Dharamsala, June 5
While the state government allowed private polytechnic students to sit for the examinations starting today, their counterparts in government polytechnics are likely to lose one academic year.

Reason: Nearly 500 students from government polytechnic colleges have not been allowed to sit in the examinations for not clearing at least 50 per cent of their theory exams in second and fourth semesters.

The issue pertains to a decision taken by the Himachal Pradesh Board of Technical Education during the 2013-2014 academic year in which it was decided that students, who had not cleared at least 50 per cent of their theory examinations, would not be allowed to get admission in the next semester.

The decision had created a hue and cry among all polytechnic colleges in the state, as about 80 per cent of the students in private polytechnics became ineligible for admission to the next semester.

Students in private polytechnics moved the court. The managements of private polytechnics admitted students to the next semester hoping that they would get relief from the state High Court.

However, government polytechnic colleges in the state did not admit students who had not cleared at least 50 per cent of their theory papers.

They allowed students to sit in the next class only after the High Court gave a stay on the said decision. The High Court had directed the state government to give one-time exemption to polytechnic students in the state.

Initially the state government declined to provide relaxation to students despite the court order. However, students and managements of private polytechnic colleges protested at the secretariat in Shimla and met Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh. After the CM’s intervention, the students of private polytechnic colleges were allowed to sit for the exams starting from today.

However, students of government polytechnics did not get the benefit of the decision and nearly 500 students of government polytechnics were not allowed to sit for the exams.

Sources said government polytechnic students were not allowed to sit in the examination, as they had not fulfilled the condition of attending minimum lectures during a semester.

However, students said they could not be blamed for it, as they were denied admissions.

RK Sharma, Principal of Government Polytechnic College, Kangra, when contacted, admitted that the affected students could have been allowed to sit for the exams.

“We allowed students to sit in classes only after the court’s decision and so they could not complete their lecturers. About 15 such students from Kangra polytechnic have been affected by the decision,” he said.

Secretary, Technical Education Board was not available for comments despite repeated calls.

Shimla, June 5
While Prime Minister Narendra Modi is being followed by many on Twitter, he is following 1,046 persons, including four youths in Himachal, for getting the feedback through the social media which has emerged as an effective tool for interaction.

BJP MP from Hamirpur and president, Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), Anurag Thakur, BJYM Social Media National in charge Chetan Singh Bragta, member state media cell Hemanshu Mishra and former media in charge of the BJYM on Twitter Puneet Sharma are being followed by Modi.

They were being followed before the 2014 General Election. Earlier, during the campaign, he was apprised with the issues concerning Himachal such as the necessity to expand the railway network, airstrips and highways and establishment of cold storage chains to benefit farmers. Any of Modi followers can write on his timeline, but only 1,046 persons followed by him can approach him through direct message and, therefore, maintain a direct link with Modi.

"This mechanism will be used more effectively and we will continue to provide feedback on the economy in Himachal as well as the implementation of policies rolled out by the BJP government," said Chetan Bragta adding that he had already approached Union Road Transport, Highways and Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari through Twitter for getting environmental clearances to speed up work on the Shimla-Kalka fourlaning project.

Likes on a high

The official account of the BJYM on Facebook with public rating of 4.6 out of 5 today crossed over 10 lakh likes. The account was started on October 17, 2010, with the mission to empower the youth to transform India into a stronger and prosperous global power.

Kullu, June 5
The ban imposed on rafting in the Beas will have an adverse impact on tourism in the valley. Stating this here on Tuesday, experts said most of the tourists visited major tourist spots within three days of their stay in Kullu and Manali, as there were very few attractions for them to prolong their stay in the valley.

Bhupender Thakur, patron, Kullu Travel Agents Association, said one could cover snow-point, Manikaran and local sightseeing in Kullu and Manali in three days. Rafting had been another reason for tourists to extend their stay by at least a day, he said.

He said: “There are several spots, including Bijli Mahadev, Dashaur Lake, Prashar Lake and Seolsar Lake, which lack road connectivity. Ropeway to Bijli Mahadev was proposed in the early 1990s, but the status of the proposal remains the same.”

