Shimla, November 3
The objectionable writings on the walls of the Arts block and Law Department buildings and on the campus road against the Vice-Chancellor and the Chief Minister over the controversial fee hike and banning of the Students Council elections ignited a fresh trouble in the Himachal Pradesh University here today.

The police have lodged an FIR under the Disfigurement Act against unidentified persons for the objectionable and defamatory wall writings against the V-C and CM after the objectionable slogans were detected by the university staff and the police.

The slogans have raised the concern of the teaching fraternity and students as the issue has fuelled a fresh row in the trouble-torn campus where the police have launched a hunt to identify students leaders in agitation against the fee hike. The high-powered committee has submitted its report to the government which is yet to take a final call on the issue.

The objectionable wall writings have defaced the public property and buildings as the campus is not owned by anyone, resented students and teachers on the campus. Both students and university administration and V-C are equally to be blamed for the ugly situation, they added. The members of the joint front of the student wings blamed the VC and the state government for the deteriorating law and order situation.

Student Federation of India campus president Rahul Kumar said, “The defacement of public property is bad thing. But the question is who is creating situation that has been leading to such bad things on the campus?”

The students belonging to the SFI-ABVP joint front justified the wall writings with derogatory slogans on the campus. But the NSUI has remained tightlipped on the issue.

HPU Registrar Dr Mohal Jharta said they had lodged the complaint with the police to nab the culprits. “We will take action against them. The university will abide by the decision of the government on the fee hike issue ”, he added. SP, Shimla, DW Negi said the police had lodged the FIR against the persons on the complaint of the university. 

Shimla, November 3
Former Chief Minister PK Dhumal today demanded that the state government must reduce bus fare and freight rates for carriage by road transport so that the relief given by the Modi regime by reducing the prices of petrol and diesel could reach the common man.

Talking to mediapersons here today, he said people of the state were being deprived of the benefit of reduction in petrol and diesel prices due to an increase in VAT by the state government. “All that the Congress regime has done ever since it came to power is to initiate false cases against their political rivals and suspend representatives of the Panchayati Raj Institutions, who are affiliated to the BJP on frivolous charges.”

Dhumal also charged the Virbhadra regime of making wasteful expenditure by appointing hordes of chairmen and vice-chairmen. “I want to know whether even a single chairman or vice-chairman has given any report or suggestions which could be beneficial to the government,” he said. He added that crores of rupees were being spent on vehicles, residence, staff and office of these chairmen and vice-chairmen.

He also contested the claims of Congress leaders on the poor financial health of the state. “When the BJP came to power, the recommendations of the 5th Pay Commission were implemented for both the employees as well as pensioners and the last installment of DA due at that time was also paid,” he said.

He added that the remarks of some of the Congress leaders that the BJP had given too much financial benefits to the employees also exposed the “double standards” of the ruling party.

He said the BJP regime had given free uniform under the Atal School Uniform Scheme, subsidy to farmers and horticulturists and a strong infrastructure was created at every level. “It is a welcome step that the Chief Minister is going to hold investors meet as it will help generate employment and revenue, but at the same time the government must cut down on wasteful expenditure,” he said.

“The results of the Lok Sabha polls and bypolls to the Sujanpur Assembly segment were a warning signal for the Congress,” he said.

Dhumal said the Shimla Mandal of the BJP had donated Rs 1 lakh for the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund and all 68 mandals in the state would do so. “I am glad that the Shimla Mandal has taken the lead as they were also the first one to collect money and relief item for the flood-affected people of Kashmir,” he said.

Shimla, November 3
Scientists at the Central Potato Research Institute (CRPI) here are grappling to win back farmers into cultivating potatoes, which is losing sheen even in Lahaul-Spiti over the years, which was once a prized potato bowl.

CPRI has a challenge ahead to produce 52 million tonnes on 3 million hectare in the country by 2025. It seeks to grow potatoes in non-growing areas in Punjab, Bihar, UP, where farmers can get three crops a year.

