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| Tuesday, January 25, 2000, Chandigarh, India  
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Himachal
to be model state: Dhumal Boost to forest mafia Bridge not ready even after 9
years Anti-poaching drive in Chamba Dhumal promises technical
university Kashmiri youth held |
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Youth beaten to death Fire destroys garment shop Marriage counselling centres soon
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Himachal to be model state:
Dhumal SHIMLA, Jan 24 — The Himachal Pradesh, Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal on the eve of the 30th statehood day urged to make the state most prosperous in the country. He said Himachal Pradesh was emerging as pioneer in hill development and poised to become a model for other states. There was a constant increase in net state domestic product and per capita income year after year. Per capita income which was Rs 240 in 1948 had increased to Rs 10,659 in 97-98. The literacy percentage was just seven as against the national average of 16.6 in 1948 which stood at 63.86 against the national average of 53 per cent according to the 1991 census, and is estimated to be 77 per cent at present. In terms of various social indicators, the track record of Himachal Pradesh had become enviable as compared to many well to do states even. The economic standard and quality of life of each Himachali had undergone a sea change but "we cannot be complacent if we have to keep pace with the competitiveness of the new millennium as the problems like growing population, poverty, unemployment and social inequality still remain unsolved". He said that the BJP-HVC coalition government which came to power about two years ago, had made sincere and concerted efforts to accelerate the pace of socio-economic development and ensure social justice and balance regional growth. "We have conjured up a vision for the first two decades of the new millennium and want to translate it into a reality through the Five Year Plan. Our perspective is to generate additional 15,000 MW hydel power, increase fruit production from four lakh tonnes to 12.5 lakh tonnes, increase vegetable production from four lakh tonnes to 10 lakh tonnes, provide irrigation facility to additional one lakh hectare land, bring additional five lakh hectares land undo afforestation, link all possible villages with roads and provide social service comparable to the developed countries and thus make Himachal Pradesh one of the five best developed states of India by the year 2020. Referring to the power potential in the state, he said: "A new milestone was created when the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, laid the foundation stone of 2051 MW Parbati Project. The 300 MW Chamera Hydel Project, 1500 MW Nathpa Jhakri Hydel Project, 1000 MW Karcham-Wangtoo Project, 300 MW Baspa Project, 86 MW Malana Project, 15 MW Neugal Project, 126 MW Larji Project, 22.5 MW Ghanvi Project, 3 MW Gumma Project, 3 MW Bhaba Augmentation Scheme, 2 MW Sal-II Project, 3 MW Holi Project, 12 MW Khauli Project and 100 MW Uhal Project are already in different stages of execution. Agreement for the 800 MW Kol Dam Hydro Electric Project is likely to be signed soon. The social services sector is being accorded highest priority for which, a provision of Rs 613.36 crore has been made. The government is committed to provide best health care facilities to the people. Education has also
received significant attention of the government. To
ensure that each primary school has at least three rooms,
a new scheme 'Saraswati Bal Vidya Sankalp Yojna' has been
launched. To provide residential facilities to teachers
serving in the difficult areas a new scheme
"Yashwant Gurukul Awas Yojna" has also been
introduced. To strengthen the educational network 470 new
educational institutions are being opened during this
year. Besides, 2100 posts of vidya upasaks are also being
filled up. The services of 4159 voluntary teachers have
also been regualrised by our government. The vacant post
of teachers and other staff are being filled. |
Boost to forest mafia SHIMLA, Jan 24 — The forest mafia has started grinding its axe following the decision of the Himachal Pradesh Government to lift the ban on cutting of green trees. Although the government has laid the condition that the green felling will be done strictly according to the forest working plan, but the Forest Department does not possess adequate manpower to check illegal felling. The BJP-HVC Government is already being accused of soft-pedaling towards certain influential persons who were facing charges of illicit felling in various courts. The State Government was reportedly under constant pressure of the mafia to lift the ban. Although the ban was in vogue for the past 16 years, but illicit felling continued in the State. Felling of deodar was detected in certain interior areas of Shimla district. The fund-starved Himachal Government has been