H I M A C H A L   P R A D E S H

Decks cleared for Paragliding
Pre-World Cup
Shimla, September 11
Decks have been cleared for holding the Paragliding Pre-World Cup at Bir-Billing in Kangra, as the state government has notified aero sports rules, which had been made mandatory by the High Court for holding any such event, following mishaps, in which people had lost their lives.

Himachal to gear up health services
Shimla, September 11
The Himachal Government will soon come with a comprehensive policy document to upgrade and expand the medical care infrastructure in the hill state.

Dalai Lama’s envoys to leave for China
Dharamsala, September 11
The much-awaited visit of two envoys of the Dalai Lama to China for ‘substantive negotiations on the Tibet problem’ was finalised here today. This yearly round of talks was started in September 2002.

Devotees participate in Parkash Utsav
Shimla, September 11
Thousands of devotees and local residents today got together to participate in the Prakash Utsav, being observed here to mark the 400 years of the installation of Guru Granth Sahib.

Students damage hospital property
Solan, September 11
An irate mob comprising at least 150 students, including girls, of the Government Degree College, at Nalagarh today took out a procession in Nalagarh. At least 12 of them barged into the civil hospital and damaged hospital property.

Dalit woman resents police inaction
Kangra, September 11
The Deputy Commissioner, Dr. Shrikant Baldi, yesterday directed the additional district police chief, Mr Kapil Sharma, to take an appropriate action in connection with assault on a Dalit woman and dismantling of the extension of a temple which, according to the victim, was being constructed by her at Bali village.

Gang of thieves busted
Jawali (Nurpur), September 11
The Jawali police yesterday busted a gang of thieves which had allegedly been committing thefts in the region for the past several months. Kuldip, Pritam, Angrej, Surinder and Raj Kumar and Sumeet Kalia, a shopkeeper of Rehan town, dealing in the disposable items, have been arrested under Section 379 and 34 of the IPC.

5 test positive for scrub typhus
Shimla, September 11
As more cases of high-grade fever continue to pour in at Indira Gandhi Medical College here, five patients have tested positive for scrub typhus. A total of 45 patients of high-grade fever were admitted to hospitals in the state today.

Pratibha for blood bank
Sundernagar, September 11
Ms Pratibha Singh, MP from Mandi, has recommended the opening of a blood bank at the subdivisional hospital here. In a letter, she has requested the Secretary Health to take necessary action in this matter and to intimate her about progress in this regard.

Assurance on upgradation
Sundernagar, September 11
Mr Tek Chand Dogra said today that he would take up the case for the upgradation the middle school at Dharnda to the senior secondary level. He assured the residents of Dharnda and adjoining villages that the school would be upgraded whenever schools were upgraded in the near future.

Decks cleared for Paragliding Pre-World Cup
Tribune News Service

Shimla, September 11
Decks have been cleared for holding the Paragliding Pre-World Cup at Bir-Billing in Kangra, as the state government has notified aero sports rules, which had been made mandatory by the High Court for holding any such event, following mishaps, in which people had lost their lives.

More than 70 pilots have already got themselves registered for the pre-world cup, scheduled to be held from November 6 to 9 at Bir-Billing in Kangra district. Bir-Billing, near Baijnath, is considered to be one of the finest aero sports site in the world and has been attracting large number of foreign pilots.

‘‘This time we have not just framed and notified the aero sports rules as per international guidelines but have also made three different committees, which will ensure that everything is done in accordance with the rules,’’ said an official from the Department of Tourism and Civil Aviation. Though paragliding is being undertaken at a number of places like Dharamsala, Solang Nallah, Jogindernagar and Bir-Billing, by trained pilots in the state but some tourists have lost their lives in mishaps during tandem flights.

Though, Paragliding Pre-World Cup has been held earlier also, but this time a special committee will ensure that there is registration of professionally trained pilots. A technical committee with representatives from the Aero Club of India and Paragliding World Cup Association, France, will check the equipment being used to ensure that it is in good condition and as per the international standards.

Most importantly, the Rescue and Safety Committee, headed by the Director of the Mountaineering Institute, will provide all help in case of a mishap. A state government chopper will be on standby during the four-day event at Baijnath. ‘‘Being an adventure sport, one cannot rule out the possibility of a mishap completely but the organisers will ensure that everything is in accordance with the notified aero sports rules,’’ said an official.

The pre-world cup is being organised by the Department of Civil Aviation and Tourism in association with the Paragliding World Cup Association, France, Aero Club of India and the Western Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Manali. Officials of the tourism department said barring 10 Indian participants, rest all would be from other countries.

Apart from the participants and their team members, a large number of tourists, especially foreigners, are expected to come to the state to watch the event.

The holding of the event will bring tourists to the Kangra Valley in November which is usually off season.

Himachal to gear up health services
Tribune News Service

Shimla, September 11
The Himachal Government will soon come with a comprehensive policy document to upgrade and expand the medical care infrastructure in the hill state.

Stating this while presiding over the meeting of Chief Medical Officers and other senior officers of the Health Department, Mr Mukesh Agnihotri, Chief Parliamentary Secretary, who holds the charge of health portfolio said the vision document would take care of all aspects of health care in the state.

The Chief Parliamentary secretary said that the government was committed to the safeguarding the interests of doctors and the recent NPA controversy had been raked up unnecessarily. He said the NPA was governed by a separate notification and there would be no change in the existing pattern. He said that government would not allow government doctors to carry out private practice and those flouting the orders would be dealt with seriously.

He said the government had decided to provide training to nurses and paramedical staff within the state so that the health institutions could have trained manpower.

