Shimla, July 29
Twentyone persons were killed while 60 others were injured in two separate accidents of Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) buses in Shimla district today.

Five women and two children were among those killed while five others sustained serious injuries when the HRTC bus rolled 400-metre deep into a gorge at Katarghat on the Basantpur-Kingal highway, 65 km from here this afternoon.

The ill-fated bus carrying over 30 persons was on its way from Shimla to Sawerakhud when the accident took place. All 21 bodies have been recovered. Five critically injured have been brought to Indira Gandhi Medical College Hospital (IGMC) here.

SP, Shimla, DW Negi, who rushed to the spot, said the death toll had risen to 21 and rescue operations were going on. The driver of the bus jumped out of the bus and was reportedly safe but the conductor was among the deceased.

Sources said there was dense fog and the accident occurred while the driver was reversing the vehicle to give way to another vehicle. There was also a slight possibility of his attention being diverted as stones were falling from the adjacent mountain, they added.

The bodies of the victims who are yet to be identified have been sent for post-mortem. Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, who visited the IGMC and enquired about the condition of the injured persons, has asked the hospital administration to provide all possible medical help to them and directed the district administration to conduct the relief and rescue operations on a war footing.

In another accident, 55 persons were injured when an HRTC bus, which was on its way from Janahan to Shimla, met with an accident near Mihana village, 55 kilometre from here.

At the time of the mishap, the bus was overloaded with 70 passengers as commuter from another bus, which developed a technical snag, was accommodated in the bus.

Locals, who rushed the injured to hospital, said a portion of the road sunk and the overloaded bus skidded and overturned in the nearby fields. Out of the 70 passengers, about 52 persons received minor injuries and are being treated at the Civil Hospital, Theog, while three critically injured were rushed to the IGMC here.

Governor Urmilla Singh and Transport Minister G S Bali has also expressed deep shock over the accident and expressed their condolences to the bereaved family members.

Earlier, on May 26, an HRTC bus carrying 60 passengers skidded off road on the Chopal-Shimla route in which 12 people were killed.

Mandi, July 29
The state Kanungo and Patwari Sangh, up in arms against the government’s decision to reduce their quota for promotion to the Himachal Pradesh Administrative Services (HAS), have now started wearing black badges as a mark of protest throughout the state.

The Sangh had given a call to wear black badges from July 26. The government had recently lowered their promotion quota to HAS from 27 to 25 per cent, while quota of promotion of block development officers (BDOs) was raised.

The state government has fixed certain quota for promotion to HAS for different categories of officers and the quota for tehsildars, naib tehsildars, kanungo and patwaris, which used to be 30 per cent sometime ago, has now been reduced to 25 per cent.

The state Revenue Officers and Kanungo and Patwari Sangh have launched a state-wide protest in a phased manner to oppose the lowering of their promotion quota.

Both the organisations are also observing “work to rule” and not performing various duties which they were doing earlier, other than their routine work.

Hans Raj, vice-president of Kanungo and Patwari Sangh, said, “We have taken up this issue with Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh recently and have demanded 35 per cent quota for promotion to HAS.”

The main argument of the revenue staff is that they have only one channel for their promotion which is HAS, while other categories have many promotion channels in their respective departments too.

Shimla, July 29
Nagarjuna Construction Company (NCC) and TAQA, an Abu Dhabi consortium, have taken the state government for a ride in a deal of the 150 mw Sorang power project in Kinnaur without its approval. None of the companies has so far responded to the notice issued by the state to the companies over the deal.

The sale of the Sorang project to TAQA by NCC was unearthed when a former Rajasthan Congress MP shot off a letter to the Chief Minister and the Principal Secretary, Power, on May 13 last that TAQA had not settled the issue with the NCC.

The NCC has sold the Sorang project to TAQA. TAQA was also involved in the reported buying of the two power projects - 1000 mw Karcham-Wangtoo and 300 mw Baspa - in Kinnaur. The deal could not materialise later on.

