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Speed up work on
Rohtang tunnel: CM Timely action
saves Sankat Mochan Temple from forest fire
Of Greenpeace,
Germans and Gandhi |
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SDM manhandled by
MLA Ex-HPU VC gets
pre-arrest bail Water scarcity in
Changar area Minister reviews
water situation Duststorm lashes
Kangra Medical council
set up in HP Infiltration
reports false, says SP Youth killed in
road mishap
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Speed up work
on Rohtang tunnel: CM Shimla, May 12 Discussing the construction of the Rohtang tunnel with a high-level team of the BRO headed by Lieut-Gen Ranjit Singh, Director-General, the CM said the tunnel was of strategic importance from the security point of view and would meet the pending demand of the people of Lahaul and Pangi for an all-weather road. He said the state government would extend all possible assistance and cooperation to the BRO besides taking up the matter with the Union Government for providing ample funds for expeditious completion of work. He complimented the BRO for connecting the land-locked Pangi valley by road and said
it had helped in transportation of materials and goods to the valley. The Chief Minister said the government was considering to hand over more roads in the state to the BRO keeping in view the quality of construction. He advised the authorities concerned to complete the codal formalities for the construction of the tunnel at the earliest and start the construction from both the ends. He said the fragile ecology of the region should not be disturbed during the construction of the tunnel as it also helped in promotion of tourism in the areas to be opened after the construction of the
tunnel. — PTI |
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Timely action saves Sankat Mochan Temple Shimla, May 12 The fire, which broke out in the pine forest surrounding the temple, spread quickly and leaping flames threatened the temple. However, fire tenders arrived in time to control the fire. Another forest fire in the nearby Kiar village, about 10 km from here, was also extinguished by firemen. |
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Of Greenpeace, Germans and Gandhi
Dharamsala, May 12 “I know of Gandhi, Tagore and Ravi Shankar. But I am sure the only German the average Indian knows of is Hitler and that is surely not a good thing,” says Jan Bock from Hamburg. Jan is in charge of a group of German youngsters presently in India. Indian music and culture fascinate Jan. “In fact, Punjabi MC is a perennial favourite at German discos,” he says. Jan confesses that the only Indian movie he’s watched is ‘Kamasutra’. He did watch another movie recently about the protagonist trying to reconcile himself to his father. Was it ‘Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham’? “I have no idea,” says Jan with a sheepish grin. Is there anything else he would have liked to do in India? “I wanted to play Holi,” says Jan who’s heard a lot about the festival of colours. In India to participate in the installation of a solar-generator project in Dharamsala, the group of German youngsters is in awe of all things Indian. They are part of a team named the ‘Solar Generation’. They are working in collaboration with Greenpeace in its ‘Clean Energy’ campaign. Jan (30) is overseeing the youngsters (mostly in their teens) and takes his responsibility very seriously. “I was worried whether children of different nationalities would be able to interact easily, but all of them made friends soon.” Jan is mesmerised by the traffic in the capital city. “How do Indian drivers avoid accidents by getting out of the way in just the nick of time,” he marvels. Veronika Wendt hails from Cologne and finds India totally different from what she had envisaged. “I find it hard to believe that I am actually in India. The people here are really nice.” Which Indians has she heard of? “Gandhi”, she says and adds that she has also heard about environmentalist Vandana Shiva. “Indian food is tasty but bad for the stomach,” the 17-year-old smiles and clutches her stomach. Berlin’s Larissa Beumer considers Gandhi and Greenpeace activists her role models. “Indian food is delicious but it seems German stomachs can’t take to it that easily,” says Larissa. Like Veronica and Larissa, Jens has also been battling the ‘Delhi belly’ but even so, is delighted to be here. At 14, Katharina Werner from South Germany is the youngest of the lot but is as passionate about environment as the others. She has been working for Greenpeace for about a year and is delighted to get a chance to visit India. “I would love to come back again but I doubt whether my school headmaster would give me permission.” Bespectacled Nico Luchsinger is from Switzerland and finds it strange that “there is so less election activity in and around Dharamsala even in peak election season”. He explains a bit about the system of ‘direct democracy’ in his country which means that citizens can make important decisions themselves. “But I know, this would be impossible in a country like India with a such a huge population.” When you tell him that he looks like Harry Potter, Nico blushes and looks away. “I normally don’t look like this,” he says, frantically brushing his hair. “I’ll take that as a compliment though,” says Nico with a wry smile. Who are the Indians he is aware of? “Definitely Gandhi,” says Nico. After all, Richard Attenborough’s ‘Gandhi’ was Nico’s only brush with Indian movies so far. Fiona Koza, a Canadian and the only non-Indian member of Greenpeace India, has been working for the organisation for the past three years. She loves everything about this country, especially Indian cuisine. “Indian food is a special favourite back home in Toronto”, says Fiona. ‘Monsoon Wedding’ is the only Indian movie Fiona watched but a memorable one at that. Cricket is a no-no though. “It’s not happening enough in Canada.”
