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Sunday,
June 3, 2001, Chandigarh, India  
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Regulate
tourist flow: policy Govt stops
aid to college Rally to
create eco-awareness DISTRICT DIARY |
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28 arrested for rioting, bailed out Damtal
truck union office sealed Shift
garbage dump, urge residents HVC
support to HP Govt will stay: Sukh Ram HP Govt
given 10-day ultimatum Youth
sets himself afire Minister’s
gunman beats up chowkidar Delhi-Leh
bus service restored 10 suffer
from gastroenteritis Councillors for check on illegal construction Meat
market eludes Totu 300
anganwadi workers hold rally
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Regulate tourist flow: policy Shimla, June 2 Himachal Pradesh has become the first state in the region to have formulated its environment policy guidelines for each department and organisation. Mr Dev Swaroop, Financial Commissioner, Science, Technology and Environment, told The Tribune here today that the guidelines had been prepared on the basis of an environment status report which was prepared with the assistance of
NORAD. The guidelines have suggested promotion of paying guest houses in farms, orchards, tea gardens and other scenic locations. Being a small hilly state, Himachal Pradesh needs not only to develop its resources of land, water etc, but also to make such development humane, ecologically friendly and sustainable, the guidelines point out. It stresses that the unsurveyed area of 39 per cent (21,648 sq km) in the state should be surveyed and brought on the revenue record and a suitable legislation introduced to deprive those village communities of their rights on forests who are found ignorant of their obligations toward the upkeep and protection of forests. Expressing concern over the damage to forests, the guidelines have stressed on an assessment of forest fire damage and inventory of appropriate technology for prevention and control of such fires, encourage people’s participation and formulation of appropriate extension strategies for high-rate survival success of afforestation programmes. The fragmented sanctuaries covering an area of 7,031 sq km require a clear policy to protect the natural habitat of the wildlife and also a policy on preventing crop damage by wild animals. Expressing concern over the low productivity of pastures, the guidelines suggest grazing land management through deferred and rotational grazing. In an effort to protect the bio-diversity, it points out that of 45,000 plant species found in the country, as many as 3,245 species are reported in Himachal Pradesh and out of 77,450 species of animals, the state harbours 5,721. The guidelines stress on creation of biosphere reserves to conserve the genetic stock of endangered species. The guidelines say that all towns should have a planned sewerage system in a phased manner and vehicular pollution should be controlled vigorously. Creation of a dense vegetation buffer around cement plants and incentives for eco-friendly industries should be worked out.
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Govt stops aid to college Palampur, June 2 According to reliable sources, the government has withheld aid to the college and directed the management to do away with the surplus staff recruited without prior permission of the directorate. As a result the teaching and non-teaching staff have not been paid salaries for the past two months. The problem emerged almost 10 years ago when members of the staff alleged misappropriation of money from their provident fund accounts. The staff also moved the Himachal Pradesh High Court. Later in 1996, the state government ordered a special audit which led to startling revelations. The audit report having more than 750 pages was not made public, but sources say irregularities involving more than Rs 1 crore were pointed out. On the basis of the report, the Virbhadra government appointed an administrator for the college, but in 1999 as another party came into power the old managing committee headed by the former BJP MLA, Dr Shiv Kumar, was revived and reins of the college were handed over to it. Recently the Education Department got another audit done but only after the 95 per cent aid to the college for salaries was stopped. It is alleged that the audit party has again pointed out many irregularities. It mainly objected to the irregular appointments made by the management. The Director, Education, recently
pointed out to the Principal that more than 12 teachers and an equal number of the non-teaching staff had been appointed without the permission of the department and as such the government was not obliged to pay their salaries. According to the Education Directorate, the college management has been illegally claiming aid for the employees and as such has withdrawn a huge amount from the treasury. Unless the management refunds this amounts and retrenches the extra staff, the department is not ready to release further aid to the college. The president of the management committee, Dr Shiv Kumar, denied all allegations of financial irregularities in the past. Talking to this correspondent he said the college had received a letter addressed to the Principal directing him to retrench the staff. He pointed out that it was the managing committee which was the appointing authority and as such the Principal could not take any action in the matter. Dr Shiv Kumar also said it was the financial position of the government which was responsible for stopping of the aid. The issue had been discussed at a meeting of the managing committee and suitable steps would be taken soon he said. Meanwhile, the staff numbering 70 is agitated. Teachers complain that they have not been paid salaries for two months. The latest directive of the department has come as a shock because as many as 13 teachers and 14 non-teaching employees have to be retrenched, they say. The teachers allege that poor financial mismanagement by the committee and political affiliations of some senior functionaries are responsible for the present situation. They say take over by the government is the only solution. |
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Rally to create
eco-awareness Nahan, June 2 After the rally, the participants removed three truck loads of silt from the pond of
Kalisthan. The president of the society, Nahan, Mr Suresh Joshi, said it would organise cleanliness week’ every year commencing on April 25 and clean the ponds in the town. Mr Joshi said residents of Ramkundi have also approached him for the beautification work. He urged municipal councillors, representatives of the public and common men to come forward for the cause. The president of the council Mr Sanjeev Sharma, Vice-President, Mr Surinder Saini, women councillors, Ms Madhu Atri, Ms Shabana, Ms Prathibha Kaushik, Ms Mohini Gupta and Ms Sneh Garg also performed “kar sewa.” |
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DISTRICT
DIARY Chamba The youth have also criticised Himfed for not giving due publicity to the sale of the forms.
