there are chances of rain and snow in the state during that period. After these two days, the weather will mainly remain clear,” said Manmohan Singh, director of the Meteorological office here.

He said the state would witness a sunny day on Friday.

“Of course, due to no damp chill in the mid and high hills, the state will be the ideal destination to witness the celestial activity,” he added.

People in western and south India will see the beginning of eclipse between 11 am and 11.30 am, whereas people from central to northern areas will witness it from 11.30 am to 12 noon.

The eclipse will first be seen in south of Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu and then move obliquely to Rameshwaram and Dhanushkodi. It will then move on across the Bay of Bengal to Mizoram in the northeast.

In north Indian cities, the people will see the partial phase of the solar eclipse. It will start at 11.53 am and end at 3.11 pm. The maximum eclipse of 53 per cent will be at 1.39 pm.

Sandeep Sehdev, a professional photographer based in Shimla, said: “Natural events like lunar and solar eclipses are a big part of my life. I love to capture these astonishing sights on my camera. These are the indelible memories. We will train our guns (lens) on the sun from the historic Ridge (an open space just above the Mall in Shimla).”

The path of the moon’s shadow begins in Africa at 10.44 am and passes through Chad, Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Kenya, and Somalia. After leaving Africa, the path crosses the Indian Ocean.

The central path then continues into Asia through the extreme southern part of India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and China. A partial eclipse will be seen within the much broader path, including entire India, or Bangladesh. — IANS

Shimla, January 12
The Rs 305 crore Integrated Watershed Development Programme to be implemented in the state will not only help conserve and recharge the depleting water resources but also give the much-needed boost to agriculture, horticulture and allied activities.

The project cleared by the Government of India recently will be implemented in various development blocks over a period of four to seven years.

In all about 2,03,832 hectare areas would be treated under the project the emphasis of which would be on ensuring adequate water for drinking and irrigation.

Rural development and panchayati raj minister Jai Ram Thakur said here today it was for the first time that livelihood activities were being linked with a project to increase farm production. Besides, self-employment would be provided fillip by promoting allied activities like dairy farming and small industries. Fodder saplings would be planted in selected areas to overcome the perennial shortage of fodder.

It would also be for the first time that the funds received from the central government would be distributed to the districts through a state-level nodal agency constituted under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary. Separate staff was being arranged for the agency for proper implementation and monitoring of the watershed programme.

Jai Ram said gram sabhas would play a key role in implementation of the programme. The detailed project report (DPR) of the activities to be taken under the project would be prepared by the people and approved by the gram sabha. It would appoint 'watershed assistants' for maintenance of account at the panchayat level. 

Mandi, January 12
With names of forest minister JP Nadda and state BJP president-in charge Khimi Ram, both from the Brahmin community, doing the rounds in party circles for the new party state president, the BJP’s Scheduled Castes and other backward castes and even women cadre are nursing a feeling of neglect at the hands of BJP’s powers that be.

The Dalits, including the "ignored BJP men", now pin their hopes on the new national BJP president Nitin Gadkari with the “ignored BJP men” bringing their " disenchantment to his notice,” revealed insiders.

But a Dalit candidate is not being considered for the post despite the fact that they represent more than 26.83 per cent population in the state, which is second highest in the country after Punjab’s 28 per cent, pleaded the BJP insiders, who support the SC candidate as the next state BJP chief.

They further assert that the state BJP or the Congress keeps the castes, regional or women factor in mind whether it is representation in the ministry or in the party. But the BJP men supporting the Dalit factor charge the party with ignoring the Dalit factor.

Nadda and Khimi Ram represent the two rival factions- the former representing the Shanta Kumar faction and the latter representing the Dhumal faction, revealed insiders. The Dalit or for that matter women factor is being ignored for the top post as the third name, that of the health minister Rajiv Bindal, has gone to the background as he does not fit into the caste or regional divide that dominates the BJP politics, they added.

Even the representation for the Dalits in the public sector undertakings remains almost negligible, they further claimed. We now pin our hopes on the national BJP chief Gadkari to consider feelings of the Dalits and women.

