|
|
|
|
State lacks facilities for winter sports
Pollution board to study biodiversity around Rohtang
|
|
|
|
Study on ambient air quality in Solan
Search on for foster homes for children
Road accidents on the rise in state
91-man jumbo District Congress Committee in Bilaspur gets nod
Chamba dist sans literacy centre for visually challenged
BJP counters Oppn’s claim of biased progress
vignettes
Chamba has lowest literacy rate in state
AIDS awareness workshop held
|
|
State lacks facilities for winter sports
Manali, January 17 At that the Himachal tourism establishment talks of promoting the state as a “destination of all seasons, with all reasons”. A private player has put up about a 1,000-m-long gondola lift at the Solang Nullah resort along its 1,200-m-long ski slopes. Besides, he also has got a 325-m-long ski lift on lease from the government. But gondola and ski lifts are of no use as this resort does not even have a single snow-beating machine to prepare the slope for skiers, rued skiers. The 1,200-m-long Solang slope has not been developed. “It has no proper drainage. It needs a snow bridge to fill a small nullah and snow-beating machines,” said Winter Games promoters here. Local clubs and instructors from the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Adventure Sports (ABVIAS), Manali, run local skiing events and ski courses for amateurs, keeping the Winter Games alive over the years. “The institute started winter skiing at Solang in 1971. But 32 years down the line, it does not have even a single snow-beating machine,” rued skiers. “The story of Narkanda ski resort is no different. It is being run on a portable toe-lift that has now lived its life,” resented members of the Himachal Pradesh Winter Games Association. Irony is that Leader of Opposition Vidya Stokes, who belongs to the area and has been on a national sports body for a long time, has done nothing for developing the ski resort at Narkanda, they pointed out. “The ABVIAS runs its course or events on an ad hoc basis at Narkanda as ski slopes have not been developed properly here,” they said. In contrast, the tourism establishment of Uttarakhand and Jammu and Kashmir have developed Auli and Gulmarg ski resorts, respectively, providing all facilities. Today these resorts attract winter sports lovers from across the country and abroad and organise national and international-level Winter Games, rued winter sports lovers. Local skiers - Aanchal, at present in Austria to participate in the first Youth Winter Olympics, Hira Lal and Shiva Negi have won national and international championships just by using outdated equipment and without any assistance from the government. The Winter Games remain high on hype among successive bureaucrats and ministers of the state, commented members of the HP Winter Games Association. “The Congress talks about the country’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and now, the BJP talks about former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee saying they promoted Manali. But the fact is they did nothing in terms of putting proper infrastructure in Manali,” they added. Secretary-general, Winter Games Federation of India, who comes from Manali, said: “It is high time that the state government does something concrete on the ground. We have budding youth sportspersons and a reservoir of snow in Manali, Shimla, Kinnaur, Chamba and Lahaul-Spiti, but no well-equipped ski resort in the state.”
|
|
|
Pollution board to study biodiversity around Rohtang
Solan, January 17 The study follows directions from the state High Court, which has granted three months to complete the study and submit a report. The HC has also directed the board to assess whether more construction should be allowed around the Manali/Palchan/Solang area and if so, the type of construction that should be allowed in these areas by taking into account the soil and water quality needs. Aspects like the construction of additional roads and buildings and the magnitude and frequency of landslides vis-à-vis biodiversity of the area would also form a crucial part of the study. Additional Chief Secretary (Forests) Sudripto Roy said National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) had been assigned this task and it would also help assess the future requirements of inhabitants of the area like the construction of roads, timber requirements and other developmental aspects so that its ecological impact could be known to help devise strategies to offset the adverse impact on the ecology. A major task for the study involves the preparation of an emission inventory by assessing vehicular traffic on the Manali-Leh highway by taking into account the number of different categories of vehicles passing through the region. Techniques for reducing air quality levels by assessing the atmospheric assimilation potential of vehicles will also be suggested. Assessment of surface water quality and quantity in the Rohtang Pass area between Solang, Kothi to Koksar on the NH-Manali-Leh and the assessment of water quality of various water resources in the Beas and Chandra rivers and hill streams at five or more locations will also be undertaken to study the adverse impact of tourist flow on water. With sensitive flora and fauna existing in the study area, delineation of existing land use pattern and practices in the area using Remote Sensing Imageries, assessment of impacts on land use pattern due to the proposed developments and assessment of the impact on flora and fauna will also be studied in detail.
