Himachal to set up 'Grameen Haats' to help artisans

Shimla, Nov 29 (IANS) To enable local artisans market their products in their vicinity, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal Monday announced that 36 'Grameen Haats' or rural markets would be set up across the state with an outlay of Rs.5.40 crore.

'The state government would be creating a strong network of 'Grameen Haats' in all districts in a phased manner where the artisans could showcase a range of local products made by them,' Dhumal said at a public rally at Bhatakufar, located on the outskirts of this state capital town.

The hill state is known for hand-knitted woollens like shawls, stoles, mufflers, socks, gloves, pullovers and caps, Chamba rumal (handkerchief), Chamba chappals (slippers) and jewellery items.

The Himachal Handicraft and Handloom Corporation, which is marketing the products made by the local artisans and craftsmen, is operating 15 sales outlets, including one each in Bangalore and Delhi.

The state government has got the Chamba handkerchief, Kullu and Kinnauri shawl and Kangra tea registered under the Geographical Indications (GI) of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999, with the Chennai-based Geographical Indications Registry.

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Congress opposes land allotment to DLF in Himachal

The Congress party Tuesday stoutly opposed the Himachal Pradesh government's decision to allot agricultural land to Delhi-based DLF Universal Ltd to set up ultra-luxurious housing projects in the state.

State Congress chief Kaul Singh Thakur told reporters that the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government was promoting the realtors in the state by diverting agricultural land to non-agricultural purposes.

'DLF has recently given advertisements in newspapers inviting applications for the upcoming projects in the vicinity of Shimla and Kasauli,' Thakur said.

'We are totally against the decision of the government to allow the realtor to build high-end cottages. The BJP government in the state is promoting land mafia,' he said.

Sources in the government said that DLF has identified a huge chunk of land around Shimla and Kasauli towns and plans to invest Rs.200 crore in these projects.

Thakur said Shimla town already faces water shortage, besides traffic chaos, and that such projects would only add to the woes of the people.

'By allowing such realtors to set up housing projects, the government is going to multiply the problems of the town. Moreover, the builders are alluring buyers by saying that even outsiders (non-Himachal people) can purchase the villas,' he added.

Under Himachal Pradesh land laws, only the state's permanent residents can buy land in the state. Others who want to purchase land for non-agricultural purposes have to seek relaxations under Section 118 of the Land Reforms and Tenancy Act from the state government.

The DLF projects would have high-end residential villas and apartments.

The Shimla residential project is located at Waknaghat on the Chandigarh-Shimla National Highway-22, whereas the Kasauli project is located near the industrial hub of Baddi.

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Karsog villagers voice support for Lafarge plant

Villagers of the areas around the identified plant and mine site of Lafarge India’s proposed cement plant in Himachal Pradesh have issued a statement through the company supporting the plant. According to the statement, they have expressed their anguish over the order of the NEAA.
"We have - the statement on behalf of the villagers says - learnt that NEAA passed an order setting aside the Environmental Clearance granted to the project. To the best of our knowledge Lafarge had duly followed all processes required for obtaining the EC. Our youths will remain unemployed and we will continue to exist in the financial condition that we are in now, if the plant doesn’t come up.
We had earlier submitted a memorandum highlighting the benefits that setting up of the project will bring in its wake. When abundant supply of good quality limestone is available in Tehsil Karsog, why cant the same be utilized for the development of the people and the area? If the limestone reserve can be scientifically excavated following all environmental safeguards it can immensely benefit the local people and the State Government.

 

We reiterate that during the public hearing conducted by the State Pollution Control Board the support of the local people was documented.
Lafarge was granted all necessary clearance after a detailed site inspection and after all due processes were followed by them.
Individuals opposing the project don’t stay in this area and are blind to our condition. They do not voice the proper facts nor the aspirations of the local people. That is not mass sentiment and not representative of the majority. They have their “vested interest” and selfish motivations. We are happy to welcome the project, as we want our children to have a better life and future. Setting up of the project would result in employment opportunities and also indirect employment through ancillary units. Developmental activities of the company will lead to overall development of the area.
The CSR initiatives taken by Lafarge India in the region has benefited all and sundry. The health center has provided people with medical relief in need. The setting up of the computer training centers will help the children become learn computer operations. Infrastructure and other amenities also will become accessible, once the company is allowed to undertake its operations here. A cement plant in this area has been a long standing demand of ours. We are happy that Lafarge decided to come forward and we will support them all through. We want a prosperous future for our youngsters and we urge the Government to allow Lafarge start operations in Himachal Pradesh."