Devinder Negi, vice-president, Manali Vikas Manch, said places like Hamta valley, Jana Falls, Kais Dhar, Bhrigu Peaks and many other spots could be developed to attract nature lovers. He said: “Adventure sports like paragliding and joyrides on snow scooters, besides activities like skiing, sledge and horse riding are other reasons for the visitors to extend their stay, but the recent orders of the National Green Tribunal to regulate the same will have an adverse impact upon sustainability of these activities.”

Bhuvneshwar, president, Kullu Valley Rafting Operators Association, said a meeting was held with the District Tourism Development Officer, Kullu, and chairman of the Technical Committee to monitor rafting operations in the valley. He said a proper system had been chalked out so that the raft operators could provide professional services to the adventure seekers. He said: "Disciplinary committees will be constituted to monitor activities of the operators in Raison, Babeli and Pirdi stretch."

He said inspection work was underway and hopefully, the rafting operations would resume after June 6.

A raft operator said the regulatory control and monitoring were necessary to safeguard the interests of the fun lovers, but temporary suspension of the activity to control mishaps was unreasonable.

Shimla, June 5
The CPM today staged a protest outside the DC office against the recent killing of Mohsin Sadiq Sheikh, a student of Information Technology in Pune, and blamed the NDA government.

Addressing protesters, CPM leader Sanjay Chauhan and Tikender Singh Panwar, Mayor and Deputy Mayor, Shimla, alleged that the BJP-Shiv Sena combine was 
creating a fear psychosis in the country by flaring up communalism.

The leaders advised its cadre to be vigilant on the rise of right wing forces. He was attacked just because he was wearing a cap and had a grown beard, they charged.

They urged the Centre to ensure the safety of each citizen and take steps to ensure that such acts were checked and communal harmony was maintained. The parents of the victim ahouls be compensated, Panwar said.

Dharamsala, June 5
Sikyong, Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) leader, today unveiled the administration’s campaign to bring about freedom for Tibetans.

Four years after talks reached a stalemate in 2010 and following the self-immolation of 130 Tibetans since 2009, Lobsang Sangay said the middle-way approach campaign would help people across the globe understand what Tibetan people were calling for -- genuine autonomy. “The middle-way approach information materials, including an interactive website, short documentary video, social media campaign, timeline of the Tibetan struggle and FAQs - many of them available in seven languages including Chinese - will make it easy for people to understand what the Tibetan administration is proposing in terms of genuine autonomy within China,” he said.

“We are trying to engage the international community, young people, diplomats, the media, people from all walks of life across different nations - to counter the Chinese government’s misinformation campaign about the policy.

“By visiting our website (www.middlewayapproach.org or www.tibet.net/mwa), they will learn the nature and intent of the policy, and then by clicking on to such forums as our UMAYLAM page on Facebook and making a ‘Like’ or ‘Share’ they can show their support for the middle way,” he said.

The middle-way approach is already supported by international leaders, including US President Barack Obama and many Chinese intellectuals, such as imprisoned Nobel Peace laureate Liu Xiaobo. The middle-way refers to ‘the middle way’ between repression and separation.

The Sikyong presented the Dalai Lama with the information package.

Chamba, June 5
Forest Minister Thakur Singh Bharmouri has directed the Department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs to regularly inspect shops, dhabas and other commercial establishments to curb overcharging of commodities and eatables.

These instructions were issued by him while presiding over a meeting of the district-level Grievances Redressal Committee here today, in which a non-official member of the committee, Jagdish Handa, put forth a complaint of overcharging.

It was decided that the department should ensure that rate-lists were displayed at shops, dhabas and other commercial establishments all over the district. Administrative officers would conduct surprise inspections of shops and other commercial establishments. Simultaneously, the Health Department would keep an eye on the sanitation and quality of eatables, he said. — OC

Shimla, June 5
The Himachal Pradesh High Court (HC) today directed the state government to explore the possibility of framing a policy to redress grievances of IT teachers appointed through a private company who are teaching at government schools.

The Division Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Mansoor Ahmad Mir and Justice Sureshwar Thakur passed these orders on an appeal filed by IT teachers claiming parity with contract/ad hoc teachers in government departments with all other consequential benefits.

During the course of hearing, the Advocate General said the state/competent authority had made a decision not to dislodge these IT teachers.

