Shimla, December 13
Upbeat over the rout of the Congress in four states, the Opposition BJP is likely to adopt an aggressive posture to make the six-day winter session of the Vidhan Sabha commencing at Dharamsala from December 16 a lively affair.

The party, which has been harping on “political vendetta” outside the House, will pursue the theme song in the Vidhan Sabha and use the registration of cases by the Vigilance Department against the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA), unceremonious removal of the chairperson of the State Women Commission and alleged vindictive transfers of employees to whip the government.

The reversal of the decision to cancel the land leased to the HPCA by the High Court has provided a reprieve to the BJP which was pushed to the back foot on the issue. The government later withdrew the decision to cancel all leases of land at various places and initiated proceedings in individual cases.

The Congress government is completing one year in office later this month and during this period, a number of important issues such as inordinate delay in supply of PDS ration, non-shifting of tainted officers from sensitive posts, surfacing of fake letters recommending transfers and poor maintenance of roads have cropped up.

The supply of ration through the Public Distribution System has been erratic and there has been a delay in distribution of pulses and sugar. The High Court has not accepted the government stand on officers of doubtful integrity and set a deadline for their shifting from sensitive posts.

The precarious financial position of the government is likely to attract the attention during the session and the BJP will try to corner the Congress by blaming the indifferent attitude of the UPA regime for the state’s unending woes.

It will also focus on the failure of the Centre to provide adequate relief in the wake of devastations caused by heavy rain and untimely snow in Kinnaur and elsewhere in the state.

Breaking from the tradition, the last sitting of the session to be held on Saturday. Normally, Saturday is an off but this time an exception has been made to help complete the mandatory 35 sittings in a year, says Speaker BB Butail. So far 255 starred and 99 unstarred questions have been received and nine resolutions submitted by members out whom only four will be undertaken as there is only one private member day on December 19 during the session, he informs.

Kangra, December 13
Vidhan Sabha Speaker BBL Butail today said all is set for holding the fourth Assembly session scheduled to start from December 16 at the picturesque Tapovan village near Dharamsala.

The Speaker was addressing a press conference in the Vidhan Sabha complex. He reviewed the arrangements before addressing the media. He said the administration would ensure proper arrangements for senior officials and elected representatives.

He said, "We will do our best that things should go smoothly and I want to make it clear that members of the House should make the optimum use of the time."

Detailing about the business of the House for six days, the Speaker said the session would start from 2 pm from Monday and will conclude on Saturday.

Deputy Commissioner C Palrasu, Kangra district police chief Balbir Thakur and senior officers of the Vidhan Sabha were also present during the press conference. 

Shimla, December 13
The government is planning to set up flower markets to facilitate the marketing of wide varieties of flowers being grown on a commercial basis in Himachal. It will also set up cold stores to enhance the shelf life of flowers.

The Department of Horticulture is planning to set up markets near Parwanoo and Kangra. This will help address the problems being faced by growers in marketing their produce.

Though the growers in the state have shown interest in floriculture, the absence of marketing facilities has hampered the growth of the floriculture sector. Flowers such as carnation, gladiolus, chrysanthemum, lilium, roses, gerbera, marigold and daffodils are being planted.

“We will explore the possibility of setting up flower markets with the latest facilities such as chilling chambers so that the shelf life of flowers can be increased,” said Vineet Chaudhary, Additional Chief Secretary, Horticulture and Irrigation and Public Health.

He said the flowers from various parts of Chamba and Kangra could be collected at the market near Kangra and the ones grown in the Shimla-Solan-Sirmour and Bilaspur belt near Solan. Those dealing in flowers could come and purchase directly from the growers.

“Arrangements can also be made for suitable transportation of these flowers so that they reach the market in fresh condition,” said Chaudhary.

A total of 763 hectares is under floriculture in the state and the total value of flowers produced till now this year being Rs 88.98 crore. Marigold, which is in great demand, is being cultivated in open and this year almost 30,280 metric tonnes has already been grown.

In 2012-13, the total area under floriculture was 913 hectares and various varieties of flowers worth Rs 99.98 crore were grown. Palampur in Kangra, Bharmour in Chamba, Rajgarh in Sirmour, Bilaspur, Mashobra in Shimla have emerged the major flower growing areas of the state.

Even though there is immense potential for floriculture in Himachal, both in polyhouses as well as in the open fields, but the absence of proper marketing has not only forced some growers to give up the cultivation but also put on hold expansion plans.