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Monsoon in Himachal breaks 15-year record

The plentiful southwest monsoon across Himachal Pradesh this year has broken the record of 15 years, the weather office said in Shimla on Wednesday.
"From June 1 to September 14 the state saw 816.6 mm of rain against the normal average of 741.1 mm, which means the state got 10 per cent more rainfall," Manmohan Singh, director of the meteorological office in Shimla, said.
"After 1995, it was for the first time that the state got the highest excess rain. In the past 15 years, the highest surplus rain was witnessed in 2003 (4 per cent)," he said.
According to him, in 1995 the state experienced 17 per cent more rainfall than normal.
He said all the 12 districts in the state, except Lahaul and Spiti, got normal to excess rainfall.
"Till date Lahaul and Spiti saw a deficient rainfall of 23 per cent, whereas Kinnaur district recorded 156 per cent more rains," Singh added.
Shimla, once the summer capital of the British, experienced 26 per cent more rainfall till date. It saw 850 mm of rain against the normal of 671 mm.
He said the highest rainfall in Shimla from June 1 to Sep 14 was recorded in 1971 when it was 1,505.4 mm. The second highest was 1,483 mm in 1995.
The southwestern monsoon that reached the state July 5 would remain active in the region for a few more days. Normally, it starts receding by Sep 15.
"There would be mild to moderate rainfall in the state Wednesday and Thursday. But from Friday onwards, the state would experience moderate rainfall. Some places would be likely to witness even heavy spells of rain between Sep 17 and 21," Manmohan Singh said.
Himachal Pradesh's agriculture and horticulture-based economy is highly dependent on the monsoon.

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Himachal Chief Minister expresses concern over Chinese threat

In the wake of many strange developments in the recent past with China, the Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister, Prem Kumar Dhumal has voiced his concern over the threat posed by China.

Speaking on sidelines of a function to inaugurate a building of Consumer Forum here, Dhumal cited that China had denied a visa to an IAS officer from Arunachal Pradesh cadre when around 100 IAS officers were going on an official visit to China in 2008.

"When our Prime Minister goes to Arunachal (Pradesh), so China objects on that; when IAS delegation has to got to China, it objects in giving visa to the IAS of Arunachal (Pradesh). Right now, I have learnt that they have set missiles in Tibet, which would target main cities of India. All these things are problematic. They are a threat to the nation's security, and I am saying this repeatedly that India has the greatest threat from China only," said Prem Kumar Dhumal.

He suggested that India should construct an international-level airport in Himachal Pradesh, both for tourism and from security point of view.

"We also brought this topic in the National Development Council meeting. On one side, China is making several airports and helipads, and making railway lines as well (in Tibet region)," Dhumal added.

Last month Beijing had refused a visa to an Indian Army General presently posted in Kashmir which happened to be the latest diplomatic spat between two Asian giants jostling for global influence and resources.

It may also be noted that in spite of decades of mistrust, China is today India's biggest trade partner. The value of bilateral deals was expected to pass $60 billion this year, a 30-fold increase since 2000, raising the stakes in maintaining peace.

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Exiled Tibetans debate with PM aspirants in Dharamsala

Dharamsala (Himachal Pradesh), Sept.12 (ANI): The National Democratic Party of Tibet (NDPT) organized a debate here on Saturday as a part of a campaign to decide who will be the next Prime Minister-in-exile.

The aspirants to the post of 'Kalon Tripa', - Kasur Tethong Tenzin Namgyal and Lobsang Sangay debated and also took questions from the audience on a range of issues related to the Tibetan cause.

"Both (the candidates) answered in the same manner, that they both will work under the guidance of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and their political stand will be middle-way approach," said Yangzom, a Tibetan exile.

"The general election is very soon (to come), so many Tibetan people are so excited and they want to know so many things from the candidate. So, we brought them in front of the Tibetan public, so that the Tibetan public can see and they can ask many questions and they can say whatever they want, whatever they want to know," said Chimme, President, NDPT.

