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| Monday, December 25, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
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HVP for
merger with HVC Year-ender TB cure
haven now a town of traffic jams |
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No
trust motion ‘boomeranged’ on Cong Tourists
hope for white Christmas Xmas greetings
from Governor, CM Heritage
mela from January 13 Women
wait as docs fail to turn up Naik
Harpal Singh cremated Governor
greets Vajpayee Shimla
DCC (Rural) office-bearers
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HVP for merger with HVC SHIMLA, Dec 24 — With a dominant section of the Himachal Vikas Party calling for rapprochement with the Himachal Vikas Congress, the party leadership is having second thoughts regarding having a tie-up with the newly formed Janshakti Party of the Union Communication Minister, Mr Ram Vilas Paswan. The state executive of the party, which met here two days ago for the first time after the removal of its leader Mohinder Singh from the Cabinet, discussed the issue at length. Senior leaders, like Mr Kewal Ram Chauhan, Mr G.D. Verma and Mr B.R. Chauhan, felt that now that the demand of Mr Sukh Ram, HVC supremo, for the removal of Mr Mohinder Singh had been met, a fresh move should be made to unite the party. A united HVC was essential to have a potent third political force in the state which had so far been dominated by the BJP and the Congress. The HVC, by securing 12 per cent votes in the 1998 Assembly poll and subsequently winning the Shimla Parliamentary seat, had emerged as a force to reckon with. Mr Sukh Ram had been saying that if Mr Mohinder Singh resigned and worked in the interest of the party, he could get him reinducted in the Cabinet at a later date, the leaders behind the unity move claimed. This indicated that Mr Sukh Ram was not a verse to a patch-up, they added. Mr Kewal Ram Chauhan, general secretary, said he would meet Mr Sukh Ram in this regard and discuss the possibilities of merging the splinter group into the HVC. He said Mr Mohinder Singh would not be left in the lurch and efforts would be made to ensure merger of the two parties. He said Mr Mohinder Singh would go by the will of the majority in the matter. Simultaneously, the Himachal Vikas Party is pursuing its case for registration with the Central Election Commission as a regional party. It had submitted three names — Himachal Vikas Party, Himachal Loktantrik Party and Himachal Janata Party. Mr Sukh Ram had filed a caveat,
urging the commission not to register the new party as Himachal Vikas Party as the name was similar to his party, the Himachal Vikas Congress, and could cause confusion. Mr Chauhan said a provision had been made to facilitate the merger of a party into any other party in the Constitution. The party is keeping all options open and was not in a hurry to have a tie-up with a national party. |
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Year-ender SHIMLA, Dec 24 — The sudden arrival of the Karmapa at McLeodganj after fleeing from China, turmoil in all three major political parties — the ruling BJP-HVC combine and the Congress — a series of bus accidents killing over 150 passengers and the flash floods remained in focus in Himachal Pradesh during the year. The year started with the Karmapa taking the Indian Government by surprise and reaching McLeodganj, the headquarters of the Tibetan government-in-exile headed by the Dalai Lama, in the first week of January. Eversince, the district headquarter of Dharamsala has witnessed hectic activity with McLeodganj becoming an important destination for several Indian and foreign dignitaries coming to meet the Dalai Lama and the Karmapa. The Congress received a major jolt when three of its legislators violated the party whip and cross voted for the BJP nominee, Mr Kripal Parmar, for the Rajya Sabha seat. The trouble in the party did not subside after that and it culminated with the appointment of Mrs Vidya Stokes as the new PCC chief in place of Mr Sat Mahajan thereby giving a setback to the Virbhadra Singh camp. Things in the ruling BJP came to a flash point with three ministers and an equal number of legislators, who are considered supporters of the Union Minister Shanta Kumar, revolted against the Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, by expressing lack of confidence in him. However, the revolt was tackled by dropping the PWD Minister, Mr Mohinder Singh, from the Cabinet. The letter of the rebel leaders finally led to a no-confidence motion in the assembly by the opposition Congress which fell by a voice vote. The letter would, however, continue to haunt Mr Dhumal in the days to come. The Himachal Vikas Congress of Mr Sukh Ram also did not remain immune from a turmoil and got spilt with Mr Mohinder Singh forming his
