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| Saturday, February 3,
2001, Chandigarh, India   
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Vora’s warning to erring party men Eight die as bus falls into khud New cell to monitor foreign-aided plans Stokes’ statement misleading:
minister HVP men against
joining Jan Shakti Dalai Lama prays for quake victims |
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BJP leader hurt
in clash Helicopter flights
from today District Diary Work on parking lot begins 
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Vora’s warning to erring party men SHIMLA, Feb 2 — Taking a serious note of the ongoing war of words involving senior Congress leaders, Mr Moti Lal Vora, general secretary of the All-India Congress Committee and in charge of Himachal Pradesh, has issued a stern warning that action will be taken against those violating norms of discipline set by the party. In a letter to the Pradesh Congress Committee chief, Mrs Vidya Stokes, he said of late a number of reports based on statements of senior party leaders against each other and also against the party policies had appeared in the media. Besides, rallies were being organised without the approval of the PCC or the high command by individual members. All this was painting a very bad picture of the party before the electorate and demoralising the workers at the grass roots. There was an urgent need to enforce discipline by ensuring that no leader irrespective of his stature made statements against any other leader, criticised the party policies or aired his grievances in the media. Further, no individual should be allowed to organise any rally. All rallies would be organised with the permission of the PCC. He also asked the PCC to organise workshops for leaders and workers at regular intervals to discuss policy matters and sort out differences, if any, in the party. Senior AICC leaders would attend these workshops as observers. The factional fighting in the party spilled over to the streets during the recent organisational poll. The situation had not improved even after the installation of Mrs Stokes as the PCC chief. The group headed by Mr Virbhadra Singh, Congress Legislature Party leader, had been virtually boycotting all her programmes. The indirect criticism of Mrs Stokes and the rallies held by her by the former chief minister promoted the high command to intervene and discipline the erring
leaders. Eight die as bus falls into khud SHIMLA, Feb 2 — Eight persons were killed and nine injured, six of them seriously, when a bus of the Himachal Pradesh Road Transport Corporation (registration no HP-25-0738) rolled 300 feet down into a khud near Gummah, 50 km from here today. The ill-fated bus was, on its way from Ram Nagar to Kotkhai. There were 17 persons onboard when the mishap occurred. While four persons died on the spot, three succumbed to injuries in the Kotkhai community health centre. The seriously injured persons were brought to the Indira Gandhi Medical College hospital here. Mr Puran Chand, conductor of the bus was among those killed, while driver Rachpal Singh was injured. Mr Khushi Ram Balnatah, vice-chairman of the HRTC, and Mr P.C. Katoch, Deputy Commissioner, along with a team of doctors and policemen supervised relief and rescue operations. Dr Suraj Bhan, Himachal Governor, expressed grief over the accident and conveyed his sympathy to the bereaved families. Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, Himachal Chief Minister, has also expressed grief over the tragedy. He directed the medical authorities to provide treatment to the injured. He also asked the administration to give ex-gratia relief to the next of kin of the deceased. Mrs Vidya Stokes, Himachal PCC chief and Mr Krishan Kapoor, Transport Minister and Mr Narinder Bragta, Horticulture Minister also expressed shock over the accident. Those killed have been identified as Rajesh Sharma of Jais village, Gopi Ram (Koti-Himri), Sohan Lal (roller driver), Sachin Chauhan (Bakhol), Roshan Lal (Dhalli), Puran Chand (bus conductor), Debu alias Reena of Khaneti and Kharak Bhhadur The injured are Amar Singh (Ram Nagar), Krishan Lal (Pajaur), Durga Chand (Parain), Rach Pal Singh (driver) Mohan Lal Jhingta, Sheela Devi, Giri Raj, Happy, Kharak Bahadur and
Pushpa. New cell to monitor foreign-aided plans SHIMLA, Feb 2 — The Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal, today announced the setting up of a special cell in his office for monitoring the implementation of externally aided projects in the state. Presiding over a meeting of legislators convened to fix priorities for the annual plan, 2001-02, he said the cell would also pursue proposals for foreign-aid projects. He also announced that the performance of officers would be judged from their success in bringing funds to the state from the Centre under various schemes. He stressed the need for decentralised planning to accelerate the pace of development and urged MLAs to give their suggestions to achieve better results. The government had already made a beginning by devolution of powers and funds to the panchayati raj institutions and local bodies during the past three years and added that it was committed to giving them more powers to fulfill Mahatama Gandhi‘s dream of ‘gram swarajya’. He also sought suggestions to raise resources and curtail unproductive expenditure. Public representatives should also prepare consumers for paying user charges so that they could be provided