Kullu, June 28
The historic double-laned 8.8-km-long Rohtang tunnel, world’s longest tunnel, the foundation stone for which was laid by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi today at Dhundi in upper Manali will usher in a new era of tourism boom in Lahaul, but it will hit hotel industry in Kullu town, which is already reeling under crisis.

Hoteliers fear that Kullu town would lose out on tourist as the Rohtang tunnel would open snow-swathed Lahaul valley, a new destination.

President Kullu Hoteliers’ Association Jagathnath said the Rohtang tunnel would have both positive and negative impact on the hotel industry in Kullu-Manali. Kullu hotels are reeling under crisis as there are just 30 hotels because many have been shutdown as tourists go straight to Manali, which has a booming hotel industry,” he added.

“But when the Leh-Ladakh will have all-weather road connectivity to Kullu-Manali, it will result into a rebounding impact on tourism in Kullu valley, hoteliers said. The tourists coming from the Leh side will reach Kullu within 9-10 hours whereas it takes whole day and night in gruelling road journey through Lahaul valley and snowbound passes,” they added.

Kullu deputy commissioner BM Nanta said Manali as destination would not lose out to Lahaul valley as the Rohtang Pass and greenery of Kullu-Manali and adjoining destinations of Manikaran, Sainj and Great Himalayan national park were a major attraction.

Manali is overflowing and its infrastructure is chocking and the Rohtang tunnel will result in overstay of tourists in Lahaul valley, benefiting tourism and local business and handicrafts, he added.

Shimla, June 28
Despite frequent spell of hailstorms, the hill state is heading for a record apple crop. The latest estimates indicate that the total production could touch 3 crore boxes.

The highest production of 2.92 crore boxes was recorded in 2007 when the total fruit production in the state crossed 7 lakh tonne mark for the first time. This is not the first time that growers would be harvesting a bumper crop. Production will be much higher due to the fact that lower hills, where crop failure had become a routine in recent years due to lack of rain in June, will be contributing more than double their normal outturn.

According to estimates, Shimla district, which accounts for 60 per cent of the total production, is likely to produce over 1.80 crore boxes. Last year, it contributed only 86 lakh boxes in a total production of 1.40 crore boxes.

The state has been experiencing deficient rains during June for the past decade. However, this season the average rainfall has been higher than normal and the main apple-growing areas have received excess rain. For instance, Shimla district has already recorded 155 mm of rain, which was 51 per cent more than normal.

Kullu, the other main apple-producing district, has recorded 199 mm, 165 per cent higher than normal. Even the tribal Kinnaur, which falls in rain-shadowed zone, had 80 mm as against the normal precipitation of 26 mm.

Frequent spells of rain and hailstorms during the month did cause damage to the fruit, affecting its quality. However, it also ensured adequate moisture in soil for enhancing the fruit size in lower hills where harvesting starts early.

The estimate for Kullu district is 80 lakh boxes as compared to just 28 lakh boxes produced last year. The increase in production in higher hills, which are not much affected due to vagaries of weather, is not too pronounced. The production in high altitude Kinnaur district is likely to be 23 lakh boxes as against last year’s output of 20 lakh boxes.

However, the prices are expected to remain low not only because of bumper crop, but also due to hailing. Spots on the fruit caused due to hailing will not fetch good returns and the government agencies may have to procure more than 50,000 tonnes under the market intervention scheme as compared to 950 tonnes last year.

Dharamsala, June 28
A team of entomologists at Palampur Agriculture University here has developed an innovative method to manage fruit fly, a hazardous pest that causes extensive damage to fruits and vegetable crops.

Fruit flies of genus Bactrocera are one of the most severe pest problems of orchard and vegetable crops. The insect has a peculiar damaging potential. As its maggots are hidden or concealed inside the fruit or plant parts, they mostly escape the insecticides applied for its management. Consequently, farmers resort to frequent insecticidal applications, which leave harmful residues on fruits and vegetables making them unsuitable for human consumption. Loads of insecticides applied for its management pollutes our environment apart from other side effects.

In spite the heavy spray of insecticides, effective management of pest has not been achieved till date.

