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Nod for 7 modern bus stands
First summer bird count at Pong Dam
126 bird species spotted in Shimla hills
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Policy for computer teachers soon: CM
MP bats for ‘special royalty plan’ for Chamba
CPM opposes tax in merged areas
Don’t misuse Vigilance, Ram Lal to government
PM should ensure passing of Lokpal Bill, says Shanta Kumar
Virbhadra supports the move
Breather for industry
Tibetans’ call to release Panchen Lama
Farmers threaten protest
Timely action to deal with disasters stressed at workshop
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Nod for 7 modern bus stands
Shimla, April 25 The Cabinet decided to continue with the present policy of cost subsidy and transport subsidy on fertilisers. It also decided to initiate effective and concrete steps to promote organic farming amongst agriculturists and horticulturists of the state. Approval was granted for recruiting 150 supervisors in the Social Justice and Empowerment Department on contract basis and 37 posts of various categories in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Government Institute of Engineering and Technology at Pragati Nagar. It sanctioned Rs 1.27 crore for the purchase of 11 advance water tender vehicles and three quick response vehicles to equip the Fire Services Department with latest machinery and equipment. The Cabinet also approved upgrade of veterinary dispensary at Lohardi (Chhota Bhangal) into a veterinary hospital and fill vacancies through internalisation. It approved Recruitment and Promotion Rules of personal assistants in all the departments of the government. |
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First summer bird count at Pong Dam
Shimla, April 25 The state Wildlife Department has been regularly conducting the annual waterfowl estimation exercise in the national wetland during the peak winter to have a count of the winged visitors from the trans-Himalayan region in Tibet, Central Asia, Russia and Siberia. The migratory birds flock the state towards October-end every year and return by March-end. However, the winter count does not provide any idea about the local birds. In recent years, the field staff of the department has noticed that a wide range of indigenous terrestrial birds also throng the water body, particularly during summer for nesting and breeding. As per rough estimates, over 35 species of birds are found during summer. Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) AK Gulati said the proposed bird count would provide a fair estimation of the birds and give a complete picture of the avian diversity. The exercise would be carried out in May after birds were free from breeding. He said some species from the skimmer family had also been spotted and the proposed exercise would reveal the true picture. The department had closed three large chunks of the area on the periphery of the water body in Salol, Nagrota Suriyan and Lunj to provide disturbance-free environment for breeding. It would certainly help in attracting more birds during summer. The last winter bird count revealed that over 1,32,000 migratory birds of 95 different species had their winter sojourn at the Pong Dam as against 1.45 lakh birds in the preceding year. The reduction in the count was mainly due to the high-water level in the reservoir due to the abundant rains in the catchment as a result of which the shallow water area preferred by the waterfowls was reduced considerably. The highest-ever number of 1,54,713 winter visitors was recorded in 2009, while the lowest count of 70,000 was in 2000.
126 bird species spotted in Shimla hills
Shimla, April 25 Speckled piculet (Picumnus innominatus), a species of bird in the Picidae family, was among the species sighted during the Bird Race which was unusual as it is found in boreal and subtropical forests. The black and yellow grosbeak (Mycerobas icterioides), which is mostly found in temperate forests, was sighted in the thickly wooded Kalyani area. Shikra (Accipiter badius), a small bird of prey (26-30 cm long) was also spotted. However, the sighting of the Asian koel (Eudynamys scolopaceus), a member of the cuckoo family, was a matter of concern as it was mostly found in the lower Shivalik and not the higher hills. Its upward movement provides a clear indication of warming of climate, says Somesh Goyal. Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) AK Gulati said the plan was to make the Bird Race an annual feature so that the trend could be studied with the baseline datum generated by the present exercise. Subsequent surveys and bird-walks would build on it to arrive at comprehensive bird species lists of Shimla. Goyal said the Himachal Birds had decided to set up its chapters in Dharamsala and Mandi from
where some bird watchers were in touch with the organisation. All bird watchers, who participated in this event, were honoured last evening at an elegant ceremony presided over by Chief Secretary Rajwant Sandhu, who presented them mementos. She lauded their selfless effort and invited the nature lovers to visit the state for such activities again. |
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Policy for computer teachers soon: CM
Hamirpur, April 25 Addressing the second regional conference of the Himachal Pradesh Shikshak Mahasangh at Raili Jajhari yesterday, he said, “Since the present era is an era of information technology and computers, teachers are playing an important role in the state. The government has decided to formulate a policy for computer teachers and Education Minister ID Dhiman and the Director, Education, have been entrusted the job of forming a policy for computer teachers”. He said, “In the pursuit of making the state an education hub, the state government is making efforts to make centres par excellence for learning and will welcome setting up of private universities in Mandi, Kullu, Chamba and Bilaspur districts and no more private universities will be permitted in other districts”. Dhumal said, “Several national-level professional educational centres are coming up in different parts of the state and efforts are being made to open an IIIT in Una district, besides medical colleges in Una and Hamirpur in private sector”. The Chief Minister also laid stress on rewriting the Indian history as there were many distortions in our history books. The Chief Minister said the state government would consider opening of a primary school at Jajari, middle school in Pairvi and senior secondary school at Ghori Dhabhiri. He also sanctioned Rs 10 lakh for the construction of a stadium and Rs 3 lakh for a retaining wall in the GSSS, Raili Jajhari. Later, the Chief Minister inaugurated Phagoti bridge, laid the foundation stone of a gau sadan at Kalwal and dedicated a newly constructed primary health centre at Chakmoh. Education Minister ID Dhiman also addressed the gathering on the occasion.
