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Road work by Chinese firm
Govt committed to providing health facilities
Tibetans hold protest, seek release
of Panchen Lama
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Ansari arrives today
‘All schools have basic facilities’
Temples’ Maintenance
NHPC staff rue sabotage attempt
Govt gives priority to road construction
History conference begins today
1 pc promotion quota for class IV police staff: CM
Bird’s Death
275 recruits pass out
Patients left unattended at hospital
Handing over lab to pvt hospital
‘Cong leaders playing positive role’
Shanta urges Cong MP to take up state’s case
Man seeks help for kidney transplant
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Road work by Chinese firm
Shimla, May 17 Work on the two roads, including the Mehatpur-Amb-Una raod, being constructed under a World Bank-aided project, was progressing at a snail’s pace with new visa restrictions, forcing 100-odd Chinese workforce to pull out of India abruptly. With entire fruit from the apple belt of Shimla district being transported along this route, the poor road condition is worrying the growers. A high-level team of engineers visited the site last week to assess the situation. Growers of the area have time and again raised the matter with the state government but there is little improvement. In fact, even the day-to-day maintenance of the road is not being done by PWD authorities. Delegation of fruit and vegetable growers of the area have raised the issue with Horticulture Minister Narinder Bragta time and again. Work on the project was to be completed by November 2010. However, considering the hurdles created due to visa restrictions, it could take far longer than expected. Work on the two road projects had suffered due to visa restrictions imposed by the External Affairs Ministry last year. All 100 Chinese workers, who were engaged in the task, had to return home as they were here on a business visa and not work visa as required. It was only on request of the Himachal government that 11 Chinese, most of them engineers and managerial staff, were visas to resume the work. Even though the state government had urged the Ministry of External Affairs to grant work visas to at least 80 Chinese who were engaged in road construction work at the two sites, the case of only 11 could come through. Starting the entire process all over again would not only delay the project immensely but would also lead to cost escalation. Even though there is provision for getting 25 per cent of the work done from other contractors through sub-letting, the government could also make relaxation in the condition to enable speedy work. However, this step would be taken by the government only in case the Chinese company makes a request for enhancing the limit for getting more than 25 per cent work done through contractors. |
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Govt committed to providing health facilities
Hamirpur, May 17 The minister said this while addressing a gathering after inaugurating a two-day awareness camp on female infanticide at Bhareri today and urged the people to inform the authorities about such heinous crimes. He said many time people in the quest to have a son resorted to PNDT tests but not getting desirable results had to repent and such tests also had adverse effects on the new born babies. Dhiman said the state government was committed to provide health facilities to every citizen and efforts were also being made to establish several health institutions in private-public sector by roping in private institutions. He said the government was giving special incentives to doctors to serve in the tribal areas and a health insurance scheme had been launched by the state government to provide health insurance cover to BPL families without paying any premium. Addressing the gathering on this occasion MP Anurag Thakur urged the doctors to treat the patients in pleasing manner since psychological treatment of patients was very important. Welcoming the chief guests CMO Dr DS Chandel said patients in this camp would be diagnosed for different diseases and also would be given free treatment. Later, he told more than 1400 patients were registered in this camp today and free medicines were also given to patients at this camp. |
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Tibetans hold protest, seek release
of Panchen Lama
Dharamsala, May 17 The protest marked 15 years since the Chinese authorities allegedly abducted Nyima along with his parents on May 17, 1995, three days after the Dalai Lama declared him to be the reincarnation of the previous Panchen Lama. He was only six years old then. Nyima turned 21 last month, but his whereabouts and safety had been unknown since he first disappeared. Over the years, the Tibetans and their supporters around the world have routinely marked his birthdays and disappearance by organising “Free Panchen Lama” campaigns, candlelight vigils and signature campaigns. In a statement released here today, the TYC said it was high time for China to show the 11th Panchen Lama to the international community to confirm his well-being. He should be allowed to resume his spiritual role to maintain the unbroken lineage of the successive Panchen Lamas. Accusing the Chinese government of interfering in the religious affairs of the Tibetan people for its own political benefits, the statement urged the international community to exert pressure on Beijing to secure immediate release of the Panchen Lama, his family and others associated with the finding of the Panchen Lama. The TYC activists also organised signature campaigns here today and would hold a candlelight vigil late in evening to offer prayers for his well-being. Panchen Lama is revered by the Tibetans as the second highest Tulku lineage in the Gelugpa tradition of Tibetan Buddhism and one of the most influential spiritual leaders of Tibet. Traditionally, the Panchen Lama bears a part of the responsibility for finding the incarnation of the Dalai Lama and vice-versa, a practice many say has prompted China to install another boy, Gyaltsen Norbu, as the Panchen Lama. Gyaltsen, who is generally not recognised by Tibetans, is being used by Beijing to supplant the Dalai Lama as the public face of Tibetan Buddhism in Tibet and elsewhere in China. In the recent years he had taken on an increasingly political role and was recently appointed to China’s top government
