Customers can also upgrade their existing 2G/3G SIMs with 4G ready USIMs completely free of cost at any Airtel retail store, a company statement said.
Telecom operator Bharti Airtel said it plans to soon launch 4G services in over 100 towns across Himachal Pradesh. Customers can also upgrade their existing 2G/3G SIMs with 4G ready USIMs completely free of cost at any Airtel retail store, a company statement said.
Airtel 4G is currently available to customers in Shimla, Baddi, Mandi and Solan. Manu Sood, Hub CEO – Upper North, Bharti Airtel said, “We are inviting data savvy customers across Himachal Pradesh to be 4G ready with a simple upgrade to an Airtel USIM. We look forward to serving our customers with world-class services on Airtel 4G network.
Himachal Pradesh cabinet today decided to regularise services of part-time water carriers (PTWC) who have completed 14 years of services in schools.
The decision would benefit over 2,000 carriers who have completed 14 years in service as either PTWC or daily wagers on March 31 and September 30.
The cabinet also paid tribute to martyrs of the Uri attack and observed two minutes silence.
It also approved ‘Mukhya Mantri Gyandeep Yojna’, under whichinterest subvention of 4 per cent would be given to all Himachali students availing educational loans up to Rs 10 lakh, irrespective of their income level.
The cabinet approved the Passenger Ropeway Project from Kullu by-pass to Bijli Mahadev. It also discussed road construction upto portals of the proposed Chamunda-Holi tunnel and will take it up with the NHAI.
It gave its nod on opening town planning offices at Rohroo in Shimla district and Nadaun in Hamirpur districts, and a government degree college at Chopal in district Shimla from 2017-18 academic session.
Two acres of land at Sunni Shimla district were alloted for a farmers training center and it approved setting up of a residential institution for Mentally Challenged Children.
Sub-division offices (civil) at Nagrota-Bagwan and Shahpur in Kangra district, Kumarsein in Shimla district and Naina Deviin Bilaspur district were approved by cabinet.
It approved ugrade of Dharampur sub-tehsil in Mandi district to tehsil and merged Tihra sub-tehsil with it, excluding the Cholthara and the Sadhot Patwar circles.
The cabinet has authorised the MPP and the power department to negotiate the 960 MW Jangi-Thopan power project with Central Public Sector undertakings.
Permission was given to fill over 130 posts in different departments, including 108 posts of multi-purpose workers in the forest department on contract basis.
Services of Ayurvedic Medical Officers appointed on contract basis at community and primary health centres were also regularised.
A video of a patriotic poem penned and recited by a head constable of Himachal Pradesh police has gone viral on the social media.
It was uploaded by Head Constable Manoj Kumar on ‘Kargil Day’ (July 26) but it went viral in the aftermath of the Uri terrorist attack yesterday. Born on 23 April 1983 in Kathogan village of Tikker pancyat in Sarkaghat subdivision Manoj Thakur is posted in Kinnaur at present.
The video is being shared by thousands of people on Facebook, WhatsApp and other social networking websites and the family members of Manoj, who is currently posted at Kinnaur, came to know about it from others.
The 130-second video with Manoj reciting the poem was shot on a bus carrying police personnel.
The video sendsa warning to Pakistan that any “misadventure” would “wipe it out from the world map”.
It says, “abki yudh hua to Kashmir to rahega par Pakistan nahin hoga” (if there is another war, Kashmir will survive but Pakistan won’t) and “hum Pakistan ke bomb se nahin, Tashkent aur Shimla samjhauton se darte hain” (We are not scared of Pakistan’s bombs but ofTashkant and Shimla pacts) and reminds Pakistan of its defeats in the hands of the Indian army in 1965, 1971 and 1999.
“Remember the 90,000 prisoners of the 1965 war and the favour of Indira (Gandhi),” the poem says and warns, “There would be India on both sides of the Indus river and the Indian flag would fly over Islamabad.
After learning about his viral video from others, Thakur said that he was grateful to Indians who were inspired by his sentiments. Read his message below.
“Dear Indians, I am overwhelmed by the affection I have received from you. You are my inspiration. I am proud of my motherland. I thank crores of Indians who respected my emotions and watched my video by taking out their precious time. I am grateful to the media for showcasing my video. Today I realized that when Indians shower love on someone, they do it generously. Jai Hind, Jai Maa Bharti, Vande Mataram, Jai Hind Ki Sena.” – Manoj Thakur
The entire poem which is on everyone’s lips now was, however, originally taken from Balika Sadhvi Thakur who has demanded India to give a befitting reply to Pakistan.
