H I M A C H A L   P R A D E S H

Dhumal reviews repair work
SHIMLA, Aug 31 — The Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, today reviewed the progress of relief, repair and restoration of damaged works going on in Kinnaur district with senior officers of the state government and the Border Roads Organisation.

HP Cong to give charge sheet
DHARAMSALA, Aug 31 — In the absence of a positive response with regard to the charge sheet given by the Congress to the Governor of Himachal, the party has decided to knock at the doors of the President of India, with a second charge sheet against the Dhumal government.

• Cong favours CBI probe into charge sheet

Cong man’s plea to govt on apple ‘slump’
SHIMLA, Aug 31 — Mr Ram Lal, senior Congress leader and a former Chief Minister, has expressed concern over the ‘slump’ in apple market due to the entry of inferior grade of fruit and urged the state government to immediately stop sending the fruit procured under the market intervention scheme to save the growers from ruin.

‘Chhari mubarak’ march begins
CHAMBA, Aug 31 — The holy procession of “chhari mubarak” for the Manimahesh pilgrimage began from here yesterday under security cover in view of the prevailing conditions in Jammu and Kashmir.

Docs seek removal of anomalies
KANGRA, Aug 31 — Himachal Pradesh medical officers have demanded the removal of the anomalies in the recently released time-scale cases, waiving off the condition relating to ACR and the fixing of the pay scales in order to minimise the problems they have been facing in the state.

Dhumal reviews repair work
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Aug 31 — The Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, today reviewed the progress of relief, repair and restoration of damaged works going on in Kinnaur district with senior officers of the state government and the Border Roads Organisation.

The Chief Minister directed them to speed up repair works of roads and launching of bridges at Khab, Karchham and Shongtong so that the people were not put to more hardship. He directed the Border Roads Organisation to airlift the material for these bridges at the earliest and start work at once.

The BRO representatives informed the Chief Minister that the road between Wangtoo and Tapri would be made operative by September 15 and efforts were being made to make Tapri Karchham and Karchham-Shongtong road functional by October 15. The road from Akpa to Khab was likely to be completed shortly.

At least 900 more labourers had been deployed for construction of roads and bridges in the past two or three days and adequate machinery made available.

Keeping in view the shortage of money faced by apple growers in Kinnaur district, the Chief Minister ordered that payment be made for the apple being procured under the market intervention scheme at collection centres. He directed that arrangements be made to procure apple under the MIS in some of the main villages in Kinnaur district to avoid inconvenience to the people. The apple could be stored there till communication was restored.

It was also decided at the meeting that 50 per cent of the subsidy being given on apple transportation be given in advance at Wangtoo when apple boxes were dispatched.

He said the transport subsidy be also allowed for the peas being lifted on headload.

Helicopters had made 258 sorties so far to various places in Kinnaur district and 4700 quintals of essential commodities had been lifted. At least 12000 quintals of essential commodities had been sent via Kunjam and 40,000 quintals more were being sent via this route.

The Chief Minister ordered that it should be ensured that sufficient essential commodities were stocked in these areas so that people did not face any inconvenience during winter.

HP Cong to give charge sheet
Tribune News Service

DHARAMSALA, Aug 31 — In the absence of a positive response with regard to the charge sheet given by the Congress to the Governor of Himachal, the party has decided to knock at the doors of the President of India, with a second charge sheet against the Dhumal government.

Addressing a joint press conference here today, Congress leaders from Kangra — Mr Vijai Mankotia, Mr Kewal Singh Pathania, both former ministers, sitting MLA and Kangra DCC President B.B.L. Bhutail, Mr Vikram Katoch and Mr M.R. Goma — said a second charge sheet was being prepared to highlight the irregularities, corruption and bankruptcy of the Dhumal government. “We are now sure that expecting a positive response from the Governor on the charge sheet is futile for ‘obvious’ reasons so we have decided to approach the President of India,” stated Mr Mankotia.

The Congress leaders said a fear psychosis had been created among the people who are hesitant about coming forward with written charges against the government. They regretted that despite providing clinching documentary evidence against the BJP leaders no action had been taken so far. A large section of the BJP rank and file too had started razing their voice against the corrupt elements in the party, said Mr Mankotia.

Mr Mankotia said the excesses of the law enforcing agencies at the behest of the BJP leaders would be highlighted as this was depriving the people of justice. He added that the charge sheet would contain the names of some BJP leaders who had amassed wealth disproportionate to their income in and outside the state.

