 |
| Tuesday,
November 7, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
|
Larji
project by 2003: CM Tibetans
sore at curbs on Karmapa 10 MLAs from
weaker sections rush to Delhi Kulu flights
cancelled for seventh day Hold wage
board meeting: Sangh |
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Panchayat
poll in HP from Dec 13 Power surcharge
irks industrialists Plea to
transfer research to field 8 hurt as
transformer catches fire Renuka fair
starts
|
|
Larji
project by 2003: CM MANDI, Nov 6 — The 126-MW Larji hydroelectric project in this
district would be completed by 2003.
This was announced by the Himachal Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar
Dhumal, while opening to traffic the 800-metre-long tunnel on National
Highway-21 at Thalot today. This traffic tunnel is the first of its kind
in the state and has cost Rs 8 crore.
He said with the completion of traffic and diversion tunnels, work on
the dam would be taken up on a war footing. He claimed that at one
stage, work on the project had virtually been suspended and its
machinery and offices had been shifted to the 22-MW Ghaanwi project. “We
protested against it in and outside the state assembly and forced the
then Congress government to resume the work”, he claimed.
Mr Dhumal also claimed that the BJP government provided adequate
funds for the project and at the same time work on the Ghaanwi project
was also accelerated. This would be completed by December-end, he said.
Referring to the demand raised by a former Vidhan Sabha Speaker and
MLA of the constituency where Mr Dhumal was speaking, he said various
projects built in Himachal Pradesh by different agencies had left a
trail of misery for the persons who were displaced. A large number of
Bhakhra oustees were still languishing as they were homeless even 50
years after the completion of that project. He claimed that the BJP
government had got incorporated provisions in new project reports
protecting their rights, including the right to employment of at least
one member of each displaced family. He said the government was planning
measures to help the Larji Project oustees.
The Chief Minister spelled out the three main priorities of the BJP
government — health, roads and education.
The Health Minister, Mr J.P. Nadda, claimed that now only 60 vacant
posts of doctor were left to be filled.
The local MLA and former Speaker, Thakur Kaul Singh, requested the
Chief Minister to fill all vacant posts of doctor and teacher without
delay.
Earlier, Mr Dhumal inaugurated the Thalaut bridge, completed at a
cost of Rs 1.54 crore, which links a network of villages in the backward
Chachiot valley. |
|
Tibetans
sore at curbs on Karmapa DHARAMSALA, Nov 6 — Denial of permission to the 17th Karmapa, Ogyen
Trinley Dorjee, for attending the 300th birth anniversary celebrations
of the eight Tai Situpa, a renowned Tibetan scholar, at the Sherabling
Monastery, about 70 km from here, once again reflects the ‘unyielding’
attitude of the Indian Government on the issue.
Since his arrival 10 moths ago in Dharamsala after fleeing from
Tibet, the Indian authorities have not been obliging in allowing the
Karmapa to visit different places, even within the state. His repeated
requests, along with those of the Tibetan government-in-exile, to let
him visit the Sherabling monastery at Bhattu, near Baijnath, have been
in vain.
The five-day celebrations, which concluded yesterday, left the
followers of the Karmapa, most of them foreigners disappointed, as they
were pretty sure of his presence at such an important function of the
Karma Kagyu sact.
“Had he still been in Tibet, we could have understood, but being so
close and not being able to attend the function, was really regretful,”
commented Peter Anry Vas Tassel, from England. All the same, most of the
followers of the Karmapa, who had come from Taiwan, USA, Australia,
France, England, Germany, Cyprus, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Singapore,
made it a point to travel to Sidhbari to get the blessings of the
Karmapa.
During the five-day celebrations, teachings of the Mahamudra and
consecration of the relic stupa and the shrine hall, dedicated to the
eighth Tai Situpa, were held. On the last day yesterday, the Long Life
Empowerment and Red Crown Ceremony were held.
The virtual ‘ban’ on the free movement of the Karmapa to other
monasteries like Sherabling and Rewalsar in Mandi district, has caused a
lot of frustration to the Karmapa and concern amongst his aides and
followers. They feel that till a final decision it taken by India on the
issue of political asylum or refugee status to the Karmapa. He should at
least be allowed to visit other places. |
|
10 MLAs
from weaker sections rush to Delhi SHIMLA, Nov 6 — At least 10 Congress legislators belonging to the
weaker sections and minorities have rushed to Delhi today to meet the
party high command and stake claim for the post of PCC President.
It is reliably learnt that most of these legislators belonging to the
Virbhadra Singh group have decided to meet the Congress chief, Mrs Sonia
Gandhi, and stake their claim for the post as these communities have a
substantial population in the state. Mr Virbhadra Singh also returned to
Delhi today.
There were indications that they might support the candidature of a
sitting MLA, Mr Chander Kumar, who belongs to the Kangra region.
The Virbhadra Singh group has already made its stand clear that it
would abide by the decision of Mrs Sonia Gandhi in the selection of the
new PCC chief, but has suggested that the leadership should not be given
in the hands of those persons who were friendly with the Chief Minister
of the BJP government, Mr P.K. Dhumal. Such leaders, they allege, had
never uttered a word against the Dhumal government even when highly “anti-people”
decisions were thrust on the common masses, they said.
On the other hand, the other faction is learnt to have decided to
back Mrs Vidya Stokes for the post of PCC chief. They claim that she had
a fair chance of being nominated as she had proximity to Mrs Sonia
Gandhi.
However, the Virbhadra Singh group was in favour of someone from the
new merged areas of Kangra of Mandi being appointed on the post.
