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| Friday,
August 31, 2001, Chandigarh, India   
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HP fails to utilise minimum flying hours Cash crops change face of Spiti Phase II of Killar project
dropped HPMC bags
award Set your house in order, Cong
leader tells CM |
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Bhatacharya is Addl Chief Secretary Man held for duping phone exchange LJP gen secy alleges vendetta
by Dhumal govt Probe sought into ‘irregularities’in
temple purchases Sewerage to be expanded in Sundernagar NRI beauty on Himachal visit V.K. Malik
shifted to Delhi
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HP fails to utilise minimum flying hours Shimla, August 30 Under the agreement, the state has to pay for the helicopter at the rate of Rs 1.03 lakh per flying hour on the condition of minimum utilisation or 50 hours per month. As such the government has to pay Rs 51.50 lakh every month to the company whether it utilises the aircraft or not. During the past two years, the state has not been able to utilise the minimum hours. Since March, 2000, to June last, it utilised the helicopter in excess of 50 hours only for four months. The government now plans to request the company to carry forward the unutilised flying hours so that it can make use of these. It also plans to place the helicopter at the disposal of the State Tourism Development Corporation for conducting aerial sightseeing flights for the benefit of tourists. |
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Cash crops change face of Spiti Shimla, August 30 During reorganisation of Punjab in 1966, Lahaul-Spiti was merged with Himachal Pradesh. The district is the biggest in size and smallest in population among all 12 districts of the state. The agro-climatic conditions of the district are conducive for cultivation of cash crops like seed potato and green peas. Traditional crops have been almost replaced by cash crops. An area of 800 hectares is targeted to be brought under cultivation of potato seed, 1600 hectares under vegetables and 85 hectares under horticulture to produce 1600 metric tonnes of potato, 1800 quintals of vegetables and 75 tonnes of fruit during the current financial year. The state government has set up a hops processing unit at Baddi in Solan district to ensure remunerative prices to hops growers. Special attention is being given to sprinkle irrigation and an ambitious Rs 3 crore crop irrigation project is expected to be commissioned soon. The latter will irrigate an area of 80 hectares. The first school in the district was opened in 1919 and now there are 142 primary schools, 16 middle schools, 17 high schools, a senior secondary school and a degree college. Several schemes have been launched to prevent student dropout. Animal husbandry is being strengthened in the district. The state government has accorded top priority to roads which are the backbone of economy. The Border Roads Organisation is maintaining several strategic roads. The flow of funds to the tribal sub-Plan from the state sector has increased over a period of time from 3.65 per cent in 1974-75 to 9 per cent in the Ninth Plan. |
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Phase II of Killar project
dropped Shimla, August 30 The phase I of the Killar project was commissioned about four years ago. It was providing a burden for the HPSEB as electricity was being generated at a cost of Rs 40 per unit. The Chief Secretary and Chairman, HPSEB, Mr Harsh Gupta, said it had been decided that mini projects would now be constructed in the tribal area to generate electricity for local villages. These projects would be commissioned by the HIMURJA. A meeting was recently held by the Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal, to review the decision on constructing Killar II and it was decided that small electric projects would be constructed in the Saichu valley and the Purthi and Sural areas of the tribal area. The Killar I (300 kw) has suffered damages every now and then and smaller projects could supply uninterrupted power to the villages. These would not only be economical, but a lesser network of transmission lines would be required. Small and medium power projects in the tribal areas had not been an encouraging experience as these had got damaged due to snow and landslides, it was felt. The Rongtong project in the Spiti valley was damaged recently because of melting of a glacier. The Gaj Baner and Binwa projects in the Kangra were damaged due to flash floods on July 29. The feeder tunnel, collection bowl and desilting chamber were filled with silt and boulders and 150 metres of road near the intake and 60 metres in front of the powerhouse washed away. The Binwa project suffered extensive damage. The control room at the intake and the bridge between the rivers Binu and Parai were washed away. |
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HPMC bags
award Shimla, August 30 This award has been conferred because of export of quality apple juice concentrate to Europe and America in the last year. This was made possible following the improvements in its Parwanoo plant. He stated that the HPMC had achieved the record turnover of Rs 45 crore in 2000-01 by improving its marketing network in all areas. The HPMC had bagged supply of its juices in Indian Airlines. The HPMC is also making good quality apple wine and cider which has been liked by the people of Kerala and Chandigarh. To compete with the New Zealand and Australian apple, the HPMC this year, is storing its apples in its cold storages at Oddi and Patlikuhl and by applying the modern post-harvest technology, the apple would be brought in the market in the months of March-April next year. Hence, Himachal apples, which is better than Australian apple, will be available to the consumers in off season also.
