Shimla, February 18
After a series of crop failures, the state is heading for a record fruit and foodgrain production in the current year, thanks to the good monsoon followed by plenty of rain in the winter.

The fruit production is likely to touch 9.60 lakh tonnes, 2.50 lakh tonnes higher than the previous record of 7.06 lakh tonnes achieved in 2007. The main contribution has come from apple, the production of which shot up to 8.92 lakh tonnes, almost 3 lakh tonnes more than the previous high of 5.94 lakh tonnes.

State had a poor crop previous year. The out-turn was only 2.80 lakh tonnes and the total fruit production was only 3.82 lakh tonnes.

The performance on the agriculture front has been even better as the state is having bumper kharif and rabi harvests after three consecutive crop failures and it is set to surpass the target of foodgrain production for the first time.

As against the target of 16.70 lakh tonnes, the actual production is likely to be around 17 lakh tonnes as against 10 lakh tonnes produced in the previous year. The total production has not crossed 14.40 lakh tonnes in the past.

The kharif season saw a record crop of paddy with production crossing 1.30 lakh tonnes. In the past, it has never crossed 1.20 lakh tonnes.

Thus, despite some damages to maize due to heavy rain in September, the kharif target of 9.37 lakh tonnes has been almost met.

With the weather God obliging with timely rain during the winter, the rabi target of 7.33 lakh tonnes will be surpassed as the crop has been sown in time over 3.58 hectare, says JC Rana, director, Agriculture.

The production of wheat is likely to be over 7 lakh tonnes as against the target of 6.87 lakh tonnes.

The vegetable crops suffered some damages due to the prolonged monsoon during the kharif season but there will be no appreciable loss of production as favourable weather during the rabi season has ensured a good out-turn and the total production is likely to be around 12.50 lakh tonnes as against almost 1 lakh tonnes over the last year.

Shimla, February 18
The appointment of the Controller of Examination (CoE) in Himachal Pradesh University (HPU) has snowballed into a major controversy with accusations of attempts by the authorities to bend the rules to suit a particular candidate flying high.

While the present incumbent, Naresh Kumar Mahajan, who was appointed the CoE on the secondment basis on January 5, is continuing, the interview for appointing a regular CoE has been fixed for February 26.

The Non-Teaching Employees Union of the HPU, which has been holding protest against Mahajan’s appointment since January 6, is now determined not to allow his regular appointment by way of the interview.

The issue is likely to come up for discussion at the crucial meeting of the Finance Committee of the HPU to be held tomorrow. Some other issues, including the filling of upgraded posts by granting promotions, are likely to be discussed.

Interestingly, the HPU authorities did not complete the process of appointing a regular CoE for which they had invited applications from eligible candidates in April 2010, despite receiving 44 applications for the post.

“The only reason why the process was not completed and abandoned midway without any justification was to benefit the present incumbent as he had not applied for the post then,” alleged Waryam Singh Bains, member of the Executive Council of the HPU and employee leader. He added that when the earlier CoE Amar Nath Gupta retired on January 31, Mahajan was given the appointment in violation of the norms.

He alleged that with Mahajan now applying for the post, it was a foregone conclusion that he would be given regular appointment.

“The entire formalities being followed now to fill the post are mere eyewash and the authorities are all set to favour Mahajan who does not even fulfil the eligibility criteria,” he alleged.

He added that he along with other representatives of non-teaching employees would meet the Governor, Urmila Singh, next week to seek her intervention in the matter as she is the Chancellor.

Continuing their protest against Mahajan’s appointment, the employees also point out that since the tenure of the present Vice-Chancellor, Prof Sunil Kumar Gupta, was getting over in April, it will be more appropriate that the post should be filled after the new VC is appointed in mid-April.

Dharamsala, February 18
The housing project for the poor is being delayed as the state government has failed to identify land for the project. Union Minister for Housing, Urban Poverty Alleviation and Tourism Kumari Selja said this while talking to The Tribune here today.

