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Apple season peaks, prices begin to fall
Transportation of apples hit in Chamba
BJP stir in support of growers on Sept 1
Poll debacle: BJP likely to expel 25 rebels
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bio-medical waste Disposal
Manimahesh pilgrimage begins, 20,000 take holy dip
Agricultural varsity plans colleges in remote areas
3 months on, police yet to solve gold loan scam
No new buses for Mandi: BJP
Install mobile phone towers in interiors, MP to Centre
Cable unit found misusing BIS mark
Govt urged to regularise
minor encroachments
Rs 24 crore for sports in state
Woman’s body found
One held with 8.6 kg wild garlic
Cong defers rally due to rain forecast
CBI probe sought into HPCA functioning
Morcha flays govt for adopting ‘anti-farmer’ policies
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Apple season peaks, prices begin to fall
Shimla, August 28 The number of apple trucks moving out daily has doubled from 600 over the past one week and over 5.5 lakh standard boxes of apple are being sent to various markets every day. Till yesterday, 1.45 crore boxes had been marketed. The number is more than double compared to the last year, when the state had a lean crop of 2.06 crore boxes, only 66 lakh boxes had been exported in the same period. The figure so far is comparable with the record crop of 4.46 crore boxes in 2010 when 1.55 crore boxes had been exported. In all, 31,175 trucks of apple have been sent out and a comparison of figures makes it evident that the total production will range between 3.50 crore and 3.80 crore boxes, in line with the estimates of the Horticulture Department. “While the plucking of fruit is in full swing in the mid-hill areas, a large number of growers in the higher elevations have advanced harvesting due to premature defoliation of plants being caused due to spread of fungi and mites. This had also led to a glut in the market”, points out Ranjeet Mehta, a leading grower from Kotgarh. This could affect the overall volumes as fruit is being plucked prematurely before it is attaining the full size. The procurement under the market intervention scheme (MIS) has been on the lower side and so far only 4,500 tonnes of fruit had been procured. The main reason for it is that, barring isolated pockets, the apple belt had been spared the onslaught of hailstorms and the fruit is free from blemishes and the growers had no problem in selling the produce in the market. However, as the fruit in the lower elevations, which had a record crop this year, mostly lacked in size and colour, a lot of poor quality fruit found its way into the market, which affected the prices of even good fruit. The prices in the Delhi’s Azadpur market, which started looking up after Eid festival, have again started declining due to heavy arrivals of fruit over the past one week. The rates of superior grade of royal delicious variety are hovering around Rs 1,200 per box, down by about Rs 200 per box, and lower grades of the fruit have also lost Rs 100 to Rs 150 per box. Impact on business
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Transportation of apples hit in Chamba
Chamba, August 28 Canter owners, who are carrying their canter loaded with goods from Chamba to Bharmour want to return loaded with apples, but the truck union of Bharmour is allegedly not allowing them to do so. The canter owners have met Chamba Deputy Commissioner Kadam Sandeep Vasant and urged him to help allowing them to carry apples from the Bharmour area on their return trip.
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BJP stir in support of growers on Sept 1
Shimla, August 28 Addressing a press conference here today, Bragta said the reduction of import duty on foreign apple from 50 to zero per cent has resulted in the price of the best quality apple crash to Rs 900 per box. “The Rs 3,500-crore apple economy in Shimla, Solan, Kullu, Mandi, Chamba and Sirmaur districts is almost on the verge of collapse as the markets are flooded with foreign apples,” he lamented. He said a peaceful agitation in support of the demands of apple growers would be launched from Rampur on September 1 in which people from all political outfits were welcome, as the issue concerned all growers. Similar agitations would be held at the sub-divisional headquarter of Rohru on September 4 and Chopal on September 6. The dates for agitation in other districts of Kullu, Kinnaur, Chamba and Mandi would be announced later, he added. The former minister said none of the five Congress legislators from Shimla district had raised the issue either in the Assembly or with the Congress-led UPA regime. “The Chief Minister is answerable to the growers and he cannot wash his hands off the issue by merely writing a letter to the Prime Minister,” he said. Bragta, who is Vice-President of the state BJP, said contrary to promise made in the Congress elections manifesto that import on apple would be increased from 50 to 150 per cent, the duty had been totally withdrawn. “All BJP leaders, including MLA’s are willing to accompany and join hands with the state government to raise the issue concerning apple growers as it concerns people and not a particular party,” he said. He said claims that under the WTO agreement duty could not be enhanced were wrong as any fruit could be declared a special product. He said the roads were in a bad shape, resulting in traffic jams. There was a shortage of insecticides and fungicides, freight charges had been enhanced and middlemen were fleecing growers as there was no government protection. He said nothing was being done to improve the infrastructure, including the construction of an alternate apple route and aerial ropeway for transportation and import of high-yielding commercial variety, which was a must to compete with foreign apple.
