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Bridge collapse: industry to lose
Villagers block highway over woman’s death Oustees’ issue: HP team to visit Rajasthan, says CM |
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Renuka safari lions dying a slow death Rs 7.5 cr for commercial complex Govt nod must for dealing in
bio-fertilisers Ex-servicemen seek separate pay panel UPA govt anti-Dalit, says Medhwal Rs 25 crore for renovation of temples CBI probe into plot fraud case
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Bridge collapse: industry to lose Rs 5 crore daily Kala Amb, July 21 School children going from Sadhoura, Haryana, to Kala Amb too are suffering. Information available with The Tribune revealed that the bridge had required immediate attention of the PWD (B and R) for quite some time now. The span number 3, which caved in yesterday, required immediate treatment (repair) as the officials concerned had repeatedly brought it to the notice of officials of the PWD, said a senior official of Ambala administration. Locals blame the illegal mining up and down stream of the bridge for the collapse as water used to flow through only four of the total 13 spans of the river. However, the SDM,
Naraingarh, Mr Davinder Kaushik, who was present at the site claimed that no illegal mining was taking place in Haryana area. “The bridge was weak at some points, the flash floods in the river coupled with a sudden heavy traffic may be the reason of the collapse,” said the SDM. Meanwhile, the fourth body, which was fished out of the waters, has been identified as that of one Jaibhagwan of Ambala
district. The officials said now there seemed no possibility of any more bodies in the waters. A bridge on Roun river in
Naraingarh was opened yesterday only after remaining closed for several days for repair. “Every now and then the bridge is shut down in name of repair works and it was opened yesterday only after the other bridge collapsed. We fear what if this bridge too cave in,” said Mr Chander Shekhar Gupta, Vice-President of CII (Himachal Council). He informed that the matter had been taken up with the Government of Himachal
Pradesh and also with the Government of Haryana yesterday after the incident. “A senior official of the Haryana Government visited us and assured that the bridge would be in place in 10-days,” said Mr Gupta and added, “but I doubt if it is practically possible”. As per the PHD Chambers of Commerce, Kala Amb, the collapse of bridge has severely affected the industries, which are going to suffer a daily loss of Rs 5 to Rs 6 crore. Mr J.N. Singh, Executive Director of Ruchira Paper Mill, one of the largest industrial unit in Kala Amb said, “The supply of raw material and finished good would be affected.” “The bridge was a lifeline as hundreds of school children and thousands of labourers used it and hundreds of trucks carrying raw and finished goods used to cross the Markanda river,” said locals. The main supply of milk to Kala Amb and adjoining areas was from Sadhoura and the bridge connected the two places, said Mr Darshan Singh, a dairy owner. Others told the Tribune that prices of vegetables were bound to go up as the supply from hills to the Haryana had now been affected.
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Villagers block highway over woman’s death Mandi, July 21 The agitated villagers blocked the highway near the Brindabani barrier for more than an hour and demanded a stopover at the barrier and stern action against erring private bus drivers, conductors and bus operators. According to the protesting residents, the victim, Hitoshni Devi, had asked the driver to stop the bus at the barrier. But, as usual, the driver of the bus (HP 34 B 3981) did not stop it. “She was forced to get down from the bus and fell on the road, injuring herself.” “Schoolchildren and daily commuters are the worst lot as neither the HRTC nor the private bus operators stop the buses at the barrier”, they complained. Yuvak Mandal leader Santosh Kumar said they had brought the matter to the notice of the RTO and the Regional Manager, HRTC, a few months back. “The HRTC buses sometimes stop, but the private operators do not bother. The protesters ended the protest after the police gave them an assurance that they would take up the matter with the Deputy Commissioner, Mandi. The villagers alleged that the private bus conductors misbehaved with them whenever they asked them to stop the bus at the barrier. Superintendent of Police M. Chandra Sekhar said the driver had been arrested and a case under Sections 279, 337 and 304-A, IPC, registered against him. “We will check negligent driving and take action when we receive a complaint”, he added. The DC, Mr Subhasish Panda, who convened a meeting of the RTO, HRTC manager, villagers’ representatives and private bus operators this evening, said they had decided in favour of a permanent bus stop there. The Regional Manager, HRTC, Mr K.K. Sharma, claimed they had issued instructions to the HRTC drivers to stop at the barrier.
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Oustees’ issue: HP team to visit Rajasthan, says CM Shimla, July 21 This was disclosed by the Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh, at his meeting with the high-level delegation from Rajasthan which is here to discuss the problems being faced by the Pong Dam oustees. The delegation comprises three senior ministers and senior officials. “The people of the state have sacrificed immensely by transferring their ancestral land and houses for the construction of the Bhakra and Pong dams, as such there should be prompt disposal of their pending cases by the Rajasthan Government,” he said. He added despite the government had taken up the case of the oustees time and again at various levels, a number of issues were still pending.
