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| Friday, January 19, 2001, Chandigarh, India   
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ZP
president’s election put off amid boycott ZP members
seek security Court
summons Commissioner Hola Mela
begins on March 3 |
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Polythene
waste still a menace 3
suspended for escape of undertrial Move to
shift project faces hurdles Cong
leader lashes out at Dhumal Congress
captures Chamba MC Poll
postponed for want of quorum Govt
criticised for hike in prices Block
samiti poll postponed University
sans community centre Sewage
“flows out” of taps M.L.
Negi is DIG, Central Range BJP
executive body to meet on Jan 23 Youth
federation to stage dharna 50
houses gutted Step to
meet stamp paper shortage
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ZP president’s election put off amid boycott SHIMLA, Jan 18 — The election for the president of the Zila Parishad, Shimla district, was postponed today as the Congress-backed members boycotted the election in protest against the alleged “kidnapping” of their four members by two ministers of the BJP government. The election has now been fixed for January 23 as the quorum was not complete with only 13 of the 23 elected members of the zila parishad reaching the venue in the office of the Deputy Commissioner. The atmosphere in the office complex of the DC was tense with the presence of the Congress and BJP activists. A general secretary of the Youth Congress, Mr Joginder Kanwar, and a PCC member, Mr Devanand Verma, alleged that the four “kidnapped” members of the zila parishad were brought to the venue of the election by the two ministers, Mr Narendera Bragta and Mr Roop Dass Kashyap, under the protection of armed policemen. A large number of policemen in plainclothes were deployed there to thwart any attempt of the Congress to retrieve their men, they alleged. The two Congress leaders claimed that numerically the Congress was in a position to form the zila parishad. They said the Congress members abstained from the election for the second time as the BJP was indulging in horse-trading. Meanwhile, Mr Harsh Mahajan, MLA, Vice-President, PCC, has said in a statement that the Congress-supported candidates for the panchayati raj institutions in Chamba received a landslide victory. The Congress won 34 of the 39 panchayats in Chamba constituency, of the 18 BDC members in Chamba block, 14 went to the Congress. Both posts of chairman and vice-chairman unanimously went to the Congress. In the Mehla block of the constituency of the 20 seats for BDC members, 15 went to the Congress. The posts of chairman and vice-chairman of the block were also won by the Congress, he claimed. Mr Mahajan said the mandate was a vote against the anti-people and anti-employee policies of the BJP government. |
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BJP parades 13 parishad members SHIMLA, Jan 18 — The BJP today presented 13 of the 23 elected members of the Shimla Zila Parishad before mediapersons to rebut the Congress allegation that it had kidnapped and forcibly detained some members. The members, including five women, said they were not under any pressure to elect a particular candidate. They said they had reached the venue of the election well in time so that elections for the post of Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson could be held. However-none of the remaining 10 members reached the venue, as a result of which the poll had to be deferred till January 23.Ms Satya Pitan, Mr Ram Saran Kalta, Ms Rajeshwari, Ms Neelam Sirkaik, Mr Joginder Singh, Mr S.S. Banolta, Mr Dulo Ram, Mr Kushal Raj, Ms Asha Kashyap and Ms Neelam Sharma said in primary concern was to ensure speedy development of the district. That was why they had chosen to support the BJP which had done much for the area. Mr Suresh Bhardwaj, Vice-President of the State BJP said it was now clear that the party had a majority in the parishad. He said besides the 13 members, two or more were likely to support the BJP candidates. Mr Narinder Baragta and Mr R.D. Kashyap, both ministers, said the overwhelming victory of BJP in Shimla district was an endorsement of the policies and programmes of the Dhumal
government. ZP members
seek security KANGRA, Jan 18 — Mr G.S.
