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MC offices to vacate Town Hall for repair
The Town Hall conservation project is to be undertaken at a cost of Rs 17 crore already approved by the Asian Development Bank.
Padam Singh cricket tourney fund being misused: HPCA
No takers for work under job plan in 144 villages
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Khushwant Singh Literary Festival
Flying Sikh Milkha Singh autographs a book at the Khushwant Singh Literary Festival in Kasauli on Friday. Tribune photo: Pradeep Tewari
Ghumarwin gets Rs 10 crore under job scheme
Kullu Dasehra
A cultural troupe from Spain and Russia perform on a cultural night of Kullu Dasehra on Friday. Photo: Kuldeep Chauhan
Sukhu seeks legal action against HPCA
HPCC president Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu and other leaders attend a meeting at Bhareri on Friday. A Tribune photograph
20 NCC cadets set out for cycling expedition
Adventure camp for kids ends
Children undergo adventure activities during a four-day adventure camp organised by the HP Everesters’ Association in Manali. Photo: MC Thakur
Disaster management seminar begins
Virbhadra visits Valmiki temple
Teenager, man commit suicide
Man killed in accident Man dies of heart attack in bus Youth kidnaps teenaged girl in Kangra Biker killed in mishap Five lakh visit Naina Devi shrine Lawyers on strike today
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MC offices to vacate Town Hall for repair
Shimla, October 18 After receiving the nod from the government to use the premises in the DC office complex, the MC has been asked to vacate its offices in the Town Hall building by October 31. The District Courts, which was using a portion of the DC office complex, has now shifted to the new building at Chakkar. "We have received a letter from the Tourism Department to shift to the DC office complex till the renovation of the Town Hall building is not complete," confirmed Amarjit Singh, Commissioner, MC. He said the deadline of October 31 had been set
for vacating the Town Hall building. Shimla DC Dinesh Malhotra too confirmed that he had also been asked to
provide the vacant space to the MC for housing its offices. Despite the Tourism Department being ready with the detailed project report, the conservation work could not
take off as the MC did not have accommodation to shift its offices. The Town Hall conservation project along with the beautification of The Mall is to be undertaken at a
cost of Rs 17 crore, already approved by the Asian Development Bank. Though a number of accommodations, including the one at US
Club, vacated by the Public Works Department, were being considered, now a final decision has
been taken to shift the MC offices to the DC office complex. The MC had sought a central place keeping in view the public services that it was rendering to residents of the city. The Town Hall building will be the second British era heritage structure after the Gaiety Theatre to undergo an exhaustive restoration project with the help of conservation architects. The beautification of The Mall, to be taken
up in the second phase, includes laying of cobbled streets, creation of parks, making provision for drinking water, sitting area and other such facilities for the public. The main objective of the conservation and restoration project will be to restore the historic building to its original look as several additions have been made after it was completed in 1908. Though the facade of the building will remain the same, the building will adorn the original look which most people have not seen. |
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Padam Singh cricket tourney fund being misused: HPCA
Dharamsala, October 18 Sanjay Sharma alleged that funds in crores were being generated to organise the cricket tournament at Rohru. Many government departments were also illegally diverting funds for the organisation of the Padam Singh Memorial Cricket Tournament, he alleged. He further said the family of the Chief Minister should make the accounts of the Padam Singh Memorial Cricket Tournament public. "We have information that the funds collected for the tournament used for the Mandi parliamentary bypoll contested by Pratibha Singh, he alleged. The HPCA spokesperson further alleged that the ruling Congress was least concerned about the development of the state or resolving the problems being faced by common masses. It was working with vindictive nature targeting the state cricket body. "Ever since the Congress came to power, it has only one agenda that is how to target HPCA officials," said he. Congress leaders were issuing baseless statements against HPCA president Anurag Thakur to mislead the public and divert the attention of people from failure of the state government. "The Chief Minister also pressurising vigilance officials to register cases against members of the state cricket body," alleged Sanjay Sharma. Ram Lal Thakur, a former Congress minister, had brought the sports Bill in previous stint of the Congress and had tried to take over the stadium. Now he is saying that the HPCA's cricket ground at Luhnu in Bilaspur was built on the BBMB land. If it was so, why he spent Rs 25 lakh on the same land when his son was the chief of the Bilaspur Cricket Association," said Sharma alleged. |
