Dharamsala, January 7
The Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting remained inconclusive over the selection of Congress nominee for the post of Speaker of the new state Assembly.

After the first round of meeting, Congress legislators came out for dinner at 8.45 pm but remained tightlipped over the nominee for the post of Speaker.

However, sources in the party said Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh’s camp proposed Kuldeep Kumar’s name for the post of Speaker. However, it was opposed by the group led by Kaul Singh and Asha Kumari.

Party in charge Chaudhary Birender Singh said no decision had been taken as yet for the party’s nominee for the post of Speaker.

The sources here said the rival group was proposing the name of veteran Congress leader and MLA from Palampur Brij Behari Butail for the Speaker’s post.

The rival group was relying on the diktat of the party high command for the selection of Butail as the Congress nominee for the post of Speaker. However, the numbers were in favour of Kuldeep Kumar, who was the nominee of the Virbhadra Singh camp.

The sources said the matter was likely to be discussed with the party high command late at night and the name of the party nominee for the post of Speaker might be announced at the time of filing the nomination.

Butail was a nominee of the rival camp that had been alleging raw treatment in the allotment of portfolios and nomination of chairpersons to various boards and corporations in the state.

The sources said the rival camp had put Asha Kumari and Butail’s names for the post of Speaker.

Earlier in the day, Virbhadra Singh was received at Kangra, near Naduan, by three ministers from the district, including GS Bali, Minister for Transport, Food and Civil Supplies and Technical Education; Minister for Urban Development Sudhir Sharma; Minister for Agriculture and Power Sujjan Singh Pathania and Parliamentary Secretary Neeraj Bharti.

The Chief Minister was brought to Dharamsala in a big cavalcade of vehicles. The sources here said the show was organised by Bali. Though earlier Bali had differences with Virbhadra Singh, now both leaders seem to have buried their hatchet.

The sources said Bali was now at the forefront in lobbying for the interests of the group of the Chief Minister. However, Bali said it was a part of their protocol as a minister to welcome the Chief Minister during his first visit to Kangra district.

At Dharamsala, Virbhadra Singh was given a tumultuous welcome by Congress workers and supporters.

The leaders of the rival camp, including Minister for Health and Family Welfare Kaul Singh Thakur and the AICC secretary, also arrived at Dharamsala and held a meeting before the crucial CLP meeting. Since hardly any business will take place during the first winter session of the present government, the election to the post of the Speaker of the state Assembly was the most crucial decision to be taken by the party today.

Dharamsala, January 7
The BJP held its legislative group meeting at Gia rest house, 20 km from here, today. Though no business is scheduled for the winter session of the Assembly starting here tomorrow, sources said the BJP had decided to take three issues during the session.

The BJP is likely to target the Congress during the session over the alleged involvement of Congress MLA from Doon Ram Kumar Chaudhary in a murder case. The Haryana police has been looking to arrest the newly elected MLA in the murder case of a girl from the Banga area of Hoshiarpur district of Punjab, but he has been evading arrest.

Suspense still prevails regarding the presence of Chaudhary in an oath taking ceremony for newly elected MLAs at Dharamsala tomorrow.

The sources said the Haryana police might try to arrest him in case Chaudhary comes for the oath taking ceremony.

The other major issue that the BJP legislators are likely to take up is the reported statement of Food and Civil Supplies Minister GS Bali that the photos of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee would be removed from the bags meant for distribution of ration in public distribution shops in the state.

Former minister and BJP MLA from Dehra Ravinder Ravi said the former Prime Minister was one of the tallest leaders of the country and destroying bags carrying his photos was “immoral” and purely a “political decision”.

The sources said the BJP would also take up the issue of alleged removal of foundation stones of various development schemes laid during the BJP government.

Leader of the BJP legislative group and former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal arrived at the rest house late in the evening and the meeting was held under his supervision. 

Panchkula, January 7
After failing to nab Doon MLA Ram Kumar Chaudhary for the past 50 days in Jyoti murder case, now the Himachal and Haryana police would keep an extra vigil at Dharamsala, where the first Assembly session of the newly elected government would start tomorrow.

As the newly elected MLAs would be administered oath during the session, the police is looking forward to arrest Chaudhary if he would turn up there.

According to highly placed sources, all the routes would be sealed by the teams of the Panchkula police and the Baddi police for the purpose.

