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| Sunday, February
11, 2001, Chandigarh, India   
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Shanta loyalist
suspended Dhumal’s winter tour
of Kangra begins
Dhumal warns against highway encroachments Lab to land “a myth” Dry spell ignites forest fires |
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Strike called off after 100 days Rly Board building
turns into inferno College teachers
not promoted since ’98
College official booked for fraud TYC opposes China’s
Olympic bid Panchayati Raj
conference held Ex-servicemen
donate 7 lakh to CM’s fund Plan to revamp HRTC: minister
Nod to subsidy on power tillers Induct Sukh Ram in
ministry: HVC men Security in girls
hostel sought Complete bandh in
Kulu Markandeya rules
out merger Cong wins Una ZP poll
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Shanta loyalist
suspended DHARAMSALA, Feb 10 — The unity displayed by the rival factions of the BJP during the Kangra Zila Parishad elections has proved to be short-lived as the suspension of the district general secretary and Shanta loyalist, Mr Kamal Padha, from the party has once again led to battlelines drawn between Shanta and Dhumal men. The party announced the suspension of Mr Padha on Thursday. Mr Padha, who hails from the Shahpur area, has stood behind Mr Shanta Kumar even after the local MLA, Mrs Shraveen Chaudhary, shifted loyality to the Dhumal camp. Ever since, he had constant differences with Mrs Chaudhary, who was made Parliamentary Secretary by the Chief Minister. Mr Padha, expressing surprise over his suspension, said he still did not know the reason for his suspension. “It was last night that I got to know about it from the district BJP president, Mr Dulo Ram, who had learnt about it from the regional news,” said Mr Padha. He added that till date he had not been issued any notice by the party. When asked if he was being targeted for being a Shanta man, Mr Padha said the two factions had buried the hatchet during the zila parishad elections but a few persons with vested interests were trying to rake it up. Party insiders say it was a resolution passed by the Shahpur BJP that invited suspension for Mr Padha. It was on February 3 that the partymen here had held a meeting and thanked the Chief Minister for transferring family members and relatives of BJP workers. The resolution had stated that the people of Shahpur would welcome the Chief Minister for ordering the transfers of his own men. Interestingly, Mr Dulo Ram, when contacted, said he was neither consulted nor intimated about the decision of the suspension of Mr Padha. “I feel that the manner in which this has been done is wrong, as he was not even given an opportunity to be heard,” he said. Mr Dulo Ram, who held a meeting of the district BJP at Baijnath yesterday in connection with the Chief Minister’s tour said since he had not received any information about the suspension, Mr Padha would continue to function as the general secretary. Political observers point out that action against Mr Padha was bound to spark off fresh trouble as the Shanta camp would not take things lying low. Supporters of the Union Minister say that Mr Padha was being victimised as he has been vociferous in criticising the Chief Minister. On the other hand, those belonging to the Chief Minister’s camp say making such remarks directly against the Chief Minister and going to the Press was an offence serious enough to invoke suspension. If he had some grievances, he could have personally approached the Chief Minister rather than making an issue of it,” say partymen. |
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Dhumal’s winter tour
of Kangra begins DHARAMSALA, Feb 10 — Taking the Congress to task for accusing the BJP of “abducting” its elected members, the Chief Minister, Prof
P.K. Dhumal, today said that the election of chairmen and vice-chairmen of the zila parishads and panchayat samitis should be held directly to avoid controversies. Addressing a public meeting at Baijnath on the first day of his winter tour of Kangra, he said the matter of holding direct elections would be examined so that all election-related wranglings would be taken care of. The Chief Minister said the “annapurna
antyodaya” scheme would be launched on March 3 in Chamba. He said all formalities of identifying poor families had been completed and the Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Mr Shanta Kumar, would launch the scheme. He said efforts would be made to get maximum roads built in the state under the Rs 2,500-crore Prime Minister’s “gram sadak
yojna”. Prof Dhumal said 40 acres had been set aside for the setting up of an Apollo hospital at Holta near Palampur. He said as soon as work on census was completed, Baijnath and Paprola would be made into a nagar parishad as per the wishes of people. Earlier, he laid the foundation stone of a bridge over Pun khud and of a primary health centre at
Chaubeen. He also inaugurated a Rs 24-lakh SDM office at Baijnath. HAMIRPUR, FEB 10
— Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal has asked officials of the Department of Public Works to ensure that national highways are not encroached upon. He said he had found that several people were raising buildings on all proposed national highways where construction would start soon. It was a serious matter and officials in whose areas the encroachments were found, would be held responsible for the lapse, he said. Addressing a meeting of district officers here last night, he said the drought situation was becoming alarming. He asked the officers to work with dedication and implement the policies and programmes of the state and the Centre in order to accelerate development activities. He assured the officers that despite the fiscal crisis, the pace of development would not be slowed down. Adequate funds for necessary work would be provided to them. The Chief Minister said the Centre had sanctioned a Rs 137-lakh scheme for the disabled in Hamirpur district. He stressed the need the growing off-season vegetables in the district and said a Rs 139-lakh vegetable-growing project had already been started. Under this project, an area of 450 nectares would be covered. |
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Lab to land “a myth” SOLAN: No eyebrows were raised when a poor couple engaged in farming took two sackfuls of onion seedlings for sale to the Parmar University-organised kisan mela on the institution’s main campus at Nauni on January 10. Nobody — at least none among the university dons — perhaps lost even a wink of sleep when the poor souls, who had been hoping to net at least Rs 2,000 by way of sale, trudged back home, about 15 km away, virtually on empty stomachs, without being able to dispose of even a single plant. Little wonder, though, that there were no takers for their produce. They were neither registered “nurserymen” nor had taken the requisite care in packing their produce properly. As per the standard nursery practices, professedly often advocated by university scientists, they should have packed the roots of the seedlings in adequate mass of soil. This should have been followed by wrapping of the packed roots with moistened gunny cloth. When questioned, they said they had been selling onion and other seedlings in their village neighbourhood without getting any complaint for the past 10 years or so and that it was for the first time that they had heard about keeping the roots covered and moist, but agreed that it “made sense.” But how come farmers living close to the university were unaware of these basic nursery practices? Inquiries reveal that a significant number of farmers, mostly illiterate, are as ill-informed as the couple who took their seedlings to the mela. A local nurseryman, who sells his seedlings on the pavement in the city market, mostly catering to the needs of kitchen garden enthusiasts, said: “For ages my folks had been using the seedlings grown by them in their own fields. As the uprooting and transplantation operations were done almost simultaneously, nobody ever felt the need for learning about packing and all that. And, Sahib, who would have taught us even if we wanted to learn? At least I have never met any ‘sarkari admi’ who said he had come to teach the likes of us about “nayee kheti’.” The university’s Director of Extension Services, Dr O.P. Sharma, said that the university, despite severe financial constraints, supplemented the state Agriculture Department’s efforts at providing extension services, conducting at least 400 training camps at the doorstep of farmers every year. Talks on standard farm practices were regularly broadcast on All India Radio. “However, it can’t be denied that we may have failed to reach some sections of the farming community. But please bear in mind that our young institution barely manages to afford a little over 2 per cent of its total budget for extension services.” Is there need for providing more funds for establishing a comprehensive agricultural extension network? Is the extension methodology of the university in tune with the needs and aspirations of poor farmers? Perhaps, these questions could best be answered by experts. However, the powers that be, who never tire of exhorting scientists to take lab technology to the field, must sit up and ensure that small and marginal farmers of the kind who took their seedlings or pods for sale to the mela do not suffer deprivation. |
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Dry spell ignites forest fires SHIMLA, FEB 10 — The unusual phenomenon of forest fires breaking out in high hill areas during the peak of winter has set the alarm bells ringing for the state’s ever-depleting forest reserves. The unprecedented dry spell has indeed turned the forests into a huge tinderbox which could burst into flames anytime. In the absence of snow, the thickly forested mountain ranges in Rohru, Jubbal, Kotkhai and Chopal, which normally donned a dazzling white mantle during this time of year, have been obscured by a thick screen of smoke. The maximum number of fires have been reported from Rohru. Not only the pines, which are prone to fires, even deodar forests have been engulfed by flames in certain areas. There have been reports of forest blazes invading apple orchards and causing irreparable loss to farmers. While most of the fires have been accidental, in some cases, these have spread from “ghasnis” which are set afire by villagers in the belief that it would ensure speedy growth of grass. Under normal weather conditions, forest fires start breaking out towards the end of April and peak during June. However, this year, the dry spell sparked off fires in January itself. There has been virtually no rain or snow since September, except a mild snowfall on the New Year day, which did not make any difference. Abject lack of moisture on the forest floors which have been covered with a thick layer of highly