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| Wednesday, May 24, 2000, Chandigarh, India  
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Attempt
to defame me, says Virbhadra Plan
to develop Chachiot valley No
Central rule in Tripura: Advani Concrete
jungle dots Palampur |
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| No takers for art pieces SHIMLA, May 23 — There are no takers for the art pieces which are rusting in the mini-museum of Raj Bhavan because of seepage of water in the gallery. The project is now in neglect as it is considered a baby of the former Governor, Mrs Rama Devi, who has now gone to Karnataka. HP selected for farm project SHIMLA, May 23 — Himachal Pradesh is one of the six states in the country which has been selected for the agriculture project on “Innovations in technology dissemination”. I-cards for Gujjar families CHAMBA, May 23 — Entry of nomad Gujjar families into the sensitive border regions of Chamba district adjoining Jammu and Kashmir would be permitted on the basis of identity cards like the last year, said Mr Mohan Lal, Minister of State for Ayurveda, while presiding over a meeting of representatives of the Gujjars, police and forest officers. Problems of livestock of Gujjars were discussed at the meeting. Brick-kiln owners protest against ST evasion UNA, May 23 — A meeting of the Himachal Pradesh Brick Kiln Owners’ Association was held here on Sunday to protest against the government’s failure to check the illegal entry of truckloads of bricks from Punjab. Sonia may visit HP next month SHIMLA, May 23 — Mrs Sonia Gandhi, Congress President, is likely to address a rally at Mandi next month in protest against the hike in prices.
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Attempt to
defame me, says Virbhadra SHIMLA, May 23 — A former Chief Minister and Leader of the Opposition, Mr Virbhadra Singh, today accused the BJP-HVC combine government led by Mr P.K. Dhumal of trying to “defame” him by unnecessarily dragging his name in the Khair wood controversy. Reacting sharply to the reports in media about a special investigation team (SIT) examining him on the issue of allotment of Khair wood quota to a firm during the Congress regime, Mr Virbhadra Singh described it as a “very crude and cheap attempt” on the part of the Dhumal government to defame him. He alleged that the Chief Minister had been all along trying to somehow implicate him in this matter and accused him of being the architect of this campaign of slander and calumny to drag “my name in order to spoil my image”. Mr Virbhadra Singh said that “I am very proud of my humble contribution to the development of the state and it had always been my endeavour to give a clean and transparent administration to the state. The whole case relates to the allotment of Khair wood to various ‘katha’ units in the state. One such Una-based unit was already granted 50 per cent of the available Khair wood by the previous BJP government initially for five years and subsequently extended for another five years. It was the Congress government’s concern that no monopolistic overtones appear in any such allotment and, therefore, on due recommendation after careful examination at various levels, the government in its wisdom decided to allot 25 per cent of Khair wood to another similar unit based in Kala-Amb in Sirmour district within the existing policy framed by the previous BJP government. The overriding consideration in taking a decision by the government was, as always, to ensure justice, fair play and equitable treatment to all. “It is, therefore,
unfortunate that having failed to pin me down in any
matter so far in spite of strenuous efforts, the Dhumal
government has deliberately launched this campaign of
misinformation by briefing the Press as if something
wrong and illegal has been done by me. This insinuation
is totally false, baseless and malicious and appears to
be an offshoot of a petty mind and also shows to what
extent this government can stoop in furtherance of its
political vendetta.” |
HP
teachers to boycott exam duties SHIMLA, May 23 — The Himachal Pradesh University Teachers Association has decided to boycott examination duties and evaluation of answer sheets in protest against the failure of the university authorities to release arrears of revised pay scales to teachers. The association which met under the chairmanship of Prof Sunil Gupta, the president of association, here today, also decided to hold dharna in front of the Vice-Chancellor’s office daily and wear black badges. The protest would
continue until all its other pending demands like removal
of anomalies in pay scales and filling of vacant posts
were accepted. Cong, CITU back teachers’
stir SHIMLA, May 23 — The Congress and the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) have come out in support of the agitating contract teachers and have described their termination as unjustified. The PCC General Secretary, Mrs Asha Kumari, in a statement here yesterday said that the attitude of the state government in respect of the trained teachers working on contract basis against JBT post was most unfortunate. She said that they were appointed by the previous government to fill up a large number of vacancies in schools. The CITU has urged the government to formulate a policy to regularise their services.
