Gen Sapru visits army school at Dagshai
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 2
Lt-Gen T.K. Sapru, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western
Command, today visited the Army Public School, Dagshai.

It was his maiden visit to the school after taking over the reigns of
the Command. The General was briefed about various issues and future
plans of the school by Principal Col A.K. Maini (retd).

He also inspected the students' hostels, dining hall, academic block,
laboratories and art and craft rooms.

While talking to the staff and students of the school, General Sapru
said the Army Public School, Dagshai, was one of the best boarding
schools in the country.

He further added that he was happy to see the progress that the
school has made ever since its inception in 1986.

He also announced a grant of Rs 10 lakh for improving the
infrastructure of the school and Rs 50,000 for scholarship to
students who excel in academics.

Lt-Gen J.P. Singh, G-O-C, 2 Corps, and school patron and Commandant,
14
Gorkha Training Centre and Col Sanjeev Sood, school chairman, were
also
present on the occasion.

1 lakh devotees visit temple
Our Correspondent
The Tribune

Kangra, August 27
Over one lakh people visited the Guga Temple in Suloh village in this
district during the past nine days of Guga Navmi that concluded here
yesterday.

The Guga temple had been a major attraction for the people who were
suffering from psychiatric diseases, evil spirits and snakebites.
This time also thousands of the psychiatric patients and those
suffering with snakebites were treated in the temple.

The sacred water from natural sources in the temple and temple clay
were used as medicines for the ailing patients.

An old tree, within the premises of this 200-year-old temple, was
witness to thousands of those patients, suffering from psychosomatic
diseases, cured by the blessing of Guga Baba.

Faith was seen among the people towards this deity of the temple who
visited the shrine 200 years ago. Manu Bala (16) of Gloat village
said she had been suffering with psychological problem for the past
three years, but got cured after visiting this temple.

Plea to revive ex-servicemen welfare board
Tribune News Service

Shimla, August 27
The state ex-servicemen action committee has urged Chief Minister
P.K. Dhumal to revive the welfare board for ex-servicemen and
associate them in ad hoc duties.

A delegation of the committee headed by Sq Leader Brij Lal Dhiman
(retd) met Dhumal here today and apprised him of various demands of
the ex-servicemen. Members of the delegation suggested that ex-
servicemen could be deployed for providing security in temples. They
also drew the CM's attention to the neglect of sainik rest houses and
urged him to renovate and upgrade these.

The delegation thanked the Chief Minister for creating a separate
department to deal with issues pertaining to ex-servicemen and
expressed hope that it would help in speedy redressing of grievances
of soldiers and their families.

Dhumal appreciated the services rendered by ex-servicemen to the
nation. He said the state had taken up the issue of "one rank, one
pension" with the Centre. It had created a separate department of
sainik welfare to cater to the rehabilitation and other requirements
of ex-soldiers.

He said the state ex-servicemen corporation was playing a big role in
the rehabilitation of ex-servicemen and their wards and they were
availing themselves of the loan facilities to set up their own
ventures. The state had raised eco-battalions where ex-servicemen
were being engaged to protect environment, he added.

Rs 2.95 crore for developing eco-tourism circuits
Tribune News Service

Shimla, August 27
The Government of India has released an amount of Rs 2.95 crore for
developing eco-tourism circuits in Kulu, Kinnaur, Shimla and Bilaspur
districts.

Stating this at a high-level meeting of the forest department to
review the progress of eco-tourism activities in the state, here last
evening, forest minister Jagat Prakash Nadda said that the state
government was committed to protect the fragile hill environment and
promoting eco-tourism was major step in this direction.

The state had a vast potential for eco-tourism to harness which the
state had decided to strengthen the existing sites and circuits in
Great Himalayan National Park Kulu, Chamba and Shimla. He said that
the forest department would collaborate with the tourism department
for promoting eco-tourism activities.

The forest corporation would manage seven eco-tourism sites, it was
already in the process of developing an eco-tourism site at Narkanda,
which would be operational by the first half of September, 2008.

He said that the remaining new sites would be made operational before
the next tourism season.

The forest minister said that it was the scenic splendour and
salubrious environment of the state, which attracted tourists from
all over the country and abroad, and it should be protected at all
costs.

He stressed upon the need to formulate guidelines for protecting the
natural environment at the eco-tourism sites as it was the top
priority of the state.

