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HP Police Destroy Illegal Opium Cultivation in Mandi District

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Illegal Opium Cultivation Busted in Mandi District – 17,000 Plants Destroyed, Three FIRs Registered

MANDI: In a major crackdown on illegal drug cultivation, Himachal Pradesh Police busted a large-scale opium farming operation in the jurisdiction of Aut Police Station in Mandi district.

On April 28, police teams from Aut Police Station and Balichowki Police Post conducted routine patrols and raided the villages of Khuhan, Majaun, and Matla.

During the raid, illegal opium cultivation was discovered in Khuhan village, where police teams uprooted and destroyed approximately 17,000 opium plants on the spot.

In connection with the incident, three separate FIRs have been registered under Section 18 of the NDPS Act at Aut Police Station. A detailed investigation into the cases is currently underway.

The Himachal Pradesh Police reiterated its zero-tolerance policy towards drugs, vowing to continue strict action against any such illegal activities in the state.

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Spiti Travelers to Pay Eco-fee for Camping and Filming

Kaza (Spiti Valley): If you're planning a trip to the stunning but fragile terrain of Spiti, prepare to shell out a little more.

Acting on a directive from the Himachal Pradesh High Court, the administration has introduced new entry and activity fees for tourists visiting eco-sensitive zones of the valley.

From now on, camping, drone shoots, and film projects will come with a price tag. Officials say the move is meant to regulate unplanned tourism and protect the fragile alpine ecosystem of Spiti.

“All fees will be collected through an online portal for transparency,” said a district official. These funds will go toward waste management, conservation efforts, and local infrastructure.

The decision comes amid rising complaints about plastic waste, unsupervised camping, and disrespect toward local customs and biodiversity.

Travelers are advised to check official portals before planning stays in areas like Chandratal, Pin Valley, and Dhankar.

#EcoTourismSpiti #GreenHimachal #TouristRulesChange #ProtectHimalaya

News

Raja Ghepan Sounds Alarm in Lahaul-Spiti

Oracle Warning from King Ghepan’s Shrine Sends Chill Through Lahaul’s Sissu Nalla? 

SHIMLA/KEYLONG:

A deep silence fell over the Chandra valley today as an ancient ritual brought a message that’s shaken locals to the core.

You may ridicule the shaman, but believers trust him and follow him as they have been doing it over the centuries. 

In a rare and sacred oracle ceremony held at the shrine of Raja Ghepan—the revered deity of Lahaul’s Chandra valley—the divine message was clear: something ominous is looming over Sissu Nalla.

But what exactly it is, even the gods kept unsaid.

The oracle, interpreted through the region’s spiritual medium (locally known as Gur), didn’t reveal whether the impending danger would come as a natural disaster—like a Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF)—or in another form.

But it was enough to send a wave of fear and confusion through the nearby villages of Shashin and Gompathang, who have kept this centuries-old tradition alive.

 “Be alert, trouble is coming,” was the cryptic warning delivered during the divination ceremony, performed at a fixed sacred spot identified by the villagers, amid drums, trumpets, and age-old chants.

🌊 A Mountain’s Hidden Fury?

Interestingly, the warning aligns with growing scientific concerns about the formation of glacial lakes in the mountains above Sissu.

These lakes—fed by melting Himalayan glaciers—pose real risks of bursting and triggering flash floods downstream.

Experts have been warning of GLOFs across Himachal’s high-altitude terrain, and this divine prediction has stirred even more anxiety.

 “Is it a warning from nature itself, voiced through the gods?” asked an elder from Shashin, unsure whether to turn to scientists or shamans.

🛕 The Ritual – A Sacred Affair

The oracle ceremony—held only on auspicious days like Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays in June—was led by the Gur, the traditional priest, and the villagers from Shashin and Gompathang, who consider Raja Ghepan their guardian deity.

On this occasion, a decorated chariot symbolizing the deity is brought out.

The ritual begins with a procession to a designated spot outside the village where the oracle is sought.

The Gur, after invoking the divine presence, delivers the future message.