A senior official of the Panchkula police said the police was ready with its strategy.

“We have already faxed the arrest warrants of Chaudhary to all the officials concerned of Himachal. He (Chaudhary) could not evade arrest, if he comes,” said the official while talking to Chandigarh Tribune here today.

Notably, fresh arrest warrants against Chaudhary and his accomplices, Gurmeet, Dharampal and Paramjeet, were renewed by the court recently.

On December 21, the Panchkula police had reached Chaudhary’s residence with arrest warrants of four accused, but it failed to nab any of them so far. 

Shimla, January 7
Keen to ensure safety and security of women, the Himachal police has decided to post five women cops in every police station of the state. It has also decided to introduce patrolling by women police in all urban centres so that girls are not hesitant to seek assistance.

Though there has been a marginal decrease in crime against women this year, the state Police Department has decided to take some additional steps to ensure safety of women. A special module exclusively for registering online complaints regarding crime against women too is being introduced.

The police is also roping in NGOs and social organisations to spread awareness about gender sensitive issues in society. Special helplines will also be launched.

A decision has been taken to post at least five women police officials in each of the 104 police stations of the state and three women police in police stations.

Women police officials from the 5th India Reserve Battalion (IRB) at Bassi in Bilaspur district will now take charge at all the police stations.

“The moment arrangements for proper accommodation for the women police officials are complete, they will be posted in all the police stations,” said Satwant Atwal, Deputy Inspector General of Police.

She added that to enhance visibility of women in uniform, they would be posted as guards at state police headquarters.

Another major step in the offing to bring about a change in the basic attitude towards women is gender sensitivity training for male police personnel which will make them more affable when dealing with complaints by women. To begin with, the department will post at least 40 sub-inspectors who have undergone gender sensitivity training in police stations.

The figures for crime against women during the past six years indicate a slight decline as during 2012, there were a total of 960 cases as compared to 1,112 cases in 2011. In 2012, there were 27 cases of murder, 165 cases of rape, 147 cases of kidnapping, 230 cases of molestation, 239 cases of cruelty and 61 cases of eve-teasing.

Bilaspur, January 7
Superintendent of Police Anupam Sharma on Saturday said a special patrol scheme was being introduced in the district to control and prevent crime and other illegal activities.Interacting for the first time after joining here, he said four woman constables each were being posted at the seven police stations the district for more safety to women and infusing in them a sense of security.

He said the telephone numbers of the woman constables would be given on all police vehicles to make them readily available to look into any complaint received by them.

He said the woman constables would also be put on duty at crowded places like bazaars and bus stands and outside schools and colleges. He said the police headquarters had started an SMS service on telephone number 9459100100 on which immediate action would be taken on a complaint anytime.

Sharma categorically said there would be zero tolerance against eve-teasing and other offences against women. He added that special efforts would be made to control road accidents in coordination with the departments concerned.

He said a number of CCTV cameras had been installed at various places on roads to check and detect road offences and other crimes and the cameras had been found to be useful in time of need. He said all police vehicles were under watch 24 hours a day as all had been brought on the GPS system and no police vehicle could be diverted from the duty assigned.

He urged people to be vigilant against fraud through lottery prize over telephone or e-mail and through ATM withdrawal. He urged them to help the police in the prevention and detection of crime and other illegal activities. Sharma joined here four days ago following his transfer from the post of the Commandant of the Fifth Battalion at Bassi, replacing Santosh Patial.

Shimla, January 7
Power generation in the state has hit the rock bottom as water sources have frozen due to extreme cold conditions, forcing the state electricity board to purchase 15 to 18 lakh units (LU) daily from open market at high rates.

The daily demand for power has shot up to 250 LU, while the availability has come down by about 20 LU over the past four days. The overall shortfall had increased to 105 LU per day. Though the board has arranged 92 LU through banking arrangements with Punjab (33LU), Haryana (38 LU), Delhi (13 LU) and UP (8 LU), it is still facing a shortage of 15 to 18 LU.

It is purchasing 10 to 12 lakh units daily from the power exchange at Rs 3.50 to Rs 4.25 per unit daily and also overdrawing four to six LU from the grid which will also increase to its power purchase cost.

