Dharamsala, December 8
The second assembly building of the state, which has become a symbol of identity for the merged areas of the state, is ready to host winter session of the Vidhan Sabha from December 11. PWD officials formally handed over the building to the under secretary of the Himachal Vidhan Sabha recently.

PWD chief engineer (north) M.L. Sharma said it was a state-of-the-art building. Besides the main assembly hall, it had three galleries, including that for VIP guests, officials and mediapersons. It also has retiring rooms for the Speaker and the Chief Minister besides a lounge and a canteen for the MLAs. The hospitality department of the state was likely to take over the canteen facilities here. The building had cost around Rs 14 crore.

The ministerial block would also be complete very soon and would be handed over to the government. It would have offices of the ministers and their staff, the chief engineer said. The government started organising winter session of the Vidhan Sabha at Dharamsala four years ago. Initially, the session was organised in Dharamsala government college and then in the incomplete building.

The people of the area have also been demanding a circuit bench of the high court at Dharamsala on the plea that it was very difficult for residents of lower areas to go to Shimla. Although the demand does not seem to be materialising for the time being, people can hope that if the Vidhan Sabha session can be held at Dharamsala, other demands can also be realised in future.

Shimla, December 8
Responding to a show-cause notice issued to them, the Banjar and Kullu mandals of the BJP have denied having passed any resolution opposing the candidature of Maheshwar Singh for the Mandi Lok Sabha seat.

In their replies sent to state BJP chief Jai Ram Thakur, office-bearers of these units have denied having passed any such resolution or sent it to the party high command. The show-cause notice was issued on December 2, seeking explanation within three days. There were reports that they had openly opposed Maheshwar Singh’s candidature and passed a resolution in that regard.

“The two blocks in their reply have clearly denied passing any such resolution and have said that the media had carried wrong reports,” confirmed Jai Ram Thakur. In their respective replies, they have admitted expressing opinion against fielding Maheshwar Singh but that happened during closed-door meetings.

He said, “The party men from the two blocks of Kullu have said that everyone should have the freedom to express his opinion but in case anybody has been hurt or offended by their act, they convey their apology.”

Former Rajya Sabha MP and one-time state party chief Maheshwar Singh has been at the receiving end from fellow colleagues ever since his name started doing the rounds as the strongest candidate that the BJP can field from Mandi Lok Sabha seat.

In fact, Maheshwar Singh had taken a serious view of the statements made by Deputy Speaker Khimi Ram against his candidature from the Mandi Lok Sabha seat. He reportedly took up the matter with the central high command and the state leadership, seeking strict action against all such leaders.

With political activity picking up in view of the Lok Sabha elections, state party chief has debarred these blocks from passing resolutions, favouring or opposing the candidature of any leader. In fact, after there were reports that the Banjar and Kullu mandals of the party had passed resolutions opposing Maheshwar’s candidature, some other blocks also followed the suited, causing complete mayhem in the party.

Embarrassed by such acts which reflected that there was bickering and differences within the party, the state leadership decided to issue stern warning to one and all and the show-cause notices to Banjar and Kullu blocks. Ever since the trend of a virtual open revolt against prospective candidates has come to a halt, much to the relief of senior leaders.

Mandi, December 8
State Congress president Kaul Singh Thakur today said Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal would be remembered as the “roll-back CM” as what he promised during the election rallies was not delivered and the “case in point is the issue of medical college in Mandi”.

Addressing the protest rally at Seri Munch staged by the Mandi Medical College Sangharsh Samiti (MMCSS) here today in which the Congress, CPM, CPI, BSP and other non-BJP frontal organisations participated, Thakur alleged that the Dhumal government had stabbed the people of Mandi at the back as it was Dhumal who had announced from the Seri Munch during his election speech that he would start the government medical college in Mandi when his government would come to power.

Thakur said Dhumal not only backed out from his promise to the people of Mandi, but also withdrew notification issued by the then Congress government and issued a fresh notification for starting of the medical college in private sector.

