Shimla, April 15
The battle over the Annandale ground between the Army authorities and the state government today took a turn for the worse as Chief Minister PK Dhumal threatened to initiate legal action against the Army authorities in case they did not tender an apology for making a defamatory and malicious statement against him.

Reacting sharply to the Army insinuations that the state government and the Chief Minister were acting under the influence of the forest mafia to get the Annandale ground back from the Army, Dhumal said in case an unconditional apology was not tendered by the Army, he would file a defamation case. There were sharp reactions to the Army claims even from local legislator Suresh Bhardwaj and other organisations, including the “Citizens for Annandale”.

It is for the first time that such a strong reaction has come from the Army ever since the Chief Minister, his son Anurag Thakur, MP and president of the HP Cricket Association, BJP leaders and other sports organisations intensified the demand for handing back the Annandale grond so that it could be used for promoting sports.

“The Army authorities want to continue with the illegal occupation of the Annandale ground by giving a political tinge to the ‘Save-Annandale campaign’, launched by citizens of the town and 14 sports organisations. It wants to malign the image of the state and also that of the Chief Minister,” Dhumal said.

He reminded that the Army had agreed to return the Annandale ground to the Himachal Government when George Fernandes was the Defence Minister, and the Army was assured that it would be provided with an additional piece of land, which it had seen and rejected.

He said the Annandale ground was under the illegal occupation of the Army as the lease had expired 30 years ago and the new twist being given by the Army that the state government was keen on increasing the forest cover by taking over Annandale was rather astonishing. “The fact is that the Army wants to continue with its illegal occupation of the Annandale ground under the grab of preserving the forest cover whereas the fact is that Himachal has registered a huge increase in the forest cover during recent years,” he said.

The issue of the Annandale ground has become a hot topic recently with both the Congress and the CPM accusing the BJP regime of acting at the behest of the land mafia to protect their interests. They had opposed the handing over of the Annandale ground back to the state government for making a stadium. 

Bilaspur, April 15
The government has made special efforts to accelerate development during the past four years and the state has made tremendous progress in every field.

This was stated by Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal while addressing a state-level Himachal Day function at Gandhir in Ghumarwin subdivision in this district, 45 km from here, today.

Earlier, the Chief Minister unfurled the Tricolur and took the salute from personnel of the police, the Home Guards, the NCC and Scouts and Guides.

The Chief Minister highlighted the progress made by the state and said during the BJP tenure the state had developed into a “fruit state” from an “apple state”. He said the state was being developed into an educational hub and more than 5,000 students from adjoining states had come to study various professional courses here. Earlier, students of the state had to go out for their studies.

Dhumal said his government was committed to “sadak, shiksha, swasthya, swarojgar, swavlamban and swabhiman” and all efforts were directed towards these goals.

The Chief Minister declared that five colleges in the state, including the Ghumarwin college, would have MA classes from this year. A hydro-engineering college at Bandla and a polytechnic college at Kalol in Bilaspur district would soon be inaugurated. He said Rs 150 crore was being spent on developing the Tanda medical college and hospital into a super-speciality hospital.

Dhumal said the daily wages had been increased from Rs 75 to Rs 135 by the BJP government, while the social security pension had been hiked to Rs 400 per month from the earlier Rs 200.

He declared 33 per cent reservation for women in the cooperative sector and all its societies and institutions. He also nearly doubled the grant of Rs 5,100 to Rs 10,000 after the birth of a girl child (up to two girls) under the Beti Hai Anmol Yojna.

He said the Group Insurance Scheme on accidents had been extended to all registered traders while the National Health Insurance Scheme had been extended to the MNREGA labour, construction workers, single women, small traders and those with 70 per cent disability.

He announced a bonanza for sportspersons enhancing the cash reward from Rs 20,000 to 50,000 for Parashu Ram awardees, the daily diet money from Rs 80 to Rs 125 for sportspersons in the state and from Rs 125 to Rs 200 daily for those travelling outside the state.

Kabaddi player Priyanka Negi, who captained the Indian kabaddi junior women team which won the gold for the country in a world meet, will get a cash reward of Rs 10 lakh, while those who get the bronze, silver and gold medals from the state in the Olympics will get Rs 20 lakh, Rs 50 lakh and Rs 1 crore, respectively, from the state government.

