Advocating the setting up of a Trans-Himalayan Development Authority for the ecological maintenance and sustenance of the Himalayan eco system, Chief Minister PK Dhumal today said Himachal would become the first carbon-neutral state in the country by 2020 by undertaking “carbon smart growth”. He was speaking at the 12th Delhi Sustainable Development Summit organised by the Energy and Resource Institute on “Protecting the global commons: 20 years post-Rio” in New Delhi today.

Contrary to expectations, the number of birds visiting Pong Dam wetland, one of the largest manmade wetlands in North India, has declined by about 10 per cent this year.

During a two-day census of the waterfowl species (birds that depend on water bodies for roosting and feeding), 119,500 birds of the 103 species were spotted in the wetland in Kangra district, wildlife officials said on Thursday.

MUMBAI: Ever heard of a medical iron tablet actually containing free iron particles, that too in a huge quantity? State food and drug administration (FDA) commissioner Mahesh Zagde initially did not believe it. However, when a Thane-based consumer presented him with the evidence, he was left both stunned and horrified. "The consumer walked into my office, and in the presence of officials showed how the iron tablet was attracted to a magnet,'' Zagde told TOI.

MUMBAI: A Thane-based consumer has alerted the food and drug administration about iron pieces being found in a medically-prescribed iron tablet. The content of elemental iron in the tablet, prescribed for anaemia or lack of red blood cells, was way above permissible limits. FDA commissioner Mahesh Zagde has directed the Himachal Pradesh-based Galpha Laboratories to withdraw the entire stock of the product from Maharashtra. Simultaneously, the FDA has told 76,000-odd medical stores, public health and medical education departments not to prescribe the product.

A cultivable mycorrhiza-like fungus discovered by scientists of Amity University may prove to be a boon for vegetable growers of Himachal Pradesh as it has tremendously increased the crop growth and productivity. The scientists found that the fungus named Piriformospora Indica (PFSI) increased both the growth and productivity of cauliflower, capsicum and tomato vegetable crops in hill areas of the state.

A two-day marathon exercise to count the migratory birds descending on the wetlands of Pong Dam lake near here will commence on Monday.

The annual census of migratory and local birds at Maharana Pratap Sagar (an artificial lake) takes place towards the end of January and beginning of February every year to note the trend of arrival of migratory birds from Siberia and South Asian countries.

Shimla: The transmission of power from the hydel projects located in the Chandrabhaga basin will be undertaken through the 9-km-long Rohtang tunnel, thereby reducing the total cost of transmission by several crores. The state government has already held talks with the Rohtang tunnel authorities to allow the transmission of power through the Rohtnag tunnel by way of gas-filled cables. In case the proposal comes through, it will be for the first time anywhere in the state that power transmission will take place through gas-filled cables.

Shimla: The World Bank has sanctioned Rs 74.24 crore for the remaining 37 roads and bridges in different parts of the state. Stating this here yesterday, Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal said he had received a communication from Union Minister of Rural Development Jairam Ramesh in this regard. He said the Union Minister took up the case with the Empowered Committee headed by the Secretary (Rural Development), Government of India, and recommended it for funding by the World Bank.

Hamirpur: The government has provided the drinking water facility in every government school of the state through the Irrigation and Public Health Department.
Now, every government school in the state is being supplied drinking water either through pipes or through hand pumps installed on the school premises or near the school. The government has submitted an affidavit in this regard in the Supreme Court informing it that every government school has been provided the drinking water facility.

Icy roads killing people; PWD accused of not removing snow from highway, roads. The World Bank on Monday approved funds worth Rs. 74.24 crore for about three dozen incomplete roads and bridges in Himachal Pradesh.

This was communicated by Union Minister for Rural Development Jairam Ramesh to Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal.