Palampur, September 25
With the Assembly elections round the corner, all political parties have geared up their election campaigns here.

This time the regional factor may not play a predominant role in the coming Assembly poll in the merged areas of the state particularly in Kangra district which has over the years divided the hill state into ‘old’ and ‘new’ areas. It seems that in the ensuing Assembly elections, voters of the merged areas can no more be fooled on this issue by the political parties.

In the changed political scenario, there is no issue of ‘old’ versus ‘new’. Moreover, Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister, who has been conscious of this fact, has taken pains to woo the people of the old areas by giving a fair deal to the apple growers and taking up development works in upper parts of the state.

In fact, regional factors were exploited by the political parties here after the hill areas of Punjab comprising Kangra, Una and Hamirpur districts were merged into the state during the reorganisation of states in 1966. The Congress leaders from old Himachal continued to dominate the ruling Congress.

The BJP, the then Jan Sangh, which had a significant presence, exploited the regional sentiment to expand its base. As prior to 1990, the influence of the BJP remained confined largely to the new areas with the Congress maintaining its hold over the old areas. The people were emotionally divided along regional lines.

Non-Congress Chief Ministers Shanta Kumar and Prem Kumar Dhumal have so far come from the merged areas. As the regional divide widened, the BJP earned the “anti-apple growers” tag and the Congress came to be largely seen as anti-merged areas.

Virbhadra Singh, who had a long stint as the Chief Minister, tried to win over the people of lower hills by taking steps like shifting of one dozen state-level offices to Kangra, the “winter move” , holding Assembly session at Dharmsala, setting up of Vidhan Sabha Bhavan at Dharmsala and opening a medical college at Tanda.

Dhumal, during his term from 1998 to 2003, tried to dispel the impression that the BJP was anti-apple growers by increasing the support price for apple and taking various other measures to improve the economy of fruit growers. The BJP has been claiming that it has demolished the walls of regionalism by ensuring equitable development of all areas. The outcome of the coming poll will indicate whether the claim was true or far-fetched.

Palampur, September 25
Most of the loyalists of Shanta Kumar in the district have managed to get the ticket for the upcoming Assembly elections in the first round of ticket allotment.

The list approved by the party indicated that Shanta had succeeded to ‘protect’ his loyalists from the district.

In the first list of the candidates cleared by the BJP high command recently, the names of Krishan Kapoor, Transport Minister, Romesh Dhawala, Food and Supply Minister, Bipan Singh Parmar, Sulaha MLA, Parveen Sharma, Palampur MLA, Sudha Sushant, wife of Kangra MP Rajan Sushant, and all Shanta loyalists from Kangra district figured in the list.

However, the names of PK Dhumal loyalists, Ravinder Ravi, IPH Minister, Rakesh Pathania, MLA from Nurpur, and Sanjay Kumar, MLA from Kangra, were not in the list. All the three sitting MLAs in the present Assembly belong to the Dhumal camp from the district.

The IPH Minister had been asked by the party high command either to contest from Dehara Gopipur or to shift to Nagrota Bagwan to contest against Congress heavyweight GS Bali. In case of Pathania, Shanta Kumar had categorically stated that he was not a member of the party, therefore, no party ticket could be given to him.

In fact Ravi was keen to contest from Palampur or Jwalamukhi, where Shanta was not ready to accommodate him at the cost of his loyalists Parveen Sharma and Romesh Dhawala.

Similarly, the Dhumal faction also opposed the allotment of ticket to Shanta’s loyalist in the other Assembly segments of the district too.

A senior leader from the Dhumal faction said it was not the final list, as the party would review the list next week and there could be some changes to accommodate leaders from the Dhumal camp. He said Dhumal had already conveyed his displeasure to the BJP high command over the ‘uneven’ distribution of the party ticket.