In this case also, neither TAQA nor Jaypee had responded to the government notices whether they had sold or bought the project or not, said officials in the power department.

TAQA struck the deal with the NCC without the approval of the state government. The NCC has not sought the permission from the government and sold 49 per cent shares to TAQA, violating Implementation Agreement, said officials.

The NCC had obtained permission to sell just 5 per cent equity in the Sorang project despite the fact that the project is under execution. The state government gave an NOC to sell the 5 per cent equity to the NCC subject to the condition that the company would submit the supplementary implementation agreement (IA) within two months, which it has not submitted so far, revealed sources.

As per the hydropower policy and IA that the government signed with each company, no company can sell the project before it is commissioned.

But the NCC has not submitted the fresh IA so far. “We have served a notice to the NCC after the deal came to light, but none of the companies have responded so far”, officials told The Tribune.

Principal Secretary, Power, SKBS Negi said the government had not received any reply to the notice served on Nagarjuna Construction Company and JP Power. “We will issue a fresh notice as the permission is mandatory”, he added. 

Shimla, July 29
Former DGP of Himachal Pradesh ID Bhandari today said after more than one-and-a-half years of investigation, no illegality had been detected against any officer in the phone-tapping case, but Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh had made it a prestige issue and all possible efforts were being made to dug out something out of nothing.

Referring to a news item that the Chief Minister has given approval for prosecution in the phone-tapping case, he said such reports were being highlighted on the basis of selective and libellous leakages from the investigating agency.

“My stand is clear that not even a single telephone was tapped without following the laid down procedure as no service provider will give access to such monitoring, knowing its illegality and consequence” he said, adding that the investigation by a special team should not have taken more than a month but that never suited to the vested interests and political bosses.

There are several cases against corrupt officials caught red-handed or those with evidence about their disproportionate assets, but nothing had been done. 

Shimla, July 29
As many as five families lost their six bighas of cultivable land, along the standing vegetable and flower crops, after flash flood that was triggered by illegal cutting by a private hotel near Janerhghat here today.

The kisan sabha demanded compensation for the families as the loss ran into several lakh, stated HKS president Dr Kuldip Tanvar. — TNS

Shimla, July 29
Heavy rain lashed Shimla, Kangra, Mandi and Kullu districts, throwing normal life out of gear as the monsoon remained active in the region for the third day today. Six trees were uprooted and power transmission lines were snapped as rain triggered landslides and the major part of Shimla town remained without electricity for more than 24 hours.

“Power supply was hit as transmission lines and poles were badly damaged and it was difficult to erect the poles amid heavy rain but power supply was restored by the evening, said HPSEB engineers.

All major rivers and their tributaries are flowing above the danger mark and people living along banks of the rivers, downstream the dams have been asked to take necessary precautions and shift to safer places.

Dharamsala experienced downpour and recorded 119 mm rain while Shimla and Jubbarhatti received 89 mm and 60 mm rain, followed by Manali 47 mm, Bajaura 45 mm, Jogindernagar 37 mm, Bhandal 26 mm, Sangrah and Kangra 24 mm each, Kahu 22 mm and Jhungi 20 mm.

The maximum temperatures decreased by 2 degrees and Una recorded a high of 43 degrees followed by Kangra 29.4 degrees, Sundernagar 28.5 degree, Bhuntar 28.4 degrees, Solan 27 degrees, Dharamsala 26.4 degrees Nahan 25.2 degrees, Kalpa 22.2 degrees and Shimla 22 degrees.

There was no appreciable change in the minimum temperature and Kalpa recorded a low of 14 degrees C followed by Keylong and Manali 14.6 degrees each, while the key tourist resorts of Dalhousie, Shimla and Dharamsala recorded 15.5 degrees, 16.3 degrees and 16.8 degrees followed by Nahan 17.2 degrees, Bhuntar 19 degree, Solan and Palampur 20.2 degrees each, Kangra 21.7 degrees, Sundernagar 22 degrees, Una 22.6 degrees and Mandi 23 degrees C.