He directed the officials concerned to ensure the proper and full utilisation of the allotted funds. Expressing concern over the declining sex ratio in the state, Mr Agnihotri said female foeticide should be checked and sought the cooperation doctors to contain this social evil.

Dalai Lama’s envoys to leave for China
Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, September 11
The much-awaited visit of two envoys of the Dalai Lama to China for ‘substantive negotiations on the Tibet problem’ was finalised here today. This yearly round of talks was started in September 2002.

According to the office of the Dalai Lama, Mr Lodi Gyaltsen Gyari and Mr Kelsang Gyaltsen, along with two senior assistants, Mr Sonam Norbu Dagpo and Mr Bhuchung Tsering, will leave for China on September 12. In addition to meeting with the Chinese leaders, they may also visit some Tibetan areas.

Mr Lodi Gyaltsen Gyari is the special envoy of the Dalai Lama and Mr Kelsang Gyaltsen is also one of his envoys. “The two envoys received instructions from the Dalai Lama on September 8. An official of the Tibetan Government-in-exile, meanwhile, said that just like the previous two years, the two envoys are not going there with a pre-decided agenda and the issues to be discussed would be decided based on mutual convenience of the two parties.

Devotees participate in Parkash Utsav
Tribune News Service

Shimla, September 11
Thousands of devotees and local residents today got together to participate in the Prakash Utsav, being observed here to mark the 400 years of the installation of Guru Granth Sahib.

The entire town has been illuminated and bedecked with flowers, as the two-day celebrations began today. The religious procession, complete with the “Panch Payaras” and ‘shabad gayan’ chanting girls from Khalsa School, went through the town.

The palanquin of Guru Granth Sahib was received by the Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh, at the Ridge, in the evening. Later, eminent scholars and singers from all over the country, chanted religious sermons. There was shabad gayan by Mr Tejinder Singh, the main ragi of the local gurdwara.

However, as planned earlier the showering of flowers on Guru Granth Sahib palanquin by a helicopter could not be done as it was apprehended that it might disturb the shamianas and other elaborate arrangements done on the Ridge. There was also major fireworks display on the Ridge.

The celebrations will continue throughout the day tomorrow also. The Prakash Utsav, is jointly being organised by the Department of Language, Art and Culture, Municipal Corporation, district administration and the Sri Guru Singh Sabha.

To mark the celebration of the 400 years of Guru Granth Sahib, the entire town, including the Gurdwara, Bus Stand, Lower Bazar and the Mall Road, has been illuminated and big banners of the Golden Temple put up at several places.

Students damage hospital property
Our Correspondent

Dalit woman resents police inaction
Our Correspondent

Kangra, September 11
The Deputy Commissioner, Dr. Shrikant Baldi, yesterday directed the additional district police chief, Mr Kapil Sharma, to take an appropriate action in connection with assault on a Dalit woman and dismantling of the extension of a temple which, according to the victim, was being constructed by her at Bali village.

In a her complaint Ms. Sudesh Kumari said she had constructed an extension of a temple on her own land at Bali village. She said certain persons of the upper caste dismantled it and she assaulted her.

She approached Dr Baldi yesterday and alleged that the Kotla police instead of taking action against the culprit asked her to go to Shahpur police action.

Gang of thieves busted
Our Correspondent

Jawali (Nurpur), September 11
The Jawali police yesterday busted a gang of thieves which had allegedly been committing thefts in the region for the past several months.

Kuldip, Pritam, Angrej, Surinder and Raj Kumar and Sumeet Kalia, a shopkeeper of Rehan town, dealing in the disposable items, have been arrested under Section 379 and 34 of the IPC. The police suspected that at least ten members of the gang hailed from Fatehpur tehsil of Jawali sub-division.

The police said the accused had stolen 49 GI pipes from a store of Irrigation-cum-Public Health Department, Fatehpur sub-division and further sold them to Sumeet Kalia by cutting them into pieces. The stolen pipes were recovered from Kalia’s godown. The accused confessed to having committed a number of thefts in the region, claimed the Jawali police.

5 test positive for scrub typhus
Tribune News Service

Shimla, September 11
As more cases of high-grade fever continue to pour in at Indira Gandhi Medical College here, five patients have tested positive for scrub typhus. A total of 45 patients of high-grade fever were admitted to hospitals in the state today.

Out of these, 21 were from Bilaspur, one from Chamba, 18 from Kangra and five from Shimla district.

The special cell created in the Directorate of Health is keeping a vigil on the occurrence of scrub typhus, which has affected almost 50 persons in the state. Regular announcements are being made on All India Radio to create awareness among the public about the disease.

Pratibha for blood bank
Our Correspondent

Sundernagar, September 11
Ms Pratibha Singh, MP from Mandi, has recommended the opening of a blood bank at the subdivisional hospital here. In a letter, she has requested the Secretary Health to take necessary action in this matter and to intimate her about progress in this regard.

Residents of Sundernagar, Balh, Chachiot, Nachan and Karsog have been facing problems as they have to bring blood from the blood bank at Mandi. In the absence of a blood bank here, emergencies cannot be handled in hospitals here.

Assurance on upgradation
Our Correspondent

Sundernagar, September 11
Mr Tek Chand Dogra said today that he would take up the case for the upgradation the middle school at Dharnda to the senior secondary level. He assured the residents of Dharnda and adjoining villages that the school would be upgraded whenever schools were upgraded in the near future.

Mr Dogra was the chief guest at the opening function of a district-level tournament of middle schools at Dharnada, about 6 km from here. At least 250 players from Mandi district would take part in this tournament.