The minister said the Centre had sanctioned a project worth Rs 9 crore for providing 300 houses to the urban poor in Dharamsala in 2008. Out of this, Rs 6 crore would be a grant from the Centre while the state government would have to spend Rs 3 crore.

The first instalment for the project had also been issued to the state government. However, till date, the authorities concerned had not been able to locate the land for the project, the minister said.

She further said the delay in implementation of the project was causing cost escalation. It would have to be borne by the state government and the Centre did not have any finances for it.

Sources said even today also, the Urban Development Department tried to locate a piece for land for the project. It wanted to get the foundation stone of the project laid from the visiting minister. However, no suitable land could be located.

Selja also said the Centre was going to launch Rajiv Awas Yojna to provide habitations for the poor in the urban areas across the country. Under the scheme, there would be no cap for finances. It was for the state government to come up with projects. The Centre would provide 50 per cent grant in the proposed schemes.

Minister for Urban Development and Transport, Himachal, Mohinder Thakur, who was also present, said the state had already outsourced the work for making projects under the Rajiv Awas Yojna to Hudco.

Selja also said a regional institute for urban planning and policy was being constructed in Mandi. Rs 35 crore had been sanctioned for the project.

She was here to preside over a function organized by a local NGO to promote “Thanka” (traditional art of painting Tibetan Buddhist deity) paintings. The NGO is planning to develop an institute of “Thanka” painting in Dharamsala.

Nurpur, February 18
Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal laid the foundation stone of Community Health Centre (CHC) to be built at a cost of Rs 2.3 crore at Indora in this subdivision here today.

He said his government was committed to providing quality and cheap health services to the people at their doorsteps. He asserted that launching of the Atal Swaasthya Yojna was proving a boon in this direction.

Giving direction to complete the construction of the building within one year, he said his government had also launched Chief Minister Students’ Health Scheme on August 15 last year under which over 10 lakh students had been examined medically across the state.

“Apart from this, the government has also initiated the Muskan Yojna for senior citizens of over 65-year-old in which 10,000 persons have been provided free dentures” he said.

The Chief Minister also laid the stone of the 33 kv electricity substation at Rehan on which Rs 4.50 crore would be spent. He said 34,000 of 92 villages would be benefited after its commissioning. Dhumal also dedicated newly build hostel of Government College, Dehri, on which Rs 1 crore had been spent.

Later in the evening, he heard pubic grievances at Fatehpur under Prashasan Janta ke Dwar programme of the government in which over 400 persons submitted their written complaints and demands. Earlier, Dhumal attended religious programme organised at Jagat Giri Asharam at Bhadroya near here on the occasion of birth anniversary of Guru Ravidas.

Solan, February 18
A vegetable supplier, Malkiat Singh alias Kaka of the Shahpur area of Haryana, was found injured on the Mandhala-Kharota road last evening.

With some unknown person having shot at him on his shoulder, the Barotiwala police rushed him to PGI, Chandigarh. Police officials said he had been shot at on the shoulder while another bullet had whizzed past his head thus wounding him grievously.

Baddi SP Chander Shekhar Pandit said as per initial investigations he was seen with some ‘tantric’ last evening while his bike was found parked near Lakker Depot at Baddi. It was intriguing as to how he was found wounded by a passer-by on the Mandhala-Kharota road while his bike was found parked at Baddi, which was a distance of more than 10 km.

The police suspects it to be the handiwork of some miscreants from Haryana as he was found wounded in a place adjoining the border of Haryana. But with little clue in the case, the police was now waiting for Malkiat to recover and narrate as to who had shot at him and how he had reached that spot on the Mandhala-Kharota road.

The police was also coordinating with the Haryana counterparts in tracing out the miscreants who appear to have fled in some yellow vehicle.

This was the second case of a shoot out in the Baddi area in February and the police was yet to trace out the miscreants involved in the February 1 case where the nephew of the Doon MLA had been shot at.

Mandi, February 18
In a crackdown on the forest mafia in the Nachan forest division, State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (SVACB) today raided six houses, including that of panchayat pradhan in the Balichowki range, and recovered 281 deodar sleepers worth Rs 20 lakh. The vigilance team arrested six persons under Sections 41, 42 of the Forest Act and 479 of the IPC.

