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White Paper on HRTC shows Rs 350 crore loss Rainwater harvesting to be mandatory,
Govt machinery used in minister’s birthday bash: BJP
Thakur to induct dedicated workers
Sainik board, admn lock horns over building
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Withdrawal of mission quota for ST students decried
3 killed, 8 hurt in road mishaps
Missionary activities resented
Facilities for pilgrims sought
Demand to merge DA with pension
5-year RI for bid to murder
Bear attacks child
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White Paper on HRTC shows Rs 350 crore loss Shimla, July 28 The document, which will be put up before the state Cabinet, to find ways and means to tide over the financial crisis plaguing the corporation, reveals that the corporation was utilising the provident fund of the employees and Rs 51 crore, almost 50 per cent of the total amount, had not been deposited. Despite this, the corporation was running in overdraft of Rs 24 crore. The liability on account of night out allowance of drivers and conductors comes to Rs 8 crore. The losses are mounting up as the government had not revised bus fare since April 2003. The prices of diesel had since gone up by Rs 6 per litre as a result of which the operational cost had increased to Rs 21 per km per bus against a income of Rs 15.50 per km per bus. The loss on account of increase in the rates of diesel will be Rs 26 crore during the current year. The total mileage of the corporation with its fleet of 1675 buses and the private vehicles being plied under the attachment scheme comes to 14 crore km. The annual loss during 2004-05 was Rs 74 crore and even after receiving a grant of Rs 48 crore, the accumulated loss swelled by Rs 26 crore. The total loss was over Rs 54 crore in 2003-04 which came down to Rs 27.56 crore with grant of Rs 27 crore for the year. In fact, the government had increased the grant from Rs 27 crore to Rs 48 crore on the conditions that the corporation will reduce its fleet to 1500 buses by 2007 and also implement a voluntary retirement scheme to reduce the establishment costs. In the first phase about 90 employees would be allowed voluntary retirement another 200 employees are proposed to be retired in the second phase. In all over 500 employees will be retired under the scheme.
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Rainwater harvesting to be mandatory,
says Virbhadra Shimla, July 28 Mr Virbhadra Singh, Chief Minister, announced this while presiding over a high level meeting on rainwater harvesting in the state here today. He said the state government would consider bringing about a legislation to make rainwater harvesting provisions mandatory in all government and private buildings. The modalities for making the proposal workable would be chalked out by the experts. He said rainwater harvesting structures would have to be incorporated in the building plans and without which the plan would not be approved. The Chief Minister said the Irrigation and Public Health Department in collaboration with the Rural Development Department, municipalities, nagar parishads and nagar panchayats and other departments concerned would launch a campaign all over the state to work out the feasibility of the programme and come out with concrete workable proposals for implementation. Mr Virbhadra Singh said drinking water was precious as the traditional water sources were drying up. He said a campaign would be launched for the revival of traditional water bodies. With rainwater storage the traditional water bodies would get charged, he added. He said all commercial establishments, which included hotels in government and private sector, high water consuming industrial units, government and private buildings would be required to make necessary provisions for rainwater harvesting, besides installing the minimum capacity system tanks in the toilets. The state government was also considering to launch “Mission Shimla” to restore the pristine environment and historical glory of the town. He said a massive plantation campaign would be launched, which would help not only preserve environment but also recharge the traditional water bodies. He said the increase in the green cover would help in the retention of rainwater. Check dams and other water preservation modes would also be adopted under the mission. The main 13 nullahs of the town required to be channelised properly by providing water proof soling at proper locations, which would help in smooth flow of water to the preservation tanks to be constructed at different locations, he added. The Chief Minister said a committee consisting of specialists in the watershed development projects would be set up to monitor the progress and achievements of the watershed projects in the state. The progress under “Hariyali” programme would also be evaluated to ascertain its successful implementation for the benefit of the people. Mr Kaul Singh Thakur, Irrigation and Public Health Minister, said the 20 lakh litres of drinking water was being wasted in flushes daily which otherwise could have served larger areas in the periphery of the capital. He said with rainwater harvesting the more drinking water would be available to people as rainwater could be used for other purposes. There were about 500 water shed projects under execution in the state and which would be beneficial for preservation of rainwater, he added.
