P R A D E S H
Wednesday, November 4, 1998
|
H I M A C H A L P R A D E S H |
|
Wednesday, November 4, 1998 |
| weather n
spotlight today's calendar |
 |
|
|
CMs of 9 states to meet on
November 11 Cong
MLAs seek CBI probe on Dalit murders Plan
to beautify Mandi Sudhir
Sharma files nomination |
 |
 Nadda reviews progress of medical college SHIMLA, Nov 3 — Mr J.P. Nadda, Himachal Health Minister, today reviewed the progress of Dr Rajendra Prasad Medical College Tanda with regard to on-going and proposed works to be undertaken as per the directions of the Medical Council of India. CM
'accepting' unjust |
|
Man runs amok, kills 2 14
houses gutted 3
students hurt in clash Dhumal
has regional bias: JD Demand
for merger opposed ‘Prepare’
passbooks for farmers Markanda
given panchayati raj |
|||||
 |
||||||
CMs of 9 states to meet on
November 11 SHIMLA, Nov 3 — The Centre has agreed to resolve the financial problems being faced by special-category states due to the 'faulty' recommendations of the Ninth Finance Commission. Stating this here today, the Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, said he had taken up the matter during the meeting of chief ministers and urged Mr Yashwant Sinha, Finance Minister, to convene a meeting specifically to discuss the difficulties of special-category states. Accordingly, a meeting of chief ministers of nine special-category states, including Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and north-eastern states, had been convened by Prof AM Khusro, Chairman of the 11th Finance Commission on November 11 at Delhi. Mr Dhumal said these states had been facing a perennial financial crisis since the recommendations of the Ninth Commission came into force. Prior to that, the non-plan deficit of special-category states was met by the Centre. However, the Ninth Commission adopted a normative approach, under which the deficit was to be brought to zero by 1995. The 10th Finance Commission provided some relief but did not completely 'undo' the 'injustice' perpetrated by the ninth finance panel. Himachal Pradesh, in
particular, was the worst hit as the then Congress
government 'concealed' the real deficit. It 'understated'
the expenditure and 'inflated' the income, which created
severe financial problems for the state subsequently. |
Man runs amok, kills 2 MANDI, Nov 3 — Two persons lost their lives when Sharan (30) of Shill village falling in Gohar police station of Sundernagar sub-division, ran amuck early this morning and started attacking people at random with sharp-edged axe. Eighteen-month-old Yajna had already been killed when the sleep village woke up to see the ghastly scene. Over 10 persons had been attacked before he was overpowered and handed over to the police. Zalim Ram, Amar Singh and Mangat Ram who received serious injuries have been admitted to the Sundernagar hospital. Another person lost his
life in an accident when he was rushing to the scene of
crime on a scooter as some of the victims were his
relatives.
|
Cong MLAs seek CBI probe on Dalit
murders SHIMLA, Nov 3 — Four Congress MLAs belonging to the Scheduled Castes have urged the Governor, Mrs V.S. Rama Devi, to order a CBI inquiry into the murders of Dalits in Kangra district since the BJP-HVC combine came to power in Himachal Pradesh. The four legislators — Mr G.R. Musafir, Mr Kuldeep Kumar, Mr Raghu Raj and Mr Singhi Ram — submitted a memorandum to the Governor here today, seeking her intervention in checking atrocities against Scheduled Castes members in the state. They demanded that the CBI investigate the murders of Dalits, particularly in the Jwalamukhi area of the state. They alleged political interference in the present investigation into the murder cases. The Dalit legislators demanded that the kin of Ms Shakino Devi and Ms Sunita Devi of Sepred village near Jwalamukhi should be paid a compensation of Rs 5 lakh each. They also demanded that the government should issue a white paper on the large-scale transfers of Dalit employees. The vacant posts reserved for the Scheduled Castes should be immediately filled through a special recruitment drive, they further demanded. The quota for Dalits should be fixed for the recruitment of vidya upasaks and irregularities in the selection of IRDP families should be probed, they sought. They regretted that the Scheduled Castes Advisory Council had not been constituted by the government so far. They demanded that the
government should appoint either the deputy commissioner
or superintendent of police from the Dalit community in
each district. |
Nadda reviews progress of
