Shanta defends ministers
From Pratibha Chauhan
Tribune News Service

DHARAMSALA, Sept 30 — With Shanta loyalists being made the target of criticism by the rival camp, the Union Minister has now come out openly in defence of his men.

There seems to be no signs of group rivalry dying down in the BJP, as the rival camps are hitting out at each other by levelling all sorts of allegations. Yesterday, it was the turn of the IPH minister, Mr Ramesh Chaudhary, against whom allegations were made in the presence of Mr Shanta Kumar in his own native Rainta Dhawala village.

Mr Shanta Kumar addressed a public meeting in the constituency of the IPH minister, who after being denied the BJP ticket, contested as an independent candidate.

Prior to the holding of the public meeting, pamphlets were distributed among the people, accusing Mr Chaudhary of being corrupt. The matter was brought to the notice of Mr Shanta Kumar, who reacted strongly on the issue. Giving a clean chit to Mr Chaudhary and Mr Kishan Kapoor, he said that if these two could be corrupt, then nobody in Himachal was honest.

He said that he would request the Chief Minister that the matter should be inquired into so that a ‘vilification’ campaign was not launched against anybody.

Mr Chaudhary, on his part, claimed, “It is very painful to see that some people are trying to defame me when I am waging a war against corruption.”

Another staunch Shanta loyalist, Mr Kishan Kapoor, Transport Minister, who was present at the public meeting, hit back at the rival camp, by claiming that it was because of Mr Chaudhary that the BJP could form a government in Himachal. He said that had Mr Chaudhary given in to the overtures of the Congress, the dream of many BJP MLAs to become ministers would have been shattered.

Though, having won as an Independent candidate, the IPH Minister, Mr Chaudhary, still remains a Shanta loyalist. It appears that after the efforts of the rival camp to pull down Mr Kishan Kapoor, it is now the turn of the IPH minister. Lately, Mr Kapoor has been facing criticism and dissidence in his assembly segment of Dharamsala.

Some of the BJP leaders from Dharamsala had even complained to the Chief Minister against the non-cooperative attitude of Mr Kapoor during Mr Dhumal’s previous visit here. Taking exception of this, the Dharamsala BJP block, at a meeting had demanded strict action against and expulsion of those who were trying to make allegations against Mr Kapoor. Since then the two rival factions have been launching attacks on each other.

However, it is for the first time that the Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Mr Shanta Kumar, has come out openly in defence of his supporters and that too publicly. The way things are shaping up, it seems that the bickering and groupism in the state BJP will intensify in the coming days.

Mankotia’s remark 'political'
From Our Correspondent

KULU, Sept 30 — The HP state Ex-servicemen League should come forward for the welfare of the ex-servicemen and war-widows of the state and desist from using the platform for any political ends. Major R.C. Sharma, president of the Kulu and Lahaul Spiti unit of the league said in a press note issued here today said that statements issued by the state president of the league, Major Vijay Singh Mankotia, were against the non-political character of the league.

Mr R.C. Sharma said ex-servicemen and war-widows should be given free rail and road travel facility like freedom fighters. They should also be given reservations in the panchayat, zila samiti and local bodies. He urged the headquarters of 39 Mountain Division to send a mobile team of doctors and para medical staff, including the eye and ENT specialists on monthly basis to Kulu for regular checkup for ex-servicemen.

Major Sharma also urged the Himachal Pradesh Government to provide land for the construction of a community hall and vocational training centre here.

Form cooperatives, Dhumal tells youth
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Sept 30 — Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, Himachal Chief Minister, said that 719 mini and micro hydel projects had been identified in Himachal Pradesh and has asked the youth to form cooperatives and take up these projects for which government would provide all possible assistance. He said these projects besides meeting local energy requirements would also go a long way in creating employment opportunities to the people in the state.

The Chief Minister, who was the chief guest on the occasion of a seminar “Power Sector Reforms in HP Experience and Challenges” organised by the Centre for the Bharatiya Marketing Development coinciding with Himgiri Swadeshi mela being organised here, Mr Dhumal stressed upon system and quality improvement in power generation as well as transmission with a view to yielding better results.

