Palampur, December 27
Power projects and cement plants coming up in the state are playing havoc with its natural pristine beauty. The projects pose a serious threat to its vast forest cover and fragile ecology.

Unscientific extraction of lime stone, dumping of debris, felling of trees and reckless quarrying in the hills has given way to large-scale land erosion in many parts of the state resulting in frequent flash floods and landslides.

In Kangra district alone, over 12 small hydel projects are on the anvil.

Though the state government is well versed with the situation, it has failed to initiate any pre-emptory and corrective measures to check the irresponsible behaviour of the private companies.

The local people have lodged strong protests in different parts of the state and are at loggerheads with the companies, fighting a lonely battle without any support from the government. A number of persons have approached the Himachal Pradesh High Court and relief has been granted in some cases.

Information gathered by The Tribune revealed that the state government has signed an MoU for setting up of 4 more cement plants in Shimla, Mandi and Chamba districts. If these project are cleared by the state Forest Department, it would upset the natural ecosystem.

On one hand, the state government boasts of a ‘Clean Green Himachal Pradesh’ and on the other hand it encourages cement plants and major power projects at the cost of the state’s environment.

Experts and scientists, while interacting with The Tribune, opined that if the state government failed to change its industrial policy, the state would risk its tourism industry. The state roads are in a deplorable state because of heavy trucks, tankers and dumpers of cement and power companies plying on them 24x7.

The government departments like MPP & Power, Forest Department, PWD, IPH, PWD and Deputy Commissioners have failed to fulfill their obligations honestly because of their vested interests and rampant corruption.

How were no objection certificates granted to these power companies and cement plants by the government? The guidelines issued by the Government of India were given a miss. The arrest of 6 senior officials of the state government by the state vigilance department last year has proved that the state officials have a strong nexus with the private companies.

It is surprising that instead of supporting the public cause, the state government has shielded power/ cement companies and forced the locals to sell their land at throw-away prices.

The situation is quite alarming as various surveys conducted by the government and non-government agencies have stated that Himachal Pradesh was losing its forest cover. In the past five years,over 40,000 trees were axed in the state to make way for setting up of cement plants and power projects. 

Bilaspur, December 27
The gram panchayat members of 10 panchayats of Barthin area have expressed disappointment at the failure of the district administration to check the stray cattle menace.

They warned the administration that they would start an agitation if the government did not make appropriate arrangements to remove the stray cattle in the area by December 31.

A largely-attended meeting of village elders presided by social activist and former NGO leader K D Gautam at the Rest House at Barthin pointed at the recent death of a youth from Badgaon village after a stray bull attacked him.

A number of deaths occurred and many villagers were seriously injured by stray bulls and cows in the villages in recent months. He said that repeated requests to the government have fallen on deaf ears.

He said that the stray cattle were giving them sleepless nights as they were destroying their crops in the fields. Some village leaders pointed out at BJP’s election manifesto that had promised to control the menace. Nothing has happened all these four years despite repeated assurances by political leaders, said a panchayat member.

Hamirpur, December 27
The state government has decided to establish link Anti-Retroviral Treatment (ART) centres in government hospitals of 10 districts covering the entire state to provide the HIV/AIDS treatment to the affected persons at the district level.

After the establishment of the link ART centres, thousands of the HIV/AIDS patients would get treatment at the district hospitals through these centres.

At present, diagnosis and treatment of the patients is being done in three ART centres functioning in the Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC), Shimla, Rajender Prasad Medical College, Tanda, and district hospital, Hamirpur.

Since many cases of HIV/AIDS were detected in the state during the past few years, the state AIDS Control Society had launched an awareness campaign and treatment programme with the support from the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) in the state.

The state government is providing free treatment and medicines to the HIV/AIDS affected people, besides giving them to and fro fare along with an attendant from their place of residence to the ART centres.

As per a survey, there are 5,964 persons found HIV positive in the state out of which 1,536 are AIDS patients and 797 are being treated through the ART centres.

After establishment of the link ART centres, the affected patients would have facility in their district hospitals to get free medicines and treatment and they would be saved from the hassle of travelling to the ART centres.

Since no patient is getting treatment in the two tribal district of Lahual & Spiti and Kinnaur, thus all districts of the state would have treatment facility for the AIDS through the Link ART centres.

The state government had already linked three districts of Mandi, Kulu and Una with Hamirpur ART centre and held a workshop for training the medical staff of three districts at Hamirpur recently.

Project Director of the state AIDS control society Dr NK Pathak said: “We are soon going to establish link ART centres in 10 district hospitals providing AIDS treatment in the entire state to facilitate treatment at the district-level and the process of training the staff is going on”.

