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| Saturday,
June 30, 2001, Chandigarh, India   
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US policy on Tibet ‘changing’
Train to steam into
Shimla Mini hydel project inaugurated Kasauli to have its Queen
today |
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Basic facilities elude
schools HP CPI Secy Pandit dead Scheme helps women raise money Ministers to attend gram sabha
meeting Stokes’ Kangra tour in July Ganga Singh re-elected
chief of NGOs’ body Move to reduce fleet of vehicles
likely to fail HC order on movement of
traffic Transmission line completed in record
time Redesignation of Horticulture
Dept post stayed Sentenced to life for wife’s
murder
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US policy on Tibet ‘changing’ Dharamsala, June 29 The 11-member steering committee, is visiting the headquarter of the Tibetan government-in-exile and has representatives from the USA, the UK, Canada, Italy, Europe, Africa, Israel, West Asia, Middle East, Japan, South America, Australia and Asia. There are 300 Tibet support groups. “If America does not put force behind the Tibetan Resolution so that it is passed in the UN Human Rights Commission, it should be viewed as the defeat of USA” said one of the representative from the USA. He added that fortunately US stand on the issue of Tibet was changing fast. The meeting between President George. W. Bush and the Tibetan leader Dalai Lama, at the White House, has sent very strong signals, as it was not just a drop by basis meeting but an official invitation, he added. Ms Allison Reynolds, another representative from the USA, felt that the Tibetan issue was today not just the concern of the USA and China but the world community, who must show substantive expressive concern. Echoing similar sentiments, Larry Gerstein from USA said that America, had today realised that China could prove to be a major threat not only to India but to the entire Asian region.” Regarding the stepped up campaign by the International Tibet Support Group, to prevent China from hosting the Olympics-2008, they said they were in the process of contacting the IOC members so that they could change their stand on Tibet. “Even if the IOC makes a decision in favour of China, we shall keep the pressure on for the next seven years,” they stated. One of the main issue on the agenda of the steering committee is to campaign for the release of the Panchen Lama. |
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Boy’s claim of being Karmapa ‘baseless’ Dharamsala, June 29 The secretary in the Department of Information and International Relations, Mr Thubten Samphell, said deciding the real Karmapa was a spiritual issue and being the religious head of the Tibetans it was the Dalai Lama’s choice that the people would accept. “Hundreds of Tibetan people come to Gyuto Monastery everyday to get the blessings of the 17th Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorjee, and as such there is no dispute as to who the real head of the Kagyu sect is,” he observed. A close aide of the Karmapa, venerable Thenzok, while refusing to comment on the claim of the Tibetan boy, Dawa Sangpo Dorjee, said it was totally baseless and being a spiritual matter it was the Tibetan spiritual and temporal leader, the Dalai Lama, who was the final authority in deciding this. Meanwhile, the Minister for Religion and Culture in the Tibetan Government-in-exile, rushed to Delhi last evening along with the Secretary of the Department. Eversince the arrival of the 17th Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorjee, from Tibet in January last year there have been two other claimants for being the head of the Karma Kagyu sect of Tibetan Buddhism. One is Thaye Dorjee, who is being backed by a senior regent, Shamarpa Rimpoche, and the latest claimant Dawa Sangpo Dorjee. |
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Train to steam into
Shimla Shimla, June 29 Announcing this to newspersons here yesterday, the Minister of State for Railways, Mr Digvijay Singh, said the completion of 100 years of the narrow gauge Shimla-Kalka rail line would be celebrated as an international event and a programme was being chalked out for the visit of the President and the Prime Minister on the occasion. A postal stamp would also be introduced to mark the occasion. He said steps were being taken to get “heritage” status for the rail line from UNESCO on the pattern of the Darjeeling section. Mr Digvijay Singh, who earlier discussed various schemes for improving the functioning of the Railways in the state with the Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal, said two ferry queen steam engines had been brought to the railway workshop from Baroda and Ambala divisions for being repaired for running on the Shimla-Kalka line. The steam rail, consisting of two or three coaches, will be run as a novelty. The oldest ferry queen steam engine was being run on the Delhi-Alwar section and steam engine lovers from all over the world have been demanding its revival on the Shimla-Kalka section. Steam engines were abandoned and diesel engines introduced on the section in 1971. He