(This story has not been edited by Himtimes staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Maharshi Markendeshwar Medical College (MMMC) in Solan had allegedly denied admission to 150 MBBS students under government quota over demand of fee hike.
Himachal Pradesh High Court commanded the petitioners to execute an undertaking before the court, that in case the fee is enhanced or revised, they shall have to pay the revised fee from this academic session. (File Photo)
The Himachal Pradesh High Court Tuesday directed the principal of a private medical college here to admit MBBS aspirants as per the list issued by the counselling committee. Maharshi Markendeshwar Medical College (MMMC) in Solan had allegedly denied admission to 150 MBBS students under government quota over demand of fee hike. A division bench comprising Chief Justice Mansoor Ahmad Mir and Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan passed the order on a petition filed by Arushi Thakur on the issue of fee revision in MMMC.
However, the high court commanded the petitioners to execute an undertaking before the court, that in case the fee is enhanced or revised, they shall have to pay the revised fee from this academic session.
The bench directed the respondent to file reply by September 26 and listed the case for October 3 next.
The college management, which is charging Rs 5 lakh per year for the seats under government quota as against Rs 50,000 charged by three government medical colleges in the state, had requested for a further hike in the fee and refused the admit the students for MBBS session (2016-17).
However, the government had turned down the request, saying no changes can be made in the fee structure after counselling and publication of the prospectus.
The government had asked the college to admit MBBS students against 50 per cent government quota seats and 50 per cent management quota seats, but the MMMC remained defiant and students approached the high court.
The list of the counselling committee, headed by Director Medical Education and Research K P Chowdhary, has the names of the MBBS aspirants to be admitted by the college.
MMMC was permitted to admit the fourth batch of 150 MBBS students by the Union government on the recommendations of Medical Council of India (MCI), but the college did not abide by the directions of the government to get affiliation from Himachal Pradesh University (HPU) and continued to function as consequent college of Maharshi Markendeshwar University in violation of clause 7 of the Act under which the university was set up.
This clause bars the university from affiliating any college.
Tourist destinations in Himachal Pradesh could turn out to be hotter for international backpackers too if positioned properly. Members of the international hospitality industry say the authorities need to showcase the state’s potential to the global travellers in their dialect, through micro-blogging and online videos.
“When a tourist is planning his foreign trip, he may not know exactly where to begin. But he’s interested to know the visiting place’s culture, history, nature, people and the local facilities,” visiting Germany’s travel guide Eu-Asien De’s managing director Mark Lich told IANS.
Mark Lich with father Gennady Lich from Germany
He said a lot of German travellers say India is their dream destination.
“But the only hiccup with the German visitors, who prefer spending lavishly overseas, is that they expect that they should have all first-hand information before finalizing their itinerary,” the 27-year-old online travel guide said.
He was here along with his Russian-born father Gennady Lich – who migrated to Germany in 1995 – at the invitation of the state tourism department to attend the two-day Himachal Travel Mart over the Weekend.
During the first such event to showcase the state’s potential, 1,260 business-to-business (B2B) meetings were held between the state tourism stakeholders and the travel delegates mainly from Britain, France, Germany, Greece, Nepal, Sri Lanka and the UAE, besides India.
Britain-based travel guide Anita Larkin was impressed with the grand British-era heritage of Shimla, once British India’s summer capital.
“It is lovely and homely to be in this town,” she told IANS as she took a casual stroll through the streets of this capital town.
Strolling down the Mall, a famous shopping street, she said: “This is my first visit to the town and the state. It, of course, gives me a feeling of my hometown in Yorkshire. Before coming here, I was not familiar about the grand legacy of the British still preserved here.”
“I would love to bring tourists from Britain to this place where my grandfather’s sister’s husband, a man named Bancraft, spent his lifetime,” Larkin, who runs Ladies on Tour agency that organises holidays for women only.
She also visited the local Christ Church – built in 1857 in neo-Gothic style.
Echoing Lich’s views, restaurateur-cum-travel advisor Richard Key of South Africa said tourist destinations in this Himalayan nation have much potential to allure high-end tourists from his country.