The Horticulture Department provides Rs 2.50 lakh per 1000 sq mt with the maximum limit being 4000 sq mts and Rs 10 lakh. Earlier, the department was providing merely Rs 12,000 per crop.

Flower Power In 2012-13, the total area under floriculture was 913 hectares and various varieties of flowers worth Rs 99.98 crore were grown Palampur, Bharmour, Rajgarh, Bilaspur and Mashobra have emerged as major flower growing areas in the state The Horticulture Department provides Rs 2.50 lakh per 1000 sq mt with the maximum limit being 4000 sq mts and Rs 10 lakh

Solan, December 13
The Special Investigating Team (SIT) of the Solan police today booked a naib tehsildar, patwari and a woman for cheating and criminal conspiracy of purchasing a land in Dharampur area of Solan district.

The two revenue officials, who served in Una district in 2012, issued a fake agriculturist certificate to Seema Luthra which formed the basis of buying 6.13 bighas of land in Dharampur.

Buildings worth crore of rupees have been erected on this land till date.

It was on the basis of a sale dead procured from Kasauli tehsildar that the SIT team managed to unearth that the sale deed was executed on the basis of a fake agriculturist certificate issued by the naib tehsildaar in 2012.

Superintendent of Police Ramesh Chajjjta said a piece of land was given to Seema Luthra, but mutation of the land was later executed in the name of its original owner in 1999. It was on the basis of this piece of land in Amb area of Una district that the revenue officials had issued her an agriculturist certificate, though she was not a Himachali.

He said investigations undertaken by the SIT had revealed the truth and since she was a non-Himachali, she was supposed to take due permission under Section 118 of the HP Land Reforms and Tenancy Act to buy the land in Himachal.

The case has brought to the fore how illegal land deals have been executed by non-Himachalis and revenue officials have been found conniving in such cases to facilitate such illegal deals.

Una, December 13
Una district and Sessions Judge Rattan Singh Thakur today sentenced a 49-year-old Behdala resident under the Protection Of Children from Sexual Offences Act for raping a mentally challenged minor girl.

Accused Hoshiar Singh was sentenced to undergo 10-year rigorous imprisonment, besides paying a fine of Rs 20,000. The fine would be paid as compensation to the victim. According to District Attorney NC Ghai, on April 14, 2013, the accused had gone to another village in Una district to visit his relatives.

He had raped a 14-year-old girl in the neighbourhood. The victim’s family members, who were away from home, began searching for the girl in the evening when they returned.

Around 3 pm, the accused was caught on the spot nearby a cattle straw store.

The matter was reported to the police, who nabbed the accused from Behdala. The medical examination of the victim and the accused had confirmed the crime, said Ghai, adding that 16 witnesses had deposed in the case.

Kangra, December 13
The state government has booked hotels in and around Dharamsala to accommodate VIPs and VVIPs, including Cabinet ministers and MLAs, reportedly without inviting quotations.

The procedure of holding the winter session annually at Tapovan, near Dharamsala, was started from 2005 and the state government under austerity measures had stated that it would curb expenditure on the movement of the entire administration from Shimla to Dharamsala. However, sources here said the government was not making optimum use of its available accommodations in the form of rest houses and other such accommodations.

The sources said there were department rest houses, which were usually kept at the disposal of the district administration for accommodating people concerned with the Vidhan Sabha during the session.

The sources added that for the last two years, Tanda medical college rest house, which has 23 air-conditioned and luxurious rooms, despite being at the disposal of the district authorities, remained without any occupancy during the session.

C Paulrasu, Deputy Commissioner, Kangra, said “We have not invited tenders but the expenses will not go beyond the prescribed limits. We have selected hotels which can meet the standard requirements of ministers and MLAs”.

However, hoteliers are peeved over the policy of the administration, but fearing repercussions of raising their voice against the government, no one dared to question the move.

On the condition of anonymity, hoteliers here maintained that if tenders would have been invited by the government, it could have got the best possible rates to reduce the burden on government exchequer and would have strengthened the austerity measures of the government.

Ministers and MLAs would be accommodated in two private hotels, whereas Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh would stay at Government Circuit House, Dharamsala, and Leader of the Opposition Prof PK Dhumal would stay at the Jai Rest House of the HPSEB.