While decrease in generation by 75 per cent is normal during winter due to slowdown in melting of snow, this season it has come down by 83 to 86 per cent due to extreme cold conditions with most of the state recording sub-zero temperatures. The board’s own generation has plunged to less than 17 per cent, about 18 LU, as against the normal summer generation of 105 LU.

Similarly, 300 MW Baspa Project is producing only 9 LU against the normal 78 LU and various small projects are contributing only eight LU against the normal generation of 62 LU.

The country’s largest 1,500 MW Nathpa Jhakri project is only producing 6.34 million units daily against the normal summer generation of over 38 million units (MU).

It has fallen behind the MoU target and generated only 6,212 MU. It is not likely to generate 6,212 MU so far against the target of 6,380 MU. As the gap is increasing, it is likely to miss the annual target of 7,000 MU to be achieved till March 31, 2013.

Last year, the project generated a record 7,610 MU and this year it will generate 850 to 900 MU less, which in monetary terms cost the Sutlej Jal Vidyut Nigam about Rs 250 crore.

According to the local MeT office, cold wave is likely to continue for the next few days and as such the generation is not likely to increase.

The state is freezing with Shimla recording (-0.6°C), Sundernagar (-0.9°C), Bhuntar (-0.8 °C), Solan (-3.6°C), Manali (-0.4°C), Una (0.20°C) and Palampur (0°C).

The situation in tribal areas is even worse with Keylong, the headquarters of Lahaul and Spiti, recording the lowest temperature of -10.9°C and Kalpa in Kinnaur -6.2°C. 

Dharamsala, January 7
The Department of Urban Development will adopt the private public partnership mode to develop satellite townships in the state. This was stated by Minister for Urban Development Sudhir Sharma while talking to The Tribune here today.

Till date the private investment in the development of townships in the state has been very little or limited to the unorganised sector. All the major colonies in the state have been developed by HIMUDA. The private sector has not been able to enter the housing sector in Himachal in a major way due to Section 118 of the Land Tenancy Act under which agriculture land can be diverted for other purposes only with the permission of the state government.

The previous BJP government under attack for allowing the sale of agriculture land in the state to outsiders repealed the Apartments Act under which the builders registered with HIMUDA brought up multi-storey buildings primarily in Solan and Shimla districts and sold apartments to people. The present government would once again have to bring in the Apartments Act to allow private investment in housing sector in the state.

Sudhir Sharma said, “The previous government had invited applications from thousands of people in the name of developing satellite townships across the state. However, they failed to find land for the townships. We will try to identify barren pieces of land around the towns for developing the townships promised by the previous government so that people who have deposited money with HIMUDA do not feel cheated. The help of private sector can also be sought for developing the satellite townships to expedite the process and provide affordable houses in planned colonies to residents of the state.

He said during his recent visit to Delhi, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh met the Union Minister for Urban Development. “He has explored the possibility of installing escalators in Shimla and Dharamsala cities of the state. At Shimla we are contemplating installing escalators near the lift where the suitable place for the project was still being identified in Dharamsala. There are certain Central government schemes under which escalators can be installed and handed over to local bodies for further maintenance,” he said.

Sudhir Sharma also said, “Most of the municipal councils have little budget of their own. Most of the resources of the municipal councils go into the payment of salaries of employees. We will try to develop projects of municipal councils that are self- sustaining.” “The previous government also did not take benefit of schemes of the Union Government for Urban Development.

An amount of Rs 10 crore was sanctioned by the Union Government for developing 300 free houses for urban poor in Dharamsala. However, the previous state government failed to utilise the amount. Now we shall provide land for the scheme for the utilisation of funds,” Sudhir said.

Mandi, January 7
The Himachal Lokhit Party (HLP) yesterday urged the state government to expedite setting up of special investigation courts to probe corruption cases, release three more subsidised LPG cylinders to consumers and demanded unemployment allowance to educated youth.

The HLP made this declaration after the party’s core group meeting at Ghumarwin under the chairmanship of party president Maheshwar Singh, the only HLP candidate who won from Kullu Sadar in the recently concluded Assembly election.

HLP spokesperson Mohinder Sofat said, “We expect the Congress government to start acting on its manifesto and probe benami land deals and corruption charges against the former state government”. Other HLP leaders who attended the meeting included Dulo Ram, Naveen Dhiman, KD Dharmani, Babu Ram Mandyal, Dharam Chand Guleria, Vivek Sharma and Jatinder Pal.