“The whites are difficult to convince. They prefer to travel to Europe and Australia. They have misconceptions that they will fall sick if they travel to India. They are also fearful about chaotic traffic, filthy surroundings and noise and air pollution,” he said.
“The pollution-free environs of this state can be an allurement for them. For me it’s the most beautiful place but it needs to be showcased at the international expos to change their mindset,” said Key, who is a fan of India.
Second, he said, the state tourism agency needed to develop tour packages to allure international travellers.
Records with the state tourism department said 406,000 international tourists arrived in the state last year against 17.125 million domestic travellers.
The hill state has a bed capacity of 70,869 in about 2,600 hotels, including state-run Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation’s 59 units.
Lich said there was no authentic travel information available in German about the favourite tourist destinations in Himachal Pradesh.
“The state tourism department should provide the literature in German online and promote its destinations through videos on YouTube,” he said.
Writer Anoj Tillekeratne from Sri Lanka’s travel magazine Travel Talk said before coming here he had no information about this state’s tiny helmets spread over the Himalayan peaks, adjoining Tibet, that takes one to a land of Buddhism and virgin nature.
“Every year tens of thousands of Sri Lankans travel to India to visit Bodh Gaya, considered the birthplace of Buddhism, for spirituality. In this travel mart I came to know about a treasure trove of Buddhist monasteries that this state hosts,” Tillekeratne told IANS.
For instance, near Kaza in the remote Spiti Valley is Tabo, known for a more than 1,000-year-old cave Buddhist monastery. Founded in 996, Tabo is located at an altitude of 3,050 m and is also called the Ajanta of the Himalayas.
Tourism commissioner Mohan Chauhan said the response of the international travel delegates was positive.
“The participants, mainly comprising members from the hospitality industry, got 40 to 50 business queries from the national and international delegates. The results will start coming after five to six months,” he said.
Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation managing director Dinesh Malhotra said they are going to redesign the existing literature around the state’s allures — the majestic Himalayas, gurgling rivers, virgin mountains, cool hills coated with Himalayan cedars and rich culture.
Tourism contributes 7.2 percent of the state gross domestic product.
Himachal Pradesh was awarded “2015-Better Performing Project Award” recently in New Delhi.
The award was given for development of infrastructure in the state implemented by the tourism department under the ADB Funded Project, a government official said here on Monday. He said that the award was given during the Tripartite Portfolio Review meeting.
The award was based on the overall performance in contract award, disbursement, execution, monitoring and quality maintenance, etc. by the implementing agency.
The tourism department has been executing 580 crore tourism infrastructure project in the state under which various sub projects were under execution at almost all the important tourist destinations in the state, the official added.
Prior to it, Leonardus Boenawan Sondjaja, Deputy Country Director, Asian Development Bank and the Project Office (Urban), ADB Vivek Vishan visited Shimla on September 8 and inspected Tutikandi Parking, Mall Road Beautification Project, Town Hall Project and expressed satisfaction at the overall performance. The ADB team had also met Chief Secretary VC Pharka, who is also holding the charge of the tourism department.
Two youths from Punjab who had gone to pay obeisance at Peer Nigahe in Himachal drowned in Gobind Sagar Lake in Una Sunday.
According to sources, six youths had gone to the holy place on their motorbikes Saturday evening. The deceased have been identified as Sukhdev Kumar (24) and Paramjit (23), residents of Badri colony in Jalandhar’s Basti Danishmanda. Both were working in a football manufacturing industry.
After paying their obeisance today, they went to the lake to take a bath. “As soon as they entered the water, they drowned,” said one of the relative of the deceased. The relative said that they visited the Peer Nigahe every year but they never went to the lake. “One of their friends told us over the phone that both were eager to take a bath while the others were at a fair distance from the water,” said another relative.
The parents have been informed by the Himachal Police and they have left to receive their bodies.
It may be recalled that on 14 August, five youths from a village in Hoshiarpur district also drowned in a ‘Khadd’ (a seasonal stream) in Himachal when they jumped in the deep water to save one of their friends who was drowning.
Similarly, seven youths from Doaba died in Himachal this season, including three on June 9 in Shimla’s Nature camp after a tree fell on their tent due to heavy rain and storm. On May 10, four youths from Ranewal village in Nawanshahr got washed away after a cloud burst near Shimla.