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Govt machinery used in minister’s birthday bash: BJP
Dharamsala, July 28 Mr Ramchand Bhatia, senior BJP leader and former MLA from Nagrota, issued a list of HRTC buses that were allegedly withdrawn from their routes and used to bring in crowds from villages to the venue of the function, besides private buses. He alleged that besides almost all the government officials posted in Nagrota, the Divisional Manager and Regional Manager of HRTC and the Registration and Transport Officer (RTO) were also present at the function. Mr Bhatia said though the Chief Minister makes claims of zero tolerance against corruption, he had turned a blind eye to this ‘drama’, where government machinery was blatantly misused by his minister. “If his claims against corruption are true, he should immediately drop Mr Bali from the Cabinet, especially when the government complains of shortage of funds,” he demanded. “Employees of the Transport, Tourism, Public Works, IPH and Health Departments were involved in the private function,” he alleged. On the Mumbai Musical Blast, Mr Bhatia alleged that a large amount was raised by issuing tickets without serial numbers even though only Rs 31 lakh was contributed to the CM’s Relief Fund. At a press conference earlier this week, Mr Bali had said that the function is organised every year by the people of his constituency as Bal Divas and it was not a political affair. “If some people still have objections to it, I will not cut the cake from next year,” he had said. |
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Thakur to induct dedicated workers
Shimla, July 28 Addressing her first press conference after taking over as party president, she said that her endeavour would be to make the party organisation an effective tool for taking programmes and policies of the government to the people, besides facing the challenge of the Opposition BJP. She said she would constitute her team of officer-bearers in consultation with all the senior party leaders and the party high command. The grass-roots workers would not only be given due respect but also effectively involved in the party work. She would put in place an internal mechanism to redress the grievances of workers right from the state level down to the village level. She intended to set up grievances redressal cells at various levels for the purpose. The members of the local party committees would man the cells. The complaints and grievances of workers would be forwarded to the party through the cells and prompt action would be ensured. She said that keeping in view the high percentage of population in 18 to 50 years, the party would make special efforts to actively involve people in this age bracket. Regarding the re-entry of estranged partymen, she said it was a policy matter not confined to the hill state alone. Only the party high command could decide such issues. She said she would intensively, tour the state to have direct interaction with the workers and know their problems. Initially, she would visit every district and in the second phase every block. Dharamsala: Senior Congress leader Major Vijai Singh Mankotia here today welcomed the appointment of Ms Viplove Thakur as the new President of the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC). He said that a meeting of the party workers would soon be organised in his constituency, Shahpur, where Ms Thakur would be invited. Major Mankotia said that the revival of the Congress, both at Centre and in Himachal Pradesh, had taken, place because of the inspiring leadership of Ms Sonia Gandhi. |
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Sainik board, admn lock horns over building
Kangra, July 28 Major Kanwar Omkar Singh Guleria (retd), Deputy Director, Sainik Welfare, in a letter to the Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court yesterday said that he should direct the Kangra Deputy Commissioner and the SDM, not to interfere in the affairs of the Sainik Welfare Board and not to pressurise him for handing over the Sainik Rest House building to the Judicial Department as Sainik Rest House was the property of the Rajya Sainik Board with the Governor its
Chairman. Major Guleria said the Sainik Rest House building was constructed with the central funds for the welfare of the “defenders of the nation” serving soldiers, ex-servicemen, disabled soldiers, war widows and their wards. He, seeking personal attention of the Chief Justice, clarified that the Deputy Commissioner and the SDM had no jurisdiction to take over the building. He said that on the occasion of ‘Kargil Divas’ when the nation was paying homage to the martyrs, he received a letter from the SDM, Kangra, Mr H.S. Pundeer that symbolic possession of the entire Sainik Rest House building, except one shop at the ground floor, here was required to be handed over to the Judicial Department for housing both the Judicial courts of Kangra on July 26, 2005 or on July 27, 2005 and as such a representative of the Sainik Welfare Department should reach there in time, otherwise the possession of the building would be handed over to the Civil Judge (Jr Div) I in absentia and the Deputy Director, Sainik Welfare Board, would be entirely responsible for the lapse. He said the copies of the letter addressed to the Chief Justice were delivered to the DC, an SDM and a Judicial Magistrate (First Class) Kangra, at 10 am yesterday. He said he had sent the copy of it to the Registrar, Supreme Court. Mr Pundeer, when contacted, said that the matter was in process well before he joined here as SDM and on July 18, 2005, the Deputy Commissioner, Kangra, in a letter communicated to him that as per the direction of the Himachal Pradesh High Court the possession of the Sainik Rest House be handed over to the civil judges of Kangra as an alternative accommodation. He said he communicated it to the Deputy Director, Sainik Welfare Board, on Thursday but if the Deputy Director of the board had any reservation, the Deputy Commissioner, Kangra, who was out of station, would look into the matter. He said that there was no question of pressurising. Judicial Department sources, when contacted, said it was an issue between the district administration and Deputy Director, Sainik Welfare Board and the Judiciary had no role to play. The sources said that the judicial authorities were going to take “symbolic” possession yesterday but in view of reservation of the Sainik Welfare Board they did not take possession and, secondly, the Judicial Department required physical possession and not symbolic one. The sources said that there was no direction from the High Court for taking possession of the Sainik Rest House, but on the recommendations of the Deputy Commissioner, the High court had given approval for shifting the courts to the new site. Meanwhile, Mr S.K. Gupta, former president of the local Municipal Committee, said that he as chief of the municipality had allotted land for Sainik Rest House. He suggested that if the authorities needed Rest House for some time as a stopgap arrangement till the new court complex came up, the Saink Welfare Department should do it willingly. |
