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November 5, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
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Premier college faces fund shortage Additional power by
2010: Dhumal Panchayat poll not
on party lines |
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No EVMs for HP
civic poll 208 applications
for 105 projects CM lays stone of
irrigation project Journalists block
traffic on highway 797-metre tunnel
to be opened tomorrow Virbhadra rues
attack on scribes BJP for candidates
with clean image ‘Remove’
anomalies in pay scales HP Cong to support
Sonia as party chief Modi’s reappointment
may widen rift Suraj Bhan to take
oath on Nov 16 Patwari gets bail
in fire case
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Duchess meets Dalai Lama DHARAMSALA, Nov 4 — Having always been hounded by the British paparazzi, the Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson, tried to elude the press, as she called on the Tibetan spiritual leader, Dalai Lama, at his palace in McLeodganj, here today. “You must try and understand that it is due to my bitter experience in the past that I have had to behave in this manner,” she remarked, while obliging the waiting lensmen after a long wait. She arrived at the palace attired in a green traditional Tibetan dress. She had an hour-long audience with the Tibetan spiritual leader, this afternoon. On her third day in Dharamsala, today, the Duchess did not attend any official function and just went around in the town to see a few places. She had a bad experience of the unregulated traffic in McLeodganj, which forced her to abandon her car and hire a cab in order to move ahead. She walked through the market during the traffic jam to hire the cab. The Duchess, today decided to extend her trip in Dharamsala for another day, in order to attend the inauguration of an SOS children village at Gopalpur, near Dalampur. The Dalai Lama will be the chief guest at the function. The Duchess said that during her visit to various Tibetan schools being run by the exiled Tibetan government for the refugees, she realised the hardships they were facing. “Although they are facing so much, yet I have never seen such happy, smiling children before,” she remarked. She added that she would try and provide aid to some of these institutions. Another dignitary, Princess Salima Aga Khan, and “Ambassador’ for the SOS children village, called upon the Dalai Lama, at his palace. A Swiss national, based in Geneva, the Princess, said that: main purpose of her visit was to start the SOS village at Gopalpur. The SOS children village have their set up in 131 countries world over, taking care of lakhs of children. Wife of Prince Aga Khan, a direct descendent of Prophet Mohammed, she got associated with the SOS, six years back. “It gives me immense pleasure to see these children blossom when they are provided with basic needs like food, education and above all love and care,” she stated. Having been born in India, she spent her first six years in New Delhi. “I feel very familiar and happy in India, as I have very fond memories of this country,” she said, she said that “The initial years of your life leave an imprint in your mind, which are definitely very pleasant memories.” Having visited Dharamsala for the first time, she felt that the unique Tibetan culture needed to be preserved as it was very rich and varied. She said though she was aware of the Tibetan
problem but did not have much knowledge about it. She would be attending the function at Gopalpur, where the Dalai Lama and the Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson, will be also present. |
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Premier college faces fund shortage SHIMLA: St Bede’s College here is heading for its centenary
celebrations under the fear of the state government freezing its grant-in-aid which would starve it of funds. The college, founded in 1904 by the Rev Mother St Clare, is already facing financial problems as the state government has started squeezing the grants to private colleges. Teachers of this minority institution and the parents of students are equally annoyed over the reported move of the government. Two teachers of the college, Mrs Anuja Sharma and Mrs Neel Kamal Singh, say this is for the first time that the institution is facing the problem of funds. An administrative committee has been constituted to pursue the matter with the government and teachers of the college are running to the Secretariat and the Directorate of Education for the purpose. They point out that St Bede’s College has produced many girls for elite services like the IAS, the IFS, the IPS and the HAS, which hardly any other institution has done. Instead of giving incentives for this achievement, the government is out to penalise the college by freezing the grant. The college is being given a grant-in-aid of about Rs 1.9 crore annually. The management has to contribute a huge amount of money towards its share of salaries, maintenance of the college and hostel and extra-curricular activities to prepare the girls to face the challlenges outside. The college wins the first nine or 10 merit positions in university examinations every year and the students are being charged the tuition fee on a par with that of any government college, the teachers claim. The teachers clarify that the college is not receiving any grant from abroad. To cope with the needs of modern times, the college has developed a vast infrastructure keeping in view the global vision of education and added new activities. The first Principal of the college was Mother St Gregory, who was awarded the Kaisar-i-Hind medal by Sir Malcom Hailey, the then Governor of Punjab, who praised and thanked her for all she had done for education