Those present on the occasion included Deputy Speaker Rikhi Ram Kaundal, MLAs Randhir Sharma and Baldev Sharma, Chief Secretary Harinder Hira and Director-General of Police DS Minhas.

MANDI: Social Empowerment Minister Sarveen Chaudhary today said the state government had increased the budget for the SCs and STs from 12 per cent to 25 per cent.

Addressing a Himachal Day function at Seri Munch here on Sunday, the minister said the government had raised the outlay for the SC sub-plan to Rs 914 crore in 2012-13 from Rs 816 crore last year.

She said the government was committed to the welfare of the SCs, STs and other weaker sections of society.

She highlighted the development works undertaken by the government during the past four years in the state. She unfurled the Tricolour and inspected a parade of the Home Guards, the NCC and schoolchildren.

Dharamsala, April 15
The Indian Government should create a cadre of glaciologists to study the impact of global warming on Himalayan glaciers. At present little data is available regarding the impact of global warming on the Himalayan glaciers.

Sridhar Ananda Krishnan, Professor of environment science at Pennsylvania State University in the USA, stated this while talking to The Tribune. He was here to deliver a lecture on environment science to students of the Central University of Himachal Pradesh at Dharamsala.

Professor Krishnan said the recently released data that the Himalayan glaciers may disappear by 2050 was grossly exaggerated. “Such kind of data keeps emerging as the Himalayan glaciers have not been studied scientifically as yet and there is little data to predict their behaviour,” he said.

Since a large population of the Indian subcontinent is dependent on rivers emerging from Himalayan glaciers, the Indian Government should create a cadre of glaciologists who can collect data regarding the impact of global warming on these. The behaviour of the Himalayan glaciers could only be predicted by comparing the data collected from the field with numerical models, he said.

Professor Krishnan is at present studying the impact of global warming on ice sheets or glaciers floating on sea in the Antarctica and Green Land regions. He said he was studying the Thwaites, a fast-flowing glacier in the Antarctica region.

The glacier was losing mass to the sea at a very fast pace. Numerical models have predicted that the melting of the glacier would lead to a rise in the sea level in the next 100 years.

Asked about the exactness with which the melting of glaciers could be predicted, he said numerical models could predict the long-term impact on glaciers with good reliability. However, it was still very difficult to predict short-term weather changes.

However, with an increase in the temperatures due to global warming, the variations in the weather patterns could be extreme. The extreme weather conditions in summers and winters across the globe were an illustration of the fact, Professor Krishnan said.

Asked about the measures that could be taken to reduce the impact of global warming, he said a cut in carbon dioxide levels was the only way out.

Vice-Chancellor of the Central University of Himachal Pradesh Furqan Qmar said the students of environment science had gained from the lecture delivered by Professor Krishnan. The university would strive to bring more experts from other universities for the benefit of the students.

Palampur, April 15
A state-level two-day animal husbandry workshop was inaugurated at CSK HP Agriculture University here recently. Chief guest PC Kapoor, Principal Secretary, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries and Tribal Development, HP, said the Department of Animal Husbandry and the agriculture university should develop effective technologies which realised the needs of society.

Dr Kapoor also called for an effective transfer of scientific knowledge to livestock keepers.

He said there should be perfect skill in the hands of veterinarians and supporting staff, especially pharmacists, and there was need of regular training of staff on the lines of the Department of Health. He also felt the need of a training institute for the staff of the department.

He appreciated the work in Dr GC Negi College Of Veterinary And Animal Sciences (COVAS) and suggested a regular interaction between field veterinarians and scientists to resolve the problems faced by livestock keepers. He assured all help to the college from the government.

Dr SK Sharma,Vice-Chancellor, said to achieve the required 4 per cent growth in agriculture sector as envisaged in the National Agricultural Policy, animal husbandry sector could play a pivotal role. He declared that the animal husbandry workshop would be an annual feature henceforth and steps would be taken for a better interaction and collaborative programmes between the university and the department. He said some areas for future research like effect of climate change on animals, migratory sheep and goats, animal production and product technology, infertility etc had been identified. He said the university was conducting research which was relevant to some neighbouring hilly states like J and K and Uttarakhand. He said 37 research projects worth Rs 14.59 crore were in operation in the college.

