Shimla, May 12
The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau has sent a questionnaire to former Chief Minister PK Dhumal, seeking clarification on his role in dismantling of residential quarters of the Education Department to make way for the stadium of the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) at Dharamsala.

Sources said Dhumal had been given two weeks time to reply to the brief questionnaire sent to him a few days back. “A questionnaire has been sent to the former Chief Minister seeking his reply on whether he had instructed the Kanga Deputy Commissioner to knock off the residential quarters of lecturers adjacent to the HPCA stadium,” said a police officer.

Having completed investigation in the case, the Vigilance Bureau had, on April 9, submitted a supplementary chargesheet and sought permission from the Home Department to prosecute IAS Officer Kamlesh Panth and four other officers for their role in demolition of the building owned by the Education Department.

The Vigilance Bureau is also probing the role of some other officials of the Education and Youth and Sports Services Department and office-bearers of the HPCA. In case evidence is found against them, their names too could be included in the chargesheet and permission to prosecute them will be sought, said sources.

Besides Panth, permission has been sought to prosecute Narinder Awasthy, currently Controller of Education (COE) in HPU, a retired college principal Lalit Mohan Sharma, Devi Singh Chauhan, presently serving as Executive Engineer in Public Works Department and a retired Sub Divisional Officer (SDO) MC Katoch.

A case was registered by the bureau against the HPCA in October 2013 for knocking off the residential quarters of the college after illegally declaring them unsafe and occupying 720 square metres land which was in the name of the Education Department. They are accused of declaring the structure which was in a good condition as unsafe without even getting a survey done to ascertain its condition.

Panth, currently on central deputation, had chaired a meeting on March 14, 2008 in his capacity as Deputy Commissioner, Kangra, wherein the issue of pulling down of the building was discussed.

The issue of alleged irregularities by the HPCA had figured prominently in the Congress chargesheet against the previous BJP regime. The HPCA has been accused of violations of Revenue, Forest and Societies Act and has three cases registered against it in Dharamsala.

Former Chief Minister PK Dhumal and MP Anurag Thakur, who is president of the HPCA, have already been named in the chargesheet prepared in other cases in connection with conversion of the sports body from a society to a company and changing of use of common village land for commercial purpose.

Shimla, May 12
Increased economic engagement between India and China is the only solution to controversial McMahon Line to demarcate international boundaries between India, Tibet and China. The geopolitical and socio-economic situation, demography, governance and strategic issues has changed drastically in the past 100 years.

This was stated by experts at a one-day international conference on “Re-visiting Shimla agreement 1914” organised jointly by Himachal Pradesh University and the Tibet Policy Institute, Dharamsala, here today.

Tashi Phuntsok, secretary, International relations, Central Tibetan Administration, said, “We have come here not to celebrate the century of the agreement, but to recall the historic time as history is not static. We hope for a better future for our people."

Tibetan Policy Institute director Taubten Samphal opined Tibet was the key for improving relations between India and China and burial of the Shimla agreement 1914 would not improve relations between the two nations. “Tibet is today what India was 100 years back and situations do change for good," he said.

The Turkmenistan--Afghanistan--Pakistan--Indian (TAPI) gas pipeline and alternate trade route through India are two major economic compulsions of China which could be negotiated to end border disputes between China, Tibet and India. “The trade route through the Indian Ocean to the Bay of Bengal and pipeline from Central Asia via Exchine to Manali, which is the shortest route, could help resolve the century-old issue as China has vital economic interests in the region," said Prof RS Yadav from Kurukshetra University.

He said three nations had divergent interests as Britain wanted to secure its northern borders, China wanted suzerainty rights (one country’s rule over another) over Tibet and Tibet wanted independence (sovereignty) but international diplomacy, in which Tibet did not have any major say, prevailed and later, India and Britain also accepted Tibet as a part of China.

HPU Vice-Chancellor ADN Bajpai said international mandate on the issue was the need of the hour as Tibetan sovereignty was strategically significant to India.

Mandi, May 12
Health and Family Welfare Minister Kaul Singh Thakur has asked Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Mandi, to submit the report of the woman, who died in the operation theatre at Zonal Hospital, Mandi, during a caesarian operation on May 8.

A woman belonging to Dharampur was brought to the hospital here to deliver a child on May 8, but she died after delivering the baby. The relatives of the deceased have alleged “discrepancy in administering her medicines for giving her anaesthesia as the cause of her death.”

The deceased’s relatives said: “Similar complaints were made by the relatives of a few patients, who reportedly died in the hospital in a similar manner."