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No takers for work under job plan in 144 villages
Dharamsala, October 18 However, most of the villages where MGNREGA work has not been generated are in Shimla and Solan districts. In Shimla district, 53 villages have not made any demand for work under MGNREGA in the current financial year. After Shimla, the trend has continued in 43 villages in Solan district, six in Chamba district, 16 in Sirmaur district, eight in Una district, seven in Lahaul and Spiti, three in Mandi district, one in Kullu district, five in Kinnaur district and two villages in Kangra district. Sources here said in Solan and Una districts, villages that had not made any demand under MGNREGA were located near the industrial areas of the districts. Panchayat pradhans maintained that since most of the residents of villages near industrial areas were employed in the local industry where they got higher wages, there was no one to work under MGNREGA. Sources said in Shimla district, most of the villagers were engaged in apple plantations and so there was no demand for MGNREGA work. MGNREGA is being run successfully in Kangra district. Here only two villages have not made demand for work under MGNREGA. These villages are near Tanda medical college and most of the residents are employed with the college. Besides providing employment in the rural areas of the state, MGNREGA has also contributed to development. The pathways in villages or ponds have been brought under MGNREGA. However, such kind of work is fast depleting and panchayats are finding it difficult to generate new works under the provisions of the MGNREGA scheme. The previous BJP government had written to the Union Government for allowing farmers to guard their crops against wild animals under MGNREGA. Farmers across the state have been complaining that their crops are damaged by wild animals. The state government is of the view that such a work could provide permanent employment to people under MGNREGA. It could also have motivated people to cultivate their fields. In many areas of Himachal, people have given up agriculture due to damage caused by wild animals. The proposal of the Himachal Government was turned down by the Union Ministry for Rural Development and Panchayats. However, the state government would have to fund novel ways keeping in view ground situations pertaining in Himachal to keep MGNREGA working.
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Khushwant Singh Literary Festival Nonika Singh
Kasauli, October 18 Indeed, he too senses a link between literature and cinema as “both are a reflection of time and society and are part of the big ocean called life”. Only when we ask questions, we go searching for answers. But each time a query haunts Mehra, he goes ahead and makes a film. So if his stupendously successful ‘Bhaag Milkha Bhaag’ was born out of his anxiety over the childhoods lost during Partition, his next ‘Mirza’ will answer the niggling doubt in his mind as to why did ‘Sahiba’ betray him. Of course, others may not always agree with his cinematic answers. Even ‘Bhaag Milkha Bhaag’ was penned by a certain tribe of critics. He quips, “They have every right to say what they want to.” In fact, he feels that any work or art that doesn’t evoke a debate, doesn’t pulverise audience in two extremes is of little consequence. His next film ‘Mirza’ based on the folk legend of Mirza Sahiba is going to be a musical. That doesn’t mean actors will break into a song every minute but more importantly that its narrative will be that of a musical. Set to discover or reinvent the Indian grammar of a musical, the film will echo the love legend in today’s times. Lending it a contemporary hue, he agrees, isn’t easy. To make his task less onerous, he has roped in the best lyricist-writer Gulzaar to write the film as well as songs. By calling it ‘Mirza’, is he presenting a male point of view of the love legend? He shoots back, “I am only telling a story.” One day he hopes to tell Indian stories to a world audience. After having hit the bull’s eye with both ‘Rang De Basanti’ and ‘Bhaag Milkha Bhaag’, he isn’t afraid of failure. Rather, he quips, “I have told my entire cast and crew that “give yourself the permission to fail with ‘Mirza’. “For only when you don’t fear failure, you can create something new.” Now, it’s this indefatigable spirit that answers our query as to what makes him what he is. Unusually amazing!
