 |
| Tuesday, September 19, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
|
Hospital societies for
betterment: CM
Cong misleading
people on amendments: BJP 3 ITBP jawans die
in road accident Action against 13
Baddi units |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 45 labourers released Wife ends life as man feigns suicide SFI wins 3 seats Navratra mela
from Sept 28 Bhatoon shepherds
return home 10 lakh collected for CM’s
Relief Fund
|
|
HAMIRPUR, Sept. 18 — The HP Chief Minister, Prof Prem Kumar Dhumal, while justifying the formation of societies for the IGMC, Shimla, and other zonal and district hospitals, said it was for the betterment of health services. He said new societies would come into force shortly and Deputy Commissioners concerned would head them. Other members of these committees included presidents of the local bodies concerned, Rotary Club, Bharat Vikas Parishad, the Zila parishad chairperson and representatives of NGOs. He said employees of the hospitals would continue to be government employees and the government would provide grants to societies. In wake of formation of such committees, no prescription fee would be charged as was being feared by the people. Professor Dhumal said the main aim behind the formation of these societies was to provide good medical services to the people and ensure that more and more people were benefited by these services. The societies would be permitted to make local purchases and not depend on the government for various other items. Addressing mediapersons at Bhota rest house this morning, the Chief Minister said the amendments made in the HP Revenue Act were to help the poor by giving them timely and cheap justice. He, however, said he would hold talks with representatives of lawyers, farmers and intellectuals of the state to know their viewpoint. The Chief Minister said the Revenue Act was for the people and if it was found that any clause did not suit the wishes of the people that would be amended. He described these reports as wrong that some members of the committee that had been constituted to frame the new law had given dissenting notes. He said all members of the committee had met him jointly and had expressed their full satisfaction with the amended law. He said there was no truth in the apprehensions of the people that powers of the civil courts would be curtailed under the amended law. He said people would be free to go to the district judges if they felt aggrieved over the judgements of the Deputy Commissioners concerned. He said he had high regards for the judiciary and there were no efforts on the part of his government to undermine the status of the judiciary. The Chief Minister announced formation of Matri Shakti insurance scheme for women living under the poverty line. All females in the group of 10 to 75 years would be eligible for the insurance benefits. The entire premium would be borne by the state government from its own funds and a sum of Rs 25,000 would be paid to next of kin of a female in the event of her death, her becoming handicapped or the death of her husband. This policy would be renewed every year, the Chief Minister further added. He suggested that gram panchayat elections should not be contested on party basis. He said though the party had decided to field its own candidates for all panchayat posts yet he was not in favour of this. He, however, said if other political parties were in favour of contesting panchayat elections on the party symbol the government would think over that and take a final decision after holding a meeting with them. He said personally he was for honest, hardworking and diligent persons for taking over the reins of the gram panchayats and other related institutions. Professor Dhumal denied there was dissidence in the party. He said he had no knowledge about any rebellion against his leadership. About the controversy of continuation of Mr Narendra Modi as the party observer for Himachal Pradesh, he said the issue was raised out of proportion for nothing. He said Mr Modi was a senior and respected leader of the party and had done a lot for the party and the government since taking over the reins of the party in northern states. He said credit for the formation of the BJP government in the state, including raising its strength from seven to 37, went to Mr Modi. He, however, clarified it was for the party chief to decide whom to appoint observer for Himachal Pradesh. The Chief Minister suggested delimitation of all Assembly constituencies in the state. He said the boundaries of many constituencies were unwieldy and they should be demarcated again in order to help the people living there. He alleged the then political masters of the state had made wrong delimitation of constituencies. He affirmed the resolve of his government to lay a synthetic track on the grounds of the local postgraduate college. He also announced that a huge cricket stadium of international standard would be constructed at Hamirpur and work for the selection of the site was in progress. He asked sports lovers of the state to send their suggestions about the new sports policy of the state. He said that new policy would take shape only when the government got views from the people, especially sports lovers. He said the state government was for promoting sports in the state and all sorts of facilities would be provided to the sportspersons to raise the standard of their game. |