said the punctuality of the Himalayan Queen would be improved within a fortnight. Mr Digvijay Singh made several proposals for joint sector railway ventures for Himachal Pradesh during his discussions with Mr Dhumal. The state government could get a luxury train like the Palace on Wheels for being run on the Shimla-Kalka section. At his meeting with the Chief Minister, it was agreed that the Railways and the Himachal tourism would work out a combined package for boosting tourism in Himachal Pradesh. More emphasis would be laid on aggressive marketing for which combined efforts would be made. He said the Railways would put some trains at the disposal of the Himachal Pradesh Government during the tourist season for being run between Kalka, Chennai and Bangalore, but the marketing would be the responsibility of the state government. The minister accepted the demand of the state government to run a rail car on the Pathankot-Jogindernagar section and said this could be done in the joint sector by the Railways and the state government which was at liberty of associating some private party for the purpose. He said the earlier efforts to promote tourism by introducing packages by the Railways and the state government did not yield the desired results and thrust would now be laid on aggressive marketing. Mr Digvijay Singh suggested that the state government could develop some golf courses and tie up with the Railways for promoting these for sports lovers. He said the German-manufactured coaches of the Delhi-Lucknow Swaran Jayanti Shatabdi train had been withdrawn because of manufacturing defect in the couplings. Representatives of the LHV company of Germany, which manufactured these, would come to India to look into the fault. Mr Digvijay Singh, who is a representative of the Samata Party in the NDA government at the Centre, said the restoration of
people’s confidence was more important in the strife-torn Manipur where mobs had reacted out of emotional outburst. Earlier, Mr Dhumal stressed the need for providing unloading facilities at Una railway station and also urged that work on the Kalka-Parwanoo broad gauge railway line and the Una-Talwara line should be expedited. The Divisional Railway Manager, Mr Deepak Kishan, and officers of the Railways and the state tourism were present at the meeting. |
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Mini hydel project inaugurated Manali, June 29 The minister said small hydro power projects were the most popular renewable energy resource gaining worldwide attention because of its eco-friendly attributes. Mr Ravinder Singh Ravi appreciated Himurja in completing the task of execution of this project. He said most of the projects being developed by Himurja in public sector was located in remote and far flung area of the state. The minister said power generated from this project was sufficient to meet the demand of local population. The per unit cost of generation comes out to be Rs 2.06 per unit. The Minister of State for Technical Education and Power said the Kothi mini hydel project was one of eight projects allotted to Himachal Pradesh out of the total 20 UNDP-GEF project throughout the country and was the first of its kind to be formally commissioned in the country. Mr Harsh Gupta, Additional Chief Secretary and Chairman (EC) Himurja, said the UNDPGEF (United Nations development programme on global environment facility) Indian hilly hydro project was a $ 15 million technical assistance programme. Mr Gupta disclosed that recently Himachal Pradesh was awarded first prize by the Central Government for small hydro power projects development. He said there was a master plan to develop nearly 10,000 mw power in the two plan periods and improve HPSEB functioning. Mr Anil Kachi, Chief Executive Officer, Himurja said other two mini hydel projects at the Solang valley and Raskat in the Manikaran valley would be completed soon. |
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Kasauli to have its Queen
today Kasauli, June 29 The Kasauli Queen event, which will be held tomorrow, will bring the fortnight-long cultural bonanza to a close and is set to draw the maximum crowd. This much awaited event has been a special attraction for years now. A cola drink manufacturer is sponsoring this evening and the lucky winners will get an opportunity to spend some more time in the placid environs of the place. A resort is providing an attractive package in the form of two nights’ stay for the Kasauli Queen and a companion, a one-night stay for the first runners-up and a meal for the second runners-up. The event is open only to members of this club which includes an impressive list of top officials from the civil and defence services residing all over the country. The events, which included a host of musical
programmes, had an instrumental display by Subhash Ghosh. The call of wet mountains drew immense applause from the audience. Various hues of classical, vocal and traditional music besides the old numbers presented by various artistes enthralled the visitors here. A Gurkha night presented a lively brass band and the Army night comprised a fancy dress and dance competition. A number of sports events were also held for the members of the club. This included events like billiards, squash, table tennis and lawn tennis. Mrs
