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| Wednesday, November 29, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
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HP okays rules for new
townships HP crisis: Sangh Parivar
intervenes Parmar varsity exams on
schedule ‘Charge
sheet’ against HP Govt submitted Kufri’s charm
fading |
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Prime accused in
fire case held Municipal council’s
elections announced Staff recruitment
in varsity: probe sought HC’s directive on
mill labourers Bank employees
threaten agitation HP police to be
people-friendly
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HP okays rules for new
townships SHIMLA, Nov 28 — In a major policy initiative, the Himachal Government today approved guidelines for the development of new townships which will go a long way in ensuring planned urbanisation in the state. The guidelines were approved by the Cabinet, which met under the chairmanship of Mr P.K. Dhumal, Chief Minister, here today. The guidelines lay down that new townships on government or private land will be set up at a distance of at least 20 km or a one-hour drive from existing towns. These townships will be planned for a population of 15,000 or 20,000 and have all basic amenities like dispensaries, shopping complexes and schools. Private colonisers will develop the townships and manage these until these are fully developed and then handed over to urban local bodies. The HP Tenancy and Land Reforms Act will be suitably amended to facilitate the role of private developers. The proposed townships to be developed on land not less than 40 hectares will be eco-friendly, based on hill architecture and build with local materials. The policy stipulates the mode of sale of plots and built-up structures. As many as 15 per cent residential plots and houses will be reserved for domiciled Himachalis. The policy will go a long way in decongesting big towns like Shimla and also guide the future urbanisation pattern in Himachal Pradesh. A steering committee under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary has been approved for quick approval of such projects. The government had set up a task force for finalising the policy which was also discussed at a workshop in which builders and town planners from various states participated. An investors’ meet was held in New Delhi in which prominent investors from all over northern India had participated. The Cabinet decided to initiate steps towards modernisation of the police force by augmenting its mobility with the purchase of 14 heavy and hire light vehicles. The Cabinet approved a package for procurement agencies like the HPMC and Himfed, which are engaged in the market intervention scheme for apple in lieu of handling charges with a view to increasing accountability, maximising the sale price and using the proceeds as “internal resource”. Ex-post-facto sanction was also given to the transport subsidy on the carriage of packing material like cartons, wooden boxes and trays to Kinnaur and export of apple boxes from Kinnaur via Kunjam and Wangtoo. In its drive to improve the environment in the Shimla planning area, the Cabinet gave the go-head to the marking and notification of green belt in the area. Certain areas like Strawberry Hill, Bhattakufar and Malyana have been included in the restricted Shimla planning area so as to regulate construction in these areas. Approval was given by the Cabinet to the amendment in the First Schedule to the Code of Civil Procedure on the recommendation of the Himachal Pradesh High Court with a view to providing speedy delivery of justice and removing difficulties of litigants. The Cabinet also gave its seal of approval to the Himachal Pradesh Civil and Criminal Code (Preparation and Supplies of Copies of Records) Rules, 2000, proposed by the High Court. The proposed rules provided for the constitution of three different categories of copying agencies at every headquarters of the sessions division and where the headquarters of the District and Sessions Judge is located. Where the headquarters of the District and Sessions Judge is not located, there shall be a copying agency under the control of the Additional District and Sessions Judge and in the absence of the post of the District and Sessions Judge, under the control of Senior Sub Judge. The third category of copying agency will be under the control of the seniormost presiding officer, where there is only one court. |
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HP crisis: Sangh Parivar
intervenes SHIMLA, Nov 28 — The prospects of resolution of the political crisis facing the Dhumal government, in the wake of revolt by six legislators, brightened today following talks between the Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal, and the dissidents at the initiative of the Sangh Parivar. The dissidents, who were earlier reluctant to meet Mr Dhumal after having expressed loss of trust in him, relented when senior Sangh functionaries intervened to help iron out differences between the two camps. The dissidents held a prolonged meeting with two senior functionaries of the RSS during which their grievances were discussed at length. The RSS leaders underlined the need to restore confidence in the rival faction. There were a series of meetings between the two factions. The Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee and Home Minister L.K. Advani were reportedly in touch with Mr Dhumal and Union Minister Shanta Kumar. Mr Shanta Kumar is learnt to have talked to the dissidents on the issue. Mr Dhumal told mediapersons that things were moving in the “positive” direction and the matter would be sorted out in a day or two. Both factions appeared in a reconciliatory mood today. Mr Dhumal parried any mention of disciplinary action against the dissidents even when specifically asked by mediapersons. The dissidents although firm and united, were also hopeful of a solution. They said they had insisted that the issues raised by them be addressed in the right earnest. The process had began, they claimed. When contacted, the Transport Minister, Mr K.K. Kapoor, refused to divulge any details and said talks were being held through intermediaries. Two ministers, Mr