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Ski
village project creates ruckus in Assembly FLASHBACK
2005 Doctors
contribute to CM’s relief fund |
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Wait
might be little longer for open-heart surgery Illegal
constructions endanger sanctuary’s ecosystem Irregularities
in cops’ recruitment: CM promises action 
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Ski
village project creates ruckus in Assembly Dharamsala, December 27 The Opposition came on the offensive following a statement issued by Tourism and Transport Minister
G.S. Bali in this regard. There was a heated exchange of arguments between Mr Bali and former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, who moved a resolution under Rule 130. Demanding an explanation on why no global tenders had been floated for the Rs 3,500 crore-Ski Village project, Mr Dhumal said although the BJP welcomed FDI in the state, the interests of the state should not have been put on stake by following a hurried procedure. Seeking cancellation of the MoU, BJP MLAs said global tenders should be floated for the project. Reading out notings made on the related file, Mr Dhumal said the Principal Secretary, Tourism, had also pointed out that the figure of 3 per cent royalty to the government from the project was not market-tested and that global tenders should be floated, as recommended by the Cabinet. Mr Dhumal said even officials of the department concerned had doubts about the transparency in the project. Mr Dhumal also objected to a Clause of the MoU allowing the company to sale or sublease residential and other buildings or sites within the project area to any person on mutually agreed terms. He said giving housing board-like status to a foreign company could not be called protection of the interests of the state and the project. On the other hand, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh said the facts about the project were being presented in a distorted form. The entire propaganda was merely to defame the government. The company was yet to submit the detailed project report and provisions had been made by the government to cancel the project. The government had also reserved the right to float global tenders if it was felt that the project was not in the interest of the state. After some BJP MLAs alleged that the project was a sellout and there was something shady about the deal, ruling party MLAs got agitated and everybody started shouting slogans. Deputy Speaker Dharampal Thakur adjourned the House till tomorrow. Earlier, Mr Bali denied that the project had been finalised in a haste as the entire procedure before signing of the MoU took over two years. He said that the issue was being sensationalised for no reason. BJP MLA Khimi Ram said the MoU did not specify what amount would be paid to those whose land would be used in the project and if their
rights would be protected. Another BJP MLA Rajiv Bindal said the government should ensure that no exploitation of natural resources be allowed. |
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The year of controversies Rakesh Lohumi Tribune News Service Shimla, December 27 The government gave the go-ahead for the project to Ford company of the USA despite stiff opposition from the BJP. However, it did modify some clauses to deny exclusive rights to the company. The BJP termed the Mumbai musical blast, organised at Kangra to raise money for the Chief Minister's Relief Fund, as a state- sponsored fraud and demanded a CBI inquiry into scam. It maintained that the organisers swindled crores by selling unnumbered tickets. Environmental concerns dominated the year which saw widespread destruction due to bursting of the Parechu Lake in Tibet and flash floods in major rivers. The state took a serious view of the unilateral environmental clearance granted by the Centre to the National Hydro Power Corporation (NHPC) for the Parbati-III and Chamera-III projects. Mr Virbhadra Singh lodged a strong protest with the Ministry of Environment and Forest and also took up the matter with the Prime Minister. Adopting a tough posture, the government even stopped work on the Parbati-II project . Things came to a flashpoint when the government initiated proceedings to prosecute the general manager of the project for violating environmental norms. The situation was saved after the management of the NHPC intervened and assured it to take care of the concerns of the government. The issue pertaining to environmental clearance is still hanging fire. The issue of recruitment to government jobs on recommendatory "chits" of political masters during the 1994-98 was revived after the high court directed the government to register a case on the basis of the reports of the Shukla committee and the Harsh Gupta committee and investigate the scam. The two fact-finding committees set up by the previous BJP government had reported that 2819 persons were recruited in various government departments and public sector undertakings without completing the codal formalities. The issue of discrimination on regional basis came alive when Maj Vijay Mankotia, accused his own party government of meting out step-motherly treatment to the merged areas, particularly Kangra district, in the matter of development. The BJP also joined the issue and tried to corner the government. As a counter measure, Mr Virbhadra Singh announced holding of winter session of the Vidhan Sabha at Dharamsala.