|
|
|
Study on ambient air quality in Solan
Solan, January 17 The IIT-Kanpur has been assigned this study which will be undertaken in 25 locations across the district and assistance will be sought from eight national air quality stations of the board running at various locations. The filter paper analysis for metals, benzene and PAH will be done by the IIT-Kanpur. These locations will be finalised by the board officials in consultation with the team of the IIT-Kanpur and the study has been approved in the recent meeting of the Board of Management. The study will include all pollutants included in the revised national ambient air quality norms like sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, particulate matter, ozone, lead, carbon monoxide, ammonia, benzene, benzo pyrene, arsenic and nickel as per the November 2009 ambient air quality standards laid down by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). With reports of carcinogenic volatile organic compounds being found in the state’s industrial hub of Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh in an air sampling conducted by the Central Pollution Control Board last year, it had become imperative for the state board to get this study conducted.
This was also crucial as the state lacked the mechanism to monitor several new parameters which had been introduced in the revised ambient air quality monitoring by the CPCB in November 2009. The study will therefore help the board to devise strategies to effectively monitor air quality in the state’s industrial hub which accounts for 70 per cent of the state’s industries. Apart from the industries, which emit noxious chemicals, the study will also help assess the adverse impact of cement units on the habitations by undertaking air modelling. The first-ever study which is being undertaken by the board in the state will also help assess the extent of health risk to the people residing in the vicinity of such industries as the CPCB report had pointed out that 10 VOCs - benzene, toluene, m-xylene, bromo benzene, 135 methyl benzene, 124 methyl benzene, p-iso pro toluene, n-buytl benzene and 124 trichloro benzene - has been detected at alarming levels from various in the BBN. Earlier, a NGO, Him Parivesh, in association with the Chennai-based Community Environment Monitoring had undertaken air sampling and it had detected that these chemicals target eyes, skin and respiratory system, central nervous system, liver, kidneys, reproductive system and even cardiovascular system, blood, heart and peripheral nervous system. With the detection of two carcinogens, the risk of locals getting cancer had risen as chloroform and methyelene chloride had been detected much above the safe limit.
|
|
|
Search on for foster homes for children
Shimla, January 17 The Woman and Child Welfare Department is engaged in giving final touches to the scheme where 850 children, who are living in the Bal Ashrams, will be able to lead a normal life with a family. All this will become possible with the launch of a foster care facility where programme officers in various districts will look for ideal homes for such children. The children whose basic needs of education, food and lodging are being taken care in the Bal Ashrams, long for the emotional care and love that only a family can give them. It is under the Integrated Child Welfare Project that efforts will be made by the department to provide foster homes to these children, all above the age of six. The department will, however, be very particular in screening the families and parents who want to bring up these children to ensure there is no exploitation at any level. Though the government helps the children living in the Bal Ashrams with their education, beyond a certain age they cannot support them. Officials said their staff would get foster families to fill a bond where the entire responsibility of the child’s protection, education, food, health and other needs would be on them. The department officials would make surprise visits to the homes where such children have been adopted to ensure there was no exploitation and they were being taken care of in all respects. The scheme could come as a big hope for children keen on continuing their higher education and joining professional colleges, which they were unable to do in the absence of financial and emotional support. The scheme, once it takes off, would help give wings to the dreams of so many children, who despite their intelligence and caliber, consider themselves unlucky.
