The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Himachal Pradesh Edition

DGP Gill vows to check infiltration, drug trade
Tribune News Service

Shimla, August 20
G.S. Gill assumed the office of the DGP here today. He said there would be zero tolerance to corruption in the police force right from the top to the lowest rank. The image of the state police being a professional and honest force would be protected at all costs, he said.

As regards gearing up the force in view of the threat of infiltration by militants from Jammu and Kashmir, he said a security grid was already in place along the Chamba border. “Considering the worsening situation in Jammu and Kashmir over the past one month, there can be a possibility of infiltration whenever pressure is mounted on them and we will take all necessary steps to check it,” he said.

He admitted that certain areas in the state had emerged as centres of drug production and trafficking and all necessary steps would be initiated to tackle the situation. “Special units have been created at Kullu, Mandi and Dharamsala to checking drug menace. A month-long campaign will be launched from September 1 in view of the harvesting season of opium etc.,” he said. “The police and the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) keep a constant check on cultivation of opium and cannabis and launch campaigns against these from time to time,” he added.

When asked about the measures the police intends to take in view of the mishap at the Naina Devi temple, he said the police would wait for the report of the inquiry being conducted by the divisional commissioner, Mandi, before arriving at any conclusion.

In order to put a check on the increasing number of deaths in road accidents, a survey had been done by the World Bank and the PWD to identify the spots where maximum accidents had taken place. “About 500 such points have been identified and once the condition of roads improves, the number of mishaps will decrease,” he said.

Land Purchase
Government may cancel permission to outsiders
Pratibha Chauhan
Tribune News Service

Shimla, August 20
About 10 high profile persons from outside Himachal, who had been given special exemption to purchase land here by the previous Congress regime, could be in trouble as the state government is likely to cancel the permission accorded earlier.

Sources said 10 cases in which undue favour seemed to have been extended were being examined by the Law Department for further action. After taking legal opinion on the issue, the government could cancel the permission granted by the Congress regime, they added.

On assuming power in the state, the BJP government ordered examining of all cases of special relaxation granted by the previous Congress regime during its last six months examined to check whether undue favours had been extended to anyone. In fact, the Chief Minister had himself announced that his government would get all such cases examined and reviewed in case any irregularities was found.

In view of Section 118 of the HP Tenancy and Land Reforms Act, 1972, outsiders cannot purchase land in Himachal without permission, which can be granted by the state Cabinet only.

“Although much more land than the prescribed limit was allowed to be purchased in case of Priyanka Gandhi, but the permission in that regard will not be reviewed,” sources said.

Priyanka had purchased land in the high-security zone near the Rashtrapati Niwas, Retreat, last year. “Priyanka’s case was also examined and it was found that all relevant permissions right from the revenue minister, secretary, director and all other concerned authorities were granted on a single day,” they added.

In fact, while in opposition, the BJP had levelled allegations against the Congress regime that permission was being granted to outsiders to purchase land in violation of the norms. The allegation had figured prominently in the BJP chargesheet handed over to the Governor for inquiry.

Although proper procedure was followed and permissions granted by the competent authorities in these 10 cases, but the question was whether any undue favour had been granted while doing so, sources said.

CITU protest against labour exploitation
Tribune News Service

Shimla, August 20
Construction workers, anganwari workers and hotel employees organised a rally here today in protest against the alleged pro-capitalist approach of the government. Under the banner of the CITU, they organised a march through Lower Bazar and held a rally at Naaz.

They said labour laws were being violated in the state as workers at various power projects were being exploited by contractors and companies.

CITU’s state president Ravinder Kumar condemned the Centre and the state government for burdening the common man. “The government has become a puppet in the hands of capitalists as was witnessed in case of Sawra Kuddu, Kol Dam and various other projects,” he said.

The workers demanded that a welfare board be constituted for the construction workers to stop their exploitation at the hands of contractors. Similar protests were held at most of the project sites in Shimla, Kullu, Mandi and Chamba and Bilaspur.

