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| Friday, August 18, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
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Hill named after ITBP officer Teenagers misusing medicines Dhumal releases 2 publications Water shortage in HP village HVC for talks on panchayat poll MLAs’ contribution to relief
fund HP seeks Rs 500 cr from Centre |
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| Hindu Mahasabha holds dharna KANGRA, Aug 17 — The Himachal unit of the All-India Hindu Mahasabha today sat on a dharna outside the office of the Subdivisional Magistrate here in protest against the alleged “mismanagement” of the government controlled Bajreshwari temple and demanded that free langar for pilgrims and sadhus be organised in the morning and evening. Recruitment rally from Sept 11 2 killed, 21 hurt in road mishap ‘Vigilance week’ from
Oct 31 HC grants bail to two accused Dhumal releases 2 publications
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Teenagers misusing medicines KASAULI: Consumption of cough syrups like Benedryl, Corex and Phensydyl and capsules like Proxyvon by teenaged school and college students in Solan town is emerging as an alarming problem. It is reliably learnt that these medicines are being dispensed flouting all norms regarding the sale of medicines on a prescription from a qualified medical practitioner. These cough syrups contain anti-histamines, the excessive consumption of which leads to sedation, explained a doctor. Enquiries made by this correspondent revealed that it is possible to procure any of the above-mentioned medicines in Solan without a prescription on extra payment, sometimes double the cost printed on the labels on the bottles. Phensydyl (100 ml) is priced at Rs 39, but if one is ready to shell out an extra amount ranging from Rs 7 to Rs 20, it is easy to buy the medicine. Public places like parks or isolated spots are used by addicts to consume these medicines. Empty bottles of the cough syrups can be seen strewn at various places. The drug inspector concerned, Thakur Sher Singh, said the consumption of Iodex and ‘‘powdered’’ lizard and sniffing petrol and ink were also part of this problem. He refused to accept that the problem had acquired serious dimensions in the area. He denied any laxity on the part of his department. He claimed that vegetable vendors procured the medicines from neighbouring states and sold them surreptitiously to all and sundry. He claimed that in the Nalagarh, Baddi and Parwanoo areas such medicines were not sold without prescription slips. However, this is contrary to reports. The Chief Medical Officer, Dr L.B. Purohit, pointed out that strict instructions were issued to chemists’ shops to verify the genuineness of the prescription slip together with the patient coming to buy these medicines before selling them. It is also learnt that ayurvedic doctors in the region are prescribing allopathic drugs which is again a violation of medical norms. A few doctors agree that the sale of items like cough syrups has picked up in the town. Since these medicines were not very costly, children managed to buy these from their pocket money, said one parent. Another problem is that of quacks. Quackery has become a bane of the poor in the region. The rising cost of medicines coupled with illiteracy among the rural population has increased this menace. According to some doctors, these quacks prescribe steroids to ignorant patients for most of the ailments. Steroids cost less and act quickly. But in the long run they not only impair the natural immunity of the body but also lead to serious conditions later. Most of the quacks dispense medicines on their own and rarely ask the patients to buy these from a chemist’s shop. Quick relief and low expenditure are factors that draw villagers to quacks. By the time a patient approaches a qualified doctor the disease has reached the acute stage and is sometimes beyond cure. Dr Purohit says the department is preparing a list of all doctors in the region for verification.
Hill named after ITBP officer DHARAMSALA, Aug 17 — A hill in the militancy-hit border areas of Kehar in Chamba district has been named after an ITBP officer posted there. The government is contemplating action in this regard. On a visit to the border areas of Kehar adjoining Jammu and Kashmir, one can see “Goraya Hill” inscribed prominently on a hill in white stone. The hill near Khundi Mural, the last post of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) in Himachal, has been named after ITBP Commandant H.S. Goraya posted there. The Deputy Commissioner, Chamba, Mr T.D. Negi, when contacted said the matter had been brought to his notice and he was trying to verify facts before taking any action. It is learnt that a notice is being issued to the ITBP to remove the name from the hill. “It is unusual and against norms to name a hill after an officer who is posted in the area, said a senior officer. He contended that a place, be it a hill or any other natural landscape, could be named after somebody only after prior permission of the government. The matter had also to be brought to the notice of the Survey of India. Government officials pointed out that it was only during war or if a person had exhibited exceptional valour that a site was named after the individual. The ITBP Commandant, Mr Goraya, said there was nothing wrong in naming the hill after him as it was just an identification mark. “This is a common thing among forces like the ITBP and BSF for which we do not need to take permission from anyone,” he said. He said other hills in Kehar area, too, had been named after certain