 |
| Monday,
January 22, 2001, Chandigarh, India   
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Centre’s nod to HP farm
plan BJP executive to focus on
indiscipline IT Dept holds review meeting MC poll: BJP leaders trade
charges SHIMLA, Jan 21 — The days of solid natural wood were over and the country had to go for “reconstituted” timber in a big way to “conserve” its ever depleting forest reserves, said Mr R.P.S. Katwal, Director General, Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education. |
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5 cr spent on welfare
schemes: minister HP frames new mining
policy Himotkarsh awards
announced 6.80 lakh given
polio drops CHAMBA, Jan 21 — Resentment prevails among students appearing in the examination for Certificate Course in Computer Application (CCCA) and Postgraduate Diploma in Information Technology (PGDIT) conducted by Himachal Pradesh University yesterday over the way the question paper was set. 1 killed as truck falls into khud Mandi-Allahabad
bus service starts today
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Centre’s nod to HP farm
plan SHIMLA, Jan 21 — A Rs 7.32-crore scheme for boosting agriculture production in Himachal Pradesh has been approved by the Centre. A spokesman of the Agriculture Department said the state government had given top priority to agriculture by enhancing the annual plan outlay from Rs 24.61 crore in 1997-98 to Rs 39.67 crore during 2000-2001. Many new and ambitious schemes had also been started for enhancing agriculture production. The new scheme of the Centre would provide greater flexibility and scope to the state to implement the programmes according to its priority. Important programmes approved under the work plan include crop improvement, transfer of technology, off-season vegetable production, promotion of quality seeds and watershed management. High-quality inputs like seeds and fertilisers play an important role for increasing the productivity. Improved seeds and fertilisers have been distributed among farmers during the current financial year. To provide soil-testing facilities at the doorsteps of the farmers, nine soil-testing laboratories have been set up in the state during the past three years at a cost of Rs 62 lakh. In addition, two new mobile soil-testing laboratories have been added to provide such facilities in the remote areas of the state. Besides this, a scheme for the distribution of soil health cards to the farmers is being launched. During this year itself about 30,000 soil health cards would be distributed. A special maize development programme has been launched in the state under which 35- per cent of the maize area has been brought under high-yielding maize hybrids, which will raise maize production from the present level of 6.81 lakh tonnes to 8.20 lakh tonnes. Under this scheme, 15,000 quintals of high-yielding hybrid maize seed were made available to the farmers of the state. For technology generation, assessment, refinement and dissemination, a World Bank aided National Agriculture Technology Project has been launched in the state. About Rs 25 crore will be spent in five years under the project. In order to give a boost to the mechanisation in hill agriculture, new farm machinery like power tillers, manual drawn seed drills, multi-crop planters-cum-fertilisers drill etc. have been approved for distribution in the state. For quick dissemination of technology, three “Krishi Vigyan Kendras” have been established at Kangra, Berthin and Kukumseri. In addition to this the Agriculture Extension Training Centre, Mashobra, is being upgraded to state agriculture extension institute and for this Rs 2.40 crore have been sanctioned. In order to provide chemical fertilisers and pesticides at cheaper rates to the farmer, the government has given a cost and transport subsidy on these inputs. |
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BJP executive to focus
on indiscipline SHIMLA, Jan 21 — The state executive of the BJP is likely to focus its attention on factionalism and indiscipline, which affected the party’s performance in the recent panchayat and local bodies poll, during its two-day meeting beginning here on January 23. Although the party turned out an impressive performance, particularly in Shimla and Sirmaur districts, which had been traditionally the stronghold of the Congress, it lost some key posts of heads of zila parishads and nagar panchayats due to factionalism. Kulu, Solan, Bilaspur, Una and Kangra districts, where the party had a strong base, had been the worst hit by infighting. The situation arising out of the open clash between Mr Karan Singh, Primary Education Minister, and Mr Dinesh Sein, district BJP president, during the election of the chairperson of Kulu Nagar Panchayat last week will be the main issue of discussion. Mr Maheshwar Singh, MP, and brother of Mr Karan Singh had resigned from the chairmanship of the state disciplinary committee of the party, in the wake of the incident. Mr Karan Singh and Mr Dinesh had been blaming each other for the unsavoury happening and demanding action in the matter. As both of them are member of the executive committee their presence is likely to enliven the meeting. The resignation of Mr Maheshwar Singh will also be discussed. The happenings in Bilaspur, which led to