City page for January 2

WEATHER

Forecast (January 2): Rain and thundershowers at a few places in the lower hills, rain and snow at many places in the middle and higher hills.

Temperatures:

Shimla: 10.4, 1.4 Degrees Celsius Sunrise: 7:20 am, sunset: 5:31 pm

Dharamsala: 9.4, 2.2 Degrees Celsius

Manali: 10.0, – 2.6 Degrees Celsius

READERS’ SAY

Open electricity wires a threat

Open electricity wires near the bus stand at Sujana village on the outskirts of Shimla are a threat to passersby, especially schoolchildren. The overhead wires can result in a fatal mishap as villagers board buses from there. The administration should immediately replace the wires to prevent any untoward incident. – Mitu, Sujana

Residents oppose TCP Act

Residents of Banjar, Kullu district, are against the imposition of the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Act in the panchayat area. They said it would force residents to get approval from the Town and Country Planning Department for the construction of residential houses in the area. They said they did not want the area to come under the Act’s purview. The residents submitted a memorandum to Banjar MLA Surender Shourie to raise the issue with the state government in public interest. – Aami Chand Banjar, Kullu district

EDUCATION NOTE

Guv releases ‘Kisan Diary’

Governor Bandaru Dattatreya on Wednesday released the “Kisan Diary” of Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni. Vice-Chancellor Dr Parvinder Kaushal was also present on the occasion. The diary, which contains information about the package of practices for various horticultural and agroforestry crops, has been published for the first time and will be beneficial for farmers of the state. It is the recommended production technology of various crops right from sowing to harvest that will help farmers in enhancing production and productivity. Various crops include fruits, vegetables, flowers, medicinal and aromatic plants, mushroom and their seed production. Among the technology pertaining to forest crops, emphasis is on agroforestry crops, tree improvement and forest product utilisation. It also contains information about soil science and water management, beekeeping, environment science and other allied areas.

Programme for teachers

As many as 30 teachers from various schools of Himachal participated in a one-day capacity building programme organised at Gurukul PVIS, Rajgarh, in Sirmaur district. Ravi Sharma, CBSE resource person, spoke about the significance of life skills. He elucidated on how to deal with challenges while highlighting three broad categories — thinking skills, social skills, and emotional skills. He said, “Students are being trained to deal with problems, which they will encounter in day-to-day life, though they have little idea about them now. Hence, life skills become important to help them deal with the life outside school. Thinking skills relate to reflection at a personal level and include thinking creatively and critically, developing problem-solving skills and improving decision-making abilities, while social skills relate to dealing with others and include interpersonal skills, communication skills, cooperation and team building skills. Emotional skills involve knowing and being comfortable with oneself and include self–management (managing/coping with feelings, emotions, stress) and resisting peer and family pressure,” Sharma said.

ABVP activists create awareness

The ABVP welcomed the New Year by spreading the message of “Swachhta” and creating awareness about traffic rules. Activists distributed pamphlets and handbags to people at Lakkar Bazaar and the ISBT, urging them not to use and throw plastic waste in the open. “We are organising a large number of activities under the SDF (students for development) with focus on water conservation, afforestation, wildlife protection, solid waste management and making villages self-reliant,” said head of the SDF programme Suraj Jamalta.

Interactive session

An interactive session between teachers and parents was organised at Government Senior Secondary School, Totu (Shimla), on the last working day. Kavita Verma, principal of the school, urged the parents to make collective and coordinated efforts to improve the quality of education. She said students should make a timetable during vacation for better results in the board examinations.

WHAT’S ON

Jan Manch, Panchayat Ghar, Thadi, Shoghi, January 5, 10 am onwards

MLA Priorities Meeting with Chief Minister at conference hall of Armsdale, Secretariat, Shimla, 7 and 8 January, 10.30 am

Shivratri fair to be held in Mandi from February 22 to 28

Change in flight schedule to Kullu

The schedule of Air India flight to Kullu will change from January 3 as flight to Chandigarh will not operate till January 26

Delhi-Kullu 08:45 / 10:15

Kullu-Delhi 10:50 / 12:10