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Renuka safari lions dying a slow death
Chandigarh, July 21 Like him, many other lions and lionesses in the safari are also in bad condition. There is no permanent wildlife veterinarian to take care of them. Within six months, the safari has lost three endangered species. While the first death, that of a leopard, was reported six months ago, deaths of a black bear and a lion followed. The last lion casualty was reported just 15 days ago. At present, the safari is home to 14 Asiatic lions, four black bears and two leopards. The number of lions has reduced from 29 to 14 in the past few years. According to experts, the lions in the safari are facing genetic ailments due to inbreeding. The entire population of lions is the progeny of a pair brought from Trichur, Kerala, in 1977. This has weakened the bloodline and their immunity to disease. They say the lions are victims of the indifference of the wildlife wing of the Forest Department. A recent visit to the safari revealed that the hygiene was not properly maintained and this could be the reason behind the spread of the infection. Most of the lions were howling constantly and their shabby coats reflected their malnourishment. The lion that died 15 days ago, was suffering from the same infection but the extent was not severe. At that time, the caretaker had said the lion might have got injured in a fight with other inmates. However, no care was provided to the animal and this lead to the death of the lion. Mr Sanjeev Awasthi, who runs an NGO at Dadahu, says it is an assault on caged animals. They are facing the “death sentence”. He says the Central Zoo Authority rules do not permit the exhibition of any animal that is seriously sick, injured or infirm. It stipulates that they be kept in a secluded area for a specified time. But at the Renuka safari, there is no provision of quarantine. The safari is also facing the problem of overcrowding of lions. Dr R.S. Kishtwaria of the College of Veterinary Sciences, Palampur, says the area of the safari is adequate for one male and five female, but not for 14 lions. The Divisional Forest Officer (Wildlife), Shimla, Mr R.S. Chauhan, says: “The entire stock of lions in the safari has grown very old and become genetically weak. A local veterinarian is taking care of them.”
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Rs 7.5 cr for commercial complex Shimla, July 21 The Finance Committee (FC) of the MC today approved the proposal for the construction of the commercial complex in the Sabzi Mandi ground. The proposal for constructing the commercial complex was approved as it was decided that the construction work should be entrusted to the Himachal Pradesh Urban Development Authority (HIMUDA), which should be asked to complete it in a set timeframe. The commercial complex will have two lifts, shops, parking area and many other facilities and will touch The Mall. “The MC, which will spend Rs 7.50 crore on the construction of the complex, is likely to get over Rs 32 crore from the sale of property within the complex,” Mr Ashok Sood, councillor, said. He said this would greatly help in improving the financial position of the MC. Even though the Sabzi Mandi site falls in the core area, where there is a strict ban on construction of multistoreyed buildings, the map and other permission for the complex were obtained much earlier in 1996.
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Govt nod must for dealing in
bio-fertilisers Shimla, July 21 Over the past three years, private companies had flooded the state with all kinds of organic fertilisers. The farmers, particularly the apple growers who were the first to switch over to organic farming, complained that the organic fertiliser being supplied was of poor quality. The state-owned Agro-Industries Corporation, HPMC and Himachal Cooperative Marketing and Consumers Federation (HMFED) , which procures farm inputs in bulk , had also supplied thousands of tonnes of organic fertilisers. In all about 40,000 quintals of organic and bio-fertilisers were distributed in the state. Apple growers in Amarbagh in Kulu and Guara in Rampur were among the first few to switch over to the environment-friendly organic farming five years ago. The trees in their orchards were healthy and the yield had also started increasing. However, the entry of private companies into the scene created problems as polythene scrap and other municipal refuse was marketed as organic fertiliser. The large-scale distribution of poor quality organic fertilisers made the state agriculture department issue directions to various public sector undertakings to stop the procurement and supply of such fertilisers. Dr J.C. Rana, Director of Agriculture, said now that organic and bio-fertilisers had been brought under the fertilisers control order, it would be possible to check supply of spurious and substandard products. Organic farming was also being encouraged under the horticulture mission and 286 vermi-compost units and two tissue culture laboratories had been already been set up. Samples to check supply of spurious organic products will be drawn from next month.
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Ex-servicemen seek separate pay panel Dharamsala, July 21 Addressing a press conference, Major Vijai Singh Mankotia, president of the league, said despite there being a vast majority of ex-servicemen and their dependents, the Sixth Pay Commission had failed to take their interests into account, just like the previous commissions. He said the Fifth Pay Commission had also left some gray areas in its recommendations implemented on January 1, 1996, and this is the main reason why no solution could be found to the one-rank-one-pension issue. He said the Prime Minister and the Defence Minister were informed about the injustice done to the ex-servicemen by the Fifth Pay Commission and the demand for a separate pay commission was made but to no avail.
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UPA govt anti-Dalit, says Medhwal Shimla, July 21 Mr Medhwal, who is also the in charge of the BJP Scheduled Caste Cell, today addressed the state executive of the Himachal Pradesh Scheduled Caste Morcha here today. “The UPA regime is trying to mislead and create confusion among the Dalits by making a number of amendments and enacting laws,” he alleged.
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Rs 25 crore for renovation of temples Shimla, July 21 This was stated by, the Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh, at Kee Gompa in the Spiti Valley while addressing monks and devotees. The Chief Minister said the state had a large number of prominent shrines of various faiths which were visited by the devotes from all over the world.
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CBI probe into plot fraud case Baddi, July 21 Earlier, the team visited banks here to get details about the case. They, reportedly, took some photocopies of bank accounts at Jogindra Bank in which the society earlier had an account. In the late nineties, the society had planned residential plots at Kaatha village near here after buying it on power of attorney from some farmers. A number of persons deposited the requisite amount for the plots. However, the land could not be registered in the society’s name and the project was shelved. Later, the land earmarked for the project was sold by its original owners after the area witnessed a boom in real estate prices after the announcement of a Central Government industrial package in 2003. The persons who had paid money to the society were not
allotted plots. They were forced to approach the High Court. The court then asked the CBI to investigate into the matter.
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