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Wednesday,
May 2, 2001, Chandigarh, India  
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Over 60 pc
vehicles flouting pollution norms: board Fall of
BJP imminent, claims Virbhadra Rally
shows chinks in Congress Speaker’s
stress on code of conduct |
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Govt to
build 68 stadiums: Dhumal Manali-Leh
highway reopened Redefine
development: VC Project to
help farmers earn adequate income Kangra
bank profit up by Rs 13 cr HPTDC
plans 6 eco-friendly projects Truck
rolls down khud, 2 killed Dhumal
inducted into Yamuna committee NPA of
doctors to continue Decision
on police ranges after debate Protest
rallies mark May Day Shimla, May 1 The Himachal Pradesh Government today promoted Mr D.S. Amist, Inspector-General of Police (Enforcement), as Additional Director-General of Police (Law and Order). 
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Over 60 pc vehicles flouting pollution norms: board Shimla, May 1 The occasional checking conducted by the state Transport Department has failed to produce the desired results and a majority of vehicles in the state have not been conforming to the standards laid down under the Motor Vehicles Act. Even government vehicles and buses of the state road transport corporation have not been meeting the standards. The phenomenal increase in the number of vehicles, particularly commercial vehicles, over the past decade had also been responsible for the increasing air pollution. At present over 45,000 commercial vehicles are registered in the state. The setting up of two cement plants has led to an increase in the number of trucks, which are a major source of air pollution, especially around Barmana and Darlaghat areas, where the plants are located. Vehicular pollution is also a cause of concern in major towns. The pollution checking carried out by the state Environment Protection and Pollution Control Board in the state capital three days ago revealed that over 60 per cent vehicles were not conforming to the standards. The level of emissions exceeded the permissible limits in 348 of the total 560 vehicles checked by the board. In case of petrol-driven vehicles, 56 of the 126 vehicles were found to be violating the norms. In diesel-driven vehicles, the percentage of polluting vehicles was 67 per cent. In the case of government vehicles, of the 49 vehicles checked, the level of emissions was found to be above the limit in 29. In all, 79 vehicles were challaned for not conforming to the emission standards. The board has time and again urged the state transport authority to acquire more vehicular monitoring equipment, like Hartridge smoke meters and gas analysers, to ensure intensive checking. However, the Transport Department has allegedly not been able to do much in this respect. The monitoring of emission levels is carried out by the department only once or twice a month. It has only 12 motor vehicle inspectors to perform the job. Besides, the seven Regional Transport Officers conduct surprise checks regarding the violation of various norms. The situation could improve if the government also authorises the board for taking action against violators of emission norms. It has the trained staff and the equipment to effectively monitor the emission levels and supplement the efforts of the Transport Department in checking vehicular pollution. The board has been organising awareness camps in coordination with the department to persuade vehicle owners to get their vehicles checked for pollution to reduce the emissions to desirable levels. It has also carried out on-the-spot overhauling of engines but such sporadic efforts have not helped much in reducing the levels of vehicular emissions. |
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Fall of BJP imminent,
claims Virbhadra Hamirpur, May 1 While addressing a press conference here this afternoon, he expressed his shock and dismay over what unpleasant actions at a Congress rally at Nagrota Bagwan yesterday. He said that there was no place of hooliganism in the Congress party and those who had tried to disturb the rally must be exposed and action taken against them. He said there were a few disgruntled elements in the Youth Congress who were working against the party and harming its cause. He said that the Youth Congress had its history but unfortunately many disgruntled elements had sneaked into it due to their muscle power and money power. He said that he was for giving more weightage to the youth in the party and he had done that during his tenure as the Chief Minister of the state. He said that no party or organisation could flourish without youth, but the youth must be hard working, honest and dedicated. Mrs Asha Kumari, former minister, Mr Vanit Gautam, close confidant of the former Chief Minister, Mr Ishwar Dass, former Deputy Speaker, Mr Manjit Singh Dogra and Mr Kuldip Singh Pathania, ex HP Youth Congress chief were also present. He described the statement of HP Congress chief as baseless that no appeals regarding the party elections were lying pending with the party high command. He said that as many as 26 appeals were still pending and decision of the central tribunal was awaited. Mr Singh said that he would again meet the senior party leaders, including Mrs Sonia Gandhi to seek her intervention regarding party affairs. He was hopeful that justice would be delivered to him and his supporters and the party would emerge stronger. The former chief minister hit out at the present BJP government for its dismal performance on all issues. This