Woes of tourists in Jawalamukhi
JAWALAMUKHI: Jawalamukhi, situated in the foothills of the Shivalik ranges, has its own distinction in terms of divinity not only in the country but also in the world.

Woman awarded compensation
DHARAMSALA, Aug 13 — The Kangra District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has directed a private doctor at Pragpur to pay a compensation of Rs 1 lakh to Mrs Nirmala Devi for being negligent in her duties.

Cong blames BJP for Kargil conflict
HAMIRPUR, Aug 13 — The Hamirpur District Congress Committee has blamed the BJP government in the state for tardy pace of development.

OBCs disenchanted with all parties
DHARAMSALA, Aug 13 — Major political parties in Kangra district are trying their best to woo the backward classes who constitute a major chunk of the electorate in this parliamentary constituency.

BJP violating code in Kangra: Cong
PALAMPUR, Aug 13 — Mr Sat Mahajan, HPPCC Chief charged the BJP of misusing government machinery for electioneering in Kangra district.

Cyanide gives new twist to suicide case
JAWALAMUKHI, Aug 13 — The tragic death of four persons belonging to New Delhi has put a question mark on the working of the police.

• Contract staff not paid PF, other dues
• Memorial to Kargil martyrs sought
• 3 pilgrims killed

HP for hiking duty on apple imports
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Aug 13 — With the issue of import of apples under the open general licence (OGL) taking a political turn on the even of the Lok Sabha elections, the Himachal Pradesh government has set up a committee to examine the impact of imports on the market for domestic produce.

The Minister of State for Horticulture, Mr Narendera Bragta, told newsmen here today that the committee, to be headed by the vice-chairman of HPMC, Mr Chander Sein will suggest measures for meeting the challenge from apple imports.

He blamed the previous Congress government at the Centre of having signed the World Trade Organisation treaty against the interests of apple growers. The Congress Government in the state at the time did not raise its voice against the move-either.

He accused the Congress of trying to politicise the issue and shedding crocodile tears now that it was in the Opposition.

Mr Bragta said following the requests of the Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal, the Agriculture Ministry has proposed that the Commerce Ministry increase the import duty on apples so that the imports were unable to complete with domestic produce.

Mr Dhumal had already discussed the issue with the Chief Ministers of Jammu and Kashmir and Uttar Pradesh and they were now expected to meet the Prime Minister with the demand to delist apple imports from the WTO treaty.

He said that imports had not made any impact on domestic produce which was fetching a higher price this season because of a fall in production due to bad weather. He accused the Congress of trying to create panic among apple-growers.

He said so far only 17,200 boxes of imported apples had reached the markets of Madras, Bombay and Delhi and were selling at around Rs 1500 to Rs 2000 per box. He added that the OGL had come as a blessing in disguise for growers as they will have to compete with the world market and improve varieties.

The Horticulture University, Solan was already on the job of producing improved variety of rootstock instead of seedlings. Contacts had also been established with the Canadian Government for providing rootstock of better varieties.

The minister said that 82 apple procurement centres had already started functioning and sixty more were proposed to be opened shortly.

Doctor beaten up by mob
By Sonoo Singh
Tribune News Service

PARWANOO, Aug 13 — A local private medical practitioner was beaten up by an irate mob at Taksal village, about 4 km from here, in protest against the death of a 16-year-old boy, Harjit Singh, who allegedly died due to wrong medication administered by the doctor on Thursday.

The mob of about 150-odd persons took out a procession from the village to the residence-cum clinic of Dr V M Kaul, where it reportedly beat up the doctor, tore his clothes and also dragged his wife from their house. The mob also allegedly broke the window-panes of the house, dismantled hoardings outside the house and damaged his car.

According to the father of the boy, Mr Rajinder Singh, a local post-office employee, Harjit Singh was taken to Dr Kaul on Thursday morning when he complained of severe stomach ache, after a bout of vomiting. But the boy was discharged at around 10:30 am after being given glucose and a vitamin injection, the father alleged.