Mandi, September 25
Himachal Lokhit Morcha (HLM) leaders Rakesh Singha, party chief Maheshwar Singh and CPI leader Des Raj have asserted that the present BJP government was on its way out as “people of the state are disillusioned with both the Congress and the BJP because they represent the same anti-farmer and anti-poor liberal economic policies”.

Addressing a public rally at Bhangrotu in Balh constituency recently, Singha attacked both parties stating that people of the state were fed up with the “anti-poor” rule of the successive governments as they had done nothing substantial for the poor people, farmers and the unemployed youth of the state. The people were now searching for a third alternative and there was an upsurge among people against the ruling parties in the state, he added.

He said agriculture was in a deep crisis. Farmers in Balh faced the silt and wild animal menace, which had pushed them to the brink as the ruling party had unleashed “anti-farmer” and “anti-common man” polices.“The disillusionment is more than we had expected against the ruling party and the public is now convinced about the third alternative we are trying to present before the people in the state,” he claimed.

Singha hit out at the UPA government at the Centre for the hike in fuel and LPG prices, stating that the hike will have a cascading effect on the common man of the state more than anywhere in the country as Himachal had no railway network to take care of the rise in the transport cost.

Maheshwar Singh charged that the ruling BJP with ‘being run’ by the “JP company”, adding that the higher-ups responsible for the pulse scam had not been booked by the government.

He said the government was giving free uniforms to schoolchildren but there were no teachers in schools to teach. “The BJP ministers and the Chief Minister carry scissors in their pockets to inaugurate half-completed projects like the Mandi bus stand and bridge and other schemes out of desperation,” he said.

Singh said he felt suffocated in the BJP and deserted it and others should do the same and join the HLM to oust the corrupt party from power.

Des Raj said the present regime had mortgaged natural resources to outsider companies to follow the liberal policies of the Congress regime. Dr Onkar Shad, Dr Kuldip Tanvar and other leaders also spoke and urged the people to vote for non-BJP and non-Congress HLM candidates. 

Bilaspur, September 25
The local unit of the District Congress Committee (DCC) has condemned the state government for its failure to fulfil the basic needs of people of the district as well as for neglecting the area due to political reasons.

Talking to mediapersons here recently, DCC and Nagar Parishad vice-president Kamlender Kashyap, accompanied by DCC general secretary Rakesh Raku and Nagar Parishad members Sonika Sharma, Soma Devi, Beer Deen and former member Navin Verma, said the BJP rule would be known as “black tenure” as it could not solve any problem of lakhs of Bhakra Dam oustees of the district, though it had demanded votes in the last elections on the assurance of solving their problems.

Kashyap said instead of bringing government offices here, several offices established here during earlier Congress rule had been shifted out. He said even under-construction schemes like athletics synthetic track and astroturf hockey ground had been shifted and the allotment of rehabilitation plots to families of the remaining Bhakra Dam oustess at the land earmarked near the transport workshop had not been allotted to them.

He said the government must answer on the charges regarding the “sell out” of 4,000 metre and Rs 50 crore commercial land in the main market to a “favoured” contractor at throwaway prices, though this scheme was reserved for the economic rehabilitation of 100 oustees families by allotting stalls to them on “hire-purchase system”.

Kamlender said the Regional Hospital here had been turned into a mere referral hospital and 95 per cent of the patients were being referred to either the PGI, Chandigarh, or the IGMC, Shimla.

He held the BJP responsible for the deaths of patients, most of whom were victims of road accidents, on way to these hospitals.

Bharmour (Chamba), September 25
Bharmour is a small hilly town located at a height of about 8,000 ft between the picturesque Pir Panjal and the Dhauladhar ranges. Bharmour, the old capital of Chamba state, is inhabited mostly by Gaddi tribals and migrant businessmen from the planes.

However, the tourism potential of the area is still unexploited.

The quiet town is located at a distance of about 60 km from Chamba town. The road to Bharmour is in a fare condition, but for two slipping zones that need constant clearance especially in the rainy season. The road to Bharmour goes along the Ravi river.