The Congress will take the hunger strike to the block-level exposing the anti-Mandi face of the BJP government, he warned.

Thakur said the ESIC medical college for Mandi was the gift of the UPA government as it decided to start it near Ner Chowk with pressure from the MMCSS, including the state Congress.

He said Dhumal was busy inaugurating the schemes started during the Congress and was taking credit for these schemes. On the other hand, the BJP government was governing the state with a political vendetta, implicating Congressmen in false cases, he alleged.

Former excise and taxation minister Rangila Ram Rao said Dhumal’s announcement at Sarkaghat last week that his government would start a medical college at Sarkaghat was a gimmick. MMCSS activists raised anti-government slogans.

The CPI, CPM, BSP and other representatives of the frontal organisations also criticised the government attitude and warned that until the government withdrew the July 15 notification proposing to attach the zonal hospitals of Mandi, Hamirpur and Una to proposed private medical college in these towns, they would continue the strike.

Shimla, December 8
With the winter session of the assembly beginning at Dharamsala this week, the two main political parties, BJP and the Congress are working out at their strategies.

The legislature parties of both the Congress and the BJP will be meeting at Dharamsala on the evening of December 10 to chalk out their strategy.

Forest minister J.P. Nadda, who is also the parliamentary affairs minister, said Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal would preside over the meeting.

With the cabinet scheduled to meet tomorrow, certain issues, which could be raised by the members during the assembly session could be discussed.

Shimla, December 8
The Congress has disapproved of the alleged selective manner in which the BJP government was implementing the Tribal and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers Act in the state as a results of which its benefits were not percolating down to the communities concerned.

Secretary of the party M.P.S. Rana said here yesterday that the Act was being enforced only in tribal areas. No proposal had been submitted to the Centre for amendment in the rules to take into account the specific situation of the state, he added.

He said 90 per cent of the state’s population lived in villages and was dependent on forests. Had the Act been implemented in the entire state, forest rights all these people would also have been safeguarded. It would have also benefited semi-nomadic Gaddis and Gujjars and helped in protecting the timber distribution and grazing rights of the people across the state.

He demanded that the state should take up the case for reducing the limit for regularisation of encroachments on forestland from 4 hectare to 1 hectare in view of the limited land available in the state. The step would help small farmers and exclude the influential big encroachers.

Palampur, December 8
The local fire sub station, which was inaugurated hurriedly by Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal in July, is crying for attention of the authorities as the fire station lacks all facilities needed as per norms.

At present, the fire station even does not have regular electricity connection because of the fact that the Fire Department had failed to deposit Rs 2.5 lakh with the HPSEB. Before the inauguration of the fire station, the Chief Minister was kept in dark in this regard.

This fire station looks after the needs of three subdivisions of Palampur region- Palampur, Jaisinghpur and Baijnath. At present it had only 50 per cent staff of its sanctioned strength. As per norms there are seven posts of driver in the station, but only three drivers were running the station. The four post of drivers have been lying vacant for the past many months. None in the government bothered to fill these posts causing inconvenience to the public. Likewise the many posts of firemen were also lying vacant. There are three fire fighters in the fire station, which have already lived its life.

Though there was proposal to upgrade this fire sub station to full-fledged fire station, nothing had been done in the past five years whereas the government had already upgraded the fire station at Kangra.

Thalot (Mandi), December 8
The 3-km-long traffic tunnel on the National Highway-21 here has not only turned into a “health hazard trap for commuters” due to the vehicular emissions trapped inside it, but also become a “white albatross” around the state power board’s neck as the Larji power project has to pay an annual bill worth Rs 34 lakh on its maintenance.

The commuters travelling through the tunnel complained that the tunnel gives a suffocating feeling has a high-level of “harmful carbon monoxide and other vehicular exhausts trapped inside it”.

The engineers looking after the tunnel said there are two vertical shafts constructed that take exhausts out. “But the two-way movement of the traffic force the air from both sides, trapping the harmful air inside the tunnel,” they said.