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Ghumarwin gets Rs 10 crore under job scheme
Bilaspur, October 18 He said all the MGNREGA works were being done so that villagers could get employment and also get several of their development works completed through the project. He urged gram panchayat representatives to be cautious while selecting weaker sections of society for giving them benefits under various government schemes and ensure that only deserving cases were selected. Dharmani said 108 dwellings would be constructed in the Ghumarwin Constituency during this year under the Indira Awas Yojna and the Rajiv Gandhi Awas Yojna and these would be allotted only to the deserving families. He said the Hariyali Yojna would usher in new era of development for villagers as under it several schemes like check dam construction for preventing soil erosion, construction of stone walls and planting of trees would be undertaken. He said 145 villages of 25 gram panchayats covering 850 hectares of the Ghumarwin Development Block were being brought under the project this year. Dharmani also laid the foundation stone of Kothi-Baddi via Upper Kurnadi link road and an animal dispensary building at
Kothi. |
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Selected artistes to give final performance
Kuldeep Chauhan/TNS
Kullu, October 18 The new practice will remove “bathroom singers" and “junk pop singers”, who have no respect for folk art forms, said Dr Surat Thakur, head of the department of music, Government College, Kullu. “This should be adopted a standard method for selecting artistes for performance as it will help promote the artistes and folk arts in the state”, he added. The bathroom and junk singers had managed their entry using political pressure and calls from powerful politicians, artistes said. “Now once the artiste is selected, he is given a time slot for the performance for the show, which is every good”, said Vicky Chauhan and Hemant Sharma, folk artistes, who gave live pahari performances on the Dasehra cultural night on October 16. Moreover, committees of Kullu Dasehra, Mandi Shivratri, Shimla summer festival, and other national level events had spent lakhs of rupees as commission to the middlemen to arrange the artistes from Bollywood for the star cultural nights every year, alleged the artistes. As a result, most of the fund went to the stars and local artistes got a pittance, said a critic. This year, the Dasehra committee had received over 500 applications for the cultural nights of which 300 were from Kullu district alone. “We conducted an audition to test their performance judged by a panel of judges”, said Rakesh Kanwar, DC, Kullu. The idea is to give all artistes an equal platform. “The audience will promote the folk arts in the state”, said RD Kashyap, a Pahari folk critic.
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Sukhu seeks legal action against HPCA
Bhareri (Hamirpur), October 18 The HPCC president has also demanded legal action against sons of former Chief Minister PK Dhumal for buying a piece of land in Dharamsala in alleged violation of law. The HPCC president said this during his tour at the Bhoranj Assembly Constituency today. Addressing a meeting of Congress workers of the Bhoranj block under activists’ awareness programme at Bhareri today, he said, “Dhumal despite remaining the Chief Minister of the state didn’t do anything special for Hamirpur district and remained busy in protecting interests of his sons”. The HPCC president also highlighted various development works undertaken by the Congress governments in Hamirpur district. The meeting was addressed by All-India Congress Committee (AICC) secretary and Member of Parliament Raja Ram Pal, who elaborated various schemes launched by the UPA Government. He said “The Congress will focus on various welfare measures taken by the UPA Government during the last 9 years and 9 months rule of the state government in the next election and after touring Naina Devi, Jhandutta and Bhoranj Assembly constituencies, I can say with confidence that Congress candidate will win on the Hamirpur parliament seat this time”. HPCC General Secretary Sunil Sharma also addressed the meeting. |
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20 NCC cadets set out for cycling expedition
Manali, October 18 The expedition is being conducted by the Director-General of
NCC. “The expedition aims at inculcating bonhomie, national integration and brotherhood,” said Lt Gen Bhupender Singh Thakur
(retd), former vice-chief of the Army Staff, while flagging off the expedition. The team will interact with local youth, NCC cadets and students en route to Chandigarh, said the NCC officers. "They will spread awareness about NCC in remote areas of Himachal Pradesh. It is for the first time that such a feat has been attempted by the NCC cadets," they added. The NCC cadets participating in the expedition hail from Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh. On an average, the cyclists will paddle about 50 to 70 km distance in a day. "All the members have been put through a rigorous eight-week training schedule to ensure their fitness for the hard ride ahead," the officers said. Besides, each candidate has undergone rigorous medical tests to ensure complete fitness for the event, they added. |
