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Contract employees to get revised pay
Disproportionate Assets Case
HC: Maintain status quo in phone-tapping case
‘Land bank’ to prop up industry
23 more postgraduate seats at IGMC
200 taken ill with diarrhoea
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Despatch centre goes hi-tech
Polio Eradication
Forest dept’s role under scanner
Rs 2.5 cr grant for physics dept
23 hurt in road mishaps
3 SFI activists hurt
Rice, wheat distributed
Seminar on biotechnology held
Bima yojna for anganwadi workers
Death separates couple after 87 years
NCC week observed
Lodging facility for attendants
Saplings planted
Man murdered
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Contract employees to get revised pay
Shimla, November 23 Contract employees will be given equal to minimum of the pay band, plus grade pay of the specific category, with effect from December 1, 2009. They will also be entitled to 3 per cent annual increment. The total annual burden on the state exchequer will be about Rs 38.50 crore. The meeting presided over by Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal also decided to follow recommendations of Provident Fund Regulation and Development Authority for Management of New Contributory Pension Scheme on the analogy of the Government of India and other states and link the same with the market trends so as to ensure the maximum interest gains to the contributing employees. Accordingly, the amount of Rs 110 crore, deposited under the scheme by employees recruited after May, 2003, will be placed at the disposal of the authority. It granted approval for establishment of a biotechnology park on the PPP model at Aduwal, near Nalagarh, at an estimated cost of Rs 200 crore. It will generate employment for approximately 500 persons. It authorised the concerned department to invite bids from private developers for setting up of the proposed park and agreed in principle to release the state’s share of Rs 14 crore for basic infrastructure development. The Cabinet gave its nod for renewal of the contract period of 64 dental medical officers upto March, 2010, and to simultaneously start the recruitment process afresh to fill vacancies through designated recruitment agency. It approved creation of 539 posts of helper for 539 mini Anganwadi centres and 138 additional posts of anganwadi worker to strengthen the Integrated Child Development Services network. It also approved upgradation of Nagar Panchayats, Nagrota Bagwan, Baddi, Ghumarwin, Manali and Rohru to Municipal Councils and also upgrade the posts of secretaries to executive officers. It consented to fill vacancies of director (electrical), director (civil) and director (finance) in the State Power Corporation Limited. It decided to implement energy conservation measures for commercial, non-domestic and institutional services, having consumption of 20 KV and above, for streetlighting in urban areas and make solar water harvesting system in all 50- bedded hospitals, nursing homes, hotels mandatory within a time frame of one year. |
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Disproportionate Assets Case
Shimla, November 23 Even though the Vigilance Bureau had sought prosecution sanction almost two months back, the state Home Department had asked for further clarifications on certain issues. Having completed those formalities, the Vigilance is now awaiting the nod from the Home Department so that the challan can be put up in the court for prosecuting Ahluwalia. “The Home Department had wanted certain original documents and a complete set of all papers in the case as he being an All-India Services officer, permission would also have to be sought from the Centre,” said a senior police officer. He added that investigations on the part of the Vigilance Bureau were complete and now only a nod from the government was awaited. The Vigilance Bureau had pointed out that more than Rs 1.34 crore deposits had been made in 16 accounts held by Ahluwalia, his wife and their two children, now living in the US. The bureau also made assessment of the properties owned by the family in Shimla, Panchkula and Gurgaon and an orchard near Rampur. After Ahluwalia was arrested, his counsel, while seeking bail for him, had raised certain doubts over the manner in which the income and deposits of the officer had been worked out. Citing specific cases, he pointed out that the same money, which was transferred from his wife’s account into his account, had been added twice. Besides this, he had also pointed out that there were certain miscalculations. Ahluwalia was arrested from Panchkula on October 8 last year and later placed under suspension. His suspension was later revoked and he was posted as Divisional Commissioner, Kangra. Ahluwalia had remained principal private secretary to Virbhadra Singh when he was the Chief Minister during the last Congress regime. His troubles started the moment the BJP came to power as a disproportionate assets case was registered against him and he was placed under suspension. His wife Meera Ahluwalia, a college lecturer, too came under the Vigilance scanner as her foreign jaunts and alleged business links with some companies were probed. The Vigilance had recommended that departmental action be taken against her for not seeking prior permission before proceeding on a foreign tour.
