Shimla, May 17: The state will import new and healthy genetic strains of trout from countries like Norway and Hungary with advice from experts at the Directorate of Cold Water Fisheries at Nainital

The state Wildlife Department will get a fresh population estimation of leopards, snow leopards and monkeys done with the help of experts who will suggest ways and means to reduce man-animal conflict resulting in increased attacks by wild animals.

Experts from an NGO headed by Vidya Athreya, a wildlife biologist, will hold a meeting with the officials of the Wildlife Department here on May 20 to work out a strategy for reducing the increasing man-animal conflict. There is also a proposal to undertake radio-collaring of at least six leopards which will help in analysing their behaviour and tracking their movement.

Keen to take advantage of the decision of the United Progressive Alliance regime to allow foreign direct investment (FDI) in the housing sector, the state government plans to set up satellite towns

An earthquake rocked the Kangra valley at 5:51 pm today. It measured 3.6 on the Richter scale and lasted five seconds. Its epicentre was in the Kangra mountains.

Parts of North India received heavy rain which claimed 18 lives in Uttar Pradesh in the past 24 hours even as a cloudburst washed away many shops and vehicles in Himachal Pradesh.

Ten persons died in Gorakhpur followed by three each in Lakhimpur and Amethi and two in Basti in mishaps like wall collapse. Rain and thundershowers are likely at a few places in the next 24 hours, said the weatherman.

The decision of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) to bring in mandatory certification of steel and steel products has left small and medium business outfits engaged in steel re-rolling and induction furnaces in Punjab under stress.

The guideline was implemented from September 12 and all units have to conform to the new norms within 45 days. According to the BIS guidelines, all manufacturers, foreign and domestic, are disallowed to manufacture, import, store for sale or distribute steel and steel products that do not conform with the standards and which do not bear the standard ISI mark of BIS, which is allowed upon being granted a certification marks licence.

Mandi: A number of roads in areas around Mandi town remained closed for hours due to landslides, triggered by rain, in the last 24 hours.

In a new initiative, residents here have demanded that Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) should set up a small dam downstream on the Beas to revive “local ecology and ancient bathing ghats which

Sundernagar: KK Ohja, Additional General Manager (AGM), Kol Dam Hydropower project, said with the kind cooperation of the state government and residents living in the vicinity of 800-MW Kol Dam, th

MANALI: Fresh snow has blocked highways and snapped power in many areas of Kullu, Mandi and Lahaul & Spiti districts.