Shimla, September 2
An acute shortage of apple trays and cartons has added to the woes of growers who have been facing unending problems in transportation of produce due to bad roads and non-availability of trucks.

Respite from incessant rains over the past one week has allowed the growers to harvest the crop. However, they are unable to send the produce to the market as trays and cartons are not available.

With state-agencies like the HPMC and HIMFED having failed to make adequate arrangements for the supply of packaging material for the bumper season, the growers are virtually left at the mercy of traders who are exploiting the situation to the hilt.

Automatic apple trays are being supplied at Rs 8 to Rs 10 per piece as against the normal rate of Rs 4.50 per tray. Sun-dried trays, which are normally available for Rs 2.50 to Rs 3 each, are also being sold at more than double the rate.

“Cartons, which were available for Rs 33 at the start of the season, are now being supplied for Rs 42 or even more,” said Pawan Chauhan, pradhan of Pandli panchayat in Kotkhai.

So far, 4 lakh tonnes of apple have reached the market and every day about 1,200 trucks are being sent out from the state.

Besides, 18,000 tonnes of apple have been procured under the market intervention scheme (MIS). Shortage of trucks forced the authorities to deploy vehicles available with various government departments for transportation of fruit procured under the MIS, some of which had started rotting.

Still, more than one crore boxes are yet to be transported out and trucks and packaging material are needed urgently.

The returns have been poor, particularly in the past fortnight, as the market, which hit rock-bottom last week, has not recovered due to continuing heavy arrival.

In fact, the market had dwindled further and the prices of the best quality royal delicious variety declined by another 15 to 20 per cent.

“A box is now fetching just Rs 650 to Rs 700 as against Rs 800 to Rs 900 two weeks ago,” said Moti Lal Derta, Zila Parishad member from Jubbal Kotkhai area who sold his produce at Delhi yesterday.

The relatively inferior varieties like red golden are fetching around Rs 350 per box, almost half the normal rate expected at this time of the season.

Chamba, September 2
Over 50,000 pilgrims took holy dip in the sacred Manimahesh Lake on the occasion of Janamashthmi here today. During the month-long Manimahesh pilgrimage that officially commenced from August 20, nearly 1.5 lakh pilgrims have so far taken bath in the icy cold waters of the holy lake.

Chamba Deputy Commissioner Devesh Kumar told The Tribune that the pilgrims had been making a beeline en route Manimahesh to have holy bath as the pilgrimage would conclude on September 15 on the auspicious occasion of Radhashthmi. The figure of pilgrims the holy place is expected to go in lakhs.

The DC said over 200 police personnel have been deployed to facilitate the pilgrims and help in the regulation of traffic from Rakh to Hadsar.

Kumar, who took stock of the situation of the ongoing pilgrimage, stated that the parking arrangements of about 1,500 vehicles carrying pilgrims from the neighbouring states had been made on the highway side parking lots.

The DC said an NGO, Sulabh International, was already appealing to the pilgrims to help in keeping the environment clean on the virgin hill slopes of the sacred Manimahesh Lake so that Manimahesh Nala, Budhil river — a tributary of the Ravi — should not be contaminated.

Officials of the state government are on their toes to provide all possible help and facilities to the pilgrims visiting the lake, the DC stated.

“The langar organisers, who were not adhering to the norms of cleanliness, had been advised to follow the rules so that environment on the itinerary of Manimahesh could remain pollution free,” he said.

Shimla, September 2
The CPM state secretariat has sought resignation of Health Minister Rajeev Bindal for his alleged role in reinstatement of a drug controller, who is facing trial in a corruption case.

Member of the secretariat Tikender Panwar said as per information gathered under the Right to Information Act, Bindal had asked the department to reinstate the tainted officer, Sher Singh. The high court has taken cognisance of gross violations made by the government and asked the Chief Secretary to furnish the details of the officers who have been reinstated after being booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Since the minister was directly involved in Sher Singh’s reinstatement, he should resign from the Cabinet, Panwar said.

The action of the government in reinstating officials trapped in vigilance net belie tall claims of the BJP government that it was committed to make Himachal Pradesh a corruption-free state, he alleged. The direct involvement of ministers in protecting the tainted officers apart from opening of private universities in the state, permission to construct hydel projects and clearance for industrial projects have all been mired in corruption.

In fact, efforts made by the officers in the Vigilance Department are nullified by reinstating such tainted officers who had arrested with great efforts, he alleged.

The CPM demanded that the ministers should declare their assets afresh and these should be compared with the detail of assets provided at the time of contesting elections. The party also alleged that majority of the ministers had amassed assets disproportionate to their know sources of income.

Dharamsala, September 2
A study conducted by doctors from the Department of Physiology at Tanda Medical College has brought to the fore ill-effects of vehicular pollution on health of traffic cops in Himachal.

Dr Rupali Parlewar, associate professor, Department of Physiology, Tanda Medical College, who is conducting a research in association with Monia Rathod, registrar in the same department, while talking to The Tribune, said they took samples of 120 Himachal police constables. These included 90 traffic cops and 30 cops who had never worked on traffic duty.

According to Rupali, they tested lung function of cops using spirometry and carried out blood tests to evaluate oxygen-carrying capacity of the haemoglobin.