inflammable pine needles and other waste, increased the fire hazard. The dry spell has led to premature leaf fall, specially of pine needles. As a result, the quantity of inflammable material had also increased. In fact, the Forest Department which anticipated such a scenario in view of the continuing dry spell, had last month directed its field staff to undertake intensive controlled burning and other preventive measures. However, nothing could be done as in the prevailing conditions, which left the forest floors bone dry, controlled burning of forests could be a risky affair. A senior officer of the department said controlled burning is possible only when there is enough moisture on the forest floor which ensures that the inflammable material burns slowly and the fire can be kept under control. In the present conditions, controlled burning could not only engulf forests but also villages. The department has now sent instructions to the field staff to undertake controlled burning as soon as the region receives rain. Until then, other measures like drawing of fire lines, can be adopted. Usually, these measures are taken in February and March to reduce the fire hazard in the summer months. Till the rain god obliges, the department will have a tough time in protecting the vast expanse of forests from fires. This year, even deodar, kail and oak forests, which are conventionally not vulnerable to fires, have been rendered prone to this hazard. The department has appealed to the villagers not to set their “ghasnis” or agricultural fields ablaze. The officials are trying to drive home the point that the general belief that fires helped in better growth of grass and caused rains was misplaced. When there is no moisture in air or ground, fires could aggravate the impact of dry spell, they explain. In some areas, like Nahan and Renuka, villagers have not only responded to the appeal of the department, but also lent a helping hand in fighting the fires. The response was exceptionally good in areas where Village Forest Development Committees (VFDCs) had been formed under the “Sanjhi Van Yojana”. In 1996 when the state recorded the maximum number of fires, the government had been forced to threaten the villagers that their timber distribution rights would be suspended if they failed to cooperate with department in extinguishing forest fires. NAHAN, FEB 10
— The 100-day-old strike of the Himneel Breweries Limited of Paonta valley has been called off after an agreement was signed between the management and employees union in presence of Mr Rakesh Kaushal, Deputy Commissioner, Sirmour, in his office on Thursday. The district administration had been making efforts to end the strike. Before this two meetings were held in presence of the Labour Commissioner of the state . According to the agreements signed by Mr Sameer Shrivastva, executive director of the breweries, on behalf of the management and by three representatives of the employees union, it has been agreed that services of three employees of the factory will be terminated after payment of nine-month salary to them as a special compensation. These employees are Anand Kumar, Rajiv Ranjan Singh and Randev Singh Tomar. It has been agreed that all judicial cases filed by both the parties with the police or the court, individually or collectively, will be withdrawn unconditionally. All the employees will be paid one-month salary. It has been also agreed that strike period of the employees will be treated as a special leave and no break in service will be in the service record of any employee due to strike period’s absence. |
Rly
Board building turns into inferno SHIMLA, Feb 10 — A major portion of the more than 100-year-old Railway Board building was destroyed in a fire this evening. The fire, which was still blazing in the evening had reduced to ashes the top two storeys of the seven-storeyed structure. Fire engines from the mall fire station, located 400m away, reached the scene instantly. However, by the time they could put their act together, leaping flames had already engulfed the building. Strong winds made the task of firemen all the more difficult. The fire had started from the western side which was not accessible from the road side. The fire started from the middle of the top floor and spread within minutes to the lower floor of the building housing several important offices. These included the offices of the CBI, Income Tax, National Academy of Audit and Accounts, a circle of the state Public Works Department, National Sample Survey Organisation and a wing of the Excise and Taxation Department. The building which stood out for its unique architecture and structural design was constructed in 1896. It was the biggest iron-gripped-stone edifice multi-storeyed structure of the British times. The building originally was fire-proof, but the wooden panelling and furnishings carried out later and made it vulnerable to fire. Situated close to the Gorton Castle, it housed the Railway Board and the office of the Commerce Department of the Imperial Government. The firemen are now trying to save the lower floors and prevent the fire from spreading to the cluster of residential buildings located downhill. Senior district officials, including Mr
A.N. Sharma, Superintendent of Police, and Mr H.N. Kashyap, Municipal Commissioner, supervised the fire-fighting operations. The area has been cordoned off by the police to keep the people who had gathered in strength away from the inferno.
