P R A D E S H
Sunday, November 14, 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, November 14, 1999 |
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Incentives for docs in
tribal areas HP irrigation plan to cover 1 lakh
hectares |
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Technocrats resent
bureaucrats' apathy Mayor scotches rumours Stir threat by NSUI chief TYC seeks release of arrested
monks HP phone exchanges ‘to be
upgraded’ 3 killed, 2 hurt in taxi mishap Bid to get house vacated, 8 held |
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Incentives for docs in tribal areas SHIMLA, Nov 13 — Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister, today said that the state government had decided to give preference for admission to postgraduate classes to those doctors who would serve in the tribal, difficult and far-flung areas of the state. He said that this had been done to ensure that doctors volunteer to serve in these areas. Speaking at the 20th annual conference of Northern Chapter of Association of Surgeons of India, Mr Dhumal said the government was committed to provide better health care facilities to the people nearer to their homes and urged the doctors to help the government in achieving this objective which would be a real service to the suffering humanity. He urged them to take medical profession as a mission. He said the state government was in dire need of teaching faculty especially for Dr Rajendra Prasad Medical College, Kangra, and said that it would welcome teachers from outside the state. He added that the government had decided to give handsome salary and perks. So that this institution soon gets status of a premier institution in the country. He said the government had been doing its best to provide best health care facilities to the poor and 300 poor persons were helped from the Chief Minister's fund for their specialised treatment like bye-pass surgery outside the state. Besides, efforts had been made to provide specialised services in the medical health institutions, so that people would not have to go away far from homes for treatment. Mr Dhumal stressed upon adopting high-tech technology with low running cost to benefit the poor and common man. He expressed happiness that emphasis during the conference was on curtailing ever escalating expenditure in surgical services. He said that this needed special attention of the experts and added that final recommendations should be conveyed to the Centre and state governments for implementation. He said that medical science had undergone a sea change during past few years due to marked improvements in the overall technological developments, computerisation and leap in the information technology. He said most of the population resided, in rural areas and their technological developments should benefit the masses. He lauded the association for organising this conference here which would immensely benefit the medical and surgical fraternity and would go a long way in strengthening and updating the medical services in the state. Speaking on the occasion, the Health Minister, Mr J.P. Nadda, said the government had endeavoured during the past 20 months to strengthen the medical education and providing super specialised medical services to the people. He said the present government succeeded in getting permission of the Medical Council of India for Dr Rajendra Prasad Medical College, Kangra which was opened by the previous Congress government without any permission. He said that the Dental Council of India had agreed in principle to recognise the Dental College, Shimla, which was also opened without any permission by the previous government. He regretted that the primary health institutions had remained ignored and doctors did not want to go there. Mr Nadda said to ensure that health institutions were equipped with latest equipments and hospital buildings constructed speedily, the government had set up a health system corporation in the state. Besides various foreign-aided projects were also being implemented to improve the health care system in the state. Mr Mohan Gupta, president, North Chapter of Association of Surgeons in his presidential address, stressed upon the importance of surgery in medical services and also development that had taken place in the field. Prof P.C. Sood, organising secretary of the association, proposed a vote of thanks. Mr Parveen Sharma,
Minister of State for Youth Services and Sports, Mrs Asha
Swaroop, Secretary, Health, Prof N.K. Sarin, Principal,
IGMC, were also present on the occasion. |