officers, but he refused to divulge details for security reasons. The ITBP was deployed in the border areas of Chamba two years ago following the massacre of 35 persons, by militants on the night of August 2, 1998, at Kalaban-Satrundi, in Tissa sector. Eversince, there has been no encounter with the militants. From time to time on the basis of satellite imaging pictures and intelligence reports, there have been indications that militants are still using Chamba as a safe haven. The lack of coordination between the ITBP and H.P. Police has in the past caused some confusion regarding the movement of militants in the area. The spotting of 10 militants by the H.P. Police personnel at the Langera post had led to an extensive search operation and combing of the area in March this year. However, ITBP officials said the policemen had mistook “black bears” for militants. “It is possible that we cannot differentiate between militants and bears,” “quipped one of the police personnel in Kehar area. He explained that since it was the month of March everything was conspicuous from a distance as the area was under thick snow. Apart from this, better facilities like good food, clothing and shoes for ITBP personnel has demoralised the H.P. Police personnel who feel since they are serving under similar conditions, they should be given free ration and better clothing and shoes. The H.P. police complain that despite doing a good job under harsh conditions, the state government, including top politicians, continue to give more credit to the ITBP than to their force. They feel all forces
fighting militancy in the border areas should be treated
equally. |
Dhumal releases 2 publications SHIMLA, Aug 17 — The Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal, here yesterday released two publications brought out by the Directorate of Primary Education with a view to bringing about qualitative improvement in the field of education. The class-I book, “Bachche Seekhen Khel Khel Main,” includes all aspects of the overall development of children. Besides reducing the burden of books on students, it aims at promoting physical, social and mental development of children. It will be introduced in a few selected primary schools this year and in all schools from next year. The department is also preparing books for classes-II and III which will be completed by October, 2000 and March, 2001, respectively. The department has also prepared a teaching module titled “Samarth” for vidya upasaks who have been appointed recently to meet the shortage of teachers in primary schools in the far-flung areas of the state. Mr Dhumal also released
two volumes of a book titled “Horticullture
technology vision 2000 and beyond,” edited by Dr
V.K. Sharma and Dr K.C. Azad. |
Water shortage in HP village KANGRA, Aug17 — There is an acute shortage of drinking water in Pragpur village, the first heritage village under Dehra subdivision. The duration of water supply to the village ranges between 15 minutes and 20 minutes. In the absence of adequate water supply, harried residents are left with no option but to make do with the available stored water. Ironically, the supply does not improve during the peak rainy season. The situation worsens with the advent of summer. The residents’
repeated requests to the authorities concerned have
evoked no tangible outcome so far. Whenever they have
approached them, the stock two liner “The work
regarding digging up of an additional reservoir is
already under way. Just wait and watch”, have
greeted them. |
HVC for talks on panchayat
poll HAMIRPUR, Aug 17 — Mr Vijay Joshi, acting President of the Himachal Vikas Congress, today urged the Chief Minister to organise an all-party meeting to discuss the suggestion of the BJP chief that panchayat elections should be held on party basis. He said at present there was no such clause in the Panchayati Raj Act. Addressing a press conference here yesterday, he said the doors of the party were open for the breakaway faction. Mr Deepak Sharma, Joint Secretary of the party, and Mr Dharam Dass, district president, also attended the press conference. Mr Joshi said members of the breakaway group were free to go to the party supremo, Mr Sukh Ram, to discuss the issue of rejoining the party to strengthen its base. Mr Joshi, who was here to review the progress of organisational elections in the district, said the membership drive would be completed by August 31. The schedule for the elections would be announced in the first week of September. He condemned the
desecration of the statue of Mahatma Gandhi in Hamirpur
and demanded the arrest of the persons responsible for
it. He also reiterated his party’s demand to expel
Mr Mohinder Singh from state Cabinet. |
MLAs’ contribution to
relief fund SHIMLA, Aug 17 — All BJP legislators will contribute Rs 5 lakh each from the Vidhayak Kshetra Vikas Nidhi towards the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund to help the victims of flashfloods in the Sutlej. The decision was taken at a meeting of the BJP legislative party held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, here yesterday. Besides, all members also decided to contribute one month’s salary to the fund. The members also
observed a two-minute silence for those who lost their
lives in the floods. The meeting also passed a resolution
condoling the death of Ganga Singh, Durga Chand, Chatro
Ram and Chuni Lal, all former MLAs or MPs. |
HP seeks Rs 500 cr from
