 |
| Wednesday, August 30, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
|
Army porter missing in Kargil Dental college recognised Rippon Hospital society formed HP police sets up women’s
cell All set for Manimahesh yatra Central policy on Kashmir
decried |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Review amendments to revenue Act World Quality Council chief meets
CM Timber seized Chamera sets record in power
production Lawyers’ strike till
September 2
|
Army porter missing in Kargil DHARAMSALA, Aug 29 — Having failed to persuade the Army authorities in the frontier areas of Kargil in Jammu and Kashmir to trace his missing nephew, a porter with the Army, Charan Singh, his uncle, Man Singh a resident of Shahpur, is now knocking at the doors of the state authorities to take up the matter with the Defence Ministry. Charan Singh (23), resident of Boh village, near Shahpur, in Kangra district, was employed as a porter, with the Army, in the Kargil area, till he suddenly went missing in the last week of July this year. He is suspected to have been taken hostage by the Pakistani army personnel. All efforts by his uncle, Man Singh, who is working as an assistant, in the office of the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, at Skara in Leh, have failed, as the Army and police authorities in Jammu and Kashmir, are not providing specific information about the missing porters. “It is my moral responsibility to trace out my nephew, Charan Singh, as he went to Leh with me to look for a job,” says a disheartened Man Singh. He said that after getting in touch with a local contractor, Charan Singh had started working on a daily basis as a porter, to carry the supplies of the Indian Army to difficult areas at higher altitudes. The project officer of the IIA-Hirot project, at Skara in Leh, where Man Singh is employed, has also requested the Army and civil authorities in the Khalt Se sector to trace out the missing porters. Man Singh, said it was on the night of July, 26, at 9.15 p.m. that Charan Singh, along with five other porters was taken captive by the Pakistani army personnel. “As per the information given to me by the Army and police in the Khalt Se sector, three porters, Charan Singh, Pa Sang Lama and Pa Sang Dorje, both Nepalese, are still in the captivity of the Pakistanis, said Man Singh. He said that the authorities in the Khalt Se sector feared that two other porters, a Nepali and a Bihari, had been killed, after being taken hostage on July, 26. Man Singh, said that another youth from Relu village near Shahpur Gulshan Kumar, who is also working as a porter with the Army, in the Khalt Se sector, confirmed to him that Charan Singh had been taken hostage by the Pakistan army. On the might of July 26 when Charan Singh was taken hostage, Gulshan Kumar, had not accompanied the group. Man Singh said that he had met the Army and police authorities in Khalt Se, but he had not been given any information about his whereabouts. “My heart pains to see the indifference of the Army and civil authorities on the issue, despite the fact that the porters risk their lives to carry ammunition and other essential supplies to the Army posts at higher altitudes, said a distressed Man Singh. He added that the Army authorities had not only been indifferent but also misled them on the issue. He is now pinning his
hopes on the state government, who he is confident, will
take up the matter with the Defence Ministry, which is
responsible for the safety of those working for them in
extremely harsh conditions. He feels that the Army
authorities are being totally indifferent for the safety
of the porters, whereas had it been their own Army
personnel, they would have made earnest efforts to trace
out the missing persons. |
Dental college recognised SHIMLA, Aug 29 — The Dental Council of India has finally decided to grant recognition to Government Dental College here, which was opened in 1994. The decision was taken at the two-day meeting of the council which concluded at Delhi, today. The college’s case for recognition had been hanging fire for the past six years and the council had taken a serious notice of the fact that it had been opened without the basic infrastructural facilities. The then Congress government did not make any serious effort to create the basic facilities and get the institution recognised but continued to admit fresh batches. In all five batches of 20 students each were admitted from 1994-1995 to 1998-99 even though the council had not given its mandatory approval even for opening the institution. The Council had taken a serious notice of it and on its recommendation in 1999 the Government of India did not allow the state to admit any fresh batch of students. The BJP-HVC Government gave top priority to the issue and Mr J.P. Nadda, the Health Minister, personally pursued the college’s case for recognition with the Council. Simultaneously, he also ensured that deficiencies in facilities and staff pointed out by the Council were removed at the earliest. The provisional recognition for the batches admitted in 1994 and 1995 was accorded only last year and for the third batch early this year. The Council conducted the final inspection in February last and on the basis of its report it gave recognition to the college. Securing recognition for the college, opened by the previous Congress government in undue haste, had become a prestige for the present regime. It has provided much respite to the students of the college. This is the second major achievement of the Dhumal Government which earlier managed to secure the future of the students of Tanda Medical College by persuading the Medical Council of India (MCI) for an out of court settlement on the vexed issue. This institution was also opened by the Congress government without the approval of the MCI. The decision of the DCI
granting recognition to the college will be conveyed to
the state government over the next two weeks. Thereafter
the government would approach the Centre for seeking
permission to admit a fresh batch in the current session
itself. |
