|
|
|
|
Peanuts for HP
Cong playing politics over pvt varsities: CM
Cabinet expansion after local body polls: Dhumal
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Pre-emption, Panchayati Raj Bills passed
Cong MLAs resent fund disuse
Virbhadra wrote to Raja for eco nod to cement plant
Chakki Bridge opens to traffic
Kullu-Keylong bus services start again
Delhi woman raped in hotel
Section 144 imposed
3,889 patients examined in medical camp
CFL plan a powersaver, says Dhumal
Truck kills two bikers
|
|
Peanuts for HP
Dharamsala, December 8 Replying to the query, Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal said the Union Government had not provided them any grant for the damage caused to infrastructure during the heavy monsoon this year. He said the state government had estimated Rs 2,068 crore damage. “We had requested the Union Government to provide a relief of Rs 1,824 crore to the state government. However, till date no amount has been received”. Alleging discrimination, the CM also released the figures approved by the Finance Commission as natural calamity relief for various states. He said the amount approved for Himachal was just Rs 130.76 crore per annum or Rs 722 crore in the next five years. Whereas for Haryana it is Rs 1,065 crore, Andhra Pradesh Rs 2,811 crore, Bihar Rs 1,818 crore, Assam Rs 1,457 crore, Jharkhand Rs 1,433 crore and Maharashtra Rs 2,446 crore. He said the state government had requested the Union Government to increase the funds under natural calamity relief for the state government. Later during a debate over the issue, the Congress leaders, including Vidya Stokes, Kaul Singh and GS Bali, said the UPA government had been very liberal towards Himachal. They maintained the current UPA government had issued many grants and projects for the state government. The Central University and National Institute for Fashion Technology for Kangra, ESI medical college in Mandi and Rohtang tunnel are some of the projects given by the UPA government to the state. The UPA was also giving liberal grants to Himachal under various schemes as MNREGA, they said. They said the state government was entirely dependent on the Union Government for its development projects. However, still the UPA government was being accused of bias towards the state. They also flayed the CM’s statements against the UPA government. They also said surplus budgets presented by the state government were responsible for the present state of affairs. The Union Government had given grants worth Rs 25,000 crore to the state government, they said. The Congress leaders also alleged that forest cover had reduced in Himachal. The BJP leaders, including Suresh Baradwaj and Khushi Ram Balnatah, said the Union Government had not given any special package for the state. They alleged that the industrial package given by the NDA government had been withdrawn by the UPA government that had hit the investments in the state. They alleged that while the package had been withdrawn from Himachal, it had been continued for Jammu and Kashmir. The quota for food for the state had also been reduced. |
|
Cong playing politics over pvt varsities: CM
Dharamsala, December 8 He claimed that it was during the stint of the Congress government, there was a 15-year lock-in period for societies starting private universities in the state. The societies could not divert the land taken for universities for any other purpose for 15 years. The present government had increased the lock-in period to 25 years. However, the Congress leaders still had objection to it. The previous Congress government had kept a quota for Himachali students in private universities at 15 per cent. The present government has increased it to 25 per cent. He also said during the Congress regime, 70 private B.Ed colleges were allowed in the state. However, their leaders were now cribbing over opening of a few more private universities during the present regime. He said private universities were the need of the hour for providing best educational facilities for state students. He also criticised the Congress for levelling baseless allegations on the issue of violations of Section 118 of the Land Tenancy Act. He said if some land owner wanted to sell his land, the state government had no method to
stop him from doing so. Earlier, the Congress leaders demanded amendments of two private university Bills, including Bahra University Establishment Bill and Sai University Bill. They demanded that the lock-in period for land usage of the universities should be increased to 50 years. They also demanded that the quota for Himachali students should be increased to 50 per cent. They also objected to ordinance issued by the state government to allow the universities function before their bill could come before the House. The bills of Bahra and Sai University were passed by the House with a majority vote. The amendment bills for other 9 universities were also passed with voice vote. |
|
Cabinet expansion after local body polls: Dhumal
The expansion would be carried out to fill the vacancy created after the exit of JP Nadda, former Forest Minister, who resigned after being appointed as general secretary of the national BJP. The Chief Minister, while replying to a query from the newsmen, also said certain chief parliamentary secretaries and parliamentary secretaries could also be inducted after consultations with the party high command. The performance of the ministers would be reviewed according to their performance in the coming elections to panchayats and municipal councils in the state. When asked, the Chief Minister also said after the completion of new secretariat building in Dharamsala, the period of stay of the government in lower areas would be increased. “Due to facilities of e-governance, we do not need to move the entire bureaucracy to the lower areas. The ministers can stay in lower areas for a longer period to facilitate the residents”, he said. |
