P R A D E S H
Sunday, July 18, 1999
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H I M A C H A L P R A D E S H |
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Sunday, July 18, 1999 |
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spotlight today's calendar |
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PCC to finalise list
today |
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Virbhadra alleges code
violation Minister alleges misuse of Red
Cross funds Police resents govt attitude Dental officers oppose proposal Monsoon active in Himachal Timber smuggling bid foiled Panel's concern over development
funds Women take out procession Tribunal Bench at Dharamsala
opposed Vegetable, fruit prices rising |
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46 party probables for LS seats SHIMLA, July 17 — Mr Sat Mahajan, PCC President, Mr K.D. Sultanpuri, Mr Gangu Ram Musafir, Mr N.C. Parashar, Kanwar Durga Chand, Mr Kaul Singh and Mr Rangila Ram Rao are among the 46 candidates figuring in the Congress party's list of ticket seekers for the four Lok Sabha seats in Himachal Pradesh. The Pradesh Election Committee (PEC) of the party will meet here tomorrow to finalise the recommendation of candidates for being forwarded to the AICC for approval. The list has the maximum number of 24 candidates for the Hamirpur seat followed by 10 for the Mandi constituency and 6 each for the Shimla (reserved) and Kangra seats. These lists have been forwarded to the PEC by the respective district Congress committees falling under the four Lok Sabha constituencies. The DCC, Kangra, has recommended the candidature of Mr Sat Mahajan, PCC President, who had contested the last Lok Sabha election for the seat unsuccessfully against the BJP stalwart, Mr Shanta Kumar. Kanwar Durga Chand, a former minister, has sent his application for the Kangra seat. Other prominent ticket seekers for Kangra, include Mrs Kanta Sood, president of the INTUC. She has also put in her claim to contest the Hamirpur seat. The candidature of Mr Kaul Singh, Mr Rangila Ram Rao (both sitting Legislators) and Mr Natha Singh has been recommended for the ticket for Mandi constituency. The candidature of Mrs Pratibha Singh, wife of former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, has been suggested by Mr Anu Sharma, chairman of the party's cell for the handicapped. Besides, Mr Sultanpuri, a member of the dissolved Lok Sabha and Mr Gangu Ram Musafir, a Congress MLA, the name of Mr Chiranji Lal Kashyap, a former MLA is also among the list forwarded by the DCC of Shimla and other areas falling in the Shimla (reserved) constituency. The names of Mr Ram Lal Thakur, Congress MLA, Mr N.C. Parashar, Mr Sukhwinder Singh, President of the Youth Congress, Mrs Kanta Sood, president INTUC, Maj Gen Bikram Singh, a former MP are among the 24 probables for the Hamirpur seat. There were indications that Mr Sultanpuri, who was a member of the dissolved Lok Sabha and is presently facing resistance from partymen, might again be fielded by the party. Mr Sat Mahajan and Mr N.C. Parashar might be the Congress candidates for the Kangra and Hamirpur seats respectively. The PEC might face difficulty in searching a potential candidate for the Mandi seat. Meanwhile, Mr Rajesh
Pilot, a member of the Congress Working Committee, will
reach here tomorrow to address a public meeting. |
4 die of cholera in
Himachal SHIMLA, July 17 — At least four persons have died of suspected cholera and gastroenteritis during the last five days in various areas of Himachal Pradesh. The worst affected is the nearby Tutu area where two persons have died of cholera and about 30 suffering from gastroenteritis have been hospitalised. Doctors said that two of the six patients suffering from gastroenteritis, who have been brought to Indira Gandhi Medical College, here from Solan, were suspected to be suffering from cholera. Two patients each have been brought to the IGMC from Nalagarh and Nankhari. One gastroenteritis patient has been brought from Theog. A 75-year-old Matvar Singh, who was a resident of Tutu, died due to cholera on Thursday. Mr Tarsem Bharti, an HVC leader of Tutu, said that a Gorkha labourer also died of cholera. Doctors, however, said that there was no cause for panic. Reports said that two persons died in the Palampur area of Kangra district. Doctors visited the Tutu
area and provided preventive medicines to the people.