Besides, they say, Himfed lacks the necessary network for such sale at the grassroots level all over the region. The Department of
Employment, on the other hand, has a wide network of employment exchanges throughout the state. Officials of the Department of Employment say that they have not been intimated about the board examinations nor supplied with the relevant forms. The youth have demanded that all forms relating to the board’s examinations should be sold through the employment exchanges. *** The Chamba Welfare Association has opposed the recent decision of the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation to close down Hotel Champak in Chamba town. Describing the move as unwise, the association says it will adversely affect the tourism industry in the district. In a memorandum submitted to the Himachal Chief Minister, Prof Prem Kumar Dhumal, the association spokesman, Mr Yog Raj Sehgal, said the hotel was previously a Youth Hostel. The hostel was transferred to the Tourism Department and named Hotel Champak. The old name of Chamba was Champakpur, Mr Sehgal said. He said residents of Chamba town and the rural areas had been solemnising marriages and holding other functions in the hotel. Besides, trekkers, campers, etc, coming from outside had been staying there at reasonable rates. The association urged the government to reconsider the decision to close down the hotel in the larger interests of tourists. *** A charter ceremony of the local Rotary Club was held at Chamba in May. Dr Shiv Kumar, a well-known social activist and Rotarian from Palampur, was the guest of honour. A steel almirah and library books for the use of 29 students of the local orphanage were donated. Besides, scholarships were given to poor students of classes VI to X of Government Senior Secondary Schools here. Mr Abdul Gani, who has donated blood 70 times, Latif Malik, an embroidery expert, and Hakim Singh, a metal sculptor, were honoured. The club has prepared an action plan for the current financial year listing about 350 activities to be undertaken in various fields, including community service, according to Mr O.P. Bhatt, president of the club. *** The Pangi unit of the Himachal Pradesh Non-Gazetted Employees Federation has urged the state government to enhance the compensatory allowance from Rs 670 to Rs 1,500 and the tribal allowance from Rs 100 to Rs 500. A deputation of the unit recently met the Himachal Chief Minister at Hamirpur and urged him to bring about parity between the part-time staff of various departments and daily-wage employees. It also urged him to post specialists at the Community Health Centre at
Killar. The deputation, which was led by Mr Baboo Ram Sharma, president of the unit, presented a draft for Rs 1.23 lakh for the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund for the Gujarat quake victims. |
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28 arrested for rioting, bailed out Kasauli, June 2 The SP, Solan, Mr Rakesh Aggarwal, today visited the town to take stock of the situation. The police said situation was under control. The 28 persons were produced in the court of the Sub-judge, Kasauli, later on and bailed out. The market wore a deserted look as the shops were closed in protest against the arrests made by the police. Teaching remained suspended in the school for the fifth day today as only 15-20 students turned up. The teachers were tightlipped about the incident and maintained that they were helpless when the senior children took along juniors from each classroom to join the mob on May 29. The attack has also disrupted scholarship grant exams being held in the school. The newly appointed District Education Officer, Mr S.S. Ahuja, visited the school today to inquire into the incidents. Mr Virender Kashyap, Chairman, Marketing Board, visited the school and held a meeting with the teachers besides the tehsildar, naib tehsildar the DSP, Mr Lakhanpal and locals to restore normalcy and restart teaching in the school. He asked the teachers to persuade children to return to school. He also promised help to get the broken doors and windows repaired.  |
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Damtal truck
union office sealed Dharamsala, June 2 The Additional Deputy
Commissioner, Mr Rahul Anand, sealed the office of the union, on Thursday night as the situation remained tense throughout the day. Apprehending trouble, the SDM, Nurpur along with a large number of police personnel, remained there throughout the day. The situation remained tense as the group led by Rashpal Chaudhary tried to gain control of the union office, so far under the control of the Mahender
Fauji. The group led by Rashpal Chaudhary has been alleging that under Mahender Fauji, the union has virtually remained under the control of a few outsiders from Punjab. As such they had been trying to gain control of the union office. The matter regarding the control of the truck union is already in the court and the district authorities have decided that the office will remain sealed till the court takes a decision. |
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Shift garbage dump, urge residents Palampur, June 2 They said representations made in this regard to the local SDM and municipal authorities in the past had yielded no results. The residents living near Karn Hospital and Kalu di Hatti said they could not sit in the open as it had become an ideal breeding place for insects. The garbage dump lying in open consists of carcass, hospital and meat wastes and non-biodegradable material like polythene. Sometimes even bodies of new born babies were also seen in the dump, said an old man of the village. The panchayats of these villages have threatened to resort to direct action if authorities did not stop the dumping. Meanwhile, Irrigation and Public Health authorities have also thrown open their sewerage pipes into the Bhiral Khud for the past six months. An employee posted at the sewerage treatment plant said since the engine of the plant was non-functional for the past one year, therefore they were left with no other alternative except to release the entire affluent to the khud. The khud is a major source of drinking water for over 24 villages falling in Bhawarna and Daroh blocks of the district. Despite repeated requests authorities have not taken any steps to repair the treatment plant causing great inconvenience to the villagers who had been forced to drink polluted water. |
