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| Friday, July 28, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
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HP bans construction in Polyclinic develops cracks 2.17 cr irregularity by Health
Dept detected Flash floods toll rises to four NCC office wall demolished Tibetan ayurvedic doctors to meet |
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BJP opposes move on house tax Himachal session from Aug 17 IGNOU test centres in HP
reduced
HP bans construction in
Manali, Kulu SHIMLA, July 27 — In a significant decision the Himachal Cabinet today imposed a complete ban on construction in the famous tourist town of Manali in the Kulu valley. The Cabinet, which met under the chairmanship of Mr P.K. Dhumal, Chief Minister, expressed concern over haphazard growth which not only marred the scenic beauty of the tourist town but also strained the civic amenities. The ban will be effective within the Notified Area Committee. This is the second important town of the state after Shimla where construction has been banned. Mr Dhumal said that the government was keen to ensure planned growth of all major tourist destinations in the state. He indicated that similar restrictions on construction activity would be imposed in other towns in near future. He said that residents, shopkeepers and hoteliers in all important tourist places would be persuaded to improve the facade of the buildings to make them more attractive. In another important decision the Cabinet made solar passive features mandatory for all building of the state government, boards, corporation and universities at places above the altitude of 2000 metres. The use of this technology will save 50 to 70 per cent of the energy used for lighting and space heating. It will also make living more comfortable at much, lower maintenance costs. It was noiseless and environment-friendly technology. It will also help in maintaining cleanliness and hygiene in the buildings. Normally, the design would have no extra cost in areas which receive enough sun. In areas with less availability of sun, the extra cost would be only 5 to 10 per cent which can be recovered in three to five years with savings on fuel expenditure.
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Polyclinic develops cracks KASAULI, July 27 — The occurrence of cracks in the newly constructed veterinary polyclinic near Garkhal, about 5 km from here, has put a question mark on the ability of a government department in the state. The building which was constructed one-and-a half year ago has come under a cloud with it having been declared unfit following massive destruction owing to landslides triggered due to recent downpour. The foundation stone of the building was laid in November 1998 and it was handed over to the Animal Husbandry Department in August 1999. A sum of Rs 9,30,700 was incurred on its construction which was designed by a Junior Engineer of the Kandi project. Not even a year has passed since this veterinary polyclinic was shifted from Dharampur. About 200 animals receive a treatment every month from this institute which has three specialised staff besides one Deputy Director, one veterinary pharmacist and two Class IV employees. Not only has the hill slope given way due to landslides but a sizeable amount of mud has deposited around the rear portion of the building causing it to sink by a few feet. Even the steps leading to the building from the road have given way making the passage risky. As many as four rooms at the rear of the building have been declared unfit due to the occurrence of cracks on all four walls near the roof. This includes the operation theatre which is blocked by mud and water which enters through the window. Even the sewage of the bathroom has become non-functional due to water logging. The officials are looking for an alternative site to shift the polyclinic. A letter has been written to the the kandi project to repair the building. The Director of the project was not available for the comment. Meanwhile, sources from the kandi project pointed out that after the building was transferred to the Animal Husbandry Department its upkeep rests with their department. A few engineers when
contacted were doubtful about its location overlooking a
nallah which carries huge volumes of water during rain
coupled with the steep slope which was cut down to
construct the building. According to a peon, cracks
appeared in the rear rooms right after the rains and they
have been widening ever since. Initially, thus water used
to flow down the valley from both sides but now it seems
to be seeping below the building thus further endangering
it. There are seven rooms and four have been damaged
forcing the staff to abandon the dwelling at night. The
purpose of shifting the hospital from its original
location at Dharampur now stands defeated. |
2.17 cr irregularity by Health
Dept detected SHIMLA, July 27 — Senior officers of the Himachal Health Directorate are likely to land up in the vigilance net following the registration of a case in connection with the large scale irregular purchases to the extent of Rs 2.17 crore made by diverting funds in 1998. The irregularity came to light when the Finance Department detected tampering with in the letter vide which the government had sanctioned the amount under the Material and Supplies head on March 31, 1998. The sanction was accorded to the department exclusively for the purchase of medicine and clearing the outstanding dues amounting to Rs 1.70 crore of the state Civil Supplies Corporation which makes bulk procurement of medicines for it. However, some officers in the directorate in connivance with the subordinate staff tampered with the sanction letter and substituted the words marterial and supplies with material and equipment after applying fluid. The entire amount of Rs 2.17 crore was drawn on the same day and orders for the purchase of items like X-ray plants, ultrasound machines, automatic multiformat camera, miniature X-ray contrasters, operating threatre tables, surgical cautery and audiometers were placed. The forgery in the sanction letter was detected in the Finance Department when it compared the original letter of the government with the one on the basis of which the directorate had made the purchases. The department instead of giving any satisfactory explanation for diverting the funds in such a manner sought ex-post facto sanction to get the purchases regularised. Since the purchase of
equipment had already been effected the government had no
option but grant ex-post facto sanction but it also
ordered an inquiry into the matter to fix the
responsibility. When the department failed to do so it
entrusted the inquiry to the Vigilance Department which
registered a case under Section 13 (2) of the Prevention
of Corruption Act and Sections 420,467,468,471 and 477
(A) of the Indian Penal Code after conducting a
preliminary inquiry. |
Flash
floods
toll rises to four CHAMBA, July 27 — Death toll due to flash floods in the past two days in the alpine region of Chamba has risen to four and another four persons in Ghared village of Chamba district received injuries. Giving this information here today, an official spokesman told that two persons named Alafdin and his grand-daughter Meera aged 12 died on the spot and four others were hurt when a heavy boulder fell down from the hillock and dashed against their house in which eight persons were residing during the heavy downpour. The spokesman said that injured had been given first-aid and relief of Rs 20,000 had been given to the next of kin of the deceased. The spokesman added that two persons had already been washed a way in Satrundi nullah in Churah subdivision. Nearly six houses in Bhattiyat, Churah and Chamba tehsils had also been destroyed by cloudbursts, the spokesman added. Meanwhile, the Deputy Commissioner of Chamba, Mr T.D. Nagi, directed all Sub-divisional Magistrates and other revenue officials to report the damages caused due to heavy rains in the district so that losses could be complied at the district headquarters.