There is no scientific, intellectual, social and logical basis for caste system. The caste system is profoundly illogical and is also against the basic tenets of the Constitution, said the Bench.
In a landmark Judgment, the High Court of Himachal Pradesh has held that mentioning of caste/status separately in the criminal proceedings is a colonial legacy and requires to be stopped forthwith. The Court also observed that we should, as a public policy, shun the caste system. The Division Bench comprising Justices Rajiv Sharma and Justice Sureshwar Thakur has made the observations while confirming a conviction and sentence awarded by a Sessions Court in a Murder Case. The Bench has noted that the police in inquest report, First Information Report, recovery memo and dying declaration have separately stated the caste of the accused as well as of the victim.
“This is not permissible. Right to dignity is a fundamental right and a basic human right. Human dignity is one of the basic features of the Constitution. The Constitution of India also guarantees a casteless and classless society. Segmentation of the society into groups cannot be determined by birth. All are born equal. It is the bounden duty of the State not only to protect the human dignity but to facilitate it by taking positive steps in that direction.”, said the Bench.
Justice Rajiv Sharma, who wrote the Judgment, remarked that the founding fathers of the Indian Constitution were of utmost belief that the caste system would come to an end with the passage of time. However, unfortunately, the caste system is still prevalent. There is no scientific, intellectual, social and logical basis for caste system. The caste system is profoundly illogical and is also against the basic tenets of the Constitution.
The Bench has directed the Principal Secretary (Home) to the Government of Himachal Pradesh, to issue instructions to all the Investigating Officers in Himachal Pradesh not to separately state/mention the caste of the accused, victims or witnesses in recovery memos, FIR’s, seizure memos, inquest papers and other forms prescribed under the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 and Punjab Police Rules.
Shimla: The issue of denying admissions to 150 students into first year of MBBS course by Maharishi Markandeshwar University (MMU) at Kumarhatti in Solan has now reached the Himachal Pradesh high court. After aggrieved students filed petition, the court on Friday issued notices to state government, MMU, Union health secretary and Medical Council of India directing them to file their replies by September 20.
Students along with their parents had met chief minister Virbhadra Singh, chief secretary V C Pharka and health secretary Omkar Sharma but they all failed to resolve the issue. After seeing no end to their miseries, parents finally decided to move court.
One of the aggrieved parents, Rajnish Rana, said state government has failed to resolve the issue on which they moved court. He said that on September 30, Medical Council of India portal would be closed for the new session and students not enrolled by then would be left out.
“In our petition we have submitted that the court should take cognizance of the denial of admission to students by MMU. We have also sought directions for the state government to provide provisional admission to students in other medical colleges of state,” Rana added. He said that before allocating seats at MMU, state government should have taken into consideration the ongoing fee dispute between MMU and government. He said it is the responsibility of the government and MMU to secure the future of students.
The restored Bailey bridge that links the north portal of the Rohtang tunnel. Photo: Jai Kumar
The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has finally succeeded in restoring the 180-ft damaged Bailey bridge connecting the north portal of the Rohtang tunnel here today.
The bridge collapsed on August 29 when a truck carrying material was passing through it. The truck fell into a ditch, but no loss of life was reported.
BRO Commander KP Rajendra said, “We restored the bridge in two weeks. Now, loaded vehicles having carrying capacity of 30 tonne can pass through it. However, the authority will restrict heavy load more than the bearing capacity of the bridge to avoid any further damage to it.”
He said Lt Gen Suresh Sharma, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, Director General Border Roads, visited the site for inspection and complimented the team for constructing the bridge in short time, despite many challenges.
He added that it was the only route to transport the construction material for the Rohtang tunnel from the north portal side and delay in the stone restoration of the bridge was affecting the construction of the tunnel.
“The BRO authority will try to recover the parts of the damaged bridge next month when the water level of Chandra River, on which the bridge is established, will reduce,” he added.
The tunnel is being constructed beneath the Rohtang Pass, which remains closed for six months due to snow, to provide year-round road link.
Shahtalai: Deepali Bhardwaj of Naghiyar panchayat in Jhandutta tehsil has been commissioned as a lieutenant in Indian Army. Her father Ramesh Bhardwaj told that Deepali has passed out from Officer training academy (OTA ) Chennai.
