H I M A C H A L   P R A D E S H

Virbhadra will split Cong: Dhumal
JAWALAMUKHI, Jan 8 — The Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, has said his government is open to healthy criticism but will not tolerate any misinformation and character assassination campaign spearheaded by the Congress leaders.

Coops to run power projects
DHARAMSALA, Jan 8 — Himachal Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal today said to create jobs and tap the immense power potential in Himachal. Some micro-hydel power projects will be reserved for cooperatives, while those companies which have failed to start work on the already allotted projects, could face cancellation.

Forest officials deny involvement in felling
CHAMBA, Jan 8 — The Himachal Pradesh Foresters Association has denied involvement of forest officials in the much publicised illegal felling of trees here. The Association said it had in fact, demanded that the Forest Department conduct an inquiry into the felling episode and by taking into confidence forest officials, the culprits be brought to book.

Empty chairs at meeting
KUMARHATTI, Jan 8 — The meeting of the Solan Town and Country Planning Department officials with residents to get them informed about the activities and functioning of the Special Area Development Authority (SADA) at Barog, 4 km from here, yesterday became a mockery as not a single person came to attend the meeting. 

HP leader’s son gets bail in rape case
SHIMLA, JAN 8 — Mr Justice R.L. Khurana of the Himachal High Court today granted bail to Mr Nitin Chauhan son of senior leader of a Himachal party Mr Sada Nand Chauhan, who was alleged to be involved in a rape case, under Section 376 of the I.P.C. read with Section 3 of the SC, ST Prevention of Atrocities Act.

5 more held in murder case
PALAMPUR, Jan 8 — The local police has arrested five more persons in connection with the murder of Santosh Kumar of Sungal village. Santosh Kumar was killed last month during the panchayat election campaign and his body was found in a nearby khud.

Triple murder accused escapes from jail
UNA, Jan 8 — One of the main accused of a triple murder case of Una town, Gurjant Singh, who was to appear in the court of the Additional Sessions Judge, Una, today managed to escape from Una sub jail which is about 150 metres away from the court complex.

17 houses gutted
SHIMLA, Jan 8 — At least 17 houses were gutted and seven houses damaged partially in a fire which broke out at Yanpa in the Bhabha valley of Kinnaur district, last night, official sources here said.

1 killed as truck rolls into gorge
NAHAN, Jan 8 — A person died on the spot and two injured, one of them seriously, when a truck rolled into gorge on its way from Sataun to Kamrau last night near Kamrau village.

Kalavati is ZP president
MANDI, Jan 8 — Mrs Kalavati, wife of Food and Supplies Minister, Mr Mansa Ram, was unanimously elected Zila Parishad president in the election conducted under the chairmanship of the Returning-Officer-cum-Deputy Commissioner, Mr Prabodh Saxena, this evening.

Virbhadra will split Cong: Dhumal
From Our Correspondent

JAWALAMUKHI, Jan 8 — The Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, has said his government is open to healthy criticism but will not tolerate any misinformation and character assassination campaign spearheaded by the Congress leaders.

While talking to mediapersons here today, he accused the Congress of playing the card of regionalism to the hilt. He said the Virbhadra Singh government had failed to project the interests of people of Kangra. “Nobody can ignore Kangra as its development means the development of the state as it is the biggest district comprising 16 segments”, he said. The Chief Minister said despite having limited finance his government was trying its level best to bring about uniform development in the state. He said that on the contrary it was the Congress regime which had discriminated against the Kangra belt in recruitments, opening of new institutions or undertaking other development works.

He said during its tenure so far his government had made 1200 km motorable road, 100 bridges and had linked 150 villages with new roads.

He said three new tehsils at Multhan in Baijnath, Thural and Jaswan Kotla had been opened apart from the polytechnic at Kangra. He added that the office of the Deputy Commissioner, Relief and Rehabilitation, Pong Dam, was shifted from Talwara to Raja ka Talab and three land acquisition offices were opened. He said a lot of money had been given for tourism promotion in Kangra district.

About the Himachal Vikas Congress, he said that Mr Sukh Ram would never go back to the Congress. Mr Sukh Ram had publicly denied this at a series of public meetings and also discounted any rapprochement with the Congress. The Congress in Himachal was on the verge of major split, he added. The moment its high command started sidelining Mr Virbhadra Singh, there had been indications that he would hit back and in the process, split the party. In fact, there was already serious trouble in the PCC and some MLAs were in touch with him (Mr Dhumal) to join the BJP. He refused to give the details.