The CMO had formed a three-member inquiry committee into this incident immediately after the patient’s death.

Dr Des Raj, CMO, Mandi, said: “We have already ordered an inquiry to know the medical reasons for the woman’s collapse.”

He said: “I was present when the condition of the patient started deteriorating. But I cannot explain the reason as to why she collapsed. We are waiting for the inquiry report.”

Kaul Singh Thakur has assured action in the case in case any medical negligence is reported. The minister said: “I will look into the report and take appropriate action in case of any negligence.” 

Sundernagar, May 12
A joint team of officials of the Civil Supply Department along with the police today seized 43 domestic LPG cylinders from different parts of Sundernagar.

Sources said officials of the Civil Supply Department started a special drive to check the use of domestic cylinders in commercial establishments in Sundernagar. The drive was led by Ravinder Singh, district controller, Food, Civil Supply and Consumer Affairs, Mandi, who initiated the drive.

Two teams were constituted comprising officials from the Civil Supply Department, SDM office, Sundernagar, and the police. As many as 43 domestic gas cylinders and five liters of kerosene were seized from 70 commercial establishments.

Sunita Rana, inspector, Civil Supplies, said the drive against the misuse of domestic LPG cylinders would further continue.

Nurpur, May 12
The field health workers have been asked to collect and prepare data of private clinics to implement the Clinical Establishment Act, which was enforced a year ago, to check quackery in the state.

DS Gurang, Deputy Director, Health and Family Welfare Department, said this here today.

He said: “The Health Department is set to enforce this act in letter and spirit in the state and for this, the state Health Department has directed the district-level chief medical officers to enforce it.” He said registration of private practitioners had started, adding that the state Health Department had started collecting the data of private practitioners who had set up clinics for naturopathy, ayurveda, homeopathy and allopathy treatment.

Several illegal vends are operating in the area risking innocent lives as non-specialists and unqualified doctors are performing surgeries. State government’s much publicised “Janani Suraksha Yojana”- ensuring free deliveries at government health institutions-is of no use, as innocent people from rural areas fall prey to these ill-equipped hospitals easily.

A local NGO, Free Thinkers’ Club, which had been raising voice against this menace for the past several years, has underlined the need to curb this menace at the earliest. 

Solan, May 12
Despite large-scale opposition by residents of Hurang Kanda panchayat falling under Dharampur block, the HP Ground Water Authority has given permission to a commercial builder to draw water from a lift potable water scheme near it. This has irked them.

The trouble started yesterday at Shiller village, when the real estate company staff started drawing water taking the villagers by surprise. The locals and the real estate staff entered into a scuffle, following which the police had to intervene.

Since the villagers had opposed the move during a public hearing session organised by the Irrigation and Public Health Department recently, they were surprised as to how was the builder allowed to draw water.

The Gorti water scheme supplies water to various areas, including Sanawar, Shiller, Pathia, Dhali, Gorti, Jamantu, etc., but villagers said they receive water barely twice a week in peak summer every year. They said their cattle would suffer if such large-scale withdrawals were made by the real-estate company every day, adding that since agriculture and animal husbandry were their main occupations, they would lose their livelihood.

The real estate management has, however, opted to provide water tank to the villages, but locals feel it will not solve their irrigation problem, which requires a lot of water.

Villagers, including Tara Chand, Durga Ram, Kuldeep and Sunil, resented that the real estate company, which was building flats, would draw 40,000 litre of water every day and this would adversely affect the availability of water for drinking purposes.

Since a number of people in the village grow vegetables to eke out a living, this large scale withdrawal by the builder would leave little water for irrigating their fields in the summer season.

Executive engineer Hemant Tanwar said the permission was given for three months (from February 17) with certain conditions that the drilling would not impact the existing water scheme and keeping the sentiments of the people in mind, the company had been directed to halt their work to avoid any confrontation between locals and the real estate management.

Palampur, May 12
The CSIR and Institute of Himalayan Bio-resource Technology (IHBT) observed the National Technology Day today. The day is associated with carrying out of nuclear tests at Pokhran, test firing of the Trishul missile and test flying of indigenous aircraft "Hansa-3".

Dr CR Bhatia, former Secretary, Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, in his keynote address, highlighted the role of Indian science and technology in success of Green Revolution after independence. He said through continuous technological intervention, India could achieve food security for the nation's population of 128 crore.

Dr Bhatia said ill-effects of modern agriculture had led to land degradation, ground water depletion, nitrate and pesticide accumulation in the water bodies and other environmental problems, loss of traditional varieties and biodiversity.

