Rajya Sabha MP from Maharashtra Rajni Patil has once again been made the incharge of the Himachal Congress, replacing Rajeev Shukla.

Patil (66) has been entrusted the task of being the party incharge for Himachal for the second time.

She is familiar with Himachal politics and the Congress organisation in the hill state as prior to this, she remained the party incharge from 2018 to 2020 for almost two years.

Being a seasoned leader who has remained a Lok Sabha MP, she faces the challenge of taking along all factions and leaders, especially Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and the state Congress president Pratibha Singh, former Mandi MP and wife of former chief minister Virbhadra Singh.

She will have to strike a balance between all senior leaders, ministers and MLAs to forge unity, especially in the backdrop of a revolt by six Congress MLAs in the run-up to the Rajya Sabha elections in February 2024.

There is complete uncertainty whether Pratibha will be allowed to continue or the party will get a new president. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, who remained an arch rival of Virbhadra, would like to get his own man installed as the party president but eventually it is the high command which will have the final say.

Patil’s appointment has come at a time when the central high command dissolved the party units and all committees, almost three months back.

As such her appointment has come at a crucial time when the entire party organisation is to be revamped. Also, the panchayat elections are due in November, later this year, necessitating the need for strengthening the party and gearing up the party cadres.

The delay in revamping the party and various organisational outfits is causing major concern among the senior leaders as well as the party cadre.

Some senior leaders, including ministers too, have not hesitated to express their angst in the delay over revamp of the party set-up, especially after the Congress debacle in the Delhi Assembly polls.

Murmurs of resentment over the Congress organisation lying defunct are already being heard as earlier this week, Agriculture Minister Chander Kumar stated that the party set-up was almost paralysed.

He said the party would have to be strengthened at the grassroots level as putting up candidates once the polls are announced does not work. Health and Family Welfare Minister Dhani Ram Shandil echoed similar concerns while stating that it was essential to revamp and strengthen the party.

AICC General Secretary KC Venugopal issued the list of the new party incharge for nine states, including Himachal, late last night.

As per the new appointments made by Congress president Mallikaarjun Kharge, Patil has also been made the in-charge for Chandigarh along with Himachal.

Just like Shimla, Manali, too, is bearing the brunt of climate change. Like in the state capital, snowfall has been receding in this famous tourist spot as well.

In the past 15 years, snowfall started deceasing noticeably from 2019-2020. Until then, barring 2015-16, Manali received good snowfall, ranging from 109 cm to 688 cm.

In the past six years, including the current year, the total snowfall has not gone beyond double digits.

This year, in particular, has been the worse over the past 15 years – the locals claim the town hasn’t seen even 15 cm snowfall this winter. Compared to Shimla, which is enduring the third consecutive dry winter, Manali is better placed but the alarm bells have started ringing here as well.

In 2010-11, Manali had received a massive snowfall, 688 cm. Even in 2012-13, it received 310 cm of snowfall, and 180 cm in 2016-16.

In the last six years, however, the snowfall has barely crossed 80 cm on three occasions and has been less than 50 cm on the other three occasions.

Like in Shimla, the snowfall window has been shrinking here as well. The town used to receive good snowfall in December and March as well but the snowfall in March is on the decline over the last few years. In December as well, the quantity of snowfall is reducing with every passing year.

The reducing snowfall has set alarm bells ringing for winter games enthusiasts and hoteliers in the town.

“We haven’t been able to put on our skies at all this winter. There has hardly been any snowfall this year,” said Roshan Thakur, an official of the Winter Games Federation of India.

Thakur said that the snowfall has been receding for many years now, but the trend has become more noticeable over the last few years.

“There has been occasion when January went dry, but then the town would get a good snowfall in February. January went dry this time, but there has been no snowfall in February as well so far. This change is really worrisome,” said Thakur.

Meanwhile, hoteliers are also worried over the receding snowfall in the town. Even though Manali has been getting less snowfall over the last few years, the snowfall on either side of Atal Tunnel and Sissu in Lahaul and Spiti compensates for it.

“Despite reduced snowfall, tourist are coming here in the winter as they can see snow at the Atal Tunnel and beyond that.

The problem will be during the early summer when there will be no snow as the snowfall has been less than normal at higher altitudes as well,” said Mukesh Thakur, a hotelier in Manali.

