H I M A C H A L   P R A D E S H

Quality in horticulture must,
says Musafir
Solan, December 2
Stressing that maintenance of quality in horticulture and forestry was the need of the hour to compete globally the speaker of the HP vidhan sabha, Mr Gangu Ram Musafir, said yesterday this alone could establish India’s identity in world markets.

Cong flays BJP for defending SSB ex-chief
Shimla, December 2
The Congress has ridiculed the BJP for defending Mr S.M. Katwal, former Chairman of the State Subordinate Services Selection Board, who is facing a Vigilance inquiry in connection with the recruitment scam.

Brigadier oversees recruitment process
Hamirpur, December 2
Brig D.S. Kular, paid a visit to Sujanpur Tihra yesterday and supervised the ongoing Army recruitment process there. He held discussions with the members of the recruitment party and candidates.

VC seeks comments on reports
Shimla, December 2
Dr S.D. Sharma, the elusive Vice-Chancellor of Himachal Pradesh University who has not been seen on the campus since November 17, is now trying to run the institution through remote control.

Minister denies downgrading hospitals
Hamirpur, December 2
Health and Family Welfare Minister Chandresh Kumari today described reports as “baseless and contrary to facts” that various zonal hospitals in the state had been downgraded to district hospitals. Such rumours were being spread by the BJP, she said here last evening. 

HC ruling on Dalhousie council
Shimla, December 2
The Himachal High Court today restrained the government from holding elections to the Municipal Council, Dalhousie, as the court directed to maintain the status quo with respect to the council.

Youth gets HIV scare
Mandi, December 2
A youth who went to the blood bank of the local Regional Hospital for getting his blood checked, for donating it to his mother who was to be operated upon, had a nightmarish experience when his blood was rejected as it was HIV positive.

Barog bypass to open on Dec 6
Kumarhatti, December 2
The 13.80-km-long Barog bypass, the realignment of Kalka-Shimla National Highway No 22, would be thrown open to traffic on December 6. The much-awaited inauguration of the bypass, linking this town to Saproon (Solan), would be done by Major-Gen B.C. Khandoori (retd), Union Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways.

Quality in horticulture must, says Musafir
Our Correspondent

Solan, December 2
Stressing that maintenance of quality in horticulture and forestry was the need of the hour to compete globally the speaker of the HP vidhan sabha, Mr Gangu Ram Musafir, said yesterday this alone could establish India’s identity in world markets.

He was speaking on the occasion of the eighteenth raising day celebrations of Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry at Nauni here.

He urged scientists of the university to introduce new high-yielding varieties of crops. While forestry intervention ensured maintenance of the ecological balance, horticulture helped in enhancing the economy of the country. So it was of utmost importance to accord due importance to these fields, he said.

Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Dr S.S. Negi, elucidating the achievements of the university, said pioneering work by scientists had led to elimination of major plant disease.

He urged the government to provide them financial help to tide over the financial crisis persisting here for the past many years.

Dr D.R. Thakur, former Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Palampur Agriculture University, was the guest of honour.

Cong flays BJP for defending SSB ex-chief
Tribune News Service

Shimla, December 2
The Congress has ridiculed the BJP for defending Mr S.M. Katwal, former Chairman of the State Subordinate Services Selection Board (SSSSB), who is facing a Vigilance inquiry in connection with the recruitment scam. It said the party’s open support to him had only exposed the nexus between the two.

Mr Ram Lal Thakur, Industries Minister, and Mr Singhi Ram, Civil Supplies Minister, in joint statement, here today, said that the kind of statements Mr Katwal had been making these days made it obvious that he was working in tandem with the BJP leaders.

The government, they asserted, was determined to take the drive against corruption to its logical conclusion and such tactics would not help in protecting those involved in the recruitment scam. The name of the BJP had during its five-year rule became synonymous with corruption and the inquiries already completed had revealed glaring irregularities in awarding of hydel-power projects and appointments in the Himachal Pradesh University.

The two ministers lambasted Mr P.K. Dhumal, a former Chief Minister, for terming the Virbhadra government as an ad hoc one and said that the Congress had always come to power in the state with a massive majority whereas he became the Chief Minister after entering an ‘unholy’ alliance with the Himachal Vikas Congress.

They demanded a public apology from Mr Dhumal for misquoting facts and figures to belittle the performance of the government.

Meanwhile, Mr Kuldeep Rathore, spokesperson of the party, has served a legal notice on Mr Katwal for initiating criminal proceedings for making defamatory remarks against him in the media. 