|
|
|
Road accidents on the rise in state
Palampur, January 17 Though the government is well conversant with the situation that 95 per cent of the total population of the state is dependent on road transport, in the present scenario it seems that passengers’ safety is a low priority of the state. The sharp increase in road accidents in the state has once again put a question mark on the functioning of the state Road Transport Department. In the past one week, over 35 persons lost their lives in different road mishaps in the state, particularly in the rural areas. The state has a high rate of accidents because of its topography and narrow roads. Though there has been a manifold increase in the light and heavy vehicles and the state and inter-state traffic has also gone up, the width of most of the roads is the same, as it was 20 years ago. Till date, the state is not prepared to bear the load of the increasing traffic. On paper, the government has taken various steps for the widening of roads, but little progress has been made in this field in the absence of administrative and political will. In 90 per cent of the cases, the government has failed to acquire additional land for widening of the roads. Therefore, the condition of internal roads in the state has gone from bad to worse, where frequent accidents are taking place. A senior official of the state Transport Department admitted that 75 per cent of the accidents in the state occurred because of negligent behaviour, and the remaining 25 per cent were attributed to other reasons like mechanical failure, landslides and bad roads. If these figures are to be believed, then 75 per cent accidents could be avoided, but in recent past, the number of accidents and causalities in the state have gone up. In the state, heavy casualties have become a daily affair. The government looks unconcerned with the grim situation and its job is now only confined to sanctioning ex graita to the next of kin of victims of the accidents. Almost after every accident, the state government orders a probe into the cause of the accident, but no follow-up action is taken and reports remain confined to official files.
|
|
|
91-man jumbo District Congress Committee in Bilaspur gets nod
Bilaspur, January 17 Addressing mediapersons at the Circuit House here on Saturday, district president Santosh Dhiman and general secretary Gopal Sharma said Rajender Pal Thakur, Ram Saran Thakur, Ram Krishan Dhiman, Sukh Ram Kaushal, Nikka Ram Mehta, Basant Ram Sandhu, Kamlender Kashyap, JP Malhotra, Rattan Lal Chopra and Yashodha Devi would be vice-presidents and Satish Chandel of Baadi Balyawar would be district treasurer. The general secretaries are Ram Prakash Dhiman, Gopal Krishan Sharma, Kanta Thakur, Kuldip Singh Deol, Pradip Sharma, Mira Varma, Sat Pal, Dinesh Sharma and Rakesh Chandel, and the secretaries Pawan Chandel, Hem Raj Thakur, Dipa Chandel, Mira Thakur, Himmat Singh, Salender Bhadole, Ranjit Singh, Dhani Ram Sharma, Dinesh Bhutto, Capt Manjit and Bhupender Thakur. The Executive Committee members are Gita Mahajan, Amarjit Kaur, Munshi Ram Thakur, Yashwant Singh, Sita Ram Sharma, Raj Pal Sharma, Bhagat Ram Mahajan, Brajesh Kaushal, Shashi Kant, Sonia, Razzak Mohammed, Ramesh Chand, Rakesh Soni, Lekh Ram Dhiman, Puran Chand Bhatia, Rajendra Devi, Prithvi Singh, Surender Thakur, Purushottam Sharma, Shankar Dass Kaundal, Kanshi Ram and Gyan Chand Gambhir.
— OC
|
|
|
Chamba dist sans literacy centre for visually challenged
Chamba, January 17 The dream of the literacy mission cannot come true unless a centre for the visually challenged is set up at a suitable place in the district. There is a need to conduct a comprehensive survey to ascertain the figures of the visually challenged population in the district. Out of the seven blocks in the district, the official figure of visually challenged persons available with this reporter was of only block of Mehla, which is around 14. So far as the population of disabled persons in the district was concerned, it was around 3,850, out of which 2,119 had been issued identity cards, official sources said. They added that the state government had spent Rs 93.25 lakh for the welfare of disabled persons in the district during the last fiscal year. Furthermore, the lack of coordination between the Panchayati Raj Institutions and the departments was also an impediment in the implementation of the mission, while March 18 had been fixed for holding an examination for the neo-literates by the National Institute of Open Schooling, the sources said. They added that most of the 283 lok siksha kendras, one in each panchayat, in the district were still running with internal connectivity as BSNL, the agency assigned with the task was itself short of broadband devices. Even some of the lok siksha kendras were also running for the want of accommodation. “Chamba district is one of the 365 districts of the country and the only district of the state which has been identified with a view to wiping out illiteracy under the Saakshar Bharat Mission-2012,” the sources said.
