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| Friday,
March 16, 2001, Chandigarh, India   
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Indebted
Tibetans help quake-hit Rebels to
meet acting BJP chief Pong Dam
emerges as fish bowl Walkout by
Cong men over corruption issue HP to
review system of grants for schools |
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Revised
water tariff upsets consumers Workshop
on transfer of technology Decision
on traffic flayed Hola
Mohalla fair ends with fervour SGPC
team in Dharamsala Plea to
fill varsity administrative posts Agro
officers’ plea to government Man
held for minor’s rape SFI
holds rally
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Indebted Tibetans help quake-hit Dharamsala, March 15 A team of dedicated Tibetans, which includes monks, nuns and ordinary people, is still camping at Kabrao near Bhuj to complete the construction of a colony, which will house 35 families who are still sleeping in the open. “India has been providing shelter and support to thousands of Tibetan refugees during the past four decades and this was the least we could have done in return for the hospitality extended by this great nation,” said Phuntsok Choechung and Lobsang Tenpa, the two monks from the Namgyal monastery here, who returned after spending two weeks in Bhuj. A team of 50 Tibetans, led by the Tibetan Welfare Officer, Mr Dawa Tsering, left Dharamsala for Gujarat on February 2, a few days after the devastating earthquake that claimed thousands of lives and rendered many more homeless. “With a truckload of clothes and blankets, we reached Bhuj on February 6, only to encounter horror stories of death and destruction all around,” revealed Lama Lobsang Tenpa. “With not a single village escaping the fury of the earthquake, there was complete chaos, as we pitched our tents at Kabrao, between Bhuj and Bhachau,” recalls Lama Phuntsok. About 70 monks, including seven nuns had already arrived there from south India. He said that it was common to find a sole survivor of a family, wishing that he was dead too. The monks said that they pulled out bodies of 10 persons from the debris of high-rise buildings when others were reluctant to go in, fearing the remaining structure would collapse and kill them. As help was still pouring in, people would come and plead before us to help them in pulling out the bodies of their family members, crushed under the rubble. “It was common to see orphaned children, relating their tales of sorrow but nowhere to go, as all known to them were dead,” said Lama Lobsang. Another Tibetan, Chime, a teacher in a Gompa in Spiti, the tribal area of Himachal, returned from Bhuj, as his holidays are over. “I volunteered to go to help the people of Bhuj as I felt that they were in desperate need of assistance of all kinds,” said Chime. Even in my wildest dreams I couldn’t imagine that an earthquake could wreak so much of havoc, he said. “When we reached Bhuj, there were unclaimed bodies lying all around with dogs devouring some of them and the people getting terrified with three-four tremors still rocking the area everyday,” recalls Chime. He said that the Tibetan government-in-exile would bear the cost of construction of all 35 houses, while monetary help was also being extended to the needy ones. A majority of the people in Bhuj, Bhachau and Kabrao were totally unaware of the Tibetan problem, as they mistook the Tibetans to be Chinese, Japanese or even Nepalis. “Though they were not aware of the Tibetan issue, they started identifying us as the ‘Dalai Lama’s men’,” said Chime. They invited us to share their meals with them, he added. Many of the Tibetans who left for Gujarat are still camping in Kabrao, and will return only after the task of constructing a colony is complete. Some more Tibetans have also joined them to finish the task at the earliest. Seeing the devastation in Gujarat, the two lamas, Lobsang and Phuntsok, are reminded of their homeland, Tibet, where their people are suffering at the hands of the Chinese. “One is helpless before mother nature’s fury but in case of Tibet, the destruction is being caused by human beings, which is all the more painful,” say the two lamas, who have never been to Tibet, as they were born here in India. |
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Rebels to meet acting BJP chief Shimla, March 15 The rebels came to the Assembly in the morning but did not participate in the proceedings. They left for Delhi in the afternoon without waiting for the Chief Minister’s reply to the debate on Budget. These rebels were hopeful that the new BJP chief would take some action on their demands which were aimed at removing corruption. The resignation of Mr Bangaru Laxman following the “tehelka”, exposure of his taking money, has further emboldened them. It is to be seen as to how the new BJP chief responds to their demands. On the other hand, the loyalists of Mr Dhumal were hopeful that the Chief Minister would not be touched on the demand of the rebels who include, four sacked ministers, Mr K.K. Kapoor, Mr Ramesh Chaudhary, Mr Rajan Sushant and Mr Harinarayan Singh and three legislators, Mr Dulo Ram, Mr Des Raj and Mrs Nirmala Devi. While leaving for Delhi Mr Kapoor said that there was no change in their stand and they would accept nothing short of meeting their both demands. They are also expected to demand that leaders with clean image should be given prominence in the new set-up. The rebels had postponed their plan of exposing the “corruption” of the Dhumal government in the Assembly on March 12 following intervention of the RSS. However, they have reportedly made it clear now that they will be free to resort to any action within and outside the Assembly in case their demands were not met. Mr Bangaru Laxman had rejected outrightly their demand for removing Mr Dhumal and asked them to discipline. |
