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| Tuesday,
April 10, 2001, Chandigarh, India   
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WIBP plans vocational
varsity for Himachal Wakf
Board seeks exemption from rent Act Cong to expose BJP on Tehelka
issue Dalai Lama’s physician
dead HP issues fresh orders to Forest
Dept |
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Vidyasagar accused of
nepotism New market fails to attract
vendors Old portfolios for reinducted HP ministers Release of apple growers’ money sought Virbhadra extends support to Stokes Monuments decay due to negligence AITUC secy for govt’s resignation CITU
president hurt in attack
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WIBP plans vocational
varsity for Himachal Shimla, April 9 The government will provide land and other required facilities for the proposed institution, which will be managed by a private trust. There will be no financial burden on the government and the trust will raise its own resources to run the institution. The WIBP will provide Rs 40 crore for construction of various facilities in the initial phase. Dr Priya Ranjan Trivedi, president of the WIBP, who was here to finalise the plan for the university, said that the institution would be started in July if the relevant Bill was passed during the ongoing budget session. He said he had discussed the matter with Mr P.K. Dhumal, the Chief Minister, who was keen to see the university functioning at the earliest. He had promised to give required land. Since it would take quite some time to build a new complex, the government would provide a temporary building to make it functional immediately. Unlike a traditional university, the proposed institution would introduce innovative courses which would not only help provide employment but also provide a long-term solution to the problem of environmental pollution and ensure sustainable development. The courses to be introduced in the first phase included environmental science, pollution control, ecology, biodiversity, astrology, vastushastra, sustainable development, wasteland development, alternative medicine and human rights. Besides conducting courses, the university would also provide consultancy to industries for pollution control. It would also run short-duration courses to impart training in acupressure, yoga flowerpathy and other systems of alternative medicine to promote “medicine-less” treatment. Dr Trivedi said that his organisation had already established institutions overseas, including in the Netherlands, Russia, Australia, Kairibat, Vietnam and Nepal. The university would have its centres in each district and the Himachali students would be charged a reasonable fee of Rs 3000 per annum as against Rs 20,000 to Rs 25,000 charged in other universities. The university would also admit some foreign and NRI students to break even. |
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Wakf
Board seeks exemption from rent Act Solan, April 9 The
board administrator, Dr M.R. Haque, told newspersons here that the
board was mainly engaged in the upliftment of the poor and the
destitute, particularly widows, orphans and the aged. This was being
done with he income from the wakf property. While the board’s
income far exceeded it’s expenditure in Punjab, the reverse was the
case in Himachal. As of today, the income from the wakf property in
Himachal was a mere Rs 31.86 lakh per annum. The budget for the
current year had been projected at Rs 1,71,32,000. The budgetary
deficits were being met by transferring a part of the board’s income
in Punjab to Himachal year after year. Dr Haque said exemption from
the purview of the H.P. Rent Control Act to the wakf property could
help the board get higher rents thereby augmenting it’s capacity to
serve the poor. He pointed out that most of the wakf property had been
rented out decades ago at the then prevailing rates which were low by
today’s standard. He also urged the Himachal Government to immediately appoint a wakf tribunal for expenditious disposal of cases relating to the wakf property and also appoint a survey commissioner for surveying the wakf property afresh, as stipulated in the Wakf Act (1995). Dr
Haque disclosed that the board planned to spend Rs 30.34 lakh on the
construction of Jama Masjid complexes at Kulu and Nalagarh and another
Rs 14.87 lakh on the construction of a students’ hostel at the Jama
Masjid complex, Solan. |
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Cong to expose BJP on Tehelka
issue Hamirpur, April 9 Mrs Thakur alleged that the BJP was a party of big industrialists and that was why it was involved in many scams, including the Tehelka expose. Talking to mediapersons here, she said the party would hold block-level rallies all over the state before April 26. A state-level rally would also be held at Kangra in the last week of April. Mrs Mohsina Kidwai, all-India General Secretary of the party, would address the rally. She charged the BJP with pushing the nation towards a fiscal crisis. This party would be wiped out from the political scenario of the nation after the next elections, she added. Mr Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, HP Youth Congress chief, Mr Balak Ram Sharma, DCC chief, Mr Rajendra Zar, another General Secretary of the state unit of the party, Mr Rakesh Handa, Senior Vice-President of the DCC, were also present at the press conference. Mrs Thakur denied any rift in the party on the issue of holding of parallel rallies. She, however, admitted that a few persons were trying to create a wedge in the party. Mrs Thakur claimed that 90 per cent of the elected persons attended a meeting held today. |
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Dalai Lama’s physician