Dr BP Malhotra, Director, Department of Animal Husbandry, said there was need to accelerate work on induced lactation in abandoned milch cattle so that such stray cattle could be made productive. He informed that per capita milk availability in the state was higher than national average.

Dr AC Varshney, Dean of the college, detailed about teaching and research activities.

Kasauli, April 15
Old beauties of yore comprising vintage and classic cars today passed through the newly opened Pinjore-Parwanoo bypass during their annual Baisakhi run to Kasauli.

Twenty vintage and classic cars of the 1930-1960 era ranging from Ford Tourer, Fleet Master, Fiat, Mercedes, Buick to Beatles captivated onlookers by their sheer presence on the newly four-laned highway. The rally was received by students from Anand School at Parwanoo.

Brig JS Phoolka, founder president of the Vintage and Classic Car Club, Chandigarh, said this annual event gave them an opportunity to showcase their priceless possession to the people.

A passionate car lover, Brigadier Phoolka said their visits abroad were dominated by collecting spare parts for these cars and that formed a good part of their baggage.

The rally was flagged off in Chandigarh and reached Kasauli Resorts around 2 pm. Ascending the national highway was an apt test of the fitness of these cars with the oldest one being nearly 80 years old.

Sitender Sarkaria, a participant and restorer, said since these cars were difficult to maintain, such rallies acted as an encouragement for the owners. He added that the newly opened bypass had reduced the traffic mess at Pinjore and Kalka, thus saving time and keeping the pack together. Earlier, the cars used to have a tough time wading through the traffic in these areas.

Similar views were echoed by KC Anand, board member, HP Tourism Development Corporation, who felt that the rising fuel prices and changing legislations had made the maintenance of these cars difficult and the role of restorers was of great significance.

With the tourism season having set in, Kasauli was flocked by holiday revellers. The resort’s MD, Capt PS Chimni, said such events gave a boost to tourism as Kasauli did not have much to attract tourists.

The spic-and-span shining beauties were displayed here after the event and won appreciation for their maintenance from onlookers.

Sai Ropa (Kullu), April 15
Over 30 anglers, who had zeroed in on the trout-rich Tirthan river here today to take part in a fresh water angling competition, were a disappointed lot. They could catch just nine small fish in six hours, the biggest one not weighing more than 300 gm.

Armed with their equipments, the anglers, including three foreigners, tried their best to trap the prized catch in the Tirthan river, considered to be anglers’ paradise for fresh water trout as the government has banned construction of hydropower projects on the river.

“We are disappointed that the trout presence in the Tirthan has gone down considerably over the years,” commented Gautam Cheema, who bagged the first prize in a “catch and release” angling competition. The event was organised by the Kullu Trout Conservation and Angling Association (KTCAA).

The trout is fast depleting from the once trout-rich Tirthan river. “It is a sad comment on Department of Fisheries that has failed to replenish the trout-breeding grounds in the Tirthan river over the years,” anglers said.

Norman, an angler from Manali, said the trout number had reduced drastically in the river and was a cause of alarm.

“The largest fish measures 1 ft in length, and though we waited for hours the trout eluded us”, said Raj Kumar and Varun Bharti, from Kullu, who won the first and second prizes in the second competition here.

The anglers attributed the poor catch to the rampant poaching, depletion of trout habits due to illegal mining and blasting in the river. The poachers use electrocution, dynamite and traps to poach the fish, observed Rup Singh Katoch, vice-president of KTCAA.

General secretary, State Angling Association, KB Rahlan said the trout was fast disappearing from both the river and private tanks. The government had yet to start the Hamani trout breeding farm in the Tirthan to revive trout in the river, he observed.

He said the mahaseer fish was also disappearing fast from the Beas and Pong Dam. The mahaseer breeding farms at Macchial was yet to start, he added.

Former Banjar MLA Dile Ram Shavab, veteran of Seraj, who was the guest of honour, urged the association and the government to preserve and conserve the sanctity of the Tirthan as a prime trout habitat. MD, HTDC, Lokinder Chauhan who was chief guest, assured the association that the corporation would promote angling tourism and support efforts at conserving trout in the Tirthan river.