The local Met office has predicted heavy rain at isolated places in mid-hills tomorrow while light to moderate rain will occur at some places in lower hills over the next 72 hours. Shimla will experience thunder with rain for the next six days.

Kangra, July 29
Three persons were killed on the spot, when a car in which they were travelling got buried under the debris following a massive landslide at Jassor village, falling under Nagrota Bagwan police station in this subdivision, today.

Inder Singh, Station House Officer, Nagrota Bagwan, said the three persons, identified as Nav Deep Thakur, 36, of Barri village on Baroh Road, Raju , 40, of 53 Mile village and Darinder Sharma, 34, of Gurkhari were travelling in a car (HP 40 C 1055 ) on the Balder-Jassor Road, when a landslide triggered at Jassor village, following which the car got buried under the debris and boulders.

He said all three died on the spot, adding that it was difficult to take out the bodies from the car. Police said all three were government contractors. The bodies were taken to Tanda medical college and were handed over to the families after conducting the postmortem.

Meanwhile, Transport Minister GS Bali, who was on his way to Shimla rushed to Nagrota Bagwan from Solan immediately. He directed the district authorities to take all steps for the relief of the bereaved families. 

Kullu, July 29
The incessant rain throughout the day has increased the water level in various streams and rivulets in the district. The Beas and Parvati were flooded and the administration has directed the SDMs to evacuate people living beside these rivers.

Deputy Commissioner, Kullu, Rakesh Kanwar has appealed to the masses not to go near the rivers as the water can increase.

The Meteorological Department has forecast that the spell will continue for three to four days. Farmers and orchadists are having a tough time transporting fruits and vegetables to the markets due to heavy rain. 

Chamba, July 29
The Chamba-Bairagarh-Killar highway, linking the Pangi tribal valley with the rest of the Chamba district, remained blocked for two days due to heavy landslides at the Shukrali Nala following heavy rain, according to reports reaching the district headquarters.

The reports revealed that landslides at Shukrali Nala had become a recurring problem even during a little spell of rain, which blocks the highway and hinders the movement of vehicular traffic.

Passengers had a tough time looking for an accommodation after the traffic was disrupted on the highway. Besides, traders were apprehensive about the rotting of vegetables and other produce being carried on vehicles, the reports said.

The officials, however, were on the job to clear the debris and to resume vehicular traffic on the highway, the reports said.

Meanwhile, Forest Minister TS Bharmouri has taken a serious note of the blockade of the highway and asked authorities to restore highway for plying of vehicular traffic.

Mandi, July 29
The police recovered two unidentified bodies from near the Larji dam here today.

The bodies, both of males, were seen floating in the Beas at about 11 this morning, which were pulled out by the police.

Una, July 29
Industries Minister Mukesh Agnihotri today dedicated two rain shelters constructed in Mussoorie style to the public.

Such shelters have been constructed in Bathu and Bathari panchayats of the Haroli segment by the Industry Department. Each shelter was built at a cost of Rs 13 lakh.

Speaking on the occasion, the minister said since the two panchayats were situated close to the Punjab border, the hill ambience of the shelters would appeal to people coming to the state.

The minister said a rain shelter had already been constructed on the pattern of the one at The Ridge in Shimla, three had been constructed on the Mussoorie style and two more would be constructed in the style of Rajasthani architecture in the Haroli segment.

Dharamsala, July 29
Dharamsala and Kangra valley are considered one of the wettest regions in the country as the region receives very heavy rainfall during monsoon. But still several places here face shortage of drinking and irrigation water.

Rainwater harvesting was one of the solutions to the irrigation and drinking water problems of the area. But hardly anyone benefits from the heavy rainfall that lashes the area during monsoon.

Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Agriculture University in Palampur had developed simple models for rainwater harvesting, which included digging pits and covering the ground with tarpaulin sheets. The tarpaulin sheets are then covered with bricks.