better services. The Chief Minister said that the Central Government had agreed to relax the population norms for the hilly state for approval of schemes under the Prime Minister’s Gram Sarak Yojna. In place of a population of 1000 in the hills, villages with a population of 250 would be covered under the scheme. While according priorities of water supply schemes, the not-covered and partially-cover habitations should be given top priority so that funds for these schemes could be ensured under accelerated rural water supply and Prime Minister’s Gramodya Yojna. For irrigation schemes, those schemes should be given priority which could be covered under the accelerated irrigation benefit programme and rural infrastructure development fund. The Chief Minister reiterated that a cell would be set up in the Public Works Department for getting forests cleared for construction of roads. Ms Shyama Sharma, Deputy Chairman, State Planning Board, said that the system of mid-term appraisal of plans on started last year had gone a long a way in effective implementation of schemes. Mr Gangu Ram Musafir (MLA) suggested holding of meetings at the district level for reviewing the progress of schemes accorded priority. Stokes’ statement misleading:
minister SHIMLA, Feb 2 — Mr Ravinder Ravi, Minister of State for Technical Education and Power, has expressed surprise over the statement of Ms Vidya Stokes, president of the state unit of the Congress, accusing the Dhumal government of selling out the interests of the state by signing MoUs for the execution of power projects with private
parties. In a statement here yesterday, he said the Congress government having failed to exploit the hydel potential of the state despite remaining in power for so long, its leaders were giving irresponsible statements to mislead people. The statement of Ms Stokes that the MoUs would be re-examined if her party came to power was also unfortunate as agreements could not be abrogated by a single stroke of pen by any one in power, he said. There were terms and conditions and obligations on both sides. The MoUs for the projects in the state were not being signed on one to one basis. The project proposals received from private parties were evaluated on the basis of prescribed criteria which took into account financial and technical strength of the applicant. The applicants were shortlisted by a committee headed by the Chief Secretary and then the cases were taken to the Cabinet with recommendations. Mr Ravi said since 1998, when the present government came to power, work on projects with an aggregate capacity of 6100 MW had been taken up. As per the latest plan, it was proposed to harness additional power of about 10,000 MW over the next decade, he added. |
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HVP men against
joining Jan Shakti SHIMLA, Feb 2 — Leaders of the Himachal Vikas party (HVP) are against joining the Lok Jan Shakti, the party floated by Mr Ram Vilas Paswan, Union Minister for Communications. The office-bearers of the party who met here yesterday under the chairmanship of Mr O.P. Rattan, its president, to discuss the situation arising out of the announcement made by Mr Mohinder Singh, a former PWD minister, that the party had merged with the Lok Jan Shakti, were of unanimous view that it was not at all desirable to join the party as it did not suit HVP men either. However, they decided to form a four-member subcommittee under the chairmanship of Mr O.P. Rattan, to explore various possibilities, including joining a national party or strengthening the existing outfit. The other members of the subcommittee are Mr Kewal Ram Chauhan, Mr Ranjit Singh Verma and Mr Bachittar Singh. It will submit its report within two weeks which will be discussed at the party’s meeting to be held at Bilaspur on February 17. It expressed concern about the huge loss of life and property in Gujarat. Dalai Lama prays for quake victims DHARAMSALA, Feb 2 — The Tibetan spiritual leader, Dalai Lama, today held a special prayer service at the main temple in McLeodganj, in memory of those killed during the devastating earthquake in Gujarat. The Tibetan leader, who arrived here yesterday after a visit to Kumbh at Allahabad, made special prayers for speedy recovery and wellbeing of the affected people of Gujarat. Prayers were also made to ward off any future calamity in the country. To express their solidarity and concern for the people of India, the Chairman of the Tibetan Cabinet, Mr Sonam Topgyal, presented a cheque, worth Rs 3 lakh, to the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee. Exiled Tibetans all over India had been directed to raise donations and collect clothes, blankets and other essential items for the earthquake victims. Tibetan officials said that in order to be with the people of Gujarat, in this hour of need, teams of the Tibetans would be sent to the affected areas. BJP leader hurt
in clash SOLAN, Feb 2 — Five persons including two women, were injured in a property related clash between two neighbours at Ghalai village in Kandaghat tehsil, about 12 km from here, last evening. The injured included Mr Mohan Singh Thakur, president of the Solan unit of the gramin mandal of the BJP. The police, following registration of cross cases, arrested five persons under Sections 147, 148, 149 and 506, IPC, for rioting and criminal intimidation. It was alleged that farm and house construction tools were used by the assailants in the clash. All five injured were immediately rushed to the primary health centre, Kandaghat, from where four had been shifted to the district hospital here. Helicopter flights