dead Dharamsala, April 9 Dr Tenzin breathed his last at the Delek Hospital of the Tibetan government at the age of 77 yesterday. A large number of Tibetans, including ministers and senior officials of the exiled government, attended his funeral, which took place in McLeodganj today. The Dalai Lama, who is away on a visit to Taiwan, has sent his condolences on the death of Dr Choedrak. He will be reaching New Delhi on April 11. Dr Choedrak, born to Tashi Tsering in Ringpung Dzong village in the Shigaste area of Central Tibet, completed his study of Tibetan medicine at an early age of 17. Born in 1924, he commenced his study of Tibetan medicine under the guidance of Shekar Tsultrim Tenzin. Later, he joined the Lhasa Men-Tsee-Khang College and graduated in 1952, with the Menpa Kachupa Degree. It was in 1955, that he was appointed the personal physician of the Dalai Lama in Tibet. After the Chinese invasion in 1959, he was imprisoned by the Chinese for nearly 20 years in Chow-Chin prison. During these 20 years spent in detention, he was kept in Sangyip prison in Tibet and the famous Drapchi prison. It was finally in 1979, that he arrived in Dharamsala, where the Dalai Lama had set up his exiled government. A year later, he was appointed the personal physician to the Dalai Lama and since then remained associated with the Tibetan Medical Astro Institute (Men Tsee Khang) in various capacities. He served as the Chief Medical Officer, Director of the Pharmaceutical Department, Adviser to the Materia Medica Department, Herbal Product and Research Department and in the Tibetan Medical and Astrological Institute. Dr Choedrak was one of the most eminent masters of the Tibetan medical tradition. Practically, all exiled Tibetans residing in various part of the state still take treatment from their doctors following the Tibetan medical tradition. Dr Choedrak was sought after by a large number of Indians, who would come all the way to McLeodganj for treatment. |
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HP issues fresh orders to Forest
Dept Shimla, April 9 Replying to the discussion raised by Mrs Viplove Thakur on the issue, Mr Roop Singh, Forest Minister, said that the problems arose as the Centre raised certain objection on the government’s decision to delete the “khudro drakhtan malkiat sarkar” from the revenue record. The Centre maintained that it would be a violation of the Forest Conservation Act which said that forest land could not be diverted for non-forestry use without its prior approval. The state clarified that the land use would not be changed even after the deletion of the entry. The Centre was, however, of the view that it was an important issue and the state should review its decision. Subsequently, the government decided that no felling would be allowed in demarcated forest areas and where forest density was high. He said there was confusion at the field level in implementing the decision as the entries were changed in the revenue record, but not in the record of the Forest Department. The fresh instructions issued on March 15 would remove all doubts and facilitate the felling of trees in accordance with working plans. Earlier, initiating the
debate, Mrs Thakur expressed apprehensions that merely changing the “entry” in the revenue record in this way would not help as the Centre’s prior approval was essential. She said the BJP took credit for the decision and held rallies but the fact was that it could not be implemented. She said the farmers were facing
problems even in felling khair trees, the only cash crop of the lower hills. Mr Chander Kumar said changing the “revenue entry” was a hasty step. The government should have adopted a more practical approach, keeping in view the fact that a Central Act was involved. Hr said as per his information, public interest litigation had been filed in the Supreme Court in this connection. He said there was not much difference between private and government forest and the main objection was that trees worth crores of rupees could not be transferred in one go. He said the government should not stand on prestige and review the decision, keeping in view the public interest. Earlier, replying to a calling attention motion of Mr Kaul Singh regarding illicit felling of deodar trees in the Nachan area, the Forest Minister, refuted the charge that forest mafia had again become active in the state. He said only 55 saplings with girth ranging from 8 cm to 10 cm and two big trees were felled. The market price was Rs 46,000. The department had initiated action much before the matter was reported in the press. An FIR had been registered with the police and investigation was on. He said no one would be spared. Mr Kaul Singh alleged that the forest mafia was raising its head again as was evident from reports of large-scale illicit felling of trees in Nachan, Rajgarh and Nalagarh. He said in Bara and Brandi areas of Nachan, over 100 trees of deodar had been illegally axed. Similarly, hundreds of khair trees from the Nalagarh area were felled and smuggled out and in Habban village of Rajgarh, illicit timber worth Rs 13 lakh had been seized. He alleged that the shortage of forest guards was one of the reasons for the increase in illicit felling of trees. At present, a guard was looking after up to three beats. |
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Vidyasagar accused of
nepotism Dharamsala, April 9 Addressing mediapersons here today, the Congress leader alleged that majority of the development works had been allotted to relatives, friends and BJP party workers, ignoring the duly elected panchayats. He said this was being done at the cost of the public interest as the work done so far was of poor quality. Mr Saini said even after the completion of work on the Malti-Nandrehed water channel, constructed at a cost of Rs 11 lakh, the fields were still dry as the water had not reached there. Mr Saini said large-scale transfer of government employees were being ordered and certain persons were taking money to get these cancelled. He said there was rampant corruption in various departments in the state. Mr Saini further said the BJP had never protected the interests of the OBC’s and had even approached the Supreme Court against the implementation of the recommendations of the Mandal Commission report. He said even Mr Vidyasagar was more concerned about his ministerial berth than anything else. “It is only at the time of elections that they are reminded of 27 per cent reservation for the OBC’s, he added. |
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New market fails to attract
