H I M A C H A L   P R A D E S H

Single-window system in 58 HP post offices
SHIMLA, May 10 — The single-window system has been introduced in 58 post offices which have been computerised in Himachal Pradesh. The Chief Post-Master General of the H.P. circle, Mr Vijay Bhushan, told newsmen here yesterday that nine of these post offices were located in Shimla.

Forum: draft water management policy
SHIMLA, May 10 — The Forum for Rural Empowerment and Social Help, a non-government organisation, has urged the government to come out with a water management policy to conserve this precious resource and prepare the people to face drought.

Kangra dist being ignored: MLA
DHARAMSALA, May 10 — A sitting MLA and general secretary of the Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee, Mr G.S. Bali, today lashed out at the BJP ministers from Kangra for making a compromise on the issue of development of the district merely to save their berth in the ministry.

Centre gives Rs 20 cr to HP for roads
SHIMLA, May 10 — The Centre has given Rs 20 crore to the state government for the new national highways sanctioned last year. This was disclosed at a meeting convened by the Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal, to review the working of Public Works Department here today.

PH men file suit against govt order
NURPUR, May 10 — Thirtyfour daily-wage workers of the Irrigation-cum-Public Health (IPH) division here, who after serving in the department were regularised in July, 1999, are running from pillar to post to get justice as that have been reverted to daily wagers even after nine months, thanks to the apathy and carelessness of the department.

Drive to check traffic violations
SHIMLA, May 10 — A government spokesman said here yesterday that the traffic police would undertake a vigorous drive to check unauthorised use of red lights, flag rods, number plates with extraneous material and added that action would be taken against the violators.

Single-window system in 58 HP post offices
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, May 10 — The single-window system has been introduced in 58 post offices which have been computerised in Himachal Pradesh.

The Chief Post-Master General of the H.P. circle, Mr Vijay Bhushan, told newsmen here yesterday that nine of these post offices were located in Shimla.

The general post offices in Shimla, Kulu, Hamirpur and Bilaspur will be fully computerised in the near future and satellite money order service will be introduced in the tribal areas of Keylong and Rekong-Peo. This was being done in relaxation of norms because as such the two tribal places did not qualify for being linked with the satellite money order scheme. The tribal areas remain cut-off from the rest of the world for about six months during the winter.

Extended satellite money order stations would shortly be opened at Badsar, Chauntra (Chamba), Bhunter and Nadaun.

Computerisation of savings bank and treasury and accounts had also been done in many post offices.

Preservation of the heritage building housing the post office at Mandi had been completed by the Intach.

Forum: draft water management policy
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, May 10 — The Forum for Rural Empowerment and Social Help, a non-government organisation, has urged the government to come out with a water management policy to conserve this precious resource and prepare the people to face drought.

Mrs Harpreet Kaur, Managing Director of the organisation, has in a letter to the Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal, also suggested that water management be introduced as a compulsory subject in schools to equip students with requisite knowledge about soil and water conservation.

The awareness regarding conservation measures should be created among people in the rural areas, particularly farmers and orchardists, and non-government agencies should be involved in the dissemination of knowhow.

Appreciating the decision of the government to observe 2000-01 as Irrigation Year, she said the provision of 1200 water tanks, 500 hydrams and NABARD-assisted irrigation projects were not enough to usher in irrigation revolution in the state. It required private capital formation under minor irrigations for which the mindset of the farmers would have to be changed. Tubewells, kuhlas, water tanks and irrigation schemes could be constructed by farmers by raising loans from banks.

As a matter of fact, what was required today was a water-management policy and observance of a water management year rather than an irrigation year. It was well known that Israel with an annual rainfall of 700 to 800 mm emerged as a world leader in agriculture solely by dint of water management.

Himachal Pradesh, which was double the size of Isreal and gifted with almost double the rainfall, lagged behind in irrigation facilities. Today, only 30 per cent of cultivable land was irrigated in the state as against 17 per cent about two years ago.