Lieutenant Deepali Bhardwaj told that she has done her M.Com. She cleared SSB test but she could not be selected due to only three posts available, but she made it in the fourth attempt. She joined OTA Chennai on October 3, 2015.
Deepali also won miss OTA Chennai on 27 August 2016. According to her, it is a special privilege and feeling to become an army officer from a civilian. She gives credit to success to her father Ramesh Bhardwaj, mother Saroj Bhardwaj, brother Rajneesh Bhardwaj, grand father late. Sohan Lal Bhardwaj and grand mother late. smt Nirmla Devi. She also obliged to her teachers and well wishers.
The Himachal Pradesh Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Commission today ordered closure of Aashi Institute of Nursing and Anit Computer institute, Baijnath. Both the institutes were being run by the same authority.
Three persons namely Kajal, Reena Devi and Reena Kumari had alleged that the institute had charged fees from them for undergoing diploma courses in nursing assistant on the fee structure approved by Alma Society registered in Madhya Pradesh.
Both parties were called by the commission on August 8. During hearing the management of Aashi institute admitted that they were also running another institute Anit Computer institute but failed to provide any documentary proof of the fee structure and no objection certificate by Centre, state or other regulatory bodies.
Regulator Sunil Sharma ordered closure of both institutes. Total fee of three students amounting to Rs 77,000 was also deposited with the commission. The institute also gave an undertaking that they would not run any courses.
In another case, the regulator told the institutions that they cannot withhold the original certificates of the students and should return these to students after admission on the spot and photocopy thereof be retained with the institution(s) for record.
The order came on the complaint of Shivangi Sharma who could not continue her course but the institute had kept her original academic certificates.
Himachal Pradesh Town and Country Planning Minister Sudhir Sharma today launched department’s Hindi website http://www.tcphp.in.
“Himachal Pradesh is India’s first state to provide all TCP department services online,” Sharma said, adding the website is now bilingual with information in Hindi and English.
Anyone can access the e-service through the online portal and benefit, the minister said.
Certificates, registration certificates and digital map of buildings are being provided through e-mail. Through e-services the department can ensure transparency and become paperless, he added.
“Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh had dedicated the English website and its services to the people in January,” he said, adding it has helped in improve citizen centric services.
Over 2,500 persons were at the Misrewala Madrasa near Paonta Sahib when some persons, including a few students, started pelting them with stones.
This led to chaos as those belonging to the two rivals factions clashed with each other.
The miscreants also damaged two vehicles.
SHIMLA: Tension gripped Misharwala area in Sirmaur district of Himachal Pradesh on Tuesday morning when two groups clashed inside a madrasa during Eid festivities. While three persons sustained minor injuries, five vehicles were damaged in the clash.
Police have not made any arrests in the case, however, they have turned the madrasa into a fortress to prevent any further clash.
The clash occurred when around 3,000 people had gathered there to offer prayers and a group objected to the Eid prayers being conducted by a particular priest, said sources.
They said tension had been brewing between the warring factions for the last two years over the issue of taking over of Madrasa Quadria at Misharwala on Nahan-Paonta Sahib road.
On Tuesday morning, a heated argument broke out between the feuding groups and soon led to stone-pelting, which continued for about 40 minutes. Some even alleged that children at the madrasa were instigated to pelt stones.
During the clash, five vehicles — three private and two belonging to the madrasa — were also damaged. It took police about an hour to bring the situation under control and to disperse those involved in the clash.
Sirmaur SP Soumya Sambasivan, who visited the spot, said a quick reaction team along with 50 personnel has been deployed at the madrasa. A permanent police booth has also been set up on the premises till the time the situation improves, she added.
She said that separate FIRs were being registered against the groups involved in the clash.
Last year, a resident of Uttar Pradesh found smuggling cattle was allegedly beaten to death by a mob at Sarahan near Nahan in Himachal Pradesh.
Police said they had received information that a truck carrying smuggled cows was present in Sarahan, about 37 km from Nahan. When the cops reached there, one of the truck’s occupants, Noman of Saharanpur district in Uttar Pradesh, was found grievously injured. he later succumbed to his injuries on way to the hospital.
Former Himachal Pradesh chief minister P K Dhumal and state Bjp party chief Satpal Singh Satti have launched a blistering attack on the Congress government in the state, accusing it of making “backdoor appointments on chits” and shielding the mafia.
