Hamirpur, December 29
Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal has asked the people to encourage youngsters to participate in sports since there is a threat of youths falling prey to drugs.

He was speaking at the concluding function of the four-day national women sports festival (group 3) here today.

He said, “Sports play an important role in ensuring all-round development of youngsters and the state government is making every effort to encourage them to take to sports. Cash prizes have been given to 112 players besides allowing 3 per cent reservation to sportspersons in government jobs and 137 of them have been already given jobs.”

Dhumal said, “Two synthetic tracks are being laid at Hamirpur and Dharamsala to promote athletics. These tracks will cost around Rs 8 crore and will be ready in 2009.”

Chief Minister also announced to give Rs 50,000 to three gold medal winners in these games from Himachal. Their names are: Pushpa Thakur (400 m), Sanjo Devi (javelin throw) and Arzoo Thakur (badminton). Every silver medal winner will get Rs 25,000, while every bronze medal winner will get Rs 10,000.

He also announced to build a sports hostel for girls besides increasing the daily food allowance for sportspersons.

The Chief Minister also gave away prizes to the winner teams. Players from 22 states and 2 Union territories participated in the sports festival.

MP Anurag Thakur said, “The HPCA and the Olympic Association would construct 12 stadiums in the state at a cost of Rs 40 crores.”

Principal secretary (youth and sports services) V.C. Pharaka thanked the Chief Minister, other guests and the participants.

Education Minister I.D. Dhiman, local MLA Urmil Thakur and YSS director K.R. Bharti were also present on the occasion.

Shimla, December 29
Though Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal had a word of praise for the Congress party for extending cooperation to the government on various issues over the past one year, there was no word of assurance for party leaders waiting to be inducted as ministers and chairmen of boards and corporations.

“Next year would be a good year to do all this,” was all he remarked on the issue of expansion and rewarding party men whose wait continued even after the government completing one year in power.

As such, any possibility of the appointments being made as a New Year gift are completely ruled out.

In charge of party affairs in Himachal Satya Pal Jain was also non-committal on the contentious issue of filling two vacancies in the Cabinet and the appointment of chairmen of boards and corporations. Admitting that it was a “ticklish” issue, he said no decision had been taken in that regard though it was still being deliberated whether to do it before the Lok Sabha elections or after it.

Reacting to speculation that the BJP could consider appointing chief parliamentary secretaries (CPS) and parliamentary secretaries (PS) as a way out to placate aspirants, he said this was not possible. “Appointing CPS and PS is out of question as the BJP had itself opposed these appointments during the Congress rule,” he said.

At present, the situation was slightly different than before as an Act had been made to make provision for these appointments, he added. “Even in the changed scenario, it is simply out of question for the BJP to do something that it had opposed while being in opposition,” he said.

Recent statements by the Chief Minister that Mandi and Una will be given representation in the Cabinet has led to speculations that the much-awaited expansion can finally be done as a New Year gift. However, keeping in view the political compulsions of the Chief Minister, it appears that he will not like to make any changes that can lead to discontentment.

Solan, December 29
Tightening its noose around the scrap dealers operating clandestinely in the Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh (BBN) industrial area from the neighbouring the Haryana State Pollution Control Board has stepped up its drive to check their anti-environmental activities.

It was during the recent surprise checks that the board confiscated as many as 7 to 8 vehicles carrying chemical-laced containers to Haryana from the industrial area on the sly. They were later let-off on a written undertaking promising adherence of the laid protocol. Board officials said it was a usual practice with the scrap dealers to wash these containers in the water bodies thereby leading to mixing of hazardous chemicals with the water.

Member secretary of the board Dr Nagin Nanda said they had written to the member secretary of the Haryana Pollution Control Board and sought his support in managing the menace of scrap dealers who surreptitiously operated in the BBN areas. Though the problem in BBN had been streamlined by introducing a system of registration for the scarp dealers operating here, the unchecked operations of their counterparts from Haryana had complicated the scenario.

As many as seven scrap dealers had been registered about six months back in the this area but it was found that more needed to be done to check the infiltration of chemicals into the water bodies. A review meeting was therefore held last week, where the registered scarp dealers were directed to install treatment plants at the earliest or else their approvals would be cancelled. This would ensure the in-house cleaning of containers prior to their safe disposal. A monthly report would be required to be submitted by these dealers, which would act as an added check on their operations.

These dealers had earlier been directed to collect washed drums and containers from authorised companies and also ensure their disposal to the authorised dealers. But it was found that in the absence of any treatment plant in many units they ended up compromising with the safe disposal of chemical-laced containers. This was a cause of environmental hazard for the aquatic flora and fauna and was also a violation of the Hazardous Waste (Management and Handling) Rules 1989, as the user of hazardous chemical is responsible for its safe disposal.

Toughening its stand, the board had now directed the scrap dealers to undergo a two-day training at its Baddi or Parwanoo offices where they would be acquainted with the nitty-gritty involved in the safe disposal of hazardous waste. A three-member committee has also been constituted to overlook its abidance confided Dr Nanda.

