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Sunday,
August 19, 2001, Chandigarh, India  
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Ragging continues
despite govt claims Cong on comeback trail:
Mahajan HP seeks plant material sans virus
CM concerned over drug
menace |
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German envoy calls on
Dhumal Rs 50 lakh scheme
for women farmers Engineers’ plea to fill
posts of deputationists IN FOCUS Nagni fair organised Bhan visits horticulture research station Manali traders observe
bandh
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Ragging continues
despite govt claims Shimla, August 18 While professional institutions like medical and engineering colleges and agriculture universities have been notorious for ragging, the practice of physically torturing the juniors has of late found its way to degree colleges also. Ragging, which includes harmless teasing to severe beating is no more confined to the premises of the institutions. The newcomers can be holed up anywhere as has been happening at the Government Boys College, Sanjauli, which is not lagging behind professional institutions in ragging. Senior students of the college have been chasing the newcomers not only outside the college premises but even following them in buses right upto their villages. Students who come daily from far-off places like Theog, Fagu and Naldehra are the worst sufferers. Senior students force the new entrants to disembark from buses at lonely places near Chhrabra, Kufri and Mashobra, take them to nearby forests and give them thorough thrashing. This has added a dangerous dimension to this practice which, if not checked, could lead to serious consequences. With no one around, the newcomers are entirely at the mercy of seniors. Only yesterday four B.Sc-I students, who come from Fagu daily, were made to get down from the bus at Chhrabra by 12 seniors, trooped into the forest downhill and beaten up severely. Mohinder Singh, one of the students who protested, bore the brunt of their anger. He was kicked, slapped and virtually stripped. The pounding he received for about half an hour left him bruised all over. He reported the matter to the Principal and the police. A case was registered after medical examination of the victim. This was not an isolated case. The newcomers were being subjected to such treatment as a matter of routine for the past one month. Last week, Ashok, another B.Sc-I student, was beaten up at the same place after being forced to get down from the bus. The situation is worse in medical colleges. Only last month, Tanda Medical College rusticated the entire batch of seniors involved in “inhuman” ragging of juniors and they were taken back only after they promised not to indulge in such activities again. Three students were expelled on Thursday by Dr Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry after they were caught indulging in ragging. |
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Cong on comeback trail:
Mahajan Dharamsala, August 18 Addressing a press conference here today, he said the BJP-HVC coalition government had failed on all fronts. The financial position of the state was in a complete mess with loans amounting to several hundred crores. “Kangra district has become a victim of regional discrimination due to the political rivalry between the Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal, and the Union Minister, Mr Shanta Kumar,” he said adding that practically not even a single new project had been started in Kangra. Mr Mahajan said the concept of Dharamsala being a capital satellite, promoted by the Congress, had been completely diluted by the present regime. “The condition of the roads in Kangra, especially the Nurpur-Gaggal road is really bad, whereas roads in Hamirpur district are being maintained well,” he alleged. The project of opening an information technology centre at the regional centre of the university here and setting up of an international standard cricket ground had not materialised. He regretted that Union Minister, Mr Shanta Kumar, who represented Kangra Lok Sabha seat too had failed to protect the interests of the people of this district. “Not only has he failed to provide jobs to the youth but also to check the discrimination being meted out to the area,” he added. “Despite claims of the government that foodgrains will become cheaper by 30 per cent, the rates are still 25 per cent more as compared to the rates during the Congress rule,” he claimed. The present government had proved to be anti-farmer as the rates of fertilisers, seeds, insecticides and diesel had been increased. Farmers were being charged Rs 50 for Kisan Pass Books, he added. Mr Mahajan said though the government had made announcements for flood relief, but people were still to get any help. Extensive damage had been caused to the OBC Colony near Nurpur, the Khanni bridge, Chakki bridge and houses in Bhadan under Dhanotu panchayat were under flood threat. Despite all this, there was no SDM in Nurpur for the past one and a half month, he added. |