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Plan to
develop Chachiot valley MANDI, May 23 — Mr Mahinder Singh, PWD Minister, has said the Himachal Pradesh Government had drawn up a plan to develop the backward Chachiot valley in this district. The top priority would be given to the construction of roads in the far-flung areas with the view to connecting maximum number of villages with roads. He announced that a full-fledged PWD division would be opened shortly at Bali Chowki to accelerate the construction of roads and bridges. The Minister, who was speaking at the closing day of the three-day Bali Chowki Fair today said the festivals had played a big role in preserving the cultural heritage of the state.
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No Central
rule in Tripura: Advani SHIMLA, May 23 — The Union Home Minister, Mr L.K. Advani, today said that the Centre did not intend imposing the President’s rule in Tripura where ethnic clashes have claimed 45 lives. Mr Advani, who was talking to newsmen here, said that the BJP government was not in favour of bringing any state under President’s rule. He was in constant touch with the Tripura Chief Minister, the Defence Minister and paramilitary forces for restoring normalcy in the state where the situation worsened last week following bloody clashes between the tribals and non-tribals. Additional forces of the Assam Rifles and the CRPF had been rushed to Tripura to bring the situation under control. The government was hopeful that “we will soon be able to return to the pre-Kargil situation on the Kashmir issue.” A three-pronged strategy had been adopted to meet the situation which had been created with Pakistan consistently hyping up cross-border terrorism by pushing in suicide squads and indulging in all sorts of mischief. The strategy aimed at pursuing pro-active path against terrorists and to restore normalcy by carrying on developmental activities without any let up and also hold a dialogue with all those people within the country who had genuine grievances. He categorically refused that Pakistan would be included in such talks. The Home Minister refused to reply to questions on the progress of the government in talks with the Hurriyat leaders who had recently been released from jail. He said that the three-pronged strategy also applied to the north-eastern states. He clarified that India was always ready to talk with Pakistan before the Kargil episode, “but now we have changed our attitude and will hold talks for normalising relations between the two countries only after Pakistan relents. The world opinion was against Pakistan and the USA has also supported our stand and asked Pakistan to create a congenial atmosphere for reopening a dialogue with India.” The Kashmiri Pandit migrants, who constitute a major chunk, would be taken into confidence during talks on Kashmir. Replying to questions on the Sri Lanka situation, Mr Advani said that India was firm on not adopting the IPKF route and our policy was that the Tamil-speaking people should be given an honourable place without disintegrating the country. The integrity of Sri Lanka should be maintained. The Congress miserably failed in its plans to destabilise the BJP government on the issues of reducing subsidies on kerosene, fertilisers and foodgrains and also the Centre’s policy on Sri Lanka. The efforts of the Congress for creating a misunderstanding among alliance partners of the Vajpayee government on these two issues had failed as all of them had endorsed these policies. Mr Advani refused to comment on the coup attempt in Fiji which, he said was their internal matter. The Bill for creating
three new states would be introduced in Parliament in its
monsoon session. Advani visits Hanuman temple SHIMLA, May 23 — Mr L.K. Advani, Union Home Minister, who is here on a four-day holiday, today visited the famous Hanuman temple atop the 8000-foot Jakhoo peak and paid obeisance. Accompanied by his wife Kamala, son Jayant and daughter Pratibha, Mr Advani spent about one and a half hours at the picturesque tourist resort which provides a panoramic view of the hills from the highest peak of the town. Mr Hiren Pathak,
Minister of State for Defence, Mr L.M. Singhvi, well
known constitutional expert, Mr Narinder Bragta,
