H I M A C H A L   P R A D E S H

Nurpur gets special package from CM
Nurpur, July 30
The Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh, has approved a special package for Nurpur. This was stated by Revenue Minister and local MLA Sat Mahajan at a press conference here today.

HP to have double-laned bridges soon
Shimla, July 30
The Himachal Pradesh Government has decided to replace the old bridges at Ghagas in Bilaspur, Chakki in Kangra and Manali in Kullu with modern double-laned bridges on priority.

Security of Dalai Lama beefed up
Kangra, July 30
The security of the Tibetan spiritual leader and temporal head Dalai Lama has been tightened following the arrest of a Chinese woman as the police suspected her presence here as a threat to the life of the Dalai Lama.

Sale of tea gardens in violation of rules
Palampur, July 30
The area under tea in Kangra valley is decreasing year after year as the state government is liberally allowing the sale of tea gardens. In the past few years hundreds of acres of land under tea have been sold.

Minjar fair concludes
Chamba, July 30
The eight-day long Minjar fair concluded here traditional and religious rituals and thrilling festivities this evening. The immersion of golden ‘minjars’ (top blossoms of the maize corn) with coconuts on the holy banks of the Ravi at ‘Manjri garden’ by Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, who was the chief guest, heralded the end of the fair.

BJP to block traffic tomorrow
Shimla, July 30
The Bharatiya Janata Party will block roads on August 1 at various places across the state. Stating this at a press conference, Mr Suresh Bhardwaj, the state BJP chief, said it would be the culmination of the month-long stir of the party against the failure of the government to check price rise.

HC stalls work on Ranbaxy plant
Shimla, July 30
The Himachal Pradesh High Court has stopped the expansion of fermentation plant of multinational pharmaceutical company Ranbaxy at Ganguwala village in Paonta Sahib.

No water supply for four months!
Kangra, July 30
More than 25 families residing at Lalaita village, near Shahpur, have got no water supply for the past four months due to alleged official apathy,villagers alleged here today.

Missing girl returns
Baddi, July 30
A 17-year-old girl of New Delhi who had gone missing from here on June 29 has been restored to her parents. The girl had reached here on June 8 to visit a relative’s place along with her parents. The girl hails from Majlis Nagar in New Delhi.

‘Save Palampur’ from monkeys
Palampur, July 30
"Save Palampur", a local social organisation, has expressed concern over the increasing monkey menace in the town. In a press statement issued here today, Ms Neelam Sood, president of the organisation, said in the past one month the number of monkeys in the town had almost doubled. It had almost become difficult for residents to move out of their houses, carry handbags as groups of monkeys attack them and snatch the goods.

Rapist convicted; victim’s future bleak
Solan, July 30
The Sessions Judge, Mr P.C. Sharma, convicted Sunder Lal, accused of raping a minor girl, aged 12, on September 2004 and sentenced him to undergo rigorous imprisonment of four years and a fine of Rs 10,000.

Teachers’ union counters Mankotia’s charge
Chamba, July 30
The Himachal Government Teachers Union (HGTU) has directly come to the rescue of the Himachal Pradesh Board of School Education Chairman Mr B.R. Rahi and has hit out at the former minister Major Vijay Singh Mankotia for his allegations levelled against Mr Rahi.

Nurpur gets special package from CM
Our Correspondent

Nurpur, July 30
The Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh, has approved a special package for Nurpur. This was stated by Revenue Minister and local MLA Sat Mahajan at a press conference here today.

He said the Chief Minister had approved commerce faculty at the local Government Arya College and also earmarked Rs 50 lakh for the completion of science block. He further said, “Rs 10 lakh has been earmarked for air-conditioning of Bachat Bhavan and Rs 1.20 crore for the construction of an air-conditioned OPD for medical specialists at the Civil Hospital.

Mr Mahajan stated that the approved package included a 10-bed ayurveda hospital at Suliali, near Nurpur. Apart from this, Mr Virbhadra Singh had upgraded three government primary schools at Khazan, Bardi and Malkwal to middle and three middle schools at Kherian, Kopra and Raja ka Bagh to high school and the high school, Jassur, to senior secondary.

He pointed out that the proposed Brijraj Stadium in the town for which the Chief Minister had already sanctioned Rs 1.80 crore, was now being developed by the Sports Authority of India by spending Rs 8 crore.