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HP seeks plant material sans virus New Delhi, August 18 The request was made by Himachal Minister of State for Horticulture Narinder Bragta, who met Union Agriculture Minister Ajit Singh here yesterday. Mr Narinder Bragta told the minister that the existing fruit orchards were “old and disease-prone.” He said due to variation in agro-climatic conditions in different elevation zones, the state was suitable for the production of a wide-range of horticulture crops under the Crop Insurance Scheme on the pattern of agriculture crops. Thanking the Centre for enhancing excise duty from 15 per cent to 55 per cent on import of horticulture crops, he demanded that this be raised to 100 per cent to safeguard the interest of rural grower. |
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Yak ride at VVIP
helipad Charabra(Shimla) Yak and taxi owners operate in the helipad area unauthorisedly and there is nobody to stop them. Security arrangements are made and the place is made out of bounds for ordinary people only when the President is here during the summer. The helipad is located just near The Retreat, where the President stays during his visit to Shimla. Tourists ride the yak for being photographed. The owner of the yak, Ramesh, charges Rs 5 for each photograph and earns Rs 100 or more per day depending on the arrival of tourists. Someone had recently constructed a kiosk at the helipad, but it was removed when the President, Mr K. R. Narayanan, was scheduled to come here in June. Tourists enjoy the view of the valley towards Shimla which is covered with fog and clouds these days. They get themselves photographed with the clouds in the background. A Tibetan market has also come up on the side of the road which diverts to The Retreat from the highway near Wildflower Hall. The helipad was constructed a few years ago to enable the President to land just near The Retreat so as to avoid inconvenience to people whose movement got restricted when his helicopter used to land at the Annandale ground in Shimla. However, it was not used for many years until a couple of trees were chopped for the smooth landing of the helicopter. |
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CM concerned over drug
menace Shimla, August 18 The Chief Minister said drug menace was a matter of concern and making the state drug-addiction free would be a great service for the youth who were becoming victim of it day by day. He said the state government on its own was educating the people about bad effects of addiction and keeping a close watch on the chemists and druggists. He said profession of chemists and druggists was a noble one. Right prescription by the doctor would serve no purpose in case right medicines were not made available to the patients. Referring to the demand of association the Chief Minister said regulatory measures were must otherwise some vested interests could do anything to achieve their selfish ends. He urged them to maintain the standard of medicines as spurious drugs could be dangerous. Mr Dalip A. Mehta, president and Mr Vishnu Kamth, general secretary, All-India Chemists and Druggists Association, and Mr S. Pandit, president Himachal Pradesh Chemists and Druggists Association, also spoke on the occasion. |
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German envoy calls on
Dhumal Shimla, August 18 Mr Dhumal apprised him of the developments that the state was making in various fields. He said Himachal Pradesh had immense hydel potential and was inviting foreign investment for its exploitation. He said the state government wanted the Germany should also come forward and invest in this sector. The other sectors in which foreign investment is being encouraged is horticulture, especially fruit processing and eco-friendly industries. Mr Richter said Germany had advance technology in fruit processing and was planning to organise a fair in Delhi soon. The Chief Minister urged him to hold such a fair in Himachal Pradesh as it was producing maximum fruits and growers and entrepreneurs could benefit from it. Mr Dhumal thanked the German Government for Changer project being executed in the state and having sanctioned the second phase of it last year and added that the state government would be grateful if the project was extended for more areas in the state. He also sought German assistance for water supply and sanitation. |
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Rs 50 lakh scheme for women
farmers Kangra, August 18 Mr Sagar made this announcement at a press conference here last evening. The Vice-Chancellor of Agriculture University, Palampur, Dr Tej Partap and the Additional Director, Agriculture, Mr D.C. Verma, also attended the conference. He said five women farmer groups would be constituted in each block and each group would be registered with the government. He said link workers, one from each group, would be provided two day’s training in kharif and rabi seasons with the assistance of universities and other organisations and paid stipend of Rs 50 each during their training. Farmers would also be provided literature costing Rs 600 in the firm to magazine and published material. The minister said 40 farm women from each district would be taken on a five day’s study tour within the state and paid Rs 50 each per day during the tour. He said a ‘mahila goshti’ would also be oganised in each district. |
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Engineers’ plea to fill
