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Thursday,
March 21, 2002, Chandigarh, India  
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Budget pro-poor, says Dhumal Stokes seeks loan waiver for HP
Virbhadra lashes out at BJP Cong leader convicted for felling trees |
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| HPPCB withdraws permission to Oberois Shimla, March 20 In a fresh development pertaining to the controversy regarding the Wildflower Hall, the HP Pollution Control Board (HPPCB) has withdrawn the permission to operate the Rs 100-crore hotel by the Oberois on the plea that they had failed to obtain clearances from various departments. Kufri special area boundary changed Workshop stresses on herb farming Concern over use of dry toilets HC notice to govt over shifting
of college
Lawyers told to attend court Mandi Shivratri festival ends HPU teachers’ stir tomorrow Mandi liquor vends fetch
Rs 23 cr
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Budget pro-poor, says
Dhumal Una, March 20 Mr Dhumal said a common man benefitting Budget had been presented for the coming year and interests of all categories were safeguarded by providing them relief. He said social security pension of widows, handicapped, and the old had been increased. Farmers had been provided relief by exemption in the sales tax on fertilisers. Mango had been brought under market intervention scheme and provided support price at par with apple growers of the state so that the fruit growers of the lower areas could also get the benefit of the scheme. Speaking about the development works in the Kutlehar Assembly segment, Mr Dhumal said besides carrying only various developmental works in the area Rs 13.41 crore were spent on various activities of the Public Works Department as compared to Rs 5.08 crore spent by the previous government during their last four year tenure. He said that an ambitious water supply scheme of Rs 16 crore was being formulated which would solve the drinking water problem of the people of the area. He said Rs 1.38 crore were spent on the construction of roads during year 2000-01 while Rs 2.30 crore were being spent during current financial year in the Kutlehar area. The Chief Minister announced the opening of an industrial training institute at Bangana, besides Rs 40 lakh for the construction of community health centre building and Rs 50,000 for the purchase of furniture at the police station. Mr Jagat Prakash Nadda, Health Minister said the government was aware of the problems of the oustees of various dams constructed in the state and was working on the plans to provide them the necessary relief. He said oustees of Bhakra Dam were being allotted residential plots. Mr Ram Dass Malangar, Deputy Speaker, welcomed the Chief Minister and elaborated the ongoing development. Later Mr Dhumal also inaugurated Krishi Vigyan Kendra at Una. |
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Stokes seeks loan waiver for HP Shimla, March 20 Mrs Stokes while talking to mediapersons said the BJP government headed by Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, who had been claiming that the NDA government at the Centre had been helpful to the state, should seek a Rs 10,000-crore special package from Mr Vajpayee when he comes here on March 24. She said instead of identifying the root cause for the “financial anarchy” in the state, Mr Dhumal was always blaming the previous Congress government for the problem. The Congress government might have taken loans of small amounts, but during the BJP regime the amount of loan had sharply increased to Rs 10,000 crore. She said the situation would not improve with the small amounts of advance loans provided by the Centre from time to time. A one-time substantial grant would only help the state to come out of the financial crisis. Mrs Stokes said the performance of the BJP-HVC combine government, which completes four years in office on March 24, had been dismal and none of the pending issues, including realisation of arrears of payment from the
BBMB, imposition of generation tax and various other matters, had been settled. These issues could have easily been settled when the BJP-led government was ruling the Centre and the state and the party was in coalition with the Akali Dal in
Punjab. She accused the Dhumal government of showering benefits on big industries by providing interest-free loans to some of them and on the other hand stopping subsidies to poor farmers and burdening them with taxation. The PCC chief demanded that the VHP and the Bajrang Dal should be banned immediately in view of the attack on the Orissa Assembly. The government had lost the confidence of the people due to its failure in handling communal riots in Gujarat. Uncertainty had been created as Mr Vajpayee had been succumbing to the pressure of allies even on unjustified demands, she said. Mrs Stokes warned that she would not tolerate indiscipline in the party. She said she was not against holding of separate rallies by the CLP leader, Mr Virbhadra Singh, but the District Congress Committee concerned should be consulted before finalising any such a programme. The aim of the Congress was to expose the BJP before the masses. She said she had read about Mr Virbhadra Singh’s rally at Chamba today in some newspapers and was informed about his yesterday’s rally at Hamirpur only after his programme was finalised. |