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Pong Dam emerges as fish bowl Kangra, March 15 According to Mr Gurcharan Singh, Assistant Director of Fisheries at Pong Dam, during the current financial year the fish production has touched 285 metric tonnes. The fish catch has fetched Rs 1.26 crore to the fishermen. At present 14 fish cooperative societies are operating in the reservoir with a total membership of 1,920. As many as 1,444 members are licence holders. The annual fish production in the reservoir is estimated to be between 350 to 450 metric tonnes. Every year, during July and August, fish seeds are stocked in the reservoir for increasing the fish production. During the current year, seeds worth Rs 13.93 lakh were stocked. Till December, a revenue of Rs 23.45 lakh has been earned by the Department of Fisheries on account of licence fee, royalty etc. The Pong reservoir came into existence during 1974. Initially, the reservoir contained catfish, carp and few coarse fishes. But over the years the reservoir has witnessed the production of other varieties as well. These include
Mahaseer, Singhara, Rahu, Katla and Mirgal. The average production of fish at Pong Dam is around 10-12 quintals per day. The average income of each fisherman is around Rs 3000 per month. Depending on the quality of the fish, the rates vary from Rs 40 to Rs 60 per kg. The fish of the reservoir is sent to various marketing centres in
Pathankot, Jammu, Delhi and other parts of Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana. The Department of Fisheries at Pong Dam maintains a strict vigil over unauthorised fishing and the black-marketing of fish. The fisheries cooperative societies have been playing a pivotal role in helping the fishermen to receive regular payment for the fish caught by them. The rates of the fish are decided through open auction by the societies. The societies also arrange loans for its members from financial institutions for the purchase of fishing equipment. All 14 fish cooperative societies of the Pong reservoir are making a profit. The Department of Fisheries has also launched several welfare schemes for the fishermen operating in the reservoir. |
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Walkout by Cong men over corruption issue Shimla, March 15 The walkout was staged soon after Prof Dhumal completed his reply to the debate when the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Virbhadra Singh, pointed out that the allegation of rampant corruption at all levels in political and bureaucratic circles was not touched by Prof Dhumal in his reply although almost all members of the Opposition and even the four sacked ministers and three legislators of the ruling BJP had also made these allegations. Prof Dhumal sought cooperation of all political parties and individuals in solving the current financial crisis which the state was facing and warned that the government might not have money to pay even the salaries of employees if the Centre and the market did not provide loans. He said he would make efforts to seek funds from the Centre for the development of the state. He said the practice of raising loans from the open market had not been introduced by the BJP, but it was inherited from the Congress government. He made it clear that the government shall have to go in for economic reforms to reduce the non-plan expenditure. Failing this, the government might have to face a cut of Rs 600 crore from the plan funds if the MoU for the purpose with the Centre was not implemented. The Chief Minister said an annual additional financial liability of Rs 550 crore had come on the government by having recruited about 62,000 employees. The services of over 13,000 daily wage earners had been regularised. Prof Dhumal endorsed the suggestion of the Opposition members that the Centre should compensate the state for protecting the forests on account of which it was losing the revenue which had been assessed by the Finance Commission as a resource. He denied the allegations of discrimination with regard to certain areas and preferential treatment to Hamirpur district. Quoting figures, he said the Mandi district had received higher allocation out of the Nabard funds for roads and other infrastructure. Against the allocation of Rs 9 crore for Mandi during the Congress regime, Rs 56 crore had been provided for the district in the past three years since the BJP came to power. Construction of roads was being undertaken in 62 constituencies. He denied the allegations that the government had failed to ensure jobs for
Himachalis in the industry and power sector. The NHPC and the NTPC had reserved jobs for Himachalis and the private sector hydel projects were also making recruitment through employment exchanges. |
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HP to review system of grants for schools Shimla, Mach 15 Intervening during question hour in the Vidhan Sabha today, the Chief Minister, Mr P. K. Dhumal, said that complaints have been received that some aided schools were functioning merely as ‘teaching shops’. He said that all political parties would be taken into confidence to formulate a new policy for the purpose. Only those schools which were supplementing the efforts of the government to provide education would be considered for being given the grant-in-aid. Replying to the main question tabled by Mrs Viplove Thakur (Cong), the Education Minister, Mr I.D. Dhiman, said that 65 schools were being provided the grant-in-aid. Mr Dhiman, while replying to a question of Mr Kaul Singh (Cong), said that 6388 posts of various categories were lying vacant in the Education Department. The minister said that efforts were being made to fill the vacant posts and the posts of non-medical teacher would be filled within a week. Mr Kaul Singh said that the schools in remote areas were being neglected and many posts of teacher were lying vacant. He demanded that a special drive should be launched to fill the vacant posts. |
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Revised water tariff