Anganwari workers from all over the state also joined the protest.

Dharamsala: Hundreds of protesters, including CITU members and employees of various Central Government organisations, threw normal life out of gear in Dharamsala today. They were protesting against the price rise and the alleged privatisation polices of the Centre.

The protesters, including a large number of women, gathered at Shaheed Park in the morning and organised a protest march carrying placards and raising slogans against the Centre.

They staged a dharna outside the district administrative complex. The entrance to the complex remained blocked for more than two hours. The public that had come from far-flung areas had to face inconvenience as the officials concerned remained mute spectators to the situation.

The protesters had also not taken any permission to hold protest, sources said.

Meanwhile, the protesters alleged the privatisation policies being followed by the Union government were not in the interest of the working class.

“Rising prices have made life difficult for the common man in the country. However, the present government is not taking any steps to control inflation,” they said.

The protesters later marched through various parts of the town. Services in various banks and Central Government offices in the region were affected.

Pvt sector workers to get I-cards
Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, August 20
The state government has decided to issue identity cards to labourers working in the organised sector. The move aims at checking supply of labour through contractors in private units. The identity cards would be issued by the Department of Labour.

The department will thus be able to monitor the numbers of labourers employed by private units and the enforcement of labour laws such as the EPF Act, pension and insurance schemes.

The minister for labour and food and civil supplies Ramesh Dhawala gave this information while talking to The Tribune here today. He said there had been reports that many private industrial units that had come up in the state were employing labourers through contractors.

By following that practice, they were denying basic facilities and financial benefits that the labourers were entitled to as per labour laws. “By issuing identity cards, the government intends to end such things,” he added.

He said the Department of Labour had already issued identity cards to 1,58,046 labourers working in the private sector across the state.

Left wing unions observe strike
Tribune News Service

Mandi, August 20
As many as 15 Left-supported unions, including bank employees and anganwardi workers, observed a day-long strike against the Union Government’s polices of economic liberalisation.

Raising slogans against the Union Government here at Seri Munch, leaders of employees claimed that economic liberalisation had increased the gap between the rich and the poor. It had made the life of the common man miserable.

The government’s policies had increased unemployment, corruption as well as prices in the country, they alleged.

The leaders claimed that the Sixth Pay Commission had benefited the employees of higher ranks, but the employees of the lower ranks were ignored, they said. The unions, which joined the strike, included IBEA, NZIEA, BSNL, EU, VEFI, HPMRA, AIPEU, Kisan Sabha, SFI, AISF, Janvadi Mahila Morcha, Naujawan Sabha, CITU, Anganwardi workers and AITUC.

Students’ body poll today
Tribune News Service

Shimla, August 20
The police has made elaborate security arrangements for the student body elections in Himachal Pradesh University (HPU), Evening College, Regional Centre, Dharamsala, and 84 colleges in the state in which over 1 lakh students will cast their vote tomorrow.

With 2,574 students enrolled at HPU, two police reserves have been kept besides having force at all 26 polling booths on the campus. With the two local colleges of Court Shera and Chaura Maidan being sensitive from violence point of view, one police reserve each has been deputed there.

District police chief R.M. Sharma said police personnel would maintain vigil round the clock to ensure that there was no violence. He appealed to the student community not to resort to violence and seek police help in case of any problem.

He said bomb disposal squad, mounted police, sniffer dogs and teargas shells had been kept ready in case there was any such need. The police was taking rounds of the boys’ hostels in the HPU to ensure that no outsiders were staying there.

A total of 1,700 candidates are in the fray for 340 seats in various educational institutions all over the state. The polling will take place from 9.30 am to 2 pm and the results will be declared in the evening.

MANDI: Over 7,000 students will decide the fate of ABVP, NSUI and SFI candidates in fray for four student body posts in 12 degree colleges in the district here for which the elections will be held on Thursday.

All three students unions have fielded girl candidates for one of the four posts of the president, the vice-president, the secretary and the joint secretary.