He said that Himachal Pradesh had hydel potential of over 22000 MW which come to about one fourth of the entire country and added that the state government had decided to exploit these expeditiously.

He said that during last two years work on project having generating capacity of over 45000 mw had been initiated. He said the work on 86 mw Malana project started in the year 1998 was likely to be completed in a record time of less than three years.

He lauded the Centre for the Bharatiya, Marketing Development for organising seminar on power reform and expressed hope that Himachal Pradesh would immensely benefit from it.

No free services at IGMC
From S.P. Sharma
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Sept 30 Patients will have to pay user charges at Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) and its associated hospitals here from October 3 for diagnostic services.

This will end the long era of services being provided free of cost in hospitals here.

Sources said user charges would also be applicable in Kamla Nehru Hospital and Dental College. Although Dental College was separate from the IGMC, yet it was utilising the infrastructure of the latter for diagnostic purposes.

The decision to strictly enforce the user charges has been taken by the hospital welfare societies which were recently registered to make the hospitals raise their own resources and improve their functioning.

It is being claimed that the hospitals are not imposing any new user charges, but have decided to formalise the system which was introduced in 1988 when charges were fixed for various tests. Only a small fraction of the patients are paying these charges, while a majority enjoy free healthcare. These charges will now be applicable to are those who come to the hospitals.

The BJP-HVC combine government has already come under severe criticism for having converted the IGMC, Tanda Medical College, Dental College and all district hospitals into societies. People suspect that a heavy dose of user charges will be levied after the coming panchayat elections.

The earlier BJP government led by Mr Shanta Kumar also faced wrath of the people when it substantially enhanced the user charges in 1990. These were later reversed by the Congress government.

A highly placed source said from Tuesday patients would have to pay the following user charges for various diagnostic services including X-ray — Rs 14, barium — Rs 60, ultrasound — Rs 60, ECG — 30, eco — Rs 200, blood grouping, TLC-DLC and urine test — Rs 8 each and pathological test — Rs 38. The registration slip would continue to be priced at 25 paise each.

Limits of parishad wards changed
From Our Correspondent

BILASPUR, Sept 30 — Deputy Commissioner Jagdish Chander Sharma has issued a notification changing the limits of zila parishad Ward No 10 (Barmana) and Ward No 12 (Jukhala).

The former will include gram sabhas of Barmana, Panjgain, Harnoda, Dhonkothi, Dhartatch, Deoli, Banola and Seehra while the latter will have gram sabhas of Kotla, Jukhala, Makadi, Markand, Bandia, Raghunathpura, Kothipura, Rajpura, Deoth, Mehathi and Kallar.

The notification said a new gram sabha comprising Seehra village of gram sabha, Banola and Dhamna and Badsaur villages of gram sabha, Bandla had been created. Therefore, Ward No 16 of the Bilaspur Sadar Panchayat Samiti (Bandla) would now include gram sabhas of Bandla, Makadi and Markand and Ward No 17 (Banola) would comprise gram sabhas of Banola and Seehra.

“Cancel foreign tour of bank top brass”
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Sept 30 — The HP State Cooperative Bank Employees Union has urged the state government to cancel the foreign jaunt of the top officials of the bank which will cost lakhs of rupees.

In a joint statement here today, Mr R.K. Negi, and Mr Harbans Dubey, president and general secretary of the association, respectively, they have warned that an agitation will be launched in case the foreign tour of the President and Managing Director of the bank was not cancelled immediately.

They alleged that the bank management had misled the government by claiming that there would be no financial burden on the bank on account of the tour.

They alleged that the vehicles of the bank were being misused by the top brass and funds were being diverted for entertainment.

Get registered, outsiders told
From Our Correspondent

HAMIRPUR, Sept 30 — Mrs Anuradha Thakur, District Magistrate, here has issued an order making it mandatory for all such persons who come from other parts of the state and sell their products in the local markets to get themselves registered with the respective police stations and get a photo identity card issued from there.

The order was issued to check many unscrupulous elements who had been indulging in anti-social activities.

It has also been made mandatory for all those dealing in the contractual works not to give jobs to any person unless he has got himself registered with any police station of the district and has photo-identity card. 