According to experts, these pits can provide water for drinking and irrigation purposes in rural areas.

These pits do not inculcate much cost and in rural areas such pits can be constructed under MGNREGA, they said.

However, there are few takers of the university rainwater harvesting model which is economical and more effective in Kangra district. Instead of adopting the simple university model, the Forest and Rural Development Departments have constructed certain rainwater harvesting structures of concrete in rural areas. However, due to poor upkeep, these structures have been rendered useless.

Besides, the university model of rainwater water harvesting, the traditional a khatri is another effective model for rainwater harvesting in rural areas of Kangra district.

These are generally prevalent in water-scarce areas, commonly known as Changar areas of Kangra and Hamirpur districts.

The knowledge of forming khatris is slowly dying with traditional artisans. Information gathered from locals in the Khudian area near Jawalamukhi revealed that local artisans select a place in the hills for developing the structure. The basic criterion for selecting the place was the presence of thick vegetation over the hill and sandy rocks. The artisans chisel out a room at about 45 degrees gradient into the hill. The room is generally 10X12 feet in dimension and can store water up to 1 lakh litre. According to sources, water percolates into khatris through the roof. In a few cases, skilled artisans found permanent streams of water in the hills through which water seeped throughout the year. The khatris are generally filled up to the brim in monsoon as the area receives heavy rain during these months.

These serve as a source of water in Changar areas during the winter and summer season. The traditional khatris can store thousands of litres of water.

Experts said rainwater harvesting should be made mandatory at new houses coming up in the area.

“It is ironical that despite being one of the wettest areas in the country, people still suffer from water shortage in the Kangra valley,” they said.

Shimla, July 29
Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Amit Mandyal today said the villagers, hit by natural disaster could avail a free legal aid to seek justice in the court.

Addressing a gathering at Anandpur village in the district on the occasion of the literacy camp, Mandiyal said the applicants could apply for the free legal aid in the district court. The applicants can get financial assistance from the court, he added.

He said it was the duty of each individual to make the society aware about the increasing drug menace, female infanticide, pollution and excessive use of the chemicals in crops and other problems. 

Shimla, July 29
Ministers in the Virbhadra government today said the BJP was targeting Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh as the party was rattled by the investigations into various allegations against Dhumal, his family and other BJP leaders on the basis of the Congress chargesheet.

In a statement issued here, Irrigation and Public Health Minister Vidya Stokes, Industries Minister Mukesh Agnihotri, Transport Minister GS Bali and Rural Development Minister Anil Sharma said the BJP was targeting Virbhadra out of sheer frustration. They termed the statement of BJP leaders malicious and mischievous.

They said the BJP had a one-point programme of attacking the Chief Minister to divert public attention from the misdeeds of its leaders. The two-day meeting of the state BJP was devoted to discredit the achievements of the Congress government and countering the popularity of Virbhadra Singh, which only reflected its negative mindset, they added.

The ministers said the BJP had been nursing an evil desire of bringing down the government ever since it had been ousted by the Congress in the Assembly elections.

“BJP leaders had been making public statements that the Congress government would fall after the formation of the new government at the Centre. Contrary to their wishes, the government was strong and stable, and doing well,” they stated.

They said it was former Chief Minister PK Dhumal, who brought politics of vendetta and victimisation. “During his first tenure from 1998 to 2003, Dhumal unleashed a vendetta against Virbhadra Singh by registered false cases against him, including the Sagar Katha case, and also submitted a 32-point chargesheet against Virbhadra Singh to the CBI for investigation, in which he got a clean chit,” they said.

They said after assuming power, the Congress had pursued pro-people programmes, benefiting every section of the society. “The pace of developmental activities will be further speeded up”, they added. They said the Dhumal government had left a legacy of empty coffers and shattered economy, which the present government was painstakingly resurrecting.

