Shimla, May 4
Breeding season at Sarhan pheasantry began on a disastrous note with a male and a female of the highly endangered Western Tragopan species dying mysteriously.

The male Tragopan died during the display of lappet - a normal activity during the breeding season in which male birds indulge to attract the female. Postmortem revealed that the bird had died of hemorrhage. Normally, the lappet (a fleshy wrinkled and often brightly coloured fold of skin hanging from the neck or throat of birds) is filled with blood during the display but it returns to the body soon after. The experts are at a loss to understand the reason behind this happening. Assistance from experts of the World Pheasant Association is being sought.

One of the major problem for the experts in unravelling the mystery of the bird’s death is that not much information is available regarding the biological processes of the Western Tragopan. In fact, Sarhan pheasantry is the only place in the world that has the rare pheasant in captivity. After the death of the birds, there are only 11 pairs left for breeding.

Meanwhile, death of the female Tragopan is also a mystery. It died during laying of eggs. The postmortem did not help in ascertaining the probable cause of death and now a detailed investigation is being conducted. The experts were also suspecting that the bird might be suffering from some bacterial disease. Abnormally high temperature during early summer could also be a predisposing factor. The forest officials are tight-lipped over the issue.

Chief Conservator of Forests (Faunal Diversity and Protected Areas) Sanjiva Pandey confirmed that two birds had died but did not divulge the details. He said the exact cause of death would be known only after the detailed investigation. The death of birds is a setback as survival of the highly endangered pheasants depend on the success of captive breeding programme at Sarhan.

Mandi, May 4
The high-level team constituted by the Mandi Deputy Commissioner to look into the controversial construction of commercial complex being built by an influential businessman, who runs VK Enterprises in the town, has recommended demolition of part of the 80 cm structure that has encroached on the PWD road.

The team has detected that the builder blatantly deviated from the approved plan and threatened the Mahamritunjay temple, making mockery of the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Act and Municipal Act.

The commercial complex has encroached 80 cm on the PWD road, blatantly deviated from the TCP’s approved plan, threatening the existence of ancient Mahamritunjay temple. The builder has not constructed protection walls near the cellar of the temple premises, the team found.

The team that will submit its report to the DC today recommended the demolition of the part of the structure that violates the TCP and Municipal Acts. It has asked the firm to pay for the demolition and allocate funds for proper protection work around the temple, sources revealed. The rampant excavation near the temple has endangered the safety of the temple, the team observed and recommended action against the influential offender.

The construction of the commercial complex has defaced the Mahamritunjay temple. The team has also recommended construction of 125-cm-wide pedestrian path from Suketi bridge towards the College road after removing encroachment by the VK Enterprises, the sources revealed.

The priest who has occupied the temple appeared to be hand in glove with the builder. Inquiries revealed that he had raised fibre roof around the parikrama of the temple and damaged the carvings in the temple by painting that in turn raised the ire of the archaeologist.

It was the old priests who filed the petition in the court, the sources said. The team comprises of SDM Sadar, Town Planner Mandi, executive officer of the Mandi Municipal Council.

Mandi DC Amandeep Garg said he had not received the report officially, but if any deviations were found the administration would take corresponding action against the builder.

Dharamsala, May 4
Underground depletion in six subdivisions has set alarm bells ringing in the state. The subdivisions include Una, Nurpur and Jawali in Kangra district, Ponta Sahib and Nahan in Sirmpur district and Nalagarh in Solan district. The massive depletion in underground water has been indicated in the data collected recently by the Department of Hydrology.

Interestingly, these areas have witnessed abundant industrial and urban growth in the last one decade. The water level seems to have gone down due to unplanned exploitation of water sources.

Minister of Irrigation and Public Health Ravinder Ravi said the government was also concerned at the alarming depletion of underground water in various areas of the state and it was bringing in new water policy to save the natural water sources.

Under the proposed policy, no objection certificate for any kind of mining or industrial projects would not be given at places where such activities might harm the natural water sources. Measures would also be taken against the polluting industrial units.

The minister also said during the current summer season nodal officers had been appointed to tackle the water shortage problem in the state. They would be empowered to meet the shortage of water on their own either by tankers or any other measures.

Stringent measures are also been taken to prevent the misuse of drinking water. Those found guilty of using drinking water for irrigation of kitchen gardens or construction purposes would have their water supply disconnected. Similar action has also been proposed against those using motors on water supply pipelines.

He also said the Planning Commission has sanctioned Rs 150 crore for three major drinking water schemes to be brought up at Jaisinghpur and Dehra areas of Kangra and Bilaspur districts.

Shimla, May 4
College students in the state can now go in for various professional courses which would help them get jobs as the education department has decided to introduce vocational education in 47 degree colleges from the next academic session.

