 |
Friday,
July 6, 2001, Chandigarh, India  
|
Pong Dam oustee seeks
land NSUI’s 5-day ultimatum to
HP govt Plea to raise royalty on trees CM urged to restore
DPRO’s post Few teachers in secondary
schools |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Govt abolishing key posts: Stokes Health Services chief
sent on long leave Woman arrested for selling 2 minor
girls Abrogate Art 370 in J & K:
Bitta Copter ride plan a
fiasco HP Governor releases 2
books Parking lot owners
warned DIG denies rumours of terrorists Stalling of mosque construction decried
|
|
Pong Dam oustee seeks
land Kangra, July 5 Ashwani Kumar of Bihari Mauja Sothal village, Dehra tehsil of the district in a statement here today said his land measuring 242-8 kanals in Tika Mann Mouja Sothal was acquired by the government for the Pong dam during 1969-1970. As the Pong dam benefited the Rajasthan government, so the reserved land was kept for the allotment of the oustees in Ganganagar district of Rajasthan. Ashwani Kumar said 572 dam oustees were allotted land during 1966-72, 8389 during 1979-94, 12 in 1976, 32 during 1977, 101 during 1978, 83 during 1979 and 26 during 1982, thus taking total number of allotments to 9195. During these 16 years’ he alleged his name had never figured in the list. He alleged that he approached the then Deputy Commissioner who rejected his request saying that he was not an
oustee. He said following the intervention of the Governor of Himachal Pradesh, the Deputy Commissioner, Relief and Rehabilitation, had accepted that his application for the allotment of land was under scrutiny in his office. Meanwhile, the Deputy Commissioner informed the Deputy Secretary that following verification, it was found that Ashwani Kumar’s land measuring 242-8 kanals was acquired and his application for allotment was received in 5346 cases under the decision of the meeting held at Jaipur some years ago. On December 15, 1994, under letter No 476 DCR-94, the Deputy Commissioner summoned Ashwani Kumar to his office. He told Ashwani to bring his income certificate, four photographs and an affidavit as his name was included in the list of dam oustees for land allotment. Despite all communication with the Deputy Commissioner during 1992-97, 655 oustees were allotted land, his name did not figure in the list. In was on September 3, 2000, through a public notice that 1,559 oustees were called to Rajasthan to collect their allotment letters but Ashwani Kumar had to return back empty handed as his name did not figure in the list again. He, then, approached the Deputy Commissioner at Raja ka Talab but was told by the Deputy Commissioner that his file was missing, Ashwani Kumar said. He said he again approached Revenue Minister Rajan Shushant and Deputy Commissioner for the same. |
|
|
NSUI’s 5-day ultimatum to
HP govt Shimla, July 5 Led by the NSUI president, Mr Kewal Singh Pathania, the union submitted a memorandum to the Governor and raised slogans against the ruling BJP. Mr Pathania said demonstrations would be held at all districts on July 6 in support of the demand. The union alleged that the ruling BJP was trying to alter history by indulging in such gimmicks. The president of the Mahila Congress, Ms Krishna Mohini, has threatened to launch an agitation in case the portrait was not reinstalled immediately. Meanwhile, Mr Kuldeep Singh Rathore, secretary and spokesman of the PCC, has said the Congress is not satisfied with the clarification of the Raj Bhavan about the removal of the portrait. The authorities are apparently trying to wash their hands off the controversy by shifting the responsibility on the chief architect, who is a government servant. The portrait could not have been removed without the prior approval of top functionaries of the Raj Bhavan. He reiterated the demand for a high level enquiry into the episode. |
|
Plea to raise royalty on trees Shimla, July 5 The price of the forest produce is never fixed in accordance with the state Forest Produce (Regulation of Trade) Act despite directions from the state high court from time to time. The rates of royalty for various kinds of tree are fixed mostly after the expiry of financial year when the entire produce is sold off by the corporation. The corporation announced the rates of royalty for years 1999-2000 and 2000-01 in May this year. The rates for the current year have yet to be announced. The growers are enraged over a double standard adopted by the corporation in fixing the rates of royalty. The rates for private trees are much lower than that of the government trees. For deodar the rate is 39 per cent of the royalty for green trees of government for the year 1999-2000. Mr Mohan Lal Chauhan, president of the Shimla and Kinnaur Private Forest Growers Association, has alleged that the corporation had fixed extremely low rates of royalty for private trees as it did not want the royalty system to succeed. He said that the rates fixed for the green private trees were much less than the rates of salvage trees of the government. The rates fixed for the past two years were fixed after the corporation had disposed of the produce. The rates fixed were much lower than the sale proceeds. Previously the growers were given option to sell produce on