File Photo of PK Dhumal
“The era of appointments of favourites on chits, throwing all norms to winds is back and the government was making appointments in government departments, boards and corporations and banks in totally non-transparent manner,” they said adding that the government also intended to bring a policy to regularise these “favourites” before the next assembly elections.
“This is gross injustice to educated unemployed youth and the Bjp would not allow it to happen,” they said and asserted that the Bjp would not allow such appointments and order a high level enquiry on its return to power.
“The reports of backdoor appointments in forest, education and other departments and boards and corporations were pouring in for quite some time and now the State Tourism Development Corporation is making appointments of utility workers without following any procedure to accommodate favourites of ministers and members of board of directors,” they alleged.
The Bjp leaders said that the countdown for the Congress government in the state has begun and realizing that the party would not return to power, Congress leaders were looting the state and land, mining, forest, liquor and transfer mafia was flourishing.
All these irregularities would be incorporated in the chargesheet being prepared by the Bjp and the same would be probed after the party comes to power, they said.
Himachal Pradesh is a land of gods with very little discovered and so much to explore and discover about this adobe of natural beauty and snow. There are things which are still quite strange and unknown about this state of Himachal Pradesh. For most of these I can bet that you did not know about all of these before. So, here are a few interesting and amazing facts about the state for you to read, enjoy and share.
The word “Himachal Pradesh” comes from the Sanskrit word “Hima”(हिम) which means “Snow”. And also the literal meaning of the State’s name is in the lap of Himalayas (हिम+आँचल). (हिम = snow, आँचल=lap)
Himachal Pradesh was formed on 15 April,1948 as Chief Commissioner’s Province of H.P. by integration of 28 princely states with four Districts Chamba, Mandi, Sirmour and Mahasu. Himachal got complete statehood on 25 Jan,1971 and became the 18th state of India.
The most exciting way to commute to Shimla is by the Kalka-Shimla Railway, better known as the Toy train. But what’s more amazing is that it declared a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO and holds the world record of being the train to cover the steepest slope (5816 ft) in least distance (just 96 km). The Kalka-Shimla express is runs through a massive stretch of 806 bridges, 103 tunnels and 18 stations.
Himachal Pradesh proudly holds the title of being the second least corrupt state of India after Kerala; so you can stop worrying of getting duped or overcharged and enjoy your trip to the beautiful Himachal Pradesh.
Himachal Pradesh has 11th rank in literacy rate in India after having literacy rate of 83.78%.
Himachal has 37,033 square km of forest area which is 66.52% of the total area of the state.
Shigri Glacier in Lahaul-Spiti is the largest glacier in Asia.
Manali–Leh National Highway is the highest motor able road in the world.
Shimla Kalka toy train and The Great Himalayan national Park in Kullu are the world heritage sites.
The Great Himalayan national Park in Kullu
Malana is one of the oldest Democracy of the world and interestingly it has its own set of Greek-resembling beliefs and ways. They even consider themselves to be the descendants of Alexander the Great and consider non-Malanis as inferior and untouchables. That must explain the above fact. Malana, a fairly unexplored and hidden village in Himachal Pradesh is also famous by the name of ‘The Village of Taboos’ which is mainly because of their strict rules of no outsider touching any wall or belonging of the residents.
Malana Village.. Read about Malana village
Himachal Pradesh is the land of deities. Almost every village has its own Gods and Goddesses which the local people rigorously worship.
Himachal has a vast potential of Hydro Power generation with a estimated capacity of 25,000 MW, out of which 3934.74MW has been harnessed so far and many projects are under construction. Shanan Power house in Joginder Nagar, built in 1896, was the first Power Station of the state and in fact of Asia.
Himachal Pradesh on 2 July 2013 was declared as the first Smoke-free state of the country. “Smoking in Public Places is Prohibited in the state.
Himachal Govt has imposed a ban on production, storage, use, sale and distribution of all types of polythene bags made of non-biodegradable on October 2, 2009.
Solan is known as the ‘Mushroom City’ for Mushroom Production, This is also one of the fastest growing hill town in Asia.
Khajjiar, considered to be our very own ‘Mini Switzerland’, has a lake that boasts of afloating island right in its centre.
Khajjiar
Himachal Pradesh is the second largest producer of apple in the country after Jammu & Kashmir. Himachal has a rich collection of as many as 450 cultivars of apples. Himachal Pradesh currently produces over 4 lacs tones of apple annually in 92.8 thousands Hectare, which grossed about Rs.2500 crores.
