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| Sunday, May 7, 2000, Chandigarh, India  
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escape for 150 tourists Thorough
review of statute favoured Disillusioned
Tibetans seek greener pastures Baby
killed as fire destroys house Naggar
castle renovated |
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| Dhumal lays stone of Uhl hydel
project MANDI, May 6 — The Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, Mr P.K. Dhumal, has laid the foundation stone of Rs 500-crore Uhl Hydel Project (Stage III). He said work on the project would be started immediately and it would be completed within the stipulated period of five years. New plan
to check forest fires Mohinder
Singh’s conditional offer Dhumal
for active role by officers Tyres
worth Rs 2.60 lakh stolen Handicapped
get artificial limbs
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escape for 150 tourists SOLAN, May 6 — At least 150 Shimla-bound tourists travelling by a holiday special train, had a narrow escape when one of the coaches derailed near the Chambaghat level crossing at 4.05 pm today. Railway officials based here rushed to the spot which was barely one kilometre away from the station and arranged buses for passengers’ onward journey. A railway official said the derailed coach could overturn partly owing to the coupling mechanism next and partly due to the hill feature near the accident spot. However, the Chief Safety Officer, Northern Railways, who reached here along with the Assistant Operations Officer was not available for comments. A relief train has been
sent from Kalka.
Derailment holds up traffic SHIMLA, May 6 — Traffic on the Kalka-Shimla section was held up following the derailment of a holiday special train near Solan. The train was on its way to Shimla from Kalka when it derailed between Salogra and Solan Railway officials said
that a coach behind the engine had derailed. |
Thorough
review of statute favoured SHIMLA, May 6 — Mr N.C. Jain, a member of the Central Finance Commission and a former Advocate-General of Madhya Pradesh, has disapproved of the fragmented approach of the constitutional review committee and called for a thorough review of the Constitution in the larger interests of the nation. Delivering the keynote address at a seminar organised by the “Himachal Adhivakta Parishad” on the issue here today. He said it was strange that the committee instead of looking at the Constitution in totality, had limited itself to just eight points which would not serve any purpose. Its decision not to take up any controversial issues like debarring persons of foreign origin from becoming Prime Minister or President of the country was also uncalled for. There were several grey areas which required a second look. The biggest flaw, he said, was that the Fundamental Rights had not been assimilated with fundamental duties leading to a plethora of problems. The rights had been emphasised too much but the duty part had been totally abandoned. All this had weakened the spirit of nationalism and encouraged people to pursue their selfish ends ignoring the larger interests of society and the country. Besides, certain provision of the Constitution which were a transitory nature had been allowed to continue endlessly. The plethora of disputes among the states over language, water resources and other issues clearly indicated that there were shortcomings in the Constitution which must be removed. Minor amendments could solve major problems. For instance, Article 263 which provided for an inter-state council could help in evolving the ever elusive consensus of financial matters and enable the government to take quick decision on issues like withdrawal of subsidy and imposition of taxes. Further, certain provisions were like the one which laid down that passenger tax on rail services would be levied and collected by the Centre required to be changed. In fact, the government had devised ways to circumvent such provisions which was patently unconstitutional. There were other issues like whether judiciary be allowed to lay down laws, what should be the procedure for appointment of judges and the size of the ministry regarding which there was nothing concrete in the Constitution. Mr P.K. Dhumal, Chief Minister, in his presidential address, said no constitution was so sacrosanct as could not be amended. Change was a part of life. The present government had the people’s mandate to review the Constitution as and it had promised to set up a judicial commission for the purpose in its manifesto. He expressed surprise that the review committee from the day one started issuing statements that it would not touch controversial issues and had limited itself to eight joints. The members of the committee should adopt a bold approach and go in for a comprehensive review without any fear as they did not have to seek votes from the people. They should go about their job keeping the interests of the country uppermost in the mind. Earlier, Mr K.D. Batish,
convener of the council, said those who carried out
maximum amendments to the Constitution while in power
were opposing the review. |
Disillusioned
Tibetans seek greener pastures DHARMSALA, May 6 — Faced with an uncertain future, as there is little hope of freedom, a majority of the Tibetan youth are exploring opportunities to go abroad. Frustrated with the lacklusters independence movement of the Tibetan Government-in-exile for the past four decades, a majority of Tibetans admit that had not made any considerable progress in terms of achieving their ultimate goal of freedom. With little hope of attaining freedom in the near future, most of them are desperate to have a secure job and home, outside India. As over one lakh Tibetan refugees have made India their home, the second generation Tibetans grab the first opportunity, they got to either go abroad for studies or for settling down permanently. With ample help coming from the West in form of aid and scholarships, there have also been a few cases of adoption of Tibetan children by some foreigners. Some Tibetan parents also pointed out that