Shimla, December 4
With indications of severe winter this year, the timely start of ice-skating has brought cheers to the locals, who thronged the country’s only natural rink on the first day of the start of the game today.

Even though the ice is yet to fully set in to be able to cover the entire rink, even then skating this year has started on time and the continuing clear weather has added to the possibility of maximum skating sessions. This has given hopes of a nice long-skating session, which sport lovers have been missing for the past few years.

“Incidentally, with most public schools finishing with their annual examinations only yesterday, it was a perfect start to the winter vacations for us,” remarked Divyank Sood, a class X student of St Edward’s School. With the minimum temperature being recorded at 4.1 degrees Celsius today, it was an ideal morning as everyone rushed to the rink to be able to enjoy ice-skating.

It was in 1920 that the Shima Ice Skating rink was set up at the initiative of an Irish military officer, Blessington. Eversince water is sprinkled on the clay in a manner that it forms an ice sheet to facilitate skating.

The number of skating days each year had been on the decline during the past few years, causing concern among the sport lovers. “Though last winter, we were able to get 77 skating sessions, the clear weather has raised our hopes of getting the maximum possible days to enjoy the sport,” said optimistic Bhuvnesh Banga, secretary of the Shimla Ice Skating Club.

The winters of 2008-09 were probably amongst the worst in terms of ice skating as there were only 28 sessions.

“Even though the least number of skating sessions in any year till date has been in 1973 when the figure was just 12 but then we have the example of 113 sessions in 1995-96, so we are expecting a good season this year,” said Banga. Last year there were a total of 77 sessions and the year before that the number was a mere 28, he added.

The sport lovers are hoping that there are the maximum possible days with clear sky as this helps ion formation of ice. To add to their optimism is the forecast by the Meteorological Department which has indicated mainly dry and clear weather. The decline in the night temperature to 3.1 degrees Celsius on Thursday had raised hopes of start of the game from today.

Solan, December 4
The electricity board has not yet disconnected power connections of the six industrial units in the Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh (BBN) industrial area, which are not following the pollution control norms.

The State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) had issued directions to the Electricity Department on November 26 for disconnecting power supply of six units after their effluent samples had exceeded the prescribed limits.

However, no action was taken even after a week, forcing the SPCB to issue a reminder notice for compliance on December 2. The notice was sent by hand so as to rule out any further delay, confirmed an official.

The SPCB submitted a list of 56 units to the state High Court yesterday after issuance of directions consequent to a PIL pertaining to increasing pollution in the BBN area. The board had collected effluent samples of these units in the past 45 days and out of this, 15 units had failed the test and seven of these, that were first timers, were served show-cause notices while directions were issued to the remaining seven for disconnection of their power as they were habitual defaulters. One case was, however, under review.

However, the board appeared to be adopting dual standards as a Baddi-based textile unit was merely issued a notice now. It had received several notices for failure to remove colour in its effluent treatment system.

The delay adopted by the electricity department in executing the power disconnection orders was emboldening the erring units. This was not the lone case where action had been delayed.

Baddi-based Baba Motors had been issued a notice for power disconnection more than two months ago but the orders were yet to be followed.

Interestingly, officials of the electricity board disconnected the power supply of a bath fittings manufacturing unit based at Jharmajri on Thursday.

Executive Engineer of the electricity board at Baddi, JC Rana, confirmed that a copy of these orders had been received but he would enquire the delay in executing these orders from his staff.

Shimla, December 4
The State Election Commission today announced January 3 as the date for holding of polls for the 25 municipal councils and 23 nagar panchayats in the state.

Addressing a press conference here today, State Election Commissioner Dev Swarup said barring two tribal districts of Kinnaur and Lahaul Spiti, which have no urban local body, elections would be held all over the state. A total of 3.45 lakh voters would exercise their right to franchise in the polls for which the notification was issued today.

It is for the first time that there will be 50 per cent reservation for women in these polls. The number of male voters in these polls is 1.60 lakh while the number of women voters is 1.44 lakh. The direct election for the post of president and vice-president in these urban local bodies too will be held for the first time.