in India. Dr Melba Roderignes, the present Principal, is on the board of international Catholic universities. On the other hand, the Education Minister, Mr I.D. Dhiman, told this correspondent that there was no move of the government to take over any private college as this would put an additional financial burden on the exchequer. He said that 95 per cent grant-in-aid was being given to eight colleges and 64 schools. Besides, ad-hoc grants were being given to nine colleges. The government, facing a severe financial crunch, was dishing out about Rs 13.54 crore annually as grant-in-aid to these institutions. The minister said the budgetary allocation of Rs 5.40 crore for the payment of grant-in-aid to the private colleges fell short during the current year and an additional grant of Rs 2.13 crore was sought from the government. Mr Dhiman said the grant-in-aid would not be stopped, but the rules for sanctioning it would be rationalised. |
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Additional power by
2010: Dhumal MANDI, Nov 4 — Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal today said an additional 10,000 MW of power would be generated by 2010 to ease the power crisis in the northern states. The harnessing of power would yield additional annual income of Rs 800 crore to the state exchequer. The Chief Minister, who was addressing a public meeting at Thunag in the remote Chachiot valley, said a 16 MW Patikari hydel project would also be taken up in Chachiot. He said during the past two years, a number of hydel projects with a total installed capacity of 6000 MW had been taken up on a war-footing. Prof Dhumal said a Rs 300-crore project had been drawn up under the accelerated power development programme and sent for approval to the Central Government. He said the state government had been successful in getting four national highways sanctioned from the Centre. This would promote tourism and provide infrastructure for power projects he said, adding that the government was implementing a plan to link all villages with roads in a phased manner. A plan had also been drawn up to promote tourism in Chachiot valley, particularly the Janjehli area. |
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Panchayat poll not
on party lines SHIMLA, Nov 4 — All parties yesterday rejected the proposal to hold the ensuing panchayat elections on party lines. This decision was reached at an all-party meeting convened here by the state Election Commission. The Chairman of the commission, Mr K.C. Sharma, presided. Leaders of seven parties, including the ruling BJP, the Congress, the HVC, the HVP, the CPI, the CPM and the BSP, attended the meeting. The meeting was convened to finalise whether the panchayat elections, due to be held next month, should be conducted on party symbols. None of the parties favoured this for fear of creating a divide at the village level, which could adversely hit development. It was decided at the meeting that the code of conduct should be enforced with the issuance of the notification for the Panchayati Raj elections. Mr Sharma said 19 municipal committees, 29 nagar panchayats, 12 zila parishads, 73 panchayat samitis and 2,987 village panchayats would be elected. Four gram panchayats of Kulu, 28 of Keylong and 16 of Pangi in Chamba district would go to the polls early next year. |
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No EVMs for HP civic poll SHIMLA, Nov 4 (UNI) — No electronic voting machines (EVMs) will be used in the ensuing elections to Panchayati Raj institutions and urban local bodies in Himachal Pradesh, according to state Election Commission Secretary Purnima Chauhan. She said as a run-up to the elections, a meeting was convened here yesterday. The meeting was attended by representatives of the Bahujan Samaj Party, the Himachal Vikas Congress, the CPI, the CPM, the Congress, the Himachal Vikas Party, and the BJP and presided over by state Election Commissioner K.C. Sharma. The representatives of all parties were unanimous in the holding of elections to Panchayati Raj institutions, municipal councils and nagar panchayats on non-party basis and no symbol should be reserved for any party. To have free, fair and smooth elections, they pleaded that the model code of conduct should be enforced from the date the election programme was notified by the commission. The State Election Commissioner apprised them of the magnitude of these elections and arrangements required for electing representatives to nearly 3035 gram panchayats, 75 panchayat samitis, 12 zila parishads, 20 municipal councils and 28 nagar panchayats on the completion of their statutory five-year term. Elections to Keylong, Udaipur and Pangi subdivisions and to four gram pancayats of Kulu would be held subsequently on the completion of their term next year. |
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208 applications
for 105 projects SHIMLA, Nov 4 — As many as 208 applications have been received for the 105 micro hydel projects of up to 3 MW offered to the private sector by the Himachal Pradesh Government. According to Mr Anil Khachi, Chief Executive Officer of Himurja, these applications included those for 47 “self-identified” projects. The government had offered 261 projects to the private sector, but applications had been received for only 58 advertised projects and 47 “self-indentified” ones. The maximum number of applications had been received from Delhi-based companies followed by 20 of Himachal Pradesh, 17 of Andhra Pradesh and eight of Chandigarh. He said in all, five cooperative societies had expressed interest in the execution of these projects. Seven projects with a combined potential of 15.10 MW had attracted over five applications. The maximum number of 13 applications had been received for the Balsio micro project in Chamba district. An offer each had been received for 26 projects. Kapil Mohan and Associates, New Delhi, had applied for a maximum number of 18 projects with a combined potential of 33.15 MW. |
