Vrinda Sharma SOLAN: Mushroom farming in Solan district of Himachal Pradesh has revived the fortunes of locals in a big way over the past few years. With the initial investment as low as Rs.5,000 and a profit of Rs.20 to Rs.50 on every kg of mushroom, the lucrative returns have motivated many farmers to take to mushroom farming along with their standard cultivation. Over 40 families in Solan are involved in mushroom farming. The credit for this transition goes to the National Research Centre for Mushroom (NRCM) here which provides quality seeds and training to farmers.

The Himachal Pradesh government today cleared nine new industrial projects, bringing in additional investment of nearly Rs 1,095 crore in the state, which will mostly be concentrated in the industrial belts of Solan, Sirmaur and Una districts. The proposals were cleared at a meeting of the state-level single window clearance and monitoring authority, held here this afternoon. Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, who is also chairman of the authority, and also holds industrial charge, presided over the meeting.

A Young girl died while 12 others were taken ill after outbreak of gastroenteritis in Basal village near Solan, last night. Out of 12 patients suffering from diarrhoea, Darshan Singh and Mohit were admitted to the Primary Health Centre at Dharampur, while eight patients were given treatment at the village by a team of doctors led by Medical Officer Dr S.P. Singh.

Solan: Alert villagers today helped save the life of a female leopard trapped by poachers in Badah village near Kasauli. Sources in the forest department revealed that the leopard was first noticed by some villagers after they heard roars of the animal in the morning. They immediately informed the forest officials, who seung into action. The trap was laid by some unknown poachers in the field of one Amar Singh, a farmer in Badah village.

CADILLAC IN AUTORACE: Traditional American luxury automaker Cadillac will compete in the grueling 24-hour Le Mans auto race in June 2000. Cadillac officials, who disclosed

Following The Indian Express report, building of Pinjore road put on hold, debris disposal gets priority

The Himachal Pradesh Pollution Control Board (HPPCB) has asked the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to immediately stop work on the Pinjore-Shimla highway.