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| Wednesday, August 9, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
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Dhumal distributes Rs 12.54 lakh relief Probe incidents involving ministers: ex-CM
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MC poll: BJP’s
‘strategy’ boomerangs Chief Secy visits
limestone quarries Panchayat staff
stage fast Central team
visits Kinnaur One more held for
German’s murder Minor’s rape: bail
plea of accused
rejected Farmers to be
trained in detecting herbs Website of HP
department launched
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Dhumal distributes Rs 12.54 lakh relief SHIMLA, Aug 8 — Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister, today visited flood-affected areas of Brau, Rampur, Neogli, Luhri and Bhaira of Shimla and Kulu districts to ascertain the progress in relief and rehabilitation operations. This was his second visit to the flood-hit areas. Mr Dhumal expressed satisfaction over the work done by the PWD, the state electricity board, the Irrigation and Public Health, the SSB and the ITBP and lauded the services of all those engaged in relief and restoration operations. He distributed cash relief of about Rs 12.54 lakh among 26 flood-affected people in these areas, besides foodgrains and other eatables. At Brau and Luhari, the Chief Minister gave away pattas of two biswas of land to 24 persons whose houses were washed away in floods. A sum of Rs 2.24 lakh has already been given by the administration to them as immediate relief. The Chief Minister also met the aggrieved and affected families and expressed sympathies with them. He said the endeavour of the government was to ensure speedy rehabilitation of the affected families. He also urged the people to come forward in carrying out relief and rehabilitation work to supplement government efforts. He expressed surprise that some vested interests were giving a political hue to human misery and called upon one and all to rise above political considerations at this tragic hour and help in bringing normalcy back in the affected areas. At Nogli, Mr Dhumal said the government would examine the possibility of resettling those whose houses had become unsafe. Mr Maheshwar Singh, M.P, who accompanied the Chief Minister sanctioned Rs 10 lakh out of Sansad Nidhi at Luhri for restoration work, Rs 5 lakh at Nogli for flood protection work to save the building of Senior Secondary School and Rs 3 lakh for development of a crematorium at Rampur which was washed away in the floods and Rs 7 lakh for construction of a foot-bridge to Brau. Later, reviewing the progress with officers of Shimla and Kulu districts, he directed that the foot -bridge at Brau be constructed on a priority basis so that communication with Rampur could be established again. Mr Ashwani Kapoor, Deputy Commissioner, Kulu, informed the Chief Minister that 445 families had been affected in Kulu district . As many as 147 houses had been damaged. He said that Rs 52 lakh had been distributed as relief to the affected people in Kulu district so far. Mr P.C. Katoch, Deputy Commissioner, Shimla, said a population of 1500 had been affected in Rampur area of Shimla district and the total loss so far had been estimated at Rs 24 crore which included Rs 10 crore on account of bridges and roads, Rs 10 crore on account of National Highway-22, Rs 2 crore on account of buildings and Rs 2 crore on account of electricity, water supply and irrigation schemes. Meanwhile, relief and rehabilitation measures have received a further boost with the restoration of the road link to Rampur. The supplies can now be carried by road up to Wangtu and helicopter sorties for dropping relief material can be made from the Rampur helipad instead of Shimla. The facilities for refuelling helicopters have been already provided at Rampur. The four helicopters of the IAF made 10 sorties today to airlift 4,400 litres of kerosene, fabricated trolleys for ropeways and 153 quintals of ration to Peo, Ropa and Sangla. The Army also moved heavy equipment and machinery to undertake reconstruction work beyond Wangtu on a war footing. The Wangtu bridge, which was damaged in floods, was thrown open to heavy vehicles today. Mr A.K Goswami, Chief Secretary, while reviewing the progress of relief operations in flood affected areas of the state at a meeting of the crisis management committee, said so far 950 quintal of essential commodities of flour, rice, edible oil, salt, sugar and other items had been airlifted to important places. All 39 trolleys would be commissioned at identified places by August 15 to facilitate the movement of people and goods in cut-off areas. He said the footpath from Tapri to Cholling, mule track from Rogi towards Urni and anchorage works on Kharo and Shontong ropeway had been completed. Besides, pedestrian path from Kharo to Pooh, ropeways had been commissioned at Kaksatal, Gharsoo and Pandoha. Mr Goswami directed the state electricity board to ensure power supply through generators to hospitals, besides expediting power restoration to affected places in Kinnaur district. Mr J.P. Nadda, Health