P R A D E S H
Thursday, September 17, 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, September 17, 1998 |
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HP to revive Apollo |
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 Disciplinary panel of HP Congress SHIMLA, Sept 16 — Mr Sat Mahajan, Pradesh Congress Committee chief, has constituted a disciplinary committee and allocated work to various office-bearers. |
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Drug addiction on the rise |
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HP to revive Apollo Hospital project SHIMLA, Sept 16 — The BJP-HVC government has decided to revive the Apollo Hospital and Medical College project at Palampur which was put into cold storage by the Congress regime. The ambitious project started by the Shanta Kumar government had been hanging fire since 1992. It had been a major issue in the assembly elections which the BJP exploited to the hilt. The Congress government shelved the project to be set up by a trust on the grounds that the donors who promised to give funds had backed out. It convened a meeting of the donors but did not make any real effort to get the project going. Instead, it hurriedly set up a government medical college at Tanda to counter the adverse political fallout of the Apollo project. The future of the project continued to be uncertain even after the change of government as a debate ensued within the BJP whether or not it would be justified to have two medical colleges in the same district. However, the coalition government has finally decided to go ahead with the project. As the project was the brainchild of former Chief Minister Shanta Kumar, the government has entrusted him with the responsibility of pursuing the matter with the donors and the Apollo Hospital Corporation. He has already started working on it. Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal has made it clear there is no link between Apollo Hospital and the Tanda medical college. His government would take all possible steps to see the project executed at the earliest. The Shanta Kumar government had allotted 60 hectares at Holta near Palampur for the hospital and also given Rs 1.50 crore for its construction. The Rs 50 crore project was to get donations from leading industrial houses. At the time of the foundation laying ceremony, Rs 13 crore was committed by the donors. However, before work on the project could take off the Shanta Kumar government was dismissed. The Virbhadra Singh government showed no enthusiasm for the project and maintained that it could not be implemented for want of funds. The donors were not coming forward to fulfil their financial commitments and in all only Rs 52 lakh had come as donations, it pointed out. It remains to be seen whether the efforts of the coalition government, which is already having a tough time in getting recognition for the Tanda medical college from the Medical Council of India, succeeds in reviving the project.
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Speakers' conference on SHIMLA, Sept 16 — Presiding officers of legislatures of the country will meet at Delhi later this month to discuss the shortcomings in the anti-defection law. This was stated by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Mr G.M.C. Balayogi, while talking to newsmen after inaugurating the three-day orientation programme for members of the Himachal Pradesh Assembly here today. Mr Balayogi said the conference of presiding officers, which begins on September 21, will also discuss various aspects relating to electoral reforms and procedural reforms for better time management in the Houses. He said keeping in view the growing incidents of indiscipline in the House he was planning some mechanism to regulate the conduct of zero hour in the Lok Sabha. However, views of the opposition parties will be sought for this purpose. The Speaker ruled out the possibility of scrapping zero hour which he said gave an opportunity to each member to raise any current issue in the House. He said he was considering giving an opportunity to each party to utilise zero hour on the basis of its strength in the House. Mr Balayogi said traditions and conventions were already there for the smooth conduct of business of the House and there was no need for introducing any new rules for maintaining discipline and decorum. Earlier, while inaugurating the orientation programme jointly organised by the Bureau of Parliamentary Studies and Training (BPST) and the Himachal Vidhan Sabha Mr Balayogi stressed the need for maintaining discipline and decorum in the House. Though dissent is a recognised democratic expression, it should be within the parameters of parliamentary devices. The legislators ought to prove they are worthy of the trust which the people have reposed in them. They should strive towards the accomplishment of a common democratic goal of fuller and dignified life for the people. He said the image of the representative institution was closely related to the performance of legislators. The Speaker said the
future of the democratic set-up itself depended largely
on the way the legislators performed their duties and
responsibilities. The legislators were accountable to the
people, he asserted. He said the committee system offered scope for positive contribution to an industrious member. Mr Balayogi said the idea behind holding orientation programmes for MPs and MLAs is to inculcate in them an appreciation of their role and position as representatives of the people and familiarise them with the operational mechanics of parliamentary institutions. In his welcome address, the Speaker of the Vidhan Sabha, Mr Gulab Singh, stressed the need for maintaining discipline and decorum in the house. He said at times experienced legislators behaved in a manner which lowered the dignity of the House. In fact, senior legislators should conduct themselves in a way that the new members imbibe better values and traditions of the House. He said the members had to be fully conversant with the devices with the help of which one could raise the issues and problems of the people in various committees and also on the floor of the House and extract assurances from the government. Mr Gulab Singh said the Himachal Pradesh Assembly was one of the few legislatures in the country which had adopted departmental related standing committee system for close legislatural watch over the government functioning. He said various aspects of rules of procedure and conduct of business in the House combined with the established parliamentary conventions and precedents would be broadly highlighted in the seminar. Renowned parliamentarians and well-established legal experts will address the participants. In his address, the Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, said our democracy faces several challenges which require to be vigilantly tackled. The legislators should strengthen the democratic system. This would be possible only if the legislators were well-versed with the procedures and rules of business of the House. A thorough grounding in rules of procedure, conventions and customs of the House was essential to be an effective and efficient member. The Chief Minister said about 25 per cent new faces in the assembly would benefit from the seminar. The Industries Minister, Mr Kishori Lal, proposed a vote of thanks.
