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| Thursday, February 15, 2001, Chandigarh, India   
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Alert sounded on forest fires
More problems ahead for HP Cong RTA move
on tax evasion Congress
flays HP’s winter move Water
shortage looms over Shimla |
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Civic body
in fix over garbage dumping Shimla to
have musical fountain 1 arrested
for bomb blast Form
conservation panels : trust
Probe sought into ZP members’ abduction
Women panel’s directive
Water supply scheme inaugurated 
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Alert sounded on forest fires SHIMLA, Feb 14 — The state Forest Department has sounded a red alert to deal with forest fires even as some parts of the state experienced brief showers today. The Principal Chief Conservator, Mr S.K. Pande, has issued directions to all conservators and divisional forest officers to revise the schedule for carrying out fire prevention measures in view of the unusual weather conditions which had not only piled up highly inflammable material on the forest grounds but also led to a substantial increase in the ambient temperature. Reports of forest fires have already started pouring in from various parts of the state. Not only are the pine forests prone to fires but the high-altitude oak and deodar forests also have become vulnerable to fires. All possible measures be taken to prevent fires in high-altitude forests which unlike the pine forests are not accustomed to fires and thus would suffer serious damage. Since controlled burning is not possible due to extreme dry conditions the field staff should draw fire lines and make arrangements to collect inflammable material from the forest grounds in highly fire-prone areas and dump it at safe places. Controlled burning should be carried out only after the region receives sufficient rain and the level of moisture is raised to the minimum desirable limits. The fire-fighting machinery should be activated and round-the-clock minotoring started. No slackness should be shown in this regard. Exemplary action would be taken against erring officials and the field staff. The fire watchers, who were usually deployed in April and May, should be engaged at the earliest and funds be spared for this purpose by reorienting the priorities. The watch and ward staff also should be deployed immediately. The department is also exploring the possibility of organising thikri pehra with the help of the local administration and panchayats to guard highly fire-prone forests. Simultaneously, efforts are being made to create awareness among people regarding the increased fire hazards and seek their active cooperation in carrying out the preventive measures and fire fighting by involving panchayats, village forest development committees and non-government organisations. Special emphasis is being laid on protection of wildlife sauctuaries and national parks where fires will not only affect the vegetation but also the wildlife. The villagers have been urged not to set the “ghasnis” and fields on fire as it could easily spread to forests and even engulf villages in these extremely dry conditions. In developed countries like Australia and the USA a fire index system, based on factors like moisture, ambient temperature and the quantity of inflammable material present on forest grounds, has been evolved. The entire fire-fighting machinery is alerted as when the index crosses the danger mark even people are advised not to go near the forests through public announcements. |
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More problems ahead for HP Cong SHIMLA, Feb 14 — Group rivalry in the Congress in Himachal Pradesh is expected to aggravate with the CLP leader, Mr Virbhadra Singh, today describing the newly constituted PCC as “lop-sided and unrepresentative”. The apparent bid of the PCC chief, Mrs Vidya Stokes, to sideline Mr Virbhadra Singh loyalists while constituting the new PCC is likely to create more problems in the party which is already divided. All this is expected to come as a blessing in disguise for the ruling BJP. Mr Virbhadra Singh, who is in Dehra Dun, told TNS on the telephone on Wednesday that instead of creating unity in the party by attempting to heal old wounds, the composition of the new PCC would further aggravate division in the party. He said the composition of the PCC showed that Mrs Stokes was not capable of rising above petty partisan considerations irrespective of the damage it might cause to the party as a whole. The CLP leader took exception to certain supporters of Mrs Stokes describing the recent rally in Mandi district to celebrate the setting aside of the unseating of Mr Tek Chand from the assembly by the Supreme Court and warned that no one in the party should try to gag such functions. Any such move would be resisted by sincere, loyal and dedicated Congressmen. He said those who had flouted party discipline frequently and changed political colours were hardly competent to sermonise about discipline to those who had always stood by the party through thick and thin. Supporters of Mr Virbhadra Singh are expected to discuss their future strategy when he returns here tomorrow. The Virbhadra Singh camp was visibly upset over the composition of the PCC executive and the election committee in which they were shabbily treated. One of his supporters claimed that people who worked against the official candidates of the Congress in the last assembly and Lok Sabha elections had been rewarded with senior positions in the party over the heads of those who had always remained loyal to the party. The Virbhadra Singh camp has already not accepted the nomination of Mrs Stokes as PCC chief and has been abstaining from almost all such functions which are presided over by her. They claimed that certain leaders who cross-voted for the BJP and HVC nominees in elections had been given plum posts. No representation had been given to the minorities, including the Muslims, the Sikhs and the Tribals in the PCC for the first time. A senior Congressman and an MLA, Mr B.B. Butail, who has been appointed vice-president of the PCC, said it was unfortunate that efforts were being made to sideline Mr Virbhadra Singh who had roots throughout the state. Although the decision of the party high command could not be questioned, it would have been wise had both sides been taken into confidence before finalising the PCC. He said it was unfortunate that despite the Congress being in majority in the zila parishad of Kangra, the post of president was given to the BJP on a platter because of factional feud. |