When Harjit Singh did not get up from his "sleep" even after 9 pm, the worried father called up the clinic and was told that the doctor was away. The family then took their son to the clinic, where they were asked to take Harjit Singh to the Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) Hospital, by one of the attendants.

On reaching the ESI Hospital, the boy was declared dead. The parents of Harjit alleged that Dr Kaul was negligent in examining the boy. Dr Kaul was present at the clinic when they were turned away by the attendant, they said.

Dr Kaul, however, claimed that the family had insisted on getting the boy discharged from the clinic though some tests like the ultrasound and blood and urine tests were still to be done. He said he was away at his friend’s house when his attendant informed him on the phone about Harjit Singh’s condition. He left for his clinic immediately. "By the time I reached the clinic, they had left", Dr Kaul added.

Meanwhile, the police has registered an FIR against Dr Kaul. A counter-FIR has also been registered.

Though the post-mortem report at the local ESI Hospital is still awaited, sources said the boy might have been suffering from viral hepatitis, since his body had turned yellow.

At the ESI Hospital the body had to be carried in a blanket as no stretcher was available in this 50-bed hospital. Though the Senior Medical Officer (SMO), Dr Gurcharan Singh, kept on asking for a stretcher, none was made available. Even the presence of a local MLA, Mr Raghu Raj, at the scene did not help.

The cremation of the body took place in the village today afternoon.

Auction with a difference
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Aug 13 — It was an auction with a difference. The items on sale were precious gifts, the value of which could not be assessed in monetary terms.

The Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal, who was present at the auction said sentiments of people were invaluable like the sacrifices made by the brave soldiers on the Kargil front. He said he would not like to call it an auction of mementoes as these gifts, which he received in his capacity as the Chief Minister, embodied the sentiments of those who presented them.

He said it was a ceremony to pay homage to the valiant jawans who had laid down their lives for the country. He said those who presented these items to him should feel proud as their gifts were no longer in possession of a particular person but belonged to the entire nation. The gifts had served a worthy cause as the proceeds would go to the Sainik Welfare Fund.

He said the government had contributed Rs 2.5 crore to the fund and another Rs 5 crore had been raised through contributions.

Mr Dhumal said the government would ensure that the fund was properly used for the welfare of the families of the martyrs and it had decided to set up a monitoring committee, which would have army officers and people's representatives, besides officials.

The bidders, mostly local businessmen, utilised the occasion to express their solidarity with the martyrs and their families by making liberal bids.

Woes of tourists in Jawalamukhi
From Bijender Sharma

JAWALAMUKHI: Jawalamukhi, situated in the foothills of the Shivalik ranges, has its own distinction in terms of divinity not only in the country but also in the world. It is therefore disheartening that the pace of the development of this religious sanctuary is left to donations. Keeping in view its importance from the tourism angle, Herculean efforts were made to provide adequate infrastructure during President’s rule imposed in 1992. But it is regrettable that certain projects taken up during that period are yet to be accomplished.

It may be recalled that a plan was envisaged to develop Jawalamukhi on the pattern of Tirupati. It was the brain child of the then Adviser to the Governor. However, many projects started during his regime could not be completed due to paucity of funds.

During the last Assembly elections, the Chief Minister of the state had announced that the government would continue the projects which had been started earlier. In fact, it had been publicly announced with great fanfare that Jawalamukhi would be developed on the international tourist map.

Now an influx of tourists has started coming here all through the year, besides thousands of pilgrims. But lack of adequate in infrastructure adds to their woes.

There is no proper arrangement for food and lodging. Hoteliers; shopkeepers and taxi operators overcharge tourists. They are forced to pay Rs 100 to Rs 500 for a room. Due to water scarcity, a bucket of water is available for Rs 100. Dhaba and restaurant owners too are busy overcharging tourists. Milk is available in the city for Rs 20 per litre.

Last but not least, anti-social elements are always active in the vicinity of the famous shrine of Jawalamukhi. The local police never bothers to improve things. Even the theft of footwear creates panic among the tourists. Pick-pockets too have a field day.

Some also rob well-off foreign tourists. Recently, two foreigners reported theft of articles worth thousands of rupees. The police did not take any action.