The Congress leaders came down heavily on the government for making the district hospitals societies. “It is just a play of word as making societies is as good as privatising the hospitals, the brunt of which would have to be borne by the poor people, who cannot afford to get treated at private hospitals,” alleged Mr Mankotia. Mr Butail said the government, which was on the verge of bankruptcy, was trying to put the burden of its liabilities on the poor people of the state by converting hospitals into societies. The Congress leaders said their party would oppose this decision of the government tooth and nail.

Mr Pathania alleged the government was undertaking retrenchment in various departments. The government had hardly any role left in the public distribution system, which was meant for the needy,” he regretted.

The Congress leaders alleged the government was bypassing the duly elected Panchayati Raj bodies in development as work was being given to separate bodies made by their own workers. They added that the anti-government mood of the people would manifest itself in the coming panchayat elections.

The Congress leaders, while charging the government with having acted in haste, demanded it should reconsider the matter of the revenue Act against which the lawyers were protesting. They said their apprehension of political interference in the revenue courts was not unfounded as such cases had already started coming to light.

Cong man’s plea to govt on apple ‘slump’
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Aug 31 — Mr Ram Lal, senior Congress leader and a former Chief Minister, has expressed concern over the ‘slump’ in apple market due to the entry of inferior grade of fruit and urged the state government to immediately stop sending the fruit procured under the market intervention scheme to save the growers from ruin.

In a letter to the Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal, he pointed out that despite repeated requests of the growers not to market the fruit procured under the M.L.S., the HPMC, the state-owned procurement agency, had sent large quantities of apples packed in gunny bags to various markets in the northern zone. This had added to the woes of the growers who were already feeling the pinch due to the ‘glut’ of apples in the market.

He lamented that the minimum support price scheme, which had been introduced to ensure remunerative returns to growers, was proving counter-productive because of the wrong marketing strategy adopted by the HPMC. He warned the twin purpose of the scheme — to stabilise the market and protect the growers from exploitation by the middlemen — would be defeated unless the government intervened and ensured that inferior grade fruit was not sent to market by the procurement agencies.

The Congress leader drew the attention of the government to the malpractices being indulged in by arhtias who were re-packing the fruit sent in gunny bags in boxes and selling it as superior grade apple. This had severely affected the price of the superior grade fruit.

The HPMC, he said, had not learnt any lesson from its folly in 1998 when it sent huge quantities of processing grade apple to the market causing a precipitous fall in the prices. It not only sustained heavy losses but also had to face complaints of malpractices and corruption.

Mr Ram Lal said that the proper course for the HPMC would be to process as much fruit as possible rather than sending it to the market. It could even set up more processing plants, particularly in view of the fact that its products were now in demand in foreign countries. He suggested that as a long term measure the government should establish apple-based wineries in the interior of the apple belt. All possible ways for the utilisation of processable fruit should be explored in the interest of growers, he added.

He said the growers should be supplied bags by the HPMC to ensure standardisation of weight and prevent exploitation by the staff at the procurement centres.

Cong favours CBI probe into charge sheet
From Our Correspondent

PARWANOO, Aug 31 — The Congress has demanded a CBI inquiry into the charge sheet against the BJP-HVC government submitted by the Congress to the Governor of Himachal Pradesh and dismissal of those ministers against whom allegations of corruption have been levelled.

Mr Virbhadra Singh, former Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh and the Leader of the Opposition, gave this information while speaking to mediapersons here yesterday at the local Circuit House. He was here on his way from Shimla to Delhi. The Congress leader was accompanied by Ms Asha Kumari, former Primary Education Minister and state general secretary of the party. Mr Virbhadra Singh hoped that Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, took the charge sheet seriously in which serious allegations of corruption and misuse of authority had been levelled against certain ministers and BJP functionaries.

Mr Virbhadra Singh said that the Congress would wait for some time for the reaction of the Chief Minister and if no action was taken, then the Congress would be forced to launch an agitation against the state government. He said the Chief Minister, instead of showing any positive response, was sheltering these ministers and functionaries.

Mr Virbhadra Singh said that BJP government had failed on all fronts. The law and order situation in the state had deteriorated and five foreign tourist had been killed in the state in recent past. He added the government had failed to protect the lives of citizens and tourists. He further said if it continued, the tourists would stop visiting Himachal Pradesh, like in J&K and the state would loose lot of revenue which is earned from the tourists.

Mr Virbhadra Singh, while talking about the amendments to the Revenue Act, said that his party had opposed it in the Vidhan Sabha and demanded that the Bill should be sent to a select committee of the House. He added that Congress supported the strike of the lawyers in the state.

He condemned the policies of the Himachal Pradesh Government and expressed surprise over changing in the functioning of the government hospitals of the state into autonomous societies.

