Palampur, August 28
Palampur is crying for immediate attention of authorities as residents here are living in unhygienic conditions.

Potholed roads and streets, overflowing drains, contaminated drinking water tell the tale of this town, which is fast turning into a slum. Out of a total population of 40,000, only 3,000 residents living in municipal areas are receiving amenities like sewerage, streetlights and cemented lanes while the rest are living in the adjoining six panchayats without any amenities. The local municipal council was first set up in 1955; since then the municipal limits have never been extended.

The governments which ruled the state in the past 15 years have meted out a “step-motherly” treatment to this town. BJP leader Shanta Kumar, who hails from Palampur, remained Chief Minister twice, but he could neither extend the municipal limits of the town nor could grant it the district status, which were the two main demands of the local residents.

The ‘differences’ between Shanta Kumar and Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal further harmed the town’s cause as all development activities remained suspended during the past four-and-a-half years and no new project was sanctioned for the town. The sewerage project for the left-out areas of six panchayats and the parking complex sanctioned by the previous Congress government failed to take off because of lack of “political will”.

Almost all interior roads and streets of the town are in a bad shape. Due to overflowing drains and leaking water-supply pipes, water collects on streets and roads, which stink every time, making it difficult for the residents to commute. Some of the paved streets have been damaged because of regular overflowing of drains and leakage of drinking water pipes.

Garbage can be seen in every nook and corner of the town. It has not been removed from In Cinema and IPH roads for the past many days. Absence of sewerage system in panchayat areas has aggravated the situation further.

The condition of internal localities of the town like Ghuggar, Aima, Bundla, Lohana, Chokki, Sughar and Bindravan is going from bad to worse day by day with an increase in population. Unplanned and hazardous construction of houses, shops and other commercial complexes has become quite common here. The local authorities have failed to remove the encroachments from road side.

To get rid of grievances of the residents of this town, sewerage system needs to be laid in entire town on a priority basis, as the prevailing conditions are alarming. There is also shortage of potable water in the town. The drinking water being supplied here carries mud and is unfit for human consumption.

The narrow Pathankot-Mandi National Highway, which passes through this town, has become a major traffic hazard because of the frequent traffic jams. Despite repeated requests, the state government has not completed the construction of a bypass for the town. There has been manifold increase in the population and the panchayats are finding it difficult to maintain the town with meagre funds allotted to it.

The residents demanded that a plan should be drawn to provide them basic amenities on a par with other towns of the state. Liberal funds should also be sanctioned to panchayats for the installation of streetlights and sewerage system in all localities of the town. Panchayats should also be permitted to charge toll tax from vehicles and tax on the sale of liquor so that it could raise its own resources for the development of the town, they demanded.

Kullu/Bilaspur, August 28
Thanks to rampant corruption, the overloading of cement and steel trucks carrying goods to project sites and carrying clinkers from cement plants to other states have brought the role of regional transport offices (RTOs) of Kullu, Bilaspur and Mandi under scanner as the state exchequer has been losing crores as revenue that otherwise can be collected as penalty under the Motor Vehicles Act (MVA) every year.

As per inputs gathered by The Tribune from RTO offices and NHPC’s Parbati project sites, over 500 trucks were carrying from 14 to 18 metric tonnes of cement, permissible limit in 9-tonne slab, to Parbati project site in recent time.

Even there were steel trucks that carry 40 MT bars on the Manikaran bridge of 21.2 MT capacity, violating the high court order under the nose of the RTO, Kullu.

“According to a rough estimate, the penalty on overloading was over Rs 3 crore in the case of Parbati project for recent years,” charged insiders.

“If the violations by over 2,000 cement carrying trucks plied from three cement plants at Barmana, Bagha and Darlaghat are taken into account, the penalty runs into several crores, revealed insiders. Not even 20 per cent of the penalty is charged, thereby causing crores of revenue loss to the state every year.”

