P R A D E S H
Thursday, October 8, 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, October 8, 1998 |
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spotlight today's calendar |
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'Behind-the-scenes'
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 Mega tourism project okayed for
Bilaspur Remove
anomalies:docs |
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Dhumal's plea to realign
highway Train
passengers stranded Chamba
DC appointed |
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More steps to end proxy war: Advani KULU, Oct 7 (UNI,PTI) — Union Home Minister L.K. Advani today said efforts would be stepped up to quell the proxy war being waged by Pakistan against India and reiterated that India had the sufficient strength and capability to face the challenge from across the border. "The menace has its genesis backing to the late Pakistan President Zia-ul-Haq’s days but the earlier governments (at New Delhi) did not initiate convincing steps to curb it,’’ he noted, claiming that the current situation in the border belts had thereby aggravated. Mr Advani was addressing as chief guest at the concluding session of the weeklong Kulu Dasehra festival here. The minister claimed that the ongoing proxy war was a reflection of Islamabad’s frustration over its defeat in the two wars with India. "But we will not tolerate it at any cost,’’ he cautioned. Mr Advani said India would not make any compromise on the country’s security. He claimed that terrorism in Kashmir had been contained to a large extent since the assumption of the Vajpayee government. The minister said the recent Pokhran explosions exhibited the will of the government to strengthen the security of the country. "It has raised the pride of India among other nations. The event will be noted in the history of the nation as a memorable one,’’ he observed. Mr Advani said the BJP had gone to the people during the Lok Sabha poll on the promise of good governance for which internal and external security was essential and the government was committed to ensure this. He said security had been beefed up in Jammu and Kashmir and adjoining Himachal areas and claimed that terrorism had been contained to a great extent during the past seven months. He assured the Himachal Government that he would personally take up the demands of the state regarding development of hydel power, special financial assistance and the sewerage system for Manali as desired by Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal. Mr Advani said the Kulu Dasehra was one of the most important festivals of northern India, comparable only with the famous Dasehra of Mysore in the South. It was a unique example of rich cultural heritage of Kulu. He released a souvenir on the occasion and attended the International Folk Dance Festival. Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Dhumal thanked the Home Minister for giving adequate help to Himachal for checking terrorism. He sought central assistance for the Manali sewerage scheme. The Chief Minister said the state government had already sanctioned Rs 40 lakh for the same. Work on the 126 mw Larji hydel project had been expedited and Rs 90 crore earmarked for it during the current financial year. The government had made adequate arrangements for the marketing and transportation of fruit this year. As many as 1.65 crore apple boxes had been sent to different markets of the country so far, while the HPMC had procured 52,000 metric tonnes of apple. Former Chief Minister Shanta Kumar urged the Centre to help the state in speedy exploitation of its immense hydel potential. Kulu Dasehra Committee chairman Maheshwar Singh said 170 deities from various parts of the valley participated in the festival. The festival concluded
with a colourful "rath yatra" to take back the
idol of Lord Rama to the sanctum sanctorum at
Raghunathpur. |
'Behind-the-scenes' pacts crucial DHARAMSALA, Oct 7 — Rather than party affiliations, it could be personal equation of leaders with various sections which could play a crucial role in the Baijnath byelection. The BJP-HVC combine has yet to arrive at a consensus as to who will fight the Baijnath seat. However, the "behind-the-scenes" understanding between leaders of various political parties, may be the deciding factor. A clear picture has not emerged as the main parties are in the process of finalising their candidates. While there is a long list of aspirants in the Congress, the main tussle in the BJP is between claimants of the Shanta Kumar and Dhumal groups. While there is a possibility of undercutting of votes in the Congress, the situation in the BJP could turn out to be even more interesting. The main contender for the BJP ticket is a former MLA, Mr Dulo Ram. He is a staunch supporter of Mr Shanta Kumar. He had lost the last assembly election to the Congress stalwart, Mr Sant Ram, by a slender margin of 800 votes. Another aspirant for the BJP ticket, Ms Indu Goswami, appears confident of getting the ticket. Not only does she have the blessings of the Chief Minister, but is learnt to have "good links" with those close to the high command. It is said in case Mr Dulo Ram is denied the ticket, he may jump into the fray as an Independent. One of his staunch supporters said: Internally he will have the whole-hearted support of his mentor, Mr Shanta Kumar. Compelled by circumstances, the HVC chief, Mr Sukh Ram, may also support him". Political analysts point out that since it suits both Mr Shanta Kumar and Mr Sukh Ram to see the official BJP candidate lose, they may put all their efforts to ensure Mr Dulo Ram emerges victorious. As has been the case in Jwalamukhi, from where the IPH Minister, Mr Ramesh Chaudhary; won as an Independent after having been denied the BJP ticket, Mr Dulo Ram could also win as an Independent and Mr Shanta Kumar once again prove that he is supreme in Kangra. Mr Sukh Ram, compelled by circumstances, may give up the seat in favour of the BJP, but he would like to see the BJP candidate lose so that once again the Dhumal government is at his mercy for remaining in power. It is no secret that both Mr Shanta Kumar and Mr Sukh Ram have shared "cordial relations" in the past and have been guided by a common motive. They could join hands now. While in the BJP the main fight for the ticket is between Mr Dulo Ram and Ms Indu Goswami, the list of claimants in the Congress is long. Though the names of the wife and son of the late Sant Ram are being considered as possible candidates, it is reliably learnt that his wife is reluctant to plunge into politics. It is felt that as compared to his son, Mr Sudhir Sharma, she will have to face less opposition from within the party cadre. Murmurs of revolt against one family being given the ticket for so long are already audible. It is learnt that 16 persons have staked their claim for the party ticket before the PCC president, Mr Sat Mahajan. Mr Mahajan, along with the DCC president, Mr B.B.L. Butail, visited Baijnath and shortlisted the number of claimants to five, among them are three Rajput leaders. The HVC leader, Mr Kishori
