Where traffic rules are scorned KULU: The Forest department has imposed a ban on the timber distribution to the right holders of Kulu town. Citizens who accepted the "illegal ban" keeping in view the environmental and the ecological balance, keep asking the department to make an alternative arrangement.

SFI complains to rights panel
SHIMLA, Sept 13 — The state committee of the Students Federation of India has lodged a complaint with the state Human Rights Commission regarding the alleged atrocities committed by the police on agitating students of Himachal Pradesh University.

Governor releases book
SHIMLA, Sept 13 — Himachal Pradesh Governor V.S. Rama Devi today released a book on co-operative laws titled "The law of Co-operative Societies in India" by Dr Rishpal Nainta here today.

Lawyers stage silent march
UNA, Sept 13 — The District Bar Association today staged a silent march in the city and decided to abstain from courts for two days in protest against the murder of Rajiv Kumar (23), son of local lawyer, Suresh Kumar Pathak.

• SFI complains to rights panel
• 2 killed as car falls into gorge
• Ganesh Chaturthi celebrated
• HP declares holiday on Sept 17

‘15 crore jobs on NDA agenda’
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Sept 13 — Mr Narinder Modi, General Secretary of the BJP, has urged the electorate to teach a lesson to the Congress for creating political instability and forcing a mid-term poll on the country.

Addressing meetings at Kasauli and Kotkhai today, he said Mrs Sonia Gandhi engineered the fall of the Vajpayee government to grab the office of the Prime Minister when there was no serious issue involved.

He also castigated the Congress for frequently changing its stand on the Kargil issue. Initially, it criticised the government for intelligence failure but when all facts were highlighted, it changed the stand and said the government knew about the intrusion but did nothing to prevent it. Finally, when Pakistan was defeated the Congress termed it as victory of the Army.

The BJP leader said no country could afford to hand over the reins of the government to an inexperienced person, particularly a foreigner, as it involved the dignity of the nation.

Referring to the future programme of the NDA, he said a comprehensive plan had been formulated for creating 15 crore jobs and 60 per cent of the Budget would be spent on the rural areas. Also kisan credit cards would be given and the crop insurance scheme implemented.

Where traffic rules are scorned
From Subhash Sharma

KULU: The Forest department has imposed a ban on the timber distribution to the right holders of Kulu town. Citizens who accepted the "illegal ban" keeping in view the environmental and the ecological balance, keep asking the department to make an alternative arrangement.

They have been demanding opening of a sales depot for timber where the prices are reasonable and not like the Forest corporation. This correspondent when asked the Forest minister he bluntly refused to accept the demand for a depot on the lines of Mandi and Chamba towns. However, the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests had a positive view and said the setting up of a depot would curtail large-scale smuggling of forest wealth.

As of today the residents of Kulu town do not have any option but to buy the required timber from the black market. One slipper of deodar wood costs Rs 2,500 at the forest corporation depot whereas this is available for Rs 700 in the black market. It is a known fact that the construction of government and private buildings are going on in the town. The Forest department should immediately open a sales depot as in Mandi and Chamba to avoid timber smuggling and loss of revenue to the Forest department.

* * * * *

The traffic jams in the towns of Kulu, Manali, Bhuntar and Katrain are mainly due to lack of traffic sense and proper training of bus, taxi and three-wheeler drivers. The worst are bus drivers. The haphazard parking of buses at Bhuntar, Dhalpur, Sarwari, Akhara Bazar and Manali on National Highway 21 is not only a traffic hazard but has proved dangerous to pedestrians and commuters as well. The height of indiscipline is because owners of private buses could manage to get 'challans' cancelled either through political pressure or by money power. A majority of private buses are "environment unfriendly". The vehicle pollution these buses cause is beyond the prescribed limits. How these buses are given the fitness certificate is known only to the authorities concerned. The noise pollution is yet another problem. Pressure horns and continuous honking is a routine. The district administration has done precious little in this regard.

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The Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board (HPSEB) had formulated a comprehensive plan to shift the overhead high tension (HT) and low tension (LT) wires from crossing over private and public buildings in towns of Kulu, Bhuntar and Manali. A few areas were covered in 1995-96 in these towns. Since then the work has been pending and never restarted. At places live wires cross just over residential buildings and this had proved fatal in certain accidents. Though the HPSEB has done a lot for a reliable power supply in the district for the past two years, still a lot remains to be covered. The voltage in many areas in the district mainly in Kulu, Bhuntar and Manali has to be improved. The provision of extra complaint offices and bill collection centres and the billing schedule are not helpful to the consumers as at times bills are given for six months at a stretch.