Gondhla Hydropower Project
Moser Baer pays Rs 43.92 cr to govt
Tribune News Service

Shimla, August 27
Moser Baer Projects Private Limited, which has been allotted the 144-
MW Gondhla Hydroelectric Project, paid the first instalment of the
upfront premium amounting to Rs 43.92 crore to the government today.

Chief executive officer of the company Awadh B.Giri, accompanied by
vice-president N.K. Chaudhary, presented a draft to Chief Minister
Prem Kumar Dhumal for the amount that was 50 per cent of the total
upfront premium. The project is located in the Chandra river basin in
Lahaul valley.

The Chief Minister hailed the decision of the renowned IT company to
enter the hydropower generation sector and taking up a project in an
area having difficult geo-physical conditions.

He said the government had decided to allot every project above 5 MW
capacity through global bidding to attract best companies that could
execute projects within the given time frame. Further, projects up to
2 MW were exclusively reserved for Himachalis and preference was
being given to them for projects up to 5 MW. He said the aim was to
generate about 12,000 MW additional power in the coming five years.

The government was exploring possibilities of generating solar and
wind power and experts had been invited to help identify suitable
sites for the purpose. The Chief Minister said the project allotted
to the Moser Baer was the first in the Chandra Bhaga river basin. It
would pave the way for executing other projects in the valley, he
added.

The company might find some practical difficulties in execution of
the project initially, but it would prove beneficial ultimately.

He said the company should honour the provisions of the power policy
of the state and provide all benefits to the people of the area as
per specified norms, which included 70 per cent employment to the
local people, proper relief and rehabilitation package to the
affected families, providing 1.5 per cent of the project cost for
development of the local area and social welfare activities.

Awadh B.Giri said the project, which was likely to cost Rs 1,000
crore, would provide direct employment to over 400 persons and
generate indirect employment for over 600 persons. He said the
company had set a target to complete the project in five year from
the date of start of work. He informed the Chief Minister that the
company was also generating solar power in Noida and said it would be
interested in creating solar farms to generate power in the state on
the pattern of Rajasthan.

Cabinet decides to improve rural transport service
Tribune News Service

Shimla, August 27
The state government has decided to launch the Him Gramin Parivahan
Swarojgar Yojna (GPYS) that aims at providing self-employment
opportunities to the youth and improving passenger transport services
in rural areas.

A decision to this effect was taken by the Cabinet that met under the
chairmanship of Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal here today.

Under the scheme, route permits will be granted for plying passenger
transport vehicles in rural areas. The operators will be given tax
concession up to 85 per cent as incentive for providing services in
rural areas.

The Cabinet also took stock of the damage caused by rain in the
state. It directed the departments concerned to carry out repair and
restoration work of roads, water supply schemes and other
infrastructure on a war footing. A sum of Rs 105 crore has already
been released to the Public Works Department for the purpose. The
Cabinet also directed the Revenue Department to immediately compile
details about the loss caused due to rain and prepare a consolidated
memorandum for submission to the Centre to get funds to undertake
restoration work.

It decided to requisition services of an expert consultant for
promoting clean development mechanism (CDM) in the state to reduce
emission of greenhouse gases. The Department of Environment and
Scientific Technology will be the nodal agency for routing the
proposal for further approval under the CDM regime. A committee
consisting of the additional chief secretary (forests), the principal
secretary (environment) and the principal secretary (power) will
suggest further action to be taken in the matter.

It approved new school timings for government schools in the state
from September 1 onwards. These will be 9 am to 3 pm for summer
closing schools and 10 am to 4 pm for winter closing schools. It will
be applicable throughout the year. It decided to institute Prerna
Strot Samman Puruskar to honour organisations and individuals for
exemplary philanthropic works. It will carry a cash prize of Rs
51,000 in the individual category and Rs 2.5 lakh for organisations.

It granted permission to Lucky Power Project Cooperative Limited to
set up 500-kw mini hydropower plants based on effluents of sewage
treatment plants at Lalpani and Badagaon in Shimla. It decided to
reduce VAT from the existing 12.5 per cent to 4 per cent on wood-free
agro-board being manufactured by various industries to promote
conservation of forest resources and ecology of the state. It also
permitted lease of 25 hectare of land at Pandoga village in Una
district to the ITBP for establishing its battalion.