|
Pre-emption, Panchayati Raj Bills passed
Dharamsala, December 8 The legislation will enable the co-sharers and tenants to exercise their right for pre-emption. It means that in case the owner is selling his property, the co-sharers and tenants would have the right to purchase the property at the registered or declared rate. In Panchayati Raj (second amendment) Bill, the government has enabled the local bodies to levy property tax, including tax for all types of residential areas and commercial properties. The bill also aims at removing provision for debarring casual or seasonal workers from contesting panchayat elections. The provision is being made in view of the fact that most of the villagers now get employment under MNREGA and it could have barred them from contesting panchayat elections. All 19 bills that were tabled in the House were today passed by the house by majority or voice vote. The pre-emption Bill has been brought to stem the loss of revenue due to stamp duty evasion in sale of properties. In Panchayati Raj Bill, the government has enabled the local bodies to levy property tax, including tax for all types of residential areas and commercial properties. |
|
Cong MLAs resent fund disuse
Dharamsala, December 8 In a question raised over the matter, he asked about the development works sanctioned in Pragpur, Dehra, Nagrota Surian blocks and the status of their execution. Replying to the query, Minister for Rural Development and Panchayats Jai Ram said about 400 sanctioned works in the areas had not been started as land was not made available to them by panchayats. Nikhil Bharti and Yog Raj, both Congress MLAs, claimed that 80 per cent amount sanctioned from their discretionary MLA funds had not been put to use. To this, minister assured the House that if any matter was brought to his notice, he would take action. Congress MLA from Santoshgarh Mukesh Agnihotri informed the House that certain people were stealing water from the IPH water sources in his constituency and selling it to industrial units in the area. He claimed that the water mafia in the area was making lakhs by stealing water. The IPH Minister said no matter had been brought to his notice. He said the department had no policy to sell water for industrial projects. To a question raised by BJP MLA from Shimla Suresh Bharadwaj, the Chief Minister informed the House that Rs 12,60,89,861 had been released for renovation of Gaiety Theatre and the ownership of theatre was with the Languages and Culture Department. While replying to a query from Mandi MLA Anil Kumar, the CM said the present government had decided to have mobility plan for Shimla. There was no such plan for other cities as Mandi. While replying to a query from Inder Singh MLA Gopalpur, Health Minister Rajiv Bindal said there were 77 cases of muscular dystrophy in the state and maximum of them 55 had been registered in Kangra district. |
|
|
Virbhadra wrote to Raja for eco nod to cement plant
This is revealed from the information obtained by Lawan Thakur, of the local RTI bureau, Mandi, whichsays that the then Chief Minister of HP Virbhadra Singh wrote a letter on March 29, 2005, to A Raja, then Minister of Environment and Forests, to relax the condition of public hearing for the cement project, which was mandatory under the provisions of environm ental laws. A case for environment clearance was presented before the Ministry of Environment and Forest which was turned down on June 8, 1999, sighting the reason that plant and mining sites were near wildlife sanctuary, Bandli. The NDA government was in power at the Centre and the BJP government was headed by Prem Kumar Dhumal in HP. Dhumal was much interested in the cement project, the site of the plant was changed to Chami, which is a thickly populated area, while the mining area remained the same. The company also changed its name to Harish Cement Ltd before moving the fresh case for various clearances. The ministry, while accepting the proposal for the change in the site in 2004, asked the company to submit fresh Environment Impact Assessment Report (EIA report) and environment management plan (EMP) for the new site and asked the state government to conduct fresh public hearing which was mandatory under the law. However, the environment clearance was given on September 15, 2005, without any public hearing to oblige the company. According to local residents, not only the Congress and BJP governments were responsible, but A Raja was also involved in this scam. Many top bureaucrats of the state and the Central government were involved in the scam. The various organisation, which are opposing this cement project, demanded a CBI inquiry into matter so that guilty could be booked in this scam. |
|
Chakki Bridge opens to traffic
