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Power project contract cancelled
Rs 60-cr forestry scheme launched
Feud between devotees intensifies
Allegations against Bali ‘misleading’
Virbhadra flays BJP on petrol pump issue
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Virbhadra, Stokes cross swords over Guler loss
BJP threat over MoU on fiscal reforms
Resident docs hail ban on strikes
Rs 1,044 crore to be spent
on education
Steps needed to make trekking safe
No immediate solution to traffic jams
First Pahari film released
Goddess Durga’s idol immersed
College girl found dead
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Power project contract cancelled
Shimla, October 24 Mr Virbhadra Singh, Chief minister, today said that the allottee, Dhamwari Power Company, had failed to take the necessary steps for the implementation of the project in accordance with the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed for the purpose. The validity of the MoU had also expired. A notice had been issued to the company and further action in the matter would be taken after receiving the reply of the company. The government had also decided to allot the 144 mw Sawara-Kuddu and 46 mw Chirgaon-Majhgoan projects to the corporation. He said the government was making efforts to get reviewed the agreements signed by the previous government for the execution of the Kol Dam and the Parbati hydropower projects. He said by not having equity participation in these mega projects, the BJP government had denied the state the much-needed revenue in perpetuity. He would like to have 30 per cent or even more equity share in the two projects. The Centre had appreciated the idea but was reluctant to reopen the agreements already signed. However, he was optimistic, as the Centre itself wanted states to become financially self-reliant and in case of Himachal Pradesh, it could be achieved only by exploiting the hydroelectric potential. Referring to the recent agreement signed with the Sutlej Jal Vidyut Nigam for the execution of the 434 mw Rampur project, he said it was a marked improvement over the draft approved by the Dhumal government. The equity participation had been increased from 25 per cent to 30 per cent, the recruitment of workers from the state had been raised from 75 per cent to 100 per cent and to 60 percent at all other levels. No employee of the state electricity board would be repatriated and the clauses pertaining to recruitment would be applicable even to the contractors and sub-contractors engaged for the execution of the project. Further, a comprehensive relief and rehabilitation package for the affected people had been included in the agreement. It was missing in the draft approved by the BJP government. Regarding the imposition of generation tax, he said the issue had been taken up with the Centre repeatedly. |
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Stone of micro hydroelectric
project laid
Kullu, October 24 Speaking on the occasion, Ms Pratibha Singh said that about 21000 mw potential had been identified in the state river basins of the
Sutlej, the Ravi, the Beas, the Yamuna and the Chenab. She said the state government was giving special emphasis on employment to Himachalis, equity shares, catchment area treatment plan and strict monitoring to avoid cost and time overruns. |
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Rs 60-cr forestry scheme launched
Shimla, October 24 The basic objective of the project is to establish a cost-effective strategy for sustainable management of forests and enhance the livelihood of poor people by eliminating the presence of middlemen in every sphere of economic activity. A framework of micro-planning at the panchayat level had been designed to ensure that the local community reaped the benefits of the project. The project is being implemented through four specialised units which take care of human resource development, monitoring and evaluation, planning, management and information, besides research and development. Micro-planning at the village level aims at empowering the communities to design, implement and manage their own development initiatives. It will also help in enhancing the people's control over their livelihood. In all micro-planning for development of cost-effective models for sustainable livelihoods and forest development will be undertaken at 10 locations in each forest circle with eight territorial wildlife circles. The project will be completed by 2007. |
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Feud between devotees intensifies
Kulu, October 24 The 40-member Kulu Dasehra Committee (KDC), headed by its chairman Raj Krishan Guar, an MLA and the Agriculture Minister, did not allow Balu Nag devta, who belongs to Vakya Tandi in the Ani constituency, to take part in the traditional rath yatra yesterday because the kardars and devotees insisted that they would participate only if they got the right-hand slot with Raghunath’s chariot. But KDC officials allegedly continued to allow Sringa Rishi, belonging to Koti Chahni in the Banjar constituency, to be on the right side. They said the erstwhile Raja of Kulu had also desired the same, adding that both devtas had remained absent from the Dasehra over the years. This, in turn, infuriated the followers of Balu Nag, who remained confined to their camp at Dhalpur Maidan. Pleading their case for their traditional slot on the right side of Lord Raghunath, Thakur Ishwar Das, sevak of Balu Nag, told The Tribune that they had been fighting for their right since the dispute started in 1999. Accusing the KDC of playing a political game, he said devotees had been lathicharged in 2002 and prevented