Centre SHIMLA, Aug 17 — The Himachal Government has sought a special assistance of Rs 500 crore from the Centre for carrying out relief and restoration measures in the areas ravaged by flashfloods in the Sutlej. An official resolution thanking the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, for releasing as 100 crore and seeking more funds as special assistance was moved by the Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, in the state Assembly today. He said the unprecedented flashfloods, the cause of which could not be ascertained so far, wreaked havoc in Kinnaur, Shimla, Mandi and Kulu districts. The government has asked the Centre to study satellite pictures to solve the mystery of the floods which originated from somewhere in Tibet. Giving details of the loss, he said in all 140 persons were killed and 1,775 head of cattle perished in the floods. As many as 6,633 houses were damaged, 151 hectares of land was washed away and over 200 km of road was either washed away or extensively damaged. Besides, 20 bridges and 22 ropeways were washed away and another 12 bridges were damaged and 1,743 drinking water supply and irrigation and sewerage schemes and flood protection works were either washed away or damaged beyond repair. The 220 kv Bhabha-Kumarsen power transmission line, the 66 kv Kotla Kumarsen line, the 120 MW Bhabha powerhouse the 22.5 MW Gahnvi powerhouse, the 3 MW Gumma project and the 1.7 MW, Chaba project and the under construction Nathpa Jhakri project were also damaged. The total loss had been estimated at Rs 1489.74 crore. So far, the government had spent Rs 105.87 crore on relief and restoration measures. The entire Rs 45 crore under the Calamity Fund and Rs 1.10 crore from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund had been released. As many as 44 persons, whose houses had been washed away, had been given to biswas of land and Rs 6,78 crore distributed among the victims as ex gratia relief besides 754 blankets and 88 tarpaulins. Restoration work was being carried out on a war footing. So far, 25 km of pedestrian path and 41 km of mule track had been opened for traffic. Besides, 25 ropeways had been installed. Out of the 179 affected villages in Kinnaur power supply had been restored in 138 villages and the Kunihar line and Kotla-Kumarsen transmission line had also been repaired. Over 2,450 quintals of foodgrains and 13,950 litres of kerosene had been airlifted by carrying out 138 helicopter sorties. He said the government had urged the Centre not to change the state for the sorties carried out by the IAF helicopters as it was not in a position to pay for it. Mr Dhumal said he had written to all MPs to contribute some amount from their Local Area Development Fund to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. Initiating the debate on the resolution, Mr Virbhadra Singh, Leader of the Opposition, said the relief and restoration measures were woefully inadequate, given the magnitude of the disaster. He said the death toll could be more as so far no village survey had been carried out to ascertain it. There was hardly any machinery available to speedily repair the national highway from Khab to Wangtu. At the current tardy pace of work it would take a long time to open the road to heavy vehicles. He complained that some of the ropeways set up in haste were not up to the mark and the persons using them had been injured. Some of the mule tracks like the Roghi-Tapri track, which the government claimed had been opened, were still closed. He said airlifting ration to feed a population of over 45,000 was not feasible and the government should see to it that roads were repaired expeditiously. He demanded a support price of Rs 24 per kg for apple in Kinnaur district to protect the economic interests of growers, who were not in a position to transport their produce to the market. He said since the maximum possible relief for loss of property a person could get under the relief manual was a meagre Rs 35,000 the government should give more money to them from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund so that they could rebuild their houses. Mrs Vidya Stokes of the Congress suggested that the apples procured under the market intervention scheme in Kinnaur should be wherever possible processed. The repair work of link roads should be handed over to Panchayati Raj institutions. She said new construction machinery should be deployed to ensure speedy restoration of roads. Mr Kaul Singh alleged
that the government did not have any money for relief
measures. The victims of the cloudburst in Mandi had been
given only between Rs 5,000 and Rs 10,000. |
Hindu Mahasabha holds dharna KANGRA, Aug 17 — The Himachal unit of the All-India Hindu Mahasabha today sat on a dharna outside the office of the Subdivisional Magistrate here in protest against the alleged “mismanagement” of the government controlled Bajreshwari temple and demanded that free langar for pilgrims and sadhus be organised in the morning and evening. Mr Nalender Gautam, state president of the mahasabha, led the demonstration. The protesters raised anti-temple management slogans along with members of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and the Indian Trade Union Congress (INTUC). Addressing the demonstrators, Mr Gautam demanded that free langar should also be organised in the evening in the Bajreshwari temple which had been stopped for quite some time. He announced that the dharna would continue daily till August 24. He demanded that the government should appoint a temple officer other than a revenue officer. Capt Santosh Kumar, mandal president, HVP, Kangra, expressed concern over the “sub-standard” material used in the langar. Mr Ashok Himachali of INTUC alleged that the temple funds were used for providing better facilities to government officers whereas pilgrims were being denied free langar.
