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| Saturday,
September 23, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
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HP plans concrete highway Farmers urged to use new technology Govt to pay
freight for Kinnaur belt Claim of peaceful Cong poll refuted Virbhadra men meet Rao |
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development authorities set up NRI proposes
IT project at Una Doctors
meet Health Minister HVC opposes
more cement plants ‘Principal’
booked for fraud Rao forced to
eat his words Highest
tax-payers honoured Councillor denies
quitting Cong 34 hurt in bus mishap
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HP plans concrete highway HAMIRPUR, Sept 21 — Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal, HP Chief Minister said that he has asked the Surface Transport Ministry to give the state government permission to laying a concrete surface on the Shimla-Kangra National Highways 88. He said that it permission was granted, Himachal Pradesh would be only the second state after Maharashtra to have a concrete highways. The Maharashtra government already has a concrete highway between Pune to Mumbai which has proved to be both successful and economical. The Chief Minister said that in Himachal Pradesh there was no dearth of cement and rocks required for concrete surfacing. The secretary PWD, Mr SK Saini will visit New Delhi shortly to discuss the issue. Talking with a group of
Hamirpur based reporters last night, the Chief Minister said that he had suggested that the Union Communication Ministry bring the entire state under a group-dialling scheme as Himachal Pradesh could not be equated with other states due to its geographical conditions. He said he had written to the Union Communication Minister, Mr Ram Vilas Paswan in this respect and Mr Paswan will be visiting the state next week. If he agrees to the group during all parts of the state will be linked through local calls. The Chief Minister said that the main aim of his government was to provide basic facilities to the people and the group-dialling scheme was a step in this direction. He said he had formulated a big plan to convert Hamirpur town into a model town of Himachal Pradesh as it was located in the heart of the state. He said the HPTDC’s Hotel Hamir would be expanded and eight to ten more rooms would be added. The Chief Minister said the sub-jail located near the mini-secretariat would be shifted to a location near the police lines. The Government had also decided to construct a new building for the Fire brigade at Hathli Khad, from where tenders will be able to lift water directly. He said that a new principal would be posted to the Regional Engineering College at Hamirpur and the REC would be converted into a technical university work on recruiting youths to the Indian Reserve Battalion would start soon. Sportspersons would also be given preference in the new battalion, he said. |
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Farmers urged to use new technology DHARAMSALA, Sept 22 — The Himachal Pradesh Governor, Mr Vishnu Kant Shastri, has urged the farming community of the state to avail the latest technology to maximise their produce. Speaking on the occasion of the inauguration of state-level kisan mela, at Agriculture University at Palampur, yesterday, he said that it was important to transfer the research to the fields. “With the help of the best varieties of seeds and latest farming technology. The farmers should not only produce for self consumption but for strengthening the economy,” he stated. Mr Shastri, said that the prosperity of any nation depended upon the research to provide latest technology for the fields. “It was in this perspective that Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri had coined the slogan “Jai Jawan — Jai Kisan”, which ultimately led to Green Revolution in India,” said Mr Shastri. Keeping in tune with the times, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, too had stressed the need for laying special emphasis on science and technology, he stated. Addressing farmers, he said that such kisan melas would go a long way in making farmers aware of the latest farming technology and interaction with the scientists removed their doubts and problems. Lauding the efforts of the university, he stressed the need for holding kisan melas in all regions of the state and at lower levels also. The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Dr P.K. Khosla, announced that kisan melas would now be held at all krishi vigyan kendras and research centres of the university in the state. He disclosed that the university was planning to hold more training programmes for the youth and women. The Governor also launched the scheme of “one student one tree” in the university, where every student would be asked to plant a tree and nature it. |
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Govt to pay
freight for Kinnaur belt SHIMLA, Sept 22 — The Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, has urged the central government to provide additional resources to the Border Road Organisation to ensure speedy restoration of the national highway, which was badly damaged during a flash-flood in Kinnaur. The Defence Minister has agreed to provide an additional IAF helicopter for airlifting essential
commodities and other necessary material. With this three helicopters will now be in service daily. Mr Dhumal directed the Food and Supply Department to provide wheat atta and rice to all affected families of Kinnaur district for three months on the pattern applicable to families below the poverty line. Under this scheme 10 kg of rice and 10 kg of atta per month are made available to affected persons. It has also been decided to give transportation charges for carriage of essential commodities from the Chief Minister Relief Fund keeping in view damaged road conditions to bring down prices of pulses, edible oil, milk, salt and spices in Kinnaur district. With this subsidy essential commodities to people of Kinnaur will be available at rates prevailing in Rampur and Shimla. The Chief Minister has also urged the central government to bear the transportation charges upto district headquarters to that LPG cylinder can be provided on concessional rates to the flood affected areas. He said that the state government would bear the transportation charges of carrying of LPG cylinders via Kunzum upto Pooh and Peo from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund till approval was obtained from the Centre. He also directed the Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Tribal Development to solve the various problems of affected people by immediately visiting Kinnaur district. He appreciated the Public Works Department for restoring the of old Hindustan Tibet road on a war-footing. |