THE EVENT

"MOUNTAIN BIKING HIMACHAL" is the only event of its kind in the Indian
subcontinent, and takes precedence from similar events around the
world, notably "The Trans-Alp Challenge" in Europe and "The
Trans-Rockies Challenge" in Canada. The race format in India is more
adventurous and challenging owing to the grandeur and scale of the
Himalayas. The average altitude is 2300mts, and the endurance
challenge goes through some of the most exquisite Himalayan terrain in
the backcountry of Himachal Pradesh, trails meandering through free
flowing streams and verdant valleys, the best as it can get anywhere
in the world to pursue the sport of Mountain Cycling.

In its 4th edition, the route is almost similar to the one in 2007;
though expect more challenges and stages as well as time trials. The
adventure becomes more adrenalized and much tougher than its preceding
avatars. The chequered flag goes up on the 26th of September at
Shimla, the start of the adventure and the finish podium is set at
Manali on the 5th October. The total kilometers of the route this year
almost remain the same; 731kms however expect more stages, time trials
and very tough hike and bike sections.


LOGISTICAL GIANT

The race is a huge logistical and organizational enterprise, owing to
the difficult terrain, and undertaking the boarding and lodging of
riders and officials. Riders and officials stay in Tent villages every
night which are erected one day prior to arrival at each campsite. All
these villages are fully quipped with facilities for hot showers,
eco-friendly toilets, presentation area, bike parking lot, dining
area, kitchen area. The entourage of the event consists of
approximately 170-180 people.

Enroute the event is monitored by wireless equipped official jeeps,
keeping track of each rider and their location. The whole route is GPS
mapped prior to the event. To provide for nutrition of the riders,
which such a race demands, there are four feeding stations at
equivalent distances everyday, serving nutritional drinks (Stamina,
Gatorade etc), fruits, and Glucose etc. the 2nd or the 3rd Feeding
station everyday serves as the lunch halt. For safety of the riders
and officials, there are four fully equipped ambulances with 8
doctors. To meet any on road or trail emergencies there is a 12 men
strong rescue team, well trained from the western Himalayan Institute
of Mountaineering, Manali. To relax those tired muscles, there is even
provision for massage at the campsites every night. The feeding
stations are manned by trained marshals as are the time control zones.


MEDIA COVERAGE

In the previous years the race has been widely covered in national
media. CNN IBN, DD SPORTS, AXN, ZEE NEWS, ZEE SPORTS, NDTV all gave a
30 min airtime to the event. Major outdoor magazines like Outlook
Traveler, Adventure World carried features and pre-event
advertisements for the event. Also national dailies were forthcoming
in covering the event and providing with much mileage. Last year
Indiatimes was the official media sponsor which carried a series of
advertisements across its "Times of India" publication throughout the
country. Radio Mirchi was the official radio partner running a series
of jingles for the promotion of event.

Himalayan Adventure Sports & Tourism Promotion Association (HASTPA) is
looking forward to organize the 2008 edition with much aplomb and
greater media hype, to take the event and the sport of mountain
cycling to the next level amongst the people in India and abroad. The
official website statistics show an upsurge in the number of hits and
visits from India. The team is looking forward to close the event this
year with a rise in participation, as confirmed entries from army (16
riders), Australia (11 riders), England (6riders) have been received.
As and when the promotional campaign begins for the event the numbers
are expectedly going to swell with the entries being closed at 80
riders.


SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

As a first race of its kind in India, a lot of opportunities exist for
prospective sponsors to leverage the event and use it to enhance their
brand image. A simple message to be connected with such an event would
be to promote, safe, minimum impact, eco friendly adventure, which is
healthy (Cycling as a healthy sport) has a social value (a sustainable
tourism initiative for the local populace of Himachal Pradesh) and
creates value for its associates (the first event of its kind in the
country, helping to lay the foundation of a new sport in the country)
which has a youth feel to it (keeping in view that according to a
recent survey India is a young nation with approximately 75%
population under 25).

For sponsorship enquiries kindly contact Akhil at 92185 00122 or send
a mail to akhilp19@... with a CC to my id or call

Carpe diem !