knocking the doors of the Centre to compensate it for the loss it was suffering because of the ban on green felling. A similar representation was submitted to the Tenth Finance Commission and the Planning Commission for sanctioning a special grant in lieu of the state government’s efforts to protect the green wealth. Observers were upset that the State Government vainly tried to keep the decesion on allowing green felling a closely guarded secret. The decision was reportedly taken at the last month’s Cabinet meeting, but nothing was disclosed about it to newsmen in the briefing that followed the meeting. It is yet to be seen as to how successfully the government checks illicit felling, once the working plan comes into operation. Not only the mafia, but even the government owned forest corporation has been facing charges of violation of forest laws. A bunch of cases were pending in various courts against the mafia. The pervious experience has been that the compensatory plantation has hardly been done in place of green felling. The stumps of deodar in Chopal, Jubbal and Rohtang areas are a mute testimony to the green felling. The government was already being criticised for denotifying a big portion of the great Himalayan National Park for constructing the Parbati Hydro-Electric project and also allowing setting up of cement manufacturing plants in green areas. Hundreds of trees were being cut for construction of roads. The Environment Ministry has taken a serious note of all this. It had also questioned the decision of the government to abolish the system of "khudro drakhtan" under which the ownership of trees standing on private lands was given to the land holders. Various environmental groups have described these steps as environment unfriendly. During President’s
rule in 1992, the government had decided to lift the ban
on green felling, but the decision was reversed soon
after the Congress Government came to power in 1993. |
Order on felling draws flak DHARAMSALA, Jan 24 — The government's decision to lift moratorium on the felling of green trees has come in for criticism from environmentalists and non-governmental organisations. (NGOs). Mr Ajit Kumar, an environmentalist, who heads an NGO, here said that by lifting the ban on green felling, the government had sided with the "forest mafia", which had played havoc with the valuable forest wealth of the state."The latest decision of the government will not only legalise wood smuggling, but will have severe consequences," he stated. It was a pity that the government did not even wait for the report of the expert committee, specially constituted to review for the report of the expert committee, specially constituted to review the forest policy from June, 1999 to May 2000. The International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), London was also involved in the forest sector review. Mr Ajit, said by taking the decision in a haste, the government had made the entire process of the review of the forest policy a big waste, which was not in the interest of the state or the nation. "Though 66.43 per cent of the area of Himachal, is legally defined as forest area, the fact remains that merely 30 per cent can be considered to be under green cover of trees," he said. He added that with the lifting of ban on green trees the percentage would further go down. NURPUR: The Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) has taken exception to the decision of the Dhumal government for lifting the ban on the felling of trees in the state. Mr Sat Mahajan, PCC chief, said here on Monday that the decision was neither in the interest of the nation nor in the interest of the state. He said the move would adversely affect the environment. He appealed to the Chief
Minister to review the decision. |
Bridge not ready even after 9
years KOT-HATWAR (Ghumarwin): The construction of a bridge linking Bilaspur district with Hamirpur and Mandi has been proceeding at a snail’s pace for about nine years. "Paucity of funds" and "political interference" have delayed the construction of the bridge over Sanail Khud near Jahu town. The foundation stone of the bridge was laid by Mr Jagdev Thakur, Minister for Public Works and Transport, in 1991. Since then construction work has started but not the way it should have as alleged by residents of the area. Approval and expenditure sanction of Rs 41.36 lakh for construction of the bridge were accorded by the Himachal Pradesh Government on March 1991. The contract was given to a private contactor but he abandoned work on the bridge. It is learnt that the contractor suffered huge losses in this deal and left work undone as the walls for pillars could not be dug to the required depth due to rocks. The supply of material was also irregular from the PWD, forcing the contractor to leave the job. To get an extra amount for the construction of the pillars, the contractor had to approach the court. After a delay of more than five years, the department floated tenders once again at a