separate party which further reduced the number of legislators of the HVC to only two. But Mr Mohinder Singh was declared an unattached member by the Speaker, Thakur Gulab Singh. Rumblings continued within the ruling BJP and all ministers submitted their resignations to the Chief Minister in April to give him a free hand to recast the ministry. All this turned out to be a drama as only a cosmetic exercise was undertaken by making changes in the portfolios of two ministers. Discontent was allowed to simmer which finally led to the no-confidence letter of the rebel ministers. The state was hit by the major tragedy of a severe flashflood in the tribal district of Kinnaur in the end of July which claimed more than 150 lives and badly damaged the roads and bridges which have not yet linked the area with Shimla. Many villages were completely destroyed and hundreds of cattle perished. The apple crop of the area was taken out by the authorities with great difficulty. The state government did not lose time in maintaining a regular contact with the area with helicopters through which the essential supplies were carried. Two major bus mishaps occurred at Bagthan in Sirmour and Chamba in which 45 passengers each were killed. Besides, Himachal did not lose its distinction of being the state with the highest number of accidents which occurred at several places. Ten members of a marriage party were killed near Nurpur when a train rammed into a bus at an unmanned crossing. With bickerings between the two warring camps of the BJP, Mr Shanta Kumar took exception to the alleged diversion of Rs 25,000 out of his grant of the Local Area Development Fund for some other work than its was sanctioned by him. The Kulu and Manali areas remained in news again this year with the killing of a Spanish woman and her son by miscreants and a big haul of charas by the police at various places in the district. Over 100 persons have been arrested in this connection. The new Governor, Mr Suraj Bhan, came here in place of Mr Vishnu Kant Shastri. The financial position of the state continued to remain critical and the government decided to raise loans to the tune of Rs 1200 crore from the open market to meet the resource gap. The newly set-up corporations of health systems, road infrastructure and bus stands have virtually become the loan fetching units for the government. The state government kept the power sector on top priority and went ahead in the field of offering power projects for
construction. The Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, laid the foundation of two major projects, the 2100 MW Parbati and 800 MW Kol Dam projects, as many as 261 small and micro hydroelectric projects were offered to the private sector and MoU was signed for about 50 of them. Although the government claimed to have made strides in the power sector, but the power consumers were not spared and the tariff was increased twice. The government converted the hospitals into societies with a view to imposing users charges for patients, but this had to be withdrawn within one day because of sharp reaction of the people. The government came in for a severe criticism for withdrawing the 16-year-old ban on felling of trees. However, it could not be implemented because of the intervention of the court. Succumbing to political pressure, the government has decided to withdraw the ban on slate mining in the Khanayara area of Kangra which has already degraded the environment. |
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TB cure haven now a town of traffic jams DHARAMPUR: Known for its soothing, salubrious environs and as a haven for tuberculosis patients, this hill town is gradually turning into a town of haphazard traffic, unplanned parking of vehicles and a centre of traffic jams. Situated on the Kalka-Shimla highway No. 22, this town has lost its grandeur which used to attract tourists in droves here in the past. The manifold increase in the population and construction activity have spoiled the beauty of the town. Traffic hazards here can be attributed to the lack of proper bus stand. Due to the absence of a bus stand, buses and other vehicles queue up on the highway, posing danger to the pedestrians. The long line of buses and taxis leave limited room for the smooth flow of traffic. Traffic snars have become routine here everyday. Heavy traffic on the highway has worsened the situation further making the area accident-prone. The increasing number of accidents and the toll of human lives due to it in the town and the highway in the past months testify the alarming situation that haphazard traffic has created. Due to insufficient space at the point where the buses halt passengers have to go through an ordeal till they board the buses concerned. The most affected are women, who in the absence of sufficient place for sitting find it hard to wait for buses in the open. The HPPWD (NH) rain shelter at the bus stand point is sufficient to accommodate only one-third of average passengers. The situation worsens in rain when passengers are seen running