P R A D E S H
Tuesday, September 1, 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, September 1, 1998 |
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CM acted under pressure on probe
plea Govt
to withdraw cases |
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 Hill farmers trained in floriculture |
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HAS officers to be Additional
Secretary after 15 years Landslide
threatens three villages 100
CPM activists court arrest 24
lakh sanctioned for bridge Congress
leader assails HP government 30,000
take dip in Manimahesh Lake |
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CM acted under pressure on probe
plea SHIMLA, Aug 31 — Ripples have been created in political circles of the state with the Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal, has recommended to the Centre a CBI probe into charges against Mr Virbhadra Singh, leader of the Congress Legislature Party. Impression has gone around that Mr Dhumal had sought the CBI probe into the charges against Mr Virbhadra Singh for being under pressure from the Himachal Vikas Congress (HVC) leader, Mr Sukh Ram, whose support was vital for the BJP government in the state. Mr Dhumal requested the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, to order a CBI probe against the Congress leader around the time the three-week ultimatum of the HVC to do so expired. The state executive of the HVC had earlier threatened Mr Dhumal to hand over the complaints to the CBI for inquiry otherwise the party shall have to review its support to the government. Mr Dhumal and Mr Sukh Ram are learnt to have held a closed door meeting soon after the threat by the HVC. So far Mr Dhumal had been sitting on the 41-point charge sheet against Mr Virbhadra Singh which the HVC had submitted to him four months ago. The delay on the part of Mr Dhumal in forwarding the charge sheet to the CBI had been making the HVC leadership restive. The basic aim of the entire exercise is being said to give tough time to Mr Virbhadra Singh, who till now enjoyed a scam-free image. Doubts are being raised about certain contents of the charge sheet which has been prepared by Mr Sukh Ram, who himself is facing interrogation by the CBI in several cases of alleged corruption during his tenure when he was the Communications Minister. It is being said Mr Sukh Ram's ambition was to get Mr Virbhadra Singh involved in the CBI net as he suspects that it was at the latter's initiative that the CBI raided his houses at Mandi and Delhi and seized a huge amount of unaccounted cash. He has been claiming that the currency was got planted at his house before the CBI raids. On the other hand, Mr Virbhadra Singh has said there was no justification in referring these complaints to the CBI as the institution of Lokayukata to inquire into charges against top politicians existed in the state. He has alleged that Mr Sukh Ram and his supporters were afraid of going to the Lokayukata as there they were required to furnish affidavits which would make them liable for criminal action in case their complaints turned out false. Mr Virbhadra Singh has said most of the allegations levelled in the charge sheet have already been settled by various courts. The HVC charge sheet consists of allegations pertaining to payment of commission to private parties for raising of loans for the state government, manipulating land records and renovation of private properties. Mr Virbhadra Singh has said he was not afraid of any inquiry against him, but the intentions of the BJP-HVC combine government were "mala fide". Several Congress
legislators and district Congress committees have
criticised Mr Dhumal for asking a CBI probe against Mr
Virbhadra Singh. |
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Hill farmers trained in
floriculture
CHURAH VALE (Chamba district): The farmers of Churah Vale in Chamba district are engaged in growing flowers for the past four to five years. At present, flower cultivation is being done by 81 farmers of the valley on about 6 hectares of land. The flower growers' association of the valley is facing serious problems in marketing their produce and are not getting good prices in the market. This association with the help of the National Horticulture Board, Delhi, is constructing a cold store and going to procure refrigerated vans very shortly for supplying fresh flowers to the Delhi market. Last month the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) Chamba, organised for the first time a two-day training camp on floriculture for flower growers of Churah valley. Dr Sita Ram, a floriculture expert from Dr Y. S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni (Solan), along with KVK scientists imparted training to the growers on improved cultural practices on various flowers such as gladiolus, tulip and lillium. The expert advised farmers to make necessary alterations in sowing periods according to demand. Farmers were also given scientific tips regarding post-harvest handling, grading and packaging of cut flowers for getting better prices in the market. Dr Sita Ram highlighted the possibility of growing chrysanthemum in the area. Chrysanthemum is one among the top most cut-flowers of the world which can be a boon to the farmers of the district. Dr Sita Ram also