cost of Rs 53,12,037 in October 1996 and construction work was started by another contractor in 1997. Since then the construction of the bridge has been going on at a slow speed. Besides the construction of 15 pillars, a RCC deck slab over only six spans has come up after spending Rs 60,21,817. This amount is Rs 7,09,780 more than the value of the tender and moreover, a slab over nine spans is yet to be laid, besides embankments, approaches and the railing. According to sources, the total span of the bridge will be 146.01 metres having 15 spans of 9.37 metres each with RCC deck slab. Designed for Class A loading, the bridge would be of single lane with a 4.25-metre carriageway. The spans of the bridge are of 99.50 metres (flood level), 102.50 metres (duck level) and a depth of 4 metres. The bridge will connect Bilaspur district with Hamirpur district at Jahu and will cut the distance by nearly 8 km via Bum and 4 km via Hatwar to Ghumarwin. It will further ease the vehicular traffic which has to cross a one km stretch on the bed of the khud. On completion of the bridge, the people of more than 25 villages surrounding Jahu, in Ghumarwin tehsil will benefit. As this town is the main marketing centre for surrounding villages falling within a diameter of nearly 10 km, residents of these villages remain cut from Jahu the during rainy season and have to cross the flooded khud in the absence of any causeway. Commuters from Dehra and Hatwar and surrounding villages have to travel about 15 km more to reach Jahu via Ladrour. During rains, the bus services to Jahu town from Ladrour via Hatwar and from Ghumarwin via Bum remain suspended and students have to face inconvenience in crossing the khud and then taking buses from Jahu to go to Government College, Sarkaghat, which is nearly 15 km from here. Their books, shoes and other belongings are often washed away by the current in the khud. Mr Vinod Verma, a resident of Dehra village, said despite a single lane, the government should construct an extra lane as it is a one-time investment. The traffic on the bridge will remain there as vehicular traffic and population are increasing. "The area is getting the facility after decades. The contractor is mining hardly 10 metres away from the spans of the bridge. We do not want the bridge to collapse soon after its completion after a prolonged wait," says Mr Jeewan Thakur, a Jahu-based shopkeeper. Mr R.K. Sharma, Superintending Engineer, was not available for comments. However, Mr B.S.
Bhardwaj, Executive Engineer, claimed that as per rules
there was no provision for double-lane bridges on link
roads. The bridge over Sanail khud would be opened for
vehicular use by June-end. |
Anti-poaching drive in Chamba DHARAMSALA, Jan 24 — The Forest Department has launched an anti-poaching campaign to protect wild life in Chamba district. Animals come very close to human habitation during winter months. The campaign has been launched by the DFO, Wildlife, Chamba, Mr O.P. Solanki and the DFO, flying wing, Hamirpur, Mr T.D. Khanna. Cases under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 have been registered against a number of persons. Six poachers in the Sahu valley of Chamba were booked for killing three female Ghoral (Pij) on January 19. Three days later the forest team, seized 3 kg meat, one hide, one head and two female monals from these poachers. These persons, who had also killed a kokalas, later handed over the two guns to the police. In yet another incident, people belonging to the two villages of the Shilli Grahat area, killed a ghoral. They chased the animal to a spring and then hacked the animal with sticks. According to the Wildlife officials, the meat was later shared by 23 families belonging to Dadhu and Gilch villages. The forest officials, took the blood sample and hair of the animal from the site and handed it over to the police. A case has been registered against 20 persons, involved in the killing. Mr Solanki said that as a result of this anti-poaching campaign, a person belonging to Lahri village, in the Khajjiar area of Chamba, surrendered two leopard hides to the Forest Department. Mr Solanki said all
those people living in the sanctuary area in the 10-km
radius around it should get their guns and other arms
registered with the DFO, Wildlife. He said in case a
carcass is spotted by anyone, the nearest police station
or the forest officials should be informed. |
Dhumal promises technical
university DHARAMSALA, Jan 24 — The Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal, today said a technical university, would be set up in the state. Addressing a gathering after inaugurating a Rs 30 lakh ITI girls hostel at Palampur he said that instead of running after white collar jobs, the youth should explore the possibilities of setting up their own units for being self dependant. The government was trying to boost to technical education through nine ITI's and a polytechnic at Thural. Apart from this a driving institution, was being set up at Amb, in Una district. Earlier, reviewing the water supply situation on district Kangra, the Chief Minister asked engineers of the IPH department to identify traditional water sources by February 15. 143 hand pumps have been