Swarup said it was for the first time that there would be the use of electronic voting machines (EVM) in the municipal council and nagar panchayat elections. The nominations papers could be filed from December 13 to 15 while scrutiny would be held on December 16.

Withdrawal of names could be done on December 18 and it was on the same day that symbols would be allotted to the candidates. Polling will take place on January 3 and the results would be declared the same day after counting was over. The election process would be over on January 6, he said.

Swarup said all arrangements had been completed for the smooth and peaceful conduct of polls. “A total of 2,100 EVMs will be used while 4,000 employees will ensure free and fair polls,” he said.

He added that it was for the first time that elections would be held on party symbols but it was not mandatory and only those contesting on the tickets of political parties recognized at the national level would be given the symbols.

The commission has already fixed December 28, 30 and January 1 as the date for the holding of panchayat polls in the state. 

Hamirpur, December 4
The district Congress committee has formed a nine-member screening committee to finalise party candidates for ensuing zila parishad, nagar parishad and nagar panchayat elections.

District Congress president Sunil Sharma said party candidates desirous of contesting these elections through Congress platform should submit their applications soon to the district Congress committee.

He said the applications would be scrutinised by the screening committee.

The list of candidates finalised by the screening committee would be forwarded for the approval of Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee president Kaul Singh Thakur, after which the list would be announced keeping in view the winning prospects of candidates.

The members of the screening committee are Sunil Sharma (chairman), Ranjeet Singh Verma, Anita Verma, Kuldeep Singh Pathania (all former MLAs), Rajinder Zar, Suresh Kumar, Narender Thakur, Prithi Singh and Deepak Sharma.

Palampur, December 4
Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee president Thakur Kaul Singh today demanded removal of all 62 tainted officers with doubtful integrity, whose list was submitted before the Himachal Pradesh High Court last week by the DGP, Himachal Pradesh, in connection with corruption cases pending for action with the government.

Addressing a news conference here this morning, Kaul said the tainted officers had been holding key sensitive posts in the state government. Despite a lot of controversy in the state, the government was yet to initiate any action against them.

He said the government should immediately remove all of them from key posts. He also demanded action against 11 other officers, who had already been penalised and punished by courts, still holding their offices. Kaul said the government should clarify its stand why it was shielding the corrupt officers despite court orders.

He expressed grave concern over the large-scale transfer of lands to the non-Himachalis and no farmers in the state.

Despite the specific law under Section 118A of the HP Land Reforms and Tenancy Act that non-Himachalis and non-farmers could not buy land in Himachal, the state government had granted permission for the transfer of 7,000 hectares in the past three years which was a high figure, if this unhealthy process continued Himachalis would loose their lands in the state soon.

He quoted that the Shimla Municipal Corporation had also given illegal permission to a private builder to construct flats in Shimla, so that he could sell it without the government permission by passing the provisions of Section 118 of the HP Land Reforms and Tenancy Act.

Kaul said the Congress would highlight the education scam in the state assembly, which would be in session from December 6, at Dharmsala. He said the record of the past 15 years of the HP State Education Board should be scrutinised by the Onkar Sharma Committee, so that truth could come out. He also demanded registration of criminal cases against the chairman and the secretary of the board, who had signed bogus certificates of 3,000 students.

Kaul added that till date only petty employees of the board had been booked, big shots were beyond the reach of the police because of political pressure.

Shimla, December 4
The Himachal Pradesh High Court has appointed Bhag Chand Sharma, Additional Registrar-cum-Principal Private Secretary to the Chief Justice as the new Registrar (Administration)-cum-Principal Private Secretary to the Chief Justice of the High Court of Himachal Pradesh.

Sharma hails from Rohru in Shimla district. He joined High Court of Himachal Pradesh in 1984 and since then worked with many Judges in the High Court. It is worthwhile to mention here that Sharma is the first officer amongst the High Court staff who has been appointed as Registrar (Administration).

Prior to this, a judicial officer of the rank of District and Sessions Judge used to be the in charge of this post.