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Withdrawal of mission quota for ST students decried
Kulu, July 28 He said the Congress party’s promises were mere gimmicks, during elections, to show special attention for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. Referring to the recruitment of various posts in the Departments of Police, Health and Education, Mr Markandey said that what to talk of reservations in the State-cadre posts, even the discrimination was adopted in filling the district-level posts. He said 28 to 30 outsiders were posted in the HRTC this year in Lahaul and Spiti while only one person from that district was taken. In the Department of Health four posts of Health co-ordinator were filled without any advertisement and the Chief Medical Officer, Keylong, released orders at midnight, he alleged. Similarly in the recruitment of Para-teachers and college lecturers last year, the candidates from the Tribal district of Lahaul and Spiti were ignored. The former minister alleged that the government had not considered the 7.5 per cent reservation policy for the recruitment of police constables. Only five candidates from Lahaul and Spiti and 12 from Kinnaur district were taken for the total 918 posts in the state recruited for the reserve battalion. He claimed that at least 70 posts should have been given to Lahaul and Spiti district only. Mr Markandey said that students of the tribal areas of Himachal Pradesh would be deprived of better education if they were not given reservations in Chandigarh, Delhi and other parts of the country. He said that the Bharatiya Janata Party would launch an agitation against the Congress party and Mr Virbhadra Singh if interests of the tribes were not protected. |
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3 killed, 8 hurt in road mishaps
Mandi, July 28 Police sources said that a truck (HP-11-2987) fell into the Beas at the Brinda Bani barrier, near here, and killed its driver, Vijay Kumar, and injured its conductor, Kamla Nand, from Dadahu in Sirmaur district, who has been referred to the PGI Chandigarh. In another accident, a Maruti car, belonging to Kewal Bajaj, a supplier from Solan, fell into a 250-foot-deep nullah at Laungani under Sarkaghat police station today, killing his co-traveller, Mr A.S. Pathak, an SDO in the HPSEB, Mandi Division. Mr Bajaj sustained serious injuries and was admitted to the health centre at Sarkaghat from where he is being taken to Mandi zonal hospital. In the third incident, a jeep fell into a deep nullah near Gohar, injuring four of its occupants. Two of the injured, who had been identified as Sobha Singh and Kana Singh, were reported to be serious and were being taken to Mandi Zonal Hospital, while two others, Suraj Mani and Hukam Ram, were discharged from the health centre at Gohar, the police said. In the fourth accident, a truck carrying apple to Delhi, fell into a nullah at Kelodhar in Karsog subdivision, killing its conductor Sanju from Paddar on the spot today. Apple grower S.R. Sharma from Kelodhar and truck driver Ajay sustained serious injuries and were under treatment at Karsog hospital, the police said. |
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Missionary activities resented
Nurpur, July 28 The local Hindu organisations have urged the state government to keep a vigil on the preaching activities of the missionaries so that the poor and Dalits are not lured into conversions. The local units of the Vishav Hindu Parishad and the Bajrang Dal have alleged that the missionaries had been promoting fallacies to attract the poor and hapless people to convert to Christianity. Mr Ram Lal, president of the local unit of the VHP, has demanded a ban on such activities. Residents of nearby Jassur town had objected to the ongoing late night preaching of the missionaries a few days back. The matter was also taken up with the local police. In this connection, the local Sub Divisional Magistrate, Dr N.K. Lath, made it clear that every religion had the right to preach but conversions were illegal. The administration would take prompt action as and when any report of conversion was received. |
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Facilities for pilgrims sought
Kangra, July 28 In a letter to the Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh, Mahant Giri said that pilgrims in lakhs from Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi, Gujarat and Bengal visited the historical shakti peeths of Mata Bajreshwari (Kangra), Jawala ji (Jawalamukhi), Chamunda temple, Chin Mastika, Chintpurni (Una) and Naina Devi (Bilaspur). Besides other facilities, proper security arrangements should be made for them. |
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Demand to merge DA with pension
Kangra, July 28 Mr B.L.Sharma, general secretary Senior Citizens Forum, here criticised the government for ignoring the interests of the senior citizens, He said that two instalments of DA had already been released for the pensioners in the neighboring states. Mr Sharma said that the members of the forum here expressing their anguish to draw the attention of the Chief Minister towards this section of society who need a proper care from the government at this stage of life. |
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5-year RI for bid to murder Solan, July 28 The police has registered a case under Sections 307 of the IPC against Rachna Ram and a case under Section 323 of the IPC against Karam Chand. Ranchna Ram had first obstructed the way of Bachna Ram by stacking fuel wood in their native village on May 26, 2002. He was beaten up up when he objected to this obstruction. He was grievously injured in the head and was referred to the PGI, Chandigarh, in a critical condition from the local hospital. His wife too was beaten up with a stick by Karam Chand while she tried to rescue her husband.
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Bear attacks child
Mandi, July 28 According to the police, the child has been identified as a son of Sanjiv
Kumar of Tehri village. He had gone to answer the call of nature near a maize field in the morning when the beast attacked the child. He was rushed to Mandi zonal hospital for treatment. The doctors attending on the child said that he had lost his eyes and was under a state of shock. |
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Kangra bank rewarded
Dharamsala, July 28 |
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