ADC to function
as college OSD
DHARAMSALA, Oct 18 — In a bid to resolve the Tanda Medical College issue, an OSD has been appointed for the institution.

Landslide leaves 136 stranded
SOLAN, Oct 18 — As many as 136 passengers travelling by a rail car and the 2 KS down train were stranded for over 14 hours following blockage of the railway track by landslides between Kumarhatti and Dharampur railway stations, 12 km from here, last evening.

Minister annoyed
at being 'ignored'
SOLAN, Oct 18 — The Transport Minister Krishan Kapoor felt visibly annoyed when after attending a function here, he discovered that the district administration had not deputed any officer of the appropriate rank to wait upon him during his brief stop over at the local circuit house last evening.

Bank approves 22 irrigation schemes
SHIMLA, Oct 18 — The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard) has approved 22 irrigation projects involving an expenditure of Rs 7.04 crore for funding under the rural infrastructure development fund.

Governor visits homes for handicapped
SHIMLA, Oct 18 — Ms V.S. Rama Devi, Governor, visited various homes for physically handicapped persons in and around the state capital on the eve of Divali.

IAF recruitment on Oct 30, 31
NAHAN, Oct 18 — The Indian Air Force will conduct open recruitment to select airmen on October 30 and 31 at the municipal ground, Paonta Sahib, Mr Rakesh Kaushal, Deputy Commissioner, said here today.

Dhumal greets HP residents
SHIMLA, Oct 18 — Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, the Chief Minister, has felicitated the people of the state on the auspicious occasion of Divali.

ADC to function as OSD of college
Tribune News Service

DHARAMSALA, Oct 18 — In a bid to resolve the Tanda Medical College issue, an OSD has been appointed for the institution.

Addressing a Press conference here today, the Health Minister, Mr J.P. Nadda, who also met the agitating students, said the Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC), Kangra, Mrs Anuradha Thakur, had been asked to function as OSD of the college with immediate effect. "This step has been taken to expedite development works and raising of the infrastructure, which the OSD will monitor from time to time," he stated.

Another step on the part of the government to resolve the issue has been the constitution of a committee by the Governor which will monitor all work being undertaken at Tanda. The panel will hold weekly or fortnightly meetings and submit its report to the government. The Deputy Commissioner, Kangra, will be the chairman while the principal of the college will be the member-secretary. The others who have been included are the Superintending Engineers of the PWD, the IPH and the power board and the District Revenue Officer.

"After the personal efforts and intervention of the Chief Minister, we are optimistic that the issue will be resolved soon," he said. He said the Chief Minister had met the chairman of the MCI and other officials to discuss the matter. The endeavour of the government was to fulfil the conditions laid down by the MCI at the earliest so that the issue of recognition could be resolved. "Our primary concern is the future of the 50 students who are studying here and whose future is at stake, for no fault of theirs," he stated.

The minister said direct dialogue with MCI officials had certainly helped in softening of their attitude.

He said during his meeting with students of the college and some of the parents he had asked them to end the strike, as it was in their interest and would also help the government sort out matters. The MCI had already been told that classes were being held here, and as soon as the students ended their strike, the classes would resume.

He lashed out at former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh for having opened medical colleges in the state without proper planning and in haste.

Meanwhile, the agitating students, who met the Health Minister, are yet to make up their mind about ending their strike. "In the past also the authorities had sent us home whenever the MCI team came for inspection. We fear that this too might be mere eyewash and an attempt by the government to make us end our agitation," observed one of the students. The parents, too, appeared to be a bit apprehensive.

The parents of the students and those associated with the college felt that what the government has decided to do now could have been done much earlier. "If there was political will on the part of the government, things could have been saved from getting worse," felt one of the doctors at the college.

Minister annoyed at being 'ignored'
From Our Correspondent

SOLAN, Oct 18 — The Transport Minister Krishan Kapoor felt visibly annoyed when after attending a function here, he discovered that the district administration had not deputed any officer of the appropriate rank to wait upon him during his brief stop over at the local circuit house last evening.

The "lapse" was pointed out to him by some local BJP leaders. The minister immediately talked over the telephone with the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Balram Sharma, to express his displeasure and pointed out that since the deputy commissioner was himself present at headquarters, there could be no excuse for either the deputy commissioners or one of the senior district officer's absence at the circuit house.

The state protocol does not provide for the presence of the deputy commissioner on such occasions. Also, while some senior officers were on leave, three other ministers were visiting the town yesterday.

Landslide leaves 136 stranded
From Our Correspondent

SOLAN, Oct 18 — 136 passengers travelling by a rail car and the 2 KS down train were stranded for over 14 hours following blockage of the railway track by landslides between Kumarhatti and Dharampur railway stations, about 12 km from here last evening.

While a few local managed to reach the national highway and resumed their journeys by buses, 125 others in the train and 11 in the rail car remained stranded overnight.

Following the landslide all the three remaining down trains were cancelled. The railway authorities also cancelled all up trains leaving Kalka for Shimla today. However, no confirmation of the resumption of down trains could be obtained after the clearance of the track at about 1-30 pm today.

Himachal to export apples to UK
From Our Correspondent

KULU, Oct 18 — Himachal apples will be exported to UK and the first consignment will be sent in two days. This was disclosed by Mr Narender Bragta Minister of state for horticulture while addressing a gathering of horticulturists during the prize distribution function at the lower wing school hall here. The function was part of the Dashera celebrations organised by the government.

Dhumal greets HP residents
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Oct 18 — Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, the Chief Minister, has felicitated the people of the state on the auspicious occasion of Divali.

In his greetings, Mr Dhumal expressed the hope that the festival of lights would bring prosperity and happiness to all besides strengthening the bond of brotherhood.

Bank approves 22 irrigation schemes
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Oct 18 — The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard) has approved 22 irrigation projects involving an expenditure of Rs 7.04 crore for funding under the rural infrastructure development fund.

Stating this here today, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister, said Nabard had in all sanctioned Rs 144.22 crore for various projects in the state under the fund. The government had also submitted 12 flood protection schemes and four road projects, worth Rs 11.86 crore, to the bank for funding. These were also likely to be approved shortly.

These projects would go a long way in bringing about the socio-economic uplift of farmers, he added.

Governor visits homes for handicapped
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Oct 18 — Ms V.S. Rama Devi, Governor, visited various homes for physically handicapped persons in and around the state capital on the eve of Divali.

She spent almost three hours in Balika Ashram at Mashobra, the Destitute Children Home and the Deaf, Dumb and Blind School at Dhalli and distributed sweets, crackers and candles among the inmates.

She also saw a cultural programme presented by handicapped children.

The Governor asked the Red Cross to provide a washing machine for the Destitute Children Home and directed the authorities concerned to repair the path leading to the Blind School, Dhalli.

IAF recruitment on Oct 30, 31
From Our Correspondent

NAHAN, Oct 18 — The Indian Air Force will conduct open recruitment to select airmen on October 30 and 31 at the municipal ground, Paonta Sahib, Mr Rakesh Kaushal, Deputy Commissioner, said here today.

He said all domiciles of Himachal Pradesh and other candidates who had passed their qualifying examinations from the state where eligible for recruitment.

Mr Kaushal said that candidates for technical trades would be tested in the mathematics, science, English, intelligence, general awareness subjects and the candidates for the non-technical trades would be tested in the English, intelligence and general awareness subjects.