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Set your house in order, Cong
leader tells CM Hamirpur, August 30 She said by making false accusations against Mr Virbhadra Singh, the Chief Minister had lost his all decency. She said the Chief Minister should first set his own house in order. The BJP was a divided house and the recent resignation by three ministers from the Cabinet had already shown it. Mrs Verma claimed that Mr Virbhadra Singh was the ablest Chief Minister, the state had produced. The setting up of an Engineering college in Hamirpur and starting of many projects in the Bamsan area proved that he was a true democrat and had special regard for the district. Congress leader denied charges of nepotism against the former Chief Minister. She said the charge of giving jobs on chits was also a baseless tirade against the former Chief Minister. She alleged that the Chief Minister was upset as Mr Virbhadra Singh was going to launch party’s campaign in the home constituency of Prof Dhumal on Saturday. Mrs Anita Verma was
optimistic that Congressmen from all parts of the district would take part in the Lambloo rally. |
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Bhatacharya is Addl Chief Secretary Shimla, August 30 She will continue to hold charge of the Departments of Labour, Employment, youth services, printing and stationery. Her promotion came in place of Mr Harsh Gupta, who had been promoted Chief Secretary. Ms Harinder Heera, Secretary, Welfare, was promoted Financial Commissioner. |
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Man held for duping phone exchange Nahan, August 30 He said when the police raided the exchange, the suspect tried to run away but was arrested. The president of Surla panchayat was one of those who witnessed the raid. The incident was video taped by the raid party. A police party has been dispatched to Saharanpur and some other places to arrest his possible aides and verify his statements. Mr S.P. Singh thanked Mr Ram Gopal, an employee of the Telecom Department, who brought the whole story to the notice of the police. Mr Ram Gopal had reported that the suspect had approached him to manage the ISD line at the exchange for his exclusive use during night hours. He had offered to pay Rs 30,000 per month to Mr Ram Gopal for this facility. The SP said during monitoring done by the police, it revealed that this man used the ISD facility provided at the exchange to enable people of Indian origin in Saudi Arabia to make calls to different places in India. In other words, he was providing a conferencing facility between people in India and Saudi Arabia. To ensure that the calls were not metered, he used his own TWT card at the exchange. The suspect has confessed that he had visited Saudi Arbia in 1995 and had links there. He also admitted that he used to charge Rs 200 per call, the SP added. A case had been registered under Sections 20, 23 and 25 of the Indian Telegraph Act and Section 380 and 420 of the IPC. |
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LJP gen secy alleges vendetta
by Dhumal govt Shimla, August 30 Mr Chauhan, who was talking to reporters here today, alleged that cases were “fabricated” against him and members of his family. He was also being threatened by the police to withdraw a complaint against a senior police officer, he alleged. Mr Chauhan said that he was arrested but no action was taken against two sons of a police officer, who allegedly, made a murderous assault on him some time ago. He claimed that a ‘katha’ factory of his brother was sealed and he and his wife were arrested although their unit was running legally. On the other hand, an illegal ‘katha’ factory of a ruling BJP activist in the Sirmaur district was not touched by the authorities, he alleged. Mr Chauhan alleged that he was being victimised so that he did not contest against the BJP candidate. |
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Probe sought into ‘irregularities’in
temple purchases Kangra, August 30 Addressing a press conference here today, Mr Choudary alleged that the temple management and the maintenance committee set up by the government had failed to maintain the sanctity of the temple and should be dissolved. He demanded that the details of the purchases by the temple management should be made public. Mr Ashok, INTUC leader, who was also present at the press conference, alleged mismanagement of “langar” and other affairs at the Brajeshwari temple and said politicisation of religious places was hurting the sentiments of people. |
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Sewerage to be expanded in Sundernagar Mandi, August 30 Addressing a meeting of officials of the Public Health Department the minister said the initial allocation for the project was Rs 5.66 crore which had been further enhanced to Rs 13.38 crore. The work on the project was being executed on a war footing, he added. In the first phase 300 houses were being covered and another 550 houses would be provided with the facility in the second phase of the project. He directed the officials concerned to expedite the work on the Rs 4.19-crore water supply augmentation scheme for Sundernagar. |
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NRI beauty on Himachal visit Nurpur, August 30 Addressing school students she called upon them to inspire their family members to become eye donors. Miss Upadhaya (24) who has been earlier adjudged as Miss India-2000 in USA is a journalist and is working for the Times magazine. She is not keen to join the film industry.
Her family hails from the Kumaun area of Uttaranchal. |
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V.K. Malik
shifted to Delhi Shimla, August 30 He is the seniormost police officer in the state. He is likely to take over the charge in the next two days. Mr
A.J.V. Prasad, Deputy Commissioner, Kulu, is all set to move to
Chhatisgarh. The Centre has approved his request for the change of cadre. |
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