Bilaspur, December 4
The HP Non-Gazetted Employees Federation has urged the government to reintroduce free distribution of the CFL scheme, Atal Bihari Bijli Bachat Yojna, launched last year which had benefited consumers, state electricity board and industrialists of the state.

A meeting of the state federation executive committee held here today, under the chairmanship of its state president Ram Singh, pleaded that under this scheme consumers were reported to have benefited to the tune of Rs 100 crore while the electricity board had earned an additional income of Rs 150 crore by selling this saved power to other states. Industrialists have also got additional profits of over Rs 200 crore in additional production as there was no paucity of power for them in the state.

The meeting said now the government had not been supplying CFLs to the people, CFLs makers had increased its prices and these companies were taking full advantage of the government failure to restart the earlier scheme or to come out with any other scheme which should supply cheaper CFLs to people and saving them from exploitation of the private companies.

Shimla, December 4
The police has seized two satellite phones being used illegally in Kullu district by a construction company engaged in the execution of the Rohtang Tunnel project being executed in the district.

It was after receiving a tip-off from intelligence agencies that the district police acted and seized the two satellite phones being used by employees of Afcons Company. Use of satellite phones of the Thuraya Company, produced by an Arabian company, is completely banned in India.

Police sources said the use of these phones were banned in India. Even though the phones were being used by the company engaged in tunnel construction and since the location of the tunnel was close to the Chinese border, it was a very sensitive issue involving defence angle.

S.R. Mardi, Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order), confirmed that the satellite phones had been seized. The company had been using satellite phones as there were no services for cellular phone in the area.

It is for the first time that the police has seized satellite phones anywhere in the state. Though there are strict restrictions on the use of satellite phones all over the country, with Himachal sharing a boundary with China on the Kinnaur and Lahaul Spiti side, the use of the phones in the Rohtang tunnel area is very sensitive.

The construction company has been issued strict directions by the police and intelligence agencies not to allow the use of satellite phones as this involved the security of the nation. In fact, with build up of defence infrastructure by China on the Tibetan side, there has been a lot of concern in India on stepping up security along the Chinese border.

Shimla, December 4
A month after the rest of India marked the festival of lights, the state will celebrate its unique four-day “dark” Divali - slaughtering hundreds of cattle amid the beating of drums, playing of trumpets and chanting of mantras to appease gods.

The “dark” Divali, locally known as Buddhi Divali, will begin Sunday on “amavasya” (the last day of the dark fortnight of a lunar month) with merrymaking and singing of folklore related to the epic Mahabharata.

It is mainly celebrated in Ani and Nirmand in Kullu district, Shillai in Sirmaur district and Chopal in Shimla district and is considered as one of the biggest festivals of animal sacrifice.

The festival is associated with the battle of the Mahabharata as it is said to have started on the first day of Buddhi Divali. Another legend says the news of Lord Ram's return to Ayodhya reached late in these parts and hence the late celebration.

In Kullu district, the festival is celebrated to commemorate the killings of demons Dano and Asur who resided there in the form of snakes.

Hundreds of goats, sheep and buffaloes are sacrificed during the festival to appease gods and deities. "For this particular festival, we rear sheep and goats round the year. We feel bad when we sacrifice them. But their sacrifice ensures round-the-year prosperity and protection from natural calamities," said Sudha Rani, an octogenarian villager in the Shillai area. She said the locals believe if the age-old practice of “bali” or animal sacrifice was stopped, the villagers would face the wrath of the deities.

However, state language, art and culture department director Prem Sharma told IANS that the practice was registering a decline.

"We are motivating people to break coconuts instead of animals. Somehow, the practice (of sacrificing animals) has declined in some areas," he said.

As per the tradition, villagers take animals to a nearby temple where the sacrificial ceremony is performed on “amavasya”.

The severed heads are offered to the gods and deities and the animal's body is taken home for cooking. The feast is shared among villagers.

Sheetal Devi, another villager in Nirmand, said the leftover flesh was dried up and stored for consumption during the winter season.