Winter session of the Himachal Pradesh Assembly is scheduled to be held at the Vidhan Sabha Bhawan constructed at the cost of Rs 10 crore at Tapovan from December 16 to 21.

Bilaspur, December 13
Shilpa (15) has not only made her parents, but the state also proud with her extraordinary act of bravery by saving her younger brother from the jaws of death in October last year.

Shilpa, a resident of Kullu, and a student of class XI at Government Senior Secondary School, Bharaadi, has been given the “Prime Ministers’ National Bravery Award” by the Indian Child Welfare Council, New Delhi.

She would be presented this award by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on January 26 in New Delhi.

She will also ride the customary elephant with other few brave children.

Shilpa was accompanying her younger brother, student of class VIII, to the school in the morning when a leopard suddenly pounced upon her brother.

The girl showed an exemplary presence of mind and courage and immediately attacked the leopard with her school bag and shouted for help. The sudden attack by Shilpa and noise of several villagers distracted the attention of the leopard from its prey and it ran away into a nearby jungle, leaving the boy injured, but safe.

Chief Parliamentary Secretary (CPS) Rajesh Dharmani, while honouring Shilpa for her bravery act, said she virtually gave his brother a second life. Her courage was an example for those who differentiate between girls and boys.

Nurpur, December 13
The Telecommunication Department had installed Village Public Telephones (VPTs) in every village of gram panchayats 15 years ago in this region with the objective of providing economical telecommunication services to people in rural areas. This ambitious scheme had been launched under the social service concept of the then Union Government, which had attracted inhabitants in rural areas.

However, in the changed telecommunication scenario, this social service is still prevalent, but the villagers are reluctant to avail it in the wake of the mobile revolution. At a time when mobile services were not in use, this scheme was proving to be a boon to the rural people.

But now, these VPTs are proving just showpieces in the villages as publicly, they have negligible use after the launch of mobile service in a big way. In fact, there is no taker for the VPTs in the villages.

Frequent thefts of telephone cables, particularly in rural areas, have discouraged village subscribers from availing this cheaper means of telecommunication. The telecommunication department had installed one VPT in every village following recommendation of the local gram panchayat. The beneficiary villages were identified by the revenue department, which had issued a list of villages of every gram panchayat. These VPTs had been installed by the telecommunication department without monthly rent and offered 50 per cent discount in the call tariffs.

In this connection, Tilak Thakur, SDO, BSNL, subdivision Nurpur, said the gram panchayats could shift these VPTs by submitting fresh resolutions justifying new recommended locations.

Manali, December 13
A cultural troupe from Sri Lanka will perform tourists and locals during a five-day-long national-level Winter Carnival from January 2.

This was stated by Vinay Dhiman, SDM, Manali, who is also the vice-chairman of the Winter Carnival Committee, here today. He said a 20-member team of international folk dance artistes from Sri Lanka would perform there.

“The group will be performing for half-an-hour every day. Besides, cultural troupes from across the country will also be performing at the carnival,” Dhiman said.

"Couple dance, camp fire and local food festival will be organised in the town to apprise tourists of the Himachali culture and food. Two large screens will be installed on the Mall Road for those who would not be able to enjoy live performances at the Manu Rangshala," he said.

Dhiman said Piccadilly Cinema in the town would play movies which were shot in Kullu and Manali. 

Shimla, December 13
The BJP today said the Congress chargesheet, which has made the basis of Vigilance probe, is nothing more than a bundle of lies and an attempt to defame the BJP leadership.

In a statement issued here today, state BJP spokesperson Ganesh Dutt said the Virbhadra regime was indulging in political vendetta by registering false cases against BJP leaders and workers.

"The Chief Minister claims that the Vigilance probe is the base of the party chargesheet but the fact is that the document does not have the backing of the Congress," he said.

He said the chargesheet, which was re-written thrice, was never submitted to the Governor and was handed over only to Congress leaders in Delhi. He added that the Congress leaders misinformed the people of the state that it had been handed over to the President of India.

The BJP leader said the so-called probe by the Vigilance Bureau was nothing but an attempt to indulge in mudslinging at its political opponents. "The Congress, which accused the BJP regime of putting Himachal on sale by providing one lakh bigha land to private universities, has itself admitted in the Assembly session that no land had been given by the government to private universities," he said.

He said there was hardly anything which the Congress regime could claim to be its achievement in its one-year rule. "The subsidised food items have gone missing from the fair price shops and the free uniform scheme too has been stopped," he said. 

