Hamirpur, July 17
While the Himachal Pradesh government has constituted the Directorate of Health Safety and Regulation (DHSR) in the state to implement the Food Safety and Standards Act (PSSFA), 2006, its actual implementation is still a far cry since it has failed to appoint designated officials in the districts who could ensure implementation of this Act on the ground level.

This is a matter of concern since the central government, after passing this Act in 2008, had directed all state governments to take steps to implement this Act which had replaced the Prevention and Food Adulteration Act, 1954-1955.

Implementation of the PSSFA had become quite important in view of increasing number of cases of food adulteration and soft provision of law of punishment where many culprits walked free.

To make food adulteration a more serious offence and the punishment more stringent, the old law was amended and the PFA Act came into existence in 2008. For its affective implementation, different officials were appointed.

In this context, designated officials would be entrusted the job of implementation of the PSSFA. However, the DHSR has failed to appoint these officials even after a year.

According to sources, the actual reason for not appointing designated officials in the districts is due to efforts of serving medical officials to get appointed on this position to get extra benefits.

However, experts suggest, “Since the job of designated officials would be quite technical requiring full knowledge of chemical examination of food, bio-technology, nutrition etc, only specialists would be appointed on the post. Moreover, medical officials are already overburdened with their present duties.”

Rohit Jamwal, director, DHSR said, “We are in the process of appointing designated officials in the districts. However, medical officials would be provided specialised training for this post if they are appointed.”

Mandi, July 17
Two vertical factions, one led by Union Steel Minister Virbhadra Singh and other by leader of the Opposition Vidya Stokes and the state president Kaul Singh Thakur, are lobbying hard with the central high command to put the “new state chief of their choice”.

There are two names, Parkash Chaudhary and the sitting president Puran Chand Thakur, doing the rounds for the district president to be officially declared here on July 20.

Balh Congress MLA Parkash Chaudhary, who enjoys the support of Virbahdra Singh, and Puran Chand, who also claims the support of Singh, have emerged strong contenders for the post.

The political clout of Mandi MP and five-time Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh still reigns supreme in the district which has 10 members, the second largest number of the delegates and block presidents after Kangra, which has 15 members, said insiders.

Party insiders revealed that Virbhadra lobby had got upper hand in eight blocks out of 10 blocks in the district. Except for Drang where Kaul Singh’s loyalist has been elected as the block president, other block chiefs are Virbhadra Singh’s supporters, they claimed.

The election for the Jogindernagar block will be decided tomorrow as the dispute has arisen over the selection of a PCC member and the block president. But Virbhadra supporter Surinderpal Thakur enjoys upper hand there, said party workers.

The name of Parkash Chaudhary has gained wide support because of the Dalit factor as most of the block presidents are from the upper castes, commented a senior Congress leader from Mandi.

It appeared that all senior leaders would arrive at the consensus on Chaudhary and Puran Chand would back out from the contest, he added.

But Chaudhary and Puran Chand told reporters today that they were candidates for the district post. “All delegates and senior leaders are with us”, both claimed.

Another factor going in favour of Chaudhary is that the present BJP district chief is a Dalit leader, Dile Ram, from Nachan. “The Congress wants to consolidate its Dalit base and other backward castes vote bank and the same logic may apply when it comes to elect the state president as Dalits and OBCs traditionally go with the Congress”, they explained.

Congress spokesperson Sohan Lal Thakur said the election to the district would be unanimous on July 10 in the presence of the district returning officer Krishna Mohni.

Solan, July 17
With initiation of a Pharma-cum-Food Technical Institute at Bhatoli last evening, the state’s youth would now get an opportunity to acquire training in operating various pharmaceutical trades thereby making them eligible for skilled jobs in pharmaceutical units.

The institute was dedicated to public by Chief Minister PK Dhumal last evening. He lauded efforts of the Himachal Drug Manufacturers’ Association (HDMA) in taking a lead in setting up the public private partnership (PPP) venture which would provide skilled manpower to the pharmaceutical industry.