"This festival also marks the beginning of the extreme winter season. The meat stored during this festival is used for consumption over the next three-four months when the entire area is marooned in snow," she said.

Kullu Deputy Commissioner B.M. Nanta said the practice of animal slaughter was more prevalent in Sirmaur district, where people were still backward. The animal protection groups and religious leaders have demanded that the illegal practice of animal killing be stopped.

N.G. Jayasimha, the US-based Humane Society's campaign manager in India, said: "The state government should take steps to prevent the slaughter of innocent animals."

A prominent centuries-old Buddhist monastery, the Key monastery in the Spiti Valley in Lahaul and Spiti district, last month appealed to the people to stop slaughtering animals and be more humane to other species.

The monastery has even warned locals, mostly Buddhists, that if they are caught slaughtering animals, including wild ones, or drinking liquor, a fine of Rs.20,000 will be imposed. — IANS

Dharamsala, December 4
The examination scam is likely to dominate the proceedings in the winter session of the Himachal assembly starting from December 6 at Dharamsala.

Sources here told The Tribune that many members of the house had moved a notice for discussion over the scam. The Speaker of the House Tulsi Ram is likely to allow discussion over the issue on the first day of the session.

The Congress will try to nail the government over the issue. The government has, however, formed a committee under the Chief Secretary to implement the recommendations of the Onkar committee that might act as its defence in the House.

The business advisory committee that has members from both ruling and opposition will meet tomorrow to decide on the issues to be debated in the House in the four-day session.

The sources also said the Congress had moved a notice for discussion on power policy, alleged benami land deals and lack of governance. It is likely to take the issue of delay in construction of many power projects sanctioned in the state.

Kaul Singh, HPCC president, while talking to The Tribune said he had moved a notice for discussion of overall governance in the state.

The ruling party on the other hand had moved a notice for discussion on awards given to the state in a survey conducted by India Today magazine. It is likely to use the award to list its achievements.

Besides the discussions, 21 bills are likely to be presented in the House for debate and approval. They include seven bills of private universities that have been allowed by the state government to function after ordinance. In September this year, the state government issued an ordinance for SAI University in Palampur and Bahra University in Solan district.

The select committee that was formed in the monsoon session to deliberate on the proposed HP Private Education Institutions Regulatory Commission Bill will also submit its report in the session. After the committee report, the bill is also likely to be presented for approval of the House.

The other important bills that will be presented before the House include the Nagar Palika Amendment Act 2010, the HP Pre-emption Bill 2010, the HP Para-Veterinary Council Bill and the Bill for allowing use of unclaimed bodies for research purpose in medical institutions.

Mandi, December 4
Environmental activists and ecologists today accused former Tourism Minister Gobind Singh Bali of encouraging mining mafias and the cement lobby and maintaining double standards on the issue of the cement plant being opposed by public at large in the state.

Reacting to Bali’s support for the cement plants for Sirmaur and Chamba districts and his opposition to the Sundernagar plant at a press conference, the environmentalist from Chamba, Kulbhushan Upmanyu said: “If Bali says that cement plant will hit tourism and ecology in Sundernagar, Mandi and Manali, then will cement plants bring tourism boom in Chamba and Sirmaur, where people also have the right to breathe in fresh air”.

Sharing Upmanyu’s view, Kuldip Verma, an environment activist from Sirmaur said Kinkri Devi and other women fought the mining mafias in the Dadahu, Sangrah and Shillai belt in the 1980-90s. But these mafias later made a safe haven using politicians to help set up their bases in the neighbouring poverty-stricken Sirmaur area or other parts of the state.

Ecologists added that the first Chief Minister Dr YS Parmar never allowed outsiders to exploit natural resources as he wanted to go slow on it. But the present day BJP or Congress leaders were hungry enough allowing more cement plants, private universities, power projects and had double standards.

On the other, both BJP and Congress have been claiming in public that they stand for sustainable development and protect the interests of the oustees and affected people. But the activists contest their claims citing the displacements and plight of the ousteees of Pong Dam, Bhakhra and other projects.