Dhumal-Shanta feud hots up
DHARAMSALA, June 30 — It appears the coming days for the Chief Minister, Prem Kumar Dhumal, could be troublesome, as senior Cabinet ministers and staunch supporters of Mr Shanta Kumar have fired the first salvo against him after the formation of the BJP government in Himachal.


HP Annual Plan approved
NEW DELHI, June 30 — The Annual Plan for Himachal Pradesh for 1999-2000 has been fixed at Rs 1,600 crore — up by Rs 160 crore than last year. The plan was approved at a meeting between the Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission, Mr K.C. Pant, and the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, here today.

Manali-Leh road to be kept open
SHIMLA, June 30 — The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) is geared up to tame the 190 avalanches on the 421 km-long Manali-Leh road to keep it open this time for Army convoys during the peak winter till December 31.

No funds for development
PALAMPUR: As the state government has been facing acute financial crises for the past few years, a number of development works in the state have come to a standstill in the absence of adequate funds.

Contributions pour in for Kargil heroes
BILASPUR, June 30 — Himachal Pradesh State Cooperative Bank Chairman Krishan Kumar Kaushal said the Board of Directors of the bank had unanimously decided to donate Rs 51 lakh to the Chief Minister's Sainik Welfare Fund.

3 killed, 33 hurt in bus mishap
SHIMLA, June 30 — As many as three persons were killed and 33 injured, 10 of them seriously, when a bus fell into the Gadari nullah near Manderli in Upper Shimla today.

HP Govt "ignoring" Sirmaur district
NAHAN, June 30 — Mr Gangu Ram Musafir, general secretary of HP State Congress Committee and former minister, has criticised the BJP-HVP Government for ignoring Sirmaur district in the matter of development.

Shifting of PWD office flayed
SHIMLA, June 30 — Resentment prevails among residents of the far-flung Haripurdhar area of Sirmour district over the shifting of the PWD office to Sangrah.

Concern over import of apple
SHIMLA, June 30 — The Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association has expressed concern over the import of apples from foreign countries and urged the Centre to review the policy to delete apples from the Open General Licence list.

HVC stakes claim to 2 HP seats
SOLAN, June 30 — Mr Sukh Ram, a former Union Communication Minister and President of the Himachal Vikas Congress, the coalition partner of the BJP Government in Himachal, has staked his party’s claim to two of the four parliamentary seats in the state.

Dhumal-Shanta feud hots up
From Pratibha Chauhan
Tribune News Service

DHARAMSALA, June 30 — It appears the coming days for the Chief Minister, Prem Kumar Dhumal, could be troublesome, as senior Cabinet ministers and staunch supporters of Mr Shanta Kumar have fired the first salvo against him after the formation of the BJP government in Himachal.

Two Cabinet ministers from Kangra district, who are known Shanta loyalists, have in a joint statement expressed resentment, for being slighted, though claiming that they have no differences with the Chief Minister. Though there has been simmering discontentment the Shanta loyalists, especially in Kangra district, it is for the first time that they have decided to raise a voice against it. This is clearly evident from the statement issued by the Transport Minister, Mr Krishan Kapoor, and the Agriculture Minister, Mr Vidya Sagar.

Contrary to expectations that the closed door meeting between the Chief Minister and Mr Shanta Kumar would iron out their differences it seems the supporters of the two leaders have finally decided to break their silence and come out in the open. The Transport Minister, Mr Krishan Kapoor, is reported to be unhappy over the manner in which he was completely ignored and humiliated during the agreement worked out with the striking private bus operators recently.

"It is perhaps for the first time that the minister concerned despite being in the state capital was not present at the meeting and another junior minister was handling the situation," commented a senior leader. He has reportedly been unhappy over the interference by a junior minister, who is considered close to the Chief Minister.

It is an open secret that the BJP in Himachal is divided into two groups, one led by the Chief Minister and the other by Mr Shanta Kumar. The differences between the two groups came out in the open at the time of the election of the BJP state President in Jwalamukhi in November, 1997. The Shanta faction has till date not been able to come to terms with the fact that Mr Dhumal became the Chief Minister despite Mr Shanta Kumar having the support of a large number of MLAs.

The Shanta loyalists have every since been alleging that they were being ignored and humiliated by the Chief Minister for owing allegiance to the former Chief Minister. They cite the instance of the Revenue Minister, Mr Rajan Sushant, being made the Chairman of the District Grievances Committee by ignoring senior Cabinet ministers from Kangra, which was a clear insult to them.

