P R A D E S H
Wednesday, February 3, 1999
|
H I M A C H A L P R A D E S H |
|
Wednesday, February 3, 1999 |
| weather n
spotlight today's calendar |
 |
|
|
Making mockery of Act |
 |
 Sonia must make bid to form govt: HPCC CHAMBA, Feb 2 — The Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee has appealed the All-India Congress Committee President, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, to stake claim to the Government at the Centre in this critical juncture when the BJP-led coalition government has "collapsed because of its economic suicide." |
|
Forest
Rangers sore |
|||||||
 |
||||||||
Making mockery of Act SHIMLA, Feb 2 — Collective offenders will always have their way in a democratic set-up where votes are more important than rules, regulation and propriety. This has been proved true once again by the new policy approved by the Himachal Government to give reprieve to those who had constructed houses in blatant violation of the Town and Country Planning Act. The policy which will facilitate regularisation of unauthorised structures and also those constructed in deviation from the approved building plan, virtually makes a mockery of the Act. In all over 10,500-odd buildings constructed without approval of plans from the Town and Country Planning Act and an equal number of structures built in deviation from plan will be regularised. Interestingly, the policy was framed by the previous Congress government in December, 1997, but it could not be implemented because the code of conduct for the Assembly elections came into force. The BJP, which had described the policy as an election gimmick, found nothing wrong with it after coming to power and it approved the policy without making any changes. While politicians and environmentalists have been frowning upon the high-rise buildings, the new policy will help regularise two extra stories over and above the permissible limit. This means that in many cases six to eight-storeyed unauthorised buildings will be legalised. The buildings where regularisation is allowed the owners will have to pay a lump sum of Rs 5,000 towards the Urban Development Fund (UDF) which will be utilised for providing basic amenities in the local area. Besides, for the first extra storey, a fee will be charged at the rate of Rs 200 per square foot. The rate will be Rs 400 per sq ft for the second extra storey. If the existing building has less built-up area in lower floors than the prescribed limit, "special retention" will be allowed, subject to approval by the government if the owner agrees to close the two lower most floors permanently. The fee for the retention of the two stories will be Rs 50 per sq ft and Rs 100 per sq ft. Up to 50 per cent deviation in set backs will also be permitted subject to the condition that the owners pay Rs 100 per sq ft for the additional area covered towards the UDF. Further, if the existing structure is less than the prescribed limit, it will be allowed to be raised further subject to the condition that it did not affect light and ventilation of others. Similarly, if a builder has constructed more covered area or deviated from the sanctioned plan but agrees to keep the height of the structure less than prescribed in public interest, he will have to pay for the additional built-up area at a concessional rate of Rs 25 per sq ft only. Deviations from the sanctioned plans will also be considered for retention on the same grounds. Even the plots as small as one and a half biswas will be considered for retention. Shops and houses built by allottees under government schemes will be considered for retention, irrespective of the size of the plot. In all cases retention will be considered subject to the availability of a path and wherever necessary demolition work is to be carried out to provide the minimum passage. In case certain building, after demolition of certain portion, is rendered incapable for effective use, then to compensate the owner more built-up area in the shape of an additional floor over and above the prescribed limit will be allowed without any charge. If the building has become incapable of reasonably beneficial use in the existing state then the officer concerned may acquire the same with the approval of the government. The authorities may face problems in implementing the policy on certain counts. The cut-off date for the regularisation of unauthorised buildings is up to December 31, 1996. It will be difficult to establish whether a structure was constructed before or after the cut-off date. Besides, hundreds of unauthorised buildings have come up since then and the government may be forced to consider their cases too. The government says that it will be a one-time affair. However, such policies have been made in the past also to help legalise unauthorised constructions. For instance, the rule to deny water and power connections to the unapproved structures was framed way back in 1983 but it was observed only in breach. In fact, the Congress Government, a few months before the last elections, issued no-objection certificates to enable illegal builders to get water and power connections. There is a clause in the