Today’s ceremony carried extra weight as the Tingla Gur, believed to be the voice of Ghepan’s commander, Achhi, spoke of destruction in Sissu Nalla and hinted at a spiritual journey in 2027 to a “big brother” named Jambhulu—a name symbolic in local mythology.

 “This isn’t just folklore. When Ghepan speaks, the valley listens,” said Himal Thakur, a villager who has seen the oracle come true in the past.

 What Comes Next?

Following the ceremony, villagers returned home with more questions than answers.

While the Gur recommended special rituals and sacrifices to ward off illness and misfortune, many residents are also hoping scientists and administration take a closer look at the growing risks around Sissu Nalla, especially with signs of unstable terrain and rising glacial water bodies.

This is not the first time an oracle from Raja Ghepan has hinted at troubling times.

But today’s message—vague yet weighty—has rekindled fears of nature’s unpredictable wrath in a region already on the edge.

#LahaulOracle #SissuWarning #ClimateChangeOrCurse #RajaGhepanSpeaks

News

Lions Club Shimla Installs Benches at Narkanda Ski Resort

Lions Club Installs Benches Near Narkanda Ski Slopes for Visitors' Comfort

NARKANDA, June 8 — In a thoughtful move aimed at improving visitor amenities, the Lions Club Shimla has installed benches near the popular skiing slopes of Narkanda.

The initiative, worth ₹45,000, comes in response to the lack of seating infrastructure around the site, which sees a steady footfall of tourists and locals alike throughout the year.

Speaking on the occasion, Lions Club President Lion Man Mohan Verma said, “We noticed many visitors struggling to find a place to sit and rest, especially the elderly and children. So, as part of our service motto ‘We Serve,’ we decided to act.”

The benches have been placed in and around the scenic slopes to offer people a comfortable place to pause and enjoy the natural beauty of the area.

The installation is part of the club’s ongoing efforts towards civic and social upliftment.

The event was attended by several Lions Club members including Lion O.P. Mehta (Vice President), Lion P.S. Panwar (Project Chairperson), Lion Gopal Vaid (Vice President), Lion D.K. Chauhan (Director), and Lion R.K. Jishtu.

Government officials such as BDO Narkanda Arvind Guleria and Panchayat Pradhan Rajesh Sharma also joined the inauguration.

Panchayat Pradhan Sharma appreciated the club’s contribution, calling it a “noble gesture” that would go a long way in improving the tourist experience and aiding the local community.

The Lions Club Shimla continues to work on similar civic, cultural, and social service projects under its 2025–26 vision.

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Sonia Gandhi's Surprise Visit Stuns Scientist at Shimla’s Himalayan Arboretum

Sonia Gandhi’s Surprise Visit Puts Shimla’s Potters Hill Arboretum on the Map

Shimla — A quiet afternoon at Potters Hill turned into a memorable one as veteran Congress leader Sonia Gandhi made a surprise visit to the  Western Himalayan Temperate Arboretum here at Summer Hill on Friday.

Her presence not only stunned those at the site but also gave a major boost to the visibility of this unique conservation project tucked away in the potters hills of Shimla.

Dr. Vaneet Jishtu, a senior scientist at ICFRE-Himalayan Forest Research Institute (HFRI) and a  figure behind the arboretum’s development, was caught completely off guard by her visit.

“I didn’t even know she was coming—she just stepped out of the car and said she had heard about the arboretum and wanted to see it herself,” he shared.

Mrs. Gandhi, known for her interest in environmental issues, walked through the scenic trails of the arboretum with Dr. Jishtu, taking keen interest in the native flora and conservation efforts underway.

She lauded the initiative and expressed her desire to visit again next year.

“It’s a remarkable effort to preserve our Himalayan heritage,” she reportedly said during her visit.

Smt Gandhi has been holidaying at her family home at Charabra in uphill of Shimla city. 

She was accompanied by Shri Suman Dubey, Trustee and Executive Member of the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, and his wife Mrs. Manjulika, a close friend of Mrs. Gandhi. Both are ardent nature lovers.