— PTI |
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Una, May 12 The incident took place at noon and the ensuing retaliation by staff of the SDM’s office prompted immediate action by the Deputy Commissioner, who reached Amb to take stock of the situation. He later told mediapersons that he had referred the incident to his seniors. The SDM, too, reached the office of the Deputy Commissioner and narrated the sequence of events to the mediapersons. He said on Tuesday, he had received 11 application forms for counting agents from the Chintpurni assembly segment and that he had signed these on the same day. He said since agents had to put their signature on the forms in front of the ARO, they kept coming to his office. He said six authority letters had been issued when the MLA reached his office and demanded that the remaining five authority letters should be issued immediately. The SDM said he told the MLA that it was against the rules and that the agents had to sign the forms in his presence, to which, he said the MLA persisted, getting infuriated in the process. ‘’The MLA caught hold of my collar, pushed me, threatened me and abused me repeatedly,” he said.
— UNI |
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Ex-HPU VC gets pre-arrest bail Shimla, May 12 Dr Sharma had been charged with giving undue benefit to his relative by getting some question papers printed on high rates. Dr Sharma had alleged that he was being harassed by the state government. Mr Justice M.R. Verma, while granting the pre-arrest bail to Dr Sharma, directed the Vigilance Department to produce the entire record of the investigation on May 17.
— OC |
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Dr V.D.
Kaushik Shimla, May 12 Dr Kaushik replaces Dr O.P.
Saraswat, who has proceeded on leave. |
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Water scarcity in Changar area Palampur, May 12 Dheera Chambi, Ranjhun, Kalun and Premnagar areas are the worst affected. Lower Khaira, Saprudh, Kotlu, Lahari, Samba and Tarahu areas are also facing water scarcity. The main reason for the shortage is low pressure in water-supply lines. In several, areas where water is supplied through the lift water supply scheme, water pumps are not functioning properly. Mr K.C. Chaman, SDM, told mediapersons that the government and the department knew the problem and adequate arrangements were being made to solve it. He said in Chnagar area the department had already pressed water tankers into service. He said the IPH authorities had been asked by the Deputy Commissioner to hire more water tankers if required. |
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Minister reviews water situation Shimla, May 12 He appealed to the people to conserve water as the discharge of water in various natural sources had been reduced considerably. The minister said as 574 non-covered and partially-covered habitations had been provided with drinking water facility by March. Efforts would be made to extend this facility to the remaining habitations. Referring to the shortage of water for the Shimla planning area, Mr Kaul Singh said the government had approved a Rs 40-crore scheme under which water would be lifted from the Giri. Funds were being arranged from HUDCO to implement the scheme. He said the government was committed to augmenting the water supply in towns, that were facing an acute shortage of drinking water. Schemes for the augmentation of lift water supply to Theog at a cost of Rs 2.52 crore and Paonta Sahib for Rs 2.35 crore had been approved under the Accelerated Urban Water supply programme of the Centre, he said. |
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Duststorm lashes Kangra Dharamsala, May 12 The duststorm was so strong in some areas that people were forced to shut themselves indoors. Some trees are reported to have been uprooted and the rooftops of about half a dozen houses damaged. Electricity supply in many areas was
disrupted.— OC |
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Medical council set up in HP Shimla, May 12 Till now, they have been getting themselves registered with the Punjab Medical Council. Besides, checking malpractices in the profession, the council will help keep a check on quacks and illegal nursing homes. Dr Suman Rao, Director Medical Education, was unanimously elected the first president of the newly set up council, which met here today. Mr B.S. Rawal, Deputy Director, Health Services, was elected the vice-president. The following were elected as members of the council: Dr L.S. Pal, Principal, Dr Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College (RPGMC), Prof Suresh Sankhyan, Head of Forensic Medicine (RPGMC), and Prof Ritu Sarin, Head of Obstetrics and Gynaecology,
(RPGMC). |
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Infiltration reports false, says SP Chamba, May 12 Addressing a press conference here today, he described news reports about terrorists sneaking into Chamba as “ill-founded and fabricated”. He said long-range patrol and combing operation had been regular routine with the security forces since 1998. He appealed to the public residing along the border of Chamba district not to panic. The widespread ramification of such news items without the verification of facts had been aimed at creating panic, he said. |
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Youth killed in road mishap Sundernagar, May 12 According to the police, Gopal (30), a resident of Dhawan, was coming from Mandi to Sundernagar when his scooter collided with the one being driven by Chander Sen of Ghumarwin. Ram Pal of the same village was riding pillion on the scooter. Gopal Singh died on the way to hospital. The injured persons have been admitted to a hospital at Sundernagar. The police has registered a case under Sections 279, 337 and 304-A of the IPC and started investigations. |
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