Minister, said adequate arrangements had been made to provide medical aid to the people in flood-affected areas. The stock position of medicines was satisfactory and the Central Government had despatched a truckload of essential medicines which had been sent to flood-hit areas. He said arrangements were also being made to airdrop essential medicines at Pooh. Medical teams had been deputed at Rampur, Nogli and Brow (tehsil Nirmand) and adequate staff was available in health institutions in the affected areas. The Health Minister said so far 33 bodies had been recovered, nine in Kulu district, 23 in Bilaspur and one in Shimla. All efforts were being made to extricate bodies and animal carcasses out of Gobind Sagar in order to prevent water pollution. The Irrigation and Public Health Department had also been asked to ensure the purity of water in catchment areas of Gobind Sagar. Meanwhile, contribution to the Chief Minister’s relief fund is pouring in. So far Rs 2.73 crore has been received. Officers and employees of the Forest Department have decided to donate a day’s salary to help the flood victims. The contribution received today included Rs 1,00,500 from the staff of the Director, Social and Woman Welfare Department, Mr Ashok Mehra Gurgaon, Rs 21,000, M.J. Enterprises, Baddi (Rs 21,000) P.K. Associates, Delhi (Rs 21,000), Mr J.B.L. Khachi, MLA and former minister (Rs 5,000) and Mr Prem Kaushal, gram panchayat, Tikker (Rs 15,000). |
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Probe incidents involving ministers: ex-CM SHIMLA, Aug 8 — Mr Virbhadra Singh, the former Chief Minister, today accused the Dhumal government of “hushing up” sensitive incidents involving ministers and demanded a CBI probe into three such cases. Addressing a press conference, he said the recent suicide by an unemployed youth in front of the residence of Mr J.P. Nadda, the Health Minister, had remained a mystery so far as the police had not made any proper investigation into the case. The parents of the deceased had stated that their son had paid a hefty amount to a tout for securing a government job. However when he did not get the job even after making the payment, he ended his life in disgust. In the case involving Mr B.R. Mandyal, the Chairman, Kangra Central Cooperative Bank, the police instead of making a proper inquiry pressurised the two women who had levelled serious charges of sexual exploitation against him. The two women who had made statements in presence of journalists, later withdrew the allegation under pressure from the administration. In yet another case a superintending engineer, who was involved in a dispute with the forest minister over a petrol pump was harassed to such an extent that he committed suicide. He said with the all powerful government blatantly favouring the accused ministers, only a probe by an independent agency like the CBI could uncover the truth. Referring the worsening financial situation of the government, the former Chief Minister said the coalition had set a record in raising loans. So far over Rs 1500 crore had been raised as loan in two years and loans to the tune of Rs 1000 were in the pipeline which would be beyond state’s repaying capacity. The BJP had made much hue and cry about the loans of Rs 800 crore raised by the previous Congress government out of which Rs 350 crore was repaid. But the present government had virtually gone on a loan-raising spree. The money thus raised was being squandered away in unnecessary purchases at inflated rates. He said a criminal politician-bureaucrat-contractor nexus had emerged in various departments, particularly the PWD and the Health Department. He took strong exception to the manner in which the government handed over the charge of the director general of police (DGP) to the junior most additional director general of police even when two officers of the DGP rank were there in the department. This would certainly demoralise the police and lead to indiscipline which was not a good augury for a uniformed outfit. He said he had nothing against Mr A.K. Puri, the acting DGP, who was a competent officer, but his elevation reflected the manner in which the Dhumal government worked. Mr Dhumal had no control over his ministers. Despite his repeated directions they did not attend office for days together. Now Mr Narinder Modi, BJP secretary, has asked the ministers to be present in their office at least one day in a week. He said the inauguration of a road constructed by his government in Lahaul-Spiti by two ministers on the same day and the state Cabinet altering the date of birth of an about-to-retire officer showed the coalition in poor light. |
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Cong unhappy with