The Advocate General said the state government had to adjust 767 candidates on the recommendation made by the Subordinate Services Selection Board.

The IT teachers in their appeal want the status of a lecturer (contract/ad hoc) appointed by the government. They are also demanding minimum of the regular pay scale along with the allowances of the post of information technology teacher/lecturer in the school cadre.

The state government had turned down their demands vide order dated June 6, 2006, against which the IT teachers approached the High Court by way of a writ petition.

The teachers contended that they were discharging duties similar to those of regularly appointed lecturers and as such were entitled to the benefits of equal pay and regularisation.

Shimla, June 5
Environment activists running NGOs and Independent Power Producers (IPPs) executing power projects in the tribal belt of Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti are on a collision course on the issue of the protection of environment in connection with hydropower projects in eco-sensitive zones today.

NGOs, including Him Lok Jagriti Manch, Kinnaur, Him Parivesh, Nalagarh, and others from Lahaul and Spiti, today joined hands under the banner of Himalaya Niti Abhiyaan (HNA) at Reckong Peo, district headquarters of Kinnaur, and raised a pitch for a ban on hydropower projects in the eco-sensitive valleys.

They said: “Orchards are sinking in upper Kinnaur areas. Clouds of dust, trail of landsides and falling boulders on the Kinnaur-Kaurik National Highway-22 are a common sight, which poses threat to local villagers and commuters every day.” 
Dr Vineet Jishtu, a botanist at Himalayan Forest Research Institute, said the orchards had come up in the sandy high alpine zone in Pooh and Spiti.

“The constant watering of sandy orchards results in the sinking of land mass. Tunnelling and blasting add to the problem. Environment plans are not implemented properly and planning is not proper,” he said.

Kulbhushan Upmanyu, president, HNA, said: “The recent disaster came in June 2012, when freak snowfall damaged orchards and cut off the power supply and highway forcing people to remain stranded for a month.”

Ranjit Negi, convener, HJM, said: “These disasters are a new phenomenon caused by power projects due to tunnelling and blasting and unscientific cutting of roads.”

The Pare Chu river flood that came from Tibet in 2005 breached NH-22 at several places and over 5,000 people were evacuated.

A rockslide had created a massive lake which burst and in turn washed away eight bridges. The river level swelled by 40 ft, but timely evacuation prevented deaths along the river. But the flood damaged property worth Rs 700 crore, he said.

Negi said: “The government still hasn’t learnt a lesson. The 1,000 MW Karcham-Wangtoo and 1,500 MW Nathpa Jhakhari projects among others have impacted the ecology in Kinnaur.”

“The projects planned upstream on the Sutluj Kedong, Khab-Yangthan, Chango-Yangthang and Jhangi-Thopan should be scrapped as they pose a threat to the tribal belt which lies in seismic zone-V,” Negi said.

“No project shall be allowed without the permission of the gram sabha. The Environment Appraisal Committee (EAC) of the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) should first take stock of the ground reality before giving environment clearance,” Negi said.

The IPPs questioned NGOs' pleas, saying the 15-member EAC has experts from all fields and weighs the cost-benefit ratio of each project before giving environment clearance.

“The negative impact of the project is mitigated through the environment management plant and even projects which fail the cost-benefit ratio are scrapped by the EAC,” said Manoj Kumar, a senior manager at an IPP.

Kangra, June 5
World Environment Day was celebrated with fervour at GAV Public School, Kangra, Comet Mensa Public School, Dehri, and Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Dehra Gopipur, here today.

Basil (tulsi) and lemon plants were planted at GAV Public School. Students, attached with the Eco Club, distributed 150 tulsi plants among people for plantation.

Students of senior classes of Comet Mensa Public School organised a rally from Dehri to Rehan and urged people to protect the environment.

Students of Government Girls Senior Secondary School too took out an environment awareness rally, led by Principal Rajeev Dhiman, through main markets of the town.

Different activities on the theme of environment were performed on the occasion. These included tree plantation, paper bag making, slogan writing, poetry recitation, essay writing and making drawings.

GAV Public School Principal Sukhvinder Singh and Comet Mensa Public School Principal Ravinder Singh Pathania encouraged students to plant more trees.

