Traffic hit as road sinks
DHARAMSALA, Aug 16 — The road leading to McLeodganj, the only link to the headquarters of the Tibetan government-in-exile, is sinking due to haphazard construction and soil erosion.

Economic freedom needed: Rama Devi
SHIMLA, Aug 16 — Himachal Pradesh Governor V.S. Rama Devi has asked the youth to dedicate themselves towards the emancipation of society from the shackles of poverty, corruption, superstitions and other social evils and attainment of economic independence.

CBI probe against Virbhadra soon
HAMIRPUR, August 16 — The Chief Minister, Prof Prem Kumar Dhumal, said here last evening that allegations levelled against a former Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh by leaders of the Himachal Vikas Congress would be handed over to the CBI shortly for the thorough probe. He, however, did not specify the exact date for this purpose.

Labourer burnt to death
DHARAMSALA, Aug 16 — A Bihari labourer Basanti, was burnt to death and her husband, Kartik, received serious burns, at Paprola, near Baijnath yesterday.

Farmers plan stir against BBMB
SUNDERNAGAR, Aug 16 — The Silt Hatao Sangharsh Samiti has demanded that BBMB stop dumping silt into Suket Khud from its balancing reservoir immediately.

Traffic hit as road sinks
Tribune News Service

DHARAMSALA, Aug 16 — The road leading to McLeodganj, the only link to the headquarters of the Tibetan government-in-exile, is sinking due to haphazard construction and soil erosion.

Traffic has been affected. Passengers are being off-loaded near the Deputy Commissioner's residence, where the road has sunk about 12 meters. If the sinking does not stop, traffic to McLeodganj and the cantonment will come to a standstill. The road is on the verge of collapse at a number of places on the 9 km stretch.

A scientist from the Wadia Institute of Seismology, Mr Amrish Mahajan, has warned the authorities that the minimum load should be put on the road and repair work be taken up immediately. As such, buses and trucks are being off-loaded and empty vehicles are being plied.

To add to the problem, the Army authorities dug a pond right at the base of the hill. As a result, the road above has sunk. Interestingly, this job was undertaken by the Army during "haryali week", aimed at protecting the environment.

The Army authorities dug the pond despite objections by the PWD. The Executive Engineer, PWD, said the Army never consulted the department before starting work on the pond. "I have written to them asking them to at least take measures to prevent further damage", he said. The Army authorities, on the other hand, claim that no damage has been caused by digging of the pond.

Perhaps it is the district administration itself which is to be blamed for the crisis. Despite repeated warnings by the Wadia Institute of Seismology to keep a check on indiscriminate construction activity in the ecologically fragile area of McLeodganj, nobody bothered to regulate it. As a result of the excessive load of multistoreyed buildings, landslides are being triggered. It is for this reason that the administration had to impose a ban on fresh construction activity in the Khajanchi Mohalla and Gamru areas.

Mr Mahajan says further landslides will be triggered by rain, which could even pose a threat to houses near the Deputy Commissioner's residence. Last year the Army authorities had complained to the district administration that as a result of indiscriminate construction activity, some houses had developed cracks.

The Chamba, Mandi, Sundernagar, Kangra and Kinnaur areas comprise the most active earthquake zone in the Himalayan seismic belt. Apart from McLeodganj, there is no check on construction activity in the Naddi and Bhagsu Nag areas, which fall outside the planning limits. Seismologists have warned that high-rise buildings could spell down even in the case of a mild tremor.

Economic freedom needed: Rama Devi

SHIMLA, Aug 16 (UNI) — Himachal Pradesh Governor V.S. Rama Devi has asked the youth to dedicate themselves towards the emancipation of society from the shackles of poverty, corruption, superstitions and other social evils and attainment of economic independence.

She was the chief guest at the valedictory function of the golden jubilee of independence organised by the Song and Drama Division under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting here last evening.