The first round of campaigning included tours and democracy awareness talks in about 21 places all over the India.

An estimated 80,000 Tibetans arrived in India along with the Dalai Lama after an abortive uprising against the Chinese rule in 1959 and over the years their numbers have swelled.

China accuses the Dalai Lama of seeking independence for Tibet, but he says he only wants autonomy for the Tibetan people.

The Dalai Lama has in recent years called for limited autonomy for Tibet, but some Tibetans demand full independence.

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Himachal to use EVMs for panchayat, urban body polls

Himachal Pradesh will go into the election mode, once again, before the end of the year to complete the process for electing new panchayat and urban local bodies.

The state Election Commissioner Dev Swaroop told media persons the commission has already set in motion the process for verification of the voters’ list ahead of the polls and electronic voting machines (EVMs) will be used for the first time in the polls.

“The announcement of the election schedule could be made any time after the commission gets reports on completion of the electoral rolls. The process for verification of the rolls have already started from today and would be completed by September 20,” he informed.

All block development officers (BDOs) have been instructed to appoint teams for house-to-house verifications. The team will include panchayat secretary of sahayak, patwari, school teachers and anganwadi workers. The teams will be handed over working copies of the existing rolls generated from the data of the election commission.

To make the data foolproof and eliminate duplications, the commission has devised a form to be filled in by head of the family for authentication of the family voters’ details. The commission has decided to take the help of state’s Information Technology department in the electoral rolls.

All voters eligible on January 1, 2010, will be included in the voters list.

The elections will be held for nearly 3243 panchayats and 48 urban local bodies. The election process, said Swaroop, will be completed by December 25.

He, however, refused to elaborate on the reservation for women but added that since the Act had been already passed a provision of 50 reservation have been made for the women. In all 27,453 representatives of the panchayats will be elected and 406 for the urban local bodies.

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63 Himachal students pass class X without taking exam

Sixty-three students of a Himachal Pradesh school have passed the class X state board examination without appearing for it. Two persons, including school owner Ashwini Kumar Dogra, have been arrested in this connection.

During preliminary investigation by Dharamshala-based Himachal Pradesh Education Board, answersheets of the students of Kangra's Divya Jyoti Academy were found even though they had not written the exam, said OP Jamwal, ASP Dharamshala.

According to police, Dogra allegedly bought answersheets from examination centres. He then got his school teachers to write the answers on behalf of the students. The filled-in answersheets were then sent to the Board office by post. From there, these were distributed to various evaluation centres.

Dogra was arrested on Thursday and remanded in four-day police custody. Police suspect the involvement of an organised gang, including board employees and invigilators of the exam, in the racket. SSP Kangra Atul Fulzhele said the Board's 2010 exam record has been confiscated.

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State Highways & Major Distt. Roads of Himachal

There are following State Highways in the State :

Sr. No.	Name of Road	District	Length in Kms	SH. No.
1	Lal Dhank Paonta Rajban Hatkoti (except NH portion and RD 133/0 to 171/0 in Uttrakhand)	Shimla	26.00	1
2	Kumarhatti-Sarahan-Nahan (Dosarka)	Sirmour/Solan	78.00	2
3	Chhaila Neripul Yashwant Nagar Oachghat Kumarhatti	Shimla/Sirmour/Solan	86.30	6
4	Sainj Chopal Nerwa Shallu	Shimla	90.00	8
5	Shalaghat Arki Kunjhar Brotiwala	Solan	80.40	9
6	Theog Kotkhai Hatkoti Rohru	Shimla	80.00	10
7	Sainj Ani Banjar Aut	Kullu/ Mandi	96.00	11
8	Shamla Tatapani Mandi	Shimla/ Mandi	185.60	13
9	Shimla Kunihar Ramshehar Nalagarh Ghanoli	Shimla/Solan	112.30	16
10	Dharamshala Dadh Palampur Holta Chadhiar Sandhol (Except NH portion)	Kangra/Mandi	90.00	17
11	Jogindarnagar Sarkaghat Ghumarwin (except NH portion)	Mandi/Bilaspur	83.00	19
12	Jawalamukhi Dehra Jawali Raja-ka-Talab	Kangra	79.60	22
13	Mehatpur Una Mubarikpur Daulatpur H.P. Boundary (except NH portion)	Una	67.00	25
14	Pong Dam Fatehpur Jassur	Kangra	53.00	27
15	Nurpur Lahru Tunuhatti	Kangra/Chamba	42.20	28
16	Una-Aghar Barsar Jahu Bhambla Nerchowk	Una/Hamirpur/Mandi	126.30	32
17	Pathankot Banikhet Chamba Tissa	Chamba	139.00	33
18	Hamirpur Sujanpur Thural Maranda	Hamirpur /Kangra	59.00	39
19	Shahpur Sihunta Chowari	Chamba	52.00	43
		Total	1625.70