HP irrigation plan to cover 1 lakh hectares SHIMLA, Nov 13 (PTI) — The Himachal Pradesh Government has chalked out an ambitious programme to bring one lakh hectares of cultivable area under irrigation by covering an additional 5,000 hectares every year over the next 20 years. Disclosing this here today, an official spokesman said this would help increase the irrigated command areas to 3 lakh hectare by 2020. He said the total irrigation potential of the state was around 3.35 lakh hectares of wich 50,000 hectares could be brought under irrigation through major and medium irrigation projects while the remaining 2.85 lakh hectares could be covered by minor irrigation schemes. So far, three medium irrigation projects namely the Giri project, the Balh valley project and Bhabour Sahib project, providing irrigation facility to 8,606 hectares of land, had been commissioned while work on Bhabour Sahib project phase-II capable of irrigating 2,440 hectares was under execution. About 92,796 hectares had been provided irrigation facilities under various schemes run by the Rural Development and Agriculture Departments and individuals while 98,472 hectare area had been covered by the schemes executed by the Irrigation and Public Health Department. Besides 12,524 hectares was being irrigated through field irrigation channels and 12,087 hectares by wara bandi. A target to bring 9,000 hectare under irrigation had been fixed during the ninth plan while 18,437 hectares would be covered under Shahnahar and Sidhartha medium irrigation project in Kangra district. Further investigation of at least eight more projects with irrigation potential of 19,000 hectares was in progress while seven projects with capacity to irrigate 14,000 hectares were under observation. Some major projects like Kandraur, Harkhar, Pandoh, Manjhasu, Rehan, Ahuhar, Rishikesh, Harkuhar, Loharwin Kuth and Dakri would be investigated in the next phase. Minor irrigation projects being the most viable source of irrigation catering to more than 1.75 lakh hectares the state government had prepared an irrigation line of credit project amounting to Rs 140 crore. The Department of Irrigation and Public Health had also prepared ground water development project, costing Rs 150 crore for providing 500 tubewells in different parts of the state. Various steps had also been taken to restore the irrigation potential created under the minor irrigation schemes and a water resources development agency had been set up to plan schemes for the purpose of tapping of surface water and exploiting underground water sources. The state government had also decided to avail more resources from NABARD to finance more irrigation schemes. An area of 13,547 hectares would be brought under irrigation by executing at least 132 minor and one medium irrigation schemes. The state government tied up resources of Rs 13.24 crore during last year. The state government has
also decided to hand over the operation and maintenance
of irrigation projects costing up to a certain limit to
the Panchayati Raj institutions. Water users bodies were
being constituted on mandatory basis and operation and
maintenance of the irrigation schemes would be handed
over to these bodies in a phased manner. |
Technocrats resent bureaucrats'
apathy DHARAMSALA, Nov 13 — The Himachal Technocrats Confederation has expressed resentment over the increasing interference of the bureaucracy in the technical departments and demanded an immediate end to it. A large number of doctors, engineers and veterinarians from all over the state attended the meeting, held under the chairmanship of Dr K.K.Sharma, here yesterday. They demanded that in this era of specialis- ation, technical departments should be headed by technical experts, as the existing practice had proved counter productive and costly. The members of the confederation also expressed anguish over the apathetic attitude of the bureaucracy towards their genuine demands. They expressed resentment over the delay in the release of the four-tier scale granted to them, despite the fact that the notification regarding this was issued in September last year. "The fact that the notification was later withheld, on the pretext of issuing guidelines reflects the mala fide intentions of the bureaucracy, as the notification itself contained exhaustive and precise instructions ," they resented. The confederation
members threatened that if their grievances were not
removed immediately, they would be compelled to resort to
direct action, as they had been given assurances by the
Chief Minister and the ministers concerned for the past
one year. |