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MP bats for ‘special royalty plan’ for Chamba
Chamba, April 25 He said the plan would pave the way for the utilisation of the royalty amount judiciously in different parts of the distant backward district. Sushant revealed that royalty amounting to approximately Rs 653 crore had so far been accrued to the state exchequer from the 12 per cent share of power generated from the prestigious hydroelectric projects of 540-MW Chamera power station stage-I, 300-MW Chamera stage-II and 198-MW Baira Siul power station which were operating in the district. He said around Rs 2.2 crore had also been funded under the local area development authority (LADA) for the purpose of local development by various private hydropower enterprises executing the project activities. He added that these funds would also be put in the account of the “special royalty plan” so that the legitimate share of royalty could be utilised for the general development of the district. So far, hardly a scanty amount of the royalty was being spent on the development of Chamba district which is injustice with this region, Sushant admitted.
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CPM opposes tax in merged areas
Shimla, April 25 Most of the merged wards lacked sewerage, streetlights, pathways, ambulance roads, water supply and other basic facilities. People had opposed the merger because they were not satisfied with the functioning of the MC, which was not able to meet the requirement of the city. The MC had not been able to maintain the quality of civic amenities, which had been deteriorating with each passing day, but people were being subjected to the additional economic burden. The decision to scrap tax exemption on bonafide use by house owner measuring up to 100 sqm was an anti-people step. — TNS |
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Don’t misuse Vigilance, Ram Lal to government
Bilaspur, April 25 Thakur said the BJP had adopted the most reprehensible and undemocratic tactics of trying to silence Opposition leaders. Thakur said the BJP government was selling the precious land of the state to outsiders, violating Section 118 of the HP Land Act. Thakur said a detailed representation had been sent by him on this matter to the Central Government and Central Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh, urging him to order a high-level CBI inquiry into these land deals and punish those who are responsible for violation of the laws. |
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PM should ensure passing of Lokpal Bill, says Shanta Kumar
Dharamsala, April 25 He said during the past 42 years, the Lokpal Bill was introduced eight times in Parliament, but the process for passing it was always deferred on one pretext or the other. The Prime Minister should announce not only the introduction, but also the final passing of this Act. The BJP would support the Bill in Parliament, he added. Shanta Kumar said the suspicion of some persons that the Lokpal Bill would not be able to eradicate corruption was not correct. After the Second World War, Hong Kong was progressing economically and with this corruption also increased. After some time Hong Kong became one of the most corrupt country in the world. In 1974 visionary and honest leaders of Hong Kong passed an Independent Commission against corruption. It was free from all civil control. Now, Hong Kong became one of the cleanest countries of the world. Shanta Kumar expressed doubts regarding the passing of the Lokpal Bill in India. He apprehended that vested interests shall create hurdles. After a strong and independent Bill was passed most of the leaders would be behind bars. He said Anna Hazare had done commendable work, but now the responsibility of completing his mission was on Opposition parties and MPs. All Opposition parties should unite to pass this Bill just like the formation of the Joint Parliamentary Committee on the 2G Spectrum case.