advisory body. |
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Ansari arrives today
Shimla, May 17 Elaborate security arrangements have been made by the police for the visit of Ansari who will arrive here by noon and land at Annadale. He will drive straight to Raj Bhawan where arrangements for his stay have been made. He will be the chief guest at the function at 4 pm tomorrow. Ansari will return to Delhi on Wednesday morning at 10.30 am. SSP RM Sharma said more than 200 police personnel had been deployed to make elaborate security arrangement. In fact, the police has tightened security, especially along the route to be taken by the Vice-President. “The road will be closed for traffic for barely five minutes between 12 noon and 12.30 pm at Kennedy Chowk and Chalet Day School,” he said. The arrival of high-ranking dignitaries during this time of the year causes a lot of inconvenience to commuters as the town is flooded by tourists. |
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‘All schools have basic facilities’
Bilaspur, May 17 DC Nandita Gupta said this while presiding over “Meet the Press” programme organised regarding activities of the Elementary Education Department at the Circuit House here today. She said strict instructions would be given in future that whenever teachers were deputed on duties like census, elections and other surveys etc, the local education department be taken into confidence so that complaints regarding some schools suffering due to acute shortage of staff do not recur. |
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Temples’ Maintenance
Shimla, May 17 In a rejoinder to his charges, Jai Ram reminded Virbhadra that though he had announced setting up of an Endowment Fund for the purpose in the Budget speech for the year 2006-07, no provision was actually made. The cabinet did approve guidelines for the fund in the year 2006. However, in the absence of any Budget, the fund never came into existence, he said. Reiterating his government’s resolve to preserve and maintain temples in the state, he said Rs 3.25 crore had been sanctioned for the purpose, out of which Rs 2.45 crore was provided during the last financial year. In contrast, the previous Congress regime sanctioned Rs 1.86 crore for the purpose on October 10, 2007, on the eve of election, without making any provision in the Budget. It was well aware that with the model code for election having come into operation, such a move was meaningless, he said. Jai Ram pointed out that out of Rs 1.86 crore sanctioned by the Congress, Shimla district alone was allocated Rs 87 lakh. The minister also said that statement regarding reduction in quota in the PMT for backward areas was also ridiculous as it was fixed by theCentre and not by the state. “The present government has safeguarded interests of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and OBCs in the state, besides other sections of the society,” Jai Ram said. It did not behove a leader of Virbhadra Singh’s stature to indulge in such falsehood and give statements like petty political workers without verifying the facts,
he added. |
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NHPC staff rue sabotage attempt
Chamba, May 17 The NHPC authorities have lodged a complaint with the district administration in this connection, urging it to take an appropriate action against such undesirable elements hampering the construction of colossal hydropower project which is of national importance. The project officials have also urged the state government to extend administrative support in the execution of this project. |
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Govt gives priority to road construction
Shimla, May 17 Stating this while addressing a meeting of senior officers here today, Public Works Minister Gulab Singh said during the last one month periodic renewal and tarring of 250 km road was completed. He said the target was to metal about 2000 km road, including state road and national highways, by the end of June. He directed the officers to ensure that the target was achieved. The minister said there was sufficient availability of bitumen in the state and about 6000 tonnes of bitumen worth Rs 22 crore had been procured and sent to various circles of the department. He said the contractors executing metalling and tarring of various roads under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna, the Central Road Fund, State Road Projects and National Highways were procuring bitumen on their own from authorised Indian Oil depots. The present government had accorded priority to construction of roads in the state and over the past two years 2,495 km of motorable roads and 133 bridges had been constructed, providing connectivity to 846 villages. |
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History conference begins today
Shimla, May 17 The conference, spread over 10 sessions, will start with a keynote address on history or the “Plastic power of the past” by Prof. Jean Comaroff from Chicago University. The main topics to be discussed during the conference include “Memorialisation and the Museum”, “Dreams, Memory and Remembrance”, “The Aesthetics of Memory”, “Memory and Politics”, “Spectres of Memory”, “Memory and Cultural Pasts”, “Landscapes of Memory”, “Suppressed Histories”, “Archaeology of Memories”, and “Revisiting the Partition”. Prof. Margaret Levi from University of Washington will deliver the valedictory address on “The Past as a Source of Political Power in the Present”. As many as 35 scholars, including Nusseibeh Sari from Palestine, Paula Varela Gomes from Coimbra, Phillip Bonner from South Africa, Ciraj Rasool from Africa, Hai Ke and Thi Huong Thao from Vietnam, Paula Menesses from Mozambique, Jean Comaroff, David Lelyved, Meena Alexander and Margaret Levi, all from the US. |