|
Highway accidents on the rise PARWANOO: The increasing number of accidents and incidents of rowdyism on the Kalka-Shimla National Highway Number 22 have brought to the limelight the question of safety on this road besides posing a problem for the local police. Accidents, unclaimed bodies, long traffic jams, hooliganism by drunkards and smuggling of liquor are common occurrences on the road between Parwanoo and Barog. About 17 accidents were reported between Parwanoo and Jabli in the past six months in which two lives were lost and 60 persons were injured. Many mishaps even go unreported. According to sources, the frequency of accidents on this stretch of the National Highway increases between July and September due to the rains and an increase in heavy vehicular traffic due to the apple season. The damaged roads only worsen the situation. According to the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Mr Sanjeev Lakhan Pal, heavily loaded trucks moving along the steep incline between Barog and Parwanoo cause most of the accidents. Truck drivers who do not belong to this region are not very skilled in driving in the hills, he says, adding that driving under the influence of liquor and other intoxicants also adds to the number of mishaps. Another reason why accidents take place so frequently on this stretch is that there is no check on the movement of overloaded vehicles despite the presence of a sales tax barrier at Parwanoo. According to sources, the number of unclaimed bodies found along the road increases in winter. Criminals from the neighbouring states take advantage of the dense forests along the highway and throw the bodies on this road. Smuggling of liquor to Himachal Pradesh through this highway is also on the rise. The police has reportedly seized about 10,000 pouches of country-made liquor, 500 bottles of foreign liquor and about 100 bottles of beer at the Parwanoo barrier during the past six months. Long traffic jams on this road are proving a deterrent to the tourist traffic to Himachal Pradesh. The inflow of tourists to the state through this highway is a good source of revenue to the government. There is an urgent need to increase vigil on this highway through effective coordination between the police and the local administration.
|
|
|
Cong misleading
people on amendments: BJP SHIMLA, Sept 18 — The state unit of the BJP has accused the Opposition Congress of misleading the people on the amendments carried out in the State Land Revenue Act and formation of autonomous societies to manage big hospitals in the state. Mr Ganesh Dut, the party spokesperson, said the Land Revenue Act was amended to simplify procedures and ensure speedy justice to the poor farmers. Besides, a provision for providing kisan passbooks to farmers was also made so that they did not have to run from one office to the other to get various documents. It was no ordinary passbook, but a legal document on the basis of which the farmer could raise bank loans, secure certificates in support of his financial status and caste. However, the Congress which had no real issues to raise
against the government was opposing the amendments without any rhyme or reason. |
|
|
3 ITBP jawans die
in road accident MANALI, Sept 18 — Three ITBP jawans were killed and two seriously injured when the jeep in which they were travelling skidded off the road and fell into a deep nullah. About 31 km from here, on the Manali-Rohtang road today. According to the police, those killed have been identified as Suresh Kumar, Vikram Ram and Banwari Lal while the injured are Somvir Sharma and Ram Chand. The jawans were on their way from Leh to Manali. The bodies of the jawans were handed over to the ITBP authorities after a post-mortem. The injured have been admitted to the local Lady Willingdon Hospital. A case under Sections 279, 336, 337 and 304-A of the IPC has been registered against the driver for rash and negligent driving. |
|
Action against 13
Baddi units SHIMLA, Sept 18 — The state Pollution Control Board has initiated action against 13 industrial units in Baddi in connection with the release of toxic effluents in the Sirsa river which killed hundreds of fish two days ago. While test reports of samples of effluents drawn from various units were yet to be received, the board on the basis of inspection carried out by its officials identified some suspected units. Power supply was disconnected to three such units and manufacturing operations were suspended in case of another three units. Besides, notices were issued to seven units. According to a spokesperson of the board, as many as 25 raids were conducted during the past 24 hours to identify the units which released huge toxic effluents into the river during night on the sly. He said the contaminated river waters were being analysed to ascertain the cause of large-scale death of fish. He said further action would be taken on the basis of the test reports of samples. He said the board had posted a technical officer to guide the small industrial units for adopting clean manufacturing processes. It may be recalled that over 600 fish were killed after some industrial units released toxic effluents in the Sirsa. |
|
|