encouraged farmers to maintain the tempo of flower
cultivation. Various varieties of chrysanthemum have been
recommended by the University of Horticulture and
Forestry, Solan and KVK, Chamba, is going to test these
varieties on its own farm to know their suitability for
this area. |
Government to withdraw cases DALHOUSIE, Aug 31 — The state government will withdraw cases against Ranjit Sagar Dam (Thein dam) oustees registered during the Congress regime. They had agitated for their claim of land compensation. Mr Kishori Lal Himachal Industries Minister said this while addressing Ranjit Sagar Dam oustees at Dhundiara, about 20 km from here yesterday. The Industries Minister said the work on the Chamba cement plant would start as the proposal was likely to be cleared by the Centre. The Industries Minister said that the state pollution control board and the Mining Department had already given their technical clearance for the setting up of cement plant. The minister, said work on the Rs 2100 crore Chamera hydroelectric project, stage-II, would commence soon for which the Centre had sanctioned Rs 20 crore for building infrastructure. He said the cement plant and the Chamera project would provide employment to nearly 35000 persons of the state. The minister said that the Congress had been delaying the two projects for the past more than 14 years and alleged that it encouraged nepotism in providing jobs in Chamera project, stage-I. The minister also distributed cheques of Rs 6 crore to 80 families as compensation for their land which was being submerged in the waters of Ranjit Sagar Dam. He said the Centre had already released Rs 66 crore as compensation for acquiring the land of 537 oustees. He thanked the Centre and
Punjab government for solving the issue which remained
pending for the past 14 years. |
100 CPM activists court arrest SHIMLA, Aug 31 — Nearly 100 activists of the Communist Party of India (Marxists) here today courted arrest to protest against the failure of the government to control prices. The protestors entered the prohibited Mall area from different points and assembled in front of the Police Reporting Room led by Mr Rakesh Singha, president of the CITU. They raised slogans against the government. They were arrested immediately and taken away in trucks. Mr Singha alleged that the central government had mortgaged the interests of the country to the blackmarketeers and hoarders. It lacked the political will to make raids on the wholesale dealers who had created artificial scarcity of essential commodities by hoarding. He demanded that minimum wage should be increased to Rs 3000 per month. The BJP-led government had messed up the country's economy on one hand there was industrial recession, leading to closure of small scale units and unemployment and on the other hand prices were skyrocketing adding to woes of the people. The rupee had been devalued by 15 per cent, increasing the foreign debt liability by Rs 45,000 crore. He said the party would
launch a statewide movement to highlight the government's
failure on the economic front. |
Landslide threatens three villages BADDI, Aug 31 — A huge landslide caused by the torrential rains has threatened the existence of Ghaneri, Baha and Dhar villages situated 18 km from Nalagarh. The residents told that the landslide occurred after the torrential rains on August 25. The total area affected by the landslide is about 2 km. While four pucca houses have crumbled in Ghaneri hamlet coming under Kundlu panchayat, more than 20 houses have developed two feet wide cracks in Ghaneri, Baha and Dhar villages. Ramrattan of Baha village has lost his two pucca houses. The residents have taken shelter in the fields as the houses with the cracked walls can crumble at any time. The residents of Baha village have taken refuge in an unsafe school building having cracks in the walls. The homeless families are sore over the lackadaisical attitude of the local administration which is yet to announce any compensation. The sub-divisional magistrate only visited the affected areas today seven days after the incident. The landslide has also damaged hundreds of bighas of agricultural land including the standing corn crop. The worst affected are Bishni Devi, Hari Ram, Ramjidass, Kishnu, Durgu and Ramrattan who have lost entire corn crop. Shisham and other trees worth thousands of rupees have also been damaged in Dhar village coming under Kundlu panchayat. Continuous landslides have also partially damaged the Nalagarh-Swarghat state highway. Mr Arvind Gupta, general
