INDUS WATER TREATY TROUBLESOME FOR INDIA

INDUS WATER TREATY TROUBLESOME FOR INDIA

                                  By SP Sharma

 

The world's most generous Indus Water Treaty (IWT) between India and Pakistan has become troublesome for India as Pakistan was trying to stall the hydroelectric power projects being constructed on the waters of the three rivers of Jammu and Kashmir falling under the pact.

Under the IWT India agreed to set aside 80.52 percent of the waters of the six-river Indus system for Pakistan, keeping for itself just the remaining 19.48 percent share. Both in terms of the sharing ratio as well as the total quantum of waters reserved for a downstream state, this treaty's munificence is unsurpassed in scale in the annals of international water treaties. This unparalleled water generosity, however, has only invited trouble for India.

The International Court of Arbitration (ICA) on December 20 rejected Pakistan's plea for stopping construction of the prestigious Kishenganga hydroelectric project in Jammu and Kashmir. Earlier, Pakistan had vainly also tried to create hurdles in construction of the Salal, Baghliar and other projects earlier.

The ICA refused to grant stay to Pakistan which claimed that construction of the Kishenganga project was in violation of the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) between India and Pakistan. Earlier in its "partial award" in February, the court upheld India's main contention that it has the right to divert waters of Western rivers, in a non-consumptive manner, for optimal generation of power. 

Construction on the dam was halted by the Hague's Permanent Court of Arbitration in October 2011 due to Pakistan's protest of its effect on the flow of the Kishanganga River (called the Neelum River in Pakistan).
The three Western rivers, Jhelum, Chenab and Indus, were assigned to Pakistan under the World Bank-sponsored IWT of 1960. The treaty was a result of Pakistani fear that since the source rivers of the Indus basin were in India, it could potentially create droughts and famines in Pakistan, especially at times of war. However, India did not revoke the treaty during any of three later Indo-Pakistani Wars.

According to IWT, the Ravi, Beas and Sutlej, which constitute the eastern rivers, are allocated for exclusive use by India before these enter Pakistan. Successive governments in J&K have sought that the IWT should be scrapped because it has come as a hurdle in tapping the vast hydroelectric potential that was flowing waste. Jammu and Kashmir can produce an assessed hydroelectric potential of 8825 MW and also irrigate another 0.53 million acres from the three western rivers but the IWT was coming in its way.

The "final award" pertaining to the Kishenganga project specifies that 9 cumecs of natural flow of water must be maintained in Kishenganga River at all times to maintain the environment downstream. This is much lower than the 100 cumecs of natural flow that Pakistan wanted to maintain.
The court said alternative techniques will have to be used for Kishanganga hydroelectric project and all future run of the river projects undertaken on western rivers of the Indus system. 

The Kishenganga project is part of a run-of-the-river hydroelectric scheme that is designed to divert water from the Kishanganga River to a power plant in the Jhelum river basin. It is located 5 kms North of Bandipura in  Kashmir and will have an installed capacity of 330 MW. Construction on the project began in 2007 and is expected to be complete in 2016.

In 2010, Pakistan appealed to the Hague's Permanent Court of Arbitration  complaining that the Kishanganga Hydroelectric Plant violates the IWT by increasing the catchment of the Jhelum River and depriving Pakistan of its water rights. In June 2011, the court visited both the Kishanganga and Neelum–Jhelum Projects. In August 2011, it ordered India to submit more technical data on the project. India had previously reduced the height of the dam from 98 m (322 ft) to 37 m (121 ft). After Pakistan's application was first rejected, the court asked India late September to stop constructing any permanent works that would inhibit restoration of the river. While India cannot construct the dam, they can continue on the tunnel and power plant in hopes that the court will allow the project. In February 2013 the Hague ruled that India could divert a minimum of water for their project. In this partial award, the court upheld India's main contention that it has the right to divert waters of western rivers, in a non-consumptive manner, for optimal generation of power.