In the circumstances, it was only logical to emphasise the need for water management and water conservation not only in the state, but also in the entire country. In view of vanishing water resources and decelerating water table, it was necessary to harness water run-off for water conservation and ground water recharge so that water requirements of men, livestock and plants were adequately met.

Kangra dist being ignored: MLA
Tribune News Service

DHARAMSALA, May 10 — A sitting MLA and general secretary of the Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee, Mr G.S. Bali, today lashed out at the BJP ministers from Kangra for making a compromise on the issue of development of the district merely to save their berth in the ministry.

Addressing a press conference here today, Mr Bali said major development projects in the district, like the Apollo Hospital, Palampur bus stand and the mini secretariat were still in their initial stages as discrimination was being made with Kangra. “The ministers formed a pressure group to save their ministerial berths, but why can’t they join hands to take up the issue of development of the Kangra region with the Chief Minister,” he quipped.

Commenting on the reported statement of a minister that corruption was rampant in the state, Mr Bali said instead of making such sweeping statements it would be advisable for the minister to detect large scale irregularities in his department. He alleged that the forest mafia and the mining lobby from other states were being given complete political patronage and protection.

He opposed the proposal for the setting up of a cement plant near Arki in Solan district. “I fail to understand as to what is the need for setting up of another cement plant in Solan district when the proposed plants in Chamba and Mandi districts have failed to take off,” he questioned. He added that instead of showing favour towards one company, bidding should be open to all for the Arki plant.

Criticising the government for hiking the power tariff, he said this would be a disincentive for those who were keen to put up industries in the state.

Expressing concern over the state’s poor financial health, Mr Bali said the Chief Minister should adopt a policy of consensus on economic issues if the state was to be saved from bankruptcy.

Centre gives Rs 20 cr to HP for roads
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, May 10 — The Centre has given Rs 20 crore to the state government for the new national highways sanctioned last year. This was disclosed at a meeting convened by the Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal, to review the working of Public Works Department here today.

Stressing the need for expediting the work on various schemes, the Chief Minister said that efficient and honest officers and employees who would take initiatives would be rewarded by the government and those found guilty would be dealt with sternly.

Expressing concern over the encroachments on national highways, Mr Dhumal said that the junior engineer of the area should be held responsible for enforcement of road side control Act.

It was informed that to ensure system improvement regarding bulk purchases in the department, the committees had been formed at state, circle and division levels.

Stressing for quality improvement, the Chief Minister said that norms and specification for government buildings should be adhered to strictly and any change to the original plan be got approved from the Secretary to the Government.

He directed that schemes being posed for the NABARD funding be taken up on a priority basis so that maximum villages could be connected by the road.

He reviewed the progress of the Irrigation and Public Health Department and the progress of Swan channelisation and steps taken so far to start work.

PH men file suit against govt order
From Our Correspondent

NURPUR, May 10 — Thirtyfour daily-wage workers of the Irrigation-cum-Public Health (IPH) division here, who after serving in the department were regularised in July, 1999, are running from pillar to post to get justice as that have been reverted to daily wagers even after nine months, thanks to the apathy and carelessness of the department.

According to information, 16 of the 34 workers have filed suits in the judicial courts against the department seeking justice.

There is resentment among workers against the state government.

The Executive Engineer, IPH division here when contacted admitted that these regular-cadre workers had been reverted to daily wagers. He clarified that these workers had inadvertently been regularised as the department had wrongly calculated their service period. He pointed out that the previous order had been revoked on administrative grounds in public interest due to the non-completion of nine years of service with minimum 240 days in each calendar year up to December 31, 1997. But the regularisation orders had been issued by considering the financial year up to March 31, 1998, instead of calendar year up to December 31, 1997, which was contrary to the provisions of the policy of the state government.

The Executive Engineer stated that the issue had also been taken up with the Chief Engineer, IPH, Shimla, but on getting clarification from that end the IPH division had no option expect to revoke the previous order.