Mandi, December 29
The Congress today accused Health Minister Rajiv Bindal of promoting the herbal products and medicine being produced by his private company at Solan in the government-run primary and community health centres as he has deputed ayurvedic doctors to take care of these centres.

Talking to mediapersons here today spokesperson and media in charge of the Mandi parliamentary constituency Chander Sekhar, district president Puran Chand Thakur and spokesperson for Mandi Vikas Kapur alleged that the BJP was more interested in promoting the ayurvedic medicines and products produced in his factory than taking care of the patients. He has appointed ayurvedic doctors in the primary health centres and the CHCs with this motive in his mind, he charged.

Chandra Sekhar said the Congress always favoured the allopathic treatment which should not be mixed with the ayurvedic treatment.

The ayurvedic doctors should be appointed only in the ayurvedic centers not in the primary health centres or CHCs, which need regular MBBS doctors,” he added.

Congress leaders claimed that doctors being appointed through the Rogi Kalyan Samiti were getting more salaries than the regular doctors who have put in more time in service.

Further he said the Congress would never allow any tampering with the Section 118 of the Tenancy Act as it would amount to mortgaging interests of people of the state.

Shimla, December 29
Minister of State for External Affairs and Information Anand Sharma has said that the political parties must rise above their political agendas and speak in one voice against terrorism so that the national effort in that regard is not defeated.

Addressing a press conference here today, Sharma said there must not be any divisions in polity and the nation must stand united in the face of challenges like the recent Mumbai terrorist attacks. “Political parties contest elections on different ideologies, but terrorism is an issue where the entire nation must stand united to send across a strong signal,” he asserted.

“Unfortunately, one of the main political parties came out with an advertisement seeking votes on the issue of terrorism. This should never be done by any party as it hurts national interest,” he said in an oblique to the BJP. He said no religious tags should be attached to terrorism as it had to be confronted and defeated in all its manifestations.

Commenting on the issue of war hysteria being created by Pakistan, he said rather than being in a state of denial and exhibiting brazen defiance, it should act against the persons named by India. “Pakistan must act and not only talk. It should honour its commitment to dismantle the terror infrastructure on its soil,” he said.

“India acted with maturity and remarkable restraint post Mumbai attacks but this must not be misinterpreted as our weakness,” he said. A situation was invented by Pakistan to deflect global attention from the real issue of taking action against those named by India.

He said it was the result of diplomatic initiatives taken by India that the United Nations Security Council passed a resolution condemning the Mumbai attacks and seeking a ban on the two militant outfits involved in the attack. Admitting that there had been lapses in intelligence, he said measures were being taken to ensure that there was no recurrence.

Replying to a query whether India would go ahead with the oil pipeline project from Iran under the present scenario, he said many issues between the three nations remained unaddressed. “Several issues concerning the technical and feasibility aspects are still being examined and the issue will be reviewed,” he remarked.

Shimla, December 29
Having earned the distinction of being the first state in the country to have taken several environment friendly initiatives, Himachal can today boast of having a policy document and separate fund for environment, a carbon credit project and a CFL scheme.

Addressing a press conference on the eve of the completion of one year of the BJP regime in the state, Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal today said the state had taken big strides in various fields in the past one year and emerged as a leader in various sectors like e-governance and environmental friendly schemes.

“Though we have fulfilled 80 per cent of the promises listed in our election manifesto within a short span of one year, today I am listing only those accomplishments that never found mention in the manifesto,” he said.

He said Himachal had earned international recognition for becoming a carbon neutral state. “Our endeavour is to bring carbon emissions to the lowest possible level so that we can earn carbon credits,” he remarked.

He said the state was emerging as an educational hub and several national-level institutes like the IIT, central university, the NIFT, hotel management and food craft institutes were in the process of being set up. Similarly, the thrust was on making super-speciality services available at various health institutions. “The Jogindernagar-Manali-Leh rail line and the work on other railway projects would improve connectivity and promote tourism in a big way,” he remarked.

Although he was all praise for the Centre for granting several prestigious projects to the state, he said issues like extending the special industrial package up to 2013, reduction in rice quota, quota in the Army and central forces and relief for rain and flood damage had certainly left him disappointed. “However, we will not give up and continue to raise these demand even more convincingly so that the Centre finally comes around,” he said.

He said not even a penny had been received as central relief for the last three years. “It was after a lot of persuasion that we were able to get the remaining amount of Rs 45 crore out of a total of Rs 91 crore from the relief amount due for 2005,” he said.

Kangra, December 29
Former Transport and Tourism Minister and sitting MLA, Nagrota Bagwan, G S Bali continued his 48-hour dharna, along with his supporters, wearing black badges on second day today outside the police station. He was demanding suspension of all police persons for their failure to protect Ram Krishen, a HPSEB employee, who died of physical assault allegedly at the hands of political party worker.

Bali described the police in action in the murder case as “most unfortunate” resulting in making people to loose faith over the present police system in the town.