Presently, Bharmour is mostly known for the Mani Mahesh pilgrimage. Mani Mahesh is a lake located at a height of about 16,000 ft amidst snow-laden peaks of the Himalayas. Bharmour acts as a base camp for the pilgrims going to Mani Mahesh as vehicles are generally parked in Bharmour and pilgrims walk about 18 km on an arduous hilly trek.

However, there is a limited facility available in Bharmour to retain the pilgrims coming there so that it can help improve the economy of the area. There is just one PWD rest house which is generally occupied during the pilgrimage.

The people here have not adopted the home stay scheme of the government to retain tourists coming for Mani Mahesh pilgrimage for a few days in the area.

Most of the residents of Bharmour have given up their migratory life patterns. Earlier, many of them used to migrate to the mountains. However, now they have taken to farming. Apple plantations have come up in the entire Bharmour sub-division. Besides apple, ‘rajmah’ and other pulses are also grown in the region. The rajmah grown here has a unique geographical indicator as agriculture experts here said it was easy to cook and had a unique taste.

Local mountaineering experts said there were many challenging hilly treks in the region. “While the treks in the Pir Panjal range are for the mountaineering experts, the treks in the Dhauladhar ranges can be explored even by amateurs,” experts said.

Officials of a local mountaineering institute said mountaineers from the country and abroad come to the region for trekking. However, the numbers can increase to a great extent in case the area is promoted as a trekking site.

Bharmour also has a lot for the lovers of archaeology. The famous Chaurasi temples of Bharmour are a site protected by the Archaeological Survey of India. The Chaurasi temples are a group of 84 small temples that depict the old art of temple construction of the country. The temples have ancient brass idols. They also have a temple of ‘Dharamraj’, a mythical god in the Hindu mythology. It is the only temple of Dharamraj in the entire country, the locals said.

Palampur, September 25
Ashapuri bus mishap, in which 34 persons were killed, has put a question mark on the passengers’ safety in the state. Situation has deteriorated to such an extent that today the common man is afraid of travelling in Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) buses in the state.

Despite the fact that the state government is well conversant with the situation, that 95 per cent population of the state is dependant on road transport, no steps have been initiated for passenger safety. On the other hand, the government has allowed the HRTC to ply buses which are old and not fit to be driven.

The HRTC bus, HP37-394, was 1999 model and had already covered a mileage of 9,70,000 km as per its log book and it was overdue for condemnation as its mileage had crossed the prescribed limit.

However, official sources told The Tribune that as per the policy of state government, now the HRTC had abolished the criteria of prescribed mileage covered for the condemnation of its fleet. HRTC had now laid rules that general conditions of the buses would be the only criteria for grounding the fleet.

HRTC buses, all over the state, are in a bad shape, its 30% fleet is due for condemnation. In the past three years, only few new buses were added to the fleet. Most of the new buses added to the fleet are allotted to the areas of transport minister and other VIPs of the state whereas a dozen important HRTC depots in the state are still short of buses and forced to use the condemned fleet, resulting in frequent accidents.

There is no technical committee in HRTC which can review the condition of the old fleet all over the state and recommend to the government to take action. The condemnation board of HRTC has also turned non-functional.

The HRTC is a public undertaking having a fleet of 1900 buses, of which 498 buses have already lived their life but HRTC is still plying these buses on rural routes in the state.

In Palampur, Dharmshala and Baijnath depots of HRTC, over two dozen buses, due for condemnation are stationed. But because of shortage of buses, these are being plied on the different routes by the corporation, ignoring the safety norms.

A spokesman of HRTC employees’ union told The Tribune that since Mohinder Singh had taken over as the new transport minister, things had moved from bad to worse as accumulated losses of HRTC have touched Rs 600 crore. There is a total unrest in its operating staff all-over the state because of the indifferent attitude of Singh towards the problems of staff.