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1 pc promotion quota for class IV police staff: CM
Dharamsala, May 17 An announcement in this regard was made by Chief Minister PK Dhumal here today. He was here to preside over the passing out parade of Police Training College at Daroh. As many as 559 contingents, including four women trainees, participated in the passing parade, led by Sushant Kumar. While speaking on the occasion, the CM said 1,300 more personnel would be added into the state police force. During the past three years, 2,490 youths have been provided entry into the state police. Efforts were being made to modernise the police by equipping them with latest machinery and equipment. During the past three years Rs 29 crore have been spent on modernisation activities of the police, creating police stations, providing efficient vehicles for mobility, training, communication, security and forensic science laboratory facilities, Dhumal said. “The state has succeeded in raising three additional India Reserve Battalions (IRB). The fifth IRB is a women battalion, which is undergoing training at Sakoh. This is an endeavour to give boost to women empowerment in the state,” he added. The CM said the police could play a pivotal role in raising image of the government even under adverse circumstances. The government was striving to give proper housing facility to police personnel. For the purpose about Rs 25 crore had been sanctioned in the last two years. He congratulated the passing out police contingents and wished them a bright future. The CM announced a grant of Rs 25 lakh for welfare and sports activities of the Daroh training college and Rs 5 lakh for furnishing of the training hall. He also announced that inspectors and sub-inspectors would be provided avenues for promotion to the posts of direct DSPs. Forensic training facilities would also be available at Police Training Centre (PTC), Daroh, where a scientific officer would be posted in near future. Dhumal awarded the All Round Best Trophy to Constable Kiran Kumari who was presented a digital camera and also adjudged All Round Best Outdoor candidate. Dhumal also released a book ‘Investigating Disproportionate Assets of Income’ authored by Bilaspur SP Kapil Sharma and Police Song CD brought out by the state CID. DGP DS Manhas welcomed the CM and said in addition to professional training, moral education and social welfare activities had also been added to their training schedule. |
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Bird’s Death
Shimla, May 17 This is the third mortality over the past fortnight, causing alarm as the rare pheasants are dying in the midst of the breeding season. Early this month, a male and female bird had died. While the exact cause of the death will be known only after a post-mortem examination and detailed investigation, sources said the bird might have died due to stress related to breeding process. More so, because earlier the female died while laying eggs and the male collapsed during display of lappet, a normal activity during the breeding season in which birds indulge to attract the female. AK Gulati, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Wildlife, confirmed that a female bird had died but refused to say anything about the likely cause of death. He said a team, headed by the wildlife veterinary surgeon of the department, had been sent to the pheasantry to investigate the latest mortality. The pheasantry has now been left with 10 pairs and a single male. Detailed veterinary investigations had revealed that the female western tragopan, which died earlier, was infected by E-coli bacteria which had spread to all parts of its body. Alarmed over the presence of bacteria in the pheasantry, wildlife authorities had put all birds on medication as a preventive measure. They were being kept under strict watch in view of the strong possibility that some other bird might have caught the infection. A major problem being faced is that being rare, western tragopan is the least-studied pheasant and not much information is available regarding its biological processes. In fact, Sarhan pheasantry is the only place in the world which has the rare pheasant in captivity. Meanwhile, authorities were in touch with experts from the World Pheasant Association, and John Corder, in particular, who was the main consultant for the conservation breeding programme in the initial years. Death of three birds in quick succession is indeed a setback as survival of the highly endangered pheasant depends on the success of the captive breeding programme. |
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275 recruits pass out
Kullu, May 17 The passing out parade was inspected by Transport and Urban Development Minister Mahender Singh Thakur, who also took salute and distributed prizes to trainees. He lauded the working of the SSB force that had not only played a vital role in providing training to rural people of the state but also protecting country’s interests at international borders. Deputy Inspector General (SSB) Sharvan Kumar said the intensive training included border management, disaster management and internal security duty. |
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Patients left unattended at hospital