Shimla, January 7
The decision of the Punjab Technical University (PTU) to allow students to take direct admission to the second semester in engineering (BTech) and management (MBA) courses will help local students who could not take admission due to the delay in declaration of results or were placed under compartment.

Various institutions in a neighbouring state have started a drive to enrol students from Himachal Pradesh to take advantage of the decision. Aryan Group of Colleges chairman Anshu Kataria said the PTU was the first state university to introduce the system.

He said institutions had been allowed to fill only vacant seats and the university had sought details of vacancies. He added that only those eligible for admission would be considered. The decision was taken on the basis of the report of a committee set up for the purpose, which observed that there was no linkage between courses in the first semester with those in the following semesters.

Kangra, January 7
Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh who arrived here this evening on way to Dharamsala to attend the four-day winter session of the Assembly tomorrow was accorded a rousing reception at different places in the town.

The Chief Minister was received by Congress workers supporting Surinder Kaku and later near the General Bus Stand supporters of Transport Minister GS Bali, mostly youth led by Raghuvir Singh Bali, vice-president, State Youth Congress, and Kangra District Congress Committee chief Suman Verma, received the Chief Minister.

In view of the huge gathering, the Chief Minister decided to return half way and proceeded to Dharamsala. Again he was received by supporters of newly elected Independent MLA Pawan Kajal at Birta.

The Chief Minister was accompanied by his Cabinet colleagues and other MLAs and officers. Earlier, he was accorded a reception by Sanjay Rattan at Jwalamukhi.

He, however, did not reply when asked by mediapersons here whether the Central University would be set up at Dharamsala or Dehra.

Solan, January 7
Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh was given a rousing welcome by the Block Congress Committee (BCC) at various places in the Arki constituency, including Galog, Baghal and Bharighat, where he made a brief halt while proceeding towards Dharamsala from Shimla to attend the Vidhan Sabha session which begins tomorrow.

He was welcomed with traditional folk music and hundreds of party workers waited to offer floral garlands to the six-time Chief Minister.

Later, addressing a gathering, he said though their official nominee had lost by a narrow margin, all developmental works would be carried out with his recommendation. He urged party workers to gear up for the parliamentary polls and work in unison to strengthen the party and said those weakening the party by indulging in anti-party activities would not be tolerated. He said Arki had been a traditional Congress seat which the BJP had won by a narrow margin.

Former BCC president and Congress nominee for the Vidhan Sabha polls, who lost to the BJP by a narrow margin, speaking on the occasion, requested the Chief Minister to provide funds for undertaking new and pending developmental works and sought funds specially for the expansion of the school building of Government Senior Secondary School at Bakhalag.

Among those present on the occasion were BCC working president Hari Ram Kaundal, chair person Arki BDC Shakuntla Devi and others.

Mandi, January 7
The Himachal Pradesh Non-Government College Lecturers’ Association has pinned its hopes on Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, who has assured it that the government will take steps to resolve the problems regarding the immediate release of grants-in-aid and staff shortage in the five colleges in the state.

According to association president CP Kaushal, the Chief Minister has assured the delegation that he will look into the problems and take steps to sort those.

The delegation, representing St Bede’s College, Shimla; MLSM College, Sundernagar; SVSD College, Bhatoli; DAV College, Kangra; and DAV College, Kotkhai, apprised the Chief Minister of the untimely and inadequate release of grant-in-aid, which affected the functioning of the colleges.

Kaushal said the association also urged the Chief Minister to initiate the process of filling vacant and approved posts in the colleges as it was affecting students adversely.

(Ukhali) Hamirpur, January 7
Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh was accorded a rousing reception in Hamirpur district on reaching here for the first time after becoming the Chief Minister. People clad in colourful dresses carrying garlands had lined up on both sides of the Shimla-Hamirpur road. Groups of Congress activists dancing on drum beats were seen at many places.

Officials of the Hamirpur district administration welcomed the Chief Minister at Ukhali where Deputy Commissioner Ashish Kumar Singhmar, SP Madhusudan and other officials received Virbhadra Singh on the border of Hamirpur district.

