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HPSSS board to start
recruitment Residents dispute official version on peacock death Allotment of 22 small hydro projects approved Eco-imbalance, unemployment worry Governor Gaiety Theatre
being renovated |
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Rallies, marks World No Tobacco Day Tribunal chairperson assumes charge
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HPSSS board to start
recruitment Hamirpur, May 31 The state government had banned fresh recruitment through the board after it came to power. Documents pertaining to recruitments for various categories of employees were seized from the board office following reports that massive irregularities had taken place in the recruitment process. The government through its Enforcement Department had also raided the office and the residences of the former Chairman and member of the board, Mr Surendra Mohan Katwal and Mr Vidya Nath, respectively. A number of cases had been registered against both these persons and the matter is pending in the courts. The Chairman of the board, Mr Tashi Dawa, held talks with board members last night. An official spokesman told the Tribune here this afternoon that the fresh recruitment drive was the main issue, which was discussed today. The Chairman directed the office staff to be careful while dealing with the fresh recruitments so that the past was not repeated. The board has yet not received fresh requisitions from any of the government department for conducting the recruitment drive. However, it would verify the applications numbering around 20,000 which were pending with it for the posts of clerk, librarian, steno typist etc. The state government is reported to have given its green signal for the written test and interview for these posts numbering around 200. Meanwhile, the board has received a set of new rules of business prepared by the state government for the board. The old business, which had become a hot topic of discussion between the state government and the former Chairman of the State Subordinate Services Selection Board had been quashed. The former Chairman is facing an inquiry into the finalisation of the old rules of business. Under the old rules of business, there was no provision for keeping the record of the board which the board found unfit. This issue had come under sharp criticism. Sources say that in the new rules of business, there is a provision for keeping the board record intact for a period of 5, 10 and 15 years on the basis of their utility. The Chairman of the board was not available for comments. |
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Residents dispute official version on peacock death Sundernagar, May 31 According to Mr H.V. Kathuria, Divisional Forest Officer, Wildlife, Kulu, the bird died due to “sudden death syndrome”, as stated by the veterinary doctor who conducted the postmortem. The peacock had consumed maize seed in excess from a field, which led to the syndrome. This had been confirmed by the postmortem, he said. On the other hand, local residents who had seen the peacock in an injured condition do not agree with the postmortem report. They allege it is a face-saving device; the injury was clearly visible. The residents say that at the Nature Awareness Centre, Trambri, and in its surrounding area about 50 peacocks can be seen and most of them feed together. Had the cause of death been as stated in the report, a large number of birds would have died. However, according to the residents, in the past no peacock has died in this area in such a manner. The postmortem report by Dr Yog Raj Behl, Senior Veterinary Officer, says there was no injury or gunshot wound on the bird. However, a damaged left wing and injuries on the breast were noticed by the residents. This correspondent also has a photograph of it. According to the residents, maize was sown in the field after the peacock was found. The police investigation is still going on. |
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Allotment of 22 small hydro projects approved Shimla, May 31 The decision was taken by the state Cabinet that met under the chairmanship of Mr Virbhadra Singh, Chief Minister, here. The small hydro projects were assigned to 18 companies out of which eight were based in Himachal Pradesh. The projects were expected to bring an investment of Rs 270 crore over the next five years. The state will get 10 per cent free power as royalty after the first 15 years of the commissioning of these projects. The MoU signed with Jindal Hydro Company for the investigation and implementation of the Sainj project was cancelled as the company failed to submit the detailed project report within the stipulated period. The MoU with Cosmos Consultancy Limited for the execution the Fozal project was also cancelled for the same reason. The Cabinet further decided that the Sainj project would be constructed in the state sector by the electricity board. It was also decided that no hydroelectric project would be set up on the Tirthan river in Kulu district. It also cleared the state vehicle taxation amendment bill to be introduced in the Vidhan Sabha during the budget session. The bill seeks to provide a uniform procedure for the registration of vehicles by the authorities concerned. It also approved the proposal for the grant of 173 new routes for the plying of buses to provide adequate services in the rural areas. By another decision the Cabinet raised the authorised capital of the state Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation from Rs 30 crore to Rs 40 crore. It approved the substitution of word “Batoerha” by “Batehda” in the revenue record as the community was being deprived of the benefit of reservation for other backward classes (OBC) due to the variation in spelling. Further, the Beda castes were deleted from the list of OBCs as these have now been accorded the status of Scheduled Tribes by the Government of India. To reduce the pendency in courts and the workload of the investigating and prosecuting agencies the Cabinet decided to amend Section 61-A and insert a new section 61-B in the Punjab Excise Act, 1914, as applicable to the state. It also decided to reduce the rates of entertainment tax for cinema houses which would be charged on the basis of lumpsum occupancy from 25 to 15 per cent in view of the genuine problems being faced by the owners. It decided to constitute committees under the chairmanship of the respective deputy commissioners for core as well as restricted areas of the Dharamsala,
Mandi, Kulu and Dalhousie planning areas for granting permission for the felling of green, dry and “dangerous” trees. According to another decision the “samman rashi” for freedom fighters was increased from Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 per month, ex-gratia amount on the death of a freedom fighter from Rs 1,000 to Rs 5,000 and grant for the marriage of daughters and granddaughters from Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000. The Krishi Bima Yojna for kharif crops was also approved. |
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Eco-imbalance, unemployment worry Governor Shimla, May 31 Addressing students of law from various universities in the USA at the ninth Summer Law Programme, he expressed deep concern over the increasing population and unemployment. He said these problems had to be tackled on priority as the country had very limited resources which were already under tremendous pressure. He suggested that construction in hill resorts like the Shimla should be limited, to stop further denudation of hills. He said a plethora of laws had been enacted to protect the environment and regulate construction but the will to enforce these had been sadly lacking. Proper implementation of laws and creating awareness among masses could go a long way in checking environmental degradation. The Governor said there was a need to streamline the functioning of the various pollution control boards. These should refrain from giving conditional sanction for setting up of industries and try to plug the holes in the rules. |
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Gaiety Theatre
being renovated Shimla, May 31 He said this during a meeting with Lieut-Gen K. Nagraj, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Army Training Command (ARTRAC) who called on him, here today. The theatre houses the Amateur Dramatic Club of the Army. The Chief Minister said the government had decided to renovate the historic buildings in the capital in a phased manner. Gaiety Theatre was the first to be taken up. In the first phase about Rs 2 crore was being spent on the restoration of heritage buildings. The renovation and redesigning would be carried out in accordance with the original structure. He said with the renovation of the vintage theatre, art and cultural activities would get a boost and its old glory would be restored in theatre world. Mr Virbhadra Singh, appreciated the cooperation given by the Army authorities in organising different activities. Gen Nagraj apprised the Chief Minister of various activities of the ARTRAC and various Army units stationed in the state. |
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Rallies, marks World No Tobacco Day Hamirpur, May 31 Braving scorching sun and carrying banners and placards in their hands, the students passed through various parts of the town, raising slogans against the use of tobacco. The Department of Health and Family Welfare also organised a function to highlight the need to check the use of tobacco. Officials of the department told students about the ill-effects of tobacco use. Shimla: Lok Sabha member Pratibha Singh, has urged the people of the state to shun tobacco. She was speaking at a de-addiction camp organised by the HP Secretariat Services (Class III) Union to mark World No Tobacco Day on Monday. The camp was organised in collaboration with Harbhajan Memorial Homoeopathic Charitable Dispensary. The dispensary has been providing medicines free of cost to the people for the past 28 years.
She urged the media to play an active role in generating awareness about the harmful effects of smoking. She said all possible help would be extended for the social cause.
Mr K.D. Sultanpuri, former MP and chairman of the 20-Point Programme, also spoke on the occasion.
Dr Kuldeep Singh Jaswal, chairman of the dispensary, spoke about the activities being undertaken. He said so far 897 persons had given up tobacco after being motivated
at the camps. |
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Tribunal chairperson assumes charge Shimla, May 31 The Vice-Chairman of the Tribunal, Mr Narinder Thakur, and the Registrar, Mr R. K. Sharma. The Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh, the Power Minister, Mrs Vidya Stokes, Irrigation and the Public Health Minister, Mr Kaul Singh Thakur, were present on the
occasion, when she assumed the charge.
— TNS |
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