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Teams to assess damage to apple crop
Storm throws life out of gear in Shimla
Apple growers to get Rs 10 cr more
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MoEF clears 2 power projects with riders
Tibetan govt-in-exile gets new name
Bhakra Dam oustees told to file applications by June 20
Mahila Cong hails Anita Verma’s appointment
Seminar on works of Narayana Guru begins
Rally on drug abuse on June 26
Bodies of two drowned pilgrims still untraced
Woman attacked by wild boar
Kisan Sabha hold protest
HAS interviews from June 23
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Teams to assess damage to apple crop
Shimla, June 8 A strong hailstorm last evening caused major damage to the apple crop in most areas of Shimla district. With reports pouring in from various belts, officials of the department visited the affected areas to assess the damage. The teams also took with them insecticides, pesticides and fungicides which would have to be used as damage control.
Apple orchards hit hard in Jubbal-Kotkhai, Rohru, Chopal,
Rampur, Sarahan, Theog and Narkanda areas
The belts of Kullu, Mandi and Sirmaur have so far been spared from the fury of the hailstorm
“The damage caused by the hailstorm is perhaps the worst and the teams of the department today visited the orchards to assess the damage,” said Horticulture Minister Narender Bragta. He said hail had already caused a damage of Rs 248 crore so far and the damage caused by the hailstorm during the past 48 hours would be an additional loss, yet to be calculated. He added that the reports would be sent to the Centre seeking relief to the growers. The widespread hailstorm hit the apple orchards in Jubbal-Kotkhai, Rohru, Chopal, Rampur, Sarahan, Theog and Narkanda areas. Barring a few orchards falling in the Chirgaon area of Rohru, a majority of the apple belt has been hit hard. Some apple growing areas of Shimla were lashed by hail this afternoon also. The apple belts of Kullu, Mandi and Sirmaur have so far been spared from the fury of hailstorm. As compared to a bumper crop of over four crore apple boxes last year, this year it was being estimated that the production would be far less. With the repeated spell of hailstorm during May and June, more damage has been caused to the crop. “Officials of the Horticulture Department will provide insecticides and fungicides to the people, but they must wait for a few days before they spray it,” said Bragta. Interestingly, in some parts of Jubbal and Kotkhai, arhtiyas (fruit dealers) had already struck deals with growers and taken contracts of the orchards in anticipation of a reduced crop this year. Despite the fact that there were almost two months for the season to start and the threat of rain and hail still remaining, they already struck deals thinking that the crop would bring good returns. All such people will suffer major losses as the crop has been hit severely by the repeated spells of hailstorm. Cong for anti-hail net subsidy With the anti-hail guns failing to provide effective protection against hail, the state unit of the Congress is demanding a subsidy to growers for purchase of anti-hail nets. Secretary of the party Rohit Thakur said the repeated hailstorms had caused an extensive damage to fruit crop in the upper belt of Shimla district. Not only fruit and new shoots, but the apple plants also had been damaged in some areas as a result of which the production would be affected over the next two years. He said under the National Horticulture Mission, 50 per cent subsidy was available on hail nets. However, if the state government also contributed, the quantum of subsidy could be increased to 80 per cent. He urged the government to enhance the credit limit for the affected farmers and waive the interest on the amount drawn till the next apple season. Rohit said the previous Congress regime had given Rs 1.50 crore as relief after amending the Relief Manual to 1200 affected growers, but the present government had not provided any relief over the past three years.