With more than eight lakh unemployed youth in the state, the education department felt offering vocational courses was the best option rather than adding to the already existing pool of post-graduates and graduates, who are jobless.

The department has already assigned the task to two private companies who will start courses for which there is demand in the
BPO sector besides Information Technology (IT)-related courses.

With very little scope left for government jobs and limited industrial opportunities, equipping students with vocational courses seems to be the only solution. “By opting for such vocational courses the students can develop professional skills which in turn can help them get good jobs in the private sector,” said O.P. Sharma, Director, Education.

As per statistics there are a total of 8.05 lakh youth registered in various employment exchanges
in the state.

Two companies Dew Soft and GTT have been assigned the task of starting vocational courses in 47 colleges. The principals of these 47 colleges have been directed to cooperate and provide all assistance to the two companies so that necessary infrastructure can be readied in time when the academic session begins.

While Dew Soft would provide its services in 27 colleges located in districts of Shimla, Kinnaur, Sirmour, Chamba, Kangra and Una. The other company, GTT, would provide vocational courses in over 20 colleges in districts of Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Kullu and Mandi. The contract with the two companies is for a period of three years with a provision for imposition of a fine of Rs 5,000 per week in case services are not up to mark.

Hamirpur, May 4
The proposal to construct a multi-purpose parking complex for Hamirpur town near the DC office has now been revised from Rs 2 crore project to a multi-storeyed complex with an estimated cost of about Rs 15 crore.

The revised project proposal and its drawing are in the process of making and actual construction will start soon.

The foundation stone of the parking complex near the DC office on the land having sub-jail and surrounding areas was laid by Chief Minister PK Dhumal in November last.

Though the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC) undertaking the project had already received Rs 2 crore from the central government under the tourism development plan, the state government during the last assembly session had reportedly revised the proposal keeping in mind the future needs of the town.

Sources in the government said, “Since Hamirpur is a growing town with a limited empty space it was felt that the proposed parking complex may be converted into a multi-storeyed complex with many facilities in league with future growth and requirements.”

The HPTDC officials have already started working on the proposal and preparation of drawings was in the process. The revised proposed multi-storeyed parking complex will have car parking on the ground and first floors, lawn on third and fourth floors, besides offices of consumer court and district attorney on the fourth floor.

The complex is proposed to be constructed in a phased manner and existing Bachat Bhawan building and buildinghaving press room on the DC office gate will also be demolished to construct revised multi-storeyed building.

The sources said, “The land for the project has already been transferred to the HPTDC and additional funds of aboutRs 13 crore will also be allocated after completion of drawings and preparation of complete proposal after which work on the project will start.”

Shimla, May 4
The government has decided to construct water-harvesting structures in identified water scarcity areas in 12 blocks of the state at a cost of Rs 6 crore.

Irrigation and Public Health Minister Ravinder Singh Ravi has said the structures would be constructed in Bilaspur and Mandi districts and Nurpur block of Kangra district. Further, two structures would be constructed in Solan and one each in Una and Kangra block.

He said water tankers would be pressed into service for providing drinking water to the people in areas with water scarcity. The people could also lodge their complaints with the department regarding water shortage. He stressed that drinking water should not be utilised for irrigation purpose and power water lifting pumps should not be used by anyone. He warned that stringent action would be taken if pumps were used to lift water directly from the drinking water pipes.

The minister said 5,287 hand pumps had already been installed against the target of 4,500 in the past two years and the government was committed to provide portable drinking water to the people of the state by installing 2,500 more hand pumps.

Shimla, May 4
The Himachal Pradesh High Court today directed Himachal Pradesh University (HPU) to conduct fresh counselling to the MD/MS courses before May 21 in accordance with the six-point roster system.

While passing the direction, a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Kurian Joseph and Justice RB Misra observed that prima facie the impugned action of the respondent of issuing the joint merit list of in-service candidates and direct candidates was bad in law. The court observed that the government would allot the seats as per previous practice of the roster system.

The order came on a bunch of petitions filed by the in-service candidates alleging that the action of respondents declaring the common merit list of the in-service candidates and direct candidates was illegal.

According to the petitioner, the respondent issued advertisement for admission to the courses but the advertisement provided that 70 per cent seats would be reserved for in-service candidates and 30 per cent for direct candidates. The petitioners appeared under the in-service quota and respondents prepared separate merit lists of both categories. The petitioner mentioned that at the time of counselling respondents combined both merit lists to extend benefit to direct candidates.

The court observed that as per the law laid down by the Supreme Court this action of the respondent university was not permissible. The case would be taken up for further hearing on May 24.