The Revenue Minister also inaugurated a canteen on the premises of Government Arya College and office of the subdivisional ayurveda medical officer here and laid the foundation stones of an OPD at the Civil Hospital here and primary health centre at Kherian gram panchayat today. 

HP to have double-laned bridges soon
Rakesh Lohumi
Tribune News Service

Shimla, July 30
The Himachal Pradesh Government has decided to replace the old bridges at Ghagas in Bilaspur, Chakki in Kangra and Manali in Kullu with modern double-laned bridges on priority.

Stating this while reviewing the functioning of the Public Works Department, Mr Virbhadra Singh, the Chief Minister, said all old bridges in the state would be replaced by new ones in a phased manner. Further, all gram panchayats would be connected by roads by 2008. The state had obtained sanction of Rs 1,294 crore for 1,340 road projects from the Centre while the state Public Works Department was spending Rs 1,333 crore on developmental activities during the current financial year.

He said out of the total of 3,243 Gram Panchayats as many 681 were still to be connected as on April 1, 2003. Over the past three years 146 panchayats had already been connected and work to provided road links were nearing completion.

Over the next two years the remaining 137 gram panchayats would be connected for which a provision of Rs 205 crore had been made. He said besides the gram panchayats, villages with more than 500 population would also be taken up for road connectivity.

Mr Virbhadra Singh said detailed project reports for Mehatpur-Una-Amb, Una-Barsar-Jahu-Nerchowk and Theog-Kotkhai-Hatkoti, roads had been prepared and work was likely to start soon. He said all roads leading to Dharamshala town were being double laned to facilitate vehicular movement which would be completed well before the March, 2008 at a cost of over Rs 39 crore.

Similarly other major roads in the districts were also being taken up in a phased manner which would also be double-laned. He added that the complete feasibility of 1,675 km of roads, detailed project reports of Ghumarwin-Sarkaghat-Jogindernagar and Kumarhatti-Nahan roads would also be ready by the end of the current year.

Security of Dalai Lama beefed up
Our Correspondent

Kangra, July 30
The security of the Tibetan spiritual leader and temporal head Dalai Lama has been tightened following the arrest of a Chinese woman as the police suspected her presence here as a threat to the life of the Dalai Lama.

Disclosing this here today, Mr Santosh Patial, Additional District Police chief of Kangra district told The Tribune that Ms Nagi Hung, 39, was arrested on a specific information when she was not carrying the travel documents and passport. He said though it was premature to say that she was spying at McLeodganj, the seat of the Tibetan government in exile, but nothing could be ruled out.

He said Nagi Hung during interrogation revealed to the police that she had lost her passport and travel documents in New Delhi in January this year and on January 25, she reported the matter to the Delhi Police.

Mr Patial said the matter was taken up with the Chinese Embassy in Delhi by her personally and documents were prepared for her safe exit from India. He said surprisingly instead of going back to her country she remained in India and had been staying at different places at McLeodganj for the past two months. He said she had arrived in Dharamsala on May 27 last year.

Mr Patial said suspicion revolved around her as she was staying illegally. The ASP said the agencies responsible for the security of the Dalai Lama had been informed about the developments and the security had been beefed up.

When asked that where she was staying for the past two months Mr Patial replied that she had stated that she was staying with some foreigners and the police was looking for those foreigners for questioning. Meanwhile, Nagi Hung was shifted to jail on her health grounds as she was operated upon here recently for appendicitis.

Earlier this week, another Chinese woman Kanchuk Lama, 63, too, was arrested without valid documents from Dolmaling Nunnery near Narbolinga on a specific information but during interrogation it was found that she had no links with subversive activities, Mr Patial divulged. He said no incriminating documents were recovered from her possession. She, however, claims to be the devotee of Dalai Lama. She continues in the judicial custody. 

Sale of tea gardens in violation of rules
Our Correspondent

Palampur, July 30
The area under tea in Kangra valley is decreasing year after year as the state government is liberally allowing the sale of tea gardens. In the past few years hundreds of acres of land under tea have been sold.

Despite the fact that there is a complete ban on the sale of tea gardens, a number of influential persons, including Tibetans, have also managed to buy tea gardens and have converted them into housing colonies, temples and farm houses. It is most surprising that that state government had given permission for the sale of tea gardens in gross violation of rules.

In the past four years, a number of big tea growers have managed to get permission from the government to sell their land under tea. Section 7-A of the HP State Land Revenue Act prohibits the sale of tea gardens in the state. It may be recalled that lush green tea gardens of Palampur attract lakhs of tourists every year and therefore this town is also known as “ tea town” of Himachal Pradesh.

