|
|
|
|
|
Farmers fail to fetch good price for maize crop
Revival of monsoon hits power revenue
Construction of Mehatpur-Amb road
Two murdered after brawl
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Decks cleared for extension of World Bank project
Govt doles out more sops for employees
Cyber crooks target graduates seeking jobs
Despite MRP, liquor merchants fleece buyers
Aman
Kachroo Case
Cong demands ticket for Muslims
Enforce use of helmets, seat belts, officials told
Industrial projects cleared
ABVP declares varsity student poll panel
Officials promoted
1 injured in leopard attack
Rana is Director of HPPCL
Ex-husband of drug peddler identified
Motorcyclist dies in mishap
2 get jail for drug peddling
Pilgrim dies Three arrested for gambling, released
|
|
Farmers fail to fetch good price for maize crop
Mandi/Kullu, August 17 Farmers resent that monkey menace, lack of remunerative prices at farm gate and the climate change have spelt doom for the maize crop forcing them to grow fodder crops. Besides, maize farmers are switching over to profitable vegetable cash crops like capsicum, cabbage, tomatoes and peas as they can get two to three crops instead of one maize crop yearly where irrigation is available. Even the high protein quality hybrid maize introduced by the agriculture university, Palampur, is not finding favour with farmers and its cultivation remains on an experimental basis. “We have to change seeds every year,” rue farmers. In Mandi district, the area under maize crop has dropped from 48,000 hectares in 2010-11 to 46,000 hectares this year. The production has declined from 29 metric tonnes (MT) to 26 MT per hectare. Last year, the maize production was 1.25 lakh MT. This time production may go down due to late sowing due to drought, rued farmers. In Kullu district, the maize area has come down from 22,000 hectares to 15,750 hectares for the past five years. The production is projected to be about 38,900 MT this year, but last year it was 32,000 MT as the crop was hit by drought, said officials. It is a pity that the USA, the largest producer of maize (80 MT per hectare) in the world, has maintained its lead in food processing as well but India is lagging behind and stands at the 10th position. The reason for the same was there was no major state-specific food processing industry and farmers were not trained to produce crop as per demands of the industry, said experts. “We have failed to tap maize potential in corn, starch and other food items due to lack of maize processing units in the state,” said Dr RC Thakur, former director, research, agriculture university, Palampur. Farmers get Rs 11 per kg for maize whereas they could fetch Rs 40 per kg if they produce as per the needs of the industry, he said. The wildlife menace has hit crops in Ani and Nirmand and Banjar in Kullu district and Dehar, Jadol, Gohar, Karsog, Dharampur and Sundernagar in Mandi district. On the other hand, the area under vegetable crops has increased to 6,000 hectares in Kullu and 4,000 hectares to 7,000 hectares in Mandi district in the recent years, said agriculture officials. The experts said the maize production had suddenly declined to 4.79 lakh MT in 2003-04 from 7.68 lakh MT earlier due to severe draught. There is no growth in the area and the production of maize in the state due to the stabilised cropping pattern, they said. Mandi, Kangra, Chamba and Sirmaur districts contribute a major share to the maize crop. The average yield of maize was 2 MT to 2.5 MT per hectare, officials added. |
|
Revival of monsoon hits power revenue
Shimla, August 17 The demand remained high during June and most of July as the monsoon was weak. A few spells of rain this month led to a sharp fall in rates over the last two weeks. The rate of power at the Energy Exchange of India, which hovered between Rs 5 and Rs 5.75 per unit in the first week of August, plummeted to Rs 2.75 per unit today. The fund-starved state government was worried as the low power rate would decrease its revenue. Last year, it sold a bulk of the free power, available as royalty from various projects, at Rs 4.30 per unit. This year, it did not have any long-term agreement with any state as debt-ridden power utilities were reluctant to purchase power at a high rate. As a result, the state had to dispose of most of the power in the open market through the Energy Exchange of India. The average rate from April to July at the exchange was Rs 3.50 per unit. The rate had plummeted to Rs 2.75 per unit, but a redeeming feature was that the state had entered into an agreement with Haryana for the supply of 400 MW for August at Rs 3.90 per unit. The state had about 850 MW for sale, of which about 100 MW was being supplied to the state electricity board as its generation had declined due to a