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Himachal Pradesh

  • Landslide kills 4, Manali-Leh highway blocked

    Manali: Four people were killed and at least seven injured when a landslide hit them at Nehru Kund on the Manali-Leh highway on Monday.

  • Now vote for us

    It was perhaps a first for Palaniappan Chidambaram. He had a most unusual effect on Lok Sabha MPs last week. Minutes after he delivered his Budget speech, MPs across party lines were on the phone, cancelling weekend parties and making arrangements to head home.

  • Plague is spreading to new areas

    Plague is spreading to new areas

    plague cases are on the rise and are afflicting countries more frequently than before. A who report says there were around 1,900 cases worldwide in 2002, which increased to 2,100 cases in 2003. In

  • Tourists welcome at forest rest houses

    Finding a place to stay in the remote and far-flung areas would no longer be a problem, especially for trekkers and wildlife lovers, as accommodation will be made available in 400 forest rest houses t

  • Shivaliks worst affected by soil erosion

    Shivalik hills of Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh are among the 107 million hectares in the country worst affected by soil erosion, resulting in continuous and gradual depletion of fertility and

  • AIDS: Dhumal moots pre-marital tests

    The AIDS bomb is ticking fast in the hill state, already struggling with diseases like TB and cholera.

  • Globally banned diclofenac easily available in state

    Shimla: Unchecked over-the-counter sale of globally banned veterinary drug diclofenac in Himachal Pradesh has put a question mark on the government's effort in phasing out the drug that has been pro

  • Few takers for energy efficiency project

    Despite a dearth of power in the north, small and medium entrepreneurs are not keen to profit from the energy efficiency project introduced by the State Bank of India (SBI). The energy efficiency project for energy-intensive SMEs was rolled out by SBI in the second half of 2005 in the Chandigarh circle (Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Union Territory of Chandigarh). So far, the preliminary/walk-through energy audit of 83 units has been conducted and the detailed energy audit of 10 units has been done in the past two years. It is surprising that while Punjab alone has more than 200,000 small and medium industries and has clusters of iron foundries and forging units (which make intensive use of energy), only 83 units came forward and only10 out of those implemented energy conservation measures. According to sources in SBI, 50 per cent of the cost of energy audit or Rs 50,000 per unit,whichever is less, is to be borne by the bank and remaining by the unit. There is a funding incentive also where fresh term loan up to 90 per cent of the cost of equipment (Rs 2 lakh to Rs 1 crore) for the energy conservation can be obtained at a concessional rate. The study of the SME sector in the north reveals that most of the entrepreneurs are averse to growing bigger as it would invite tax implications. For instance, if the turnover grows beyond Rs 1.5 crore, they come under the ambit of excise. "It is not the fair charges but the hidden costs, the rampant corruption in Punjab, that undermines the spirits of entrepreneurs to increase the value and volume of business', said one of the small entrepreneur. But those who undertook this project were able to cut the cost of energy consumption by 10 per cent to 20 per cent. An official of Venus Cotsyn India Limited told that they implemented all the suggestion offered by the consultants for the efficiency of steam supply, air supply and electric power and the results were fruitful. Similarly, Ludhiana-based Eastman Forging and Casting was also able to save substantially on account of energy efficiency project. A senior official at the Local Head Office of SBI Chandigarh said that despite the minimum saving of energy consumption cost of 10 per cent to 15 per cent that can go up to 25 per cent 30 per cent in specific cases, the response of industry has been lukewarm.

  • 14 national water projects named

    The Central Government has declared 14 water resources projects, including two each in Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir and three in Himachal Pradesh, as National Projects. It is proposed to provide 90 per cent project cost of irrigation and drinking water component of the project as Central Grant after techno-economic appraisal of the detailed project report and investment clearance by the Planning Commission. The projects are Teesta Barrage (West Bengal), Shahpur Kandi (Punjab), Bursar (Jammu and Kashmir), 2nd Ravi Vyas Link (Punjab) Ujh multipurpose project (Jammu and Kashmir), Gyspa project (Himachal Pradesh), Lakhvar Vyasi (Uttranchal), Kishau (Himachal Pradesh /Uttranchal), Renuka (Himachal Pradesh), Noa-Dehang Dam Project (Arunachal Pradesh), Kulsi Dam Project (Assam), Upper Siang (Arunachal Pradesh), Gosikhurd (Maharashtra) and Ken Betwa (Madhya Pradesh).

  • Rewards for eco-clubs planned

    The state government will give cash rewards to encourage the eco-clubs to take up various environment-related activities. This was stated by principal secretary, science and technology, Harinder Hira, while inaugurating a three-day workshop for master trainers under the national green corps programme, which commenced here today. She said the top three eco-clubs, which excelled in various activities would be given Rs 5,000, Rs 3,000 and Rs 2,000, respectively, on the basis of annual performance. She lamented that despite the degradation of environment the people were largely indifferent to the situation and not much was being done to protect it. She said master trainers should make it a point to encourage children to interact with nature so that they get sensitised. Member secretary of the state council for science, technology and environment Nagin Nanda threw light on the national green corps programme and role of their children in influencing their families and society as a whole to help develop a positive attitude towards environment protection. Involving children in the programme would have a long-term impact. National coordinator of the programme P.S. Sodhi explained the concept of ecological footprints and handprints. He emphasised the need to undertake environment auditing at individual and institutional levels. In all 48 master trainers from 11 districts of the state along with non-government organisation are participating in the workshop.

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