H I M A C H A L   P R A D E S H

CM on foundation stone-laying spree
Shimla, December 13
With the elections to the state Assembly just two months away Mr P.K. Dhumal, Chief Minister, is racing against time to inaugurate and lay foundation stones of as many projects as possible.

Virbhadra loyalist Dogra expelled 
Shimla, December 13
The Virbhadra Singh faction suffered a setback when Mr Manjeet Dogra, a former MLA from Nadaunta and a staunch supporter of the Congress Legislative Party leader, was expelled from primary membership of the party for creating indiscipline.

Father-in-law of Virbhadra dead
Shimla, December 13
Mr Hitender Sen, ruler of the erstwhile State of Junga, died at Indira Gandhi Medical College Hospital here today after prolonged illness. He was 78.

VC: no move to close varsity colleges
Dharamsala, December 13
Dr Tej Partap, Vice-Chancellor of Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Agriculture University, Palampur, has said that there is no move to close any of the four colleges of the university as reported in a section of the press.

DoT officers hold demonstration

CM on foundation stone-laying spree
Tribune News Service

Shimla, December 13
With the elections to the state Assembly just two months away Mr P.K. Dhumal, Chief Minister, is racing against time to inaugurate and lay foundation stones of as many projects as possible.

He has been on an inauguration spree and even today he inaugurated and laid foundation stones of three other projects. He laid the foundation stones of the Pavilion block in the Ice Skating Rink and a shooting range at Potter’s hill in the town, besides inaugurating car parking at Chaura Maidan and a labour hostel in the Lakkar Bazar area.

Thereafter, he laid the foundation stone of a government school building at Karyali and inaugurated a primary health centre at Jalog, a bridge at Barlog and finally Hotel Peach blossom of the State Tourism corporation at Fagu.

Addressing a public meeting on the occasion Mr Dhumal said the government was committed to ensuring systematic and planned development of Shimla township. He said that since the present government took over in 1998 about 200 works or schemes had been dedicated to the people of the township. Besides, about Rs 25 crore had been spent on improvement of roads and other basic amenities in the town.

He said a parking-cum-shopping complex had been developed near the lift at a cost of Rs 2 crore, shopping complex at Nabha at a cost of Rs 34 lakh and a Bio-medical waste incinerator at Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla at a cost of Rs 85 lakh. A parking lot had been developed at the railway extension point with the help of the railway authorities for the convenience of the tourists and the local people and said the plan was to have a parking facility for 3450 vehicles in all.

It was for the first time that a plan to beautify Shimla had been undertaken and various attractions, including, water fountain near Marina and parks on the Mall had been developed. To ensure that the environment of Shimla was not polluted, a Rs 7 crore Waste Disposal Project had been started with the assistance of NORAD.

Mr Narender Bragta, Minister for Horticulture and Mr Roop Dass Kashyap, Urban Department Minister were also present on the occasion.

Virbhadra loyalist Dogra expelled 
Tribune News Service

Shimla, December 13
The Virbhadra Singh faction suffered a setback when Mr Manjeet Dogra, a former MLA from Nadaunta and a staunch supporter of the Congress Legislative Party leader, was expelled from primary membership of the party for creating indiscipline.

The action came after the disciplinary committee of the party, which met here yesterday under the chairmanship of Mr Shiv Kumar, accepted the decision of the Hamirpur district Congress committee to expel Mr Dogra from the party.

Mr Manjeet Dogra was given a hearing in the last meeting. The district president apprised the committee of the circumstances which had compelled it to take action against the leader during yesterday’s meeting. The committee unanimously accepted the decision taken by the district executive.

However, the committee revoked the expulsion of Mr Roshan Lal Mishra, a former Block Congress Committee chief of Paonta Sahib. Earlier, the party had expelled Mr Kuldeep Pathania, a former MLA of Bhatiyat who also belonged to the Virbhadra camp.

The fact that Mr Dogra was suspended a day after Mrs Sonia Gandhi’s visit to the state, indicates that the Pradesh Congress Committee had the backing of the party high command on the issue.

Father-in-law of Virbhadra dead
Tribune News Service

Shimla, December 13
Mr Hitender Sen, ruler of the erstwhile State of Junga, died at Indira Gandhi Medical College Hospital here today after prolonged illness. He was 78.

He is survived by his wife, two daughters and three sons. While one of his daughter, Mrs Pratibha Singh, is married to Mr Virbhadra Singh, the Leader of the Opposition, the other is the wife of Mr Joginder Chand, Congress MLA from Chopal.

Mr Hitender Sen, who signed the document for the accession of the Junga State to India, was a multifaceted personality. He had a fair stint in politics during which he was elected member of the Territorial Council in 1957.

A voracious reader, he maintained a rich personal library.

VC: no move to close varsity colleges
Our Correspondent

Dharamsala, December 13
Dr Tej Partap, Vice-Chancellor of Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Agriculture University, Palampur, has said that there is no move to close any of the four colleges of the university as reported in a section of the press.

Talking to this reporter today, he said the opposition by teachers and the non-teaching staff to the recommendations of the Gupta committee stemmed from sentimental reasons and lack of information.

He said unwanted posts had to be scrapped while those lying vacant had to be filled. The Vice-Chancellor said the controversy about the closure of Home Science and Basic Science Colleges was unfounded and emphasised on the need for change in teaching courses.

He said experience showed that the under-graduate courses being run in the Basic Sciences College did not meet the norms set by the UGC and the ICAR.

He said the college was to be renamed as College of Biological and Environmental Sciences and new courses started. Similarly, in Home Science College, due to the declining number of students, there was a need to introduce short-term courses which were job-oriented.

Dr Tej Partap said at a recent meeting of Vice-Chancellors of agriculture universities, a proposal for central funding had been approved under which the state governments would contribute 60 per cent of the total budget to meet salaries and wages while the Centre would provide 30 to 40 per cent of the total budget for education, research and extension.

DoT officers hold demonstration
Our Correspondent

Shimla, December 13
The DoT Officers Association of the Himachal Pradesh Telecom Circle today observed a protest day by wearing black badges and holding a lunch-hour demonstration in front of the office of the Chief General Manager Telecom, HP circle. They were protesting against delay in calling the options of Group “B” officers for absorption in the BSNL, delay in release of ad hoc payment and other related issues.