the economic or royalty basis but this option had been withdrawn. The growers had to accept the price paid by the corporation. Moreover, he said, the deduction made by the corporation from the sale proceeds were exorbitant and unreasonable. In addition to 10 per cent profit, establishment charges to the extent of 10 per cent were also deducted. The corporation should claim either overhead charges or share of the profit. It could not claim both. The association has demanded rationalisation of rates of royalty by linking it to the market price. Besides the price should be fixed with the consent of the representatives of the growers of all forest divisions of the state. The corporation had neither made payment nor interest to the growers. The association wanted that the payment should be made immediately or the corporation should pay interest on the outstanding amount. It also has urged the corporation to fix the rates of royalty for the current year in consultation with the representatives of forest owners without any delay. |
|
CM urged to restore
DPRO’s post Shimla, July 5 Mr Dhumal also assured a deputation led by Mr Rajendra Rajan and Mr Ramesh Sharma, President and General Secretary of the Association, respectively, which met him here today, that their demand for the restoration of a departmental director would be looked into. He said PR Department had assumed a greater role in the propagation of the policies and programmes of the state government in the fast changing scenario of media. He urged the officers to make concerted efforts to build up the image of the government at the grassroot level. He described the department as eyes and ears of the government. The association urged the Chief Minister to fill all 97 vacant posts of different categories, to restore the post of District Public Relations Officer (DPRO) in Lahaul-Spiti district and a post of the Assistant District Public Relations (APRO) in Kinnaur district, provide earmarked residential accommodation to the DPRO and restore special pay of Rs 200 to DPRO’s information officers and deputy directors, being given by the Punjab Government. The association also demanded the creation of an APRO’s post at the Subdivision level for the wider publicity of the policies and programmes of the government. |
|
Few teachers in secondary
schools Jaisinghpur, July 5 There is an acute shortage of lecturers in the most government senior secondary schools of the far-flung Jaisinghpur subdivision of Kangra district. With the new academic session just begun, students are reluctant to joining schools without lecturers. One of the oldest such institutions of the area — GSSS, Jaisinghpur — has been without lecturers in chemistry and geography for the past two years. Parents of children, dreaming of making their wards doctors and engineers, are disillusioned by the state of affairs. Last year, while a science graduate was appointed on PTA funds to teach chemistry, an undergraduate was recruited to teach geography in the senior secondary school of Jaisinghpur. Besides a shortage of teachers, GSSS, Jaisinghpur, too has had no Principal for the past one month. The situation in other schools of the subdivision is equally worse. They include schools in Sarimolag, Lambagaon, Dagho Gander, Balakrupi and
Kosari. |
|
Govt abolishing key posts: Stokes Nurpur, July 5 She said the government had abolished the posts of DIGS’ and Divisional Commissioners. But it created a DIG post at Chamba. On being asked about her differences with the CLP leader and a former Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh, Ms Stokes denied groupism at any level. Mr Sat Mahajan, a former PCC Chief, Mr Chander Kumar a former minister, also attended the press conference. Earlier, the PCC Chief presided over a meeting of the party workers of Nurpur Jawali, Gangath and Guler Assembly constituencies at the Bachat Bhavan in which supporters of Mr Virbhadra Singh and Mrs Vidya Stokes shared the dais. Prominent among those who attended the meeting were Mr Chander Kumar Mr Sujan Singh, Mr Vijay Mankotia and Mr Viplov Thakur, all former ministers, Mr Sat Mahajan a former PCC Chief and Mr Vikram Katoch, AICC member. On the success of the meeting, Ms Stokes said all senior party leaders had sunk their differences. |
|
|
Health Services chief
sent on long leave Shimla, July 5 Dr K.S. Rana has been appointed officiating director of the department. The Vigilance Department registered a case earlier this month, despite pressure on the authorities against the move, amid allegations of irregularities in the purchase of medicines and furniture worth over Rs 5 crores in 1998-99 from a Delhi-based firm not on the approved list for rate contract. The exchequer suffered a loss of about Rs 22 lakh on account of the purchases from the firm which also charged excise duty and other levies. These purchases rocked the Vidhan Sabha during the last session and the supplier accused of having misused the name of the Super Bazaar, Delhi, to grab the supply order. The Leader of the Opposition, Mr Virbhadra Singh, was the first to point out these irregularities following which a high-level inquiry into the deal was ordered. Documents were allegedly forged to give the impression that certain purchases were made from the Super Bazaar, Delhi. However, preliminary investigations indicated that no purchases were made from there. The government was put on the mat by the Opposition during the last session for large-scale irregularities in the purchase of equipment for the newly set up medical college at Tanda in Kangra district and the dental college here. The Health Minister, Mr J.P. Nadda, said the government would not spare anyone involved in irregularities in the Health Department. He said the law would take its own course and action taken against the guilty. He said the government was clear on initiating action against the guilty. Mr Nadda said the government had itself got a special audit conducted into the purchases following which the FIR was registered. |