All activities by unregistered persons has also been banned.

HP reconstitutes advisory panel on employment
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Sept 30 — The Himachal Pradesh Government has re-constituted the advisory committee to advise in the matter of employment opportunities for women, including part-time employment and such other relevant factors as the committee may think fit under the Equal Remuneration Act, 1976 under the chairmanship of Additional Chief Secretary-cum-Secretary (Labour and Employment).

The Commissioner-cum-Secretary (Labour and Employment), Engineer-in-Chief, PWD, Director (Welfare) and Director (Industries) will be its official members.

The Labour Commissioner-cum-Director of Employment will be its member secretary.

Mrs Nirmala Devi, MLA, Mrs Kanta Sood, president, INTUC, Mrs Girja Guleria from Mandi district, Mrs Pushpa Sharma from Dharamsala, Mrs Lata Purohit from Shimla, Mrs Raj Kumari Sood from Shimla, Miss Saneh from Una district and Mrs Deepa Singh advocate from Dalhousie will be non-official members.

Former DGP gets harmony award
From Our Correspondent

KANGRA, Sept 30 — The Secular India Harmony Award for 2000, instituted by the United Children Movement, New Delhi, has been awarded to Mr Omkar Rahai of Kangra former Director-General of Police Madhya Pradesh, and known Hindi literary personality, for promoting national integration and communal harmony.

Mr Rahai, who has been staying in the town after retirement, said today the award was given every year to persons from different walks of life for promoting national integration.

Mr Rahai was also awarded the Rashtriya Hindi Sevi Sahasrabdi Sammaan on September 23, 2000, for his contribution to Hindi.

He has written two books on linguistics, seven novels, one short story collection and has been the Editor-in-Chief of MP Police Patrika.

Man drowned near Nainadevi Temple
From Our Correspondent

BILASPUR, Sept 30 — Baldev Krishan (40) of Kaanauch village in Ludhiana district got drowned in a watertank near Nainadevi Temple today. He had gone there for the Navratra celebrations. According to persons accompanying him, he used to suffer from fits and this might be a reason for his falling into the tank. Subdivisional Magistrate Roshanlal Rana reached the spot and made arrangements for bringing the body to the Regional Hospital here for the post-mortem.

Himachal special function on Oct 2
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Sept 30 — The Himachal Pradesh government has decided to organise a special function on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti on October 2 in which culture of peace manifesto will be signed by the Governor, Mr Vishnu Kant Shastri, at the Ridge, here. This was decided at a meeting held here yesterday under the chairmanship of Mr A.K. Goswami, Chief Secretary. The General Assembly of the United Nations has proclaimed year 2000 as International year of Culture of Peace and the period 2000-2010 as International Decade for Promotion of a Culture of Peace and non-violence for the children of the world. The signing of manifesto will be an important symbolic gesture reflecting the commitment of people at all levels to peace.

FCI to construct godown at Dehra
From Our Correspondent

NURPUR, Sept 30 — The Food Corporation of India (FCI) will construct a foodgrain godown with a capacity of 3,000 metric tonnes at Dehra Gopipur in Kangra district. This was stated by Mr Shanta Kumar, Union Minister for Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution, while addressing a public meeting near Dehra yesterday. He said under the 10th Five Year Plan, all rural and urban areas of Himachal Pradesh would be provided with potable water by augmenting the existing drinking water supply system. Mr Shanta Kumar also inaugurated a lift water supply scheme built at a cost of Rs 38 lakh.

‘Govardhan Pooja’ local holiday
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Sept 30 — The Himachal Pradesh Government has declared “Govardhan Pooja” on October 27 and Guru Teg Bahadur’s Shahidi Divas on November 24 as local holidays for the employees working in the government offices, boards, corporations and educational institutions within the municipal limits of Shimla. These holidays will not be applicable to the daily wage employees and also within the meaning of Section 25 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881.

1 killed as bus, tractor collide

HAMIRPUR, Sept 30 (PTI) — One person was killed and 27 injured in a collision between a bus and a tractor near Kundavra village today, the police here said. The injured had been admitted to a hospital, the police said, adding that senior officials had reached the spot.