|
|
|
Politicians visit Baglamukhi temple to seek blessings
Dharamsala, January 17 Situated on the Dehra-Ranital road, Baglamukhi temple is witnessing a large number of politicians and their families thronging from Punjab. The sources in the temple told The Tribune that in the last few days, many politicians from Punjab have visited the temple and performed “tantric puja” for immediate relief during elections. As per the myth, the tantric puja at the temple is believed to provide immediate relief to the problem and victory over enemies. Though most of the politicians keep their visit to the temple a secret, Maninderjit Singh Bitta, a former Congress leader who is struggling to make a comeback in political, was noticed paying obeisance at the temple in the recent past. The Mahant of the temple, Devi Giri, when contacted said many politicians visited the temple and performed puja last week with an eye on ticket of the mainstream
political parties. He said most of the politicians leave their security cover in the hotels around the temple and come with just one or two persons to perform puja here. The mahant claimed that politicians across the party lines and religious faith come to perform “hawan” and puja at the temple. He, however, refused to divulge the names of prominent politicians who perform tantric puja at the temple in the recent past. The other sources at the temple revealed that many prominent Congress and SAD leaders from the Doaba region have visited and performed tantric puja at Baglamukhi temple in the recent past. The temple has the history of witnessing the presence of many senior leaders from various political parties and different faith who come here to perform tantric puja for victory over rivals. Capt Amarinder Singh also visited the temple before the last Assembly elections and priests of the temple were expecting his visit before the forthcoming elections also. In the recent past, former prominent Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh and MP and former Bollywood actress Jaya Prada had also visited the temple before the cash- for-vote case against Amar Singh was being probed by the CBI. As per the mythical history, the temple used to enjoy the patronage of the Hindu rulers of Kapurthala. Later the hills kings, including Katoch rulers of Kangra and Gulerias of Guler state gave patronage to the temple. The mahant of the temple said earlier the local kings did not allow anybody to spread the word regarding mystical powers of the temple as they feared that anybody can use it against them.
|
|
|
BJP counters Oppn’s claim of biased progress
Bilaspur, January 17 Sharma criticised prominent Congress leaders for their baseless and false propaganda against the government and said that the leaders were either “uninformed or purposefully distorted facts” to mislead the people. Sharma said education, roads, health, self-help, self- employment and self- respect being the six hallmarks of government policy. He said 52 National Awards were won in 4 years by the state government. He alleged that the Opposition leaders were concocting excuses. Sharma specifically mentioned some of the flag-bearing projects of the government including Atal Bijli Bachat Yojna , Atal Swasthya Yojna, 50 per cent reservation for women in Panchayati Raj institutions, Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhya Kisan Bagwan Smridhi Yojna along with a few others.