shutdown at some projects. In July, it supplied 180 MW to the power board, with the state electricity regulator having fixed the tariff at Rs 2.90 per unit. If the downswing continued, the revenue, which was around Rs 1,000 crore, would remain static this year despite a significant increase in the quantum of power available for sale. This had gone up from 630 MW two years back to 850 MW now due to the commissioning of big projects like the 1,000-MW Karcham-Wangtu, the 231-MW Chamera-III and the 192-MW Allain Duhungan projects. Generation had been less than last year due to the low temperature in May, which affected the melting of snow, and the weak monsoon in June and July. The Nathpa Jhakri power project, which was the largest in the country, had generated 3,882 million units since April 1 compared to 4,261 million units during the corresponding period last year. MARKET DOWN
|
|
Construction of Mehatpur-Amb road Lalit Mohan Tribune News Service
Una, August 17 He has removed his machinery from the site. This move is likely to further delay the construction of the road much to the chagrin of residents of Una district. Sources here told The Tribune that sub-contractor JC Gupta, a contractor from Chandigarh, was working on the behalf of Chinese company Longjian that was allotted the construction work of the road. About 40 per cent of the total project cost (about Rs 47 crore out of the total project cost of Rs 126 crore) that included the construction of over 30 small and big bridges was allotted to JC Gupta’s construction firm. However, he has completed just two bridges. The work on all the remaining bridges is still pending. In fact, road patches near the bridges are the worst part of the under-construction road. Congress men are now alleging that work on the road was delayed as many petty contractors were forcibly allotted the work under pressure of the state. OP Rattan, HPCC spokesperson and former MLA from Una, said though the government was blaming the Chinese company for delay in the work, it should also come clean on sub-contractors who were major beneficiaries of the project and had contributed towards delaying the vital project. Naresh Sharma, project director of the Mehatpur-Una-Amb road, said the government did not have anything to do between the Chinese company and sub-contractors hired by them. He, however, admitted that agreements between the Chinese company and sub- contractors were signed with their permission. Local sources said the Chinese company had sought more time for completing the project on the plea that it required time for finding a new sub-contractor for the work. Naresh, however, said they had not received any request from the Chinese company for hiring the new sub-contractor. He said as per their information there was a dispute between the Chinese company and JC Gupta. However, officials of Longjian refused to comment on the matter. The sources added that with the elections approaching, the Chinese company was under pressure from the local administration to complete the stretch of road in Una town. The road inside Una town falls in the third mile stone of the project. However, till date the company in papers had been entrusted with the job of completing the second milestone that included 6-km road from Mehatpur to the Una side and 5 km road from Amb to the Una side. The government is also imposing a penalty of about Rs 2 lakh per day on the company for delay in the project. However, with sub- contractors allotted about 40 per cent of the work there seem to be more factors for delay.
|
||
|
Two murdered after brawl
Dharamsala, August 17 The former was working at a computer centre in Palampur and the latter was a student of the Government College at Palampur, who was also a daily wage worker. Thakur said four youths, including Veer, were consuming liquor on the Panchrukhi-Bhawarna road when seven persons going to Manimahesh in a Maruti van passed by. Both parties had an altercation. After a verbal quarrel, they exchanged blows. After that, the seven persons proceeded towards Bhawarna in their vehicle. Two of the youths, Deepak Sharma and Atul Sharma, followed them in their Santro car. They stopped the Maruti van two kilometres away, stabbed Vasu and fled. The other persons accompanying Vasu took him to a private doctor in the area, who declared him brought dead. They fled, leaving the vehicle and the body behind. Local residents informed the police about the incident. The police later found Veer’s body on the Panchrukhi-Bhawarna road. The exact cause of his death was yet to be ascertained. The police rounded up nine youths and registered two cases of murder. The arrested were identified as Atul Dogra, Deepak, Amit, Pankaj Awasthi, Parkash Chand, Sumit Sariyal, Kamaljeet Singh, Tinkle Jarial and Anuj Mishra.
