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| Saturday, July 29, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
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Kinnaur
areas cut off Himachal
dists may have 2 DCs Himachal
DGP shifted HP
to recruit 1400 constables Better
facilities at Azadpur Mandi sought |
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| Shortage of trucks lamented SHIMLA, July 28 — The Kotkhai Fruit Growers Association has expressed concern about the shortage of trucks for carrying apples in Upper Shimla district and urged the district administration to take steps to ensure timely transportation of the produce to the market. Beauty
spot ignored by govt Docs’
strike against public agitation Villagers
resent illegal hunting HP
fixes kharif target Plea
for promotion panel meetings HP
Dental College gets recognition
|
Kinnaur areas cut off SHIMLA: Residents of the tribal district of Kinnaur are facing problems due to the prolonged closure of the Hindustan-Tibet highway because of the washing away of the bridge over the Sholding nullah and repeated landslides near the Malling nullah. The district is virtually cut off from the rest of the country as the other road link from the Kaza side is also getting repeatedly closed. The trouble started this time last month when the main bridge over the Sholding nullah was washed away in a flash flood. Thereafter, the suspension bridge collapsed due to a massive landslide. The PWD authorities have not yet been able to set up a Bailey bridge which was provided at the site by the Deepak project of the Border Roads Organisation in mid-July. Work on the bridge is progressing at a snail’s pace and pea and apple growers of the area in particular are getting restive as their produce has been affected. Marketing of peas is in full swing at the moment, while the plucking of apples will begin within a few days and trucks will be required for their transportation. Machinery belonging to a private company,which was fabricating a bridge over the Sholding nullah, is buried under landslides there and it may take about a year to construct a concrete bridge. High-altitude roads in the state were badly damaged this time because of heavy rain perhaps after a long time. The authorities have sought the help of the Deepak project for reopening the road link with Kinnaur from the Kaza side which has been closed for the past few days. The authorities are making efforts to reopen the road near Batal in the Spiti area because of the coming “Kalchakra” ceremony, which is expected to attract hundreds of pilgrims. The Chief Secretary, Mr
A.K. Goswami, is hopeful that work on a temporary bridge
over the Sholding nullah will be completed by July 30. At
the moment the transhipment of essential commodities is
being done at Sholding. Transhipment of diesel from the
stranded trucks near Batal for supply to Kaza is also
being arranged. |
Himachal dists may have 2 DCs DHARAMSALA, July 28 — The Revenue Minister, Mr Rajan Sushant, today said to avoid pendency in revenue cases, the government was contemplating having two Deputy Commissioners, in a district, one for revenue and the other for development and law and order. Addressing a press conference here today he said that seeing the workload of the Deputy Commissioners, it was just not possible for them to devote much time to the revenue cases. "The idea of having two Deputy Commissioners, one of revenue and the other for development, law and order is under the active consideration of the state government," he revealed. He revealed that another major decision taken by the government under the Land Revenue Act, was that only those officers who had an experience of two and a half years in the revenue field, would be appointed Deputy Commissioners. He added that though there was a dearth of good revenue officers it would, henceforth, be mandatory, for IAS officers to have experience in the field of revenue before becoming DCs. Issuing a warning to the revenue officials, he said if any officer was found not strict in cases of benami land deals, encroachments and other revenue deals, strict action would be taken against the top officials rather than the junior official being made a scapegoat. In Himachal, there are more than 75,000 cases of encroachments and a revenue official will be personally held responsible if a single kiosk, residential complex or shopping centre comes up, even if it is a holiday," he warned. He said to end uncertainty regarding unauthorised constructions, an anti-encroachment policy would be ready in the next three months. Expressing concern over the rising benami land deals, especially in the hill stations of Shimla, Manali, Dharamsala, Dalhousie and Kasauli, he said proper mutation would have to be done in the presence of all shareholders and not in big hotels but in the office of the Tehsildars. He said notice should