The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	High-Security Number Plates Fixing of plates way less than scheduled target Rajiv Mahajan Nurpur, October 9 A lot of resentment is prevailing here among vehicle owners as the state government has failed to streamline the system of fixing High- Security Number Plates (HSNPs), even after 10 months of entrusting this job to a Delhi-based private company. Around 30 to 35 per cent vehicles have been fixed with these plates so far, which is way less than the scheduled target. The government did not fix responsibility of the vendor company, nor did it give the vendor a time frame for completing the HSNPs’ fixing. Even the transport department authorities could not succeed in implementing its own directions and guidelines issued to the erring company. Inquiries revealed that a review meeting of top brass of the department was held recently under the chairmanship of the Director Transport in which two Deputy General Managers of the vendor company were also present. The company was apprised of their dismal performance and the inconvenience being faced by the vehicle owners across the state due to the delay in fixation of plates. The company was also issued certain directions to expedite the job but even after over two months it seemed least bothered, which has further aggravated the situation. The vendor company had been directed to install independent embossing machine to prepare HSNPs at the Registration cum Licencing office places where over ten thousand vehicles were registered. Nurpur and Jawali in Kangra district have especially been mentioned but no step was taken so far here. The company was also directed to ensure fixation of HSNPs on the vehicle on the particular date given to the vehicle owners, who had deposited the requisite fee. The due date will be informed to the vehicle owners through SMS to avoid any inconvenience to them. But company’s staff is least bothered about any communication to the vehicle owner. Intriguingly, there is no government agency to check the ongoing slow progress which has led to chaotic situation. When contacted the company’s officials asserted that shortcoming in the system would shortly be removed with the co-operation of the state government, while officials of the Transport Department were found to be on leave. Meanwhile, the state congress general secretary Ajay Mahajan alleged that the job of fixing HSNPs was a big scam in the state where lakhs of vehicle owners had deposited crores of rupees to a private company sponsored by the state government. He demanded a high-level probe into it and sought punitive action against the vendor company, which had failed to deliver the services. Over 35,000 vehicles are registered with the Registration cum Licencing branch, Nurpur, out which around 25,000 vehicle owners have applied for HSNPs but only 7,000 have been fixed with these plates so far, which reflects the snail’s pace at which the work is being done.
	Highway repair funds from Centre misused: Cong Jai Kumar Bilaspur, October 9 The State Congress Rajiv Gandhi Sangthan and the District Congress Committee (DCC) have condemned the state government for “showing apathy” towards the maintenance of the National Highway-21 (Chandigarh-Manali). They have rebutted charges of the BJP leaders that the Centre is not providing proper funds for the maintenance and repair of the highway. District president of the sangthan and former MLA Dr Babu Ram Gautam, accompanied by prominent Congress leader and former Agriculture Minister Bachittar Singh, Congress senior district general secretary Gopal Sharma, district general secretary Ram Prakash Dhiman and district executive member Radhey Shyam Sharma addressed mediapersons at the Circuit House here recently. They said maintenance and repair of all national highways in the state was the responsibility of the state government for which the Centre had been providing suitable funds to the state government at regular intervals. But these funds were being “misused” by the state government. They demanded a CBI enquiry into the alleged bungling of the funds as the poor condition of the highway had been posing a threat to thousands of travellers daily. The leaders alleged that the BJP government mismanaged regional hospitals and had failed to provide a befitting health services and staff at the trauma centre, which was inaugurated here about four months ago. Dr Gautam and Gopal Sharma flayed the BJP for its criticism of the Centre for failing to provide the state its share of Rs 4,200 crore under the recent Supreme Court judgment as compensation for the Satluj-Beas projects’ share. They said most of the amount was to be paid by the Punjab government, where the BJP was in alliance and Dhumal had failed to force the neighbouring state to pay the pending amount to Himachal.
