11 detained for brawl
SHIMLA, July 22 — Eleven persons have been detained by the police following a brawl over some property dispute in which gunshots were also fired here last night.

Congress for probe into ‘faulty’ bridges
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, July 22 — The Congress has demanded a CBI inquiry into the collapse of two major bridges and various other works of the PWD in the recent rains.

This was demanded by the CLP leader, Mr Virbhadra Singh, while talking to media persons here today. The PCC chief, Mr Sat Mahajan, and former Speaker Thakur Kaul Singh were also present.

Mr Virbhadra Singh said the integrity of the public works department was under a cloud as “faulty” bridges constructed by it had been washed away. The two major bridges at Sataun in Sirmour district and the one over the Manglad khud had collapsed following the first rainfall.

He alleged this had been the result of connivance of the PWD authorities with the contractor mafia which was being backed by the BJP-HVC combine government.

Mr Virbhadra Singh said it was unfortunate that instead of taking action against the PWD Minister, Mr Mohinder Singh, the Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal, was protecting him.

He said the car parking constructed outside the office of the Deputy Commissioner here with much fanfare was washed away in a single rain.

Mr Mahajan and Mr Kaul Singh said the “charge sheet” against the Dhumal government was almost complete and would be got printed in a few days.

The Congress would seek dismissal of the BJP-HVC combine government against which serious cases of “corruption” had been listed in the charge sheet.

Mr Virbhadra Singh took exception to the imposition of 30 per cent tax on khair wood by the state government by equating it with timber. He said on coming into power, the Congress would not only scrap the tax, but also refund the amount collected from poor farmers.

He said khair wood was a cash crop for poor farmers and taxing it was an “immoral” act.

Mr Virbhadra Singh, welcoming the government intentions to check haphazard constructions here, said that Shimla had never seen such large-scale illegal construction as during the past two years ever since the BJP-HVC combine government came into power.

He said the government should not allow any relaxation in the use of the green belt for recreational and tourism purposes.

He said the ban on construction above Cart Road imposed by the government was nothing but reiteration of the old policy already there. He hoped that the ban would be implemented strictly and violations not allowed.

Mr Mahajan said at the meeting of the state executive of the PCC here yesterday, a resolution expressing grief over a number of deaths in the recent floods was adopted.

He said the response of the government towards the victims of floods was “slow”. Many roads were still blocked with landslides and apple and potato growers were suffering as they were unable to take their produce to the market.

Grand old hotel loses grandeur
From Kanwar Yogendra

SHIMLA: The Shimla-based Grand Hotel, now a holiday home for central government employees appears is in a run-down condition. Though renovation of one of its blocks is going on, yet most of its appears to be in a state of disrepair. Decaying wood, hotel waste, battered furniture and other heaps of scrap can be seen littered here and there.

Built in the late 19th century, this majestic hotel still commands the most imposing site in the town. Way back in 1922 a disastrous fire broke at in the central block of this hotel and despite all efforts the main building was completely destroyed. But fortunately after that, this multi-block hotel, with some of its parts more than a century old, is still intact and unscathed.

Over the years, the 141-room Grand Hotel has been used as a holiday home for central government employees and their families. Probably it is one of the biggest hotels in congested Shimla, which is not put to full and proper use.

The accommodation available at the hotel comprises different types of suites. These are single, couple and family suites with low room tariff. A family suite comprises a main bedroom , a side bedroom, a drawing-cum-dining hall with facilities of kitchen and bathrooms. The sizes of the bathrooms are bigger than most other hotels in Shimla, states Mr Lal Chand, the Assistant Estate Manager.

But despite providing luxury of space in a congested place like Shimla, most guests to the hotel are unhappy due to its poor and improper maintenance. The room rent should be raised with the cost of living, say a cross section of guests at the hotel. But at least some nominal facilities can be given, they say. The bathrooms are leaking , the furniture is too old to be used, there are no phones nor room service, they complain. “We have not seen any sweeper during our three-day stay here,” say Deepika and Ruchi who were staying in a family suite.

There is a paucity of staff at this holiday home. The vast property is managed by just eight sweepers, four room bearers and four chowkidars. It is definitely ridiculous, says an employee. And because of this some of the work is handled by outsiders, which can be avoided if there is sufficient staff, they feel. The management is unable to provide any heating arrangement or even quilts to tourists during winter. These have to be supplied from the market.

Water is also supplied by some outsiders for Rs 10 a bucket or even more inside the hotel as it has a perennial water problem. But the management sounds helpless as it is getting just 10,000 to 15,000 litres of water per day against its requirement of 80,000.

“We have full storing capacity and proper reservoirs but these are never filled,” says a manager.

With no housekeeping staff in any block of the hotel, this grand property is being used in a roughshod manner by guests after their departure. Getting accommodation at such low rates on the Mall, where other private hotels are charging several hundreds per day, how can they value the property or its historic grandeur, say local residents. “There is no concession for us and the only substantial income to hotel is also because of us”, add the locals, who pay up to Rs 15,000 per day for marriage and other parties on the premises.

The majestic and monumental property right in the heart of a congested town should be judiciously , properly and meticulously used, instead of it being used roughly or underutilised , say planning experts and NGOs.

Dulan project ‘threat’ to Tibetan culture
Tribune News Service

DHARAMSALA, July 22 — The Tibetan Government-in-exile said today that in case China decided to go ahead with the proposed Dulan project, despite the World Bank’s refusal to fund it, it will be tantamount to cultural genocide and destruction of Tibetan identity at the cost of economic development.