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Virbhadra supports the move
Kullu, April 25 He was talking to mediapersons yesterday during his one-day visit to the district. Virbhadra ridiculed the state government talking of “corruption” and questioned “how can the corrupt fight against corruption?” The minister said 62 per cent reservations would be fixed for Himachalis in the industries being established at Mandi and Baddi. He said these industries would also have “tool room” where the unemployed would get training. He expressed concern over the “non-cooperation” of the state government. He said the Union Government wanted to establish fruit-based industries in Himachal Pradesh, but the state government was not forwarding any proposals. Virbhadra Singh also listened to the problems of the people during his visit.
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Breather for industry
Solan, April 25 The forum also asked the HPSEB to file a reply within 20 days on the issue. It has also fixed May 19 as the date of hearing where the board will be required to present its stand. These directions have come as a relief to the investors who had been burdened with the levy of lakhs as the board had decided to collect Rs 20.09 crore as sundry charges from the entire industry. Prem Sharma appealed to the industry to seek a stay from the forum and deposit 25 per cent of the charges so that they could be spared from the harassment of power disconnection. Though board officials said they were calculating the levy at a cost of 14 paise per unit on the basis of installed capacities, the investors asserted that they had failed to get the total power load and since only partial load was made available they had suffered production losses. |
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Tibetans’ call to release Panchen Lama
Dharamsala, April 25 In the message that was read today at a function organised by Tibetan organisations to mark the 22nd birthday of the Panchen Lama, the Karmapa expressed hope that the young Panchen Lama would be allowed to freely practise his spiritual role. The Tibetans-in-exile and other supporters marked the birthday of the 11th Panchen Lama, Gendhun Choekyi Nyima, by organising “Free Panchen Lama” campaigns. In Dharamsala, the seat of Tibet’s government-in-exile, five major Tibetan NGOs began collecting signature petitions to call on Zhu Weiqun, the Vice-Minister, United Front Works Department, the Chinese government body in charge of talks with the Tibetan envoys on the Tibet issue, to disclose information on the Panchen Lama’s whereabouts and his existence. Activists have also initiated online campaigns to seek the immediate release of the Panchen Lama from the Chinese custody. Deputy Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, Gyari Dolma, who presided over the function, said Tibetans inside Tibet were living in a constant state of fear, being denied their basic rights to freedom of speech and expression, and freedom of religion. Tibetans alleged that the Chinese authorities abducted Gendhun Choekyi Nyima along with his parents in May 1995, shortly after the Dalai Lama declared him to be the reincarnation of the Panchen Lama. Since then no one knows about his whereabouts. The Tibetans here alleged that the last available statement by the Chinese authorities concerning the fate of Gendhun Choekyi Nyima came last year from the Chinese-appointed governor of the Tibet Autonomous Region. The governor had reportedly told mediapersons that the young boy was living with his family and having a very good life somewhere in Tibet. He, however, gave no other details, the Tibetans-in-exile claimed. “Without evidence this statement is baseless unless the Chinese government proves his existence,” the NGOs said, demanding China to provide clear evidence on his whereabouts. |
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Farmers threaten protest
Shimla, April 25 General Secretary of the sabha Onkar Shad said now the department was refusing to buy back the seed in Una district on the pretext that these varieties were prone to the attack of yellow rust. He warned that the sabha would launch a statewide stir if the government failed to issue directions to the department for the procurement of seed. — TNS |
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Timely action to deal with disasters stressed at workshop
Shimla, April 25 Inaugurating a two-day workshop on “Training Need Assessment for Disaster Management in Himachal Pradesh” organised by the State Council for Science, Technology and Environment in collaboration with the Revenue Department here today, she said action needed to be taken at various levels to implement the Disaster Management Plan in the state. Director of the Environment Department Nagin Nanda, Dr Amir Ali Khan from the National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) and Dr SS Randhawa also spoke on the occasion.
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For the first time, a summer bird count will be carried out in the sprawling Pong Dam reservoir in May to have a complete picture of avian diversity in the Ramsar site which has over the years emerged as a favourite winter destination of migratory birds.
Hamirpur, April 25
Kullu, April 25
The decision was taken by the state Cabinet which met under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal here today. It also approved the financial model, concessionaire period, bidding parameters and request for proposal (RFP) document for the development of modern bus terminus along with commercial complex.
The one-day survey was carried out by eight teams of bird watchers, researchers and wildlife officials covering different segments of the city. The outcome of the survey brought cheer to
the ornithological community as the area was known to have only around 100 species. 
President of the Nalagarh Industries Association Prem Sharma said 13 units which had filed an application before the forum had been given relief and directed to deposit 25 per cent of the sundry charges imposed by the board before May 5. The board had also been directed to restrain from disconnecting their power supply.