Shimla, September 21
Lauding Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today said it was for the West Bengal Chief Minister to take a call on whether she wanted to join the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

“Only time will tell whether she joins us or not. It is for her to decide which course she takes while exercising her political options,” said Ravi Shankar Prasad, former minister and chief BJP spokesperson. He added that the NDA gave due respect to its alliance partners, unlike the United Progressive Alliance (UPA).

Prasad accused the UPA of pressurising Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav. “The fact that he is opposing foreign direct investment (FDI) in retail, but continues to be an ally of the UPA clearly indicates that he is under tremendous pressure and in fear of the Central Bureau of Investigation, which the Congress is misusing,” he alleged.

The BJP leader went on to say Mulayam’s credibility was at stake as he continued to remain with the UPA despite his opposition to FDI in the retail sector. “The UPA has been pushed into a minority. It does not have the requisite figure of 272 Members of Parliament and could fall anytime,” he said.

He said the UPA showed haste in notifying FDI yesterday despite a successful nationwide bandh. “Without bothering to consult its allies, Chief Ministers and opposition parties, the UPA notified FDI under pressure from multinational companies and the foreign media,” he stated.

The BJP leader said the UPA had lost its credibility, moral authority and trust of the people to continue in power. “With the TMC walking out and the Nationalist Congress Party terming Mulayam as the most deserving prime ministerial candidate, the future of the UPA is bleak,” he opined.

Prasad also accused the UPA of providing 190 acres near the Delhi airport to a private company for a paltry sum of Rs 6 crore when the market value of the land was Rs 100 crore per acre.

“What were the compulsions which made the government give the land to the company, which made a mere equity participation of Rs 1,813 crore with an expected income of several thousand crores for 60 years?” he asked.

He lauded the performance of the PK Dhumal regime, stating that the party was set to return to power. “The BJP has set new benchmarks of governance. It has won accolades in the fields of education, infrastructure development, health and environment,” he said.

Shimla, September 21
With the decision on giving partial relaxation for construction in greenbelts of the state capital pending, the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Department is getting an environment impact assessment (EIA) study of the 17 patches conducted to assess the environmental impact of the move.

The TCP has invited bids from experts to undertake an EIA study which may determine the government’s decision on the issue. With such studies being extendable to a full season of at least three months, it will take some time before the EIA report comes in.

The EIA study to be undertaken by empanelled experts in environment protection will look at various aspects, including the number of trees which may be axed, the expected built-up area, the impact on vegetation and tree cover and the pressure on the existing civic amenities.

A blanket ban was imposed on new construction in the 17 demarcated greenbelts of the town in 2000. About 70 persons who had bought land prior to the ban in 2000 have been seeking relaxation to allow them need-based construction for personal use.

Though the government has been sympathetic to the plea, the decision has been delayed. “The case of the 70 plot owners is genuine and they should be granted permission, but opening the area to all will be disastrous,” said experts and architects.

The proposed Shimla Development Plan had also made a provision for allowing need-based construction for the 70 plot owners as they had bought land prior to the ban in 2000. On the directions of the Cabinet, the Municipal Corporation (MC) was asked to acquire the plots by paying the value of the land to the owners.

The MC expressed its inability to buy the plots, stating its poor financial health. “It is unfair on the part of the government to allow the regularisation of construction with up to 99 per cent deviation and not accepting the genuine plea of 70 plot owners,” rued a plot owner.

Plot owners in the greenbelts said since the number was a mere 70 and the number of violators ran into thousands, the government was guided by vote-bank politics.

Shimla, September 21
Education Minister ID Dhiman has condemned the statement of state Congress president Virbhadra Singh that the BJP government has delayed by two years the distribution of school uniforms to children under the Atal School Uniform Yojna and termed the charge baseless and politically motivated.

The expenditure under the scheme was being borne by the state, he said. He added that the scheme was an innovation of the government implemented at an expenditure of Rs 64 crore. In the first phase, 9,28,365 uniforms had been provided to students free of cost, he further said.

He rejected Virbhadra Singh’s claim that the Centre had provided a financial assistance of Rs 84 crore in 2010-11 and 2011-12 for the scheme. He said not a penny had been provided under the annual plan of the Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan in that period.

Taking a cue from the state, the Centre had made a provision of Rs 12 crore for providing uniforms to girl, SC and ST students up to class VIII, he claimed. The government was providing uniforms to all students up to class X, he said.

He said the state had proposed free travel for children under the annual plan of the Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan, but it was rejected by the Centre. The state government was bearing expenses of free travel for children under the Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan, he added.

The state was the first to introduce the Right to Education Act from April 1, 2010, and Virbhadra Singh’s allegation that it was implemented from March 5, 2011, was baseless, he said.