Mr Virbhadra Singh also expressed surprise over the working of Forest Department in the state. He said that the forests were being damaged. He added a large quantity of forest wood worth lakhs was seized in khir and laga village of Chamba district and the government instead of lodging an FIR with the local police, had handed over the case to the Enforcement Department of the state for reasons best known to the department and the government.

Docs seek removal of anomalies
From Our Correspondent

KANGRA, Aug 31 — Himachal Pradesh medical officers have demanded the removal of the anomalies in the recently released time-scale cases, waiving off the condition relating to ACR and the fixing of the pay scales in order to minimise the problems they have been facing in the state.

This was stated by Dr Susheel Sharma, spokesman for the Himachal Pradesh Medical Officers Association, here yesterday.

He demanded that the postgraduate increment, house rent at the rate of 10 per cent in lieu of the emergency duties, conveyance and rural health allowances on the Punjab pattern be given to them along with fixing of their duty hours.

He further said the vacant posts of the Chief Medical Officer, Deputy Director and Joint Director in the Health Department, besides the posts of lecturer at the IGMC and Dr R.P. Government Medical College be filled immediately.

He expressed concern over the non-implementation of the demands accepted by the government during their last strike in February. He said the Himachal Pradesh medical officers would meet on September 4 at Shimla with regard to the implementation of their demands. 

Bank officers oppose move on equity
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Aug 31 — The All-India Bank Officers Confederation has opposed the government move to bring down its equity in nationalised commercial banks from 51 to 33 per cent and threatened to paralyse the banking industry if the proposal was not dropped.

Mr K.D. Khera, joint general secretary of the confederation, said here on Tuesday that the proposal was against the interest of the country and the employees. He alleged that efforts were on to implement a voluntary retirement scheme on the plea that 25 per cent of the staff was surplus in the banking industry.

He warned that the confederation would not hesitate to give a call for strike if these ill-conceived proposals were not given up.

Meanwhile, Mr J.P. Sharma has been elected president of the Himachal Pradesh unit of the confederation. Other office-bearers include secretary — Mr D.K. Sharma and treasurer — Mr J.L. Sharma.

SFI blocks traffic
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Aug 31 — Activists of the Students Federation of India (SFI) blocked traffic at various places here today against fee hike by Himachal Pradesh University. A spokesman of the SFI claimed that 100 activists, including girls, were taken into custody by the police.

The police cane-charged the students near Tunnel 103. Traffic was also blocked at Sanjauli and Victory Tunnel. Meanwhile, the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) has criticised the move to convert district hospitals into autonomous societies. 

Spate of thefts in Dharamsala
Tribune News Service

DHARAMSALA, Aug 31 — With a spate of thefts taking place in the town during the past one month, most of them in broad daylight, there is insecurity among the people who blame the police for having failed to nab the culprits.

During the past one month alone there have been 11 cases of theft in the town out of which none have been worked out so far. Yesterday itself, there were two cases of theft in the Barol area of the town where thieves decamped with cash, gold and other valuables worth Rs 3 lakh. There was another attempt of theft by a woman in the Shamnagar area, who was spotted by the neighbours.

Other thefts that have taken place in Sheila Chowk, Depot Bazaar and other areas have also not been worked out. There is resentment among the people against the police who, they feel, has not made efforts to increase vigil and arrest the suspects.

Yesterday in the Barol area the owners had left home only for a short while in the morning when thefts took place in their houses. According to the police, the thefts took place in the houses of Neelam Thapa and Suman Mahajan.

The SSP, Mr Prithvi Raj, said the police was making efforts to nab the culprits. “We had apprehended some locals yesterday but after investigation we feel that this is the handiwork of some outside gang,” he stated.

He said it was just not possible for the police to be present everywhere and as such people should not leave their houses without telling others, apart from keeping cash and jewellery in bank lockers. He added that the police had launched a campaign in this regard to caution the people.

Task force to check drug trafficking
From Our Correspondent

CHAMBA, Aug 31 — The Himachal Pradesh police has constituted a task force to check drug trafficking in the state, Mr A K Puri, DGP, Himachal Pradesh, said here today.

The DGP stressed the need for bringing awareness about the police functioning among school and college students. He said the students could spread the knowledge among the people and share the information with their parents.

The DGP said 50 school students would be taught about lodging an FIR in the first week of September.

The DGP said the Police Department was contemplating to make crime and law and order branches. He said in 20 police stations investigation staff would not be deployed on VIP duties. They would be imparted training in the first week of September. Later the scheme would also be implemented in other police stations.

He added that police personnel would be deployed in the precincts of schools and colleges to prevent violence.

The DGP informed that the first women cell of the Police Department had been opened at Dharamsala. Two such cells would be opened in Shimla and Mandi within two months and every district of the state would be provided with such cells by the end of this fiscal year.