Horticulture Minister, and Mr Ganesh Dutt, Vice-Chairman
of the state housing board also visited the temple along
with him. |
Concrete
jungle dots Palampur PALAMPUR: Haphazard growth of this beautiful town has increased pollution. The concrete jungles are fast dotting the landscape. With rising population, unchecked construction and fast depleting green, this town is heading towards becoming a health hazard. Though, there is adequate legislation to combat this problem, yet in the present complex socio-political set up the executive finds itself helpless to deal with the situation. This eco-fragile zone of the Himalayas, however, warrants conservation measures at the level of the community. Despite repeated requests of the local residents no efforts have been made in past two years to extend the municipal limit of the town. Over 80 per cent population of the town still lives outside the municipal limit, i.e in panchayat areas. A number of new colonies have come up in these areas in the past 10 years. People have grossly trespassed the environmental parameters. The town has witnessed an unprecedented increase in the number of automobiles. Continuous rise in the traffic volume has assumed a serious dimension as roads have shrunk with that the parking spaces. The frequent traffic jams are the order of the day. The narrow Pathankot-Mandi National Highway which passes through this town has become major traffic hazard. Long -pending demand of the residents for the construction of a by-pass is yet to be implemented. This project has been hanging fire since 1995. Public hygiene has deteriorated. Heaps of garbage can be seen in Ghuggar, Aima, Bundla and Tanda. Since these areas are beyond municipal limits, no one removes the garbage there. People have high hopes from the Pilot Development Plan for Palampur town under Narad-aided projects. This project will be taken up with the financial assistance of Norway. The project is aimed at tackling the environmental problems, protection of the Himalayas, planned development and expansion of the town. Besides, the project would also look into the emerging threat of pollution in the town. A team of state Town and
Country Planning Department officials along with the
experts from Norway recently visited the town and held
discussion with the officials of the Municipal Council,
panchayat pardhans and residents of the town. |
Move to
elect MC chief condemned SOLAN, May 23 — Leaders of four opposition parties have expressed resentment over the reported government move to hold elections for the post of president of the local municipal council on May 27. Kul Rakesh Pant, president SJP, Himachal Pradesh, Mr Jagmohan Malhotra and Mr Shiv Kumar general secretaries of the District Congress Committee, Mr Har Gopal Singh, Member politburo of the United Communist Party of India and Mr A.N. Grover, district convener of the Himachal Vikas Party, in a joint statement to the press here yesterday said the election of the president of the municipal council had been necessitated by the election of earlier incumbent, Mr Rajiv Bindal to the legislative assembly recently. They said after Mr Bindal’s resignation from the posts of Municipal Commissioner and Municipal President, election to both the offices had fallen due. Logically, the election of the Municipal Commissioner from Mr Bindal’s ward should have been held prior to the election for the post of president. “Unfortunately the government had decided to hold the election of the president ahead of the one for the Municipal Commissioner. This move would be tantamount to denying the right to vote to the would be commissioner. Ironically, the election for the Municipal Commissioner’s post from the ward, vacated by Mr Bindal has been fixed for June 11, 15 days after the presidential election”. The five leaders termed the government move as a “gross violation of democratic principles of our Constitution and of natural justice and equity”. They also met the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Sunjay Murthy, and handed over a memorandum to him in this connection. They said Mr Murthy had expressed his helplessness saying that the election dates had been fixed as per government directives. He, however, assured the Opposition leaders that he would forward their memorandum to the government.