Stressing the need for preserving and strengthening the hard earned freedom, she said political freedom was meaningless without socio-economic independence and all efforts and endeavours should be aimed in this direction with the same zeal, zest and commitment as had been the ethos of freedom movement.

She paid tributes to martyrs and freedom fighters, who sacrificed their lives for the freedom of the nation.

The Governor said the nation was passing through a tough phase and freedom fighters might be feeling anguished over the present state of affairs. She hoped that the Indian people with their strength of oneness and patriotism would overcome the situation.

Ms Rama Devi asked the people to work unitedly for realising the cherished dreams of freedom fighters and make them happy. "Sincere and sustained efforts need to be made to tide over the moral and character crisis that society faces today,’’ she added.

Expressing concern over the Chamba massacre,the Governor said such incidents were tragic and deplorable. Strict vigil and effective measures need be taken to prevent recurrence of such incidents in future, she added.

She said that immediate task before the state was to repair and restore its image as a placid place and repose faith and confidence among its people especially those dwelling in areas bordering Jammu and Kashmir.

She honoured freedom fighter Sita Ram Sharma on the occasion and presented a Himachali cap and shawl to him.

CBI probe against Virbhadra soon
From Our Correspondent

HAMIRPUR, August 16 — The Chief Minister, Prof Prem Kumar Dhumal, said here last evening that allegations levelled against a former Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh by leaders of the Himachal Vikas Congress would be handed over to the CBI shortly for the thorough probe. He, however, did not specify the exact date for this purpose.

Talking to mediapersons here last evening during the "At home" organised by the district administration he expressed the hope that the BJP-HVC government in the state would complete its full term. He said that the statement of the HP Congress President, Mr Sat Mahajan, that this government was running on borrowed time was nothing but to side-track the issue of infighting in the Congress Party. He said the HVC supremo, Mr Sukh Ram, and he were working in unison for taking the state forward in every sphere of development. He asked Mr Mahajan to keep his house in order rather than making false statements to remain in lime light.

The Chief Minister ruled out immediate Cabinet expansion.

Prof Dhumal assailed the previous Congress government for the Chamba massacre. He said, "had the previous Congress government not withdrawn the ITBP and IRB personnel from interiors of Chamba district, the recent mishappenings could have been avoided. "The Chief Minister said he had ordered redeployment of ITBP jawans and the IRB in the Chamba district to maintain a round the clock vigil there. He said more funds were still needed to fight the militants and to maintain law and order in whole state.

The Chief Minister refused to say anything whether he was going to change the present Director-General of Police. The Chief Minister justified transfers of government employees in the state. He said the previous Congress government had done injustice to thousands of employees and officers and the present government was only providing them justice.

He hit out at the hoarders and blackmarketeers for trying to hold poor people to ransom. He said that strict steps be taken against such persons.

Prof Dhumal denied any plan to create more districts or sub-divisions in the state. He also said that there was no move to shift the state capital from Shimla to any other part of the state.

Khajjiar lacks facilities
From Balkrishan Prashar

CHAMBA: Residents of Kidi segment which forms a part of about nine panchayats falling in Bharmour tribal assembly constituency have expressed resentment against the state government over the step-motherly treatment being meted out to them with regard to the economic development of their area.

According to a complaint made by the residents, they have taken up the issue with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) requesting it to deal with this situation judiciously and shake up the state government from its deep slumber.

Residents allege that geographically their belt is cut off from the Bharmour tribal assembly segment and they are being exploited as 'vote bank' without giving them tribal status as their area is devoid of all benefits on a par with other tribal areas in the state. It is an indifferent treatment being meted out to these residents of nine panchayats. The development is in the name only.

They point out that the area is far from the district headquarter town of Chamba where people are living in utter neglect. They have small land holdings and are without any employment.

There is no dispensary in the area. There are a few primary schools with hardly one high school and are understaffed. In middle class all 36 students who appeared in the examination failed. The streams are without bridges. There is an acute scarcity of edible commodities. The departments like agriculture, horticulture and animal husbandary hardly take any interest in their fields of development.