|
||
|
Decks cleared for extension of World Bank project
Shimla, August 17 In all, the project will be implemented in 704 villages in the second phase from April 2013 to April 2016. The cost of the project has increased from Rs 337 crore to Rs 568 crore. The additional amount will also be utilised for consolidation of the first phase to ensure sustainability, besides covering 102 new villages. The tripartite agreement was signed in New Delhi yesterday. An appraisal mission of the bank, headed by senior natural resources management specialist Ranjan Samantaray, had visited the state in May to evaluate the proposal for the extension of the project. The nod for signing the tripartite agreement was given on the basis of its report. Chief Director of the project RK Kapoor said the final approval would be granted at the meeting of Board of Governors of the World Bank to be held at Washington on September 26. At present, the project is being implemented in 272 micro watersheds spread over 602 panchayats, 42 blocks and 10 districts of the state. The areas falling between the altitudinal limit of 600 m and 1800 m are being covered. Its extension to 102 additional panchayats will essentially help cover the left-out areas at the micro-watershed level. The term of the project that was launched in 2006 will be effectively extended by three years and it will be now expanded to 10 years. |
|
Govt doles out more sops for employees
Shimla, August 17 It was also decided to convert part-time water carriers to daily wage employees after nine years of service and regularise daily wage workers after eight years of service as class-IV employees against posts of water carrier and peon with the department of education. It was decided to redesignate warders with the prisons department honorary head warders after 20 years of service. The Cabinet also the gave nod for raising one more battalion of the Himachal Home Guards, with a post of commandant and base at Dehra in the Kangra district. It granted approval to the draft Himachal Pradesh Cooperative Societies (Amendment) Bill, 2012, to help provide 33 per cent quota to women and reservation for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. It decided to promote karate medallist Ain Singh from pump operator to junior engineer with the irrigation and public health department. It also decided to promote Padmashri award-winning artist Vijay Kumar from artist to senior artist. It gave approval for opening a primary health centre at Cholangarh village in Mandi and name the centre at Sera in Nadaun after late Congress leader Narayan ChandParashar. It also decided to create a district cadre for various categories of paramedical staff with the health department and to approve the inter-district transfer policy under the 5 per cent quota. It cleared the proposal to set up fire posts at Kala Amb and Naina Devi. It also gave the nod to amend Section 4(6)(e) of the Himachal Pradesh Value Added Tax Act to enhance the turnover limit for registration of small dealers from Rs 6 lakh to Rs 8 lakh. WOOING TIME
|
|
Cyber crooks target graduates seeking jobs
Dharamsala, August 17 The mail was drafted in a manner that it appeared to have been sent by the human resource manager of the company. She was called to Bengaluru for an interview on August 27 and promised air or first-class rail fare. What raised doubts was that at the end, she was asked to deposit Rs 9,450 in cash at a specific account with Punjab National Bank. An enquiry from HCL officials over the telephone later revealed that the e-mail was a hoax. This was a new tool being used by cyber crooks to dupe fresh engineering graduates looking for openings in good companies. Police sources revealed that they generally hacked information regarding mail accounts of fresh graduates from the Internet. They then sent specially drafted mails to graduates, making it appear that they would be absorbed in good companies. They were asked to appear for interview after depositing a certain amount. The sources revealed that the crooks opened bank accounts on the basis of fake identities and operated these for a short period, after which they withdrew the amount deposited and closed the accounts. When contacted, Kangra Superintendent of Police Diljeet Thakur said the department had received many complaints of persons being duped by cyber cheats, but it was the first time they had received information about young technocrats looking for jobs in private companies being targeted. He said the police would issue an advisory for young graduates looking for jobs to be careful in case companies sought money for appearing in an interview and to verify information from company headquarters before depositing money. |