CPRI has developed new varieties such as Kufri Himalayani, Kufri Sailja, Girdhari and Him Sona that can yield 150 quintal per hectare in Lahaul, scientists said here on the sidelines of a seminar on Emerging Problems of Potato that concluded at CPRI yesterday.

But scientists face a tough challenge as to how to win over farmers by providing them newer, pure, disease-free and drought-resistant varieties of potatoes and maintain the purity of breeder seeds.

Things look grim at a time when apple and other horticultural crops such as peas and vegetable crops have taken over the cultivation of potatoes in Shimla, Kullu, Kinnaur, Chamba and Lahaual-Spiti.

Vegetable crops are calling the shots in Lahaul-Spiti, Mandi, Kangra, Solan and Sirmaur and have pushed potato to the sidelines, said farmers.

They cited low returns, recurring diseases, pest outbreaks and labour-intensive nature of the crop as reasons behind abandoning it in its Lahauli borough over the years.

The area under potato has decreased from 807 hectare in 2003 to 680 hectare this year — a drastic drop of 15.7 per cent in 10 years.

In contrast, farmers produced 44,240 metric tonne vegetables on 2,221 hectare this year. The area under vegetables was 1,520 hectare and the production was just 532 metric tonnes in 2003-04.

Scientists said the Lahaul belt exported seed potatoes to Gujarat, UP and West Bengal and other states. “The mixed varieties of Kufri Jyoti and Chandra Mukhi have lost markets,” said Dr NK Pande, principal scientists and divisional head at CPRI.

“We give breeder seed to the state government to multiply it, but it failed as farmers could not maintain its purity,” he said.

Deputy director general, horticulture, Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR) Dr NK Krishan Kumar said there was a need to increase productivity from 22 tonnes per hectare to 30 tonnes per hectare by taking care of biotic stress, pests and other diseases in the next few years.

Director, CPRI, BP Singh, said the institute had developed 51 new varieties of potatoes for different regions in the country. The scientists apply Genome techniques to develop better varieties that take care of the shape, size, diseases and drought, he said. 

Hamirpur, November 3
The fund-starved district administration is caught in a piquant situation regarding the holding of the state-level Hamir Utav scheduled from November 11 to 13.

The problem has been further aggravated with the High Court orders restraining the administration from using school grounds for celebrating a government function.

It was reliably learnt that the district administration had changed the venue of the festival from the ground at Senior Secondary School for Boys in the heart of the town, where it has, over the years, been celebrated traditionally, to the police ground located quite far away from the main town.

This location may fail to attract the public. It is being apprehended that it will affect the security of people as they have to come from far-off places to reach the venue. The festival is organized to mark the formation of the district on November 1, 1966.

Rohan Chand Thakur, Deputy Commissioner (DC), said the utsav would be celebrated at the Police Ground near Dosarka and the administration would provide all facilities.

He said there would be no compromise on the entertainers.

Shimla, November 3
The fire services remain in disarray in the state as the state government lacks a political will to modernise the fire-fighting infrastructure even as the Ministry of Home Affairs is ready to create fire infrastructure and sustain it for 10 years.

The Centre is ready to create infrastructure and sustain it in the cost ratio of 75:25 for 10 years, but the state is not ready to maintain the infrastructure after that, said sources.

The state needs 103 firemen and 27 officers to run 22 fire stations as the posts of fireman are vacant. Even there is no regular Chief Fire Officer as the post is handled by the Commandant, Home Guard.

The department’s proposal to modernise the fire-fighting services and equipment at the state’s 22 fire stations has been stuck with the Ministry of Home Affairs for the past two years, said fire service officials.

The department has sent a Rs 65 crore project proposal to modernise the fire services to the ministry in October last year but it awaits the sanction. Fire stations need a rescue tender, a mobilisation bus, 150 fire suits, 100 breathing apparatus refill, 25 full-body harnesses, two lifeguard human life-detector, two victim location search cameras and 20 petrol-driven chain saws, revealed fire officials.

“We have got Rs 3.70 crore, Rs 1.70 crore for fire station buildings and Rs 2 crore for tribal SC/ST component. We are buying accessories and seven fire tenders”, said BS Chauhan, who holds the charge of state Chief Fire Officer.