In Valabh college, the NSUI and the ABVP have fielded Shreya Gupta and Anupma Guleria for the post of the president, while the SFI has fielded Anita for the post of the joint secretary.

The contest is triangular in most of the colleges.

Court dismisses students’ plea
Our Correspondent

Kangra, August 20
Civil Judge (Senior Division), Kangra, Pardeep Samyal today dismissed the petition moved by four students of the local MCM DAV College belonging to the Azad Chhatar Sangh (ACS) and the Students Federation of India (SFI) as no prima facie case could be established. The petitioners were found not illegible to participate in the SCA elections for want of requisite class attendance.

The court heard both sides and found the petitioners had less than 75 per cent attendance that was a prerequisite for being illegible to contest the SCA elections. The court found that the petitioners had only up to 68 per cent attendance and were not eligible to contest elections per the Lyngdoh Committee report.

The petitioners had moved the court yesterday against the rejection of their nominations.

Amarnath Land Row
VHP activists to court arrest today
Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, August 20
The VHP has decided to bring the struggle being undertaken by the Amarnath Shrine Board to Himachal. Activists of the VHP will organise a dharna and court arrest at all district headquarters of the state tomorrow in support of the agitation being carried on in Jammu.

Acting state president of the VHP Vishnu Dutt Sharma gave this information while addressing a press conference here today.

He said the protest would continue till the land was not restored to the Amarnath Shrine Board. In case the government failed to restore the land, the VHP activists from Himachal would march to Jammu and Kashmir.

VHP activists also threatened to oppose the land allotted to Haj houses in various parts of the country. If just 800 kanals of land could not be allotted to the Amarnath Shrine Board, the VHP would also not allow any land allotment for Haj houses. A stir would be launched to oppose allotment of land for Haj houses in Himachal.

In Himachal Pradesh also, the VHP is against the takeover of Hindu temples.

VHP leaders also flayed the proposed move of the state government to stop supply of subsidised LPG cylinders for use in temples.

PSEB secy summoned in RTI case
Kuldeep Chauhan
Tribune News Service

Mandi, August 20
The Punjab Information Commission has summoned public information officer or secretary, Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB), Patiala, in connection with a complaint filed under the Right to Information (RTI) Act by Vasumati Sharma, a Pandoh-based schoolteacher in the Bhakhra Beas Management Board (BBMB)-run school here to appear before the commission on August 26.

Issuing this order on July 22, the commission observed that the PSEB has only supplied a part of the information sought by the complainant from the board. The commission has summoned the PSEB to appear before it on August 26 and asked the complainant to record her observations on the matter before the final date of hearing.

In her complaint to the commission, Vasumati has alleged that she has been running from pillar to post spending both time and money to get information on the revised pay-scale for schoolteachers teaching in the BBMB-run schools in Himachal. The Finance Department, Punjab, has passed the buck on the PSEB, which has denied her the exact information on the revised pay-scale since April last,” she added.

Vasumati has sought information under the RTI Act from both the PSEB and the Finance Department, Punjab, on the pre-revised pay-scale fixed by the PSEB for the BBMB-run schools.

She further complained that the PSEB had sent her “wrong information” singed with backdate to save its face. “The pre-revised pay-scale of school lecturers under the Punjab government was Rs 2,000-3,500 and the revised pay-scale is Rs 6,400-10,640 not Rs 1,800-3,200 pay-scale as the PSEB has supplied to her,” she claimed.

She contested the PSEB claims, quoting the fourth Punjab Pay Commission report and chapter 57, education, schools, and a notification issued on January 16, 1998, to the effect by the Punjab Finance Department in support of her claims.

She alleged that the PSEB made a blunder while issuing the office order No. 8245/C-II dated April 29, 1998, creating new categories of school lecturers at Ropar and Bhatinda ignoring the notifications of the government.

Bragta takes stock of road repair work
Tribune News Service

Shimla, August 20
Horticulture minister Narender Bragta today visited the apple belt of Shimla to take stock of the progress of repair work of roads that got damaged due to heavy rain in the state.