	Vignettes ‘Mere to Giridhar Gopal, doosro na koi’ by Shriniwas Joshi It was a very cold morning of 1992. My wife and I were staying at Nurpur Circuit House; we footed the way to Brij Raj Swamy temple within the Fort there. We did pooja, came out of the temple, read the writings on the board there and that’s all. Recently I went again to the temple. Did pooja of Lord Krishna, received prasada from a lady priest; took a few photographs, came out of the temple, read its history. The gist is that Raja of Chittorgarh invited Raja Jagat Singh of Nurpur to Chittor between 1613 and 1623. He heard the sounds of a dancer’s ankle bells (ghunghroo) from a nearby temple there where he saw an idol of Lord Krishna said to be worshipped by Meera. He brought that idol and a sapling of Maulsiri from Chittorgarh and installed and propitiated the idol in a building, which used to be his Darbar-e-Khas (Upper House) (see photo). The Maulsiri sapling was planted just outside the temple(see photo). It, since then, is the temple of Lord Krishna and his devotee Meera; the only temple where both, the deity and his disciple, are worshipped. The district gazetteer of Kangra 1924-25 indicates that Suraj Mal was the king of Nurpur and when he rebelled against Jahangir in 1618, the Emperor dispatched a strong force under Sunder Das Rai Raiyan who while crushing the rebels damaged the fort and destroyed the original temple -- not the one described here. Suraj Mal escaped and fled to Chamba where he died. Raja Jagat Singh, younger brother of Suraj, who was mansab in Bengal was recalled “in great haste” and was appointed Raja of Nurpur in 1619. How could he go to Chittor between 1613 and 1618 when he was not the Raja and was in Bengal? He could have gone there between 1620 and 1623. Who was the king of Chittor then? It was Karan Singh, grandson of Maharana Pratap. Would Karan Singh, who was siding with Khurram (Shahjahan) when he rebelled against his father, invite Jagat Singh of Nurpur knowing that he was a blue-eyed boy of Jahangir? May be or maybe not. Anyhow, it can be inferred that the idol was brought to Nurpur between the years 1621 and 1623 and was installed directly in the present temple because the old temple was destroyed by then. I have reservations to call the building Darbar-e- Khas because it is too small to be used for that purpose. Is the idol of Krishna the same that Meera Bai used to worship? Meera Bai was married to the Crown Prince Bhoj of Udaipur in 1516 and while there she stayed at Kanwar Pada Palace in Kumbha Palace. Meera asked for a separate Krishna temple for her. Her father-in-law got constructed Kumbha Shyam temple (Meera Mandir) by the side of Kumbha Palace. The main idol that Meera used to worship is still there. Could be that there were more than one idols. No doubt, the Nurpur idol sculpted in black stone has Rajasthani hallmarks. I had one query to satisfy about Maulsiri tree. How much is its life? Could it survive for 400 years plus? Well, it belongs to Spotaceae family; its botanical name is mimusops elengiand called Maulsiri or Bakul or Gandhapushpa in Hindi. It is commonly known as bullet-wood tree because it is native to Belize (formerly Honduras) and was purportedly used as window shutters and doors by British colonists for exceptional resistance to bullet penetration. The only study conducted in Puerto Rico states that it is a shade-tolerant, a slow growing tree and long-lived (300-400 years). I have given historical and factual wings to whatever struck me, now it is for the readers to give it a proper aerial course. Tailpiece Mukul was a naughty boy. He wanted a branded pair of shoes on his birthday. His mother said, “Write a letter to Lord Krishna as to why you want such costly shoes.” He thought and concluded that he had been so naughty in the past that whatever he wrote Lord Krishna would not let him have the shoes he desired. He went to the temple, brought Radha’s idol from there and wrote, “Krishna, I have kidnapped your girlfriend. Let me have my shoes; get your GF back.”