The government had not surrendered any funds under the Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan while the Centre had released Rs 28 crore less in 2010-11 and Rs 54 crore less in 2011-12 under the scheme, he added. He said there was a provision of only Rs 1,497 crore in the education sector in 2007-08 and the BJP raised it to Rs 3,419 crore in 2012-13.

Mandi, September 21
Congress ticket contenders have intensified lobbying, particularly from Sundernagar, Seraj, Karsog, Dharampur and Jogindernagar constituencies.

State Congress president Virbhadra Singh, also Member of Parliament from Mandi, has convened a meeting of the screening panel in New Delhi.

Seraj has been represented by Rural Development Minister Jai Ram Thakur for the last three terms. Congress workers are lobbying for Vir Singh Chauhan, former Bali Chowki district president.

He is from the mid-Seraj belt, neglected by both the BJP and the Congress.

Previous Congress candidates, including former legislator Chet Ram Thakur and his rival Shiv Lal Sharma, belong to the Janjheli and Gohar belts. Jai Ram Thakur hails from Bakshiad in the Janjheli valley.

Shiv Lal claims to have the support of Kaul Singh Thakur, but he faces a tough time as his home panchayats Gohar, Delag Tikri, Lot Gerad and Dan Bahwa have been included in the Nachan reserved constituency in delimitation.

Chet Ram is lobbying for the ticket as he claims to be a supporter of Virbhadra Singh. Jai Ram fears Vir Singh more as the Congress can cash in on the Bali Chowki factor.

In Sundernagar, former legislator Sohan Lal faces party rival Hirender Sen, former Sunderngar municipal council president. Sohan Lal has distanced himself from Virbhadra Singh and has been toeing the Kaul Singh line.

A majority of ticket-seekers and second-rung leaders, including Balh legislator Parkash Chaudhary, former Sarkaghat and Karsog legislators Rangila Ram Rao and Mast Ram, former Jogindernagar and Nachan legislators Surinderpal Thakur and Tek Chand Dogra and former Dharampur candidate Chander Shekhar, support Virbhadra.

Virbhadra Singh wants to ensure that Mast Ram gets the Karsog ticket, though his rival Mansa Ram has inched closer to the state party chief of late. Chander Shekhar is seeking the ticket from Dharampur, but former legislator Natha Singh Thakur, once a Virbhadra Singh loyalist, wants the ticket for his son.

Dharamsala, September 21
The CSK Himachal Pradesh Agriculture University has released HPW 349, a new high-yielding wheat variety having high degree of resistance to yellow and brown rust.

It has been developed by the Malan-based Rice and Wheat Research Centre of the university. The variety has been released after yellow rust caused loss to wheat crop in lower areas of the state.

A university spokesperson has said HPW 349 has been found suitable for cultivation under timely sown rain-fed and irrigated conditions in the northern hill zone.

It is a semi-tall high-yielding variety with amber, bold and hard grains with excellent ‘chapaati’ and bread making quality parameters. It is also nutritionally rich compared to other varieties on account of high iron and manganese content.

It gives an average yield of between 45 and 49 quintal per hectare under timely sown irrigated conditions and between 22 and 29 quintal per hectare under rain-fed conditions.

In the event of delayed sowing, it can also be sown successfully till the first week of December.

This variety has shown a high degree of resistance to both yellow and brown rust, the spokesperson has said.

He has further said HPW 349 can be easily identified from strong wax of leaf sheath and peduncle and white tapering ears.

It has a distinct character of leaf tip necrosis, a typical yellowing of leaf tip in green crop stage, which is desirable for identification and maintenance of genetic purity.

Dr SP Sharma, Director of Research, has said this variety will be of great help to farmers of the state as well as other hilly regions of adjoining states to increase production and productivity of wheat crop as well as to reduce the incidence of yellow rust in neighbouring wheat-producing states.

Dr SK Sharma, Vice-Chancellor, has appreciated scientists of the Rice and Wheat Research Centre for this effort.

This variety was recognised by the Central Variety Release Committee at the All-India Wheat and Barley Improvement Workshop (ICAR) at Durgapura in Jaipur recently.

Shimla, September 21
Chief Minister PK Dhumal today said the UPA regime was the most corrupt
ever and a Rs 2,000-crore steel scrap scam had taken place during the tenure of Virbhadra Singh as Union Steel Minister.

Addressing party workers at a media workshop here today, he said the scam was mentioned in a report of the Comptroller and Auditor-General. People had lost faith in the UPA, which had failed on all fronts, he added.

Dhumal said Himachal Pradesh had emerged a model hill state despite geographical constraints and stepmotherly treatment by the Centre. “We managed strides in development despite the discriminatory attitude of the UPA,” he said.

