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Shimla set for a makeover
2 killed in truck-bike collision
BJP MLA sounds protest bugle |
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Cong’s walkout over ‘illegal subsidy’
ADB okays $350 mn loan
2 students booked for destroying answer sheets
40 teachers attend refresher course
DC for uniform temple management system
DC awarded
Programme on corruption Act
Landslide razes building
‘Little Israel’ loses buzz due to visa curbs
Hoteliers seek sops for leasing out units
Tourist held with charas
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Shimla set for a makeover
A Delhi-based consultancy will suggest ways and means to beautify the town by way of having a uniform facade for all shops in the heritage zone as well as on the Mall. The MC is keen to have some kind of uniformity and symmetry with regard to hoardings so that the town looks beautiful. “The consultant will submit his report within three months and it is according to his plan that we will undertake the task of heritage conservation and beautification of the “Queen of Hills,” said Sharma. He said another important aspect of the blueprint would be means and ways suggested for resource generation as the MC was facing a deficit of over Rs 6 crore. With the state government time and again reiterating that the MC will have to generate resources to improve its financial health, the MC is exploring all possible ways to have sources of income. “The consultant will identify vantage points and suggest ways and means by which we can allow putting up of hoardings on poles and beautify various sites in the town,” said Sharma. The MC authorities are keen to utilise the water available in nullahs for creating of parks, which will add to the beauty of the hill town. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has already approved a grant of about Rs 19 crore for the beautification, strengthening and stabilisation of the Ridge and the adjoining sinking zone around it. Money has also been approved by the ADB for undertaking conservation and restoration of the Town Hall building, housing the office of the MC on the Mall. The MC is also working on the idea of creating a heritage zone around the Gaiety Theatre so that people get a feel of the old-world charm and at the same time the British legacy in terms of architectural heritage can be protected and showcased to attract tourists.
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2 killed in truck-bike collision
Sundernagar, March 7 The deceased have been identified as Bhanu Partap (19), an engineering student and a resident of Haripur (Sundernagar) and Ajay Kumar (17) from Mandi town. The injured, Chaman Lal (19), a resident of Banjar (Kullu), has been referred to the IGMC, Shimla. The police has registered a case under Sections 279, 337, 338 and 304A of the Indian Penal Code against the truck driver and impounded the vehicle. The bodies of the victims had been handed over to the relatives after a post-mortem examination conducted at the Civil Hospital, Sundernagar, today. |
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BJP MLA sounds protest bugle
Solan, March 7 With virtually no progress in various development works, Saini today joined issue with the Nalagarh Industries Association (NIA) to sit on an indefinite hunger strike on March 12 at Nalagarh. An emotionally charged Saini, who addressed mediapersons at Nalagarh today, said despite taking up the issue of the worsening condition of the crucial Nalagarh-Swarghat Road on several occasions, the government had failed to begin repair work. Since the road was the lifeline of the industry, its poor condition had disheartened the industry. He said despite taking up the issue with the Chief Minister during his October 28th visit and his public assurance, no progress had been made. The issue was again taken up on priority with the CM on February 28 at the Planning Commission’s meeting. An irate Saini said the people were annoyed with the hike in toll tax and demanded that private vehicles owned by the locals should be exempted. The Nalagarh Truck Operators Union led by its president Ajit Singh also lent its support to the March 12 hunger strike. Various elected representatives from panchayats and the BDC were also present today and pledged to join Saini in the protest. Lambasting the Chief Minister’s office for even failing to include crucial announcements made by the Chief Minister during his seven tours to Nalagarh, Saini said this clearly proved their casual attitude. He said the progress of various works was merely 4 per cent with barely 2 of the 11 roads being constructed, none of the 11 irrigation and an equal number of potable water schemes getting through and all 13 major announcements, which were made by the CM during his trips to Nalagarh, had remained unfulfilled. Barely a few schools had been upgraded. He asked the CM as to how he would face the voters with no work getting through. He said if the CM was annoyed with him for some reasons, he should not make the people suffer who had given the highest winning margins to the BJP in the district. Major announcements like construction of the Botla-Ratiyor bridge over the Mahadev river, the Nanowal-Khera bridge during the CM’s first visit on March 27, 2008, making no headway, all developmental works had come to a halt. Even upgradation of nine schools announced by the CM on March 3, 2010, had not been fulfilled along with another announcement of boring 100
tubewells.