“The receding snowfall is a matter of grave concern for hoteliers, hydro power sectors and horticulturalists as well,” said Thakur.

Declining trend

Year Snowfall

2010-11 688 cm

2011-12 195 cm

2012-13 310 cm

2013-14 109 cm

2014-15 167 cm

2015-16 15 cm

2016-17 180 cm

2018-19 165 cm

2019-20 83 cm

2020-21 50 cm

2021-22 85 cm

2022-23 45 cm

2023-24 81 cm

Andretta, a quaint village nestled in the foothills of the Himalayas, 15 km from Palampur, is renowned as the “village of artists”. Several prominent artists have made it their home, making it a significant cultural hub.

The village’s artistic journey began with Norah Richards, an Irish writer, dramatist and follower of Tolstoy. Her husband, a professor at Government College, Lahore, passed away, prompting her temporary return to England.

However, in the mid-1930s, she came back to India and settled permanently in Andretta. She built a charming English-style cottage using mud, slate and bamboo, blending local craftsmanship with European aesthetics.

Norah Richards dedicated her life to teaching drama to students from Punjab and beyond. Recognising her contributions, Punjabi University, Patiala, honoured her as a fellow and later preserved her house as a heritage monument.

In the 1990s, Dr SS Boparai, then Vice-Chancellor of Punjabi University, took special interest in restoring her house with the help of local craftsmen, ensuring its preservation for another 15 years.

Today, Punjabi University students visit Andretta annually on October 29 to celebrate Norah Richards’ birthday by performing plays in her memory. Special functions are also held on her death anniversary.

Richards invited two other artists from Lahore—BC Sanyal, a renowned painter and sculptor, and Prof Jai Dayal, her husband’s former student. They too built mud houses in the village. The legendary actor Prithviraj Kapoor frequently visited Prof Jai Dayal, who had once been his tutor in Lahore.

Another prominent artist, Sardar Sobha Singh, also made Andretta his home and lived there until his passing.

His legacy is preserved in the “Sobha Singh Art Gallery,” where dozens of his paintings and blueprints remain on display. The gallery stands as a tribute to his remarkable artistic contributions.

Following Norah Richards’ death in 1971, Andretta saw a decline in its cultural activities. However, BC Sanyal’s daughter, Amba, has revived the artistic spirit of the village with the establishment of “Norah’s Centre for Arts.”

Despite its cultural significance, Andretta lacks basic infrastructure. Denis Harrap, a French national residing in the village, has urged the Himachal Pradesh government to declare Andretta a heritage village, akin to Pragpur.

Thousands of domestic and international tourists visit annually, yet the village suffers from inadequate facilities, including the absence of even a single public toilet.

Residents express frustration over unfulfilled promises made by visiting dignitaries. They urge Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu to allocate tourism funds for Andretta’s development.

The Asian Development Bank is currently executing tourism projects in Himachal, and locals hope these funds will also be directed toward Andretta’s much-needed facelift.

This historic village, which once thrived as a cultural hub, has immense potential to be a major heritage attraction.

With proper infrastructure and government support, Andretta can regain its lost artistic glory and continue inspiring generations of artists.

After a prolonged delay of 14 years, the Phina Singh Canal Multipurpose project in Nurpur has finally received the much-needed financial boost.

The Union Ministry of Jal Shakti has allocated Rs 67.50 crore as the first installment of Central assistance under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY). This project, estimated to cost Rs 643 crore, had been stalled since 2022-23 due to the lack of Central funding.

The state government had already spent around Rs 300 crore on the project and was awaiting Rs 282.47 crore under the Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP) for its completion.

After repeated appeals by the state government, the project was finally included under PMKSY in July 2024, paving the way for financial assistance.

The Jal Shakti Department had submitted a revised Detailed Project Report (DPR) to the Central Water Commission (CWC) in 2021, which was subsequently approved.

Superintending Engineer, Jal Shakti Department, Nurpur Circle, confirmed that technical approval for the construction of the dam, estimated at Rs 267.28 crore, was granted by the Engineer-in-Chief on January 30, 2025.

The department has begun the process of floating tenders and aims to complete the project by August next year.

Originally conceptualised as a medium irrigation project, Phina Singh Canal was a dream project of former minister and MLA Sat Mahajan.