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RTA move on tax evasion KASAULI, Feb 14 — The multifold increase in the number of private vehicles, including taxis and mini-buses, has given rise to a new class of tax evaders. Figures available with the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) reveal that as many as 33 per cent of the transporters are tax defaulters. The RTA officials have initiated a move to bring the tax evaders to book in order to instil discipline. The problem has acquired a serious dimension, particularly in Paonta Sahib and Nalagarh areas of the district, where the RTA has no barrier of its own. This area accounts for the highest number of offenders, including those plying taxis as well as mini-buses without the relevant permit and proper documents. This also includes taxi drivers of nearby Punjab and Haryana. If a barrier in this area is set up by the government revenue worth lakhs of rupees can be collected. The department has prepared a list of major defaulters, who had pending taxes ranging from Rs 40,000 and above. After issuing a warning a campaign was initiated to collect taxes through field inspections and on the spot challaning. The department collected taxes worth Rs 11,68,000 and 18,84,000 in December and January, respectively. Vehicles of those evading taxes for six months have been impounded to deter such tax defaulters. The RTA officials pointed out that some transporters took an exception to this and went to the courts. But under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, the RTA is authorised to take punitive action against such offenders and such cases were referred back to their department. Another preventive measure in the form of not clearing the annual passing of defaulting vehicles may bring down this percentage. A visit to the RTA office at Solan revealed the fact that quite a few transporters plying mini-buses often changed their route timings and this created unhealthy competition. When being quizzed the offenders stated that at times some routes fetched little or no profit forcing them to change their allotted timings. The RTA officials stated that juvenile transporters were often confronted with this problem and they ended up loosing in the business. But the change required permission from the RTA and could not be enforced on their own. The incidents of people travelling on roof, which is considered to be a major reason accounting for accidents, have also been brought down by frequent challaning and surprise raids, stated the officer. |
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Congress flays HP’s winter
move DHARAMSALA, Feb 14 — The Kangra district Congress chief, Dr
M. R. Goma, today criticised the Dhumal government for undertaking the winter move at a time when thousands of people had been killed and lakhs rendered homeless in the Gujarat earthquake. Addressing a press conference here today, Dr Goma said the government could have saved a lot of money which was being spent on the winter move of the government. Dr Goma said with the government facing a severe financial crunch, it would be difficult to complete the
projects for which the Chief Minister was laying foundation stones. Dr Goma said the government had failed to provide relief to the farmers whose crops had been damaged by the drought, nor was subsidised ration being provided as promised. He added that the rising prices and anti-people policies of the government had made life difficult for the people. |
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Water shortage looms over Shimla SHIMLA, February 14
— The changed weather conditions in Shimla may lead to an acute shortage in the coming summers as few areas in the town have already started experiencing water shortage due to the long dry spell. The natural sources of water have started drying up. Every year there is always severe water shortage in the summers. But this year it seems that the people would suffer more and can face many problems. Presently the water consumption in the city is around 62 to 65 lakh gallons per day. The consumption increases during summers when tourists arrive in huge numbers. The hotels also provide limited water supply even in normal summer period. The pumping station at Churt, near Dhalli, has already started supplying the stored water in the town which otherwise starts from May 15. Gumma, Ashwani Khud, Jugroti and Chehr are the pumping stations from where regular water supply is coming. Ashwani Khud has already started experiencing water shortage as the supply is low. In the past six months below average rain has been recorded. In September it was 21 mm, November 19 mm, January 29.6 mm. But in October and December no rain was recorded. The upper areas of the district are facing drought-like situation. The Irrigation Department has started work on the implementation of the Shimla water supply scheme from Nauti Khud, which will provide additional water to the masses. The consumption of water would be 10 lakh gallons per day. The project will be completed in the following year. According to a spokesperson of the Irrigation Department, there is an urgent need for creating awareness among the people regarding the problem. |
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Civic body in fix over garbage dumping HAMIRPUR,