There is a growing feeling among Shanta supporters in Kangra that the Chief Minister is intentionally ignoring the biggest district in Himachal, simply because it happens to be the area of former Chief Minister Shanta Kumar. Some of the instances of Kangra being ignored include the move to shift the Sports Authority of India complex from Dharamsala to Bilaspur, non-strengthening of the regional centre of the university, the Apollo Hospital project, and the non-execution of the ropeways in Nougal and Dharamkot.

Shanta loyalists point out that the delay in execution of all these promised projects could prove to be damaging for Mr Shanta Kumar in the coming Lok Sabha elections.

Another sore point for the Shanta loyalists includes the undue importance being given to the Congress MLA from Nagrota, Mr G.S. Bali, by the Chief Minister. "Despite the change of government he continues calling the shots and gets his work done from the Chief Minister, whereas the BJP workers are running from pillar to post to get their work done," commented an angry Shanta loyalist.

The talk of the Agriculture Minister, Mr Vidya Sagar, being removed from the Cabinet has further annoyed the Shanta camp. They allege that annoying the OBC community to which the minister belongs at a stage when the elections are due will ultimately prove to be damaging for none other than Mr Shanta Kumar, who will be the BJP candidate from Kangra.

The move of the ABVP, the student wing of the BJP, to target a minister, has also taken everyone by surprise. This kind of leg pulling by the two groups, including senior ministers, could make it difficult for the Chief Minister to run the government smoothly. It appears instead of ironing out differences the meeting between the Chief Minister and Mr Shanta Kumar has only added fuel to the fire of discontentment between the supporters of the two leaders.

HP Annual Plan approved
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, June 30 — The Annual Plan for Himachal Pradesh for 1999-2000 has been fixed at Rs 1,600 crore — up by Rs 160 crore than last year.

The plan was approved at a meeting between the Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission, Mr K.C. Pant, and the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, here today.

Mr Dhumal said Rs 614 crore had been allocated to the social service sector as this sector had been accorded the highest priority and the objective was to raise the social development indicators of the state above the national average.

The energy sector, transport and communication and other agriculture and other allied sectors had been allocated Rs 249 crore, Rs 230 crore and Rs 202 crore, respectively, in the plan.

The Chief Minister said this had been ensured by envisaging a higher investment of Rs 2106.44 crore during the Ninth five year plan in comparison to investment of Rs 1213.10 crore during the Eighth five year plan.

Mr Dhumal said the state government had ensured 100 per cent utilisation of funds provided in last year’s annual plan by spending 1446.97 crore. A sum of Rs 586.69 crore was spent in social service sector as against initial allocation of Rs 568.43 crore.

The Chief Minister said targets were exceeded in eight sectors including agriculture, irrigation and flood control, energy, industry and minerals, transport and communications and science and technology during the current plan period.

The Chief Minister requested for a special package of Rs 300-crore central assistance comprising of Rs 200 crore of united assistance and Rs 100 crore additional central assistance specifically tied to the projects.

The Chief Minister also requested the special central assistance for four highest priority projects. These include Saraswati Bal Vidya Snakalpa Yojana for construction of primary schools,Yashwant Gurukul Yojana for accommodation of teachers in the remote and backward areas, residential accommodation for government employees at subdivisional-level and upgradation of district-level hospitals with modern diagnostic facilities.

Mr Dhumal sought the intervention of the Planning Commission in expeditiously resolving the issue of states’ share in BBMB power projects in accordance with the Punjab Reorganisation Act 1966 and granting 12 per cent free power on all hydel projects located in state irrespective of their dates of commissioning and imposition of generation tax which would generate legally valid share arrears of over Rs 2,500 crore.

He said that the state had vast potential of 21244 mw hydel electricity generation out of which only 3937.74 mw potential had been harnessed.

Dras — the coldest battlefield
From Rakesh Lohumi
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, June 30 — Though not as high as the Siachen glacier, the Dras sector, where the Indian Army is engaged in a fierce fight with the intruders, is the coldest battlefield in the world.

"Life was difficult even during peace time in the inhospitable terrain, particularly during the winter, when the mercury dipped to as low as 63° C below the freezing point, senior army officers of the Army Training Command (ARTRAC), here, who have had long stints in the area, recall.

The extremely cold conditions, these officers explain, are created due to the "venturi effect" caused due to the narrowing down of the valley at Dras. It is swept by strong, icy winds as a large amount of air passes through the narrow opening in the mountains. At villages like Pandras and Matiyan, the valley is less than 50 m wide.