new policy that in case it is held that retention cannot
be allowed, the permission given for electricity and
water supply will be withdrawn. However, given the vast
scope for regularisation which the policy allows such
cases will be rare. |
CM's remarks decried SHIMLA, Feb 2 — The Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee today lashed out at the Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, for accusing Mrs Sonia Gandhi of fomenting communalism. At a meeting here today, the HPCC criticised Mr Dhumal for his outburst against the Congress President and asked him to first set his own house in order before accusing a national leader. Briefing reporters, Mr Sat Mahajan, state Congress President, said Mr Dhumal had become nervous because of the rising graph of his rival, Mr Shanta Kumar. Mr Dhumal should find some other way to refurbish his image. Mr Mahajan said the image of the BJP both at the Centre and in the state had been tarnished and a senior party leader like Mr Madal Lal Khurana had to resign. Mr Mahajan said while the Shiv Sena which was partner of the BJP in the Maharashtra Ministry and many senior party leaders had reacted sharply to the increase in the prices of essential commodities by the Centre, Mr Dhumal had welcomed the hike. He accused Mr Dhumal of non-governance and said even his ministerial colleagues were not obeying his instructions to spend at least 15 days in the secretariat here. The BJP was a divided house and there was resentment among supporters of Mr Shanta Kumar against the efforts of Mr Dhumal to sideline them. Mr Mahajan accused Mr Dhumal of trying to befool people by claiming that the hike in the power tariff would not effect the common man. The tariff remained 70 paise per unit during the Congress regime and had been increased to Rs 1.25 paise per unit during the 10-month rule of the BJP. He said even the HVC, which was an alliance partner of the BJP, was not satisfied with the Dhumal Government. He alleged that Mr Dhumal
had failed to protect the interests of the state. |
Sonia must make bid to form
govt: HPCC CHAMBA, Feb 2 — The Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) has appealed the All-India Congress Committee (AICC) President, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, to stake claim to the Government at the Centre in this critical juncture when the BJP-led coalition government has "collapsed because of its economic suicide." Addressing mediapersons here today, Mr Harsh Mahajan, Vice-President of the HPCC and Congress whip in the state Vidhan Sabha, lambasted the Centre, saying that it had failed on all fronts. Mr Mahajan flayed the BJP’s fundamentalist offshoots such as Shiv Sena, Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) for spoiling the secular fibre of the country. He said that the law and order and economic condition of the nation had badly deteriorated. Mr Mahajan criticised the Central Government for its unproductive expenditures. He also lashed out at the coalition partners of the BJP-led Government, saying that they were equally accountable for all the wrong deeds committed by the government. He disclosed that the
Congress would hold a dharna in Chamba on February 13 in
protest against the state government’s failure to
post doctors and teachers in hospitals and schools in the
district. |
Khurana issue will be resolved: CM SHIMLA, Feb 2 — Mr P.K. Dhumal, Chief Minister, today expressed confidence that the Khurana issue would be resolved amicably in the larger interest of the party and the Government. Talking to newsmen here, he said problems did arise when matters which should be discussed at the party forum, become public. He said responsible leaders should be discrete while interacting with mediapersons and not speak anything without verifying facts. Referring to the reports of attack on Christians, he said the political leaders of various hues, religious leaders and mediapersons have reacted to the Jhabwa nuns rape case without going into the facts. Even after the rape victims and the local Bishop made it clear that the crime had nothing to do with religious strife, blame was being apportioned to derive political mileage by some parties. He said such indiscretions hurt the national interest and lowered the image of the country. Mr Dhumal recalled that Mr A.B. Vajpayee as Leader of the Opposition behaved in the most responsible manner and despite ideological differences with the Congress, he pleaded the country's case before the Security Council when Islamic countries tried to raise the Kashmir issue. He said there had been no
communal riots since BJP-led government came to power and
irked by this achievement, certain anti-national and
anti-BJP elements had conspired to destabilise the
government by exploiting the Christian issue. Such
efforts would not succeed, he asserted. |
