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Centre okays ski centre at Solang
Answer-sheets of Vidya Upasaks
Youth shoots dead uncle, aunt
Dhumal accepts CM’s challenge
Revellers throng tourist spots
Bhowmick is acting Director of NIT
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Centre okays ski centre at Solang
Shimla, December 31 The project, first of its kind in the country, is to be set up at an estimated cost of Rs 14.20 crore by Ski Himalayas Ltd. Work on the project will begin soon as clearance has been granted for use of 1.87 hectare forest land falling under the project area. An agreement has been signed between the Tourism Department and Ski Himalayan Ltd for a period of 40 years. The Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh, will lay the foundation stone of the project on January 2 at Solang. The tentative completion period of the project is 14 months. Interestingly, only four trees will have to face the axe for the coming up of the ski lift and the remaining forest area would be untouched. The project will not only enable holding of international ski events on the Phatru slopes but also likely to give a place to Himachal on the international tourist map. Barring China, there is no other country in South East Asia which has ski centre of this level. “With a French company, Poma, undertaking the development of the ski slopes as per international standards the skiable run will extend from the present 300 m to 2.5 km,” said Mr Amitabh Sharma, Managing Director, Ski Himalayas. The state government will get Rs 30 lakh as a licence fee from this project. Though Solang has emerged as a favourite destination for winter sports’ lovers but there was no major attraction for tourists here except for skiing. The ski centre will have a gondola lift and a full-fledged resort. There will be two restaurants both at the top terminal at a height of 3,000 m and at the base located at about 2,600 m. Local sports enthusiasts, including some skiers, who have made a mark at the international level are very upbeat about the project. They feel that not only will they now get an opportunity to practice as per international standards but major events can now be held at Solang. In fact, on completion the ski centre will get certification from the Federation of International Skiers, currently having its headquarter in Norway. As the state government is making all possible efforts to rope in private investment in promoting tourism, the coming up of the ski centre is likely to give a major fillip to the tourism industry in the state. |
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Answer-sheets of Vidya Upasaks tampered with
Shimla, December 31 The head of the laboratory, Mr N.C. Sood, interacting with media persons here today said that out of almost 400 answer-sheets that were examined at the laboratory, 26 were found to be tampered as the handwriting on them was that of two persons. The laboratory report in this connection has been sent to the state government, added Mr Sood. The disclosure could have serious implications on the investigations being done into the alleged irregularities at the HP Subordinate Selection Board, where many of the appointments made during the BJP regime have come under the scanner of the investigating agencies. The role of the former Chairman of the Board, Mr S.M. Katwal, is also being probed by the government. Elaborating further on the functioning of the laboratory, Mr Sood informed that a large number of documents were under scrutiny, some of which could be fraudulent. He said a large number of cases had been referred to them by the CBI, the state police, apex courts, banks and public sector undertakings. He said there had been a sudden spurt in ‘pink collar crime’, related to cyber and computer crime. “Forensic experts are unanimous that there is an urgent need to amend the existing laws, pertaining to these issues,” he remarked. He said every year the number of forged documents is showing a tremendous increase. He said with manifold increase in computer related crimes, a new branch of computer forensics had come into being. “Here we deal with digital data, wherein computer investigation and analysis techniques are applied to determine potential legal evidence,” he explained. He disclosed that a number of important cases like Hawala, Harshad Mehta Securities Scam, the case of Netaji Subhash Chander Bose’s mysterious disappearance, Telgi case and CBSE answer books tampering case had been examined at the laboratory here.
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Youth shoots dead uncle, aunt
Mandi, December 31 Accused Bhupinder was arrested from the room where he had locked himself after committing the double murder, by a Mandi police team led by the Superintendent of Police, Mr Ajay Yadav, today. The police has registered a case under Section 302, IPC, and Sections 25 and 27 of the Arms Act against Vicky. The police has also recovered a single-barrel gun, two used cartridges and one unused one from the spot. The gun is in the name of his father, Mr Raghubir Singh, brother of Girdhari. What has shocked Vicky’s family members is that he fired two gunshots — one in the head and the other in the chest of the victims, killing them on the spot, the police said. According to neighbours, they came to know about the incident around 8.30 last night when Narbadi Devi, Bhupinder’s aunt, and his grandmother, who is sick, and were watching television in another room, came out running after hearing the gunshots and informed the neighbours about the incidence. Though villagers have denied any altercation or dispute among the family members in the recent past, the family members told the police that Vicky has been under depression for the past couple of days and might have committed the crime as he was under the influence of drugs. |
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Dhumal accepts CM’s challenge
Hamirpur, December 31 Reacting to the statement of the Chief Minister from Mandi, Mr Dhumal told The Tribune here this afternoon that since the Chief Minister was visiting the districts of Kangra, Una and Hamirpur from tomorrow, it would be in the fitness of things to have the debate in any part of these districts. The BJP leader blamed the Chief Minister for the present crisis. He alleged that it was due to inept handing of the situation and failure on the part of the Chief Minister to have control over his administration. Mr Dhumal said that the Chief Minister was trying to befool the people by raising anti-BJP tirade at his public meetings.
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Revellers throng tourist spots
Mandi, December 31 Though most of the tourists are coming mainly from New Delhi, Punjab and Chandigarh, but travel agents have also received bookings from Maharashtra, Nagpur and Gujarat. “Even tourists from Bangalore and Chennai have come to enjoy here,” said Mr Sanjay Kumar of Monal Himalayan Travel Agency in Manali. |
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Bhowmick is acting Director of NIT
Hamirpur, December 31 He took over from Prof Chander Shekhar, who left the NIT, Hamirpur, today to resume his duty at the IIT, Delhi, tomorrow. Prof Chander Shekhar had taken over as Director of the NIT, Hamirpur, on August 7, 2003. He had resigned from his office in June, 2004. |
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