Pakistan had also raised objections on the construction of the Dul-Hasti and Uri hydroelectric projects. The Wullar Barrage has also suffered because of the stand of Pakistan against it.

Work on the Salal Hydroelectric Project on the Chenab River in Jammu was delayed due to Pakistan's tactics of raising objections on its construction. As the construction work commenced in 1970, the project was commissioned in two stages. In the first stage, a 345 MW power station was commissioned in 1987. In the second stage, the station's total capacity was doubled to 690 MW by 1995.

The 900 mws Baglihar hydroelectric project on the Chenab also remained in the eye of the storm as Pakistan raised objections on its design. 

After its construction began in 1999, Pakistan claimed that design parameters of Baglihar project violated the IWT. Thereafter, India and Pakistan vainly held several rounds of talks to resolve the dispute. After failure of talks on January 18, 2005, Pakistan raised six objections to the World Bank, a broker and signatory of Indus Water Treaty. In May 2005, the World Bank appointed Professor Raymond Lafitte, a Swiss civil engineer, to adjudicate the difference.

Lafitte declared his final verdict on February 12, 2007, in which he upheld some minor objections of Pakistan, declaring that pondage capacity be reduced by 13.5 percent, height of dam structure be reduced by 1.5 meter and power intake tunnels be raised by 3 meters, thereby limiting some flow control capabilities of the earlier design. However he rejected Pakistani objections on height and gated control of spillway declaring these conformed to engineering norms of the day. India had already offered Pakistan similar minor adjustments for it to drop its objection

Pakistan has also raised objections to four new hydropower projects of India to be built on western rivers. These include, Ratle Hydroelectric Plant (48MW), Miyar (120MW), Lower Kalnai (48MW) and Pakul Dul (1000MW to be increased to 1,500MW). 

 

FRONTIER REGION KARGIL TO BECOME LIGHT HOUSE OF INDIA

The mountainous frontier region of Kargil that made headlines during the Indo—Pakistan war in 1999, is now set to become the solar power generation capital of India as the area would generate 33,000 megawatts of Solar Photo-Voltaic (SPV) electricity. The Kargil Renewable Development Agency (KREDA) has prepared a master plan to utilize the enormous solar energy to light the region. It is already producing 2 mws from SPV.

According to Kacho Ahmad Khan, chief coordinator of KREDA, the SPV project report has been sent to the government. The agency has proposed to utilize all barren South faced lands to install solar panel and even the roadsides will be utilized under this plan and will try to make Kargil as one of the main supplier of Electricity in J&K.

But this will become true only when Kargil is connected with the Northern Grid after the execution of the Rs 1800 crores transmission line project connecting Srinagar, Kargil and Leh.

The Northern part of the subcontinent, especially the Ladakh region, is blessed with an abundance of sunlight and high solar radiation. Harnessing solar energy into consumable electricity is highly effective and useful. 

In the first phase the KREDA has installed Solar Power Plant of 25 to 65 Kw in 22 villages of Kargil and the whole Lunganak Block of 26 villages in Zanskar sub-division and in other blocks.

Khan said KREDA has established 22 SPV power plants in various villages of the district. In these villages, apart from solar energy, no other viable resource, renewable or otherwise, is available. Before the intervention of KREDA the villagers were receiving electricity from their respective diesel generator sets. As many as 10 SPV plants of 40KW capacity are installed in the villages of Tsazar, Saliskot, Shakar Amzet, Khangral, Lhalung, Barchey, Yurbaltak, Goshan, Pandrass and Gindyal. Among these, Tsazar (Zanskar) was an un-electrified village.

The project was successfully conceived and implemented by KREDA with technical support from TATA BP Solar India Ltd.

Renewable energy is carbon free, inexhaustible and abundant source of energy.