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HC: Maintain status quo in phone-tapping case
Shimla, November 23 While passing this order, a division bench, comprising Acting Chief Justice Ram Bhawan Misra and Justice Rajiv Sharma, directed the state government and chairman of the review committee to file reply within three weeks’ time. This order came on a petition filed by Sanjay Gupta on the issue of his phone tapping by the state Vigilance. The petitioner mentioned in his petition that he had filed an application under Section 340 CrPC before Special Judge, Rampur, against the senior officer of the state, including the DGP, State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau, and others in case No. 44/2007 for committing offences under Sections 193 and 211 of the IPC. The petitioner added that with a view to spat him, the above said officers resorted to illegal tapping his phones so as to implicate him in a false and fabricated case and also to acquire information about the steps being taken by him in his defence in the court. The petitioner mentioned that tapping of phones was governed by the provisions of the Indian Telegraph Act and directions issued by the Supreme Court. He added that the Act said interception of messages could only be done in case there was occurrence of any public emergency or “in the interest of public safety”.
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‘Land bank’ to prop up industry
Shimla, November 23 This was stated by Industry Minister Kishan Kapur on the eve of “Himachal Day” at the India International Trade Fair - 2009 at Delhi today. He said 8,000 bighas of both private and government land had been identified in six districts of the state for the purpose. It had been agreed in principle to provide 80 bighas of land to the container corporation for export-oriented industrial units. He said a sum of Rs 24 crore was being spent on construction of two labour hostels and Rs 10.8 crore business centre in Baddi. Efforts were afoot to develop environment friendly tourism units in the state and a master plan was on the anvil for development of tourism. Private investors were also being invited to explore possibilities of eco-friendly tourism units in the state. At present, there were 36,141 registered industrial units with an estimated investment of Rs 8,668 crore providing employment to 2,32,954 persons. Out of these, 426 industrial units fell in the category of big and medium enterprises.
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23 more postgraduate seats at IGMC
Shimla, November 23 This was stated by Chief Minister PK Dhumal who dedicated various infrastructure facilities costing Rs 4.10 crore at the IGMC, here today. This includes Rogi Suvidha Kshetra (patients’ facility area), echocardiography unit, emergency operation theatre complex, cardiac care unit and an auditorium complex within the campus. The Chief Minister said with the approval of 23 additional seats at the IGMC, the number of MD seats in various faculties would go up from the present 39 to 62 from the ensuing session. He said courses in Pathology and Pharmacology were also likely to be introduced in the near future while efforts were afoot to obtain the MCI’s approval for introduction of Forensic Medicine course in the college. Dhumal said efforts were afoot to obtain consent of the MCI to raise the number of seats to 100 from the next session against the present strength of 65. He said the college had started functioning in the year 1966 with an annual intake of 50 students for the MBBS course. It was for the first time since 1979 that 23 new seats had been added which would go a long way in making available medical specialists to the state. He said modernisation of college and associated hospitals, establishment of Central Research Laboratory, modernisation of existing clinical laboratories, upgrade of cardiac centre, establishment of advanced trauma centre, and advanced eye centre, along with an eye bank, setting up of engineering cell, IT cell and poor patient cell were the priorities of the government. He said a number of facilities had been added at the IGMC during the past 18 months which included Rs. 9.71 crore expenditure on procurement of machinery and equipment, while Rs 6 crore would be spent on purchase of 64 slice CT machine. He lauded the role of Rogi Kalyan Samitis in strengthening health services network.
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200 taken ill with diarrhoea
Chamba, November 23 Dr Pathak, however, clarified that there was no hard symptom of diarrhoea and the patients suffering from minor symptoms of diarrhoea were being examined and treated as per daily routine. Moreover, no patient has so far been hospitalised, he claimed. Pathak appealed to people not to be panicky as the situation was normal and a routine matter as everyone was safe. Though samples of water sources suspected to be affected and human excreta of the affected patients had been collected for laboratory test, nothing serious was detected, Pathak opined. |
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Despatch centre goes hi-tech
Shimla, November 23 The facility was inaugurated with the launching of an on site training programme through teleconferencing between executive director of the NLDC SK Soonnee from Delhi and member (technical) of the state power board AC Sharma here. It would enable the SLDC control room engineers to have face-to-face dialogue under contingent conditions with Power System Authorities at Northern and the NLDC at New Delhi, for instant guidance and directions online. It would also be used for day-to-day consultation, monitoring and hands on training. Power regulator Suneel Grover said the power system operators were playing very vital role in management, control and regulation of power in the state while remaining part of the central grid and maintaining grid discipline round the clock. The responsibilities of these SLDC’s and system operation engineers had multiplied manifold with the formation of central grid comprising over 1,20,000 MW, which was technically complex and called for operation through highly skilled and trained manpower. Keeping this in view, it was decided by the Northern Regional Power Committee (NRPC) to conduct such trainings. A committee was set up for the purpose, which made various recommendations and on its basis requisite training modules were formulated. Sharma said the training session would mainly focus on various functions from despatchers’ perspective, power system protection and time correction in energy meters, which were essential ingredients in operation of the power system. He exhorted upon the engineers of the board to take full benefit of these trainings.