45 labourers released SHIMLA, Sept 18 — A Division Bench of the Himachal Pradesh High Court consisting of the Chief Justice, Mr C.K. Thakkar, and Mr Justice M.R. Verma today ordered the release of 45 labourers, who were in detention at a brick-kiln in Una district. Ms Sunita Sharma, the counsel for the petitioner, contended that they were not willing to work there and wanted to go to their native place, but they were illegally detained by the brick-kiln owner. Moreover they were confined against their wishes. And the life and liberty of the detainees was at danger in the hands of brick-kiln owner. All the 45 labourers were present in the court when the public interest litigation came up for hearing today. This petition was filed by a non-government organisation. |
|
|
Wife ends life as man feigns suicide NURPUR, Sept 18 — In a bizarre incident, a pretence made by a husband to end his life by consuming a pesticide led to the death of his wife. According to information, the tragic incident occurred at Talara village near here on Saturday when the husband tried to pressurise his parents to arrange money for buying a refrigerator to gift it to his sister-in-law on her marriage. When the parents reportedly did not oblige, he pretended to commit suicide by consuming a pesticide. Dr seeing him, his wife could not tolerate this feigned suicide and consumed the same pesticide. She was rushed to the Civil Hospital here where she died. She was married two years ago. |
|
|
SFI wins 3 seats MANDI, Sept 18 — The SFI has won three seats and the ABVP one in the elections held for the Students Central Association of a local college the results of which were declared here today amidst heavy police arrangements. Earlier on Saturday, the announcement of the results had been withheld due to hooliganism by a section of
students. Munish of the SFI has been elected president. He defeated Bhambar Bhardwaj by 75
votes. Mahinder Kumar (SFI) has been elected vice-president. He defeated Vikas of the ABVP by 16
votes. Rohit of the ABVP has been elected general secretary defeating his nearest rival Kailash of the SFI by 79 votes. Vijay Kumar of the SFI has been elected joint secretary. He defeated Rohit of the ABVP by four votes. |
|
|
Navratra mela
from Sept 28 JAWALAMUKHI, Sept 18 — The 10-day Sharad Navratra Mela will be held from September 28 at the famous shrine of Jawalamukhi. The Jawalamukhi Temple Trust authorities are making arrangements for over five lakh pilgrims who are expected to arrive here from Punjab, Chandigarh, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan to pay obeisance to the Congress. According to the Deputy Commissioner, Kangra, Mr Ramesh Chander Kapil, elaborate security arrangements have been made to maintain law and order during the mela. An Executive Magistrate will be on duty round the clock. The administration has banned the carrying of all types of firearms and lethal weapons inside the Dehra revenue tehsil territory with immediate effect. Mr Kapil said to maintain sanitation, the entire area of the town would be divided into sectors. Besides the regular sanitation staff, 50 safai sewaks would be recruited. Medical facilities would be provided round the clock. He said direct buses would be plied between Jawalamukhi, Chandigarh and Hoshiarpur. Mr Kapil, who is also holding the charge of Temples Commissioner, said the state Public Relations Department would set up an information centre to provide regular information to
devotees. |
|
|
Bhatoon shepherds
return home CHAMBA, Sept 18 — Eight shepherds of Bhatoon village in the Kihar sector of Chamba district, who had set out to search for their sheep and goats on Thursday night last week, have returned to their homes. Their livestock is still missing. The Deputy Commissioner of Chamba, Mr T.D. Nagi, after meeting the shepherds, confirmed that 130 sheep and goats had gone missing from Siknudhar forests on the Chamba Doda border. Mr Nagi said the possibility of the sheep and goats crossing over to Doda district through Chhattar Pass could not be ruled out. However, search for the livestock was on, Mr Nagi added. Meanwhile, senior police officers have reached the incident site. They were also in touch with security forces in Doda district. |
|
|
10 lakh collected for CM’s
Relief Fund BILASPUR, Sept 18 — Several local organisations and individuals have contributed a total of Rs 10.64 lakh for the Chief Minister’s Flood Relief Fund in the district in the past two weeks. Contributions were presented to the Chief Minister during functions held at Jukhaia and Barthin. Deputy Commissioner Jagdish Chander Sharma presented a cheque for Rs 5 lakh on behalf of the Shri Nainadevi Temple Trust. District units of the Highly Qualified Teachers’ Union and the Primary Teachers’ Union jointly presented a cheque for Rs 2.22 lakh. The Chief Medical Officer, Dr M.L. Mahajan presented a cheque for Rs 1.54 lakh on behalf of the District Health Department. |
|
|
Nine scale Ladakhi peak MANALI, Sept 18 — Capt Randhir Singh Salhuria, Deputy Director, Directorate of Mountaineering and Allied Sports, Manali, has said that a mountaineering expedition team consisting of two instructors and seven trainees led by Everester Rajiv Sharma today successfully scaled the 18,300 ft-high Ladakhi peak. In an official statement issued here, the Deputy Director disclosed that Rajiv Sharma, the course in charge, passed this message on the wireless from the top of the Ladakhi peak to him. He congratulated on its success. |
 |
| 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 | |