Varun

Govt urged to take over Naina Devi temple
Tribune News Service

Mandi, August 25
Buddhist representatives of three monasteries of Riwalsar, members of
the local nagar panchayat and residents of the town today condemned
the removal and desecration of an idol of Lord Buddha from the Naina
Devi temple and passed a resolution demanding re-enshrining of the
idol in the temple. They demanded that the government should take
over the affairs of the Naina Devi temple and appoint a committee run
by the district administration in public interest.

Participants of the meeting, which was convened by SDM, Mandi
(Sadar), Arun Sharma at Riwalsar, condemned it as an act of vandalism
and insult to Hindu religion as Lord Buddha is believed to be the
ninth incarnation of Lord Vishnu.

They also passed a resolution saying Dhanjay Sharma, accused in the
case, was allegedly spreading communal hatred in the peaceful
pilgrimage centre. "The Naina Devi temple committee headed by him be
dismissed and taken over by the district administration in public
interest," they demanded.

President of the Zigar Bodh monastery K.S. Negi said, "I am a
resident of Kinnaur and head of this monastery. We need security here
as we feel insecure after the incident and highhandedness shown by
anti-social elements."

President of the Riwalsar nagar panchayat Pawan Gupta and other
members of the body also condemned the incident and demanded strict
action against Dhanjay.

The SDM said he would submit a report to the Mandi DC shortly. "We
are taking views of the members of other panchayats in Sar Ki Dhar
and Naina Devi. More meetings will be held in this regard shortly."

Dhanjay and members of the Naina Devi temple committee did not
participate in the meeting. "We will take their view in the next
meeting," Arun Sharma added.

He said participants passed a resolution that the district
administration should appoint a new committee and take over the
management of the Naina Devi temple.

Apple fest begins today
Our Correspondent
The Tribune

Manali, August 25
A three-day Himachal Apple Festival organised by the state Department
of Tourism and Civil Aviation will kick off tomorrow at Nehru Park
here. Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal will inaugurate the festival.

According to Kullu district tourism development officer, stalls
exhibiting different varieties of apples would be set up by the local
orchard owners, mahila mandals, NGOs and hoteliers of Manali.

Different apple bakery products and stalls of fresh apple juice will
also be a part of the festival.

Painting competitions would be organised by the local schoolchildren
at the mall road.

An apple orchards walk for visitors and competitions like apple
peeling, baking apple pie and apple carving would also be organised.
Prize distribution will be held on August 28.

Workshop on disaster risk
Tribune News Service

Shimla, August 25
The Society for Sustainable Environment Ecological Development
Society (SEEDS) is organising a workshop to sensitise schoolchildren
and teachers as regards disaster risk reduction, especially in case
of earthquakes.

Two community seminars, teachers' training workshop on disaster risk
reduction and earthquake drills for schoolchildren will be organised
during the three-day workshop. The workshop is being organised under
the project "Reducing vulnerability of schoolchildren to earthquakes
in Asia Pacific Region" initiated by the United Nations Centre for
Regional Development (UNCRD).

The teachers will be given technical information related to
earthquake and disaster risk reduction activities. The fact that
Shimla falls in high seismic risk zone-V is one of the reasons for
the holding the workshop.

Experts from various fields are participating in the workshop. The
training will help in making teachers experts in disaster risk
reduction so that they can become a channel to spread the culture of
disaster safety in their schools as well as in the community.

Army men working to plug river breaches
Our Correspondent
The Tribune

Nurpur, August 25
The timely action of the local administration has saved huge loss of
life and property in Toki, Kandrori and a part of Malot gram
panchayats in bordering areas of Nurpur subdivision. The inhabitants
of these gram panchayats have been living under the constant fear of
flood fury in the rainy season as they had a harrowing experience in
last year's rainy season when Chhonch rivulet had changed its
course.

Its flood waters had entered over 80 houses and caused extensive
damage to stranded crops as the fields were submerged into water
along the river bank. Without taking any risk the local
administration acted in time when this perennial river had flashflood
on the intervening night of August 6 and 7. The SDM, Nurpur,
approached 270 Engineer Regiment of the Yol-based Rising Corps for
requisition of army machinery to check flood threat in the rivulet.