There is a mushroom growth of unauthorised guest houses, which in effect do not cater to the requisite needs of the tourists. Instead they cheat them in the name of facilities. On the other hand, the guest houses incur a loss to state government from the revenue point of view.

Sanitation in the town is absolutely bad. Heaps of garbage can be seen lying around in most streets. It is not cleared for weeks together. This is despite the authorities’ claim that in the past six months over 20 dustbins had been placed in various streets and localities. More than 35 safai karamcharis have been deputed for the cleanliness of the town. But residents at large are not satisfied with the services of the safai sewaks. They advocate privatisation of sanitation.

Woman awarded compensation
Tribune News Service

DHARAMSALA, Aug 13 — The Kangra District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has directed a private doctor at Pragpur to pay a compensation of Rs 1 lakh to Mrs Nirmala Devi for being negligent in her duties.

The complainant, Mr Nirmala Devi of Tiamal village, in Jaswan tehsil of Kangra district visited the nursing home, 'sarvhit' at Pragpur on June 14, 1997. She was pregnant and was suffering from acute pain in the lower abdomen. She was medically checked and then taken to the operation room in the clinic. She was later advised by the said female doctor and her husband, who too is a doctor, to take her to Hoshiarpur for scanning.

The complainant alleged that she was taken to the operation theatre and operated upon without her consent. She further alleged that while terminating her pregnancy there were some complications. Mrs Nirmala Devi had to be taken to a hospital in Hoshiarpur where surgery was performed to remove the complications. She remained admitted at the hospital from September 4 to 14, 1997, and had to spend Rs 20,000 on treatment.

The court observed that due to the negligence of the female doctor, Mrs Nirmala Devi had to loose her pregnancy and undergo agony as an aftermath of the misdoings of the doctor. The court observed that the complainant had been very modest in claiming the compensation though she was entitled to receive much more. Since she did not demand more than Rs 1 lakh, she could not be given more, and directed the doctor to make the payment before August 31, 1999, failing which she would have to pay an interest of 12 per cent from the day of the filing of the complaint.

Cong blames BJP for Kargil conflict
From Our Correspondent

HAMIRPUR, Aug 13 — The Hamirpur District Congress Committee has blamed the BJP government in the state for tardy pace of development. This government was one of the worst governments, the people of the state had seen since independence, the party observed at a meeting here last evening.

Mr Suresh Kumar, the DCC chief chaired the meeting, Mr Ram Lal Thakur, MLA and party's nominee for the Hamirpur Lok Sabha seat also participated in the meeting. All former party MLA's except Prof Narain Chand Prashar were present to formulate policy on elections in the district. Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, Himachal Chief Minister and a senior BJP leader belongs to this district.

The party blamed the BJP government at the Centre for the Kargil war and failure to detect intrusion of Pakistani soldiers and Afghan mercenaries into Indian territory. The party observed two-minute silence in memory of eight jawans of Hamirpur district who sacrificed their lives while fighting Pakistani intruders. It resolved to express sympathy with the bereaved families and said that people could not forget the sacrifices.

The DCC observed that all development works were being done by BJP workers who had become government contractors overnight. These persons were minting money by doing works first and tenders are floated later on the party demanded a probe into it.

OBCs disenchanted with all parties
Tribune News Service

DHARAMSALA, Aug 13 — Major political parties in Kangra district are trying their best to woo the backward classes who constitute a major chunk of the electorate in this parliamentary constituency.

The people belonging to backward classes are disenchanted not only with the main political parties, but also with the leaders who are themselves OBCs and have failed to fight for their cause. The community numbering over 2 lakh in the Kangra parliamentary constituency, have always played a crucial role in determining the fate of the leaders in the elections.

There role can tilt in favour of any party as caste has always been a very dominant factor in Kangra politics. With the BJP government failing to fulfil the promise of giving 27 per cent reservation to the OBCs, the community seems to be in no mood to oblige them this time. It was because of their backing that the BJP managed to win 10 out of the 16 seats in the 1998 Assembly elections.