they had no objection if their child was adopted as it would ensure a bright future for the child rather fighting a lost battle. “Majority of Tibetans in Tibet and outside are unhappy with the independence movement launched by our government and all of us strongly feel that there is an urgent need to review the policy”, commented Mr Tseten Norbu, president of Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC), which is spearheading the freedom struggle. He added, “When you have to chalk out your strategy the psychology of the enemy must be kept in mind, and we have realised that China, only understands the language of politics and gun”. “It is not that the Tibetan lack fighting spirit, but our government has miserably failed in providing us a proper platform and programme, which can take the shape of a full fledged movement”, he regretted. “With our government too preoccupied in running the various departments and with the officials behaving like the bureaucracy of a free nation, the issue of independence has been pushed back”, he lamented. Other leaders of the TYC, also feel that setting up of settlements and catering to the needs of the refugees was essential but at the same time there was lack of enough political activity. The TYC, boasts of having a membership of over 15,000 and 50 branches all over the world. Echoing the sentiments of the Tibetan youth Mr Narbu, said they would settle for nothing short of complete independence. On the other hand the Tibetan spiritual and temporal leader, The Dalai Lama, has been advocating the “middle path approach” whereby he is willing to accept self rule or genuine autonomy. While functions are being held to mark the completion of 40 years of stay of the Dalai Lama and other refugees, here in McLeodganj, the Tibetan feel that there is little they have gained in the political sphere. Despite the Dalai Lama stressing the need for a multi-party system in the Tibetan set up, so far only one political party — the National Democratic Party of Tibet (NDPT) — has come into existence. On the other hand the officials in the Tibetan Government, pointed out that as compared to the 60s and the 70s, when hardly anybody was aware of the Tibetan issue, today the problem of Tibet, figured on top of agenda of practically every nation. “Not only have we received support from the international community, but a large number of Chinese intellectuals also are openly expressing support for the Tibetan cause. As a demoralised younger generation of the Tibetans is getting more and more restive and frustrated, they have been compelled to explore possibilities of a bright future for themselves and their families, for which they are looking towards the West.
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Baby
killed as fire destroys house CHAMBA, May 6 — An 11-month-old baby was charred to death and a house was completely gutted in a fire which broke out in an interior village of Madhiana in Bhattiyat sub-division of Chamba district yesterday. Mr Jagroop Singh Rana, Subdivisional Magistrate, Bhattiyat said yesterday that a loss of more that Rs 5 lakh had been estimated. The SDM said an immediate relief of Rs 10,000 had been given to the affected family. He said the family had been given shelter in a nearby anganwari building and given four blankets, one tarpaulin and ration. In another incident, Deepak Kumar, a four-and a-half-year-old boy was washed away in the Ravi river when he was riding on a scooter along with his father Bittu Ram and their scooter skidded on the Chamba-Tissa highway at Baloo near Chamba town yesterday. According to the
Superintendent of Police, Bittu Ram, father of the boy
was injured. He said the scooter skidded when a bus
coming from the opposite side was crossing the highway. |
Naggar
castle renovated NAGGAR (Kulu): The 504-year-old traditionally built castle of the former rulers of Kulu has been renovated and given a facelift by the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC) which has established its Heritage Hotel in it here. The castle overlooking the Rohtang Pass and other snowcapped peaks also commands the view of the picturesque Kulu valley and the Beas. The woodwork has extensively been redone to restore the glory of the castle which was built by Raja Sidh Singh around 1460 A.D. It has flavour of the authentic western Himalayan architecture. The princely charm of the castle was being maintained as the HPTDC does not intend to provide TVs in the rooms and has kept the original furniture in some of the rooms, says Mr P.C. Kapoor, Managing Director of the HPTDC. The Roerich art gallery is close to the castle. The gallery houses works of the great Russian painter. Naggar is gradually becoming a tourist attraction not only because of the ancient buildings, but also because of the sprawling apple orchards on the roadside and the natural beauty. The “Baragarh” orchard of the Khullars has become an attraction for film makers who have shot many movies in the tastefully built mansion in the middle of the apple orchard. Naggar remained capital of Kulu for about 1460 years and the stones used for constructing the castle were brought from the Baragarh fort on the other side of the river. Another story claims that a long chain of local labourers passed the stones from hand to hand from the ruins of Garhdhak, a fortified palace of Rana Bhosal just beneath the Baragaon village. The castle by virtue of its peculiar construction withstood the disastrous earthquake of 1905. The castle was converted into a rest house about 100 years ago and was turned into a hotel in 1978. A uniquely built “Jagti Patt” temple within the hotel complex is a feast for the eyes of tourists. The richly carved wooden doors and interiors depict the age old traditions. The temple is held in great esteem and reverence. It is named after a stone slab and it is said that was decided to make Naggar an ecclesial seat of all deities of the world. The deities transformed into honey bees and cut specimen of deotiba and flew it at the present site. The temple was in a dilapidated and deplorable condition and was recently reconstructed.