|
Despite MRP, liquor merchants fleece buyers
Hamirpur, August 17 According to the new Excise and Taxation policy of the state government, the department has fixed the MRP of all brands of liquor and made it mandatory for liquor manufacturers to print the MRP on the bottle. The Excise and Taxation Department has also directed all liquor merchants to display the rate lists of various brands on their shops. The liquor merchants were rarely adhering to these directions giving two hoots to the Excise and Taxation Policy, many buyers said. Ramesh Chand, a local resident, said, “Fixing MRP of liquor is just a futile exercise since no liquor merchant sells liquor on MRP and overcharges from the customers”. “The salesmen many times tear the MRP wrapper and give arguments like - the rates have been fixed by the proprietor - talk to him, Rs 10 is charged for the chilling etc, besides using muscle power to threaten customers,” he said. Purshotam Lal from Nadaun said, “Liquor merchants are charging Rs 10 to 20 extra on a beer bottle and about Rs 100 or above on a bottle of whisky”. A majority liquor shops have not displayed price list of different brands despite orders by the Excise and Taxation Department. SC Patial, Assistant Excise and Taxation Commissioner, Hamirpur, said, “The government has fixed the MRP of all brands of liquor and beer and the merchants can’t overcharge from the customers”. “We have asked them to display price lists on sales counters and if any customer has any complaint of overcharging, we will act,” he added. |
|
|
Accused get waiver in sentence
Lalit Mohan Tribune News Service
Dharamsala, August 17 Their sentence was waived on the basis of good conduct in jail, local sources said. The Jail Superintendent said the government had decided to waive the sentence of 111 criminals facing sentence in jails across the state. Three youths facing sentence in the Aman Kachroo case got benefit of just 45 to 60 days, while one had completed his sentence. They were in jail for over three years and also did not avail any parole, he said. The youths, convicted for killing Aman Kachroo, were sentenced after a 15-month trial by a local court to four-year rigorous imprisonment. The accused were medical students. Additional District and Sessions Judge (Kangra) Purinder Vaidya had pronounced the judgment after convicting the accused under Section 304 of the IPC. Also, they were sentenced to a three-month jail under Sections 352 and 34 and one month under Section 342 of the IPC.
|
|
|
Cong demands ticket for Muslims
Bilaspur, August 17 Talking to mediapersons here today, Sabar Deen, accompanied by a few prominent Muslim leaders, said earlier a deputation of the community had met Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi and presented a memorandum to him. He said Rahul had assured them that the party would certainly look into the grievances of the community. He said the community was upset as their families, who fell under the OBCs, were not given such certificates by the revenue authorities here and their wards were being deprived of benefits of reservation in services, scholarships and stipends of the state and the Central governments. He said in Bilaspur district, almost 90 per cent Muslims were from the OBCs and now all these families were being deprived of these benefits due to the ‘wrong’ attitude of the revenue staff as they were not getting the required OBC certificates, which they were getting earlier. He urged Chief Minister PK Dhumal to look into this matter and solve this lapse in the revenue records. |
|
Enforce use of helmets, seat belts, officials told
Palampur, August 17 Now it would be mandatory for vehicle owners to wear helmets and use seat belts, otherwise they would be fined. Earlier, such offenders were allowed to go after paying a token fine of Rs 100, but now the fine could go up to Rs 2,000, the SSP said here today. He said the step had been taken because of the rise in road mishaps in the district. He said in the year 2011, 627 accidents were reported from the district, in which 129 persons were killed and 1,019 injured. Similarly, in 2012, up to May 31, 247 accidents were reported and 48 persons were killed and 393 injured. He said the high rate of accidents in the district was a matter of concern, therefore, the police had launched a special campaign to educate vehicle owners to adopt safety measures like use of helmets and set belts. He said youths had been requested to follow speed limit norms to avoid mishaps. |
|
Industrial projects cleared
