HP hoteliers’ plea
SHIMLA, Sept 26 — The Himachal Hotels Association has expressed concern over falling tourist traffic to the state and urged the government to take steps to save the tourism industry from impending slump.

BBMB divers called
SHIMLA, Sept 26 — All efforts of rescue parties to trace the bodies of the victims of the Pandoh bus accident have proved futile but the administration was able to establish the identity of six persons who were reportedly travelling in the ill-fated vehicle.

Villagers block traffic
DHARAMSALA, Sept 26 — Residents of Surajpur-Motli area near Indora blocked traffic for four hours today, demanding the arrest of the murderers of Kewal Krishan whose body was found from a well today.

Preserve cultural heritage: Governor
HAMIRPUR, Sept 26 — Mrs V.S. Rama Devi, Governor, Himachal Pradesh, has stressed the need for preserving the old cultural heritage of the state by organising fairs and festivals.

‘Declare Ramayana as national scripture’
KANGRA, Sept 26 — The Ramlila Sabha has demanded that the Ramayana should be declared as a national holy scripture by the Central Government.

Madhukar feared killed
MANDI, Sept 26 — Madhukar, former chairman of NGOs Federation and general secretary of the Himachal Vikas Congress, had also boarded the ill-fated bus at Bhuntar which fell into the Beas, last evening. He too is feared to have been killed along with 14 others.

HP hoteliers’ plea
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Sept 26 — The Himachal Hotels Association has expressed concern over falling tourist traffic to the state and urged the government to take steps to save the tourism industry from impending slump.

Tourist traffic has been decreasing since devastating flash floods and heavy rain disrupted roads and other infrastructure facilities in the Kulu valley and other parts of the state in August 1995. The situation was likely to worsen with the revival of tourism industry in Kashmir valley where law and order situation had improved considerably. Over the past one year, it pointed out in a memorandum submitted to the Chief Minister.

It suggested that besides building bypasses and alternative tourism highways to important tourist resorts like Manali, the government should also ensure regular power and water supply to hotels. While frequent power failures and low voltage damaged expensive gadgets, irregular water supply caused difficulty to tourist. It also brought a bad name to the state and affected tourist traffic.

The rail network was far from adequate and there were no train services to major cities like Mumbai, Madras, Pune, Nagpur and Hyderabad from where a majority of the tourists come. Those who come in their own vehicles also faced problems as there was no parking space in main tourist resort like Shimla, Manali and Dharamsala.

The association said that occupancy in hotels had gone down below 50 per cent. This was despite the fact that 40 to 50 per cent discount was being given on room rent. As average room rent had also declined by about 40 per cent. Hotels were forced to offer discount even during peak season.

It sought rationalisation of bar licence fee and suggested that it should be based on number of rooms so that small hotels could also afford to have a bar. At present very few hotels had licensed bars as a result of which tourists bought liquor from outside.

Causing revenue loss to the government. In addition the hotels should be allowed to procure liquor from wholesale vendors. It also demanded that tax on room rent be charged on actual rent.

It said the government should consult the association while framing the new tourism policy.

BBMB divers called
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Sept 26 — All efforts of rescue parties to trace the bodies of the victims of the Pandoh bus accident have proved futile but the administration was able to establish the identity of six persons who were reportedly travelling in the ill-fated vehicle.

Mr Madhukar, a prominent leader and general secretary of the Himachal Pradesh Vikas Congress, was among those feared killed. Murari Lal, driver of the bus, Kishan Chand, an employee of the Himachal Road Transport Corporation, Rewati, Milkhi Ram and Leela Singh, were among those who were in the bus at the time of the accident.

One of the two bodies recovered yesterday could not be identified. The district administration also took the help of local river rafter but to no avail. There was no trace of the vehicle which may have been washed downstream. The services of divers have been requisitioned from the Bhakra Beas Management Board.

Mr Madhukar was the most prominent employee leader in the state who dominated the powerful Non-gazetted Services Federation for more than two decades. He joined the BJP and unsuccessfully contested Parliamentary elections from Mandi against Mr Sukh Ram.

He also remained general secretary of the state BJP and Chairman, State Tourism Development Corporation. He left the BJP and joined the HVC last year.

Mr Sukh Ram, the president of the HVC, and Mr Mohinder Singh, PWD Minister, have expressed shock over the death of Mr Madhukar and conveyed sympathies with the bereaved family.

Villagers block traffic
Tribune News Service

DHARAMSALA, Sept 26 — Residents of Surajpur-Motli area near Indora blocked traffic for four hours today, demanding the arrest of the murderers of Kewal Krishan whose body was found from a well today.

According to the police, the youth, who had been working as a supervisor in a stone crusher, had been missing since September 20, when he had gone to attend a marriage.

The angry residents kept the body on the road and demanded that a case of murder be registered and the culprits arrested at the earliest. The SDM, Nurpur, and the DSP, had to go to the site and assure the people that a probe would be held into the incident.

The SDM, Mr Naresh Lath, also announced a relief of Rs 30,000 to the family of the deceased. The residents have, however, warned that in case the culprits are not arrested within three days, they will launch an agitation.

The police has registered a case under Section 302 of the IPC.

Preserve cultural heritage: Governor
From Our Correspondent

HAMIRPUR, Sept 26 — Mrs V.S. Rama Devi, Governor, Himachal Pradesh, has stressed the need for preserving the old cultural heritage of the state by organising fairs and festivals.

She was speaking at the concluding function of the Hamir Utsav here last night. She said women should be allowed to take active participation in the socio-economic development of the country. She was happy to know that in Hamirpur district women outnumbered men in population and in other fields.

Mr Ishwar Dass Dhiman, Education Minister, who was also present on the occasion, complimented the people of Hamirpur district for carrying forward the cultural traditions.

Earlier, the Governor was honoured by the Hamir Utsav Committee. She also participated in a lottery draw.

Playback singer Vinod Rathore was the star attraction of the night. He enthralled the audience with his songs.

Madhukar feared killed
From Our Correspondent

MANDI, Sept 26 — Madhukar, former chairman of NGOs Federation and general secretary of the Himachal Vikas Congress, had also boarded the ill-fated bus at Bhuntar which fell into the Beas, last evening. He too is feared to have been killed along with 14 others.

Despite frantic efforts, neither the bus nor any body has been traced. Services of divers from Nangal and a river-rafting team from Manali were being sought to fish out the bodies. Only two dead bodies were traced yesterday, of which only one had been identified.

Identity of five persons who were travelling in the fateful bus has been established. They are — driver Murari Lal, HRTC employee, Kishan Chand, Milkhi Ram of Sangrahan village, Lila Singh, the proprietor of the bus, and Rewati Ram, a peon in the Animal Husbandry Department.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Prabodh Saxena, told reporters that a magisterial inquiry would also look into the allegations that the owner had purchased the HRTC bus and converted it into a private bus.

Mr Sukh Ram, HVC supremo and Mahinder Singh, PWD Minister, have expressed shock and grief over the sad demise of Madhukar and others in the accident.

‘Declare Ramayana as national scripture’
From Our Correspondent

KANGRA, Sept 26 — The Ramlila Sabha has demanded that the Ramayana should be declared as a national holy scripture by the Central Government.

Mr Raman Trehan, general secretary of the sabha, Kangra district, in a letter to the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, said that Ramayana had been translated in 500 languages in India. He said when many countries, including Indonesia, Thailand, Nepal and Malaysia, could adopt the Ramayana and as the way of life why could not India.

He disclosed the former President of India, Late Dr Zakir Hussain, had declared the Ramayana as a national holy scripture, but the necessary notification had not been issued so far.