from taking part in the rath yatra in the maidan, which is believed to be the battlefield in which Balu Nag escorted Lord Raghunath from his right side. Even in Lanka Dahan, it is Lord Lakshmana, who always occupies the right side, he said. The ‘kardars’ of Balu Nag lamented that the KDC had been playing a discriminatory role. “We had come to participate in the procession but the administration did not allow us to do so, but devotees of Shringa Rishi were allowed.” Pleading their case, ‘kardars’ and devotees of Shringa Rishi believed that since their devta was the acharya as well as a relative of Lord Raghunath, he was a special guest during Vijaya Dashmi and had been occupying the right slot with Lord Rama in the past as well. “Balu Nag did not participate in the festival for many years due to political reasons, and Shringa Rishi has been occupying the right slot with the Lord during the rath yatra and Lanka Dahan, the ceremony on the last day of Dasehra,” they claimed. This battle for supremacy started back in 1982 when the present scion of the erstwhile Kulu state and a former BJP MP from Mandi Maheshwar Singh joined the BJP and got elected from Banjar twice as an MLA. Balu Nag has his abode in the Ani constituency, a Congress stronghold, and Sringa Rishi in the Banjar constituency, which is dominated by the BJP and was also the constituency of Mr Maheshwar Singh’s brother, Mr Karan Singh. The erstwhile members of the royal family participate as representatives of Lord Raghunath and all devtas visit the royal residence before they come back to participate in the rath yatra. Mr Maheshwar Singh said both devtas came to the royal residence as a tradition but some people had “dragged” the devtas into the political arena. “Sringa Rishi occupied the right-hand place as Bal Nag remained absent from the rath yatra”, he added. Raghuanand Acharya Shashtri, pujari of the Raghunath temple, said Balu Nag was the avatar of Sheshnag and represented Lord Lakshmana, claiming that the devta should be on the right side in the battlefield. “But Lord Rama had more respect for his guru and acharya, who comes as a special guest for Vijya Dashmi. Both devtas can be asked to come alternately to resolve this dispute”, he suggested. Mr Rajkrishan Gaur, chairman, KDC, who was here to participate in the Dasehra today, said the committee had asked for a written guarantee from devotees of both devtas that they would lead the procession peacefully, but they backed out and their entry into the procession had to be barred to prevent any untoward incident. “If both parties come to the negotiating table, we can resolve the dispute. The problem is that there is no written record of the whole procession and devotees of both devtas are claiming their place in the rath yatra”, he added. |
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Allegations against Bali ‘misleading’
Solan, October 24 The state youth Congress general secretary, Mr Sanjay Awasthi, while addressing mediapersons here today, warned those indulging in such a campaign to desist from such gimmicks as they solved no purpose but only misled the masses. He said that while disinvestment was a Central Government policy, only those state tourism corporation units had been sold out which were incurring losses. The policy would in the long run benefit the corporation employees, he said. While welcoming the proposal to introduce village tourism schemes, Mr Awasthi said it would provide the much-needed employment opportunities to the educated unemployed youth in the sate. He said that the Himachal Road Transport Corporation which was reeling under a financial deficit some time back had improved its financial position and better facilities had been extended to the passengers. All these steps taken by Mr Bali not only showed his commitment to these two departments but also highlighted his vision for progress. Taking serious view of the allegations levelled against Mr Bali’s Son, Mr Awasthi said being a minister’s son did not debar him from undertaking any work. |
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Virbhadra flays BJP on petrol pump issue
Shimla, October 24 Addressing a press conference here, he said the top leadership of the party in the state stood condemned in the eyes of the people in the wake of the Supreme Court verdict upholding the cancellation of "wrongful" allotments of petrol pump, cooking gas agency and kerosene outlet to family members of BJP leaders. The fact that the names of a son and a nephew of former Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal, wife of former Horticulture Minister Narinder Bragta, and kins of other BJP leaders figured in the list of cancelled allotments clearly indicated that corruption and favouritism was rampant during the BJP rule. He said hankering for petty benefits like petrol filling stations reflected the "mentality" of Mr Dhumal. His son Anuraag Thakur even falsely claimed to be a bonafide resident of both Punjab and Himachal Pradesh at the same time to secure the petrol pump dealership. He claimed to be a bonafide resident of the state to become the president of the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association. However, when it came to the allotment of petrol pump, he conveniently became a bonafide resident of Punjab and also submitted documents in support of his claim, the Chief Minister said. With such leaders at the helm of the affairs the party should not even dream of reviving its fortunes in the state, he added. Referring to the debacle in the Guler Assembly byelection, the Chief Minster said the defeat was unexpected, but the BJP had nothing to gloat about as it won mainly because of the sympathy generated due to the death of the wife of Mr H.S. Rana, its candidate, on the eve of polling. He said there were other factors, like complacency, over confidence and internal sabotage by a section of party men, which also contributed to the party's defeat. He said the demand of the BJP for his resignation in the wake of the defeat was ridiculous as the Congress lost the seat only by 1100 votes whereas it had only recently won three out of the four parliamentary seats and lost one by a narrow margin of 1200 votes. |