Moreover, the board has “neither expertise to suggest measures as to how to release harmful vehicular exhausts trapped inside the tunnel, nor it has any know how to make tunnel healthy for the unending stream of traffic moving through the tunnel”.

The board has proposed to handover the maintenance of the tunnel to the NH authorities, which maintains the NH-21. However, the NH authorities have refused to the take over the tunnel as it cost of maintenance is going up every year.

The tunnel has turned out to be white elephant as the board spent more than Rs 65 crore, making it one of the most expensive tunnel of the most expensive 126 MW Larji project, sources revealed.

However, the tunnel has become an albatross around the state power board’s neck as the Ministry for Surface Transport has rejected the proposal earlier and the new proposal has been put on hold till date, the sources added.

D.R. Sharma, superintending engineer of the Larji power project which is maintaining the tunnel, said, “The maintenance costs is going up every year as the board shells out Rs 34 every year on its maintenance. The electricity bill of the tunnel alone costs Rs 24 lakh every year.”

Chief, engineering, NH, K.K. Kampani said the Ministry for Surface Transport had given NOC to the board under the condition that the they would not only construct the tunnel, but also maintain it afterwards. “We are not aware about the octroi proposal,” he added.

Shimla, December 8
Higher reaches of the state received a mild snow while lower areas of tribal districts had a light showers, resulting in considerable cold.

Keylong in Lahaul-Spiti district last night received 3 cm of snowfall and the lower parts, where the cloudy weather condition was prevailing, recorded 1 mm of rainfall.

The Met office recorded 12.8 mm of rainfall in Kalpa in the tribal district of Kinnaur. The minimum temperature of Keylong was minus 0.7°C. In Kalpa, the night temperature dropped by 1.9°C and settled at 0.4°C. The tribal areas of Chamba, Pangi and Bharmour had mild snowfall on its peaks and rainfall on lower hills leading to icy-winds in the area.

The Tourist Resort of Manali also received traces of rainfall, which increased the chilly weather condition. It was cold at 2.5°C. Lower part of Kullu district was lashed with light to mild rainfall. The night temperature of Bhuntar was low at 3°C, while Sundernagar recorded 9.4°C and Mandi 4°C.

In Shimla, where the cloudy weather conditions prevailed, the night temperature was recorded at 12.6°C. — UNI

Shimla, December 8
The District Consumer Forum has directed Oriental Insurance Company to pay a compensation of Rs 8 lakh, along with interest, to Moti Ram of Shimla. The forum has also imposed a litigation cost of Rs 3,000 on the company.

The forum headed by its president Pritam Singh passed this order on a complaint filed by the complainant wherein he had alleged that the company had not turned down his genuine claim. According to him, he got his house (situated at Tikker in Shimla district) insured with the said company for a sum of Rs 8 lakh. The house, along with all household articles, was completely destroyed in a fire incident. The police and the insurance company were informed about the incident.

The company got the loss assessed from a surveyor and offered him only a sum of Rs 1,68,348 against the insured sum of Rs 8 lakh. Feeling dissatisfied with this, the complainant filed a complaint before the forum. He also filed a certificate of patwari halqa to substantiate his claim. The patwari had reported a loss of Rs 8,46,880.

While allowing the complaint, the forum observed the certificate issued by the revenue authority (i.e. the patwari concerned) was reliable evidence and could be excluded at the time of considering the insurance claim of the complainant.

Hamirpur, December 8
A workshop was organised to launch a pilot project for new pension policy of the Central Government here today.

Officers from the ministries of finance of the Central and the state governments and other consultants detailed out the new pension policy as applicable to new employees of the Union Government.

Joint secretary from the ministry of finance K.P. Krishnan said the new pension policy was introduced in the country in 2004. The aim was to ensure quality retired life to new employees of the Central Government.

“Under the new pension policy, the government contribution would be invested in mutual funds and other schemes of post office saving schemes, UTI funds and other beneficial schemes of nationalised banks and other financial institutions to earn maximum profits from the investments made,” he added.

