H I M A C H A L   P R A D E S H

Roads become too narrow for vehicles 
SHIMLA, Oct 6 — Frequent traffic jams and untrained policemen to handle the increasing volume of vehicles have caused chaos on the roads here. The areas around the General Bus Stand, Sabzi Mandi, Chhota Shimla, Sanjauli and Dhalli have become traffic bottlenecks and motorists, specially tourists, caught in jams have to waste much of their time. 

HP to harness 21,000 mw of power 
NURPUR, Oct 6 — Himachal Pradesh would soon harness 21,000 megawatt of its hydroelectric potential. Mr Shanta Kumar, the Union Minister for Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution, while addressing a public meeting at Indora in this sub-division today said that with the approval of the Government of India, Himachal Pradesh had embarked upon new hydroelectric projects at a cost of Rs 22,000 crore.

State petition against Cong leader fails 
SHIMLA, Oct 6 — A Single Bench of the Himachal Pradesh High Court consisting of Mr Justice R.L. Khurana today dismissed a revision petition filed by state against the order of the District and Sessions Judge, Hamirpur, granting anticipatory bail to Congress leader Prem Kaushal for an offence under Section 295 of the IPC read with Section 3 of the Prevention of Damage of Public Property Act, 1984.

Students seek fee reduction 
HAMIRPUR, Oct 6 — The Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad led by the Students Central Association of a local Postgraduate Government College today submitted memorandum to the government through the Deputy Commissioner, Hamirpur. They urged him to accept its 20 point charter of demands or face an agitation from October 16. The college association is headed by the activists of the ABVP student’s outfit of the Sangh Parivar.

Himachal police launches website 
HAMIRPUR, Oct 6 — The Himachal Pradesh police yesterday launched its own website at Shimla. The website was launched by the Director General of Police, Mr A.K. Puri. The website can be opened at www.hppolice.nic.in. 

Breakaway HVC leader to float new party 
UNA, Oct 6 — Mr O. P. Rattan, leader of a breakaway group of the HVC while talking to mediapersons here yesterday said he would float a new party within a week. The decision to float a party was taken on September 28 at a state-level meeting of the block and district-level presidents and some office-bearers, including state executive members.

• Training programme for JBT teachers 

Roads become too narrow for vehicles 
From S.P. Sharma 
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Oct 6 — Frequent traffic jams and untrained policemen to handle the increasing volume of vehicles have caused chaos on the roads here.

The areas around the General Bus Stand, Sabzi Mandi, Chhota Shimla, Sanjauli and Dhalli have become traffic bottlenecks and motorists, specially tourists, caught in jams have to waste much of their time. And the authorities, it seems, are not bothered about the problem.

Over the years, the number of vehicles here has multiplied, bus hardly anything has been done to widen the roads or get the policemen trained to handle the traffic. The role of the traffic cops comes in mostly when the Governor or the Chief Minister is on the move. At other times, they leave the motorists to their fate.

The motor workshops in Kachhi Ghati and Dhalli on the national highway have become an irritant. They cause traffic jams as the wide stretch on both sides of the road is utilised by them for repairing vehicles. The road is generally got cleared once in a year when the President comes here for a few days during summers and stays in Rashtrapati Bhavan across Dhalli. For rest of the year, buses and trucks remain parked on both sides for repairs.

Although trucks are not allowed inside the town during peak hours, even during the day, many of them block the road below the Sabzi Mandi while being unloaded.

The General Bus Stand has become the biggest bottleneck as buses coming from outside hardly have any space for taking a turn inside. At times, vehicles get blocked as there is a long queue of buses in the tunnel. On the other side, the mini bus drivers park their vehicles right in the middle of the road and traffic policemen watch them helplessly.

Without realising the problems that the pedestrians and the existing volume of vehicles was facing, the authorities are going ahead with issuing fresh permits for mini-buses.

Tourists get harassed at Kufri where the traffic is uncontrolled and vehicles are parked haphazardly.

HP to harness 21,000 mw of power 
From Our Correspondent

NURPUR, Oct 6 — Himachal Pradesh would soon harness 21,000 megawatt of its hydroelectric potential.

Mr Shanta Kumar, the Union Minister for Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution, while addressing a public meeting at Indora in this sub-division today said that with the approval of the Government of India, Himachal Pradesh had embarked upon new hydroelectric projects at a cost of Rs 22,000 crore.

The Union Minister said that the Central Government had launched a new scheme. Annpurna, under which destitute persons above 65 years would be provided with free ration for sustenance. He pointed out that the Government had also launched an ambitious insurance scheme for those living below the poverty line. The Union and state governments would spend Rs 200 each on one person. The next of kin of the insured deceased person would get Rs 50,000 in case of accidental death and Rs 25,000 in case of natural death.

