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Friday,
May 18, 2001, Chandigarh, India  
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NGO pockets 35 lakh,
disappears CM reviews projects’
progress Aerial recce to identify
security-deficient areas Hapless to self-reliant women Varsity order evokes
resentment |
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New method to tap resin Hamirpur gets new DYC
chief Suraj Bhan opens display of
paintings B.Ed colleges asked to file
reports Man hit by bullet from own gun,
dies Case against Sat Mahajan
retracted 1.5 lakh youths to get jobs Traffic to upper Kinnaur areas disrupted Lightning strikes 2 houses, cows killed New HP Judge
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NGO pockets 35 lakh,
disappears Mandi, May 17 A Delhi-based NGO, apparently well-informed about the allocation of funds for the rural development, landed in this district and opened a big office at Ner Chowk and recruited local staff. It started alluring residents that it would usher in an era of prosperity in the rural areas. It executed one scheme in each panchayat of the five blocks — Mandi, Jogindernagar,
Darang, Karsog and Chauntra — to win their confidence. It constituted watershed committees to execute development schemes and the committees were directed to open their respective accounts so that the DRDA would remit direct payment to them. These committees started projects of their own on the direction of the NGO through their own resources hoping that the government agency DRDA would reimburse them. But they were in for a shock as the NGO, after taking a sum of over Rs 37 lakh from the DRDA, closed its office at Ner Chowk without even informing the local staff. When contacted the project officer, DRDA, Mr B.C. Bhandari admitted that the NGO had taken the money and added that a notice had been served on the NGO. He also admitted that it had also taken payment for the works shown complete, but in fact not executed. He also said the NGO had constituted committees comprising panchayat office-bearers and members which was not allowed under the project. Panchayats were to play a supervisory role, he added. What is intriguing is that the DRDA should have seen the constitution of the committees and verified the execution of works before making the payment to the NGO. The Integrated Watershed Development Project had sparked off criticism and resentment at the take off stage and question mark has been put over the role of middlemen, including some NGOs. Mr Bhandari said a written agreement had been executed with the NGO concerned and action could be initiated against it. |
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CM reviews projects’
progress Shimla, May 17 People’s involvement should be ensured in identification, implementation and monitoring of the projects and Panchayati Raj institutions and urban bodies given priority in this process and their representatives included on monitoring committees. He was presiding over a high-level meeting here today to review the progress of various externally aided projects being implemented in the state. The Chief Minister said fruit processing, hydel power generation, communication, health and education were some of the areas where donors were interested in giving assistance. The state should make the best use of it. He said Himachal Pradesh, being a special category state, had an added advantage as it got central assistance in the form of 90 per cent grant and 10 per cent loan. Externally aided projects were the cheapest source of resource mobilisation for development. He emphasised that more and more projects should be formulated for the purpose. A project management unit (PMU) had been set up at the Chief Minister’s office for dissemination of information regarding externally aided projects. This unit had been assigned the job for providing expert advise. The PMU would serve as a single window for the donors and also work as a mediator between the department and the donors agency for expediting work on identification and approval of the project. The Chief Minister said it should be seen that these projects were completed on time besides ensuring quality so that donors preferred this state for funding. While reviewing the progress of the Shimla Solid Waste Management Project, the Chief Minister said a campaign must be started to check the dumping of debris and wastes including that of government offices and government colonies. He said strict action should be taken against the defaulters, howsoever influential they might be. He further directed that locations be identified for dumping of debris and garbage separately. It was informed at the meeting that some components of the project like the plant for disposal of waste at Lalpani, was likely to be completed by the end of this month. Mr Dhumal was informed that the Rs 54.80 crore Shimla Sewerage project which aimed at improving the over-all sanitation conditions in Shimla town was likely to be completed by November, 2001. The Chief Minister expressed concern over the digging of long patches for the purpose, which caused inconvenience to the people. He directed that in future this work be got executed by a single agency. He also stressed on constant monitoring and supervision of the works. A committee headed by the Financial Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Irrigation and Public Health, was set up for reviewing the progress on various projects on a monthly basis. Other projects which were reviewed were the Rs 169.27 crore Integrated Watershed Development Kandi Project, the Rs 30 crore Indo-German Changer Project phase II, the Rs 21.72 crore H.P. Forestry Project (DFIDI) and the Rs 34 crore Kulu-Manali Valley Integrated Waste Management Project. |
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Aerial recce to identify
