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| Saturday, January 1, 2000, Chandigarh, India  
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18 labourers die as truck HP turns down Centre's move on J&K ultras Ad hoc teachers flay govt move |
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NSUI plea to HP Governor on Kala Amb engg college Shots fired to scare away monkeys 7 IAS officers shifted
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18 labourers die as truck falls into khud SHIMLA, Dec 31 — At least 18 persons were killed and 32 injured, four of them seriously, when a private truck fell into a 600-foot deep khud near Devi Mor, 40 km from here, last night. The truck was carrying labourers of Jyoti Structures Limited, a private company engaged in the construction of towers for high tension power transmission lines, from Rajgarh to Sarahan. The four seriously injured persons were shifted to Indira Gandhi Medical College Hospital, here, the remaining 28 were hospitalised at Theog. The driver of the truck was among those killed. The exact number of persons on board could not be ascertained. The survivors informed the police that there were 76 labourers in all, out of which about 25 boarded a bus and others chose to travel by truck. All of them were from Jammu. Relief and rescue operations could be started only in the morning as the site was inaccessible during night. The rescue workers, who used ropes to reach the wreckage, had hard time in extricating the bodies and carrying them to the road head. The subdivisional officers reached the spot soon after the mishap but they could not do much in the dark. Mr P.C. Katoch, Deputy Commissioner, and Mr A.N. Sharma, Superintendent of Police, visited the scene of accident in the morning and supervised relief and rescue operations. The accident reportedly occurred due to the negligence of the driver who, according to the injured had consumed liquor before starting from Shimla. He lost control of the vehicle while negotiating a curve. Mr A.N. Sharma, said a case had been registered against Mr Jabber Singh Kotwal, the contractor, who was yet to reach the site of accident. While the injured were provided Rs 1,000 to Rs 10,000 as immediate relief, the next of the kin of those killed were being paid Rs 25,000 to Rs 50,000 as ex-gratia relief. Arrangement are being made to send the bodies to Jammu. Mr Vishnu Kant Shastri, Governor, and Mr P.K. Dhumal, Chief Minister, have expressed deep sorrow over the accident and conveyed sympathies to the bereaved families. Mr Dhumal directed the administration to provide all possible assistance to the victims. |
HP turns down Centre's move on J&K ultras SHIMLA, Dec 31 — A proposal to shift hardcore Kashmiri terrorists and foreign mercenaries from J&K to the newly constructed high security jail near here has been turned down. It is learnt that the centre had moved a proposal to shift some top militants from the high security Kot-Bhalwal jail in Jammu to the recently opened prison at Kanda near here. However, the authorities here did not okay the move on the plea that the jail staff here was not adequately trained to handle the hardcore terrorists. Moreover, many posts of warders were also vacant. Sources said that the Union Home Ministry was keen on shifting some top militants to jails outside Jammu and Kashmir and had moved the proposal some time ago. Himachal was their first choice as it was close to the terrorist-hit areas in adjoining J&K and managing the affairs would have been easier for the authorities in the Valley. It is learnt that Maulana Masood Azhar, who is likely to be released in exchange for the 150-odd passengers held hostage aboard an IA airbus in Kandahar was among the terrorists proposed to be shifted here. Masood’s detention in Jammu jail has been causing concern to the authorities as he was reportedly brainwashing his fellow inmates. Moreover, a series of attempts at jail-break were made in Jammu. The Harkat-ul-Ansar chief in J&K, Sajjad Afghani, was killed when the mercenaries made an attempt to escape from Kot-Bhalwal jail. The centre moved the proposal twice to shift some militants here,but the authorities rejected it on one plea or the other. Only a skeleton jail staff here were trained in unarmed combat. Mr I.N.S. Sandhu, Additional Director General of Police (Prisons), confirmed that the proposal was received some time ago, but Kanda jail was short of staff.Only about 45 warders have been trained for the job while 150 more posts are required. The jail, with a capacity to accommodate 328 prisoners, has only 27 inmates at the moment. It is equipped with modern gadgets including closed-circuit TV channels, to keep a watch on the inmates. The Centre had provided substantial financial assistance for construction of the jail and recently sanctioned Rs 2 crore for installing modern gadgets and providing other facilities. In view of the likelihood of the Centre shifting some hardcore terrorists to Himachal, the jails at Nahan and Dharamshala have also been upgraded as high-security prisons, sources said. A section of the officials here was, however, not in favour of the government accepting the proposal as this will bring the problem of terrorism closer to the state where even the police was not fully equipped to meet the challenge. Only a couple of years ago, about 60 Kashmiri terrorists were brought to Central Jail at Nahan where 15 warders were specially trained to handle them. |
Ad hoc teachers flay govt move NAHAN, Dec 31 — A ban on the renewal of contracts of primary teachers employed on a contractual basis in the district has created panic among teachers. The ban has been imposed despite the fact that 150 posts of teacher were vacant in the district. It is learnt that the government has withdrawn the powers of the District Education Officer to re-employ teachers in primary schools. According to official sources, as many as 501 posts of teacher in the district will fall vacant by November next due to expiry of their contracts. It is learnt that nearly 600, JBT, teachers have been working on contractual basis in 958 primary schools in the district for the past four to five years. Some of the teachers alleged that their posts might be filled by candidates from out of the Sirmour area. The teachers also rejected the government plea that under the "rationalisation scheme" a few surplus teachers would be transferred to schools having staff shortage. They said it was already incorporated in their contract that their services would cease and new contracts would be signed in understaffed schools if and when regular appointments were made in against posts held by them. But they failed to understand why the powers of the DEO had been withdrawn. |