V.S. Tonk gave away the prizes to the winners today. The Kasauli Club, which was set up as a reading room and library in 1880 to provide recreation to the Army officers posted in Kasauli and Dagshai cantonments, was initially open only to the British civil servants and the Army officers. In 1898 it was converted into a limited company and the civilians were given membership only after 1960. Obtaining membership to this club has since then become prestigious for the people here. |
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Basic facilities elude
schools Kumarhatti, June 29 A visit to schools in Barog, Dagshai, Subathu and surrounding panchayats revealed that students are virtually studying in “hell-like conditions”. The most affected are students of primary schools as buildings of a majority of these schools are in bad shape. Interestingly, in some primary schools the condition of newly built rooms is much worse than older rooms. Walls of a newly built room of the nearby Udaipur Primary School under the Chewa panchayat have developed cracks. The floors are also in bad shape. Most of the windowpanes of the schools sare missing. The school has no drinking water and electricity provision. A water tank in the school is yet to get water supply. Students have to quench their thirst from nearby natural sources where cattle of villagers also reportedly drink water. The condition of the local primary school is also similar. Its roof leaks when it rains. The building of Dagshai High School, one of the oldest schools in the region, is in a dilapidated condition. Birds nestle in many rooms after the school hours are over. In the absence of proper infrastructure, students of Subathu Primary School have been forced to attend their classes in the open. The school has no toilet for the students. The walls of the school are crying for repair but repeated requests in this regard to the authorities concerned have failed to yield any tangible result so far. Parents of students of class XII of Senior Secondary School, Subathu, lament that in the absence of lecturers of English, biology and physics from the study of their children has been adversely affected. The lecturers of these subjects were transferred from the school about a month ago but till date these posts are lying vacant. Inquiries reveal that the midday meal scheme, meant for primary schoolchildren has lost its sheen in the absence of proper management. |
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HP CPI Secy Pandit dead Shimla, June 29 He is survived by his wife, two sons and a daughter. He was cremated at the Sanjauli crematorium this evening. Mr Pandit led the communist movement in the hill state in the initial phase and continued his fight for the rights of the working class and the poor all through his life. During his long political career he served the party in different capacities and headed its various front organisations, like the AITUC and Kisan Sabha. He also edited a weekly Himachal Janata for years. The state units of the CPI held a condolence meeting to mourn the death of comrade Pandit who laid the foundation of Communist movement in the state. Various parties and workers union also condoled his death. Mr Ganesh Dutt, a spokesperson of the state BJP, said Mr Pandit was a committed political leader who led an exemplary life and fought for the ideology he professed. Mrs Vidya Stokes, the Pradesh Congress Committee chief expressed
grief over the demise of Mr Pandit and appreciated his contribution to the welfare of the working class and peasantry. The state unit of the CPM also condoled his death and said the void created by his death would be difficult to fill. The CITU, the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh mourned his death. Dr Suraj Bhan, Himachal Governor expressed grief over the death of Mr Kameshwar Pandit, secretary, CPI Himachal Pradesh and senior journalist. In a message to the bereaved family, the governor said that Mr Pandit worked throughout his life for the poor and weaker sections of society. He prayed for peace for the departed soul and strength to the bereaved family. Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, Himachal Chief Minister, has also expressed deep grief over the passing away of Mr Pandit. The chief minister said that the state had lost a veteran journalist who worked tirelessly for the cause of weaker sections of the society. He also said the services rendered by him in various capacities would be remembered by the people of the state. |
