Medical college project kept in limbo
PALAMPUR: The execution of Rs 25-crore Vivekanand Medical College and Research Institute (Apollo Hospital) here, is yet to be taken up. Though the BJP had promised the people of the lower hills that if it comes to power it would set up this institution on priority. It was a part of the BJP manifesto of last Assembly and Lok Sabha elections held in March 1998. But soon after assuming power in the state the BJP virtually abandoned this project.

112 'very sensitive' stations in Kangra
DHARAMSALA, Aug 22 — A total of 9.28 lakh voters will cast their vote for the election to the Kangra Lok Sabha seat, which comprises of 17 assembly segments falling in Chamba and Kangra districts.

HMOA condemns doctor's arrest
NAHAN, Aug 22 — The Himachal Medical Officers' Association (HMOA), Sirmour branch, at an emergency meeting here yesterday condemned the administration for arresting, Ajit Singh Fougdar, a doctor at the ESI dispensary, Kala Amb in a case of attempt of sexual assault.

Shimla-Kalka section trains cancelled
SHIMLA, Aug 22 — All up and down trains running on the Shimla-Kalka railway section were cancelled today following a major landslide near Gumma railway station, 10 km from Kalka, last night.

Bridge washed away
CHAMBA, Aug 22 — The Sahu belt of Chamba district was cut off from rest of the state following the washing away of the vital bridge at Chameenu in a cloudburst which also washed away six residential houses.

Work on Larji project from October
MANDI, Aug 22 — Mr Maheshwar Singh, BJP candidate from the Mandi parliamentary constituency, said the work on the 126-MW Larji Hydle Project in Mandi district would be taken up in October as the tunnelling work was nearing completion.

Leopard shot dead

Medical college project kept in limbo
From Ravinder Sood

PALAMPUR: The execution of Rs 25-crore Vivekanand Medical College and Research Institute (Apollo Hospital) here, is yet to be taken up. Though the BJP had promised the people of the lower hills that if it comes to power it would set up this institution on priority. It was a part of the BJP manifesto of last Assembly and Lok Sabha elections held in March 1998. But soon after assuming power in the state the BJP virtually abandoned this project. Even Chief Minister in his first speech at Jawalamukhi in April 1998, publicly announced that state government could not go ahead with Vivekanand Medical College and Research Institute keeping in view the poor financial position of the state. Besides, the state could not afford to set up two medical colleges in one district, rather it would provide funds for Dr Rajinder Prashad Medical College, Tanda, now under construction.

The proposal to set up this super-speciality institution was made by the former Chief Minister Shanta Kumar in 1992, when he was Chief Minister. Even the foundation stone of this institution was laid by him. The medical institute was meant to provide quality medical care to the people of the lower hills where there were no medical facilities worth the name.

Mr Shanta Kumar has persuaded a number of industrial houses to donate Rs 20 crore for this project. These firms had even remitted a part of their committed amount. However, with the dismissal of the BJP Government in 1992, on the heels of the Babri Masjid episode, President's rule was imposed on the state. Later after the Congress government was voted to power, it abandoned this project merely on political considerations since the idea to set up this project was mooted by former Chief Minister Shanta Kumar and the BJP.

After a gap of four years in 1998, the BJP was once again voted to power in the state. The BJP in its manifesto had assured the people here that it would definitely take up this project. However, this time Shanta Kumar was not the Chief Minister. The new BJP government headed by Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal also adopted the same policy which was followed by the previous Congress government in respect of this important project.

Now the delaying tactics of the state government in taking up of this project have put Mr Shanta Kumar in an awkward position as he is contesting the election from the Kangra Lok Sabha seat. In last election Mr Shanta Kumar in every speech had assured voters that soon after taking over the reins of the power, the BJP would start the construction of this institution without further delay. But even after the expiry of one and half years the Prem Kumar Dhumal government has not bothered to call a meeting of the parties who were directly or indirectly linked to this project.

Though Mr Shanta Kumar have not yielded any fruitful result so far. The sudden change in the stand of state government towards this institution has not only disappointed Mr Shanta Kumar but also hurt the feelings of 25 lakh residents of lower areas of the state.

Political observers feel here that because of sharp political differences between Mr Dhumal and Mr Shanta Kumar this prestigious project is hanging fire. The BJP leaders of Kangra say that politics should not come into the way of this project if the BJP wants to survive in lower areas of the state. The general public and intellectuals in particular feel that tall promises made by the BJP during last elections for opening this project must be fulfilled keeping in view the public interest and urgent need of this hospital here.