for shelter in nearby shop. The public toilet at the bus stand point is at a place where even local people find it hard to locate. Those who succeed in locating it have to bear with the foul smell as the toilet remains uncleaned for days. Signboards put up by the authorities asking people to follow parking rules are a mute testimony to the way authorities function. For example at the bus stand a signboard says, parking place for three taxis but the space is occupied by ‘khokhas’. Near the bus stand two signboards specify parking for four taxis and three taxis, respectively, but between these two signboards nearly 15 taxis are parked. “There was a great problem of parking in the town and we had to go on strike”, says a taxi driver. “The strike was called off after the district administration gave us an assurance to look into the matter”, he informs. “We were instructed to park just six taxis between these two signboards, which led to a piquant situation for us as it didn’t solve our parking problem”, he laments. “The local police used to challan the seventh taxi parked between these two signboards”, he points. “For a permanent solution of the problem we again met the administration and requested them to allow more taxis in this space”, he adds it is interesting the two signboards have not been removed yet from their earlier place thus creating a comedy of errors. To ease the traffic’s flow in the town, the authorities had shifted the bus stand from the main bazar point to its present place some months ago. This led to resentment among shopkeepers, particularly on the Dharampur Subathu road who feel that it failed to yield the desired result. They allege their business has been affected by this decision. Passengers were their main customers and with the shifting of the bus stand the market has virtually been deserted, they rue. |
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No trust motion ‘boomeranged’ on Cong SHIMLA, Dec 24 — Mr Ganesh Dut, spokesperson of the Himachal unit of the BJP, has claimed that the Dhumal government has emerged stronger after the no-confidence motion, which boomeranged on the Congress. Addressing a press conference here today, he said that the Congress was at the receiving end as Mr Dhumal had revealed the misdeeds of the Virbhadra regime along with facts and figures. The Congress had moved a no-confidence motion to exploit the controversial letter written by some ministers and legislators highlighting their grievances to the Chief Minister. However, it proved counter productive. While the BJP stood united, the vertical divide in the Congress was all too visible with some senior leaders referring not to participate in the debate on the non-confidence motion. Mr Dut said the motion was used by the Congress as a ploy to divert attention from the party infighting, which reached a flash point during the recent organisational poll, but it was of little help. The BJP got an opportunity to place facts before the people and nail the lies and misinformation being spread by the Opposition regarding irregularities and favouritism in recruitments by the Subordinate Selection Board and discrimination in selecting areas for development. There was no occasion for bringing a no-confidence notion and the opposition paid for its indiscretion. He said the Congress had not learnt any lesson from its repeated defeats in the electoral arena and had been still trying to raise the issue of regionalism, which had been demolished by the Dhumal government by correcting the development imbalances created during the Congress rule. He claimed that during the recent panchayat poll the Congress had lost ground in villages while the BJP gained majority in 60 of the 73 block samitis, 34 of 48 nagar panchayats and 10 of the 11 zila parishads for which election were held. Mr Dut said while the Virbhadra government had plunged the state into a financial crisis by raising indiscriminate loans, the Dhumal government had tried to improve the situation by securing a special financial assistance of Rs 700 crore. |
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Tourists hope for white Christmas SHIMLA, Dec 24 — The bleak prospects of a white Christmas notwithstanding, winter revellers have started arriving here since yesterday. The Sun has been shining brightly for the past one week and with not a trace of cloud around there is little possibility of snow. However, that has not dampened the spirits of the revellers who are having fun in nearby resorts like Kufri, Fagu and Chail. Most of the hotels have a good occupancy in the otherwise lean winter season. As usual all big hotels have organised live orchestras for one week from December 24 to 31 to entertain the tourists. In the absence of snow, the Asia’s only natural ice skating rink here is the main attraction. It will hold its winter carnival tomorrow. Fancy dress, figure skating and basket jumps will be its main feature. The private hotels and the Himachal Tourism Development Corporation have come out with special packages to attract tourists. The corporation has offered a novel package under which a tourist staying in any of its hotels for two days will not be charged for the third day and this concession could be availed any number of times up to April 15, 2001. Besides, it is also organising special helicopter flights to enable the tourists to have a close look at snowclad peaks of Hatu, Kinner Kailash and Churdhar. It has also planned short duration skiing courses at Narkanda and Mandi, which would be organised as soon as sufficient snow is available. Special midnight service will be held at the Christ Church on the Ridge tonight. |