He also paid a surprise visit to procurement centres opened for the convenience of apple growers of Shimla recently. He held a meeting with the officers concerned at Kotkhai to get information about the extent of damage due to rain.

“All roads that got damaged due to rain earlier had been repaired and traffic restored to ensure proper transportation of apples,” he said. He said 27 JCBs had been pressed into service in the Jubbal-Kotkhai area and the restoration work had been undertaken in a record time. He visited Marathu, Kupadi, Nullah, Khaneti, Panog, Gumma, Prem Nagar and Koku Nullah in Kotkhai.

He said the government had taken all steps to ensure that the growers did not face any inconvenience in the transportation of their produce to the market and procuring cartons and trays.

Meanwhile, health minister Rajiv Bindal and MLA Govind Thakur have expressed surprise at the misleading statements being issued about the problems being faced by apple growers.

In a joint statement issued here today, they said in spite of the damage caused by rain, the state government had taken timely steps to ensure that horticulturists did not face any
inconvenience.

Cement plant opposed
Tribune News Service

Shimla, August 20
The people of Sunni area are up in arms against the government over permission granted to M/s Dalmia Cement Limtied to set up a cement plant in the area.

The villagers of Dharogra, Bagh, Oagli and Karilyali have joined hands under the banner of the Gramin Vikas Evam Pariyavaran Samiti to oppose the project.

Presidnet of the samiti Piyush Verma said that the plant would upset the ecological balance in the environmentally fragile area.

It would not only affect the quality of human life but also pose a threat to biodiversity.

He said the samiti would soon take up the matter with the government at appropriate level and apprise the concerned quarters about their reservations about the project.

Central govt staff hold protest
Tribune News Service

Shimla, August 20
Functioning of various central government offices in the state was affected, as its employees observed a day-long strike against the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission.

The strike was almost complete in the central government press, the Income Tax Department and defence accounts services, but the response was partial in the Audit and Accounts Department.

The gramin dak sewaks of the Department of Posts and employees of military engineering services also joined the strike.

The call for strike was given by the Confederation of Central Government Employees.

The employees assembled outside the AG’s office and raised slogans against the government. They also held a rally. The speakers threatened that the confederation would give a call for indefinite strike if the issues raised by them were not settled.

K.L. Guatam, general secretary of the central government’s Employees Coordination Committee, said the recommendations would further increase the gap between the minimum and the maximum salary, as different formula was being used for pay fixation of group D, C, and B (21 per cent) and group A (81 per cent) category of employees.

The employees demanded a uniform pay fixation formula and minimum salary of Rs 10,000.

They also demanded amendments in respect of pension benefits and dearness allowance formula.

Govt decision on pvt colleges condemned
Tribune News Service

Shimla, August 20
The state committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has strongly condemned the recent decision of the state government to open floodgates to allow the entry of private colleges and other educational institutes and to issue letter of intent to various companies for the purpose.

The BJP government had given a letter of intent to the Global Knowledge Network Society, New Delhi, owned by none other than a BJP leader S Chand whose actual name is Sultan Chand.

It was unfortunate that the society had been permitted to open colleges under the various streams of physiotherapy, paramedical services, management, education, law and Ayurveda. This decision would virtually change the present scenario of education in the state and put education beyond the reach of common man.

15 lakh saplings to be planted
Tribune News Service

Shimla, August 20
The forest department had distributed about 15 lakh saplings of medicinal plants to people for plating during the current monsoon.

Stating this while launching the plantation programme of Laghu Udyog Bharti at Shoghi, near here, last evening, forest minister Jagat Prakash Nadda Nadda said that making afforestation drive as mass movement by large scale involvement of people was essential to combat the grave effects of global warming. He said that awareness should be created among the people about the disastrous consequences of global warming so that they took the remedial measure seriously.

He said Mahila Mandals and Yuvak Mandals could play a significant role in making afforestation programme a success.

