A spectacular showcase of traditional Himachali culture was witnessed at the district-level Nalwar fair in Karsog, Mandi district, as around 500 women came together for a grand Nati dance performance, popularly known as Mahanati.

Held at the sports ground of Government Senior Secondary School, Karsog, the event emerged as one of the fair’s most captivating highlights.

Organised by nearly 20 women’s groups, including Mahila Mandals and self-help groups from the region, the large-scale cultural display brought folk traditions to life.

Clad in vibrant traditional attire, the women performed the Nati in perfect synchronisation, mesmerising the audience with their grace and infectious enthusiasm.

Narayan Singh, Pradhan of Mamel Gram Panchayat, attended the occasion as the chief guest. During the event, Karsog Naib Tehsildar Shanta Shukla honoured the participating women by presenting each with a Dhathu, a traditional Himachali headscarf, which they proudly wore during the performance.

Tehsildar and fair committee officer Varun Gulati welcomed the chief guest by presenting him with a Himachali shawl and cap as a gesture of respect and appreciation.

The Mahanati not only infused vibrant energy into the fair but also stood as a beautiful testament to the community’s dedication to preserving and celebrating their cultural heritage.

Large-scale illegal mining and dumping of muck and garbage in the Neugal river has led to water contamination of the water body and severe environmental degradation in the surrounding areas.

The river, a vital drinking water source for lower Palampur, is now under threat. The Jal Shakti Department has been lifting water from this river for 60 schemes to supply water to 100 villages.

Though the Jal Shakti Department is well versed with the situation, no steps have been initiated to check contamination of the river water.

Despite persistent opposition from local residents, the mining mafia continues to mine stones with heavy machinery like JCBs and poclain machines, thereby creating trenches up to three to four metre deep in parts of the riverbed.

Recently, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu had issued specific orders to Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police to stop illegal mining, but hardly any impact was witnessed in the field.

Illegal mining has become highly lucrative business for the mafia in the lower areas of Palampur and Jaisinghpur.

The local authorities, including the police and mining departments, appear to be ignoring these illegal activities.

Several stone crushers operating near rivulets and tributaries of the Beas in Kangra continue to pollute vital water sources despite the National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) 2021 guidelines.

These directives prohibit setting up stone crushers within 100 metre area of water bodies under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.

However, many crushers in Jaisinghpur and Thural violate these norms, further degrading water quality.

Efforts by local panchayats in Thural to combat illegal mining have been hampered by lack of support from the police and mining authorities.

Several complaints made to the police and mining departments and the SDM have yielded no results. The mining mafia continues to flourishes under the shelter of state agencies.

Last month the Chief Minister while addressing Deputy Commissioners and Superintendents of Polices during a meeting particularly emphasised on the economic and environmental losses caused by illegal mining.

He directed them to enforce a complete ban on such activities. However, this directive has had little impact in Kangra district.

A total of 87 units of blood were collected from 135 registered donors at a blood donation camp organised by the Youth Red Cross Society of Himachal Pradesh National Law University (HPNLU), Shimla, in collaboration with the Himachal Pradesh Red Cross State Branch.

The donors, including students, faculty members, administrative staff and volunteers, demonstrated enthusiasm and civic responsibility.

The initiative aimed to promote voluntary service and raise awareness about the importance of regular blood donation.

Addressing the gathering, the HPNLU Vice-Chancellor, Dr Priti Saxena, lauded the efforts of the Youth Red Cross Society and emphasised the role young individuals play in nation-building through community-focused initiatives.

The Registrar, Dr SS Jaswal, also attended the event and praised the collaborative effort between the student body and the Red Cross.

he medical team, consisting of Dr Payal, Archana, Kusum Thakur, Rajan Bhimta, Sunil and Rakesh, played a crucial role in ensuring the event’s success.

Surinder Gautam, Assistant Secretary of the District Red Cross Society and Virender Bisht, Training Coordinator of the Himachal Pradesh State Red Cross Society, provided support and coordination.

The event was organised by Dr Rohit Sharma, coordinator of the Youth Red Cross Society, along with the president, Romil Chawla and general secretary, Parul Bhalla, in collaboration with the medical team from the Himachal Pradesh Red Cross State Branch.

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said that the 100 MW Uhl Phase-III hydroelectric power project would be formally inaugurated soon.

