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Thursday,
May 17, 2001, Chandigarh, India  
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CM’s assurance on water supply The Retreat gets ready
to receive President Timber Trail told
to pay Rs 7.98 lakh Bio-tech units to get industry
status Bio-medical waste: HC notice to Chief Secy,
Secys |
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HP steps to check decline in sex
ratio Patients sore over hospital
services HP too faces chaos on
roads Soldier missing since March 3 killed in
mishap OBCs to hold rally on July 2 Ban on pine plantation
sought Auction of ‘khads’ put
off
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CM’s assurance on water supply Shimla, May 16 There was no question of being panicky and the government had ensured that tourists visiting Shimla and other parts of the state did not face any inconvenience. New construction in Shimla and other places important from the tourism point of view in the state had been stopped till the summer season was over and said that administration should ensure that the water meant for drinking purposes was not wasted. In Shimla town availability of 45 lakh gallons daily had been ensured as against the requirement of 55 lakh gallons. Besides hand-pumps had been installed at various places in the capital so that people get water round the clock. The Chief Minister appealed to the people not to waste water and assured them that the government would take every possible steps to ensure availability of water to everybody. |
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The Retreat gets ready
to receive President Charabara (Shimla), May 16 Much activity is going on here in view of the forthcoming visit of the President and the Prime Minister to Himachal Pradesh in the later half of this month. While the President will stay here from May 19 to May 26, the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, is expected to visit Manali from May 23 to May 28. The nearly 2-km road to The Retreat from the Hindustan Tibet highway is being
metalled and the walls are being white washed. A number of masons and gardeners are engaged in giving a face-lift to the open space and sprawling lawns in front of the British architectured building. The woodwork in the exterior of the building is being painted brown with maroon tin roof. The wooden railing around the lawns is being replaced and tiles are being fitted in the outer court. Flower beds are being laid and lawns improved. A team of labourers was painting the east suite, yellow room, pink room and the west room on the first floor which the President and his family members will occupy. The furniture in the garden room, porch room and the office rooms on the ground floor is being varnished. A team of officials of various departments, including the HPSEB, PWD, IPH and telephones has been set up to put every thing in order immediately. The helipad near The Retreat is also being repaired and the railings around it were being painted. Arrangements are also being made for the visit of Mr Vajpayee to Manali where he will stay in his personal house in Preni village. This will be his seventh visit to Manali after becoming Prime Minister. |
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Timber Trail told
to pay Rs 7.98 lakh Shimla, May 16 The case was regarding an accident which took place on a ropeway at Timber Trail, near
Parwanoo, on October 13, 1992. The rope of a cable car snapped and the cable car got struck in the midway of the rope. There were 12 person in the cable car, two of them jumped out of the cable car in panic. Rescue efforts were made by the respondent but yielded no results. Thereafter, rescue operation was conducted by the Air Force. The MD of the resort, Mr
R.K. Garg, promised to pay all charges of the rescue operation. The helicopter of the Ministry of Defence was deployed and the stranded passengers were rescued. In this operation the state of Himachal Pradesh had to bear an expenditure of Rs 7,98,353 and the company was liable to pay the amount but it declined to pay and in the reply stated that the accident was not due to the negligence on the part of the defendant and it was not allowed to carry out its rescue operation. The defendant pleaded that no request was made by it to the authorities. Thereafter, it is not liable to pay the expenditure on the rescue operation. While delivering the
judgement, Mr Justice Khurana, held that the services of the Air Force helicopter was provided in a lawful manner and it did not act in gratuitous manner and even if it was assumed that the contract between the parties was void the plaintiff/state was entitled to the amount under Section 65 and 70 of the Indian Contract Act, 1872. |
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Bio-tech units to get industry