“The department has not received Rs 3.75 crore grant so far from the Centre, leave alone modernisation of fire services. We are meeting manpower shortage”, said officials.

“The department need 30 breathing apparatus sets, 25 charging compressors for breathing, 50 AFT water mist backpacks, 50 fire entry suits, five inflatable emergency, 10 advanced fire tenders for the industrial areas. “To fight fire at high-rise and inaccessible buildings, we need a 32-metre hydraulic platform that costs Rs 4 crore”, said firemen.

Similarly, three posts of Divisional Fire Officers, Shimla and Baldein Fire Training Centre, four posts of 10 fire officer at Nahan, Kullu, Chamba and Dharamsala, six posts of sub-fire officer at Rohru, Una, Kinnaur, Rampur, Manali and Parwanoo industrial hub, 17 sanctioned posts of the leading fireman and shift in charge had been vacant for the past two to five years, revealed insiders.

There was a condition that a town having a population of 50,000 would have a fire station with modern equipment. The state Home Department had not taken up the matter with the National Fire Advisory Council to relax the condition as small towns in the state have is less population, revealed fire officials.

Mandi, November 3
Mandi MP Ram Swaroop Sharma has adopted Manali village in Kullu district for development under the Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana, a scheme announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The village, which is famous for the historic Hidamba Mata and Manu Maharaj temples, lacks basis amenities.

The MP said it was important to develop the village as tourists visit the place throughout the year.

He said with development of the village, more tourists would come which would increase the income of local residents. — TNS

Dalhousie, November 3
The police seized 950 gm of charas from a pedestrian near Bailey, 7 km from here, last evening, as per a report today.

The report said when a police party was on patrol at Bailey, the pedestrian on seeing them tried to flee. But he was intercepted by the police. The police inspected his baggage and recovered the charas from it, the report said.

The accused, identified as Shiv Ram, was arrested. A case under Section 20 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substance (NDPS) Act had been registered against the accused Shiv Ram at the Dalhousie police station, the report said, adding that further investigation was under way.

Kangra, November 3
A 24-year-old woman of Ambari, Nagrota Bagwan, died of poisoning at the DRPGMCH, Tanda, today after consuming poison reportedly by mistake.

Inder Singh, SHO, Nagrota Bagwan, said Joyti was married six-years ago and was the mother of two children. He said she consumed poison by mistake and was rushed to the DRPGMCH at Tanda where she died today. A case has been registered and further investigations are on.

Meanwhile, the body of a 55-year-old woman, who was missing since October 21, was found by the police and brought to the DRPGMCH, Tanda, today for the postmortem. The police said Sita Devi, wife of Ranjeet Singh of Badaird village, Una, was missing since October 21 and her body was found yesterday. 

Shimla, November 3
The HP High Court today directed the state government to place on record the copy of the decision taken by it regarding providing land for the old age home at Rampur Bushahr within four weeks.

A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Mansoor Ahmad Mir and Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan passed the order after perusing the affidavit filed by the Deputy Commissioner, Shimla. It was stated that the administration had already taken a decision to provide land for the old age home and after obtaining approval from the state government the land would be given on lease basis to the Bushahr Jan Kalyan Sabha.

The court passed this order on a Public Interest Litigation wherein the petitioner society had alleged that the government was not providing land for the construction of the old age home at Rampur Bushahr. It was further alleged that they were taking up this issue with the administration for the past 17 years, but no steps had been taken by the government for providing land for this noble cause.

Mandi, November 3
Constable Krishan Chand was honoured with a gallantry award for saving the lives of three persons here today. Superintendent of Police (SP) Mohit Chawla said Krishan had saved two men and a woman, all residents of Nepal, from drowning on August 13, 2011.

He said due heavy rainfall, water was released from the Pandove dam into the Beas. The trio, staying at Sayuchi village in Hamirpur district, was caught in the flood near the village.

Krishan, who knew swimming and was posted with the Sarkaghat police in the district, was asked to reach the spot.