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Virbhadra lashes out at BJP Chamba, March 20 Addressing Congress rally, Mr Virbhadra Singh, said there was no advantage in undertaking hydroelectric projects on the Ravi basin such that Chamera projects where the local residents were deprived of employment. He said such projects had no use as these did not add to the prosperity and socio-economic condition of the inhabitants of the local region. Mr Virbhadra Singh hit out at the BJP government for intimidating and harassing the Congress party rank and file by misusing power and government funds. Mr Virbhadra Singh criticised the BJP government for incurring a huge debt which, he said, was a heavy burden on the state. He said he was not against loans provided these are used judiciously. Mr Virbhadra Singh condemned the BJP government for enhancing the power tariff thrice in last four years and said that religious shrines, including temples, gurdwaras and churches had not been spared. He said an exemption of Rs 12 crore had been given to industrial and commercial concerns by reducing electricity rates while Rs 25 crore was levied on the public. He said that the Chief Minister, Prof Prem Kumar Dhumal, had waged a political vendetta against him and instituted inquiries following a charge sheet against him by the Himachal Vikas Congress (HVC) supremo, Mr Sukh Ram, comprising 24 allegations but the CBI had given him a clean chit. Mr Virbhadra Singh rejected the Kainthla Commission report on the 1998 political scuffle. Mr G.D. Kainthla, he said, a retired Judge who was always appointed to head inquiry commissions by the BJP. He alleged that Mr Kainthla was affiliated with the BJP, the RSS, the VHP and the Shiv Sena. He said that the Congress would challenge the report in the apex court. Among others who spoke on the occasion included Mr Harash Mahajan, MLA, Ms Asha Kumari, MLA, Mr S.C. Nayyar, Ms Chanchal Nayyar, Mr Thakur Singh Bharmouria, Mr K.S. Pathania, Mr N.K. Chauhan, Mr Ram Lal Thakur, and Mr Kewal Singh Pathania state president of the NSUI. Mr Chander Kumar, a former minister, and Mr B.B.L. Butail, MLA were also present on this occasion. |
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Cong leader convicted for felling trees
Shimla, March 20 According to Mr P.K. Sharma, Additional Advocate-General Mr Chauhan and five others were accused of illegally felling green trees in the Chopal area between 1975 and 1977. The FIR was registered under Sections 41 and 42 of the Indian Forests Act. Among others held guilty are, Mr R.C. Premi, the then DFO, Mr Bhoop Singh and Mr Nand Ram.
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HPPCB withdraws permission to Oberois Shimla, March 20 A spokesman for East India Hotels Ltd. (EIH) said this evening that an order had been received from the member-secretary of the board withdrawing permission to run the hotel. He alleged all this was being done to harass them and thwart the proceedings of the Company Law Board (CLB) as their earlier effort to takeover the hotel had failed. The CLB has ordered a status quo till April 1. He claimed that while the letter of the board was dated March 6, 2002, the post office stamp on the envelop indicated that it was posted on March 19. The decision to take over the hotel was taken by the state Cabinet on March 4. He said papers pertaining to various clearances were submitted to the Tourism Department which had been sitting over the files. Another case was pending in the court. Mr Nagin Nanda, member-secretary of the board, told TNS that the temporary permission to run the hotel had been withdrawn as the management had failed to furnish various clearances, including the project report. The board had given conditional permission for running the hotel on the understanding that all clearances would be submitted within a month. However, the management failed to furnish these despite notices sent to them.
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Kufri special area boundary changed Shimla, March 20 Fourteen demarcated forests have been included in the special area. These include Kangar, Gallu Khurd, Teer Mahasu,Gallu Kalan, Fagu, Dehna, Bani, Kadrav, Kasufar, Shainal, Naldehra, Jangle, Baldayan, Neri and Durgapur. Although Kufri was declared a special area some time ago, haphazard constructions were destroying its beauty. Many hotels have come up around Kufri, but unfortunately, many of them were dumping their waste on the hill slopes. The beautification plan for Kufri has been abandoned mid-way and the area was being polluted by a large number of ponies which are brought there for tourists to ride. Taxis and local buses are parked haphazardly on the narrow road, causing inconvenience to tourists, in particular. |
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Workshop stresses on herb
farming Kulu, March 20 Professor Khosla said in the first phase, 20 development blocks of the state had been identified and herbal gardens were being established jointly by the departments of Forests and Ayurveda. During the workshop renowned national and international experts expressed their concern over depleting wealth of medicinal and aromatic plants in the Himalayan region due to large extraction from wild sources. The participants tried to evolve an action plan and a workable model for sustainable and environment-friendly growth of the Himalayan region. Dr Mohinder Pal, Director of the institute, said the previous model for the growth and safeguarding the Himalayan environment had failed because it was based on urban culture and there was lack of linkage and assured market for the produce. The workshop focused on ways to overcome these constraints. Dr Hemant K. Badola, co-coordinator of the workshop, said the pant institute had been trying to introduce cultivation of medicinal plants herbs in the region so as to minimise or eradicate extraction of herbs from the forests. He said the institute had adopted two villages namely Shillah and Shat in the Parvati valley of the district and was providing technical know-how and scientific support for cultivation of herbs to the villagers. Dr Stephen James, Director, Rothamsted International (IACR), UK, who highlighted the objectives of the workshop, stressed that a time-bound action plan must be introduced at the earliest. He promised to provide all possible support for making the plan a success. Dr Judy Mann also from IACR, UK, spoke about the organisational requirements in identifying the partners. Prof Christine H. Foyer from the UK said she was impressed by the programme and wished it a success. Mr Anurag Sood, a progressive farmer of Shillah village, said for preserving ecological wealth of the region the Institute was making commendable efforts. Prof Khosla also emphasised on the provision of marketing infrastructure so that the farmers who undertake cultivation of herbs were not exploited by the middlemen. He also stressed the role of medicinal plants in the economic growth of the state. Dr S.C.R. Vishvakarma gave the vote of thanks. |