There are following Major District Roads (MDR) in the State :

Sr. No.	Name of Road	District	Length Kms	MDR No.
1	Nahan Dadahul Haripurdhar	Sirmour	87.00	1
2	Solan Meenus(except State Highway-6 portion)	Sirmour/Solan	98.00	2
3	Banethi Rajgarh Chandol	Sirmour	127.00	3
4	Markanda bridge Suketi park Kala Amb Trilokpur	Sirmour	21.50	4
5	Kolar Bilaspur	Sirmour	13.00	5
6	Parwanoo Kasauli Dharampur Sabhathu Solan	Solan	65.32	6
7	Barotiwala Baddi Sai Ramshar	Solan	44.95	7
8	Kufri Chail Kandaghat	Solan/Shimla	57.00	8
9	Solan Barog Kumarhatti	Solan	13.00	9
10	Dharampur Kasauli	Solan	10.50	10
11	Arki Dhundan Bhararighat	Solan	18.70	11
12	Nalagarh Dhabota Bharatgarh	Solan	9.40	12
13	Shogi Mehli Junga Sadhupul	Shimla	49.40	13
14	Mashobra Bhekhalti	Shimla	18.00	14
15	Narkanda Thanadbar Kotgarh Bithal	Shimla	44.00	15
16	Rampur Mashnoo Sarahan Jeori	Shimla	62.00	19
17	Bakrot Karsog(Sanarli) Sainj	Mandi	41.80	21
18	Salapper Tattapani Suni Luhri	Mandi/Shimla	120.80	22
19	Mandi Kataula Bajaura	Mandi	51.00	23
20	Mandi Gagal Chailchowk Janjehli	Mandi	45.80	24
21	Chailchowk Gohar Pandoh	Mandi	29.60	25
22	Mandi Rewalsar Kalkhar	Mandi	28.00	26
23	Nore Wazir Bowli	Kullu	37.00	28
24	Kullu Nagar Manali (left Bank)	Kullu	39.40	29
25	Jia Manikarn	Kullu	33.50	30
26	Swarghat Nainadevi Bhakhra	Bilaspur/Una	55.70	31
27	Naina Devi Kaula Da Toba	Bilaspur	12.20	32
28	Bamta Kandrour	Bilaspur	6.70	33
29	Nagaon Beri	Bilaspur /Solan	37.00	34
30	Hamirpur Bhoranj Jahu	Hamirpur	30.00	35
31	Nadaun Sujanpur	Hamirpur	21.00	36
32	Barsar Deothsidh	Hamirpur	11.30	37
33	Sujanpur Sandhol Marhi	Hamirpur /Mandi	45.00	38
34	Nangal Santokhgarh Tahliwal Polian Jaijon (HP Boundary)	Una	17.50	39
35	Una Hoshiarpur Bankhandi Hoshairpur	Una	15.00	40
36	Tahliwal Garhshankar (H.P Boundary)	Una	8.00	41
37	Bharwain Chintpurni Kandrori Damtal	Una /Kangra	95.56	42
38	Baijnath Ladbharol Kandapattan	Kangra/Mandi	33.00	43
39	Gaggal Chetru Dharamshala Mcleodganj	Kangra	24.00	44
40	Rait Charhi Dharamshala	Kangra	20.00	45
41	Kaloha Pragpur Dhaliara Dadasiba Sansarpur	Kangra	60.92	46
42	Kandwal Damtal	Kangra	16.50	47
43	Dadh Malan	Kangra	4.00	48
44	Banikhet Dalhouse Khajiar	Chamba	29.00	49
45	Chamba Bharmour	Chamba	45.00	52
		Total	1753.05

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