Water sources were being cleaned. |
Dry spell hits apple
production KULU, July 17 — Apple growers of Kulu valley feel dejected. Unfavourable weather conditions over the past six months have ruined the crop this season. Orchards, which normally are laden with fruit this time of the year, present a dismal sight. Trees in many orchards particularly in the lower valley do not have even enough leaves. Thanks to the prolonged dry spell since December last which virtually created drought like conditions in the area. Apple production in the valley, which touched a record one lakh tonne mark last year, is likely to come down to a meagre 12000 tonnes, the lowest ever, this season. According to the assessment made by the Horticulture Department as against 54 lakh boxes of apple produced last year, the production in the valley may not cross the 6.50 lakh boxes this year. Weather god has been more than "unkind" to the growers in the valley of Gods. Climatic conditions have been unfavourable all through. While there was hardly any snow in winter months, which deprived the orchards of the minimum required "chilling hours", the protracted dry spell upset flowering and fruit setting. The valley recorded the lowest snowfall in the past 50 years. The old timers say that they experienced such snowless winter only once in their life time. There was no snow in the lower valley, the upper areas had only one good snowfall. Even higher reaches, beyond the perennial snowline, remained barren consequently, the Rohtang Pass was opened as early as April 26, more than two months ahead of the normal opening time. Lack of snow severely hit flowering in various apple varieties which require 1200 to 2000 chilling hours with average temperature below 7 degree C. Average chilling hours this season were less than 600 as mercury soared suddenly in March and June like conditions when summer is at its peak, were created in April itself. While flowering and fruit setting was poor, the heavy premature droppings of fruit in April and May made things worse. Although, a bumper crop is normally followed by a lean season, the production is not affected to such an extent, says Mr Satya Prakash Thakur, a former Horticulture Minister. This has indeed been an unusually bad year for the crop. Besides hostile weather, failure to control the premature leaf fall and redmite diseases might have also affected the crop, he felt. The situation has been similar in most parts of the state, though Kulu has been the worst hit. Barring the tribal Kinnaur district where crop has been normal except the Nichar subdivision, weather has played havoc with the crop. Total production in the state has been estimated at 84,600 tonnes as against last years record output of four lakh tonnes. The state which exported 2.17 crore boxes last year's, is likely to produce only about 46.50 lakh boxes this year. In the Shimla district, which produces 1.42 crore boxes last year, the production will be around 30 lakh boxes. A notable feature in Kulu valley has been that pollinating varieties like Golden, Kali Devi and Jonathan have not been affected as severely as the commercial varieties. However, such varieties account for only five per cent of the trees in orchards. The experts feel that in view of this experience the growers should plant more pollinators, even though these fetch lower returns than commercial varieties. The growers also feel
that the import of apple may not affect them much as the
fruit from abroad is priced much higher. While the best
local varieties are sold at around Rs 800 a box, the
imported apple is available at over Rs 1000 per box since
the production is low this year, the prices will remain
quite high. |
Police resents govt attitude MANDI, July 17 — The Himachal Pradesh Police Service Association at its meeting here yesterday expressed resentment over the stagnation prevailing in their cadre due to the "evasive attitude" of the state government towards the hardships faced by its members. Mr Sunder Lal, state president, alleged that the government was going out of way in taking IPS officers from outside the state thus harming the interests of the officers of the state. The association demanded that six posts of the non-cadre SPs in the state should be filled up from the state police service. It was also lamented that the government was not sending its IPS officers on deputation in accordance with the rules and norms. It was pointed out that earlier the state cadre officers used to be promoted to the rank of SP within eight years while now they were stagnating for 15 years and were causing frustration among them. The association further regretted that the state government had failed to frame promotion rules for the past 26 years since the cadre was created in 1973. It expressed dissatisfaction over the discrimination over implementation of the notified time scales after four, nine and 14 years. These scales have been released to the HAS officers, it was pointed out. The association has
called upon the Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, to
invite the office bearers of the state cadre for talks
regarding the long-standing demands. |
Dental officers oppose proposal SHIMLA, July 17 — The Himachal Dental Officers Association has opposed the demand of medical officers for merger of the Directorate of Dental Services into the Directorate of Health Services. Reacting sharply to the demand of the State Medical Officers Association, it pointed out that a separate Directorate for Dental Services was set up to ensure rapid expansion of services and providing promotional avenues to dental surgeons. The number of dental officers had gone up from 35 to120 since the directorate came into existence six years ago. The directorate had undertaken several programmes like school dental health under which over one lakh children had been covered in the state so far. Besides, 50 seminars had been organised to update the knowledge of dental surgeons. Latest equipment had been provided in all dental clinics in the state. A separate directorate was required to ensure smooth and effective functioning of dental services in the state, the association said. HAMIRPUR (FOC): The