status Shimla, May 16 He said that Himachal Pradesh was the first state in the country to set up a separate department of biotechnology. The policy lays stress on conserving and exploiting the state’s bio-resources in a sustainable way and to upgrade infrastructure and improve the research and development institutions in the state. Mr Goswami said the biotechnology units will be given incentives, including single-window clearance, F.A.R. relaxations, status at par with the fruit, vegetable and maize-based units, power shall be supplied at industrial rates and the units shall be exempted from load shedding and peak time restrictions. A special incentive could be developed for a mega project having an investment of Rs 50 crore and above. He said that the incentives for the biotechnology units have been offered after studying the incentives being given by Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Mr Avay Shukla, Financial Commissioner, Environment and Dr P.K. Kholsla, Adviser on biotechnology, who were also present, said that the state government might seek patenting its endangered bioreserves after preparing their data base for which a Rs 65 lakh project has been sanctioned. The Centre has sanctioned three projects of Rs 1.72 crore for identifying the bioresources by the three universities and the CSIR, Palampur. Mr Goswami said the objective behind the eco-tourism policy was to sensitise the local communities about economic benefits. It is proposed to identify trek routes, sanctuaries and nature parks passing through forests and remote villages. He said that five units of the Forest Department have already been identified for being converted into societies. These are, the nature park at Kufri, Renuka sanctuary, Potters Hill at Shimla, Great Himalayan National Park at Kulu and the Chansal — Dodrakawar track which were mountaineering and trekking spots. The nearly 5000 rest houses of the Forest Department, 32 wildlife sanctuaries and seven zoos in the state would be converted into societies, but these would remain the property of the Forest Department. A state-level eco-tourism advisory committee under the chairmanship of the financial commissioner (forests) and 11 other members has been constituted. Mr Goswami said the eco-tourism programmes will be implemented through duly registered eco-tourism societies, each having its own geographical area and unique activity. These autonomous bodies will be responsible for the upkeep of the assets, design of tour packages, identification of and training of beneficiaries of the programme. The government will not provide any incremental budgetary support to these societies except footing the salary bills at present strength of the forest staff deployed with these societies. Budgetary support for other charges at present levels would also continue for other charges such as maintenance, office expenses, rent, taxes, etc. The societies would, however, make their own arrangements to raise funds for running the programme. These societies will be allowed to raise funds and generate revenue by levying entry fee, parking fee, camping fee etc. These will be authorised to raise funds through tour operators, Centre-sponsored schemes and letting out space for advertisements. |
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Bio-medical waste: HC notice to Chief Secy,
Secys Shimla, May 16 He alleged that despite the mandatory directions under the management and handling of bio-medical waste rules 1998, the state had made no efforts for the disposal of the bio-medical waste generated in accordance with law. These notices were issued by a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice C.K. Thakkar and Mr Justice K.C. Sood. It was alleged that the bio-medical waste material was being dumped either on hill sides or into rivers or nuhllas which polluted the natural water sources and could spread disease amongst people. Mr Shashi alleged that according to the rules bio-medical treatment facilities were to be set up and the rules had fixed different dates for the implementation of the rules by setting up the facilities taking into consideration the population of the town and the number of the beds in the hospitals. The rules prescribed the last date for installing the incinerator and autoclavring machines in hospitals having capacity of 500 beds or more as December, 1999 and for the hospitals having capacity of 200 to 500 beds as was December 31, but no steps had been taken by the authorities in this regard. He further stated that at Indira Gandhi Medical College no arrangements had been made to set up waste treatment facility. One incinerator was set up there long ago but the same did not work even for a day. Similar situation was prevailing in other hospitals of the town. Every district headquarter had a district-level hospital of 200 beds but bio-medical waste generated was being dumped illegally, which not only affected the environment but affected the health of residents. The petitioner urged that the respondents be directed to implement Bio-Medical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules 1998 and the liabilities of the officers fixed. |
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HP steps to check decline in sex