Sukhbir Badal's dream thermal project inaugurated in Punjab

         Sukhbir Badal's dream power project inaugurated in Punjab

                                        SP Sharma

JAMMU, Nov.25. Chief Minister of Punjab, Parkash Singh Badal, on Monday inaugurated the first unit of the 660 mws Talwandi Sabo thermal power plant that is a dream project of the Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal. The super-critical project constructed by the Vedanta group on completion next year would generate 1980 mws of electricity. It would cost Rs.11,000 crore.

Sukhbir Singh and his wife Harsimrat Kaur Badal, who is also MP of the Bathinda parliamentary constituency, were present on the occasion. Thousands of SAD and BJP activists participated in the inauguration ceremony.

Sukhbir Singh is taking steps to make Punjab surplus in power generation so that the number one position of Punjab in industry and agriculture is restored.

Slamming the Congressmen who were skeptical about the destiny of this prestigious power project, the Chief Minister said that it was an established fact that they believed in politics of negativism, which was evident from the tough posture adopted by former Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, who was bent upon to shut the prestigious Guru Gobind Singh Refinery at Bathinda describing it as an 'White Elephant' for the reasons best known to him. He said that when the SAD-BJP alliance was voted to power in 2007 we were committed to restart the same and today that farce considered by the Congress has turned to be a reality thereby changing the fortunes of the people. Mr. Badal said the refinery and now the Talwandi Sabo Power project along with other path breaking initiatives like Central University and the upcoming Domestic Terminal in Bathinda was reflective of state government's firm commitment to showcase Bathinda-Mansa belt as the upcoming investor friendly destination across the world. The Chief Minister also announced that the state government would soon release 1.50 lakh priority Tube well connections to the farmers having small and marginal holdings. 

Chiding the Congress for ruining the beleaguered peasantry of the state, the Chief Minister said that the Congress was inimical to the state from day one as it denied Punjab of its legitimate territorial rights in terms of its Capital, share in river water besides attacking on Sri Durbar Sahib thereby hurting the religious sentiments of the Punjabis in general and Sikh community in particular. He categorically said that now the situation was ripe enough when the Punjabis could teach Congress a befitting lesson by showing the door to them for their autocratic style of functioning where corruption, nepotism, inflation, illiteracy, poverty, maladministration and above all internal and external insurgency was the order of the day. Mr. Badal said that for states to ensure smooth functioning it was mandatory to have harmonious relations with the centre, which could only be feasible if the BJP led NDA government was voted to power at Centre. He mentioned if the BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate Mr. Narendra Modi holds the rein of next Union government then it would be far more easy for them to seek funds liberally besides getting major projects sanctioned in the state.

The Chief Minister said the people of Punjab were satisfied with the overall development and prosperity in the state during seven years of SAD-BJP regime and hoped their unflinching faith in the government would help the alliance to eliminate the Congress during the ensuing Lok Sabha polls by capturing all the 13 seats from the state. He asked the people not to be swayed away by the hollow slogans of the Congress and better judge the performance of both the parties before casting their franchise. Mr. Badal said that every vote cast by the people would be decisive in marring or making the prospects of the state from the viewpoint of prosperity and development.

The Chief Minister said that the SAD-BJP alliance was the only party in the history of state politics which was committed for the welfare of the poor and disadvantaged sections of the society to the core whereas the Congress was absolutely insensitive towards their hardships. He said that SAD-BJP's concern for people was reflective of their recent launch of pro-people schemes like Atta-Dal, Mai Bhagio Istri Vidya, Dr. Hargobind Khurana Scholarship, Bhagat Puran Singh Sehat Beema Yojna and others adding he mentioned that from December 1 the state government would double the number of beneficiaries under the Atta-Dal scheme from existing 16 to 32 lakh besides slashing the rate of Atta from Rs 4 to Re 1 per Kg.

The Chief Minister gave the entire credit of overall development and prosperity in the state to the congenial atmosphere with absolute peace, amity and communal harmony despite the fact that our neighboring state Jammu and Kashmir and hostile Pakistan across the border were burning.  He said that Punjab was a leading state in the field of education and has also been adjudged 'excellent' in the Healthcare infra structure as rated by the Government of India. Mr. Badal said that due to the concerted efforts of the state government and the hard working people of Punjab, the state has been undoubtedly rated as the most preferred investment destination by the Reserve Bank of India.