Forest Rangers sore SHIMLA, Feb 2 — The Himachal Pradesh Forest Rangers Association has alleged that officers of the Indian Forest Service were forcing Forest Rangers to adopt corrupt means and demanded action against two such officers. It has also threatened to identify the corrupt officers in the department. Mr S.R. Rana, general secretary of the association, said there yesterday that the matter had already been brought to the notice of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests. However, no action had been taken in the matter so far. He pointed out that the amendment made to the Punjab Forest Manual to check fraudulent payments in development works was not being adopted by the department. As per the amended manual payments of sanctioned muster rolls and bills was to be made through crossed cheques to the individual payee. The officers were following a dual policy in permitting Forest Rangers to get various works executed through muster rolls or on bills and in a number of cases bargaining had been noticed. He also criticised the government for ordering large-scale transfers of Forest Rangers during the plantation season. Though more than 50 lists of transfers had been issued over the past nine months, 26, Rangers remained without posting during the peak planting season. He demanded that all
transfers and disciplinary action initiated against
Forest Rangers be withdrawn immediately and action taken
against corrupt officers. |
Senior
citizens form social body HAMIRPUR: Senior citizens of the district have formed an organisation to fight for their rights and to do social work in the area. Mr Gian Chand Sharma, a retired senior Central Government officer, has been made its convener. Persons above 58 years of age will be its members and each member will have to donate a sum of Rs 1,000 each to the organisation. Mr Sharma is hopeful that this organisation will be one of the biggest social organisations in the district working for the well-being of members of the society, especially those living separate from their families. He claimed that about 500 senior citizens had already enrolled themselves as members of the newly formed organisation. * * * * The district headquarters town of Hamirpur district witnessed another sports mela recently. The Department of Forests organised a five day-long sports-cum-duty meet. Nearly 400 sportspersons from all parts of the state participated in it. The function was inaugurated by the Forest Minister, Mr Roop Singh Thakur. He spent the entire day with the sportspersons. The minister listened to their problems and apprised them of the work done for them by the state government. Mr Prem Chand Verma, the district President of the HP Non-Gazetted Services Federation, has urged the state government to instruct all other departments to hold their sports meets and thereafter hold a state-level sports meet of all departments. This, he says, will be helpful in spotting the hidden sports talent among various government employees. He has written a letter to the Chief Minister in this regard. * * * * The local Municipal Corporation is in a fix as to where to dump the garbage which its safai karamcharis collect from various parts of the town. It was earlier dumped in a secluded place near Matahni village on outskirts of the town. Now people of nearby villages have strongly objected to the dumping of the garbage there. They do not allow the tractors and other vehicles of the corporation to cross through their area. This has compelled the civic body authorities to dump the garbage in the forest areas of the town on the Hamirpur-Nadaun highways. It has evoked much reaction among people. Residents say the dumping of the garbage on the main road area will lead to the outbreak of various types of diseases. The civic body authorities have requested the Chief Minister, Prof Prem Kumar Dhumal, to provide them with a suitable place for dumping the garbage. The Chief Minister in turn has instructed the district authorities to help the local civic body in locating a proper dumping place for them. Meanwhile, safai karamcharis of the town say if no suitable place is provided and they are stopped from dumping the garbage in the forest area, they will be compelled to go on an indefinite stir. * * * * People of the town are upset over the failure of the state government to provide them with a parking place. There is no proper parking place in the town at present. The worst-affected are the people living near the Gandhi Chowk and the main bazaar areas of the town. Though the local civic body has prepared a master plan for the parking of vehicles, it may take at least two years to get it materialised. People want that till that the plan materialises, they should be given some alternate site to park their vehicles. * * * * Athletes of the district got fame at the HP open state athletic meet held at Sundernagar in Mandi district last month. Pushpa Thakur, a national level of the state and representing Hamirpur district in the meet, won four gold medals in the 100,200,400 and 800 metres races creating new records. Interestingly, all old records were also in her name. She was also declared the best athlete in the women's section. In all, local athletes created nine new meet records and won 12 gold, four silver and three bronze medals. The team consisted of only 12 athletes. It was perhaps the smallest contingent with the biggest booty in their bag. Pavan Verma and Mohit
