Fresh vegetables grown in Poanta will now find their way to Gulf countries and metropolitan cities of India through Wal-Mart and Reliance chain of vegetable outlets. Himalaya Fresh, the brand that earlier signified frozen vegetables marketed by a Poanta-based entrepreneur, has now entered into a contract farming agreement with Poanta residents for vegetable production and its trading through international chains.

sea buckthorn, a shrub found in the cold desert regions of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir, is well-known as a storehouse of vitamins and for its cholesterol busting properties. The plant has been now been found to work wonders for the liver too. Its anti-oxidant rich leaves may ward off liver ailments

"Price rise' is not just an urban, big city phenomenon as some sections of the political class would like to claim. Inflation is burning a hole in pockets of residents of smaller towns across the country from Mandi in Himachal Pradesh to Ernakulum in Kerala.

No one cares as rivers turn toxic

With no let-up in pollution by ash let loose after burning rice husk by industrial boilers the State Pollution Control Board has served notices on 15 units in the Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh industrial area to switch over to alternative fuels like furnace oil, diesel or petrol for all boiler operations within a month. These units which comprise textile and paper mills have been directed to submit an action plan about switchover to an alternative fuel.