The overloading is not only corroding roads and creating congestion, breakdowns and even mishaps on highways, it has become a major source of corruption.

The Assistant RTO, Swarghat barrier in Bilaspur, receives most of the goods (traffic-load) on the National Highway-21. But it has challaned 2,523 offenders for overloading and collected Rs 1.70 crore as penalty under the MVA for the past two years, from July 2010 to August 2012.

Besides, the RTO, Bilaspur, has collected a dismal Rs 40 lakh as fine from 978 challans for overloading in other cases for the past nine years from January 1, 2003, to March 31, 2012.

The alleged nexus of RTO-transporters-NHPC staff gets credence from the fact that the state Vigilance has caught RTO staff red-handed accepting bribes in the recent past, while the CBI has unearthed the cement scam in the NHPC’s Parbati-II project.

The fact that there is no full-time RTO at Bilaspur and staff at barrier is not deputed on a rotation basis speak volumes the way the state transport is checking overloading at the Swarghat barrier.

Part-time RTO ML Dhiman said the overloading was checked by the ARTO, Swarghat, and offenders were not spared. But RTO, Kullu, Surender Mohan was evasive when quizzed on checking overloading on the Manikaran bridge and on the Manali-Leh highway.

He said: “I do not have a weighing machine to know which truck is overloaded or not. But I challan trucks whenever I find these overloaded. You will have to apply for information through the RTI Act to get information on challans and fine.”

Director, Transport, Sherab Negi said they had banned overloading, and RTOs had to be on their toes to check the same. “If anybody found negligent, we will take action against the guilty,” he asserted.

Hamirpur, August 28
Dr Vikas Suman, a scientist working in Dr YS Pramar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, has been awarded the Young Researcher Award, instituted in the memory of great scientist Michel Josifov, for his research, at the recently concluded Sixth European Hemiptera Congress, held in Sofia (Bulgaria).

Young scientists from more than 130 countries had participated in this congregation of scientists and Dr Suman from Nauni university had represented India in this Congress.

Dr Suman, at present working as a senior research fellow in the Department of Entomology and Apiculture in Nauni university, received this award for his original results and quality of scientific research.

The research paper on “cytological characterisation of chromosomes in Elasmolomus (Aphanus) sordidus,” presented in the plenary session was selected by the jury of the Congress presented for giving the award.

He was selected to attend this Congress in Bulgaria by the Department of Science and Technology, New Delhi.

Solan, August 28
Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal said quality educational institutes helped in enhancing tourism in the state and students served as the ambassadors of serene, calm and placid environs of the state by professing about the quality educational institutions here.

He was addressing the students of Pinegrove School, Dharampur, after inaugurating a multipurpose auditorium christened as “The Colosseum”, which has a capacity of 750 people and is equipped with modern facilities.

The Chief Minister lauded the efforts of the school in providing state-of-the-art facilities to the students and said this would help in their all-round development.

The commissioning of the auditorium has enhanced the beauty of the campus further by helping in adding another full-fledged play field on the rooftop, making double use of land and creating a large turfed-space which will assist students in getting opportunities to play games and other sports.

Capt AJ Singh, headmaster and executive director of the school, while addressing the students, said, “Pinegrove has maintained the highest standard of academic achievement and has made continuous efforts to pay attention to games, sports and other co-curricular activities. The auditorium has been named ‘The Colosseum’ because of the Vespasian amphitheatrical three-sided wide-angled design with sports and entertainment facility which reflects our dedication to develop aesthetic talents of our children”.

“Teaching of music shall be an integral part of "The Colosseum" as the new music rooms are an inherent part of the design element and it will also provide an apt ambiance for enjoying indoor games like badminton and TT,” he said.

Head boy Ravyansh and head girl Gurmehak Mann welcomed the Chief Minister and other distinguished guests to the school. A cultural programme comprising a musical and a traditional-cum-modern fusion dance, which was a mélange of bharatnatyam, kathak and contemporary dance was also presented on the occasion. A documentary highlighting the achievements of the school in the past two decades was also screened.