Chamba set to come on power map CHAMBA: India has total hydro-power potential of 84,044 MW, out of which Himachal Pradesh alone has a potential of 20,744 MW, available through the river basins of the Yamuna, Sutlej, Beas, Ravi and Chenab. Himachal Pradesh also has a hydro-power potential of 500 MW through mini and micro projects up to 3 MW. The hydro-potential through the Ravi basin, which originates in Chamba district, is 2325 MW. The Ravi through its tributaries and nullahs has an additional potential of 80 MW through 53 schemes. The Ravi has its origin in the Bara-Bhangal region of Kangra district, about 100 km from Chamba and flows in a steep gradient in a series of loops and bends. The Ravi's tributaries are snow-fed and perennial. While the large flows in the river come from rain and melting of snow during the monsoon, the flow during winter comes from ground water. The area under the permanent snowline ( above 4500 metres above the sea level) is estimated to be 230 sq km. The river passes through Bharmour, Holi, Bagga, Chamba, Chakloo, Chowrah, Sherpur and Khairi before flowing to Punjab upstream of the Dhar region, where the Punjab Government is building the Ranjit Sagar Dam, which would generate 600 MW, besides providing irrigation benefits when completed. According to official sources, the proposed hydroelectric projects identified on the Ravi and its tributaries with their location are Bara Bhangal and Bajoli Holi ( both 200 MW) Holi ( 30 MW) Kutehar (260 MW), Kugti (45 MW), Hadsar (60 MW), Bharmour (45 MW), Budhil ( 70 MW), Tundah ( 45 MW), Hibra (231 MW), Chamera II ( 300 MW), Sali (6.5MW), Siul ( 7.5 MW) and Sindi ( 120 MW). So far hydro-potential of 738 MW has been developed in the central sector by the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation. The Chamera Project ( Stage II) is under construction this year through NHPC and schemes at Kutehar, Hibra, Budhil and Salwan are ready for execution. Besides, Chamba district has also hydro-potential of 141 MW through mini-micro schemes, identified on the nullahs of the Ravi and the Chenab. Fifty-three schemes totalling 80 MW are on the Ravi basin and 34 schemes totalling 61 MW on the Chenab basin of Chamba district. The state government has taken up construction of two schemes namely Holi ( 3 MW) and Sal II ( 2 MW) and two micro schemes. Mr Yogendra Prashad, Chairman-cum-Managing Director of the NHPC, says that 12 per cent of the power from the Baira-Siul and Chamera-I would go to HP and would be free and the same benefit is to accrue from Chamera (II) on its completion in 2004. It is estimated that with the completion of these schemes in the next 10 years, the state can earn over Rs 100 crore revenue annually alone through 12 per cent of free power, which can be utilised for the development of the state. The construction of
these major projects has opened a new era of development
in Himachal Pradesh and if more schemes such as Hibra,
Kutehar and Bajoli Holi are taken up, Chamba district can
not only come on the power map but also become a
prosperous region. |
Stir threat by NSUI chief JAWALAMUKHI, Nov 13 — The state president of the National Students Union of India (NSUI), Mr Kewal Singh Pathania, yesterday warned that the NSUI would launched a state-wide movement if the basic infrastructure was not provided in various colleges. Talking to media-persons at local rest house, he alleged that owing to negligence of the government in education policy various government colleges had become mere coaching centres. As far as the university campus was concerned, it had become a bastion for politicians. He charged the state government of "saffronisation" of the campus. Reffering to the Kangra Medical College and Dental College, Shimla, Mr Pathania criticised the state government for appointing staff on contract basis. This was a stop-gap arrangement which might not be beneficial in the long run. Mr Pathania said in the
fitness of the things, university counter at Dharamsala
should be opened at the earliest and tests for the state
public service commission should be held at respective
districts. He also demanded that education must be
vocation-oriented. |
TYC seeks release of
arrested monks DHARAMSALA, Nov 13 — The Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC) has urged the international community to pressurise China to release all political prisoners and the three monks arrested last month. The Vice-President of the TYC, Mr Karma Yeshi, said Chinese repression in the occupied Tibet was increasing day by day, surpassing all records of human rights. China despite being a member of the UN, has been violating its articles, which is a great insult to the body, he stated. He said it was high time for the UN to resolve the Tibetan issue, otherwise the fate and the survival of the Tibetans would be in danger. Mr Yeshi, said the TYC would hold a peace march in Delhi to demand the immediate and uncoditional release of the three monks, Sonam Phunstok, Sonam Choepel and Agyal Tsering of the Dhargye monastery, who were arrested on October, 24 by the Public Security Bureau Officers of Karze county in Tibet. A peace march was held by people in Karze to demand the release of these three monks. These monks had been arrested on charges of having contacts with the Tibetan government-in-exile at Dharamsala. Even during this
peaceful march, the police opened firing and tear gas
shells to disperse the crowd. Over 80 protesters were
arrested by the police. |
HP phone exchanges ‘to