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Claim of peaceful Cong poll refuted DHARAMSALA, Sept 22 — Notwhitstanding the claims of the DRO, Mr K.S. Rathore, that
electrons to all 16 constituencies of Kangra had been completed peacefully, hundreds of party workers, led by a former minister, Mr S.S. Pathania, swarmed into a local coffee house, where the DRO accompanied by the Rajya Sabha member and All-India Mahila Congress President, Mrs Chandresh Kumari, was addressing a press conference. The agitated party workers said that they would not tolerate injustice as elections of the Jwali block had been not held so far, and as such the question of a body being elected did not arise. They said that after election could not be held due to a dispute on September 20 the ARO, Mr Rajneesh Awasthy, gave it to them in writing that the election had been postponed till further orders. They said that objection had been raised by party workers on the name of Mr Nishwar Singh, who had been expelled from the party in January, 1998, for a period of six years. They claimed that before the elections were to be held, they had objected on this ground to the party and even the State Election Authority (SEA) had upheld his expulsion. But elections to the Jwali block Congress had already been completed. Mr Rathore, said that he had already received a list of elected members. Unofficially, Mr Nishwar Singh, has been elected as the PCC delegate. Mr Rathore, when asked about the disputes at a number of places in Kangra district, said that he would not go by hearsay or media reports, and all those who had grievances should give it in writing to him. He said that as per AICC directions all those going to court or the Press would be expelled from the party. When asked about the dispute in Kangra block, where a member of the State Election Authority, Mr Mangat Ram, was present, Mr Rathore said that he was not in touch with him but ultimately his report would matter, as he was the DRO for Kangra. Mr Rathore refused to make any comments on the statement made by the Chairman of the State Election Authority, Mr Hanumanta Rao against Mr Virbhadra Singh. He said that he only wanted to restrict
himself to Kangra district and maintained that elections in the district were peaceful and fair. He, however, added that Mr Hanumantha Rao, was a very senior Congressman from Andhra Pradesh and a man of integrity. Meanwhile, elections to the Baijnath block were held unanimously, where Mr Sudhir Sharma was elected as the PCC delegate, while Kanwar Shamsher Singh was made the Block Congress Committee, President, Mr Rathore added that since the controversy in Jwali had been brought to his notice by Mr Pathania, he would look into it. |
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Virbhadra men meet Rao SHIMLA, Sept 22 — Angry supporters of the CLP leader, Mr Virbhadra Singh, today met the Chairman of the Pradesh Election Authority, Mr Hanumantha Rao, and demanded re-election in Shimla (Urban) area where they alleged that an AICC spokesman, Mr Anand Sharma, was declared successful without any election. The supporters of Mr Virbhadra Singh trooped to the state guesthouse where Mr Rao is staying and alleged the elections were manipulated. They demanded the election of Mr Sharma and also the District Congress Committee should be nullified. They shouted slogans against the manner in which the organisational elections were being held here and alleged the Assistant Returning Officer functioned in a partisan manner and declared the panel of Mr Sharma elected from outside the PCC headquarters which was fixed as the venue for the election. They also complained of irregularities in the preparation of list of delegates who were to vote in these elections. The names of certain senior partymen, including Mr A.N. Bazwaria, were deleted from the list. Two women, who were made members of the DCC executive by the other group, also alleged the DRO and ARO announced the result without holding the elections. They had not accepted the posts, they claimed. Leaders of the other group — Mr Ram Lal and Mr J.B.L. Khachi — also met Mr Rao. They appreciated the “free and fair” conduct of organisational elections and congratulated Mr Rao for this. The president-elect of the DCC (Urban), Shimla, Mr Harbhajan Bhajee, along with his supporters met Mr Rao and said those persons who lost the
elections were now making a hue and cry. He said no one from the other side filed their nominations for the DCC (Urban) and as such the elections were held unanimously. Talking to newspersons, Mr Rao said he had so far received only two complaints from Shimla and Bilaspur and these will be settled before October 1. He said the Pradesh Election Authority was an independent body and there was no involvement of the AICC or the PCC in its functioning. There was enthusiasm among the partymen this time during the elections as the membership was done up to the grassroots level. Mr Rao said after touring various areas his impression was that the elections were free and fair. He said there was no question of the party splitting as the effort of the leadership was to take everybody along. He said he had made it clear to all poll officers that the final election results would be declared only by the Pradesh Returning Officer. Instructions in this respect were received from the Central Election Authority chief, Mr R.N.