Acting on a tip-off, the vigilance team led by SP Vigilance, Mandi range, Virender Sharma raided six houses and seized 281 deodar sleepers. The raids were still on and the vigilance suspected that the haul of illegal timber could go up.

The arrested persons have been identified as Roop Chand of Thunal village, Bhag Chand, Dile Ram, both residents of Baogi village, Moti Ram and Tulsi Ram, both residents of Dadi village.

The Vigilance team also raided the house of Tej Ram, panchayat pradhan, Balichowki, and seized 24 deodar sleepers from his possession. The largest haul of timber, 187 deodar sleepers, was recovered from the possession of Roop Chand. The team recovered 19 sleepers from Bhag Chand, 30 sleepers from Dile Ram, 14 from Moti Ram and 7 sleepers from Tulsi Ram, informed vigilance officials.

Talking to The Tribune, Sharma said, “We got an information that illegal timber have been cut from Tunal-Biaugi forest by some people and is stored in their houses. We have recovered 281 deodar sleepers and the haul of confiscated timber can go up as the raids were still on in the area”.

Vigilance investigation revealed that most of the timber had come from the deodar-rich forest belt in the Nachan forest division in the district. “We are interrogating the six persons arrested in this connection to know the exact location”, Sharma added.

The SP said they had sought trucks from the DFO Nachan to transport the timber to the Mandi forest corporation depot. “We will investigate further as to how many deodar trees were cut down”, he added.

Dharamsala, February 18
BJP MP from Kangra Rajan Sushant once again launched an offensive against Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal that brought to fore fissures in the state BJP.

Sushant today sat on “mon vrata” (keeping mum in protest) at the Rehan area of Kangra district along with his followers. While the MP kept sitting in protest, his supporters raised slogans against the CM. The reason for the tiff was a change in the venue of the CM’s Prashasan Janta Ke Dewar programme. It was organised at the request of Rajan Sushant at Rehan. However, the CM changed the venue to Fatehpur, just 8 kilometres from Rehan yesterday.

Sources said Sushant had the apprehension that venue was changed at the request of Rakesh Pathania, an independent MLA from Nurpur. Rehan fell in the Fatehpur constituency, the area of Rajan Sushant.

The CM, however, maintained that the venue was changed at the request of the district administration. “District officials requested me that a Sangat Darshan programme had already been organised in the Nurpur assembly constituency. Besides, the weather was uncertain there. So, we decided to shift the venue to Fatehpur that was located just 8 km from Rehan,” he said.

He also claimed that Sushant was informed about the change in the venue. The sources said the SDM Jawali and even the DC informed Sushant regarding the change of the venue of the CM’s programme. However, all of them were at the receiving end from the Kangra MP.

Sushant maintained that any political programme in Fatehpur should be made after taking him into confidence. The CM, however, maintained that it was his prerogative to decide the venue of programme.

Dr Rajinder, president of the trader cell of the BJP in Fatehpur, said the MP had been organising rallies and mobilising people for the programme in Rehan. The change in the venue was an insult to the MP which they could not tolerate.

During the MP elections also, he had left most of party leaders red-faced when he openly spoke against the independent MLA Rakesh Pathania.

Kullu, February 18
Three persons were arrested in an attempt to abduct a newly married woman from Maharashtra, in Manali yesterday.

In a daylight attempt, the accused tried to kidnap the woman who was taking a stroll with her husband. Ashish Sharma, DSP, Manali, said the police had arrested the trio (Arjun, Ajit Sharma and Panna Lal, all residents of Manali) within half an hour.

The court has sent them to judicial remand for 14 days, he added.

A case under Sections 354 and 511, IPC, has been registered against the accused.

Shimla, February 18
Dr Prakash S Naik, a biotech scientist at the Central Potato Research Institute, here, has been awarded the L. C. Sikka Endowment Award for the year 2009-10.

The National Academy of Agricultural Sciences conferred the award on him for his outstanding contribution towards ensuring food and nutritional security.