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Disciplinary panel of HP Congress SHIMLA, Sept 16 — Mr Sat Mahajan, Pradesh Congress Committee chief, has constituted a disciplinary committee and allocated work to various office-bearers. Mrs Viplove Thakur, general secretary of the party, has been made convener of the committee which will have Mrs Vidya Stokes, Mr K.D. Sultanpuri, Mr Rangila Ram Rao and Mr Vikram Katoch as members. While Mr Ram Lal Thakur (vice-president) Mrs, Asha Kumari (general secretary) and Mr Kuldeep Kumar (secretary) will take of organisational matters in the politically important Kangra district, Mr R.K. Gaur, Mr Gangu Ram Musafir and Mr Raghu Raj will look after Mandi, Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti, Mr Milkhi Ram Goma, Mr Kaul Singh and Mr Harsh Wardhan Hamirpur, Una and Sirmaur and Mr Kush Parmar Mrs Viplove Thakur and Mr Phung Chog Rai Chamba, Shimla and Kulu. Mr Shiv Kumar, vice-president, and Mr Harbhajan Singh, general secretary, will supervise party affairs in Solan district and also look after organisational matters pertaining to the Mahila Congress, Sewa Dal and INTUC, Mr Harsh Mahajan and Mr Harbhajan Singh will take care of the Youth Congress and the NSUI, besides Bilaspur district. Mr G.S. Bali has been attached to Mr Shiv Kumar for Sewa Dal and INTUC. Mr Vineet Gautam will be political secretary in charge of office and organisational matters. Mr Milkhi Ram Goma, vice-president, will also look after the enrolment drive.
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Drug addiction on the rise KULU: One theft a day on an average has become routine in Kulu, Manali and Bhuntar after the sensational theft at the official residence of the Deputy Commissioner in June this year. The police remains clueless till date and people have lost faith in the working of the police. Many thefts were not even reported as people carry the impression that the police harasses the complainant to cover up its inefficiency. One of the recent victims who did not report the theft to the police said: "Reporting to the police was foolish and an invitation to many other problems. On the one hand you are disturbed and upset and on the other the police irritates you to the extent that one has to take the complaint back". Half the thefts and
burglaries were daylight in the valley. Col. Hishe Dogia,
a retired army officer, told this correspondent that cash
and jewellery were stolen from his residence at a Badah
within one and-a-half hour while he left at 1.30 p.m. for
the market and was back at 3 p.m. He ridiculed the
police, saying it wanted him to name someone about whom I
had suspicion. Another victim, Mr Lalit Prasher of Badah,
left home at 11 a.m. for Manali. Before he reached Manali
cash and jewellery disappeared at his residence and the
neighbours informed the police and relatives at 12.30
p.m. Mrs Renu, Mr Grover, Mr Devi Chand Mrs Tanzin Angmo,
Mrs Champi and many were victims of the daylight
burglaries. The police records show 52 burglaries and 25 thefts in 153 days (from April 1, 1998). The total amount lost in thefts and burglaries was Rs 25.39 lakh. Another factor that put a question mark on the police was of drug peddlers' in this valley. It was alleged that hashish-filled cigarettes are easily available in markets though in selected shops or even at the educational institutes' canteens. Drug addiction is assuming alarming dimensions in this valley. The cultivation of 'hybrid cannabis' in Manikaran, Sainj, Banjar and upper Kulu has further helped flourish the illicit trade. However, drive against the drug trafficking has been initiated. Mr Zahur H. Zaidi, district police chief, said that the police, had started a campaign against drug peddlers. A joint operation by the police forest and revenue officials to destroy the hybrid cannabis' has already started. As the harvesting season is approaching the teams led by the police, has destroyed more than 200 bighas of cannabis. Mr Zaidi said that three such teams had destroyed five bighas in Himri, Parvi Fozal areas; 152 bighas in Tosh, Barsheini, Pulga, Tulga, Kalga, Zhiribehar, Shihla, Raskarh, Kasol areas of Manikaran valley and 13 bighas in Shanag, Burua, Majhhach in Upper Kulu valley. In his opinion the burning and destroying of the standing crop was the only alternative to check smuggling of the contraband. The destroying of the cultivated hashish might bring down the illicit trade by 20 per cent as 80 per cent of the smuggling is based on the wild produce. The availability of illicit liquor in all small and big townships in this district is a common feature. At the district headquarters Ramshila, Sarwari, Beasa Nor, Shishamati and Sultanpur are infamous as sales outlets. In Kulu town one can have a small "pouch for Re 1 to a big jerrycan of 20 litres worth Rs 300. Here again the carriers are allegedly school-going children. At places the women are also engaged in this trade. Most of the Tibetan colonies have such unauthorised bars where women are serving illicit liquor. You may come across many tipsy persons after 9 p.m. in all the townships of Kulu, Bhuntar, Banjar, Patlikuhal and Manali, indulging in hooliganism and passing remarks. At times they even thrash the police or Home Guards jawans on night duty. One murder and one rape a month, abduction and rioting such crimes are sending alarming signals. The valley is considered to be a safe centre by Kashmiri militants. Committing of murders and crimes by outsiders and movement of doubtful foreigners in this valley question the ability and efficiency of the police to check the trend.