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CM lays stone of
irrigation project PALAMPUR, Nov 4 — The Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, laid the foundation stone of the Rs 1.5 crore irrigation project for the upgradation of Kripal Chand Khual in the town yesterday. However, the irrigation and Public Health Minister, Mr Romesh Dhwala who hails from this district, did not attend the function. Mr Krishan Kapoor, Transport Minister, another loyalist of Mr Shanta Kumar also did not attend the function. In reply to question Mr Dhumal refuted all allegations levelled by Mr Shanta Kumar, regarding the misuse of MPs’ discretionary fund by the state government. He said he had looked into this matter and nothing wrong had been detected. If Mr Shanta Kumar has more details then he should come out with specific information and he was also at liberty to approach the Lokayukata, Mr Dhumal said. |
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Journalists block
traffic on highway PALAMPUR, Nov 4 — Traffic on the Pathankot-Mandi national highway remained suspended for about one hour as hundreds of angry news-persons from all over the region staged a dharna on the highway. The journalists were protesting against the failure of the Kangra police to take action against some anti-social elements who threatened the journalists at Kangra and damaged their vehicle during a peaceful march yesterday. These journalists were protesting against the manhandling of a staff reporter of Ajit Samachar. Later, journalists also held a big rally and criticised the Kangra police for not providing adequate protection to the journalists. Senior journalists while addressing the gathering condemned the attitude of the Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, who had been shielding the guilty. These speakers said a dharna would also be organised on November 7 at Palampur. The speakers expressed their concern over the fast deteriorating law and order situation in Kangra where anti-social elements were dominating the police. They said the Chief Minister should understand the gravity of the situation. Later, Mr Tek Chand, SDM, Palampur, reached the spot and persuaded the journalists to lift the dharna. The Palampur Union of Journalists also submitted a memorandum to the SDM. Copies of the memorandum were also sent to the Chief Secretary and the Secretary, Home, for immediate action. |
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797-metre tunnel
to be opened tomorrow KULU, Nov 4 — The 126 MW Larji hydel power project, being constructed by the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board (HPSEB), is considered to be a difficult power project. The river water diversion tunnel was completed and made operational a month ago by the board. The 797-metre highway traffic tunnel was completed in a record time of less than three years. The Chief Minister will open it to public on November 6. The proposal for the construction of the tunnel along the Beas was finalised in consultation with experts from the Ministry of Surface and Transport. A sum of Rs 7.7 crore was spent on the tunnel and it has been equipped with modern lighting facilities. |
Virbhadra rues
attack on scribes SHIMLA, Nov 4 — Mr Virbhadra Singh, leader of the Congress Legislature Party and a former Chief Minister, has said that the attack on protesting journalists by a violent mob at Kangra yesterday indicated that law and order had collapsed in Himachal Pradesh under the BJP rule. Mr Virbhadra Singh demanded that the government should take punitive action against those who had violated law and also against the police which had remained a silent spectator to the attack by hooligans. He said it was shameful that mediapersons who took out a silent procession against alleged police atrocities, were attacked by hooligans in the presence of the district authorities and the police. Mr Virbhadra Singh described it as an attack on the freedom of press. The incident has been criticised both by journalist and political circles here. The Shimla Journalists Association has warned of serious consequences in case immediate action is not taken on the matter by the government. |
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BJP for candidates
with clean image CHAMBA, Nov 4 — Mr Ganesh Dutt, media incharge of the Himachal Pradesh unit of the BJP has accused the Congress of degrading the political system by nurturing corruption, and regionalism in the country. Addressing mediapersons at Chamba today, Mr Dutt stated that the BJP was committed to wipe out the corruption which had taken roots in the state during the past 50 years of Congress rule. He said as a step in this direction, the BJP had decided to field only those candidates in the ensuing panchayat elections who had clean image and who were dedicated to the development of the area. He said the elections to the three-tier panchayati raj institutions in the state were scheduled for December which would not be contested on the party symbol of the any political party. He called upon the masses to elect their representatives on the basis of their ability as well as their clean image. He said the BJP was holding conventions of their workers in coordination with the public to form village-level committees to identify suitable contestants. Mr Dutt described the Congress as a divided house and added that it was the duty of the BJP to work for the integration of the nation. He said the BJP leaders and office-bearers in the state had been directed to organise conventions of the party workers in order to strengthen the party.