Later, MLA Rakesh Pathania played a key role in securing its approval. The project’s foundation stone was laid by former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal in October 2011. However, delays in funding and multiple revisions in the DPR led to a massive escalation in costs, from an initial estimate of Rs 204 crore to Rs 643 crore.

The last DPR submitted in 2021 also included the construction of a 1.88 MW hydroelectric project as part of the ambitious canal system.

The project aims to interlink the Kalam Nullah and the Chakki rivulet, both tributaries of the Beas, and construct a concrete gravity dam on the Chakki.

The dam will channel water through a 4.30 km tunnel, providing irrigation to 4,025 hectares of farmland across 60 villages in Nurpur.

The Central Government will now cover 50% of the total construction cost, marking a crucial breakthrough for the project.

The release of the first installment of funds has renewed hopes among local farmers, who have been
awaiting the completion of the irrigation system to boost agricultural productivity.

Former MLA Ajay Mahajan expressed gratitude to Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and Deputy CM Mukesh Agnihotri for their efforts in securing central funds for the project.

With work set to resume soon, the completion of this long-pending initiative will significantly enhance irrigation facilities in Nurpur, ensuring better water availability for farmers and boosting agricultural output in the region.

The dry spell is likely to continue in Himachal over the next few days.

According to the weather department, the state is unlikely to receive any snowfall or rainfall over the next seven days.

There could be some snowfall or rainfall at isolated places in the higher reaches, but overall, the state is likely to experience dry conditions.

This forecast will disappoint farmers and horticulturalists who are eagerly waiting for a fresh spell of precipitation.

The long dry spell has put apple trees under severe stress, and the majority of apple growers are complaining that plants are drying up in the absence of adequate moisture.

Even the tourist sector is taking a big hit due to the prevailing dry conditions. Due to the dry spell, the average maximum temperatures at most places are 3 to 5 degrees higher than the normal temperature.

At many places in the upper Shimla area, natural water sources have dried up or the water has reduced significantly, due to which people are facing problems in getting drinking water supply.

At many places, people are depending on water tankers in the middle of winter.

The historic Lytton Memorial, a heritage landmark in Nahan, is steadily losing its grandeur and historical significance due to neglect by local authorities, the district administration and the Nahan Municipal Council.

This iconic monument, which has stood for 146 years, is a testament to the rich history of the Sirmaur princely state, yet it is suffering from lack of attention and care, posing a threat to its preservation.

The Lytton Memorial, also known as the Delhi Gate of Nahan, is modeled on the famous Gateway of India in Mumbai and the India Gate in Delhi.

Over the years, however, the once-pristine structure has become a canvas for local businesses to advertise their services, with numerous posters and flyers being pasted on and around the monument.

This disregard for its heritage status is a clear indication of the ongoing indifference by both the local civic body and district administration.

Astonishingly, neither the Nahan Municipal Council nor the police or local authorities have taken any action against the individuals responsible for defacing this historic structure.

Local residents and historians have expressed their concerns over the deteriorating condition of the monument.

Former MLA and historian, Kunwar Ajay Bahadur Singh, along with environmental committee have voiced their concerns about the lack of action to preserve the Lytton Memorial.

They argue that this monument is an important symbol of Nahan’s heritage and preserving it is a collective responsibility of every citizen.

The ongoing damage to the monument by the placement of commercial posters has raised alarm among locals.

Once, there was a fear of fines for such actions, but that deterrent seems to have vanished, as there has been no enforcement of penalties or public awareness campaigns to curb this issue.

Experts suggest that immediate steps should be taken to restore the monument’s dignity and ensure its protection.

They propose that the Nahan Municipal Council contact the individuals responsible for pasting posters by reaching out through their mobile numbers, issuing fines and penalties to discourage further violations.

These measures are essential to prevent the Lytton Memorial from losing its historical identity altogether.

If swift action is not taken, this 146-year-old heritage site, which has been a cornerstone of Nahan’s rich history, could fade into obscurity, losing its recognition not only in the local community but also among tourists and history enthusiasts.

The time to act is now, to safeguard this invaluable piece of history for future generations.

“The winter of 1984 and 1985 saw little precipitation. Majority of the apple plants in lower Kotgarh, Karsog and Rajgarh had dried up in those two years.

The current situation is even worse, apple cultivation is passing through the toughest phase at the moment,” said Pratap Chauhan, an apple growers from Kotkhai.

