‘Screen trucks lifting cement’
BILASPUR, Oct 19 — A deputation of the HP State Ex-servicemen Transport Union met Himachal Minister of State for Cooperatives Rikhiram Kondal yesterday and presented him a memorandum demanding screening of trucks of ex-servicemen lifting cement at Barmana, 18 km from here.

Teachers demand advance increments
BILASPUR, Oct 19 — Led by state president Vasudev Vasu, a deputation of the Himachal State Govt Teachers Association met Education Minister Ishwar Dass Dhiman here yesterday and presented a memorandum expressing resentment that despite his repeated declarations, two advance increments had not been given with respect to several categories of teachers who had completed 20 years of service.

Dhumal promises link roads to all villages

SHIMLA, Oct 19 (UNI) — Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal today said his government would formulate a plan to link every village in the state by road in a phased manner.

He was addressing a gathering at Mahunag in Mandi district.

He said construction of roads had been given added priority and Rs 205 crore had been earmarked for this vital sector during the current financial year as against Rs 90 crore spent two years back.

Roads were the lifeline for hill development. The Chief Minister said, adding that steps were afoot to generate resources by exploiting the immense hydel potential of the state.

Mr Dhumal said Himachal had over 21,000 mw identified hydel potential which comes to about one-fourth of the entire country.

He expressed surprise that only 3,910 mw of potential had been harnessed during the past 50 years and added that his government had cleared hydel projects totalling 4,000 mw during the past one-and-a-half years. He said work on some of them had been started while the remaining work would be started soon.

Mr Dhumal said cement plants at Alsindi in Karsog and Sundernagar would be set up which would open new vistas of employment besides generating economic activities.

Mr Dhumal said the government had decided to make Himachal a model state by 2010 through speedy exploitation of the available economic potential.

He said the endeavour of the government was to ensure that the benefits of development reached the rural and far-flung areas.

He urged the people to cooperate with the government in accelerating the pace of development.

He said the government would ensure that basic facilities like water, health and education were made available to the people at the earliest.

He announced the opening of an industrial training institute in the Karsog area. He also announced the upgradation of High School Mahunag.

Holiday bonanza for employees may end
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Oct 19 — The holiday bonanza for the government employees in Himachal Pradesh, who generally perform duties for less than 222 days in a year, may soon come to an end.

There are holidays for over 143 days which include Sundays and second Saturdays.

Successive governments have increased the number of holidays on political considerations and also to placate the employees who have considerable influence on leaders.

The Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhuma, is reportedly contemplating to reduce the holidays in government offices to benefit the common man and increase the output of work.

At times government offices remain closed for many days at a stretch. The offices here are closed since the past there days and will reopen tomorrow.

Among the holidays are 22 gazetted, 12 casual, 30 earned leave and 15 medical. Besides, maternity leave of 90 days and paternity leave of 15 days is also allowed. This is restricted only upto two children.

During the BJP regime of Mr Shanta Kumar, a holiday was specially granted to women on Karvachauth.

‘Screen trucks lifting cement’
From Our Correspondent

BILASPUR, Oct 19 — A deputation of the HP State Ex-servicemen Transport Union met Himachal Minister of State for Cooperatives Rikhiram Kondal yesterday and presented him a memorandum demanding screening of trucks of ex-servicemen lifting cement at Barmana, 18 km from here.

Alleging irregularities being committed by the HP State Ex-servicemen Welfare Corporation, these leaders alleged that only 709 trucks of ex-servicemen from all parts of state were authorised to lift "ex-servicemen quota of cement" from this factory. But actually more than 1700 trucks were lifting this share of ex-servicemen quota.

The minister assured to look into this matter and remove civil trucks from the list of ex-servicemen quota.

Meanwhile, leaders of the Bilaspur District Truck Cooperative Society have also urged the minister to hold "pukar" at Barmana and not at Bilaspur town as this system introduced couple of months ago by few "vested interests" was causing great difficulties to truck operators and residents.

Teachers demand advance increments
From Our Correspondent

BILASPUR, Oct 19 — Led by state president Vasudev Vasu, a deputation of the Himachal State Govt Teachers Association met Education Minister Ishwar Dass Dhiman here yesterday and presented a memorandum expressing resentment that despite his repeated declarations, two advance increments had not been given with respect to several categories of teachers who had completed 20 years of service.

The minister assured the deputation that orders would be soon issued in this regard.

The deputation also demanded that teachers above 45 years of age should not be sent to tribal areas under the sub-cadre on promotion and those posts should be filled up through new appointments.

The minister ordered the Education Secretary to ensure that no teacher above 45 years of age was promoted and posted under the tribal area sub-cadre.