While commenting on the long-standing demand for tribal status to the Gaddis and Gujjars of Kangra district, Mr Shanta Kumar said that this issue had been hanging fire for the past three decades. This issue was under serious consideration of the Ministry of Scheduled Tribes. An official team of the ministry would shortly visit Kangra district before taking a final decision in this connection, he added.

Mr Shanta Kumar informed that Kangra district had been selected among 107 districts of the country by the Government of India for setting up rehabilitation centres for disabled persons and destitutes. This centre would start functioning in the end of this year. The State BJP General Secretary, Mr Ram Swarup Sharma, the Kangra district BJP President, Mr Dulo Ram and local MLA, Mr Des Raj, also addressed the public meeting.

State petition against Cong leader fails 
From Our Legal Correspondent

SHIMLA, Oct 6 — A Single Bench of the Himachal Pradesh High Court consisting of Mr Justice R.L. Khurana today dismissed a revision petition filed by state against the order of the District and Sessions Judge, Hamirpur, granting anticipatory bail to Congress leader Prem Kaushal for an offence under Section 295 of the IPC read with Section 3 of the Prevention of Damage of Public Property Act, 1984.

During the night of August 9, the statue of Mahatma Gandhi installed at Gandhi Chowk, Hamirpur, was damaged by some miscreants. Some parts of the broken statue were recovered from Mr Kaushal’s car which indicated his involvement in the case. Apprehending his arrest, Kaushal and his brother got an anticipatory bail from the Sessions Judge, Hamirpur.

The revision petition was filed by the state, contending that while allowing the bail to Mr Kaushal, the Sessions Judge had not kept in mind the gravity of the offence.

Delivering the judgement, the judge observed that on the basis of the evidence, the court was satisfied that custodial interrogation of Mr Kaushal was not required and that the Sessions Judge had rightly exercised his discretion in favour of Mr Kaushal.

Students seek fee reduction 
From Our Correspondent

HAMIRPUR, Oct 6 — The Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) led by the Students Central Association of a local Postgraduate Government College today submitted memorandum to the government through the Deputy Commissioner, Hamirpur. They urged him to accept its 20 point charter of demands or face an agitation from October 16. The college association is headed by the activists of the ABVP student’s outfit of the Sangh Parivar.

Mr Atul Kumar, the president of the association said here today that the students were becoming restive over the failure of the college authorities and the state government to accept their demands. He said if the demands were not accepted by October 15, they would start hunger strike from October 16.

The students have been demanding reduction in the tuition fees; removal of liquor vend from near the college campus, adequate supply of drinking water, starting of MA classes in Hindi and History as announced by the Education Minister, Mr Ishwar Dass Dhiman, filling of the posts of teachers and non-teaching staff, scrapping of English as a compulsory subject in graduate classes and construction work of the college library as well as the boys hostel.

Himachal police launches website 
From Our Correspondent

HAMIRPUR, Oct 6 — The Himachal Pradesh police yesterday launched its own website at Shimla. The website was launched by the Director General of Police, Mr A.K. Puri. The website can be opened at www.hppolice.nic.in. The website contains information about the department like history of police department, its organisational set-up, directory of officers, trend of crimes in the past five years, names of most wanted persons in the state, list of missing persons, information about stolen vehicles, guidelines for tourists, state map, tips for citizens, helpline and how to become a cop.

Mr Puri said it was the endeavour of the police to provide a citizen-friendly environment and bring about a change in the police-public relationship. For this, the department aimed to ensure speedy investigation of serious crimes, setting up of women’s cell to deal with crimes against women, to provide counselling to women in distress. The police also planned to promote student-police interface by arranging visits of 5000 school students to 82 police stations in the state.

Breakaway HVC leader to float new party 
From Our Correspondent

UNA, Oct 6 — Mr O. P. Rattan, leader of a breakaway group of the HVC while talking to mediapersons here yesterday said he would float a new party within a week. The decision to float a party was taken on September 28 at a state-level meeting of the block and district-level presidents and some office-bearers, including state executive members.

HVC leaders, including Mr Sukh Ram had, said that, Mr Mohinder Singh, PWD Minister, Mr O. P. Rattan, Mr Badial and Mr Ranjit Singh Verma would not be admitted to the HVC. Mr Rattan said none of them had approached Mr Sukh Ram or any other HVC leader nor they intend to rejoin to the HVC. Mr Rattan while, reacting to HVC leaders statement over their support to the BJP said government not only needs support of MLAs or MP but also of the voters.

Training programme for JBT teachers 
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Oct 6 — The Himachal Pradesh Primary Education Society has decided to start "gian kalash", a training programme for inservice JBT teachers through All-India Radio, Shimla, in cooperation with the distance education wing of Indira Gandhi National Open University.

According to an official spokesman, the training programme that began yesterday will continue till January 6. During this broadcast 28 lessons will be delivered and the programme will be aired at 7.05 pm on every Thursday and Saturday from AIR, Shimla.