Solan, December 13
In a bid to tighten the noose around erring pharmaceutical units who desist from manufacturing drugs brought under the Drug Price Control Order (DPCO) 2013 due to lack of profit margins, the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has directed them to file quarterly return of their production record.

As many as 348 drugs and 652 combinations were brought under the DPCO on May 15, thus making them cheaper. These were the drugs used by the common man and also included some life-saving drugs.

Though such directions were issued earlier too when the DPCO 2013 was notified, its adherence was limited. The NPPA has now issued fresh directions, in its letter dated November 26, to manufacturers of scheduled formulations and active pharmaceutical ingredients to ensure compliance and duly file return of their production records.

Since the pharmaceutical companies have a tendency of discontinuing manufacture of such drugs whose price is fixed by the NPPA, the quarterly returns will help the authority to monitor their availability and production in the market.

It had been observed in the past that once the NPPA fixed a ceiling price of a drug, pharmaceutical manufacturers discontinued their production and switched to other profit-yielding products, thus adversely affecting the availability of drugs in the market. In a bid to ensure that such shortage is not created, the DPCO 2013 has clearly laid down that any manufacturer intending to discontinue production of any scheduled formulation from the market shall issue a public notice and also intimate the government at least six months prior to the intended date of discontinuation and the government may, in public interest, direct the manufacturer to continue with the required level of production or import for a period not exceeding one year.

“Since several safeguards have been introduced by the NPPA to ensure that commonly used drugs do not go off the shelf, the manufactures will have to follow a tedious procedure before planning to discontinue production of any drug,’’ opined Vinod Gupta, president, Baghat Drug Manufactures Association.

He added that the quarterly returns will also ensure that smaller units do not continue to market scheduled formulations at higher price in the absence of proper information.

Shimla, December 13
Lambasting Arun Dhumal, son of ex-Chief Minister PK Dumal, of indulging in “false propaganda” against Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, two Congress leaders today claimed that the process for the cancellation of the Saikoti Hydroelectric Project was initiated during the BJP regime in December 2002 and it was restored to Venture Energy and Technology Company in 2007 on the directions of the Supreme Court.

In a joint statement here today, vice-chairman of the State Forest Development Corporation Kewal Singh Pathania and chairman of the Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee Prem Kaushal told Arun to “check facts before making accusations”.

The company was awarded the project in June 2002 and a show-cause notice was issued to the company in December 2002. Cancellation process was also initiated in January 2003 by the then Dhumal government, they said.

"Subsequently, the company approached the new Virbhadra Singh government from April 2003 to 2004 for its restoration, but the proposal was rejected thrice by the Cabinet. It moved the High Court in 2005, which awarded the project back to the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board in 2005. The company went to the Supreme Court, which passed order in favour of the company and based on its directions, the project was restored in June 2007. It was not done at the behest of Virbhadra Singh as claimed by Arun," they added.

"Further, penalties were raised by the Directorate of Energy in early 2011 as per the new power policy by the Dhumal regime and the company had already paid under protest Rs 60 lakh.

It had sought time to pay the additional Rs 58 lakh raised in 2012-13 by way of interest. Arun had failed to mention about the Supreme Court orders and, instead, connected it to present government to draw political mileage," they said.

They alleged that no BJP leader, except Dhumal family, was resorting to false propaganda against the Chief Minister. They wanted to know in what capacity Arun Dhumal had been addressing press conferences. 

Bilaspur, December 13
Led by Aditya Yuvak Mandal youths, villagers of Saai Kharsi village have set a new example of redressing their own problems without waiting for any government action.

The village was reeling under acute shortage of water and the government action was delayed due to several reasons.

The village used to get water supply from a natural source through the IPH-piped scheme which, with a passage of time, had worn out and was not functioning properly. But youths of the area, including Anil Kumar, Arun Kumar, Madan Lal, Ashwini Kumar, Manohar Lal, Chaman Lal, Kishori Lal, Amarjeet, Jeet Ram, Kamlesh, Lalit, Luxmi, Suneel, Subhash, Neeraj and Manoj, took the initiative and urged the department to supply them pipes and some technical staff. They themselves worked on the pipeline and the much-needed drinking water was restored without waiting for department to arrange sufficient labour.

Una, December 13
The Una unit of the BJP will organise “Run for Unity” on December 15.