	Himachal diary French biking enthusiast captivated by splendour of Himachal Fiftynine-year-old French biking enthusiasts Andre Deplechin, who was in the state to participate in the eighth edition of the mountain biking rally Hercules MTB Himalaya-2012, has been fascinated by the scenic splendour of Himachal. “I have been biking for the past over 20 years and participated in biking rallies in France, England, Germany and other European countries and peddled through the mountain terrain of Nepal several times, but there is nothing like Himachal,” he said while sharing his experience at the conclusion of the event. The awesome beauty of the mountains and the challenging route of the rally provides all the excitement. Adventure apart, cycling is increasingly being adopted as a hobby for a healthy living in Europe and more and more people are using it as an environment- friendly mode of transportation from home to place of work and for shopping. Biking should be popularised for healthy living in the hill state. With the availability of hi-tech multi-gear bikes even very steep slopes could be negotiated without much difficulty. There was no slope in Shimla which he could not be climb on his 37-gear bike. The only limiting factor, he felt, was the high cost of cycles. A good bike made of titanium carbon fibre costs anything between Rs 1 lakh to Rs 2 lakh. However, for routine biking, ordinary bikes could be used. President of the Himachal Sports and Tourism Promotion Association (HSTPA) Mohit Sood said his organisation was trying to promote cycling in the state capital and it had been holding various events from time to time to attract the attention of youth. Writer Harnot awarded Noted writer SR Harnot has been selected for the first Jagdish Chandra Smriti Award for 2012 for his short stories collection titled "Mitti Ke Log" published in 2010. He was selected for the award by a committee comprising renowned authors and critics, Dr Sewa Singh, Dr Vinod Shahi, Dr Subhash Sharma and Desh Nirmohi. Well-known publisher Aadhar Prakashan Private Limited has published Jagdish Chandra's “Rachanawali” in four volumes this year. The award will be given every year on his birthday falling on November 23 to a selected author who is committed to expand his tradition of realistic and progressive creativity through his writings. SR Harnot has six short stories books titled “Panja”, “Aakashbel”, “Peeth Par Pahad”, “Darosh”, “Jeenkathi”, “Mitti Ke Log”, “Aadhar Chayan Kahaniyaan”, one famous novel “Hidimb”, one English short stories collection “Mafia” (translated by Saroj Vashishtha) and four books on Himachal. His literary works have also been translated in many Indian languages and published in different journals. He has received many awards, including International Indu Sharma Katha Samaan, National Shabd Sadhna Janpriya Lekhak Samaan, Himachal Academy Award, Himachal Gaurav and Bhartendu National award. The award will be presented to SR Harnot at a function on November 23 at Jalandhar. Politicians and principles The decision of two bitter political enemies, former minister Vijay Singh Mankotia and former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, to bury the hatchet has once again made it abundantly clear that politicians talk about principles just to befool the people and they could enter any compromise to gain power which is their ultimate aim. This is the second time that Mankotia has mended fences with his bete noire Virbhadra Singh ahead of the Assembly poll. Earlier, too, he had quit the Congress and levelled serious charges, raising fingers at his character of Virbhadra Singh in the Bhagyawati episode. This time he has released an audio CD with alleged conversations pertaining to money transactions involving Virbhadra Singh and his wife, Pratibha Singh, and a government officer. Afar losing the last Assembly elections, Mankotia had announced his retirement from politics and had decided to raise only people’s issues and fight against corruption from non-political platforms. He fought a legal battle and also threatened to launch a Satyagrah to press his demand for the resignation of Virbhadra Singh while he was a minister in the Manmohan Singh Cabinet. It will be interesting to see what explanation the two leaders will give to the people. It will be worthwhile to see whether or not the climb down by the two leaders helps them in achieving the ultimate objective: to win the Assembly polls. (Contributed by Rakesh Lohumi and DP Gupta)