The towering mountains which rise almost vertically deprive the valley of sunshine during the winter. Some pockets hardly see the sun. The wide variation between the day and night temperatures during the summer makes things worse.

ARTRAC has designed special training courses for such inhospitable, high-altitude areas where the jawans have to cope with a host of hazards like lack of oxygen, dehydration, ultraviol et radiation, frostbites, pulmonary odema and high-altitude sickness which take a heavy toll of their physical being.

They are first taught the art of surviving in extreme conditions and facing such natural hazards, military training comes later.

Food intake is reduced considerably which, in turn, reduces the energy level and physical capacity of jawans. One has to increase the intake of liquids proportionately to maintain a reasonable energy level.

The battle technique is also modified to suit the reduced physical capacity of jawans. Lighter weapons are used and different strategies have to be evolved as the barren terrain beyond the tree line does not provide any cover to troops for movement. While there is no space for deployment of weapons in the rugged mountains interspersed with narrow valleys, even cooking food at such high altitude is a problem.

In the summer, the climate is absolutely clear. The sun rays hit the valley with great intensity, exposing the jawans to harmful ultra-violet radiation.

In view of these geographical constraints and inhospitable climatic conditions, the task of evicting the intruders is really tough.

The Kargil sector, which connects Kashmir with Ladakh, saw the most fierce fight during the 1948 war. Supported by the Pakistani Army, the Kabailis had infiltrated deep into the Kashmir and Ladakh areas. The turning point in the war came when the Indian Army succeeded in hauling light tanks right up to Zoji La. In all 13 British-made Stuart tanks were flown to Srinagar, of these three actually reached the pass. Their turrets were removed to make them lighter. The sight of the tanks scared away the invaders who beat a hasty retreat as the Indian led by Gen R.S. Sparrow blasted the enemy position one after the other. But for the untimely and inexplicable decision of the government to call a unilateral ceasefire, the country would not have to face the Kashmir problem all these years, these Army officers lament.

Torrential rain lashes region

CHANDIGARH, June 30 (UNI) — The south-west monsoon, having entrenched itself in Himachal Pradesh and adjoining areas of Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and Haryana, has now moved into parts of Rajasthan, including Jodhpur and Sikar.

Torrential rain (49.4 mm) last about three hours accompanied by high-velocity winds in and around this city caused disruption in movement of vehicular traffic and sent out of gear telecommunication and power supply systems.

Most of Chandigarh and adjoining areas in Punjab had to go without electricity supply for hours because of a major breakdown in transmission lines across Mohali.

The Kulu-Bound Indian Airlines flight could not land at its destination because of bad weather. After touching Chandigarh, it flew back to Delhi this morning. The flight to Leh, however, operated on schedule.

Widespread monsoon rain lashing Himachal Pradesh for the third day today triggered land and rock slides along the 320-km Hindustan-Tibet road, mid hills and interiors of the state. However, there was no disruption in the movement of vehicular traffic along the Hindustan-Tibet road, the Kalka-Shimla and Shimla-Mandi highways, a Shimla report said.

Though the rain brought appreciable fall in the ground temperatures, people sweated in torrid humid conditions. The maximum humidity, according to the local weather office, was 98 per cent and minimum at 71 per cent.

Amid reports of widespread rain from Himachal Pradesh, state capital Shimla and adjoining areas recorded 20.4 mm of rainfall till 8.30 this morning. Nahan reported 31.5 mm, Sundernagar 15.2 mm, Una 8 mm while Pandoh, Suni, Kasol among others reported 3 to 5 mm of rainfall.

Reports of rainfall have also come in from Amritsar (3.2mm) and Nangal (7.8mm).

Wheathermen here have warned of moderate to rather heavy rain at many a place in Himachal Pradesh, light to moderate rains at a few places in Haryana and Punjab over the next 48 hours.

The Shimla report said widespread rain lashing Himachal Pradesh caused considerable fall in temperatures. Shimla and its adjoining areas experienced heavy rains accompanied by dense fog which reduced the visibility in and around the state's capital. The Hindustan-Tibet road too was enveloped by dense fogs.

The Indian Airlines Delhi-Shimla-Kulu flight could not land there because of bad weather.

Upper areas of Shimla district, including Wildflower Hall, Kufri, Naldehra and Narkanda and key tourist resorts of Manali in Kulu district too reported heavy rain.