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Cong’s walkout over ‘illegal subsidy’
Congress members were enraged when Speaker Tulsi Ram rejected the adjournment motion on the issue regarding which a notice was given by three members, GR Musafir, Harsh Wardhan and Kush Parmar, on Saturday. They alleged that a subsidy of Rs 4 lakh had been obtained for an old tubewell by manipulation and misuse of office and it was a very serious case of corruption which warranted immedaite discussion in the House. However, the Speaker maintained that the adjournment motion under Rule 67 could be allowed only in situations when the government had failed to discharge its constitutional responsibility, an urgent matter of public interest and a very recent development warranting immediate attention which was not the case. However, Kaul Singh asserted that such a blatant case of corruption was indicative of the failure of the government to fulfil its constitutional obligation. Moreover, urgent attention was needed as relevant documents were being tempered with, power connections inter-changed to destroy evidence. The CPS should be asked to resign immediately. But Tulsi Ram stood by his ruling and said he had already sent a complaint received in this regard for inquiry to ascertain the facts. Chief Minister PK Dhumal assured him that an inquiry would be conducted not only in the instant case but also some other cases of wrongful claims of subsidy which had come to light. He said the probe would be completed within the current session. However, the Congress insisted that the CPS should quit office to pave way for an impartial probe. Sukh Ram denied the allegations and said he had taken subsidy under collective scheme involving five families and no irregularity had been committed. He said he would resign if the inquiry found him guilty but if he was exonerated, the members should resign. The Speaker urged members to drop their demand as the CPS had himself announced that he would resign, if found guilty, and allow him to proceed with Question Hour. However, the opposition refused to budge and staged a walkout. The Congress members did not return to the House even after Question Hour and no one from the party participated in the debate on the motion of thanks on the Governor’s Address today.
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ADB okays $350 mn loan
Shimla, March 7 A team of the bank headed by Adrew Geoffrey was in the state to discuss the implementation of the Rs 4,500 crore transmission plan last week. It visited various sites where pooling stations, substations and new transmission lines are proposed to be constructed in the first phase and gave a go ahead to the STU for inviting tenders for infrastructure to be created for evacuation of power from the Sutlej basin in Kinnaur and the Pabbar basin in Shimla district. The bank agreed to release the first tranche of $125 million to enable the STU to undertake the construction of a substation at Bogtu and a pooling station at Karcham which will be the nodal point for evacuation of power from upstream projects. A substation will also be built at Hatkoti, the nodal point, for evacuation of power from projects coming up in the Pabbar basin. It will be connected to another substation to be constructed at Pragatinagar, where the power will be injected into the main transmission lines, wheeling power from projects in the Sutlej basin. The STU is seeking more funds from the ADB so that it can at least complete the first phase of the transmission plan which will cost about Rs 2,500 crore. It has urged the bank to sanction at least $550 million for the purpose. The bank is keen that the hill state creates high capacity lines for evacuation of power from all projects to come up in future and avoid aesthetic degradation of hills, particularly the skyline, by high-rising transmission towers. More so, because there is little space available in the narrow valleys for laying multiple transmission lines which require large-scale felling of trees. Experts have suggested that a 400 kV line should be laid through the Kullu side for evacuation of power from the Lahaul region in addition to the line to be provided through Jammu and Kashmir side for evacuation of 3,000 to 3,500 MW power from the Chenab basin as an alternative route. Further, instead of radial pooling points ring system should be preferred for evacuation of power from various projects to make alternative routes available.