HRTC employees alleged that in gross violation of the rules, HRTC was allowed to ply those 498 old buses which were due for condemnation. Singh also allotted most of the new fleet to Sarkaghat depot of the corporation which is his home constituency.

It was also disclosed that different employee unions of HRTC have time and again brought all these irregularities to the notice of Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, but all in vain. It is on record that last month Dhumal by passed Singh and deputed Chief Secretary S Roy to look into all the issues raised by the employees, pertaining to passenger safety and problems of operating staff of HRTC. Thereafter, certain effective steps were initiated but could not be implemented till date. 

Palampur, September 25
Though the rainy season is almost over, the National Highway Wing of the HP PWD is yet to begin the restoration work of roads damaged during the monsoons.

The Pathankot-Mandi National Highway passing through Kangra district is in a state of neglect. The roads are full of potholes at many points between Kotla and Kangra. This highway is also used by the Army authorities to carry its supplies to Leh, Ladakh and other forward areas.

Similarly, the Mubarkpur-Ranital National Highway connecting Kangra with the planes has potholes between Bharwain and Ranital. Though this is one of the busiest highway in the state connecting Kangra valley with Delhi, Chandigarh, Jalandhar, Amritsar, Ludhiana and towns of Rajasthan and Haryana, the PWD authorities have ‘neglected’ the highway.

Enquiries revealed that keeping in view the upcoming Assembly elections, Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal had already ordered the repair of all the roads damaged due to rains, but the national highway divisions of the PWD at Joginder Nagar and Hamirpur, looking after these roads, are yet to implement the Chief Minister’s order. However, this road was carpeted a few years ago, but the bitumen was washed away in the monsoon because of the poor quality of materials used. 

Charcoal drawing has its own magic like the good old “black and white” photography but not many artists are pursuing this fascinating medium of creative expression.

It was thus wonderful to see some artists coming together at the Indian Institute of Advanced Study (IIAS) to produce some magical charcoal drawings on the theme of the great epic Mahabharta (see photo). “Most artists try out their hand at charcoal drawing at the start but later switch over to other colour mediums. Apart from the fact that works in various colour media has more demand and commercial value, the charcoal drawing was a difficult medium where errors cannot be rectified,” points out a senior artist Baldev Gambhir from Amritsar.

Further, it was also a delicate medium and if works were not properly preserved, they could easily get spoilt. It required good quality fixative for protection. Also it also required some imagination and minute work to create different hues in “black and white” to weave real magic on the canvas using charcoal, he explained.

Besides him, Him Chatterji, coordinator for the art school on Mahabharta, Ram Viranjan from Kurukshetra and Tirthankar Biswas from Delhi were the other artists who were part of the workshop. Each artist produced five works, capturing important moments of the epic on the canvas.

The idea of organising an art school along with a seminar annually was mooted by Director of the Institute Peter Ronald d’Souza. The first school on the Shimla Conference, which was held in the Viceregal Lodge, housing the IIAS, focussed on the architecture of the heritage structure. This was the fourth art school organised in series.

Chamba, September 25
Peace is prevailing along the borders of Chamba district in Himachal Pradesh adjacent to the militancy-infested areas of Jammu and Kashmir, thanks to the existence of security forces deployed on the borders keeping strict surveillance on terrorists’ activities round the clock and thwarting their evil designs.

But sadly, it is officially learnt that there is a proposal to remove Central Paramilitary Forces like the Indo-Tibet Border Police (ITBP) from the borders, which could be a great risk to the safety and security of the state, as the presence of the ITBP has made a deterrent impact, this being a professional, proficient and a well-equipped force.

The possibility of terrorists sneaking into Chamba borders cannot be ruled out if the ITBP is withdrawn from the borders stretching for about 214 km, touching the districts of Doda, Kishtwar and Kathua of J&K and Punjab on the other side.

The areas adjoining J&K are known for militants’ nefarious designs and a number of terrorism-related incidents have taken place in the recent past in these areas. The first major terrorist incident took place on August 2, 1998, in which 35 civilians, mostly labourers, were massacred and six persons were taken away as hostages who are still untraceable.

