Shimla, June 22
The Geographical Indications (GI) tag on Kangra paintings can pave the way for the revival of the use of natural colours derived from plants as the state government intends identifying the indigenous plants which had been used to create these cultural visual expressions since centuries.

The Himachal Pradesh Patent Information Centre has been able to get the GI registration for Kangra paintings, raising the number of products from the state registered to five. The other products which are already registered with the Geographical Indications Registrar Office, Chennai, include Kullu shawl, Kangra tea, Chamba rumal and Kinnauri shawl. The products next in line for the GI registration are chulli oil (wild apricot oil) and Kinnauri kala zeera, for which all formalities have been completed and submitted.

“The Kangra paintings which have flourished in the Kangra valley as a symbol of culture and later spread to neighbouring towns of Mandi, Suket, Kullu, Tehri-Garhwal, Basholi and Chamba has been given the GI registration,” said SS Negi, Member, Director Environment, and Member Secretary, State Council for Science Technology and Environment.

He added that the GI registration for the Kangra Arts Promotion Society would help in ensuring that imitations were no longer sold as genuine Kangra paintings. Encouraged by the GI registration for the Kangra paintings, the council now plans to identify the trees and plants which provided raw material for making natural dyes and colours, used in these paintings.

“All Kangra painting artists are using colours procured from Jaipur and themselves uncertain if these are natural. So we have decided to identify all such plants and catalogue them,” said Hemant Gupta, Joint Member Secretary in the council.

Gupta said once the task of identifying all these plants was completed, the government departments would be asked to encourage people to take to their cultivations. This, he added, would help supplement the income of farmers who could grow these as natural colours and dyes were in great demand but there was a big question mark on their purity.

It was in the 16-17th century that there emerged a new form of art which later developed into Kangra paintings. The important source of inspiration for the Kangra paintings was the Gita Govinda and the Ramayan. The principal centre for the emergence of this art form was the Kangra valley which spread to other states and came to be known as the Kangra valley School of Paintings. The state of Guler played a decisive role in developing pahari paintings in the 18th century and the Guler style is not just one of the 38 centres of pahari art but is the originator and breeder of the greatest style in all Punjab hills.

Manaku and Nainsukh were two great artists in early Guler style whose sons and grandsons continued the tradition. Maharaja Sansar Chand was the greatest patron of Kangra paintings in the Punjab hills and encouaregd artists to paint the life of Krishna and Radha. The other products awaiting the GI registration include Chamba chappal, red rice, apples, apple wine, angoori (Kinnauri wine) and chilgoza.

Shimla, July 22
Though the one-man inquiry report on the June 8 Mandi mishap had given a clean chit to the SLDC for scaling down production that day, his findings and recommendations to make the SLDC an independent body remains full of technical jargons.

Inquiry officer Neeraj Kapur, Chief Engineer, Directorate of Energy (DoE), has submitted the report full of technical terms. A few could understand the technical report on the SLDC at the department of multipurpose power projects, revealed insiders.

Principal Secretary, Power, SKBS Negi, chaired the meeting on the findings of the inquiry on the SLDC yesterday and directed the Managing Director, HPSEBL, and the Director of DoE to constitute yet another expert panel to understand the report.

They have been also asked to submit proposal to make the SLDC an independent body for better management and control. They will submit proposal in 15 days, revealed sources.

The report has many loose ends as it has not zeroed in on the crucial time between 5 pm and 7.30 pm on the fateful day, when the unexplained load shedding resulted in the release of 500 cumecs of water from the 126 mw Larji barrage washing away 24 students.

The SLDC load shedding was under prevailing rules of central and state regulatory commission, stated the report.

Surprisingly, the report has also pointed out that the SLDC has not framed set of detailed internal operating procedures of the state powergrid as per the provision of the HP Electricity Grid Code and Indian Electricity Grid Code.

Besides, the inquiry officer is silent on who asked the SLDC to scale down generation between 5 pm and 7.30 pm on June 8. It merely skirted the issue stating that the power projects, including Karcham Wangtoo, NJPC and Allain Duhangan, are controlled by the NRLDC, while Baspa, Malana, Larji, Bhaba, Bassi and Giri come under the SLDC and has no control even over Baspa and Malana”. 