	Raid-de-Himalaya is not disaster-ready, say motorists Manali, October 9 The 14th edition of the Maruti Suzuki Raid-de-Himalaya, one of the world's toughest motor rallies, lacks preparedness to handle disasters. It is not equipped to clear an accident site expeditiously, rallyists said recently. The Himalayan Motorsport Association, the Shimla-based club which has organised the rally since its inception, however, denies the allegations and claims that it provides a world-class safety apparatus and is equipped to airlift victims in case of an accident. "The rally lacks even basic safety requirements like first-aid boxes. Moreover, the distance between one stationed ambulance and another is too much, and it's not possible to reach the site of the accident in the shortest possible time," a participant said. The 'Raid' was flagged off from Shimla on Sunday, and reached the tourist resort of Manali in the evening. A participant said Rajeev Khanna, 57, a grandson of Oberoi Group founder MS Oberoi, was injured in the first leg of the rally. "Khanna was helped by passers-by when he met with an accident, nobody from the organisers came to rescue him," a rallyist said, adding that it was passers-by who took the man to a nearby hospital. Khanna, who is well known among rallyists, is the oldest participant in the X-treme two-wheel category. He was driving a Yamaha WR 450. "The first incident highlighted shortcomings of the organisers. On the one hand, they boast of hiring a helicopter to rescue rallyists; on the other hand, they don't have even first-aid kits," said the rallyist, who did not want to be identified. The organisers of the event, however, said they had come to the rescue of the well-known rallyist in the shortest rescue time. "Almost at the close of the rally route for Day One, his mobike hit a railing causing a severe hand injury. Following this, he was immediately rushed to Kullu, from where he was airlifted to Chandigarh," said a statement quoting the organisers. The statement said the helicopter evacuation service was introduced for the first time in the 'Raid'. Six ambulances have been stationed along the route. Motorsport enthusiasts have been expressing concern over the safety of rallyists since two motorists taking part in the Mughal Rally, another annual event organised by the Himalayan Motorsport Association, lost their lives in July this year because they couldn't be rescued in time. Motorists claimed that rescue vehicles and hydraulic cutters for extricating accident victims trapped inside a crashed vehicle are missing from the 'Raid'. "Clearing the accident site is not as per international norms. They are taking too much time, hampering the attention of other drivers," a motorist said. — IANS Ill-equipped The rally lacks even basic safety requirements like first-aid boxes. Moreover, the distance between one stationed ambulance and another is too much, and it's not possible to reach the site of the accident in the shortest possible time. — A participant A participant was injured in the first leg of the rally. He was helped by passers-by as nobody from the organisers came to his rescue. — Another participant
	Prices of essentials touch new high Ravinder Sood Palampur, October 9 The prices of essential commodities, including fruits and vegetables in local markets, have touched a new high in the past few days. Consumers are adversely hit as there is no check on the rising prices. Despite the fact that the Essential Commodities Price Control Act is applicable in the state, government agencies have become silent spectators. The lukewarm attitude of the state government in enforcing the Act in letter and spirit has further encouraged hoarding of essential commodities. Though it is mandatory for every shopkeeper to display the price list of all essential commodities on the premises of their outlets, no one follows rules and no officer is bothered to check the same. Earlier, the SDM and the DSP, along with the inspection staff of the Food and Supply Department, used to conduct frequent raids on shops and outlets in markets, but now they have stopped the practice. The state government is well aware of the situation, but no steps have been initiated to check the issue. This correspondent who visited local markets was told that there was a huge difference in wholesale prices and retail prices of essential commodities because of the failure of the government to enforce the price control Act. The prices of pulses have registered an increase of 10 to 15 per cent in the past fortnight. The prices of mustard oil has shown an increase of 20 per cent. All types of refined oils are sold between Rs 95 and Rs 100 per litre. The prices of ordinary rice has touched Rs 30 per kg, whereas last month it was available at Rs 25 per kg. Besides, every shopkeeper has his own price in the region.
