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| Sunday, July 16, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
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BJP sets up panel for panchayat poll NH-22 prone to landslides Party directive
to Dhumal Threat
to reservoir, rest house A father’s quest for
justice CPM against J&K trifurcation |
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Child burnt alive School
teacher found dead
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Mohinder not to be dropped: CM SHIMLA, July 15 — Mr Mohinder Singh, PWD Minister, is unlikely to be dropped from his ministry by the Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal, even after being declared an unattached member in the Himachal Pradesh Assembly. An indication to this effect was given by Mr Dhumal to TNS in a telephonic conversation from Delhi this morning. The Speaker, Thakur Gulab Singh, had yesterday declared Mr Mohinder Singh an unattached member on the basis of the majority decision of the legislature party of the HVC led by Mr Sukh Ram. Sources close to the Chief Minister said that there was no question of obliging Mr Sukh Ram by accepting his demand for sacking Mr Mohinder Singh. Mr Mohinder Singh will be allowed to continue in the ministry as he was a member of the assembly and his unattached status will not have any fallout on his being a minister. The sources pointed out that even the independent MLA, Mr Ramesh Chaudhary, was a minister in the Cabinet although he was not a member of any party. The state BJP chief, Mr Jai Kishen Sharma, has also made it clear that Mr Mohinder Singh will not be removed from the ministry although he has been declared an unattached member. On the other hand, Mr Sukh Ram has been mounting pressure on Mr Dhumal and the BJP leadership to sack Mr Mohinder Singh, Mr Sukh Ram has now relegated his demand for a CBI probe against the Congress leader, Mr Virbhadra Singh, to the background and has made Mr Mohinder Singh’s removal from the ministry the main issue. He had even met the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, and the Home Minister, Mr L.K. Advani, in support of his demand for sacking Mr Mohinder Singh.
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BJP sets up panel for panchayat poll SHIMLA, July 15 — The state executive of the BJP has underlined the need for better coordination between the party and the government and suggested certain measures to achieve this. The two-day meeting of the executive, which concluded here yesterday, recommended that to ensure availability of ministers in their offices a day in the week should be fixed. This arrangement would make it convenient for the legislators and the party workers to meet the ministers and take up their problems. Besides, the ministers and other leaders on tour should get in touch with the ‘shakti
Kendras' set up by the party in various constituencies to ensure proper coordination. Mr Jaikrishan Sharma, the president, maintained the issue of dissidence did not figure at the meeting as there was no factionalism in the party as had been made out in the media. The party decided to enrol 30 to 40 life members on annual subscriptions of Rs 1000, Rs 5000 and Rs 10,000 in each a constituency of the state. |
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NH-22 prone to landslides SHIMLA, July 15 — The defence strategic Hindustan-Tibet highway is becoming dangerous day by day with the problematic landslide points increasing because of cutting of hill slopes for construction of power projects beyond Rampur. The highway, which is also known as National Highway 22, is now closed beyond Solding where the bridge was knocked down by a landslide on Wednesday. The highway touches the borders of the China-occupied Tibet. Over a dozen landslide points have developed within a short distance between Jhakri and Jeori. The highway gets closed suddenly in the area when boulders start rolling down. At times the magnitude of the landslides is so big that it takes two to three days for reopening the road. This has also badly hit the efforts to promote tourism in the tribal area of Kinnaur which has several ancient monasteries. Only last month the highway was badly damaged at several places because of a flash-flood and landslides. About three years ago the highway suffered widespread damage due to cloud bursts. Of the total length of 500 km of the highway which starts from Ambala and terminates at Kaurik bordering Tibet, only 165 km length is with the Deepak Project of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and the remaining portion is looked after by the National Highway Authority wings of the Haryana, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh PWD in their respective territories. The condition of the highway in the portion being maintained by the BRO is far better than that being looked after by the National Highway Authority. The entire highway beyond Shimla was earlier under the control of the BRO, but sometime ago a big portion between Kiongal to Wangtu was transferred to the PWD because of commercial activity of the power projects. The road between Wangtu to Kaurik being maintained by the BRO is excellent, while the portion on this side has developed many landslides because of indiscriminate cutting of hills. The situation is worst around Bhabanagar where the Nathpa Jhakri Power Project is being constructed. The Solding bridge, which is maintained by the state PWD, has suffered damage whenever there has been a flood or landslides. It was damaged about three years ago and was reconstructed only to get washed away last month. Thereafter, the vehicular traffic was crossing the river through the suspension bridge which too has got destroyed now. A patch of road at the Manglad khud was washed away last year paralysing traffic for about three months. Another landslide causing frequent problem is at Neogalseri, 2 km short of Bhabanagar is also in a bad condition. The nullahs are flowing over the road at Kaksthal near Tapri which is another dangerous point. The Malling nullah has also become a perpetual source of damage to the highway. The nearly 88 km stretch of road between the Pangi nullah to Malling has developed at least three major landslides with Thangi in between. Urni Dhank, Rally and Pawari are also problematic points on the highway. During winters, avalanches also shoot trouble at Rally, Changi, Bhagat nullah and Tinku
