Bank to launch new schemes
BILASPUR, Oct 27 — H.P. State Cooperative Bank will soon launch an ambitious project in the state in order to strengthen the cooperative movement and to increase the liaison between the bank staff and the public.

• Couples throng The Ridge

Dhumal’s stress on developing Shimla
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Oct 27 — Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister, has stressed the need for systematic and planned development of Shimla to maintain its old glory. He was inaugurating a car parking lot near the bus stand which has been developed by the Railway authorities. It has a parking capacity of 50 vehicles and it is likely to be extended further.

The Chief Minister said that present government had taken various steps to provide basic amenities to the local people and tourists in Shimla town and six lots with a parking capacity of 337 vehicles were being constructed whereas during the past 50 years parking for only 140 vehicles had been created.

Shimla, once considered as "Queen of Hills" was known all over the world. He urged the people to give their whole-hearted cooperation to the government to make it more beautiful.

The government had decided to approve construction of such buildings in Shimla which would have provision for storage of rain water to overcome the scarcity of water in the town.

He thanked the local traders for giving cooperation in implementing the government decision regarding non-use of coloured polythene bags and said that government would ensure that the use of these bags were stopped in other towns of the state.

Water schemes for HP on anvil
From Our Correspondent

JAWALAMUKHI, Oct 27 — The Himachal Pradesh Government has decided to formulate an ambitious plan for scientific exploration of water to utilise it for drinking and irrigation purposes.

The Irrigation and Public Health Minister Mr Ramesh Chaudhary said this yesterday while talking to newspersons at his native village, Dhawala, near here. He said irrigation schemes which were defunct would be made functional.

He said the government would utilise all available resources for extending facilities to farmers as promised by it in the manifesto.

The efforts of the government had been to bring more and more hectares under irrigation through various projects and the Shahnahar and Bhabour Sahib irrigation projects were milestones in this direction, he said.

Mr Chaudhary said the government had taken many strides towards ensuring potable water for the people.

He said the government would conduct a survey of villages prone to water shortage and install hand pumps on a priority basis. As many as 670 hand pumps were installed last year, he said.

Maintenance and expansion of old water supply schemes in urban areas would also be carried out, he said, adding that more cities would be covered under this schemes.

Mr Chaudhary said emphasis would be laid on the training of technical staff of his department. The minister said the government was planning to reopen the controversial pipes purchase scandal of the previous Congress regime and would hold a through inquiry into it.

HP bans lotteries
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Oct 27 — Himachal Pradesh today banned the sale of lotteries in the state. The decision was taken at a meeting of the Cabinet which was presided over by Chief Minister, P.K. Dhumal.

Briefing mediapersons about the Cabinet decisions, the Chief Secretary, Mr A.K. Goswami, said the ban would come into force with immediate effect. Neither the lotteries of Himachal Pradesh nor of any other state would be allowed.

He said the state government was annually earning Rs 12 crore from the sale of its lotteries worth about Rs 2000 crore. He hoped the Centre would compensate for the loss incurred on this account. The Finance Commission was already looking into the issue, he said

The Chief Secretary said the Cabinet decided to give more powers to Panchayati Raj institutions to enable these to undertake development initiatives, decide on the location of primary and middle schools, anganwaris and fair price shops in rural areas.

These institutions would also monitor attendance of grassroots functionaries, including patwaris, forest guards, school teachers and water carriers. Complaints against them would be dealt by the departments concerned.

The Excise Department had been empowered to collect a cess of Rs 1 per bottle of liquor to be handed over to the panchayats or civic bodies.

It was decided that insurance on potato crop would be introduced with immediate effect. Insurance for horticulture produce would be introduced in a phased manner over a period of three years.

As many as 152 posts were sanctioned for the DRDA for smooth implementation of the programme.

The tea industry was shifted to the Agriculture Department from the Industries Department.

The insurance cover would be available up to 150 per cent of the average crop yield in place of the fixed insurance sum of Rs 10,000 per farmer.

Small and marginal farmer would get 50 per cent subsidy in the premium which would be shared by the state and the Centre in equal ratio.

Gang of car thieves busted, 3 held
From Our Correspondent

NAHAN, Oct 27 — The Sirmour police has busted a gang of car thieves with the arrest of Shakil Ahmed and two other persons.

The SP, Mr Prithvi Raj, said the police had recovered three stolen cars from them. A car No. HP-33-5865 owned by Mr D.P. Dhiman, Assistant Engineer and a Maruti Zen owned by Mr Ashok Aggarwal of Dadahu were stolen from the pucca tank area, Nahan yesterday around 5 a.m., have been recovered. Another car (UP-73-A-2865) in which the thieves were travelling had also been impounded by the police. This car had been stolen from Meerut.

According to the police Shakeel Ahmed kingpin of the gang, along with Mohammad Yaseen, a resident of Meerut and Rahul Rana, a resident of Dehra Dun, had come to the town on October 25 and stayed in a guest house with fake name and addresses. They were caught when "police stopped these cars at Yamuna bridge, Paonta Sahib, for routine checking. When the duty constables Rajender Singh and Nasir Khan raised doubts about fake registration documents produced by Shakeel Ahmed, he tried to escape but was arrested by constable Rajendra Singh. Meanwhile two of his accomplices managed to escape via Singhpura to Dehra Dun leaving behind the stolen car at the police barrier.

A police party led by ASI Devi Singh and Head Constable Raghubir Singh left for Meerut and nabbed Mohammad Yaseen last night while Rahul Rana was apprehended by the police party early this morning from his house at Karbari Buddi in Dehra Dun.

Mr Prithvi Raj said Shakeel Ahmed had confessed that he had been involved in various car thefts. He also admitted that he used to take these cars to Kathmandu (Nepal).

Bank to launch new schemes
From Our Correspondent

BILASPUR, Oct 27 — H.P. State Cooperative Bank will soon launch an ambitious project in the state in order to strengthen the cooperative movement and to increase the liaison between the bank staff and the public.

This was disclosed by the Chairman of the bank, Mr Krishan Kumar Kaushal. He said the bank would set up the cooperative development committees in each gram panchayat in the state and the bank employees would meet the villagers to know their needs.

Couples throng The Ridge
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Oct 27 — Hundreds of women clad in colourful outfits and gold ornaments turned out at The Ridge this evening to sight the moon and break the daylong "Karva Chauth" fast.

Groups of couples also offered prayers on the Sanjauli road, New Shimla, Ramachandra Chowk and Boiluganj.