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‘Remove’
anomalies in pay scales SHIMLA, Nov 4 — The All-India Labour Department Officers and Inspectors Confederation has urged the Governments of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh to remove the anomalies created in the pay scales of Labour Officers and Assistant Labour Commissioners following the implementation of recommendations of the Fifth Pay Commission. The association pointed out that after the pay revision the category of Assistant Director, Factories, had not only been given the time scale but also a raise in the status from Class III to Class II. Labour Officers and Assistant Labour Commissioners, who already enjoyed Class II status, had been ignored. They should have been accorded Class I status along with the time scale. Similarly, District Employment Officers had been given a higher scale of Rs 7,880-11,660. The anomalies thus created could be removed only by giving a higher status and time scale to all categories from Labour Officers to Joint Labour Commissioners. |
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HP Cong to support
Sonia as party chief SHIMLA, Nov 4 — The Congress Legislature Party leader, Mr Virbhadra Singh, has hoped that the party high command maintains the regional and caste balance while appointing a new PCC chief in Himachal Pradesh. Mr Virbhadra Singh, who has just returned from Delhi after discussing the issue of alleged rigging of organisational elections in the state, told newspersons that it was important that these factors should be kept in mind while selecting the new PCC chief. This was in the interest of the party in the long run. He said the Congress party in the state would support Mrs Sonia Gandhi for her election as president of the Congress. Mr Virbhadra Singh said he would abide by Mrs Sonia Gandhi’s decision on the election of the new PCC chief. Mr Virbhadra Singh reiterated that it was a well-known fact that there has been large-scale rigging and use of unfair means by a particular section during the organisational elections. He said it was unfortunate that some persons within the Congress, who were considered friends of the Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal, were trying to wreck the party at his instance. He said the rigging of elections had eroded the prestige of the party among the people of the state. The PCC and other bodies so constituted do not represent even the rank and file of the party. Mr Virbhadra Singh said the high command had taken cognizance of the appeals filed against these elections. It was for this reason that the matter was being reviewed at the highest level in the party, he
claimed. |
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Modi’s reappointment
may widen rift SHIMLA, Nov 4 — The decision of the BJP high command to allow the General Secretary, Mr Narendra Modi, to continue to look after the party affairs in Himachal Pradesh, despite stiff resistance from the Shanta Kumar faction, has come as yet another shot in the arm for supporters of Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal. The Shanta Kumar faction had been demanding the removal of Mr Modi from the Himachal scene and had recently met central leaders in support of this. However, the BJP President, Mr Bangaru Laxman, seems to have rejected their demand, although he was reportedly not satisfied with the handling of party affairs by Mr Modi. Mr Modi is considered close to the Dhumal group and had played an instrumental role in getting Prof Dhumal installed as Chief Minister. The re-assignment of Himachal affairs to Mr Modi has upset the Shanta faction which failed to secure posts of their choice during the organisational elections which were held under the supervision of Mr Modi. Mr Modi’s appointment is likely to further widen differences between the two warring factions as Shanta Kumar supporters have several times defied the local party leadership and held separate meetings to discuss their plan of action. |
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Suraj Bhan to take
oath on Nov 16 SHIMLA, Nov 4 (PTI) — The fourteenth Governor of Himachal Pradesh, Mr Suraj Bhan, is expected to take oath on November 16. According to Raj Bhawan sources, the present Governor, Mr Vishnu Kant Shastri would finish his term on November 15 and leave for Lucknow to take up his now gubernatorial assignment on the same day. Mr Suraj Bhan is also likely to reach here on November 15. The Chief Justice of Himachal Pradesh High Court, Mr Justice C.K. Thakkar, would administer oath of office to Suraj Bhan in the Durbar hall of the Raj Bhawan. Subedar
cremated with honours KANGRA, Nov 4 — Subedar
Nirmal Singh, had died of brain haemorrhage during operation at
Gulmarg in Jammu and Kashmir, said the Additional Superintendent of
Police, Mr N.D. Sareen today. His mortal remains were consigned to the
flames in his native village, Samleta, in the subdivision with state
and military honours. Floral tributes were laid by a Cabinet
minister, Col M.G. Sharma, and, Mr B.R. Jamwal and Mr N.D. Sareen. |
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Patwari gets bail
in fire case SHIMLA, Nov 4 — A single Bench of the high court, consisting of Ms Justice Kamlesh Sharma, has granted bail to Mr Tek Chand, a patwari, who was arrested in connection with fire incident in patwarkhanna at Karsog division (Mandi). He was arrested by the Karsog police on October 13 under Section 436 of the IPC and Section 4 of the PDPS Act. The record of the patwarkhanna was damaged in the fire. The counsel for the petitioner contended that the applicant had been implicated in the case on mere suspicion whereas the petitioner was totally ignorant of the fire and the damage caused. Moreover, during the investigation nothing incriminating had been found against the petitioner, he added. |
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