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| Friday, August 11, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
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Virbhadra challenges Dhumal WANGTU (Kinnaur), Aug 10 — Oil lamps and candles for lighting, mules for carrying goods and old mountain trails for moving from one place to another, life in the tribal Kinnaur region is back to the “not-so-good” old days. Mahatma Gandhi’s statue damaged Be humane, Nadda tells Virbhadra Governor cancels
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| Manimahesh yatra begins today KHUNDI MURAL (Chamba), Aug 10 — The safety of at least 1,000 persons on Manimahesh yatra from Bhaderwah in Jammu and Kashmir to Bharmour in Himachal is giving anxious moments to the security forces in the border areas of Chamba. The pilgrims are to cross a stretch of 35 km of sensitive and uninhabited forest area in Kehar sector. Dalit’s beating:
rights panel asked to take notice HP seeks changes
in finance panel proposals Medicos suspend
strike
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Virbhadra challenges Dhumal MANDI, Aug 10 — Former Himachal Chief Minister and Congress Legislature Party leader Virbhadra Singh, yesterday challenged the Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, to specify a single work or project which was initiated and completed by his government. He said all projects which Mr Dhumal was inaugurating almost daily had actually been taken up and largely completed during the Congress rule in the state. Speaking at a function of party workers on the occasion of “Quit India Movement Day” Mr Virbhadra Singh said the Congress was behind the development in India as also in Himachal Pradesh. He said he was intrigued or rather amused to read the “unfounded and fantastic” claims of Mr Dhumal who was taking the credit for all that “we did”. He ridiculed him for his “wild claims” that development had started in the state after March 24, 1998 when he took over as Chief Minister. He wondered if a man of an “ordinary diligence” could indulge in such shallow talk. He said people of the state had been disillusioned with the BJP-HVC government and were repenting for having voted for them. He said the Dhumal government, in fact, had done nothing during the past 30 months except retarding the pace of development set up by the Congress. “They had been indulging in mass transfers of employees either for consideration or with a view to politically victimise them over these months,” he alleged. Former Chief Minister said despite liberal assistance from the Centre the pace of development in the state had slowed down considerably and the funds were being laundered on “unproductive and wasteful” ventures. The BJP had raised a lot of hue and cry when we raised loan of Rs 800 crore. Whereas the ruling party has by now raised a loan of over Rs 3,300 crore and in spite of that the state was on the brink of bankruptcy”, he said. He described Mr Dhumal as a “weak and ineffective Chief Minister who lacked the skill to goad or guide his ministers who felt the ministerial berths were meant to enjoy life.” Mr Dhumal had to seek the help of Mr Modi to ensure that his ministers stayed in Shimla and attended to their work. Former Chief Minister alleged that corruption was rampant in the state with the active connivance of politicians and bureaucrats. |
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Kinnaur back from roads to trails WANGTU (Kinnaur), Aug 10 — Oil lamps and candles for lighting, mules for carrying goods and old mountain trails for moving from one place to another, life in the tribal Kinnaur region is back to the “not-so-good” old days. Indeed, the fit of fury, which momentarily gripped the Sutlej, has pushed back Kinnaur, one of the most developed tribal area of the country, by decades. The wiping out of roads, bridges, power lines and other infrastructure created through years of painstaking effort at a huge cost has completely paralysed life here. The uprooting of the electric poles and towers have
disrupted the power transmission and distribution network, plunging most village of Kinnaur in to darkness. It is hardly
surprising that candles, which are in great demand in the affected areas, are being airlifted by helicopters along with kerosene. The disruption of the electricity supply has also affected the water supply to several villages as pumping machinery cannot be operated. With the vital bridge and road network connecting various valleys washed away, the administration is busy restoring the neglected mountain trails which served the tribals for centuries when the road network did not exist at all. The Hindustan-Tibet route along with other footpaths, which were in bad shape due to perennial neglect, are being repaired on war footing to provide minimal communication link to those cut off. With trunks and other vehicles off the road, mules are back in action after decades. The beast of burden will play a vital role in maintaining essential supplies to hundreds of cut off villages over the next few months. Mail runners, who have been so far delivering mail pieces to the interior village, will now be used to maintain the main postal line from Rampur onwards. Mr Vijay Bhushan, Chief General Manager, Himachal Postal Circle, said many new postal lines would have to be created to reach the cut-off areas. Besides redeployment of the existing mail