|
|
Woman arrested for selling 2 minor
girls Nahan, July 5 In an FIR lodged at Paonta Sahib police station Mr Sunder Singh has alleged that his two minor daughters Asha Devi and Santosh were taken by Gaiddi Devi with her with an assurance that both would given employment in the Paonta area. Both of them were working in a milk plant situated at Matralion in Paonta Sahib and were living with Gaiddi Devi in rented accommodation at Paonta Sahib. When their father Sunder Singh visited the rented house at Paonta he
learnt that his daughter’s were missing. When he asked Gaiddi Devi about the whereabout of his daughters he got hints that his daughters had been sold to some persons out side the state. He lodged an FIR police party raided more than three places in the Renuka area and nabbed Gaiddi Devi at Nohradhar. Mr S.P. Singh, Suprintendent of Police, Sirmaur, said during the
interrogation Gaiddi Devi admitted that she had sold the girls to some persons of other state. She also gave away information regarding the gangsters trafficking in girls. The Sirmaur police recovered a minor girl from the Karnal
district of Haryana last month. The girl belong to Gujlot village of Shillie tehsil she had been sold for Rs 50,000 to a person of Karnal district on the promise of marriage. The police has arrested three persons in this regard. |
|
|
Abrogate Art 370 in J & K:
Bitta Hamirpur, July 5 Addressing a press conference here this afternoon, he said that these were his personal views. About the talks between the Prime Minister of India and the President of Pakistan, he said they would be successful only when the issue of Pakistan occupied Kashmir was solved, when soldiers detained during the 1971 war were released and Mr Paramjit Singh Panjwar, a terrorist operating from Pakistan, was handed over to the Indian Government. He was of the view that Hurriyat leaders should not be allowed to meet the Pakistan President during his tour to India. He alleged that Hurriyat leaders were mainly to be blamed for spreading terrorism in India. Mr Bitta said that the front would hold a demonstration outside the Pakistan embassy in New Delhi on August 14 to focus the attention of the Pakistan Government towards the feelings of the crores of Indian people. Earlier, Mr Bitta honoured a number of freedom fighters and families of war heroes. He presented them with shawls and Kulu caps. He also addressed a meeting of the Hamirpur district unit of the Anti-Terrorism Front. |
|
|
Copter ride plan a
fiasco Shimla, July 5 As per the schedule announced by the corporation, sight-seeing flights were to be conducted thrice a week (every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday) from June. However, during the entire month only two flights, one on June 10 and the other on June 20, could take place, forcing the corporation to discontinue the scheme. Non-availability of the state-leased helicopter for scheduled flights, uncertain weather and indifferent response of the tourists were mainly responsible for the failure of the scheme. In fact, the scheme started on a dismal note as the inaugural flight on June had to be cancelled because of non-availability of helicopter. The state’s only aircraft was required to fly Mr P.K. Dhumal, Chief Minister, to Delhi. The second flight on June 3 also could not take place as the helicopter was deployed on VVIP duty. This time Dr Suraj Bhan had to go out. On June 9 the helicopter could not be spared for tourist rides due to the visit of Mr L.K. Advani, Union Home Minister, to the state capital. On these days inclement weather kept the aircraft grounded. Uncertainty regarding the flights and poor marketing effort also kept the tourist from enjoying the rides. At times flights had to be cancelled due to inadequate occupancy. The corporation had to carry a minimum of 12 passengers in the helicopter but on several occasions only five or six turned up, leading to cancellation of flights. The charges for the rides were also on the higher side. For a 20-minute flight for an aerial view of Hatu peak, Shali peak and Shimla and the surrounding hill ranges, the corporation changed Rs 1,500 per person. The 30-minute ride covering Chail, the Giri river and Churdhar cost Rs 2500 per person. Similarly, the charges for Kinner Kailash parikarma, a 90-minute flight with a shot stay for refreshment at Sarhan, were fixed at Rs 4000 per person. The response was poor even though the charges were reduced considerably this