tardy relief SHIMLA, Aug 8 — The state unit of the Congress has expressed dissatisfaction over the slow pace of relief and rehabilitation measures in the flood-ravaged areas and urged the government to come out with a consolidated list of the dead and missing persons. Mr Virbhadra Singh, Leader of the Opposition, said it was distressing that even seven days after the disaster the government had not been able to make any proper survey of the affected areas. What to speak of damage to property, it had even failed to give the exact death toll. The insensitive attitude of the government could be gauged from the fact that while the survivors were searching for the bodies of their near and dear ones, the bodies found in Gobind Sagar downstream were cremated as unidentified without even informing them. The bodies should have been identified and handed over to next of kin. Moreover, Mr Virbhadra Singh said the administration had made no efforts to extricate bodies from the debris in Brow, Jagaat Khana and other severely hit pockets. Only the SSB and ITBP jawans were assisting the affected people in removing the debris. He lamented that although the Centre had released Rs 100 crore for carrying out relief operations the state was not utilising its own calamity fund of Rs 29 crore. He wanted to know how much money had been spent by the state from its own resources. It was carrying out relief measures with a financially tight hand. He said although the people were donating liberally to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund, they were not sure whether or not it would be utilised for the purpose for which it was meant. He cited the example of Kargil Fund of which only Rs 2.5 crore was spent and the rest was kept in fixed deposit with the bank. Without naming Rampur, he said the present government had been adopting a discriminatory and biased attitude in the matter of development, filling vacant posts and even carrying relief and rehabilitation measures. The lack of adequate funds was hampering the relief operations. Not only that construction machinery like bulldozers, earth movers and compressors was diverted from Rampur to other areas by the present regime as a result of which the roads which were closed due to landslides could not be opened speedily. He said the helicopter flights for carrying essential supplies were good for publicity but did not mean much in real terms as without road links it was impossible to meet the requirements of such a huge population. The government, he suggested, should restore the Kaza route at the earliest so that farmers could transport apple, potato and other produce to the market. Instead of helicopters, a convoy of trucks should be sent via the Kaza Keylong-Manali route. He said there was no comparison of the bridges washed away by flashfloods and the Sataun and Mangladh bridges which collapsed due to use of substandard material. He reiterated his demand for a CBI probe into the collapse of these two bridges. |
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A rail project in limbo PARWANOO: About a year ago, a signboard was fixed on the Kalka-Shimla highway here, pointing towards the site of the proposed railway station at Kamli intended to serve the industrial town of
Parwanoo. The foundation stone of the project was laid by the then Railway Minister, Mr Nitish Kumar, in the presence of the Chief Minister of Himachal
Pradesh, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, and a number of senior state government and Railway officials. The project to extend the broad gauge railway line from Kalka to Parwanoo had generated a lot of interest among the industrialists and residents of Parwanoo and Kalka. They had for a long time been demanding this link. Mr Nitish Kumar assured them at the stone-laying ceremony that the project would be given priority. The function was held about two years ago, but no work has been done on this “priority” project except putting up the board on the highway, about a year after the ceremony. The foundation stone at the site has started chipping off and the brick work has also been damaged. According to sources, the Railway has not earmarked any funds for this project even this year. The residents and industrialists of the area have begun to despair of the project ever materialising. One reason for the delay could be that there may have been second thoughts in the Railway about the utility of the project. There apparently is a section which thinks the project may not benefit the passengers or the industrialists. Mr Dwarka Das, General Secretary of the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), recently expressed the view that the project would benefit neither the masses nor the industrialists of the area, and added that spending crores of rupees on the project would also not bring any gain to the Railway. He suggested that the government should instead extend the railway line from Kalka to Bharatgarh via Barotiwala, Baddi and Nalagarh for the greater benefit of the people as well as the industrialists of the area. This would provide a link between Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh and would foster the development of the area around it. The Kalka-Bharatgarh railway line would also provide a shorter route to Jammu and Kashmir and employment to the youth of the area, he said. The residents of Kamli village are also unhappy with the proposed project. They say they do not have surplus land to give for the extension of the railway line from Kalka to Parwanoo. They complain that they lost some of their land in the floods and if they now spare land for the project, they may become landless. The apple growers of the Shimla region say that it will not be convenient for them to send their produce to other states from the Parwanoo railway station as it will involve loading and unloading at various places and thus delay the movement. Apple being a perishable commodity, the consignments will get spoiled due to the delay. |