Nublah. |
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Party directive
to Dhumal SHIMLA, July 15 — The general secretary of the BJP, Mr Narendera Modi, has asked the Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal, and all his ministers to be present at their offices in the Secretariat here every Tuesday. Mr Modi, who is looking after the affairs of Himachal Pradesh in the BJP high command, said that it was necessary that the ministers make themselves available in the Secretariat on one particular day so that people coming from various parts of the state for getting their grievances solved were certain that the minister would be present in his office. Mr Modi was speaking at the conclusion of the two days meeting of the
newly appointed office-bearers of the party here last evening. Mr Dhumal, who was also present at the meeting, accepted the suggestion of Mr Modi and asked the ministers to be in their offices here every Tuesday. It is worth mentioning here that at a recent meeting of the Cabinet, Mr Dhumal had asked the ministers not to keep themselves out of state headquarters as frequently as
they were doing so. This was damaging the image of the government as on many days not even a single minister was found in the Secretariat. Mr Modi also said that BJP activists with clean image should be encouraged in the coming panchayat elections. Women should be given more representation. Mr Dhumal criticised the previous Congress regime for having made a mess to the public utility services. |
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Threat
to reservoir, rest house DHARAMSALA, July 15 — Owing to the
alleged callousness of the Municipal Committee with regard to the
construction of the much-needed parking lot in the town, there is a
threat to the triple-storeyed PWD Rest House and the huge water
reservoir, located above the site. As if the wrong selection of the site was not enough, the incessant rains has made the situation worse. Despite repeated warnings by the Public Works Department and the irrigation authorities not to start work at the site, as it could trigger major landslides, the Municipal Committee threw caution to the winds and proceeded with the work. With the land in the area already being slushy, the retaining wall put up by the Municipal Committee was on the verge of collapse when it was given support with beams. Work in the area became difficult as due to heavy rain the site became slushy. Alarmed by the situation, the PWD and the IPH authorities, too, visited the site to prevent any damage to their structures. Right above the construction site is the 1.5-lakh litre capacity water reservoir of the Irrigation and the Public Health (IPH)Department. Undertaking digging work below such a huge structure, in itself, was a major blunder, by the committee. The Executive Engineer, IPH, said that despite their warning, the committee went ahead with the work, posing a threat to their structure also. He said that while there was no immediate threat to the water reservoir, but if remedial steps were not taken, there could be trouble. The Executive Engineer (PWD), Mr D.R. Chaudhary, said that his department was also against the construction of a parking lot at the site, but still the municipal committee, started work. He added that until a proper retaining wall was raised, their rest house, could also be threatened. He said taking up work in a sliding zone in itself was a big mistake by the committee. The President of the Municipal Committee, Mr Kamal Minocha, claimed that before starting work they were not aware that the site was slushy and a sliding zone. He, however, added, that it was mainly the rain and delay in work which had created a problem. Regarding the retaining wall becoming slanting and being on the verge of collapse, he said this happened due to the trees at the construction site. “There is no threat now as we have given support to the retaining wall with the help of beams, and apart from this another retaining wall will be constructed,” he assured. Mr Minocha said that the Deputy Commissioner, along with the engineers from the PWD, had inspected the site and suggested some remedial measures. As per their directions, the site had been covered with plastic sheets and pipes had been put for draining water. He said that work on the site would go on when there was no rain, as the parking lot was much needed and would provide place for parking 70 vehicles. It is surprising how the authorities could have been so ‘callous’ especially when it is common knowledge that Dharamsala, Kangra and Chamba district fall in the seismic-prone area. Moreover, on the recommendation of the Wadia Institute of Seismology, a complete ban had been imposed on constructions in the Tikka Gamru area, adjoining the proposed parking site. |
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A father’s
quest for