Shimla, July 22
“Education develops progressive attitude in individuals, besides equipping them with knowledge. It is the most powerful instrument to empower any society.”

Governor Urmila Singh said this today while addressing students and teachers at the 45th Foundation Day of Himachal Pradesh University (HPU).

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, who presided over the function, said keeping in view the future expansion of this institution, about 232 bighas of land had been identified for the same on the outskirts of the town.

HPU vice-chancellor Prof ADN Bajpai said it was a matter of pride for the university to celebrate its 45th foundation day.

University news letter ‘Himshikhar’, research journals and special cover of HPU issued by the Postal Department were released by the Governor and the Chief Minister. Also, meritorious students, besides faculty members and non-teaching employees, were honoured.

Prof Girija Sharma and Prof Bhupinder Singh Marh were honoured in the best teacher category while the award for best researcher was given to Prof Suarvecha Chauhan. In non-teaching category, Harbans Singh Karar was adjudged best while Dr Vikas Sharma, computer professional, was given the award posthumously. Among students, Aanchal Verma (B Com), Jaspreet Kaur (B Sc) and Astha Badalia (BA) were awarded for excellence in academics.

Dharamsala, July 22
Activists of the ABVP and the SFI clashed in Government College, Dharamsala, today. The elections of the student’s council of colleges in Himachal are scheduled in August next month. Sources here said the fight between activists of the two groups was over minor issues related to elections. The students entered into a brawl with one another, but no one was injured seriously.

The timely arrival of the police on the college campus averted injuries to the students involved in the brawl.

The ABVP holds sway in the college. But last year the performance of the NSUI was also good. However, SFI activists are trying to make a foothold in the college.

The Government College here is the biggest college of lower Himachal having a strength of over 4,000 students.

Due to this the college is also an active centre of student politics.

Dharamsala, July 22
Following quota system being adopted by the Centre, 97 per cent of the funds under the Indira Awas Yojna is being distributed among SCs/STs people.

As per the data collected by The Tribune, in the last two financial years, about 97 per cent of the beneficiaries are from these communities. This despite the fact that the population of SCs and STs in Himachal is just 25 per cent of the total population.

In 2013-14, 7,064 people were provided a grant of Rs 70,000 each under the scheme. The beneficiaries include 5,560 SCs, 1,177 STs, 178 minorities and 149 of the general category. For the financial year 2014-15, 4,688 persons are being given the benefit out of which 3,689 are from the SC category, 781 from the ST category, 118 minorities and 100 from the general category.

The officials implementing the scheme blamed the Centre for lopsided implementation of the scheme.

They said the Centre had fixed a target that 60 per cent of the beneficiaries should be from the SC/ST community at the national level.

They said the Centre fixed the quota of beneficiaries for each state. The number of SC/STs that was fixed by the government under the Indira Awas Yojna for Himachal was 6,737 for the financial year 2013-14 out of the total 7,064. It means 97 per cent of the total beneficiaries were SC/STs.

They said the state government had to implement the scheme on the directions of the Centre. It should contest the quota policy framed by the Centre for Himachal.

They said the population of the general category and the OBCs in Himachal was about 75 per cent. The huge benefit to SC/STs was injustice to others. There were many poor people under the OBC and the general category also who required the benefit.

However, due to the quota fixed by the government, the scheme is not being implemented equally.

Like the Indira Awas Yojna, the benefits under other government schemes such as the National Rural Health Mission are also not percolating to real beneficiaries in the rural areas.

Shimla, July 22
The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has issued a letter of permission to Maharshi Markandeshwar Medical College (MMMC) (Kumarhatti) to admit 150 students in the second batch of MBBS even as the controversy over affiliation of the college remains unresolved.

The letter was issued on July 4, 2014, on the basis of recommendation of the Medical Council of India (MCI) which ignored the objections of the state government that the affiliation of the college with Maharshi Markendashwar University (MMU) violated the Act under which the university was established and the college must be affiliated to the Himachal Pradesh University (HPU).