Feb 14 — The town has been facing an acute problem regarding the dumping of garbage. The local civic body is in a fix over the place, where it can start dumping garbage. The state government had announced a Rs 50-lakh Solid Waste Management Programme for the town and a piece of land measuring 10 kanals was also identified. However, insiders said the HP Pollution Control Board had rejected the site on the ground that it was near a basti. The project money is still lying in the personal ledger account (PLA) of the civic body. The issue of the dumping site also figured prominently at a district-level officers’ meeting which was presided over by the Chief Minister, Prof Prem Kumar Dhumal. The Chief Minister had instructed the civic body and the district administration of Hamirpur to start work on a war-footing for locating a suitable site for the dumping of the town’s garbage. The nagar parishad is now in a fix where to make pits under the programme for which the money had already been deposited. Mr Raj Krishan Sharma, Executive Officer of the Nagar Palika Parishad admits that the HP Pollution Control Board had rejected the earlier site. He says that the parishad will now request the state government to sell them any piece of land near the town, where pits could be dug for dumping of garbage. He says that at present the parishad safai karamcharis dump the garbage on the Hamirpur-Dharamsala road near Hotel Hamir. Meanwhile, the sanitation activities in the town have suffered much due to the shortage of safai karamcharis. The total number of safai karamcharis at present is 26 including eight on daily wages. The parishad needs at least 70 safai karamcharis, admits Mr Raj Krishna Sharma, Executive Officer. He added that the parishad had given ward Nos. 3, 7, 8, and 11 on contract to the private parties for cleaning work. In Hiranagar ward of the town a non-governmental organisation is performing the garbage-clearing operation in collaboration with the local civic body. The parishad has also purchased mobile lavatories for Rs 2 lakh for the benefit of those Rajasthani labourers, who are living near the newly constructed housing board colony. |
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Shimla to have musical fountain SHIMLA, Feb, 14 — The local municipal corporation has decided to install a musical fountain at the Daulat Singh Park under the plan to beautify the hill town. The decision was taken at the meeting of representatives of banks and other agencies, who have agreed to execute different projects under the plan. The meeting was held under the chairmanship of Mr H.N. Kashyap, Municipal Commissioner, here yesterday. The Daulat Singh Park, which is currently maintained by the Tourism Department, would be handed over to a private company which has offered to provide musical fountain. Mr Y. D. Sharma, horticulture expert from Dr Y.S. Parmar University, suggested setting up of glasshouses. He said planting of fruit trees should be avoided in view of the monkey menace, instead thorny plants, shrubs, climbers and annuals, particularly wild species should be preferred. |
1 arrested for
bomb blast SUNDERNAGAR, Feb 14 — Raj Kumar of Jugahan village of this subdivision was arrested yesterday in connection with a bomb blast which took place at the village on Monday. An explosive substance exploded at the house of Mast Ram and it was damaged. Mast Ram lodged the complaint yesterday and suspected hand of Raj Kumar in the blast. According to the police, the suspect was seen fleeing after throwing the detonator by the wife of complainant. The suspect is serving in the CRPF at Jalandhar. The police has registered a case under Sections 286 and 427 of the IPC read with Sections 3 and 4 of the Explosive Substances Act.. |
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Form
conservation panels : trust CHAMBA, Feb 14 — The Chamba chapter of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) has urged the state government to constitute ‘Heritage Conservation Advisory Committees’ for the town and for Bharmour Chaurasi on the pattern of that constituted for Shimla in December last year. In a representation to the Chief Minister, Prof Prem Kumar Dhumal, the local chapter of the INTACH said the proposed step would go a long way in saving the state heritage from further deterioration. According to the trust, the town was liberally endowed with monuments of antiquity. |
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Probe sought into ZP members’ abduction SHIMLA, Feb 14 — The PCC President, Mrs Vidya Stokes, has demanded a judicial inquiry into the alleged abduction of two elected women members of the Kangra Zila Parishad by some activists of the ruling BJP. In a statement here yesterday, Mrs Stokes accused the Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal, of functioning in a dictatorial manner and criticised yesterday’s police lathi-charge on Congressmen at Nagrota. |
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Women panel’s directive SHIMLA, Feb 14 — The HP State Commission for Women has asked all heads of departments, corporations and boards to constitute a committee for looking into the complaints of women regarding sexual harassment at their workplace. Disclosing this, a spokesman for the commission said here today that it had been done in view of the judgement of the Supreme Court. The spokesman said the departments had also been asked to send annual report of the complaints committee to the state government. |
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Water supply scheme inaugurated HAMIRPUR, Feb 14 — Mrs Urmila Thakur, HP Parliamentary Secretary, dedicated to the people the two-lift water supply scheme that would irrigate 85 hectares in Baleta and Neri Kamiah area in the district. A sum of Rs 63 lakh had been spent on the scheme. Addressing a public meeting, Mrs Thakur said Rs 6.38 crore were being spent in the district for providing drinking and irrigation water to the people. |
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Scooterist dies in
mishap KULU, February 14 — Sher Singh, Junior Engineer in the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board, was killed on the spot when his scooter was hit by an Armada jeep at Nimla village about 11 km from Ani, on the Ani-Luhari road in the district today. |
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