Storm throws life out of gear in Shimla Shimla, June 8 The storm which took everyone unawares around 6.30 pm yesterday caused major devastation as roofs of several houses were blown away by the high-velocity winds which were measured at 70 km per hour. The fury of the storm was so strong that several old deodar trees fell on houses in Sanjauli, Chhota Shimla, Forest Road, Lift, Bemloe, Talland and other areas, causing damage to buildings. Some persons also sustained injuries due to tree collapse and damage to houses. The tourists too were caught in the sudden hailstorm followed by heavy rain and high-speed winds, forcing them to take shelter in restaurants and shops in the markets. Similarly, 12 vehicles were crushed under trees at several places. Power supply to many localities remained disrupted as electric poles fell, snapping electricity supply to most parts of the town. The vehicular traffic remained disrupted for some time as the trees blocking the road had to be cut. Water supply to most parts of the town too was affected. — TNS
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Apple growers to get Rs 10 cr more
Shimla, June 8 This was stated by Horticulture Minister Narender Bragta while presiding over a high-level meeting of the Horticulture Department, Himfed and HPMC here today. “Out of a total payment of Rs 57 crore that has been pending, Rs 34 crore has been provided so that apple growers get their payments,” he said. Bragta said some of the growers preferred to take cartons, insecticides and other products against the MIS payment. Bragta
said the remaining payments would also be cleared shortly. He said an announcement to provide Rs 10 crore to clear the outstanding amount was made by him last week, which had been released today. Payments up to Rs 5,000 under MIS had already been cleared and instructions had been issued to clear the outstanding payment up to Rs 10,000 to all apple growers immediately, the minister added. |
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MoEF clears 2 power projects with riders
Shimla, June 8 The Independent Power Producers (IPPs) have been asked to furnish a list of all projects coming up in the river basin and carry out a Cumulative Environment Impact Assessment (CEIA) study for the entire basin. Since the two projects are separated by only a few metres and do not fulfil the condition of the minimum riparian distance, the clearance has been accorded with the stipulation that the quantum of the minimum environmental discharge to be released in the river at all times will be 20 per cent instead of 15 per cent as laid down in the hydropower policy. They have been asked to frame rehabilitation and resettlement plans for the project-affected families in line with the national policy. The Kuther project was initially designed for a capacity of 281 MW which was later reduced to 240 MW. With the MoEF making 20 per cent environmental discharge mandatory for all times, the generation will come down further. The IPPs and public sector companies executing projects in the Sutlej, Beas and Chenab basins have already formed basin-wise forums to address the technical, environmental, socio-economic and power evacuation problems that were arising due to their post effects. The study for the Sutlej is being carried out by the forum. Since the MoEF is insisting on the CIEA for every project, a move has been initiated to set up forums for the Ravi and Pabbar basins where a number of power projects are coming up. Secretary general, Forum of the Hydro Power Producers in the Sutlej basin, CM Walia, had been assigned the task to set up forums for the two basins. He said the objective was to create a platform to address common issues collectively to help generate eco-friendly, efficient and low-cost power. Project
Conditions
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Tibetan govt-in-exile gets new name
Dharamsala, June 8 The change of name has become mandatory as no country across the world, including India, recognised the Tibetan government-in-exile. The name continued to be used as it was functioning just in the name of the Dalai Lama who was accepted as the Tibetan leader across the world. However, now the Dalai Lama has delegated all his administrative and political powers to the Tibetan parliament and the Tibetan Prime Minister-in-exile (Kalon Tripa). This means that all correspondence and actions of the Tibetan government-in-exile will be in the name of Kalon Tripa or other functionaries. Since no government recognises it, it can create constitutional and legal problems. Any kind of direct support from any government to the Tibetan government-in-exile can evoke strong response from China. The change in name to Organisation of the Tibetan People can, however, solve this problem as the world government has been omitted from it. However, a large number of Tibetan activists are against the change of the name. They say this will reduce the status of government to just an NGO. The Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC) is in favour of retaining the name of the Tibetan government-in-exile. The TYC, in a statement here, has said a large section of the society has been critical of the 14th Tibetan Parliament-in-exile’s decision to change the name. TYC president Tsewang Rigzin expressed disappointment at the parliament’s rejection of earlier appeals that the TYC had made against hasty decisions. Urging Tibetans to have confidence in the government, the TYC said it would shoulder the collective responsibilities of ensuring the Tibetan unity without violating the principles and processes of democracy. Calling for the preservation of the historical legacy of the Tibetan government, the TYC pledged to preserve a copy of the Tibetan Charter (prior to last month’s amendments) along with the earlier national emblem, anthem and flag. |
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Bhakra Dam oustees told to file applications by June 20