upsets consumers Nurpur, March 15 Sources reveal that once during the Congress regime the then Government had also undertaken this experiment. But the meters had become useless after a few months of installation. Of course, there is a demand that the Irrigation cum Public Health (IPH) Department should instal its own water meters. Mr Sat Mahajan, the former Himachal IPH Minister and Ex PCC chief commenting on the new tariff for water supply has said that this would only put financial burden on the people and serve no purpose to check the misuse of potable water. He has criticised the Government notification in this connection. |
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Workshop on transfer of technology Shimla, March 15 The objective of the workshop is to identify and find out solutions to the extension and transfer of technology related problem, with particular focus on the production of IEC package i.e. booklets, pamphlets, posters, guidebooks, resource books and other learning and reading material for the target group and also the strategy to disseminate the same, it said. Scientists, extension officers/progressive farmers from various districts, representatives of zila saksharata samities and NGOs/VOs will be participating in the workshop. Under this programme there will be one centre at each gram panchayat level, which will act as center for discussion, information dissemination, training. There will be 3037 continuing education centres in each panchayats and 18000 plus sub CEC at each ward of Himachal Pradesh to be established in coming years. |
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Decision on
traffic flayed Jaisinghpur (Kangra), March 15 The people are angry with the administration and say the decision has jeopardised their safety. They say the road through the bazar is very narrow and a vehicle passing through it leaves little space to walk or even stand safely. While bypasses are being provided at other places to reduce traffic pressure through the bazars, the local administration has done exactly the opposite by forcing vehicles to pass one way through the bazar, they allege. The people have demanded that the administration withdraw the decision. When this reporter contacted the Subdivisional Magistrate to apprise him of the public reaction and elicit his response, he claimed that this had been done “to avoid accidents”. |
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Hola Mohalla fair ends with fervour Nahan, March 15 A large number of devotees from different part of the country and abroad visited the fair. According to gurdwara sources, lakh of visitors paid obeisance in the gurdwara and took a holy dip at the Govind ghat on the bank of the Yamuna. To mark the commencement of the first Hola Mohalla of the new millennium, a colourful procession was taken out which went through Badri Nagar and Paonta Sahib bazaars. During the fair, lakhs of devotees also visited Gurdwara Bhangani Sahib. An All-India “Kavi
Darbar” was organised in a traditional manner at Kavi Darbar Hall. Over 34 prominent poets recited their poems in different languages. Mr Kulwant Singh, Manager, Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee, said accommodation and medical aid facilities were provided and more than five lakh devotees were adjusted in the gurdwara. He said a draft for Rs 21,000 was sent to the Gujarat Chief Minister relief fund by the committee. |
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SGPC team in Dharamsala Dharamsala, March 15 According to the SSP, Mr Prithvi Raj, the granthi, Narinder Singh and another person from the gurdwara, have been remanded in judicial custody till March, 27. A case of arson and rioting has been registered against villagers and three persons have been arrested. A team of the SGPC, arrived here to resolve the dispute between the gurdwara people and the locals. On Tuesday evening people of Trilokpur and Kotla attacked the gurdwara and set the store on fire. |
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Plea to fill varsity administrative posts Shimla, March 15 In a statement here yesterday its president, Mr Swadesh Singh Thakur, urged the university authorities to fill the posts of the Finance Officer, Controller of Examination, Registrar, Planning and Development Officer and Secretary of Vice-Chancellor from among the administrative officers. He said the non-teaching staff had been handling all posts and had the required administrative experience and ability. |
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Agro officers’ plea to government Shimla, March 15 It urged that no daily-wage worker should be retrenched and all those who had put in seven years of service be regularised. |
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Man held for minor’s rape Chamba, March 15 Stating this here today, Mr Sanjay Kundu, SP, Chamba, said Partap Chand forcibly entered the house of Jaisi Ram, the father of the girl, and took her to a building in the nearby Rehla village, where he raped her. The SP stated that Partap was arrested on a complaint lodged by Jaisi Ram at Bharmour police station. He said the girl had been brought to the zonal hospital, Chamba, for a medical examination. The police has registered a case under Sections 452, 363 and 376 of the IPC. |
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SFI holds rally Shimla, March 15 Addressing the rally, the state general secretary, SFI, Mr Manoj Chandel, demanded an inquiry into the appointments in which BJP activists had been selected. He alleged that there was no commerce seat in the evening college, even then a new post was created to accommodate a party activist. New posts were created to adjust people from the panel drawn last year, he said. The federation alleged that the UGC norms were being violated. The federation also demanded to start new courses in the university. |
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