Mirdha. |
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development authorities set up SHIMLA, Sept 22 — Eleven special area development authorities have been set up in Himachal Pradesh by the state government to prevent construction along the national highway and regulate development activity. Five such authorities have been set up on the Kalka-Shimla national highway at Jabli, Barog, Kandaghat, Shogi and Kufri. The Secretary, Town and Country Planning, said no construction would be allowed along the highway up to 50 metres on both sides without the permission of the respective development authority. Special area development authorities have also been set up at Khajjiar, Baba Balak Nath, Hatkoti, Sarahan (Rampur), Poanta Sahib and Una. These development authorities will be armed with the same powers as those of the Director, Town and Country Planning, for planning and regulating development under the Town and Country Planning Act, 1977. These will also have the powers of local bodies under the HP Municipal Act for provision and maintenance of civic facilities. The Kalka-Shimla national highway has been choked at many places due to haphazard construction and parking of vehicles outside dhabas and restaurants. The authorities have failed to prevent such construction although PWD engineers were earlier given magisterial powers to check encroachment along the highways. |
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NRI proposes
IT project at Una UNA, Sept 22 — Prof Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister addressing mediapersons at Una today said keeping in mind the discrimination against Una by previous Congress governments the BHP-HVC government had decided to redress this injustice. Thus immediately after assuming power in the state it opened an office of SE PWD and Executive Engineer at Bangana, two subdivisions of Una district. It also got cleared the Swan channelisation project and tenders to start work have been issued. Also 86 quarters of the IRB were built at Bangarh and the state’s only Heavy Vehicle Driving School set up in Bharwain while the Government Polytechnic Institute at Gagret was almost complete. He said the state government had decided to open a private dental college and medical college with a nursing training centre and para-medical centre in Una district. Mr Chaudhary an NRI had approached the government to start an information technology centre in Una district, he said. He lashed out at the opposition for criticising the kisan passbook scheme. |
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Doctors
meet Health Minister SHIMLA, Sept 22 — The Himachal Medical Officers Association has urged the state government not to make appointments in medical colleges on a contract basis and to refrain from giving key posts, like that of principal, to retired persons. A deputation of the association met the State Health Minister, Mr J.P. Nadda, here yesterday and submitted him a memorandum, disapproving of the government’s policy to appoint teachers on a contract basis and reward retired persons with key posts. The association also opposed the grant of extension in service to Medical Officers, as it blocked promotion avenues. It also urged the government to review its decision to reduce the study leave period from three to two years as postgraduation required a minimum of three years. It also asked the government to define the duty hours of doctors. Other demands of the association included filling of posts of Deputy Director and Joint Director, restoration of 10 per cent house rent allowance, grant of rural allowance on the Punjab pattern, release of special increments to post-graduate doctors and removal of anomalies in the recently released time-scales. |
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HVC opposes
more cement plants SHIMLA, Sept 22 — The Himachal Vikas Congress (Sukh Ram) has opposed the decision of the government to set up five more cement plants in the state. The state executive of the party, which met here today under the chairmanship of Mr Sukh Ram, President, pointed out that a large number of cement plants would prove disastrous for the state environment and the decision did not go well with the state policy of promote tourism as the main industry. The party urged the government to review some of the amendments made to the Land Revenue Act and ensure that revenue cases were not debarred from the jurisdiction of civil courts. It demanded regularisation of encroachments up to five bighas as promised by the party in its election manifesto. It also urged the government to entrust investigations in the murder of party activist Rakesh Thakur to an independent agency in view of the fact that Mr Mohinder Singh, PWD Minister, in whose constituency the crime had occurred was making statements about it which would prejudice inquiry. The party also adopted rules for organisational poll and extended the date for submission of applications for enrolment of members up to October 31. It decided to conduct organisation poll after the ensuing panchayat elections and appointed Mr B.D. Sharma as pradesh election officer for the purpose. |