Shimla, April 15
If the bitterly fought state Youth Congress presidential election last time was a battle for supremacy between two political heirs, this time it has turned into the political debut of a “bahu” with the wife of Congress legislator Neeraj Bharti and daughter-in-law of former MP from Kangra Chander Kumar springing a surprise by filing her nomination on the last day today.

The candidature of Monica Bharti, wife of the Jawali MLA, came as a surprise to even senior party leaders as well as Youth Congress activists as it was being expected that her husband would be the candidate from the Virbhadra faction. The decision to field her was probably prompted by the fact that Bharti was not even a Youth Congress delegate.

Bharti, who claimed that being in politics was nothing new for her as she was from a political family, said she had been active in the NSUI during her college days and had later been associated with the Youth Congress. “It is wrong to term my candidature as furtherance of nepotism as children of even doctors, actors and other professionals follow in the footsteps of their parents,” she said.

The election for the post of state Youth Congress chief will be held on April 19, with the electoral college comprising of 10,500 delegates all over the state. The earlier election held in November 2011 was declared null and void following allegations that Vikramaditya Singh, son of Union Minister Virbhadra Singh, had violated the poll code of conduct. He was also debarred from contesting again.

Vikramaditya, who was present with Monica, said he would seek support for ensuring her victory. “It is a friendly match like the previous time as our endeavour is to fight the corrupt BJP regime and ensure the victory of the Congress,” he said.

The last election was a high-pitched one with Raghubir Bali, son of Kangra leader GS Bali pitted against Vikramaditya. Former Youth Congress chief Manmohan Katoch was the third candidate in the election.

Neither Bali nor Katoch have jumped into the fray this time. “I opted out of the race as I felt that a chance must be given to a person who has served the cadre and also who comes from a weaker socio-economic background,” said Bali. He added that he would back one of the six candidates in the fray only after consulting his supporters.

Katoch said he had decided to support Monica as this would be for the first time that a woman would head the Youth Congress. There are five others in the fray - Dharmender Thakur, Goldy, Mahender Kumar, Manu Sharma and Prerna, all associated with the NSUI or the Youth Congress.

Bilaspur, April 15
The government is taking special interest to develop “shrine tourism” in the state as lakhs of devotees visit these shrines and temples and have a great role in developing the economy of people.

This was stated by BJP state spokesman and Naina Devi MLA Randhir Sharma while inaugurating a children’s park built at a cost of Rs 26 lakh at the famous hill-top shrine of Naina Devi, 75 km from here, recently.

Sharma said the government was anxious to ensure that devotees and tourists who came to these places of worship got all facilities.

He said Rs 15 lakh had been spent on fixing CCTV cameras at the temple complex which helped in checking any unsocial activity there, Rs 20 lakh on providing drinking water and Rs 35 lakh on the renovation of the path to the shrine.

Sharma assured people that all funds of temple were being accounted for and there was no wastage. He said the government had spent Rs 52 crore on providing drinking water and irrigation schemes in this constituency.

He said a parking complex would soon be constructed near the shrine. He distributed Rs 20,000 among 10 poor girls under the Swaran Jayanti Shahari Rojgaar Yojna. 

Shimla, April 15
The Union Ministry of Panchayati Raj has announced the names of panchayati raj institutions and other local bodies that have been selected for awards of Rs 25 lakh, Rs 15 lakh and Rs 4 lakh under the Panchayat Empowerment and Accountability Incentive Scheme (PEAIS) for the year 2011-12.

Disclosing this here recently, Panchayati Raj and Rural Development Minister Jai Ram Thakur said Zila Parishad Kullu, Panchayat Samiti Nirmand (Kullu), Panchayat Samiti Salooni (Chamba), Gram Panchayat Shakla Barog (Nankhari-Shimla) and Gram Panchayat Chamyana (Mashobra-Shimla) had been declared the best panchayats of the state for being given the awards.

He said in addition to this, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj had selected Gram Panchayat Ser-Banera (Solan) as the best gram sabha for the award money of Rs 5 lakh. These panchayats of the state would be honoured on the National Panchayati Raj Day on April 24 at the Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi.

The best panchayat amongst all the three levels i.e. Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti and Zila Parishad is selected through the process of marking system, indicating devolution index and questionnaire regarding important aspects relating to the activities of the panchayats, devolution of functions, powers and responsibilities to the panchayats etc. 