medical college SHIMLA, Nov 3 — Mr J.P. Nadda, Himachal Health Minister, today reviewed the progress of Dr Rajendra Prasad Medical College Tanda with regard to on-going and proposed works to be undertaken as per the directions of the Medical Council of India. He said that steps were being taken to acquire more land for the college and the possession of land in the name of TB sanitorium had already been given to the college. He said that on-going work like paraclinical blocks, boys and girls hostels and residential quarters was under construction besides library complex and hospital complex for which suggestions had been invited from specialised agencies. The Health Minister said that work on operation theatres was likely to commence soon. He said that lists of required equipments for departmental laboratories artist and photography section and hostel were also being processed and these sections would start functioning soon. Mr Nadda said that the
Pollution Control Board had been asked to inspect the
site for the installation of incinerator in the hospital
complex. |
14 houses gutted SHIMLA, Nov 3 (UNI) — Fourteen houses were gutted and a large number of cattle flock burnt alive when a fire broke out at Dutrang village in Kinnaur district yesterday, police sources said today. However, there was no loss of human life in the blaze which raged for few hours. The loss of property was being assessed by the Revenue Department. The cause of fire was yet
to be ascertained. |
Plan to beautify Mandi MANDI, Nov 3 — Mr Pushp Raj Sharma, president of the local municipal committee, announced here yesterday that a plan had been drawn to make the historic town "clean and beautiful." Mr Sharma said the new committee, which had completed a year in office, had spent over Rs 2.53 crore on various development projects. He said roads and lanes were being kept clean and stray cattle had been transferred to "gosadan". Modern toilets had also been constructed, he added. Mr Sharma said flower gardens were being developed at Sunken Garden complex and Tarna Temple to attract tourists. A ropeway had also been planned between Motipur and Tarna complex. A suspension bridge would also be constructed, linking Jalpa temples located in Mandi and Purani Mandi. The municipal committee had also urged the government to elevate its status to that of a municipal corporation. He said several measures had been taken to prevent environmental pollution in the town. Over 5,000 trees had been planted and pamphlets about the need to promote awareness to make the town pollution free had been distributed. He said priority had been
given towards improving the sanitation in the town. A
large number of garbage containers had been installed at
different wards and dumper placers had been acquired, he
added. |
CM 'accepting' unjust HVC demands DHARAMSALA, Nov 3 — Former Chief Minister and Congress leader, Mr Virbhadra Singh today said that Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, was bowing to the unjust demands of the HVC chief, Mr Sukh Ram, who was "black-mailing" the BJP governments at the Centre and the state. Talking to newspersons at Baijnath, he said that since the BJP was totally dependent on Mr Sukh Ram's party, for the continuation of their government, they were accepting all his demands. He dared the state government to go ahead with any inquiry against him, as nothing would come out of them. "The only motive behind ordering such inquiries was to humiliate and harass me" , he said. He said a person who was himself facing charges of corruption had no right in courts to demand CBI inquiry against him. Mr Virbhadra Singh alleged that he had received information that the CBI was being pressurised to adopt a lenient view, in cases pending against Mr Sukh Ram. He said it was very unfortunate that there was political interference into the functioning of such agencies. He said rising prices, failure of the state government on all issues and discrimination against Kangra district, would be the main issue during the byelection to the Baijnath constituency. He accused the Chief Minister of adopting double standard as the recent tenders for hiring a 25-seater helicopter indicated. "At one stage the BJP had been very critical of the Congress for using the helicopter, while today they were themselves doing the same thing," he observed. Mr Virbhadra Singh came
down heavily on the BJP government for its inept handling
of the medical education in Himachal. He said that the
government had made a mess of medical education in the
state, as they had failed to present the true facts
before the Supreme Court regarding the EOM issue. |