To a question, Mr Dhumal made it clear that, there is no groupism and dissidence in the BJP in Himachal. Earlier also the BJP was by and large united except for a handful of people, who had chosen to trade their own path due to personal ambitions. He said the BJP was totally united which has been demonstrated by its successive electoral victory in recent past elections.

About the Congress charges of non-performance of his government, he said this was usual tirade of the Congress which was not based on facts.

Coops to run power projects
Tribune News Service

DHARAMSALA, Jan 8 — Himachal Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal today said to create jobs and tap the immense power potential in Himachal. Some micro-hydel power projects will be reserved for cooperatives, while those companies which have failed to start work on the already allotted projects, could face cancellation.

Talking to reporters here today, Mr Dhumal, disclosed that it was with the intention of providing employment to the educated youth in the state that the Electricity Generation Act, was amended, making cooperatives eligible for taking up micro hydel projects in hand. “We have decided to reserve a certain number of projects for these cooperatives so that untapped power potential of the state can be harnessed,” he observed.

Mr Dhumal, said that keeping in mind the procedural wrangles, the government had decided to ask the State Electricity Board and Himurja, to help prepared Detailed Project Report (DPR) and techno economic clearances, so that work on the micro hydel projects could be started at the earliest. While admitting that certain companies allotted micro hydel projects, earlier, had failed to start work, Mr Dhumal, said that after serving a notice they will have to start work or face cancellation. He added that for the new projects being allotted, the government intends setting up a fixed time frame for starting work.

The Chief Minister said that tapping of power even at the lowest level of a “gharat” (water level) would be done so that power generation takes the shape of a movement, cutting down transmission cost and power being provided locally.

Mr Dhumal, further said that to promote tea cultivation in the state 8,500 acres of land in the non-traditional areas of Kangra, Chamba and Mandi, had been identified. “We have received over 100 applications, including those from the top tea companies of Assam,” he stated. He added that tourism was bound to get a fillip with more and more of Himachal, coming under tea cultivation.

Mr Dhumal, later administered oath to over 2,000 Panchayat Pradhans and Up Pradhans from Kangra and Chamba districts. He said that panchayats would be made effective instruments in accelerating the pace of development, by giving them massive powers and liberal grants. He said that Rs 85 crore had already been placed at the disposal of the panchayats for faster development at the grassroots level. He informed that out of this money Rs 60 crores had been given by the state government, Rs 11 crore under the Jwahar Gramsamridhi Yojna, Rs 7.50 crore by the Finance Commission and Rs 7 crore under the Employment Assurance Scheme.

The Chief Minister said that the government had authorised the panchayats to raise loans for taking up development projects in the villages. He said that money could be raised through the land revenue collected and from the cess of Re one per bottle of liquor sold.

Emphasising the importance of the panchayati raj institutions, Mr Dhumal said that the newly elected functionaries would be given training to make them aware of their powers and responsibilities. He said that a call had been set up in the Directorate of Panchayati Raj to respond to queries of the pradhans, regarding their problems and these would be published in the Giri Raj weekly of the state government.

The Chief Minister said that the government now had decided to entrust a greater responsibility to the panchayats as they would now be asked to prepare the list for the IRDP families, old age, widow and disabled pension. He added that the recommendation of the panchayat regarding the appointment of water carriers in schools, part-time helper in the hospital would be considered. He said that from now onwards it would be the responsibility of the panchayats to monitor the proper functioning of the schools, health centres and veterinary hospitals in the villages.

The Minister for Panchayati Raj, Mr Prakash Chaudhary, urged the newly elected functionaries not to function with a feeling of vendetta, as now they were the representatives of all including those who opposed them.

A number of ministers, including Mr Kishan Kapoor, Mr Ravinder Thakur, Mr Mohan Lal, Parliamentary Secretary, Mrs Shraveen Chaudhary, Mr Kripal Parmar, MP and a number of MLAs from Chamba and Kangra were present at the time of the oath-taking ceremony.

Forest officials deny involvement in felling
From Our Correspondent

CHAMBA, Jan 8 — The Himachal Pradesh Foresters Association has denied involvement of forest officials in the much publicised illegal felling of trees here. The Association said it had in fact, demanded that the Forest Department conduct an inquiry into the felling episode and by taking into confidence forest officials, the culprits be brought to book.