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Virbhadra, Stokes cross swords over Guler loss
Shimla, October 24 The rival camps headed by Mr Virbhadra Singh and Ms Stokes have been crossing swords on many issues, but the electoral debacle in Guler had brought things to a head. The Chief Minister has not only dismissed the four-member panel of the PCC as “un-necessary” but has gone to the extent of saying that “ those who have constituted, should have introspected before taking such a step”. The two leaders have taken a diametrically opposite stand on whether or not the action of Maj Vijay Singh Mankotia, a former minister, in raising the issue of discrimination against Kangra on the eve of the byelection issue was an act of indiscipline. Ms Stokes has been defending his outburst and maintaining that it was not an anti-party activity. However, Mr Virbhadra Singh not only termed Major Mankotia’s statements as an act of gross indiscipline but directly attacked Ms Stokes for defending him. He said, if a person in authority said that such acts did not constitute to indiscipline, it tentamounted to putting a “premium” on indiscipline. To condone such actions the very term “indiscipline” will have to be redefined, he said. Thus, battle lines have once again been drawn between the rival camps and unless the high command intervenes, the chasm between the two factions would only widen. Mr Virbhadra Singh has left it to the Pradesh Congress Committee and the high command to take disciplinary action against Major Mankotia. |
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BJP threat over MoU on fiscal reforms
Shimla, October 24 In a statement issued here yesterday, he said despite the Congress defeat in the Guler byelection, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh refused to read the writing on the wall. “Since Mr Virbhadra Singh has refused to resign on moral grounds, he should at least bring about a change in the politics of regionalism and dynastic rule being pursued by him,” remarked Mr Sharma. Mr Sharma said after the demise of former BJP minister Jagdev Chand, his son Narender Sharma could not manage a victory on sympathy votes and the same was the case with Mr Sant Ram’s son, Mr Sudhir Sharma, from Baijnath. “In case the Congress regime does not scrap the MoU signed with the Centre, the BJP will be forced to intensify its agitation against such anti-people policies of the government,” he warned. Mr Sharma said it was high time the Congress realised that playing the card of regionalism would not bring results. “Kangra has not just been discriminated against politically, but also in the area of development and jobs, as a result of which the electorate has expressed its resentment in the Guler by-election,” opined Mr Sharma. He regretted that selections for the posts of para-teacher, pharmacist and conductor had been made purely on political considerations, ignoring merit. He said “favouritism” in selections was a main issue during the Guler by-elections. |
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Resident docs hail ban on strikes
Shimla, October 24 The association drew the attention of the government to the fact that resident doctors were overworked and made to perform duty for 60 to 110 hours in a week as against the recommended 48 to 58 hours per week. They were denied off after night duty and compensatory leave for extra duty performed on gazetted holidays by the college administration. The association has urged the government to restrict the emergency duty to a maximum of 12 hours to reduce fatigue and stress, which was telling on the physical and mental health of resident doctors. The association has expressed concern over the de-recognition of diploma and degree courses in orthopaedics by the Medical Council of India because of lack of adequate teaching staff and expressed apprehension that some more courses could be derecognised if vacant posts were not filled forthwith. |
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Rs 1,044 crore to be spent
on education
Kumarhatti, October 24 Mr Thakur was speaking at the concluding function of the district-level government high and senior secondary schools sports competitions at Kunihar today. The upgrading of schools, opening of new schools, easy availability of technical education and improving quality of education were some of the measures that the government had taken in the past, he maintained. He said different welfare schemes had been launched by the government to eliminate poverty in the state. Later, he gave away prizes to winners of different category competitions. As many as 562 students of 36 schools participated in the tournament. |
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Steps needed to make trekking safe
