Rebel BJP men form parallel body
JAWALAMUKHI, April 18 — A parallel body of the local unit of the BJP was formed at a party meeting here today. The proposed party meeting was convened by the state BJP chief, Mr Suresh Chandel, to redress the grievances of the party workers. He, however, could not attend.

Lift irrigation scheme inaugurated
DHARAMSALA, April 18 — A sum of Rs 177.58 crore will be spent on various water supply and irrigation schemes in Himachal during the current financial year.

Rebel BJP men form parallel body
JAWALAMUKHI, April 18 — A parallel body of the local unit of the BJP was formed at a party meeting here today.

37 trees felled illegally
SHIMLA, April 18 — The flying squad of the Forest Department has detected the illicit felling of 37 trees in the Surkhi Kala range of Chamba district.

Temple XEN resigns

Summer festival from May 27

Farmers' plea for relief measures

Civic body chief transferred

ITBP steps up vigil in Chamba areas
From Our Correspondent

CHAMBA, April 18 — With the advent of summer and melting of snow on the high altitudes areas of Chamba district adjoining Doda district, the Indo-Tibet Border Police (ITBP), has stepped up its vigil to combat militants activities.

Speaking to this reporter here today, Mr H.S. Goraya, Commandant, 15th Battalion of the ITBP, claimed that since the ITBP had been assigned the task of carrying out anti-insurgency operations after the Kalaban-Satrundi massacre in the militancy-infested border region of Chamba, the militants had come under immense pressure.

Mr Goraya claimed that constant vigil by the jawans of the ITBP on the timber-line check points set up on various passes of Chamba district and Doda district had foiled all the plans of militants to infiltrate into Himachal Pradesh.

Mr Goraya pointed out that the ITBP had helped in building self-confidence among the inhabitants of the border villages and in the past eight months no untoward incident or infiltration of ultras had taken place.

The ITBP had launched innovative activities like medical aid and educational awareness among the poor residing in the remote and far-flung corners of the Himachal. Medical camps were being organised by jawans of the ITBP.

Intensive patrolling and round-the-clock surveillance had been launched on the border and strict watch being kept on strangers.
Meanwhile, residents of the border areas have urged the government to send one more battalion of the ITBP to cover the entire borderline stretching about 168 km from Pangi tribal region to Khairi.

No threat to HP govt, claims HVC
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, April 18 — Mr Mohinder Singh, Minister for Public Works, and Mr Anil Sharma, a Rajya Sabha member, have ridiculed the claim of Mr Virbhadra Singh, the leader of the Congress Legislative Party, that the political developments at the Centre would have a serious fallout in Himachal Pradesh.

In a statements issued here today, the two leaders of the Himachal Vikas Congress HVC said it was wishful thinking on the part of the former Chief Minister. The BJP-HVC coalition in the state had lived up to the expectations of the people and was fulfilling all its promises expeditiously, they claimed.

The government was functioning smoothly under the leadership of Mr P.K. Dhumal, they further claimed.

They alleged that the destabilisation of the Vajpayee government was the handiwork of those who did not want stability and progress in the country. The Opposition had 'plunged' the country into an era of uncertainty and instability, showing a lack of concern' for development and the well-being of the people.

The people of the state could never forget the liberal financial help provided by the Vajpayee government to accelerate the pace of development in the state, the HVC leaders said. Besides, the state was able to resolve the long-standing inter-state issues aimed at making the hilly state self-reliant, they added.

Coping with water shortage, ‘khatri’ way

HAMIRPUR, April 18 (UNI) — Have you heard of water sources being kept under lock and key?

If not come and see these sources, found in various parts of Hamirpur, Kangra and Mandi districts of Himachal Pradesh.

When one goes on a drive in the Bamsan area of Hamirpur district, one finds these "khatris" located on both sides of the road under big rocks and gets surprised to find that even after 53 years of country’s independence, that this old practice preservation of water in these khatris is still in vogue.