He told scientists that while implementing scientific policies, holistic approach should be considered. Dr Bhatia highlighted the role of modern technology for attaining quality life, security of food, water, livelihood, energy and health and hoped that the youth of the country, who account for 65% of our population, could play a pivotal role in achieving the goal.

The function was presided over by Dr SK Joshi, former DG, CSIR and Vikram Sarabhai, Professor and senior scientist. In his address, Prof Joshi highlighted the R&D contributions of CSIR and its constituent laboratory IHBT in promoting the economy for industrial and societal benefits.

Dr PS Ahuja, DG, CSIR and director of the institute, in his welcome note, conveyed that for development of modern India as a nation, indigenous technology development was a key. He conveyed to young students that innovation might be done by anyone, age group, stage and stature no bar.

He advised researchers to solve the problem in a simple way using common sense without involving any complexity. He gave a brief account of the significant achievements of the council and the institute - biomass base fuel, computer-based modern tools for detection of adulteration in the medicines and SOD enzyme technology which had wide application in health, cosmetic, agriculture and food industry. 

Una, May 12
The Una Forest Department claims to have made elaborate plans to check the instances of forest fires during this summer.

The forest cover in the district is about 70,000 hectares, including Reserve forests, demarcated protected forests and un-demarcated protected forests, besides forests on shamlat (village common) land.

Every year, about 60 to 70 instances of forest fires are reported in the district, damaging property worth lakhs of rupees, besides the loss of wildlife.

As per Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) RK Dogra, the forest area had been divided into 66 beats. Seventy fire watchers had been deployed in the beats. Special task forces at the block level had been constituted under the command of Range Officers.

He said 35-km-long fire lines had been created in forests, wherein 3-metre wide strips had been cleared of dry leaves and grass. These lines
would act as a barrier for the spread of forest fires, he said.

Dogra said Range Officers would visit schools located on the periphery of forest areas and ask students to create awareness on wildlife preservation. Twenty Joint Forest Management Committees had been constituted at the panchayat level, he added.

These committees, to be assisted by local volunteers, would coordinate with forest officials in case of fire. The DFO appealed to farmers not to clear agricultural patches and dry grass by setting these afire. Most of the fire incidents were caused by farmers, he added. 

Shimla, May 12
Several parts of the state including Shimla and tourist resorts of Manali and Dharamsala were lashed by sharp rain during the past 24 hours, causing further drop in mercury.

Rain accompanied by thunderstorm makes for a rare phenomenon in the state during May. In 1987, the mercury dipped below freezing point in Shimla, which experienced mild snowfall then.

The sky remained heavily overcast and dark clouds reduced visibility in Shimla town, which experienced 12 mm rain while Manali was the wettest, with 40 mm rain till this evening, followed by Bhuntar 34 mm, Una 32 mm, Kangra 29 mm, Hamirpur 26 mm, Dharamsala 23 mm, Gaggal and Dehragopipur 22 mm, Mehre and Kangra 21 mm, Bhuntar and Kumarsain 20 mm, Tissa 17 mm each, Sunnibajji 16 mm, Baldwara and Sujanpur Tira, which accounted for 15 mm rain.

Mercury dipped to 31.2°C at Una, 8° below normal while Nahan and Solan recorded a high of 27°C followed by Sundernagar 26°C, Bhunter and Dharamsala 22.2°C, Shimla 20.5°C, Manali 17°C and Kalpa 13.4°C.

The minimum temperatures also dropped marginally, with Kalpa and Keylong in tribal areas recording a low of 5.4°C, followed by Manali 8°C, Shimla 10°C, Dharamsala 11.4°C, Bhuntar 11.8°C, Solan 13.5°C, Palampur 14.2°C, Una 16.7°C and Nahan 17°C.

The local MeT office has predicted rain and thunderstorm at many places during the next 48 hours due to western disturbances.

Nurpur, May 12
Bad weather during the past two days has hampered the harvesting of wheat crop in lower areas of Kangra.

Rain, accompanied by winds, brought down the temperatures. Farmers, busy in the harvest of wheat crop, were forced to stop it. Those who had harvested their wheat crop and were to undertake threshing to get farm produce were the worst sufferers as their crop was damaged by rain.

Heaps of harvested wheat crop could be seen in fields in the area. Farmers of the area lamented that they were expecting a bumper wheat crop this year, but the inclement weather had dashed their hopes.