Shimla, July 29
The fear of the merger of two separate cadres of doctors at Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC), Shimla, and Tanda Medical College in Kangra has once again come to haunt the medical fraternity as the government is all set to merge the two cadres to ensure the smooth functioning of the three new medical colleges granted by the Centre recently.

Even as the doctors’ association at the IGMC and Tanda are opposing the proposed merger, the government seems to have made up its mind to go forward with the decision.

The opinion of the Law Department has already been sought and if need be, the matter can be placed before the Cabinet as well.

The Association of Medical and Dental College Teachers IGMC met Health Minister Kaul Singh Thakur here yesterday to convey their viewpoint.

“We want to merge the two cadres before the three new medical colleges come up at Chamba, Sirmour and Hamirpur so that the matter does not get complicated further,” Thakur said.

He said the matter was being minutely examined by the Law Department and the decision would not be taken in haste.

Defending the decision, the minister said in case of a common cadre, the government had more flexibility in filling up the posts and since three new medical colleges had been announced for Himachal, the merger was necessary.

He pointed out that the seniority of doctors would be considered from their date of joining.

It was in 2007-08 that the common cadre of medical college doctors was separated after seeking options from doctors as to whether they wanted to stay at IGMC or move to Tanda.

“There are more than 15 doctors, who have foregone their seniority and now with cadre merger they will become junior to those who were under them which will be unfair,” doctors at IGMC said.

They also pointed out that shifting doctors from one medical college could affect the already two established colleges in Shimla and Tanda.

As many as 220 doctors, posted at IGMC and 130 at Tanda, will be affected by the merger of the cadres of the two medical colleges.

“We are also of the opinion that the government can create a common cadre for the three new medical colleges to be opened in the near future and let the cadres at IGMC and Tanda remain separate,” they reasoned out.

However, health officials said: “While undertaking the merger of the two cadres, it will be ensured that no injustice is meted out to anyone.”

Shimla, July 29
Former Governor of Nagaland and Manipur Dr Ashwani Kumar has been appointed Pro Vice-Chancellor of APG Shimla University. Dr Kumar, who possesses in-depth knowledge of tribal culture of various states, such as Himachal, J&K, Nagaland and Manipur, was honoured with the prestigious President’s Medal in 1999 for his distinguished services.

Prior to his appointment as Governor of Nagaland and Manipur, he was the Director, CBI, Delhi, and had held the post of Director General of Police of Himachal.

Bharmour, July 29
To boost religious tourism in mountainous terrains of Bharmour tribal subdivision in Chamba district, the state government has accorded priority to widen dangerous curves on the road beyond the Palani Nala to reach the famous Banni Mata shrine. This will facilitate pilgrims and visitors visiting the Banni Mata temple.

This was stated by Forest Minister Thakur Singh Bharmouri while laying the foundation stone of Palani Nala bridge to be constructed at a cost of ~513.49 lakh at Badgran in Bharmour tribal subdivision.

The minister said the steel-truss bridge across the Palani Nala would have a span of 58 metres and benefit about 2,000 inhabitants.

He said this year, ~10.13 crore was being spent on construction of roads and bridges in Bharmour subdivision to accelerate the pace of development in the area.

Bharmouri said to mitigate the problem of parking in the tribal township, work on building a ~2-crore parking lot was underway.

He also laid the foundation stone of a shopping complex in the township to be constructed at a cost of Rs 1.43 crore. This amount was being financed by the Special Area Development Authority.

Bharmouri directed officials to get the parking lot and the shopping complex completed within the set timeframe. 

Una, July 29
Hundreds of residents today gathered at the Tahliwal Chowk to protest the decision of the state Cabinet to upgrade Nangal Kalan gram panchayat to nagar panchayat. The decision was taken during a recent meeting of the Cabinet. The Tahliwal industrial area falls in the Nangal Kalan panchayat.