installed in Kangra during the financial year and 3921
villages been covered under the water supply scheme. 242
lift water supply schemes are working in the district. |
Kashmiri youth held HAMIRPUR, January 24 — The police has nabbed a Kashmiri youth moving under suspicious circumstances in the town today. He was without valid documents and failed to show his identity card to the police, according to an official spokesman. He has been identified as Manjoor Ahmed. The spokesman told The Tribune this evening that the Jammu and Kashmir police had been informed about the arrest. The Hamirpur police with help of the J&K police was verifying the antecedents of the arrested person. Meanwhile, several hundred Kashmiri Muslims had entered various parts of the Hamirpur district in the garb of traders of various items like shawls, mufflers and other woollens. People of the district have asked the state government to ensure that no unwanted element enters the district. There are reports that
the police was also checking the identity cards and other
documents of the Kashmiri Muslims, who had entered the
district in the last three to four months. |
Youth beaten to death HAMIRPUR, Jan 24 — Sunil Kumar, 21, a first year student of the local Government College was beaten to death outside the college campus at Anu in the town this afternoon. He was allegedly beaten up by four persons, including a college student, according to Mr A.P. Syddiqui, SP, Hamirpur. He told reporters here this afternoon that Pavan Sharma, a school teacher, Kaka, Manoj Kumar of Bohnin village and Vikcy of Kale Amb village of the district have been arrested. The scooter used in the crime as well as the Maruti van in which the assailants fled have been impounded. A case under Section 302 of the IPC had been registered, he added. He said the body of the
deceased had been taken to the Zonal Hospital for
postmortem. |
Fire destroys garment shop KANGRA, Jan 24 — Property worth Rs 3 lakh was destroyed in a fire that broke out this morning in the Jai market here. The fire which broke out due to a short circuit destroyed the readymade garments' shop of Mr Sanjay Kumar. But the timely intervention of the fire brigade saved the area from further loss. The Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Mr R.L. Rao, rushed to the spot and gave Rs 5,000 as an ex-gratia amount to the shopkeeper. The Agriculture Minister, Mr Vidiya Sagar, also visited the site and gave Rs 2,000 to him. Mr Rakesh Mahajan,
District Youth Congress Vice-President, alleged that due
to the faulty wiring system of the HPSEB such fire
accidents took place. |
Marriage counselling centres soon NURPUR, Jan 24 — The alarming increase in the cases of divorce has motivated the Central Social Welfare Advisory Board (CSWAB) to set up pre-marital counselling centres in the country. Ms Mridula Sinha, Chairperson of the board told newspersons here yesterday, that the CSWAB would set up 25 centres this year at the university level and extend guidance to the youth apprehensive of marriage. One such centre would also be set up at Shimla. She said the board had also sanctioned eight more family counselling centres for Himachal Pradesh. Ms Sinha said she had decided to envisage 2000 as "Development Year" in which the board would launch its programmes at the grass-root level for the socio-economic upliftment of women, children and oppressed persons. She said, the CSWAB had been promoting voluntary organisations. For this purpose, a television serial "Sewa" had been prepared which would be telecast on DD channel. She said the CSWAB would
organise a three-day seminar on "Voluntary service
and social development" in Delhi on February 22. Mr
Atal Behari Vajpayee would inaugurate the seminar. |
Phones in Kangra disconnected KANGRA, Jan 24 — Hundreds of telephones were disconnected this morning for "non-payment of dues" without informing the consumers. Department of Telecommunications did not even spare correspondents despite the fact that they had made the payments at least two weeks back. The consumers expressed resentment over the disconnection of the telephones. They said they had also made the payments. The General Manager of
the Department was not available for comments. |
Leopard caught, dies in zoo HAMIRPUR, Jan 24 — A male leopard that was caught from the forests of the Barsar area of Hamirpur district this morning succumbed to his leg injuries at Gopalpur Zoo of Kangra district this afternoon. This leopard was taken to the zoo by forest department officials but he could not survive due to some problems affecting his two rear legs. Mr Pavnesh Kumar Sharma,
DFO, Hamirpur, told The Tribune that the big cat had been
sent for post-mortem examination to ascertain the real
cause of his death. |
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