be given to all shareholders by the revenue officials so that later the deal was not challenged in the court of law. Answering a question about the alleged benami land deals of the Tibetans, he said that the government would not adopt double standards, but seeing the sensitivity and international implications of the matter, these would be examined by the government. Mr Sushant said the first phase of the distribution of kisan pass books, would be launched from September, 12 to October 2. He said initially they would be distributed on the basis of the population, covering every segment of society. He added that the kisan pass books would be treated as a legal document, on the basis of which a legal heir certificate would also be issued. Earlier, the Revenue
Minister, addressed the revenue officials from the Kangra
district. |
Himachal DGP shifted SHIMLA, July 28 — In a sudden but not altogether unexpected move the Himachal Pradesh Government yesterday shifted Mr T.R. Mahajan, the Director General of Police, and posted him as Officer on Special Duty in the State Human Rights Commission. Mr A.K. Puri, the Additional Director General of Police, CID, will function as Director General of Police till further orders. Mr N.C. Joshi, I.G. Law and Order, on promotion takes over as ADGP (Law and Order) and Mr Ajit Narain, IG (Vigilance), has been promoted as ADGP (Vigilance). Mr B.L. Pandit, IG (CID), has been promoted as ADGP (CID) vice Mr A.K. Puri. Mr O.S. Singh, IG (Human Rights Commission), has been transferred as IG (Railway and Traffic) vice Mr Prem Singh who goes as IG (Armed Police and Training) vice Mr G.S. Gill who is proceeding on deputation. Three other officers were given postings on return from Central deputation. Mr Sanjay Kundu has been
posted as AIG (Railway and Traffic), Mr Himanshu Misra as
SP (Vigilance) and Mr S.R. Ojha as SP (Enforcement) at
Dharamsala. |
HP to recruit 1400
constables SHIMLA, July 28 — The Himachal Pradesh Government has decided to recruit 1400 constables to meet the shortage of security personnel in the state. This was announced by Mr P.K. Dhumal, the Chief Minister, after inauguration of the new administrative block of the State Forensic Laboratory and a police housing colony at Junga, near here, today. He said out of these, 1,000 would be recruited under the India Reserve Battalion sanctioned by the Centre recently. He said that 906 houses were being constructed for the police personnel in the state, out of which 800 were complete and the remaining were likely to be completed within the next three months. Besides, buildings of five police stations were also under construction. He lamented that the Rs 20 crore sanctioned by the 10th Finance Commission for strengthening the police organisation in the state had not been utilised by the previous government and were going to lapse. Mr Dhumal said that the police housing colony constructed at a cost of Rs 1.60 crore would house 76 police personnel and the administrative block of the State Forensic Science Laboratory, constructed at a cost of Rs 43.58 lakh, would enable the scientists to produce better results. Referring to local development, the Chief Minister said that Junga would be developed as a tourist spot. He directed the PWD authorities to metal the Sadhupul-Junga road at the earliest. He said that though the state was facing a financial crunch, it would not come in the way of development. He said the state had to give interest of Rs 1055 crore on loans taken earlier whereas the state’s annual income was only Rs 655 crore. Mr Dhumal also laid the foundation stone of a Rs 7 crore bio-conversion plant at Darni-ka-Bagicha being constructed with the assistance of NORAD (Norweign Agency for Converting Development) for turning municipal waste into manure. It will handle 100 tonnes of garbage per day. The manure thus produced from the plant would be sold commercially and the profits shared between the executing company and Municipal Corporation of Shimla. The non-bio-degradable waste such as metal, plastic and glass would be treated separately by landfills. Mr Dhumal said that the project would ensure scientific disposal of solid waste generated by Shimla town. He also laid the foundation stone of a labour hostel and parking at Lakkar Bazar, to be constructed at a cost of Rs 48.93 lakh. The top two floors of the five-storeyed structure will be used for car parking and the three lower floors as night shelter (rain basera) with a capacity of 60 beds along with kitchen and toilet facilities. The coolies of Shimla would be able to use the accommodation for the night after payment of a token fee. The Chief Minister also inaugurated the tourist information centre on the main highway at Shimla, constructed by the Tourism Department and the Hotel Association for the convenience of the tourist and released “Himachal Pradesh — India Himalaya experience,” a book jointly brought out by the Directorate of Tourism and Civil Aviation and the Himachal Hotels Association and written by Raaja Bhasin. The book provides a