It may be recalled that the Himachal Pradesh Government and Apollo Group of hospitals had formed a trust to run this institution in 1992, when Mr Shanta Kumar was a Chief Minister of the state. According to the provisions of the trust deed, the HP Health Secretary was made chairman of the trust. It was also agreed that major decisions would be taken by the trust from time to time to execute this project. Land measuring 600 kanals was transferred in the name of trust.

Meanwhile Mr Shanta Kumar says that he is still hopeful that this institution would come up soon. He says he is making all efforts to pursue the Apollo Group to take up the project. He had held number of meetings with the parties concerned in New Delhi and a final decision would be taken soon.

112 'very sensitive' stations in Kangra
Tribune News Service

DHARAMSALA, Aug 22 — A total of 9.28 lakh voters will cast their vote for the election to the Kangra Lok Sabha seat, which comprises of 17 assembly segments falling in Chamba and Kangra districts.

Apart from the 13 assembly segments of Kangra district the Chamba, Rajnagar, Banikhet and Bhattiyat constituencies of district Chamba fall under it. While there are a total of 7,06,799 voters in Kangra district 2,21,432, people in Chamba district too will be casting their votes.

Under the poll arrangements, a total of 1,455 polling stations, will be set up in the entire constituency. Out of the these 1057 will be in Kangra district while 398 will be set up in Chamba district. The polling station of Swar in the Baijnath constituency located at a height of 7000 feet, will be the highest in Kangra district. While Dhamgram station located at a height of 7800 feet in Bhattiyat will be the highest altitude polling station in Chamba district.

The maximum number of voters at a polling station, is at Speru in the Baijnath area, where 1182 persons shall be casting their vote. In district Chamba 1052 persons, will cast their vote at Surangani -II in Banikhet which is the polling station with the maximum number of voters.

To ensure the conduct of a free and fair poll, some of the polling stations have been declared very 'sensitive' and sensitive. In Kangra district out of a total of 1057 stations, 194 have been declared 'sensitive,' while 112 have been put under the category of 'very sensitive.' In Chamba district, out of a total of 398 polling stations, 109 are 'sensitive', while 24 have been declared 'very sensitive'. A total of 5,600 personnel will be on poll duty in Kangra and 2375 in Chamba district.

Profile of a hero
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Aug 22 — Of slender build, shy and a man of few words, Maj Sanjeev Singh Jamwal hides a brave soldier in him.

At first sight it is hard to believe that he is the man who wove tales of bravery with Captain Vikram Batra in the Dras sector and captured the strategically important height, Point 5140, a feat for which he was awarded the Vir Chakra. Indeed, this man with boyish looks has nerves of steel and is endowed with unmatched courage and determination.

Modest to the core Maj Jamwal does not boast about is heroic feat on the battle front. "I have done my duty, I am happy to have accomplished the task assigned to me", he says with all humility. Like all countrymen he is happy over the resounding success of :Operation Vijay" but feels sad about fellow officers like Captain Vikram Batra and Maj Jasrotia who did not return from the battlefield. They were not only colleagues but also very intimate friends.

They all were posted in Sopore in Jammu and Kashmir when Operation Vijay commenced. They were sent to the Dras sector on June 3. He earned two promotions to become Major during the operation.

The task to capture Point 5140 was assigned to 13 JK Rifles on June 17. After a recce of the area for two days. A strategy to attack the peak from two sides was finalised. The company was divided into two groups one led by Maj Jamwal and other by Captain Vikram Batra and the assault was made on the wee hours of June 20. While crawling up in the dark Maj Jamwal came across a telephone line which he promptly cut and followed it to locate the enemy bunker. Their sudden appearance atop the peak surprised the enemy and within seconds they mowed down six Pakistani regulars with the burst of machine gun. Rest of the intruders escaped under the cover of darkness.

In the meantime Captain Batra launched the attack from other side, not realising that the peak had been occupied.

Firing stopped only after he managed to sent a wireless message across to Captain Batra that he had reached the top. Documents and ammunition recovered from bunkers provided the first proofs that the invaders were not militants but Pakistani army regulars.

Hailing from a family of soldiers from Pathiar village in Kangra district Maj Jamwal had been aspiring to join Army from the childhood. His grandfather Mr Roop Singh and uncle Mr Kripal Singh, had also served in Army. His cousin Sudershan Singh is a Major. His father Mr Kehar Singh has also been associated with Army but on the civil side.

