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| Tuesday, March 28, 2000, Chandigarh, India  
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Govt not to review order Cong leader defends minister Suburban residents threaten relay
fast |
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Dera head alleges ADM
slapped granthi Teachers reject new allowance Cops learn Art of Living Rajmata Kusum Kumari dead Complete bandh in Shimla
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Govt not to review order SHIMLA, March 27 — The Himachal Government will not review the decision to abolish the three offices of Divisional Commissioners which will lead to a saving of over Rs 1 crore annually. Stating this in the Vidhan Sabha during question hour the Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal, allayed the fears of the Opposition that the decision would cause hardship to people and asserted that it would help in providing justice to them at their door steps. He said it was a conscious decision taken after taking all its implications into consideration. He said Divisional Commissioner was an appellate authority under 18 Acts and the government would delegate the power to different officers, if need be, after amending the relevant Acts. He informed that only 1659 cases were pending with the Divisional Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners and Additional Deputy Commissioners would be delegated the appellate powers to dispose of most of these cases. Residual matters would dealt by the Commissioner (Revenue). The officers and staff working in these offices would be gainfully utilised by redeployment. He said the annual expenditure on these offices was about Rs 1.50 crore and by restructuring these offices and redeployment of staff over Rs 1 crore would saved. The Chief Minister informed Mr Jai Ram that Rs 10.76 lakh was spent on World Tourism Day celebrations held at Chandigarh in September 1996. He said out of this Rs 5 lakh were given to a private party to organise a fashion show without observing codal formalities. Mr Roop Das Kashyap Minister for Urban Development, said there was no proposal to enact a new Rent Control Act in the state. He said the Centre had circulated a model Rent Control Act but the state had not taken any decision to formulate a new Act on its basis. Answering a question of Mr Harsh Mahajan, the Minister for Cooperation, Mr R.R. Kaundal, informed the House that there was no move to adjust employees of district cooperative and consumer federations in government institutions. He said the employees
had been given the option to take Class IV jobs on the
orders of the Supreme Court but only six of them had
exercised the option. They had been duly accommodated. |
Cong leader defends minister SHIMLA, March 27 — While most of the Congress members targeted Mr Mohinder Singh, Public Works Minister, during a debate on the cut motions pertaining to the demand under roads and bridges, veteran Congress leader and a former Public Works Minister, sprang a surprise by coming out strongly in the minister’s defence. Mr Khachi fully exonerated the minister of the charge of "favouring" his own constituency and wished that he could do the same during his tenure in the office. He said he was aware of the pressures and problems faced by the ministers and it was normal for them to nurse their respective constituencies. He, however, asked Mr Mohinder Singh to ensure that other constituencies were not neglected. He also cautioned the government against depending too much on loans from NABARD for the construction of roads as it would plunge the state into a debt trap and would face serious problems after the repayment of loans commenced. Mr Chander Kumar said the allocation for roads and bridges was inadequate. The budget had been increased by about 16 per cent, which would not enough even to offset the rise in prices of the construction material and labour rates. He said the funds secured from NABARD should be evenly distributed and priority should be given to open the roads to the general public at the earliest. He suggested tunnel boring to reduce distances in the hills. Mr Kaul Singh underlined the need for giving more funds for areas where road density was less. Mr Gangu Ram Musafir called for the replacement of old machinery and increased mechanisation to speed up the road construction. Mr Kashmir Singh lamented that legislators’ priorities were being ignored. The department-related
seven committees of the House presented their reports
today after thoroughly scrutinising the budget demands.
Mr Gulab Singh, Speaker, urged the members to keep the
reports of the committees in mind while taking part in
the discussion cut motions pertaining to demands of
various departments. He also advised ministers to study
the reports and while replying to a debate on demands let
the House know the views of the government on various
points made in the reports. |
Suburban residents threaten relay
fast SHIMLA, March 27 — Residents of Shimla’s suburban areas, which were merged into the local Municipal Corporation five years ago, have threatened to start a relay fast in front of the state Assembly from April 6 if their demands are not accepted by that time. They also decided do start a non-cooperation movement against the corporation. The decision was taken here yesterday at a meeting of the Shimla Suburbs Welfare Coordination Committee, which is spearheading the agitation against the decision of the corporation to bring the merged areas in the tax net. The committee expressed surprise that the corporation had issued notices to residents for payment of various taxes, even though they had not been provided the basic amenities so far. Mrs Sunita Kashyap, councillor from Ward No. 23 , has announced her resignation from the corporation in protest. The committee urged Mr P.K. Dhumal, Chief Minister, to intervene in the matter. Mr Chander Pal Mehta,
president of the committee, asked the landlords to make a
bonfire of the notices and not pay any taxes. He said
while the unauthorisedly built IAS Colony had been
provided all amenities in violation of rules, the poor
residents of suburban areas had been denied even water
and electricity. |
Dera head alleges ADM slapped