Mandi, October 24 Voicing their concern over such incidents as tourists getting stranded in snow on the Rohtang Pass or the recovery of ‘four bodies’ of foreigners after a gap of over 22 years from the 18,000 ft high Kang-La glacier in September last, trekking and mountaineering agents maintained that the tourists or adventurers either ventured out on their own or were being lured by touts as they charged less than what the registered guides or agencies did. They said that that these touts or travel agents took the tourists to Lahaul or further to Leh and Ladakh, without apprising them of the risk factor as happened in the case of seven ill-equipped tourists from West Bengal, who got stranded on the Manali-Leh highway five days back in waste-deep snow on the Rohtang Pass. But the officials maintained that the trekking groups or tour operators rarely informed the district administration in advance, until they got trapped in the high-risk mountain passes where glaciers and blizzards stared you in the face any time on the trekking routes. “We did not know how many motorists got stranded on the Keylong-Leh Highway five days ago. Organisers of Raid De Himalayas did not involve us until they got stranded on the highway, which got blocked due to 3 ft of snow in the valley this week”, explained Mr B.R. Verma, Deputy Commissioner, Lahaul and Spiti. Most of these incidents are happening because the tourists, mainly foreigners, trek at their own in the high mountain routes on the basis of maps or travel books, but they do not know the local weather conditions in the Himalayan mountain , said Mr Khem Thakur, who runs the Himalayan Expeditions Agency in Manali. Mr Amitabh Sharma, Managing Director, Explore Himalayas, said that the organisers should inform the administration when they led expeditions in the snowbound valleys or passes as it made easier for the agencies to deal with the emergency situation. |
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No immediate solution to traffic jams
Solan, October 24 The problem acquires an acute dimension during the apple season when hundreds of trucks daily cross the barrier.The weekends receive an added influx of tourists who commute to Kasauli and Shimla from Chandigarh and nearby regions. The various departments, including Forest, Excise and Taxation, Regional Transport Authority, local marketing committee, besides the contractor charging entry fee, have all set up various barriers at the entry point. The fact that the barriers are located at a steep uphill climb, the vehicles have to stop all of a sudden, creating mechanical faults, say motorists.Instances of traffic jams stretching for hours are routine in the peak apple season. The Tourism and Transport Minister, Mr G.S.Bali, while expressing concern over the matter said he would accord top priority to the issue as it had a direct bearing on the state’s tourism. He added that the possibility of first four-laning the barrier and then installing close-circuit cameras would be explored after getting a detailed survey conducted in the matter. Though a project was mooted during the former BJP regime to set up close-circuit cameras after four- laning a stretch of about 500 metres from the barrier, it never saw the light of the day. Officials opined that until two separate lanes for collecting the tax were constructed for the incoming and outgoing traffic, the chaos could not be controlled. A similar project was lying pending with the Principal Secretary, PWD, for the past several months. He was not available for comments. While the frequent traffic jams cast a negative impression on the tourists visiting the state, policemen rued that there was little they could do to channelise the traffic. In the absence of any bus-stand in the town, the vehicles crossing the town halted at various places, compounding the traffic problem. Being an industrial town, hundreds of trucks parked all along the highway in the absence of any earmarked parking places specially at the town’s exit points. The trucks carrying apples to the Parwanoo’s HPMC branch have added to the stench by dumping the rotten fruit along the highway all through the apple season. |
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First Pahari film released
Kangra, October 24 Based on a popular love story from a village in Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh, “Fulmu Ranjhu” is the first Pahari film made in the state. The film is made in Pahari spoken in lower Himachal Pradesh. Said the Director of the Department of Language, Art and Culture: “It is a matter of satisfaction that this film shows all aspects of our mountain environment, popular culture and customs in its traditional richness.” “Fulmu Ranjhu” bring together a team of seasoned professionals with a wide-ranging experience from the TV industry and Bollywood. It is directed by Rajinder Kaushal, a pioneer of the first Pahari music video ‘Neero Chali Ghumde’. This 72-minute film is a story of a teenaged village lovers, Ranjhu and Fulmu, played by Neeraj Parasar and Poonam Sharma. The screenplay is by Ashwani Garg, a winner of the Sahitya Akademi Award. Music director Manoj Sharma is Professor of Music, H.P. University, Shimla. |
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Goddess Durga’s idol immersed
Kangra, October 24 Durga puja in Himachal Pradesh was started way back in 1967 at Yol by some Army officials and later shifted to Tara Mandir under the supervision of Lal Baba. Mr L.K. Gosh, spokesman of the organising committee of Durga puja, said earthen idols of Durga, her son and daughter were prepared and decorated by Bengali Artist Kamalpal from Kolkata. |
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College girl found dead
Hamirpur, October 24 The police has registered a case under Section 302 of Indian Penal Code and further investigations into the case were on. A three-member team of forensic experts, led by Dr Sankhyan of the Tanda medical college, visited the site and took samples of blood and other marks from the spot. |
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