Speaking on the occasion Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today said that the commissioning of first phase of Talwandi Sabo Power Plant has proved that the SAD-BJP Government did not make 'castle in the air' and fulfilled its promise to make Punjab a power surplus state. He said that when they had announced to come with a thermal plant here five years back, the Punjab Congress had ridiculed their initiatives and even made mockery of them but today they stood exposed and have nothing to say as the commissioning of power plants has now begun. He announced that 1400 MW Rajpura Thermal Plant was all set to commission its first unit from December 8.

          Sukhbir advised, PPCC Chief Partap Singh Bajwa to stop daydreaming since the Congress would never come in the power in Punjab for next 25 years. He said that not only Mr. Bajwa, but the entire Congress leadership should realize the factual position that the Congress party after having lost two assembly elections consecutively could never staged come back in that particular state. Citing the examples of Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Bihar where the congress has been permanently decimated after losing elections, he said that in the light of this fact the Punjab Congress would never be voted to power in near future and the SAD-BJP alliance was bound to serve the state for atleast next 25 years and even beyond.

          The Deputy Chief Minister also informed the mammoth gathering that Vedanta Group would set up world class multi specialty hospital in Mansa to provide the best Healthcare facilities to the needy on affordable rates.

          Earlier Bathinda Member Parliament Harsimrat Kaur Badal, while felicitating the Punjab Government for creating a history by making Punjab a power surplus state, said that despite constant apathy of Congress led UPA Government the SAD-BJP Government has left no stone unturned for the overall development of state. She said that it was only Parkash Singh Badal, who knows the pulse of every section of society whereas the Congress did nothing for Punjab after independence. The Member Parliament said that Punjab always took new strides of prosperity and progress only in the regime of SAD-BJP Government.   

      In his welcome address Chairman of the Vedanta Group Anil Aggarwal said that he was fortunate to associate with the Punjab government and install this 11000 crore Super Critical Thermal Power Project., which would not only give further impetus to the industry but also make Punjab  as a power surplus satte. He said that it was a matter of pride for the group to be one of the key players in Power sector to make the ever biggest private investment in power sector with also the highest generating capacity of 1980 MW. Showering heaps of praise on the Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal for extending fulsome support and cooperation due to which this project has been dedicated to the nation today in a fast track mode. 

Rahul pleads for empowering panchayats in J&K

JAMMU: 21 years after the 73^rd and 74^th Amendments were made in the Indian Constitution to empower the grassroots Panchayati Raj system and the Urban bodies elsewhere in the country, the Congress icon Rahul Gandhi is in Jammu today to plead for introduction of these amendments in Jammu and Kashmir where piecemeal powers were being granted to these bodies. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during a public meeting in the Parade Ground at Jammu in 2002 had also pleaded for introduction of these amendments to enable the central government to provide the earmarked funds. However, the successive governments in J&K have not taken steps to strengthen these bodies. Because of the Article 370, no constitutional amendment is applicable in J&K until it is ratified by the state assembly.

The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act was passed by the Parliament in April 1993. The Amendment provided a Constitutional status to the Panchayati Raj Institutions in India and left no discretion with the State governments in several important matters pertaining to these Institutions. Before the 73rd Amendment was  made effective, Article 40 of the original Constitution provided for a Directive to the government to take steps to organise village Panchayats and endow them with the powers and authority as may be necessary to enable them to function as the units of self-government. But, by mid-eighties it was realised that the said Directive was not sufficient to institutionalise Panchayati Raj in India.