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Recruitment rally from Sept 11 HAMIRPUR, Aug 17 — The local branch of the recruitment office is organising an open recruitment rally for the eligible candidates from Hamirpur, Una and Bilaspur districts at Government Polytechnic, Baru, Hamirpur, from September 11 to 14. Col K.G.Menon said here today that the screening of the candidates of the general category from Una and Bilaspur districts would be done on September 11 and of those from Hamirpur on September 12. The screening of wards of serving soldiers, ex-servicemen, and war widows from Una and Bilaspur districts would be done on September 13 and of those from Hamirpur on September 14. He said the written examination for those selected on the basis of screening would be held on September 24 at the rally site. For joining the Army,
the candidate should be in the age group of 16 to 21
years as on November 10, 2000, and should have passed
class X, he added. |
2 killed, 21 hurt in road mishap KUMARHATTI, Aug 17 — Two persons died and 21 were injured, seven of them seriously, when a Punjab roadways bus (PB-11-I-3714), carrying them collided head on with a speeding truck (HR-37-A-0948) near Datyar, on the Kalka-Shimla National Highway (no. 22), about 19 km from here this morning. The accident took place around 8.30 am. The bus which was coming from Patiala, was on its way to Shimla. Parveen Kumari (30), resident of Kurali Da Bagh in Kangra district succumbed to her injuries while being brought to the hospital. The driver of the bus, Mr Paramjeet Singh, also breathed his last at the Government Medical College Hospital, Sector 32, Chandigarh. The injured admitted to the PGI are: Gurmukh Singh from Ropar, Hari Mohan from Mani Majra, Nitu Kumari, the daughter of Parveen Kumari, Vikas Chopra from Panchkula, Subash Chand has been referred to the Government Medical College Hospital, Sector 32, Chandigarh. Mr Purshotam Singh, Executive Officer of Municipal Committee, Solan, was discharged after first aid. Those admitted to the ESI Hospital, Parwanoo, are Kuldeep Singh from Batala, Anku Devi from Kuthar in Kasauli tehsil, Bhag Singh, the conductor of bus, Sonu Pal from UP, Deputy Dutt, a head constable in the Chandigarh Police from Pacchad in Sirmaur district, Raghuvir Singh from Garhwal, Sunil Kumar from UP, Ram Singh from Bihar, Balbir Singh, Devi Lal both from Kumarsain in Shimla district and A.N. Patel, Hira Ben Patel, Anil from Ahmedabad. The driver of the truck is learnt to have fled from the spot. The police has impounded the truck and a case under Sections 279, 337 and 304 of the IPC has been registered.
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‘Vigilance week’ from Oct 31 SHIMLA, Aug 17 — In a bid to make the campaign against corruption a mass movement, the Himachal government has decided to observe ‘Vigilance awareness week’ from October 31 to November 4 every year. The Education Department and all universities in the state will organise competitive debates and lectures on corruption-related issues amongst the students in colleges and schools. The non-government organisations, institutions and service associations in the local areas will also participate in the ‘vigilance awareness week.’ It has also been decided
that pledge would be administered to all public servants,
irrespective of their status, by the concerned heads of
the department or senior-most officer on October 31 at 11
a.m. In addition to this banners and posters will be
displayed at all prime locations with a view to creating
awareness among the masses. |
HC grants bail to two
accused SHIMLA, Aug 17 — A single bench of the High Court consisting of Mr Justice M.R. Verma has granted bail to Mr Harnam Singh of Jogindernagar, Mandi who was alleged to be involved in a murder case. Prosecution contended that the accused was involved in the commission of a very serious offence for which one of the legally provided sentence is extreme penalty of death, therefore keeping in view the gravity of the offence and the severity of punishment provided, therefore the accused is not entitled to be released on bail. Mr R.K. Gautam, counsel for the accused contended that the accused was totally innocent. Moreover he is minor 17 years of age, is a student having passed VIII standard and he has to take admission in the next class. And because the accused is minor and in case if the applicant was allowed to remain in custody along with criminals, it would have adverse impact on the applicant. In this case while granting bail the judge observed that the age of the accused, his intention to pursue further studies and the part played by him in the commission of the alleged offence are the factors which must weigh in favour of the grant of bail. A single bench comprising Mr Justice K.C. Sood has granted bail to Mr Sukhpal of Kandaghat who was arrested under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substance Act. The counsel for accused Mr N.K. Thakur contended that the place of recovery was open store having no doors and had free access to each and every one in that store. The accused was arrested by the police on July 2 and since then he was in custody.
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Dhumal releases 2 publications SHIMLA, Aug 17 — The Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal, here yesterday released two publications brought out by the Directorate of Primary Education with a view to bringing about qualitative improvement in the field of education. The class-I book, “Bachche Seekhen Khel Khel Main,” includes all aspects of the overall development of children. Besides reducing the burden of books on students, it aims at promoting physical, social and mental development of children. It will be introduced in a few selected primary schools this year and in all schools from next year. The department is also preparing books for classes-II and III which will be completed by October, 2000 and March, 2001, respectively. The department has also prepared a teaching module titled “Samarth” for vidya upasaks who have been appointed recently to meet the shortage of teachers in primary schools in the far-flung areas of the state. Mr Dhumal also released
two volumes of a book titled “Horticullture
technology vision 2000 and beyond,” edited by Dr
V.K. Sharma and Dr K.C. Azad. |
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