P R A D E S H
Tuesday, October 13, 1998
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H I M A C H A L P R A D E S H |
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Tuesday, October 13, 1998 |
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HP plan outlay up Security
of "soft |
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Students of Tanda college
on fast 23
hurt in mishap |
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HP plan outlay up by 40 per cent NEW DELHI, Oct 12 — The Planning Commission today approved a 40 per cent increase in the Annual Plan allocation for Himachal Pradesh for 1998-99, fixing it at Rs 1440 crore. The decision was taken at a meeting here between the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, Mr Jaswant Singh, and the Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal. During the meeting, Mr Dhumal told the Planning Commission that the hill state needed liberal central aid to meet its development needs. He said efforts had been made to mobilise additional resources through taxation in this year’s state budget. Mr Dhumal said the state government had decided to accord top priority to the social services sector to raise the social development indicators to a level higher than the national average. Of the total allocation of Rs 1440 crore for the current financial year, Rs 568.43 crore had been earmarked for the social services sector followed by the energy sector for which Rs 223.50 crore had been allocated. The transport and communication sector would get Rs 197 crore and the agriculture and allied services sector Rs 183 crore. The Chief Minister said a higher investment of Rs 2106.44 crore had been envisaged for the Ninth Five-Year Plan against an investment of Rs 1213.10 crore during the Eighth Five-Year Plan (1992-97). He said that appropriate investment had also been earmarked for other key sectors like infrastructure building, agriculture and allied services, energy, irrigation and rural development. Mr Dhumal informed the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission that Himachal Pradesh had ensured cent per cent utilisation of the funds provided last year. This justified the demand of the state for a higher allocation, he added. He said the state government had decided to allow private sector participation in power generation. The central government should also provide liberal assistance to the state government in harnessing the identified hydroelectric potential at the earliest, he added. Mr Dhumal was accompanied
by the Chief Secretary, Mr O.P.Yadav, the Financial
Commissioner-cum-Secretary Planning and other senior
officers of the state government.
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Security of "soft
targets" tightened SHIMLA, Oct 12 — Amidst reports of Pakistani trained terrorists planning to strike in a big way in Himachal Pradesh, the new Director-General of Police, Mr T.R. Mahajan, has geared up security around the "soft targets" in the state. Mr Mahajan, who got on the job this morning after being appointed the DGP on Saturday, told The Tribune in an interview that the police had identified certain soft targets where the terrorists might strike this time. He was optimistic that the police would not be caught unawares now as was the case when Kashmiri and Afghan mercenaries struck in Chamba killing 32 persons. The new DGP said that reports were there that the terrorists might strike some other area on the pattern of Chamba. He said that in a proxy war, which has been designed by the ISI of Pakistan, it was essential that the police should remain alert. Mr Mahajan said that the massacre at Chamba took place as the authorities did not anticipate the terrorist strike. Topmost on his agenda was to lay stress on anticipation of any such situation by the police force. This would also be included in the training programme of the men in uniform. The DGP admitted that there were very many shortcomings in the police which required to be removed. The important aspect of commitment, which has got diluted over the years, has to be reinforced. Professionalism, better training and high-level of commitment are required. He said that what was required especially under the scenario of terrorism was anticipation where we have failed. High sense of motivation and complete dedication to duty was a must under these circumstances. Mr Mahajan said that the outdated weapons had to be replaced to match with the modern arms and ammunition carried by terrorists. He said that the problem could be met only with participation of the "public." Village level committees have already been established in the areas of Chamba bordering the terrorist infested Doda district of Jammu. Their training in the handling of arms would be completed within a month. This will come as the first line of defence against terrorism. The DGP said that
additional manpower will be available with the raising of
another battalion of armed police.