A 200-page “Coffee Table Book” depicting the growth of the school since its inception was also released on the occasion by the Chief Minister. 

Six-foot tall Porus was wounded in shoulder and was captive of Alexander the great. He asked Porus how he wished to be treated. Porus replied, “Treat me, O Alexander, like a king.” Alexander was impressed by his bravery, war skills and a princely attitude and he did treat him like a king allowing him to retain his kingship. Here I want to narrate story of Bucephalus, means ox-head, that was Alexander’s horse as good and brave as was Chetak of Maharana Pratap. When Alexander fought Porus in the battle of Hydaspes (modern Jhelum) in 326 BC, his horse Bucephalus got injured. Aulus Gellius, a historian of second century AD, writes in Attic Nights:” The horse had suffered deep wounds in his neck and side from the weapons hurled from every hand at Alexander, but though dying and almost exhausted from loss of blood, he yet in swiftest course bore the king from the midst of the foe; but when he had taken him out of the range of the weapons, the horse at once fell, and satisfied with having saved his master breathed his last, with indications of relief that were almost human. Then King Alexander, after winning victory in that war, founded a city in that region and in honour of his horse called it Bucephalon.” The city, modern Jhelum, is in Pakistan.

Coming back to Alexander; he having defeated Porus ventured further east conquering lands along the Indus River. The struggle with Porus had blunted the courage of the Macedonian army and they were reluctant to fight against the valour and huge army of Nanda Empire. Alexander decided to return at the Hyphasis (modern Beas), the exact spot being believed to be Kathgarh in Indora tehsil of Kangra district. Hearsay is that to mark the point of his retreat, Alexander erected a platform here on which stood a rock-pillar of Apollo, a god of light and the sun, truth and prophecy, healing, plague, music, poetry, and more, where he offered prayers and went back. Shiva-Parvati for the Indians was, probably, deemed by him as Apollo. The Shivlinga here is vertically split in two parts (see photo). The larger portion is worshipped as Shiva and the second one as his consort Parvati. The divide between the two portions goes on increasing or decreasing - the segments come closer in winters as if for warmth and in summers they go slightly apart for open air. One of the myths dates the pillar to the time of Lord Vishnu when He and Brahma were engaged in a battle to decide each other’s supremacy. Lord Shiva then stood between the two warring gods in the shape of a fire pillar and restored equality among the gods in the trinity. This fire pillar is worshipped at Kathgarh. Yet another legend is that Bharat, brother of Lord Rama, used to visit his grandparents who lived in Kashmir and pay obeisance to this pillar representing Shiva at Kathgarh.

I visited Kathgarh after 18 years and was mesmerised to see a huge building there where used to be a small temple then. I was also delighted to see apt mixing of the features of Gandhara style of architecture, the gift of Greek invasion in India, with Hindu architecture in the new building. The domes in the front are gripping. The subject, no doubt, was Hindu but the form of art appeared to me as Greco-Roman.

I reckoned it a metamorphosis in a span of 18 years: the local SDM, whose insistence took me to the temple, replied, “A child becomes an adult ready to vote in 18 years.” True. The development plan of the temple is still in operation and as its approach from Mirthal village by the side of Pathankot-Jalandhar highway in Punjab is only 4 km and because of the facility of a newly constructed bridge, a battery of pilgrims comes from Punjab too. The credit for the great work done goes to the managing committee of the temple and the local administration that gives all-out support to the cause.

After deficient rains in the first half of the season, the monsoon has suddenly gained vigour over the past fortnight bringing much relief to the farmers whose crops had started withering due to a prolonged dry spell. However, the pouring rain over the past two weeks has not been an unmixed blessing as it has caused widespread damage (see photo) to public and private property across the state.