Addressing mediapersons here today, Mr Hem Raj Shastri, state president of the association, said the Forest Department authorities should not undermine the morale of forest officials by showing their involvement in felling case.

He said the stumps of trees already cut under the timber distribution rights and for cremation purposes had been counted in the illegal felling campaign. He demanded that a provision be made for auction of such stumps specially in Chamba district so that these could not be counted in felling. He demanded that separate staff be deployed on the barriers.

He said the association had also opposed the demand of Mr Dina Nath, a Himachal Vikas Congress leader, who had sought the resignation of the Forest Minister, Mr Roop Singh Thakur.

He said it was unfortunate that the state government had not been able to fill vacant posts of forest staff. He said at present 445 posts of forest guards were lying vacant against a sanctioned strength of 2,987 and 260 posts of deputy range officers against a sanctioned strength of 797 were lying vacant.

He said at some places one forest guard had been looking after two to three forest beats having more than 10,000 plants in an undulating alpine topography which had always put them in an difficult situation to supervise the felling as well as livestock interference into the forests, he added.

In order to check forest smuggling, he demanded that the unregistered saw-mills set up on the fringe of forests should either be regularised or banned.

Empty chairs at meeting
From Our Correspondent

KUMARHATTI, Jan 8 — The meeting of the Solan Town and Country Planning Department officials with residents to get them informed about the activities and functioning of the Special Area Development Authority (SADA) at Barog, 4 km from here, yesterday became a mockery as not a single person came to attend the meeting. Officials led by the Town and Country Planner, Solan, left the venue of the meeting after waiting for the residents.

“The communication gap between us and the panchayat presidents has led to this situation, asserted Mr Sandeep Sharma, Solan Town and Country Planner, when contacted. “Mr Ramesh Chauhan, newly elected president of Chewa panchayat, and I reached at the meeting place just 10 minutes late and found the TCP officials had already left”, said Mr Sukh Ram, Barog panchayat president. “We were not informed earlier and were totally unaware of the meeting”, alleged a resident. They were not even earlier informed about the enforcement of SADA, said another resident.

Panic has gripped the residents, whose houses and land fall in the 100-metre area on both sides of the Kalka-Shimla National Highway 22.

It may be recalled that in August last the state government to regularise constructions along the highway had constituted SADA under the TCP Act, 1977. Under SADA, any construction and development activities up to 100 metres on both sides of the national highway have been banned without prior approval.

HP leader’s son gets bail in rape case
From Our Legal Correspondent

SHIMLA, JAN 8 — Mr Justice R.L. Khurana of the Himachal High Court today granted bail to Mr Nitin Chauhan son of senior leader of a Himachal party Mr Sada Nand Chauhan, who was alleged to be involved in a rape case, under Section 376 of the I.P.C. read with Section 3 of the SC, ST Prevention of Atrocities Act.

Prosecution said that on 23 November 23, 2000 the accused and one Mr Praveen Thakur took the prosecutrix, a 10 plus 1 student in a jeep to a lonely place and raped her. On the basis of above facts a case under Sections 363, 366, 367 of the I.P.C. and the petitioner seeking bail was arrested on December 16, 2000 at Delhi and is now in judicial custody.

The District and Sessions Judge Nahan, rejected bail to Nitin Chauhan on December, 26 2000. Counsel for the petitioner contended that the allegation was false, the prosecutrix was admitted in the hospital in a poison case and there is not even a wisper to the effect of this incident. The case was reported to the police 24 hours after the alleged incident.

While granting bail the judge observed that from the evidence recorded during the course of investigation till date, especially the age of the prosecutrix, the fact that she is habitual to sexual intercourse and the medical opinion and the chemical report 1 a.m. satisfied that it is a fit case for exercising the discreation of bail in favour of the petitioner.

In another case a Division Bench of the Himachal High Court comprising Mr Chief Justice C.K. Thakkar and Mr Justice K.C. Sood today issued notices to the chairperson of the controversial Kala Amb Engineering College, Secretary Technical Education Government of Himachal Director Technical Education, AICTE New Delhi and HP University on a petition filed by the five students of the college in which they prayed that the college be directed to comply with the recommendation made by the statutory authorities for improving infrastructure, more particularly with regard to the discipline of information technology and university may also be directed to accord affiliation to the college after ensuring the compliance with the mandatory provision of the University Act and AICTE may be directed to take meaningful steps for ensuring that the approval accorded from time to time for the intake of information technology students in the college is not withdrawn to save the career of students. It also further stated that university may be directed to conduct the examination for all batches of the discipline of IT in the college immediately and also declare the result.