granthi UNA, March 27 — Kanwar Charanjit Singh Sodhi of Dera Guru Bhadhbhag Singh, Mairi 42 km from Una said here yesterday that the Additional District Magistrate, Una had assaulted the head granthi of the dera at the concluding day function of Hola Mohalla on March 23. He said during meetings with district administration the timing for distribution of prasad to pilgrims on the concluding day of the celebration was fixed for 2.00 a.m, the traditional time for distributing prasad. On March 22 evening at about 7.00 a.m the ADM visited his office to enquire about the timing and was explained it. But at about 12.30 a.m on March 23 the ADM came to his residence and said as long queues were forming outside the dera, prasad should be distributed at 1 a.m. He in turn informed the ADM that such queues were a normal feature each year and as the staff for distribution would come only at around 2 a.m, the timing could not be advanced. The ADM then insisted that an announcement calling the staff be made on the loudspeaker. But Kanwar Sodhi informed the ADM that the mike operator too was due to come only at 2 a.m. The ADM then asked that Baldev Singh the head granthi of the dera be summoned. Baldev Singh too insisted that the timing could not be changed at will as this was against the maryada. At this the ADM flared up and slapped the head granthi. He then asked his police constables to arrest the head granthi Baldev Singh and take him to the police post. The granthi was dragged out and taken to the police post but was released after 7-10 minutes. Kanwar Charanjit demanded an enquiry into the incident and action against the ADM. No senior official was
available to provide the official explanation. |
Cops learn Art of Living DHARAMSALA, March 27 — In order to overcome job stress, police personnel in district Kangra, are learning the "Art of Living". Going through a six-day capsule course in mediation has definitely made them more relaxed and confident. In the first batch 20 policemen from district Kangra attended the course being run by Bangalore-based organisation. The International Art of Living Foundation. The response amongst the police personnel was encouraging. "Doing meditation every day relaxes the mind and releases the tension of a demanding job, dealing with all sorts of people," says Inspector Ajit Kumar, fresh after attending the six-day course. He said a police personnel burdened with tension cannot solve the problems of others. He admitted that a tight work schedule and stressful conditions, at times creates problems even at the home front. Echoing similar views, ASI Omkar Chand, said it was very essential for a police man to be free from tension or depression to be able to perform his duty properly. "Doing meditation has not only added to my self confidence but has given me a positive frame of mind, which will definitely help me in performing my duties better he said. A strict regimen, including food restrictions, has not deterred the cops from attending the course. After their duty hours, they are very keen on attending "pranayam" exercises. The SSP, Mr K.C. Sadyal, is very keen that police personnel should be able to attend the meditation course. "I am myself surprised to see how the meditation course has helped in increasing the sense of commitment and responsibility among my men," he stated. Stressing the need for
these kind of courses for the police force, he felt that
they certainly create awareness and efficiency amongst
the men. "I am pained to see that when a cop retires
from service at the age of 58 he looks 78, because of the
stress and tension of a job in the police," said Mr
Sadyal. |
Teachers reject new allowance HAMIRPUR, March 27 — The HP Science Masters Association has rejected the petty enhancement of practical allowance for them. The enhancement of Rs 30 per month is nothing but just a step by the state government to downgrade the science teachers, according to Mr Jaichand Patyal, president of the state association. The association has been demanding a monthly practical allowance to the tune of Rs 200. He said here today that a meeting of the association was held here on Sunday in which the association condemned the action of the state government and decided to launch a stir from April 4. He said in the first phase of the agitation teachers would wear black badges all over the state. Thereafter, a massive rally would be held at the Education Directorate in Shimla in which leaders from Punjab and Haryana would also take part. Mr Patyal asked the
state government to accept their demands and call them
for talks by April 15 failing which the agitation would
be intensified. |
Rajmata Kusum Kumari dead MANDI, (HP) March 27 (UNI) — Rajmata Kusum Kumari, wife of late Raja Joginder Sen, former ruler of Mandi state, died here today after a protracted illness. She was 86. She was cremated on the banks of the Beas. A large number of people, including Mr Maheshwar Singh, MP, district officials, members of nagar parishad and elite of the town joined the funeral procession. All shops and business
establishments in Mandi town remained closed as a mark of
respect. |
Complete bandh in Shimla SHIMLA, March 27 — Business activity in the town came to a halt as shops and other establishments observed a complete bandh in protest against the massacre of 35 innocent Sikhs in Chatti Singhpora village of Anantnag in Kashmir. The call for the bandh was given by the local Beopar Mandal and the Siri Guru Singh Sabha. The protestors took out a protest march and also held a rally. The local Sikh community also held a congregation at which the central government was urged to give Rs 10 lakh and the state government Rs 5 lakh to the next of kin of those killed. The Himachal Assembly which met today after 10 days’ recess also expressed its anguish over the killings. The local Muslim Kalyan
Samiti also condemned the massacre and urged the central
government to take all possible steps to check such
incidents . It also criticised Pakistan for sponsoring
militancy in Kashmir. |
Bandh observed NAHAN, March 27 — A half-day bandh was observed at Paonta Sahib town today in protest against the killing of 35 Sikhs at Chattisinghpora village of Jammu and Kashmir. Protesters took out protest march in which large number of people from all sections of society participated. Protesters were shouting slogans against Pakistan and were demanding an end to cross-border terrorism. The protesters
reassembled at the municipal grounds where many leaders
of different political parties, and different social
organisations addressed them. They also sent a memorandum
to the Prime Minister through the SDM. |
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