State Health and Family Welfare Minister Kaul Singh said the MMMC must be affiliated to the HPU as per the terms and conditions of essentiality certificate and if the college management did not abide by the instructions of the government, “all option are open to deal with it”.

With the approval of 150 seats for the second batch, the college management has to seek the permission of the government for going ahead with the admission process and the college, which got the free structure approved by a committee headed by the Principal Secretary last year, has now applied to the Higher Education Department for fixing of fee.

As per 2006 rules, the admission and fee committee of the Health Department deals only with the medical institutions, affiliated to the HPU, but the MMMC got the fee approved from the committee.

The MMMC also availed the 50 per cent management quota which is applicable only to the colleges affiliated to the HPU and did not involve the Directorate of Medical Education in counselling for 50 per cent seats under the state quota last year.

Additional Chief Secretary (Health) Vineet Chowdhary said the management had agreed to involve the government in counselling for state quota seats but it would not solve the affiliation row.

Further, there is no management quota in private universities and if the college remains adamant on not affiliating it to the HPU, a piquant situation would be created.

Last year, the state government permitted the college to publish its own prospectus and go ahead with the admission and did not insist that the admissions would be through counselling by the HPU as in the case of other institutions.

The government is clear on its stand that the permission is given to the Maharshi Markendashwar University Trust and the college will be affiliated to the HPU but in spite of clear directions from the government to the college, the college has not obliged the government.

Shimla, July 22
Cigarettes and other tobacco products have either vanished or are being sold at higher rates in markets, following the announcement of Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley proposing a steep hike in Excise duty on these products in the Union Budget.

The proposed hike in Excise duty on cigarettes, ranging between 11 and 72 per cent, pan masala- 33.3 per cent, unmanufactured tobacco- 10 per cent and gutkha and chewing tobacco- 16.6 per cent, has prompted the dealers and shopkeepers to hide the stock or sell it on premium.

“The dealers are indulging in black marketing of tobacco products, not displaying the products and ignoring the MRP on cigarettes,” said Aman Mehta, a chain smoker.

“While most of the shopkeepers plead they have run out of stock, some other charge exorbitant prices. After a ban on gutkha, the shopkeepers are selling pan masala and chewing tobacco and the cost has increased by 50 to 100 per cent,” another person said, on the condition of anonymity.

Jaitley proposed to increase the specific Excise duty on cigarettes in the range of 11 to 72 per cent and it has been increased to 72 per cent on cigarettes of length not exceeding 65 mm and to 11 to 21 per cent on larger cigarettes.

Similar increase has also been proposed on cigars. Likewise, Excise duty on pan masala has been increased between 12 and 16 per cent, unmanufactured tobacco between 50 and 55 per cent and gutkha and chewing tobacco between 60 and 70 per cent.

R S Negi, Excise and Taxation Commissioner, said no formal complaint had been received. “However, we have taken note of media reports and directed the staff to take action to check black marketing of tobacco product, if any,” he added.

He said Vat on tobacco product, which is 36 per cent at present, is highest in the region but there has been no decline in the revenue from Vat on these products.

Kullu, July 22
HS Baweja, Managing Director, HP State Agricultural Marketing Board (HPSAMB), has said vehicles carrying fruits and vegetables without Q-form will be imposed fine five times the actual fees to be paid to the Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee (APMC).

He held a meeting with orchardists and commission agents at the Patlikul sabzi mandi in Kullu today. He said, “The recent ordinance passed by the state government, to standardise apple carton, will benefit the fruit growers of the valley, as the orchardists bring apples in crates to sabzi mandis.”

He insisted upon fruit and vegetable growers to procure R-Form from buyers and provide them back with Q-Form. This would not only protect the farmers from being exploited, but also check upon the steep rise in the prices of fruits and vegetables, he added.

A new platform would be raised at the Bhuntar sabzi mandi and the possibility to set up an office at the backside of the mandi would be discussed with the Forest Department. Flying squads had been mobilised to check that innocent farmers were not duped by agents or buyers, he added.