|
|
|
vignettes
Wake is reserved for the group of vultures which is eating. I was surprised because the Red Data of International Union for Conservation of Nature has declared the Indian Vulture (Gyps Indicus) that includes Gyps Himalayensis, as one of the endangered species. A committee of vultures was a common sight, especially in the “wake” form when they were feeding on the carcass of a dead animal during the days when we were in school. Today, their visit is always a surprise. We welcome them because they are the descendents of Jataayu of Ramayana and Garuda of Mahabharata and are natural scavengers. The Himalayan Vultures from Shimla have, however, flown away with the gradual melting of the snow. But one morning, I heard pandemonium raised by a flock of parrots. I clicked their photographs when they sat on the branches of a leafless tree disrobed by the harsh winters (See Photo). Keep the eyes and ears open and the winter would not be as dead as the people think it is. The first scientific documentation of India’s birds was penned down by Major TC Jerdon of the Madras Presidency Army in 1862-64 in three volumes of “The Book of Indian Birds”. Those who added to this ornithological edifice were Stuart Baker (IG Police Bengal), Hugh Whistler (SP Police, Punjab), Captain Ticehurst, IMS of the Army of Sind at Karachi and AO Hume, ICS, Secretary to the Government of India. Hume, the founder of the Indian National Congress, was also an ornithologist. He came to Shimla in 1870 in the Agriculture Department and as a hobby, he started collecting the birds of Shimla. He had an army of bird collectors who would collect birds and sent specimens to his residence- Rothney Castle, Jakhu, where these were arranged in a classified order in the cabinets. The other person who has written book “Birds of Kangra” is Jan den Besten, whose book came out in 2004. It is again a police officer of the state, Somesh Goyal, who has founded and is presiding over a forum called Himachal Bird, which is dedicated to conservation of avian habitat and bird-watching. His forum has conducted two surveys on Shimla birds so far- one in April and the other in October 2011, to assess the bird-counts in summer and autumn and to understand the movement pattern of the birds because of the changes occurring in the weather conditions. There were more species of birds in Shimla in autumn than in summer. Their respective number was 136 and 116. The forum found that drongos, finches, buntings and wall-creepers were missing in the autumn count. Somesh said, “Drongos and wall-creepers are seasonal migrants but the reason for the absence of other species requires an in-depth study by the Wildlife Wing of the Forest Department and the bird-enthusiasts.” He was happy to announce that Shimla in autumn could boast of having 20 additional species of birds to the flock that existed here in the summer. The important ones of these were Eurasian Jay, Black-chinned Babbler, Booted Eagle, Eurasian Sparrow-hawk, Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch, White-tailed Nuthatch, Upland Pipit and Hill Partridge. Colonel Sir Henry Collett had, in 1921, brought out Flora Simlensis on the flora of Shimla and I wish Somesh Goyal brings out Avifauna Simlensis in the due course of time. Jack Dumbacher, an expert, of California Academy of Sciences, has said, “It is evident that when birds go extinct then trees automatically also go extinct. It is hard to imagine that disappearance of bird-species makes much difference to the human well-being. The need of the hour is to preserve the winged beauties. ”Somesh and his colleagues are doing a remarkable job in conserving the feathered flock. We wish they keep it up.
Tailpiece
Elizabeth Hurley lost her Indian husband Arun Nayar but she got a Himalayan Parrot as Christmas gift and she has named it Ping Pong. The Indian husband could not be caged.
|
|
|
Himachal diary
The Shimla region experienced a heavy snowfall on January 9 after several years. While the snow caused many hardships to the people, it also brought cheers to many as last year went without snow. Unlike the February snow, the early January snow does not melt away quickly and provide ample time for the revellers to play and have fun.
While children enjoyed sledging on slopes and the young boys and girls exchanged snowballs, those with artistic bent of mind tried their hands at sculpting by making snowmen. The staff of the Indian Institute of Advanced Study (IIAS) also celebrated the heavy snowfall and instead of just having fun, they created a snowman replicating the celebrated work of famous French sculptor Auguste Rodin entitled “Le Penseur” (The Thinker). It has inspired people worldwide for over 100 years and is often used as an icon of philosophy and the mental disciplines. The scholars who devote their time in the institute give serious thought on their research topic and believe in the philosophy of thinking. Keeping in view the researchers’ mind, Director of the institute Peter Ronald D’Souza gave the idea to the staff to make the snowman. The staff did a wonderful job (see photo) and used their skills to come out with a snow replica on the lawns of the institute. Originally in bronze, “The Thinker” was first cast in 1902 and it is now in the Musée Rodin in Paris. The snowman attracted a large number of tourists. It remained a centre of attraction for tourists and staff of the institute. The Director was overwhelmed with the replica and praised the staff for that. The snow played a spoilsport for the lovers of ice skating as the thick layer of snow on the rink made ice skating impossible. As such only two sessions were possible in the whole week after the snowfall.