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State not serious on traffic rules
Dharamsala, March 7 According to the National Crime Record Bureau, the rate of accidental deaths in Himachal is 41.5 per cent that is among the highest in the country. In 2008, about 2,724 deaths were reported in Himachal due to accidents. In 2007, 979 people were killed in 2,955 accidents reported in the state. Last year also, about 600 people lost their lives due to accidents in the state. The police has identified 556 accident-prone spots on 210 national and state highways in the state. They have written to the PWD to construct parapets and widen roads on the areas. However, remedial measures are yet to be taken. In Kangra district also, last year an overspeeding bus fell into a deep gorge near Guler, leading to the death of more than 30 people. A magisterial inquiry was ordered into the accident. The magistrate made many recommendations, including ban on drivers from carrying mobile phones. The recommendation was accepted by the government and it barred bus drivers from carrying mobile phones. However, inquiries by The Tribune have revealed that till date hardly any bus driver has been penalised for using mobile phone while driving. In another accident, a truck carrying devotees in Dharamsala skidded into a gorge, killing 10 persons. The use of commercial vehicles for passengers is rampant in the state for carrying marriage parties and pilgrims. During mela days, a large number of pilgrims from adjoining states enter the state on commercial vehicles. Police officials in the state claim that they have been writing to the police in the adjoining states that the use of commercial vehicles for carrying passengers should be stopped. “It is very difficult for us to control the traffic here as a large number of commercial vehicles carrying passengers can create law and order problem”, the police officials maintain.
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2 students booked for destroying answer sheets
Dharamsala, March 7 Police sources said Chan Singh, a student from the Sakoh area of Kangra district, allegedly ran away with an answer sheet from the examination centre. A complaint regarding the matter had been registered by Meetu Gautam, a teacher on examination duty in Government Senior Secondary School at Rehan examination centre. In another such incident, Sunny Kumar, a student of Class XII from Kuthangal, allegedly swallowed first page of his answer sheet in the examination centre at Government Senior Secondary School at Rehan today. He allegedly ate the answer sheet due to apprehension of being caught on cheating charges. He has also been booked on similar charges.
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R’sthan artists eye good business
Mandi, March 7 They use local stones and vegetation for natural colour to produce eco-friendly high-end products of art currently at display at the Shivratri exhibition of the Khadi Gramudyog on Paddal Maidan in this temple town. These simple unassuming artists come from the traditional families of painters from Rajasthan. They not only paint but also create the “sandalwood pieces of art” that now adore the drawing rooms of the rich and famous and hordes of foreigners across the world, who zero in on their stalls wherever they go for exhibitions. “We do our works with honesty and paint with natural colours. The state government provides us space and marketing and, thus, we are earning both fame and fortune,” says Ramavtar Chaudhary, a stone painter, who mans the stalls on Paddal Maidan. “More than 1,000 families today earn livelihood from painting and wood art in Rajasthan,” he adds. After making waves in Goa Carnival, they are now hoping to sell their products like hot cakes here. “We made a business of Rs 20 lakh in the Goa Carnival and most of the shoppers were foreign tourists,” adds Parkash Chand, another stone painter. On the other hand, Himachal too has a rich tradition in the form of Mandi Kalam school of painting and Kangra’s Basholi and Pahari schools of paintings, but one does not find their presence at the fair. “We use small traditional implements and instruments to produce the work of art. We have created a sandalwood idol of Lord Ganesh, which took us a month, and sold it for Rs 5,000,” says Chaudhary. “The Kishangarh school represents the “Shringar Ras” popularised and patronised by the then kings of Rajasthan. The Bundi style represents the stone painting,” they add. The cost of these products of art ranges from smaller piece of Rs 150 to a bigger piece of Rs 1,000 or so.
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40 teachers attend refresher course
Shimla, March 7 Prof BS Marh, dean, social sciences, inaugurated the course. “Even though the two goals of equality and justice are illusive due to population, their absence can also lead to conflict and social strife,” Dr Marh remarked. Prof Kulwant Pathania, director, Academic Staff College, said the main objective of the institute was to bring about improvement in the quality of higher education by imparting training to the teachers. “Another purpose of the Academic Staff College is to improve knowledge, skill and attitude of teachers which will bring about an overall improvement in quality of education,” he said. More than 40 teachers from various universities and colleges from Maharashtra, Orissa, Nagaland, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana, Punjab and Himachal are attending the refresher course.
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DC for uniform temple management system
Chamba, March 7 Presiding over a meeting of the ancient Lakshmi Narayan temple committee here, Chamba Deputy Commissioner Devesh Kumar asked the district language officer to prepare a draft with regard to the formulation of a society, laying down the provisions for the control of ancient temples in the district. The DC directed that the draft would be prepared on the pattern of the Lakshmi Narayan temple committee. He also advised that representatives of respective temples should also be included as member of the society. He stressed the need for ensuring systematic beautification of the temples and landscaping of the complexes in the precincts of these temples in the district so that the aesthetic outlook of the temples and its surroundings could be adequately taken care of.