* * * * *

The open sale of illicit liquor has, undoubtedly, been accepted by the authorities in this district. The police and the excise department are aware of the sale points but look to be indifferent or do not consider this a serious offence. Mrs Soma Sharma, president, of Mahila Mandal, Sultanpur, told this correspondent that 60 per cent of young boys of the town have taken to drinking. She also said that many young women had become widows because of their husbands dying after taking sub-standard local brew. Though there are hundreds of outlets in the district of the illicit product, but Sultanpur at the district headquarters is the worst. She alleged that those who have taken to sale of the spurious liquor as their main profession, had opened shops such as dhaba, sweet shop or general merchandise at Sultanpur bazar. One member of the Sanatan Dharam Sabha said one could get a polypack of illicit brew from Re 1 to Rs 20 in the market.

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Farmers in this district are being provided technical knowhow services at their doorsteps for the first time. Professor D.S. Thakur, Assistant Director, Agricultural Research Centre, Bajaura, said local unit of the HP Agriculture University has started a comprehensive programme of guiding the farmers in the villages about the improved farm methods, seeds and marketing information. He added that the university had also started giving technical advice in the fields of bee-keeping, rabbit rearing, fisheries and floriculture.

SFI complains to rights panel
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Sept 13 — The state committee of the Students Federation of India has lodged a complaint with the state Human Rights Commission regarding the alleged atrocities committed by the police on agitating students of Himachal Pradesh University.

Mr Kuldeep Chambyal and Mr Dalip Kaisth, vice-president and secretary, respectively, of the committee have urged the commission to conduct an inquiry into the specific instances of the police brutality mentioned in the complaint and take action against the guilty officials.

Governor releases book

SHIMLA, Sept 13 (UNI) — Himachal Pradesh Governor V.S. Rama Devi today released a book on co-operative laws titled "The law of Co-operative Societies in India" by Dr Rishpal Nainta here today.

Speaking on the occasion, she said that a socio-economic revolution was needed most today to bring about qualitative and quantitative improvement in the economic lot of the people.

Emphasising the role of the co-operative movement in bringing about such a change, she stressed on strengthening the co-operatives.

Lawyers stage silent march

UNA, Sept 13 (PTI) — The District Bar Association today staged a silent march in the city and decided to abstain from courts for two days in protest against the murder of Rajiv Kumar (23), son of local lawyer, Suresh Kumar Pathak.

It may be recalled that Rajiv Kumar was attacked allegedly by some NSUI activists on the night of September 10 near Una while he was going in a car, resulting in his death and injuries to five others.

Shops remained closed till noon on a call given by the Beopar Mandal in protest against the murder. Students of the local college also boycotted classes and took out a procession.

SFI complains to rights panel
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Sept 13 — The state committee of the Students Federation of India has lodged a complaint with the state Human Rights Commission regarding the alleged atrocities committed by the police on agitating students of Himachal Pradesh University.

Mr Kuldeep Chambyal and Mr Dalip Kaisth, vice-president and secretary, respectively, of the committee have urged the commission to conduct an inquiry into the specific instances of the police brutality mentioned in the complaint and take action against the guilty officials.

2 killed as car falls into gorge

SHIMLA, Sept 13 (PTI) — Two persons were killed and two others injured, one of them seriously, when the car in which they were travelling fell into a deep gorge near Chirgaon, 120 km from here, last night, the police said today.

One of the dead has been identified as Surinder Singh. The injured have been admitted to hospitals.

Ganesh Chaturthi celebrated
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Sept 13 — Ganesh Chaturthi was celebrated with religious fervour and gaiety in the state.

The main function was held at the Shodash Ganpati Temple in Sankat Mochen, where special rituals and prayers started early morning. Besides "sahsranam archana" "abhisheka" was also performed.

Mrs V.S. Rama Devi, the Governor, also visited the temple.

HP declares holiday on Sept 17
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Sept 13 — The Himachal Pradesh Government has declared September 17 as a gazetted holiday under the Negotiable Instruments Act on account of Vishwakarma Jayanti.

Offices of the state government and various boards and corporations, educational institutions, industrial establishments and nationalised banks will remain closed.