“From the preliminary results, we can say that there was marked difference in data collected from traffic cops and those who had never worked on traffic duty. However, the analysis is still going on. It is likely to take another month,” she added.

The basic hypothesis of the research was that vehicular traffic duty is at its peak during tourist season. Due to narrow roads at most of the hill stations in Himachal, exposure of traffic cops to vehicular traffic is much more. This is coupled by the fact that the number of traffic cops in Himachal is comparatively less and they cannot rotate duties at shorter intervals.

It is for the first time that a study is aimed at evaluating the affects of vehicular pollution on the health of traffic cops.

The doctors said they would also suggest measures to the Himachal police to minimise the effects of vehicular pollution on health of traffic cops.

Dharamsala, September 2
The golden jubilee celebrations of Tibetan democracy-in-exile observed today were marked by activities that illustrated different thoughts simmering within Tibetan leaders in India.

The Dalai Lama, while addressing an audience in Sera monastery yesterday, said, “I am 76 now. The responsibility should be taken over by others in a spirit as if I am no longer present. I will continue working for Tibet till I die, however, in a different capacity.” Meanwhile, later, participants of Tibetan general meeting urged the Dalai Lama to continue as their leader.

The pro-independence Tibetan leaders also held “Regzin” (independence meeting) in which about 30 delegates participated. The meeting was called under the banner of Wokar Tibet website run by youth leader Shingza Rinpoche of the Sera monastery.

Tibetans and the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) greeted the Dalai Lama on the occasion of the golden jubilee celebrations at McLeodganj today.

In his brief address, the Dalai Lama called on the monastic community to carry out proper study of Buddhist teachings and uphold their ethical behaviour.

He said people should not blindly follow his advice as a kind of order to shun the propitiation of Dholgyal (Shugden). Rather, they must fully understand and have a holistic view of the significance, reason, history, and implications of restricting the practice of this fierce spirit.

“I have nothing to say to those who practice the spirit despite knowing the harmful effects associated with it. There is freedom to follow any religion or propitiate any deity. But it is my duty to clarify about the practice of Dholgyal,” he added.

Kandrori (Dharamsala) September 2
A few soldiers thrashed residents of Kandrori village located on the Punjab-Himachal border yesterday. According to sources, a soldier came to Kandrori market last evening. He entered into an altercation with a few local youths who thrashed him and also damaged his motorcycle.

He later came back with 40 of his colleagues. Failing to find the youths who had attacked him, the soldiers beat up people moving around the market place. Many elders of Kandrori village were also thrashed.

Meanwhile, the villagers gathered in a large number today at the local police station and demanded registration of case against the accused soldiers.

The police registered cases of rioting against the soldiers as well as the unidentified youths who thrashed the soldier. The case was registered after efforts to strike a compromise between the parties failed.

Kandrori SHO said though an FIR was registered, further investigation was going on to identify the real accused.

No arrests was made till the filing of the report.

State president of the Youth Congress Manmohan Katoch reached the spot and demanded action against the accused.

Nurpur, September 2
A case of alleged misappropriation of government funds under Central government-sponsored Swajaldhara scheme has come to light in Sadwan gram panchayat. A case has been registered under Sections 409, 468, 471 and 120 (B) against panchayat pradhan Aruna Sharma along with her husband Ashok Sharma, president of the Gurukul Swajaldhara Committee (GSC), panchayat secretary, up-pradhan and two ward members for conspiring to misappropriate government funds to the tune of Rs 4.88 lakh allocated for the construction of a pond in the village.

According to DSP Hari Ram, following orders of the court, the police has lodged the FIR against eight persons who had allegedly prepared forged documents for the construction of the pond in 2006. He said complainant Pratap Shukla, former zila parishad member from Sadwan village, had alleged that no pond had been constructed notwithstanding withdrawal of the earmarked money. “Thorough investigations have been initiated after lodging of a criminal case and action will be taken after completion of inquiry,” he revealed.

Meanwhile, Aruna Sharma has denied any misappropriation of funds at panchayat level and added that as per the directions of the district panchayat officer, she had disbursed money through cheques to the GSC in a phased manner.

Hamirpur, September 2
The first cultural show of Hamir Utsav held last night was dominated by famous comedian Sudesh Lehri. Lehri, during his one-and-half-hour performance, mimicked singers like Gurdas Maan, Harbhajan Maan, Hansraj Hans, ghazal singer Jagjit Singh and Wadali brothers. He had the audience, including Chief Minister PK Dhumal, in splits with his inimitable style of performance.

Lehri also mimicked film actors such as Shahrukh Khan, Nana Pateker, Sanjeev Kumar and others.

Other performers of the evening included Indian idol fame singers Sanchari Bose and Rohit Raj. Sanchari left the audience spellbound with her rendition of evergreen song “Vande- Matram”.

While artists from Rajasthan presented Kalia dance, local performers and schoolchildren also took part in the cultural programme.

Earlier, Dhumal formally inaugurated the utsav by lighting a lamp.

Addressing the audience on the occasion, Dhumal congratulated the people of Hamirpur district for the progress it made after its formation on September 1, 1972. Transport Minister Mahender Singh Thakur, MLAs Baldev Sharma, Urmil Thakur and several other dignitaries were also present on this occasion. They were received by Hamirpur DC Abhishek Jain.