runners, some more would have to be engaged to carry out the task. He said the accumulated mail from Reckong Peo was cleared by helicopters yesterday. The Postal Department had made an arrangement with the state government for carrying mail by helicopters daily. He said the Postal Department had a V-Sat link at Rekong Peo, which was rendered non-functional due to failure of electricity supply, would be made operational by using diesel generating set. Once the V-Sat facility was made functional, the department would be in a position to send urgent messages. Meanwhile, the farmers of Kinnaur are worried about the marketing of the apple crop, harvesting of which will begin from the first week of September. This year about 15 lakh boxes of apples are likely to be produced but transporting out the produce is a problem. The government is trying to build a bailey bridge across the Sutlej at Khab over the next fortnight so that the road via Spiti and Keylong could be used for transporting out apples and other produce. It has also announced that the extra cost of Rs 60 per box for transporting apples through this longer route will be borne by it. However, the vegetable growers are a disappointed lot and they have no option. The potato growers are also pining their hopes on the restoration of the road link via Spiti. |
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Mahatma Gandhi’s statue damaged HAMIRPUR, Aug 10 — Certain persons completely damaged the white marble statue of the Father of Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, at the Gandhi Chowk here yesterday. The statue was laid about 30 years ago by Congress activists here. Interestingly, the incident took place on the day when the entire nation was observing Quit India Movement anniversary. The incident was noticed by a passerby, who immediately informed the local Congress leaders. They rang up senior police officers. The police swung into action and immediately removed all broken pieces of the statues from the spot. A pillar adorning the statue stands testimony. Mr Jagdish Chand Sharma, Additional Superintendent of Police, here told reporters that a case had been registered under Section 295 of the IPC and the Damage of Public Property Act. He said the incident seemed to have taken place after 3 a.m. as policemen were patrolling in the area till that time. Meanwhile, there is resentment among people of the town over the breaking of the statue of Mahatma Gandhi. Congress leaders alleged that it was a pre-planned game by some ruling party activists to rename the chowk after one of their leaders. They demanded a high-level inquiry into the matter and the immediate arrest of the persons responsible for the incident. They also sought the re-installation of the statue at the Gandhi Chowk today. |
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Be humane, Nadda tells Virbhadra SHIMLA, Aug 10 — Mr J.P Nadda, Health Minister, has refuted the allegation of Mr Virbhadra Singh, Leader of the Opposition, that relief and rehabilitation operations in flood-ravaged areas were tardy and urged him to refrain from making political capital out of human misery. In a statement here today, Mr Nadda said the administration had swung into action as soon as the tragedy occurred and the Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, lost no time in visiting the affected areas. He even took along the Congress legislators, Mr Ishwar Das and Mr Singhi Ram, to make an objective assessment of the damage caused by the floods. He said Mr Dhumal immediately requisitioned four helicopters from the Indian Air Force to airdrop essential supplies to the areas which had been cut off. Work for the restoration of washed away bridges and blocked roads was taken up without delay. Moreover, it was for the first time that the Centre instantly released Rs 100 crore for carrying out relief works and dispatched a central team to assess the loss. Mr Nadda denied that 21 bodies recovered from Gobind Sagar were cremated without identification or informing the relatives. He said these bodies were unclaimed and all formalities were completed before cremating them. He reminded Mr Virbhadra Singh of the 1977 floods in Rohru during which bodies were cremated downstream at Paonta. Not only that, Mr Virbhadra Singh had preferred to inaugurate a wine factory at Paonta within three days of the tragedy which was unfortunate. The Health Minister advised the former Chief Minister and other Congress leaders to refrain from making such statements as these hampered the relief and rehabilitation operation. He further said during the 1997 floods the BJP, which was in the opposition, had given full cooperation to the government to combat the situation. He said the then state BJP president, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, and other senior leaders of the party had gone to Rohru to help the flood affected people. Had there been any sense of humanity the Congress leader would have lent a helping hand to the government in overcoming the situation that had arisen due to the floods instead of going to the Press with unsubstantiated facts. |
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Governor cancels
at home SHIMLA, Aug 10 — Mr Vishnu Kant Shastri, Himachal Governor, has decided not to host the customary at home on the Independence Day in view of the massive loss of life and property in recent flash floods in the Sutlej.
