P R A D E S H
Thursday, July 23, 1998
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H I M A C H A L P R A D E S H |
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Thursday, July 23, 1998 |
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Congress MLAs stage dharna in House SHIMLA, July 22 — The Speaker, Mr. Gulab Singh, adjourned the Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha for 30 minutes today amidst noisy scenes which were witnessed when the Congress members trooped into the well of the House demanding that the CLP leader, Mr Virbhadra Singh, should be allowed to clarify his position regarding payment of commission for raising loans during his regime... Mystery shrouds youth's death KANGRA, July 22 — The death of an 18-year-old youth under mysterious circumstances at Nandrul village near Purana Kangra yesterday and subsequently the cremation by his relatives without intimating the police has left the latter in a fix for want of an eyewitness and any other evidence... District Diary Regional potpourri |
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 More schools, less teachers, says minister SHIMLA, July 22 — As many as 4870 posts of lecturer, trained graduate teachers, classical and vernacular teachers have been lying vacant in middle, high and senior secondary schools of the state... Diploma engineers flay HPSEB decision on arrears SHIMLA, July 22 — The Himachal Pradesh Diploma Engineers Association has resented the decision of the state electricity board... |
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Congress MLAs stage dharna in House Tribune News Service SHIMLA, July 22 — The Speaker, Mr. Gulab Singh, adjourned the Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha for 30 minutes today amidst noisy scenes which were witnessed when the Congress members trooped into the well of the House demanding that the CLP leader, Mr Virbhadra Singh, should be allowed to clarify his position regarding payment of commission for raising loans during his regime. Pandemonium prevailed in the house as the Congress and the ruling BJP members traded charges and raised slogans against one other. The trouble started when the Speaker asked Mr Virbhadra Singh to clarify his position only after adopting proper procedure of giving a notice under the rules. Mr Virbhadra Singh wanted to clarify his position through a point of order following a detailed statement of the Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal, earlier in the house on the payment of commission to various private financial institutions for raising loans for the government when the Congress was in power. The Congress members insisted that there was no need for giving a notice as the statement of the Chief Minister was in continuity of his reply to a question on the issue on Monday. The Congress members walked into the well of the house when the Speaker asked the HVC leader, Mr Sukh Ram, to speak on the issue. Before staging the protest, Mr Virbhadra Singh pointed out that the Chief Minister’s statement was just a further clarification to his reply of Monday and he has confounded the matter by giving the lengthy and "irrelevant" statement. He said that Mr Dhumal was trying to wriggle out of the situation as he has been cornered on the issue following his earlier reply that no irregularities were conducted in raising of loans by the previous Congress government. Mr Virbhadra Singh accused the Chief Minister of trying to "mislead" the House and the people by reading such papers in his statement which had no connection with the issue. The Congress members were holding the dharna in the well of the House when the House was adjourned. The proceedings started normally after the lunch break when the Congress submitted a notice for their leader being allowed to speak and the Speaker accepted it. In his statement, Mr Dhumal announced that the government will hold an enquiry into payment of a huge amount of Rs 7.30 crores as commission for raising of loans which was a serious financial irregularity. He warned that anyone found responsible for this irregularity would not be spared. He said these loans were raised through the HPSEB and the Forest Corporation for which commission was paid.An interest of Rs 990 crore will have to be paid on these loans of Rs 914 crore by the year 2005.  |
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| More schools, less teachers,
says minister Tribune News Service SHIMLA, July 22 — As many as 4870 posts of lecturer, trained graduate teachers, classical and vernacular teachers have been lying vacant in middle, high and senior secondary schools of the state. Stating this during question hour in the Vidhan Sabha today Mr I.D. Dhiman, the Education Minister, admitted that the strength of teachers in 579 middle schools, 371 high schools and 256 senior secondary schools was not as per the laid down norms. There was a shortage of various categories of teachers. He said the large number of schools opened in 1997-98 made things worse. In all 4013 posts were required for the 359 middle schools, 174 high schools and 142 senior secondary schools opened during the year. He said at present 1954 posts of lecturer were vacant and the