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Scheme helps women raise money Hamirpur, June 29 She said most of such groups had come up in Bhoranj, where their number was 143. The Bijheri block was second with 78, Hamirpur and Tounidevi 71, Nadaun 53 and Sujanpurtira with 20 groups. The child development project had helped the formation of these groups. Fiftyfive such groups had also been formed by the block development agencies from amongst the IRD families of the district. Under the self-help group scheme, 10 to 20 women form a group and elect office-bearers amongst themselves. They collect money ranging between Rs 20 and their maximum limitation. They rotate his amount among themselves at a rate of interest to the tune of 24 per cent and all the members are asked to attend meetings regularly and to repay the loan in time. Mrs Thakur claimed that this scheme had become famous in all parts of the district and women had got loans to the tune of Rs 21.83 lakh from various banks to increase their income by resorting to various avocations. She said the recovery percentage of the loans under the scheme was 100 per cent and it was a remarkable achievement for them and the movement launched by the ladies amongst them. The Deputy Commissioner said employees and officers and those linked with various Panchayati Raj institutions had also been trained by the Tapowan Trust, Sidhwari in Kangra district, where this scheme was in operation for the past four years. She was hopeful that the way more and more women were joining the self- help groups, these groups would take the shape of mini banks on the Kerala pattern. |
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Ministers to attend gram sabha
meeting Shimla, June 29 The Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, will attend the gram sabha meeting of Tandla village in Kandaghat block of Solan district. Besides Industries Minister will be attending gram sabha meeting in Balana panchayat, Chamba district, Health Minister in Bakarwah Fatoh, Bilaspur district, Transport Minister in Sidhpur, Kangra district, Food and Supplies Minister in Pangna, Mandi district, Forest Minister in Samaun, Mandi district, Agriculture Minister in Gorkhari, Kangra district, Minister of State for Rural Development in Dadour Mandi district, Minister of State for Urban Development in GP Bhont, Shimla district, Minister of State for Primary Education in Tegu Behad, Kulu district, Minister of State for Technical Education in Balakrupi, Kangra district and Minister of State for Ayurveda will be attending gram sabha meeting in Pranuhi, Chamba district. |
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Stokes’ Kangra tour in July Dharamsala, June 29 Disclosing this here today, the DCC chief, Mr M.R. Goma, said Mrs Stokes will be given a rousing welcome on her visit to Kangra. He said four party workers meetings will be held at Dehra, Rajgir, Nurpur and Dharamsala on July 3, 4, 5 and 6 respectively. “There is no factionalism in the party and the visit make it clear that she is the most popular party leader in the state”, he stated. He said that there was great enthusiasm among party workers about the proposed visit. He said the party had decided to hold workers meetings and not public meetings in view of the monsoons. Dr Goma said the main issue at the meetings would be the tehelkas expose and the rampant corruption in the country. “The Congress party is opposed to the power hike and water charges imposed by the Dhumal government in the state and will opposed it”, he stated. Dr Goma said the state government had failed to tackle the situation arising out of the acute drought in the state. |
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Ganga Singh re-elected
chief of NGOs’ body Sundernagar, June 29 For the post of president earlier there were six candidates but three candidates withdrew their names in favour of Mr Ganga Singh whereas one withdrew in favour of Mr P.C. Verma. The contest was held between Mr Ganga Singh, who got 167 votes defeating Mr P.C. Verma, who got 99 votes. For the post of secretary-general Mr Prem Singh Bharmoria won the contest and got 156 votes by defeating Mr Kesh Pathania who got 76 votes. Mr N.R. Thakur was elected senior vice-president unanimously. The five vice-presidents Mr Gopal Sharma, Mr M.R. Negi, Jai Nand Sharma, Inder Singh Thakur and Roshan Lal were elected unanimously. Elections were held under tight security as many employees of rival groups were seen raising slogans. |
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Move to reduce fleet of vehicles
likely to fail Shimla, June 29 Strong opposition from the officers of the Indian Police Service, the Indian Forest Service and other categories of officers, who termed the scheme as discriminatory and highly tilted in favour of the IAS and HAS cadres, has forced the government to review the scheme. Sources said the scheme which was to come into force from July 1 might be scrapped altogether, like the previous one which was dropped due to the opposition from senior IAS officers. An indication to this effect also came at the meeting between the Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, and representatives of the State Government Drivers and Conductors Federation who had been agitating for the withdrawal of the scheme. Mr Dhumal assured a favourable decision in this regard. Under the scheme, the officers were to be paid an allowance depending on their pay scales in lieu of their official vehicles. In all, the fleet was expected to be reduced by 125, leading to an estimated saving of Rs 1 crore annually. |
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HC order on movement of