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‘Principal’
booked for fraud SOLAN, Sept 22 — With the arrest of Azad Singh Saini, self-styled principal of a privately run coaching academy here, on Tuesday, the local police seems to have unearthed a well-organised racket of cheating gullible persons desirous of getting admission to institutes of higher education. According to Mr Sunder Lal, ASP, who held a press conference here today, Megh Singh of village Dolakh in Mandi district lodged an FIR with the local police station alleging that the principal of “City College”, Azad Singh Saini, had duped him of Rs 10,000 by promising to get his son admitted to B.Ed on payment of the amount. Mr Megh Singh further stated that he began to suspect foul play when after the payment, he did not hear from Mr Saini even after the last date of admission mentioned by him. He supported his statement by producing a receipt of “City College” for the said amount. A subsequent raid on “City College” revealed that Saini was arrested by the Panchkula police in 1992 on a similar charge. He has shifted to Solan after “business” became dull in Panchkula. Mr Sunder Lal said that Saini had confessed to have collected sums ranging between Rs 10,000-Rs 40,000 from at least seven persons this academic session. He was believed to have amassed lakhs of rupees in this fashion. He would regularly advertise in vernacular newspapers. One such advertisement claimed that he had 20 B.Ed seats available which would be allotted on a first come first served basis against a nominal fee. The ASP said that Saini had so far admitted to having links with operators similar to him at Dehra Dun and Patna. |
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Rao forced to
eat his words SHIMLA, Sept 22 — Mr Hanumantha Rao, chairman of the pradesh election authority for conducting organisational elections in the state, today categorically denied he had made personal remarks against the CLP Leader, Mr Virbhadra Singh, during his visit to Hamirpur and Palampur. He told mediapersons here today that he had utmost respect for Mr Virbhadra Singh and he would never make any derogatory remarks against him. Referring to yesterday’s statement by Mr Virbhadra Singh in reaction to his reported remarks, Mr Rao said Mr Virbhadra Singh was the Leader of the CLP and a former Chief Minister. Hence, he had the right to say anything. He refused to comment on the remarks and said he would not speak further on the issue. Our Correspondent adds from Mandi:
In Mandi, a large number of Congress men, including former ministers and stalwarts, mobbed him at Gandhi Bhawan and grilled him for the “unsavoury and irresponsible” comments against Mr Virbhadra Singh. He was virtually gheraoed. A shaken Rao had to summon press conference at the Circuit House to contradict reports attributed to him in leading English and Hindi newspapers. He described Mr Virbhadra Singh as a leader with a mass base. |
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Highest
tax-payers honoured SHIMLA, Sept 22 — Mr J.S. Ahluwalia, Chief Commissioner of Income Tax, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh while presiding over a function to honour the highest tax payers in the state here today said the total tax collections were set to increase from the present Rs 18 crore to over Rs 1,00,000 crore in the next three years. The Income Tax Commissioner, Himachal Pradesh, Mr Vijay Khanna, said the tax collection in Himachal had crossed the Rs 200 crore mark and the number of
assesses increased from 21,071 in 1992 to 1,28,556 in 1999-2000 and it was likely to reach 1,60,000 this year. The Joint Income Tax Commissioner, Mr Buta Singh, said that out of 1,78,919 who applied for PAN number, 1,66,405 had been allotted the same. Three highest payers — Dr Varinder Mohan (professional), Suresh Chaddha (business) and Ratan K |
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Councillor denies
quitting Cong SHIMLA, Sept 22 — Mr Vadupati Sood, a councillor of the Congress in the Shimla Municipal Corporation, has said he was not resigned from the party. In a clarification to the report that he was among the signatories to the resignation by the Mayor and some other councillors, Mr Sood said he had not signed any such document. He said he continued to be a councillor belonging to the Congress and had full faith in the ideology of the party. |
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34 hurt in bus mishap
SHIMLA, Sept 22 — Passengers of a Himachal Road Transport Corporation bus had a miraculous escape today. The vehicle, after a headon collision with a private bus coming from the opposite direction, veered off the road and got entangled in a cluster of trees after rolling downhill about 25ft, at Tawi
Mor, about 6 km from here. But for the trees, the bus would have plunged deep into a gorge. As many as 34 persons, including the driver and passengers of the HRTC bus, were injured in the accident. They were taken to the local Indira Gandhi Medical College Hospital. The HRTC bus was on its way from Dauti to Shimla. |
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