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DC awarded
Kullu, March 7 The Chief Justice of Himachal Pradesh High Court, Justice Joseph Kurian, who was the chief guest at the award ceremony, lauded the achievements of the persons in the field of administration, education, environment, industry, health, bravery, cinema, music and many other fields. |
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Programme on corruption Act
Shimla, March 7 Chief Justice Kurian Joseph said the working of the courts should be such that litigants should have full faith and hope that their grievances would be heard and adjudicated upon as per constitution and law. The advanced course is being held for District Judges, Additional District Judges and Presiding Officers of the Fast Track Courts. The main objective of the training programme is to sensitise the judges regarding the magnitude and enormity of the problem of corruption in the social set up.
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Landslide razes building
Kullu, March 7 The building belonged to Arun Kumar Sharma and the loss has been estimated at about Rs 40 lakh. The toll of such building collapse due to the aftereffects of the heavy rains has reached three during the past three days. A three-storeyed building was also razed to the ground due a landslide at Banala village in the Gadsa area yesterday, when a big portion of the road below gave way. Owners Rup Chand, Timiresh, Karam Chand and Dinesh Kumar said they managed to immediately run out of the building apprehending that the landslide of the road might damage their building. They estimated the loss at Rs 50-60 lakh. The revenue authorities rushed to the spots and gave Rs 5,000 each to the affected families. In another building collapse case, a four-storeyed house in Malana village was damaged due to heavy snowfall on Thursday.
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‘Little Israel’ loses buzz due to visa curbs
Dharamsala, March 7 Last year, about 20,000 Israelis visited the village. Wall writing in Hebrew language on many buildings and closed Chabad house (Jewish community centre) show the strong presence of Israelis in the village. The Israeli tourists were so fond of the village that some even solemnised their marriages here. The Israeli tourists were present in the village almost throughout the year. However, visit to the village revealed deserted guest houses and Internet cafes and locked restaurants. But for a few local Tibetans, no other Israeli was present in the village. Villagers said no tourist had come to the village till date this year. Raju, a local youth, who used to run an eating joint in Dharamkot, said the visa restrictions imposed by the government on back packer tourists from Israel had hit the tourism. Sources also told The Tribune that the government had restricted the visa for the tourists to just 3 months. A condition had been laid that the tourists, who visit the country this year on 3-month visa, could revisit India only after a gap of one year. Earlier, the tourists used to come to the area for a long stay. They used to get tourist visa of at least 6 months. The visa was extended for another six months from Nepal. Dharamkot is an ideal example of the home tourism industry that the state government intends to promote. Due to consistent demand from visiting foreigners, especially the Israeli tourists, most of the residents of the village had converted their houses into guest houses. They charged a nominal Rs 300 to Rs 500 per room from the tourists in the peak season. Each household was earning an amount ranging from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 3 lakh per annum by renting out room in their houses. The impact of visa restrictions placed by the government on tourist visa was also being felt by hoteliers in McLeodganj. Ram Swaroop, who runs a lodge in McLeodganj, said some of his permanent visitors from Europe wanted a six-month visa. However, the Indian government had given them just three-month visa. China and Hongkong were giving visa to tourists even on arrival at airports. However, the visa restrictions being placed by the Indian government, especially on tourists was likely to hit tourism hard in small places like Dharamsala, he said. |
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Hoteliers seek sops for leasing out units
Shimla, March 7 President of the Manali Hoteliers’ Association Gajender Thakur, who is also a member of the HP Tourism Development Board, demanded that the Tourism Department should come out with some incentives for property owners who wish to lease out their units to them on attractive terms and conditions. — TNS |
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Tourist held with charas
Kullu, March 7 In another case, 800 gm of charas had been recovered from Charna Ram of Ludhiana district. —
OC
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In a major embarrassment to the state government, its own MLA from Nalagarh Hari Narayan Saini has decided to sit on an indefinite fast from March 12 in protest against the neglect of his constituency.
Dharamsala, March 7
Shimla, March 7
Shimla, March 7