Drive to check traffic violations
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, May 10 — A government spokesman said here yesterday that the traffic police would undertake a vigorous drive to check unauthorised use of red lights, flag rods, number plates with extraneous material and added that action would be taken against the violators.

The spokesman said it had been noticed that red lights and flag rods were being displayed on some unauthorised vehicles. He said, similarly, registration number plates of some vehicles carried extra words. He said in some cases, sign identity boards in the name of the user of the vehicles were displayed in different shades and colours in contravention of legal provisions.

Action would be taken against those plying vehicles on sealed and restricted roads unauthorisedly.

CM inaugurates conference of principals
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, May 10 — Mr P.K. Dhumal, Chief Minister, has stressed on bringing qualitative improvement in education to enable the students face the challenges of new millennium effectively. He was inaugurating a four-day conference on principals of government colleges on higher education organised by the Directorate of Education here yesterday.

Emphasising the need for professional and vocational education, the Chief Minister said the government would encourage such courses in colleges which would go a long way in solving unemployment problem. He asked the principals to give a thought for starting employment generating courses in the colleges which were self-sustained and added that maximum students would opt for such courses. Educational institutions should not depend on grant-in-aid much.

Emphasising the need for better academic atmosphere and discipline amongst the students, Mr Dhumal said that colleges and other educational institutions should become centre of par excellence. Colleges should become a pioneer in this respect.

He stressed on 180 days’ teaching during a year which would definitely go a long way in improving educational standards in the state.

Telecom services in a mess
From Our Correspondent

CHAMBA, May 10 — Telecommunication services in the famous hill resort of Khajjiar are in a mess for the past 20 days, causing resentment among hoteliers, tourists and the local subscribers.

The hoteliers of this hill resort have alleged that their telephone often remain dead for days together.

The hoteliers and other subscribers of Khajjiar have demanded that the telecom authorities rectify the faults and improve the department’s working.

On the other hand, the officials of the Department of Telecom maintain that even though the topography of the area and bad weather lead to the faults, the DoT is on its toes and constantly dealing with the complaints of subscribers.

4 jawans dead, 11 hurt in road mishap
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, May 10 — As many as four jawans were killed and 11 injured, two of them seriously, when a truck of the Army fell into khud near Shogi, 18 km from here, today.

The truck was on its way from Kalka to Jhakri while one person died on the spot, three others succumbed to their injuries at Indira Gandhi Medical College Hospital here.

The jawans were from 8 Grenadiers. Those killed in the accident were identified as Mr S.P. Shukla, Mr S.J. Raja Mankam, Mr Mohan Lal and Mr Deen Bandhu.

The injured included Lance Naik P. Sunderam, jawan R.K. Singh, Lance Naik O.K. Artagi, jawan Satya Vir Singh, jawan Madan Kumar, Naik J.R. Jatt, Lance Naik S.N. Tiwari, and jawans Dalip Singh, Sawarkar Ganesh, Mohan Rana and Rajender Pandey.

Karmapa visits Trilokpur
Tribune News Service

DHARAMSALA, May 10 — The 17th Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorjee, today visited the religious shrine at Trilokpur, where the master of the Karma Kagyu sect, Tilopa, had meditated while in retreat.

Trilokpur, situated at a distance of 45 km on the Mandi-Pathankot national highway, is a famous Buddhist shrine. A Buddhist monastery and a nunnery is also situated here.

The 17th Karmapa drove back to the Gyuto monastery after the function.

BSF martyr cremated
Tribune News Service

DHARAMSALA, May 10 — Head Constable, Babu Ram of the BSF, who was killed in firing near Baramula, was cremated with full state honours at his native village, Bhadwara, near Fatehpur, today.

55 year old Babu Ram of 95 Battalion of the BSF is survived by his wife, two sons and two daughters. The SDM, DSP, Jwali and BSF personnel were present at the cremation.