He qualified NDA examination soon after completing his schooling from Sainik School, Sujanpur Tira. He was commissioned in the Army in 1997 and posted at Sopore.

Maj Jamwal is keen on serving the country for as long as possible, make any sacrifice and carry forward the family tradition.

Cong men pledge to make Sonia PM
From Our Correspondent

CHOWARI (Chamba), Aug 22 — "Ab ki bari bahu hamari, kya karaga Atal Behari", a new slogan has been given by the Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee President, Mr Sat Mahajan while addressing a conference of Congress workers of Bhattiyat in Chamba district yesterday here.

Mr Mahajan constituted a two member-committee for electioneering comprising Mr Kuldip Singh Pathania, a former MLA, and Bhattiyat Block Congress president Capt Uttam Chand. He also announced the nomination of Mr Kuldip Singh Pathania as a member of the State Congress Executive Committee.

Congress workers on this occasion paid glorious tributes to Kargil martyrs and observed a two-minute silence. They also pledged to make Sonia Gandhi as Prime Minister of the country. Mrs Asha Kumari, general secretary of the Himachal Congress, was also present.

Mr Mahajan chastised the BJP for raising sensational issue like Ram Mandir construction, demolition of Masjid, scrapping of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir and making false promises to lure the electorate during the election.

Mr Mahajan said if he won the elections, his priorities would be the setting up of a defence academy in the state in the memory of Kargil martyrs Saurabh Kalia and Vikram Batra and formation of a Mountain brigade in which Himachali youths would be recruited.

HMOA condemns doctor's arrest
From Our Correspondent

NAHAN, Aug 22 — The Himachal Medical Officers' Association (HMOA), Sirmour branch, at an emergency meeting here yesterday condemned the administration for arresting, Ajit Singh Fougdar, a doctor at the ESI dispensary, Kala Amb in a case of attempt of sexual assault.

The HMOA has demanded immediate withdrawal of "the concocted case". The association threatened to observe a strike for two hours on August 23, if the case was not withdrawn.

In a press note issued by Harmohinder Singh, General Secretary, the HMOA, it was alleged that the doctors were feeling in secure in the district and were not being treated properly by the administration. The factual position about the case had been conveyed to the government and the Deputy Commissioner, Sirmour.

Shimla-Kalka section trains cancelled

SHIMLA, Aug 22 (UNI) — All up and down trains running on the Shimla-Kalka railway section were cancelled today following a major landslide near Gumma railway station, 10 km from Kalka, last night.

Earth underneath a portion of the railway track had slipped, rendering it unfit for movement of train, reports received here said.

The Shivalik Express, plying on the track was stopped last night and its passengers from it were taken in buses and other vehicles to Kalka.

Shimla railway station Superintendent R K Dutta said railway engineers rushed to the spot to repair the damage and restore the traffic.

Bridge washed away

CHAMBA, Aug 22 (PTI) — The Sahu belt of Chamba district was cut off from rest of the state following the washing away of the vital bridge at Chameenu in a cloudburst which also washed away six residential houses.

According to the Additional District Magistrate, Mr B.S. Thakur, the cloudburst and widespread heavy rain had damaged property and crops worth over Rs 1 crore and rendered several people homeless.

Three houses were damaged in flash floods in Dholi village in Bhatiyyat tehsil where a woman was also injured. The district administration has given immediate relief of Rs 5,000 to each affected family and provided them shelter.

Work on Larji project from October
From Our Correspondent

MANDI, Aug 22 — Mr Maheshwar Singh, BJP candidate from the Mandi parliamentary constituency, said the work on the 126-MW Larji Hydle Project in Mandi district would be taken up in October as the tunnelling work was nearing completion.

He announced this while addressing mediapersons here today. He said the BJP-HVC government in the state has accelerated the pace of development in all spheres.

Prime issue was whether progress and security of the country was safe in the hands of Ms Sonia or Vajpayee, the voter would decide this, he added.

Leopard shot dead
From Our Correspondent

HAMIRPUR, Aug 22 — Ex-serviceman, Dharam Singh, who happens to be handicapped today shot dead a seven feet long leopard in Budhwin village of the Hamirpur district today. The leopard had sneaked into his cowshed and was about to kill the animals when wife of Dharam Singh raised an alarm and the leopard was shot dead later.

Mr P.K. Sharma, DFO, Hamirpur said here this evening that on receiving the information, a team of the Forest officials reached the village and took the body of the animal into custody. The dead big cat was brought to Hamirpur for the post-mortem examination.