	HPU professor felicitated Tribune News Service Shimla, October 9 An eminent biologist and environmentalist of international repute, Prof Vinod Kumar Mattu, of the Department of Biosciences, Himachal Pradesh University (HPU), has been honoured with the ZSI Award and Madhavi-Shyam Gold Medal for his outstanding achievements. The award was given to him on October 3 at a function at Chennai on behalf of the Zoological Society of India during the 23rd All-India Congress of Zoology and National Conference on Conservation and Management of Faunal Resources for Sustainability (CMFRS 2012) in the field of biosciences and environmental sciences. The award comes in wake of his contribution to the field of apiculture, insect biodiversity, ecology, and behavioural studies in particular. Presently, he is the director of the Institute of Integrated Himalyan Studies (IIHS), UGC Centre of Excellence. Prof Mattu was one of the 11 eminent scientists from various parts of the country who were honoured. He is the first teacher from HPU to get this award. Earlier, he has been conferred with nine national and international awards by various scientific agencies, including IAES Award, Bharat Excellence Award, International Glory Award, Indian Golden Achievers Award and Gem of India Award. He is presently working on the Global Pollination Project for Conservation and Management of Pollinators of the Himalayan region being run in seven countries and is sponsored by the GEF, Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations. Prof Mattu is involved in research on various aspects of apiculture, biodiversity, sociobiology and conservation biology. He has contributed to issues like crop pollination, conservation of natural pollinators like bees, butterflies and birds, new frontiers in apiculture for sustainable livelihood, integrated rural development programmes, genetic diversity and toxic effects of pesticides. He has published several books, monographs, compendia and 127 research papers in various journals. He is also involved in planning, policy making, and extension work related to hill communities in general and environment in particular of the Himalayan region.
	PAY REVISION ANOMALY Section of farm university staff demands rectification Our Correspondent Kangra, October 9 Resentment prevails among the employees of nine categories of the CSK Himachal Kirshi Vishvavidyalaya Palampur, other than the teaching and administrative staff, being governed under the University Grants Commission (UGC), for an inadvertent delay in the rectification of the pay revision anomaly. The employees have sought the intervention of the Chief Minister in the matter. The employees, who are working as Senior System Analysts (Computer), volleyball and weightlifting coaches, programmer, senior museum specialists, assistant director (monitoring and evaluation), assistant director (planning and evaluation), sports officer, deputy students welfare officer and deputy director, planning, have been moving from pillar to post for the past few years to get the revision of their revised pay scale implemented. The aggrieved employees said that under the UGC norms, the pay scales were revised with effect from January 1, 2006, but were not implemented till date. The protesting employees said that the pay scale before 2006 was Rs 12,000-Rs 18,300 in three categories and Rs 8,000-Rs 13500 in the remaining six categories which was revised to Rs 15,600 +Rs 39,100 + Rs 8,000 (AGP/ UGC) and Rs 15,600 - Rs 39,100 + Rs 6,000 (AGP/UGC) respectively with effect from January 1, 2006, and demanded revision of these revised pay scales. They claim that the issue was pending disposal with the office of Secretary, Agriculture, Himachal Pradesh Government for the past nearly one year. The CSK HPKV spokesperson, H Pal Singh, said these cases were pending with the Secretary, Agriculture, and were trickling in one by one. The Himachal Pradesh Secretary, Agriculture, P Mitra, told The Tribune that the number of the officials involved was very small and the government was not bound to give any views on this small issue. The protesting employees had sought the intervention of Chief Minister PK Dhumal in this connection so that justice was done to them without further delay.
	Senior citizens a neglected lot: Survey Ravinder Sood Palampur, October 9 Taking care of senior citizens has become a major challenge for the state government. According to a new Census, in the coming days, there will be no one to look after the elderly people in the state. According to an information gathered by The Tribune, in educated families, one in every three parents are living in isolation, suffering from various diseases like depression, high blood pressure and diabetes as their sons or daughters are working in other cities. In 10 per cent cases, children are settled aboard. A senior professor from Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla, said 2,000 cases of deep depression had already been detected in the state. Most of the elderly people had become victims of this disease as they were living in isolation and were suffering from ‘psychosis’, he added. ‘Lack of job opportunities’ in the state has forced thousands of professionals to move out in search of jobs to other states, leaving behind their aged parents in isolation. Situation in the rural areas of the district like Jaisinghpur, Mhahakal, Chobin, Panchrukhi, Chadiar, Thural, Alampur, Jwalamukhi, Pragpur, Sahapur, Khundian, Baroh and Bir Dehara was quite alarming as most of the parents were feeling insecure as they were growing older. Deteriorating law and order situation had further worsened the matters as there were instances where elderly people were killed or robbed. A number of elderly couples living in the lower areas of Palampur said their children had time and again requested them to leave villages and move with them, but it was difficult for them to leave their ancestral homes. One of the elderly couple said if they shifted to some other place, they would feel more isolated. However, there are no old age homes in the state. KB Ralhan, spokesman of the Palampur Welfare Forum, said the state government should initiate timely action and encourage NGOs to come forward to set up old age homes so that elderly people could be looked after in a better way.