A senior officer of the state Revenue Department while talking to The Tribune said in those cases where the owners of tea gardens had availed the benefits of the HP Land Ceiling Act, they have been allowed to retain land in excess of 30 acres. Therefore, they could not sell their holdings. Just to promote the tea industry in the state such tea growers were allowed to retain excess tea holdings. He said after the Land Ceiling Act was made applicable in the state these tea growers were only custodians of such tea holdings and not the owners. The state government was well conversant with the situation, therefore, it had imposed a ban on the sale of tea gardens.

But it is a matter of surprise that such tea growers have also managed to the get the permission from the state government for the sale of their tea gardens in gross violation of law. One wonders how the sale deeds in such cases were registered. Under rules they were only custodians of such tea gardens, not owners.

Under the provisions of the law, the permission for the sale of tea gardens could be only granted in special cases of utmost importance but in past three years the government has virtually misused these provisions and number of persons with political backings have managed permission overnight for sale of tea gardens.

Residents of Palampur and Dharamsala are worried over these recent developments. This step of the government has also posed a serious threat to the environment of this hill region as most of the tea gardens of this town are being converted into concrete jungles.

The Union Government has also taken serious note of largescale sale of tea gardens in Kangra valley and in its recent communication to the state Chief Secretary, it has asked to initiate effective measure to check the illegal sale of tea gardens in Kangra valley.

Minjar fair concludes
Balkrishan Prashar

Chamba, July 30
The eight-day long Minjar fair concluded here traditional and religious rituals and thrilling festivities this evening. The immersion of golden ‘minjars’ (top blossoms of the maize corn) with coconuts on the holy banks of the Ravi at ‘Manjri garden’ by Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, who was the chief guest, heralded the end of the fair. Mr Harsh Mahajan, Animal Husbandry and Urban Development Minister accompanied the Chief Minister on this occasion.

Earlier, a shobha yatra, starting from the Akhand Chandi Palace, passed through the main bazaars of the town and converged on the bank of the Ravi for immersion ceremony.

The town’s presiding deity, Lord Raghuvira, was carried in a palanquin accompanied by other local deities, and the insignias of Lord Manimahesh, Lakshmi Narayan and Charpat Nath, which presented a panoramic glimpse to the pageantry.

Mr Kuldip Pathania, Chairman, Himachal Pradesh Finance Commission, Mr Thakur Singh Bharmouri, Mr Surinder Bhardwaj, MLAs, Mr Kewal Singh Pathania, state president, National Students Union of India, Mr Puspendra Rajput, Deputy Commissioner of Chamba, were among those who took part in the procession.

The festival symbolises the blossoms of the maize crop, which is the main crop and staple diet of this region. People pray to their gods to seek blessings for a good harvest.

A large number of people thronging from different of Himachal Pradesh, including tourists from the neighboring states, participated in the fair.

Earlier, the Chief Minister, who reached Chamba by a helicopter this morning, planted a sapling in a state-level ‘vanmahotsav’ organised by the Forest Department at Sultanpur, on the outskirts of the town.

The Chief Minister dedicated a Rs 30 lakh shopping complex consisting of 16 shops in the town.

BJP to block traffic tomorrow
Tribune News Service

Shimla, July 30
The Bharatiya Janata Party will block roads on August 1 at various places across the state. Stating this at a press conference, Mr Suresh Bhardwaj, the state BJP chief, said it would be the culmination of the month-long stir of the party against the failure of the government to check price rise.

He took strong exception to the manner in which Mr Virbhadra Singh suspended Dr Rakesh Pandit, a district ayurvedic officer, Chamba, who refused to make payment against substandard equipment supplied to the local ayurvedic hospital. He said it was sheer arrogance on the part of the Chief Minister to humiliate an officer in public. He should have ordered an inquiry if he felt that the officer was wrong and taken action on its basis.

HC stalls work on Ranbaxy plant
Our Legal Correspondent

Shimla, July 30
The Himachal Pradesh High Court has stopped the expansion of fermentation plant of multinational pharmaceutical company Ranbaxy at Ganguwala village in Paonta Sahib.

The order came on a petition filed by residents of that area wherein they alleged that the company was violating the environment norms in starting the construction of the plant.