vendors Shimla Vendors in Lower Bazar and Lakkar Bazar prefer to stay put rather than shift to the temporary market. They are still in the streets — and selling, too. Usually these vendors start sales after 5 p.m. when there is “no committeewallah around.” “Why should we go there? Who are they (Municipal Committee) trying to fool? This so-called market is located at a place where nobody will come to buy anything. Moreover, all shops are so congested that it is difficult to even breathe in them”, said one of the vendors who sells his items in Lakkar Bazar. These vendors give one reason or the other for not moving to the temporary market. One of the reasons for not shifting, they say, is that it will take at least six months for the market to become functional. A vendor who used to sit in Lower Bazar and tried to sell clothes in the new market said: “Believe me, this idea of a temporary shelter for us is a flop. For the whole day not even a single buyer turned up. Why should anyone shift to that place if one can earn enough money in the street?” Sources say most of these vendors are being “protected” by politicians and it may not be easy to shift them. According to the Deputy Mayor, Mr Shashi Shakher, it is all because of political interference that the civic body has not yet been able to shift the vendors. |
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Old portfolios for reinducted HP ministers Shimla, April 9 Mr K.K. Kapoor has been restored the portfolio of Transport while Mr Ramesh Chand gets back Irrigation and Public Health. Mr Rajan Sushant and Mr Harinarayan Singh have been given their old portfolios of Revenue and Town and Country Planning, respectively. These
portfolios were given to other ministers when these rebels were sacked from the ministry by Prof Dhumal in February when they issued open statements against his government. They were recently reinducted into the ministry following a patch-up between the two warring factions. Mr Sushant replied to questions that were listed for the Revenue Minister in the Vidhan Sabha. Earlier, Mr Mohan Lal, Minister of State for Ayurveda, was given the additional charge of the Revenue Department. Initially, there were speculations that the four ministers would be given portfolios only after the Budget session when Prof Dhumal was expected to recast his ministry. |
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Release of apple growers’ money sought Shimla, April 9 Replying to a question of Mr Kaul Singh (Congress), Mr Bragta said that apple worth Rs 23.29 crore was procured, for which payment of about Rs 18 crore has been released. Intervening, the Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal, said that under the MIS, 50 per cent payment was to be made by the Centre. Mr Bragta said that for the first time, the HPMC has exported 1500 tonnes of apple juice concentrate to various countries, including Germany and Ghana. The HPMC has strengthened its marketing by entering into a tie-up with Nestle and Hindustan Lever for its products. Mr Kaul Singh urged the government to expedite payments to the farmers who were suffering because of the drought. In a written reply, the Industries Minister informed Mr Kaul Singh and Mr Kuldeep Kumar (Congress) that 6,995 tonnes of fish worth Rs 17.45 crore was produced in the state last year. |
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Virbhadra extends support to Stokes Una, April 9 He was talking to mediapersons here yesterday after addressing a Congress rally. Answering a question, Mr Virbhadra Singh said the composition of the Congress state executive committee was not a balanced one and all sections of society had not been represented. He admitted that differences had cropped up after the party elections in the state. He said 26 election disputes were pending with the Congress election authority. He said he had decided to tour various parts of Himachal Pradesh to increase awareness among the people regarding the BJP’s rule in the state and at the Centre, besides the Tehelka expose. The former Chief Minister said there was nothing wrong in his addressing Congress rallies in the state independently, adding that he had no objection to addressing joint meetings with Ms Stokes. |
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Monuments decay due to negligence Chamba, April 9 The great works of art and architecture carved on walls of these temples are being defaced and nobody seems to be bothered about conservation of these works of art through chemical devices. An official information from the Archaeological Survey of India (A.S.I.) reveals that 12 monuments of historical importance which include temples of Bharmour, Chhatrari and Chamba in the district have been protected by the A.S.I. But, unfortunately, no precautionary measures have apparently been taken to ban the sheep, goats and cows in the precincts of these monuments to protect the significant works of art and architecture. |
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AITUC secy for govt’s resignation Bilaspur, April 9 Addressing a state-level conference of AITUC at the local Kisan Bhavan on Saturday evening, Prof Pandit alleged that the Vajpayee government had compromised national security by indulging in alleged “secret” deals. He criticised the Central Government for encouraging multinational companies and giving employees a raw deal. |
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CITU
president hurt in attack Mandi, April 9 They were assaulted near Takauli when they were going to the project authorities for negotiations. As the news of the attack on the CITU president spread, a large number of CITU workers damaged several vehicles and ransacked shops in Thalaut and Auto townships. The vehicles damaged included a police motor cycle and a jeep of the 3 Pandoh
Battalion. The Deputy Commissioner and the SP, along with a police contingent, rushed to the scene of the violence. Baisakhi
fair from April 12 Nahan, April 9 A cultural programme will also be organised on the occasion. According to residents no support had been received from the government to organise the fair or to renovate the ancient temple. |
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2 brothers crushed to death Dharamsala, April 9 According to the police, Jagjeet (36) and Vijender (33), residents of Chadred village, in lower Suket, near Jawalamukhi, died on the spot. A case has been registered. Tractor driver killed in mishap Mandi, April 9 |
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Dasgupta is HP Age Care chief Shimla, April 9 Other office-bearers are: Mr M.M. Gulati (vice-president); Ms Nirmal Khanna (general secretary); Mrs Rama Sharma (joint secretary); and Mr B.L. Nagpal
(treasurer). |
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