	Concern over dwindling population of ‘western tragopan’ Balkrishan Prashar Chamba, October 9 There is a common demand among naturalists of the region to identify Chamba district and adopt it for breeding and rearing of western tragopan. Far better results of successful breeding can be achieved for the revival of western tragopan in this district if the government pays heed towards the development of aviary for the promotion of tourism in this hilly state. Despite best efforts of the Himachal Pradesh Government for breeding and rearing of pheasants in captivity at Sarahan in Rampur and Chail in Shimla hills some time ago, due attention was not paid to increase the population of western tragopan in other parts of the state. The point is that this species of rare tragopan are found in western Himalayas, which covers Chamba district. The environs of western Himalayas are ideally suited. Chamba district for ages and today also has these species of tragopan in many pockets of Sahoo, Sillagharat, Kidi, Belag, Holi, Bharmour, Jot, Himgiri, Devikothi and Chanju. The western tragopan is a very timid and shy beautiful pheasant with rich black and red colours with white small dots scattered all over its body. It is the most impressive pheasant in wild, even better looking than any other bird. Showing concern over the extinct species of western tragopan, Navneet Chowfla, a naturalist of this region, lamented their dwindling population because of poachers in the garb of labourers working in the mountainous terrains of the district as herb collectors or for road cutting. They make their way into these areas and lay traps of ropes. They cut the bushes in a periphery and leave one opening. The poor animal has no way out to go at heights. They land into these well-laid deathtraps. Besides, the poachers clandestinely hunting these species are going unchecked. Despite the fact that Chamba being the home of western tragopan, a cheer pheasant, nothing has been done for the revival of tragopan species. If the Forest Department opens pheasant-breeding centres at Gararo, Kalatop, Bakani, Kugti, Harchu and Talli for better results, successful breeding of these species could be achieved and by releasing them in the wild, the population of these pheasants could be multiplied, suggested Chowfla.
	Conference on pharmaceutical sciences Ambika Sharma Solan, October 9 A two-day national conference on “Emerging Trends in Pharmaceutical Sciences” in collaboration with the Department of Biotechnology was inaugurated by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof SP Bhardwaj, at Manav Bharti University, Solan. Prof PS Thakur, dean and faculty of life science, welcomed the chief guest and the participants. Prof Bhardwaj in his inaugural speech emphasised that with the change in food habits and the current lifestyle, a dramatic surge in the incidence of new age diseases had been observed across the globe. Drug discovery and clinical trials were of greater significance in the light of the escalating changes and challenges. The objective of this conference was to strengthen current national collaboration of leading pharmaceutical scientists and researchers, and to establish contacts among the scientists around the country in the field of drug discovery and development. Dr DD Gupta, Professor, IGMS, Shimla, was the guest of honour. He emphasised the need for strengthening the patient-doctor and drug relationship. A “Souvenir-cum- Abstract” incorporating articles contributed by eminent scholars in the field of pharmacy and biotechnology was also released on this occasion. As many as 234 delegates from the state of Meghalaya, Manipur, Delhi, Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana, Karnatka, Uttrakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh had participated in the conference. The distinguished scientists who attended the conference were Prof OP Arora, Dean, Prof GD Gupta, Director, ASBASJSM College of Pharmacy, Bela, Punjab, Prof AC Rana, Director, Rayat Institute of Pharmacy, Punjab, and Dr Bharat Prashar, Head, Department of Pharmacy, proposed the vote of thanks.