Nurpur, December 8 Apart from that it is beneficial for three neighbouring states Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir this bridge on Pathankot-Mandi NH-20 is too important for strategic point. Built at a cost of Rs 38 crore by the Union Surface Transport Ministry this has 520 metres span with 12 metres breadth. However, the construction of the bridge had completed over one month ago but could not throw open as the state government was waiting for the nod of the Union Surface Ministry for its official inauguration. State PWD Minister Gulab Singh while inspecting the bridge last month had told mediapersons that the state was writing to Union Surface Transport Minister Kamal Nath for its inauguration. Senior officials of the NH Department are tight lipped over its opening this afternoon but it has of course eliminated traffic bottleneck on the NH-20. Hundreds of vehicles could be seen coping with traffic jams and facing inconvenience on uneven and kuccha road to temporary diversion bridge constructed by the state government in 2008 after washing away of old-dilapidated bridge in flash flood of Chakki rivulet. |
|
Kullu-Keylong bus services start again
Manali, December 8 The 475-km-long Manali-Leh highway, which was officially closed for all vehicular traffic by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) from November 15, but the road between Manali- Keylong has opened due to dry spell in the region. Mangal Chand Manepa, regional manager, HRTC, Keylong, said keeping in view the dry weather conditions in Kullu and Lahaul valley, the HRTC decided to ply the direct bus services between Keylong-Manali-Kullu and Kullu-Manali-Keylong, till the fresh snowfall on the Rohtang Pass. He further said it was also a demand of the people of Pangi and Lahaul valley, because the weather was dry after the snowfall on the Rohtang Pass and the road conditions was good.. He further added that keeping in view the winter season in Lahaul-Spiti and Killar, all 76 employees of the HRTC were provided the winter equipments to keep them warm during the cold weather conditions in the region. |
|
Delhi woman raped in hotel
Shimla, December 8 According to the police, the incident took place on December 6 but a case was registered only today. The complainant, a married woman from Delhi, has alleged that while her husband had gone out of the hotel, the receptionist forced his way into the room and allegedly
raped her. “We have rounded up accused Raj Kumar” said Sonal Agnihotri, Superintendent of Police. He said it was only after returning to Delhi on December 7 that the woman told her husband about the alleged rape. The husband took the wife to the police station in Delhi where a complaint was lodged and her medical done. The couple returned here today and lodged a complaint with the
local police. The couple had come from Delhi as the husband had a court attendance in a case. It was while he had gone to the court on December 6 that his wife was allegedly raped by the man at the reception of the hotel. The police has registered a case against the receptionist and interrogated
the hotel staff. |
|
Section 144 imposed
Bilaspur, December 8 The notification issued here today said all those who came to the district from outside the state for getting themselves employed or are self-employed in various avocations like pheriwalas, seasonal visitors with various goods and merchandise selling from village to village, must get themselves identified with passport size photo at the nearest police station of their residence immediately. The notification also orders all employers of such persons and labour and contractors and those who rent their rooms or buildings to such persons or provide any residence or shelter, that they must also ensure proper identification of such persons, failing which strict action would be taken against defaulters under Section 183 of the IPC. This notification has been necessitated as some of such persons and those who have visited some such persons, have been found involved in various types of crimes and other unlawful activities. This order shall remain enforced till January 22, 2011. |
|
Noru Palzom Miss Fresher
Shimla, December 8 Speaking at the Fresher’s Party at the Shivalik Nursing Verma said medical practice had over the years evolved into a very complex profession and with people becoming more aware of their rights, the doctors and nurses need to have a thorough knowledge of law, the rights of the patients and ethics of the profession. He added that following the laid down procedures and observing the ethics would enable them to undergo legal scrutiny without inviting trouble. Noru Palzom was crowned as “Miss Fresher”, while Vandana Chandel was the first runner up and Sangeeta Thakur the second runner up. |
|
3,889 patients examined in medical camp
Bilaspur, December 8 Ghumarwin Block Medical Officer Dr TS Chandel said 12 doctors from Tanda were present to help the patients, who were provided free medicines. Dr Chandel said 62 surgeries were also conducted, including 25 of gynae and OBG, 25 of general nature and 14 of eyes in this camp in which 346 X-Ray, 345 ECG, 193 ultra sound and 1,400 lab investigations were also performed free of cost. |
|
CFL plan a powersaver, says Dhumal
Dharamsala, December 8 The state government had earned revenue by selling the saved energy at higher rates to other states during winter, he said. He also said a proposal had been sent to the United Nations Framework Convention for Climate Change to earn carbon credits for amount of power saved by the state. In case, the proposal was accepted, the state would have an extra income of Rs 8 to 10
crore. |
|
Truck kills two bikers
Solan, December 8 According to Baddi SP Chander Shekhar Pandit, the bike was hit by a truck coming from the opposite direction. The duo, who were on the bike without helmets, were killed on the spot.
|
|
|
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
Dharamsala, December 8
Sundernagar, December 8
The MoU for the project was signed between Harish Chandra Pvt Ltd and the HP government for setting up a cement plant at Maloh Nalni, a place that was far away from Sundernagar, in 1995.