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Militants sneak into sanctuary GUMGUL SIABEHI (Chamba): Gloom has descended over the Gumgul Siabehi sanctuary owing to militancy prevailing on the border of Chamba district in Himachal Pradesh adjoining Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir. The sanctuary touches Jammu & Kashmir on its northern and western parts. During the past due to insurgency, the area continues to remain disturbed. The region has become sensitive and security posts had to be set up to check infiltration of anti-national elements and to combat militancy. One of the oldest wildlife habitats in the erstwhile state of Chamba, the Gumgul Siabehi area is still known for brown bear and musk deer, besides other wild animals. There have been reports of the presence of Hangul, a deer species not seen in this area for a long time. During a survey conducted recently in this hilly border region, it is learnt that the militants had made deep inroads into the sanctuary. Militants prowling around the area regularly hunt certain species of wildlife for their own consumption thereby driving the animals away from the sanctuary. According to official sources, the sanctuary has an area of 113.75 sq. km and is linked by road from Pathankot (via Sundla-Salooni-Bhandal). Sundla is the junction on the Chamba-Bhandal and Pathankot-Bhandal roads. This route passes through the sanctuary and joins J&K at Khundi-Maroul, which leads to Bhadarwah. The sanctuary harbours a rich diversity of herbivores, carnivores and omnivores. The wild animals found in the habitat are ghoral, Himalayan thar, Himalayan black bear, brown bear and fox. The wild animals depend on "kallar" salt found in the cracks of rocks which is light grey with a blue tinge. Bird watchers in the Department of Forests and Conservation (Wildlife) have lately noticed that the state bird, Monal, has made a comeback and its number has increased to 102. In view of the militants' threat to wildlife, there is a need to provide arms and ammunition and other equipment to the sanctuary staff to deal with the situation.
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Gastroenteritis claims life KANGRA, Sept 16 — A 65-year-old woman died as a result of gastroenteritis while two others were seriously ill among several people affected in Kholi and Purana Kangra villages. Bagwati Devi (65) of Purana Kangra died at the Dharamsala local hospital. Sonu (10) of the same village was reported to Dharmasala today in a serious condition while Kesar Singh (60) of Kholi was fighting for his life in the Kangra hospital. The Chief Medical Officer, Dr L.B. Purohit, when contacted said medical teams headed by the district medical officer and the BMO had been rushed to the affected villages this morning. Dr Ashok Sharma, SMO, Kangra hospital, said at least six patients were admitted in Kangra.
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Hold
promotion
panel meeting, plead MOs KANGRA, Sept 16 — Medical officers of Himachal Pradesh have expressed concern over the post of Director, Health Services, two posts of Joint Director, four posts of Chief Medical Officer lying vacant in the state which has created an administration crisis in the department. Dr Sushil Sharma, spokesman of the Himachal Medical Officers Association, yesterday demanded these posts should be immediately filled. He said a meeting of the Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) should be held to overcome the crisis. Dr Sharma expressed
satisfaction about the notification regarding the revised
pay scales on the Punjab pattern by the HP Government.
He, however, demanded that doctors should be given 10 per
cent house rent allowance (HRA), rural allowance,
academic and conveyance allowance also on the Punjab
pattern.
Col
S.C. Sharma nominated SHIMLA, Sept 16 — Mrs Sonia Gandhi, President of the Congress, has appointed Col SC Sharma (retd) president of the ex-servicemen cell of the Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) with immediate effect. He has been authorised to reconstitute the cell and appoint district presidents.
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