“The state government had expedited the work on the project, which was damaged due to a penstock burst on May 17, 2020, with a financial assistance of Rs 185 crore.

As a result, 2.97 crore units of electricity had already been generated since its commissioning,” he added.

He said that initiated in 2003, the Uhl Phase-III project was completed after 22 years. Once fully operational, it was expected to generate 392 million units of electricity annually, contributing around Rs 200 crore in revenue to the state each year.

Sukhu said that the state government would strengthen Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Limited (HPSEBL) and provide all possible support to ensure improved services to the people of the state.

Sukhu, while presiding over a meeting of the Energy Department here, said that large-scale recruitment of field staff would be done to ensure seamless ground-level operations.

He appreciated the vital role played by HPSEBL officials and employees in maintaining regular electricity supply in the state.

He said that several HPSEBL officials were at present on deputation to the Directorate of Energy, Himachal Pradesh Power Transmission Corporation Limited and Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Ltd.

He added that these officials be given the option of permanent absorption in their organisations by April 30. The government would fill the remaining vacant posts on priority to ensure efficient functioning of the organisations.

Technical Education Minister Rajesh Dharmani, Chief Minister’s Principal Adviser Ram Subhag Singh, Chief Minister’s Secretary Rakesh Kanwar, Director Energy Rakesh Kumar Prajapati, Managing Director, HPSEBL, Sandeep Kumar along with other senior officials of the department attended the meeting.

Ninety-eight trees have been felled in lower Sakoh area of Dharamsala for bringing up an ice and roller skating rink by the Tourism Department.

Though the department took permission from the Forest Department, the step has evoked criticism from the residents of Dharamsala.

A state-of-the-art ice and roller skating rink has been planned by the state Tourism Department in Dharamsala. The cost of this project is Rs 39.51 crore and it is being funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

Sanjeev Chaudhary, a resident of Sakoh, said that some of the trees felled were at least 50 years old. We have grown old seeing these majestic trees in our village and it was painful to see them getting felled, he said.

Dheeraj Mahajan, an animal activist, said the Tourism Department got the trees felled with an expectation that it would be get funds from the ADB for bringing up an ice rink.

As per sources, the state is yet to receive funds for its tourism projects. The department should have at least waited for funds before taking the step. In case the project does not come up, the decades-old trees have already been lost, he said.

District Tourism Officer (DTO) Vinay Dhiman said the trees have been felled in Sakoh after permission from the Forest Department. The ice skating rink has been planned in Sakoh area of Dharamsala to attract tourists.

About 98 trees have been felled, which included many small trees; every precaution was taken in the design so that minimum trees were felled, he said.

The Tourism Development Department has selected the land for this rink in Ward No 9, lower Sakoh of Dharamsala Municipal Corporation.

A hotel will also be built along with this rink, which will be built on about 90 hectares of land. The state government has declared Kangra district as the tourism capital of the state and necessary infrastructure is being built here.

The construction of the rink will provide training to local youth in adventure sports, attract tourists and increase employment opportunities for the youth, the officials said.

The 15 Mile bridge in Manali subdivision, a crucial link connecting the Kullu-Manali left bank road with the Chandigarh-Manali National Highway, is set to remain closed for four days, from April 12 to April 15, for essential repairs.

This decision has been taken by the Public Works Department (PWD) to address the deteriorating condition of the bridge, which poses a significant risk of accidents if left unattended.

The PWD has emphasised on the importance of this maintenance work for ensuring the safety of commuters and the long-term usability of the bridge.

According to Manali PWD Executive Engineer Anup Sharma, the department regularly inspects and repairs bridges to prevent accidents and maintain infrastructure standards.

Commenting on the current project, he said, “The 15 Mile bridge will be undergoing repairs, and if weather and other conditions remain favourable, it will be reopened for vehicular movement on April 16.”

During this four-day closure, commuters and transporters have been advised to use alternative routes to minimise inconvenience.

Traffic authorities and local officials are working to ensure smooth transportation in the area, redirecting vehicles to other feasible routes along the state highway.

However, residents and regular commuters are likely to face delays and longer travel times due to the temporary detour.

The closure of the bridge highlights the growing challenges of maintaining essential infrastructure in the region.