ratio Shimla, May 16 The orders have come on the wake of the report of the recent Census in which there was a decline in the male-female sex ratio from 976 in 1991 to 970 in 2001. All chief medical officers have been ordered to ensure that all ultrasonographic clinics in their respective districts are registered within three months. According to the Director, Health Services, the decline was phenomenal in the 0-6 age group, population which was 951 in 1991 and 897 in 2001. It had been ordered that the Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques (Regulation and Prevention misuse) Act 1994 should be strictly implemented throughout the state. The Chief Medical Officers had been notified as appropriate authority for enforcing the Act in their respective districts. The state government was alive to the arrest the decline in female population and would implement the Act vigorously. He said that under the Act, genetic counselling, genetic clinics and genetic laboratories would be registered by the respective appropriate authority who would be given licences after observing the formalities under the Act. He said many ultrasound clinics were functioning without obtaining licence and as such they were liable for action under the Act which provided three years imprisonment and a fine of Rs 10,000. The infringement of the Act for the second time provides for imprisonment of five years and fine up to Rs 50,000. |
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Patients sore over hospital
services Shimla The hospital, constructed in 1998, is situated near the main bazar. It caters to the needs of patients from Kinnaur, Shimla and Kulu districts. Patients from villages in these districts visit the hospital in the hope of getting better treatment. However, they are usually disappointed. “It takes three days to reach here from my village. This is the nearest hospital. But patients undergo more suffering when it takes a long time to get even small things done at the hospital,” said a patient from Kinnaur. “I was a bit late in reaching the hospital as the journey was long and doctors asked me to come the next day. We have no relatives here and will have to stay in a hotel, which means additional expenses. What else can we do?” said another patient from Kinnaur. No general surgeon has been posted at the hospital. Except a gynaecologist, an eye specialist and a paediatrician, no other expert is available. Owing to the lack of the necessary technical staff, the laboratory is almost closed. There have been occasions when patients in a serious condition have needed to undergo various tests but the facilities for these were
lacking. The tests could only be conducted at private clinics. There are four private clinics which are earning large amounts as patients go there frequently. “Of course, the charges at these clinics are high but we get free early whereas at the hospital it takes two or three days to get even common tests done,” said a patient. The hospital has an x-ray machine but doctors often send patients to private clinics, which charge them Rs 500 for certain examinations which could be got done free of cost at the hospital. Sources say that sometimes doctors remain absent from duty without authorisation. A local resident recalls an incident. “Once a child was hit by my vehicle. I immediately took the victim to the hospital, but no doctor was available and private doctors had to be
summoned", he said. If a patient in a serious condition is admitted to the hospital, he is immediately referred to Shimla or Chandigarh. The hospital authorities say that even though equipment may be available, there are no staff members to operate it. There is no provision for emergency lights and on many occasions doctors have had to cancel operations because of this. Many posts have been lying vacant at the hospital and need to be filled on priority. The strength of doctors at present is 16. The hospital also requires more pharmacists and safai karamcharis. Nearly 300 outdoor patients visit the hospital every day. The total number of beds is 200. The SMO says that if any doctor is absent without
permission, action will be initiated against him.”Most of the doctors are new to the profession and sometimes problems arise due to the lack of specialisation,” he adds. |
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HP too faces chaos on
roads Shimla, May 16 Traffic jams at peak hours have become a common feature not only in all major towns but also in smaller towns like
Arki, Rampur, Theog, Rajgarh, Barmana, Parwanoo, Nadaun and Rohru. The situation becomes worse in summer when tourists make a beeline for the state. Sharp increase the number of vehicles has been mainly responsible for the chaos on the roads. The total number of vehicles has more than doubled over the past 10 years and touched the two lakh mark including one lakh two wheelers, by March last. Nearly 30,000 heavy and light commercial vehicles, 3800 buses, 9000 taxis, besides 22,000 private cars and 8500 government vehicles. The narrow hill roads do not have capacity to carry such a large volume of traffic. The failure of the
administration to check roadside encroachments adds to the woes of vehicle owners. Traffic management has become a major task for the police in the otherwise peaceful hill state, says Mr
A.K. Puri, Director-General of Police. The problem is compounded by unmindful parking of vehicles on roads and tendency of the shopkeepers to extend their shops onto the road, he adds. The police, he said, had adopted a multipronged approach to solve the problem with the cooperation of other departments concerned. All district superintendents of police had been asked to make indepth study of traffic problem and take effective steps to ease congestion on roads, to earmark new parking places and remove unauthorised workshops, which had mushroomed in almost all towns along the main highways. In the past it had noticed that while planning traffic regulation schemes, the administration mainly in district headquarters and bigger towns and the no attention was paid to smaller towns.