Objects and Reasons stated for introducing the 73^rd Amendment in the Parliament in 1991:-

Though  the  Panchayati Raj Institutions have been in existence for  a
long  time, it has been observed that these institutions have not been
able  to  acquire  the  status and dignity of  viable  and   responsive
people's  bodies  due  to  a number of reasons  including   absence  of
regular    elections,     prolonged      supersessions,    insufficient
representation  of  weaker sections like Scheduled  Castes,  Scheduled
Tribes  and  women,  inadequate  devolution  of  powers   and  lack  of
financial resources.

Objects and Reasons stated for introducing the 74^th Amendment in the Parliament in 1991:-

In  many  States  local  bodies have become weak  and  ineffective  on
account of a variety of reasons, including the failure to hold regular
elections, prolonged supersessions and inadequate devolution of powers
and  functions.   As a  result, Urban Local Bodies are  not   able  to
perform effectively as vibrant democratic units of self-government.

 

A soldier of the Indian Special Forces in action on Thursday in the Thar desert of Rajasthan during a joint exercise of the Indian and russian armies----SP Sharma

PoK irked over the increased presence of terrorists in the area

PoK residents irked over the increasing presence of terrorists

                                             By SP Sharma

JAMMU: Disturbed over the misuse of the soil of Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) by the Pakistan government, military and ISI for training and launching terrorists in the Indian territory, prominent residents of the Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) have raised a banner of revolt by organizing a rally against the Pakistani government. Womenfolk for the first time joined the protest march.

These protests have come when the Indian security forces were for the past few days engaged in thwarting attempts of infiltration by terrorists who were being backed by the Pakistani army. However, these protests have gone un-noticed by the media in India while Pakistan has intentionally blacked out these activities.

A prominent Kashmiri leader of PoK, Dr.Shabir Choudhary and Afzal Suleria, president of the Kashmir National Party (KNP), organized a peace rally to highlight misuse of PoK soil by Pakistan for training and launching terrorists in India.

Ironically, the separatists based in Srinagar were somehow dominating the media space with their anti-India agenda, whereas those protesting against the Pakistan government, military and ISI of vitiating peace in PoK were being blacked out by the media in India and Pakistan.  

KNP recently organized a Peace Rally and a Peace Conference in the Neelam Valley to protest against growing presence of armed terrorists in the area. The Neelam Valley is also used as a launching pad to send armed terrorists across the Line of Control (LoC) to commit acts of violence and terrorism.

According to Dr.Choudhary, the presence of armed ultras in the area is causing enormous problems for the local people; and many times in the past local people, even the women who do not normally take part in such activities, came out to protest against their presence in the Neelam Valley.

"These armed terrorists are a big source of our problems in the region. They harass and intimidate local people. This area is used as a launching pad to send armed militants across the Line of Control that they can commit acts of violence there. Normal practise is before the armed militants are sent across, army start shelling and in response the Indian army also retaliate and people of Jammu and Kashmir suffer on both sides of the divide."

He said, 'The local people enjoyed some peace and stability after the cease fire was announced some years ago; but peace does not suit some people who have interest in promotion of violence, terrorism and hatred.'

Afzal Suleria requested members of the civil society and media to send their representatives to support this event and provide appropriate media coverage to send a powerful message to those who promote violence and hatred.

Indian--Nepalese army joint exercise for disaster management

Indian and Nepalese army hold joint exercise for disaster management

Controversial General Singh a liability for Modi

                        General Singh a liability for Narendera Modi

                                                 SP Sharma

The controversial General VK Singh is bound to prove a liability for the prime ministerial candidate of BJP Narendera Modi with whom he has recently shared the dais in public functions.

Singh, who was habitual of giving controversial statement even when he was heading the Indian military, has now stirred a serious debate by accusing of several ministers of Jammu and Kashmir of receiving secret funds from the army. The controversy has refused to die although Singh has later on tried to change his statement.

The "dictatorial" attitude of Singh would certainly affect Modi's image incase he did not immediately distance himself from the power hungry retired army chief.

The lust for power was displayed by Singh when he initially shared the dais with Anna Hazare and thereafter with Arvind Kejriwal before finally landing in the lap of Modi.