Lal's role will be crucial. Having remained a loyalist of
Mr Sant Ram for a very long time, he contested the last
elections on the HVC ticket and polled 5000, votes. His
supporters do not rule out the possibility of his going
back to the Congress. |
Remove anomalies, say doctors MANDI, Oct 7 — The central executive committee of the Himachal Pradesh Medical Officers Association, which met here today, called upon the state government and the government of Punjab to take suitable steps for removing the anomalies in the recently notified new pay scales. The Punjab pay scales apply to H.P. Talking to mediapersons, President of the Himachal Pradesh Medical Officers Association, Mr Sukh Ram Chauhan, said the biggest flaw in the revised pay scales was that those with 14 years of service and 24 years service were being given the same pay scales. Consequently, after 14 years of service senior doctors would be stagnating. The association has resolved that after 14 years of service doctors should be given increment every year. The association, by another resolution, has demanded special increment for the postgraduate doctors. It has further demanded that the ad hoc doctors should be treated as regular for the purpose of revised pay scales after completion of two months' service. The central executive committee has taken exception to attaching only Dharamsala based postgraduate doctors with Medical College, Tanda, and urged the state government to include doctors from all over the state. The association has also demanded that it should also be associated while formulating essential drug policy. It called upon the government to make a rational transfer policy in such a way that the study session of children was not upset and doctors were not made rolling stones on political considerations. It expressed concern that
posts of CMOs and Joint Directors at Shimla, Dharamsala,
Solan and Hamirpur were lying vacant. It supported the
demands of paramedical staff which was under stagnating. |
K. Sanjay Murthy is Chamba DC SHIMLA, Oct 7 — The Himachal Pradesh Government has appointed Mr K. Sanjay Murthy as Deputy Commissioner of Chamba. He replaces Mr Tarun Kapoor, who has been appointed Director, Vigilance-cum-Special Secretary, Home. Mr Rajmani Tripathi, Managing Director, H.P. State Small Scale Industries and Export Corporation, will hold the additional charge of Director, H.P. Small Savings. Mr Ajay Tyagi, Director, Vigilance-cum-Special Secretary, Home, has been appointed Special Secretary, Science and Technology, MPP and Power and Finance Commission. He will also hold the charge of Chief Executive Officer, Himurja. Mr R.L. Bisotra, Director, Social Welfare, has been posted as Director, Land Records and Consolidation of Holdings, in place of Mr N.C. Sud, who has been posted Managing Director-General, Industries Corporation. Mr Sanjeev Gupta, Special Secretary, PWD and IPH, will hold the additional charge of Director, Prosecution. Mr S.K.B. S. Negi, Director, Youth Services and Sports, has been appointed, Director, Social Welfare. Mr Puran Chand Kashyap, Settlement Officer, Kangra, has been appointed, Additional Director, Industries, in place of Mr K. Sanjay Murthy.
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Mega tourism project okayed for
Bilaspur BILASPUR, Oct 7 — A mega tourism development project has been sanctioned for Bilaspur district. The Deputy Commissioner has been directed to select a suitable site for the project. Addressing mediapersons here yesterday, the president of the state unit of the BJP and MP Suresh Chandel said since this project would be directly connected with adventure tourism, the Deputy Commissioner had been asked to find out if it could be implemented at the nearby hill of Bandla or another hill at Bahadurpur, near Namhole, about 25 km from here. Mr Chandel said a ropeway would be made and facilities for paragliding, parasailing, rock climbing and hiking would be provided so that tourists from the nearby states of Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan and Jammu and Kashmir flock to this tourist centre. Mr Chandel said a proposal was under consideration to see if the water level of Gobind Sagar could be made stationary at a particular level, thus forming a lake, so that tourists can enjoy this facility at Bilaspur all the year round. He said the ACC cement factory at Barmana near here had agreed to construct a wall at Lunhu here for a man-made lake on the banks of Gobind Sagar to attract tourists when the water level goes down. Mr Chandel said the Berri Nagaon road had been brought under the NABARD loan scheme and Rs 23 crore would be spent on widening and metalling it.
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Dhumal's plea to realign highway SHIMLA, Oct 7 — Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister, has urged the Union Surface Transport Minister to order realignment of the Pathankot-Chakki-Mandi highway passing through Himachal. He has also sought widening of the highway into two lanes. Mr Dhumal said the national highway served both civil and military as there were cantonments along this national highway. Besides, it also served as a link to Ladakh via Manali and was of great strategic importance. Traffic on this highway had grown tremendously over the years. Palampur town had become a
bottleneck on the highway causing great inconvenience to
the people. |
Train passengers stranded SOLAN, Oct 7 — Hundreds of passengers travelling by train from Kalka to Shimla were stranded for over three hours following the blockade of the railway track near the Dohri Diwar locality here today. The blockade was caused
when a truck rammed into a vehicle and overturned on the
tracks. |
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