Bali, member of the All-India Congress Committee (AICCI) and MLA from
Nagrota Bagwan, yesterday criticised the transport Minister, Mr
Krishen Kapoor, and the Irrigation and Public Health Minister, Mr
Ramesh Dhawala, for allegedly creating an atmosphere of terror
regarding elections for the post of chairman of zila parishad and
panchayat samitis and demanded deployment of central security force
personnel with the elected zila parishad members for their protection. Addressing a press conference here yesterday, he said it was unfortunate that the two ministers were allegedly misusing their official positions and government machinery. He said the elected zila parishad members were threatened and attempts were being made to kidnap them. Such attempts, he said, were amounting to throttling of the democracy. He alleged that the elections were being frequently postponed to the interests of the ruling BJP. He said one such harassed zila parishad member, Mr Rakesh Kumar, of Siurpien of Jawalaji, had joined Congress today. Mr Rakesh Kumar, who was present at the press conference, also demanded security for his safety. He alleged that Mr Ramesh Dhawala, had made attempts to kidnap him. Mr Bali said the government should have taken effective steps to told elections for the post of chairman of zila parishads within one month of the poll but at Dharamshala, he alleged, due to administrative interference, it was postponed fill January 22. He
demanded immediate intervention of the State Election Commission for
security of the zila parishad members. |
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Court summons Commissioner UNA, Jan 18 — Mr J. N. Barowalia, District and Sessions Judge-cum Special Judge, Una, has taken cognisance of four criminal challans and summoned the accused — Mr Rajmani Tripathi, Commissioner, Manpower and Employment, and others on March 7. The challans were put in the court on January 16. As per the FIR No. 2/92, the Vigilance Department has alleged that Mr Tripathi, while working as Deputy Commissioner, Una, in 1992 purchased 56 kanals and 17 marlas in the name of his daughter, Geeta Sharma, for Rs 8,000 only though the market price of the land was Rs 1.45 lakh which caused a loss to the state government. In this case, Mr Durga Dass Sharma, the then Naib Tehsildar, Haroli, Mr Ajit Singh, Mr Amrik Singh of Talhiwala and Ms Shashi Kant of Chhatarpur village have been challaned under Sections 420, 218 and 120-B of the IPC and Section 13 (2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The second challan, FIR No. 3/92, is against Mr Tripathi, Mr Durga Dass Sharma, and Mr Joginder Singh under Sections 218, 420 and 120-B of the IPC and 81 and 82 of the Indian Registration Act and 13 (2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act. In this FIR, it is alleged that Mr Tripathi, the then Deputy Commissioner of Una, purchased 38 kanals and 9 marlas for Rs 9,000 from Mr Joginder Singh of Nangal Khurd village in the name of Geeta Sharma while misusing his official position. The market price of this land was Rs 2.11 lakh. The FIR No. 4/92 is against Mr Tripathi, Mr Mansha Ram, field kanungo, Mr Ajit Kumar and Mr Rajinder Pal Singh, patwaris, Mr Joginder Singh and his son Mr Kuldeep Singh under Sections 218 and 420 of the IPC and 13 (2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act. In this case, the Vigilance Department has alleged that Mr Tripathi exchanged inferior land of Mr Joginder Singh with valuable government land in consideration of Mr Joginder Singh selling his exchanged land to Geeta Sharma measuring 78 kanals. The FIR No. 5/92 has been registered under Sections 218, 420 and 120-B of the IPC and 81-82 of the Indian Registration Act and 13 (2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act against Mr Tripathi, Mr D.D. Sharma, Naib Tehsildar, Haroli, Mr Jeewan Kumar and Mr Sheshmani Tripathi, brother of Mr Tripathi and resident of Uttar Pradesh, for allowing against rules mutation in the name of Mr Sheshmani Tripathi who was not competent to purchase land in his land as a non-Himachali and a non-agriculturist in the state. The FIR says that the sale deed was in favour of Mr Jeewan Kumar for consideration of Rs 45,000 on 20.12.1992 and the names of Mr Tripathi’s brothers — Mr Sheshmani and Mr Sureshmani were incorporated in the sale deed and the same could not be done under the HP law. The market value of the land was Rs 2.43 lakh. All accused in the four cases have been summoned on March 7. |
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Hola Mela begins on March 3 UNA, Jan 18 — The Baba Badbhag Singh Hola Mela will be organised from March 3 to March 12 at Maidi village, 44 km from here. This was disclosed by Mr K.K. Pant, Deputy Commissioner, while presiding over a meeting held in connection with the mela yesterday. The Deputy Commissioner appealed to the organisers of Dera Baba Badbhag Singh, Dera Baba Manji Sahib and Mahant Charan Ganga to donate a handsome amount from their offerings so that the area could be developed as a religious place and facilities could be provided to the pilgrims. Mr Pant said the administration would ensure cleanliness and provide medical aid and parking facility and sought the cooperation of the owners of these deras. He said to avoid accidents, no tractor-trolly carrying pilgrims would be allowed in mela. Besides government officials, the meeting was attended by owners of Dera Baba Badbhag Singh, Manji Sahib, Mahant Charan Ganga and administrators of Ajit Darbar. The Baba Badbhag Singh Hola Mela is famous in North India and about 10 lakh pilgrims from Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh visit this place. It is believed that persons haunted by evil spirits get rid of these by taking bath under the Charan Ganga and offering prayers at Dera Baba Badbhag Singh and Dera Baba Manji Sahib. |
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Polythene waste still a menace SHIMLA: Despite a recent campaign to clean up the town of polythene bags, hill slopes are littered with these. The campaign was launched by the Municipal Corporation from November 1 to December 25 with the participation of schoolchildren. Last year two such campaigns were organised and 17 quintals of polythene waste was removed. Another drive had been launched earlier, in December, 1999, when 17 tonnes of the waste was picked up from the hill slopes. Such campaigns, it seems, are not a permanent solution to the problem. “On the first day polythene bags are removed and the next day we again see heaps of these lying around,’’ said a resident. People should be made aware of the harmful effects of polythene, he added. During the tourist season, the situation worsens as visitors to the town throw polythene bags all over with impunity. Polythene waste collected by the corporation is dumped in a nullah. Waste from hospitals, hostels and vegetable and meat markets is also increasing day by day, adding to the problem. Out of the total waste of 60-65 tonnes generated here every day, only half is collected by the corporation and transported for being dumped on the hill slope and in the nullah on the Shimla bypass. Garbage is disposed of unscientifically within the town. As much as 35-40 per cent of the garbage remains uncollected. Dustbins have been provided by the corporation but these are rarely utilised by people. Litter is thrown outside the bins and it emits a foul smell. Monkeys, too, rummage through bins, scattering the contents. The corporation proposes to launch a project to tackle the garbage problem. It includes the disposal of biomedical waste. |