Birth anniversary of Rajiv Gandhi celebrated
Our Correspondent

Chamba, August 20
A function was organised jointly by the District Congress Committee, Youth Congress and the National Students Union of India here today to celebrate the birth anniversary of Rajiv Gandhi. They pledged to work for the progress and prosperity of the nation.

Presiding over the function, Lakshmi Dhar Sharma, a prominent Congress leader and vice-president of Chamba Municipal Council, recalled the remarkable milestones set up by Rajiv Gandhi in the development of the nation.

Rajiv Gandhi wiped out inequalities. He worked strenuously to open the doors to equality, Sharma stated.

Sharma said Rajiv Gandhi induced a spirit of freedom, tolerance and independence.

Complete switch over to Hindi
Tribune News Service

Shimla, August 20
In a new initiative to promote Hindi in the day-to-day functioning of the government the State Cabinet has decided to completely switch over to the language.

All administrative secretaries have been directed to submit their agenda for the Cabinet and other allied documents in the Devnagri script. Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal said here today that Himachal Pradesh was a Hindi speaking state and that the people understood it easily and were comfortable using it.

He said proceedings of the meetings would also be written in Hindi as it would be in the best interest of the state and its people to completely switch over to the language of the masses. He advised the heads of the departments to adopt simple and commonly used Hindi words in their official functioning so that it remained comprehensible to the common people.

Five anganwari appointments annulled
Our Correspondent

Nurpur, August 20
The Kangra Additional District Magistrate (ADM) has annulled five anganwari appointments and turned down 12 petitions filed by women candidates under the Nurpur development block.

As many as 110 candidates had filed complaints of irregularities committed during the recruitment process last year with the Kangra deputy commissioner.

ADM Sandip Kumar heard the complainants a few days ago and asked the petitioners to submit proofs on August 19. He examined the submitted proofs yesterday and revoked five appointments of anganwari workers, who allegedly had submitted forged low-income certificates during the recruitment.

According to information, the appointments of Anuradha Devi from Jachh, Sushma Devi from Drug, Suman Lata from Madanpur, Jyoti Devi from Khazian and Manokamna from Bhamoli anganwari centres were annulled.

The ADM told that appeals would be heard in the second phase on August 26.

The revocation of appointments made on the alleged forged documents has heaved a sigh of relief to the aggrieved candidates, who were deprived of the justice.

Five killed, 6 injured in mishaps
Our Correspondent

Chamba, August 20
Five persons were killed and six were injured in three separate mishaps here during the past 24 hours, according to reports of the district headquarters today.

The report said two labourers of the state PWD were killed and three injured when a compressor machine, which was being used by the labourers for widening the Chamba-Bharmour Highway, blew up.

The deceased were identified as Purushottam Dass and Ram Chand. While Beli Ram, Des Raj and Chaman Lal were injured and were rushed to a nearby civil hospital, the report said.

In a separate incident, Digvijay Singh (14) of Chamba and Monu were washed away in the Siul rivulet, a tributary of the Ravi in the suburbs of Chamba. The crew of the local fire brigade and locals jointly launched a search operation to trace the bodies of the youths. A report from Pangi tribal subdivision said Sanjna, a gorkha labourer from Nepal, was killed in a landslide at Matholu, while three other labourers were seriously injured.

Rajesh, Khil Prashad, Topono, all residents of Nepal, were injured. They were referred to Shimla in a critical condition, the report added.

Sabha demands reservation on basis of income
Our Correspondent

Bilaspur, August 20
The district unit of the Brahamin Sabha here has urged the government to ensure all types of reservations on the basis of income. The meeting of the sabha was presided by its district president pandit Sitaram Sharma here today.

It said the reservations on the basis of castes were only dividing the society. This system was actually hardening castes system in the society rather than weakening and ending it.

The sabha demanded that the state government should withdraw its notification issued under Amendment No. 85 of the Constitution on September 7, 2007, and provide relief to thousands of employees of the state.

District general secretary Pyare Lal Sharma said the meeting demanded public holiday on Bhagwan Parashu Ram Jayanti.