government planned to fill 870 of these. While 260 lecturers had already been appointed, requisition for recruitment of 327 lecturers had been sent to the state Public Service Commission. Similarly, process to fill 1196 posts of trained graduate teacher was on, written tests had been conducted by the Commission in respect of 460 posts and the remaining 796 posts were being filled departmentally. Of 1720 vacant posts of classical and vernacular teachers the half were being filled by the Commission. The government had not given permission to appoint teachers on the contract basis this year. Replying to another question Mr Dhiman told Mrs Asha Kumari that 594 posts of teacher were vacant in Chamba district. Mr Dhiman informed the House that the National Council for Teachers Education had not granted permission for the students admitted to the B.Ed course by Himachal Pradesh University in addition to sanctioned seats. He said the council took the step as the university had failed to fulfil the minimum requirement of staff and other facilities laid down by it. Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, the Chief Minister, told Mrs Viplove Thakur that ski slopes were being developed at Solang Nallah, Narkanda and Chanshal. He said a sum of Rs 46.14 lakh had already been spent in Solang Nallah and the government proposed to install a ski-lift at cost of Rs 5 crore. Replying to another question he informed Mr Praveen Sharma that 237 cases under the Prevention of Corruption Act were registered from January 1, 1994, to March 31, 1998, and prosecution sanction was granted in 21 cases. The government had withheld prosecution sanction in one case and no case was withdrawn. The Education Minister told Mr Chander Kumar that there was no move to introduce Punjabi in schools. Mr Krishan Kapoor informed the House that there was no proposal to increase bus fares in the state. In reply to a question of Mr Harsh Mahajan, Mr Roop Das, Chief Parliamentary Secretary said that 16 sites had been identified for building parking places in Shimla town. |
| Mystery shrouds youth's death From Our Correspondent KANGRA, July 22 — The death of an 18-year-old youth under mysterious circumstances at Nandrul village near Purana Kangra yesterday and subsequently the cremation by his relatives without intimating the police has left the latter in a fix for want of an eyewitness and any other evidence. The Additional SP, Mr Venugopal, described the death as suicide on the basis of lone witness Rajmal who informed the police about the death and subsequent cremation. The ASP said Dharam Chand (18) was first seen lying in a pool of blood by his mother Satya Devi. He had apparently shot himself as his father's gun was lying beside his body. The body was hurriedly cremated without intimating the police, the ASP said. He said even the village pradhan did not inform the police about this unnatural death. The police detained Satya Devi under the Arms Act as the gun was recovered by the police on her instance. The gun belonged to her husband who had died a few years back. Mr Venugopal said close relatives of Dharam Chand were being booked for not intimating the police and disposing of the body without a post- mortem examination. Eyebrows were being raised about the death and destruction of evidence. Dharam Chand owned agricultural land and was working as a labourer. Villagers were tight-lipped about the incident but some sources did not rule out the possibility of this being done to death. Police parties have rushed to the village and are investigating the case. The police seems to be helpless as no one was coming forward as a witness. Besides, the body was cremated without an autopsy. Mr Venugopal said the police was trying to collect the ashes which would be sent for forensic examination. The rains had almost washed away the ashes from the cremation ground, villagers said. |
| Diploma engineers flay HPSEB decision on arrears Tribune News Service SHIMLA, July 22 — The Himachal Pradesh Diploma Engineers Association has resented the decision of the state electricity board to withhold the arrears of revised pay scales of diploma engineers by seeking clarifications on irrelevant issues. Mr R.L. Justa, general secretary of the association expressed surprise that the Chief Accounts Officer was raising objections on the issue already settled by the high court verdict on the petition filed by the association. As per the notification of the board, the arrears on account of pay revision with effect from January, 1996, were to be paid along with the salary for the month of June. However, the payment has been withheld, the diploma engineers had availed themselves of the time scale under which higher scales are granted after nine and 16 years of service as per the judgement of the high court. He said there was no justification for withholding the arrears for two years. The high court order could not be set aside by issuing a clarification or an executive order at this stage as the employees had already availed themselves of the financial benefits. The association demanded immediate reversion of the Chief Accounts Officer, who was misleading the board. |
District
Diary |