Landslides occurred at certain places along the Hindustan-Tibet road. Landslides also occurred in the interior areas of Shimla district following heavy rains.

Reports of rain have also been received from Mandi, Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Solan and Kulu districts, the report added.

Manali-Leh road to be kept open
From S.P. Sharma
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, June 30 — The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) is geared up to tame the 190 avalanches on the 421 km-long Manali-Leh road to keep it open this time for Army convoys during the peak winter till December 31.

The road is generally declared closed by the BRO in the first week of October every year, but keeping in view its strategic importance as it is the only alternate link with the strife-torn Kargil area it has been decided to keep it open at least up to the end of December.

It will be a real testing time for the BRO to meet its commitment of keeping the road open almost three months beyond the normal schedule as it zigs through many treacherous areas, including four high passes, which get covered under thick snow anytime in October.

Brig B.M. Bakshi, Chief Engineer of Project Deepak, which maintains the first 222 km of the road from Manali to Sarchu, told TNS here today at least 3000 men had been put on the job of keeping the road motorable round the clock.

He said it had been decided to keep the road open at least till December 31 as the Srinagar-Leh road was under artillery fire from Pakistani intruders.

The decision to keep the road open for three extra months was taken when the Director-General of the BRO, Lt-Gen, R.J. Mordecai, visited here last week and also drove right up to Leh to personally see the condition of the road.

Brigadier Bakshi said it would be a real test to keep the road open in winter with at least 172 avalanche slide zones between Manali and Sarchu and another 18 avalanches beyond that up to Leh, the stretch which is maintained by Project Himank of the BRO. Besides, there are six major bridges in the Project Deepak area.

He said a temporary bridge will be provided near all bridges as a safety measure.

Brigadier Bakshi said it had been decided to remove the avalanches by artificial triggering so that the hurdles could be removed from the road.

Transmitters are being provided to the operators of snow cutters as a safety measure to swiftly rescue them in case the machine gets buried under an avalanche.

It will be an uphill task to provide a smooth passage to the Army convoys as the road crosses through the tricky Rohtang pass (13,700 ft), Baralachala (16,500 ft) Lachalungla and Tanglangla (17,200 ft), which is the second highest pass in the world. All these passes are covered under deep snow in winters.

Brigadier Bakshi said the BRO had sanctioned construction of snow shelters at the Rahlan and Rani nullahs to protect vehicular traffic from being hit by avalanches.

The road is being re-aligned near Marhi to pypass at least five major avalanches.

The BRO is facing the problem of the road getting blocked due to breakdown of civilian trucks which are at many times loaded to their full capacity. This delays movement of Army convoys.

No funds for development
From Ravinder K. Sood

PALAMPUR: As the state government has been facing acute financial crises for the past few years, a number of development works in the state have come to a standstill in the absence of adequate funds. The state government has badly failed to meet the targets fixed in the last Budget passed by the state assembly. In a number of districts the state had imposed drastic cut on the Budget allocated to Deputy Commissioners for further disbursement to undertake development works in the rural areas through panchayats or Block Development Officers.

At present more than 5670 schools in the state are without proper accommodation since the government has no resources to allocate funds to construct new buildings or to complete buildings under construction. Likewise the state had opened one dozen new degree colleges in the state two years ago but most of them are still without accommodation. These institutions are still functioning in the rented buildings. Not only this even the government has failed to provide other infrastructure and land to these colleges.

But it is most surprising that this year the state government distributed over Rs 48 crore to fruit growers in the shape of subsidies and other assistance. Official sources reveal that the Prem Kumar Dhumal government has granted subsidy of Rs 32 crore alone to the apple growers through support price. Besides, the BJP-HVC government also provided other benefits to the apple growers amounting to Rs 18 crore. Political observers feel that there was on justification in sanctioning such heavy subsidies to rich class of farmers whereas, on the other hand, agricultural sector was crying for survival in the state. Even the government had reduced the subsidy on fertiliser and increased the prices of urea for other farming community.

In the past 15 years the question of granting of huge subsidy to the fruit growers comprising only three districts of the state remained a controversial issue and there was a demand from all sections of society for the rationalisation of so-called political benefits being given to one rich section of society. So long the Congress remained in power in the state the apple lobby had been dominating the government since a powerful section in the government was supporting them.