He charged the police of not taking this murder case issue seriously and did not even collect the blood stained clothes of the victim. He charged the police of allegedly destroying the evidence in this murder case by using a delaying tactics. He expressed concern that ASP Preetam Singh Thakur had given clean chit to the allegedly guilty police officers.

Bali announced that a public rally on a non-political platform with a social cause would be held at Nagrota Bagwan on December 31, and would hold a protest rally in the town. He said a signature campaign would be launched on that occasion to be got signed by 51,000 residents of his constituency demanding closure of the Nagrota Bagwan police station.

He said this signed document would be submitted to the Governor and the Chief Minister for accepting demand of closing the police station. He said the dharana would end tomorrow.

Sundernagar, December 29
Harish Cement Ltd, which has signed MoU with the state government to set up cement plant near Sundernagar, is facing up hill task now a days as the farmers, who were earlier favouring the plant, now have started opposing it by taking out procession and raising slogans against the company.

Some of the farmers, who were allured by the company agents with hefty compensation, were earlier favouring the setting up of the plant but now have started opposing the cement industry as the company has offered low price of land. The farmers were holding banners and placards in their hands were raising slogans ‘cement company go back’. Presidents Kishan Kalyan Samiti of the mining and plant area Dharam Singh and Chuni Lal, respectively, addressed the farmers.

General-secretary, Bhartiya Kishan Sangh opf the state unit criticised the state government that it was not able to protect the interest of farmers. Afterwards the Joint Action Committee handed over the MoU to the SDM to be sent to the Chief Minister.

The Congress has also supported the residents on this issue, Kaul Singh Thakur, president the state Congress while talking to media here yesterday demanded shifting of proposed plant.

Shimla, December 29
The Himachal Pradesh Olympic Association and the Cricket Association today demanded the repealing of the Sports Act (enacted by the previous Congress regime) to put an end to the infringement of the rights of sports bodies.

Addressing a press conference here today, forest minister J.P Nadda, who is the president of the Himachal Olympic Association (HOA), and MP Anurag Thakur, who is the secretary general of the HOA and chief of the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association, urged the government to repeal the Act.

Nadda said majority of the people were of the opinion that the Act should be done away with as it was an infringement of the rights of sportspersons. They said they would make a formal request to the state government in that regard.

They also announced that the Indian Olympic Association had formally given recognition to the HOA led by Nadda. They said a formal communication in that regard had been received from Suresh Kalmadi.

“I will also raise the matter of handing back the Annadale ground (presently with the Army authorities) to the state government as its lease had expired,” said Thakur. He said the ground was under the control of the Army. If it was handed over to the state an international-level cricket stadium could be developed there, he added.

They said a sum of Rs 40 crore would be spent on the creation of sports infrastructure in the state. “Our focus will also be to spot young talent and give them all facilities and training so that they can come up to the national and international level,” they said.

They said sportspersons from Himachal who would take part in the national games to be held in February in Jharkhand would be provided the best facilities and training so that they could perform well.

Mandi, December 29
The Himachal police and the Jharkhand police today busted a gang of criminals involved in several bank forgeries worth Rs 2.5 lakh and arrested three kingpins from Jharkhand. With their arrest, the police claimed to solve the several cases of bank forgeries in the district and outside. They were brought here today and produced before the judge in the district courts who sent them to the police remand till January 1.

Gang members have been identified as Pawan Kumar, Rajiv Kumar and Suresh Kumar, all of them belong to Bhorang in Hamirpur district.

They have gone to Jharkhand after committing a bank fraud worth Rs 95,000 at Cooperative Society Credit Ltd, Kotli, Mandi on July 5, police sources said.

Even the Jharkhand police has arrested them in fraud case there and brought them here to produce them before the judge. They would be taken to Jharkhand on January 3, the police said.

The police told The Tribune that the gang members had mastered the art of forged signature and then they used to get the money drawn from the bank. They had committed similar bank forgeries at Sundernagar, Paddar, Sarkaghat and Hamirpur as well, the sources added.

Their modus operandi was simple. They used to watch for the soft target spending time around the bank. Then they used to mastermind the signature and committed the fraud, the sources said.

On July 5, the gang committed bank forgeries worth Rs 95,000 by mastering the forged signature of the block education officer, Kotli, and withdrew the amount from the Cooperative Bank and decamped away with the cash.

ASP, Mandi, Madan Singh said, “The gang is involved in several cases of forgeries in the district. They are being interrogated by the police as case of forgeries have been registered against them here today.”

He added that the police was verifying from the Jharkhand police whether they were part of any inter-state gang. The will be taken to Jharkhand on January 3 as they are wanted in a case there as well, ASP said.

Shimla, December 29
The police arrested a Kashmiri labourer, Bashar Ahmed, following a gas cylinder blast in one of the rooms at a local mosque this morning.

According to police, Bashar, who works with a gas agency, had illegally kept some cylinders in his room in Jama Masjid located in the densely populated Middle Bazaar area. “A major blast took place in his room while trying to refill an empty gas cylinder,” said a police official.

Fearing arrest and police action, Bashar fled from the blast site. He was later caught near Solan and arrested.