Prakash Kashyap, secretary, APMC, Kullu, said in the meeting at Patlikul, it was decided that another area would be used as sabzi mandi, as the area being presently utilised was insufficient to cater to the growing volumes of fruits and vegetables.

Over 18 vehicles were penalised by the APMC teams for not having Q-forms at various places in Kullu today, he added.

Shimla, July 22
Sudhir Sharma, Urban Development, Housing and Town and Country Planning Minister, today said HIMUDA should focus on shopping malls, software technology parks, leisure and entertainment facilities.

Sharma presided over the 32nd meeting of the Board of Directors of HIMUDA here today.

The board approved the revised budget estimates of HIMUDA.

The approval was given for the proposal of constructing five shops in Housing Colony at Sanjauli (Phase-III), Shimla, amounting to Rs1,00,53,600.

The board approved proposal for the construction of 36 category-I flats with parking floor, 24 category-II flats, five shops and halls under partially self-financing scheme at Solan, amounting to Rs 40,54,23,780. It also approved the proposal for construction of commercial complex with parking in Sector-I, Parwanoo, amounting to Rs 2,28,32,500.

The Board gave its nod for the construction of 72 category-I, 56 category-II, 48 category-III and 80 category-IV flats with parking floor in Trilokpur Housing Colony, Sirmour, amounting to Rs 1,04,13,29,430. It also gave approval for the construction of 56 category-I, 48 category-II, 32 category-III, 16 category-IV flats and four cottages in Housing Colony at Sheel, near Solan, amounting to Rs 68,60,44,500.

The proposal for the construction eight category-I flats with parking in partially self-financing scheme at Sidhpur, Mohli, Dharamsala amounting to Rs 2,77,32,400 was also approved.

The Board approved the proposal for raising a loan of Rs 25 crore for the development of housing colonies at Jurna in Nahan and Subkhhera in Paonta Sahib. The Board approved the proposal for the allotment of 161.50 sq land to the Kalyan Samiti for a yoga centre at Housing Colony in Solan, Phase-II.

The Board, in principle, agreed to start a medical reimbursement scheme for retirees of HIMUDA and also agreed to shortlist the transaction advisors to facilitate urban development and integrated hill townships in public private partnership mode through HIMUDA.

The Board approved the proposal for the conversion of two posts of part-time sweepers to daily wagers and to fill one vacant post of driver on daily wage basis. It also agreed to fill up posts of clerk by promoting eligible peons/chowkidars by giving one-time relaxation -10 per cent - in the recruitment and promotion rules.

The decision was taken to enhance the financial and administrative powers of its various functionaries. The board further approved the proposal for charging domestic rate of water at Parwanoo at par with the rates of I&PH Department. 

Palampur, July 22
With the beginning of the new session at CSK HP Agriculture University here, the authorities have formed an anti-ragging cell on the campus to check harassment of freshers and maintain the academic atmosphere of the university. Briefing mediapersons here today, a spokesman for the university said Prof PK Mehta had been made the head of the cell. He would act along with his 15-member team.

The spokesman said complete names and addresses of all the members, along with their mobile phone numbers, had been displayed on the notice board of the university, so that in case of any harassment new students could contact them.

He said seniors had also been advised not to indulge in any type of ragging and if anyone was found involved, he/she would face rustication.

Vice-Chancellor Dr KK Katoch had, made it clear that no indiscipline under the pretext of ragging would be tolerated on the campus. He had also asked all the heads of departments and the four colleges affiliated to the university to attend to all complaints pertaining to ragging and initiate actions against the erring students, the spokesman added.

Kangra, July 22
The Central University of Himachal Pradesh (CUHP) declared the waiting list of students for various post graduate programmes for 2014-16.

Dr Yoginder Verma, vice-chancellor, CUHP, today said the candidates enlisted in the waiting list and willing to register in given programmes could register themselves by giving the details in a form specified by the University for this purpose through Fax 01892-237286 and 229331 or through e-mail - askus.cuhimachal@gmail.com or even by hand.

The last date for registration of candidates in the waiting list was July 24, 2014.

The selection list of the candidates will be displayed on university website on July 28, he added.

