Shimla, November 4
The historic temple of Jakhu today became the site for the tallest idol of Lord Hanuman in the world at a height of 8,500 feet as the unveiling ceremony took place at the shrine in the presence of Chief Minister PK Dhumal and Abhishek Bachchan.

Speaking on the occasion, PK Dhumal expressed gratitude to HC Nanda, chairman of the Nanda Trust, who have undertaken the stupendous task of raising the 108-foot tall Hanuman idol at the temple. “The Jakhu temple is a famous shrine where devotees make a beeline but now there is another attraction in the form of the tallest Hanuman idol in the world,” he said.

Dhumal said there was a lot of scope for heritage and temple tourism in Himachal, which was known as Dev Bhoomi. He said not only was Shimla famous for having remained the erstwhile summer capital of the British, but it also had a lot of heritage and legacy that still remained intact. He added that even now many foreigners came here looking for the houses in which their forefathers lived during their stay here during the days of the Raj.

“Our endeavour is to strengthen tourism infrastructure and attract more tourists and for this, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a loan of Rs 454 crore to Himachal,” he said. A ropeway was being constructed to the Jakhu temple, which would be another attraction for the people.

Harish Chander Nanda, chairman of the Nanda Trust, who conceived the idea of setting up the tallest idol of Hanuman at the shrine, said it was the unflinching faith that his family had in the shrine for the last three decades which made them undertake the task.

“If you have true faith in Lord Hanuman, all your wishes will be granted and obstacles removed, such is his might,” said Nanda, who was here with his entire family and relatives.

The entire expenditure for the project has been borne by the trust of JHS Svendgaard Laboratories.

Mandi, November 4
As the sowing season has started in the lower region, farmers are protesting the acute shortage of fertiliser in the region, thanks to the “faulty system of distribution and the delay in procurement of fertilisers in the state”.

According to the farmers, the sowing season has started but they are not getting enough fertilisers from the sale depots set up in the district. The farmers lodged their protest in Jogindernagar, Ner Chowk in Balh valley and Lahaul-Spiti.

Though the state fertiliser controlling officer has taken over the charge from the sluggish HIMFED and IFFCO asking the sale depots to distribute the fertilisers promptly, Mandi, Kullu, Lahaul-Spiti, Bilaspur districts and others areas are facing shortage of fertilisers in the state, the farmers resented.

Mandi district needs over 9000 metric tonnes of fertiliser in a year. The district agricultural department has put forward a demand of 3,900 MT for the current sowing season for both agricultural and horticultural farmers, but it has received 960 MT while another consignment of 260 MT has arrived at Chandigarh.

The demand for chemical fertilisers has gone up as the farmers now depend solely on these as they do not tend cattle to make manure as was the case earlier.

The agricultural department is distributing bio-fertilisers, recommended by agriculture university, to at least 1500 to 2000 farmers in each block. “We have enough stocks of biofertilisers but farmers are not eager to use it despite productivity is going down due to excess use of chemicals”, said TR Sharma, district agricultural officer.

On the other hand, the agricultural department and agricultural and horticultural universities have failed to promote the use of bio-fertiliser among the farmers. The productivity has gone down because the salinity of the soil has increased due to the excessive use of chemical fertilisers, said scientists.

Kisan Sabha leader Kushal Bhardwaj said fertilisers, both chemicals and bio-fertilisers, were not available in the district and farmers were a desperate lot. “We have sent the memorandum to the government but to no avail so far”, he added.

Top officials told The Tribune that the state should adopt the open fertiliser policy as was the case in other parts of the country. “But we have to depend on HIMFED and IFFCO for distribution and they have to give advance to procure fertilisers from the companies that in turn result in delay”, they added.

Deputy director, agriculture, Dr Manmohan, said the department was facing shortage of chemical fertilisers in the state but the government had procured more as per demand. “We are encouraging farmers to use bio-fertilisers as well for the organic farming and to increase productivity”. 