Environmental degradation flayed

PALAMPUR: People's Voice, a voluntary organisation of the town, has expressed grave concern over large-scale environmental degradation in Dhauladhar hills (from Multan to Sahapur) by power companies executing a dozen power projects.

On the occasion of World Environment Day today, the NGO released a theme "Save Himalayas from Environmental Threats". The main thrust was laid on making people aware of the effects of environmental degradation caused by the execution of power projects and how to check these.

Addressing newsmen, KB Ralhan and Neelam Sood, members of the social body, said if steps were not initiated by the government, people could face an Uttarakhand-like situation in the state. “The slack attitude of government agencies had emboldened power companies to play havoc with nature and destroy valuable forest wealth, water and other natural resources in Dhauladhar hills in the past five years,” they said.

Solan, June 5
The increased emissions of green house gases (GHG), released by several cement plants in Himachal, have become a cause for concern for environmentalists.

Since the GHG emissions contribute to depletion of the ozone layer, the environmentalists all across the globe have been endeavouring to devise means and ways to reduce the emissions.

An inventory of GHG emissions compiled by the Department of Environment, Science and Technology indicates that the GHG emissions on account of cement plants have registered an increase from 5,170.30 gigagrams registered in 2009 to 5,170.39 gigagrams recorded in 2012-2013.

Though the increase was a mere 0.9 gigagrams, it is supposed to have added immensely to the GHG emissions and this was an alarming situation.

The state contributes 0.53 per cent of the country’s GHG emissions while the cement industry emits 5.31 million tonnes of carbon dioxide, a major component of the GHG, and comprises 95.33 per cent carbon dioxide let out by all industries in Himachal.

Sources said all major cement plants, including Ambuja Cements Limited’s plant at Darlaghat and JP Cement plants at Bagheri and Bagha, were yet to get renewed permissions from the State Pollution Control Board to operate. The consent to operate these plants had expired in March this year.

State Pollution Control Board Member Secretary Vineet Kumar said the process of according fresh consent was underway and various procedures, including inspections and monitoring of pollution control parameters, were being pursued.

He, however, said since the JP Cement’s Bagheri plant had applied for consent for the exceeded capacity, its case had been put on hold and in case of its Bagha plant, the issue of having exceeded its approved capacity was before the court.

In case of Ambuja, various procedures were being followed as per the norms to renew the consent.

Interestingly, the state government has received a soft loan of Rs 1,000 crore from the World Bank for pursuing use of green and clean technologies in the industries. Little, however, appears to have been done on this front to undertake pollution mitigation measures by the State Pollution Control Board.

Vineet Kumar said they would seek the cooperation of the investors to ensure compliance with norms apart from strengthening regulatory control.

Solan, June 5
Reckless constructions along various roads in the Greater Kasauli area have taken a toll on electricity poles. The problem has been compounded by builders who have encroached upon land, erecting boundary walls.

Such instances are common on the Dharampur-Kasauli and Garkhal-Jagjitnagar roads where more than 24 resorts and flats are coming up. Builders have made approach roads to facilitate the movement of big machines after damaging the roads.

The excess digging of roads on the hill and valley side had caused severe damage to the poles which were erected by the Electricity Department and at many places they were either bent or set to be uprooted.

With little check on encroachments, several such situations are visible where constructions have been undertaken near electricity poles and the department can do little than issue notices to such people. Though copies are sent to the Revenue Department too, one is yet to come across a situation where encroachments have been vacated.

Once land is encroached upon, builders make efforts to get the pole shifted to a far away site and this practice is common in the Kasauli area. Such reckless digging operations have not only weakened the electricity poles, but the electricity supply is affected.

Though the Electricity Department imposed a power shutdown on Monday for maintenance, power supply had remained paralysed for two hours in Garkhal and its surrounding areas yesterday and disruption of supply for half an hour was a routine in the Greater Kasauli area, confided Ramesh Kumar, a local businessman.

JS Rana, Executive Engineer, Electricity Department, said he would alert his staff to take note of such instances. He added that the field staff was supposed to report such incidents so that damage could be checked.

Shimla, June 5
The Students Central Association (SCA) has warned Himachal Pradesh University (HPU) Vice-Chancellor (VC) ADN Bajpai against any fee hike.