She had visited IGMC like a common citizen of Shimla and got some tests done and went back home after a while here yesterday. 

Since its inception  interest in the arboretum has been surging with locals and tourists alike enquiring about access and details of the site.

The Western Himalayan Temperate Arboretum has been developed by the Wildlife Wing of the Himachal Pradesh Forest Department with technical support from HFRI.

Home to more than 140 species of native trees from the western Himalayas, the arboretum serves as a living museum for rare and endangered flora, a research site for scientists, and an educational space for students and nature lovers.

Dr. Jishtu’s tireless work on the arboretum has already received national attention, and with this high-profile visit, the site is now gaining traction as a promising destination for nature tourism and ecological education in Himachal Pradesh.

But Dr Jishtu Deserves some bigger national honour for doing what no one has done before  for preserving the rare fast vanishing native flora of western Himalayas!

#HimalayanConservation #PottersHillArboretum #SoniaGandhiVisit #GreenHimachal

News

Crowd Tsunami and Garbage Avalanche: Time to Slap Green Tax on IPL, BCCI Matches, Rallies, Religious Congregations, Mass Tourism in India

Crowd Tsunami, Garbage Avalanche: Time to Slap a Green Tax on IPL, Rallies, and Mass Congregations in India's Fragile Hills and Cities

SHIMLA/CHANDIGARH:  June 7, 2025

When 11 young lives were crushed to death in a stampede at Bengaluru during the IPL trophy rally of Virat Kohli-led RCB, the nation gasped—for a moment.

But in a country used to shrugging off accountability, the question remains: Why do we let mass gatherings become mass graves, and garbage dumps?

How long we will continue to treat Cricket  as a Sacred Cow? 

It’s time Parliament steps in and says enough is enough.

We need a Green Tax Law—a direct legislative hit on every mega event that profits at the cost of public safety and environmental sanity.

That includes IPL, BCCI matches, political roadshows, religious melas, and tourism festivals—especially in fragile ecosystems like the Himalayas.

Crores in the Kitty, Nothing for Nature

It is mind-blowing. IPL 2023 alone saw brand value shoot past ₹92,500 crore. BCCI earned over ₹6,600 crore.

Let’s not forget what IPL has become today—a money-glorifying carnival, that does nothing for protect  Environment. 

See the price Tag a player carries and IPL Team owners pay for it to buy them in auction. Because they eye big money and make big money  in IPL.

Every bat swing, every stump, every podium where players speak—it all screams one word: money.

Look at the banners, LED hoardings, and ads held by fans, broadcast across stadium screens, TV, YouTube, mobile apps—it’s a tsunami of commercials.

The fans, players and team owners, IPL and BCCI seemed to have sold their souls to money. 

Small wonder why of the likes of Nita Ambani, Shah Rukh Khan,  Preity Zinta, Jayant Shah,   Shettis, and many more have jumped to the IPL bandwagon and BCCI.

They are all there for making  BIG money, Big hype and status that 'neoreligion' of Cricket gives them. 

And not even a  banner urges fans to protect the environment or keep the country clean.

Nothing about plastic pollution, nothing about climate crisis.

It’s money, money, money—on ground, in air, on screens, and in the shady underworld of satta bazaars and gaming dens backing it.

Shocking that we place so much faith in these cricketing icons, but none of them speak a word about the environmental devastation trailing their tournaments.

What did the rivers, the skies, the hills, or municipal bodies get from it? Zilch.

Cricket may be religion here, but it’s also a pollutant.

All highways are jammed by rallies, religious festivals. I stuck on the highway for six hours due to the recent religious congregations at Solan recently, says Maj Gen Atul Kaushik (Retd), whose NGO has been running cleaning expedions to Choorhdhar, Renuka Ji post religious Yatra and festivals.

It’s time BCCI and IPL paid environmental reparations. Let’s call it what it is—a green tax for crowd-induced pollution.