Rippon Hospital society formed SHIMLA, Aug 29 — The 116-year-old Rippon Hospital here was today converted into a society to enable it to impose user charges on patients. The Rippon Hospital, which was set up during the British regime in 1884 and functioned as the Government District Hospital. Following its registration as a society it has now become an autonomous institution. The oldest hospital in the state was set up for British officers. Later, it was thrown open for Indians when the British patients were shifted to the Walker Hospital which was destroyed in fire recently. The Congress Chief Whip, Mr Rangila Ram Rao, has described the move as “anti-people”. Health facilities will become out of reach for common people once the user charges were imposed. He said the decision was like the one taken by the then BJP Chief Minister, Mr Shanta Kumar, in 1990. He criticised the BJP-HVC combine government headed by Mr P.K. Dhumal for taking the “anti-poor” decisions of levying users charges in hospitals and also making education costlier. The societies will not be able to carry out the welfare measures. Meanwhile, the registration of Rippon Hospital Welfare Society was done on the basis of a resolution which was adopted by the members of the governing council headed by the Deputy Commissioner, Mr P.C. Katoch. The governing council will be at liberty to impose any amount of user charges for various services including X-ray, laboratory tests, operations, ECG and registration. The deputy commissioner, Shimla, will be chairman of the nine-member governing council. Other members of the council are: the chief medical officer, medical superintendent of the hospital, mayor of the Shimla Municipal Corporation, chairman, Zila Parishad presidents of the Rotary Club and beopar mandal, secretary, Red Cross and the local MLA will be a special invitee. The executive committee will be headed by the CMO with the medical superintendent, district health officer and assistant controller of finance as members. Meanwhile, the Government Dental College authorities have also moved papers for registration of the institution as a society. The college, which was established in 1994, was granted recognition by the Dental Council of India today. The state government has
ordered all district hospitals to be converted into
societies. The IGMC, Tanda Medical College and the Kamla
Nehru Hospital are also being converted into separate
societies. |
HP police sets up
women’s cell DHARAMSALA, Aug 29 — In a bid to be gender sensitive the Himachal Pradesh police today launched the first women cell at the Police Lines here. Women from all over Kangra will be able to directly report cases of rape, molestation and other crimes against them to the cell. Under the direct supervision of the district chief, an effort will be made to reduce the trauma that a woman goes through from the time the crime is committed. Inaugurating the cell, the Director-General of Police, Mr A.K. Puri, said that Kangra district had been chosen as the first place for such a cell as it accounted for more than one fourth of the total crime against women in the state. “During the past one decade, crime against women has almost doubled as the number of cases in Kangra has touched 199 during 1999 as compared to 106 cases in the year 1991”, Mr Puri said. Admitting that a large number of instances of crime against women committed within the four walls of the house went unreported, the DGP said an effort would be made to save the women from the ordeal and embarassment she goes through during investigations, be it in the police station or in court. He said a composite group would be formed by involving NGOs, legal aid cells and the Red Cross so that women got justice in a court of law. The DGP said women constables would be involved in the investigation of cases relating to crime against women. Apart from the women cell, at least one or two women police personnel would be posted at every police station. The DGP said woman cells would also be set up at Shimla and Mandi. The DIG, Northern Range, Mr K.C. Sadyal, assured that the police would be most sensitive towards crime against women and try its utmost to curb it. Speaking on the
occasion, the SSP, Mr Prithvi Raj, said that all help
would be provided to women who had been wronged so that
they got justice. |
All set for Manimahesh yatra CHAMBA: Manimahesh peak (Mt Kailash) at an altitude of 5656 metres is believed to be the abode of Lord Shiva. This peak falls in the Bharmour valley of Chamba district. At its base is Manimahesh lake at a height of 4176 metres. Ever since Manimahesh pilgrimage was declared a state-level fair by the Himachal Government eight years ago, the holy centre has gained much importance all over the country. Set in the snow-clad Bharmour tribal region of Chamba district, Manimahesh is about 214 km away from Pathankot railhead, via Chamba. The divine Mt Kailash is clearly visible to the devotees, pilgrims and tourists from Manimahesh lake. The pilgrims have begun arriving, but the “chhari” (mace) will be taken in procession on August 30 from the district headquarters town of Chamba and would reach Manimahesh lake on September 5, where the pilgrims would take a holy dip in the icy cold waters of the lake the next day. The “chhari” will be taken to Manimahesh from Chamba via Kharamukh, Bharmour, Hadsar and Dhanchho, Manimahesh can be approached directly from Pathankot via Chamba, a more patronised itinerary. Pilgrims taking part in the yatra start from a trickle but as the yatra progresses, more join. The “chhari” halts at several places and looks colourful as it passes through meandering roads along the Ravi. Surprisingly, Manimahesh peak has remained unconquered. However, in 1968, an Indo-Japanese team of mountaineers headed by Nandini Patel attempted to scale the peak but did not succeed. It is believed that this mountain is sacred and would never be sealed. Mountaineers, however, attribute their inability to climb this peak to the shallow mountain terrain. According to Chamba’s Deputy Commissioner Mr T.D. Negi, who heads the state-level Manimahesh Pilgrimage Committee, devotees are likely to come from Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and even Delhi. Efforts are on to make arrangements to ensure a smooth pilgrimage. There are plans to ply Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) buses to this place from Pathankot, Chamba, Bharmour and Hadsar. In the wake of disturbed conditions during the Amarnath pilgrimage, pilgrims have started making a beeline for Manimahesh. As a consequence, a big increase in pilgrims is expected. Meanwhile, the