Shimla, July 22
Heavy-to-very-heavy rains have been predicted at isolated places in mid and lower hills of Himachal Pradesh during the next 48 hours, while monsoon will remain active in the state up to July 28.

Manmohan Singh, Director, local meteorological station, said heavy rains could lash many parts of the state on July 23 and 24 and the region would experience widespread rain over the next four days.

Meanwhile, Shimla was lashed by intermittent showers during the day today. It received 32 mm rain, while Baldwara and Kangra recorded 31 mm and 22 mm rain, followed by Karsog-16 mm, Bilaspur-15 mm, Naina Devi-10 mm Dharamsala and Dharampur-9 mm each and Mandi-7 mm.

People in the lower hills reeled under sultry heat as mercury rose marginally. Una was the hottest during the day with maximum temperature at 35°C, while Bhuntar and Sundernagar recorded a high of 34.8°C and 33°C, followed by Nahan 30°C, Solan 29.6°C, Dharamsala 28°C, Shimla 24.8°C and Kalpa 24.2°C.

The minimum temperatures rose by one to two degree and Kalpa was the coldest in the region with minimum of 12.4°C, while Manali and Keylong recorded a low of 13.9 °C, followed by Shimla 17.3°C, Dharamsala 18.4°C, Nahan 19.3°C and Solan 20.5°C. Una was the hottest during the night with minimum temperature at 24°C, followed by Sundernagar 23.7°C and Bhuntar 21.3°C.

Shimla, July 22
As there is no kidney transplant facility at Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) and Dr Rajendra Prasad Government College (DRPGMC), Tanda, Fortis Hospital, Mohali, offers renal transplant even if blood groups do not match, a new hope for kidney patients, targeting over 150 patients on dialysis.

A team of doctors from Fortis, led by renal transplant surgeon Dr Priyadarshi Ranjan and nephrologist Dr Amit Sharma, today presented before the media a couple from Kangra, who have undergone renal transplant a month ago.

The wife, Rekha Devi, recipient of her husband’s kidney, got a new lease of life after she remained on dialysis for two years. “She has A+ blood group, while her husband, a businessman has B+ group. But renal transplant gave the family a new life,” said Dr Ranjan and Dr Sharma.

But Fortis is not alone that claims such “AB and O incompatible renal transplants” in the country. The clamour for such transplant has been gaining ground ever since the AB and O incompatible renal transplants were performed by private hospitals in Delhi, the South and Mumbai in 2012 and in Japan and the USA.

“The antibodies are taken out from the recipient’s plasma before patients’ immune system is conditioned,” said Dr Ranjan.

“I am feeling good so far. We have to visit hospital twice a week now and we have hired a room in Chandigarh,” said Rekha.

“Since the procedure is a recent one, there isn’t enough data available on the post-transplant life of kidney patients. But the patients can lead a normal life after the transplant and results worldwide are encouraging,” claimed the doctors. 

Mandi, July 22
Researchers at IIT Mandi have developed a new material through which tiny chip-processor can be developed.

Working on a project, an eight-member research group of the IIT has developed a photo-sensitive material by using lithography technology, keeping in view future needs of technological advancement. By using this material, technologists will be able to develop minutest chip-processor, which is most sought after.

The group claims that by using the sensitive material, a minute chip, as tiny as 15 nanometers, can be developed.

In a chip of one nanometer data of the size of 10 lakh nanometers can be saved and a tiny chip-processor developed by using material developed by the IIT team will be able to store data of about 150 lakh nanometers.

At present, a chip of 22-nanometer size is in use. At the international level, five groups are working to develop the generation next chip and Mandi IIT is one of the groups and the only institute carrying research to develop the sensitive material.

The research group at the IIT has been working on this project since 2012, which is being financed by Intel.

Dr Satender Sharma, member of the research group from IIT Mandi, said, “We have developed a sensitive material by using which a tiny chip of 15 nanometers can be developed and are working to get this certified.”

The other members of the group are Dr Vikram Singh, Dr Satya Narain, Dr Kenneth Gonsalvis, Dr Parmajeet Singh, Dr Pradeep Kumar, Dr V Kalyani and Dr Subrato Ghosh. 

