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SJVN to set up 900-MW power project in Nepal
No let up in rash, drunken driving
Widespread rain brings down mercury
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Rain mars campaigning in Drang
‘Modi’s elevation causing rift in BJP’
Dhumal owns factories in Punjab: CM
Cong refutes BJP charges against Sukhu
Degrees awarded to NIT pass-outs
Students get tips on investment
731 school buses, maxi cabs challaned for overloading
Approach road to bridge damaged
HLP seeks time-bound probe in graft cases
CEE admit cards despatched
2 booked for illegal land deals
Proclaimed offender held
7 killed in mishaps
Lightning kills farmer
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SJVN to set up 900-MW power project in Nepal
Shimla, June 13 SJVN Arun-III Power Development Pvt Ltd has been registered with the Company Registrar of Nepal at Kathmandu as per the requirement of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the SJVN with Government of Nepal. The SJVN had bagged the project in global competitive bidding by offering the highest 21.9 per cent free power to Nepal. The project is to be completed within five years, besides 30 months have been provided for infrastructure development. Official sources said negotiations were on to give a final shape to the agreement and it was likely to be signed in the next two months. The SJVN is insisting on incorporating certain clauses to safeguard its investment keeping in view the politically fluid situation in Nepal. It wants clauses providing compensation in case of any trouble and exemptions from any changes in the law subsequently which could affect it. Initially, the Nepal government had awarded a 402 MW project. However, while preparing a detailed project report, the installed capacity was raised to 900 MW. Estimated to cost Rs 5,140 crore, the project comprises a 68-mt-high concrete dam near Tumblingtar across the Arun river, the main tributary of the Kosi, to divert waters to utilise gross head 303.8 m for power generation. After de-silting, for which four chambers of 420mx16mx24m will be constructed, the water will flow into a 11.74-km-long head race tunnel of 9.5 m diameter. As many as 4,033.52 million units will be generated annually. The tariff for the first year will come to Rs 3.99 per unit and the long-term levelised tariff will be around Rs 3.10 per unit. However, the cost of project is likely to go up by the time the PDA is signed, but it is still considered quite economical. As there is not much demand for power in Nepal, the power generated from the project will be injected into the eastern grid at Muzzaffarpur. The SJVN will construct a 312-km-long 400 kV transmission line for the purpose. Power Play
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No let up in rash, drunken driving
If the figures of the one-month special campaign undertaken by the police in the state to check rash and negligent driving are any indication, people seem to have not learnt any lesson despite hundreds of precious lives being lost in accidents. A total of 1,149 accidents have taken place till May 31 this year in which 380 persons lost their lives, while 2,039 persons sustained injuries. "The Transport Department needs to put a check on these offences and at the same time increase bus service in remote areas so that accidents do not take place due to these shortcomings," said Director-General of Police B Kamal Kumar. He added that steps must be taken to check private operators, who flouted norms with impunity, an issue he would take up with the government. During the one-month period from May 12, the police has booked people for various offences under the Motor Vehicle Act with the use of mobile phone while driving being the biggest offence. A total of 1,485 persons were challaned for using mobile phone while driving. The highest number of such challans were issued in Kullu (229) and Solan (205). The main reason for accidents that took place on the Kullu-Mandi highway last month was the use of mobile phone while driving. The campaign also revealed that overloading, which is one of the biggest causes of accidents in the hill state, remains a major problem. The inadequate transport service, especially in remote areas like Chamba, Sirmaur and interior parts of Shimla, results in overloading, leading to accidents. A total of 454 vehicles were challaned for overloading which included 68 in Chamba and 65 in Mandi. Rash and negligent driving is another area of concern and within one month 1,221 persons were booked under this offence. There are 969 cases of overspeeding which has claimed several lives in major accidents. Considering the hilly terrain and bad condition of roads in the state, overspeeding often results in major accidents. A total of 399 persons were booked for drunken driving during the special drive to check road offences. To reduce the number of accidents, the police along with the Public Works Department had identified "black spots" which were accident-prone areas. Work had been undertaken at many of these areas by widening the road along with other measures so that the bad road condition is not the cause of accident. |