Superintendent of Police, Mr Rajinder Mohan Sharma, says
security arrangements have been tightened for the
pilgrimage. He has appealed to pilgrims to cooperate with
security personnel for a smooth and successful yatra. |
Central policy on Kashmir
decried DHARAMSALA, Aug 29 — A former minister and Vice-President of the Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee, Mr Vijai Singh Mankotia, today accused the Vajpayee government of endangering the lives of civil and Army personnel in Kashmir. Addressing a press conference here today, he alleged the Hurriyat and the Hizbul Mujahideen, were dictating terms. “This policy of submission has led to the demoralisation amongst the armed forces fighting militants in the valley,” he stated. Mr Mankotia said it was not possible to restore peace in Jammu and Kashmir by talking to militant outfits like the Hizbul Mujahideen, as they were being backed and aided by Pakistan. He said despite Operation Vijay being over last year the killing of Army personnel on the Indo-Pak border was still going on. Mr Mankotia demanded
that the Vajpayee Government must clarify whether the
status of those being killed in Kashmir now will be
equated with those killed during Operation Vijay. He said
the state government, like other states in the country
must give Rs 10 lakh to the families of the martyrs
killed fighting the Pakistanis. |
Review amendments to revenue
Act KANGRA, Aug 29 — The Himachal Pradesh Congress today demanded that the state government should constitute an experts committee and to review amendments to Sections 23A, 37 and 46 of the new Land Revenue Act which came into force from August 16. This demand was raised by the Himachal Congress Committee General Secretary, Mr G.S. Bali, MLA, at a press conference here today. He said the lawyers in the state were boycotting court work in protest against these amendments for the past three weeks. The government should not make it a prestige issue. Mr Bali suggested that the government instead of concealing their shortcomings on the financial front should take the Opposition into confidence to build a consensus over the issue. The Congress leader
demanded that the support price of potato should be fixed
at the earliest as thousands of tonnes of potato was
rotting. |
World Quality Council chief
meets CM SHIMLA, Aug 29 — The World Quality Council will organise an international-level conference on “Trade development and environment” at Palampur in Himachal Pradesh in June next year. Dr Madhav Mehra, Chairman, World Quality Council, London, who called on the Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, today said the objective of the conference was to expose Himachal Pradesh, which had been bestowed with scenic beauty and natural Grandeour, to the world. Mr Dhumal said the Himachal Pradesh Government was taking effective steps to maintain a pollution free environment in the state. He said the use of recycled polythene bags had been banned in all major towns. He said Himachal Pradesh was a store house of Himalayan bio-diversity and the state government in its endeavour to give a Boost to bio-technology had set up a full-fledged Department of Bio-technology. Himachal Pradesh was, perhaps, first to do so in the country. The Chief Minister assured the World Quality Council all possible assistance to make the conference a success. He said Himachal Pradesh had a vast scope for adventure tourism, handgliding, paragliding, and heli-skiing. Water sports were also being encouraged in a big way in the state for attracting maximum foreign tourists. Dr Mehra urged the Chief
Minister to help in organising cultural performances and
exhibitions on Himachal Pradesh’s art and handicraft
during the seminar. |
Timber seized SHIMLA, Aug 29 — Forest officials intercepted a private truck near Yashwant Nagar in Sirmaur and seized timber worth over Rs 70,000 which was being illegally transported out of state. According to a spokesman of the Forest Department most of the seized deodar sleepers bore the hammer mark of State Forest Corporation. The timber was loaded in the truck from Kalve in Theog. While the driver of
truck (HP-09-0288), Kishan Chand was arrested, his two
accomplices, Devinder Singh and Ranjit escaped. |
Chamera sets record in power
production CHAMBA, Aug 29 — The 540-MW-Chamera hydroelectric project (stage-I) in the district has generated over 300 million units of electricity in May, June and July with total power generation coming out to be 1,235 million units in this financial year so far against a target of 891 million units. Mr S.K. Dodeja, Executive Director, Region-II, National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC), said here today that this was a record. Mr Dodeja also said the
restoration of the 400-KV class single phase transformer
on the project had been successfully accomplished within
a record time of 60 days. |
Lawyers’ strike till
September 2 SHIMLA, Aug 29 — The Himachal Pradesh High Court Bar Association and the Shimla Bar Association have decided to abstain from courts till September 2 to protest against the recent amendments in the HP Land Revenue Act. The call for the lawyers strike has been given by the joint action committee of the Bar Council of Himachal Pradesh. The lawyers held a
demonstration outside the office of the deputy
commissioner. |
 |
| Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir | Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs | Nation | Editorial | | Business | Sport | World | Mailbag | In Spotlight | Chandigarh Tribune | Ludhiana Tribune 50 years of Independence | Tercentenary Celebrations | | 120 Years of Trust | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