Upon losing the status of gram panchayat, Nangal Kalan will come under the ambit of the Urban Development Department for development works. The protesters said there were about 300 MGNREGA workers in the panchayat, who will lose their jobs then. Local BJP leadership also stepped in to support the protesters. The people expressed concerns that the Rural Development Department schemes, such as grants for construction of houses, will not be available to them.

BJP Assembly elections contestant Ram Kumar said the gram panchayat had passed a resolution against the conversion to nagar panchayat. He said Industries Minister Mukesh Agnihotri, the local MLA, was acting like a dictator.

“Why should people be forced to pay higher water charges and go through the cumbersome process of the Town and Country Planning Department even to construct a single room in their house?, he questioned.

Agnihotri said Tahliwal was the second fastest growing industrial area of the state. It had industrial investment worth thousands of crores, had two truck unions, 500 shops and thousands of labourers from within and outside the state. The government investment in the area was also worth hundreds of crores.

The minister said there were adequate funds with the Urban Development Department for laying sewage systems, waste management plants, roads, street lights, community toilets and other urban infrastructure. He contended that Tahliwal was already a town and the required facilities could not be provided by a gram panchayat.

Agnihotri said a few disgruntled elements of the Opposition were trying to reverse the development process of Haroli segment, which would not be allowed. He said during the BJP regime, the same people had assured the locals to upgrade the gram panchayat to nagar panchayat. 

Mandi, July 29
The state committee of CITU has decided to launch an agitation on different issues of workers throughout the state.

State secretary of CITU Dr Kashmir Singh Thakur said CITU would hold a protest on August 8 against attack on workers in West Bengal.

He said they would build movement in the state on various problems and issues of unorganised workers like mid-day meal workers, anganwadi workers, MGNREGA workers and workers in power projects, building construction would hold a protest at Parliament, New Delhi, on August 5 to highlight problems of mid-day meal workers. To demand equal wage for equal work. CITU would start a campaign from August 15 throughout the state, he added. — TNS

Kangra, July 29
The life-saving tuberculosis (TB) drug, Ethionamide, required for the treatment of the multi drug resistant (MDR) and extensively drug resistant (XDR) cases of TB, was not available in the state presently, endangering the lives of MDR and XDR TB patients.

Kangra Chief Medical Officers BM Gupta today said the life-saving drug, made available by the Central Tuberculosis Division of the Government of India, was not being supplied for quite some time. He said he was told about its non-availability last week and a requisition was made and hoped that it might reach the district within a week or so.

The CMO said the medicine was being supplied by the Central TB Division to the state TB Division and further to the district TB officers for giving to patients.

Keeping in view the non-availability of the medicine with the government, some local philanthropists donated it to 70 TB patients in the district. The CMO confirmed that local philanthropists and NGOs came forward to help the TB patients. 

Kullu, July 29
The contest for the upcoming Manali Hoteliers Association (MHA) election, scheduled for August 4, has got tough with as many as 21 candidates entering the fray for various posts of president, vice-president, general secretary, joint secretary, cashier and press secretary.

The association has nominated former MLA Thakur Chandersen, Ajay Abrol and former Zila Parishad member Chandersen as election officers.

MHA president AR Thakur, former (MHA) president Gajendra Thakur, Devender Negi, CR Premi, Joginder Thakur, Budhi Prakash and Jitender Thakur are in the fray for the top post of the association. Four candidates, namely GR Thakur, Budhi Prakash, Raghunath Sud and Amar Nath, are in the fray for the post of vice-president. Dola Ram Thakur, Mohan Singh Boktapa, Sushil Kumar and Sudershan Thakur have filed the nomination papers for the post of general secretary. Mukesh Thakur and Sushil Kumar will face each other for the post of joint secretary and Om Prakash and Mohan Singh will fight for the post of press secretary.

Solan, July 29
With colonies lacking mandatory basic amenities mushrooming in the Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh industrial area, without following the provision of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1977, the state government has directed the deputy commissioner (DC) to check their growth and send a report about such colonies to the Revenue Department.