government is one of the worst governments, the state had seen since Independence, he added. He said that the financial health of the state was bad and it was due to the top-heavy administration, wrong fixation of priorities for various works and mis-utilisation of the funds on various projects. He said that un-productive expenses were on an increase and there was no check to it. He said that the Chief Minister had badly failed to effectively check this issue, as he had no experience to run the government. When asked how the state would come out of this situation. He said that let Prof Dhumal resign. He, however, added that if the present government was allowed to run for two more years, it would be very difficult for the new rulers to run the state, as the state would be under worst fiscal crisis. Mr Virdhadra Singh justified the taking of loans during past two years of his government. He said that he had taken loans amounting to Rs 800 crore and out of which Rs 300 crore were in the kitty of the government and that amount was spent by the new BJP government. He wondered how the debts had risen to Rs 230 crore in just three years. He said that the present government had done nothing to bring the state out of red and it was absurd to blame his government for all the fiscal mis-management of the present government. He said that if his government had done anything wrong, why no action had been taken against us. The former Chief Minister described the present so-called austerity drive of the state government as an exercise in futility. He said that this exercise was to save the chair of the Chief Minister and not to manage the finances of the state. |
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Rally shows chinks in Congress Dharamsala, May 1 Even the presence of the AICC general secretary and in charge of Himachal, Mrs Mohsina Kidwai, did not refrain the supporters of the two leaders from creating gross indiscipline at a rally which was aimed at opposing the issue of corruption, brought to the fore by the Tehelka exposure. All senior Congress leaders, including Mrs Stokes and Mr Singh appeared helpless in controlling their loyalists. Yesterday’s incident indicates that the factional polarisation has gone down right till the grassroot level. “The rowdy and indecent behaviour of the party’s youth at the rally has not only defeated the real purpose of the meeting but also has put all of us to shame,” were the comments of a senior legislator. However, many senior leaders at the rally felt that the youth alone cannot be blamed for the battle lines have been drawn by the two leaders. It appeared that the two factions were there not to fight the BJP, but to pull down each other. Many leaders at the rally were heard saying that if this was the state of affairs in the Congress, which is the main Opposition party, the BJP has nothing to worry. Ever since the factionalism in the party has intensified the two leaders have been holding separate rallies, to prove as to who is more popular. The Virbhadra Singh loyalists say that a constant effort was being made to sideline supporters of the former Chief Minister, who enjoy popular support, while those without a mass base are being given importance. “Some of the complaints made by us in connection with the irregularities in the organisational elections, have not been resolved, till date,” they complain. On the other hand, the loyalists of the PCC chief say that by opposing their own party president, the Virbhadra faction was working against the interest of the party. Party insiders too are of the opinion that despite a major revolt against the Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal, and other problems like groupism and financial crisis, the Congress has failed to effectively raise these issues, against the government. “If these two leaders do not bury the hatchet, it is the party which will suffer,” said former minister and General Secretary of the party, Mr Vijai Singh Mankotia. In fact at the rally, yesterday, Mr Mankotia, introduced the resolution that the minor differences
between these two leaders, should be resolved to strengthen the party. He said that there was no major problem between these two leaders but others with some vested interest were creating misunderstanding between them. Whether Mrs Mohsina Kidwai, succeeds in sorting out the differences between the two leaders or not, is a question time will tell but for now she too has an idea how deep the rivalry between the two group runs. |
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Speaker’s stress on code of conduct Shimla, May 1 Presiding over the meeting of ethics committee of the Vidhan Sabha here today he said that the code of conduct should have adequate flexibility to accommodate the democratic right of the members so that they could voice their point of view but in a dignified manner.
Though there was need to lay down guidelines for the rights, privileges, responsibilities and protocol in relations to the members but much would still depend upon self-regulation of their public behaviour and conduct.
The members, he advised, should always be kept in mind the expectations of the people from them as public representatives and do their best to fulfil them.
He also apprised the members about the action taken so far by the committee in discharging its assigned functions. He also informed that the Chairman of the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee, Mr Chander Shekhar, had sent a questionnaire which in turn would be circulated among MLAs to have a collective view on the issues.