Mr Puri now has decided to take steps to streamline traffic in towns where traffic jams cause inconvenience to residents and also to the tourists, who throng the state in great numbers. Besides deploying traffic police at various points, possibilities would also be explored to trained local youth to carry out the job on a part time basis, Mr Puri said. Last week the police started a special drive to check haphazard parking of vehicles and legal action against shopkeepers who displayed goods for sale on the road, hampering smooth flow to traffic. As many as 446 persons were challanged for wrong
parking and 135 shopkeepers for causing obstruction and 2281 others for various other traffic offences. The decision of the administration not to allow the motor mechanics to repair vehicles by the roadside had already sparked protest from them in
Shimla. The Dhalli Auto-mechanic Union observed a day’s strike forcing authorities to allow repair of one vehicle at a time. The union was also assured that a new auto-repair market would be set up at Bhatta Kufer soon. |
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Soldier missing since March Chandigarh, May 16 According to Mr Baldev Singh, father of sepoy Rajnesh Singh, he was posted in Ahmednagar in Maharashtra and had come for his annual leave in February this year. He was to report back for duty on March 6. Mr Baldev Singh said that Rajnesh left by the morning Nandpur-Bhatauli train on March 5 but never reached his destination. Since he failed to report back for duty, a team from his unit came looking for him. Though his disappearance was reported to the Kangra police the whereabouts of the missing sepoy are still not known. 3 killed in
mishap Nahan, May 16 The ill-fated jeep was going to Koti Dhiman village from Renuka. The driver of the jeep tried to save a
pedestrian, Krishan Dutt, and lost control over the vehicle. Five persons were travelling in the jeep. Driver of the jeep Geeta Ram and Sanjeev Kumar died on the spot while Udey Singh succumbed to his injuries on the way to Dadahu Hospital. The injured have been referred to the local Zonal Hospital. A case has been registered.. |
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OBCs to hold rally on July 2 Dharamsala, May 16 The
organisation, in its meeting held at Ranital, accused the government of not only failing to fulfil its promise of 27 per cent reservation to the OBCs but also said they were being constantly ignored in all fields. The president of the
organisation, Mr Ram Lal, said even after two months time since schools reopened, the children belonging to the OBCs and SCs had not been provided with the text books. The organisation demanded that the government apart from giving 27 per cent reservation to the OBCs in jobs, should make provision for giving them an equal percentage of seats in the
educational institutions in the state. The organisation demanded that the reservation be extended to the boards, corporations, societies and jobs being offered on contract basis. The organisation demanded that the government must charge a reduced interest rate of 4.5 per cent, instead of 12 per cent on the loans being given to the
OBCs. |
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Ban on pine plantation
sought Dharamsala, May 16 In a statement issued here today, he said for the past 100 years pine plantation had been done and the plantation of trees providing fodder, fuel, fruit, herbs and manure to the locals was neglected. “With 67 per cent of the total area under forest cover and rising unemployment in the state it is high time that the government woke up to the need for planting such species which would encourage people’s participation in afforestation and preservation,” Mr Upmanyu added. Mr Upmanyu welcomed the Apna Van-Apna Dhan scheme, under which the income from the forests would be shared at a ratio of 75:25, between the communities and the panchayats. |
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Auction of ‘khads’ put
off Shimla, May 16 He has directed that the committee under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner, Solan, should evaluate the proposal for auctions of these khads. The final decision will be taken only after the report of the said committee is received. These khads were to be auctioned on May 22. |
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Shimla, May 16 |
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