security-deficient areas Shimla, May 17 A team of officers of these agencies led by Mr Prem Singh, Inspector-General of Police (Law and Order), flew over the sensitive Kihar sector which adjoins the Doda district of Jammu. The team also visited the Pangi valley which recently was connected by road with the Kishtwar area where foreign mercenaries and Kashmir terrorists have been striking frequently. It is learnt that the aerial recce was conducted to survey all possible infiltration routes on the nearly 167-km-long border of J&K with Chamba and set up police pickets there. Mr K.C. Sadyal, DIG, Kangra Range, and the SP (Chamba) were also in the team. The recce coincides with the re-establishment of the police pickets around the mountain passes which were shifted to the base during the winter when the area was covered under thick snow. The pickets were now being again set up as snow has melted and there were apprehensions of militants crossing over to this side. Terrorists gunned down 38 innocent persons in Satrundi and Kalaban areas of Chamba in 1988 and escaped to the Doda district from there. The Kihar area of Chamba is very close to the Doda district and reports of movement of terrorists there have been received from time to time. Besides the ITBP, personnel of the India Reserve Battalion and armed police have been deployed on the borders of Chamba with J&K. |
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Hapless to self-reliant women Dharamsala, May 17 Initially, three panchayats from the Bhawarna block in Palampur and one from the Panchrukhi block were covered in Kangra district. In Chamba district, three panchayats falling under the Bhatiyat block were taken up under the project. Stress is laid on converting local products into value-added goods which have a wide market. The sabha gradually tranformed into women production groups (WPGs). Thus began the process of converting locally grown fruits and other crops such as amla, mango, wild pear, gul-gul, honey, garlic, lime, guavas and chillies into products ready for sale in markets. Not restricting themselves to this field, the WPGs are taking up the responsibility of community management of the degraded forests. This involves protection, regeneration, plantation and grafting. “Making a humble beginning with merely two WPGs having a membership of 16 in 1996, today we are running the show through 15 production groups, involving about 150 women”, says a confident Nirmala Devi, Chairperson of the sabha at Thakurdwara, near Palampur. According to Mr T.D. Sharma, Director, Indo-German Changer Project, inputs to the tune of Rs 9 lakh have been provided to the sabha during the past five years. “Though the credit for the success goes to the sheer determination and hard work of these women. But we have helped them in areas like technical support, consultancy, organisational designing, managerial-capacity building among them, opening the national market and training support on savings and credit, he said. Having witnessed a phenomenal growth from a production of 425 kg in 1996, today it stands at 22,685 kg. The market is flooded with products like pickles, jams, jellies, chutneys, candies and juices made by these women. |
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Varsity order evokes
resentment Hamirpur, May 17 According to information, the college decided to start a BIT course on its own through self-financing scheme and accordingly the HP Government accorded its permission. Later on, a fee of Rs 10,000 was also deposited with the university for getting recognition. However, the order which was issued by the university today has invited great resentment from the college staff as well as those aspiring to join the course. When contacted, Dr Narendra Awasthy, Principal of the college, said he had received a fax from the university not to go ahead with the course. He said it was a matter of serious concern that the university had sent the letter at a time when the students had already submitted their applications and the college was going to start a refresher course for them from May 20. He said he had sent a fax to the Vice-Chancellor of the university requesting him to reconsider the matter and allow the college to go ahead with the course. It may be mentioned here that the Chief Minister, Prof Prem Kumar Dhumal, during a function in the college two months ago, had announced starting of a BIT course in the college. The Chief Minister had been apprised of the situation and requested to take up the matter with the university authorities. |
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New method to tap resin Chamba Earlier, resin tapping was done by the cup and lip method. Then it was found that increasing the depth of the blaze by the tappers damaged the trees was more. Moreover, the increased depth did not give more resin. Gradually, resin tapping was brought by the Himachal Pradesh State Forest Corporation under the improved rill method. In this method, rills are made once a week and an acid mixture is applied to check coagulation of resin and facilitate its regular flow. A better step is the ‘Bore Hole Method’. Last year resin tapping by this new method was tried in Nahan and Sundernagar Forest Working Divisions. Mr Amrik Singh, Divisional Manager, State Forest Corporation, Nahan, who carried out this work informed that the equipment and materials required for this method are drilling machine, spout, tie, polythene bag and chemical mixture of ethapone and sulphuric acid. With the drilling machine, hole of 2.5 cm diameter is made at the base of the tree. This hole goes 4 inches deep into the tree. In this hole chemical mixture is sprayed and a spout is inserted with the help of hammer. To this spout, a polythene bag is tied with the help of plastic tie. Resin starts flowing into the bag slowly. When the bag is filled, it is removed and closed. The hole is then plugged. The advantage of this method is that there is no chance of mixing of impurities. Pure resin is obtained from which better quality of rosin and turpentine oil can be obtained. Damage to the trees is also negligible as compared to other methods. According to corporation sources, this method is being tried in Dharamsala, Mandi, Hamirpur, Sundernagar, Solan and Nahan Forest Working Divisions too this year. |
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Hamirpur gets new DYC
chief Hamirpur, May 17 Mr Sharma succeeds Mr Rakesh Handa, who has already been elected as the senior vice-president of the Hamirpur District Congress Committee. The announcement to appoint Mr Sharma as the DYC chief was made at New Delhi by Mr Randeep Singh Surjewala, All-India Youth Congress chief, according to information reached here yesterday. The announcement of Mr Sharma as the new DYC chief has come as a shot in the arm of the HP Youth Congress chief, Mr Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu as anti-Sukhu lobby was opposed to the nomination of Mr Sunil Sharma to the post. |