The meeting was attended by Thakur Ram Lal, a former Chief Minister, Mrs Vidya Stokes, a former Speaker and Pradesh Congress Committee chief, Mr Jai Krishan Sharma, and President of state Bharatiya Janata Party, Mr J.B.L. Khachi and Mr Babu Ram
Mandyal,
MLA. The ethics committee of the assembly was constituted last year to lay down the code of conduct for MLAs in relation to their moral and ethical conduct, frame guidelines for their privileges and status and consider cases of ethical, moral and other misconducts involving legislators. |
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Govt to build 68
stadiums: Dhumal Shimla, May 1 He was speaking on the concluding day of the three-day seminar organised by the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha here yesterday. The Chief Minister exhorted them to educate people about government policies and programmes launched in the state during the past three years. He said the present state government had given special attention to the welfare of youths in the state. He said the government had decided to construct a stadium in a school in each Assembly constituency in the state to benefit budding sports persons. He said in all 68 stadiums would be constructed. To ensure that poor and meritorious students were not deprived of higher education, the state government had launched meritorious schoolarship schemes. Scholarships of Rs 10,000 each were given to over 8,200 students of plus-1 and plus-II classes every year. Mr Dhumal said for meritorious students belonging to the Scheduled Castes, interest-free loans amounting to Rs 75,000 were being given so that they could pursue their studies. He said job opportunities were being created for them. As many as 8,000 teachers had been appointed during the past three years and the services of 4,159 voluntary teachers had been regularised, he added. The Chief Minister said two fruit-based wineries were being set up in Shimla and Mandi districts. The government had also set up five fruit processing plants and training centres in the lower hills. He said the government had made a payment of Rs 80 crore for apples purchased under the market intervention scheme in the state. He said the money spent on the construction of roads and bridges had been enhanced from Rs 90 crore during 1997-98 to Rs 246 crore this year. Besides, Rs 90 crore was likely to be spent under the Prime Minister Gram Sarak Yojana and Rs 120 crore with Nabard’s assistance. he said 100 small irrigation schemes had been approved. |
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Manali-Leh highway reopened Shimla, May 1 The Sansari-Killar-Thirot (SKT) road linking Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir has also been cleared of snow up to the last point of Himachal territory at Thirot which touches the Kashmir area of Jammu and Kashmir. The project Deepak of the BRO, which looks after these two roads, had started the snow clearing operations in February. The project Deepak handles the maintenance of the 223-km stretch of the Manali-Leh road up to Sarchu, beyond which the project Himank is responsible for its maintenance up to Leh. Earlier, the highway used to be reopened in the first week of June. Men of the project had a difficult time in removing the snow at the 13,000 ft Rohtang Pass and the 16,000 ft Baralacha-La. They also worked at over 100 hazardous avalanche sites for making the road through for traffic. With reopening of the highway, the entire tribal district of Lahul-Spiti has come alive. |
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Redefine
development: VC Shimla, May 1 Inaugurating the programme, organised by the Population Research Centre in collaboration with the Institute of Applied Manpower Research, New Delhi, Dr S.K. Gupta, Vice-Chancellor, said the definition of development needed to be redfined in the context of ground realities prevailing in different countries and in terms of socio-economic and inter-generational equity and environmental sustainable development. There was not only a need to have a holistic view of development process wherein the deprived and disadvantaged sections of society received due attention, but also the management practices and procedure needed to be adapted and evolved in the line with the changing technology and socio-economic environment of developing countries, he said. He said an emphasis on physical capital alone could no longer deliver the goods. The human resource was also of paramount importance. Many countries which did not have any strong natural resource base had emerged as leading economies because of their efficient and well-qualified human resource. The less developed countries where capital was scarce and labour force was abundant should learn a lesson from these countries to develop their human resource, he added. Prof J.P. Bhatti, Director, Population Research Centre, and coordinator of the training programme said the main focus of the programme would be on gender issues in development, quality of life and human development index, techniques of human resource planning and development and participatory management processes. As many as 24 participants from 18 countries are participating in the programme. |
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Project
to help farmers earn adequate income Nahan, May 1 The Assistant Project Director, Dr Sushil