Shimla, July 22
Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh presided over the 8th meeting of the Himachal Pradesh Forensic Science Development Board here today.

He said forensic science had become one of the most important areas of scientific study in the present era.

He said latest techniques and equipments were required to bring criminals to book.

“The Forensic Department is playing an important role for detecting crime. It is also working on digital forensic divisions in the state to analyse digital evidences,” said the Chief Minister.

He said the department should adopt Voice Identification and Digital Technology. It should be initially introduced in the Forensic Science Headquarters in Junga and, thereafter, in the regional centres situated in Dharamsala and Mandi.

He said the department should focus on training officials from police, judiciary, prosecution, health, state forensic laboratory departments.

“I am aware of the problems being faced by the department, including staff shortage, infrastructure and other paraphernalia required for its proper functioning,” he said.

He said the proposal regarding the incentives to staff and creating more posts would be looked upon.

Kangra, July 22
A true research must solve the real problems facing mankind and focus must be on creating a corpus of knowledge that has emerged from rigrous activities of the researcher. It must have the potential to bring about qualitative improvement in research in all fields.

This was stated by Prof Kulwant Singh Rana, Director, Regional Centre, Dharamsala. He was the chief guest during the inaugural session of the seven-day national workshop on “Construction and Standardisation of Research Tools”, inaugurated yesterday at the Dronacharya Post Graduate College of Education, Rait.

More than 50 research scholars, faculty and delegates are participating in the workshop. Dr Narender Awasthi, Director, HIET, Dr Anil Agnihotri, Principal, MC College of Education, Nangal, Dr Vishal Sood, IGNOU, HPU, Shimla, GS Pathania, MD, DPGC, Rait, and BS Pathania, Executive Director, were among the other dignitaries. 

Chamba, July 22
The police seized 18 kg of nag chhatri, a valuable forest produce, which was being transported on the roof of a bus on the outskirts of Chamba town last evening.

Giving this information here today, Superintendent of Police DK Chaudhary said a police party which was on patrol intercepted a bus.

On checking the bus, the police recovered the nag chhatri, the SP said.

A case under the relevant sections of the Indian Forest Act and the IPC had been registered against an unidentified person. — OC

Palampur, July 22
The social audit of medical prescriptions by doctors posted in state hospitals has proved to be a failure. The audit had been ordered by the state government a year ago. Health Minister Kaul Singh Thakur, soon after taking over the portfolio of Health Department, had promised people of the state to check malpractices in the department, pertaining to prescription of sub-standard medicines, and to stop the prescriptions of commission-based medicines.

However, there is hardly any impact of his order and the doctors in state hospitals are still prescribing medicines where companies provide them incentives, commission and other benefits. The doctors continue to prescribe sub-standard medicines which are not only costly but also lead to other ailments like renal failure, diabetes and cancer.

A senior officer of the Health Department said due to the administration’s failure, social audit of medical prescription could not be implemented. He disclosed that Chief Medical Officers (CMOs) had been assigned the job to conduct the social audits but barring a few districts, the government’s plan failed to yield any results elsewhere.

It was a matter of concern that over 300 brands of non generic or generic drugs, which were called sub-standard, were selling on the prescription of medical officers.

A doctor on duty, when confronted by this reporter regarding order of social audits of medical prescription, said “No one has the authority to 
challenge the prescriptions of the doctors, even if he is a Health Minister or Principal Secretary Health. Such instructions are routine”. 

Dalhousie, July 22
The Alpine Region Development Council has expressed concern over the depletion of Mahseer fish breed in Himachal Pradesh. Mahseer fish is a scavenger in rivers of Himachal.

In a statement here today, Regional Convener of the council Kanwar Ajit Pratap Singh said it was important to increase the trout fish number in the icy cold waters of different mountainous terrains of the state.

“The trout is a cold water fish and found in abundance in the Ravi, Beas and Sutlej. The rearing of trout fish can generate avenues for livelihood to farmers,” he added.

Speaking about Chamba district, Kanwar said there was ample scope to rear trout fish. He urged Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh to identify more sites in Bhattiyat, Bharmour and Churah areas of the district to introduce trout species.