district unit of the Dental Surgeon Association has
opposed the demand of the HP Medical Officers Association
to merge the Directorate of Dental Health into the
Directorate of Health. The association demanded that the
vacant post of Deputy Director (Dental wing) should be
filled forthwith to provide justice to the community. |
Virbhadra alleges code violation SHIMLA, July 17 — Mr Virbhadra Singh, Leader of the Opposition, has urged Chief Election Commissioner, M.S. Gill to direct the Himachal Government to observe the model code of conduct in letter and in spirit and also debit the entire expenses incurred on the public meeting of Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee to the ruling BJP. He has demanded an enquiry into the violation of the code of conduct by the BJP Government. In a complaint to the Chief Election Commissioner, he has pointed out that a public meeting was arranged for Mr Vajpayee at Kulu on July 14 by the state government. The entire expenses for holding the public meeting were borne by the state government. Even advertisements regarding the meeting were issued by the Public Relations Department. Mr Virbhadra Singh has complained that the public meeting was addressed by functionaries of the BJP, including the Chief Minister. This is yet another blatant misuse of official machinery and funds by the Himachal Government for purely political purposes and in total violation of the model code of conduct. He pointed out that in
violation of its own directions, the Election Commission
granted permission to the Chief Minister to hold a
function to inaugurate Himachal Sadan at Delhi on
Thursday. |
Monsoon active in Himachal SHIMLA, July 17 (UNI) — Monsoon remained active in the capital town of Shimla and elsewhere in Himachal Pradesh today, threatening landslides in mid hills and interior areas in the state. A dense fog enveloped Shimla, Sundernagar, Mandi and the Hindustan-Tibet road in the morning forcing vehicular traffic to move at snail’s pace with headlights on. Shimla and its adjoining areas were lashed by intermittent rain since last night, bringing considerable fall in the temperature. Upper areas of the district also experienced moderate to heavy rains. The rain caused landslides at certain places in interior areas of Shimla district and on the 320-km Hindustan-Tibet road. However, the road was through for movement of vehicular traffic. Traffic was also plying normally on the Shimla-Manali and Shimla-Kalka highways. Reports of rain were also received from Dharamsala, Manali, Mandi, Solan and Sirmaur. As many as 150 sheep and goats were washed away in Nalda nullah in tribal Bharmour area of Chamba district recently while being taken to a jungle. Police sources said here
today, that the incident occurred when a glacier on the
nullah crashed. |
Minister alleges misuse of Red
Cross funds DHARAMSALA, July 17 — The former Health Minister, Mr Ram Lal Thakur, has sought the intervention of the Chief Minister, for holding an inquiry into the misutilisation of the Red Cross funds in the state. Addressing a press conference here today, he said the way in which the Red Cross money was being spent was highly objectionable. He alleged that the money was being used to pay salary to ministers' servants. "It is for the first time that a voluntary organisation like the Red Cross has been used for political purposes by the government", he alleged. Mr Thakur further alleged that new members had been inducted to the Red Cross, whereas it had been a tradition that non-political and reputed citizens were granted the membership. He demanded that the government should make it clear as to how the Red Cross money had been spent during the Congress regime and the present government. "It has never happened that the banners of any political party have adorned the blood donation camps, organised by the Red Cross, as is being done by the BJP now", he alleged. Mr Thakur further said it was highly objectionable that people were being forced by revenue officials to buy Red Cross tickets at the time of land deals. He said the Red Cross was a voluntary organisation and people were free to donate money out of choice and not out of compulsion. He also criticised the officers for using the vehicles of the organisation for private tours and alleged that as a result the ambulances were not available for patients in the hospitals. Mr Thakur, along with MLAs, Mrs Viplove Thakur and Mrs Asha Kumari, said all development works, especially in the rural areas had come to a standstill and drastic cuts had been made in other works. They said there was complete chaos in the state due to financial and administrative mismanagement. They said the talk of central assistance from the Vajpayee government was more of an eyewash, as it was not a special grant to Himachal but accounted for in the revenue. Mr Thakur said the
election code of conduct was being violated as officials
had been transferred after the election notification was
issued. They demanded that the BJP should pay for the
expenditure incurred on the Prime Minister's Kulu visit. |
Timber smuggling bid foiled MANDI, July 17 — Officials of the Forest Department at the Kamand check-post on Thursday night foiled attempt of timber smugglers to break open the forest barrier and escape with the contraband timber in a Maruti van. Mr Vineet Kumar DFO said armed members of the "forest mafia" attempted at mid-night (1.30 a.m.) to cross the check-post and threatened the men on duty with dire consequences, but officials did not relent and the driver of the van reversed the vehicle and sped away. They made another attempt in the early hours yesterday. Meanwhile the matter was
brought to his notice and he immediately sought the help
of Mr J.R. Thakur, SP Mandi. A police party headed by SHO
rushed to Kamand and arrested Deepak alias Dipoo and
Gulnaz Mohamad. The van HPY-621 has also been impounded.