The bridge plays a vital role in supporting the movement of tourists, locals and goods. Its temporary closure may also affect the tourism sector, with businesses and transport services preparing to manage disruptions during the repair period.

Its repair is a necessary step to ensure the safety of hundreds of vehicles that use the route daily. The PWD has assured the public that every effort would be made to complete the repairs within the stipulated timeframe, ensuring minimal impact on daily life and economic activities.

Local communities and civic organisations have lauded the PWD’s proactive approach to address infrastructural challenges. Improved infrastructure is seen as vital to sustaining the region’s booming tourism industry and maintaining the quality of life for its residents.

Sutlej Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVN) is bracing up for a long legal battle following the state government’s decision to take over three hydel power projects it is constructing.

“The possibility of any mutual understanding has ended with the government’s decision to take over the projects. Now, the matter will be decided in court,” said SJVN Director (Personnel) Ajay Sharma.

On Saturday, the Cabinet had approved the takeover of the 382 MW Sunni, 210 MW Luhri Stage-I and 66 MW Dhaulasidh hydroelectric projects, which had been allotted to SJVN by the previous BJP government in the state.

The government has also decided to take back 500 MW Dugar and 180 MW Baira Suil hydroelectric projects allotted to NHPC.

The government took the deal-breaking decision following unsuccessful deliberations between the stakeholders to sign terms and conditions afresh for implementing these projects.

The Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu government is demanding free power share at the rate of 12, 18 and 30 per cent and return of the project after 40 years.

SJVN, however, wants to implement the project on the terms and conditions agreed upon with the Jai Ram Thakur government.

The previous BJP government gave SJVN a waiver in the free power share, especially in the first 12 years, and it was not required to return the projects after 40 years, unlike private power producers in the state.

As for the relaxation given by the previous government, Sharma said the projects wouldn’t have taken off at all without these relaxations.

“The Government of India gives approval for investment only in those hydel power projects where the tariff is around Rs 5.50 per unit. The tariff at Luhri and Dhaulasidh was coming to around Rs 8 to Rs 8.50 per unit.

Since it wasn’t viable for us at that tariff, we sought relaxation in free power share from the previous government, which brought the tariff down to Rs 5.50 to Rs 5.75,” said Sharma.

The other factor that led to the standoff between the state government and SJVN is the latter starting work on these projects without signing the Implementation Agreement.

According to Sharma, SJVN had arrived at a broad understanding with the previous government for implementing these projects. “We were in the final stages of signing the IA ahead of the Assembly elections in 2022.

Due to the elections, it could not be signed. The government changed and the new government refused to honour the terms and conditions agreed upon by the previous government,” said Sharma.

Calling the state government’s decision unfortunate, Sharma said SJVN would continue the construction work of the projects at the same pace.

“We can’t afford to stop work even for a few days as it will lead to cost overruns and expensive power,” said Sharma.

“We’ve completed nearly 60 per cent work on these three projects. In case we end up handing over these projects back to the state government, it will be very difficult for any other entity to complete the project from this stage,” said Sharma.

A high-level committee headed by Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday approved a Rs 1,280.35 crore additional Central assistance to Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry to combat natural calamities.

An amount of Rs 588.73 crore was approved for Bihar, Rs 136.22 crore for Himachal Pradesh, Rs 522.34 crore for Tamil Nadu and Rs 33.06 crore for Puducherry, which were affected by natural disasters in 2024.

In 2024-25, the Centre had released Rs 20,264.40 crore to 28 states under the State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF) and Rs 5,160.76 crore under the NDRF to 19 states.

This additional assistance is over and above the funds released by the Centre to the states in the SDRF and Union Territorial Disaster Response Fund, already placed at the disposal of the states, official sources said.

A sub-division level mock drill was conducted at Government Senior Secondary School, Nogli in Rampur, aimed at educating locals on disaster preparedness and emergency response.

The drill was organised to create awareness about natural calamities and equip participants with practical knowledge to handle emergencies such as earthquakes, floods, and fires. The event saw enthusiastic participation from students, women’s groups, and local residents.

Sub-Divisional Magistrate Nishant Tomar, who presided over the event, underlined the importance of community readiness. “Every individual must be prepared to face any disaster and help spread awareness within their communities,” he said.

Personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) demonstrated key safety protocols for dealing with earthquakes and floods. The fire department provided live demonstrations on fire safety, including techniques for escaping fires and managing gas cylinder leaks.