Hari Om Bhanot, co-convener, BJP state media cell, said the run would be organised on the birth anniversary of former Home Minster Vallabh Bhai Patel.

He said the “Run for Unity” would be flagged off by former captain of the Indian Hockey team, Charanjeet Singh, a Padmashree awardee. He said the run would start from the Una Circuit House. — OC

Kangra, December 13
The Pong Dam Wetland had attracted nearly 50,000 migratory birds from Central Asian countries during the last three months and some transmitter-installed and collar-fixed birds were spotted there.

Kewal Singh Pathania, vice-chairman, HP Forest Corporation, said here yesterday that migratory birds from trans-Himalayan regions had started arriving at the Pong Dam Wildlife Sanctuary in October this year and touched 50,000 mark till date.

He said in the last decade, 415 species of migratory birds landed at the Pong Dam reservoir, but this year the dam received 54 species. A new species of bird, salcaded duck, which landed here for the first time in 2011, was received by the wetland this year too.

Pathania said a maximum number of 17,000 bar-headed geese, besides 4,000 common pochard, 7,500 pintail, ruddy shell ducks and Eurasion wigeon, landed here in a good number.

He said the state government was keen to curb poaching of migratory birds in and around the wetland and teams were deputed to nab poachers if found involved in the crime.

He said the Wildlife Department in collaboration with the Bombay National History Society had put 15 collar bands and seven transmitters on 22 migratory birds in 2011 with an objective to get their location details, flying path and breeding grounds to help understand their migration pattern and distribution.

He said some birds with transmitters installed and collars fitted returned and a bar-headed goose was spotted at the dam.

Chief Conservator of Forests Dr Suresh Kumar said in order to keep a watch on the winged visitors, a team headed by Assistant Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Divender Singh Dadwal was stationed at the wetland site. He said with snow on mountains and rains in the Kangra valley, the number of migratory birds would go up considerably.

Dadwal said transmitters were fixed on ruddy shell duck, two on bar-headed geese and two on northern pintail last year.

He said ruddy shell ducks, bar-headed geese, mallards, coots, pochards and pintails, besides rare red-necked grebe and gulls, had arrived this year. These species came from Afghanistan, Mongolia, China, Siberia, Central Asia, Russia, Pakistan and Ladakh.

Build in 1960, the Pong Dam reservoir was the only place in the country after the Bhartpur Sanctuary where the red-necked grebe descends every year.

Mandi/Hamirpur, December 13
As the state government has started paying skill development allowance (unemployment allowance) of Rs 1,000 per month to educated unemployed youth in the state, several agencies and NGOs, without having any experience and infrastructure, have mushroomed under the garb of providing training to youths to mint money under the scheme.

Most of these organisations have been allegedly formed by people close to the Congress to draw benefit after the formation of the policy by the state government.

Since the youths applying for the allowance are required to submit certificates that they are getting training under the scheme for seeking the allowance, these organisations are issuing certificates without having any infrastructure or experience in the field.

For issuing certificates, these suddenly formed organisations are charging nearly Rs 300 per month from candidates out of Rs 1,000 paid to them for giving training, but many are allegedly just issuing certificates of enrolment for the training without imparting any training.

As per information, a few NGOs have enrolled hundreds of youths both in Mandi and Hamirpur districts without having adequate facility for the training and a complaint has also been made to the Deputy Commissioner, Hamirpur, in this regard.

Since beneficiaries would be paid the allowance directly in their bank accounts, these organisations are taking their “fee” directly and are assuring applicants for getting them allowance on priority.

President of the Market Committee, Hamirpur, Prem Kaushal had taken up this matter with Industries Minister Mukesh Agnihotri, who had assured him to look into the matter.

“Keeping the choice of institute for training open ended under the scheme by the state government has provided an opportunity to many unscrupulous organisations to make money under the garb of providing training,” people complained.

When a large number of organisations and government institutes with vast experiences are involved in imparting training for skill development, the state government has not authorised these organisations for giving training under the scheme.

Ashish Singhmar, DC, Hamirpur, said, “I have received a complaint in this regard and we are looking into it”. Labour Commissioner Nandita Gupta said, “We have not authorised any institute for imparting training for giving skill development allowance. The only condition is that the beneficiaries has to obtain training.” 

Dharamsala/Una, December 13
Lack of planned industrial areas is a bane for growth of industry in the state. It is also a major bottleneck for the growth of industry in Himachal.

Successive state governments of Himachal, despite the fact that the industry was coming to the state in hordes due to industrial package that remained enforced in the state from 2003 to March 2013, failed to develop planned industrial areas. Due to lack of planned industrial areas, the industrial growth is the state has been haphazard, that has led to multiplication of problems like pollution and management of industrial areas.

Rohit, who has established an industrial unit in Tahliwal industrial area of Una district, while talking to The Tribune, said in many other states like Uttaranchal, the government has developed industrial areas where facilities like roads and sewerage are provided to industrialists. The industrialist has to buy the plot and start his production unit. However, in Himachal, the industrialist is at the mercy of property dealers. He himself has to contact the land owners and buy a suitable chunk of land.

The problems multiply as the land holdings in Himachal are very small, due to which, the investors have to depend on local property builders to buy a sizable chunk of land for setting up the unit. Since earlier, there was an industrial package for investment in Himachal under which there was a major excise and income tax waiver, a large number of industries came to Himachal, irrespective of problems in land acquisition. However, if the state government wants to attract investment now in the absence of industrial package, it will at least have to decrease hassles in procurement of land in Himachal, he said.

Himachal has very few industrial areas where developed plots are made available to the investors. In Una district, Mehatpur industrial area was the only developed industrial area. In Kangra district, there was no developed industrial area.

A major hassle for the investors coming to Himachal is that they initially have to grapple with the land owners who have small land holdings to acquire land.

They then get permissions, including the permission under Section 118 of the Land Tenancy Act, on their own. The process consumes a lot of time, that spells discouragement for any investor wanting to set up an industrial unit in the state.

Minister for Industry Mukesh Agnihotri has been talking about developing land banks in the entire state for the development of industrial areas. He has been claiming that the revenue officials in many districts have been directed to identify land banks for development of industrial areas.

Agnihotri has also been talking about fixing a two-month time period for any industrial project that is submitted to the state government.

Despite having many advantages over adjoining states like comparatively cheaper land, little law and order problems and ample availability of power, the investment inflow has slowed down to a trickle in Himachal after the abolition of industrial package.

The CM has met the Prime Minister for the revival of industrial package for Himachal. However, the UPA government has not given any indication that it is ready to oblige.

Shimla, December 13
As the Shimla Municipal Corporation (SMC) remains in 'slumber', allergic weeds have almost invaded The Mall and The Ridge in the capital city.

Weeds like allergic sorrels, common sow thistle and Mexican fleabane plague the walls and drains here. Spanish needle seeds that stick to clothes, arrow leaf doc, common nettle, stinging nettle and Himalayan nettle (kungshi and bhabhar) have invaded abandoned places, including the area around the Bantony castle, open space between the CTO building and the Kali Bari temple.

One could spot these weeds in the backyards and open spaces behind The Ridge, vacant PWD land near the Ritz Theatre and behind the DC Office Complex, revealed botanists. “Apart from the stinging and allergic weeds, billygoat weeds, which grows in dirty places, and common cochlebur are signs of degeneration of dirty drains that flow through the city,” said Dr Vineet Jishtu, a senior scientist at the Himalayan Forest Research Institute.

Heaps of debris and abandoned empty cement bags litter drains at a few places on The Mall. Sorrels, an allergic weed, cover the walls built during the British time that supports the Rani Jhansi Park. “The weeds can speed up the ageing process and presents a shabby picture on key spots in the heritage zone,” scientists said. The portion of The Mall near the Oberoi Clarks is sinking where some private construction is coming up. "We are levelling the road there," said SMC engineers.

Municipal Commissioner Amarjeet Singh said they had just three workers in each ward to cut grasses, bushes, weeds and do other work as well. "We will take care of the spots, but then the residents should also maintain cleanliness," he added. 

Paonta Sahib, December 13
A case of woman trafficking has come to light in Paonta Sahib. The police arrested five persons, including a woman, involved in selling a 21-year-old girl belonging to the remote Sangrah area for Rs 50,000 last evening.

The case came to light when the police raided a local religious place where the five accused, along with the girl, were found sitting in a room.

The girl, who is illiterate and hails from a poor family of Sangrah, was told to be provided a job and taken to Paonta Sahib by Puja, one of the main accused. She was operating with the help of two Shillai-based youths.