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Poll debacle: BJP likely to expel 25 rebels
Shimla, August 28 State BJP President Satpal Singh Satti is likely to order the expulsion of over 25 block-level party leaders shortly. The State BJP Disciplinary Committee, headed by Ganesh Dutt, has recommended action against these leaders. “Since most of these leaders worked against the party nominee or remained inactive to ensure the BJP defeat, action will be taken against them,” said a senior leader. He added that action would be taken after holding consultation with senior leaders, including former Chief Minister PK Dhumal, Rajya Sabha MP Shanta Kumar and other leaders. A meeting in this regard is likely to be held shortly. The Disciplinary Committee had some time back held personal hearing of all leaders against whom complaints had been received either from the party candidates or other party leaders. The committee had decided not to act against those against whom complaints were not of very serious nature. “It is almost certain that over 25 leaders will face serious action, while some others could be just issued a warning,” said leaders. Had it not been for the presence of rebel candidates in the 68 Assembly segments, the BJP could have fared much better. In fact, four BJP rebels, including Pawan Kajal (Kangra), Rajinder Rana (Sujanpur), Balbir Verma (Chopal) and Manohar Dhiman (Indora) made their way to the Assembly as independents. Had these four won as BJP candidates, the saffron party could have made ‘Mission Repeat’ a success. There are five independent MLA’s in the Assembly, including four BJP rebels and one Congress rebel Karnesh Jung from Paonta Sahib in Sirmour district. The BJP had expelled 16 party leaders, including some MLA’s from the party for contesting the elections in December last year or damaging the party candidate’s prospects and ensuring defeat. The Himachal Lokhit Party (HLP), a breakaway group from the BJP, too, played spoilsport as it made a dent into the party vote bank at many places. The prominent BJP leaders who had contested the elections include former MP Maheshwar Singh, who is now the lone HLP legislator in the Assembly. Others former BJP MLAs who contested on the HLP ticket unsuccessfully include Khushi Ram Balnatah from Kasumpti, Naveen Dhiman from Pragpur-Jaswan and Chet Ram from Kinnaur. Past action
The BJP had expelled 16 party leaders, including some MLA’s from the party for contesting the elections in December last year or damaging the party candidates’ prospects and ensuring defeat. The Himachal Lokhit Party (HLP), a breakaway group from the BJP, too, played spoilsport as it made a dent into the party vote bank at many places. |
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Green Tribunal seeks reply from officials in 3 weeks
Kuldeep Chauhan/TNS
Mandi/Kullu, August 28 The Bench issued the directive during the hearing on a petition alleging that the bio-medical waste was being dumped and burnt along the National Highway-21 near Bindrabani dumping site of the Mandi Municipal Council, polluting the Beas in Kullu. The next date of hearing is fixed for September 17. The petition filed by Abhishek Rai, president, Himalayan Environment Protection Society, Kullu, claimed the solid waste generated during the weeklong Maha Shivratri fair in Mandi was also dumped along the highway that ended up into the Beas river there. The collection and disposal of bio-medical waste generated in government and private hospitals in Kullu, Manali, Mandi, Sundarnagar and Bilaspur has been outsourced to a private company. The government hospitals in Mandi and Kullu and four private hospitals empanelled with the government have availed the private service. But smaller private clinics in the Mandi-Kullu-Bilaspur are disposing of the bio-medical waste into the bins of the municipalities, said sources. Even the collection and disposal of the solid and non-biodegradable waste was not allegedly done in a proper manner during the rainy season. The approach road to the Bindrabani dumping site in Mandi is blocked by mud and MC tempos and trucks dumped the waste into the nallah near the highway that end into the Beas, alleged locals. Earlier, the Green Tribunal had directed the Kullu district administration to impose a fine of Rs 1 