The firing incident of militants with HP police in 1993 at village Jallari, incident of extortion by militants at village Banoori, in 1993, similarly incident of extortion and threatening in the same year and the movement of 30 armed militants in Mansa Dhar sector forcibly taking away sheep of shepherds and gujjars. In the same year, encounter between the Himachal Pradesh police and the militants who were seven or eight in number near Khundimural in which a militant was killed.

The killing of three gaddis in 1998 at Sappacholu in Kihar sector and two jawans of Himachal Armed Police (HAP) in an ambush as targeted by militants in 2003, the incident of Rohni Dhar in 2005 in which two persons were found killed with bullets in Tissa sector, are the major militant incidents on record during the past few years in the district.

In 1998, the Himachal government put a high alert on the borders and deployed ITBP, HAP and Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) at different strategic points in high altitude areas and all possible vulnerable entry and exit points of the border region with a view to checking the infiltration of militants.

Meanwhile, Superintendent of Police Chamba, Kuldeep Sharma, the controlling authority of the para-military forces confirmed that the proposal of withdrawing the ITBP from the Chamba borders had recently been received from the Centre, but at the same time on the persistent request of the public, he had urged the government not to remove the ITBP in the wake of imminent threat of militants from across the borders.

Chamba, September 25
A fire-fighting scheme was launched by the erstwhile Chamba state way back in 1937. Thereafter, the whole scheme remained in a state of neglect. The state government has not only maintained the fire station staff, but also strengthened it. The staff was also sponsored for training in Nagpur institute. The fire hydrant pipes have neither been repaired nor new hydrants, except four, added, though there has been a steep growth in the population of the town.

The initial scheme, which was laid in 1937, was for a population of 5,000 only, whereas the present population has reached 35,000 approximately.

Whenever a fire breaks out in the town, the blame game starts. The IPH Department blames the fire station staff for not controlling the fire. The fire station staff lays blames the department.

Owing to the rusted fire hydrant pipes, the water does not reach the fire location. This has happened umpteen times, but no steps have been taken by the administration to get at the root of the problem. In such fire mishaps, the sufferers are the people of Chamba.

According to the information sought by the Chamba District Progressive Council general secretary Gurmukh Singh Bedi from the IPH Department under the the RTI Act recently, the executive engineer (XEN) has categorically stated that no funds are provided in the budget to maintain the scheme. Only water storage tank with a capacity of three lakh litres is being maintained by the department for fire fighting. Meanwhile, the IPH XEN, RC Kapoor, agreed as to the conditions prevailing in the fire-fighting system in the town. The town buildings have been constructed long ago and timber has been used in abundance. In such cases, the outbreak of fire cannot be ruled out. Whenever there is such a mishap, there is hue and cry in the town. An enquiry is ordered to smoothen the ruffled feathers of citizens. The enquiry reports lie somewhere gathering dust.

The council in its memo submitted to the Chief Minister recently has demanded that every year provision must exist in the budget of the IPH Department for maintenance of the fire-fighting scheme.

The whole system needs overhauling. The recent conflagration which broke out in Chowgan Bazaar could be extinguished because of four new hydrants, which were installed in 2009.

The council has also demanded that the inquiry report into the recent fire incident in the town should be made public.

Nurpur, September 25
The successive Congress governments had opened the office of the Block Medical Officer (BMO) meant for the Nurpur block over three decades ago. The local social organisations and inhabitants have been demanding to shift this office at Nurpur for the past many years, but none of the elected representatives has taken any initiative in this direction.

The Nurpur health block is known for its biggest size in the state. Interestingly, the Gangath health block consists of two BMO offices at Gangath and Indora. Former minister and MLA of Nurpur late Sat Mahajan had tried to shift this office from Gangath to Nurpur, but could not succeed due to political reasons.