	Principal’s commitment to school education Balkrishan Prashar Dalhousie, October 9 Dr GS Dhillon’s commitment to the field of school education is exemplified in his school while one is driving through Dalhousie Public School, Dalhousie hills, as one gets the feel of passing through a mini cantonment and a sense of order and discipline. Dr Dhillon, the Managing Director and Principal, Dalhousie Public School, is the recipient of the National Award as a ‘meritorious teacher’ conferred by the President of India, Pratibha Patil, in New Delhi last year. Dr Dhillon is the first teacher from among the CBSE affiliated schools of the state to receive the award. At that time, Dr Dhillon was also presented a citation certificate, silver medal and a cash award of Rs 25,000 at the meritorious teachers’ presentation ceremony. But the he had donated the whole cash award to the Prime Minister’s relief fund as a token of his dedication to the nation. Dr Dhillon’s story is of hardwork, dedication and commitment. When he was commissioned into second Battalion of the Parachute Regiment, an elite Regiment of the Indian Army, when he was just a graduate. When he left twelve years later, he had done MA in English and MA, PhD in Philosophy. Dr Dhillon prides himself in belonging to a family of freedom fighters. His grandfather Dr Diwan Singh Kalepani is a household name in Punjab and his father-in-law Sardar Madan Singh, was a leader of the Naval Mutiny of 1942. Few years back the Indian Navy named a warship after him.
	Global recognition for electronics firm Ambika Sharma Solan, October 9 A Baddi-based electronics manufacturing unit, Elin Appliances Private Limited, has won the international award, Asian Quality Leadership Award 2012, recently at Dubai. The award was received by Dr Sunil Thaman on the behalf of the company. The unit had also enhanced its awards tally by adding two more honours to its tally which included the Electronic Industries Association of India awards for Quality Management Systems and Environment Management Systems. The awards were given by Dr Sam Pitroda, Adviser to the Prime Minister, in the presence of Rajkumar Dhoot, MP, Rajya Sabha, and Dr Anup K Pujari, IAS, Director General of Foreign Trade, at Delhi recently. The unit was set up in May 2004. The company has spent Rs 60 lakh for setting up a nature park at Jhiri in Mandi district. Throwing light on its green initiatives, JS Kang, plant head, said, “Our company believes that natural resource conservation and environment protection is the responsibility of each and every citizen and all employees should contribute towards CSR activities,”. “Environmental protection is not just a policy, but a compliance where targeted approach is adopted to achieve annual targets of planting sapling both among the employees, staff, local community and schoolchildren,” he added. “We believe that to secure our future, we have to secure our progeny, therefore, disseminating knowledge of crucial environmental issues like global warming among children is a key area of focus,” he said.