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Xmas greetings
from Governor, CM SHIMLA, Dec 24 — Dr Suraj Bhan, Governor, has greeted the Christians on the eve of Christmas. Extending his greetings to the people, he said the message of peace, love, harmony and brotherhood given by Lord Christ was more relevant today. He hoped that this joyous occasion would help strengthen the bonds of brotherhood between communities and inspire people to work collectively for the betterment of mankind. Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister, has also felicitated the Christian community on this auspicious occasion and expressed hope that it would strengthen the bonds of brotherhood, unity and integrity in the
country. |
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Heritage mela from January 13 SHIMLA, Dec 24 — The Tourism Department will organise a two-day Kangra heritage mela at Pragpur on January 13 and 14 in which districts of Kangra, Una, Hamirpur, Kulu and Lahaul-Spiti will participate. A spokesman for the Tourism Department said any panchayat of these areas, mahila mandals, temple trust and government or semi-government organisation can put up a stall in the heritage exhibition. Exhibits over 100 years old in the form of any painting, musical instrument, utensil, certificate or document, memento, jewellery piece can be exhibited. More than 50-year-old garments, embroidery articles, photographs of building older than 50 years, paintings on religion, marriage function, articles used in workshop, hand written documents can also be exhibited. The spokesman added that collection of old folk songs, paintings, traditional handicrafts can also be exhibited. |
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Women wait as docs
fail to turn up NURPUR, Dec 24 — The apathy of the Health Department has disappointed a large number of women of the region who are keen to undergo laparoscopic tubectomy. The state government has been organising family planning camps in the civil hospitals. But it seems that the authorities are not serious about it. As many as 75 women were recently kept waiting at the civil hospital here. The women who had come for the camp scheduled on Saturday had to return disappointed as the doctors team did not turn up. Earlier on December 14, many women faced the similar situation. |
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Naik Harpal Singh cremated PALAMPUR, Dec 24 — Naik Harpal Singh, 22, was cremated at Mehanjal village, 6 km from here, today with full military honours. The pyre was lit by his father Dharam Chand, an ex-Subedar. Hundreds of villagers from the adjoining villagers were present at the cremation ground. Harpal Singh was killed in an ambush in Jammu and Kashmir on Friday. Harpal Singh had joined his duty only three days ago after availing of his leave. He was unmarried. Mr Tek Chand, SDM, Palampur, laid a wreath on the body on behalf of the Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal. Though a large number of government officials attended the cremation, no political leaders could be seen. |
| Governor greets
Vajpayee SHIMLA, Dec 24 — Dr Suraj Bhan, Governor of Himachal Pradesh felicitated the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, on his birthday tomorrow and wished him a happy and healthy life. Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister, also felicitated Mr Vajpayee. |
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Shimla DCC (Rural)
office-bearers SHIMLA, Dec 24 — Mr Sudhir Bhaik, president, the Shimla District Congress Committee (Rural), today announced the office-bearers and executive members of the committee. Ms Saroge Thakur and Mr Mohinder are senior vice-presidents, Mr Prem Kainthla is treasurer and Mr Kehar Singh Khachi general secretary. Mr Om Prakash Ronta, Ms Vijay Laxmi, Mr Mohan Prist, Mr Tulsi Ram Sharma, Mr Ram Prakash Chauhan, Ms Sharda Devi, Mr Bala Ram, Mr Balak Ram Verma, Mr Ramesh Soni, Mr Satish Verma, Mr Liaq Ram Chauhan, Mr Virinder Kumar, Mr Bhimi Ram and Ms Krishna Sharma have been appointed executive members. He said the list had been approved by the PCC chief, Ms Vidya Stokes, and some more members would be appointed later. |
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