Rain was considered beneficial for vegetable and fruit crops. As per SS Rana, associate director, regional horticulture research station, Jachh (Nurpur), rain would benefit mango, litchi and citrus fruits. “It will give proper shape to fruits and fulfil the requirement of irrigating plants. Besides, as fertilizers are given to plants, rain will be good for these,” he added. 

Kullu, May 12
The Rohtang Pass again experienced around 4 inches of fresh snowfall today in the afternoon.

A spell of snowfall during the evening has been continuing over the past three days. While with the efforts of the Border Road Organisation (BRO) and the district administrations of Kullu and Lahaul, dozens of vehicles were able to cross the Rohtang Pass today, one HRTC bus reportedly skidded off the road near the top. Traffic was disrupted for nearly three hours.

BR Thakur, DC, Lahaul and Spiti, confirmed that rescue teams were set off from both sides of the pass and passengers had been rescued from stranded vehicles. The number of stranded vehicles has not been ascertained.

He said the district administration had taken emergency measures and had alerted police assistance posts in the wake of the recent snowfall. He said fear of landslides and minor avalanches due to rain and snow in Lahaul area had increased and alert had been announced to caution locals and visitors. He called upon prospective visitors to avoid travelling to Lahaul and Spiti in the next few days until the weather and roads condition improved.

Meanwhile, Kullu district was lashed by incessant rains today after noon, maintaining the chill. The Bhutti-Peej road was blocked due to landslides today.

Clear skies in the morning allowed operations of Air India flight from Delhi to Kullu today as well.

Kangra, May 12
Heavy rain lashed Kangra valley today and a fresh mild snowfall was experienced at the Dhauladhar mountain range dropping down the temperature considerably.

The sky was overcast since morning. Kangra and its suburbs received 25 mm rain during the past 24 hours.

The reports of the rain were received from Shahpur, Dhraman, Nagrota Bagwan, Lcchhi, Gaggal, Mallan, Palampur, Trilokpur, Jwalamukhi, Dehra, Ranital, McLeodganj, Bhagsu Nag, Naddi and Dharamsala.

Scientists of the Oil Seed Research station of CSK HPKV said the current rain, hail and cold wave conditions in May were detrimental for standing crops, especially wheat crops, which are in the process of harvesting. The weather was likely to damage wheat crop, pulses nearing the maturity stage, scientists added. Fruit crops at the flowering stage too were affected due to hailstorm, they added.

Mandi, May 12
Himachal Government College Teachers’ Association (HGCTA) has asked the state government to not to reduce summer vacation period.

After holding a meeting of the association here today, its zonal secretary Rajesh Yadav and secretary Dr JP Singh said the college teachers have also protested the state government’s decision of enforcing their stay at the college from 10 am to 5 pm.

He said since college teachers were already performing several additional assignments apart from teaching, there was no justification in enforcing their compulsory stay at the colleges.

He said: “The HPU has failed to declare various results within stipulated time, but the college teachers are no way responsible for this.”— TNS

Palampur, May 12
Residents of satellite areas of Palampur town have demanded extension of municipal limits with immediate effect. They have urged CM Virbhadra Singh to intervene and prevent the town from turning into a slum.

Addressing mediapersons here this morning, Daleep Sharma, KB Rahlan and Subhash Sharma, members of People’s Voice, a social voluntary organisation of the town, today said the state government should check unplanned urbanisation and haphazard construction in the town and the government should include the entire town in the municipal area.

They said the local municipal council was first set up in the town in 1952. While 62 years have elapsed, the council's limits were never extended and at present, 90 per cent of the town including HP Agriculture University fall beyond the municipal limits, they added.

They said of Palampur town's total population of 50,000, 3,000 residents live in municipal area while 47,000 live in adjoining one dozen panchayats lacking basic amenities. Potholed roads and streets, overflowing drains and contaminated drinking water tell the tale of these areas which are turning into a slum, they added.

Governments that ruled the state are said to have always ignored development and expansion of the town. Neither the municipal limits of the town were extended nor was district status granted to it. The sewerage project for adjoining panchayats and parking complex sanctioned five years ago failed to take off in the absence of “political will”.

Almost all interior roads and streets of the town are in bad shape. Due to overflowing drains and leaking water supply pipes, water collects on these streets and roads, which stink all the time.

Garbage can be seen in every nook and corner of the town. It is not removed for days, leading to foul smell. Absence of sewerage system in panchayat areas has further aggravated the situation.

The condition of internal localities of the town such as Ghuggar, Aima, Bundla, Lohana, Chokki, Maranda, Sughar and Bindravan has gone from bad to worse and these have been virtually reduced to slums.