Mr Shastri said in this hour of grief it was “our foremost duty” to provide support and succour to the affected families. He appealed to one and all to give all possible assistance and cooperation to the government in carrying out relief and rehabilitation measures. Mr Shastri said the money, which was to be spent on at home, would now be utilised for relief works. Meanwhile, the staff of Raj Bhavan has decided to contribute one day’s salary towards the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. The Congress president, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, has also decided to donate 4,500 blankets for the affected people. Mr Sat Mahajan, state PCC chief, said he was keen to visit the affected areas but could not do so because of disruption of road links. Gujarat Ambuja Cements Ltd has made a contribution of Rs 11 lakh towards the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund to help the flood-affected people. A cheque of this amount was presented to the Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, by its vice-president, Mr M.P. Mittal, here today. While the employees of Gujarat Ambuja Cements Ltd contributed Rs 48,000 and the Chairman of the company, Mr Suresh Neotia, made a personal contribution of Rs 2500. Officers and employees of the Himachal Pradesh Road Transport Corporation (HPRTC) have made a contribution of Rs 25 lakh towards this fund. The cheque for the requisite amount was presented to Mr Dhumal by the Transport Minister, Mr Kishan Kapoor, and HPRTC Managing Director, Mr Saroj Dass, yesterday. |
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Manimahesh yatra begins today KHUNDI MURAL (Chamba), Aug 10 — The safety of at least 1,000 persons on Manimahesh yatra from Bhaderwah in Jammu and Kashmir to Bharmour in Himachal is giving anxious moments to the security forces in the border areas of Chamba. The pilgrims are to cross a stretch of 35 km of sensitive and uninhabited forest area in Kehar sector. The first batch of 600 pilgrims will begin the yatra tomorrow from Vheja in Bhaderwah for a holy dip at Manimahesh. The pilgrims will cross a distance of about 200 km on foot through Himachal to reach Manimahesh. Though the authorities expect one lakh pilgrims at Manimahesh, what is worrying is the safety of those coming on foot from Bhaderwah in Doda district of J and K. Their protection will be a trying task for the Himachal Police and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) deployed in Kehar sector of Chamba district. Though there has been a spill-over of militancy to the peaceful environs of Himachal for the past one decade, the recent attack on Amarnath pilgrims has made the security forces in Himachal sit up with the Hizbul Mujahideen calling off the ceasefire, security personnel are all the more worried for the safety of the Manimahesh pilgrims. The DIG, Northern Range, Mr K.C. Sadyal, said every precaution was being taken for the safety of those coming from Bhaderwah. The SP, Chamba, Mr R.M. Sharma, said in view of the threat from militants, all measures were being taken to prevent any militant activity. He said it would take 11 days for the pilgrims to cover the distance of 200 km in Himachal. The first batch of 600 pilgrims would be received by ITBP and HP police personnel at Padri Gulli in J and K. The pilgrims would be screened and their names registered by the ITBP personnel before they entered Himachal at Khundi Mural, which is the last post manned by ITBP personnel in Himachal. The J and K security personnel accompanying these pilgrims would return at Langera. Apart from the first batch of pilgrims, at least 400 more would take the same route to reach Manimahesh. “We are compelling all these pilgrims from Bhaderwah to return back by buses via Chamba and Jammu rather than cover the distance by foot as the threat from the militants cannot be ruled out,” said Mr Sharma. The pilgrims will reach the Dal Lake at Manimahesh after 11 days and after the holy dip on August 23, they will begin their return journey. To rule out the chance of a militant attack, the Himachal Government has prohibited Gujjars from entering sensitive areas in the higher reaches of Chamba. However, a few Gujjar families who have been issued licences by the J and K authorities, will remained unaffected. The ITBP, Commandant, Mr H.S. Goraya, said during the past one week, his men had held special operations and patrolled the entire area. |
| Dalit’s beating:
rights panel asked to take notice SHIMLA, Aug 10 — A delegation of the Democratic Youth Federation of India today met Mr Justice Om Parkash, Chairman of the State Human Rights Commission, and urged him to take notice of an incident in which Anil Kumar, a boy of Kobhag village belonging to the Scheduled Castes, near here, was beaten up and not allowed to fill water from a spring.
The federation alleged that no action had been taken so far in this matter by the police even though a complaint had been lodged with the Superintendent of Police. It said the police, instead of registering a case under the Prevention of Atrocities against the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Act booked the accused under the Protection of Civil Rights Act. Mr Tikender Panwar, secretary of the federation, said that in case proper action was not initiated against the accused, the federation would launch a stir under which the persons belonging to Scheduled Castes would fill water from the spring en masse. |
| HP seeks changes
in finance panel proposals SHIMLA, Aug 10 — The Himachal Government will seek modification in recommendations of the Eleventh Finance Commission which have been based on incorrect assessment of state’s liabilities and resources.
Stating this here today Chief Minister, P.K. Dhumal said there were serious flaws in the report which would considerably reduce the financial dispensation to the fund-starved state. Citing an example, he said the commission had included income from lottery, which had been banned by the government as a resource. Similarly, the state’s annual liability on account of pension was assessed at Rs 281 crore whereas the actual burden was over Rs 461 crore. The annual interest liability had also been grossly under assessed. While the state was annually paying Rs 1,027 crore as interest on loans, the commission pegged it at Rs 500 crore only. The commission had also not been taking into account the interest on the loans raised through SLR bonds. Even the loans from HUDCO have been taken up as resource mobilised. As the report had been based on wrong premises it would affect the devolution of funds to meet the growing non-plan deficit of the state. Mr Dhumal said he would take up the matter with the Centre and also raise it in the NDA meeting.
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Medicos suspend
strike KANGRA, Aug 10 — Students of Dr Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College, Tanda, near here, today suspended their eight-day-old strike till August 25 following an assurance by the Additional District Magistrate that 17 girl students would be accommodated in the hostel within the college premises by August 25. Disclosing this, the spokesperson for the students said the decision to suspend the strike was taken by the students following a meeting between their representatives, the ADM, Mr D R Jamwal, and the Principal of the college on the campus last evening. The students were also assured that work on different projects of the college would be expedited. |
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