With the installation of the BJP-HVC government in the state the common man was expecting a little check on the grant of such type of political favours to the apple lobby of the state. But it seems that Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal and his BJP-HVC combine government was also not in favour of reducing the subsidy. What was more painful is that the Himachal Pradesh Fruit Marketing Corporation, which deals in the purchase of apples, providing support prices to apple growers and further disbursement of subsidy to them failed to sell apple worth Rs 20 crore this year and the same were destroyed causing huge loss to the state exchequer. The state government had already admitted these facts.

Despite the fact that the Union Government had already cautioned the state government and advised them not to grant subsidies to those farmers or growers who fall in rich class, it seems that the state has not learned any lesson and it was still adopting the policy of appeasement merely on political consideration, that too at the cost of poor people. No doubt the subsidies cannot be discontinued at once and such type of assistance is essential but that is only in selective cases.

A survey conducted by students of H.P. K.V., Palampur, revealed that if these subsidies were stopped and money was utilised for the purpose of development, in one year the buildings of 2160 schools could have been completed. Likewise in one year all houseless persons below the poverty line could have got houses by spending this much of amount.

Contributions pour in for Kargil heroes
From Tribune Reporters

BILASPUR, June 30 — Himachal Pradesh State Cooperative Bank Chairman Krishan Kumar Kaushal said the Board of Directors of the bank had unanimously decided to donate Rs 51 lakh to the Chief Minister's Sainik Welfare Fund.

Meanwhile, the local Bilaspur District Truck Operators Cooperative Society has presented a cheque for Rs 51 lakh to the Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, here at a public meeting.

Chetna, a local social organisation, donated Rs 71,000, staff of the Deputy Commissioner office donated Rs 65,000, staff and students of Senior Secondary School, Bilaspur, donated Rs 15,000, the Youth Farmers Club, Darla Ghat, donated Rs 21,000 and staff of Government Industrial Training Institute, Bilaspur, donated Rs 9,001 to the fund.

In another meeting at Tantha, the gram panchayats of Talyana, Bhalswari, Hawan, Auhar, Kothi presented Rs 17,781, Rs 14,001, Rs 5,100, Rs 21,000 and Rs 1101, respectively, to the fund.

In another public meeting at Kaphaada, near Ghumarwin, the Chief Minister was presented a cheque for Rs 5,100 by Him Sarvodaya High School, Ghumarwin, Rs 21,000 by Government Senior Secondary School, Kaphaada, Rs 5,100 by Government High School, Gandhir, Rs 21,000 by High School, Talai, Rs 8,000 by High School, Daslehada, and Rs 11,100 by Mahila Mandal, Ghumarwin.

AMRITSAR: Employees of Amritsar Swadeshi Woollen Mills have decided to donate their one-day salary to the fund. Moreover, the employers have also decided to contribute an equal amount to help the families of martyrs.

According to Mr Parduman Singh, Vice-President, AITUC, Rs 1.32 lakh has been sent to the Prime Minister's Relief Fund.

Members of the Amritsar Bar Association have contributed Rs 30,000 to the Prime Minister's Relief Fund.

Meanwhile, the HQ 15, Infantry Division, thanked the people of Punjab for their wholehearted support to the soldiers. Major C.S. Gauba, GSO 2 (Intelligence), said it was the support of the countrymen which propelled the armed forces to fight for the country.

AMBALA: Members of the District Sainik Congress Committee (ex-servicemen), Ambala urban, have decided to donate their one-week pension to the Haryana Chief Minister's Kargil War Heroes Relief Fund, according to Major B.R. Sharma, President of the committee.

GURGAON: Officers of the India Forest Service working in Haryana have contributed their one-day salary to the Chief Minister's War Heroes Relief Fund.

BHIWANI: Members of the Handicapped Associations have decided to donate their pension of July to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund. The members also decided to donate blood as and when needed.

The Bhiwani Industrial Association has decided to contribute Rs 1 lakh to the CM's Kargil Shaheed Fund, according to Mr Dharmbir Nehra, President of the association.

3 killed, 33 hurt in bus mishap
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, June 30 — As many as three persons were killed and 33 injured, 10 of them seriously, when a bus fell into the Gadari nullah near Manderli in Upper Shimla today.

There were 36 passengers on board when the bus, which was on its way from Deoli to Rohru, met with the accident. While one person died on the spot, two others succumbed to their injuries at a hospital in Rohru.

The 10 seriously injured persons were shifted to Indira Gandhi Medical College Hospital (IGMC) and the rest to Rohru Hospital. The driver and the conductor of the bus were among those injured.

Mr Rajesh Sharma, Sub-Divisional Magistrate, here and the Deputy, Superintendent of Police, Rohru, reached the spot and supervised rescue operation.