Opposing the proposed move here, president and general secretary of the SCA Rajan Harta and Piyush Sewal accused the VC of “financial mess” and asked him to quit if he was not able to run the university.

The SCA leaders threatened to ban the entry of members of the Resource Mobilisation Committee (RMC) and other administrative officers.

The SCA members said ever since Bajpai joined the university, he had been trying to hike the fee and the cost of undergraduate examination forms raised from Rs 80 to Rs 270, B Ed forms from Rs 250 to Rs 800 and B Tech forms from Rs 500 to Rs 1,100, while hostel charges been raised from Rs 2,500 to Rs 6,800 in the past three years.

The university mobilised money by increasing the number of non-subsidised seats in various courses without strengthening the infrastructure and faculty and increased the fee 10 times, Piyush Sewal said.

The non-subsidised seats in M Com and MCA have been increased from 45 to 120 and the fee charged by the university is Rs 1 lakh per annum for MBA, Rs 50,000 for microbiology, Rs 55,000 for BHM, MTA, Rs 30,000 for M.Sc chemistry and physics and Rs 25,000 per annum for M Sc mathematics.

Harta and Sewal also accused the VC of misusing the funds. Earlier 75 per cent of the fee used to go to the departments and rest 25 per cent to the university account, but now 85 per cent of the fund was going into university account.

New Delhi, June 5
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) today ignored the contention of the HP Government and recommended that it pay ~3 lakh as monetary relief to a victim of gangrape by three of its constables.

The NHRC has made the recommendation even as the case is before a court of law. It has directed the state’s Chief Secretary to send the proof of payment to the victim within six weeks. It had taken cognizance of a complaint alleging that the three police constables posted in the Police Lines, Mandi, had gang-raped a woman on July 1, 2013. The victim of Gawal village in Jogindernagar area in Mandi district had gone to Mandi for some work. One of the accused allegedly lured her to his private quarter. Subsequently, two of his friends joined him in assaulting her sexually.

NHRC had earlier issued a notice to the government to which it had furnished facts and its version of the case. The government reports revealed that an FIR had been registered under Sections 376-D and 342, IPC, on July 2, 2014, on victim’s statement. The three constables were arrested on the same day and sent in judicial custody. Departmental inquiry had also been initiated against them. The government had also contended that the accused did not misuse their power as at the time of incident, none of them was performing duty. However, it said the inquiry revealed that one of the constables was in a drunken state while on duty at the time of the incident. 

Nurpur, June 5
Eyebrows are being raised over the quality of material used for the construction of the irrigation canal of Shahnehar, a project being built at a cost of Rs 387 crore, in the lower Kangra area. Sudden cracks have appeared in the cemented canal at different places at Jageer village near Sthana under Fatehpur development block here.

A cracked portion of the cemented slab of the canal of the Shahnehar irrigation project at Jageer village in Fatehpur development block. Photo by writer

In the past too, the newly-built canal had developed leakages when it was tested by the Irrigation-cum-Public Health (IPH) Department. It is alleged that the quality of construction material was not up to the requisite standards.

The complaints of selling the cement meant for construction are still under investigation by the police.

Inquiries reveal that the department had started construction of this portion of the canal at Jageer village in 1999. The local farmers have yet to get irrigation facility in their fields from the Shahnehar irrigation project, but its alleged poor quality has raised a question mark on the ongoing construction.

Meanwhile, Ramesh Dutt Kalia, state Yuva Shiv Sena president, has demanded a CBI inquiry into the construction of the canal. He said he had submitted memorandums to former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh in this connection, but in vain.

He also alleged that there was a nexus between the IPH Department and contractors who had 
been awarded the construction work.

He also threatened that the Yuva Shiv Sena would launch a stir if an impartial inquiry was not conducted into the construction of the canal.

Rajesh Bakshi, officiating Superintending Engineer, Shahnehar irrigation project, said he was not aware of any such cracks and added that he had asked the executive engineer of the project for a detailed report.

Shimla, June 5
Various NGOs have joined hands seeking Himachal Pradesh High Court (HC) stay on the state government’s move to declare the Great Himalayan National Park (GHNP) as Unesco’s heritage site.