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MC poll: BJP’s
‘strategy’ boomerangs NURPUR, Aug 8 — The BJP, in an attempt to win the ensuing local Municipal Council (MC) elections, has reportedly objected to the inclusion of names and the voting rights of the Congress leader and PCC chief, Mr Sat Mahajan and his family in the voter’s list of the ward No 2 of the town by alleging that he was not a resident of the MC Nurpur. But the issue has again boomeranged as it did 10 years ago. According to the information, his voting right was first challenged in 1959 before the formation of Himachal Pradesh when his and his family’s name was deleted from the voters list. But Justice Bishan Narayan of the Punjab and Haryana High Court had upheld and restored his voting right in a petition filed by Mr Mahajan at that time. As a matter of fact whenever the BJP came into power, his voting right was objected to( in 1972 and 1990) but every time he got the right to exercise his franchise in the ward No 2. In 1977, when he was elected MLA for the first time from the Nurpur Assembly constituency, the Election Commission of India declared him a resident of ward No 2, Nurpur. Mr Mahajan started his political career from his native place, ward No 2. He had been elected unopposed as municipal councillor four times and then as the president of the MC. He was elected MLA of this Assembly segment thrice and once defeated Mr Shanta Kumar. Whenever his voting right had been objected to by his political opponents it became a matter of ridicule in the public. The recent objection has created a great furore among the electorate of this Assembly constituency which has been nursed and represented by Mr Mahajan for a long time. Political observers feel that the BJP is not likely to get any political mileage in the MC elections scheduled to be held in November. |
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Chief Secy visits
limestone quarries SHIMLA, Aug 8 — A standing monitoring committee headed by Mr Harsh Gupta, Additional Chief Secretary-cum-Secretary, Industries, visited limestone quaries and reviewed mining activities in Kamroo and Sangrah-Bhootmari areas in Sirmaur district. It also reviewed the implementation of earlier instructions given at the time of 16th inspection report. It took a serious note about non-compliance of the instructions like tarring of state highway No 1 in the Sataun Bridge-Kamroo section. Mr Gupta said two mines in Sangrah — Bhootmari sections had been ordered to be temporarily closed due to slippages in and around the mining areas probably owing to unscientific working. He further said a sub-committee of the Monitoring Committee had been asked to investigate the working of these mines and further decision would be taken on the submission of the sub-committee’s report. He told that lessees also discussed their problems, general as well as specially related to the marketing of the limestone. Mr Gupta assured the lessees that the relevant issues would be taken up with the appropriate authorities. |
Panchayat staff
stage fast KUMARHATTI, Aug 8 — The employees of Dharampur panchayat have started a chain fast here today. The agitated employees demanded increment in salary, uniforms according to seasons and curbing of nepotism in recruitment. The employees had submitted a memorandum to the district administration in this regard last month. The employees held a rally yesterday and raised slogans against the administration. Mr Narinder Kumar, leader of the employees, alleged instead of promoting senior employees, the panchayat president was appointing his own men. The newly appointed supervisor was being paid higher salary as compared to the senior employees. Meanwhile, Mr Ashok Kumar Gupta, president of the panchayat alleged that due to the appointment of a supervisor, employees had to perform their duties regularly which had caused resentment among them. |
One more held for
German’s murder MANALI , Aug 8 — A
police team led by Mr Nihal Chand, Deputy Superintendent of Police,
Manali, has succeeded in nabbing Revat Ram, a co-accused in the murder
of a German national Jorg Wethrauch (26), at Balu Gera on the
Manali-Chhatru-Hamta trek last month. He was arrested with the help of
villagers of Shegil, about 25 km from here, on Monday. According
to police sources, he absconded after committing the crime along with
other accomplices. However, an accused Ses Ram was arrested by the
Manali police the next day with the help of villagers. Four suspects
are still at large. |
Property worth
2 lakh gutted
SHIMLA, Aug 8 (UNI) — Property worth Rs 2 lakh was gutted in a fire which engulfed residence of an Army officer near Portmore School here this afternoon. Three fire engines fought for two hours to control the blaze and saved adjoining school buildings. The cause of fire was yet to be determined, fire office here said. |