A section of political observers claim that Modi himself possesses traits of a dictator and does not relish his opposition. The fate of the BJP leaders not toeing his line in Gujarat was a glaring example of his behavior.

Singh's statement has virtually united leaders of all political parties who cutting across the party lines were up in arms against him. The coming session of the state assembly is expected to be dominated by this episode.

The ruling National Conference patron Farooq Abdullah, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and several Congress and PDP leaders have criticized the former army chief's statement. They have demanded that Singh should disclose the names of those who were paid the secret fund.

It is worth mentioning that the army is spending about Rs.40 crores annually in J&K on its "Sadbhavana" project under which school children from the far flung Muslim dominated areas, Muslim religious leaders and senior citizens are taken out on conducted tours to various parts of the country with the aim to give them an exposure of the development in the country.

Spending of the secret fund that flowed into J&K through various security and intelligence agencies during the past 23 years of terrorism is a matter of investigation. The centre reportedly provided hundreds of crore rupees as secret fund to these agencies to counter the Pakistan backed terrorism.

Observers feel that any high level enquiry on the matter might prove futile as the secret fund is generally unaccountable and identity of the beneficiaries is maintained as a secret. However, Singh's statement has provided ample ammunition to the politicians to indulge in mud-slinging during the coming assembly elections.        

Melting glaciers threaten floods in Himachal Pradesh and Uttrakhand

The Tribune

May 26, 2001

Melting glaciers a flood threat
S. P. Sharma
Tribune News Service

Shimla, May 25
The melting glaciers of Himachal Pradesh and Uttaranchal have rung alarm bells among environmentalists. They fear this might result in unprecedented floods and thereafter acute water scarcity in the plains.

The Bara Shigri glacier in Himachal Pradesh and the Pindari glacier in Uttaranchal are shrinking at an alarming rate of about 36 metres and 135 metres per year, studies have revealed.

The deep cracks in the Chhota Shigri glacier of Himachal indicate that it was receding. Studies indicate that it was shrinking by 6.7 metres per year and the Trilokinath glacier was receding by 15.4 metres.

The 26-km-long Gangotri glacier in Uttaranchal was shrinking by about 18 metres a year. Regular visitors to the area point out that it was receding at an alarming rate. Similar was the fate of the Milam glacier which was shedding about 13 metres of snow every year.

The size of the Bara Shigri glacier reduced by 650 metres between 1997-1995, while the Trilokinath glacier got reduced by 400 metres between 1969 to 1995.

Despite a severe winter in 1997, the 5-km-long Dokriani Bamak glacier in Himachal Pradesh shrunk by 20 metres, while its average melting rate had been 16.5 metres a year. The glacier might soon vanish in case it continued to melt.

Studies have indicated that almost all 335 glaciers in the Sutlej, Beas and Spiti basins were receding. These have created artificial lakes which might cause floods in the lowlying areas. The volume of water in the lake created due to melting of the Gepang Gath glacier increased to 8.46 cubic metres in 1998 against 7.56 cubic metres in 1990. The size of the lake has also increased to 0.47 sq. km in 1998 from 0.27 sq. km in 1976.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Tribune

February 18, 2001

Melting glaciers threaten floods
S.P. Sharma
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, February 17
Unprecedented melting of glaciers and formation of artificial lakes in the higher reaches of Himachal Pradesh has created a threat of flashfloods in the low lying areas.

According to an official study through remote sensing, almost all 335 glaciers in the Sutlej, Beas and Spiti basins are receding probably because of global warming.

The threat from these artificial lakes is not immediate, but could cause much damage incase these burst anytime.

In all, 164 deglaciated valleys covering an area of 133 sq. km have been mapped in the Sutlej basin where the total area under glaciers and permanent snow fields is estimated to be 2696 sq. km.

The Barashigri glacier in Lahaul-Spiti is receding at an alarming rate of 10 metres a year. This is the second largest glacier in the world.

