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Rising $ brings cheer
to apple growers
Virbhadra: BJP govt most corrupt
Water found in petrol at
HIMFED-operated pump
Majority of students in govt schools from migrant families: Survey
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Denied visa, Dalai Lama to
attend SA function via web
Monsoon ends on a deficient note
Casual approach of medical college irks members
Three observe 24-hr fast
‘Don’t ignore seniority while appointing IGMC Principal’
Chhetri set to clinch third MTB title
Villagers urged to utilise govt facilities
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Rising $ brings cheer
to apple growers
Shimla, October 7 The devaluation of the rupee has effectively raised the price of imports by 10 to 12 per cent, much to the discomfiture of the companies which were already finding it hard to compete with the local produce. The Chinese fruit is no longer priced competitively to pose any serious challenge to the local produce. In fact, even before the rupee started sliding, importers suffered losses to the tune of Rs 1 lakh per container, which has a capacity of about 1,100 standard boxes of 20 kg each. With apple from Jammu and Kashmir reaching the market, the prices of superior-quality fruit are hovering around Rs 1,350 to 1,500 per box in the Delhi market. With the basic cost of $14, along with 50 per cent import duty, cold storage charges and transportation from Mumbai, the cost of the fuji variety of Chinese apple ranges from Rs 1,400 to Rs 1,500 per box. In the present scenario, the import has become unviable, more so because Indians do not relish the fuji variety much. Importers have no option but to keep the fruit in cold storage as the local harvesting season is over, says Rajeev Chauhan, a progressive grower and chairman of the Himalayan Apple Growers Society. The Washington apple will become dearer and will cost around Rs 2,400 and as such the selling price has to be over Rs 2,700 per box. Moreover, it arrives in January whereas the domestic season is over by November 15 and thus does not affect the local produce. However, he stresses that the government must insist on quality control and ensure that only the certified apple, which could be sold in the USA and other developed countries, was allowed into the local market. At present the fruit produced using hormones, chemical colouring agents and double waxing is being imported, which cannot be sold in the USA. In the current lean season, so far only 1.12 crore boxes have been sent to various markets and 5,314 tonnes of fruit has been procured under the market intervention scheme (MIS). In 2009, another lean year when the state produced 1.40 crore boxes, 1.04 boxes had been exported during the same period and only 912 tonnes of fruit was procured under the MIS during the entire season. Thus, production-wise, the situation is slightly better than 2009. The exact position will be known after the harvesting season comes to a close officially on October 31.
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Virbhadra: BJP govt most corrupt
Mandi/Kullu, October 7 Virbhadra Singh termed the present BJP regime as the “most corrupt” and asked party men at Rampur Bushahr, Ani and Banjar to make an all-out efforts to oust it in the Assembly elections in 2012. While on the way from Rampur Bushahr to Kullu to take part in the week-long Kullu Dasehra festivities today, Virbhadra Singh got a rousing reception from party men at Ani, Banjar, Bali Chowki and Aut in Mandi. He visited the Dasehra ground to inaugurate a micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) exhibition at Dhalpur. Accompanied by his son Vikramaditya Singh, who is being launched into politics in the near future, he was welcomed by Kullu Congress leaders Satya Parkash Thakur and Karan Singh and Seraj Congress leaders Virsingh Chauhan and Chet Ram Thakur among others. Virbhadra Singh urged them to launch a concerted campaign to oust the BJP regime from power in the Assembly poll. He accused the Dhumal regime of violating Section 118. Supporters of state Congress chief Kaul Singh Thakur were conspicuous by
their absence. |
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Water found in petrol at
HIMFED-operated pump
Solan, October 7 Though officials plead that the presence of water was due to improper design of the pump that had led to seepage of water from the ground, any attempt to adulterate petrol could not be ruled out. It was learnt that around 183 litres of water was pumped out of this pump on October 5 during its cleaning after initial complaints. Earlier also, as much as 140 litres of water had been removed from the pump when similar complaints were received by HIMFED. Officiating area manager BC Bhardwaj said he had sealed both intake hole and the dip rod hole so as to rule out any mischief from the staff concerned and added that the IOC had been informed that when the last 500 litres of petrol was left in the pump such high quantity of water started flowing out of the pump. He said the IOC had been asked to get the pump cleaned before undertaking further activity as they were losing almost Rs 13,000 per tanker while earning a mere Rs 6,000. Bhardwaj added that since ethanol-based petrol was being supplied form August it had the tendency of converting into water if it was adulterated with kerosene or diesel. Therefore, it was being inquired now whether some adulteration had taken place while transporting the petrol or whether it was due to water seepage from the ground or if any other attempt was made to mix water and pilfer petrol. With complaints of the local staff being extremely lax in managing this pump, officials were trying to ascertain how such large quantities of water had got collected in the pump. It was interesting to note that even if water was added to the petrol during transit its impact appeared only when the last 500 litres of petrol remained in the pump, therefore, no immediate information of adulteration was available with HIMFED at the time of receiving supplies
from the IOC. |
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Majority of students in govt schools from migrant families: Survey
Hamirpur, October 7 In a survey conducted in government primary schools in Hamirpur block by teachers working under the Sarv Siksha Abhiyan (SSA), it has been found that a majority of the students studying in these schools are from this category. According to a report “collected” by the block resource person of the SSA in Hamirpur town, in Government Primary School, Housing Board Colony, and the one in ward No. 4, about 300 students of the total 400 are children of migrant families. Similarly, in schools at Lamblu and Boohni, located adjacent to Hamirpur town, over 70 per cent students are from this category. The SSA had conducted the survey in 100 government primary schools in Hamirpur block. The maximum local students studying in government schools have been found in remote areas and interiors where there are few options for parents to send their wards to private schools or at places where private schools do not exist. While all students studying in government schools are being served mid-day meals, many of them are getting books and school dresses free of cost. A senior citizen, PC Thakur, says, “It’s an irony that though the state government is spending huge money on government schools, a majority of the students are joining private schools.” A teacher working in a government school says, “Government schools have a very good infrastructure and well-qualified staff, but despite this students are getting attracted to private schools. The state government will have to make effective changes to bring government schools on a par with private schools.”
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Denied visa, Dalai Lama to
attend SA function via web
Dharamsala, October 7 The Dalai Lama and Archbishop Tutu will engage in a moderated discussion on the issue of “Peace and compassion as a catalyst for change”, the topic he was supposed to speak on had he been allowed to enter South Africa by the authorities. Even a last-minute appeal by Tutu to grant a visa to the Dalai Lama did not move the South African government, prompting the South African apostle of peace to accuse President Jacob Zuma of kowtowing to China. The Dalai Lama’s office here said the Tibetan spiritual leader had accepted the invitation of a video conference link-up for a live discussion. “The Dalai Lama has accepted the proposal from Desmond Tutu to have a worldwide live video conference tomorrow,” said Chhime Rigzing, secretary to the Dalai Lama. As a mark of protest, the organisers of the function at the University of Western Cape will keep “an empty chair on the stage to symbolise His Holiness’ enforced absence”. The event is to be broadcast live by South African Public Television Network from the spot and live-streamed on the Internet. The Dalai Lama, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989, has visited South Africa thrice and even been welcomed by former President Nelson Mandela. However, the South African authorities have been refusing him entry since 2009, openly admitting they do not want to alienate China, the country’s main trading partner.
— PTI |
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Soon, potable water scheme for
Hamirpur, Sujanpur
Hamirpur, October 7 Addressing a public meeting at Jangal Beri after laying the foundation stone of a drinking water scheme today, he said, “Schemes worth Rs 1,200 crore are under implementation to uplift the rural economy in the state.” He said, “A lift irrigation scheme will be constructed for left-out villages at Khairi at a cost of Rs 87.33 lakh, another lift irrigation scheme at Jakhu (Jangal) at a cost of Rs 55 lakh, besides setting up a milk processing plant at Jangal Beri at a cost Rs 1.5 crore”. The Chief Minister said the road network had been expanded to “inner parts” of the state and many landlocked areas in the interiors of Mandi district had been connected with all-weather roads and efforts were afoot to construct traffic tunnels in different parts of the state to reduce distances. He said, “The state government has launched a citizens’ charter to ensure the delivery of essential services to the people within a stipulated time and to eradicate corruption in the state, besides providing a transparent, responsive and efficient administration.” He said, “The state government will attach the property of those who have acquired wealth through unfair means till a final decision is delivered by the court.” The Chief Minister provided a financial assistance of Rs 3 lakh to Divya, Divyanshu and Sushma Devi out of the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund for medical aid. Eduation Minister ID Dhiman, IPH Minister Ravinder Ravi and MLA Urmil Thakur also addressed the meeting. |
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Monsoon ends on a deficient note