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3 suspended for escape of
undertrial UNA, Jan 18 — Two sub-jail wardens and a Deputy Superintendent (Jail) here have been suspended in case of escape of Gurjant Singh, an undertrial in a triple murder case on January 8. This was disclosed by Mr S.K. Sood, Home Secretary, while talking to mediapersons here yesterday after visiting the sub-jail here. Gurjant Singh had escaped from the sub-jail here on January 8 on the date fixed for hearing of evidence. Mr K.K. Pant, Deputy Commissioner, forwarded a report on the matter to the state government following which the Home Secretary paid a visit to the sub-jail. The Home Secretary, later, directed the district administration to raise boundary walls of the jail and construct a gate at the entrance. Mr S.K. Sood said the police post set-up after the incident near the sub-jail would continue and the ad hoc post of the Additional Jail Superintendent would now be made permanent. The state government had, years ago, acquired 42 kanals of land for construction of a new sub-jail, 7 km from here, in Samoorkalan village. The present jail, situated near office of the
BDO, has a total capacity to accommodate 12 men and 2 women undertrials whereas presently the sub-jail houses 31 men and 1 woman undertrial. Due to lack of funds, the new sub-jail work had not been started. |
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Move to shift project faces hurdles SHIMLA, Jan 18 — The shifting of the headquarters of the Deepak project of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) from here to Chandigarh has been held up because of certain objections. The BRO had earlier cleared the proposal to shift the office of the Chief Engineer of the project to Chandigarh, which is considered a central place for supervising activities of its task forces deployed in Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Uttaranchal and Rajasthan. The project headquarters were established here about 30 years ago. The objection was that it had already acquired about 14 bhigas in the outskirts of the town on the national highway for an office complex. On the other hand, the project authorities are learnt to have pointed out that they will be able to supervise the works better from Chandigarh where the infrastructure is already available in Sector 48 as the task force there had been shifted to Manali. This had been done to speed up work on the strategic Tandi — Killar — Kishtwar road to provide another road link with the terrorist ridden Doda district of Jammu through the Pangi valley. The project authorities have reportedly taken the plea that they have to organise restoration works often on the roads around Kedarnath in Uttaranchal where landslides occur frequently and border roads in Punjab are to be maintained. This would be another important Central organisation moving out of the state. Earlier, the Show and Avalanche Study Establishment (SASE) had moved to Panchkula from Manali. The move to shift the office of the Examiner, Official Documents, Ministry of Home Affairs, to Chandigarh has been shelved for the time-being. |
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Cong leader lashes out at Dhumal MANDI, Jan 18 — The Congress leader and former Vidhan Sabha Speaker, Mr Thakur Kaul Singh, today came down heavily on the Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, for alleged gross financial mismanagement in the state as a result of which an unprecedented cut of Rs 338 crore in the plan allocation had been slapped on the state. He attributed the drastic cut to the large-scale extravagance being indulged in by the Dhumal government of which the Centre seemed to have taken cognizance. He ridiculed the proposal of the Chief Minister to create more districts by splitting Shimla, Kangra and Mandi districts and described it as “preposterous”. The talk of creating more districts in the state reeling under financial crisis in the context that Himachal Pradesh was equal to a district of UP or Bihar and unable to bear the burden of the existing top-heavy administration showed only lack of political vision, Mr Thakur Kaul Singh said. He alleged that Mr Dhumal had no experience of government. All development works, except in his own district, had come to a halt. |
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Congress captures
Chamba MC CHAMBA, Jan 18 — Mr Surinder Dhall was elected president and Mr Baldev Singh vice-president of the local municipal council today. Both were Congress nominees. Giving this information here, Mr D.K. Rattan, SDM, who was the Returning Officer for the election, said two nominations were filed by Mr Surinder Dhall and Ms Sarita Mahajan for the post of presidentship. Mr Surinder Dhall polled six votes while Ms Sarita Mahajan polled three votes in the 11 member municipal council. Mr Baldev Singh was elected vice-president after he polled six votes and Mr Puran Bhatia, the other contender polled three votes. |
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Poll postponed for want of quorum HAMIRPUR, Jan 18 — The first meeting of the newly formed Hamirpur Nagar Parishad failed to take place for want of a quorum. Only six of the 11 members were present at the meeting. Mr B.S. Thakur, SDM, who was to administer the oath and conduct the election of the Chairperson and the Vice-President adjourned the meeting. The next meeting will be held on January 21, according to Mr Raj Krishan Sharma, executive officer of the parishad. |
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Govt criticised for
hike in prices HAMIRPUR, Jan 18 — The Himachal Pradesh Youth Congress yesterday blasted the state government as well as the Central Government for the hike in prices of essential commodities at a meeting, presided over by Mr Sukhvinder Singh Sukhoo, Himachal Pradesh Youth Congress chief. It congratulated Ms Vidya Stokes on her being elected as state Congress chief. The meeting mourned the death of Jitendra Prasada and observed a two-minute silence.