glimpse of the rich and varied heritage of the state and
its remarkable natural beauty, besides information about
the facilities available. |
Better facilities at Azadpur
Mandi sought SHIMLA, July 28 — Mrs Vidya Stokes, a former Speaker and a senior Congress leader, has urged the Delhi Government to strengthen and streamline the infrastructure at the Azadpur Mandi and ensure a better deal to the fruit growers of Himachal who dispose of their produce in the country’s Capital. In letters to the Chief Minister and Agriculture Minister of the Delhi Government, Mrs Stokes pointed out that about 2.5 lakh tonnes of apple and other fruits worth crores were being marketed through Azadpur Mandi and the Delhi Government and the local market committee were profiting from this. She said that it was imperative that fruit growers of the state were given a better deal and facilities at the market for the contribution they were making towards the economy of Delhi. She requested them to construct permanent sheds at sites of shed No 14 and a link road besides widening the entry and exit to the market which were in a bad shape. She also called for raising a sub-yard at Tikri Khurd-Khampur on the 50 acre plot acquired by the market committee. This would help ease congestion in the market. Mrs Stokes stressed the need for adopting suitable and modern management techniques for smooth functioning of the market and requested that a provision be made for nominating fruit growers of Himachal Pradesh on the Marketing Board of Delhi. She also made a plea for
strengthening the security set-up in the market area for
ensuring the safely of farmers. She brought to the notice
of the Chief Minister and the Agriculture Minister that
some arhtiyas in connivance with certain staff of the
market committee were charging higher commission than the
approved rate and called for action against the
unscrupulous elements, who were creating problems for the
fruit growers and eating their hard earned money. |
Shortage of trucks lamented SHIMLA, July 28 — The Kotkhai Fruit Growers Association has expressed concern about the shortage of trucks for carrying apples in Upper Shimla district and urged the district administration to take steps to ensure timely transportation of the produce to the market. The association alleged that the truck operators were taking advantage of the situation and charging between Rs 5 and Rs 10 per box more as freight from Kotkhai to Delhi. It lamented that the administration had failed to provide the 3000 additional trucks for carriage of apples. The situation would worsen over the next two weeks. It also pointed out that
procurement centres had not been opened so far in the
lower areas. It also expressed concern about the heavy
premature dropping of fruit and urged the government to
increase the support price to Rs 5 per kg to ensure
remunerative returns to growers. |
Beauty spot ignored by govt CHAMBA: Nestled on an enchanting massif is Jhamwar, a beauty spot ignored by the tourism authorities. The place has salubrious climate and is covered with dense deodar forests and apple orchards. It is divided into two parts — Chhoti Jhamwar and Badi Jhamwar — the latter being located above the former at an altitude of about 2,800 metres. Jhamwar is, by and large, a paradise for tourists and trekkers. Overlooking the border of Jammu and Kashmir and the slopes of the Dhauladhars, it is one of the most picturesque places in Chamba district. Jhamwar is accessible by a 12-km unmetalled road with a steep gradient from Chamba town. The link road is, however, in bad shape. It gets blocked even when there is moderate rain and tourists desiring to visit the area are disappointed. Badi Jhamwar, which is yet to be connected by road, provides a view of the Pir Panjal hills in the Pangi valley and parts of the adjoining Jammu and Kashmir. A visit to the place makes one admire its natural beauty. It has a vast tourism potential which needs to be properly exploited. The government, however, is yet to take effective steps to bring it on the tourist map. Jhamwar is suitable for trekking and adventure activity. The ancient temple of Jammu Nag, dating back to the 11th century, is a rare attraction. At present there is a forest rest house at Chhoti Jhamwar. The authorities need to connect the area by a metalled road, provide basic amenities like water and electricity and construct a few hotels, restaurants and cafes. Tourists coming to
Dalhousie, Khajjiar and Chamba from the neighbouring
states can easily be attracted to the area through proper
publicity. This would go a long way in improving the
socio-economic conditions of the local residents by
generating self-employment. |
Docs’ strike against