Himachal has 9 national highways of 1,208 km length, 19 state highways with total length of 1,625 km and 45 major district roads with total length of 1753.05 km.
The three airports in Himachal Pradesh are: Jubbar Hatti Airport near Shimla, Gaggal Airport near Kangra and Bhuntar Airport near Kullu. The flights operate only seasonally due to extreme conditions. All these airports have shorter runways that are capable of landing the smaller aircraft such as the 18-seater Dornier & 42 seater ATR.
Some famous celebrities associated with entertainment industry and sports from Himachal are Anupam Kher, Preity Zinta, Kangna Ranaut, Mohit Chauhan, Yami Gautam, Rubina Dilaik.
Deepak Thakur (Hockey) , Vijay Kumar (Shooting), Samresh Jung (Shooting),Anuja Jung(Shooting), Suman Rawat (Athletics), Great Khali (WWE) and Ajay Thakur (Kabaddi) have represented India in respective sports.
SHIMLA: Mandi in Himachal Pradesh is the cleanest district followed by Sindhudurg in Maharashtra, according to the first-ever survey of rural areas among 75 short-listed districts across the country.
The survey was conducted by Quality Council of India (QCI) on behalf of the sanitation ministry covering nearly 70,000 household across 2,530 villages. It was released by drinking water and sanitation minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Thursday . The report has ranked districts under two categories – districts in north-east and hill states and districts in plains.
However, in the overall score of all the 75 districts Mandi got 98.4 out of 100 marks while Sindhudurg got a score of 96.8.
Interestingly, while nine out of top 10 districts in the hill states are from Himachal Pradesh and Sikkim, in plain areas, eight of the top ranking 10 are from Maharashtra and Bengal. Gurgaon ranked 40 among the 53 districts in the plain areas.
The three-month-long survey and ranking was done based on four indicators – percentage of households having access to safe toilets and using them, percentage of household having no litter around, cleanliness around public places and households having no stagnant water around.
The survey report shows while toilet coverage is better and there is negligible littering around individual houses, litter was found in more than 50% of public places surveyed both in hill and other districts.Littering in public places is a major issue not just in rural but urban areas as well.
“We covered most aspects of Swachh Bharat mission and not just availability and usage of toilets.We also found how usage of safe toilets is over 90%, which is encouraging,” sanitation secretary Parameswaran Iyer said.
Tomar said the intention behind making this survey report public is to have greater competition among states and districts to make them cleaner.
The sanitation ministry also released the ranking of 26 states based on the survey done by NSSO last year, which took into account percentage of households having sanitary toilets and using them. While Sikkim topped the list, Jharkhand came last in the ranking.
Shimla: In Himachal Pradesh, priests of many rural temples have procured gun licenses for the protection of deities and precious jewellery as in past, many temples have been looted and in some cases, priests or the temple guards were killed.
In July 2013, armed burglars had not only stolen the precious idols and jewels worth several crores from Bachhunchh village of Rohru tehsil in Shimla district, but they had also killed the temple chowkidar. In last 10 years, burglars have striked in over 150 temples and monasteries of the state. In December 2014, Raghunatha temple heist had left the entire state shocked as priceless idols of Lord Raghunatha were stolen from the temple premises.
Kullu district is home to over 200 deities and dozens of thefts in temples here have been reported in the recent years. Now, government is encouraging temple authorities to install CCTV cameras and apply for arms license for security of the temple property.
Dabe Ram, kardar (caretaker) of Raghunath temple in Sainj, said “The ancient idols of the deities are very precious. Kathar (stockroom) of the temples stocks jewellery and cash, and we possess a gun only to protect the heritage,” he said. Dot Ram, kardar of Devi Darshani Warda temple in Kais, said possession of gun is necessary to keep the miscreants away from temple property. “We cannot afford theft of our ancient idols. The palanquins of our deities decorated with jewellery keep moving across the district round the year. Keeping a gun is a must for every temple authority,” he said.
Kullu Devi Devta Kardar Sangh, president, Dot Ram Thakur said kardars of the district had a meeting some time back and they discussed about stepping up security in the temples. “We talked about obtaining gun license, besides installing CCTV cameras in temple premises. Government is helping us in getting gun license with easy formalities. The most important thing is to have a valid certificate in training in operation, safety and handling of the gun,” he said.