SOLAN, Feb 10 — Resentment prevails among Himachal Government College lecturers over the Education Department’s failure to hold any meeting of the departmental promotion committee (DPC) during the past over two years. For most college lecturers, elevation to the rank of Principal is the only promotion that comes their way during their long careers. The last DPC meeting was held in 1998. Since then, several lecturers eligible for promotion to the rank of Principal had retired from post they had joined at the beginning of their careers. A mathematics lecturers at the local Government postgraduate college who had joined service as in 1966, retired in the same post last year. Ironically, over 15 vacancies of college principal existed at the time of his retirement. These vacancies have remained unfilled till date. A similar fate awaits at least five more lecturers in case a meeting of the DPC is not convened in the next few months. When contacted, the Director of Education, Dr O.P. Sharma, said no DPC meeting could be convened on account of the issue of promotion having become subjudice in 1998. He said woman lecturer, whose case for promotion was not considered at the DPC meeting on grounds of her having joined Panjab University, had filed a writ against the panel of names recommended at the committee meeting. The court had ruled in her favour. But the government proposed to go into appeal which would again make the matter of promotions subjudice. Dr Sharma, however, hastened to say that this time the lecturers eligible for promotions would not have to suffer. It had been decided that the DPC meeting would be held shortly with the stipulation that its recommendations would be made subject to the decision of the court of appeal which would be binding on each of the promotees. CHAMBA, Feb 10
— The district police has unearthed a racket of smuggling out answerbooks of Himachal Pradesh University in the local Government Post-Graduate College for the past few years. Giving this information here yesterday, the Superintendent of Police, Mr Sanjay Kundu, said a case of fraud, misappropriation, tampering with official records had been registered against one J.K. Verma, an official of the college. The SP said the Himachal Pradesh University answerbooks had been used for personal gains covertly with the intention of cheating the university. The case had been registered with the police on the basis of a statement recorded by Mr V.D. Kuthiala, Principal of the Government Post-Graduate College here. Mr Kundu said the university authorities had been asked to submit the necessary record to enable the police to further proceed in the case.— UNI
DHARAMSALA, Feb 10 — To oppose China’s bid to host Olympic-2008, the Tibetan Youth Congress had decided to organise a worldwide signature campaign. Reacting to a statement by the IOC President that the committee would only look into the technical issues during inspection of the five bidding cities, rather than going into the human rights record and political issues, the Tibetan Youth Congress said this would be contrary to the Olympic spirit which stood for peace and mutual respect among nations. The Vice-President of the TYC, Mr Karma Yeshi, said China had the worst record in human rights violations and did not stand for love and peaceful co-existence. He said the TYC and its regional branches had already sent thousands of signatures to the IOC headquarters in Switzerland. He said the TYC and various supporters throughout the world had also started signature campaign. “It will be an insult to the institution of Olympics if a nation with a history of invading other territories is chosen to hold the event,” he argued. “Let Beijing give the Tibetans and the Chinese human rights in their homeland, before bidding for the Olympics,” he demanded. Mr Yeshi regretted that the world seemed to have forgotten the Tiananmen Square massacre in which thousands of youths were killed by the Chinese leadership. |
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Panchayati Raj
conference held NAHAN, Feb 10
— A district-level Panchayati Raj Representative Conference was oragnised at the residence of Ms Shyama Sharma, BJP leader and vice-chairperson of HP Planning Board here today. More than 500 Panchayati Raj representatives, including a large number of presidents and vice-presidents of different panchayats from all over the district took part in the sammelen. A good number of block development committees and zila parishad office-bearers and members also participated. Ms Shyama Sharma, while addressing the representatives, made it clear that this conference was called to ensure the participation of Panchayati Raj representatives in the planning process of the state. She said she would take all suggestion and proposals made at the conference into consideration and place the same before the Chief Minister for his approval. She agreed that all proposals for the development of the area should be finalised after the consideration of the local panchayat and strictly as per the need of the people. She also announced the launching of a “kranti march”.