Shimla, August 17 The authority met under the chairmanship of Chief Minister PK Dhumal. The proposals will help generate employment for 578 persons. The Chief Minister said premature withdrawal of the Special Industrial Package to special category states granted by the NDA Government up to March 2013 had not affected industrial investment in the state and the state was attracting investment due to the good infrastructure and industrial peace. The state had built a rapport with industrialists and had been facilitating them by providing all the required services at their doorsteps. Almost all top companies of the world had established their manufacturing units in the state and it had emerged as a leading industrial hub, he said. |
|
ABVP declares varsity student poll panel
Shimla, August 17 It fielded Dinesh Kumar for the post of president, Parul Shukla for vice-president, Tarun Thakur for general secretary and Naresh Ghajta for secretary. The last date for withdrawal of candidature was August 21. The ABVP was the first student outfit to declare its panel, with the Students Federation of India (SFI) and the National Students Union of India (NSUI) yet to announce their candidates. On the other hand, the NSUI and the SFI declared candidates for colleges, including Court Shera, Rajkiya Kanya Mahavidyalaya and Sanjauli College. Polling and counting of votes would take place on August 23. |
|
Officials promoted
Shimla, August 17 They will continue to hold the charge of the departments already held by them as Principal Secretary. The government also promoted BS Islam, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, currently posted as MD of the State Forest Corporation to the rank of Principal Chief Conservator of Forests. He has been given charge of the Wildlife Wing. Vineet Kumar and been posted as the Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Soil, after promotion in situ. The government also shifted 23 State Administrative Services officials and placed the services of Man Singh, Additional Director, Himachal Institute of Public Administration, at the disposal of the State Electricity Regulatory Commission. |
|
1 injured in leopard attack
Bilaspur, August 17 Vijay Ram said during the wee hours yesterday, he heard dogs barking near his courtyard. To ensure that his cattle were safe in cowshed, he opened the door of his house when the leopard attacked him, he said. He raised a noise after which his family members and villagers came to his rescue, which scared the leopard and it ran away. Several village leaders urged the Forest Department to take immediate steps to ensure that the leopard is caught. They have also demanded compensation for the victim. |
|
Rana is Director of HPPCL
Shimla, August 17 The post fell vacant following the superannuation of AC Sharma who retired on July 31. An electrical engineering graduate of the Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology, Patiala, Rana was posted as Chief Engineer (Electrical System) at the board in Hamirpur. He has experience of more than 30 years in the power sector. He joined the board in 1981 in the transmission subdivision at Rohru and was associated with the maintenance and construction of transmission lines. He was also involved in the construction of the Baner Powerhouse and the maintenance of the Baner, Binwa and Gaj hydropower projects.
|
||
|
Ex-husband of drug peddler identified
Kullu, August 17 Investigating agencies have established the identity of the person in the Kullu valley who reportedly married her, revealed sources. When did she come here, what she did and how long did she stay were some questions the police was looking for answers to. The person she married had been on the radar of state agencies since Lindsay and three members of the international syndicate were held. Lindsay’s former husband had been identified and was under surveillance, sources said. The police was yet to arrest him, said a senior official, requesting anonymity. DGP ID Bhandari said as the case was an old one, they would have to look into details. |
||
|
Motorcyclist dies in mishap
Hamirpur, August 17 The police said Naveen Kumar (18) of Tarkehdi, was driving his motorcycle and his friend, Abhay Kumar, of the same village, was riding pillion and his bike allegedly hit by an unidentified vehicle coming from the opposite direction near Jalahdi about 3.30 am. The injured were referred to the government medical college, Tanda. Meanwhile, Naveen succumbed to his injuries on the way to the hospital. The condition of Abhay is stated to be serious.
— TNS
|
||
|
2 get jail for drug peddling
Bilaspur, August 17 Both were arrested at Delag Gala on December 24, 2007, and bags containing the contraband was recovered from their possession.
— OC |
|
|
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | E-mail | |
