H I M A C H A L   P R A D E S H

HP Govt proposes opening 11 KVs
NEW DELHI, Aug 25 — The Himachal Pradesh Government has recommended that 11 Kendriya Vidyalayas be opened in relaxation of norms applicable to the scheme of opening Kendriya Vidyalayas in the civil sector, the Minister for Human Resource Development Dr Murli Manohar Joshi told, Ms Chandresh Kumari in the Rajya Sabha today.

Bank Chairman’s resignation sought
KANGRA, Aug 25 — The Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee general secretary and sitting MLA from Nagrota Bagwan Mr G.S. Bali, today demanded the resignation of Mr Babu Ram Mandiyal from the chairmanship of the Kangra Central Cooperative Bank (KCCB) for allegedly appointing approximately 25 per cent of the candidates from his home district, besides relatives of ministers and BJP leaders.

BJP conventions from Sept 7
KANGRA, Aug 25 — The BJP will hold political conventions in the district from September 7 at assembly-segment level aimed at strengthening the party at the grassroots level in view of the forthcoming panchayat poll in the state.

Phuhar Uppal gets best stamp designing award
SHIMLA, Aug 25 — It was a day of pride for Phuhar Uppal, a class three student, who was today awarded here for designing the best postage stamp for the coming Children’s Day.

• Power supply in 165 villages restored: Goswami
• Mr Jai Ram Thakur
  
  

North India in Parliament
HP Govt proposes opening 11 KVs
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, Aug 25 — The Himachal Pradesh Government has recommended that 11 Kendriya Vidyalayas be opened in relaxation of norms applicable to the scheme of opening Kendriya Vidyalayas in the civil sector, the Minister for Human Resource Development Dr Murli Manohar Joshi told, Ms Chandresh Kumari in the Rajya Sabha today.

He said the schools had been recommended to be opened at Shilaru (Shimla), Nahan (Sirmour), Gehrwin (Bilaspur), Kotla Khurd (Una), Sarkaghat (Mandi), Baldian (Shimla), Rampur (Shimla), Alampur (Kangra), Dharampur (Mandi), Kangra (Kangra) and Mohal (Kulu).

The minister said due to budgetary constraints the Centre was not considering these proposals for the time being and the state government had been informed accordingly.

Eco Task Force: To a question by Ms Chandresh Kumari, the Minister of State for Environment and Forests Mr Babulal Marandi said proposals to raise Ecological Task Force had been sent by the Himachal Pradesh Government. He said two project proposals — one for Dada micro watershed in Kangra district and the other for rehabilitation of mining area in Sirmour district were received from the Himachal Pradesh Government. Eight hundred acres of land were proposed for rehabilitation in Dada micro watershed and 1,300 hectares in Sirmour.

The first project would employ 70 ex-servicemen for five years and the second project 253 ex-servicemen for three years. He said the proposals could not be considered due to budgetary constraints.

The minister informed Mr Anil Sharma in the Rajya Sabha the Centre had not received the environment status report of Industrial Area, Parwanoo.

EOUs in J-K: The Minister for Commerece and Industry Mr Murasoli Maran, told Mr Abdul Rashid Shaheen in the Lok Sabha that under the export oriented unit (EOU) scheme units were set up by entrepreneurs and the applications were submitted to the concerned Development Commissioner.

So far, three proposals had been approved for setting up EOUs in Jammu and Kashmir. Out of these, one unit had already been set up and the remaining two were under implementation and likely to be set up within a year, he said.

External assistance: Answering a question by Mr Ratan Lal Kataria, the Minister of State for Finance Mr Vikhe Patil said no water supply scheme proposal had been received from Haryana for posing to any donor for foreign assistance. However, the Haryana Government had forwarded a proposal on Feburary 1, 2000, to the Ministry of Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation for external assistance. The proposed Haryana water supply sewerage and solid waste management project had an estimated cost of Rs 427.35 crore.

The proposal had been examined from the technical angle in the ministry and the comments had been communicated to the state government for information and compliance, the minister said.

Bank Chairman’s resignation sought
From Our Correspondent

KANGRA, Aug 25 — The Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee general secretary and sitting MLA from Nagrota Bagwan Mr G.S. Bali, today demanded the resignation of Mr Babu Ram Mandiyal from the chairmanship of the Kangra Central Cooperative Bank (KCCB) for allegedly appointing approximately 25 per cent of the candidates from his home district, besides relatives of ministers and BJP leaders.

Mr Bali was addressing a press conference at Dharamsala today. He said by the alleged “fraudulent appointments” in the KCCB authorities had played with the careers of the unemployed youths.

Mr Bali stated that December 31 would be observed as a “black day” and “adikar diwas” and unemployed youths from all over the state would converge at Dharamsala.

He said of the 200 appointments 50 were from Hamirpur district and 150 from the other 11 districts of the state. He also alleged that there had been money transactions in the KCCB appointments.

He added that back-door appointments were being made in HRTC, tourism, PWD and IPH. He said he was prepared to quit the party politics and a non-political party would be launched on January 1, 2001, at Dharamsala.

Mr Bali suggested that the Union Minister for Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution System, Mr Shanta Kumar, should identify corrupt ministers in the state Cabinet and make their names public.

BJP conventions from Sept 7
From Our Correspondent

KANGRA, Aug 25 — The BJP will hold political conventions in the district from September 7 at assembly-segment level aimed at strengthening the party at the grassroots level in view of the forthcoming panchayat poll in the state.

Stating this at a press conference at Dharamsala today the Kangra district BJP president, Mr Dulo Ram, said the conventions would be attended by the Union Minister for Consumer Affairs and Public Redressal System, Mr Shanta Kumar, MLAs, ministers and BJP workers.

Mr Dulo Ram said BJP workers would be educated about developmental works done during the BJP rule in the state and at the Centre so that the message was passed on the common man.

Phuhar Uppal gets best stamp designing award
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Aug 25 — It was a day of pride for Phuhar Uppal, a class three student, who was today awarded here for designing the best postage stamp for the coming Children’s Day.

Puyhar is a student of the local Dayanand Public School and she designed the stamp in the national competition. The stamp will be released by the Department of Posts on November 14 to commemorate Children’s Day.

She was presented with a cash prize of Rs 5000 by the Chief Post Master-General, Mr Vijay Bhushan, at a simple function in the GPO this morning which was attended by class fellows of Phuhar. The other students were also presented with albums on the occasion.

Mr Vijay Bhushan said that the design of Phuhar was selected for the special stamp from among thousands of entries by students of various schools throughout the country.

This is after many years that the design of the stamp was sought from school students for Children’s Day.

Mr Vijay Bhushan stressed the importance of stamps which are a source of enhancing knowledge, he added.

Power supply in 165 villages restored: Goswami
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Aug 25 — Mr A.K. Goswami, Chief Secretary, today said that power supply had been restored in 165 out of the 179 villages affected by the recent flood in the Sutlej in Kinnaur district.

Reviewing the progress of relief and restoration work in the flood-affected area at the meeting of the crisis management group, he said green peas were also airlifted from Sangla for marketing. All 17 rope bridges had been restored by the Public Works Department in Kinnaur district. The Luri-Behna road was also made fit for plying of heavy vehicles today which would enable fruit growers of Ani sub-division to transport their apple to the market.

Mr Jai Ram Thakur
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Aug 25 — The Himachal Government today appointed Mr Jai Ram Thakur, BJP legislator who represents the Chachiot Assembly constituency, as Vice-Chairman of the State Food and Civil Supplies Corporation.