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No takers
for art pieces SHIMLA, May 23 — There are no takers for the art pieces which are rusting in the mini-museum of Raj Bhavan because of seepage of water in the gallery. The project is now in neglect as it is considered a baby of the former Governor, Mrs Rama Devi, who has now gone to Karnataka. These art pieces from various parts of the state, including tribal areas, were put on display in a hurry in November last when Mrs Rama Devi was about to be transferred. The gallery in the basement of a passage in the backyard of Raj Bhavan has now developed seepage at many places and the artefacts are getting destroyed. A high-level meeting was held sometime back under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary to find a new home for these art pieces. It was decided to shift these to the state museum and the tourist information centre on Cart Road. But these set-ups have so far not come forward to take charge of the artefacts which represent the culture and social life of the tribal areas and other districts. These pieces were contributed by the respective district administrations. The state museum has no place to display several items which are already lying in its stores. It is learnt that being in the security zone of Raj Bhavan, the art gallery has also failed to attract school children and tourists for whom it was mainly meant. Raj Bhavan officials have time and again written to various school managements to bring students to the exhibition which is considered a window on the culture of the state. Mrs Rama Devi had taken
a lot of interest in setting up the mini-museum, but the
project has gradually fallen out of grace with transfer
from here. |
HP
selected for farm project SHIMLA, May 23 — Himachal Pradesh is one of the six states in the country which has been selected for the agriculture project on “Innovations in technology dissemination”. This was stated here yesterday by Mr A.K. Goel, Director-General, National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management, while inaugurating a national workshop on “Participatory extension management”. The workshop has been organised in collaboration with Michigan State University, USA. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Goel said that under the National Agricultural Technology Project (NATP), with the assistance from the World Bank, the major thrust of the project was to upgrade the technical skills of personnel in the country and development of infrastructural facilities through the Ministry of Agriculture. He said under the project six states — Maharastra, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Punjab and Himachal — had been selected. Initially one district each in these states has been selected where pilot testing is in progress. He further informed that subsequently three more districts in each state would be added. Dr Rita Sharma, Joint
Secretary, Agriculture (Extension), Government of India,
conveyed the potential and need for participatory
approach for a lasting change. |
I-cards
for Gujjar families CHAMBA, May 23 — Entry of nomad Gujjar families into the sensitive border regions of Chamba district adjoining Jammu and Kashmir would be permitted on the basis of identity cards like the last year, said Mr Mohan Lal, Minister of State for Ayurveda, while presiding over a meeting of representatives of the Gujjars, police and forest officers. Problems of livestock of Gujjars were discussed at the meeting. The representatives of the Gujjars requested the authorities to shift some check-posts of the security forces to high-altitude places so that they could avail the area for grazing their livestock within border limits. It was also decided that
the shepherds would be permitted to carry their sheep and
goats to the Pangi valley from June 20 to July 10 with
proper security cover. |
Brick-kiln
owners protest against ST evasion UNA, May 23 — A meeting of the Himachal Pradesh Brick Kiln Owners’ Association was held here on Sunday to protest against the government’s failure to check the illegal entry of truckloads of bricks from Punjab. While addressing mediapersons, the president of the association, Mr Jeewan Batta, said brick kilns in the state would remain closed from September 1 to December 30 as a protest. It was pointed out that 200 trucks carrying eight lakh bricks were entering Kangra while 70 trucks carrying 2.8 lakh bricks were entering Una every week without paying any tax at the barriers. Mr Batta said these
bricks were substandard and the state was loosing revenue
worth lakhs of rupees due to tax evasion. |
Sonia may
visit HP next month SHIMLA, May 23 — Mrs Sonia Gandhi, Congress President, is likely to address a rally at Mandi next month in protest against the hike in prices. It is learnt that she is expected to visit Himachal sometime in the third week of June and participate in a Congress workers camp during which she will interact with party workers. The PCC General Secretary, Mrs Asha Kumari, said Mandi had been selected as the venue for the rally as she had already visited Shimla and Kangra during Lok Sabha elections. The AICC General
Secretary, Mr Moti Lal Vora, is also scheduled to address
a rally at Solan in the first week of June. |
B.P.
Malhotra chief of architects’ body SHIMLA, May 23 — Mr B.P. Malhotra was today elected chairman of the state unit of the Indian Institute of Architects. The others who were elected are: Vice-Chairman — Mr H.S. Kaushal, Treasurer — Mr K.S. Chauhan, Joint Secretary — Mr R.K. Dogra and Mr V.P. Singh Jaiswal.
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Thakur
Mandi BJP chief MANDI, May 23 — Mr Jai Ram Thakur, MLA, was unanimously elected president of the district unit of the BJP today. The elections were conducted under the supervision of Mr K.D. Dharmani state in charge of the party elections. The two other candidates — Mr Adan Singh and Mr Hardyal Singh withdrew their nomination papers paving the way for the unanimous election of Mr Thakur. Mr Thakur said he would
refurbish the party from the mandal level. He also
announced his decision to resign from the post of
president, Yuva Morcha, Himachal Pradesh. |
Press
Club chief SHIMLA, May 23 — Mr P.N. Sharma, a senior journalist, was today elected President of the Shimla Press Club. He replaced Mr Krishna Bhanu who stepped down for personal reasons. Mr Shashikant Sharma
(Dainik Tribune) was elected General Secretary and Mr
Mukesh Agnihotri (Jansatta) Vice-President. |
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