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Widespread rain brings down mercury
Shimla, June 13 Shimla had a maximum of 19.4°C, Kalpa 18.8°C, Sundernagar 23.4°C, Nahan 25°C and Solan 23°C. Ghamroor recorded the highest rainfall of 62 mm, followed by Una (53 mm), Dharamsala (48 mm), Guler (41 mm), Jubbal (36 mm), Bangana and Mehre (30 mm each), Kufri (35 mm), Rohru (21 mm), Paonta Sahib (20 mm), Kumarsain, Tissa and Nagrota Suriyan (15 mm each), Jogindernagar (14 mm), Bharmour, Saluni and Amb (12 mm). As the per the local met office the current spell of rain will continue till June 19, though there will be a slight improvement in the weather around June 16. However, heavy rain is expected on June 18. Heavy rain lashes Dharamsala
DHARAMSALA: Heavy rain today lashed the Dharamsala region. Rain is being considered good for paddy sowing in the rainfed Dharamsala region. Farmers of the region had been waiting for rain to start sowing paddy. Trees fell on roads in some areas due to heavy rain that led to the disruption of traffic and power. However, the rain has brought down temperature that was abnormally high in Dharamsala this year. The temperature in the Dharamsala region remains moderate in summers also due to heavy rain. Dharamsala is considered to be the second wettest place in the country
after Chirapunji. |
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Rain mars campaigning in Drang
Mandi, June 13 Dhumal attacked Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh saying that the "transfer industry” was operating in the state as he had ordered large-scale transfer of employees on political ground. It was a government of “retired people” running the show in the state, Dhumal alleged. He further alleged that all development schemes started by the BJP were being renamed as the present government had done nothing as far as development was concerned. Addressing public meetings in Urla and Kunnu in Drang, Kaul Singh claimed that the BJP stopped all development works in its last term in Drang. It was the successive Virbhadra Singh governments which developed Drang, opened schools, hospitals, and provided roads and drinking water to people, he added. Terming the BJP charge that she did not distribute the MPLAD fund, Pratibha said it was during her tenure and subsequently under Virbhadra Singh that people got equal funds for development in all Assembly segments. Addressing the issue of wildlife sanctuary in the Chauhar valley, Kaul Singh claimed that the BJP ignored the demand of people to take villages from the sanctuary area. But now the issue would be sorted out soon and the valley people would have all facilities, he claimed. Dhumal addressed an indoor meeting at Jatingri as rain lashed the area for hours. |
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‘Modi’s elevation causing rift in BJP’
Chamba, June 13 Addressing a news conference here last evening, both the leaders said the Congress was the largest democratic party in the world which believed in populism and could provide secular government in the country. They stated that the UPA would certainly be voted to power for the third consecutive term under the leadership of UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. |
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Satti dares Virbhadra on phone tapping
Mandi, June 13 Addressing a press conference here today, Satti said Virbhadra Singh was indulging in the "politics of allegations" and not counting his achievements in Mandi. He was levelling baseless charges against PK Dhumal and the BJP to divert public attention from the issues, he charged. Satti claimed that the Congress took more loans than the BJP. "The Congress regime took about Rs 8,000 crore loans during 2003-07 and Rs 1,700 crore in five months, whereas the BJP government took Rs 6,600 crore during 2009-12," he claimed. Satti further said the Dhumal government had opened five degree colleges and started work on the three bus stands of Mandi, Sandhol and Dharampur. But the present government cancelled the notification and stopped work on the bus stands, he claimed. When quizzed on the Congress charge that the colleges were opened without a budget and space at the end of the tenure, Satti said the government had taken permission from the Finance Department and infrastructure would have been provided in due course of time. Satti further said the present government was indulging in mass transfers of employees on political grounds. The Congress had announced skill development allowance and not given the unemployment allowance. It had not given 4-9-14 scale to state employees despite promises made in its election manifesto, he claimed. He said the Congress candidate, when she was an MP from 2004-09, did not even utilise the MPLAD fund in the constituency. The present government was busy in renaming the schemes named after Atal Bihari Vajpayee which would have long-term implications in the state, he warned. |
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Dhumal owns factories in Punjab: CM