year. Last year the charges for the three sight-seeing trips were Rs 2000, Rs 3000 and Rs 6000. The corporation could not reduce the ratio as the government had given the helicopter to it at Rs 1.30 lakh per flying hour, whereas the commercial rate for flight is Rs 1.03 lakh per hour. According to senior officers of the corporation, even foreign tourists found the tariff too high and preferred to move around in the state by road in Tata Sumo and other vehicles. Moreover, the corporation failed to publicise the scheme. As a result, tourists remained unaware about the flights. The situation would have been different had the government allowed the corporation flexibility in fixing the charges for the flight and the schedule. Made wiser by the season’s dismal experience, the government has now decided to suitably to modify the scheme. A high-level meeting held under the chairmanship of Mr A.K. Goswami, Chief Secretary, recently decided that the corporation be allowed to reduce or increase the flight charges as per the situation. The corporation now plans to organise sight-seeing flights in October when a large number of tourists throng the state. |
|
|
HP Governor releases 2
books Shimla, July 5 Speaking on the occasion, Dr Suraj Bhan said Dalits had suffered a lot during the past centuries and had faced much exploitation and discrimination. The Governor remembered Swami Dayanand for bringing about a social awakening and reform in the country. Welcoming the chief guest, Prof V.C. Srivastava, Director, IIAS, said the objective of the institute was to spread knowledge and wisdom throughout the world. “Documenting Dissent” present an anthropological study of the class struggle of Dalits in Bihar. “Hindu Navjagran ki Vichardhara” is a study of Satyarth Prakash of Swami Dayanand in Sequel to the cultural movement and renaissance of the 19th century. The Governor also went round the historic building and evinced keen interest in the library. |
|
|
Parking lot owners
warned Shimla, July 5 In a letter warning them, he said that a complaint had been received in the office for overcharging of parking fee from tourists, and public who park their vehicles in the Municipal parkings at the high court and the lift. Various visitors have also complained that the staff of these parking lots use unfair means and misbehave with the vehicles owners. Even after being warned, the complaints hadn’t ceased, said Mr Kashyap. As per the term and condition no. 17 circulated and agreed. The time of auction in which it is specifically mentioned that for overcharging parking fee, the contract shall stand terminated and the possession will revert to the Municipal Corporation. He said that reply should reach to the office within seven days otherwise it will be presumed that they have nothing to say and the possession of the parking places will be resumed by the corporation without further notice. |
|
DIG denies rumours of terrorists Chamba, July 5 In a handout issued here today, the DIG said he had personally visited the spot. A large-scale combing operation was also conducted jointly by over 150 security personnel of the Indo-Tibet Border Police (ITBP) and Himachal Pradesh Armed Police (HPAP) led by Superintendent of Police, Chamba, Mr Sanjay Kundu, and the Deputy Commandant of ITBP, Mr Man Singh Thakur. |
|
Stalling of mosque construction decried Shimla, July 5 The committee has decided to hold a protest rally against the corporation to highlight the issue. The committee, which met under the chairmanship of Mr Mohammed Ibrahim, president, expressed apprehensions that the corporation might have diverted Rs 20 lakh given to it for the construction of mosque. The corporation officers had been evasive on the issue. It also expressed anguish over the fact that 20 muslim families living in Laddakshi and Bara Imam mohallas for the past 40 years had not been provided with ration cards. |
|
Jail inmates say farewell to
ADG Shimla, July 5 The function started with “Vande Mataram”. It was held as part of a farewell function for Mr I.N.S. Sandhu, ADG, jails. He said the building of the jail was very old. Inmates were the sufferers due to the unhealthy environment. He said more facilities should be provided to the staff. |
|
|
Scribe dies of heart attack Shimla, July 5 Mukerjee (39), who had come here from Chandigarh last night had gone to a tourist resort of Naldehra with his family. He was immediately shifted to Indira Gandhi Medical College Hospital, but was declared dead by the doctors. He is survived by his wife and a son. The General Manager and other senior members of the paper were arriving here to take the body to Chandigarh, Shashi Bhushan, Bureau Chief of the paper said. The Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, has expressed grief over the sudden and tragic death of Mukerjee. PTI |
|
Govt urged to check encroachment Chandigarh, July 5 |
|
 |
| Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir | Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs | Nation | Editorial | | Business | Sport | World | Mailbag | In Spotlight | Chandigarh Tribune | Ludhiana Tribune 50 years of Independence | Tercentenary Celebrations | | 121 Years of Trust | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