Both factions have unanimously demanded that Mrs Sonia Gandhi should
nominate the new PCC chief instead of holding election for the post. |
|
Kulu
flights cancelled for seventh day KULU, Nov 6 — Flights of Indian Airlines, Jagson Arilines and Trans
Bharat Aviation were cancelled consecutively for the seventh day today
due to poor visibility in the region.
The Metrological Department at the Bhunter airport has given the
visibility at Bhuntar as 3 km which has further gone down during the
past one week.
Ms Maninder Rathore, Station Manager, Jagson Airlines, told this
correspondent that the cancellation of flights had not only hit the
airlines but also the people in tourism trade in the valley.
Hoteliers in Kulu and Manali are more concerned about the prevailing
weather conditions. They alleged that the smoke due to forest fires was
worsening day by day and the Forest Department authorities here had no
knowledge of the fires. The visibility is decreasing and the smoke had
also brought the mercury up by two degrees. It is alleged that the
forest fires might be the outcome of the illicit fellings in various
forests and should be probed.
It is also assumed that the long dry spell might be one of the
reasons of the forest fires. However, the Forest Department is still
denying any forest fire in this district. |
|
Hold
wage board meeting: Sangh SHIMLA, Nov 6 — The state unit of the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh has
urged the government to hold a meeting of the Minimum Wage Advisory
Board immediately to revise daily wages.
Mr Ashok Purohit, working president of the Sangh, said the price
index had increased considerably since the last revision about
two-and-a-half years back. While the government employees have got 40
per cent additional dearness allowance, the daily wage workers continued
to get Rs 51 per day. He said the recent hike in the prices of petroleum
products, particularly kerosene and cooking gas, had hit the workers
hard.
He also expressed concern over the inordinate delay in the payment of
medical bills of workers under the ESI scheme. Last year pending bills
amounting to Rs 51 lakh were cleared but an amount of over Rs 1 crore
was again due for payment.
Mr Purohit also demanded the setting up of more labour courts for
expeditious disposal of industrial disputes. At present there was only
one labour court here. A labour court was required at Dharamsala and in
Solan district to cater to the industrial areas of Parwanoo, Baddi and
Barotiwala. |
|
Panchayat
poll in HP from Dec 13 SHIMLA, Nov 6 — The crucial panchayat elections will be held on
December 13, 15 and 17 in Himachal Pradesh. This was announced by the
state Election Commissioner, Mr K.C. Sharma, here today.
According to Mr Sharma, the nomination papers of the candidates will
be received between November 27 and 29. Scrutiny shall take place on
November 30 and withdrawals can be done on December 2.
The formal notification for the elections will be issued on November
16 when the model code of conduct shall come into force and remain
effective till December 22. The election code shall not be applicable in
the territorial area of the Shimla Municipal Corporation and the
subdivisions of Keylong, Udaipur and Pangi where the elections are not
yet being held.
The election will be held for 2,987 gram panchayats, 73 panchayat
samitis, 12 zila parishads, 29 nagar panchayats and 19 municipal
councils. |
|
Power surcharge
irks industrialists PARWANOO All power consumers in
Himachal Pradesh, including domestic and commercial, will have to pay a
higher power tariff for the winter months as HPSEB has decided to levy
winter surcharge on power supply. The surcharge, which became effective
from November 1 at the rate of 25 paise per unit, will remain in
operation till March 31. This is after a gap of five years that the
HPSEB has imposed winter surcharge on power. The levy of surcharge has
caused resentment amongst industrialists in the state because power
tariff, ranging from 15% to 40% was increased in May
also. Industrialists said a large number of furnace industries in the
state have closed down. Also many units producing polythene bags have
been closed due to pollution problems. Similarly, many other units in
the state are on the verge of closing due to frequent power tariff
hikes. The industrialists feel that the government did not take the
industry into confidence while increasing power tariffs and neither have
they been given any representation in the Power Tariff Committee. The
industrialists say that the industry in Himachal Pradesh faces a lot of
problems related to power in winters due to unscheduled power cuts,
power shortage and voltage fluctuation. It has to bear great losses due
to power failures in winters and on top of that they have now to pay
heavy surcharge, which will add to more losses. |
|
Plea
to transfer research to field DHARAMSALA, Nov 6 — The Governor, Mr Vishnu Kant Shastri, today
said Palampur Agriculture University should lay stress on transferring
research from the laboratory to the field so that farmers can get
maximum benefit from it.
The Governor, who is also the Chancellor, of the university, was
speaking on the occasion of the 11th meeting of the Senate at Palampur
today. He advised the university to take up only those projects and
schemes from which the farmers can derive direct benefit and get a good
price for their produce. |
|
8 hurt
as transformer catches fire SHIMLA, Nov 6 — As many as eight persons were injured, four of them
seriously, when a power transformer of the state Electricity Board
suddenly caught fire at Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital here
today.
The injured were employees of the Electricity Board and the Public
Works Department. The condition of the four employees of the Electricity
Board was serious.
Employees of the Electricity Board had repaired the transformer to
plug leakage. The transformer caught fire when the power was switched on
after the repairs.
The accident affected the power supply to the hospital. |
|
Renuka fair starts SHIMLA, Nov 6 (UNI) — A week-long religious fair began at Renuka in Sirmaur district of Himachal Pradesh today. The palanquin of lord Parshuram was taken out in a procession from Jammu, which was joined by deities of the Dadahu area. The Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, received the palanquin at Dadahu and joined the procession from there. Hundreds of people from the area also joined the procession which culminated at the temple of lord Parshuram at Renuka. People in thousands from Uttar Pradesh,
Punjab, Haryana and various parts of Himachal visited Renuka to have a
holy dip in the lake. |
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