NSUI plea to HP Governor on Kala Amb engg college SHIMLA, Dec 31 — The state NSUI has sought governor Vishnu Kant Shastri's intervention to stop the alleged fleecing of the Kala Amb engineering college by the management. A deputation of the union headed by NSUI President Kewal Pathania met Mr Shastri and drew his attention to the plight of students who were being fleeced by the management in every possible way besides a security of Rs 90,000, which was against the norms fixed by the government, the students were being charged an annual tuition fee of Rs 65,000. In states like Karnataka and Maharashtra, the tuition fee was only Rs 32,000. There was no regular Principal and the teaching staff, mostly engaged on a contractual basis, were also short. The college was without a hostel and students were lodged in a private building at Panchkula, about 90 km away. They were being charged Rs 10,000 annually for the daily journey. While the dispensary was without any doctor and paramedical staff, there was no library, laboratory and the management had not even installed a power connection on the campus. It urged the Governor to direct the inspection committee to ensure that all facilities were provided in accordance with the norms laid down by the All India Council of Technical Education. In the absence of any effective monitoring, the management had been virtually minting money it pointed out, adding that the students, who resisted paying up were being harassed. |
DCTP working draws flak KULU: There is resentment among residents in this district against the Department of Country and Town Planning (DCTP). It is alleged that the applicants, who apply for approval of their building plans, are put to inconvenience at one pretext or the other. The Department of Irrigation and Public Health and the HPSEB do not release the water and electricity connections until one produces the NOC from the town planner. It is alleged the department has failed to stop haphazard construction in this district. Even the construction within the Deputy Commissioner’s office complex has become an eyesore. People allege that these hassles are only for the law-abiding citizens as electricity, water and telephone connections have been given to most of the structures raised illegally on government land and even on footpath in main towns of this district. On the other hand, the Assistant Town Planner claimed that there was no backlog and only five building plans had been lying pending with his office. He said: “Ours is not the only department responsible for stopping unauthorised and illegal constructions. He suggested that people should approach the department before buying land or raising any construction so as to get proper information before starting a project.” * * * * An exploratory tour of the highest pass of this district, Pin Parbati (5318 metres), was organised by the Director, Great Himalayan National Park, last month to evolve an eco-tourism plan for the region. Assessment of biodiversity, and current land-use practices in the Parbati valley has become part of the functioning of the park, Mr A.C. Sharma, DFO, Parbati forest division, said. Mr Sharma said during the trek transition in ecological and vegetation character and the lifestyle of local people was observed. The area covered during the trek is full of black bear, brown bear, red fox, snow leopard, musk deer, among others. * * * * Training in sexually transmitted diseases (STD) for Block Medical Officers (BMOs) and primary health centre medical officers of this district was held at the local zonal hospital last week. As many as 35 BMOs and MOs participated. Dr R.L. Parmar, Chief Medical Officer, said participants would now impart training to the paramedical staff in the rural areas. Health surveys and family health awareness camps would also be organised in this district. * * * * With a view to making Bharti Telenet Limited, a cellular phone company, more responsive and responsible, local subscribers have decided to form an association and collectively approach the Consumers Disputes Protection and Redressal Forum. A few subscribers allege the company has not been providing smooth and efficient service since its inception in this district. A caller from the DoT lines has to listen to the tape “there is no route corresponding to the digit dialled by you.....” Executives of the company give only assurances. The government should intervene to set the things right. |
Shots fired to scare away monkeys KANGRA, Dec 31 — District police chief, Mr K.C. Sadiyal, fired in the air in the Deputy Commissioner's office compound this afternoon to scare away a group of monkeys who attacked visitors. According to an eyewitness, nearly two dozen monkeys thronged the compound and attacked some persons who had come to the office of the DC. People started running helter and skelter in the complex leaving one person injured when he was attacked by a monkey. When a monkey caught hold of a person people took shelter inside the DC's room where a meeting of district-level officers was in progress. Mr Sadiyal tried to chase the monkeys with a stick and a chair in his hand but in vain. The SSP then took an automatic weapon from his guard and fired two shots in the air. Though the firing did not much effect on the monkeys, people in hundreds rushed to the office complex. The monkeys fled the scene after seeing a mob. |
7 IAS officers shifted SHIMLA, Dec 31 — In a minor administrative reshuffle the Himachal Government today shifted seven Indian Administrative Service officers. Mr Arvind Mehta, Registrar, Cooperative Societies, has been posted as Member, Finance and Administration, in the HP State Electricity Board vice Mr Avay Shukla, who goes as Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Agriculture, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Mr P.C. Dhiman, Managing Director of the State Civil Supplies Corporation,w ill hold the additional charge of Registrar, Cooperative Societies. Mr Shamsher Singh, Financial Commissioner-cum-Secretary, PWD, has also been given the charge of Housing. Mr Dev Swaroop, Financial Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Agriculture, Horticulture, Science and Technology, has been posted as Secretary, Forest, vice Mrs Rajbans Sandhu, who has proceeded on deputation to the Centre. He will continue to hold the charge of Science and Technology. Mr S.S. Parmar, Financial Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Animal Husbandry and Housing, takes over as Financial Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Horticulture and Fisheries. |
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