Pilgrims throng Tatta Pani
Famous for its hot springs, Tatta Pani attracts thousands of pilgrims on the auspicious occasion of “Makar Sankranti”. This year was no different and the devout who wanted to have a dip before sunrise arrived as early as 2:30 am on January 14. The resort draws tourists round the year but the devout turnout in strength every Saturday to perform various rituals, mostly on the advice of astrologers. The rituals are performed on the banks of Sutlej where the springs are located. The people also organise “langar” (community lunch) on the occasion during which “Khichdi” is served. Some local people have developed tourist resorts by diverting hot water from the sulphur springs so that one can enjoy indoor baths. The destination will lose much of its religious importance once the Kol Dam is completed and the Sutlej river is impounded. The reservoir will inundate the banks and submerge the hot springs for ever.
Snowfall damages lichi, mango orchads
While a timely snowfall cheered the fruit growers in the apple belt, the unusual phenomenon of snowing in the lower hills of Kangra brought miseries to them. The unexpected heavy snow damages trees and many areas. The litchi and mango orchards were the worst affected. The litchi growers in the Kangra, Dharmasla and Nurpur subdivision are also worst hit. Several old mango trees in the Dehra subdivision and the Bharwain area of Una district, which experienced snow after 65 years, also suffered extensive damage. Quite surprisingly, the Palampur area, which gets snow off and on hardly witnessed snowfall. The low temperature in the region due to widespread snow is not considered good for the citrus fruits. However, the snow which melted away within a day, provided life-saving irrigation to the standing wheat crop which had started withering due to prolonged dry spell. As per the data available from the
weather office of Kangra had deficient rain to the extent of minus 91 per cent during the post-monsoon period from October to December and thus, snow, though unusual, had provided much relief to the farmers.
(Contributed by Rakesh Lohumi)
|
|
|
Chamba has lowest literacy rate in state
Chamba, January 17 Data released by the Directorate of Census Operations shows that in Chamba district, male and female literacy rates were 84.19 and 62.14 per cent, respectively, in Census 2011. In all, there were total 3,28,940 literates as compared to 2,46,169 in Census 2001. According to statistics, the population of Chamba district is 5,18,844, which had increased by 12.58 per cent as compared to figures of Census 2001. The data showed that Chamba district had male and female population of 260,848 and 257,996, respectively. Chamba district comprises an area of 6,528 sq.km. According to Census 2011, density of Chamba district per square km was 80 as compared to 71 per sq km in 2001. The sex ratio in Chamba district has been recorded at 989, an increase of 30 points from the figure of Census 2001. The child sex ratio as per Census 2011 was 950 as compared to 955 in Census 2001. Children's proportion in total population was around 7.57 per cent. This figure was around 7.58 per cent as per Census 2001.
|
|
|
AIDS awareness workshop held
Kangra, January 17 Sanjay Chowdhary, Secretary of the HGVS, stated that the NGO would work hand in hand with society for spreading the message of enabling environment and integrated HIV awareness along with regular activities of the organisation at the village level. Manohar Mehta of Rainbow International School emphasised on the life skills for healthy life and stressed on parents to have good communication with children. He emphasised on a stigma-free environment for improving the access to services. Dinesh Kumar, a social activist elaborated on the myths and misconceptions related to sexuality and STD. Urmil Rana, a social activist, called on all of his clan to ensure that the people with AIDS get right to livelihood under the MNREGA and the association with the income generation activities of self-help groups. Dr RK Sood, Distrcit AIDS Control Officer, called on all to actively involve youth in the programme and work towards society where HIV-positive people were not discriminated.
|
|
||
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
High on “empty hype”, low on facilities, the Winter Games and winter tourism have failed to take off in the state for the past 32 years.
Solang Nullah ski resort and Narkanda ski slopes, adjudged as the best natural ski slopes, have not even a “single snow-beating machine, an essential equipment to prepare a ski run”, leave alone a well-equipped ski resort.
I was surprised to see a kettle of vultures in the sky immediately after the recent heavy snow. I may add to the knowledge of my readers that a group of vultures is called a wake, committee, venue, kettle or volt. The term kettle refers to vultures in flight, while those resting in a tree are called committee, volt or venue.