According to a letter written by the principal secretary (revenue) to the DC, a copy of which was available with The Tribune, it was brought to the notice of the state that the registrars and sub-registrars in the area falling under the Baddi Barotiwala Nalagarh Development Authority (BBNDA) were registering conveyance deeds of sale and gift on share basis in violation of the Town and Country Planning norms, where it is mandatory to obtain prior approval for division of plot from the BBNDA before transferring the ownership to the next incumbent.

The government has now strictly directed the DC to check such registrations and also warned the revenue officials to face action if provision of the TCP Act were not implemented.

Since it is mandatory to apply for license and registration if the plot size is more than 2,500 sq feet or if the dwelling units are more than eight, as per the TCP norms, any such sub-division instituted is considered illegal. Though earlier the provision of registration was mandatory under the HP Apartment and Property Regulation Act, 2005, it was later merged with the TCP Act, thus requiring all property dealers and builders to seek registration under this act.

The lack of approval for division of plots is leading to a situation where unplanned plots and colonies were coming up, which lack space for mandatory amenities like sanitation, green zones, road, parking etc.

Such illegal colonies have not only become a cause of concern to the BBNDA as they lack proper green zones and sanitation facilities, the absence of parking space is leading to haphazard development in the area where regulating constructions has already become a harcuelan task.

Though the BBNDA is trying to implement a master plan chalked out to undertake planned development of the area, it is hanging fire since the last almost seven years due to objections from the locals. However, the property dealers have made maximum gains from the area by carving out unapproved plots and even getting them registered.

It remains to be seen how the BBNDA would manage to save further damage to the area by bringing about planned development. 

Shimla, July 29
The IPH Department will set up water ATMs at Chintpurni, Mandi and Dari in Dharamsala on a pilot basis to give quality water to people.

This was stated by Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh yesterday while dedicating the first water ATM unit at The Ridge in Shimla to locals and tourists. He said the government would install water ATMs at temples, tourist destinations and major fairs to provide quality water.

“More ATMs will be set up at Vikasnagar and at the old bus stand in Shimla,” he said.

Virbhadra said: “Tourists use packaged drinking water which produces non-biodegradable waste, but now they can use water ATMs. The Shimla Municipal Corporation will get rid of empty plastic water bottles left behind by tourists,” he said.

He said water ATMs were being installed by a Mumbai-based company under its brand ‘Sarvajal’ on a no-profit no-loss basis through a tripartite MoU signed between this company, IPH Department and the user agency on built, operate, manage and maintain (BOMM) basis.

This firm had been successfully operating water ATMs in Gujarat, Rajasthan and Delhi, he said.

IPH Minister Vidya Stokes, Mayor Sanjay Chauhan and other officials were present. 

Nurpur, July 29
Aakriti Heer (20), from Suliali, who brought laurels for the state by becoming the youngest Indian girl to successfully climb Mountain Elbrus, the highest peak in Russia, was accorded a rousing reception on her arrival to her native place today.

Local people, led by MLA Ajay Mahajan, assembled at Kandwal barrier on the Himachal Pradesh and Punjab border to greet Aakriti.

Arunima Sinha, founder of the Pandit Chander Shekhar Azad Viklang Khel Academy and Prosthetic Limb Centre, Lucknow, who had organised the all women expedition, told The Tribune on telephone that Aakriti became the youngest girl of the country to undertake this adventure.

Krishan Heer, Aakriti’s father, said he was feeling proud of his daughter for her feat.

Aakriti, a BCA student, had earlier successfully scaled the Gangotri peak, at 16,000 feet in Uttarkashi in Uttarakhand, in 2012.

Sharing her experience of climbing the 18,510-feet peak, she said she had to eat bread and grams while mountaineering. “It was a tough job but I took it as a challenge and succeeded in hoisting the national flag on the peak.”

Aakriti said her next mission is to conquer Mount Everest, provided the state government or private companies sponsor her expedition.

She said girls should not feel weak as they have full potential and parents must also encourage and motivate them to succeed in various fields.