The state capital and its surrounding areas have also been affected by incessant rain. Roads, public paths, sewerage and water pipes have been damaged at many places. Even main highways have been severely damaged and the black top has been replaced by slush as the surface is peeling off over vast stretches. The deep pot holes that have developed at places on the Circular Road, Sanjauli bypass and other roads are a nightmare for motorists.

A portion of the historic Ridge has also developed cracks, an indication of the fact that measures taken by the authorities to stabilise the sinking hill on the Rivoli side have not worked. Some private houses have collapsed and about half a dozen structures have developed cracks and declared unsafe. The loss on account of damage to municipal property has been worked out at Rs 2.5 crore, says Municipal Commissioner MP Sood. The roads bear the brunt of rains which in turn affect the underground water pipes and sewerage lines and the side drains. A number of trees have been uprooted in landslides. The damage to the national highway and roads under the Public Works Department was being worked out.

The excavation being carried out for building houses and widening of roads has triggered off landslides at places. The debris dumped on steep slopes have added to the woes of people living downhill. Movement of vehicles is affected the most in the poorly maintained rural roads, causing great inconvenience to the commuters.

The increased silt in the water sources during rains also affects water supply as pumping could not be carried out. It leads to a paradoxical situation with many localities facing water scarcity during pouring rains.

Green initiative

The continuous rain brought cheer to environment groups which are engaged in afforestation activities. A Shimla-based non-government organisation, Ashadeep, organised a plantation drive in association with the State Bank of India, Main Branch, in the Summer Hill locality.

Students of the local Government Senior Secondary School, Boileuganj, braved inclement weather to take part in the programme to plant as many as 300 deodar saplings. In all 200 children of the NSS wing of the school participated in the plantation drive.

Assistant General Manager (AGM) Ritu Bansal said the initiative was taken by the bank as part of its corporate social responsibility. It involved a local NGO, Ashadeep, to ensure people’s involvement in the effort to green the hills and in turn protect the environment.

To ensure that the saplings were looked after well, the bank has decided to pay Rs 50 per “survived plant” to the school as an incentive to motivate the young students to preserve the environment. President of Ashadeep Sushil Tanwar said efforts would be made to involve the other educational institutions in the green initiative.

Leadership crisis in Cong

The scribes had a hard time and rumours mills worked overtime during the leadership crisis in the Congress which saw all the senior leaders of the party camping in Delhi to put pressure on the high command.

With no official from the AICC coming forward to confirm or deny the news circulated by rival groups, rumour mongers had a field day.

In their bid to take the lead in breaking news, many news channels and newspapers ended up carrying wrong stories. Some of the papers carried front-page stories regarding appointment of Gangu Ram Musafir as the working president of the party and published his profile. However, they had to eat humble pie as the story turned out to be wrong.

The news regarding the appointment of Virbhadra Singh as the PCC chief also followed the same pattern. There was no confirmation from the AICC for three days during which all sort of stories were carried in the media.

(Contributed by Rakesh Lohumi and DP Gupta) 

Nurpur, August 28
Himachal Pradesh Gramin Bank officers and employees unions in their annual joint conference organised at Bodh recently, urged the Centre to form a national rural bank (NRB) by merging regional gramin banks. The conference, which was attended by 300 delegates of the unions, was presided over by DC Sharma, president, All-India Gramin Banks Employees Organisation.

Sharma said regional gramin banks had been earning an annual profit of Rs 1,200 crore requisite for the formation of the NRB.

He demanded the regularisation of part-time safai karmacharis working in regional gramin banks and urged the bank managements to implement the pension scheme accepted in the Rural Banking Agreement, 1993. “The gramin bank employees organisations will approach the judiciary if bank managements failed to honour that agreement,” he said. The conference was also addressed by KS Dadwal, state president of the HP Gramin Bank Employees Union.

The state bodies of the union were also reconstituted. TP Gupta and OP Sharma, respectively, were appointed the president and the general secretary of the HP Gramin Bank Officers Union.