Three artificial lakes have been created on the hills on top of the strategic Pangi valley road which are threatening it in case these burst and their waters came down swirling. Such lakes are considered unsafe as these contain a sufficient quantity of water for causing floods downstream. Rupturing of moraine dammed lakes can cause floods in the valleys.

The volume of the lake in the Gepang Gath glacier in the Chandra basin was estimated to be 4.86 million cubic metres in 1976 and it increased to 7.56 million cubic metres in 1990 and 8.46 million cubic metres in 1998.

Environmentalists have warned that the low lying areas might be devastated by flashfloods in case the process of melting of glaciers continued in the present manner.

The study indicates that the aerial size of the lake created by the Gepang Gath glacier was 0.27 sq. km in 1976 which increased to 0.47 sq. km in 1998.

Through remote sensing, 38 moraine dammed lakes have been mapped in the Beas and Sutlej basins, of which 14 are in the state.

Bursting of any of these lakes could cause significant damage to life, property and roads.

Scientists have suggested that in order to assess the hazards from these lakes, it is very important to study all these lakes in detail.

This will help in making the assessment of possible hazards and to suggest measures to avoid floods due to bursting of moraine dammed lakes.

The size of the lake near another glacier was 0.30 sq. km in 1972 and has now grown to 1.22 sq. km.

Another glacial lake on the Sissu Nullah was 0.27 sq. km in 1976 and it increased to 0.47 sq.km in 1998.

The recent flashflood in the Sutlej,which claimed about 170 lives,is feared to have been caused either due to a cloud burst or breach of lake in the upper reaches.

The Manali and Kulu areas suffered widespread damage due to a flashflood in the Beas and its tributaries a few years ago when the headquarters of the Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment (SASE), which predicts such disasters, was itself devastated.

 

 

Shocked due to the devastation caused by a flash flood in Leh, elderly women of the area in a rehabilitation camp.

2. A woman sits in distress.

3. A displaced man with prayer wheel in his hand sits outside a tent waiting for help.

Weak-kneed policy of India towards China

While China is busy grabbing Indian territory in the frontier region of Ladakh, the Indian government continues to pursue an open arm policy towards China in Punjab and other states where Chinese workers are undertaking various projects that would help their country's economic growth. The two Chinese workers of a thermal power project in the exclusive picture are seen relishing their traditional cuisine at Banawali in the Mansa district that is considered the backwaters of Punjab. 

Chinese were during the BJP regime assigned the job of constructing strategic roads in the areas of Himachal Pradesh adjoining the Chinese occupied region of Tibet. This helped the Chinese gather the ground level information regarding the road network in the region.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has described the 19 kms deep incursions by China in Ladakh as a local affair. Similarly, the then Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru had during the 1962 Chinese invasion tried to downplay the incident by saying that the Chinese have occupied our territory where not a single blade of grass grows.   

The British era letter box in Shimla

This is a British era letter box in Shimla (India). The top resembles the crown of the Queen.   

Sun clock at the Christ Church, Shimla

Not many visitors to Shimla are aware of the magnificent sun clock at the entrance of the residence of the pastor of the Christ Church at the Ridge. The clock showed accurate day and night time with the rays of sun and moon, more accurate than your wrist watch, till a few years ago when new constructions were strictly banned in the area. However, due to installation of high voltage street lights and constructions around, the sun and moon rays to the clock have got blocked but the piece of art continues to remind the old world charm to the visitors. This picture was shot by me in March 2013 when I re-visited Shimla after a couple of years.

My father Mr.BP Sharma with the First President of India Dr.Rajendera Prasad

Potala Palace of The Dalai Lama in Tibet

Walking encyclopedia of J&K

Walking encyclopedia

Does the J&K government have any respect for women? See in the photo a woman sharing the queue with truck and taxi drivers in the Regional Transport Office (RTO) at Jammu. No separate windows for women and senior citizens. Women and specially college going girls are put to embarrassment who visit the RTO daily in large numbers for driving licenses