Puja directed the girl to come to Dhaulan Kuan from where they came to Paonta Sahib last evening. Puja, along with her aides, Sandeep Sharma and Dhanveer Singh, had planned to sell her to two youths from Haryana in lieu of Rs 50,000.

The police said the buyers, including Gurmal Singh and Satbir Singh, who hail from Para village in Karnal district of Haryana, had hatched the deal and Rs 35,000 had already been handed over to Puja. The police managed to recover the amount while the rest was supposed to be handed over once the girl reached Haryana.

DSP, Paonta Sahib, Yogesh Rolta said the girl had got suspicious and protested when she saw Gurmal Singh, dressed as a groom, and their pictures were being clicked. The Haryana youth were preparing to hire a taxi when the police raided their room.

A case under Sections 370 and 120-B of the IPC pertaining to buying a person and disposing of as slave and criminal conspiracy had been registered and further investigations were under way.

All five were produced in a local court which remanded them to three days in the police remand. The parents of the girl have been informed about the case.

Kullu, December 13
Despite efforts of the municipal committee and the district administration for safe disposal of garbage, Kullu residents continue to dump domestic waste on the streets. Stray animals scavenging on heaps of garbage is a common sight in the town. Rishab Kalia, president of the local Municipal Corporation (MC), said despite the launching of a door-to-door campaign to collect garbage, there were many spots where garbage could be seen.

He added that people hardly bothered warning signs put up by the MC. He said creating awareness among the masses was the only solution as round-the-clock surveillance was not possible. He said the door-to-door garbage collection drive had been a great success and the scheme would be implemented in all the wards within the municipal limit in the next three months. 

Shimla, December 13
To restore the pristine glory of Craignano, near here, the Forest Department will set up a forest conservation park and refurbish the century old British time guest house to make the idyllic site a popular destination for nature lovers.

An action plan has been chalked out by the Forest Department to convert the entire 9.5 hectare area into a forest conservation park, which will have over 120 species of trees, shrubs and herbs. The place will be developed jointly with the help of horticulture experts and conservationists from the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural and Heritage (INTACH).

“We intend to restore the lost glory of the place so that it can once again be popularised as a favourite hunt for nature lovers and those who enjoy tranquility in the lap of nature,” said Tarun Sridhar, Principal Secretary, Forest and Revenue. He said a large number of temperate species of trees, herbs, shrubs and flowers would be planted there.

Craignano, located at about 18-km distance from Mashobra was once a popular tourist destination, especially for those keen on nature walk and camping. However, for the last few years it has been lying in a state of neglect and the century old guest house there is a pale shadow of its glorious past.

The Forest Department has also decided to restrict plying of vehicle on the half-a-kilometre stretch to the guest house and make it a cobbled path. “The rest house will also be given a facelift so that those keen to stay there get proper accommodation,” said Sanjay Sood, Conservator of Forests, Shimla. He added that a scale map had been prepared so that each and every corner could be planted with different species of plants along with fencing of the entire area.

The department will also put up signages and information about each tree, shrub and herb, its availability and use, so that schoolchildren can learn about plants. The natural vegetation in the forest includes deodars, oak and different varieties of rhododendrons. 

Shimla, December 13
NGOs, including parents and special educators of mentally challenged children, have demanded an intervention centre mainly at the Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) here and at each district level.

NGOs such as Udaan and Umang have been holding rallies and campaigns to bring about an awareness about these children who have special needs and need special care. The government is running several Bal Ashrams in the state, but there is not a single intervention centre for them, NGOs said.

These children, escorted by care-givers and parents, gathered at the Gaiety Theatre for the concluding session of the three-day all-India Badhte Kadam campaign. These children enthralled the audience at the show presided over by Shimla DC Dinesh Malhotra and was attended by local citizens and foreign tourists as well.

"These children suffer from a range of disabilities ranging from celeberal palsy, autism and mental deficit and need special care and treatment and intervention," said Lalita Rana, convener, Udaan, which runs a home for 50 mentally challenged children in New Shimla.

Udaan has no playground and no open space as it is run in a rented house in New Shimla. "We have representations to the government for land, but to no effect," Rana said.

Chairperson, Umang Trust, Ajay Srivastva said they had pleaded that the IGMC and district hospital should have an intervention centre. "They are treated at normal OPDs, where it is difficult for parents and doctors to handle them," he added.