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Fire renders forty families homeless CHAMBA, Oct 12 — Ten buildings and six shops were burnt in a devastating fire which broke out in Mohalla Chowgan in Chamba town last night. The fire rendered 40 families homeless and partially affected 13 families. An estimate says, the property loss was around Rs 5 crore. According to eye-witnesses, the fire broke out at about 11.30 p.m. and was noticed 15 minutes later when the houses were in flames. Though people were sleeping, they managed to escape the leaping flames. The Deputy Commissioner of Chamba, Mr Tarun Kapoor, Deputy Inspector General of Himachal Police, Mr I.D. Bhandari, Superintendent of Police, Mr Atul Verma, supervised the fire fighting operations. Mr H.S. Goraya, Commandant, 15th battalion of the Indo-Tibet Border Police (ITBP) deployed ITBP jawans in the fire-fighting operation, and with their help the fire was extinguished within four hours. Though during the fire-fighting operation about five persons received injuries who were given first aid at the local hospital. The fire tenders of the Air Force and the Army from Dalhousie were also called out. The cause of fire was reportedly stated to be a short circuit in a shop. Mr Tarun Kapoor said a relief of Rs 2500 to each of the fire victims had been distributed. Tarpaulin and blankets were also being provided along with the free ration for a week's time, he added. Meanwhile, Mr Naresh Mahajan, General Secretary, District Beopar Mandal, said the fire hydrants didn't have water for at least one and a half hour. Mr Kishori Lal, Himachal Industries Minister, has expressed sympathy with the fire victims. Mr Harsh Mahajan, the local MLA, who early this morning submitted a memorandum to the Himachal Governor in this connection, has also rushed to Chamba. Both the leaders are visiting the fire site today. A complete bandh in the main bazars of Chamba was observed. It may be recalled that on April 28, 1994, several houses were gutted in the same Mohalla. According to the residents
of the town, the loss could be up to Rs 10 crore and as
many as 70 families were affected. |
Students of Tanda college on fast DHARAMSALA, Oct 12 — The students of Tanda Medical College, today intensified their stir by launching a chain fast here, even as the government remained complacent towards the plight of the students. The future of 50 students studying here remains at stake, as the Supreme Court order on October 6, confirmed the stay granted to the Medical Council of India, against the order of the High Court, allowing admission and holding of classes. Since October 7, the college has virtually ceased to function, as no classes were being held. The worried students initially started their agitation by holding a dharna, before the Deputy Commissioner's office. Today, they started a chain fast, with a batch of six students, in the compound of the Zonal Hospital here. They also took out a procession through the town, raising slogans in support of their cause. The students said since they had so far not received any response from any quarter, they were considering taking even harsher steps. They regretted both the chief minister and the health minister had merely given verbal assurances. The Deputy Commissioner, Mr B.K. Aggarwal, said the government was trying its level best to find a solution to the problem. "There has not been much change from the earlier position, as the previous stay granted to the MCI, has been confirmed", he commented. He added that there was no problem in holding of classes and he had persuaded the students to start attending classes. He further disclosed that every effort was being made to expedite the construction work at Tanda. SHIMLA: The Parents Association of Dr Rajendra Prasad Medical College, Tanda, has expressed concern over the indifference of the state government towards the institution, which had been denied recognition by the Medical Council of India and urged the Chief Minister to personally intervene in the matter to safeguard the future of the students. The association which met here today alleged that students were suffering because of follies of the government. They were admitted to the college on the basis of the entrance test conducted by the state on the direction of the state, high court. The MCI appealed against the decision in the Supreme Court and got the order stayed. The affected students and their parents were not taken into confidence at any stage in the ongoing legal battle between the state government and the MCI. There had been no official word on the legal position and status of college from the government and students were misled by conflicting statements of the management. The association demanded that in case the college could not be granted recognition immediately, arrangements should be made to accommodate the students either at Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla, or other institutions in the country. These meritorious students had left engineering and other professional courses to take admission in the Tanda college. If the MCI was not granting it recognition, the government was to blame for it as it had failed to provide requisite facilities as per the MCI norms. The association announced
that it would actively participate in the ongoing
students' agitation to seek justice. |
23 hurt in mishap NAHAN, Oct 12 — All 23 persons were injured, three of them seriously, when their mini bus fell into a nullah near Rajgarh, about 150 km from here, this morning. The private bus was going from Nauhrdhar to Shimla. The three seriously injured persons, including driver Ramesh Kumar, have been admitted to Rajgarh hospital. The administration has
announced an ex-gratia grant of Rs 1000 to those injured
and Rs 500 to others. |
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