Most apple growers agree with Chauhan. Like the past two years, this winter, too, is approaching the end almost dry. From January 1 till date, the state has seen 74 per cent less than normal precipitation.

And as per the weather department, the precipitation is likely to be less than normal in the coming days. The three consecutive largely dry winters have pushed apple cultivation to the brink in the state.

“Apple growers are not even thinking of crop at the moment. Their entire attention and efforts are aimed at saving the plants, which are drying up without adequate snowfall and rainfall,” said Chauhan.

While the fresh plantation last year saw heavy mortality rate due to dry winters and dry summers (some growers claim the mortality rate was as high as 70 to 80 per cent), the growers fear the same this year too.

“If it doesn’t rain shortly, a lot of orchards are going to dry up, especially those in the sunny areas. The growers should avoid fresh plantations this year if they do not have water for irrigation,” said Dimple Panjta,” another orchardist.

Lokinder Bisht, a progressive grower from Rohru, feels it’s a wake-up call for the apple growers to get into water harvesting.

“Given how snowfall and rainfall is decreasing with every passing year, the growers will have to get into water harvesting. The government should facilitate growers by offering some subsidies for constructing water harvesting tanks,” said Bisht.

Usha Sharma, Senior Scientist, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Rohru, admitted that the dry spell had assumed serious proportions, putting the plants under severe stress.

“We have noticed a high mortality rate in the saplings planted last year. Also, the canker is spreading fast in older plants. These problems are particularly serious in the orchards located at the mid and lower altitudes,” she said.

She fears that the chilling-hour requirement of the Delicious varieties, especially at lower altitudes, might not be completed if the dry spell continues.

The Delicious varieties need over 1,000 chilling hours to have proper flowering and good fruit setting. “In current situation, the growers should go for water conservation measures like mulching, digging up small pits and holes in the orchards to retain water as and when it rains,” said Sharma.

Bisht, meanwhile, alleges that the government and the Department of Horticulture are hardly doing anything to help out the growers in such hard times.

The Department of Horticulture should at least do some damage assessment due to the drought-like conditions. “Both the growers and plants are under tremendous stress. The government and the department should lend some assistance in these difficult times,” he said.

The Congress’ failure to open its account in Delhi for the third consecutive time has left the party leaders disappointed in Himachal, which is the only state in north India where it is in power.

For state Congress president Pratibha Singh, the drubbing is not only demoralising but also a wake-up call for the party.

“The election result is really disappointing for the party. It’s also a wake-up call for us. The party will have to analyse and think hard how to fight and win the next election,” she said.

While admitting that the embarrassing loss was a bitter pill to swallow, Pratibha said that the party leaders had worked hard in the Delhi elections.

“We were hoping that people will look at history as well. The Congress government under Sheila Dikshit had done really well in Delhi, but it seems with the passage of time, people have forgotten her good work. The central leadership will look hard into the reasons behind the defeat,” she added.

Another Congress leader said that the biggest reason for the party’s repeated poor showing in Delhi was the absence of a strong organisation on the ground.

Incidentally, the party was without an organisation in the state as well – it’s been more than three months since the entire Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC), up to the block level, was dissolved. Only HPCC president Pratibha Singh had been asked to continue.

Some leaders are not only resenting the delay but are also not happy with the central leadership for sending 16 observers from other states to facilitate the reconstitution of the HPCC.

“How credible their feedback can be when they have little knowledge about the ground reality at the district and block levels,” he said.

Meanwhile, there’s no clarity yet whether Pratibha will continue as HPCC president or someone else will step in.

“Coordination between the party and the organisation is a must. The organisation carries the policies and programmes of the government to the people, and the government should hear what the organisation says. Only then workers remain enthused and party wins elections,” the leader said.

Asked about the delay in the reconstitution of the HPCC, Pratibha exuded confidence that it would be reconstituted shortly.

“Our leaders were busy with the Delhi elections. Now, we will discuss with them how to strengthen the organisation in the state,” she said. With the Congress facing electoral debacle, the BJP claims to have made 18 lakh new members.

Two persons were killed after a car they were travelling in plunged into a deep gorge in Shimla’s Chopal Tehsil, police said on Saturday.