lakh on defaulters dumping the waste or opening the sewage into the Beas river. However, not a single defaulter has been caught and fined so far. The Mandi Municipal Council has laid the mesh wire at six different hot spots in the towns, but these have been broken to make way to dump the waste or debris into the Suketi and Beas rivers. There is no mesh wire at Bindrabani site. The solid waste generated in Mandi, Kullu, Manali, Bhuntar towns was collected and disposed of by the Mandi and Kullu, Bhuntar municipalities at their respective waste treatment plants. “We collect the solid waste daily and dispose of at the Bindrabani dumping site and has improved the approach road . We have segregated two quintals of plastic and will sell it to the Public Works Department”, said KR Thakur, Executive Officer, Mandi MC.
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Manimahesh pilgrimage begins, 20,000 take holy dip
Chamba, August 28 According to reports, over 20,000 pilgrims have so far visited the sacred Manimahesh shrine and took a holy dip. The holy "chhari" (mace) of Manimahesh will commence on September 6 from Chamba and reach Manimahesh on September 12. An official spokesperson said here today that all the necessary arrangements had been made for the pilgrimage and a huge security force had been deployed for the smooth conduct of the pilgrimage. As many as 415 jawans, including 209 police personnel of the state police and 206 jawans of the Himachal Home Guards, had been deployed in the security convoy to assist pilgrims, the spokesperson said.
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Janmashtami fair held with gaiety
Nurpur, August 28 However, the celebrations were disrupted for some time due to heavy rains. Thousands of devotees from far off places thronged the temple throughout the day. On the occasion, free eatable stalls were set up by former president and MC councillor RK Mahajan. — OC
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Agricultural varsity plans colleges in remote areas
Dharamsala, August 28 University Vice-Chancellor Dr KK Katoch gave this information in an exclusive interview with The Tribune. He said the university received applications from about 5,000 students every year for 80 seats in BSc (agriculture), which illustrated a huge gap in demand and supply with regard to the course. The demand for BSc in agriculture had increased, as a lot of job opportunities are on anvil for agriculture graduates. The marketing board of the state required about 181 agriculture graduates. Besides, lots of graduates could easily be posted under the Agricultural Technology Management Agency project of the Central government, the Vice-Chancellor said. “I am proposing to set up colleges in remote areas of Sirmour and Kullu districts. In both the districts, the university has already posted many scientists. These scientists can also act as a faculty for the colleges to be opened there. We just need to build hostels there to start the colleges offering BSc in agriculture,” he said. When asked about the financial condition of the university, the Vice-Chancellor said it was precarious due to increasing fixed establishment expenditure. The university has sought Rs 36 crore as extra budget from the state government to meet its fixed expenditures. The budget of the university is likely to increase with the state government announcing an additional DA installment of 8 per cent for the employees. However, in future, the university plans to raise its own resources. The university scientists have been directed to submit projects on consultancy and turn-key basis to funding agencies. The university is getting grants for research under specific heads. If the money is not spent under the allotted heads, it has to be returned to the funding agency. However, in case the projects are allotted to the university on turnkey basis, it can save a lot of money for the institute. When asked about the possibility of agriculture growth in the state in view of constraints like small and fragmented land holdings, Dr Katoch said agriculture models should be developed under which the farmers of the state could work on a cooperative basis. He also said the convocation of the agriculture university would be held in October after a period of about eight years.
