Himachal Pradesh Govt. moves to produce IT friendly business landscape

New Delhi, Sep.18 (ANI): Recognizing the enormous potential of Information Technology in acting as a catalyst for the Tier – II growth of Suburban India, The Government of Himachal Pradesh (GoHP) is moving to produce an IT friendly business landscape.

To close the technological gap and nab the marquee, various initiatives are being put in place by the GoHP. Tax Breaks, Exemption from various duties and levies and imports are certain defined benefits for the industry to set base at Himachal Pradesh.

The IT Park cum Township falls will come up in Solan District of Solan, about 20 kilometres from Shimla.

The total area of the project is 64.73 acres. The site is located at a distance of four kilometers from Kiarighat. Kiarighat is on Chandigarh – Shimla highway (NH-22) on midway between Solan and Shimla at an approximately equal distance of 23 kilometres.

Conceptualized as an Integrated Development – offering both residential and commercial options, the project’s developmental contours will include built-up IT space of 1.1 million square feet. Built to suit plots for IT in 9.5 acres of land, a township for of 1.31 million square feet, a project cost of 408 crore rupees.

Commercially structured on the Public Private Partnership format. The developer shall be responsible for designing,financing, constructing, operating, maintaining and development of the IT Park cum Township at Waknaghat.

The implementing agency will be the Department of Information Technology, Government of Himachal Pradesh.

To promote the project and the township, an investor Meet will be held in Delhi on September 23. A visit to the site will be organised on September 30, while a pre-bid meeting will be held on October 3, 2009.

The last date for submission of proposal is October 26. (ANI)

Rampant smuggling of Maple trees concern Himachal residents

Shimla, June 21 (ANI): Rampant smuggling of maple tree wood through border areas of Tibet and China in Himachal Pradesh state has become a serious cause of concern for residents in Himachal Pradesh.

Local residents in Himachal’s Kinnaur and Shimla districts say that there is threat of entire lot of the maple tree being vanished in near future. Already, thousands of trees have been damaged for smuggling purposes.

Residents complain that in both the districts the maple wood is being smuggled to Nepal, Bhutan, China and Tibet in the form of rings and knots and the authorities expected to keep a check have not paid heed to their consistent complaints.

“We have informed the forest officers of the smuggling of the tree wood but they have not taken any action yet. This matter should be soon looked into, as these trees will be soon wiped out from the forest. These trees should be saved,” said Ram Singh, a local resident.

The maple wood smuggling has resulted to the tree felling in Kinnaur at Trand, Shilini, Thach, Chaura and Baddi areas and in Shimla kinnu, Baghot and Sarahan forest.

Himachal Pradesh Government has given assurance of conducting an inquiry into the alleged smuggling in the area and take action within a week.

“We will gather information from the reports. First, we’ll find out the amount of damage that has been occurred. Second, where are the areas of operation? We will form a special strategy to combat it and we will make sure this kind incidence do not happen again,” said JP Nadda, Forest Minister Government Of Himachal Pradesh.

The maple tree is called as Tilhan, Bhutia-Badam and Gey-Diza. (ANI)

Security in Himachal Pradesh intensified after militant threats

Shimla, Mar 21 (ANI): The government of Himachal Pradesh has intensified the security measures at six hydel project sites in the state, including the Bhakra Dam, after receiving several threats from the militant outfits.

The other project sites put on a terror alert includes the Chamera hydel project stage I and II in Chamba District, 1500 MW Nathpa Jhakhri Project, Pong Dam and Pandoh Dam in Mandi District.

According to sources, the central intelligence agencies warned the state authorities about a potential attack on the mega hydro-electric projects by the terrorist outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).

The 225 metre high Bhakra Dam is Asia’s biggest dam. It is a concrete gravity dam located nearly 20 km from Nangal town bordering Himachal in Punjab. (ANI)

Himachal Pradesh tribals demand forest rights

Kinnaur (Himachal Pradesh), Feb 18 (ANI): Tribals and other forest dwellers in Himachal Pradesh protested against non-implementation of forest rights in Kinnaur recently.

The protestors alleged that the government of Himachal Pradesh was not implementing the Central law Scheduled Tribes (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act that gave rights to tribals cultivating forestland for decades.

“The government is not serious about implementing the forest tribal act. The way it is scaring the tribal people that a legal action would be taken against them. We want to tell the authorities that it is implementation of law that we are seeking. We want to educate the tribals about their rights,” said Tikender Panwar, President, Himachal Kisan Sabha.

The protestors said that the government indifference in notifying the law is what is creating problems for tribals.

“The law that was passed by the Central Government is not being implemented properly by the State Government. It is not educating people,” said Shersingh Negi, a tribal.

The protestors also demanded that the government should withdraw forest-eviction cases filed against the tribals.

The Central law was passed in 2006 recognising, once and for all, that tribal people are integral to the revival, survival and sustenance of the forest eco-system. It ensures livelihood and food security of the tribal people by making them the effective owners of the minor forest products besides cultivating rights over forestland.

Each state has to notify the Central law to make it effective in its territory. (ANI)

Rehabilitation home for women in Himachal Pradesh

Mashobra (HP), Jan 27 (ANI): A rehabilitation home for neglected women has been set up by the Department of Welfare and Social Justice of Himachal Pradesh State Government.

Thanks to home named Nari Seva Sadan (Help centre for women) at Mashobra, 22 kilometres away from Shimla, the way is paved for such neglected women to return to the mainstream of society.

Apart from the deprived women of Himachal Pradesh, the beneficiaries of this home are also those belonging to other places but found in dire need of assistance by the State Police or other concerned authorities from the Department of Social Welfare.

Presently, among the 18 inmates, six belong to Himachal Pradesh while the rest dozen women hail from other States, all victims of various social odds encountered in life.

Set up at a cost of rupees 50 lakhs, the home rehabilitates the women with utmost care and guides them to take up a productive vocation.

“The State as a policy has decided to run one such institution for whole State. The important aspect of this home is not only of care and shelter or protection but of sharing and of caring,” said Subhashish Panda, Director, Department of Welfare and Social Justice, Government of Himachal Pradesh.

Through vocational training of one’s aptitude and option, Nari Seva Sadan has helped several women to become self reliant and thus usher a new chapter in their lives.

Among the vocations taught here are weaving, sewing, stitching and making handicraft novelties.

“I teach them crafts like stitching, weaving and sewing so that they can rehabilitate themselves and also earn their livelihood. I teach these girls what they are interested in so that they can learn the work and become perfect in it,” said Kamla Bhoal, a craft teacher, Nari Seva Sadan, Mashobra.

The women inmates of Nari Seva Sadan including mothers with minor children live here like family.

The mentors of the home treat these girls like their daughters not only teaching them these skills but also teaching them the way of life.

” I have learnt here that a woman should not remain behind in the society. When you are educated and your parents have done so much for you, and left no shortcomings then why should your in-laws not co-operate with you? I have learnt to be self-dependent more than what I was, and I feel that I can do something for myself in future,” said Sakshi Arora, an inmate of Nari Sadan, Mashobra.

Nari Seva Sadan also shelters mentally and physically challenged women. And almost all such inmates have now started enjoying their life.

The support provided by the Himachal Pradesh Government has been a boon to these women who earlier were deprived of social identity and dignity but now capable of leading an objective life of contentment. By Hemant Chauhan (ANI)