be upgraded’ KULU, Nov 13 — There has been tremendous growth of telecommunication in Himachal Pradesh for the past over five years expanding from 152431 lines in March 1996 to 2,92,250 lines by the end of October 1999. This was stated by Maheshwar Singh, M.P. at Kaylong in the tribal district of Lahaul and Spiti yesterday while inaugurating telephone exchanges at Sissu, Gondla and Shansha. He said these new exchanges were connected to Shimla and then to the national network on satellite MCPC system. Mr Maheshwar Singh said the HP telecom circle had also planned to commission 50 new exchanges, during this financial year. Mr S.C. Chandock, General Manager, Development, H.P. telecom circle said in August a 256 line exchange was commissioned at Goshal in the tribal district. Mr Chandock said the
department had a plan to commission big exchanges at
Chamba, Dhalhousie, Gaggal, MacLeodganj, Jassur, Barmana,
Kuthera, Mahatpur, Jogindernagar, Baddi, Barotiwala,
Kasauli and Nalagarh. |
Mayor scotches rumours SHIMLA Nov 13 — The Mayor of the Shimla Municipal Corporation, Mr Manoj Kumar, has accused certain Congressmen of spreading rumours that he along with some other municipal councillors was planning to join the BJP. Mr Manoj Kumar, who was talking to newsmen here yesterday alleged that certain "rootless" persons in the Congress were trying to malign him by spreading such rumours. He said he was a staunch Congressman and there was no question of his joining the BJP. The Mayor clarified that an attempt was being made to twist the facts of his letter which, he had written in his capacity as Chairman of the All India Council of Mayors seeking a uniform pattern for term of office of the Mayor throughout the country. The council had demanded that the term of Mayor should be for five years throughout the country. However, certain elements were trying to misinterpret the letter which was written on July 20 last year. He said although the municipal corporation was being controlled by the Congress it could not afford to have confrontation with the BJP government as only cordial atmosphere could ensure the development of the town. The Mayor said the
financial position of the municipal corporation was bad
and various measures were being taken to tone it. |
3 killed, 2 hurt in taxi mishap SHIMLA, Nov 13 (UNI) — Three person were killed and two injured when a taxi carrying them fell into a khud after hitting a tree at Chambnala village near Pragpur in Kangra district last night, police sources said. While one person died on the spot, another succumbed to his injuries on the way to hospital. One of the deceased was
identified as taxi driver Vipan Kumar. The taxi was going
towards Pragpur. |
Bid to get house vacated, 8
held SHIMLA, Nov 13 — Many people were injured when eight persons intruded into a house here last night to get it vacated allegedly at the behest of a senior officer of the Telecom Department. Five of the intruders belonged to Delhi. ASP Daljeet Thakur said the eight persons entered the house allegedly at the behest of Mr Vijay Thakur, who claims ownership of the building at Tutikandi on the outskirts of the town. An irate mob of about 100 residents of the locality attacked the intruders, who included a woman, and beat them up. The injured have been admitted to hospital. A dispute over the ownership of the house led to the clash, the police said. All eight intruders have
been arrested. |
PWD staff body postpones stir BILASPUR, Nov 13 — The Himachal Pradesh State PWD Ministerial Staff Association has postponed its state-wide agitation by one month and the associations state executive meeting fixed for November 17 at Nahan has also been posptoned for four weeks. Addressing mediapersons
here today, the state general secretary, Mr Lekhram
Kondal, said the decision had been taken after an
assurance was given by the state PWD Minister, Mr
Mohinder Singh, to a deputation of the association that
already signed agreements between government and the
association would be implemented within one month. |
Surgeons’ conference in Jammu SHIMLA, Nov 13 — A two-day conference of International College of Surgeons (Indian section) will be held at Jammu on April 7 and 8 next year. According to Dr B.S.
Pathania, President of the Regional Surgeons Association,
the interaction will provide information about the latest
advancements in surgery. |
Bus commuters’
grievance BILASPUR, Nov 13 — The Nagar Sudhar Sabha has objected to the policy of the HRTC under which most passenger buses starting from Shimla or other district headquarters are being diverted either from Brahampukhar, which is 17 km from Bilaspur, or from Ghagus, which is 12 km from Bilaspur, bypassing the district headquarter or Bilaspur. As a result hundreds of passengers have to wait for hours either at the Shimla or the Bilaspur bus stand. Sabha convener A.K.
Sharma here today urged Chief Minister and the Transport
Minister to look into this grievance of the people. He
sought a separate bus route between Brahampukhar and
Ghagus. |
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