Shimla, July 29
To address the concerns of women of the state, a one-day seminar on “Women and Development in (Himalayan) Mountain Region: Issues and Concerns” held recently has called for recognition of women’s right to land in the matrimonial house and productive assets immediately after her marriage, besides joint ownership in the property, and recognition of women as farmers.

The seminar, organised by National Commission for Women and State Women Commission, also recommended 50 per cent reservation to women in all government programmes and committees and decision making, planning, implementation and reservation for women in Lok Sabha and State Assemblies.

Jenab Chandel, chairperson of the State Women Commission, said the issue of right to inheritance to women in tribal areas was also discussed and it was suggested that necessary amendment in the Succession Act be made to include tribal women as coparcener so that they may have right to property in ancestral and matrimonial home.

He said a unanimous opinion emerged that women be equipped with latest technology, provision for dissemination of knowledge of new technology developed by the universities should be made at their doorsteps and training be imparted in agriculture, horticulture and animal husbandry.

Experts from the University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan, suggested that for technical empowerment, women should diversify according to the availability of fruits and vegetables in that area and training in fruit and vegetable processing /preservation be also provided to women entrepreneurs.

The seminar also recommended that there should be some agency for interface between the NGOs and organisation and a women liaison-cum-research officer be appointed in the state commission to work on advocacy, policy and research-related women issues.

It also recommended improvement in quality of education and inclusion of chapters on gender issues, gender sensitisation of teachers and students at all levels and libraries at panchayat headquarters to facilitate access to education for women.

The seminar demanded removal of ban on export of monkeys for bio-medical research, appointment of chowkidars through MGNREGA for checking monkey menace, affordable and acceptable access to justice, revival of nyaya panchayats (judicial panchayats), documentation of traditional wisdom of women and political empowerment of women in the region.

Solan, July 29
A Scorpio (HP-20-C-0016) attached to the HP Housing and Urban Development Authority rammed into two kiosks at Bagbania on the Baddi-Nalagarh highway today and killed an elderly man leaving two others injured.

S Arul Kumar, Superintendent of Police, Baddi police district, said driver Durga Ram had been arrested and a case of rash and negligent driving had been registered against hi. He said further investigations were on.

He said Sant Ram, a 70-year-old man, who was sitting on a chair near the kiosk, was hit by the speeding Scorpio that was coming from Baddi. It injured two kiosk owners Rakesh Kumar from Moradabad and Ram Swaroop from Badau as well. It seems the vehicle driver tried changing its direction before hitting the three victims, but since it was in high speed, it failed to avert the mishap.

Sant Ram succumbed at the Nalagarh-based First Referral Unit.

Palampur, July 29
SDM Bhupinder Attari today conducted surprise raids on many shops at Palampur, Maranda, Kalu Di Hatti and Thakurdwara under the provisions of the Himachal Pradesh Essential Com\modities Act.

The SDM inspected these and filed challans against 16 shopkeepers for violating the provisions of the Act and indulging in profiteering. Several persons had not displayed the price list at their shops. Besides, many of them were charging hefty rates from consumers in violation of notification of the state government.

Talking to mediapersons, he said he had also seized 19 domestic LPG cylinders being used at dhabas and restaurants. He had received complaints, particularly against fruit and vegetable dealers, that they were indulging in profiteering, hoarding and cheating.

Dharamsala, July 29
The district police have booked a person for allegedly entering into a brawl and threatening the private security officer (PSO) of Minister for Food and Civil Supplies, Transport and Technical Education, GS Bali.

Sources said the incident occurred today evening, when the minister was leaving to Shimla from Kangra. They said a man driving a private car (HP-36-9534) over took the minister’s cavalcade near Narain Pukhar on the Kangra-Paragpur road and parked his car in the middle of the road.

The PSO in his complaint to the police said the car driver threatened to kill him. The police have registered a case under Sections 341, 504, 506 and 186 of the IPC.