from today SHIMLA, Feb 2 — Helicopter flights to tribal areas will be resumed from tomorrow, according to an official release. The Kulu-Killar-Chamba-Killar-Kulu flight will take place on February 3, followed by Shimla to Kaza and back and Shimla to Rekong Peo and back on February 5. Kulu-Tindi-Ajog-Kulu and Kulu-Sissu-Stingri-Kulu flights will take place on February 6, Kulu-Stingri-Jispa-Kulu and Kulu-Baring-Udaipur-Kulu on February 7, Kulu-Killar-Chamba-Killar-Kulu on February 12, and Kulu-Stingri-Kulu and Kulu-Sissu-Stingri-Jispa-Kulu on February 13. Kulu-Baring Udaipur-Kulu and Kulu-Udaipur-Stingri-Kulu flights will take place on February 14, Kulu-Tindi-Ajog-Kulu and Kulu Stingri-Kulu on February 15. While Kulu-Baring-Udaipur-Kulu and Kulu-Sissu-Stingri-Kulu flights will take place on February 22, Kulu-Killar-Chamba -Killar-Kulu flight will take place on February 23. Kulu-Udaipur-Tingri and Kulu and Kulu-Stingri-Jispa-Kulu flights will take place on February 24. |
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District Diary MANDI: Development works in Mandi town have either come to a halt or their progress has slowed down due to the shortage of funds, says a former Vidhan Sabha Speaker, Thakur Kaul Singh. He laments that work on the Rs 4 crore Regional Hospital building has been going on at a snail’s pace for the past three years. He says the then Congress government had provided Rs 50 lakh for the building in the first year of its tenure, but the present state government has released only Rs 29 lakh in three years. On July 16 last year the Health Minister, Mr J.P. Nadda, while inaugurating the intensive care unit at the Regional Hospital, had declared that Rs 10 lakh provided in the Budget for the hospital was inadequate and that an additional Rs 1 crore would be sanctioned. The amount has not been received so far. Similarly, work on the Rs 2 crore Town Hall building has practically come to a standstill for want of funds. It is learnt that Rs 85 lakh is required for the completion of the building. « « « « The second largest town of Himachal Pradesh has no proper bus stand. A dilapidated structure constitutes the bus stand of this centuries old town of temples and the gateway to the Kulu valley. The foundation stone of a modern bus stand was laid during Congress rule by the then Union Minister Sukh Ram. A self-financing commercial complex had also been planned. However, rivalry between the then Chief Minister and Mr Sukh Ram led to shelving of the project. Intriguingly, even during the tenure of the present BJP-HVC government the construction of the bus stand has not been taken up. A large number of tourists, including foreigners, visit Mandi on the way to Kulu, Lahaul, Spiti and Ladakh. « « « « The biggest
Golden Mahasheer farm in the country has been approved for Sidhpur in Sarkaghat subdivision of this district. Half of the cost of this Rs 4 crore project will be borne by the Central
Government. A sum of Rs 1 crore has already been remitted by the Centre. The state government has provided only Rs 6 lakh in the Budget. The lone mahasheer farm in the country is located at Lonavala in Maharashtra. It has been set up by the Tata Hydroelectric Company. Before approving the project, a report had been obtained from an expert, Mr S.N. Ogale, working on the Tata farm. He had done netting in the Suni, Kandapattan, Renuka, Pong Dam and other areas to assess the viability of the Sidhpur farm. The Assistant Director, Fisheries, Mr N.S. Chaudhary, says work on the project will be started shortly. « « « « Despite the construction of a 132 kva substation at Bijni, near here, power consumers are complaining about low voltage. People had been waiting eagerly for the completion of the Rs 13.64 crore substation hoping that the power supply position would improve, but that has not happened. « « « « The decision of the state government not to grant any financial assistance for the centuries old Shivratri fairs has disappointed people in the district. The Chief Minister, who was here recently, denied to provide any funds for the purpose. Residents say that the government should cut unnecessary expenditure on activities like the laying of foundation stones and the creation of posts in departments on grounds of political expediency. They say fairs and festivals have played a big role in preserving the ancient cultural heritage. Besides, these promote business and tourism. |
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Work on parking
lot begins PARWANOO, Feb 2 — To reduce the traffic congestion on the Kalka-Shimla national highway at
Parwanoo, the work on a parking lot for oil tankers has already begin. This information was given by Mr Sanjay Sharma, Assistant Commissioner of
Parwanoo. He said the district administration and the management of Indian Oil Corporation that has an oil depot here, had jointly selected the site near the oil depot. He said a joint technical inspection had also been carried out by the Assistant Commissioner, technical officer of the IOC depot and the SDO of the national highway. Mr Sharma said this parking lot would ease out the traffic congestion caused by oil tankers on the national highway. DIG promoted SHIMLA, Feb 2 — The Himachal Government today promoted Mr Ashok
Sood, DIG, Vigilance, as IG (Vigilance). |
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