He said, “It will be an endeavour of the government to ensure quality post-retirement life to all members and their families. About 3 lakh employees will be brought under the scheme during 2008 -9.”

A baseline survey would be conducted in Hamirpur district in February next year, pensioners would be identified in April and stakeholders would be enrolled from May to September, 2009. Krishnan said the new pension policy would be implemented after seeking options from employees.

DC Abhishek Jain thanked the central government for selecting Hamirpur district for the pilot project. He assured that the district administration would accord all help for making the project a success.

Special secretary (finance) Akshay Sood, economic adviser of state government Pradeep Chauhan and other consultants also participated in the workshop.

Shimla, December 8
Anganwari workers and helpers from all over the state today staged a massive demonstration outside the state secretariat in protest against the alleged failure of the government to accept their demands.

Hundreds of anganwari workers and helpers descended on the state capital to register their protest against the government for not accepting their demands. They submitted a memorandum to principal secretary (welfare) Rashima Gupta. The memorandum has been addressed to Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal.

State president of the anganwari workers and helpers Indra Thakur said the government should enhance their salaries to Rs 4,000 and Rs 3,000 per month, respectively. She added the job of anganwari workers and helpers should be made pensionable so that they have some financial support in the twilight of their life.

“The government should appoint all matriculate anganwari workers against the posts of supervisor,” said Indra. Keeping in view the steep price hike, it was next to impossible for the anganwari employees to run their homes.

The anganwari workers have been demanding increase in their salary for the past some time. They say when the government has enhanced daily wages and social security pension, they should also be given enhancement in their remunerations.

Shimla, December 8
The Himachal Gyan Vigyan Samiti (HGVS) today submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal urging strict implementation of the PC-PNDT Act to ensure that there is no further imbalance in the already declining sex ratio by way of female foeticide.

The members of the HGVS and the State Resource Centre urged the government to ensure that the PC-PNDT Act is implemented in totality and all those found to be violating it are punished. “It is not just the responsibility of the government authorities to stop acts of violence against women, but even society needs to take a firm stand against such acts,” said Nirmala Chauhan from the Women’s Development and Action Cell.

She said the HGVS under the ‘Beti Bachao Abhiyaan’ had launched a campaign from November 25 to December 10 to check any form of violence against women. She further added that the authorities needed to strictly implement the Acts with regard to protection of women against domestic violence and sexual exploitation at work place.

She said under the PC-PNDT Act, 1994, no unauthorised person must be allowed to run an ultra sound clinic. “Action must be taken against the violators and their license must be cancelled along with appropriate action,” she said.

She added that the degrees of those working in these ultrasound clinics must also be checked to ensure that they are from recognised institutes. She said the participation and role of the State Commission of Women must be ensured in all such matters.

The HGVS also organised a workshop for the women leaders from various political parties.

Nurpur, December 8
In two separate road mishaps four persons were killed and four others were injured, who were going to attend marriage ceremonies.

Three motorcyclists identified as Ashok Singh (40), a resident of Sunet village, Rajesh (27) of Kandwal village and Balbir Singh (36) of Ganour village were injured seriously near Rehan last night when an unidentified Maruti van coming from the opposite side hit the bike and fled.

They were rushed to the local Civil Hospital where they succumbed to injuries. According to the police, a case under Sections 279, 337, 304(A) of the IPC and Sections 184 and 187 of the Motor Vehicle Act has been registered against the van driver.

The deceased were coming from Fetehpur to Reeng village, near Kandwal, to attend a marriage.

In another mishap, Ranjit Singh of Batka village died on the spot and four other occupants of Maruti van (HP56-3330) were injured when the speeding van failed to negotiate a blind curve and hit against the road protection wall at Kankarnala, near Suliali, last night. They were also going to attend a marriage at Manoraha village. The injured have been admitted in the Civil Hospital and their condition is stated to be out of danger.

The police has arrested driver Rumal Singh and impounded the vehicle. A case under Sections 279, 338 and 304 (A) has been registered against the accused.

Meanwhile, the bodies have been handed over to their families after a post-mortem.