Research during the past four years in the Department of Entomology by Dr Pankaj Sood, PK Mehta and Prabhakar have revealed the spectrum of fruit fly species prevailing in the state. They have identified some new invader species for the first time. The changing climate scenario in the region was the prime reason for the occurrence of new species which could be a threat to agriculture in the future.

The team of scientists developed a non-chemical, safer and eco-friendly means for fruit fly management based on behaviour ecology and para pheromone-based male annihilation technique. They have designed a trap from waste water bottles consisting lures specific to females (methyl eugenol and cue lure) for attracting males of the species inside the bottle.

These chemicals are synthetic analogues of para pheromones released by females in nature for attracting males for mating. When put inside the bottles as impregnated ply board piece, the males get attracted even from the distance of up to 500 metre. The scientists have standardised the design of trap, size of board piece and doses of chemicals for species prevalent in the state.

During the past two years the traps have been successfully demonstrated in field and acclaimed by the farmers. Pankaj Sood, presently posted at Regional Research Sub-Station, Sundernagar (Mandi), with the collaboration of Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) Mandi and KVK Kangra scientists have demonstrated the traps in the vegetable-growing areas of Mandi and Kangra districts.

Last year, the traps were demonstrated in Hamirpur district with the collaboration of KVK Hamirpur scientists. At all locations, the traps have been very successful and as per farmers it resulted in more than 80 per cent reduction in fruit fly damage.

It is also a low cost, organic and simple technique of fruit fly management which farmers can themselves prepare and use once trained.

Head of Department of Entomology Dr PK Mehta said the technique was very effective and useful if taken on community basis. The pest could be eradicated in two-three years if large-scale adoption was done in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture across the state. It would not only help in management of the pest but also control the spread of new invader species in the state.

Sundernagar, June 28
The Keran Taryamber Kisan Kalyan Samiti has urged the Himachal Governor to direct the Sundernagar land acquisition officer (LAO) not to pass any consent award pertaining to acquisition of land to set up cement plant near here.

According to Lalit Sen, general secretary, Keran Taryamar Kisan Kalyan Samiti, many were lured by the company to sign agreement to give their lands for the cement project. However, later, all those who had signed the agreement, termed it as illegal and decided against surrendering their land.

He said earlier also farmers had written to the Governor who directed the Mandi Deputy Commissioner to listen to the demands of farmers. According to them the LAO was siding with the cement industry and was ignoring the interests and legal rights of farmers who would be worst affected.

Interestingly, the Himachal High Court had directed the government that no final award would be passed pertaining to Acquisition of Land for Cement Plant, Sundernagar, and writ pertaining to it is still pending before the court.

Shimla, June 28
The HP High Court today dismissed the application filed by Union Steel Minister Virbhadra Singh vide which he urged the court to implead Chief Minister PK Dhumal as party in the case filed by him and his wife Pratibha Singh for quashing of FIR registered against him in a CD case.

While dismissing the application, Justice Kuldip Singh listed the main petition for further hearing in July.

It is pertinent to mention here that the Vigilance Bureau informed the high court about completion of investigations in the CD case against the Congress leader under Section 173 of the CrPC and also intend to file final report in the special court under whose jurisdiction the CD case falls.

It could be recalled here that the Vigilance Bureau had filed the case on August 3, last year, in connection with an audio CD released by former Congress minister Vijai Singh Mankotia allegedly having recorded conversation of Virbhadra Singh, his wife and some other officials in the late 80s and early 90s when he was the chief minister. After registering of the FIR, Virbhadra and his wife filed a petition before the court for quashing of FIR with further prayer that investigation of the matter be entrusted to the CBI or any other independent agency outside the state.

Later on the Union minister also filed an application in this petition for impleading Dhumal and Director General of Police (DGP) DS Manhas as party in the case on the ground that he reasonably believed that recently released two audio CDs contained voices of Dhumal and the DGP.

He further alleged in the application that in these CDs there was reference to the CD circulated by Mankotia and from the perusal of the transcript of the CDs Dhumal gave certain directions to the DGP which directly related to the said CD.