A visit to the spot where army's engineer wing has launched its
operation in the Chhonch river on Sunday revealed that flashfloods
had not only breached the river bank at two places but also
attributed to alteration of river course towards rural populated
area. According to Major N.Shrivastva who has been supervising flood
control measures in the river having breadth over 600 metres, two
army dozers were pressed into service on August 14 immediately after
receiving orders from 270 Engineer Regiment. He said army men
deployed on the mission had first channelled river course and now
were creating river banks which had been eroded due to
flashfloods. "After taking first precautionary measures of
channelling of river water the army dozers have repaired one breach
measuring 75 metres long and 4 metres high and the other breach with
100 metres length and 4 metres height is going to be repaired," he
added. The inhabitants of flood-prone gram panchayats have lauded the
efforts of the army dozers team who were working relentlessly to plug
river breaches to save life and property of the rural people from the
threat of flashflood.

Forests to be protected
Tribune News Service

Shimla, August 25
The government will reward stake holders of forests for protecting
the forest cover with financial benefits and contribute towards
increasing green cover in the state.

This was stated by Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal while addressing a
public meeting at Ghariyana in Sunni area yesterday. He launched the
forest plantation campaign in the state to celebrate 59th state-level
van mahotsav by planting a sheesham plant.

He also laid a foundation stone of the Government Degree College
campus to be constructed at a cost of Rs 8.03 crore and a suspension
bridge over the Satluj connecting Thali village at the cost of Rs
6.75 crore.

Dhumal said hydroelectric projects were contributing 50 per cent
towards the state exchequer. He said efforts were being made to tap
12,000 MW of hydropower generation in four years.

He said though the government was keen to generate employment
opportunities in the state but this would not be allowed at the cost
of environmental damage.

Satellite townships for Dharamsala, Mandi
Probe into poor construction of roads in Kangra
Tribune News Service

Dharamsala August 25
Besides Shimla, the other two important towns of state Dharamsala and
Mandi would also have satellite townships. The minister for transport
and urban development Kishan Kapoor who has recently returned from a
foreign tour gave this information while talking to The Tribune here
today.

Kapoor said he had various models of satellite townships during his
tour to Hong Kong, Thailand and Australia. The models would be
discussed with the urban development department to implement them in
the state. The government was mulling to develop a satellite township
for Dharamsala near Gaggal airport, the minister said.

Though the minister has talked about satellite townships the
government has till date failed to provide basic facilities in the
existing townships. In Dharamsala the residents despite presence
large numbers of perennial natural sources of fresh water get just
one hour supply of drinking water. In many areas the people have to
lay their own pipeline for long distances to get drinking water
supply. The condition of sanitation in the town is also poor.

They are very few parking places in the main markets and there is no
planned colony in the town.

So, planning for the new townships the state should concentrate on
developing basic infrastructure in existing townships.

The minister also told that the state government has seriously taken
note of poor condition of roads in Kangra district. Many of the roads
the work for which was carried out during the stint of previous
government have given up in a short time span.

The government has ordered an inquiry into damage of roads.

The state government was also contemplating strict action against the
guilty contractors. The contractors who are found to have been
carrying out sub standard work would also be blacklisted from the PWD
department, he said.

Janmashtami mahotsava organised
Our Correspondent
The Tribune

Bilaspur, August 24
A two-day annual Krishna Janmashtami Mahotsava concluded at Laxmi
Narayan temple here in the town with great religious fervour and
enthusiasm as thousands of men, women and children participated in
celebrations at the temple.

The temple trust led by subdivisional magistrate P.C. Akela organised
hawan-yajna and a bhandara was also organised in which thousands of
people participated. A programme of bhajans, kirtans and Krishan janam
katha was also organised in the temple.

Campus interviews a great success
Tribune News Service

Shimla, August 24
Initiative taken by the Labour Department in collaboration with the
Confederation of Indian Industry and the Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh
Development Industries Association to organise campus interviews has
been a success.

Chief Minister P.K.Dhumal informed while reviewing working of the
department that the 105 campus interviews led to on the spot
employment to 1,755 youth over a period of last three months. He said
the government was committed to ensure maximum employment to youth in
private sector and it would ensure that condition of 70 per cent
employment to local people was enforced. The campus interviews
attracted over 6,000 youth out of which, 1,755 got selected for
various posts in the industrial sector.

He said the state government had also provided the employment to
about 3,500 educated unemployed youth, which included over 1,500
positions in the government sector and over 2,000 in the private
sector up to the period ending in June, 2008.