Shimla, November 4
The Himachal government is contemplating undertaking construction of all three road tunnels in the state on the Built Operate and Transfer (BOT) annuity basis so as to ensure that work on these ambitious projects start at the earliest.

This was decided at a meeting chaired by Thakur Gulab Singh, Public Works Minister, with the senior officers of the Public Works Department here today. He said since the construction of tunnels was on the priority of the government, efforts would be made to complete all modalities to enable construction of these tunnels at the earliest.

He said after obtaining the feasibility report and detailed designs, work would be started on these tunnels so as to make travelling in the state - a commuters delight besides helping in environment conservation. “Under the annuity model of the BOT, the executing agency is required to meet the entire upfront and construction cost besides the expenditure on annual maintenance,” he stated.

Thakur said, “The concessionaire recovers the entire investment and pre-determined cost of return out of the annuities payable to the government.” He said selection would be made on the basis of the least annuity quoted by the bidders. He said pre-feasibility report regarding Bangana-Dhaneta, Karsehar-Telang (Bhubu Jot tunnel on Joginder-Ghatasani-Telang-Kullu road) and Holi-Utrala road had been prepared.

The minister said provision of Rs 217 lakh had been made for preparation of these DPR’s. He said since the public-private participation was an alternative means for adequate and sustained support for financing various projects, the government had decided to execute all these tunnels through this mode. 

Dharamsala, November 4
Dharamsala, as the name signifies is shelter for all. People from all over the world are settled here. People of different communities here have gelled with their Indian friends so well that they participate in their festivals and celebrations with equal fervour.

Tibetans have taken refuge in India and they have made Mcleodganj (in upper Dharamsala) as their main centre, which is also called mini Lhasa. With the passage of time, Tibetans and Indians share a unique bonding and both the communities have become a part of each others cultures, festivals and celebrations and Divali is equally special for Tibetans as for their Indian friends.

Ugyen Kyab, a Tibetan refugee, who runs a business of computers in Mcleodganj, said, “Divali holds a special place in our lives as it’s an important festival of our Indian friends. I have been celebrating the festival from a long time.” He added, “We buy gifts for them, burst crackers and enjoy lavish dinners and sweets with them. Such celebrations bring us together and strengthen the bonding.”

Nawang Kyab, eight-year-old Tibetan boy, who studies in an Indian school knows a lot about the festival but like any other Indian child for him also Divali means bursting crackers, eating sweets and enjoying the holiday.

Similary, a doctor couple from Milan are equally excited about the festival. Beatrice Benedetti and her husband Fulvio Salvo work in a Tibetan hospital and this will be their first Divali in India. Beatrice said, “I know for Indians Divali is as important as Christmas for us. But unlike Christmas it falls on different dates every year as per the Hindu calendar.” “Though it is a working day for us tomorrow but after work we are going to celebrate Divali with our Indian friends at their home and we will relish Indian cuisine at their place. I plan to wear something Indian on Divali night and will enjoy the fireworks and lights all over,” said Beatrice.

Solan, November 4
Accusing the state government of misusing funds provided by the MNREGS, Kaul Singh Thakur, PCC president, today said the state government was using these funds to execute road construction under the state schemes to gain credit.

He said diversion of the MNREGS funds for other schemes would be opposed by the Congress at all levels.

Kaul Singh was addressing a press conference at Barog after being given a rousing welcome at Parwanoo barrier, Jabli, Kumarhatti, Barog and later Solan by the District Congress Committee comprising DCC president Rahul Thakur, president Arki Block Congress Committee Sanjay Awasthi, PCC member Prakash Karar, former MLAs Raghu Raj and Lajja Ram, zila parishad chairman Ramkumar Chowdhary and 
others.

He said the state government was claiming credit for various central schemes and failed to provide funds for developmental works.