Mohinder Singh and Mr Ravinder Ravi, reportedly contacted Mrs Nirmala Devi, one of the six rebels, and tried to persuade her to shift stance. However, she refused to oblige. Later, in a show of solidarity, the dissidents along with their supporters had a stroll on The Mall and lunch at a restaurant at The Ridge amidst rumours that Mrs Nirmala Devi had deserted them. None of the three ministers, Mr K.K. Kapoor, Mr Ramesh Chand and Mr Hari Narain Singh, who had signed the letter expressing their inability to support Mr Dhumal, attended the Cabinet meeting today. However, Mr Dhumal told mediapersons that they were busy “elsewhere”. During the day, the rebels remained closeted in the Vidhan Sabha flat of Mr Dulo Ram to discuss their future strategy. Mr Dhumal told mediapersons that Mr Des Raj, one of the signatories to the letter, had talked to the BJP President, Mr Bangaru Laxman, on the telephone last evening and told him that the misunderstanding between him and the Rajya Sabha member, Mr Kirpal Parmar, had been removed. Mr Dhumal refused to comment whether the rebel ministers should have resigned before firing the salvo against him. He said he had an open mind on the grievances listed by the dissidents and some vested interests were trying to escalate the crisis. He said Mr Shanta Kumar had told him that he was not supporting the dissidence. Mr Dhumal made it clear that his government was not in danger due to the development as the dissidents had said that they had raised their voice “within the party.” He said several Congress leaders had talked to him on the phone and told him that they wanted his government to stay and it was only one leader among them who was trying to create instability. His indication was obviously towards Mr Virbhadra Singh. To a question on the allegations being traded by the PWD Minister, Mr Mohinder Singh, and the Town and Country Planning Minister, Mr Hari Narain Singh, the Chief Minister said the Lokayukata was the right forum for the purpose. Crisis resolved: CM SHIMLA, Nov 28 — The Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, said after the talks with dissidents that all issues had been settled, but refused to divulge the details. He said, “You will come to know about the details as things will unfold in the next few days.” He claimed that everything would be normal shortly. |
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Parmar varsity exams on
schedule SOLAN, Nov 28 — Prof R.P. Awasthi, Vice-Chancellor, Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, yesterday convened a meeting of senior members of his institution to take stock of the situation arising out of the November 23 student clashes and subsequent events that culminated in the closure of the university for 10 days. The meeting constituted a high-level committee, comprising Dr R.N. Sehgal, head, department of tree improvement, Dr K.D. Verma, head, department of microbiology and plant pathology and Dr C.L. Dinabandhu, Professor of entomology, to probe the student clashes in detail and to focus on the exact cause or causes that led to the student strife. The committee has been asked to submit its report within 15 days. It was also decided to replace the wardens of all the six hostels on the main campus in a bid to infuse confidence in the students. Some resident students had sent representations to the Chancellor, the Government and the Union Home Minister, after the clashes, alleging that they felt extremely insecure as regional and communal forces were at play at the university. It was also decided not to extend the schedule of examinations. The practical examinations, as announced earlier, would start on December 5, a day after the university opens again. However, the duration of the current semester would be suitably extended to compensate the students for the loss of studies. Meanwhile, the Himachal Students Union (HIMSU) a breakaway group of the NSUI has demanded a judicial inquiry into the November 23 violence. The organising secretary of HIMSU, Mr Maheshwar Chauhan, said the university teachers and officers had been extremely partial and could not be expected to conduct a fair probe. He pointedly said no ABVP activist named in the FIR by the HIMSU state convener, Mr Sandeep Kumar, who was seriously injured in the clashes, had so far been arrested. |
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‘Charge
sheet’ against HP Govt submitted SHIMLA, Nov 28 — Mr Virbhadra Singh, former Himachal
Chief Minister and leader of the Congress Legislature Party, today
submitted a copy of the “charge sheet” against the BJP-HVC combine
government of Mr P.K. Dhumal to the new Governor, Dr Suraj Bhan, and
demanded a CBI inquiry into the acts of omissions and commissions. Mr Virbhadra Singh also discussed the current political situation in the state following the withdrawal of support by six legislators to Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal. He said that the allegations against the Dhumal government had now been substantiated by these rebel ministers and legislators of his own party. The same charge sheet was presented to the previous Governor, Mr Vishnu Kant Shastri, in August last. Mr Virbhadra Singh urged the Governor to take appropriate action against the guilty to hold accountability and probity in public life and ensure justice to the people of the state at large. Meanwhile, Mr Dhumal told newsmen that during his own regime, Mr Virbhadra Singh did not get the four charge sheets against himself inquired into and these were dumped in cold store. |
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Kufri’s charm