Manimahesh yatra begins
Our Correspondent
The Tribune

Chamba, August 24
A famous state-level Manimahesh pilgrimage officially commenced from
historic `chourasi temple' complex of Bharmour today on occasion of
Janmashtami under the aegis of newly constituted the `Manimahesh
Trust' reciting hymns of Lord Shiva by devotees.

The pilgrimage would conclude on September 8 when pilgrims and
devotees will take holy dip (bath) in icy waters of the Manimahesh
lake at an altitude of 4170 m.

Nearly 1 lakh pilgrims, who included 1426 devotees from Bhaderwah
area of Jammu and Kashmir, took bath in the Manimahesh lake,
additional district magistrate of Bharmour N. K. Lath informed.

The ADM, Bharmour, told that a sum of Rs 5 crore sanctioned by the
Tourism Department was being spent for building infrastructure.

Government officials had been directed to make all possible
arrangements such as regulation of traffic, parking lots, medicines,
fuel, water and electricity for facility of devotees on their way to
Manimahesh.

The ADM informed that langars had been allowed to 15 voluntary
organisations on roadsides at different points for the facility of
pilgrims. To keep the Manimahesh lake clean, no "langar" had been
permitted to function in the precincts of the sacred lake.

National Anthem composer forgotton
Lalit Mohan
Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, August 23
The composer of National Anthem that stirred the souls of Indians for
decades, Capt Ram Singh, was forgotten at his native town Dharamsala.

His 94th birth anniversary passed away on August 15, which was
forgotten by the local administration. But the Gorkha community of
Dharamsala has organised a function here in the memory of Capt Ram
Singh.

Capt Ram Singh, who belonged to Khaniara village adjoining
Dharamsala, is remembered for composing the tune for `Jana Gana
Mana'.

The original script of the anthem was little different. It was `Sukh
Chain Kee Barkha Barse, Bharat Bhagiya hai Jaga'. The song was based
on composition of Rabindranath Tagore and translated into Hindi by
Abid Ali.

Capt Ram Singh composed the poem into `Quami Tarana' for Indian
National Army (INA) of Subhash Chandra Bose at Singapore in 1943 that
later became the National Anthem.

Another composition of Capt Ram Singh, `Kadam se Kadam Badaye ja'
infused patriotism among millions of Indians. Capt Ram Singh was born
in Khaniara village on August 15, 1914. He joined the Indian Army in
1927.

In 1944, Capt Ram Singh was awarded gold medal by Subhas Chandra Bose
for composition of Quami Tarana. Capt Ram Singh also had the
distinction of playing the National Anthem of INA in the presence of
Mahatama Gandhi in Delhi while in British custody.

Capt Ram Singh was also especially invited by Jawahar Lal Nehru to
play the National Anthem, when he unfurled the National Flag of
Independent India from the red fort on August 15, 1947 for the first
time.

SJVN grounds Khab storage project
Tribune News Service

Shimla, August 17
The plan of the Sutlej Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVN) to construct a storage
dam project at Khab to protect the downstream projects from damage
due to excessive silt and floods has been grounded with the allotment
of the 261-MW Yanthang-Khab project to Gammon India Limited.

Engineers of the SJVN said with the consecution of a project upstream
Khab, it will not be possible to construct the proposed 275 m high
dam at the site.

The dam with a storage capacity of 500 million cubic metre would have
been the second highest concrete gravity dam of the world after the
285 m high Grand Dixiens Dam in Switzerland.

The Tehri dam is the highest in the country, followed by Bhakra dam.

Chairman-cum-managing director of the SJVN H.K. Sharma said the Khab-
I and Khab-II projects were combined into a single storage project of
1,020-MW to find a permanent solution to the problem of excessive
silt, which had forced repeated shutdown of the 1,500-MW Nathpa-
Jhakri project. It would have benefited the six-mega projects coming
up on the Sutlej downstream Khab.

With Yanthang-Khab coming up close to Khab, only a run-of-the river
project of 636-MW would be feasible.

Studies conducted by the engineers revealed that the snow-fed Sutlej
and Spiti have been bringing down 16 million cubic metres of silt
annually at Nathpa dam.

At Khab, the confluence of Sutelj and Spiti, the quantum of silt was
12 million cubic metres out of which 6.5 million cubic meters was
being contributed by Spiti.

