H I M A C H A L   P R A D E S H

Himachal pay panel likely
Shimla, June 17
Mr Virbhadra Singh, Chief Minister, today said that the government could consider setting up its separate pay commission for the benefit of its employees. He said the state had been following the Punjab pattern in the mater of pay scales as a result of which some categories of employees which did not exist in the neighbouring state had been suffering financial losses.

• CM opens Press Club complex

Hisar police arrests 5 on murder charge
Manali, June 17
Five suspected hardcore criminals wanted in the murder of a doctor in Hisar, including highway robberies in Haryana, were arrested here today. The Hisar police had to chased the five criminals, who were travelling to Manali in an Indica car, police sources said here. On their way to Rohtang Pass, the police caught them. Some weapons were also seized from them.

6 killed in road accidents
Shimla, June 17
Six persons were killed and as many injured in three different accidents in the district since last night. A police report here today said three occupants of a car were killed and one was seriously injured when their vehicle rolled down into a gorge near Bagra,near Kot Khai, last night. They were going to Kot Khai from Gumma.

Traffic disrupted on Palampur-Dharamsala road
Palampur, June 17
Vehicular traffic on the Palampur-Dharamsala road was disrupted today following a breach in the culvert near Chand Public School here. All heavy and light vehicles have been diverted via the Neugal resort.

Thousands attend Kamrunag fair
Sundernagar, June 17
Thousands of devotees on Monday visited the Kamrunag temple, 41 km from here, on the occasion of Kamrunag fair.

REGIONAL BRIEFS

YOUR TOWN

Manali Palampur Shimla Sundernagar

Three-foot-half-inch tall Kisori Lal, a resident of Kalwan village in Kangra district, poses for a photograph on Thursday after his friends and neighbours decided to send his name to the Guinness Book, claiming him as the smallest person in Asia. 
— PTI

	BJP misleading people on MoU issue, says CM June 17, 2004
	Atal takes up Rohtang tunnel issue with CM June 16, 2004
	Virbhadra, others discharged in khair wood case June 15, 2004
	McLeodganj — a haven for impersonators June 14, 2004
	Scrap MoU on reforms, says CPM June 13, 2004
	Virbhadra, Dhumal exchange words on docs’ appointment June 12, 2004
	Assembly adopts resolution on drought problem June 11, 2004
	Virbhadra turns the tables on BJP June 10, 2004
	Bold, says Cong, listless for BJP June 9, 2004

Himachal pay panel likely
Tribune News Service

Shimla, June 17
Mr Virbhadra Singh, Chief Minister, today said that the government could consider setting up its separate pay commission for the benefit of its employees.

He said the state had been following the Punjab pattern in the mater of pay scales as a result of which some categories of employees which did not exist in the neighbouring state had been suffering financial losses. He said his government was committed to the welfare of employees and it would consider the setting up of a separate commission after extensive discussions with employees’ bodies and taking all sections of the staff into confidence.

The Chief Minister said this after dedicating the new building of the local Industrial Institute constructed at a cost of Rs 68 lakh. He also announced a grant of Rs 10 lakh for the second phase of the building.

He announced the introduction of 10 vocational courses in the private sector under the state council for vocational training from the current session, which would generate a revenue of about Rs 1.30 crore for the state. It would also effectively check the proliferation of unrecognised and unauthorised courses being conducted by various agencies from outside the state. He also announced the setting up of a computer study centre at Government Women Polytechnic at Kandaghat.

The Chief Minister also presented the ISO 9001 certificate to the Director, Technical Education, which had been awarded to the women polytechnic at Kandaghat.

Referring to the upgradation of facilities for technical education, he said the state would get Rs 60 crore under the Rs 1,550 crore World Bank technical education improvement project. The Centre had already recommended the release of the first instalment of Rs 6.50 crore for three polytechnics.

CM opens Press Club complex
Tribune News Service

Shimla, June 17
Mr Virbhadra Singh, Chief Minister, today inaugurated the complex of Shimla Press Club at the Ridge, here. The complex was acquired by the government from the Shimla Municipal Corporation at a cost of Rs 31 lakh and it spent Rs 10.5 lakh on its renovation.

Mr Virbhadra Singh said the state capital had over the years emerged as an important news centre and deserved a good Press Club. The new complex, which was located in the heart of the town, would be very convenient for the mediapersons. He also announced that some more space would be made available for the club in due course by acquiring two additional rooms from the corporation. He said the government would maintain the complex.

Mr Mukesh Agnihotri, Chief Parliamentary Secretary, who is also the in charge of the Public Relations Department, said with shifting of the club a long-pending demand of the journalists had been fulfilled. The Chief Minister honoured founder members of the club.

Mr Vipin Pubby, Resident Editor, The Indian Express and founder president of the club, appreciate the efforts of the government in providing a new complex. He also lauded the government for instituting awards to encourage development journalism.

Earlier, Mr Krishan Bhanu, traced the history of the club. Mr Rangila Ram Rao, Excise and Taxation Minister, and Mr G.S. Bali, Transport Minister, were also present, among others.

Hisar police arrests 5 on murder charge
Tribune News Service

Manali, June 17
Five suspected hardcore criminals wanted in the murder of a doctor in Hisar, including highway robberies in Haryana, were arrested here today.

The Hisar police had to chased the five criminals, who were travelling to Manali in an Indica car, police sources said here. On their way to Rohtang Pass, the police caught them. Some weapons were also seized from them.

Though the names of the five were not available till the filing of the report, the HP police was reportedly taken into confidence before the Hisar police arrested them.

The Deputy Inspector-General (DIG) of HP police, Central Range, Mr S.R. Ojha, confirmed the arrests and stated that the five had been identified.

6 killed in road accidents

Shimla, June 17
Six persons were killed and as many injured in three different accidents in the district since last night. A police report here today said three occupants of a car were killed and one was seriously injured when their vehicle rolled down into a gorge near Bagra,near Kot Khai, last night. They were going to Kot Khai from Gumma.

The victims were identified as Ravinder Singh, Sahi Ram and Chaman Chauhan. The lone injured was identified as Hari Kishan, who has been admitted to Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) Hospital here.

In another accident near Devidhar, two persons were killed and three injured when their utility van plunged into a 300-metre-deep gorge. The two victims who lost their lives were identified as Hima Ram and Bhoop Ram. The three injured were admitted to the IGMC hospital.

In yet another accident, a truck driver was killed and two others were injured when the vehicle in which they were travelling rolled down into the Sutlej river near Safaid Dhank close to Rampur in this district. The victim was identified as Raj Kumar while the injured were identified as Gian Chand and Dharam Chand. — UNI

Traffic disrupted on Palampur-Dharamsala road
Our Correspondent

Palampur, June 17
Vehicular traffic on the Palampur-Dharamsala road was disrupted today following a breach in the culvert near Chand Public School here. All heavy and light vehicles have been diverted via the Neugal resort.

Mr P.C. Palia Executive Engineer, PWD, said here today that the construction of a new culvert had been taken up and the road would be operational in five days. He said the culvert, which was constructed 40 years ago, had developed cracks and was declared unsafe. He said his staff was working round the clock to restore the traffic. 

Thousands attend Kamrunag fair
Our Correspondent

Sundernagar, June 17
Thousands of devotees on Monday visited the Kamrunag temple, 41 km from here, on the occasion of Kamrunag fair.

The fair is held every year on June 14. The devotees braved heavy rain to reach the temple, situated at a height of 9000 feet.