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Doctors contribute to CM’s relief fund Solan,
December 27 The association,
while defending the step, said Rs 500 was the lowest limit and any
higher amount was welcome. Moreover, the association members insisted
they had introduced the change to facilitate the contractual doctors who
were paid much less than a regular doctor. The NGO association, which
decides the amount of contribution of the paramedical staffers, has
never sought their views about such contributions. Not only do they
derive mileage from such contributions but they have hardly ever raised
any issue concerning their welfare, it added. President of the
association Jiwanand Chauhan said it would give them an opportunity to
establish a separate identity as they had been blatantly ignored till
now. He added that in many districts like Chamba, Bilaspur, Una, Mandi
and parts of Kangra one day’s salary had been deducted towards this
fund while in others like Solan doctors had paid a minimum of Rs 500 or
more. The association has about 1,000 members while another 600
contractual doctors are also enlisted. In certain districts there was
undue pressure for deduction of a day’s salary by the DDA, which was
unwarranted as such contributions were to be made voluntary, the body
added. The move has, however, drawn ire of the NGO associations,
which feel they have been forced to pay more while they are paid much
less.
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Wait might be little longer for open-heart surgery Shimla, December 27 It was on December 12 that the cardiothoracic centre, constructed at a cost of Rs 8.50 crore, was inaugurated. Keeping in view the high cost of open-heart surgeries and other cardiothoracic interventions, the people of the state had eagerly been awaiting the launch of this facility at the IGMC. Despite the best efforts of the doctors and other staff of the Cardiothoracic Surgery Department it would take a few more months for the IGMC team to independently perform open-heart surgeries. “The more complicated cases in which we need the guidance of senior and experienced doctors would be performed when the AIIMS team would come here next,” said a senior IGMC doctor. More than 50 patients, majority of them very poor, have got themselves enrolled at the IGMC and the waiting list is becoming longer day by day. However, doctors, on condition of anonymity, said it would take at least six months for the IGMC team to start undertaking coronary bypass and valve replacement surgeries independently. The fact that doctors are not willing to take risk is evident from the fact that some patients have been advised to either go to the AIIMS or Fortis, Mohali, if they can afford to spend huge amounts. “Though the team from the AIIMS is scheduled to visit the IGMC in January next, it is not sure if they will be able to make it as there is the possibility that their visit might be delayed,” admit doctors. In fact, Dr Venugopal, under whose guidance the centre has been set up, has been kind enough to take out time at the request of the Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh. However, the Medical Superintendent, Dr Hardyal, said the AIIMS team would come in late January and would perform more complicated surgeries. He added that 12 IGMC staff, including nurses, had undergone training at the AIIMS. He added that some more staff would shortly be leaving to spend three months at the AIIMS to gain perfection. The cardiothoracic centre is equipped with all the latest machinery and equipment and has four operation theatres. Though four doctors, including the Head of the Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, Dr Rajnish Pathanis, Dr R.S. Kanwar, Dr Anil Malhotra and Dr P.L. Ghunta, have undergone training to perform the surgeries but it will take some more time for them to gain practical experience. On the day of inauguration, three surgeries were performed by a team of experts from the AIIMS, led by the Director, Dr P.
Venugopal. |
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Illegal constructions endanger sanctuary’s ecosystem Dalhousie: In order to curb illegal concrete constructions mushrooming on the green cover within the precincts of Kalatop-Khajjiar wildlife sanctuary in Chamba district, a probe is needed to initiate punitive action against the defaulters. Due to these constructions, the population of various wildlife species would shrink and the state bird ‘monal’, which already has less population, may become extinct. These structures inside the sanctuary area have been raised by encroachers having political influence. These constructions included hotels, lodges, restaurants and huts. The grazing, lopping of trees, clandestine hunting and road widening activities are reportedly spoiling the ecology of wildlife habitat. The eco-system of the sanctuary has been endangered by these concrete structures as this has disturbed the free movement of beasts. The sanctuary has an area of 69.47 sq km. In 2000 the local people living around the sanctuary got settlement rights unfortunately, ecological disturbances in the area have been increasing over since. This has resulted in a steady decline in the number and variety of wildlife. The causes for this have been attributed to grazing by migratory as well as local animals, roads and resultant flow of traffic, exercise of rights of constructions etc. said sources. The altitude of the sanctuary varies from 1185 to 2768 metres adjoining the Dalhousie hills. Wild animals like musk deer, barking deer, black