| Regional potpourri Where stench keeps tourists away Kufri and other tourist places near Shimla are thronged by tourists these days. Thousands of tourists come from the plains with a picture of cool and pollution-free hill stations in their mind. But instead they find these places unclean, polluted, overcrowded, and stinking at every nook and corner. Places of tourist interest like Naldehra, Mashobra, Kufri and Chail are no longer clean and hygienic. Haphazard construction of hotels and private buildings, many of them multi-storeyed, has blocked scenic views. Hundreds of vehicles ply on these roads daily. There is different type of overcrowding at Kufri: a large number of ponies have mushroomed with their owners offering day-long treks and joy-rides. About a 1-km stretch is littered with pony dung, emitting such a stench that it is almost impossible to cross the road to Chail. Unrestricted movement of these animals results in traffic jams and chaos. According to an estimate, there are about 300 ponies and horses in Kufri, coming for business daily(see photo). "Horse riding is good, but it is difficult to breathe here, as the whole track is littered with dung", says Abhijit, a tourist from Gujarat. Pony owners charge a flat rate of Rs 160 for an uphill ride, which is exorbitant, most tourists feel. But half of this is taken by the taxi drivers who bring these tourists to Kufri, complain pony owners. No government agency controls pony traffic, it appears. "The Forest and Wildlife Department is only interested in collecting the annual registration tax from us, they never arrange for someone to clear this area", says a pony owner from Theog. The pony business provides employment to many youths of the area. "A pony costs about Rs 25,000 and we bring them from as far as Kinnaur and Lahaul & Spiti. The government can at least build rain shelters and provide drinking water and remove animal excretions", they say. With the ever-increasing flow of tourists, most of these pony owners, who make profits now, are ready to pay taxes. Rules are needed to regulate their trade. The Forest Department maintains a nature park and a zoo at Kufri. With very few animals and very little to offer, the tourist is in for frustration. Barring marvellous forest and mountain views on the way back to Shimla, where most of the tourists halt before leaving for home, the government treats tourists with total disregard. "It is expected from the Tourism Department and local administration to regulate the pony traffic at Kufri and clean up the road to Chail", say shop-owners whose business is suffering because of the pony stench. Undeterred by lack of recognition Amateur researcher, Amrik Singh Kohli, who has devised half a dozen cost-effective appliances for various uses in foodgrain storage is a disillusioned man today. But he says he would carry on work making better inventions. An Assistant Manager (Quality Control) of the Food Corporation of India at Sahnewal, Mr Kohli has still to get recognition for his work from the government. For the past two decades that he has been working on such appliances and has not received a single letter of appreciation, leave alone any kind of grant from the government. Mr Kohli (53) claims that his case has been recommended to the higher FCI authorities, but "somehow has been blocked at the top". He has also not got any promotion for the past 22 years. In his latest work, the FCI manager has devised a grain sample divider which costs just Rs 400 as against the bulkier one in the market, which costs Rs 4500. The size of the divider is 15 by 10 inches with a thickness and 2.5 inches. It weighs one kilogram and can be used for other purposes like analysis and samples. Two years ago, Mr Kohli came out with a novel bait for rats comprising rice grains, wheat flour, sugar, mustard oil and zinc phosphide, costing a mere Rs 5, to check the gross wastage of foodgrains by rodents particularly in godowns. This fact has already met with 99 per cent success in tests, claims the researcher. "In spite of appreciating the success attained in the experimental stages, the government apathy towards introduction of the bail has put him off. All my innovations have been self-financed and it is not possible for me to deposit Rs 50,000 with the government as fee for obtaining patents," he points out. In 1994, he designed a digital caliper to assess the quality of rice and distinguish between fine and super fine varieties. The caliper, weighing 150 gm, gives the reading up to the second digit and even a layman can use it. Recognising his contribution, Mr S. Zaki-ud-din Ali, head of the Grain Science and Technology at the Mysore-based Central Food Technological Research Institute, described the caliper as a useful unit. He had designed a siren-fitted torch in 1984 which cost Rs 125. In 1975, he had also designed a manually operated appliance costing Rs 25 for fumigating rat burrows by putting tablets in 4 feet deep burrows. He had also designed a rat trap which could trap more than one rat at a time and then the trap was filled with water, resulting in killing of several rats by drowning. (Contributed by Kanwar Yogendra, Ruchika Mohindra and Kavita Suri) |
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