A large number of Health Department employees working in Community Health Centres (CHCs), Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and sub-centres in the Nurpur area have to visit Gangath for taking part in health programmes. According to available information, two CHCs, 13 PHCs and 61 sub-centres are working under the office of the BMO, Nurpur, at Gaganth. As many as 18 doctors, 128 male and female multipurpose health workers are rendering their services through this office. None of the elected MLAs of the Nurpur Assembly constituency took keen interest in the shifting of this office at its original place. Intriguingly, the office of the BMO, Gangath, has been functioning from Indora whereas the BMO office of Nurpur is working from Gangath. 

Solan, September 25
The State-Level Power Committee of Industries comprising various industry associations of the state have unanimously decided not to pay any Infrastructure Development Charges (IDC) in view of the pending decision of the high court in the petition filed by Ruchira Papers and others.

The committee also decided to take up the issue relating to new connection with the chairman of Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Limited (HPSEBL) so that issuance of new connections was not kept on hold till the decision of the court.

Since IDC charges at the rate of Rs 1000 per 100 KVA load and Rs 2500 per KVA on additional load have been imposed on the industries since May this year, the issue has become a cause of concern for the investors who were finding it difficult to bear the huge financial liability. The committee, therefore, decided to examine the possibility of obtaining a stay on the New Regulations regarding IDC which have come into effect since May this year.

The members decided to get legally examined the possibility of making Industries Department as a party in the IDC case. Prem Sharma, president, Nalagarh Industries Association, said the IDC had imposed a levy of Rs 15 to Rs 50 lakh on the industrial units and since the industry was going through recession, it was difficult for them to bear this additional levy.

Various other issues also came up for discussion which included filing objections against HPSEBL’s demand for provision of interest on securities in the ARR.

The associations will also take up the issue pertaining to Demand Charges(PLE) on Lighting Load with the chairman HPSEBL and also challenge the tariff model adopted by the Commission after obtaining the consent and participation from various cement units like JP, Ambuja Cements Limited and ACC.

Members expressed concern at the deteriorating quality of power and decided to take up the matter with the authorities for improvement. With power cuts and sudden tripping enhancing the wastage in every unit, the cost of production has gone up thus forcing the investors to take up the issue with the authorities.

The industry association of industrial clusters, including Baddi, Nalagarh, Barotiwala, Parwanoo, and Una were present on the occasion.

Shimla, September 25
The Festival of the Differently Abled (FODA) held at Bishop Cotton School is an event that all these special children look forward to as they take part in every sporting and cultural activities with gay abandon.

About 200 children from 14 different institutes in the state took part in FODA held at BCS on September 21 and 22. It was a fun-filled bonanza spread over two days where sporting events were planned keeping in mind the disabilities that these children suffer from.

Some of these children have done exceedingly well at international events held in India and abroad and also won medals. “We try to give wings to their dreams so that they do not feel handicapped or at a disadvantage in any way and take on life with full confidence,” said Dorothy I Robinson, convener of FODA and head of the Junior School.

It was in 2000 that BCS organised the festival for the first time and later made it part of the school calendar, ensuring its holding every year. The children arrived on September 21 and a cultural show was organised for them in the Irwin Hall of the school.

The next morning started with a marchpast and holding of various sporting events. Some like Harshitta Bhatti from Ashta Institute, Nahan, who had won silver in athletics at the Special Olympics, held in Ireland in 2003 loved to attend FODA year after year. “I love attending FODA as the activities are very interesting and interacting with other kids is fun,” she said.

Teachers and guardians accompanying these differently abled children pointed out that attending such festivals and events enhanced the confidence level of the children. “It helps them in not only coping up with their disability but also at the same time fight it to lead near normal life, focusing on the positives,” said Robinson.

Another encouraging aspect of the event was that students of BCS, who volunteered to associate with the FODA, understood and empathised with the differently abled. “Seeing them fight their disabilities one can learn a lesson to keep his nerves even in the most difficult times,” the students said.