Shimla, June 28
Encouraged by the success of pilot project using satellite-based VSAT (very small aperture terminal) technology to provide mobile phone services in remote locations like Sumdoh in Spiti and Rohtang tunnel project site, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has decided to extend services to all-important far-flung places in the tribal areas within the current financial year.

Each VSAT-based station costs Rs 8 lakh and involves recurring charges of Rs 2 lakh for spectrum and has a capacity of 30 channels for mobile communications.

Director of BSNL Gopal Das, who was in the state to chair the seventh Regional Traffic Planning Committee meeting of the north zone, said optical fibre-based connectivity was not feasible in such remote pockets with scattered population. The success of VSAT technology had provided an alternative that would enable mobile penetration in the remotest of areas.

It had been decided to extend VSAT-based mobile services to Nako, Chango, Kungnri, Gompa, Kiamo, Thangi, Kibber, Mrindal, Dharwas, Purthi, Tindi, Chimret, Khanjar, Dhankar, Namgia, Asrang, Kafnu, Charnag, Jiskoon, Goshail and Citkul in the tribal belt. In some other distant places microwave links would be used to provide alternative connectivity and it had been decided to set-up Shimla-Rohru, Shimla-Rampur, Chamba-Bharmour, and Dalhousie-Tissa microwave links to provide reliable telecommunication services.

The CDMA (code division multiple access) technology, used only for WLL fixed line so far, would now be used for mobile services. Keeping in view the problems being faced by subscribers of the fixed WLL-based lines in certain areas, a scheme to provide free mobile sim cards had been introduced so that they could avail mobile services.

The broadband services would be expanded and high-speed services would be provided to all educational, industrial and business locations in a phased manner. Optical fibre cable would be provided up to building for high-speed connectivity. The data rate for uplink and downlink would be 512 Kpbs and 7 Mpbs, respectively. 

Hamirpur, June 28
About 150 schoolchildren, studying at Rangad government high school, are under constant danger as the school building is in a dilapidated condition.

This high school is situated in the backward area of Sujanpur block of Hamirpur district and gets special budget for development under the backward area plan.

The building is not only in poor condition, but can also pose danger as it could cave in any time.

School authorities have already brought this fact to the notice of Hamirpur education deputy director of primary section.

Though headmaster of the school had sent a written request to higher authorities to declare the school building unsafe and to take steps to provide alternative accommodation in the month of May, nothing has been done in this regard.

Meanwhile, the school authorities continue to hold teaching work in the same building.

A concerned parent, whose child studies in the school, said, “Condition of the school building is very bad and it can collapse anytime, endangering lives of the students, more so since the monsoons are around the corner and a heavy downpour can prove to be fatal.”

Meanwhile, headmaster of the school Jagdish Verma said, “We have already written to Hamirpur deputy director’s office about the bad condition of the school building, urging him to declare it unsafe and make an alternative arrangement.”

Bheem Singh Rana, deputy director, primary education, Hamirpur, was not available for his comment in this regard as he was away to attend a meeting in Shimla.

Shimla, June 28
The timings of entry in the state Secretariat has been increased for the conveniences of general public.

Additional Secretary, Secretariat Administration Department, JS Chauhan said here today that visitors would be allowed entry from 1 pm to 5 pm instead of present 3 pm to 5 pm.

This decision had been taken on the directions of Chief Minister PK Dhumal as people had been complaining to him that the period of two hours from 3 pm to 5 pm was too short and sometimes they were not able to meet ministers and officers concerned due to paucity of time.

The order has come into force from today itself.

Palampur, June 28
Two cars were reportedly stolen from residential area of the town last night. One car was stolen from Thakurdwra and another from nearby locality Ghuggar Tanda.

Vijay Kumar, one of the victims, said he last saw his car at 1 am. However, when he got up early at 6 am, he found his car missing.

Two more cars were allegedly stolen last week. Though the police had registered cases of theft, no arrest have been made so far. Police teams sent to trace the cars came back without any clue.

RK Sood, president, Palampur Welfare Forum, today urged the Kangra SSP to personally look into the matter. He said deteriorating law and order situation had become a matter of concern in the town. More so, as the police had failed to nab the culprits, he added.