Ex-servicemen
donate 7 lakh to CM’s fund SHIMLA, Feb 10 — The Himachal Pradesh Ex-servicemen’s Corporation has made a contribution of Rs 7 lakh towards the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. A cheque of the said amount was presented to the Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, at Samirpur on Thursday by Col C.R. Chauhan, Chairman of the corporation. The Schedule Castes and Schedule Tribes Employees Welfare Association has contributed Rs 11,000, gram panchayat, Kala Amb, Rs 10,000, gram panchayat, Pandher, Rs 7,001, gram panchayat, Dimi, Rs 6,800, gram panchayat, Sohal, Rs 5,100, Mr Dev Raj Sharma, member, BDC, Nadaun, Rs 5,100 and gram panchayat, Bagwara, Rs 9,000. Students and staff of Samirpur High School made a contribution of Rs 7,000. The Tabo Monastery contributed Rs 10,000, Upper Kaza Seva Sangathan Rs 8,000, Mr Nowang Chhering, Vice-Chairman, Panchayat Samiti, Spiti, Rs 2,025, staff of Additional Deputy Commissioner, Kaza, Rs 12,900, Government High School, Hansa, and villagers of Hansa and Kiato Rs 23,410 towards the fund. |
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Plan to revamp HRTC: minister JWALAMUKHI, FEB 10 — The state Transport Minister, Mr Kishan Kapoor, said here today that the BJP government would make the Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) an economically viable unit by taking it out of the crisis created by a deficit of Rs 200 crore. Talking to mediapersons, he said a concrete plan to revamp the HRTC was in the offing. It would aim at improving service and work culture with an emphasis on raising the income. He said there were 1,800 buses and an equal number of private buses in the state. He said permits of private buses which were not plying on routes assigned to them would be cancelled after a warning. The minister said accountability and responsibility would be fixed at all levels for negligent acts. “If any accident occurs due to the negligence of those at the workshop, the guilty would be penalised,”he said, adding that, in order to avoid the clash of timings, routes of HRTC and private bus would be finalised. Checking of tax evasion by private bus operators, especially in the border areas, would be the priority of the transport authorities. Special flying squads would be pushed into service in this regard. He said according to the new plan, all long route buses would have their seating capacity reduced to 47 from 52 to give more leg space. KANGRA, Feb 10 — The Centre has approved 38 per cent subsidy to the tune of Rs 20,000 on each power tiller to be purchased by farmers through the Agriculture Department. This was stated by the Agriculture Minister, Mr Bidiaya Sagar at a press conference here yesterday. He said power tillers would be introduced to increase production. He said 100 vegetable projects had been set up in the state during the current financial year to achieve the target of 5.8 lakh tonnes of vegetables, 1.6 lakh tonnes of potato and 37,000 tonnes of ginger. He said the department had introduced the latest technology for the production of vegetables. In the state, 405 lakh hectares was brought under the rabi crop this year. For the current financial year a target of 17.74 lakh tonnes of foodgrain was fixed with 10.14 lakh tonnes for the kharif and 7.60 lakh tonnes for the rabi crops. He said a target of 11000 tonnes had been fixed for pulses, 3050 quintals for pulse seeds and 1700 quintals of oil seeds had been distributed among the farmers.
Induct Sukh Ram in
ministry: HVC men SHIMLA, Feb 10
— While Mr Sukh Ram, Himachal Vikas Congress supremo, maintaining that he is not keen on rejoining the Dhumal ministry, a section of the partymen is clamouring for his re-induction into the Cabinet. The partymen have appealed to Prime Minister Vajpayee to ensure the re-instatement of Mr Sukh Ram in the ministry as he had quit in the wake of a charge sheet filed by the CBI against him in connection with telecom scam to save him from embarrassment. Now that the Delhi High Court has discharged him in the case, he should be back in the cabinet. Mr P.K. Dhumal, Chief Minister has on the other hand been evasive on the issue and maintained that he had not received any such request from Mr Sukh Ram or the
HVC.