A meeting of the World Heritage Committee will be held at Doha in mid-June where the decision on whether to give heritage site status to the GNHP or not will be taken.

The NGOs, including the Great Himalayan National Park Action Committee for Protection of Forest Rights (GHNPACPFR), Friends of Tirthan, Sahara and Himalayan Niti Abhiyan (HNA) and Kardar Sangh, have come together to get a stay so that villagers get their rights.

Friends of Tirthan president Ranjiv Bharti said the government was unclear on villagers’ religious and grazing rights in the Buffer zone, Tirthan and Sainj wildlife sanctuaries and the park area.

He said once the GHNP extended its boundaries by adding Sainj and Tirthan wildlife sanctuaries, the religious rights of people could come in conflict.

The NGOs questioned the role of the GHNP authorities saying that there was no blueprint for the promotion of eco-tourism for people in the Sainj and Tirthan valleys, who were immediate stakeholders.

HNA convener Guman Singh said the GHNPACPFR had sent a memorandum to Unesco Director, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and other stakeholders pleading that GHNP’s process for Unesco’s heritage site should be stopped and the government should first implement the Forest Rights Act. “If the gram sabhas of panchayats in the area are willing, only then should the process be restarted. The government has not replied to the HNA communication since 2012,” he said. He said they had no other option but to seek a stay on the process from the high court.

“We will move the common petition in the high court for which all formalities have been made,” he added. DFO GHNP GS Chandel said: “The rights will be settled after the public hearing and most of the religious sites fall outside the park area. The government has declared its intension to the WHC for the prestigious status, but the managements will be with the wildlife wing.” 

What the NGOs say

* The process for Unesco heritage site should be stopped and govt should first implement the Forest Rights Act

* Once the GHNP extends its boundaries by adding Sainj and Tirthan wildlife sanctuaries, the religious rights of people can come in conflict

* There is no blueprint for the promotion of eco-tourism for people in the Sainj and Tirthan valleys, who were immediate stakeholders

Kullu, June 5
Satya Prakash Thakur, Chairman, Kullu Zila Sahakari Vikas Sangh Samiti, has said the samiti will urge the Registrar of Societies, Himachal Pradesh, to equate the travelling and daily allowance of the board of directors of the samiti with that of the board of directors of the state body.

He said the samiti had its own resources and the move would not put any burden on the state exchequer and only motivate members to enhance welfare activities for the development of cooperative societies.

He said Dolaram Mahant was unanimously appointed vice-president of the samiti for Sainj zone in Banjar subdivision at a meeting of board of directors held recently.

The board of directors of the samiti had over 33 per cent representation of women, as out of 12 office-bearers, four were women. Of the 567 registered cooperative societies of the district, 313 were registered members, including eight new entrants inducted on Friday. — OC

Kangra, June 5
Nearly a 100 children and 11 staff members of Government Primary School, Jogipur, on the outskirts of the town, have been facing water crisis for the past week. But the IPH authorities are playing mute spectators to their problem.

School head teacher Ashwani Saini today said there was no water supply in the school for the past week and now the water in the school tank too had been used up.

He said children in the 6-11 age group were suffering as the mercury was rising. The mid-day meals were being served to them with difficulty for want of water. They had to take the unwashed utensils home to wash these.

Saini said on April 9, 2012, the then Kangra BJP MLA Sanjay Choudhary had announced the installation of a hand pump in the school, but it remained a distant dream to this day. Some students of Class I were even seen crying for water in the classroom.

Saini said they had approached the IPH authorities for redressing the water crisis, but to no avail. 

Shimla, June 5
Ananya Sharma was crowned Miss Summer Festival 2014, while Payal Jaswal and Garima Verma bagged the titles of first and second runners-up, respectively, in the Miss Summer Festival Shimla beauty contest held on the night of June 4.

The beauty contest is part of the ongoing five-day International Shimla Summer Festival, an annual feature organised by the Shimla district administration. After winning the title, Ananya said she wanted to become a social activist and render services for the welfare and benefits of society.

Garima, won the title of Best Smile, while Bhumika was declared Miss Ramp model and Miss Talent. The title of Miss Perfect went to Rithik, while Payal was crowned as Miss Beauty. About 15 contestants participated in the event.