Mandi/Rampur, June 13 Those who played with the rules and were involved in benami land deals would not be spared, but the government would not act with a political vendetta as was the case with the BJP government, he claimed. Addressing a series of public meetings at Teklaich and Lalsa, the Chief Minister launched a scathing attack on Dhumal, terming him a businessman based in Punjab, where he ran a number of factories. During his tenures, Dhumal spared no efforts in selling lands to outsiders and implicated him in false cases twice, he charged. “The Congress has been voted to power deleting the BJP’s mission repeat and the strong government will bring wrong-doers to book,” he asserted. He said the BJP was the party with a “negative mindset”, which always looked after the welfare of its own people and had nothing to do with the welfare of people of the state. Virbhadra further claimed that funds meant for construction of roads had not been spent by the Dhumal government. He said the government was seized of the problems being faced by anganvadis, pensioners, mid-day meal workers and would take steps to solve these. |
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Cong refutes BJP charges against Sukhu
Shimla, June 13 In a joint statement, Congress vice-president Rakesh Kalia, Chief Parliamentary Secretary ID Lakhanpal and MLA Ajay Mahajan challenged BJP leaders to prove the charge that Sukhu had purchased 700 kanals in Hamirpur on March 30, 2012. If found true, he would transfer the land to their names. They also refuted the charge that Sukhwinder had shares in construction companies and stated that he had no link with any construction company as alleged by them. The allegation regarding CBI raids against the PCC chief was false and asked the BJP leaders to provide details regarding it. They said the BJP leaders were out to tarnish the clean image of Sukhu as they could not digest his growing popularity. The Congress leaders said Sukhu was the first MLA to declare his sources in the Vidhan Sabha in 2008. He would soon declare his assets but former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal and his son Anurag Thakur should also declare the sources of their income. |
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Bahra varsity signs pact with Microsoft
Solan, June 13 The MoU was signed between Arun Rajmani, group director, Microsoft, and Gurvinder Singh Bahra, Chancellor, Bahra University, on the university campus at Waknaghat. Microsoft IT Academy, Bahra University Ed-Vantage Platinum Campus and Microsoft Innovation Center were also inaugurated at the university which will serve as a centre for these courses which include MTA, MOS and MCP. Students of all streams of engineering as well as management can opt for these courses. While 250 students will be granted internship in Microsoft or any of its partner companies every year, 100 students will be placed in it. Arun Rajmani said their endeavour was to make technology available to the students who could learn and undertake research. Bahra University was chosen by Microsoft after a series of visits to the campus and assessing the infrastructure and facilities. Gurvinder Singh Bahra, Chairman of the Rayat Bahra Educational Group and Chancellor of Bahra University, addressing the students, said they should use this opportunity to enhance their employability as the market was flooded with professionals. Dr SK Bansal, Vice-Chancellor, Bahra University, Dr Sandeep Singh Kaura, Joint MD of the group, CRB Lalit, registrar, Bahra University, Raj Katari, Director Microsoft, were present on the occasion. |
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Degrees awarded to NIT pass-outs
Hamirpur, June 13 Thirteen scholars were awarded PhD degrees in different streams, 139 students were awarded Masters of Technology degrees, 344 Bachelor of Technology and 26 students were awarded Bachelor of Architecture degrees. Udit Bhatia, pass-out from the civil engineering department, won the best student award of the institute. Addressing a gathering, Dr Chidambaram said, “Engineering students should play an important role in improving human life and work with this spirit in their future careers.” Dr Chidambaram also inaugurated a training hostel to accommodate 120 trainees and NIT health centre. NIT Director, Prof Rajneesh Shrivastava, and other faculty members were present on the occasion. |
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Students get tips on investment
Kangra, June 13 Abhinav Aggarwal, financial education resource person and trainer at the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi), shared his opinion with students of Central University during a workshop today which was organised by the School of Business and Management of the Central University of Himachal Pradesh on “Financial Planning for Execution” in the Temporary Academic Block at Shahpur. Aggarwal discussed the functioning of Sebi. He gave tips to students on handling customers and investors. He gave tips to the students on investment technicalities and verification of the credentials of new companies in the market. He stressed on the need of paying instalments. Pro Vice-Chancellor Dr YS Verma said these types of interaction with the people working in the field were really helpful to the students. |