While passing the order a division Bench comprising Chief Justice Vinod Kumar Gupta and Mr Justice Deepak Gupta further directed that the company could start the work after preparing a comprehensive environment impact assessment plan and conducting public hearing again.

The court further directed the company to forthwith stop further construction or expansion of the plant.

No water supply for four months!
Our Correspondent

Kangra, July 30
More than 25 families residing at Lalaita village, near Shahpur, have got no water supply for the past four months due to alleged official apathy,villagers alleged here today.

Sawitri Thakur, ward member and Mahila Mandal pradan of the village, stated that the village had been without water supply since April.

She said a submersible water pump of the IPH Department went out of order in the first week of April and since then the department did not bother to get it repaired.

She said she along with other villagers had approached the authorities concerned, a number of times, but in vain.

She added the villagers had to fetch water from the Chambi khud, which was faraway.

Mr Bhagat Singh (72), a former driver of former Union Minister Sukh Ram, said old people were the worst sufferers.

Another old resident of the village alleged that the village fell in the Shahpur Assembly segment and due to the political tussle between the Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh and Major Vijay Singh Mankotia, who represents the constituency, people here have been deprived of this basic amenity. 

Missing girl returns
Our Correspondent

Baddi, July 30
A 17-year-old girl of New Delhi who had gone missing from here on June 29 has been restored to her parents. The girl had reached here on June 8 to visit a relative’s place along with her parents. The girl hails from Majlis Nagar in New Delhi.

On June 29, the girl’s mother had reported to the local police about the disappearing of the girl. A case was registered then. The mother had again approached the police yesterday. As per her complaint, the daughter called her up on Friday from Chandigarh to take her back. The girl was taken back by her mother on the same day.

As per the mother’s allegations, her girl was kidnapped by Narinder Kumar, alias Pintu, who also hailed from the same locality in New Delhi. Naresh had allegedly sent his friend to Baddi to kidnap the girl. The girl was kept at Moti Nagar, Punjabi Bagh, in New Delhi for a month.

A case of kidnapping under Sections 366, 368 and 363 of the IPC has been registered against Narinder, who was arrested by the police from New Delhi. The girl’s medical test will be performed tomorrow.

‘Save Palampur’ from monkeys
Our Correspondent

Palampur, July 30
"Save Palampur", a local social organisation, has expressed concern over the increasing monkey menace in the town. In a press statement issued here today, Ms Neelam Sood, president of the organisation, said in the past one month the number of monkeys in the town had almost doubled. It had almost become difficult for residents to move out of their houses, carry handbags as groups of monkeys attack them and snatch the goods.

She said in areas like Aima, Bundla, Ghuggar, and Sughar hundreds of monkeys can be seen. Schoolchildren were their soft targets and the worst affected, she added. In the past one month 10 persons had been attacked and injured by the monkeys.

"Save Palampur" has urged the Himachal Pradesh Government to initiate effective measures in this regard. Ms Sood said the problem was acute in upper areas of Palampur, where monkeys had damaged fruit and maize crop.

Rapist convicted; victim’s future bleak

Solan, July 30
The Sessions Judge, Mr P.C. Sharma, convicted Sunder Lal, accused of raping a minor girl, aged 12, on September 2004 and sentenced him to undergo rigorous imprisonment of four years and a fine of Rs 10,000.

The case pertains to a minor girl who used to sell milk in the Kather locality. Sunder Lal who worked in a tyre workshop at Kather, called the minor girl to his room on the pretext of buying milk and raped her. He also promised to marry her. She was raped yet again in October 2004 consequently she conceived and gave birth to a girl child in April 2005. The child, however, died a month later.

The girl, who lost her mother in March 2004, has a tough life ahead. With little relief to her she has been forced to lead an isolated life. Living with her father who is a farmer she gave up studies after class eight. — OC

Teachers’ union counters Mankotia’s charge
Our Correspondent

Chamba, July 30
The Himachal Government Teachers Union (HGTU) has directly come to the rescue of the Himachal Pradesh Board of School Education Chairman Mr B.R. Rahi and has hit out at the former minister Major Vijay Singh Mankotia for his allegations levelled against Mr Rahi.

In a joint statement here yesterday, Mr Suman Kumar Minhas, state senior vice-chairman of HGTU, and Mr Rattan Chand Sharma, general secretary of the district unit of HGTU, lambasted the former minister who had recently charged the board’s chairman with baseless and false allegations.