Palampur, December 27
Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal recently announced that new Municipal Council (MC) will be set up at Baijnath-Paprola after March 31, 2012.

He said the government was well conversant with the problems being faced by the residents of Baijnath-Paprola in the absence of the MC here.

Dhumal, who was addressing the residents of Baijnath-Paproal, said the census was in process and the state government would create new municipal councils and corporations.

He said because of fast urbanisation, the state needed new MCs as well as the extension of the limits of existing councils without any delay. The government had already chalked out a plan in this regard so that better facilities could be made available to the residents of the state as panchyats had poor infrastructure and finance to bear the burden of increasing populations and urbanisation was meagre.

He directed the local officials to complete the necessary paper formalities soon and forward the documents to the state government so that the same could be approved by the state Cabinet.

Trilok Kapoor, who had initiated the move for setting up of the municipal councils at Baijnath- Paprola, thanked the Chief Minister and said the step taken by the government would definitely benefit the residents.

He said it was a long-pending demand of the local residents which has now been accepted by the BJP government.

The residents and tourists continue to face problems in reaching the Lakkar Bazaar bus stop due to failure of the municipal corporation to restore the portion of the Rivoli Road (see photo) which caved in following a landslide three years ago.

The landslide claimed two lives and buried the “Sood Janj Ghar”, but plans to rebuild the structure, which served as the community centre, is still no where in sight. In place of a road, the people have to walk through a narrow congested footpath, raising safety concerns, particularly during winters when surface becomes slippery due to frost.

A large number of tourists use the road to reach the ice-skating rink, the attraction in the “Queen of Hills” during winters in absence of snow. The neglect of the road leading to the Asia’s oldest natural ice-skating rink reflects the lackadaisical attitude of the authorities towards promotion of tourism.

The Tulsi Ram Rattani Devi Trust, which manages the property, has been trying to get the complex reconstructed even before the landslide occurred. However, the building plans were not approved by the municipal corporation. A member of the trust, VP Sood, lamented the attitude of the municipal authorities in refusing to approve the building plan.

He had come out with a plan to decongest and beautify the entire area along the Rivoli Road from Government Girls School to the ICICI Bank, build commercial complex, along with the community centre and car parking to accommodate the Tibetan refugees who have set up shops on the hillside.

Bilaspur, December 27
A two-day New Year Mela would be held at famous Naina Devi shrine about 95 km from here on December 31 and January 1. All 
arrangements have been finalised for the same.

This was said by Temple Commissioner-cum-Deputy Commissioner Ritesh Chauhan after having reviewed the arrangements with the district officials concerned. He said no explosives, fire works and crackers could be exploded within the vicinity of the mela premises and use of all types on intoxicants, including liquor, would be banned from December 30 to January 2.

Chauhan said while sufficient police arrangements would be in place for security and safety of thousands of devotees who visit this fair from all parts of state and several adjoining states, District Health and Medical Department had been directed to ensure 24-hour health services with sufficient medicines, life saving drugs and other essential equipments there. All essential supplies, including ration at cheaper rates, drinking water and hygiene have also been ensured.

There would be proper parking arrangements for vehicles but commercial vehicles would not be allowed near the mela premises to control traffic. The PWD authorities have been instructed to keep all roads leading to the shrine in good condition to ensure smooth traffic movement. The “jagrattas” can only be held with permission of the mela officer and only at specific places during the fair.

Kangra, December 27
The Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) DIG presided over the passing out parade and oath taking ceremony of the SSB contingents at Sapari near Jwalamukhi recently and appreciated the skills of the SSB recruits and hoped that all contingents would be able to discharge their duties with dedication and sincerity taught to them during the training period.

He said the SSB had been rendering yeoman service in guarding the national boundaries and lending a helping hand to the civil administration during emergency and natural calamities like carrying out relief services and rehabilitation work.

Sarkar gave away prizes and mementoes to the outstanding contingents for their extraordinary training skills during their training period at the Sapri Training Centre.

SK Sharma, Commandant of the centre Sapri, on the occasion commended the services being rendered by the SSB contingents on the frontiers of the nation. He exhorted the contingents to dedicate themselves to the services of the nation and to the depressed section of society.

He hoped that with strengthening of the battalion, the security network of the nation would get strengthened further and discipline would be maintained at all level. He said the SSB believed in nation building. It was an organisation which had connected the people residing in the inaccessible areas with the mainstream, he said while appreciating the SSB. He said the medical and veterinary services being delivered by the SSB para medicos had helped in making available the immediate health facilities.

The SSB contingents presented exemplary feats on the occasion.

Sub area Organiser SK Basu, Deputy Commandment Pankaj Sharma, section officer BK Sharma and other senior officials of the SSB were also present on the occasion.