On the other, the party has been making claims that the BJP has increased the budged for the SC from Rs 12 crore to Rs 24 crore and has decided to give 50 per cent representation to women in local bodies and in the party.

The post of the state president assumes significance as the “ignored BJP men mainly from the Shanta Kumar faction are joining hands to corner Dhumal in the organisational matters to keep their cards in tact for the forthcoming power play, party men said.

Even those who support a woman as a state BJP chief plead that the BJP has never made woman a president, which represent almost 50 per cent population. Either a Dalit or a woman may be the next BJP chief, considering that the rival Congress has made three women presidents so far- Vidya Stokes, Viplove Thakur and Sarla Sharma, the BJP men argued. 

Bilaspur, January 12
The Himachal Kisan Manch, a state-level organisation devoted to the cause of farmers of the state, has demanded that khair trees be declared as “agriculture produce”.

They further sought the government to declare support price of khair wood as economy of lakhs of families of the eight lower hill districts of the state was totally dependant on these trees which presently were left to the mercy of the moneyed intermediaries, resulting in extreme financial exploitation of the hapless farmers.

The largely attended meeting of the manch was presided by its state convener and a former MLA Krishan Kumar Kaushal and another former MLA KD Dharmani.

The speaker criticised the government for its failure to come forward to solve several persisting problems like check on monkey menace in almost every village, refusal to fix Rs 6,000 as the support price of khair wood, non-inclusion of Rs 5,000 as per bigha compensation for crops damage by monkeys.

Meeting decided to hold a mass protest, dharna and demonstration on January 27 and gherao the office of the Divisional Forest Officer here for failure to take any action on all the demands already submitted to the government.

Bilaspur, January 12
The state government is taking special interest to ensure that the process of women empowerment continues without any hindrance. They not only get maximum opportunities to come forward in every field but also go side by side with men in all spheres of life.

District Public Relations Officer Amar Singh Thakur stated this while presiding over a daylong function organised by the Public Relations Department for highlighting achievements of the government during the past two years at Lehadi Sarel, 60 km from here today.

Thakur said women would get 50 per cent reservation in all local bodies and gram panchayats in the next due elections while the government had organised 24,329 self-help groups for women throughout the state to help them earn their own income and had made these women self-reliant and self-confident. These groups have been provided financial help worth Rs 8.71 crore.

He said the government had declared 14 prominent voluntary social organisations of the state under the Protection to Women Act, 2005, to look after those women and provide protection and security to them, who become victims of any type of family violence.

He said the joint director of the Social Justice and Women Empowerment Department had been deputed as nodal officer to immediately provide redressal to all complaints of women in the state so that they do not feel helpless in any situation.

Shimla, January 12
Higher reaches in Himachal Pradesh continued to reel under sub-zero temperatures though there was some rise in the night temperatures in the hill state today.

Keylong was the coldest place where minimum temperature was recorded at minus 11.7 degree Celsius while Kalpa in Kinnaur district was the lowest of minus 4.8 degree Celsius.

Partially covered sky with clouds was witnessed in Shimla where night temperature was recorded 6.3 degree Celsius in comparison to 6.2 degree Celsius yesterday, the Met office said. Elsewhere in the state, Sundernagar recorded the night temperature of 0.5 degree Celsius while it was zero degree at Bhuntar, 2.7 degree Celsius at Dharamsala and Una.

The Met office has forecast rain or thundershowers in the lower hills and rain or snow at many places in the higher hills. — PTI

Kangra, January 12
Life and teachings of Swami Vivekananda are more relevant today when the nation needed spiritual strength to combat adverse forces.

DIG (northern range) PL Thakur said this while addressing a public function at the local Polytechnic College auditorium here today. It was organised by the Vivekananda Kendra, a spiritually oriented service mission, in connection with 147th birthday of Swami Vivekananda. The Vivekananda Jayanti her focused on younger generation in order to bring them closer to their spiritual and cultural roots.

He said Vivekananda was an inspiration to the youth and his teachings were contemporary. The youth could cultivate the qualities of courage and spiritual strength by following his teachings, as his thoughts were very scientific in nature.