the expulsion of some leaders, including an ex-MLA, Mr Narain Swamy, from the party and the failure to install its candidate as chairperson in the Solan Nagar Panchayat are also likely to be debated at length. A resolution thanking people for their overwhelming support to the party in the panchayat elections will be adopted. Another resolution thanking the Centre for introducing a number of schemes for empowerment of women will also be passed. Senior leaders of the party are likely to discuss the demand of the six legislators, who revolted against the leadership of the Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, in November last, for removing the factional imbalance in the state executive. The party had in principle decided to include some left out Shanta loyalists in the executive and their proposal will be given a final shape during the meeting when all senior leaders and Mr Narendra Modi, all-India general secretary of the party who is also in charge of the party affairs in Himachal will be present. |
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IT Dept holds review meeting PALAMPUR, Jan 21 — Mr R.K. Pathania, (IRS), member, Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), yesterday held a meeting with the senior officers of the Income Tax Department here and reviewed the efforts being made by them for the collection of revenue in the northern region of the country. While addressing officers here, Mr Pathania asked them that they should bring more transparency in their day-to-day functioning. While referring to the problems being faced by the tax payers, he said complaints regarding the non- issuance of refund vouchers, income tax clearance certificate and other documents should be disposed of on top priority and on delayed refunds the department must pay the interest to the tax payers along with the refund voucher. He told the officers that the Income Tax Department should also amend its way of working and there should be no harassment to the tax payers. He directed them to hold regular public relation programmes with the tax payers, beopar mandals and other business organisations. |
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MC poll: BJP leaders trade
charges SOLAN, Jan 21 — Yesterday’s election of Congress councillor, Ms Shami Sahni, as Chairperson of the local Municipal Council has triggered a war of words here with the rival Shanta Kumar and P.K. Dhumal factions openly accusing each other of having let the party down and the Congress leaders demanding the resignation of the local BJP MLA and former council Chairman Dr Rajiv Bindal. Dr Bindal called yesterday as the blackest day in the history of the district BJP. He accused former BJP minister and Shanta loyalist, Mr Mohinder Nath Sofat, as the man behind the poor show of the party in the civic poll. He said when the BJP chief, Mr Jai Kishan Sharma and the Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal were apprised of the “anti-party activities of Mr Sofat, the two leaders felt concerned and directed him to give top priority to sorting out the differences, if any, with the former minister.” “The Chief Minister even said that he held Mr Sofat in high regard and he would not take more than two minutes to redress the grievances being nursed by the latter, if only he would come and meet him.” Mr Bindal said while Mr Sofat refused to meet the Chief Minister, efforts made by him and the state party president and general secretary failed to achieve the desired results and the party lost the Chairperson’s post. Mr Sofat, on the other hand, denied having ever worked against the party’s interests. He also denied having ever been told that the Chief Minister wanted to see him. He said when certain senior party leaders summoned him in connection with the council elections, he told them about the grievances of atleast two ‘so-called rebels’. Mr Sofat maintained that Mr K.B. Gupta and Mr Himesh Jaggi, who were known BJP activists, had contested the civic poll as independents and that the “Nagar Sudhar Parishad”, which was later formed by them along with four others was purely a ‘non-political body’. He took exception to being accused of indulging in anti-party activities that lead to the party’s debacle adding that it was the duty of Mr Bindal to keep the BJP flock together and in fighting gear, he being the sitting MLA. Mr Shiv Kumar, a general secretary of the District Congress Committee expressed satisfaction at the installation of Ms Sahni as the council chief and demanded that Mr Bindal should resign immediately. Panchayat samitis’
poll results CHAMBA, Jan 21 — The following were elected Chairman and Vice-Chairman of panchayat Samities in Chamba district yesterday. Panchayat Samiti, Salooni: Mr Surender Singh — Chairman and Mr Chaman Lal — Vice-Chairman. Panchayat Samiti, Bhattiyat: Mr S. Sindhu — Chairman and Mr Atma Ram — Vice-Chairman. Panchayat Samiti, Tissa: Mr Bainsu Ram — Chairman and Mr Laxmi Nand — Vice-Chairman. Panchayat Samiti,
Bharmour: Mr Ranjha Ram — Chairman and Mr Jai Singh — Vice-Chairman. Panchayat Samiti, Chamba: Ms Bhindro Devi — Chairman and Mr Pankaj Mahajan — Vice-Chairman. Panchayat Samiti, Mehla: Mr Raj Kumar — Chairman and Mr Tek Singh — Vice-Chairman. BJP wins Hamirpur