Mr Rajiv Sharma contended on behalf of the petitioners that the university had arbitrarily refused to issue roll No. to the students and affiliation to the college and moreover the college has not disclosed the material facts to the petitioners and similarly situated persons with regard to the directions by the statutory authorities like AICTE and college from time to time, which has led to the present situations and due to this that the duty is cast upon the statutory authorities to ensure that the institutions like college work smoothly to safeguard the interests of students community.

It is recalled here that the HP High Court took serious notice of “concealment and misrepresentation” of facts by the management of this college in their petition filed by the institution in connection with IT course. While granting the permission to the management to withdraw the petition, but burdened it with cost of Rs 50,000.

5 more held in murder case
From Our Correspondent

PALAMPUR, Jan 8 — The local police has arrested five more persons in connection with the murder of Santosh Kumar of Sungal village. Santosh Kumar was killed last month during the panchayat election campaign and his body was found in a nearby khud.

Disclosing this to newspersons here today a police spokesman said the five suspects were at large for the past 20 days and police parties had been sent to different places to trace them.

He said those arrested were Ashok Kumar, Rattem Lal, Des Raj, Romesh and Munish.

He said during the panchayat elections, Santosh Kumar had come from Chobin village in Baijnath for the electioneering of a close relative. A day before the polling, these persons kidnapped Santosh Kumar and took him to nearby fields where he was allegedly murdered. They threw his body into a khud where it was found the next morning.

Interestingly, Ashok Kumar, one of the suspects had himself lodged an FIR with the police about the murder of Santosh. A case under Section 302 of the IPC has been registered. The suspects were today produced in the court of the local Judicial Magistrate who remanded them in police custody.

Triple murder accused escapes from jail
From Our Correspondent

UNA, Jan 8 — One of the main accused of a triple murder case of Una town, Gurjant Singh, who was to appear in the court of the Additional Sessions Judge, Una, today managed to escape from Una sub jail which is about 150 metres away from the court complex.

Today evidence was to be recorded in this case. For the past few days the main witnesses were provided police protection to avoid undue pressure being put on them by the accused person. Also, due to avoid unnecessary trouble in the court compound two police reserves consisting of 48 police personnel were posted outside. As one of the accused had escaped from jail the sessions court had to adjourn the trial and the police had to provide protection to the case witnesses for some time more.

Mr Ridhwick Rudra, SP, Una, confirmed the escape of the undertrial in the triple murder case. He said the jail authorities lodged an FIR with the Una police at about 10.25 a.m. today.

A few days back on December 20 last year Harjinder, another undertrial in a triple murder case, who too was lodged in Una sub-jail, managed to come out of the jail to the court area. He threatened some witnesses and then went back to the jail again. The Una police got an inquiry conducted in this matter by a DSP.

17 houses gutted

SHIMLA, Jan 8 (PTI) — At least 17 houses were gutted and seven houses damaged partially in a fire which broke out at Yanpa in the Bhabha valley of Kinnaur district, last night, official sources here said.

However, there was no loss of human life but cattle died in the fire.

As many as 24 families were rendered homeless and the total loss was estimated at Rs 70 lakh.

The SDM, Bhabha, Chander Prakash Verma, visited the spot and distributed relief among the affected.

Parliamentary Secretary, Chet Ram Negi, has expressed grief over the tragedy and directed the administration to provide relief to the affected.

1 killed as truck rolls into gorge
From Our Correspondent

NAHAN, Jan 8 — A person died on the spot and two injured, one of them seriously, when a truck rolled into gorge on its way from Sataun to Kamrau last night near Kamrau village.

According to the sources, driver of the ill-fated truck Sher Singh died on the spot. Dhanvir, cleaner of the truck, received serious injuries and was referred to Christian Hospital, Herbertpur. The police has registered a case.

Kalavati is ZP president
From Our Correspondent

MANDI, Jan 8 — Mrs Kalavati, wife of Food and Supplies Minister, Mr Mansa Ram, was unanimously elected Zila Parishad president in the election conducted under the chairmanship of the Returning-Officer-cum-Deputy Commissioner, Mr Prabodh Saxena, this evening.

Mr Nanak Chand was declared vice president. All 36 zila parishad ward members took part in the election.