One of the arrested person was also involved in an attack
on the check-post staff on June 2, last year and caused
grievous injuries to an official. |
Panel's concern over development
funds HAMIRPUR, July 17 — The General Administration Committee of the Himachal Vidhan Sabha has expressed its concern over poor spending of funds under various developmental programmes in Hamirpur district during this year as compared to the previous year. This was stated by members of the committee at a meeting held with the district officers here yesterday. The committee led by Mr Dulo Ram, MLA, along with Mr Ram Lal Thakur, Mrs Viplab Thakur, Mrs Asha Kumari and Mrs Nirmla Devi visited the district yesterday and held talks with senior officers regarding various plans like local development plan, Vikas Main Jan Sahyog and de-centralisation of powers to the Panchayati Raj institutions. Addressing officers on the occasion, Mr Dulo Ram stressed the need for timely implementation of the programmes started by the centre and the state Government. He said laxity regarding the implementation of the plans would not be tolerated and strict action would be taken against the defaulters. Mr Kamlesh Kumar Pant,
Deputy Commissioner, however, assured the members
regarding timely implementation of the plans. |
Women take out procession HAMIRPUR, July 17 — About 50 members of the Mahila Janwadi Morcha of the district today took out a procession through the main bazaar here. The processionists were raising slogans against the in-laws of Kiran Kumari of Balokhar village who was found dead in her law's house recently. They also met the senior police officers and demanded severe punishment for the culprits. The police has already
arrested three persons of the family in connection with
this case. |
Tribunal Bench at Dharamsala
opposed SHIMLA, July 17 — The H.P. Youth Congress (legal cell) has criticised the setting up of a permanent Bench of the State Administrative Tribunal at Dharamsala and described it as a political ploy. Mr Chirag Bhanu Singh, a member of the state executive of the Youth Congress (legal cell), in a statement said here yesterday that the setting up a permanent Bench at Dharamsala would not rather create procedural difficulties, hampering the administration of justice. Being a small state Himachal does not require an additional Bench, he added. Had the intention of the
state government been to help the employees, it should
have rather strived to create a Bench of the Central
Administrative Tribunal, at Shimla. |
Vegetable, fruit prices rising UNA, July 17 With the announcement of the Lok Sabha poll, traders and various companies have started increasing prices of essential items and other goods. The Centre has declared onion as essential item and in order to prevent increase in price it directed the state government to keep a watch on its price. But as far as the Himachal Government and the district administration of Una is concerned so far no efforts have been taken to check and control the price of onion in the district. Fifteen days back the price of onion in retail was Rs 6 per kg whereas now the onion is being sold in retail between Rs 10 to Rs 12 per kg. It is also learnt wholesale traders at sabzi mandi are selling onion at much higher rate than fixed by the Food and Supplies Department. Nangal, which is 18 km from Una, is much cheaper as far as vegetable and fruit are concerned. The vegetable and fruits prices are 30 to 40 per cent less than the Una market. In case of cement, the
Himachal Government has provided many incentives to
cement industries in the state. Inspite of this, the
prices of cement is much higher. A bag of cement of 50 kg
which was available at Rs 137 per bag on June 30 is now
being sold in Una and other parts of the district at Rs
142. |
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