fading KUFRI, Nov 28 — Once famous worldwide for its skiing slopes, green hills around this tourist place are fast turning into a big dump of garbage disposed of by the local hotels. Besides, haphazard construction of hotels and residential houses is also in full swing in the area. The Kufri tourism development and environment preservation scheme, launched two years ago to restore the lost glory of the area, has virtually been abandoned midway and its objectives have been forgotten. Most of the hotels in the area dump the leftover food and other refuse on the hill slopes as they have not installed incinerators to destroy it. The problem is also coming up on the Kufri-Chail road where a number of tourist resorts and hotels have come up. Trees have been cut and hills are being levelled for raising structures. But the authorities seem to ignore this devastation. Residents of two villages complained that their water sources were blocked with the debris flowing down from a hotel site. The vegetation has also been covered with mud and debris. The Pollution Control Board has also failed to take effective action in tackling the situation. There is hardly any proper place for parking of vehicles. Tourists have to park their vehicles on the roadside and the problem is aggravated during the peak season and on holidays. The scheme was inaugurated by Chief Minister, P.K. Dhumal in September 1998 but hardly any follow up is being done now. Due to shortage of fresh water, tourists are forced to buy cold drinks at exhorbitant rates to quench their thirst. |
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Prime accused in
fire case held MANDI, Nov 28 — Mr O.C. Thakur, SP, said here today that the prime accused Hasan Ali, a private transporter of Kannaid of this district, had been arrested for allegedly hiring four persons for a consideration of Rs 5000 to set on fire offices of the Excise and Taxation and RTO on the night of August 14. He said three more persons involved in the crime were yet to be rounded up. Earlier the police had claimed to have solved the mystery of the fire that broke out simultaneously in the two offices by arresting two persons, Sham Lal and Joginder Singh, who had admitted the crime for a consideration. The name of Hasan Ali was not disclosed then. It may be recalled that important files pertaining to the private bus operators, against whom arrears of over Rs 1 crore were outstanding, had been destroyed in the fire. Hasan Ali has been remanded in police custody for four days. |
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Municipal council’s
elections announced KULU, Nov 28 — Ajay V. Prasad, District Election Returning Officer and Deputy Commissioner, in an election notification, announced elections to the Municipal Council, Kulu, nagar panchayats of Manali, Bhuntar and Banjar of this district. The nomination papers can be filed from November 29 to December 1 at the sub-divisional magistrate’s offices at Kulu, Manali and Banjar and at the nagar panchayat office, Bhuntar. The scrutiny will be done on December 2. The withdrawals can be made on December 4. As many as 2,13,892 voters in the five development blocks of this district would use their franchise to elect their representatives for panchayats, panchayat samitis and zila parishad on December 13, December 15 and December 17, Mr Ajay V. Prasad said here yesterday in a press note. He said elections were being held in 182 out of 192 panchayats. He further said in addition to the panchayat elections, 98 panchayat samiti members of Kulu nagar, Banjar and Ani block would also be
elected. |
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Staff recruitment
in varsity: probe sought SHIMLA, Nov 28 — Kewal Singh
Pathania, president of the state unit of the NSUI, has demanded a judicial inquiry into the functioning of the Himachal Pradesh University
(HPU), where “unqualified” teachers have allegedly been
recruited. Pathania further demanded that the inquiry should be held by a sitting judge of the high court. He alleged that unqualified teachers were recently appointed in the departments of physics, law, tourism application, commerce, public administration, physical education and the Academic Staff College. Pathania also demanded that an inquiry should also be
carried out in the appointment of non-teaching staff. He said the allegations have been substantiated in the letter written by the six rebels of the state unit of the
BJP. He urged the Chancellor to intervene in the matter. |
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HC’s directive on
mill labourers SHIMLA, Nov 28 — A
Division Bench of the Himachal Pradesh High Court comprising Chief Justice
C.K. Thakkar and Mr Justice K.C. Sood yesterday directed the government to produce the 39 labourers of Baddi Textile Mills on December 20 before the court at the expenses of the petitioners. The directions were given on a petition filed by the central trade union
(CITU), Shimla, in which it was alleged that these labourers were detained by the mill’s management. Mr
Y.P.S. Daulta, counsel for the petitioner union, contended that in the facts and circumstances of the case it was apparent that the workmen were in dire need of release. He had demanded that the workmen detained by the management be produced before the court. |
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Bank employees
threaten agitation KANGRA, Nov 28 — Mr K.C. Dadwal, State president of the Himachal Gramin Bank Officers Organisation threatened that the Gramin Bank officers and employees would resort to an indefinite strike from January 8 next year if their demands were not met with by then. Mr Dadwal in a statement here yesterday said the employees and the officers of the bank registered their protest by wearing black badges in support of their demands throughout the state. The employees had been demanding equal promotion chances for all the cadres of the Gramin Bank, creation of a provident fund trust for the bank employees besides loans for staff on prime lending rate on the pattern of the other rural banks of the country. They also demanded recognition of the Himachal Gramin Bank Officers Organisation. The bank employees would hold a demonstration outside the bank headquarters on December 21, he
said. |
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HP police to be
people-friendly MANDI, Nov 28 — Launching the newly introduced community policing scheme at the district police headquarter here today Mr Ashwani Kumar, Inspector General of Police, (Headquarter) Himachal Pradesh stressed that the police had to play an important and difficult role of reforming people as a public friend and coordinator wiping out its age-old image of striking fear. Mr Somesh Goyal, DIG Central Range, dwelt at length on various measures proposed to be adopted to make the community policing a success. |
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