This belt is replete with picturesque landscape and full of tourism potential but the Department of Tourism has failed to achieve much in this regard.

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The famous scenic hill resort of Khajjiar is going without necessary facilities for a long time and the tourists hailing from home and abroad experience many problems.

The Khajjiar hill resort till now has neither a bank, nor a primary health centre, nor a police post nor a filling station causing great inconvenience to the tourists visiting the resort.

The resort is 24 km from Dalhousie and also 24 km from Chamba, and in case of any mishap or illness, the tourists are left in the lurch. Even there is no auto centre for the repair of vehicles. The road from Khajjiar to Chamba is in deplorable condition which being landslip-prone remains blocked even during a small spell of rain.

To give much-needed fillip to tourism the state government should open a bank, a police post and permit some private entrepreneurs to set up a filling station for tourists. Even the famous Dalhousie hill station is without a filling station so far.

According to the Deputy Commissioner of Chamba, Mr Tarun Kapoor, about five lakh tourists usually visit this resort every year.

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A deputation of residents of Pangi tribal subdivision recently met Mr Shanta Kumar, Member of Parliament from Kangra, and requested him to get the funds allocated from the Centre for the construction of road linking Pangi valley via Saach Pass with the district headquarter town of Chamba.

They have explained to Mr Shanta Kumar that Chamba-Killar via Saach Pass would be the only lifeline which could solve the problems of the residents of Pangi.

Mr Shanta Kumar assured the deputationists that their long cherished dream would be fulfilled in the near future and he would take up the issue with the Centre so that Chamba town could be linked with Killar via Saach Pass by digging a tunnel beneath the pass.

HP gets its first fashion school
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Aug 16 — A dazzling fashion show, featuring top models of the country, marked the opening of the first centre of the National Institution of Fashion and Design in Himachal Pradesh here today.

The institute will enable young boys and girls aspiring to carve out a niche for themselves in the fast-growing fashion industry and show business, to undertake the relevant professional courses.

Addressing a press conference, Mr Pallav Kumar, the host for today's show, said the cent re would offer-one year and two-year diploma courses in interior decoration and fashion and textile designing.

It is the 43rd cent re of NIFD in the country and the institution is all set to set up its first branch outside the country — at Kathmandu.

Ten top models including Shweta Menon, who has also featured in some films, Karminder, Ayesha Prem, Swareen, Jaspreet, Mrinalini, Seitu and Anchal and Vicky, the only male model, graced the ramp at the fashion show entitled "Face-to-Face" held at the Himachal University Auditorium.

The show, choreographed by Jeet Brar, displayed 200 garments designed by the students of NIFD.

Labourer burnt to death
Tribune News Service

DHARAMSALA, Aug 16 — A Bihari labourer Basanti, was burnt to death and her husband, Kartik, received serious burns, at Paprola, near Baijnath yesterday.

According to the police, the mishap took place when Basanti's (22) clothes caught fire, while she was cooking. Her husband, Kartik (24) also received severe burns, while trying to save her. Both of them had been working as labourers at the Navodya School, Paprola.

Farmers plan stir against BBMB
From Our Correspondent

SUNDERNAGAR, Aug 16 — The Silt Hatao Sangharsh Samiti has demanded that BBMB stop dumping silt into Suket Khud from its balancing reservoir immediately. Mr Om Parkash Sharma, president of the samiti , while addressing a press conference here said 10,000 farmers of Balh valley would no longer tolerate the dumping of silt, which had been continuing for the past 20 years and had led to the drying up of water sources in the valley.

He said the samiti would organise a dharna at the Chief Engineer, BBMB's office on August 25.

In a related development , the Punjab Government wants to operate more hydro-electric projects with its HP counterpart. This was stated here by Mr M.M. Mittal, Food and Civil Supplies Minister, Punjab while addressing a press conference at Suket Sadan here today.

He said that past experience in this field was encouraging and now that the BJP was in power both states and the centre also, it was easier to plan such projects.