In a statement issued here today, the Minister for Information and International Relations, Mr T.C. Tethong, said that the so-called “economic development projects”, such as this would pose a threat to the very survival of the Tibetan environment, its people, culture and their identity.

He also expressed gratitude to the European Parliament for not only doing what they could to start negotiations between China and the Dalai Lama but also for supporting the Tibetan people’s stance and concern regarding the Western China Poverty Reduction Project. He added that it was all due to the support and help extended by various Tibet Help Groups, governments and NGOs from all over the world that the World Bank, on July 6 took a decision not to fund the Dulan project.

Mr Tethong, said that the project plans to resettle 60,000 Chinese migrants in an area where only a few thousand Tibetans and Mongolians had lived for generations. He added that besides the mass population transfer of ethnic Chinese, the project’s impact on the fragile environment of the region, religion, culture and identity of the local inhabitants, would be disastrous.

Janak Raj Gupta opposes resolution
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, July 22 — A former minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Mr Janak Raj Gupta, has demanded that the Centre should persuade the Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, to withdraw the controversial resolution seeking autonomy for Jammu and Kashmir.

Mr Gupta, who was talking to newspersons here today, said the resolution would pave way for disintegration of the country. He said the Congress was not in favour of the dismissal of Dr Abdullah’s Government, but the matter should be settled through a dialogue.

He blamed the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, and the Home Minister, Mr L.K. Advani, for the present situation in Kashmir by having first allowed the resolution to be tabled in the Assembly and then rejecting it at the Centre. As this was not enough, Mr Vajpayee again invited Dr Abdullah for talks to Delhi.

He said the weak-kneed policy of the Centre towards Kashmir has made a mess of things. The BJP Government was trying to undo what was achieved over the years towards the emotional integration of Kashmir with India.

Mr Gupta said the priority of Mr Vajpayee was to maintain unity within his National Democratic Alliance (NDA) rather than the unity of the country.

The CLP leader, Mr Virbhadra Singh, who was also present, said it was unfortunate that Dr Abdullah was touring the country to bring together the separatist forces.

He alleged that the BJP Government at the Centre was treating the alliance above the country.

Mr Gupta, who was here as an observer of the AICC, said that a North zone convention of the party will be held on August 27 and 28 to discuss various issues to strengthen the party. Partymen from Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir will participate in the conference which will be addressed by Mrs Sonia Gandhi.

He said the AICC has decided to revive the programme of training its activists in the ideology and various important national and state issues. Five persons from each block will be trained for the purpose and they in turn will educate other partymen about the policies and programmes of the Congress.

General Kala’s tip on training
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, July 22 — The need for cost-effective, practical and operational-oriented training to meet the changing complexion of the battle milieu in tune with rapid technological advancement has been emphasised by Lt-Gen H.B. Kala, GOC-in-C of the Army Training Command (ARTRAC).

He was speaking at the three-day All-India annual training conference which concluded here today. Among others who participated in the conference were the Deputy Chief of the Army Staff (Training and Coordination), heads of the premier training establishments, Director-General of Military Training, representatives of the directorate at Army Headquarters and regional commands.

The three-day deliberations remained focused towards maximising the effectiveness of training and analysing concepts and doctrines as would be applicable to the operational environment.

The Deputy Chief of the Army Staff highlighted the high state of professionalism with which the Indian Army accredited itself during the Kargil operations. He also apprised of the substantive increase in the demand of course vacancies in the Indian training institutions by the foreign armies, including highly developed western nations.

Macro level computer-based war games developed by the ARTRAC were presented to the participants. It is a major breakthrough in the field of modern training aids as such facilities are available in few modern armies of the world.

Income tax payers get PDS benefits
From Our Correspondent

HAMIRPUR, July 22 — With an eye on the municipal poll civic body members are helping income tax payers to get the benefits of fair price shops.

The people have to fill a form and get it attested to avail the benefits of fair price shops. The civic body members attest the forms indiscriminately.

The total number of ration-card holders in the district stands at 99,234, including 21,254 who live below the poverty line. The total population of the district using ration cards is estimated around 4,76,500.

The department supplies ration worth Rs 15 crore through various fair price shops. Those living below the poverty line are supplied 20 kgs of wheat per month at the rate of Rs 5 per kg and other items. Others are supplied various types of foodgrain and levy sugar at the rate of Rs 13 per kg.

There is a proposal to give 10 kg each of rice and wheat to those living below the poverty line rather than 20 kg of wheat, Mr B.R. Bhatia, the District Food and Supplies officer said.

Indefinite dharna by ABVP activists
Tribune News Service

DHARAMSALA, July 22 — Activists of the Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) today sat on an indefinite dharna in front of the office of the Director of the Regional Centre of the university in support of their demands.

The students had held a demonstration yesterday and after their talks with the Director failed, they decided to stage an indefinite dharna.

The students have been protesting against the illegal appointment of a teacher and fee hike and want appointment of regular staff and increase in the number of seats in various subjects.

11 detained for brawl
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, July 22 — Eleven persons have been detained by the police following a brawl over some property dispute in which gunshots were also fired here last night.

Two of the three injured persons have been hospitalised.

The police said that a case has been registered in the matter and some persons were being interrogated.