Look West: Europe’s Model of Responsible Entertainment

India doesn’t need to reinvent the wheel. Europe already taxes sports and tourism events with green logic:

UEFA and Bundesliga matches follow “Green Stadium Guidelines”. Stadiums are mandated to use renewable energy, zero single-use plastic, public transport tie-ups, and carbon offset programs.

Germany and France levy environmental taxes on clubs using large public venues, especially when hosting international events like Euro Cup.

The EU Green Deal encourages taxation of polluting sectors—including sports and tourism—under its “Polluter Pays Principle.”

Switzerland, during large ski and winter sports events, charges a per-visitor eco-fee which funds local waste and transport management.

Austria’s EcoEvent model makes it mandatory for organizers to submit environmental management plans before approvals.

Why can’t India follow?

Mountains Are Not Stadiums

Come to the hills. Recent religious gatherings in Solan and Renuka Ji saw thousands flooding narrow mountain roads, choking highways, jamming exits, and leaving behind a trail of plastic, diesel smoke, and noise.

A six-hour-long jam on the Shimla-Chandigarh highway left locals and patients stranded. For many patients it was fatal. The organizers have no accountability.

Take The Shimla Summer Festival. It  turned the Ridge—already fragile—into a DJ soundbox, while Kullu Dussehra is now a test of mountain patience, not just a festival.

Shimla SummetFest25

You can imagine what is happening to fragile ecosystems of mountains. 

It is estimated tourists generate 5 kg waste per head in just 4-5 days. Multiply that by 5 crore tourists and you get a disaster of Himalayan proportions.

Meanwhile, rivers like the Beas, Satluj, Ravi and Chenab are reduced to drainpipes near towns. Their tributaries are even worse. 

Who Will Clean This Up?

Let’s talk governance:

Municipal bodies play dead, wailing for funds but doing nothing.

State and Central Pollution Boards speak only the language of political convenience.

NGT is in deep slumber. No suo motu on stadium crowd emissions or IPL noise-pollution yet.

Perhaps they’re too busy watching matches in air-conditioned living rooms?

Election Commission issues cosmetic poll-time eco-notices but doesn’t have any enforceable environmental policy on rallies.

Supreme Court and High Courts? They’re more interested in cracking the whip on small-time farmers, hawkers, and shed owners in the name of encroachment in Himachal than tackling the mountains of plastic, untreated sewage, and carbon storms generated by cricket, crowds and campaigns and mass tourism in Himachal, Uttarakhand and Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir.

High Court of Himachal has fixed accountability to the panchayat level for trash management. But nit a single violator has been fined so far. 

“So-called environmental activism is now largely obsessed with removing struggling hill folk—while letting billion-rupee matches and melas go unchecked. It’s selective blindness,” ecologists add.

This Is Climate Crisis. Not Festival Season.

With temperatures spiking, air choking and rivers foaming, the writing is on the wall: Mass congregations = Climate Change Accelerants.

These super-spreader events of pollution must be taxed.

We’re not saying cancel festivals or stop spiritual yatras. We’re saying: fix a carrying capacity. Tax the violators, assert General Kaushik.

Let them pay the cost of climate damage. Tourism, political parties, and sports bodies must be liable for the carbon, trash, sewage, and noise they bring to fragile ecosystems.

What Should the Green Tax Law Include?

A per-match, per-event green tax on IPL, BCCI, political and religious bodies

Event-specific Environmental Management Plan (EMP) to be submitted

State-wise crowd capacity limits in hills

Mandatory trash and sewage audit reports post-event

Funds to go directly to local bodies for waste, recycling and water management

Strict penalties for exceeding ecological carrying capacity

Carbon emission tracking and offset payments for large events

Let us reclaim the mountains, not bury them under trash and carbon.

Let us make polluters pay, not let them drape their destruction in flags, bhajans or brand logos.

Enough tokenism. This is a call for climate justice.

#GreenTaxNow #IPLvsEnvironment #TrashTourismTruth #HillsCantBreathe #MakePollutersPay

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