One wonders as what would have been the fate of these people had these khatris were not built by their forefathers without any technical know-how.

These water sources are known as "khatris" (hand hewn caves) locally. Water of these sources is cool and fit for human consumption as per local people. However, doctors say that this water is harmful for human consumption.

Come summer and there is an acute shortage of water in these districts of the state. This is due to the reason that there are no permanent water sources located in these districts. People of these districts wait for the arrival of timely rains for their daily water needs. Due to unavailability of water in plenty, people use the "khatri" waters for daily need.

"Khatris" are constructed by digging the hard rocks, which are permanent source of water. Once these "khatris" are dug these are provided with an iron gate and a lock is put there. Water seeps into the "khatris" from the rocks and is collected inside which is sufficient for daily use of human beings as well as animals.

There are two types of "khatri" which are found in the Bamsan (Hamirpur), Tihra area of Mandi and in a few places of Kangra district. While in one type of "khatris" rainwater is collected during rainy season by harnessing the water of house roofs with the help of tins and collected in the "khatris". This water is mainly used for the washing of clothes, utensils and for animals.

In other type of "khatris", only seeping water is collected and is used for the drinking purposes. Many people to avoid water diseases clean these khatris. However, others do not chlorinate these as they feel that this water which comes through seepage is not only cool but also pure and fit for human consumption.

Since these areas are located on higher ridges and consist of hard rocks and less of vegetation which result in number of rich people migrating and settling in towns and other parts of the state.

There was a time when people used not to marry their daughters in these areas fearing that their daughters will have to toil hard and their lives will be miserable. But now the situation has changed, thanks to the drinking water supply schemes framed by successive state governments since year 1977.

The state's first such a big rural water supply scheme known as Lagwalti Bamsan drinking water supply scheme was launched with fanfare which has brought sea change in the lives of the people of respective villages. However, this scheme has now become insufficient as most of the migrated people have returned to their villages and have constructed good houses to live in there.

The Himachal government has now drawn up a big plan for the augmentation of this scheme and other schemes located in the districts of Hamirpur and Mandi. In all, about six new schemes costing about Rs 20-crore would be launched in coming two years time.

Since Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal also belongs to the Samirpur village of the Bamsan area of the Hamirpur district which is also a water starved area, he has taken a keen interest to get funds sanctioned and to get the work started on war footing so that the schemes are completed in time and there is no scarcity of water for the people of these areas.

Govt to improve water supply
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, April 18 — The irrigation and Public Health Department will explore the possibility of augmenting the water supply of the state capital by lifting 10 lakh gallons of water from the Nauti khad.

Mr Narinder Bragta, Horticulture Minister, said here today that the government would also explore the possibility of tapping the Pabbar and Giri rivers to solve the perennial problem of water shortage. He said efforts would be made to improve the existing distribution system by plugging leakage and creating additional storage capacity.

He said arrangements were being made to supply water through tankers in scarcity areas and if required the local municipal corporation would purchase tankers.

Hand pumps would be installed in scarcity areas on priority and a few sites had already been identified for the purpose.

Rebel BJP men form parallel body
From Our Correspondent

JAWALAMUKHI, April 18 — A parallel body of the local unit of the BJP was formed at a party meeting here today.

The proposed party meeting was convened by the state BJP chief, Mr Suresh Chandel, to redress the grievances of the party workers. He, however, could not attend.

The workers, who were present at the meeting, expressed their dissatisfaction over the block executive committee under the leadership of Mr Jagdamba Prasad and dissolved the existing executive committee. Mr Ram Swroop Handa was unanimously nominated president of the Jawalamukhi block of the BJP.

Mr Jagdamba Prasad, president of the existing body, who was reportedly not present at the meeting refused to accept the decision and said he would take up the matter with the party high command.