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Block samiti poll postponed UNA, Jan 18 — The election of the chairperson and the vice-chairperson of the Bangana Block Samiti of Kutlehar constituency, scheduled to be held yesterday, was postponed as none of the 19 elected members turned up for the meeting. The election of the chairperson and the vice-chairperson of the Una Block Samiti was postponed due to the lack of quorum for the second time yesterday. Only one BDC member was present. |
| University sans
community centre SHIMLA, Jan 18 — The demand for the construction of a community centre in the university here has been unimplemented even after the sanction Rs 12 lakh by the authorities. The former Vice-Chancellor of the university, Mr C. L. Kundu, sanctioned the amount but no action has been taken up by the university. According to sources, there is no positive response by the university. Every year the budget is sanctioned but no action is taken. Rs 5 lakh has been sanctioned in this year for the community centre. A former member of Executive Council, Mr Subhash Puri, said that the university employees were facing many problems in the absence of a community centre.
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Sewage “flows out”
of taps SHIMLA, Jan 18 — Residents of the Khalini locality are facing problem of raw sewage flowing out of water taps. The problem reportedly is due to leakage in
sewage. According to the Deputy Mayor, problem, has been solved. He assured that the problem would be solved in one or two days. There are 10-12 houses which are facing this problem. People have to fetch water from very far. “The problem has been there for the past eight/nine days and we are facing difficulties. Few of us also fall ill due to this water”, says a victim.
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M.L. Negi is DIG,
Central Range MANDI, Jan 18 — Mr M.L. Negi today joined as DIG, Central Range, here. He relieved Mr Somesh Goyal. Mr Negi said community policing and other reforms in the police introduced recently would be vigorously implemented and the drive against narcotics would be intensified. The DIG said during the ongoing campaign against narcotic drugs in the Central Range, the Kulu police had seized charas weighing 8.5 kg from Mangal Chand of Sahahu village of the Banjar area at a naka near Gurrisa. A case under the Narcotic Drugs and Paychotropic Substances Act has been registered against him.
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BJP executive body
to meet on Jan 23 SHIMLA, Jan 18 — The state executive committee of the BJP will meet on January 23 and 24 here, under the chairmanship of Mr Jaikishan Sharma, party president. Besides, Mr P.K. Dhumal, Himachal Chief Minister and Mr Shanta Kumar Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Mr Narinder Modi, national general secretary of the board and in charge of Himachal affairs, will also attend the meeting. The office - bearers will meet before the meeting of the executive committee on January 23, according to Mr Ganesh Dutt, party spokesperson.
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Youth federation to
stage dharna SHIMLA, Jan 18 — The Himachal Pradesh state committee of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) has demanded withdrawal of hike in power tariff. The general secretary of DYFI, Mr Tikender Singh Panwar, said here yesterday that the federation would stage a dharna in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office on January 19 against the hike in power tariff. It would also organise rallies in this regard.
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50
houses gutted SHIMLA, Jan 18 — At least 50 houses were gutted in a major fire which broke out at Jatwani village near Chirgaon in upper Shimla
today. According to reports reaching here, the fire was still blazing. While there was no loss of human life, a large number of cattle head perished in the fire. The total loss has been estimated at over Rs 1.5 crore. |
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Step to meet stamp paper shortage SHIMLA, Jan 18 — Faced with acute shortage of non-judicial papers of smaller denominations, the state government today empowered treasury officers to issue these papers of value up to Rs 50 under their stamp and signatures on plain papers. The plain papers with the stamp and signature of these officers will be treated as non-judicial papers. A spokesman of the state government said the shortage of non-judicial papers of smaller denominations was being felt in Kulu and Manali subdivisions as the supply of such stamp papers had been much less as compared to indents sent to the Indian Security Press, Nasik, which prints these papers. |
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