“Many already have valid arms licenses while a few have applied. Nika Ram, kardar of Jamlu Devta temple in Anni, has fulfilled all the formalities and he will get his license soon,” Thakur added.
At present, 13 temple authorities have gun licenses in Kullu while a few more have applied. In Himachal Pradesh around 95,000 gun licenses have been issued to people in all 12 districts. and majority of these licenses have been issued for crop protection.
In reply to a question asked by Congress MLA Kuldeep Kumar, state government had informed the state assembly during monsoon session that temples managed by state government have total cash of Rs 2,84,26,27,495 besides over 1.30 quintals of gold and over 27.72 quintals of silver. These temples does not include temples of rural areas which is managed by the residents of respective villages and have huge wealth and precious idols.
The Congress government in Himachal Pradesh on Thursday withdrew its petition challenging a recent National Green Tribunal order that stopped a hydropower project in the state until affected gram sabhas cleared it, within a week of filing it in the Supreme Court.
The move came after the Congress leadership at the Centre took a stand against the position of the state government which party leaders say was seen against the spirit of the forest rights act (FRA).
HT had first reported on Monday that the Himachal government opposed the green tribunal’ order asking it to seek an approval for the Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation project from the gram sabhas of 19 affected tribal villages in Kinnaur district, saying they consisted of “unskilled” people and the project could not be held back for their permission.
Sources said the state government’s petition did not go down well with the party leadership at the Centre, which has been accusing the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) of “diluting” the FRA.
The law recognises the traditional rights of forest dwellers on forest resources and makes it mandatory for the projects coming up in forest areas to take approval from the affected gram sabhas before the forests can be chopped.
Sources added the directions to withdraw the petition came from Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi’s office, who is slated to tour the country demanding proper implementation of the FRA.
“We have an indelible faith in right of gram sabha and gram panchayats as constitutionally recognised entities for protection and preservation of forests rights as also rights of forest dwellers. Himachal government’s decision to withdraw its petition is a testament to this commitment espoused by Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi,” said Congress in a statement.
The role of the central leadership was also clear from the fact that senior Congress leader and Supreme Court lawyer Salman Khurshid argued on behalf of the state government for withdrawing the petition in place of the state government’s counsel a day before the scheduled hearing for the case.
“The matter which had been filed indicated that our commitment to FRA is not strong which is not correct. We told the court that it was important to withdraw the petition right away as there cannot be any misgiving when it comes to tribal rights. Fortunately, the court agreed to dismiss the petition since there were no notices were issued on the matter yet,” Khurshid told HT.
“The central party leadership was in discussion with the state government for the past couple of days. We concluded that there was no reason for the state to file the petition to amend the NGT orders as the NGT order was itself issued with the consent of the state government during the course of the hearings,” Khurshid added.
In May, the NGT suspended the forest clearance for the 130-mw project on grounds that it “prima facie” violated the provisions of the FRA. Residents of the villages affected by the project had approached the green court, saying the consent of the gram sabhas was not taken by the project, a pre-requisite for forest clearance under FRA.
Himachal Pradesh University on Wednesday revised its pass percentage mark after mass failure of students in their first semester examination held in December 2015 by deciding to clear those who secured an overall aggregate of 45%.
Earlier it was made mandatory that students secure 45% marks separately in both internal and external examinations and also in aggregate that resulted in mass failures.
The decision was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by Vice Chancellor ADN Bajpai and attended by principal secretary (education), director higher education, pro vice chancellor, EC member, MLA Bamber Thakur and dean of studies, dean of planning registrar and controller of examination.
The meeting discussed the report of the high-powered committee and accepted its recommendation that the pass percentage for both internal and external examination be lowered to 35% with 45 per cent aggregate marks from next year onward.
The meeting further directed the authorities concerned to issue notification in this regard and ensure that revised results are declared by September 17.
The vice chancellor had asserted on Tuesday that there was no fault on the part of the University and attributed the poor results to bad performance of students and said the failed pupils would have to reappear for exams.
The University had raised the minimum pass marks in both internal and external examination separately to 45% from previous 35% and an aggregate of 45% marks which resulted in large scale failures, breeding unrest in colleges.
The criteria of internal and external examination marks was also changed from 50:50 to 30:70, which also contributed to high rate of failures.