Bilaspur, June 8 This has been necessitated due to the High Court order of October 19, which has asked the state government to come to the court with a “special policy” by July 4 regarding the encroachments of the oustees in Bilaspur after the government pleaded that it was inclined to form such a policy due to the special circumstances of the oustees here and to separate this issue from that of other encroachments in the state. Earlier, the High Court had passed a blanket order asking the government to remove all encroachments from government land in Bilaspur. This had resulted in resentment among the oustees as they were deprived of their prime town land and given only one rehabilitation plot of 1,800 sq ft, despite the “rehabilitation package” of four times their land which they had lost in the old town of Bilaspur, now submerged in the Gobind Sagar. Till now this pact of their uprootment has not been fulfilled and they are suffering. Calling it as the first positive step, the All-Party Bhakra Oustees Rights Protection Committee here has hailed the government move. The committee has urged all oustees to file their applications by June 20. |
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Mahila Cong hails Anita Verma’s appointment
Talking to mediapersons here today, District Mahila Congress president Narendra Billoria said this was a unique honour for Himachali women and a comforting assurance from the national Congress leadership how much it appreciated and valued the ability and qualities of all hill women. She said there was no doubt that Anita would prove equal to the task and responsibility assigned to her and strengthen the organisation and its Mahila wing at the state and national levels. She said leaders and members of the state Mahila Congress would give her full cooperation to bring this organisation to new heights at every level. |
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Seminar on works of Narayana Guru begins
Shimla, June 8 Inaugurating the seminar, Director of the institute Peter Ronald DeSouza said, “It is a part of a series of seminars being conducted by the institute on varied themes and issues”. He pointed out the relevance of the study of Narayana Guru from the perspective of social transformation he effected
in Kerala. Director, National Judicial Academy of India, G Mohan Gopal, during his recent visit to Bara in Rajasthan witnessed that people were forced to do bonded labour and suffered many social discriminations. He pointed out that Kerala was fortunate not to have any such untoward incidents because of the philosophical vision and works of the guru and the same should be applied to other parts of the country for uplifting the social and economic conditions, he added.
Muni Narayana Prasad suggested that the work of Narayana Guru namely “Jathichinthanam” should be translated into Hindi and other regional languages and included in the school text books. About 75 scholars across the country are participating. |
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Rally on drug abuse on June 26
Shimla, June 8 This was decided at a high-level meeting held here under the chairpersonship of Chief Secretary Rajwant Sandhu. She said the activities would be organised right from the state level to the block level in educational institutions to sensitise young boys and girls about the issue. Sandhu directed the Health, Home, Social Justice and Empowerment, Education and Information and Public Relations Departments to get involved in the campaign and also ensure the participation of NGOs and other institutions so that the message was percolated down to the masses. |
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Bodies of two drowned pilgrims still untraced
Kangra, June 8 The Jawalamukhi police said rescue teams were pressed into service today morning again, besides a team of divers from Talwara to search for the bodies of Sarthak (15) and Sat Prakash (37). Four members of a family from Delhi, originally from Doeli village of Una district near Gaggrat, had visited the Kailashwar Mahadev temple to pay obeisance and were drowned in the Beas. Sarthak taking bath in the Beas had slipped into the water. His father Susheel Kumar, uncles Raj Kumar and Sat Prakash had jumped into the river to save Sarthak, but all three were also drowned. With the help of local people and divers, the bodies of Susheel and Raj Kumar were fished out, but the bodies of Sarthak and Sat Prakash could not be traced. |
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Woman attacked by wild boar
Bilaspur, June 8 Village elders, led by Zila Parishad member Hoshiar Singh Thakur, have urged the Forest Department to help prevent such incidents from occurring. They also demaded compensation to the injured woman. Meanwhile, the Forest Department has provided compensation of Rs 5,000 each to those who were injured due to attacks of monkeys at Kanaun village under Dhon Kothi gram punchayat, near here, some months ago. Those who got this amount included Gaurav Gauttam, Nikki Devi, Swaraj, Sulaxna Devi, Ram Jani and Manrama Devi. |
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Kisan Sabha hold protest
Mandi, June 8 Addressing protesters, Paras Ram, a Kisan Sabha leader from Balh, said they had submitted several memorandums to the government on the long-pending demands of people, but the government had ignored these. He said the students had to travel daily in buses for their college in Mandi as there was no college in Balh. The farmers had to go to Mandi as there was no tehsil. They later submitted a memorandum to the
DC in support of their demands. — TNS |
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HAS interviews from June 23
Shimla, June 8 “Any candidate who has qualified the written paper and has not received the call letter can contact the Commission office after June 18 or phone 2623782,” she said.
— TNS |
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Bilaspur, June 8