justice KULU: Hira Lal sat in his home in Sachani village, waiting for his daughter Brinda Devi to return from Kulu where she had gone for a court hearing of her maintenance suit against her estranged husband. When she did not return that night, Hira Lal was not unduly worried. She might have stayed at a relative’s place near Kulu where a marriage was being celebrated, he thought. This was on December 11, 1998. Two days later, Ganga Ram, another resident of the village, came running to him to say that he (Ganga Ram) had received a call from the SHO of Mandi that Brinda had committed suicide, and that her body was lying in the Civil Hospital at Mandi. Hira Lal reached Mandi the same day. There he was told by the SHO that his daughter had taken poison, the post-mortem examination had been done and that he should take the body to his village and cremate it immediately, or the police would do the cremation at Mandi. Her cremation at Dalashani was attended by the entire village, except her in-laws. Brinda was married to Prakash Dev of the same village in 1993. Her in-laws, according to her brother, Harmesh Lal, had been torturing her for more dowry, including cash. Pushed to the wall, Brinda filed a complaint against her husband and the case was pending in the court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Kulu. According to Harmesh Lal, she was beaten by her husband on January 12, 1998, also and a complaint was registered at the Kulu police station. He alleged, however, that no action was taken. The mysterious death of Brinda roased the ire of the villagers. The Mahila Mandals, Yuva Mandals and members of the panchayat came to Hira Lal’s help and submitted a representation to the Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister urging him to order a high-level inquiry into the incident. They also submitted a letter, signed by 176 villagers, to the Chief Minister alleging the involvement of Brinda’s husband and his family in her death. The Gram Panchayat pradhan, Mr Jog Ram Sharma, alleged that no concrete action had been taken against the culprits because of political pressure and efforts were also being made to hush up the case. Shedding further light on the matter, Harmesh Lal said Brinda had been maintaining a personal diary which contained evidence against her husband and in-laws. The diary, he said, was handed over to the then Superintendent of Police, Mandi. An FIR was registered at Mandi on December 18, 1998. Harmesh Lal said the police did visit their village, but to their surprise, stayed at the house of Brinda’s in-laws and left the next morning without arresting anybody. However, police sources in Mandi said the suspects had been arrested and later released on bail. They said a challan under Section 304, IPC, had been submitted in the court on February 22, 2000. That the State Human Rights Commission has remained silent on the issue has only added to the grief of Brinda’s kin. They are now urging for the intervention of the commission so that justice is not denied to them. Hira Lal also met the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, in Manali on June 4 last and submitted a petition to him. Hira Lal’s hopes are now pinned on the Prime Minister although a routine reply from the Prime Minister’s Office that the matter was being looked into, does not offer much solace to the grieving father. |
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CPM against J&K trifurcation SHIMLA, July 15 — The CPM is not in favour of trifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir and has suggested that the Jammu and Ladakh regions should be given autonomy within the state. This was stated by Mr Sita Ram Yachuri, member of the politbureau of the CPM, while talking to media persons here today. Mr Yachuri, who was replying to questions about the current agitation in Ladakh for union territory status, said that the trifurcation of the sensitive state of Jammu and Kashmir would help the American concept, which envisaged making Kashmir a totally Muslim buffer state. He said that the CPM was clear that there was no going back to the pre-1953 position, but autonomy should be given to Jammu and Kashmir which is guided by Article 370 of the Constitution. The autonomy for Jammu and Kashmir should not be confused with the autonomy for other states, which had to be restricted to the recommendations of the Sarkaria Commission like devolution of more finances. Mr Yachuri said that it was necessary to implement the provisions of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, which had been diluted over the years. He accused the BJP-led NDA government of Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee of having rejected the autonomy resolution under the pressure of the RSS. Initially, it was an ‘ill-advised’ move of the Centre to give signals to Dr Farooq Abdullah to go ahead with the resolution. He alleged that the NDA partners continued to support Mr Vajpayee despite self-contradictions just to keep sticking to the chair. The National Conference was continuing its support to Mr Vajpayee although the Centre had rejected its autonomy resolution and the parties of the South were sticking with the NDA although the Centre has adopted a totally contrary stand on the issue of Tamil Eelam. The Defence Minister and Samata Party leader, Mr George Fernandes, was supporting the BJP government even after criticising the VHP and Bajrang Dal, which were outfits of the BJP, for attacking members of the Christian community. The communal agenda of the BJP was being implemented by the government which had created a serious situation under which the unity and integrity of the country were at stake, he alleged. He announced that the CPM and other Left and ‘secular’ parties would launch an agitation against the government in which the farmers and the working class would also participate. |
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Child burnt alive MANDI, July 15 — In a tragic case an 18-month child, son of Mr Devi Chand was burnt alive when the house where the child was sleeping alone was reduced to ashes today in Bagil Dhar village in Gharan Panchayat of the Darang Constituency 19 km from here. None was in the house when fire broke out. Mr Devi Chand whose house was destroyed in the fire was given an ex-gratia relief of Rs 15,000. The child was his brother’s son. |
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School
teacher found dead SHIMLA, July 15 — A schoolteacher, Mr Mohan Singh Kalta, was found dead in mysterious circumstances on a road near Chhota Shimla this morning. The police said his body was found near Knols Wood. It bore injuries on the head, ears and eyes. |
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