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3 months on, police yet to solve gold loan scam
Palampur, August 28 Though on the complaint of the manager of the bank the police had registered a case under various Sections of the IPC, till date no headway had been made in the case. The bank authorities confirmed that they had extended full cooperation and provided all the documents required by the police from time to time for a speedy investigation in the case. The bank has also provided a list of 14 persons who were the main beneficiaries of the gold loan scam. Later, the police asked for the original documents which were also handed over to the investigating officer, but nothing has been done till date. On the basis of fake valuation reports of jewelry, 14 persons managed to secure a loan of Rs 60 lakh after pledging their jewellery with the bank. Later, the bank came to know that the valuation report of gold and the jewellery submitted to it were bogus and the value of the gold pledged was much less than the figures submitted to the bank. |
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No new buses for Mandi: BJP
Mandi, August 28 Though Bali had claimed that he had started a bus service between Shimla and Sanjauli at Rs 5 per person, nothing had been done for the daily commuters travelling between Sundarnagar and Mandi, where over thousands of people travel daily, Sharma said. He said transport in Mandi district was in a bad shape despite three ministers representing the district. He demanded that the minister should start Mandi-Shimla deluxe services. |
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Install mobile phone towers in interiors, MP to Centre
Shimla, August 28 She informed the minister that the call drop rate in these areas was the highest and entire BSNL mobile network in Kinnaur district had collapsed during the recent flash floods. This had further complicated the task of state agencies engaged in relief and rescue operations in the affected area. She also pleaded for installing new mobile towers in higher reaches of the state to help extend the mobile network to the maximum possible area. She said Kinnaur, Lahaul-Spiti, Rohru, Kumarsain, Jubbal, Kotkahi, Banjar, Nirmand, Siraj, Pangi and Bharmour areas of the state were facing frequent problems with mobile phone network and the situation could be improved only by proving additional mobile towers in these areas on priority. She also requested for providing optical fibre connectivity to village telephone exchanges in the State. She urged the Minister to connect all post offices in tribal and difficult areas with high speed internet connection and open internet kiosk to facilitate people as these areas remained cut off from the rest of the world during the winter season. Further, norms for setting up post offices should be relaxed and new post office and sub-post office branches should opened so that people could get telecom services at their doorsteps. Pratibha Singh also sought additional funds to strengthen and maintain the telecom infrastructure in the state and undertake modernisation process to keep pace with latest technology in the sector.
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Cable unit found misusing BIS mark
Nahan, August 28 A team comprising assistant director of the BIS MS Jakhar and deputy director, Industries, raided the premises of the unit and detected that it was engaged in the production of PVC insulated cables as per the IS 694 in violation of the BIS Act, 1986. A huge quantity of such material measuring approximately 14,500 m having an estimated value of Rs 4 lakh was seized by the team. JS Saini, scientist and head of the BIS, Parwanoo, said action under the provision of the BIS Act, 1986, and its guidelines would be initiated against the unit and the act was punishable with an imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year or with a fine up to Rs 50,000 or both. According to the BIS Act, use of the BIS standard mark (ISI Mark) or any coloured imitation without a valid licence is a punishable act. |
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Govt urged to regularise
minor encroachments
Shimla, August 28 Addressing mediapersons here today, he said the government must adopt a lenient view on the minor encroachments by the common man. "The previous BJP regime had taken affidavits from all those who had made encroachments with the promise of regularising it but did nothing and now the Congress must be sympathetic towards such people," he said. Singh said the government must make amendments and then approach the High Court as directions had been given by it to get all such encroachments evicted. "The common people who had given these affidavits in good faith are facing harassment, so the government must find a way out," he added. He refuted the charges that his party, was pro-Congress and always adopted a soft stand. "It is not true at all though the social relations that I have shared with Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh for the past several decades will continue," he clarified. He announced that the HLP would field candidates from all the four Lok Sabha seats. "Whether I will contest or not is a decision that will be taken by his party when the time comes," he said evading queries regarding his contesting Lok Sabha election from Mandi. He also exhorted the Himachal government to urge the Centre to provide a relief of Rs five lakh to the families of those killed in Kinnaur in the natural calamity as had been done in Uttarakhand. |
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Rs 24 crore for sports in state
Bilaspur, August 28 This was stated by Ram Lal Thakur, Chairman, state Planning Development and 20-Point Implementation Committee, while presiding over a three-day block-level school tournament for boys below 19 at Government Senior Secondary School, Kapahada, near Ghumarwin. He urged teachers to ensure that students did not fall prey to drugs and other such intoxicants. He said parents should keep their children away from such habits. He said the Chief Minister had opened 2,300 government primary schools in his earlier tenure, bringing education to every household. Ram Lal said the government was spending Rs 150 crore on skill development allowance for unemployed youth of the state this year. He said Rs 10 crore was being spent for providing facilities to sportspersons at the Bilaspur Luhnu Complex and soon an astroturf for hockey and an athletics track would be developed there.