The institute would train a batch of 125 students and they would be provided four-month exhaustive training at the institute and two-month on-the-job training in various pharmaceutical units where they would be paid a stipend of Rs 1,500 to Rs 3,000 per month.

Any student having 10+2 or matriculation qualification would be eligible for the course where admission and course curriculum would be according to the guidelines of the State Council for Vocational Training.

The PPP venture has drawn immense response from the industry who has contributed machinery and other equipment.

The CM also laid the foundation stone of a labour hostel for working women at Jharmajri where 25 per cent share would be pooled in by the association out of the total sum of Rs 2 crore. 

Shimla, July 17
The government would explore the possibility of connecting Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh industrial area with broad- gauge railway line by getting feasibility survey conducted.

This was revealed by Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal during his interaction with the industrialists at Baddi in Nalagarh subdivision of Solan after laying the foundation stone of a lift drinking water supply scheme, Abarni, to be constructed at a estimated cost of Rs 6.77 crore.

Dhumal said Rs 12.35 crore would be spent for improvement of Barotiwala-Parwanoo road and Rs 9.63 crore on protecting Kundu, Bagwania and Patta bridges.

He said the area had already been connected with Chandigarh and an expressway would link it with upcoming international airport at Mohali. He said toll barriers at Baddi, Barotiwala and Buerowal were being computerised and beautified, equipped with proper automation to provide easy access and swift traffic movement.

The Chief Minister said special industrial security force was being raised for industrial areas of the state. He reiterated the resolve of the government to provide fool- proof security in the industrial area against anti-social elements.

Dhumal said the government would consider rewarding entrepreneurs, providing 100 per cent employment to Himachalis in their units. 

Chandigarh, July 17
Protection of runaway couples is fast becoming a burden on the Haryana police. As many as 38 policemen have been deployed to protect such couples from the terror of the khap panchayats or their relatives.

In response to a petition filed in public interest by an advocate for directions to the State of Haryana to recover the expenses from khap panchayats or those threatening the young couples, the state has asserted: “Now, there are 29 couples to whom protection has been provided.”

The affidavit filed through Special Secretary (Home) SK Goyal says security has been provided to 17 couples in compliance with the HC orders - five couples in compliance with the district and sessions judges’ order, and another “five couples by the police itself on account of threat faced by them from their families.”

Referring to the issue of recovering expenses, the affidavit states: “There is no provision in the relevant Act and the Rules for recovery of expenses on account of providing protection to the persons in case of threat to their lives from the persons who are behind such dictates/ threats.”

“Further, the state government has also not framed any policy or guidelines for recovery of expenses spent on providing security to the victims of dictates/ threat from the persons comprising of khap panchayat. In the absence of any specific policy, it is not possible for the respondent to effect recovery of expenses spent on providing protection to the victims.” The PIL will now come up for further hearing on July 28. 

Shimla, July 17
Though there was a slight decline in the number of diarrhoea cases reported but the teams of the health department continued distributing medicines to the people in the affected areas in Dhingu Bowri and other parts of Sanjauli.

An official spokesperson said a total of 23 new cases of diarrhoea had been reported during the past 24 hours. This included two at the Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC), 14 at the civil dispensary, Sanjauli, and seven at the Deen Dayal Upyadhyay Hospital.

Water samples taken by the local Municipal Corporation (MC) from the Dhingu Bowri area did not have any contamination since they were taken after the water was chlorinated. Joint Commissioner of MC, K.K. Sharma, said as a precautionary measure a board had been put up at Dhingu Bowri cautioning people against consuming its water.

He added that the water connections given from the Dhingu Bowri had also been disconnected. “One SDO and JE have specially been deputed to give water connections from the MC supply to people of the area,” he said.

Teams of the department today visited the affected areas and distributed medicines and literature to educate people against water borne diseases.