local body poll HAMIRPUR, Jan 21 — The ruling BJP yesterday won the posts of chairperson and vice-president of the Hamirpur Nagar Parishad. Mrs Roshnidevi became the first lady chairperson of the nagar parishad. She defeated Mrs Sudershana Devi of the Congress. For the post of vice-president, Mr Deep Kumar of the BJP overcame Mr Ajay Sharma of the Congress. Earlier, five members of the parishad were administered oath of office and secrecy by the SDM, Hamirpur, Mr Baldev Thakur. Petition against
MC poll result NURPUR, Jan 21 — An election petition under Section 284 of the Municipal Act was filed before the Sub-Divisional Officer (Civil) on Saturday against the result of ward number eight, the election to which was held last month. Mr Parkash Chand, the petitioner and Congress candidate who had lost to the BJP candidate, Mr Chandreshwar Mahajan, alleged there was discrepancy in the counting of votes. Government employees were threatened and told to vote in favour of the BJP candidate and youth were allured with government jobs, he alleged. |
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Days of natural wood over:
expert SHIMLA, Jan 21 — The days of solid natural wood were over and the country had to go for “reconstituted” timber in a big way to “conserve” its ever depleting forest reserves, said Mr R.P.S. Katwal, Director General, Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education. Cost-effective technology was now available to treat and process the less utilised species of trees into timber of any shape, density and strength. In fact, any fibrous plant material could be converted into artificial timber by using appropriate processing technology, he told The Tribune during an interview here today. Inferior species like eucalyptus, tamrind (imli), neem and kikar could be processed and reconstituted into valuable timber to replace precious species like teak. Mr Katwal, who was here in connection with an interactive meet with the officers of the state Forest Department, said the council was already on the job and the Forestry Research Institute, Dehra Dun, had already developed the ammonia fumigation technique to treat and process low density species like eucalyptus into high density quality timber comparable in appearance and strength with teak and sheesham. The biggest advantage of the reconstituted timber, he said, was that unlike traditional timber size and species of tree were no longer important. Over the years only big trees were fell and converted into big sleepers in the process 50 to 60 per cent of the precious tree was wasted. In contrast using the new technology even trees of very small girth and low density could be transformed into timber of required size and shape. He was all praise for the Tamil Nadu Government which discontinued the exploitation of its natural forest resources way back in 1976. North India was till lagging in the use of man-made timber and keeping this in view the Forestry Research Institute. Dehra Dun had started training programmes for carpenters from Punjab and Haryana. They were also taught the treatment techniques but these could be cost effectively used only if big plants were set up in the region. Referring to the increasing incidence of out break of forest diseases, he said the environmental changes over the years had made conditions conducive to the growth of pathogens and as a result forest were being infected by various diseases. He said the entire northern belt from Punjab and Rajasthan to Bihar had been affected. Kikkar and sheesham had been the worst affected in Punjab and Haryana and thousands of trees had already dried up. In Himachal deodar and kail have been infected in isolated pockets. The council, Mr Katwal said, had adopted a three-pronged approach to combat the menace of forest diseases. Since, unlike crops, it was not possible to used chemical sprays or other physical measures to control forest disease, the emphasis would be on propagation of disease resistant varieties. Mr Katwal lamented that despite so much emphasis on preservation of forests very little funds were being made available to the forestry sector. The allocation for this vital sector was less than 1 per cent of the total plan investment. There was an urgent need to increase it to atleast 5 per cent, keeping in view the fact that over 23 per cent of the area was under forests. Timber worth 60,000
destroyed in fire SHIMLA, Jan 21 — Timber worth about Rs 60,000 was destroyed in a fire in Chharabra, about 10 km from here, this afternoon. The sleepers were lying outside a store of the Horticulture Department and caught fire reportedly from the nearby forests. Another fire broke out in Tutikandi in the forest adjoining the Himachal Road Transport Corporation workshop. The fire tenders reached in time to extinguish the fire. |
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5 cr spent on welfare
schemes: minister SHIMLA, Jan 21 — Mr Roop Dass Kashyap, Minister Urban Development and Housing, said yesterday that Rs 5 crore had been spent on various welfare schemes in the district during the current financial year. He said Rs 4 crore were being spent to provide pension to 17,057 persons, 6,388 widows, 1,571 physically handicapped persons, besides Rs 5 lakh to rehabilitate 395 lepers in the district. He further said housing subsidy worth Rs 3.50 lakh and technical scholarship worth Rs 4 lakh to Schedule Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other backward classes’ students, who were getting training in different trades in technical institutions were also given during the year. Cases of different schemes being implemented through Women and Social Welfare Department were also approved at the meeting. Mr Kashyap stressed the need of organising awareness camps in the remote and far-flung areas so that eligible people were benefited through such schemes. |