Lending support to the month-old agitation of the truckers of the Ambuja Cement Limited he said their demand of freight hike was justified and the government should intervene to resolve the issue as it was unfortunate that the agitation had extended for so long. He said when the state government could hike bus fares by 25 per cent after increase in the fuel prices it was unfortunate that the genuine demand of the truckers was not being accepted. 

Bilaspur, November 4
The District Congress Committee here has expressed strong resentment against the failure of the Agriculture Department to supply wheat seed and the essential fertilisers to farmers.

A deputation of farmers of various areas led by the Congress state secretary Hoshiar Singh Thakur met Deputy Commissioner Nandita Gupta here today and presented her a memorandum urging her to ensure immediate supply of both these essential items so that farmers don’t suffer. They said any delay in these supplies could put farmers to huge losses in production.

The deputation insisted that these items should be ordered to be supplied through government’s fair price shops throughout district so that these are available on fixed and justified rates in all parts of district at the earliest.

Later, Hoshiar Singh said the Deputy Commissioner assured to take quickest possible action in this matter so that farmers get supplies well in time.

Hamirpur, November 4
The term of director of the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Hamirpur, Dr IK Bhatt, who remained in the thick of several controversies, despite his several steps to take the institute to new heights during his tenure, ended today.

Dr Bhatt was to complete his term on November 6 but the next two days being holidays here he relinquished his charge today. He is most likely to give charge to Prof RL Sharma of the Civil Engineering Department, senior most professor in the NIT at present.

Though the term of Dr Bhatt began with a good note and he took several steps for improving the facilities in the NIT and enhancing its prestige in academic circles but later part of his tenure invited criticism from certain quarters.

As his term progressed further, he came under attack from the teaching community and administrative staff of the institute. The NIT teachers association raised its finger on the appointments made in a few departments for reportedly committing irregularities and later had taken up this matter at several levels i.e. the Board of Governing of the NIT and its chairman. It even demanded a vigilance probe into this matter.

Later, a CBI team had raided the administrative offices on the NIT campus here on April 16, 2008. Peeved at the media reporting on this issue, Dr Bhatt had even banned the entry of mediapersons on the NIT campus.

A public interest litigation (PIL) was also filed in the HP High Court against Dr Bhatt, Chairman of the Board of Governors and other officers of the Ministry of Human Resources Development in this regard after the denial of permission to the CBI to proceed against him, which is still pending.

Bilaspur, November 4
The evil of corruption has to be fought on all fronts and all people must cooperate to remove this evil.

This call was given by state Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Department Deputy Superintendent of Police B S Negi while presiding over the concluding function of the Anti-Corruption Week organised by the District Nehru Yuva Kendra (NYK) at Dohla Brahamana under the aegis of the Mahila Mandal near here last evening.

Negi said the government was determined to root out corruption from all sections of society but the government could only succeed if all sections of society show willingness.

He urged people to come forward to provide information regarding any irregularity or corrupt practices within their knowledge to the Anti-Corruption and Vigilance Department immediately which would be investigated and culprit would be brought to book.

Palampur, November 4
Dozens of women from Taragarh village of Palampur subdivision yesterday staged a dharna outside the local police station in protest against misbehaviour by a policeman with a village woman.

Later, all women of the village marched to Palampur and staged a dharna outside the police station. Women demanded stern action against the erring police officer.

Talking to mediapersons outside the police station, agitated women said since women were also involved in the clash, the SHO should have deputed at least one woman constable to assist the police team. They alleged that while investigating the case a policeman abused and misbehaved with a woman, which was highly objectionable.

A senior police officer said a police team had gone to Taragarh village to investigate a case relating to clash among villagers. During investigation a policeman allegedly misbehaved with a woman and abused her. This caused resentment among the village women.

He said as soon as the matter was reported to him he withdrew the investigation from the erring police personnel and ordered an inquiry. If he is found guilty departmental action will be initiated against him, he added.