A storage dam at Khab was proposed to help arrest 12 million cubic
metres of silt to ensure smooth running projects downstream. It would
have taken 28 years to exhaust its storage capacity at the current
level of silt content.

However, to prolong the life of dam and permanently solve the problem
of silt, the Nigam had also proposed three more dams, two on Sipti at
Poh and Rangrik, and one at Powari, downstream Khab.

With the main storage dam project grounded the plans for other three
dams would have to be given up.

Gallantry award for naval officer
The Tribune

Shimla, August 17
Lt. Cdr Shwet Gupta, 28, who sacrificed his life while trying to save
fellow sailors from a poisonous gas leak on INS Jalashwa in February,
has been selected for the Nau Sena Medal by the defence ministry,
said the officer's wife on Sunday.

Shwet, who belonged to Bilaspur district, died trying to save the
lives of five sailors trapped on the ship on which gas leakage took
place.

His widow, Charu Gupta, who received the communique, said, "I have
received a letter from defence secretary Vijay Singh that the
President of India has announced a gallantry award for Shwet, who
sacrificed his life for the nation." In May, she had written to naval
authorities demanding a gallantry award for the officer.

Shwet had struggled for life for nine days after the February
incident and died at a hospital in Delhi. Six sailors died in the gas
leak on the INS Jalashwa, which is the first ship to be transferred
from the US, besides being the first Landing Platform Dock (LPD) to
be acquired by the Indian Navy. — IANS

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Hi,

We are looking for an office location and team members for an e-Gov
project in Shimla and Dharamshala. Those interested please respond.

Here are our requirements for the same:

1. Office space located in neat & clean locality, reasonably priced,
comprising of 3 rooms, easily accessible from major streets.

2. Resident Manager for Shimla, preferably an MBA with at least 3
years of industry experience.

3. Project Manager – for Kangra division. Preferably a post graduate
with excellent communication skills and sound industry experience.

4. 5  Project Coordinators / Field Officers. Preferably a graduate
with good communication skills and basic computer knowledge.


Those interested may respond by marking a mail to me with subject line
CSC project

Varun Rattan Singh
+91 98160 76772

I went into the woods because I wanted to live deliberately. I wanted
to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life... to put to rout all
that was not life; and not, when I came to die, discover that I had
not lived. - Henry David Thoreau

To know me better follow this trail http://www.himvani.com/maverick

Yoghurt plant being set up at Paonta Sahib
Tribune News Service

Shimla, August 8
The Himalaya International Limited, an agri-export company, will
launch real fruit blended yoghurts for the first time in Indian
market during Navratri festival in October.

Company chairman Man Mohan Malik said here today a yogurt plant was
being set up at Paonta Sahib in the state for which equipment and
technology had already been imported from the United States at a cost
of about Rs 5 crore.

He said that so far only plain and flavoured yogurts were produced in
the country and real fruit blended yoghurts for healthy breakfast and
snack food would be available for the first time.

The company imports different varieties of berries like blue berry,
straw berry and raspberry fruits from North America and procures
mango, peaches, banana and other fruits from Indian markets for
various varieties of fruit yoghurts. The plant would have a capacity
to produce 50 million cups of yoghurt per annum in the Paonta plant.

Over 30,000 litres of pure and immediately chilled milk would be
procured daily from farmers within 60 km of Paonta Sahib for which 50
collection centres would be set up.

The new products would be marketed under brand name `Himalya Fresh.'

The company had already bagged an export order of $ 4 million frozen
yoghurt from the USA. The fat free frozen yoghurt would be marketed
under the brand name "Uno Italian" to provide healthy alternative to
ice cream as it melts and freezes at slower rate than ice cream due
to higher enthalpy of fusion than milk.

Export sugar free version of frozen yoghurt and frozen yoghurt
flavoured with fructose would also be marketed for sugar sensitive
customers across the globe.

Malik said Americans were charmed by the low-fat, lower-calorie
alternative to ice cream that also provided health benefits of live
cultures. The company had signed an agreement with the Reliance
Industries to pack its plain yoghurt in their "Dairy Pure" brand to
be marketed nation-wide though its retail chain.

Dear all,
Is anybody from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania? I need some
help regarding accomodation and fooding in tanzania.




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