Besides, the narrow Pathankot-Mandi national highway, which passes through this town, has become a major traffic hazard because of frequent traffic jams. The state government has till date failed to complete the flyover which has been under construction since 2005.

Nurpur, May 12
Inhabitants of lower Kangra district comprising Nurpur and Jawali subdivisions resent the bad condition of the Pathankot-Mandi National Highway (154) and state roads linking rural areas.

Residents say the Public Works Department and the national highway authorities have failed to repair the roads that were damaged during last monsoon.

The NH stretch from Nurpur to Batees Meel near Kotla is full of potholes and accidents have become a routine affair. Driving on the stretch is a nightmare. Two wheelers are the worst sufferers. There has been an alarming increase in the number of road accidents on the NH for the past six months.

The Trilokpur-Batees Meel stretch has become a death trap due to the construction work that began a few years ago. The Kotla bridge on Dehar khud is in a dilapidated state.

The construction of a new bridge started five years ago hangs in the balance as the construction company and the NH authorities have failed to restart the work.

The Jassur-Dehra link road has been declared the state highway, but it is also in bad shape. Bharmari to Jawali, Nagrota Surian, Haripur and Dehra, all road stretches are full of potholes. The link roads providing road connectivity to rural areas in lower areas of Kangra district are in a bad state. The Nurpur-Kherian, Nurpur-Kopra, Jawali-Kuther, Jawali-Mastgarh-Jonta, Jawali-Maira-Fatehpur, Nurpur-Chuwari, Jassur-Indora, Rey-Badhukar, Nagrota Surian-Lunj-Tiara, Rehan-Bharmar roads need immediate attention.

Around 95 per cent population of the area is dependent on the road transport in the absence of requisite rail transport connectivity.

The NH and link road users have demanded to repair the potholed roads on a war footing keeping in view the increasing road accidents and inconvenience of plying vehicles on damaged roads.

Former MLA Rakesh Pathania while criticising the state government said it had neglected the lower areas of Kangra district in every field.

Meanwhile, RK Mankotia, an advocate from Jawali, recently served a legal notice to the Public Works Department, Shimla, and the Chief Engineer (North), Dharamsala, under Section 80 of the CrPC giving an ultimatum to get the roads repaired within the next three months. 

Shimla, May 12
The various stakeholders including hoteliers and Shimla municipal corporation (SMC) term the celebration of 150 years of erstwhile capital of the former British Raj as a show meant for the city’s elite class. The Department of Art, Language and Culture and Department of Tourism have failed to turn it into a carnival, it is felt.

There is no mood of celebration in the city as the organisers are not roping in citizens. The plays staged in April and May remained confined to Gaiety Theatre and entry cards were given to a few elites and socialites and no walk-in theatre fan was allowed to watch the plays, charged a theatre artist.

Earlier, a film festival organised by a nascent local private group was a good initiative, but it turned out to be a lacklustre affair as a few noticed it, said local movie buffs.

OC Handa, a writer and a former curator, Naggar heritage museum, Kullu, who lives in the city, said, “I am not aware of the celebration except for the fact that sometimes, I read about it in the newspapers. They could have organised light and sound programmes making each citizen a custodian of its history and heritage, which is going up in flames every year in devastating fires."

Though the Department of Art, Language and Culture has planned a week of celebration featuring an Army band’s performances on The Ridge from May 13 to 18 for the public and tourists, hoteliers, travel agents and the SMC felt they were on the sidelines.

Raja Bhasin, a writer and member of INTACH, involved in the celebration, differed from critics, saying every citizen was welcome to step in and come out with ideas for celebration. “The week-long celebration at The Gaiety was packed house," he said.

“We have not been involved in celebration by the government departments so far in celebrating 150 years of the city,” said Sanjay Chauhan, Mayor, Shimla city.

“We are planning our own schedule for celebrating the city’s 150 years this year,” he added.

Even city hotels, abuzz with tourist activity in summer, do not carry a single banner logo or a piece mentioning 150 years of the city. “At no point of time were hoteliers called for meeting by the organisers. We feel we can contribute our bit to making the occasion a real celebration,” said Harnam Kukreja, president, Shimla Restaurant and Hoteliers Association.

Additional Chief Secretary, Art, Language and Culture, Upma Chaudhary, said they were organising festival of belly dance and plays featuring mythological Karan, Meera and Durga to be performed by artistes from Sri Ram Kala Kendra Delhi from May 23 to 25 and had light and sound, film festival performances and historical events connected with the city in the pipeline.