Medical Superintendent, IGMC, Ramesh Chand said there was no special intervention available for mentally challenged children. But they could start one as these children were examined at the Paediatrics, OPD, he added.

Kullu, December 13
The Chief Executive Officer of the District Rural Development Authority (DRDA), and Deputy Commissioner, Kullu, Rakesh Kanwar today presided over a meeting of the DRDA in Patlikul, 25 km from here.

He discussed with panchayat presidents and assistants various issues encountered at the ground level in the implementation of various developmental programmes like the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), National Health Insurance Scheme and Indira Housing Scheme.

He urged the panchayat representatives and officials to ensure that the deserving were benefitted from these schemes. He stressed upon the members to use transparency to prepare the lists of BPL families so as to fortify the weaker section.

Sanjiv Kumar, project officer, DRDA, presented a detailed report of various works being carried out by the DRDA.

Gulab Chand Bainse, block development officer, Naggar, Ved Ram Thakur, president, Naggar Pradhan Sangh, other officials of the DRDA and representatives of the public were present on the occasion.

Mandi, December 13
An integrated water management project, funded by the Centre and being implemented under the District Water Development Project (DWDP), has benefited a large number of families of Mandi district.

The main objective of this project is to bring a change in the lives of villagers by supplementing their income through various activities.

While many activities are being undertaken, the main thrust of the project is to create irrigation facilities by funding the construction of check dams, building water storage tanks and providing pipes for linking the storage tanks with the water sources.

After creating the irrigation facilities, farmers are now shifting to cultivating cash crops such as peas, garlic, cabbage etc and also diversifying to floriculture and growing apple orchards.

The project, which is being implemented in 128 panchayats of the district, will create irrigation facilities to irrigate 70,702 hectares farm land by spending Rs 106 crore.

The farmers are also given advice for buying quality seeds and other inputs.

Thirtyseven activities have been identified under this project such as sheep and goat rearing, cutting and pruning of plants, fruits and vegetables growing, handloom and weaving, etc, which can be undertaken in the rural area.

For promoting collective farming for better utilisation of the irrigation facilities and marketing of produce, Self-Help Groups (SHGs) has also been formed.

Under this component, 823 SHGs will be formed in the district and Rs 62 lakh has been allocated by the Central Government to provide a revolving fund for giving a loan of Rs 25,000 each to all SHGs.

A one-time grant of Rs 50,000 is also given to every SHG for seeking a loan of Rs 1 lakh each from banks for taking up different activities.

Dr Kishori Lal Sharma, Deputy Director, DWDP, said, “After the creation of irrigation facilities through the project, the beneficiaries are growing cash crops and fetching good price in the market and through SHGs, several activities are being undertaken helping in bringing a change in their lives by supplementing their income.” 

Shimla, December 13
Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and state Congress president Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu on Wednesday met Vice-President of the All-India Congress Committee (AICC) Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi.

Gandhi holds quarterly meetings with Chief Ministers and PCC chiefs of all states to discuss organisational matters and the performance of the state government. Besides Virbhadra and Sukhu, senior functionaries of the AICC were present in the meeting.

The meeting is being considered significant in view of the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections and the party’s preparedness for it. The issue of better coordination between the government and the party were discussed at the meeting.

The CM detailed the achievements of his government, the welfare schemes launched during the last three months in various departments and the targets set by his regime for the next three months.

The PCC chief, who has expressed reservation over the continuation of tainted officers on sensitive postings in the recent past, gave details of the organisational programmes held in the state.

Based on the inputs from the observers appointed by the HPCC, he sought greater involvement of the senior party functionaries in policy decisions.

Sundernagar, December 13
The Consumer Forum, Mandi, has directed Pal Auto Traders, Narchowk Mandi, and MRF Ltd, Parwanoo, Solan district, to pay Rs 3,000 as compensation and Rs 1,500 as the cost of complaint on account of late replacement of a tyre.

Mohinder Singh, a resident of Chailchok, had purchased two tyres from Pal Auto Traders in August last year, but one of the tyres got damaged within two months. The complainant handed over the tyre to the company for replacement, but it was not replaced so he filed a complaint before the consumer forum.

The opposite parties said that the tyre was sent to the complainant through a transport company, but was misplaced during the transit. As per the complainant, the opposite parties replaced the tyre after four months.

The forum holds that the date replacement of the tyre amounts to deficiency in service as per the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act and directed the opposite parties to pay compensation on the account of harassment caused to the complainant.