Swami Chidambarananda of the Ram Krishna Mission, who presided over the function, stressed on the youth to adhere to the teachings of Swami Vivekananda as his teachings were more relevant now in view of the present national and global scenario.

He stressed on parents to bring their children close to the national ethos and inculcate cultural values in them so that a better nation would come up with more strength and unity.

He further stressed upon the need to bring about uniformity in principles and behaviour, which would go a long way in reducing the complexities of life. He also stressed upon the importance of social service and added that uplift of whole society and individual was possible through selfless service.

He lauded the constructive endeavours of the kendra and Ram Krishna Mission in propagating the principles of Swami Vivekananda.

Swami Ganagesanand Sarwasati, head of Chinmayanand Mission, was the as guest of honour. He said Vivekananda had contributed in generating awareness in society and added that his personality was a source of inspiration for the young generation.

INA freedom fighter Rattan Singh (90), who had struggled along with Subhash Chander Bose, was honoured for his contribution in the freedom struggle.

Twelve meritorious students of different schools too were given prizes in connection with the youth day.

Dharamsala, January 12
Minister for Industries Kishan Kapoor today held a meeting with district officials to review arrangements for the forthcoming IPL matches to be organised at the Dharamsala cricket stadium.

The two IPL matches allotted for Dharamsala would be organised from April 16 to 18. The minister directed the Department of Tourism to get a directory of various tourist spots in Kangra district printed for tourists who were likely to flock the area in view of the IPL matches.

Spokesperson of the HPCC Sanjay Sharma said the Dharamsala cricket stadium had a seating capacity of 23,000.

The host team for matches to be organised here would be Kings XI Punjab. The other two teams that would be playing matches with the host team include Chennai Super Kings and Deccan Chargers.

We are expecting a complete sell out in the proposed matches, he said.

Last year also the Dharamsala cricket stadium was allotted two IPL matches. The HPCA also got installed floodlights in the cricket stadium in a record time to fulfill the conditions for hosting matches. However, as the venue of matches was shifted to South Africa, Dharamsala was deprived of opportunity to host matches.

The HPCA authorities were expecting that the successful organisation of IPL matches would boost the prospects recognition of Dharamsala stadium for organisation of international cricket matches.

Meanwhile, Kishan Kapoor set the deadline of March 15 for finalising all arrangements for hosting the matches.

He said due to organisation of matches all roads leading to Dharamsala would be re-carpeted. The Pathankot-Dharamsala National Highway would also be improved.

Hoteliers and other tourist operators in the region are enthusiastic about the proposed matches. They are expecting that besides those who come here to see matches on tickets large numbers of other tourists will also flock the region that mean booming business for them.

It is also likely to bring Dharamsala on world map for reasons other than the Dalai Lama. Till date most of the tourists know Dharamsala as the seat of Dalai Lama, the exiled spiritual head of Tibetans.

Hamirpur, January 12
Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal has said that football and hockey fields would be constructed here at a cost of Rs 5 crore.

In an informal talk with the media persons at college ground here today before flying to New Delhi in the evening Dhumal said, “The state government has decided to construct football and hockey fields at the college ground besides a synthetic track, for which Rs 5 crores have been sanctioned by the state government.”

He said, “I have asked the Public Works Department to prepare a map for the same and work would start soon on this project.”

Dhumal said, “Work on the construction of a synthetic track in this ground being constructed at the cost of Rs 6 crore is in full swing and would be completed soon.”

Earlier, the Chief Minister hearing the grievances of the public in the morning at circuit house heard the problems and directed the officials to take prompt action on all these complaints.

Dhumal also discussed the matter of completion of Deoth Sidh drinking water scheme with the officials and was informed by executive engineer that this drinking water scheme was ready for dedicating it to public.

The Chief Minister also discussed several issues pertaining to Hamirpur district with the DC and SP of the district.

A deputation of the district bar association also met the Chief Minister and urged him to provide facilities in the Hamirpur bar room and visitors’ lobby in the district judicial complex.

The Chief Minister also heard the grievances of public at Neri and also gave directions on the spot.