Without caring for his life, he jumped into the river and with the help of local residents, brought them out of the flooded river. The constable said he had got the job after he saved five persons from drowning with the help of his cousin Rai Singh in 1993. He said he had also saved a doctor from drowning in a well in 2007. 

Solan, November 3
The industry is gearing up to enhance its participation in corporate social responsibility (CSR) after the Centre clarified that providing relief to the flood-stricken people of Jammu and Kashmir in the form of food, tents and medical aid would be counted as a CSR initiative

They are required to spend 2 per cent of their profit after taxes towards CSR. Contributions for disaster relief managements are not enlisted as CSR initiatives, but looking at the large-scale calamity in J&K, the Centre had issued a clarification after various industry representatives sought an explanation over the issue.

The state government was yet to chalk out a policy to ensure mandatory 2 per cent spending from corporate houses on CSR initiatives and apart from undertaking cursory activities such as organising health camps, distributing free books in nearby schools, blood donation camps, among other things, little was being done by the industry managements to uplift local communities.

Company managements, however, did hire a Public Relation firms to eulogise these activities in newspapers and even added their cost to their CSR accounts.

Though the Industries Minister Mukesh Agnihotri, during his recent visit to the state’s industrial hub of Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh, had asserted that the industrial units located in Himachal should invest in CSR activities here and not enlist work initiated in their sister concerns in other states. But with no defined CSR policy, the state government failed to monitor CSR work of investors.

Though the investors have always come forward to help disaster-hit people of various areas by dispatching medicines, local people have failed to benefit much from the industrial revolution in the state’s industrial hub of Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh where the rising air and water pollution has reduced the quality of life.

The State Pollution Control Board was presently facing the ire of the National Green Tribunal on this issue, where a petitioner had taken the Board to task for failing to check pollution.

The Himachal Drug Manufacturers’ Association had already collected nearly 1 tonne medicines which would be dispatched to flood-ravaged areas of J&K soon, disclosed association’s president SL Singla. He said they were also waiting for more contributions from their members. Earlier, the Baddi-based chapter of the Laghu Udyog Bharti had also sent medicines to J&K. 

Palampur, November 3
Waste generated from hospitals and medical health institutions has become a major environmental hazard in Kangra district, as it needs safe handling and secure disposal.

Most of the big nursing homes have tied up with a Pathankot-based company for the disposal of medical waste, but small registered medical practitioners (RMPs) working in rural areas have no place to dispose of the medical waste.

In the absence of any treatment plant in the region, liquid wastes from hospitals find their way to drains which ultimately flow into streams. The solid waste on the other hand is disposed of in municipal dumps.

Despite the fact that Kangra is the biggest district in the state where there are a large number of private and public health institutions, including Government Medical College at Tanda, there is no provision for the scientific handling of bio-medical waste in the district.

At present, most of hazardous and non-hazardous waste is being thrown in local khuds and streams which are the major source of drinking water for people living in lower areas.

Water of these streams is tapped for public drinking water supply schemes.

Medical experts said HIV, Hepatitis, jaundice, typhoid and other epidemic diseases spread through contamination of water and hospital wastes are potential source for spreading such disease.

In view of the indiscriminate disposal of bio-medical wastes and increasing concern on the health and environment, the Centre has decided to regulate waste generated at medical and health institutions. Despite the fact that necessary amendments have been made in the Environment and Forest Protection Act, the state doesn’t follow the guidelines. Notifications to this effect were also circulated to the states. Subsequently Bio-Medical Waste Management and Handling Rules were also forwarded to the states by the Union government for further action.

These rules provide control on the generation, handling of all biological and medical waste, hospital waste being in major waste categories.

The municipal councils in Kangra district are also openly flouting these rules by dumping the entire medical waste in streams and forests near the towns.

The district administration is well conversant with the prevailing situation, but has become a silent spectator. 

Nurpur, November 3
A three-day-long district-level Science Congress competition organised by the state Science and Technology Department concluded at Government Senior Secondary School, Nagrota Surian, in Jawali sub-division yesterday.

Students of Greenfield Senior Secondary School, Nagrota Bagwan, got the overall trophy in the survey report. They also got the overall trophy for the fourth consecutive year at the district-level in children Science competition.