The OBC community in Kangra district is sore that the government despite promising that they will be given 27 per cent reservation, have still not given it. They said it was the government of Mr Virbhadra Singh who raised the reservation to 18 per cent.

Another reason for the annoyance of the OBCs in the district has been the discreditable performance of BJP leaders belonging to their community. They feel that even the ministers and MLAs belonging to the OBC community have been playing politics with them like the others. They added that senior ministers like Mr Vidyasagar, who represents the Kangra Assembly seat, has been ignoring men belonging to his own community. Citing an example they say that three members each nominated to the Kangra and Palampur Municipal Council are all non OBCs.

The people in Kangra district are annoyed with the Agriculture Minister, Mr Vidyasagar, that he has only been making announcements and not fulfilling them. People say that while the minister, has promised that they will soon be given relief on account of the damage caused to life, crop and property because of rains, they are yet to get any financial assistance from the government.

The OBCs, who after being disillusioned from the Congress had backed the BJP in anticipation of getting their demands fulfilled during the 1998 Assembly elections, want to tread on a cautious path. One of the main factors of the defeat of the former Chief Minister, Mr Shanta Kumar, during the 1996 elections, was the opposition by the OBCs. It was for the same reason that the Congress candidate in the 1998 Lok Sabha elections, Mr Sat Mahajan, had to face defeat.

BJP violating code in Kangra: Cong
From Our Correspondent

PALAMPUR, Aug 13 — Mr Sat Mahajan, HPPCC Chief charged the BJP of misusing government machinery for electioneering in Kangra district. In a message faxed to the CEC, Mr M.S. Gill, he pointed out that BJP ministers had been using their official cars and their staff for the election campaign in violation of the model code of conduct. He sought the intervention of the Election Commission and appointment of an observer for the district.

Earlier, addressing mediapersons, Mr Mahajan said that during the past one year the law and order situation in the district had gone from bad to worse with a sharp increase in cases of murder and rape.

He alleged that BJP leaders had been providing shelter to anti-social elements demoralising the police. He quoted a number of cases where the culprits are still at large.

He asked the BJP, not to politicise the Kargil issue.

Cyanide gives new twist to suicide case
From Our Correspondent

JAWALAMUKHI, Aug 13 — The tragic death of four persons belonging to New Delhi has put a question mark on the working of the police. Though a suicide case has been registered, one of the victims, Radhe Shayam, reportedly consumed poison in the presence of the police.

Interestingly, the other victims — Praveen, Luxmi and Jyoti — took their lives by consuming cyanide after Radhe Shayam joined them from Delhi. Also, he rushed them to the hospital. However they were already dead. Later, he committed suicide at about 5.45 a.m. on Wednesday.

It is a mystery as to where did the cyanide come from and what were the circumstances that led to the tragedy.

Contract staff not paid PF, other dues
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Aug 13 — The Nerwa working Division of the state Forest Corporation has defaulted in the payment of Provident Fund and other dues from April, 1990 onwards in respect of contract employees.

The Regional Provident Fund Commissioner, Mr Rajesh Bansal, has assessed Rs. 71,06,957 against the division under Section 7-A of the Employees' Provident Funds and Misc. Provisions Act, 1952.

Memorial to Kargil martyrs sought
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Aug 13 — The Himachal state unit of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad has urged the government to set up memorial in honour of Brave Himachali jawans who sacrificed their lives while fighting the Pakistani intruders in Kargil.

It also suggested that the memorial be built in Shimla at the Padam Dev Complex on the Ridge.

3 pilgrims killed
From Our Correspondent

BILASPUR, Aug 13 — Three pilgrims were killed and 28 others were injured, six of them seriously, when a tempo carrying them fell into a gorge when they were returning from the Naina Devi fair today.

The deceased have been identified as Sonia (10), Kulwant Kaur (45) and Laxmidass Halwai (40), all of Ahammedgarh in Haryana. Additional District Magistrate R.D. Panwar who is also the mela officer, along with SDM Roshanlal Rana and ASP Ramkumar rushed to the site and supervised rescue work. Six of the injured were shifted to Anandpur Sahib Hospital while the remaining were being treated at Nainadevi Primary Health Centre.