The cause of the accident could not be ascertained immediately, but the injured persons said the bus veered off the road after the driver lost control.

The next of kin of those killed were provided Rs 15,000 as immediate relief and the injured were given Rs 1500 to 5000, depending on the nature of their injuries.

Those killed have been identified as Tani Rana of Nakshetly village, Asha Devi of Punali and Balku Devi of Hanstari. The seriously injured persons who have been shifted to IGMC here are Jai Prakash of Barara village, Deewan Chand and Pyare Lal, driver and conductor, respectively, Jai Prakash of Tikker, Saman Das of Sadroli, Jial Lal of Farog, Rajwant of Asthana, Surjeet Singh of Badshal, Sangeeta of Ram Teri and Lokendra of Dhanoh.

Mr P.K. Dhumal, Chief Minister and the Governor, Ms V.S. Rama Devi, here expressed deep sorrow over the accident and conveyed his sympathies to the bereaved families. Mr Khushi Ram Balnatah, Vice-Chairman of the state road transport corporation, visited the spot and also went to hospital to inquire about the welfare of the injured persons.

HP Govt "ignoring" Sirmaur district
From Our Correspondent

NAHAN, June 30 — Mr Gangu Ram Musafir, general secretary of HP State Congress Committee and former minister, has criticised the BJP-HVP Government for ignoring Sirmaur district in the matter of development.

In a strongly worded statement issued here today, Mr Musafir said that all developmental activities started during the Congress regime in the district had come to standstill now. The construction of a new wing of the Circuit House at Nahan, setting of a tourism complex in the town, beautification of pucca tank, opening up of ginger factory at Dadahu and the maintenance of number of link roads were some of the ambitious plans chalked out by the previous Congress Government, which had been shelved by the present government. Moreover, the Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, had not fulfilled the election promise and long-pending demand for declaring the Trans Giri as Scheduled Tribe area.

Mr Musafir, who represents the Pacchad segment of Sirmaur in the state assembly, took a dig at the state government by saying that it was active only in large-scale transfers and victimisation of government employees.

The senior Congress leader demanded that Paonta Sahib Bhagani Sahib, Shri Renuka ji and Trilokpur be declared holy towns of Sirmaur.

It is to be mentioned here that neither the BJP nor the HVC could open its account in the last assembly elections in the district whereas the Congress won all five seats.

Shifting of PWD office flayed
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, June 30 — Resentment prevails among residents of the far-flung Haripurdhar area of Sirmour district over the shifting of the PWD office to Sangrah.

A Congress leader, Mr Sahi Ram Chauhan, alleged that the BJP Government was discriminating against the Haripurdhar area.

Justifying the need for retaining the office at Haripurdhar, Mr Chauhan said 32 panchayats were situated in the difficult areas of Haripurdhar while only 13 were in Sangrah.

Concern over import of apple
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, June 30 — The Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association has expressed concern over the import of apples from foreign countries and urged the Centre to review the policy to delete apples from the Open General Licence list.

The markets in Bombay and Delhi have been flooded with imported apples from New Zealand, Australia and other countries, creating problems for local growers. Subjecting poor growers to international competition was unfair and it would spell doom for the horticulture industry in the state.

It welcomed the decision of the Centre to start a crop insurance scheme which would go a long way in protecting farmers against the vagaries of weather. He said mango, apple and citrus fruits should also be included in the scheme.

It urged the government to clear the outstanding payments for fruit procured under the market intervention scheme.

HVC stakes claim to 2 HP seats
From Our Correspondent

SOLAN, June 30 — Mr Sukh Ram, a former Union Communication Minister and President of the Himachal Vikas Congress, the coalition partner of the BJP Government in Himachal, has staked his party’s claim to two of the four parliamentary seats in the state.

Mr Sukh Ram , who addressed a press conference at Parwanoo yesterday, claimed that the voter in his home constituency of Mandi, was with him and the allotment of the Mandi ticket to him would be a guarantee for the rout of the Congress there.

Mr Sukh Ram also staked his party’s claim to the Shimla (Reserve) constituency, adding that his party candidate, with the support of the BJP, would also emerge triumphant from there. He hoped BJP while deciding the allotment of ticket for Shimla would bear in mind that that party’s candidate had lost in that constituency during the last elections.

Mr Sukh Ram said he would soon hold talks with the state BJP top brass for thrashing out all issues related to the sharing of seats for the next poll.