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Adventure camp for kids ends
Manali, October 18 Khem Raj Thakur, Director, Training, said the children underwent intensive training in outdoor skills, wilderness ethics, survival techniques, field skills, leadership and teamwork, environment awareness, disaster management, safety and judgment skills. “This is the first-of-its-kind camp organised in Himachal. Such camps are going to be a regular feature of the association from now onwards,” he
added. Everester Rajev Sharma, former Deputy Director, Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Allied Sports, and Everester Radha Devi shared their experiences with the children at the concluding ceremony of the camp. The association has decided to run leadership camps for orphans and poor children in all districts of the state from the next year. Similar camps were slated to be organised in
Kaza, Kinnaur, Pangi, Bharmour and Chamba in 2014. The Everesters’ Association was founded with an aim to train young children in basic mountaineering skills, disaster management and environment protection. |
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Disaster management seminar begins
Hamirpur, October 18 He said, “Living in the Himalayan region is sensitive as this falls in seismic zone IV and V, which is most vulnerable to earthquakes and other natural disasters. Tremors of seven on the Richter scale can occur in this region.” Marh showed clipping from the Tribune about recent losses in the Uttrakhand flash floods and views of experts to mitigate such disasters. He said, “Hazard zoning maps should be prepared and phenomenon studied for preventing these. A link should be established between research organisations and government agencies, creating awareness at every level. People should be involved in mock drills. New methods of predictions like the GPS and remote sensing should be used.” Guest of the honour Prof DD Sharma also presented his paper in today’s session. Principal of the college Dr PC Patial also addressed the seminar. Seminar convener Dr HS Jamwal and co-convener Rattan Chand Sharma introduced the theme of the seminar at the inaugural session. |
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Virbhadra visits Valmiki temple
Shimla, October 18 Addressing a gathering after paying obeisance at Maharishi Valmiki temple in Krishnanagar on Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti here today, he said the Ramayana taught people about the virtues of selfless love and duty towards society and its teachings had become more relevant today. Maharishi Valmiki taught the virtues of selfless service to the society. He said balanced development of the state was a priority of the government and many welfare schemes were being implemented to achieve this objective. He said Rs 1,014 crore were being spent under Schedule Caste Sub Plan during current financial year so that the community could avail benefits of various schemes. The Government of India had sanctioned Rs 33.99 crore for Krishananagar Slum Area under Rajiv Awas Yojna and Rs 9.26 crore had already been received as first
instalment. The Chief Minister said the link road leading to the Krishnanagar area would be widened to help provide better ambulance services to the people of the area. He directed the DC to identify suitable land so that Valmiki temple could be expanded. He said Government School,
Krishnanagar, would be upgraded to high school from the next academic session. He also inaugurated Valmiki Gate. |
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Teenager, man commit suicide
Kangra, October 18 The police said the girl was not in a position to depose before the police or doctors so the police registered a case and started investigation. The body after the post-mortem was handed over to her relatives. In another suicide case, a 40-year-old resident of Tharu village near Nagrota Bagwan committed suicide by consuming poison at his residence. The police said he was rushed to Nagrota Bagwan hospital where doctors referred him to DRPGMC Hospital at Tanda where he died late last night. The relatives of the victim told the police that he had been under mental depression for quite sometime. |
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The offices of the Municipal Corporation will temporarily shift to the premises vacated by the District Courts in the DC office complex to pave way for the restoration and conservation of the historical Town Hall building from where the local body functions.
The Kullu Dasehra Committee, headed by its president-cum-DC, has organised an audition for the artistes to be selected by a panel of judges for the final cultural performance on the Kullu Dasehra this time. The first four cultural nights witnessed good performances.
Bhareri (Hamirpur), October 18
The first four-day adventure and leadership camp for 28 children, mostly poor and orphans belonging to Anand Dham Ashram, Koshla and Radha NGO, has been concluded at Prini village near here. The camp was organised by the Himachal Pradesh
Everesters’ Association that had arranged lodging, boarding and training for the
children.