Security in girls
hostel sought BILASPUR, Feb 10
— The Himachal Pradesh Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and Backward Classes Youth Organisation has urged the college and district administrations to ensure proper security in the girls’ hostel of the local Government Postgraduate College. Organisation president Anoopchand Bhatia, senior vice-president Madan Gopal, organising secretary Satyadev Jaswal and Sadar Block president Subhaschand said here on Thursday that some “anti-social” elements had succeeded in sneaking into the hostel premises during night hours a couple of days ago and started teasing the girls. It was only after an alarm was raised by the chowkidar on hearing the girls’ screams, that the trespassers escaped before the police arrived on the scene. The incident has terrorised the inmates and the girls are feeling insecure, while their parents, in far-off places are a worried lot. The leaders said within the past few months this was the third instance when “anti-social” elements entered the girls’ hostel. They urged the authorities that apart from regular patrolling of the area by senior police officers at odd hours, regular police guards should be provided outside the hostel. |
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Complete bandh in
Kulu KULU, Feb 10 — Following a call given by the RSS and the BJP leaders a complete bandh was observed in the town today. The bandh was observed in protest against the suspension of Mr Dinesh Sen, district president of the BJP, by the state BJP President. Shops and other business establishments remained closed and even ‘rehri walas’ were not allowed to operate. Mr Dinesh Sen told this correspondent that the decision to suspend him was taken by the party under pressure from Mr Karan Singh, Minister of State for Primary Education. It may be recalled that a feud between Mr Sen and the minister during municipal council elections had led to bitterness between them. Meanwhile, Congress leaders condemned the bandh and said it was the result of differences between the two factions of the BJP. They said it was for the first time that the internal differences among the BJP leaders were exhibited so vividly. However, Mr Karan Singh and Mr Maheshwar Singh MP, were out of station and were not available for comments.
Markandeya rules
out merger HAMIRPUR, FEB 10 — The HVC will maintain a separate identity and not merge with any political party, Mr Ram Lal Markandeya, Minister of State for Animal Husbandry, said here yesterday. Talking to mediapersons here yesterday, he said the HVC would emerge as a force to reckon with in the state in the next elections. He, however, said the coalition between the BJP and the HVC would continue. Mr Markandeya refused to say anything on the issue of granting deputy minister’s status to Mr Sukhram. Replying to a question, he said the increase in the number of stray animals was due to failure of artificial insemination system among the milch animals due to alleged differences between doctors and pharmacists. Efforts were on to end this gap, he added. |
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Cong wins Una ZP poll UNA, Feb 10 — At its third meeting the Zila Parishad yesterday, Congress candidate Mrs Pawna Devi and Mr Ranbir Singh Rana, were elected chairperson and vice-chairperson. In the elections Congress-supported 10 candidates were declared elected while only two BJP-supported candidates were elected. Four BJP rebel candidates also won while one seat was won by an HVC candidate, Mr Sohan Singh. |
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Phones out of order MANDI, FEB 10 — The telecommunication network here was totally disrupted today and as a result of which the town and all other places linked with the local telephone exchange remained cut off from the rest of the world for 10 hours. All telephones went dead at about 8 a.m. and the services were restored only at 6 p.m. |
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8 houses gutted KULU, FEB 10 — Eight houses were gutted at Barsheni village 65 km from here, today.
Two fire engines have been rushed to the spot from here. The SDM has also reached the spot.
No loss of life has been reported so far. SHIMLA, Feb 10 — The Asia’s only natural ice-skating rink completed 100 sessions here today for the second time since 1963.
The management of the club distributed sweets among young ice-skating enthusiasts on the occasion. Earlier in 1997 the club held 110 sessions.
Mr Bhuvanesh Banga, secretary of the club, said though the temperature had risen considerably yet eight to 10 sessions could be held. The dry spell had indeed proved to be a boon for ice-skating enthusiasts. With snowfall becoming increasingly scarce and irregular ice-skating was the only attraction for tourists, who throng the queen of hills during
winter.
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