The deceased Ram Krishan Sharma and Surjeet Singh Kalsaik, both residents of Badlaog village in Chopal, were on their way to home from Chambi village when the incident occurred.

The accident took place on Saturday on Chopal-Jhina link road when the driver lost control of the vehicle near Chambi, due to which the vehicle went into a deep gorge.

Acting upon the information, a police team reached the spot and recovered the bodies. The bodies were taken to Civil Hospital, Chopal, for postmortem.

Shimla SP Sanjeev Kumar Gandhi said police is conducting an investigation.

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu flagged off a week-long international exposure trip for students of government schools in Shimla on Friday.

This marks the first-ever foreign exposure trip for government school students in the state, with 50 students being sent to Singapore and Cambodia.

“This is one of several initiatives we have taken to improve our education system. Several decisions have already been taken, and many more are in the pipeline,” said Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu.

Twenty students each have been selected from Class XI and XII based on their performance in the Class X board examination.

Ten spots have been allocated to students who have excelled in sports and cultural activities.

“We had never thought that we would ever be sent on a foreign trip by the education department. We are so excited and happy to go on this trip,” said one of the students going on the tour.

Education Minister Rohit Thakur said the idea was to reward children who excelled in academics and other co-curricular activities and offer them global exposure.

“We are facing a significant challenge in declining enrollment in government schools. The foreign trip, along with several other measures we have taken, is aimed at bringing students back to government schools,” said Thakur.

As per the directions of the state government, the National flag that has been hoisted at the historic Ridge in the heart of the state’s capital will soon be shifted to another suitable location.

The decision has been taken in view of recent widening and restructuring work of the Ridge, which has been completed. Additionally, the rain shelter at The Ridge will also be shifted.

MLA Shimla (Urban) Harish Janartha said that, on 26th January, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu had directed to relocate the national flag to another prominent location and efforts are on to find out a suitable location by the Municipal Corporation as well as the Public Works Department.

“While the PWD will serve as the Nodal department, the Municipal Corporation, Shimla will serve as the monitoring body” he added. The MLA said this after he along with several other dignitaries visited the Ridge for inspection.

Built at the cost of around Rs 14 lakhs, the 100-feet long tricolour was installed at The Ridge in 2015 by then CM Virbhadra Singh.

Governor Shri Shiv Pratap Shukla today expressed concern over the growing drug menace in the state, while emphasising his commitment to ensuring that every household remains free from substance abuse.

He said a drug-free home leads to a safer and healthier state.

While addressing an anti-drug awareness event at Chail today, the Governor highlighted the alarming spread of drug addiction, particularly among the youth and stressed the need for collective efforts to curb it.

He praised the efforts of Solan and Shimla police in tackling the issue and acknowledged their dedication.

He underscored the importance of reducing drug demand and ensuring proper rehabilitation of the addicts.

The Governor also raised concerns regarding the operations of certain private de-addiction centres.

Inspired by the Prime Minister, he launched the anti-drug campaign in Himachal Pradesh and noted positive changes within a year of his tenure.

He urged women to take an active role in this campaign, given their crucial influence in family and society.

Highlighting the severe consequences of drug abuse, including road accidents, he instructed university administrations to mandate an anti-drug pledge from students during admissions, with the provision of expulsion for violators.

Former Convener of the Drug Prevention Board, OP Sharma, stressed the importance of parental involvement and society in addressing drug abuse, advocating for increased social awareness.

Maharishi Markandeshwar Medical College’s Principal, Prof Ravi Sharma, highlighted the fatal impact of synthetic drugs and the role of society in early detection and intervention.

Parwanoo Deputy Superintendent of Police Mehar Panwar, acknowledged the rising challenge of synthetic drugs and reported that Solan police had registered 139 cases, arresting 321 individuals and seizing large quantities of narcotics since July 2023.

Chail Gram Panchayat Pradhan Usha Sharma assured full support for the de-addiction initiative, while Chail Hotel Association President Devinder Verma welcomed the Governor and pledged the association’s commitment to the campaign.

Earlier, the Governor flagged off the Jeep Club’s annual Winter Spiti Expedition 2025, themed ‘Anti-Drug Rally’.

He lauded the initiative for not only promoting the beauty of Himachal Pradesh but also supporting tourism and social reform. He congratulated the Jeep Club and Chail Hotel Association for their efforts in driving social awareness through this rally.