The mock drill was attended by several officials, including Tehsildar Rampur Parikshit Bhandia, BMO Dr RK Negi, and officers and jawans from the NDRF.

The recent announcement by US President Donald Trump of a 26 per cent tariff on goods exported from India to the US has sparked concern among the gaddi shepherds of Himachal Pradesh.

The Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) of Baijnath and Bara Bhangal, along with NGOs of farmers in the Kangra district, export approximately 2.5 lakh kg of raw organic wool to the US each year.

This export enables the gaddi shepherds of the Kangra and Chamba districts to earn a decent income, supplementing their existing earnings.

However, the imposition of a 26 per cent tariff on all imports from India has raised concerns about the viability of organic wool exports from Himachal Pradesh.

Akshay Jasrotia, head of the FPO in Baijnath, stated that they are assessing the impact of the tariffs imposed by the US President.

He noted that the 26 per cent tariff would put them at a disadvantage compared to other wool-producing countries, such as Australia, New Zealand, Peru, and Turkey, which face a lower tariff of 10 per cent.

Jasrotia mentioned that they have contacted US companies that import wool from them and are also assessing the situation. He added that they would approach the Government of India for assistance in overcoming the challenges posed by the tariffs.

The Farmer Producer Organisation of Baijnath had obtained organic certification for the wool produced by the gaddi shepherds, which led to US companies importing wool from them.

Prior to this, the shepherds sold their wool to Wool Federation of Himachal at a rate of approximately Rs 45 per kg.

However, after obtaining organic certification, they began receiving Rs 60 to 70 per kg from US companies. Additionally, the US companies covered the transportation costs for the FPO to collect organic wool from the shepherds in Kangra district’s forest areas and transport it to Delhi for export.

The exports of organically certified wool from the gaddi shepherds increased to approximately 2.5 lakh kg over a few years, with more shepherds approaching the FPO to sell their organic wool.

Nevertheless, the recent 26 per cent tariff announcement by the US President has posed a challenge for the FPOs in Baijnath and Bara Bhangal.

Jasrotia expressed hope that the central and state governments would provide subsidies to their FPOs, enabling them to compete with other wool-producing countries.

Himachal Pradesh is undergoing a significant demographic transformation, with birth rates declining sharply over the past two decades — from 20.5 to below 12.

In 2005, when the state’s population stood at approximately 65 lakh, around 1.34 lakh births were registered. By 2024, despite the population rising to an estimated 80 lakh, only about 88,000 births were recorded — a drop of nearly 45,000 annual births in just 20 years.

The last time the state recorded fewer than 90,000 births was in 1994, with roughly 82,000 registrations. However, at that time, the population was under 55 lakh.

Births had steadily increased after 1995, peaking at 1.40 lakh in 2006 — the highest ever recorded in the state. Between 2005 and 2010, the annual birth rate remained stable, but after 2010, it started witnessing a steady decline, falling below one lakh in 2018 and dipping under 90,000 in 2024.

The dwindling number of births is now reflected in school enrollments, particularly in government schools.

According to Ashish Kohli, Director of the Directorate of School Education, student numbers in government schools have plummeted from 9.71 lakh in 2002 to just 4.29 lakh. “While many students have shifted to private schools, the declining total fertility rate (TFR) is also a major factor behind this drop,” Kohli explained.

Dr Parkash Chand Daroch, Director of Health Services, noted that Himachal’s TFR has fallen to 1.47, well below the replacement rate of 2.1. “The department cannot dictate family size, but fertility trends require government-level interventions,” he said.

Sanju Karol, Director of Population Research Centre, Shimla, attributed the declining TFR to rising female literacy, delayed marriages and increased contraceptive use.

Professor Narinder Bist from HPU’s Department of Population Studies warned that the falling birth rate would lead to a growing elderly population and a shrinking workforce in the age group of 15-59.

“If the TFR drops further to around 1, the situation could become alarming. For now, it’s manageable, but we must prepare for the consequences,” he said.

A major emerging challenge, according to Dr Bist, will be elderly care. “With fewer children to support aging parents, the demand for caregiver services will surge. The government must start planning for this now,” he emphasised.