In science quiz, Sourabh Kaundal and Shubham stood first in the senior secondary group, whereas Devansh Dogra and Ankit Rana stood second in the senior group and Sahil and Ankit were adjudged first in the junior group in Maths Olympiad.

In science activity corner, Radhika Sarotri and Satvik Bhatnagar stood first, whereas in science model contest, Parul Sharma and Aditi Awasthi got the first prize. In scientific survey report, Shambhve, Shailja, Kunupriya, Nayan Sood, Vivek remained second, Aerin, Sherin, Samridhi, Aditi, Malvika and Sakshi stood first with their survey reports in the senior secondary group. Arushi, Deepakshi, Arpit, Angel, Aastha, Kartik, Gourav, Ayushi, Aditi, Gaurav Supehia, Shagun, Rishabh, Sourabh Korid and Vanshika stood first and had been selected for a state-level survey report in senior level. In junior category, Amrit Marvaha and Shivam stood second in survey report.

Kangra, November 3
Iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) pose a threat to the health, well-being and economic productivity of any community. Though there is substantial progress in checking the disorder during the last decade, its elimination is still a challenge.

This was stated by Dr BM Gupta, Chief Medical Officer, Kangra, while presiding over a function to mark the closing day of the Global IDD week at Dronacharya Nursing College, Chamunda, on Saturday.

He said Kangra district was a known iodine deficiency endemic area and a study in the Kangra valley was the first intervention trial of iodised salt in which 0.1 million schoolchildren were surveyed and iodised salt was given in one zone, where goitre rate dropped from 40 per cent in 1956 to 19 per cent in 1962, which led to the launch of National Goitre Control Programme in 1962.

Gupta said this was later renamed as the National Iodine Deficiency Disorders Control Programme in 1992 with strategy of universal adoption of iodised salt in 2005. Dr RK Sood, district programme officer, said iodine deficiency was a major public health problem worldwide and the leading preventable cause of mental retardation.

Even moderate deficiency, especially in pregnant women and infants, lowered intelligence by 10 to 15 IQ points, he added. The median urinary iodine excretion levels of the study indicated that there was no biochemical deficiency of iodine in the subjects studied, he added.

The students of Dronacharya Nursing College gave the message of using preventing IDD with iodised salt through a human chain and a skit in the local dialect. 

Shimla, November 3
Himachal Pradesh University (HPU) is exploring the possibility of having collaboration in teaching and research activities with Karlstad University, Sweden.

A delegation, comprising Deans and Coordinators, under the leadership of Pro Vice-Chancellor Thomas Blom of the Sweden university, visited HPU here today for holding talks.

An interactive meeting of this delegation with Deans, Directors and Chairpersons of teaching departments of HPU was held under the chairmanship of Prof ADN Bajpai, Vice-Chancellor, Himachal Pradesh University.

On this occasion, Professor Bajpai stressed the need for sharing knowledge and creating a balance between science and humanities for sustainable development. Members of the delegation had a detailed discussion with the Deans and faculty members of various faculties and departments for identifying areas for collaborations in research and exchange of students.

Pro Vice-Chancellor RS Chauhan, Dean of Studies TC Bhalla, Director, ICDEOL, RC Kondle and Prof SS Chauhan, Dean, College Development Council, were also present on the occasion. The delegation of Karlstad University included Prof Lillemor Lindwall, Prof Dan Guttke, Prof Patrik Larsson and Prof Bjorn Astrand.

Una, November 3
The Shiksha Sudhar Samiti, Ispur, distributed sweaters to 400 needy students at a programme organised at Baba Bal Ashram in Kotla Kalan village near here today.

The winter kit was handed over to teachers of government schools at Badheda Rajputan, Saloh, Bhadsali, Balh Khalsa, Nagnoli, Tatehra, Saghnai, Pandoga and Oel. Samiti secretary Succha Singh Kang said members had also decided to distribute 500 more sweaters and 650 school uniform shoes to deserving students. — OC

Una, November 3
A five-day training programme for teachers on rehabilitation of mentally challenged children began at the Babu Jagjiwan Ram Rehabilitation Institute in Mehatpur here today. The Planning Board Chairman, Ropar, Dr Parminder Sharma, inaugurated the programme.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Parminder said special children did not need sympathy, but public support and training to be able to make positive contributions to society. More than 30 special educators from Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh will attend the training programme.