Shimla, October 7 The state received 732.5 mm rain from June 1 to September 30 as against the normal precipitation of 803.1 mm, a shortfall of 9 per cent. The tribal Lahaul and Spiti district was the driest with a deficiency of 61 per cent, followed by Solan, which had only 765 mm of rain as against the normal of 1,038 mm, a deficiency of 26 per cent. In contrast, Kinnaur district had the wettest monsoon with 29 per cent excess rain, followed by Kullu 25 per cent and Una 19 per cent. Rest of the districts had 2 to 7 per cent deficient rains. The total rainfall from June 1 to July 31 was deficient by 22 per cent, but the shortfall came down to 6 per cent as the state received 321 mm of rain in August against the normal precipitation of 273 mm, which is 18 per cent higher than normal. However, the monsoon lost its vigour in September rather early and as a result the state had only 104.8 mm rain as compared to the normal precipitation of 137.6 mm, a deficiency of 24 per cent. Solan had the driest month with 68 per cent below normal precipitation, followed by Kinnaur (-62 per cent), Lahaul and Spiti (-62 per cent), Bilaspur (-25 per cent), Mandi (-22 per cent), Chamba (-18 per cent), Hamirpur (-12 per cent), Kangra (-11 per cent), Shimla (-9 per cent) and Sirmour (-2 per cent). In charge of the local met office Manmohan Singh said deficient or excess precipitation to the extent of 19 per cent was considered normal and as such only the Lahaul and Spiti and Solan district could be termed as deficient, while Kullu and Kinnaur would fall in the excess category. |
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Anti-Ragging panel meet Our Correspondent
Kangra, October 7 According to a report, the first meeting of the Anti-Ragging Committee of the college after the admissions of 100 fresh students was slated for September 30 but members were informed in a casual way and therefore most of the members could not attend the meeting. Vinay Kumar Singh, SDM, Kangra, and Dinesh Kumar, SDPO, Kangra, said they had no information about the meeting despite the fact that it was an important and crucial meeting in view of fresh admissions. BR Chauhan, DPRO, said he received the letter on October 1 when the date of the meeting was already passed. The media representative and other members received their letters after the date of the meeting. Only nine members, mostly faculty members, besides the hostel manager and assistant security officer and TAMCOT president could attend the meeting. There are 20 members in the committee. It was constituted under the directions of the apex court following the death of Aman Kachroo in a ragging incident. Officiating Principal, TMC, Dr Ramesh Lal said he was under the impression that all the members had been communicated about the meeting date and time and if it had happened the other way round, it would not be repeated in the future. He added that in future the members would be informed at least a week earlier.
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Wildlife Menace Tribune News Service
Mandi, October 7 Talking to The Tribune, Des Raj, Inder Gandhi and Hardev Singh said farmers in the state have suffered huge losses due to the menace. The government had taken no concrete steps to check the wildlife menace in the state, they rued. They said they would undertake a padyatra from October 13 to Shimla contacting farmers on the way. “We have undertaken a signature campaign and an awareness campaign making farmers aware about their miserable plight.” They demanded that the farmers should be made stake holders in projects based on natural resources like hydropower and cement as the big companies were making most of the profit while the farmers whose land have been acquired get nothing.
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‘Don’t ignore seniority while appointing IGMC Principal’
Shimla, October 7 Representatives of the association met the Principal Secretary, Health, recently and expressed apprehensions that the government was keen to give the prestigious post to a junior professor, which would not be in the interest of the apex medical institution of the state. — TNS
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Chhetri set to clinch third MTB title
Shimla, October 7 He has managed an overall lead of 22 minutes over his nearest rival, Nanyan Narnag, and with just two competitive stages to go tomorrow, he is well set to complete the hat-trick of titles. Vijay Kumar of the Army was at the third position. Today the riders had to contend with a tough 72-km uphill climb during which they gained 6,200 ft of elevation. However, all 37 riders in the competitive section successfully completed the stages. However, in the non-competitive category, two more bikers opted out and with this only 65 participants have been left in the race. In the women section, Nirjla Tamarkar, also from Nepal, has maintained her top position all through.
— TNS |
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Villagers urged to utilise govt facilities
Bilaspur, October 7 This call was given by HP Vidhan Sabha Deputy Speaker Rikhi Ram Kaundal while addressing a district-level camp at Buhaad village in the Jhandutta constituency, 90 km from here, recently. |
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After seeking the blessings of Goddess Bhima Kali at Sarahan, Union Minister for Medium, Small and Micro Enterprises and MP from Mandi Virbhadra Singh has launched a virtual election campaign that seems to have upset the apple cart of his detractors in the state Congress. His tour earlier to the tribal belt and now to Kullu and Shimla has geared up the party cadre through his intensive mass contact programme.
Dharamsala, October 7