Dr. Naik was involved in development of India’s first heat tolerant and early maturing potato variety Kufri Surya. The research group led by him successfully deployed genetic transformation and micropropagation techniques, besides methodologies for in vitro and cryo-conservation of potato genetic resources.

Development of reliable and efficient biotechnological tools enabled development of valuable transgenics, production of large quantities of virus-free planting material of commercial potato cultivars and conservation of genetic resources. As a project coordinator, Dr. Naik was instrumental in recommending 6 potato hybrids for national release, 16 eco-friendly and economically viable region-specific agro-techniques and 8 potato protection technologies.

Dr. Naik is recipient of several other awards and honours including Biotechnology Overseas Associateship 1987-88), Hari Om Ashram Award of the ICAR (1997-98), ICAR Awards for Outstanding Team Research (2001-02 and 2007-08) and CPRI Merit Awards (2000 and 2004).

Nurpur, February 18
A team of Nabard, led by deputy general manager (DGM) Shimla Ravinder Kumar, has inspected bridges being constructed on the Beas in the Public Works Department (PWD) circle, Nurpur.

According to information, the team inspected Tanda Pattan bridge, near Indora, being constructed at the cost of Rs 10 crore; Riyala Pattan bridge, near Bhadukhar, being built at the cost of Rs 7 crore; and Chamba Pattan bridge, near Jawalamukhi, being built at the cost of Rs 17 crore. The team also verified the quality of the construction work by undertaking various laboratory tests on the spot.

The DGM told mediapersons that such inspections were undertaken for those development projects approved under the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund by Nabard. “The main objective of these inspections is to know the progress of the ongoing work of the projects, to ensure completion of work in time and to know about the quality of the work,” he said.

He expressed satisfaction over the quality of construction of the ongoing work of the inspected bridges. He added that Nabard had sanctioned Rs 400 crore for various projects in the state. — OC

Mandi, February 18
The Mandi police today arrested Vinay Kumar of Bahadur Chowk, Hoshiarpur, Punjab, under the NDPS Act after it recovered 2.5 kg of charas and 500 gm of opium from him, which he allegedly was smuggling from Kullu to his home state.

The Mandi SP stated that the police team was on patrol near Larji Dam today. During the operation, the team searched the accused and recovered 2.5 kg of charas and 500 gm of opium from his possession.

He added that the police had arrested the accused and further investigation is on.

Hamirpur, February 18
About 1,000 nurses appointed by the state government through the Rogi Kalyan Samitis (RKS) working in different medical institutions of the state are being grossly discriminated in terms of salaries and other benefits in comparison to the nurses appointed on regular and contract basis.

Though they are doing the same work as their regular counterparts but are being paid a meagre fixed amount of Rs 7,500 per month, with no other facilities like annual increment or any hope to get regularised.

All of them have been appointed after 2008 when the policy to appoint nurses through the RKS was started in the state.

At present three categories of the nurses with regular appointments, working on contract basis and those appointed through the RKS, are working in the state.

Though all of them are doing the same work and giving round the clock duties, there is a huge gap between the salaries of nurses of all the three categories.

While regular nurses are getting salaries in the range of Rs 30,000 per month, along with other perks, and those working on contract basis are getting a fixed Rs 13,500 per month but the nurses appointed by the RKS are getting a fixed Rs 7,500 per month without any perks.

These nurses are working in every medical institution of the state like RP Medical College Tanda, IGMC Shimla and in district and other medical institutions of the state.

Narrating their plight, one of them on the condition of anonymity told The Tribune: “Though we are fully trained and performing every duty equivalent to our regular counterparts in medical institutions but are being discriminated in terms of salaries; while regular nurses get about Rs 30,000 per month we are just being paid Rs 7,500 per month and not even getting annual increments.”

“Since the discrimination in our salaries is violation of the Supreme Court directions of paying equal wage for equal work, our future looks bleak as we are now planning to form an association to take up this matter with the state government,” she added.

Director of Health Services, Dr Vinod Pathak, said: “We have taken up the matter with the state government and the discrimination in their salaries would be removed soon.”