Sudhir Sharma files nomination DHARAMSALA, Nov 3 — Mr Sudhir Sharma, son of deceased Congress leader Sant Ram, today filed his nomination as the Congress candidate from the Baijnath constituency at Baijnath today. He was accompanied by a large number of senior Congress leaders. including former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh PCC chief Mr Sat Mahajan, former chief minister, Thakur Ram Lal, Mr Kaul Singh and Mrs Asha Kumari. Though most of Congress leaders were keen to give the ticket to Mrs Nirmala Devi, the widow of Mr Sant Ram, but she had refused to contest so the ticket was given to her son. Some of the persons, who were claimants for the ticket also accompanied Sudhir Sharma, as he went in a big procession to file his nominations. No other person has filed
nomination for the byelection for which the last date is
November 6. |
3 students hurt in clash DHARAMSALA, Nov 3 — Three students were injured in a group clash in the local government college today. According to the police a
clash took place between two groups of students,
including some outsiders, while they were playing
cricket. The police seized swords, iron rods and hockey
sticks from some of them who were allegedly staying in
the hostel illegally. The police also raided the hostel
and arrested three boys. |
Dhumal has
regional bias: JD SHIMLA, Nov 3 — The state Janata Dal has accused Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister, of shifting various offices to Hamirpur, his native district, on regional considerations and indulging in favouritism and nepotism in making public appointments. Mr Sant Ram Chauhan,
secretary of the dal, said the establishment of a
subordinate services selection board and the shifting of
the office of the Conservator, Wild Life, to Hamirpur
were indicative of his regional bias and partisan
outlook. He was following in the footsteps of the
previous Congress regime and taking decisions ignoring
the larger interests of masses. |
Demand for merger opposed SHIMLA, Nov 3 — The Shimla Development Authority Employees Union has opposed the demand for merging the state housing board and the Shimla Development Authority. The union said the demand made by employees of the housing board was unjustified as the two construction agencies had been functioning in a different manner. While the SDA was working on a "no-profit, no-loss" basis and meeting its entire expenditure on its own, the housing board was getting financial assistance from the government not only to meet the establishment charges but also for purchase of machinery and equipment. Besides, the merger of the
two agencies would squeeze the promotional avenues of the
SDA employees who were already facing stagnation. |
‘Prepare’ passbooks for farmers SHIMLA, Nov 3 — Dr Rajan Sushant, Minister of State for Revenue, said here yesterday that the Revenue Department had been asked to prepare passbooks for farmers which would help them procure loans from banks. The Revenue Minister said awareness camps would be organised up to November 10 in which panchayat representatives, mahila mandals and yuvak mandals would be associated. Dr Sushant said the
working of the department would be streamlined for quick
disposal of revenue matters. |
Govt
neglecting Kangra: Congress NURPUR, Nov 3 — The Himachal Congress President, Mr Sat Mahajan, while addressing a press conference at Raja ka Bagh near here last evening alleged that the Dhumal government was neglecting Kangra district and has adopted an indifferent attitude towards the Tanda Medical College issue. He said all development activities in the Baijnath area had come to a standstill. He asked the state government to release a white paper on development works done during the past seven months. He said the government had failed to get recognition for Tanda Medical College. The Virbhadra government had secured the provisional recognition for the college with much efforts. Mr Sat Mahajan alleged that the Dhumal government was trying to destabilise the elected gram panchayats. The Congress would win the
Baijnath assembly byelection with a handsome margin, he
claimed. |
Markanda given panchayati raj SHIMLA, Nov 3 — The newly inducted minister, Mr Ram Lal Markanda, was today allocated the portfolio of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj. Mr Markanda, who is a Minister of State, will hold independent charge of these departments. These portfolios were earlier looked after by Mr Mohinder Singh, who also belongs to the Himachal Vikas Congress. The HVC leaders had
initially demanded that Mr Markanda should be given the
portfolio of Power. |
 |
||
 |
| Nation
| Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir | Chandigarh | | Editorial | Business | Sport | | Mailbag | Spotlight | World | 50 years of Independence | Weather | | Search | Subscribe | Archive | Suggestion | Home | E-mail | |