secretary, District Congress Committee and Aseem Sharma,
State Executive Member, Youth Congress have criticised
the administration for not taking preventive steps in
landslide hit areas. Mr Arvind Gupta said that the huge
landslides were the outcome of widespread quarrying in
the rivers and nullahs of this sub-division. He has urged
Prof P.K. Dhumal, Chief Minister to provide immediate
relief to the landslide affected families. |
HAS officers to be Additional SHIMLA, Aug 31 — The Himachal Government has decided to accord the status of additional secretary to the state administrative service officers on completion of 15 years of service. Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister, announced this while addressing a meeting of the Himachal Administrative Service (HAS) Officers Association here last evening. He said the government had also agreed in principle to post HAS officers as additional deputy commissioners in districts. He also announced that selection grade to the eligible officers would be released at once. Mr Dhumal said his government was committed for the welfare and betterment of officers of state services and employees as they played a vital role in the implementation of the programme for the upliftment of people. He said the government would ensure more promotional avenues to the services and impress upon the Central Government to restore the system of selection list. He said the government would also ensure that they get adequate opportunities for training. He said the officers must discharge their duties with dedication as in a democratic set-up political governments changed frequently and it was only the services which provided continuity. He said they should not hesitate to put forward the facts and right opinion before their political bosses as they understood better the ground realities of any issue. Mr Chamel Singh, president
and Mr B.N. Nanta, general secretary of the association
while welcoming the Chief Minister urged him to provide
better promotional avenues to the state administrative
services officers. |
24 lakh sanctioned for
bridge SOLAN, Aug 31 — The Himachal Government has accorded a special sanction of Rs 24.60 lakh for the construction of a bridge over a khud near Guru village, and for the completion of the Vaknaghat-Mamligh link road in Kandaghat block of the district. The completion of the link road which was under construction for the last several years was held up for want of fund. The PWD Minister, Mr Mohinder Singh, agreed to provide the funds when a delegation of local people lead by newly appointed joint secretary of the Himachal Vikas Congress, Mr Haminder Thakur, called upon the minister at Shimla yesterday. The road will reduce the distance between the sub-divisional headquarters at Kandaghat and Mamligh by about 25 km. It would also help farmers
of Kaner, Satror, Sairi Kala and Mamligh panchayats to
transport their produce speedily to the market. |
Congress leader assails HP
government MANDI, Aug 31 — Congress leader and former minister, Mr Rangila Ram Rao, yesterday criticised the Himachal Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, for asking the Centre to hold a CBI inquiry against former Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh. Talking to mediapersons, he said the BJP-HVC government should refrain from indulging in a "witch-hunt," now that it had failed on all fronts. It had promised to bring down the prices, but during their present tenure inflation had beaten all previous records, making the life of the common man miserable. He remarked that by
entering into an alliance with Mr Sukh Ram, the BJP had
lost its clean image and it could no more claim to be a
party of "ethics and ideals". |
30,000 take dip in Manimahesh
Lake CHAMBA, Aug 31 — Nearly 30,000 devotees of Lord Shiva, including tourists from different parts of the country, had a holy dip in the icy waters of the famous Manimahesh Lake here yesterday morning on the occasion of Radhashtami. They also had a view of the Kailash Mountain. A number of pilgrims hailing from Bhaderwah region of Jammu and Kashmir also visited the pilgrimage centre and had a holy dip. Mr Tarun Kapoor, Deputy Commissioner, Chamba, who is also the chairman of the Manimahesh Pilgrimage Committee, said the pilgrims had a blissful journey and no untoward incident reported so far. The DC informed that
during the 15-day Manimahesh pilgrimage, which started on
the occasion of Janmashtami, about 40,000 pilgrims and
tourists visited the holy centre of Lord Shiva. |
Aggarwal new Kangra DC SHIMLA, Aug 31 — The Himachal Pradesh Government today posted Mr B.K. Aggarwal, Special Secretary and Director of Youth Services and Sports Department as Deputy Commissioner of Kangra Mr Sushil Negi, Deputy
Commissioner, Kangra, will take over as Chief Executive,
Him Urja. He will also be the Director of the Youth
Services and Sports Department. |
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