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731 school buses, maxi cabs challaned for overloading
Kangra, June 13 Stating this here today, Kangra District Additional Police chief Amit Chawla said during the four-hour checking, which started at 7.30 am, 4,074 vehicles were checked. He said the Police Department had received various complaints from parents of children that their wards were being taken to school and dropped back in over-loaded vehicles. The police set up nakas and found traffic violations. |
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Approach road to bridge damaged
Nurpur, June 13 The Public Works Department (PWD) has suspended vehicular traffic on this road. This approach road was also damaged during last rainy season and traffic had remained suspended for five days. The construction of this important road considered as the lifeline for people of the Indora Assembly constituency has been going on at a snail’s pace. The PWD has awarded its construction to a private contractor. Sources said the department would hold an inquiry into the delay in executing the construction of the road and supporting retaining walls of the Malot bridge and fix responsibility for the damage of the approach road to the bridge. Meanwhile, Arun Vashisht, Assistant Engineer, PWD, said the department had diverted vehicular traffic via Dariari-Khubber and Toki-Jidri link road to approach Pathankot. He said after repair of damaged approach road Indora- Malot- Pathankot road would be opened for road users. |
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HLP seeks time-bound probe in graft cases
Solan, June 13 Addressing mediapersons here today, he said since the government should probe all such cases and bring the guilty to book. He alleged that the former BJP government had flouted various norms while granting land on nominal lease to the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association for constructing a five- star hotel at Dharamsala. He said this hotel was built by a private company and several BJP leaders had stake in this property. The HLP demanded that the hotel should be taken over by the state government and run by the HP Tourism Development Corporation. He said the Congress and the BJP appeared to be playing a friendly match as neither had clarified their stand on the IPL matches. He said since several senior leaders of both parties were office bearers of the BCCI, they were silent on this issue. |
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CEE admit cards despatched
Hamirpur, June 13 He said the CEE would be conducted on June 22 in different centres and candidates could verify the schedule on the university website. The first phase of counselling for B Pharmacy would begin on July 1, M Tech on July 11 and M Pharmacy on July 15.
— TNS
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2 booked for illegal land deals
Solan, June 13 The case came to light when a complaint was made by Ramesh Chauhan, Dinesh Kumar, Bhupinder and Rajinder Singh to the state government that a fake certificate had been used to purchase land
in Solan and Sirmaur districts by them. The case was referred to the Kasauli police which, after investigating the case, found that Sudhir Marwaha, who was a resident of Delhi, had used fake stamp of the Pacchad tehsildar and forged signatures of revenue official with a fake serial number 482/2011 to prepare a fake Himachali agriculturist certificate which was the basis of several land deals in Kasauli and Sirmaur. While the police has managed to unearth some land deals registered on the basis of fake certificate, the
connivance of revenue officials was also being enquired into.
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Proclaimed offender held
Bilaspur, June 13 Rajesh Kumar, alias Nandi (27), of Dumehar village near Ghumarwin was declared a PO by a court on February 11 after he jumped bail and did not appear for court hearing repeatedly in a theft case registered against him at the Bharadi police station earlier. He had been absconding for about last four years.
— OC
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7 killed in mishaps
Shimla, June 13 With the vehicle precariously hanging from the cliff, villagers and the local police could not take out the bodies despite their best efforts. Finally, it was with the help of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Home Guards and Fire Department personnel that the bodies could be taken out from the mangled remains of the vehicle. Two persons hailing from Rajasthan were killed in another accident that took place in New Shimla here today. The mishap took place at Bara Gaon under New Shimla police station. The deceased Shyam Lal and Titu died when their tractor rolled down into a
khud.
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Lightning kills farmer
Sundernagar, June 13 He was shifted to the Civil Hospital at Sunni in Shimla district where he was declared brought dead. The district administration has announced Rs 10,000 as relief to the victim’s family.
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Shimla, June 13