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Concern over use of dry toilets Solan, March 20 Mr Tej is on a tour for assessing the impact of various welfare schemes floated from time to time by the Union Government on the intended beneficiaries. He said as per the report of the last NCSK, the use of dry toilets, necessitating the carrying of night soil on head, had been totally abolished years ago. However, he found that the ground realities were different. In spite of the Union Government having passed stringent laws making the employing of human beings for carrying night soil a criminal offence, dry toilets still existed in parts of the district. According to a source, there are as many as 400 dwellings with dry toilets in the town. Mr Tej said the Union Government, under its National Scheme for Liberation and Rehabilitation of Scavengers, floated in 1992, had disbursed Rs 522 crore in loans and subsidies for the replacement of dry toilets with new ones. The district, which also reported full utilisation of the allocated sum under this scheme appeared to have misrepresented facts,” Mr Tej said. He expressed surprise at the fact that the district administration could find only one eligible candidate, in the whole of the district, for receiving benefit of a yearly scholarship of Rs 9000 being provided to class XI and XII female students belonging to safai karamchari families. Mr Tej informed that the Union Government under its Balmiki Ambedkar Malin Basti Awas Yojana, launched by the Prime Minister at Hyderabad in January last, had released a sum of Rs 40 crore as first instalment for constructing houses for safai karamcharis in the state.
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HC notice to govt over
shifting
of college Shimla, March 20 A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice W.A. Shishak and Mr Justice L.S. Panta further directed the Secretary and Director, Education to file their reply within four weeks. The petitioner had alleged that the decision of the state government was politically motivated and against the public interest. The petitioner further alleged that by shifting of the college, the government had done grave injustice to the people of the area. The college is named after the Kargil war hero Capt Vikram Batra who belonged to Palampur. |
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Retaining wall collapses Shimla, March 20 The collapse occurred on the backside and the wreckage came up to the first floor of the building. However, not much damage was caused as the wall slipped about 15 feet, coming to rest with the main building. Officers of the PWD rushed to the spot and deployed labourers to prevent further damage. Occupants of the government houses above also panicked as the land had started sliding. Some water and sewerage pipes also broke due to the landslide. The retaining wall was erected a couple of years ago when the new building for the Planning Department was constructed at the back of the Secretariat. |
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Lawyers told to attend court Dharamsala, March 20
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Mandi Shivratri festival ends Shimla, March 20 Himachal Governor Suraj Bhan paid obeisance to the chief deity at Madhav Rai temple. He also joined the “shobha yatra” from the Deputy Commissioner’s office to the Paddal ground. Dr Suraj Bhan called upon people to work for the good of society and welfare of humanity. He asked people to come forward to serve the poor and underprivileged sections of society which would be a real service to humanity. He called upon people to uphold cultural traditions and preserve the rich culture of the state.
UNI |
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HPU teachers’ stir
tomorrow Shimla, March 20 The association rejected the new guidelines pertaining to promotion from Reader to Professor. The seniority of the teachers must be determined on the basis of their joining the university for the purpose of house allotment and other allied matters. Regarding the rationalisation of teaching posts, it urged the university authorities to take into consideration the need of various departments keeping in view of the teacher-taught ratio.
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Mandi liquor vends fetch
Rs 23 cr Mandi, March 20 The Sundernagar unit registered the highest bid of Rs 4.27 crore which is 21 per cent higher than Rs 3.53 crore last year. The Mandi, Bhambala and Karsog units were auctioned at 17 per cent higher than that last year. Sarkaghat and Jogindernagar fetched 13 per cent and 11 per cent higher, respectively, as compared to last year. |
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Strike called off Hamirpur, March 20
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Tractor driver killed Kangra, March 20
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Promoted Shimla, March 20
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