Sharma of the district also got the distinction of
becoming the best athletes in the men's and under-20
boys' sections, respectively. Pavan was also instrumental
in creating two new meet records in the 200 and 400 metre
races in the championship. |
Governor lauds NCC cadets SHIMLA, Feb 2 — Mrs V.S. Rama Devi, Governor, has exhorted youth and students to imbibe courage, discipline and patriotism for the nation's progress besides establishing a strong and healthy social order. The Governor was speaking on the occasion of a reception to NCC cadets at Raj Bhavan here today who had participated in the Republic Day parade. She commended the NCC of Himachal Pradesh for winning the NCC Directorate championship banner for the 10th consecutive year. Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister, congratulated officers, staff and cadets of NCC for bringing laurels to the state. Mrs Rama Devi distributed
prizes and mementoes to cadets and staff of the NCC. She
also presented scarves to them. |
Terrorist activities under check:
ITBP CHAMBA, Feb 2 — The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) has succeeded in checking the movement of militants on the border between Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir and prevent the infiltration of terrorists into the borderland of Chamba district since the deployment of the ITBP, nearly eight months ago. Stating this here yesterday, Mr H.S. Goraya, Commandant of the 15th Battalion of the ITBP, said that the jawans were keeping a strict vigil on the terrorist activities at the checkpoints located at a height of about 3000 metres where 120 cm of snowfall had been recorded so far. Mr Goraya stated that despite all odds the jawans of the ITBP were carrying out the operation to check militancy on the borderland of the district. Mr Goraya claimed that
there was no infiltration of terrorists into any segment
of Himachal Pradesh. |
DC's denial on epidemic SHIMLA, Feb 2 (PTI) — There was no epidemic in Lujhagi, Thalot and Didar villages of Khalwan under Bali Chowki sub tehsil of Mandi district and three children had died of an infectious disease and not only epidemic as reported in a section of the Press recently, the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Prabodh Saxena, said here today. Mr Saxena, who visited the area along with the SP, Mandi, Mr Sanjay Kundu, the Chief Medical Officer, the District Health Officer, the Subdivisional Magistrate, the Block Development Officer and medical officers, said that more than 38 children were examined by the team and a majority of them were suffering from diseases like cold and malnourishment. Two children who were
suffering from post-measles bronchopheumonia had been
shifted to the zonal hospital at Mandi. Sufficient stocks
of medicine were kept at the sub centre, Didar, and the
medical team was touring the area. Trade unions stage dharnas SHIMLA, Feb 2 — Members of various trade unions affiliated to the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) here today staged dharnas in protest against the decision of the government to hike the prices of essential commodities, cooking gas and urea. Dharnas were also organised at various district headquarters and industrial townships like Parwanoo, Baddi, Kala Amb and Paonta. The CITU also criticised the move to amend various labour laws at the behest of multinational companies and big industrialists.
|
Bimla Bhagat new HPPSC chief SHIMLA, Feb 2 — Ms Bimla Bhagat was today elevated as Chairperson of the Himachal Pradesh Public Service Commission following the retirement of Mr R.R. Verma. Mr Dev Raj, Deputy Commissioner, Una, has been appointed as a member of the commission. Mr Verma headed the
commission for about five and a-half-years. Before that
he was the Director-General of Police. He served the
police department for 34 years. |
Minister, 46 others acquitted NURPUR, Feb 2 — Mr R.K. Sharma, Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate, yesterday acquitted Mr Rajan Sushant, state Revenue Minister, Mr Rakesh Pathania, the vice-chairman of the State Tourism Corporation, and 45 other agitators against whom there were four cases for spearheading agitations in 1994 and 1995 for seeking the regularisation of services of daily wagers and for the government take-over of the local Arya Girls College. Although the BJP
government after coming to power had applied for the
withdrawal of these cases, yet the charges had been
framed against them. |
 |
||
 |
| Nation
| Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir | Chandigarh | | Editorial | Business | Sport | | Mailbag | Spotlight | World | 50 years of Independence | Weather | | Search | Subscribe | Archive | Suggestion | Home | E-mail | |