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Polio Eradication
Solan, November 23 BMO Nalagarh Satinder Saini confirmed that six children, under the vulnerable age of five years, had been immunised as a preventive measure as a child residing in their vicinity had tested positive. He added that all medical practitioners had been sensitised to report about such patients from time-to-time in case they surface. The Panjhera-based clinic, however, failed to report the matter to the local health authorities failing which the patient was rushed to his native village in Uttar Pradesh. Meanwhile, Dr Nagesh Verma, director, health, said a report had been received from the Solan CMO in this case and it had come to their knowledge that the child had received treatment from a clinic whose credentials were doubtful. He added that an action would be taken against the erring clinic after an inquiry. The director also added that all other children residing in jhuggis had been immunised earlier during their routine immunisation drive and whether this child had been covered or not, would be known once he returned back to Nalagarh. The BMO said according to inquiries made by them, the said clinic located at Panjhera, was previously being run by an RMP doctor and now his son was running it. As a precautionary measure, the health authorities has now fixed December 6 for undertaking a supplementary immunisation campaign for children below the age of five in the three border districts of Solan, Una and Bilaspur where the population of migrant workers was more, the director revealed. He added that the large number of migrant workers had made it difficult for them to keep a check on their health as they had the tendency of visiting quacks instead of qualified medical practitioners hence such cases failed to be detected in time.
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Forest dept’s role under scanner
Malana (Kullu), November 23 The EPPL, which is executing the 100-MW Malana-II in this remote village, constructed the road and axed 364 trees for which the company had no permission from the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF). The company also destroyed 115 bighas of forest area in the valley by dumping muck and debris in the forest area, thereby violating the Forest Conservation Act. The company has no permission from the MoEF for diversion and cutting down of trees, which is a must, confirmed forest officials. The project dumped muck and road debris along the Malana riverside, burying alive thousands smaller species of plants and local herbs. The trees have been cut for making room for transmission line and a ropeway that would carry concrete to the dam site. The debris had been dumped at non-dumping sites between the surge shaft site to the dam site in over 15 km area along the Malana river. Meanwhile, ecologists have raised questions as to why the project was sanctioned, as it involved large-scale destruction of deodar and pine forest, putting the role of forest department under scanner. Villagers charged that more than 2,000 trees had been destroyed in the project, but the forest department allegedly kept the damage under wraps as no FIR was lodged against the company. “We are not getting timber for building our houses that were destroyed in the devastating fire in the village two years ago as the government has banned TD,” said pradhan, Malana panchayat, Beli Ram. Parbati DFO Anil Sharma claimed that the forest department had imposed a fine of Rs 1.15 crore for damaging 364 trees and 115 bighas of forest land against the company for which it had no permission. The company has deposited the amount with the department, he added. EPPL’s project manager MV Bhaskaran claimed that the company had permission to build road from the MoEF and had paid damage amount to the forest department. “We have also deposited CAT plan fund to the government,” he claimed.
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Rs 2.5 cr grant for physics dept
Shimla, November 23 Disclosing this here today, Vice-Chancellor Sunil Kumar Gupta said the sanction had been approved by the department of science and technology at the Centre. He said under the proposal the department of physics would set research facilities for experimental material science and theoretical physics groups working. Prof Gupta said the facilities would be utilised to carry out front-line research in the thrust areas at the forefront of scientific activities in theoretical physics and experimental material science, scientific human resource development and enhancement of professional prospects. He further said in theoretical physics, research work would be focused on nuclear science and technology, where the structure of hyper nuclei, exotic nuclei and the phases of nuclear dense matter at the high densities, neutron stars and pulsar would be explored, and in the light of future experimental data it was planned to constrain neutrino parameters and fermions mass matrices. In experimental and theoretical material science mainly the department was focusing on nanotechnology-related materials. The VC said under this scheme, the department would install a cluster of supercomputer for multi-computing facilities and vibrating sample magnetometer for investigating the properties of centrally condensation system and materials.
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23 hurt in road mishaps
Kangra, November 23 Kangra SSP Atul Fulzele said a private bus (HP 68 9595) dashed against a tree on the national highway at Tharu. Eight of the injured were admitted in Tanda medical college and were undergoing treatment. He said seven other injured passengers were given first-aid at Nagrota Bagwan. A case under Section 279 and 337 of the IPC was registered against the driver Joginder Singh, who was arrested and later bailed out. Meanwhile, two persons were injured at Mastpur under the local police station today when the motorcycle they were travelling on skidded off the road and rolled into a nullah. Three persons were also injured at Rehan when a motorcyclist hit a scooter today. In another accident at Baleta, a tractor (HP 68 0262) allegedly hit a motorcycle, leaving motorcyclist Suraj Din injured. The SSP said two persons were injured in a hit and run case at Sumlana in this district when a Tata Sumo hit a motorcycle on which the victims were travelling. The injured were admitted in the nearby hospitals in the district. The police has registered cases against the drivers for negligent and rash driving in all five cases.