Lift irrigation scheme inaugurated
Tribune News Service

DHARAMSALA, April 18 — A sum of Rs 177.58 crore will be spent on various water supply and irrigation schemes in Himachal during the current financial year.

This was disclosed by the Irrigation and Public Health minister, Mr Ramesh Chaudhary, while addressing a public meeting in Pirh village in the Baijnath constituency yesterday. He inaugurated a lift irrigation scheme installed at a cost of Rs 30 lakh. a total of 116 families of three villages would be benefited and 46 hectares of land would be irrigated.

Rebel BJP men form parallel body
From Our Correspondent

JAWALAMUKHI, April 18 — A parallel body of the local unit of the BJP was formed at a party meeting here today.

The proposed party meeting was convened by the state BJP chief, Mr Suresh Chandel, to redress the grievances of the party workers. He, however, could not attend.

The workers, who were present at the meeting, expressed their dissatisfaction over the block executive committee under the leadership of Mr Jagdamba Prasad and dissolved the existing executive committee. Mr Ram Swroop Handa was unanimously nominated president of the Jawalamukhi block of the BJP.

Mr Jagdamba Prasad, president of the existing body, who was reportedly not present at the meeting refused to accept the decision and said he would take up the matter with the party high command.

37 trees felled illegally
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, April 18 — The flying squad of the Forest Department has detected the illicit felling of 37 trees in the Surkhi Kala range of Chamba district.

The trees, 36 deodar and one pine, were worth over Rs 6 lakh. Information regarding the unauthorised felling, which was apparently carried out in connivance with field staff, was received by the department through an anonymous complaint.

The staff concerned lodged an FIR with the police after the flying squad uncovered the crime. While the department had issued instructions that the FIR in such cases should be filed with the Enforcement Department, the officials, registered the complaint with the district police.

According to officials the flying squad was still on the job and more cases of illicit felling were likely to be detected.

Temple XEN resigns
From Our Correspondent

JWALAMUKHI, April 18 — The XEN (Temple), Mr P R Agnihotry, tendered his resignation to the Commissioner (Temple)-cum-Deputy Commissioner of Kangra, Mr B.K. Agarwal on Friday. Mr Agnihotri has been advised by the Commissioner to continue in office till April 30.

The reasons for the resignation were alleged differences over the construction in the temples. The post of XEN temple was created some time back to facilitate and expedite development work in the temples in the district.

Mr Agnihotri, however, refused to comment on the issue.

Summer festival from May 27

SHIMLA, April 18 (UNI) — A five-day summer festival will be held here from May 27.

Special cultural programmes and folk dances will be organised on the historic Ridge "Maidan" during the festival for the entertainment of tourists.

Mehandi Hasan, a folk singer from Pakistan, has been invited to participate in the festival, said Himachal Pradesh Minister of State for Horticulture Narinder Bragta here yesterday.

Presiding over a meeting, Mr Bragta directed the Municipal Corporation authorities to ensure an uninterrupted water supply to the town in view of tourist season ahead.

Farmers' plea for relief measures
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, April 18 — The Himachal Pradesh Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association had urged the government to take immediate relief measures to mitigate the sufferings of farmers, reeling under the impact of a severe drought.

Members of the association, who met here today, demanded that cash credit limit be converted to long-term loans and fresh loans should be provided to farmers at an interest rate of 4 per cent per annum so that they could procure the required farm inputs.

It also urged the government to send teams to assess damage to crops and depute experts to educated growers regarding measures to be adopted to protect their crops. It demanded immediate payment to growers whose fruit was procured under the Market Intervention Scheme last year.

Civic body chief transferred
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, April 18 — The Himachal Government today transferred Mrs Nisha Singh, Commissioner of the Shimla Municipal Corporation, and posted her as Special Secretary, Home.

Mr Manoj Kumar, Director of Vigilance, will be the new Municipal Commissioner.

The corporation had passed a resolution urging the government to recall the Municipal Commissioner who was not taking the house into confidence while taking important decisions.