traffic Shimla, June 29 The high court passed this order on a petition filed by Chanderpaul Sood, wherein he had alleged that traffic regulation was worst near St Edward
School. The petitioner alleged that the sanction for the construction of a pedestrian overbridge from the school premises across the Cart Road was conveyed in 1992 but till today nothing had been done. The petitioner alleged that in 1999 a girl student was crushed by a vehicle in front of Tara Hall school. |
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Transmission line completed in record
time Shimla, June 29 According to Mr Harsh Gupta, Chairman, HPSEB, the Himachal Pradesh Government, in line with its policy to allow development of hydro-electric power in the private sector authorised Rajasthan Spinning and Weaving Mills Ltd to develop Malana hydroelectric project (86 MW) on Malana Khud, a tributary of the Beas in Kulu district. Malana hydroelectric project is designed to generate 369.91 gwh per annum, out of which Himachal Pradesh will get, free of cost, 15 per cent of the deliverable energy during the first 12 years of operation of the project and 20 per cent thereafter. Malana Power Company Ltd will be free to dispose of the remaining energy to any other consumer outside Himachal. |
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Redesignation of Horticulture
Dept post stayed Shimla, June 29 The petitioner stated that he was recruited class I officer in the 1999 and also granted time scale benefit but after the notification issued by the Punjab government changing regularly the nomenclature of the post of horticulture development officers as horticulture inspector. His pay scale was reduced from Rs
7220—Rs 11600 to Rs 5480—Rs 8925 and they turned class III employees. It further alleged in the petition that the Punjab government in its notification had specifically mentioned that this will be applicable prospectively but while applying the Punjab pattern in Himachal the Himachal government had gone one step ahead by stopping future increments of the applicants till they attained the scale of Rs
7220—Rs 11600. And the government has also decided not to provide the benefit of time scale. This interim order has been passed by a Division Bench of Administrative Tribunal comprising Vice-Chairman Attar Singh and member Mr Narinder
Thakur. |
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Sentenced to life for wife’s
murder Sundernagar, June 29 Lachhi Devi married to the convict in 1990 and after Deceased one year of marriage he started beating the deceased as she could not bear a child and used to tell her that he would kill her and marry again. The deceased left her in law’s house and came to live with her parents. She also filed a case for maintenance. Knowing about the case the convict met the deceased and executed written compromise and took the deceased to her home. On May 30, 1999 the convict told the brother of the deceased on telephone that his sister was seriously ill. On visiting the Kot village he was told that the deceased had committed suicide. Initially the police registered a case under Section 498-A (Cruelty), 306 (abetment to commit suicide) of the Indian Penal Code but later the post mortem report revealed that the deceased died due to head injury. The police after final investigation filed the charge sheet under Section 302 (murder), of read with Section 201 (destroying the evidence) the Indian Penal Code. The prosecution examined 16 witnesses in its favour including the brother of deceased Joginder Pal, Hari Singh, uncle of deceased, Govind Ram (witness of compromise) and Medical expert Dr Jiva Nand along with other witnesses. The court in its 25-page judgement held that prosecution had proved the case beyond reasonable doubts. |
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DC’s warning to unlawful builders Dalhousie, June 29 He said about 24 notices had been served on the defaulters in the township under the Himachal Pradesh Town and Country Planning Act. The DC also asked the authorities concerned to adhere to the building by-laws and keep watch on unauthorised constructions coming up in and around Dalhousie to conserve and preserve the hill resort from further degradation. He said scenic beauty and environment in the town would be preserved at all costs. |
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HP gets more time to complete
roads Shimla, June 29 According to a spokesman for the government, the Centre, on the request of the state government, has agreed to some of the suggestions regarding the implementation of the PMGSY which it had made to the Prime Minister during his last visit to the state and later at a meeting held in Delhi in this respect. On the request of the state government that hill states like Himachal Pradesh be given more time for the completion of roads being constructed under the PMGSY due to difficult topography and limited working season, the Central Government has agreed that the works could be executed over two working seasons. |
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Women’s
commission
chairperson Shimla, June 29 |
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