Brigadier oversees recruitment process
Our Correspondent

Hamirpur, December 2
Brig D.S. Kular, paid a visit to Sujanpur Tihra yesterday and supervised the ongoing Army recruitment process there. He held discussions with the members of the recruitment party and candidates.

According to a press note issued by the Army, the Brigadier expressed satisfaction over the arrangements for the rally and thanked the public and the district administration for their cooperation.

VC seeks comments on reports
Tribune News Service

Shimla, December 2
Dr S.D. Sharma, the elusive Vice-Chancellor of Himachal Pradesh University who has not been seen on the campus since November 17, is now trying to run the institution through remote control.

Officially, it is now confirmed that he is on medical leave till tomorrow and the Governor, Mr V.S. Kokje, has asked Dr L.R. Verma, pro-Vice-Chancellor, to function as Vice-Chancellor in his absence.

Meanwhile, the university authorities have received a letter, dated December 1, from Dr Sharma asking the braches concerned to give their comments on the findings of two inquiry reports, which indicted him.

The information sought must reach him by December 3 as per the letter. The obvious reason for the urgency shown by Dr Sharma in seeking detailed comments and other information regarding the irregularities pointed out in the reports is that he had to respond to a show-cause notice issued to him by the Governor.

The Vigilance Department, which has been looking for Dr Sharma for the past two weeks, sent a message to him at his residence for joining investigations. However, the messenger was informed that Dr Sharma was on medical rest till tomorrow. The department has now asked him to be available for questioning on December 4 in case he is fit.

Meanwhile, Mrs Asha Kumari, Education Minister, today met the Governor at Raj Bhavan. Although the details of the meeting were not kmown, it is understood that she discussed the affairs of the university, particularly the fate of the Vice-Chancellor.

The Governor is likely to take a decision only after receiving the comments of the Vice-Chancellor on the findings of the two reports which indicted him. The Governor has given him time up to December 8 for giving his comments.

Minister denies downgrading hospitals
Our Correspondent

Hamirpur, December 2
Health and Family Welfare Minister Chandresh Kumari today described reports as “baseless and contrary to facts” that various zonal hospitals in the state had been downgraded to district hospitals. Such rumours were being spread by the BJP, she said here last evening. “There is no point in making district hospitals as zonal hospitals without providing the necessary facilities there. The BJP government had made a mockery of the health institutions and played truant with the people of the state,” she explained.

She said the government would form a panel of nurses and doctors qualified from the institutions reorganised by the Central Government. Once this was done, the necessary recruitment would be done.

She announced that in future recruitment of nurses, para-medical staff and drivers would be on a contract basis alone.

HC ruling on Dalhousie council
Legal Correspondent

Shimla, December 2
The Himachal High Court today restrained the government from holding elections to the Municipal Council, Dalhousie, as the court directed to maintain the status quo with respect to the council.

This order came on a petition filed by BJP leader Renu Chadda challenging the order of the Secretary, Urban Development, where by it had directed to dissolve the council.

Earlier, the petitioner had stated that the Secretary had passed the order without giving opportunity of hearing.

Youth gets HIV scare
Our Correspondent

Mandi, December 2
A youth who went to the blood bank of the local Regional Hospital for getting his blood checked, for donating it to his mother who was to be operated upon, had a nightmarish experience when his blood was rejected as it was HIV positive.

The perturbed youth then went to a private hospital where his blood was found in order — HIV negative. He again rushed to the Regional Hospital and showed the result to the doctors. They tested the blood again and confirmed their earlier finding. When the blood strip of the hospital was taken to the private hospital it was allegedly found infected.

An HIV positive result is not disclosed to the person under the existing laws. Ironically, this was on World AIDS Day.

Medical Superintendent Inder Singh, when contacted, said he was looking into the matter.

Barog bypass to open on Dec 6
Our Correspondent

Kumarhatti, December 2
The 13.80-km-long Barog bypass, the realignment of Kalka-Shimla National Highway No 22, would be thrown open to traffic on December 6. The much-awaited inauguration of the bypass, linking this town to Saproon (Solan), would be done by Major-Gen B.C. Khandoori (retd), Union Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways.

The bypass traverses forest area of over 6.30 km. The Ministry of the Environment and Forest has transferred 11 hectares of forest land for this bypass.

The construction of bypass has been done in two parts. To achieve this two financial sanctions for Rs 902 lakh and Rs 947 lakh, respectively, had been accorded by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.