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3 SFI activists hurt
Hamirpur, November 23 The police has booked three persons --- Sunil Kumar, Vivek Kumar and another person in this incident. SCA president Anu Kumari has accused the local ABVP unit for mobilising few outsiders who attacked and injured three students on the college campus today. She said, “College SCA has been demanding strict action against entry of outsiders in the college campus and asked the college administration and the police to take strict action against the accused in the case.” On the other hand, local unit of the ABVP accused SFI activists for fomenting trouble on the college campus by attacking their activists. |
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Rice, wheat distributed
Hamirpur, November 23 To maintain a separate account and stop any pilferage in this distribution, wheat is sold in 10 kg pack at the price of Rs 145 per bag, while rice is sold in 5 kg pack costing Rs 90 on which the name of schemes is also imprinted and distributed through all 284 fair price shops, he added. |
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Seminar on biotechnology held
Bilaspur, November 23 This was stated by Dr Subhash Gupta, principal, Government Postgraduate College, while delivering key note address at the two-day seminar organised at the Government Postgraduate College here under the aegis of the department of zoology and sponsored by the department of biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India, which concluded here last evening. Gupta lauded the role of scientists for their inventions and using it for the cure of genetic disorders. He advised students to go in for this subject as it had a brilliant career ahead. Seminar organiser Deepak Mohan said here today that earlier Dr BD Sharma, director, state Fisheries, inaugurated the seminar and highlighted various innovative techniques to save the aquatic diversity and also emphasised role of fish biotechnology in crisis of food management. Eminent scientist Dr Amita Bhattacharya spoke on subject of transgenic plants and said time was coming when genetically modified crops would become the need of the hour as they would be disease resistant and free from insecticides and pesticides. The following were given first, second and third prizes, respectively, in competitions organised on the subject - Bhanu Priya, Shivani Sharma and Vijaya Lata in declamation contest and Vjaya Lata and Deepika, Rajesh and Vinod and Ruchi and Arun Kumar in quiz competition.
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Bima yojna for anganwadi workers
Shimla, November 23 Minster for Social Justice and Empowerment Sarveen Chaudhary stated this while presiding over the meeting of representatives of anganwadi workers sangh, under the banner of Bharitya Mazdoor Sangh, here today. Under the yojna, a sum of Rs 30,000 would be provided to workers and helpers in case of natural death, Rs 75,000 in case of death or complete disability due to accident and Rs 37,500 for partial disability. The minister assured the sangh that their demands would be considered sympathetically. |
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Death separates couple after 87 years
Dharamsala, November 23 Residing in Barol village, about 2 km from here in Kangra district, they had their names in the Guinness Book of World Records as a centurion couple. Pyara Singh and villagers gave a ceremonial adieu to Hansa Devi. Hundreds of villagers joined Singh in the funeral procession after which Hansa was cremated. Singh, a retired Army jawan, had married Hansa in 1922. — PTI |
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NCC week observed
Nurpur, November 23 During the week, the cadets took part in painting, essay writing and declamation contests. They debated on social topics like anti-dowry, female foeticide and anti-drug menace. NCC officer Kuldeep Jamwal guided the cadets about social services. On the concluding day today, “Run for Fun” rally was organised by the participants which was flagged off by the school principal. |
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Lodging facility for attendants
Shimla, November 23 The Chief Minister also gave away wheelchairs to five disabled persons who are helped by the volunteers of the organisation on a regular basis to take care of their medical requirements. In charge of Seva Bharti at the IGMC Rohitash Chander said emergency health services would be started at Ghanahatti from next month. This would include alpha beds, oxygen cylinders, wheelchairs, stretchers and other facilities. Ambulance facilities will also be provided shortly, he added. |
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Saplings planted
Hamirpur, November 23 A spokesman of the police said 250 saplings had been planted in the police lines, while some were planted at Hamirpur Sadar police station, Bhoranj, Badsar, Jahu, Nadaun and Sujanpur. —
TNS |
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Man murdered
Kullu, November 23 SP KK Indoria said the two brothers — Lotam Ram and Poshu Ram — went to attend a function at one Bir Singh’s place and while returning they were attacked by broken bottles and sticks. Lotam Ram died on the spot while Poshu Ram was seriously injured and admitted to the regional hospital here. — OC
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The role of forest department has come under scanner as it has not lodged an FIR against Everest Power Private Limited
(EPPL) that axed 364 trees and destroyed 115 bighas of forest area in the lush green Malana valley.