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Woman’s body found
Bilaspur, August 28 Some boatmen saw the body floating in the Gobind Sagar near Talwaad village and informed the police. She had jumped into the water from a nearby Kandraur bridge a few days ago. The police has already arrested her husband on a complaint from her parents. |
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One held with 8.6 kg wild garlic
Chamba, August 28 Superintendent of Police Jagat Ram said a police party which was on a patrol at the Purthi zero point in the Pangi valley intercepted a person, identified as Dhiyan Singh. On checking his luggage, the police recovered 8.6 kg wild garlic from his possession. A case under the relevant sections of the Indian Forest Act and the Indian Penal Code had been registered at the Pangi police station. |
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Cong defers rally due to rain forecast
Shimla, August 28 Naresh Chauhan, spokesperson of the party, said the harvesting of apple season was at peak and there was heavy movement of trucks in the region. The rally could create traffic and other problems for the growers. Further, the Met office has forecast bad weather over the next few days.
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CBI probe sought into HPCA functioning
Bilaspur, August 28 It has urged the government to expose and punish those who had “polluted the image and prestige” of cricket and had put the state to shame by “misusing facilities and land for turning cricket into a business for personal benefits”. Talking to mediapersons at the Circuit House in presence of HLP district president Daulat Ram Sharma and Parliamentary Constituency spokesperson Kesh Pathania here today, yuva sena state in charge Navin Dhiman said the party was formed with the aim of fighting corruption.
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Morcha flays govt for adopting ‘anti-farmer’ policies
Bilaspur, August 28 Talking to mediapersons here today with several other kisan leaders like Dinesh Kumar, Hans Raj Sharma, Kamal Kumar and Krishan Lal Sharma, morcha state spokesperson Roshan Thakur condemned the decision of the state government to do away with subsidy on popular fertiliser ‘CAN’. He said the farmers of the state were quite worried due to the growing monkey, wild animals and stray cattle menace, armies of which were destroying their crops every day. Now natural calamities such as heavy snow and unprecedented rainfall had caused tremendous losses in several areas and these must be assessed properly so that farmers should be given full compensation, he said. He said the state Kisan Morcha would organise state-level Kisan Adhikaar Yatra from Solan in the last week of September where 5,000 farmers would converge from the state and go to Shimla to submit a memorandum through the Governor to the President. He said the morcha would send its delegates from all the districts of the state to Gujarat where Chief Minister Narendra Modi was organising a huge national congregation of farmers under the name of “Global Agriculture Summit” for highlighting the demands of farmers of the country from September 9 to September 11.
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With the region getting respite from incessant rain due to a weakening monsoon, the harvesting of apple has reached its peak with as many as 1,196 trucks of apple leaving the state.
The Circuit Bench of the National Green Tribunal, Shimla, has directed the Municipal Council, Mandi, and Deputy Commissioners of Kullu and Mandi and the Himachal Pradesh Pollution Control Board to file a reply within three weeks on the collection, segregation and disposal of the non-degradable and bio-medical waste.
The famous Manimahesh pilgrimage began today at Bharmour in Chamba district on the occasion of Sri Krishna
Janmashtami. The pilgrimage will culminate on September 13. According to reports, over 20,000 pilgrims have so far visited the sacred Manimahesh shrine and took a holy dip.