The decision of the Horticulture Produce Marketing and Processing Corporation (HPMC) to rent its assets like controlled atmosphere (CA) stores and grading and packing lines has not gone down well with apple growers.

They have termed the corporation’s decision as anti-fruit growers that will lead to monopoly of private players in the sector and increase in the storage and grading and packing costs for growers.

“The private players will be concerned about maximizing their profits not the welfare of the growers.

If there’s no provision for capping the prices of services at these facilities, it will lead to an overall increase in the storage and grading and packing costs,” said Lokinder Bisht, president of the Progressive Growers Association.

Sohan Thakur, president of the Seb Utpadak Sangh, questioned the corporation’s haste in renting these facilities to private players.

“Most of these facilities have become operational only over the past couple of years. Instead of renting these facilities to private parties, why can’t the HPMC make efforts to make these sustainable?” he asked.

He said, “Also, why build these facilities using public money if these are to be handed over to private players? Most of these facilities have been built or upgraded with funds from the World Bank-aided Himachal Pradesh Horticulture Development Project.”

Some growers are also questioning why the HPMC’s facilities remain underutilized, while the facilities of the private players are doing a brisk business.

“The HPMC needs to have smaller chambers to let small growers use its CA stores. Also, it should keep the prices competitive and aggressively market its facilities to ensure their optimum utilisation,” said Harish Chauhan, president of the Fruit, Vegetable and Flowers Growers Association.

Chauhan said that the decision to rent the state-of-the-art grading and packing lines was perplexing. “The HPMC has the best grading and packing lines.

Private individuals running grading and packing facilities are earning good money, so why can’t the HPMC make profit despite having state-of-the-art equipment?” he added.

Meanwhile, Bisht said that the HPMC was limiting its role instead of widening its net to help the growers market their produce and get remunerative prices, the key objective of the corporation.

“The HPMC has no presence in the mandis to help the growers get remunerative prices. Now, it’s relinquishing its CA stores and grading and packing lines.

If it intends to offer little services to the growers and focus solely on profit-making, as is evident from the decision to rent it assets, it is better that the corporation is disbanded,” he added.

Underutilised facilities rented

The underutilisation of CA stores and grading and packing lines is the reason behind the HPMC renting these facilities to private parties
Over the past few years, only 20 per cent to 25 per cent of the HPMC storage capacity was used
We want our storage capacity to be used optimally, says Sudesh Mokhta, Managing Director, HPMC
He says that as for the growers’ fears that the storage and grading and packing costs will escalate, the rates ae unlikely to vary from prevailing charges

In a bid to improve the air and water quality of the Baddi Barotiwala Nalagarh (BBN) industrial area, the State Pollution Control Board has collected an environmental compensation of Rs 3.2 crore in the last five years.

The compensation is levied on units that violate environmental pollution norms, in line with the National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) directive, which follows the “polluter pays” principle.

The amount highlights the negligence of industrial units that violate environmental standards to avoid spending on pollution control measures, thereby evading their social responsibility.

From 2019 to 2024, as many as 87 of the 2,919 industrial units in BBN were found violating various pollution control norms.

As a consequence, they were fined Rs 3.2 crore, according to a reply provided by the State Pollution Control Board in the recent budget session of the Vidhan Sabha in response to a query from Nalagarh MLA Hardeep Bawa.

The BBN industrial area houses 380 red category firms, 1,404 orange category firms, and 1,135 green category firms.

Red category industries, such as cement manufacturers, distilleries, and metal extraction units, have the highest pollution potential and are required to adopt stringent environmental controls. Orange category industries, which include bottling of gases and ice cream manufacturing, require moderate pollution control measures, while green category industries, like food processing, bakery and handloom units, have a lower environmental impact and face fewer regulatory requirements.

Usually they do not require installation of pollution control devices nor Consent to Establish or Consent to Operate from the pollution board.

The State Pollution Control Board has also taken strict action against non-compliant units, disconnecting the electricity supply of 27 industrial units, including four stone crushers in the Nalagarh area, since last year.

Officials found that erring units who require an upgrade of their pollution mitigation devices or fail to ensure their apt maintenance usually shy away from renewing their consent to operate from the State Pollution Control Board even though it is a mandatory requirement.

Instead of investing on pollution devices they prefer to pay the environmental compensation in lakhs reflecting their lack of concern for the environment.