bear, leopard, goral, serow and the pheasants such as normal, koklas, kaleej and chukar are found in the sanctuary. Besides, migratory birds of the wetland species also visit Khajjiar Lake situated amidst a bald glade of the sanctuary every year. The sanctuary is being looked after by a Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Wildlife Wing of the State Forest Department based at Chamba and other staff, including one range officer and other subordinate staff. Sources further said that in the recent past, specialists from the School for Environmental Sciences of the Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, Central Soil and Water Conservation Research and Training Institute, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh Agriculture University Palampur, had presented a analysis of the situation while investigating the proposal for the revival of famous Khajjiar Lake and its glade located amidst dense sanctuary. They had suggested taking up the area on an integrated watershed basis. There were two other efforts pertaining to the area, one in the management plan for the Kalatop-Khajjiar Wildlife Sanctuary and the other prepared by the a non-governmental organisation, Earth Station Trust at Khajjiar. The analysis also revealed that there were certain constraints on activities inside the wildlife sanctuary. The analysis had expressed concern over high grazing pressure by right holders, summing insensitivity of tourists to cleanliness and decorum in the area, reluctance of locals to take part in activities that were in their common and longer term interest of the sanctuary. The official sources, however, maintained that to curb illegal developments in and around the sanctuary, a “Khajjiar Eco-Tourism Society” has been established which has to tiered structure — Governing Board and Executive Committee. The Governing Board is under the chairmanship of Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) North Zone, Dharamsala with DFO (Wildlife) Chamba as its executive secretary, representatives of Secretary Finance, Managing Director, Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation and from the Special Area Development Authority of the district administration. Among the non-official members are representative of local panchayat, mahila mandal, youth club temple trust. |
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Irregularities in cops’ recruitment: CM promises action Dharamsala, December 27 The issue came up during the question hour in the Vidhan Sabha after BJP legislator Atma Ram sought information on the police recruitment and Mr Rajiv Bindal, also of BJP, pointed out that certain candidates from Solan, who failed the test in Solan, re-appeared in Nahan and got selected. Former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal demanded that the government should take action against the candidates who go their names registered in Nahan after they did not get through in Solan. The Chief Minister said if any candidate had given a false affidavit regarding the test in Solan before appearing in Nahan, his appointment would be cancelled and action taken against the officials concerned. A total of 56,180 candidates had appeared in the recruitment of constables at all district headquarters (except Kulu). Of these, 702 candidates have been selected provisionally and final selection would be made after physical test and character verification. To another question by Mr Sat Pal Satti of the BJP, the Chief Minister said only four officials were promoted to senior positions from January 1 to July 1, but this was on the basis of skill and recommendations by the departments concerned. |
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Returning Officer refutes charges Chamba, December 27 Speaking over the phone this evening, the Returning Officer stated that in the first instance, Asha Kumari was leading by more than 500 votes but on the request by the complainant, the recounting was conducted in which the complainant lost by 20 votes and Asha Kumari (Cong) won by around 600 votes. Mrs Asha Kumari, when contacted, described these allegations as baseless and futile. |
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15 elected to Bar Council Shimla, December 27 The former chairmen of council, Mr R.K. Gautam (Shimla) and Mr
N.K. Thakur (Una) and Mr Ajay Sood (Shimla), were also among the
winner. The other members who have been elected are Mr Shashi Pandit
(Solan), Mr Sudharshan Soni (Dharamsala), Mr Ajay Chandel (Shimla), Mr
I.N. Mehta (Shimla), Mr Ajay Singh (Dharamsala) and Mr Desh Raj Sharma
(Mandi), Mr Chirag Bhanu (Shimla), Mr Naresh Kumar Sood (Kulu), Mr
Ramakant Sharma (Shimla) and Mr Narinder Thakur (Hamirpur), More than
3,000 advocates of the state cast their votes in the election.
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Land
lease of Tibetans to be extended Dharamsala, December 27 This was resolved at a meeting of the Cabinet held here today. Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh presided over the meeting. It was also decided to create 258 posts in different categories in the Education, Forest, Irrigation and Public Health Departments. |
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Tribune scribe bereaved Shimla, December 27 She was 84-year-old. She is survived by five sons and two daughters. Her elder son, Mr Prakash Lohumi, is the Chief of Bureau of the Press Trust of India (PTI) here. The cremation of Kamla Devi took place at the Annadale cremation ground. |
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