In Brief

Virbhadra announces relief for fire victims
Union Minister for Steel Virbhadra Singh announced relief for over 50 families whose houses were reduced to ashes in a devastating fire at Jawaghi village in Anni subdivision of Kullu district early on Saturday. During his visit to Nirmand in Kullu on Sunday,Virbhadra said all houses that were gutted would be provided GI-sheets for roofs free of cost. The minister also announced a help of Rs 50,000 each for the 26 worst-hit families and Rs 25,000 each for 15 partially-affected families. The minister was in Nirmand to attend the Shanti Devi Memorial Volleyball Tournament.

‘Need to bring more area under pulses‘
In view of the increasing prices of pulses,agriculture scientists have emphasised on the need to increase the area under cultivation of pulses in North India. Assistant Director General,Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR),Dr V D Patil said the total area under major Kharif pulses like moong,urad,lathyrus,lentils and pigeon pea had increased in the southern states and was on the decline in north. “The Government of India has planned to revive its cultivation in North India,for which new research is being carried out,” said Dr Patil. He was talking to scientists during a workshop on Kharif crops at Chaudhary Sravan Kumar Agriculture University,Palampur. Agriculture economists said even though the prices of pulses were on the rise,farmers were not getting good returns,which they termed as a major cause for the fall in the production.

CLP leader Vidya Stokes injured
Congress Legislature Party leader Vidya Stokes landed at the emergency of the Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital in Shimla with an injured right ankle on Sunday. The soft tissue injury is reported to be about a week old,sustained while getting on to a helicopter during the visit of Union Minister for Commerce Anand Sharma to Shimla. After the injury,Stokes had gone to Kuala Lumpur in connection with a hockey event — she is the chairperson of Indian Women’s Hockey Federation. On her return,she reported swelling and discomfort in the foot and leg. The doctors have ruled out any bone injury. Sources said Stokes,who has a busy schedule ahead,avoided getting a plaster,as suggested by doctors as a precaution,and was given soft bandage and medicines.