Kapta, gave this information yesterday while inaugurating a one-day workshop of members of village committees formed in the kandi area. He said 30 village development committees had been constituted and 12 more were in the process of being made which would undertake developmental works on the kandi project at the village level in the area. About Rs 3 crore would be spent through these village development committees, he added. Fifty per cent of the members of village development committees were to be women and they had been trained to do income generating activities, he said. To improve infrastructure in rural areas, 49 ponds, 50 water tanks and eight irrigation dams had been constructed to cater to the needs of irrigation and drinking water of rural population, he said. He said saplings had been planted, besides the watershed project to check soil erosion. High-quality seeds had been distributed to farmers. Studs of better progeny had been provided to farmers to improve livestock, he added. Dr Kapta urged farmers to grab the opportunity of comprehensive development being provided by the kandi project. He lauded the role of the village development committee of Nihog which provided land for the construction of a pond and other such facilities. A resource person from the Industries Department, Mr Chandu Lal, demonstrated the technique of sericulture and said the climate of Nahan and Paonta was most suitable for sericulture. |
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Kangra bank profit up by Rs 13 cr Dharamsala, May 1 This was stated by the chairman of the bank, Mr Babu Ram Madiyal, at a meeting of the Board of Directors here yesterday. He said the profit of the bank had gone up from Rs 21.34 crore last year to Rs 34.68 crore this year. Apart from this, the deposit of the bank this year had touched Rs 1,230 crore as against Rs 962 crore last year. The bank having 136 branches had achieved its target of lending by loaning Rs 315 crore. He said the bank had advanced an amount of Rs 100 crore for the Larji hydel project in Kulu. He said the bank had also given a loan to the Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) for adding 250 new buses to its fleet. |
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HPTDC plans 6 eco-friendly projects Nurpur, May 1 He said the camp office of the chairman, HPTDC, would be shifted to Dharamsala from Shimla. He said the HPTDC had prepared six eco-friendly projects for the state. A meeting with the Union Tourism Minister, Ms Uma Bharti, was scheduled for May 10 at which the projects were likely to be cleared, Mr Pathania said. He said the HPTDC would attract private investments for new ventures and for this purpose, 10 years entertainment tax holiday had been offered. He said since Himachal Pradesh had vast tourism potential, the HPTDC would lay emphasis on better marketing and the promotion of adventure tourism. Mr Pathania promised that the HPTDC would also provide proper parking places at tourist spots. With the approval of the Centre, the forest land at McLeodganj in Kangra district had been transferred in the name of the HPTDC, he added. He said Nupoor Hotel-cum-Restaurant of the HPTDC at Nurpur would be commissioned within the next two months. |
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Truck rolls down
khud, 2 killed Kangra, May 1 Additional District Police Chief N.D. Sareen said this evening that the truck was on its way from Gaggal to Sallol when the mishap occurred. Cleaner Roshan Lal (50), a resident of Darskot in the district, died on the spot. He said Khudi Ram (55), an employee of the HPSEB and resident of Sarrah village, succumbed to injuries at the hospital. The driver of the truck survived with minor injuries. Another injured person was admitted to the hospital where his condition is stated to be out of danger. |
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Dhumal
inducted into Yamuna
committee Shimla, May 1 The other members of the newly reconstituted committee are the Chief Ministers of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Rajasthan and Delhi. The Union Minister of Water Resources will be its chairman. |
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NPA of doctors to
continue Shimla, May 1 The government had deferred its decision of stopping the NPA following statewide protests by the doctors and the Opposition parties. However, the final decision to shelve the scheme was taken
yesterday. A preliminary meeting with the representatives of the doctors of the Health and Ayurveda departments was first held by the Health Minister, Mr J.P. Nadda and thereafter they met Mr Dhumal. In his budget speech in the Vidhan Sabha last month, Mr Dhumal had announced scrapping of the NPA to save about Rs 8 crore annually. However, he had assured that the decision would be reviewed after taking the doctors and other parties in confidence. |
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Decision
on police ranges after
debate Shimla, May 1 The issue was reportedly discussed at the meeting of the Cabinet here today in which it was decided to take a final decision only after discussions with the police officers. The Cabinet had recently approved scrapping of the three posts of Deputy Inspectors-General who were heading the ranges at Shimla, Mandi and Dharamsala. The decision had generated criticism from various associations of the police who were demanding that it should not be implemented. |
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Protest rallies mark May Day Hamirpur He gave a call to the working class to remain united to face the challenges. He alleged that the Central Government was working under pressure from the World Bank and other foreign powers, thus harming the cause of the poor and labour class. The insurance staff also observed May Day at the local Gandhi chowk. |
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| Amist
promoted Tribune News Service Shimla, May 1 Mr Abhishek Trivedi, ADC to the Governor, has been appointed S.P. at Una in place of Mr Ritrik Rudra, who goes to the Centre on deputation. Mr N. Chandrashekhar, ASP Shimla, has been appointed ADC to the Governor. |
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