People had also gathered at Ukhali to greet the Chief Minister and raised slogans to welcome him. The Chief Minister was welcomed at Maid, Bhota, Didwien Tikkar, Kohli and a few other places on way to Hamirpur.

Congress activists and leaders of a few organisations had gathered at the Circuit House, Hamirpur, to receive him. Several Congress leaders used the opportunity to display strength by mobilising supporters in groups at many places.

Especially, leaders desirous of getting posts in the government vied with each other to put a show of strength to impress the Chief Minister at many places.

Though all prominent Congress leaders had gathered to welcome the Chief Minister, district Congress president Sunil Kumar “Bittoo” was conspicuous by his absence today. He was not available for his comments. 

Mandi, January 7
The state government is in a fix over starting a government medical college in Mandi due to the coming up of the 500-bedded ESIC medical college at Ner Chowk, near here, even as Left parties and residents have raised the pitch for the long-pending college soon after the Virbhadra Singh government took charge.

Health and Revenue Minister Kaul Singh Thakur evasively said the government was yet to decide whether or not having both the ESIC medical college at Ner Chowk and a medical college at the Zonal Hospital here were a viable proposition as those would be located a few kilometres from each other.

“We are taking up the matter, but right now, our priority is to attach the Zonal Hospital in Mandi to the ESIC medical college so that the first batch of the ESIC college can be started this year itself,” he added.

The clamour for setting up a medical college had been growing for the last few days as the CPM and the CPI had reminded the Congress government of fulfilling its promise to the people of Mandi at the fag-end of the 2007 elections.

The previous Congress government had issued a notification to start the medical college in Mandi, but the BJP regime rejected and withdrew it on the grounds that that the notification was issued on the eve of the elections to woo voters when model code of conduct was in force.

Mandi residents, including those from the Congress, the CPI and the CPM, made a sangharsh samiti and launched an agitation against the BJP government soon after the notification was withdrawn.

Addressing an election rally in Mandi in 2007, PK Dhumal had made the promise of a medical college in Mandi. But later, the BJP government withdrew the notification on the grounds that it had given land free for the ESIC medical college at Ner Chowk.

CPM general secretary Bhupender Singh said the Congress government must stand by its commitment to the people of Mandi. He said the state government must start its own college here and provide specialist doctors at all health centres, failing which he threatened to launch an agitation.

The Health Minister said the priorities of the state government were to restore health services and start the ESIC medical college at Ner Chowk, which was a gift to the people of Mandi district by the Manmohan Singh-led government.

Bilaspur, January 7
Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh said here today that the government would soon start the construction of the Berry Dadollan bridge.

He said steps would be taken to ensure the implementation of various projects for the benefit of Bhakra Dam oustees which were initiated during his earlier tenure. He was addressing a samman samaroh at Chandpur, near here.

The Chief Minister said the allotment of rehabilitation plots to remaining oustees at earlier marked place would be restarted and all the projects and schemes, which had been “abandoned or left halfway” by the BJP government, would be restarted.

Those who were present on the occasion included Chief Parliamentary Secretary Rajesh Dharmani, Bilaspur Sadar MLA Bambar Thakur, former MLAs Tilak Raj Sharma and Dr Babu Ram Gauttam, district Congress president Santosh Dhiman, district Mahila Congress president Anjana Dhiman and DC Ritesh Chauhan.

Shimla, January 7
The state office of the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) organised a series of programmes to create awareness among people as part of the Road Safety Week which concluded here today.

Consultants engaged by the NHAI visited schools and educated children about various road signs. They also distributed pamphlets throwing light on various aspects of road safety.

It had also organised interactive programmes to make people aware about traffic rules and the precaution they needed to take by placing hoardings at different places along NH-21 from Kiratpur to Ner Chowk and in Shimla town. The volunteers stopped motorists violating traffic rules and persuaded them to use seat belts and helmets and avoid more than one rider on the pillion.

Project Director, NHAI, Satish Kaul said the main focus was on the pitfalls of driving under the influence of liquor as the theme of the week was “Stay Alive, Don’t Drink and Drive” and cautioned people against the drunken driving.

Solan, January 7
With a view to educating the masses about the provisions of free legal aid to various sections of the society, including women, Scheduled Castes and Schedules Tribes, a free legal aid camp was organised today at the Patta Mehlog panchayat.