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HVC support to
HP Govt will stay: Sukh Ram Manali, June 2 He added that the HVC would continue to support the government in Himachal Pradesh. He, however, said that HVC activists were not fully satisfied with the functioning of the state government. He blamed the BJP for making attempts at destabilising and disintegrating the HVC in the state. Mr Sukh Ram also charged the former Chief Minister and veteran Congress leader, Mr Virbhadra Singh, with leading the state to a financial crisis. |
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HP Govt given
10-day ultimatum Shimla, June 2 Leaders of five associations of employees of the secretariat, led by Mr Kanti Prasad Sharma, Chairman of the confederation, met the Chief Secretary, Mr A.K. Goswami, here yesterday and gave ultimatum. They alleged that certain officers refused to implement the decisions in the name of economy and were misleading the government. |
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Youth sets
himself afire Kangra, June 2 He was shy of the attitude of his sister, who married twice during the last few months, which also resulted in a clash between her husbands here yesterday leaving seven persons injured, the police said here today. Police sources said Tenzin, 19, was admitted to the local Sub-divisional Hospital, but was rushed to the CMC, Ludhiana, in a critical
condition. Tenzin was shy of facing the society because his sister Kunzu Dolma got married to Tobla, in Kangra the police sources added. Two groups led by her husbands, Sareen and Tobla, clashed with lathies and pelted stones on each other at Kangra yesterday. It left seven persons injured. They were treated at the local
Subdivisional hospital. Shocked by the happenings, Kunzu Dolma’s brother, Tenzin, doused himself with kerosene in his room and set himself on fire. The police has registered a case under Section 309 IPC and the investigation was in progress. |
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Minister’s gunman
beats up chowkidar Palampur, June 2 According to Mr Jagan Nath, the incident took place at around 8.30 am, when he was trying to ring up from the official telephone of the rest house. He said the gunman of the minister allegedly manhandled him without any provocation. Due to slaps on his face his ear was injured and started bleeding. The chowkidar said he had reported the matter to the higher authorities of the department but no report had been lodged with the police so far. Meanwhile, Mr Sita Ram Saini, general secretary of the state unit of INTUC has criticised the incident and demanded a stern action against the gunman of the minister. |
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Delhi-Leh bus service restored Shimla, June 2 A spokesman of the HRTC said the fare from Delhi to Leh is Rs 670. Reservation is available at the ISBT, Kashmiri Gate, Delhi, and the HRTC booking office, Manali. |
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10 suffer from
gastroenteritis Chamba, June 2 In a press note here on
Thursday, the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) said the disease was now under control and the patients were stated to be out of danger. The CMO said the gastro-enteritis was caused due to some poisonous food consumed by the members of the families. |
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Councillors
for check on illegal construction Shimla, June 2 The councillors alleged that Goyal Motors had been doing illegal construction but no action had been taken against the firm so far. They said that two years ago a common path was constructed at a cost of Rs 45,000 but it was allegedly demolished by the firm to start its own construction. They threatened to stage a dharna if action was not initiated against the firm. The councillors urged the House to give financial help to each ward for providing basic facilities. |
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Meat market eludes Totu Shimla, June 1 Currently the meat trade is going on in the main complex, which is in front of sweet shops. The meat shops in the main market are creating inconvenience to the passerby. There are 29 shops in the complex, of which five are meat shops running under unhygienic conditions. The councillor of the area has urged the authorities concerned to construct a separate meat market. Meanwhile, residents alleged that the corporation was doing nothing for the development of the area, which lacked basic amenities like street lights and toilets. Although the locality has now become a part of the main town, no rain-shelter has been provided by the authorities. The councillor of the area, Ms Nirmal
Bhardwaj, said they had urged the authorities a number of times for the basic facilities, but to no avail. |
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300 anganwadi
workers hold rally Palampur, June 2 Later, a rally was also held in which leaders of the Anganwadi Workers Association criticised the government for its failure to accept their demands and said their meetings with the minister and Chief Minister in the past two years had yielded no results. Talking to newsmen, a spokesman of the association said their main demands included the regularisation of their services or enhancement in the retainer being given to them. He said if the government failed to accept their demands, they would resort to direct action. |
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