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Suraj Bhan opens display of
paintings Shimla, May 17 Dr Suraj Bhan landed the young artists for art work and said that the exhibition was wonderful and the paintings were exemplary and beautiful. He said art was a powerful medium of expression of human heart and mind and held eternal value. He said good paintings incited soft and tender feelings in oneself, besides providing a glimpse of the beautiful world. It was creativity, vision and perception of the artist which gives a new meaning of his artistic works. He said art provided an important forum for the expression of creative talent and it should be encouraged. Underlining, the need to hold such exhibitions more frequently, he said such occasions provided exposure to young artists and helped them in further improvement. He expressed happiness that artists and covered various aspects of human life and beauty of nature and their portrayal and treatment was encouraging. The students of the Department of Visual Arts presented a miniature painting to the Governor. Mr Him Chatterjee presented a portrait of the Governor made by him. Mr S.K. Gupta, Vice-Chancellor and Prof N.K. Sharda, pro Vice-Chancellor were also present on the occasion. |
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B.Ed colleges asked to file
reports Shimla, May 17 According to sources NCTE has asked these institutions to submit the reply by May 20. If the details are not provided to the NCTE, it will cancel the affiliation from the next session. One or two colleges have already submitted their details to NCTE. The sources said a team from the NCTE recently visited these institutions and was disappointed to see these colleges. These colleges are facing many problems as there is no proper infrastructure. In some colleges retired teachers have been employed and some teachers are simply post graduates. Even the principals are not from the department concerned. According to the NCTE norms teachers should hold the Ph.D degree or should be UGC qualified. For affiliation to the NCTE one has to have its own proper infrastructure, library, play ground, teaching facilities and one teacher for every 10 students. The issue came to fore last year. But the NCTE gave the extensions of one year. For the next session, students have already filled forms for admission in these private colleges. There are more than 13,000 students appearing for the B.Ed examination on May 27. |
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Man hit by bullet from own gun,
dies Nahan, May 17 The SP, said the Nahan police received the information regarding the incident yesterday. He along with investigation team rushed to the spot. He said preliminary inquiries revealed that it was an accidental death. He said no evidence of any foul play in this case had been found. The police had made many inquiries from the villagers and Sher Singh’s family members in this regard but nobody suspected any one’s hand in the death of Sher Singh. The SP said Sher Singh was hit by a bullet, fired accidentally when the hammer of the gun, Sher Singh was carrying, hit a stone. He was hit by the bullet in the ribs and shoulder. The SP said the post-mortem examination report of Sher Singh was still awaited. |
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Case against Sat Mahajan
retracted Nurpur, May 17 Mr Sudan had challened the voting rights of Mr Mahajan and his family members alleging that they were not residents of the Municipal council, Nurpur, in August last year. Mr Ajay Sharma and Mr S.P. Gupta, Counsel, pleaded the cases respectively for the plaintiff and the respondents. In a sudden development, Mr Sudan moved an application before the Revisional Authority for the withdrawal of his petition. The authority allowed the withdrawal. Earlier, the respondents had moved an application before the Revisional Authority on May 5 and had pleaded that since they had excercised their franchise in the municipal poll held in December last, the objections were infructuous. The authority had turned down the application. The voting right case had come up in the court yesterday for filing list of the witnesses for the respondents when an application for withdrawal of the filed objections was made. |
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1.5 lakh youths to get jobs Mandi, May 17 The minister, who was inaugurating a three-day training workshop for the milk producers at Chakkar said the federation had provided market to the milk producers of the state, including the remote areas, where earlier there was no market. Presently, it was purchasing milk worth over Rs 8 crore from the milk producers annually. He said a project had been forwarded to NABARD for providing high-yielding milch cattle to the farmers with a view to encouraging them to adopt cattle breeding and milk production for augmenting their income. |
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Traffic to upper Kinnaur areas disrupted Shimla, May 17 The General Engineering Reserve Force (GREF), which maintains the highway, was forced to “delaunch” the bridge as the water level rose by over 2.5 metres and almost started touching the bridge which was erected to provide a link to the upper areas which were cut off after the flash floods last year. Buses bound for the upper areas were being terminated at Karcham where the authorities have made arrangements for trans-shipment. Essential supplies and other goods are also being trans-shiped. GREF engineers did not “delaunch” the bridge completely. Pedestrians can cross the river. |
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Lightning strikes 2 houses, cows killed Mandi, May 17 The lightning first struck a big tree tearing it vertically into two pieces and then struck a cowshed reducing it in to ashes and killing Jersy cows inside it. The nine members of the families of two brothers, Raju and Dagi, had a narrow escape. The lightning damaged TV sets, wiring and household electric gadgets at the house of Ram Singh in the same village. |
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New HP Judge Shimla, May 17 All judges of the high court, members of HP High Court Bar Association, judicial officers, Mr Narinder Bragta, Minister of State for Horticulture, Mr A.L. Vaidya, chairman of H.P. Administrative Tribunal, were among those present during the oath ceremony. |
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