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Minor’s rape: bail
plea of accused
rejected SHIMLA, Aug 8 — A single Bench of the High Court comprising Mr Justice M.R. Verma today dismissed the bail application of Mr Pawan Kumar who was allegedly involved in a minor’s rape case at Jhakri. The prosecution contended the accused offered her a lift in his vehicle when she was going to her relation of Kher village (Rampur). He forced her to take liquor and then rape her. The counsel for the accused claimed the girl, who is major, had left her home voluntarily and remained in the company of different persons due to her own free will. While dismissing the bail application of the accused, the Judge observed that as already stated that the girl was below 14 years of age and at present she was again missing and was allegedly abducted by the accused and other persons who were also stated to have raped her. In another case, a single bench of the high court consisting of Mr Justice L. S. Panta today granted bail to Mr Rajesh Kumar, contractor, who was arrested in connection with the collapse of the retaining wall constructed by him near the DC’s office. Mr Anup Chitkara, counsel for the accused, contended that the work was completed on August 20, 1999 and the work was carried out under the direct supervision of the Public Works Department and moreover the running bills had also been passed. |
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Central team
visits Kinnaur SHIMLA, Aug 8 — A nine-member high powered Central team led by Mr Govinden Nayar, Joint Secretary, Agriculture, visited flood-affected areas of Kinnaur district and held a meeting with the district officers at Rekong Peo in which Mr Chet Ram Negi, Parliamentary Secretary, Financial Commissioner-cum-Secretary Revenue, Mr Arvind Kaul, Financial Commissioner-cum-Seecretary Tribal Development. Mr Natar said the survey team would soon submit a detailed report of the losses caused due to unprecedented flashfloods to the Government of India. The report would be the basis for financial assistance to the people. The team also listened to grievances and problems of the people of the area. Mr Chet Ram Negi, Parliamentary Secretary, said the issue of giving Rs 10 for apple per kg in Kinnaur district should be taken up with the Central Government. He said apples worth Rs 40 crore were produced every year but due to natural calamity all bridges and roads had been washed away and it has become difficult for the growers to transport their produce to markets. He also stressed that reconstruction of the National Highway (No-22) should be taken up at war footing. He also urged the Central team to speed up the work on the Old Hindustan-Tibet road from Tapri to Rekong Peo and additional funds would be provided for alternative mule path till the national highway was opened. |
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Farmers to be
trained in detecting herbs NAHAN, Aug 8 — The raw material required for the preparation of ayurvedic medicines will be procured from within the state to enable farmers to supplement their income. This was stated by the Minister of State for Ayurveda, Mr Mohan Lal, during his visit to a government pharmacy at Majra near Paonta Sahib yesterday. The minister said semi-processing units would be established in Chamba and Joginder Nagar for processing the raw material. Two herbal stores would be opened at their places. He said the raw material would be sold in the open market after meeting the demands of government-run pharmacies. He said a Rs 8.27-crore Vanaspati Van Project, on the pattern of the Sanjhi Van Yojna, had been sanctioned and would commence from Kulu and Chamba districts. Farmers could cultivate and conserve herbs under this scheme, he added. He said farmers would be trained in Joginder Nagar to detect herbs and grow them as cash crop. The minister said 69 research products of pharmacies would be commercialised, including the slim-trim ayurveda product “Him Slim Kit”. |
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Website of HP
dept launched SHIMLA, Aug 8 — Mr Parveen Sharma, Minister of State for Excise and Taxtation, formally launched the website of the Excise and Taxtation Department of Himachal Pradesh here today. The contents of the website, at present available in the office website of the state government Himachal nic. in. will also be soon available on a separate address. The website has information about the prevalent rates of sales tax on different commodities, the details of tax-free goods, answers to frequently asked questions, downloadable forms under various enactment, details of Vishwas Yojna for self-assessment and tax incentives to various industrial units, Mr Sharma said. The information on the website would be updated on a fortnightly basis. Any suggestions and grievances could also be e-mailed at the address of HPExcise @ ned.vsnl.net. in or etc at the rate of hp.nic.in, he added. |
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