public agitation DHARAMSALA, July 28 — A piquant situation arose at the Civil Hospital, Dehra, today, when the doctors went on a strike in protest against the public agitation against them, for causing delay in conducting a post-mortem examination. According to the police, the problem started yesterday, when there was delay in conducting the post-mortem examination of Subhash Chand, whose body had been found lying in a pond, near Jawalamukhi. The locals and the family and relatives of the deceased of Amb Pathed village alleged that the body was brought to the Civil Hospital, Dehra, at 3.45 pm yesterday yet the doctors refused to conduct the post-mortem examination. In protest the villagers, over 200 in number, held a protest outside the hospital today morning. In retaliation, the doctors too decided to go on strike, and even refused to conduct the post-mortem examination of a suicide case. The doctors continued their strike till evening. The people alleged that for the post-mortem examination they had to face harassment, at the hands of the doctors. “As if the tragedy is not enough for us, the doctors instead of showing compassion, add to our woes by refusing to conduct the post-mortem examination even if it is afternoon time,” alleged one of the relative of the deceased. In the past also there
have been a number of cases, at Nurpur and Dharamsala,
where public protests were held against the attitude of
the doctors and the harassment that the people had to
face. |
Villagers resent illegal hunting NURPUR, July 28 — The illegal hunting of animals in the forest area falling under the Kopra gram panchayat in this subdivision has claimed the lives of two cows and an ox in the past few months, thanks to the apathy of the Forest Department and the local police. According to information, the hunters were identified by the villagers and a complaint was also lodged with the police on July 25. It is alleged that the police instead of taking any action against the guilty pressed for a compromise between the owner of a cow and the hunters. The hunters, it is said, put some explosives wrapped in eatables and keep them in the forest. Any animal which touches the eatables gets blown up. Resentment prevails among residents of the gram panchayat over the hunting of cows which has hurt the sentiments of the locals. The villagers have
demanded action against the accused found guilty of the
killing of the cows. |
HP fixes kharif target KANGRA, July 28 — The Himachal Pradesh Government has fixed a target of 17.74 lakh tonnes of agriculture produce for the year 2000-2001. It includes 10.14 lakh tonnes for the kharif crop and 7.60 lakh tonnes for the rabi crop, according to the Agriculture Minister, Mr Vidiaya Sagar. While addressing a press conference here on Wednesday evening, he said the government was keen to have bumper vegetable production, including of potato and ginger crop this year. A target of 5.80 lakh tonnes has been fixed for vegetables, out of which 1.60 lakh tonnes is for potato and 37000 tonnes is for ginger for the current financial year. For the vegetable development programme Rs 30 lakh would be spent this year, he said. The government had increased the annual budget for the agriculture sector by Rs 45.48 crore as compared to 1997-98. This year the annual budget was Rs 106.70, he said. The production of kharif
crop was expected to touch 1.55 lakh metric tonnes, he
said. |
Plea for promotion panel
meetings SHIMLA, July 28 — The Himachal Medical Officers Association has urged the government to hold meetings of the departmental promotion committee in Indira Gandhi Medical College and the Dr Rajendra Prasad Medical College, Tanda, without delay. The association, which held its annual meeting at Hamirpur yesterday, also demanded the restoration of special increments for postgraduate doctors and removal of anomalies in the recently released time scales. The other demands
included the filling of vacant posts of Chief Medical
Officer, Deputy Director and Joint Director in the Health
Directorate, grant of academic allowance, conveyance
allowance and rural health allowance and the replacement
of the HAS Additional Director by a medical officer. |
HP Dental College gets
recognition SUNDERNAGAR, July 28 — Himachal Pradesh Dental College, which had been facing various difficulties since its inception in 1995, has been finally recognised by the Central Government. The institution, set up by Dr Puran Chand Medical Charitable Trust here, has got high recommendations from the Dental Council of India. The council thoroughly evaluated the standard of education of the students and sent its findings in December, 1999, to the Union Government. This is not only a
prestigious college in the state but also the first one
in the region to get central statutory recognition.
Teaching is done here for the B.D.S. degree course. |
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