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Dhumal
lays stone of Uhl hydel project MANDI, May 6 — The Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, Mr P.K. Dhumal, has laid the foundation stone of Rs 500-crore Uhl Hydel Project (Stage III). He said work on the project would be started immediately and it would be completed within the stipulated period of five years. Addressing a public meeting at the site of 100-MW power house on the right bank of Beas, 120 km from here near, Chulla village. Mr Dhumal said, “We have entered the new millennium with the pledge to make Himachal a “power state” within a decade”. He said work on ongoing projects had also been accelerated. He claimed that Himachal was poised to achieve its long-cherished dream of becoming a viable state notwithstanding the current economic crisis. He said the state III of Uhl Hydel Project would generate 442 million units of energy thereby yielding a net income of Rs 100 crore. This is the third hydel project based on the water of Uhl a tributary of Beas. Shanan Power House had been built in 1925 by a British engineer. He had planned to build two more projects based on the tail-end water of Shanan. This project was later augmented to 110-MW by the PSEB. Mr Dhumal said the Congress Government had delayed this important project for which entire infrastructure had existed for over a decade. “We cancelled the MoU with a private party which was causing unusual delay and handed over the project for execution to the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board which had done good work in completing other projects.” He declared that sufficient funds would be provided for completing the project within five years. Mr Dhumal said the country had to pay heavily for the undue delay in the completion of the projects. Quoting the example of the Nathpa Jhakri Project he said its initial cost was just Rs 1500 crore, but due to delays it had escalated to Rs 10,000 crore at present. The Chief Minister announced that a Rs 2.59 crore irrigation project had been sanctioned for the Chauntra area of Jogindernagar sub-division under a centrally sponsored scheme. He said the Kandapatan-Baijnath road would be metalled by 2001 under NABARD. Thakur Gulab Singh,
Vidhan Sabha Speaker, thanked the Chief Minister for
starting the work on the long pending Shanan Stage-III. |
New plan
to check forest fires CHAMBA, May 6 — The Forest Department has worked out a new strategy to combat forest fires in the district, which is replete with forests, during the current summer season. Disclosing this here yesterday Mr Mohinder Pal, conservator of forests, Chamba circle, said under the strategy fire-prone belts had been identified considering the past fire incidents. He said to check forest fires, six double-storeyed watch towers equipped with wireless sets had been set up from where fire-prone belts could be viewed. Likewise, five gang-huts also been installed at the accessible points of the fire-prone belts where the labour of the Forest Department would be stationed, he added. He further said that the officials of the Forest Department had been asked to focus on the protection of growing plantation first, adding that the dry grars and other inflammable material was being burnt in advance to avoid future fires.
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Mohinder
Singh’s conditional offer SOLAN, May 6 — The PWD Minister, Mr Mohinder Singh, whose differences with party supremo Sukh Ram had brought the Himachal Vikas Congress on the brink of a vertical split, today offered to resign from the state Cabinet if “Mr Sukh Ram approached him directly instead of demanding his dismissal from the Chief Minister and some central leaders of the National Democratic Alliance”. Mr Singh, who held a press conference here today, said that even though an overwhelming majority of the HVC was with him, he had chosen the path of reconciliation and had requested the HVC’s lone M.P., Mr Dhani Ram Shandil to mediate and help resolve his differences with Mr Sukh Ram amicably”. He regretted that all
attempts made by him to meet Mr Sukh Ram for a free and
frank discussion had so far proved to be futile as the
senior leader had steadfastly been refusing to even talk
to him on the telephone. |
Dhumal
for active role by officers SHIMLA, May 6 — Mr P.K. Dhumal, Chief Minister, has emphasised the need for pro-active role by officers in implementing the programmes of the government. He was presiding over a meeting of secretaries and head of departments to review the implementation of budget policies here today. On delegation of powers
to panchayati raj institutions, the Chief Minister said
the government was committed to strengthen these by
devolution of more powers. |
Tyres
worth Rs 2.60 lakh stolen KUMARHATTI, May 6 — In a major theft case, 27 tyres worth Rs 2.60 lakh were stolen from a godown near Dattiar, about 19 km from here, on Thursday. Mr Jagan Nath, SHO, said initial enquiries revealed that the thieves struck around midnight and might have used a truck covered with tarpaulin. The incident occurred
during dust storm followed by heavy downpour. A case
under Section 457 and 380 of the IPC has been registered. |
Handicapped
get artificial limbs BADDI May 6 — The newly constituted Rotary Club of Baddi organised a camp for the free distribution of artificial limbs, tricycles, clippers and crutches here today. The camp was organised with the association of the Rotary Club of Nalagarh, S.S. Jain Sabha, Nalagarh, and Opcar Society, Delhi. This was the first function of the club and 50 persons were benefited by the camp. Eleven tricycles, six clippers, two wheelchairs and eight crutches were distributed free of cost on the spot. On the occasion, Mr R.K. Rewari, president of club and CEO of Vardhman Group of Industries, made a commitment that in future more social welfare projects will be undertaken by the club. He thanked the Gram Pradhans and the Principals of the various schools who worked to make the programme a success. The Tehsildar of
Nalagarh subdivision was the chief guest on the occasion. |
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