H I M A C H A L   P R A D E S H

Dhumal picks up poly bags, launches drive
SHIMLA, Nov 1 — Mr P.K. Dhumal, the Chief Minister, has underlined the need to create social awakening regarding scientific disposal of urban waste and strict enforcement of the State Non-biodegradable Garbage (control) Act to free the scenic hills from the menace of polythene bags.

Kangra to have media training centre
KANGRA, Nov 1 — An electronic media training centre would be set up in Kangra district and a survey by an Asian society has already been completed and the state government would contribute by providing land for the project.

HC notices to NHPC chief, Chamera CE
SHIMLA, Nov 1 — A Divisional Bench of the High Court consisting of Chief Justice C.K. Thakkar and Mr Justice K.C. Sood today issued notices to the Chiarman of the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) and the Chief Engineer of the Chamera Project of the corporation on the issue of removal of an employee from the service.

Chairperson of Age Care found dead
SHIMLA, Nov 1 — Mrs R.K. Soni (87), chairperson of the Age Care was found dead in her house here this morning. Her body was found in the bathroom where she is presumed to have fallen. She was living in her ancestral home at Kasumpti. Eyewitnesses said her driver got no response when he rang the bell. When the door was forced open, her body was found dead in the bathroom.

• HP to clear job backlog
  
  

Dhumal picks up poly bags, launches drive
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Nov 1 — Mr P.K. Dhumal, the Chief Minister, has underlined the need to create social awakening regarding scientific disposal of urban waste and strict enforcement of the State Non-biodegradable Garbage (control) Act to free the scenic hills from the menace of polythene bags.

Launching the week-long statewide ‘‘clean polythene’’ drive here today he said periodical campaigns to clean the hills had yielded good results, but they did not provide a permanent solution to the problem. He said during two previous drives as much as 42 tonnes of polythene bags were collected from hills of Shimla town alone. Such campaigns could not go on endlessly and sooner or later it would have to be ensured that polythene bags and other non-biodegradable material was not thrown on the hills at all.

He said recycled polythene bags not only marred the beauty of hills but were also harmful to human beings. The pigments used for colouring the recycled bags contained toxic chemicals which contaminated food and other eatables. He said so far the government had been lenient in enforcement of the ban on polythene bags as it wanted to educate the people and seek their cooperation in making the state ‘‘polythene free’’. However, strict punitive action would have to be taken against habitual offenders.

The government would also take steps to discourage the use of non-biodegradable packing material by tourists. He said big hoardings informing the visitors about the ban on polythene bags in the state would be put up at all entry points.

Mr Dhumal said public, particularly traders, who mostly used polythene bags, had been cooperative. They had voluntarily decided to give up recycled poly bags and switched over the paper or jute bags in places like Manali and Simla.

The government, he said, also planned to set up facilities for recycling of non-biodegradable waste which was essential to ensure its scientific disposal. Besides, urban local bodies, panchayats would also be involved in the drive. Mr Dhumal picked up a few polythene bags at Sanjauli to mark the launching of the drive.

Under the state Act those guilty of throwing non-biodagradable waste on hills and in public drains could be sentenced up to six months imprisonment and fined up to Rs 5,000.

The shopkeepers using recycled poly bags could be fined Rs 50 at the first instance and Rs 100 for every subsequent offence. The Central Environment Protection Act was more stringent with a provision of imprisonment up to five years and a fine up to Rs 1 lakh for offenders.

In all 319 persons have been challaned in the state for using recycled polythene bags so far. The maximum number of 132 cases were in Shimla district. All major towns and nagar panchayats will be covered during the week-long drive.

Kangra to have media training centre
From Our Correspondent

KANGRA, Nov 1 — An electronic media training centre would be set up in Kangra district and a survey by an Asian society has already been completed and the state government would contribute by providing land for the project.

Disclosing this the Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal, told mediapersons on Monday at Dharamshala that facilities for film shooting would be available at the centre, which would be the first of its kind in Asia. He said students would be trained at the centre for electronic media. He said his government was eager to develop the Information Technology (IT) sector in the state.

Mr Dhumal said a survey conducted in the state had indicated that business to the tune of Rs 100,000 was possible in the IT sector in the state. He said by the end of year 2005 exports pertaining to the IT sector from the state would touch Rs 20,000 crore and 22 lakh unemployed youths would get employment by the year 2008.

He said in order to provide better IT education the state government had signed a contract with Barklay (California) University, USA, through a private firm.

He said the foundation stone of Rs 30 crore IT training centre at Solan had already been laid and the teaching faculty from California University would impart graduate and post graduate training to the students at Solan. The centre will be operational from 2002, Mr Dhumal said. The Chief Minister also said government had accepted the offer of an NRI for setting up at IT centre at Una.

HC notices to NHPC chief, Chamera CE
From Our Legal Correspondent

SHIMLA, Nov 1 — A Divisional Bench of the High Court consisting of Chief Justice C.K. Thakkar and Mr Justice K.C. Sood today issued notices to the Chiarman of the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) and the Chief Engineer of the Chamera Project of the corporation on the issue of removal of an employee from the service.

According to the case, husband of the petitioner (Suneeta Gurang) is living at Bahrain and the petitioner herself is a teacher at Banikhet in Chamba in a school run by the corporation. She had applied for issuing her a no objection certificate for going abroad during the winter vacations which was granted by the administrator of corporation.

In Bahrain she started taking treatment for her infertility which in her doctor’s view would take few months. Therefore she applied for medical leave through telegram. But on September 6 the Chief Engineer of the Chamera Project issued an order removing her from service.

She had filed a petition in the court against the order. Mr Anup Rattan, counsel for the petitioner contended that the order issued by the corporation was illegal and against the relevant rules.

Chairperson of Age Care found dead
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Nov 1 — Mrs R.K. Soni (87), chairperson of the Age Care was found dead in her house here this morning. Her body was found in the bathroom where she is presumed to have fallen. She was living in her ancestral home at Kasumpti.

Eyewitnesses said her driver got no response when he rang the bell. When the door was forced open, her body was found dead in the bathroom.

Mrs Soni was involved with the welfare of the aged and was planning to construct an old age home at Shoghi, near here, with the assistance of the government.

HP to clear job backlog
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Nov 1 — The Himachal Pradesh Government has ordered clearance of the backlog in recruitment of the handicapped in government jobs. According to a notification, 1 per cent reservation for handicapped persons in government jobs has been made in the state.