He said no funds were being provided by the Centre for the maintenance of national highways and the state government was carrying out repairs and maintenance from its own funds. “Though people of the state have always made sacrifices for the nation, they have not being compensated,” he lamented.

The Chief Minister said the state had witnessed tremendous growth due to the policies and programmes of the government. “The BJP has not only fulfilled its promises, but had performed beyond it and given a boost to development,” he remarked.

He said his government had ensured the welfare of all sections of society and had launched various schemes benefiting the people of the state.

National BJP general secretary JP Nadda, state BJP chief Satpal Singh Satti, Rajya Sabha MP Bimla Kashyap and national BJP media coordinator Shrikant Sharma were present.

Shimla, September 21
The Himachal Pradesh High Court has sought a response from the Shimla Municipal Corporation (MC) and the state government on the imposition of green tax at the four entry points to Shimla without fulfilling the conditions imposed by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI).

Passing the directions, a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Kurain Joseph and Justice DC Chaudhary issued a notice to the state government, the MC and the NHAI, directing them to file their responses by October 17.

The court passed the order on a petition filed by Mangeleshwar Sharma of Solan, who claimed that the MC went ahead with the construction of the barriers without obtaining permission or a no-objection certificate from the competent authority.

He referred to a letter issued by the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to the NHAI, according to which the MC would have to construct separate lay-byes and bear the cost of construction.

The petitioner added that the barriers at the four entry points were resulting in traffic jams and causing harassment to motorists. The matter would come up for hearing on October 17.

Shimla, September 21
Expressing dissatisfaction over the working of the Health Department, the state high court has sought an explanation from the Director (Health) on how 46 nurses have been posted against the 28 sanctioned posts in Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Hospital, Shimla.

It further observed that posts of nurse were lying vacant in rural areas of 
the state.

While passing this direction, a Division Bench comprising Justice Deepak Gupta and Justice Rajiv Sharma further directed the Director (Health) to remain present in the court on October 3, 2012.

The Bench further observed that “we fail to understand why privileges are being given to friends and relatives of staff working in the hospital. It has come to the notice of the court that special privileges are being given to friends and relatives of staff in treatment or medical check-up”.

It has asked the Director to explain whether such practice was prevalent in other hospitals of the state.

The hospital administration has taken a decision whereby the staff of the hospital can avail a special slip for the treatment of their friends and relatives.

The court has also told the Director to explain the provision that enables a retired employee to continue in service. It passed this order on a petition filed in this regard. Now, the court has listed the matter for further hearing on October 3.

Shimla, September 21
While the state is opposing foreign direct investment (FDI) in retail, fruit and vegetable growers favour it and maintain that it will help eliminate middlemen, which the government has failed to do all these years.

The state is deficient in foodgrain, but produces about 13 lakh tonne of vegetable and between 5 and 7 lakh tonne of fruit annually. Growers face a number of problems in marketing the produce due to lack of infrastructure. They invariably fail to get remunerative prices due to the
chain of middlemen.

“The state government is doing disservice to farmers by opposing FDI in retail. It will not only ensure better returns for produce, but also lead to the creation of the marketing infrastructure required, for which neither the state, nor the Centre has funds,” said Prakash Thakur, a grower and Director of the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority.

No city in the state had a population of 10 lakh or more and, as such, it was a win-win situation, he pointed out. Citing his example he said the entry of the Adani Group in the apple market had made a difference in the last three years as he was saving about Rs 120 per box in grading and packaging.

The company bought apple at Rs 58 per kg this season, which was a very good price, he said. The Adani Group and some other companies had the capacity to store only 11 lakh boxes, but according to norms, the storage capacity should be around 1 crore boxes, he added. Funds were needed for this and FDI was the only way out, he said.

Ranjeet Mehta, a grower from Kotgarh, expressed similar views. He said his produce was being procured from the orchard by the Bengaluru-based Heritage Food Limited at between Rs 62 and Rs 74 per kg. He said he no longer depended on commission agents. FDI meant that there would more companies buying produce, he added.

Rajeev Chauhan, Chairman of the Himalayan Apple Growers Society, said FDI would be a boon for both growers and consumers as middlemen would be eliminated in three or four stages. He said the market would become more stable as multinational companies would invest more on infrastructure like cold stores, packing and grading houses and refrigerated vehicles.

The state also had the advantage of being the biggest producer of off-season vegetable and floriculture was beginning to flourish, he further said. All hilly perishable produce required proper storage and
transportation infrastructure, which only multinational companies could provide, he added.

On the other hand, industries were apprehensive and feared that foreign companies would not buy from them. Sanjay Khurana, Secretary of the Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh Industrial Association, said the companies would procure products on low rates from countries like China.

Though there was a rider that 30 per cent of the procurement would have to be made from domestic units, there could be problems in the long run, he added.