Institute chairman Dr KR Arya and director Shakuntala Arya spoke on the occasion. 

Nurpur, November 2
Members of the local unit of the Bhartiya Kisan Sangh (BKS) and residents of the Khanni gram panchayat have submitted a memorandum to the state government against unabated and unscientific mining on the Chakki riverbed with JCBs during night hours notwithstanding enforcement of Section 144 of the CrPc and presence of police force in the mining areas.

Led by zila parishad member Satpal Dhiman, they gave a joint memorandum to the local SDM here yesterday and demanded round-the-clock checking and strict action against mining mafia.

In the memorandum, they said mining on the Chakki and Jabbar rivulets had depleted underground water level, destroyed agriculture land and adversely affected irrigation and drinking water schemes of the Irrigation-cum-Public Health (IPH) Department causing serious concern to the residents of a large number of villages surrounding these rivulets.

The petitioners alleged that mining activities in their area was temporarily halted for some days after action was taken by the police and the local administration against violators, but it didn’t stop.

“Notwithstanding the enforcement of Section 144 of CrPc by the district administration and the presence of the police in the mining area, the mining activity with JCBs is going on during the night time,” they said.

President and vice-president of the Bhartiya Kisan Sangh, Jagan Nath Sharma and Bariyam Singh, respectively, and pradhans of local gram panchayats were also present on the occasion.

They alleged that the imposition of Section 144 was an eyewash and failed to deter mining mafia.

They also demanded permanent police checkpost by deploying reserved police force on the Chakki riverbed to save the area.

Shimla, November 3
Work on the restoration of the sunken runway of the Jubbarhatti airport here will begin soon as the Union Civil Aviation Ministry has sanctioned Rs 142.70 crore for undertaking the work and arresting the problem of soil erosion which led to disruption of flights almost two years ago.

Despite Shimla being the state capital and tourist destination, there have been no flights operating from the airport as the runway had been declared unfit for use after depressions developed due to soil erosion. Experts from IIT Rorkee examined the problem and submitted a technical report to the Airport Authority of India (AAI) and the Civil Aviation Ministry.

“With the Civil Aviation Ministry sanctioning Rs 142.70 crore for the restoration work on the runway, work is likely to begin soon. Hopefully, flights should be resumed from the airport by early next year,” said Vijai Singh Mankotia, vice-chairman of the Tourism Development Board.

He met chairman of the AAI Sudhir Raheja to discuss the issue of air connectivity to various places in Himachal and expansion of the existing three airports at Bhuntar in Kullu, Gaggal in Kangra and Jubbarhatti in Shimla.

About 300 feet of the 4,100 feet runway has sunk due to soil erosion. This had rendered the runway unfit for use and all flights from the airport had been stopped. The issue of tackling the problem had been raised time and again by the Tourism Department with the AAI and the ministry.

In fact, the Shimla Hoteliers Association too has been demanding that efforts should be made to resume flights as air connectivity was essential to attract high-end tourists. The need for having flights was being felt even more as efforts to start heli-taxi services also failed.

With the exorbitant heli-taxi tariff, there were no takers. Moreover, the objection by the Army authorities in allowing the use of the Annandale Ground for parking helicopters was another hassle.

It is only the Gaggal airport at Dharamsala which has regular flights as the flight from Bhuntar in Kullu too have been erratic. At the same time, there have been no flights from Shimla for the past one year. The possibility to extend the runway at the Jubbarhatti airport in Shimla too seems improbable as several small hillocks will have to be flattened which will be a costly affairs.

As compared to expansion of the Shimla airport, the task seems relatively easier at Dharamsala. As per the technical report, 26 acres of land will have to be acquired to extend the runway to enable landing of a bigger aircraft. About 35 families will have to be relocated to extend the runway and most of them are learnt to be willing if they are provided alternate land for settlement.