It was organised in collaboration with the State Legal Service Authority where Civil Judge (Senior Division), Kasauli, Gaurav Mahajan presided over the camp. Representatives of mahila mandals, panchayats and local people attended the camp.

The officials apprised the gathering that any person whose annual income was less than Rs 50,000 was eligible for receiving free assistance and an aggrieved person could give a simple application for availing this facility.

Advocates Ram Lal Kaushal and Chander Parkash Attri also highlighted various aspects of Acts like the Panchayati Raj Act, Consumer Protection Act and Domestic Violence Prevention Act, 1988.

Shimla, January 7
After two major reshuffling of the top bureaucracy, the government today ordered a major shakeup in top echelons of the Police Department, which included eight district Superintendents of Police (SPs), to displace loyalists of the previous regime from key positions.

SR Mardi, Additional Director-General (ADG), Prisons, has been posted as ADG (CID) with additional charge of ADG (Prisons), while KC Sadyal, ADG (Armed Police and Training) goes as ADG (Human Rights Commission). PL Thakur, IG (Human Rights Commission), takes over as IG (Armed Police and Training). RM Sharma, DIG, has been posted as DIG (Police Training Centre), Daroh.

RS Negi, SP, Narcotic Control Bureau (NCB), takes over as SP, Mandi, vide Abhishek Dullar, who will be the new SP, Shimla. Sumedha Dwivedi, SP (Police Headquarters) takes over as SP, Sirmour, vide Rameshwar Singh Thakur, who is shifted as Commandant, 1st Himachal Pradesh Armed Police (HPAH), Junga, vide Hardesh Bisht, who goes as Commandant, Home Guards, Kinnaur.

Bimal Gupta, SP, who was awaiting posting, goes as SP, Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), Dharamsala. Ranjana Chauhan, SP (ACB), Shimla, takes over as Commandant, Home Guards, Chamba. Rajesh Verma, SP (Crime), Shimla, is posted as SP, Police Training Centre, Daroh, and Surinder Verma, Additional SP, Shimla, will hold the additional charge of SP (Crime) Padam Chand, Additional SP (ACB), Chamba, takes over as Additional SP, Solan, Ramesh Pathania, Additional SP, Shimla, goes as Additional SP, 16th Reserve Battalion, Kolar.

Vinod Kumar, Additional SP, Solan, has been posted as Additional SP, 4th Reserve Battalion, Jungleberi, Additional SP, 3rd Reserve Battalion, Pandoh, Yash Pal Thakur is shifted as Additional SP (CID), Shimla.

Solan, January 7
With the state’s prime industrial area of Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh (BBN), which comprises 70 per cent of the state’s industries, having been saturated with the pollution load, the new government faces a challenging task in undertaking pollution mitigation measures.

Several studies, including one conducted by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), had detected the presence of highly toxic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which adversely affects the health. Though this report was released in August 2010, little was done to check the spread of these hazardous chemicals in the BBN area.

According to this report, the chemicals emitted in the air included cancer emitting carcinogens which have enhanced the risk of locals acquiring cancer. Besides this, these VOCs also target the eyes, skin and respiratory system, central nervous system, liver, kidneys, reproductive system and even the cardiovascular system, blood, heart and the peripheral nervous system.

The State Pollution Control Board had requested the CPCB to conduct air sampling in the BBN area after a local environment action group had detected the presence of 11 noxious chemicals in a study conducted by them.

The board had, however, in a delayed move assigned IIT Kanpur to conduct a study on the ambient air quality of BBN last year where monitoring of trace metals and toxic compounds was being done now.

This study was also crucial as the CPCB had revised national air quality standards in November 2009 and the state board lacked the requisite technical infrastructure to assess the air quality.

The CPCB had also placed the BBN area in a critically polluted zone after its comprehensive environment pollution index was adversely rated.

Despite such adverse rating apart from professing the use of green technologies little was done to identity units and initiate checking of units emitting any of the six green house gases or even keeping a watch on the quantity of carbon dioxide emitted. The latest study being undertaken by IIT Kanpur is, therefore, being keenly awaited.

Member Secretary, State Pollution Control Board, Sanjay Sood said the findings of the report were being compiled and it would be received in the next fortnight. He added that it would help the board devise future strategies for containing pollution, especially in the Baddi area which housed maximum industries.