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NCC office wall demolished KULU, July 27 — The temporary wall constructed by the local unit of the NCC (Air Wing) in front of its office at Dhalpur was demolished yesterday by the district administration. Wing Cdr R.K. Tripathi, Commanding Officer, told the news persons that the action of the administration was ‘uncalled for’ as the matter of raising the boundary wall was discussed with the Deputy Commissioner and the president of the local body. An undertaking was also given to them in writing that the wall would be removed if the office of the NCC unit was shifted. He said it was ‘unfortunate’ that the administration did not cooperate with them and the premises of a defence unit were made ‘unsafe’ today. He said that the defence vehicles are parked inside the fencing and at times vehicle with arms and ammunition are also parked with guards here. Wg Cdr Tripathi claimed that there were no written orders for the demolition. Mr Yadvender Kapoor, a senior BJP leader, said that he would file a public interest litigation (PIL) in the High Court or alleged encroachment on government land by the SP, Deputy Commissioner, veterinary hospital, and various other organisations of this town. He was critical of the administration’s action of demolishing the NCC unit fencing. Mr Sumer Nath Awasthi, President, Municipal Council, told this correspondent that the encroachments on the government land within urban limits would be removed. However, he agreed that the land encroached upon by the SP’s office, DC office and other government departments could not be touched as the municipal council “has its limits”. He said the Municipal Council could provide land to the NCC Air Wing unit on request. However, Wing Commander
Tripathi claimed that his unit had applied for
accommodation or land to the Himachal Pradesh Government
several times but had got no response. He lamented that
the area which was fenced was demolished ‘without
any notice’ in spite of the fact that that was built
for the safety of the defence and government property. He
further lamented that the district administration had
chosen to carry out the demolition on the occasion of
Kargil Vijay Divas. |
Tibetan ayurvedic doctors to
meet SHIMLA, July 27 — The Council for Advancement of People’s Action and Rural Technology will organise a two-day national conference of Tibetan ayurvedic doctors in Spiti on August 11 and 12. A spokesman for the
council said the conference would be inaugurated by the
Dalai Lama. The Secretary of the Department of Indian
System of Medicines would preside. |
BJP opposes move on house
tax SHIMLA, July 27 — The state unit of the BJP has opposed a move of the Congress-ruled Municipal Corporation to impose house tax on self-occupied houses. Mr Ganesh Dutt, a spokesperson for the party, said the decision if implemented would create financial problems for landlords, mostly employees who had built houses after raising loans from banks at very high rate of interest. Besides, they also spent huge sums on the maintenance of their houses. The state government had exempted self-occupied houses from tax keeping in view this fact. He said instead of
taking such anti-people measures the corporation should
cut down wasteful expenditure. |
Himachal session from Aug 17 SHIMLA, July 27 — The monsoon session of The Himachal Vidhan Sabha will be held from August 17 to 22. A notification to this effect was issued here today by the Vidhan Sabha Secretariat, Mr Gulab Singh, the Speaker, said there would be four sittings, including a private member’s day on August 21. He said if there was pending business, the session could be extended further. This year already 26 sittings have taken place during the Budget session. He also informed that a
newly constructed block of the MLA hostel in the Vidhan
Sabha premises would be inaugurated by the Chief
Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal, on August 4, the birth
anniversary of late Dr Y.S. Parmar. |
IGNOU test centres in HP
reduced SHIMLA, July 27 — The Indira Gandhi National Open University has reduced the number of examination centres for the entrance test for admission to B.Ed course in Himachal Pradesh from nine to two. These centres will be at Dharamsala and Shimla. As per the revised
decision all candidates who earlier were allotted centres
at Shimla, Mandi, Solan and Nahan will appear in the test
at the Shimla centre and those allotted centres at Kulu,
Dharamsala, Chamba, Hamirpur and Una at Dharamsala,
according to Mr Jagdish Sharma, Assistant Regional
Director of the IGNOU. |
2
judicial
officers promoted SHIMLA, July 27 —
The Himachal Pradesh Government on recommendation of the
High Court has promoted Mr P.C. Sharma and Mr George,
members of the State Judicial Service, as members of the
Himachal Pradesh Higher Judicial Service. |
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