H I M A C H A L   P R A D E S H

Hamirpur facing water crisis
Hamirpur, March 25
Due to scanty rainfall during monsoon and winter seasons and now the mercury rising day by day, the district is facing a severe water crisis these days. The overall water supply situation has already worsened in the interiors of the district, especially in Upper Bamsan, its nearby areas of Mewa and the interiors of Bijheri areas due to the hot conditions prevailing there.

En masse leave by doctors today
Shimla, March 25
The Association of Medical Teachers of Indira Gandhi Medical College and Government Dental College has condemned the proposal to withdraw the non-practicising allowance and allow private practice to doctors.

Hepatitis-B booths closed early
Shimla, March 25
A large number of persons who had come to the booths set up by the local Rotary (Main) for the third and final dose of subsidised hepatitis-B vaccination, returned disappointed.

Prove charges, Virbhadra told
Shimla, March 25
The state unit of the BJP has ridiculed the statement of Mr Virbhadra Singh, Congress Legislative Party Leader, terming the three years of the Dhumal government as an “unmitigated disaster” for the state and said it was an “outburst” of a frustrated politician.

Karmapa visits Rewalsar shrines
Sundernagar, March 25
The 17th Karmapa, Ugayen Trinley Dorjee, today visited religious places of Buddhists, Hindus and Sikhs at Rewalsar, situated around the sacred Rewalsar Lake.

Hamirpur facing water crisis
Our Correspondent

Hamirpur, March 25
Due to scanty rainfall during monsoon and winter seasons and now the mercury rising day by day, the district is facing a severe water crisis these days.

The overall water supply situation has already worsened in the interiors of the district, especially in Upper Bamsan, its nearby areas of Mewa and the interiors of Bijheri areas due to the hot conditions prevailing there.

Reports reaching here from interiors say the century-old water sources have either dried up or started drying up.

The worst affected are the areas covered under the government water supply schemes as the discharge of water in the reservoirs under the schemes has come down by 50 to 60 per cent.

The people are reportedly upset over the prospects of remaining without water during summer. Most of them, however, have already started the maintenance of other water sources like bowlis, wells and even khatris (hand hewn caves).

The failure of the state government to sanction adequate funds for the augmentation of the town’s water supply scheme and to fetch the water from the Beas has led to such a pass. About Rs 10 crore is needed to augment the scheme. And if the situation continues the augmentation work may not be completed in coming three to four years.

The shortage of funds for the augmentation of the old water supply schemes as well as the recruitment of technical staff to manage the schemes is also another reason for the shortage of water in the interiors of the district.

The state government has yet not sanctioned adequate staff like pump operators and helpers against more than 200 vacant posts in the district.

The local people blame their political leaders for their sufferings. They demand sanctioning of more funds for the priority schemes in stead of funds for such projects which could be completed in later stages.

The Department of Irrigation-cum-Public Health in the district is upset over the alarming situation arising out of early arrival of summer.

The department has made a contingency plan to meet with the prospective water crisis, according to Mr R.N. Sharma, Superintending Engineer. According to Mr Sharma the department has geared up its machinery to maintain the existing water sources and tap additional water from other available sources.

En masse leave by doctors today
Tribune News Service

Shimla, March 25
The Association of Medical Teachers of Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) and Government Dental College has condemned the proposal to withdraw the non-practicising allowance (NPA) and allow private practice to doctors.

Association members who met here yesterday said this hasty and “unilateral” decision of the government would lead to chaos and deterioration in health services. They will go on a day’s mass casual leave tomorrow in protest against the move. Indoor patients and emergency services, however, will be maintained.

They supported the ongoing agitation of the State Medical Officers Association and the Resident Doctors Association for the implementation of the “written” agreement on their demands on December 13.

The State Ayurvedic Medical Officers Association has also opposed the decision to withdraw the NPA.

The association said instead of accepting its demand for 25 per cent NPA on the pattern of doctors, the government had decided to discontinue it altogether.

It is also demanding 10 per cent house rent, free accommodation for ayurvedic medical officers, special increments for postgraduate ayurvedic officers and waiving of department examination and finalisation of the seniority list.

Hepatitis-B booths closed early
Tribune News Service

Shimla, March 25
A large number of persons who had come to the booths set up by the local Rotary (Main) for the third and final dose of subsidised hepatitis-B vaccination, returned disappointed.

While the organisers had announced the vaccination would continue up to 4 p.m., the booths at the Rotary Town Hall and the sports complex on the Mall were closed by 3 p.m.

Prove charges, Virbhadra told
Tribune News Service

Shimla, March 25
The state unit of the BJP has ridiculed the statement of Mr Virbhadra Singh, Congress Legislative Party Leader, terming the three years of the Dhumal government as an “unmitigated disaster” for the state and said it was an “outburst” of a frustrated politician.

Party President Jaikrishan Sharma said the former Chief Minister was “high on rhetoric and low on facts”. The allegations of nepotism, corruption and favouritism were baseless and motivated. The 10-paged booklet released by him was a “bundle” of lies.

In fact, it was Mr Virbhadra Singh who had committed all sorts of irregularities to give “unmerited benefits to a katha factory” and the case was under investigation.

Similarly, gross irregularities were committed during recruitment for government jobs during his tenure. Even colour blind and medically unfit persons, who did not fulfil the minimum physical standards, were recruited to the police.

Ministers Kishori Lal Vaidya and Mr J.P. Nadda challenged him to prove his allegations or tender an apology.

They said the Lokayukta was the proper forum for raising such matters and advised him to file an affidavit with the forum.

Karmapa visits Rewalsar shrines
Our Correspondent

Sundernagar, March 25
The 17th Karmapa, Ugayen Trinley Dorjee, today visited religious places of Buddhists, Hindus and Sikhs at Rewalsar, situated around the sacred Rewalsar Lake.

The religious head came to Rewalsar yesterday from Dharamsala. He was received with full honours at Magal, 9 km from district headquarters of Mandi, by representatives of all four monasteries, situated in Mandi district, along with government officials.

The representatives of nagar panchayat, Rewalsar, religious heads of all three monasteries and devotees presented Kheto (a silk cloth) to the Karmapa. The Karmapa also walked around the lake, along with the devotees, and stayed at night in Drikung Kargyv Monastery. Prior to it, he visited the Zigar Drupka Kargyu Monastery.

The Karmapa today performed a puja at Guru Padam Shambhava Nvingmapa Monastery.

Father held for rape
Our Correspondent

Solan, March 25
The local police yesterday arrested Govind Singh, of Damkari village, 5 km from here, on the charges of raping and criminally intimidating his minor daughter.

An FIR was lodged after the victim narrated the incident to Mr Parvesh Kumar of the same village, who reported the matter to the police.

Meanwhile, a medical examination at the local Zonal Hospital has confirmed the rape of the victim. Govind Singh has also reportedly confessed having committed the crime.