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July 16, 2002, Chandigarh, India   
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NEWS ANALYSIS Deep-drilling rig sought
for Jwalamukhi Punjab, HP to share information
on terrorists HC dismisses govt’s
revision petition 3 books on HP culture released |
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Panther kills sheep, dogs; villagers in panic Brother, sister drowned in Beas Free medical camp
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NEWS ANALYSIS Shimla, July 15 Not only the Congress, but also the coalition partner, the Himachal Vikas Congress (HVC), has opposed the decision. However, the BJP, which hopes to improve its electoral prospects, seems determined to create the districts. There are speculations that the matter may be put up before the Cabinet during its meeting later this week. As per the proposal, new districts of Palampur, Nurpur, Rampur and Sundernagar or Karsog are likely to be carved out. However, demands are pouring in from various parts of the state for the creation of districts. These include Sarkaghat, Dehra, Rohru and Paonta. The approval of the Centre is not required for creating districts. However, if the cash-strapped state, which depends on Central assistance, takes a decision without the approval of the Centre it will not get any funds. The move is against the declared policy of the BJP, which has all along been blaming the previous Congress governments for the “unwieldy” administrative set-up, and calling for the downsizing of the administration. Only last year, it wound up three revenue divisions and abolished some posts of Deputy Inspector-General of Police. The Creation of districts is being justified on the grounds that the districts of Kangra, Mandi and Shimla were too big and accounted for half of the 68 Assembly constituencies. While the remaining 34 constituencies comprised nine districts. Senior officers, however, maintain that if this imbalance has to be corrected, reorganisation of the existing districts will be a better course. Instead of creating a new district Rampur, Ani and Spiti could be made part of Kinnaur, which consists of only one Assembly segment. Congress leaders have termed it as a political exercise. Mrs Vidya Stokes, the PCC chief, said if new districts were to be created, a committee of experts should have been set up for the purpose and people’s views should have been taken into consideration. Mr Kaul Singh, another senior Congress leader, said the BJP did not have the mandate for taking such a decision. There was no mention of new districts in the party’s manifesto and now when six months were left for elections it was undertaking such an exercise with a political motive. Mr Sukh Ram, HVC Chief, said the creation of districts was uncalled for in view of the financial position of the state. Even a section in the BJP was skeptical about the move. |
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Deep-drilling rig sought
for Jwalamukhi Dharamsala, July 15 Last week, one of the abandoned wells started spewing hot liquid and gas in Baggi village, about 16 km from the famous Jwalamukhi shrine. The ONGC carried out drilling in 1980s and 1990s as geographical surveys had indicated the presence of oil and natural gas in this area of Himachal Pradesh. The search was abandoned at a depth of 6,000 metres in 1993 when the experts failed to find commercially viable gas and oil in any of the abandoned wells dug in the area. Despite this setback, the geological surveys indicate presence of oil and natural gas in Himachal Pradesh and the ONGC is presently carrying out exploration in the Baggi area of Mandi district and the Bhota area of Hamirpur district. The high-powered team of the ONGC in Dehra Dun headed by its General Manager, Dr D.K. Pande, visited Baggi and inspected the well from which hot saline water and gas were leaking. The team collected samples of the material for analysis. Dr Pande feels that the development may result in further exploration in the area. Locals and geologists belonging to the area are confident that the Jwalamukhi belt will yield natural gas and oil if deep drilling is undertaken. They argue that in 1993, the exploration was abandoned because the ONGC did not have proper drilling equipment to reach the depth of 10,000 metres. According to sources in the district administration, the ONGC has placed an order for new deep drilling rigs from Russia. This type of rig is expected to be deployed in the Jwalamukhi area in the near future. Meanwhile, the ONGC has stationed officials at Baggi to monitor the emissions from the well. The villagers have also been advised not to take inflammable material near the emission site lest it explodes as a large quantity of gas is coming out from the abandoned well. |
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Punjab, HP to share information
on terrorists Dharamsala, July 15 Mr Rajan Gupta, IG (Borders), Punjab Police, presided over the meeting while Deputy Commissioners and SPs of Kangra, Chamba and Una districts in the state and Gurdaspur and Amritsar districts in Punjab participated. Mr O.C. Thakur, DIG Central Range, who is holding the charge of Northern Range of the Himachal Police, also attended the meeting. According to sources, the officials stressed the need for swift exchange of information amongst the neighbouring states so as to keep a check on the movement of terrorists. |
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HC dismisses govt’s
revision petition Shimla, July 15 The court rejected the plea of the state and observed that there was no need for custodial interrogation of Mr Brijender Singh as he had already submitted the original documents. While the original sale deeds had been produced before the investigating officer, the original wills required in the case were with the Assistant Collector, Chamba. He had also given an affidavit to this effect. |
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3 books on HP culture released Shimla, July 15 Speaking after releasing three books published by the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, here today, he said highly developed indigenous disciplines like astronomy and astrology were rejected by some as unscientific. Dr V.C. Srivastava, director of the institute, said the institute had reoriented its priorities and laid thrust on disciplines like indology, consciousness and Indian philosophy. The books released were “Pahari Bhasha aur Sahitya” edited by Bansi Ram Sharma and Jagdish Chander Sharma, “Where Mortal and Mountain Gods Meet” edited by Laxman S. Thakur and “Techique of Pahari Painting” by V.C. Ohri. |
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Panther kills sheep, dogs; villagers in panic Bilaspur, July 15 Sikroha gram panchayat vice-president Roop Lal, Bilaspur Sadar BDC Member Mastram Thakur and panchayat member Baburam said here today that earlier night the wild animal killed Rs 15000 Jersey cow of farmer Gopaldass from cowshed. These leaders have urged the Forest Department and District Administration to intervene and arrange catching of the predator and save farmers from further losses. |
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Brother, sister drowned in Beas Mandi, July 15 Mahinder Singh (15) and his sister Nirmala Devi (13) had taken the cattle for grazing along the river bank along with other children. Mahinder went to take a dip in the Beas but got caught in the strong current. His sister tried to rescue him but both were sweptaway. Hearing the news, their mother Devku tried to jump into the river but was prevented from doing so by others present there. The father of the deceased had died on the same day in an accident some year ago. The children were studying in a school at Pandoh. People searched for the bodies till late in the evening, but could not find them. |
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Free medical camp Chandigarh, July 15 More than 220 patients were examined by Dr Arvind Kaul, cardiologist, and Dr Puneet Sayal, neurologist, in the camp. About 70 ECG tests and 100 diabetes tests were conducted free of cost. About 40 patients were advised follow-up treatment. The institute is currently running ‘Mukat Good Health Scheme’, in which, bypass surgery is being conducted at Rs 99,000, angiography at Rs 9,000 and angioplasty at Rs 65,000 plus the cost of the stent. The scheme is valid till July 22. It will also organise a similar camp at Gurdwara Paonta Sahib in association with the Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee of Paonta Sahib, on July 21. |
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