	District school boys tourney concludes Bilaspur, October 9 Students should take sports and games seriously like their studies as they help improve the player’s health and give him full training in discipline, co-ordination, co-operation, hard work and team spirit while playing in the field. All these qualities help one to go ahead in life by facing future challenges boldly and successfully. This was said by Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Darshan Kalia, while presiding over four-day district Boys Schools’ Sports and Games tournament (under 19) at Ghumarwin, near here recently. Kalia said not only the state government, but even police and armed forces are now giving special opportunities to sports persons who excel in games. Government Senior Secondary School (GSSS), Kandraur, won hand ball championship by defeating Government Senior Secondary School, Bilaspur town, in the final match, while GSSS, Bilaspur town defeated GSSS, Bharadi oo win the final match of basket ball. The hockey title was also lifted by GSSS, Bilaspur town, by defeating GSSS, Ghumarwin, by 5 goals in the final. Principal Ravi Kant Sharma said 305 students, drawn from 21 schools of the district, competed in this tournament for 4 days. The ADC distributed trophies, prizes and certificates to the winners. — OC
	Rashtriya Military Schools’ meet concludes Our Correspondent Chail, October 9 Rashtriya Military School, Chail, hosted the XVIII Inter-Rashtriya Military Schools’ Pentangular Meet 2012, which was aimed at inculcating a spirit of sportsmanship and competition among the cadets of these schools. The four-day meet saw participation of various schools. Events, including sports competitions, English debate, quiz and essay writing competitions were held on the occasion. Col SS Minhas, Director of MT-15, was the chief guest for the closing ceremony. RMS, Chail, bagged the overall championship trophy. Rashtriya Military School, Bangalore, bagged the second position, Dholpur remained third, Belgaum, fourth and Ajmer fifth. RMS, Chail, also bagged the top position in quiz, painting, debate and English essay writing while RMS, Dholpur, dominated football, boxing and cultural programmes. RMS, Bangalore, stood first in basketball. Pankaj Rana of RMS, Chail, and Gaurav Gaur of RMS, Bangalore, were adjudged as the best players in basketball and Suman Thapa of RMS, Dholpur, was adjudged best player in football.
	NGOs body holds meet Our Correspondent Bilaspur, October 9 The Himachal Pradesh State NGOs Federation has criticised a few employees’ leaders, who are championing the cause of a “particular political party” and are trying to “mislead and misinform” employees by their political statements on the eve of elections. State federation president Ram Singh, accompanied by a number of state NGO leaders, including state senior vice-president Shival Thakur, vice-president Amar Nath Khurana, secretary Chaman Sharma, press secretary Pravin Thakur, propaganda secretary Pradip Chaudhary and chief adviser Sudershan Sharma, held a meeting of its state executive committee here recently and adopted a number of unanimous resolutions. The committee said the employees of the state were well informed and had full capability and capacity to decide for themselves. They did not require any advice from anyone in this matter. The committee rejected the concept of the Sate Administrative Tribunal as they said the tribunal was only “misused for harassing and exploiting employees and it failed to meet its objective of providing quick justice to them”.
	NH-20 damaged due to heavy rains Rajiv Mahajan Nurpur, October 9 The recent monsoon rains have played havoc with the National Highway No. 20 from Kandwal to Nurpur. This road stretch has been covered with potholes, causing a lot of hardship to the travellers. Heavy rains have virtually turned the bus stoppage at Jassur near here into a rivulet. The absence of roadside drainage system here has created problems for the road traffic for the past over one month. The efforts made by the NH authorities to construct roadside drains for the rain water on the highway have remained unsuccessful due to the non-cooperation and opposition of the locals. The NH users and tourists visiting the Kangra valley have demanded the repair of the NH, as it becomes an accident-prone route at night. Driving on the highway at night has become a nightmare nowadays. Trilok Chowdhary, the assistant engineer of the NH, asserted that restoration work of the damaged highway had been initiated. He said the NH Authorities had proposed a Rs 7 lakh concrete pavement on the depressed road stretch at Jassur, which would lift around sixty metres stretch of the road.
	PIL filed on bad condition of NH-21 Our Correspondent Bilaspur, October 9 Krishan Kumar Kaushal, former MLA from Naina Devi constituency and Chief Convener, Himachal State Kisan Manch, has filed a PIL (Public Interest Litigation) in the Himachal Pradesh High Court. He has drawn attention of the court on the deplorable condition of National Highway No 21 (Chandigarh-Manali) falling in Bilaspur district. Talking to mediapersons, Kaushal said that in his petition he has given details of the travails of the tourists and local people. He has urged both the Centre and the state government to perform their essential duties. He alleged that the road was being repaired only by lose soil patchwork, making things worse for thousands of villagers living along the road. He held BJP leaders “responsible” for untimely deaths of passengers (at least one daily) who are dying on this hazardous road either due to accidents or due to long-hour traffic jams before they can reach PGI, Chandigarh, for treatment of serious ailments.