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HP frames new
mining policy CHAMBA, Jan 21 — The Himachal Pradesh Government has completed the first phase of construction of the Rs 20 crore Export Promotion Industrial Park at Baddi in Solan district. This was stated by Mr Kishori Lal, Industries Minister, Himachal Pradesh, here today. The minister said a centre for entrepreneurship development had been set up at Parwanoo for educated but unemployed rural youths. He said a new mining policy had been framed by the government to create more employment avenues and check misappropriation of royalty. In order to provide the facilities for training, production and marketing to weavers in the state, the Rs 2.12 crore Project Package Scheme had been launched by the state government, Mr Kishori Lal said. |
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Himotkarsh awards
announced UNA, Jan 21 — The Himotkarsh National Integration Awards and state-level Himachal Shri Awards 2000-2001 have been announced. The awards list as finalised by awards selection committee headed by Mr Vijay Chopra, president, All-India Editors Conference and chief patron of Himotkarsh, were released to mediapersons here yesterday by Mr P.L. Sharma, general secretary, Himotkarsh. Of the 11 National Integration Awards, Dr Vishnu Kant Shastri, Governor, UP, has been selected for literature, Major Subhir Walia, Ashok Chakra (posthumously), for his services to the nation, Hawildar Dev Parkash, Vir Chakra, 13 J and K Rifle for bravery, Anil Soni of Divya Himachal for journalism, Olympian Deepak Thakur for sports, Saroj Vashish of Delhi for social service, PGI, Chandigarh, Director B.R. Sharma for education (medical science), Dr Chander Bhushan Misra of Patna, Vihar for Sanskrit, Sanskriti, Dr Madan Vashishta (USA-based) for service to disabled, Mrs Kinkari Devi of Sirmaur for environment and Ram Sharnam Ashram, Gohana, for non-government charitable NGO. Those selected for Himachal Shri Awards include Dr M.R. Thakur, Vice-Chancellor (retd), D.K. Sharma, Secretary, Planning to HP Government, Gurmeet Bedi of Shimla for Literature, Rajesh Sharma, correspondent, Nadaun, Hamirpur, for journalism, Chanderman Kashyap of Mandi (posthumously), talent contributions, Prof Data Ram Panta (education), Friends Club, Ray for social work, Jagriti Club, Santoshgarh, and Vaidyarishi Uma Dutt Parashar (Shana, Una). The awards will be given away by Prof P.K. Dhumal, Chief Minister, at the annual conference of Himotkarsh to be held at Una on March 4. |
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6.80 lakh
given polio drops SHIMLA, Jan 21 — As many as 6.80 lakh children were administered polio drops in the second phase of the pulse polio immunisation campaign in the state on Sunday. The Health Minister Mr J.P. Nadda, launched the campaign from the local Sankat Mochan Temple, by administering dose to some children. He said the state had done well in the implementation of the programme, as evident from the fact that no polio case had been reported from the state over the past four years. However, the department could not afford to be complacent and had to implement the programme vigorously for the next two years so that it could obtain the who certificate of being a polio-free
state. |
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CCCA students ask
for grace marks CHAMBA, Jan 21 — Resentment prevails among students appearing in the examination for Certificate Course in Computer Application (CCCA) and Postgraduate Diploma in Information Technology (PGDIT) conducted by Himachal Pradesh University yesterday over the way the question paper was set. The objective type questions contained five options whereas the answer sheets had only four options for marking. A number of students who met this reporter here today demanded the university authorities should work out some solution and make provision for grace marks. |
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1 killed as truck
falls into khud MANDI, Jan 21 — One person was killed and seven others were injured when a truck fell into Suketi khud on the Mandi-Sundernagar road near Bradhibir last night. People of nearby villages rescued the injured and admitted them to the zonal hospital here. The truck was carrying sand to Jari in Kulu district when it skidded off the road. The driver jumped from the truck and survived while one person was crushed under the truck. He has not been identified. |
Mandi-Allahabad
bus service starts today MANDI, Jan 21 — A new bus service from Mandi to Allahabad will be started from January 22 by the Himachal Pradesh Road Transport Corporation. The Regional Manager of the corporation, Mr Jeet Ram, said the bus service, which would start from Mandi tomorrow morning would reach Allahabad on January 24 at 1.30 p.m. |
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