Shimla, April 15
Chief Minister PK Dhumal has said the Fire Services Organisation in the state has been strengthened by adding more fire tenders and manpower. He was speaking at the Himachal Pradesh Fire Service Ruby Jubilee celebrations here yesterday. A function was organised at the Ridge Maidan to mark the occasion.

The Chief Minister lauded the yeoman services being rendered by firemen by risking their lives. Dhumal said the state government had strengthened the Fire Services Organisation and added that two fire posts had been opened, one at Theog in Shimla district and another at Amb in Una district. He said six more fire posts would be opened at Dalhousie, Jogindernagar, Nurpur, Jawalamukhi, Keylong and Sujanpur soon.

“The daily allowance of Home Guards jawans had been enhanced from Rs 130 to Rs 200, besides increasing rank allowances of volunteers the first time in the state,” he said.

He said Himachal was the only state in the country where Home Guard volunteers once enrolled could render services till the age of 58 years and were entitled for 15 per cent reservation in the recruitment for police constables, jail wardens and forest guards.

B Kamal Kumar, Director General,Home Guards, Civil Defence and Fire Service, welcomed the Chief Minister and other dignitaries and detailed the activities of Fire Service and Home Guards Organisation in the state.

Chamba, April 15
The state government has enhanced the budget allocation from 11 to 25 per cent under the Scheduled Castes sub-plan in the state, and a sum of Rs 22.15 crore has been spent on various developmental activities in the Scheduled Castes areas in Chamba district during the past fiscal year.

This was stated by Irrigation and Public Health Minister Ravinder Singh Ravi while presiding over a district-level function at Tissa in far-flung Churah sub-division of Chamba district today.

The minister said the additional budget of Rs 5.77 crore had been allocated for Other Backward areas sub-plan during the past financial year falling in the five Assembly constituencies of the district.

He said 26,500 hand pumps had been set up in the state during the past four years and added that Rs 117 crore had been spent on the construction of water supply schemes, irrigation, flood control, sewerage and hand pumps during this period. MLAs BK Chauhan, Renu Chadha, Surinder Bhardwaj and, former minister Mohan Lal were also present on the occasion.

Sanawar, April 15
Hodson Run, an annual cross-country race, organised by the Lawrence School, Sanawar, to pay tributes to Major William Stephen, was held here today.

The event coincides with the day the school was founded by Sir Henry Lawrence in 1847 in the British era. The inception of the race was made in 1916 by Rev George Barnes, who was Principal from 1912 to 1932.

Major Hodson was a young promising officer who was appointed as secretary of the school during its nascent years. He was himself a keen long-distance runner whose name has been canonised in the school song of Sanawar. His parent regiment sustains Major Hodson’s legacy by sponsoring the cups and trophy for this race every year.

The race was run under different age groups and was the ultimate test of stamina and endurance of students as it was compulsory for the entire school to take part in this event. Fatehbir Singh Dhaliwal of Siwalik House and Jasmine Malhotra of Vindhya House were the winners in the opens category for boys and girls, respectively. Siwalik House bagged the overall trophy for the race.

Jai Singh Gill (IAS retd), former Chief Secretary to the Punjab Government and a distinguished alumnus of the school, was the chief guest who gave away prizes to the winners. He appreciated the zeal and sportsmanship displayed by the students and dedicated a Citation Board presented by the Four Armoured Regiment.

Headmaster Praveen Vasisht lauded the suggestions made by the chief guest.The historical perspective of Sanawar and Hodson’s Horse is a saga of an enduring relationship.

The winners of the event for under-11 years category were Angad Sanghera (Siwalik) and Nuxita Taneja (Vindhya) in the respective boys and girls categories.

In the under-12 years category Aditya Chadha (Siwalik) and Nadika Saklani (Himalaya) won the event.

Likewise, for the under-13 years category Anoop Dhillon (Siwalik) and Yukti Singh (Nilagiri) won the laurels.

For the under-14 years category Aryan Chauhan (Siwalik) and Asma Arora (Vindhya) took away the top position, while for the under-16 years category Lavya Bakshi (Nilagiri) and for the opens category Jasmine Malhotra (Vindhya) and Fatehbir Singh Dhaliwal (Siwalik) won the event.