Hamirpur, May 17 The patients visiting the ENT department were left fuming as no doctor was available here and the only specialist posted here was away to attend the medical camp. Similarly, the specialist in the orthopedic department was also not available as the doctor posted here had gone to attend a court case. In children’s department too people had to wait for quite some to get their children attended to. In other departments too there was great rush as many specialists were deputed in this health camp. Savita, a woman who had come all the way from Ghumarvien and had to go back unattended, was quite dismayed at not finding the doctor in the hospital and said, “I have come from Ghumarvien to get me treated but I would have to go back without any medical advice.” Another patient named Chashmir, who had come from Nadaun, said, “I am experiencing extreme pain in my leg but the doctor is not available here, so I would have to go to some private doctor.” Similarly, Rajinder Kumar from Chabootra, who had brought his ailing relative, said, “Sunday being a holiday a large number of patients visit the hospital on Mondays but many doctors were not available today in the hospital.” Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Hamirpur, Dr DS Chandel, said, “There was problem only in orthopedic and ENT departments since we have one specialist in these departments but we had tried to make arrangements in these departments too.” “Health camps are also organised for the benefit of rural patients also where a large number of them get health checkup and free treatment,” he added. |
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Handing over lab to pvt hospital
Mandi, May 17 The residents raised an accusing finger on the society-private hospital nexus in the deal. The society claimed that patients would get testing facilities from 9 am to 8 pm from the laboratory at government rates that were charged at the zonal hospital. But patients were apprehensive that the private hospital would use the laboratory at its whims and fancy charging at will from them. Secondly, the Harihar hospital runs its own indoor and OPDs that has already started overburdening the laboratory. As a result, the tests being conducted at the laboratory can compromise with its quality and authenticity, commented doctors, requesting anonymity. More ridiculous is the fact that the Red Cross society managed to get the laboratory inaugurated from the Governor as a ploy to be run by influential private businessman, insiders accused. The society also claimed that “equipment and renovation of the laboratory were done by the private hospital”. At the same time, the society also said they had invited tenders for the contract and Harihar was the biggest bidder. Secretary Red Cross Society OP Bhatia said the society had not spent money on the laboratory and invited bids for outsourcing. “We have signed an agreement with Harihar hospital for three years and the hospital will pay Rs 15,000 per month to the Red Cross,” he added. Bhatia said the patients would get testing facilities from 9 am to 8 pm, which so far was available in the zonal hospital from 9 am to 11 am. “We will extend services round the clock for the welfare of patients at government rates,” he claimed. On the other hand, the Harihar management claimed that they would provide testing services at the zonal hospital till 8 pm at government rates.
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‘Cong leaders playing positive role’
Bilaspur, May 17 State Congress president Kaul Singh Thakur said this while presiding over 125th anniversary function of the Congress at Suharghat, 42 km from here, last evening. He said it was amusing to know that the BJP government, which was totally dependent on the central government for most of the public welfare schemes, failed to utilise funds worth Rs 132 crore given by the Centre for welfare of the people last year. Thakur said every now and then such cases openly belie the BJP leaders’ propaganda that the Centre was not giving the state which it claimed to be its right. He said the BJP had thrown all democratic norms to the wind and the government had turned itself into “government by the BJP, of the BJP and for the BJP” and in the process it stopped all development and construction works in the Congress-ruled constituencies. He said the Congress workers should fan out to every household and expose anti-people policies of the BJP government which failed to continue cheaper ration depot system, imposed number of taxes, etc. State Congress vice-president Ram Lal Thakur, state secretary Hoshiar Singh Thakur and district president Rajesh Dharmani were also present.
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Shanta urges Cong MP to take up state’s case
Palampur, May 17 Shanta Kumar sought his intervention for the grant of due share of Himachal Pradesh in hydro power projects owned by the union government in the state. He said till date Himachal was getting ad hoc share of 2.5 per cent in the Beas-Sutlej Link and Bhakra Dam Project as against 7.19 per cent allotted by the commission, according to the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966. He said Himachal was fighting this battle for the past 30 years in vain. The matter was already in the apex court and it had directed the union government, vide its order dated April 29, 2010, to finalise all disputes within three months and grant the state its due share, Shanta said. He requested Dr Karan Singh to take up the matter personally with Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi. — OC
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Man seeks help for kidney transplant
Mandi, May 17 “I am ready to donate my kidney but we need Rs 4 lakh for the transplant,” she lamented. She said they had run under heavy debts as his husband was sick for months together. “He was the only earning member in the family. We are poor and have no sources to fall back upon,” she rued. Taking up his cause is the Mandi RTI bureau which has already raised some amount. The Mandi DC has given Rs 10,000 for the patient and forwarded his case to the Chief Minister for relief.
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Hamirpur, May 17
Hamirpur, May 17