posts of deputationists Shimla, August 18 The association said the allegation of the NJPC employees that overstaffing in the corporation was due to the deputationists was misleading as there was still a shortfall of 1,300 personnel in the quota of board employees in the corporation. As per the agreement between the Centre and the state, which were jointly executing the project, 2,870 personnel, including 244 executives, 1,284 non-executive and 1,342 workers, were to be taken over “on an as is where is” basis on secondment for the entire period of the execution of the project. It was incumbent on the corporation to make up the shortfall. According to the
association, the engineers and employees of the board had been associated with the project since its inception and the NJPC cadre joined at a much later stage. Moreover, most of them did not have experience in the execution of a hydroelectric project. The argument that the board’s strength of 40,000 was to high in view of its meagre installed generation capacity was illogical as it was also performing the task of transmission and distribution of power in the difficult hill terrain. The state had achieved 100 per cent electrification due to its efforts, the association said. |
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IN FOCUS Nalagarh The entire road stands damaged, but the condition of the 12 km stretch from Jogan village to Swarghat is particularly pitiable. It puts the driving skills of the motorist to a severe test. The steep gradient makes the run all the more difficult for heavily loaded trucks. This highway is used mainly by vehicles coming from Delhi and going towards Manali. This route is convenient to tourists, private buses and trucks because it provides a short cut to Bilaspur, Mandi, Kulu and Manali, avoiding the states of Punjab and Haryana. The highway is also used by trucks, specially oil tankers which are dispatched to these towns of Himachal Pradesh from the oil depots at Parwanoo and Ambala. Travelling on this road become unsafe as the vehicles have to move in zig-zags, trying to avoid deep pot-holes. Accidents take place when the drivers lose control trying to avoid deep potholes, and the vehicle rolls down the slope. The width of the road also does not conform to the norms of a national highway. It becomes difficult for vehicles going up-hill to avoid the descending traffic. The situation worsens during the rainy season. Landslides are a big problem and the road is often blocked with rubble. |
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Nagni fair organised Nurpur, August 18 Mr Rakesh Pathania, the local MLA and Chairman of the HP Tourism Development Corporation, while presiding over the function expressed concern over the poor performance of the temple committee in the development of the temple. He announced that the committee would be re-constituted and three members from the local administration would be included in it. |
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Bhan visits horticulture research station Shimla, August 18 Dr Bhan emphasised on the plantation and propagation of medicinal plants for which there is ample scope in the state. He asked farmers to cultivate medicinal plants. He asked the scientists to provide proper guidance and technical knowhow to the farmers so that they could get a high yield of crops. He stressed on plantation of high value cash crops. Dr R.P. Awasthi, Vice-Chancellor of the university, informed the Governor that the research station had introduced some new varieties of apples with a yield of 77 tonnes per hectare as against the average yield of around 7 tonnes per hectare. He said that there was a good demand for the high yielding varieties introduced by the station from Jammu and Kashmir, Uttaranchal and other apple-growing states. Dr S.P. Bhardwaj, Associate Director, Regional Horticulture Research Station, informed that the station has collected 220 varieties of apples from all over the world. He said that the station has recently recommended a new variety of apple called ‘Scarlet Gala’ to the farmers. |
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Manali traders observe
bandh Manali, August 18 The district administration with due consultations with officials of the departments concerned and residents of the area had selected site for the proposed building. Hundreds of students of the Government Senior Secondary School, here accompanied by teaching staff, yesterday thronged the site and started filling up pits excavated for the construction of the building. A case under Sections 147, 149, 447, 427 and 120-B has been registered against 11 persons, including some teachers in this connection. According to the school authorities, the present site had been in the possession of the school for the past 20 years. It was being used by the school authorities as a play ground and many district-level tournaments were also organised at the site. |
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American found dead Dharamsala, August 18 According to the police, the deceased has been identified as Donald Hervert Barry, who had been staying at this lodge for the past over four months. The police said when Barry did not come out of the room, the waiter broke open the door and found him
dead. Meanwhile, the police has recovered another body from Baner Khud. The deceased has been identified as Mandeep Kumar. |
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Korean’s body handed over to Embassy Kulu, August 18 It may be recalled that a Korean trekker-member team was returning from a Trek. The deceased was identified as Seo Kang Til (29). |
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3 hurt as bus falls
into nullah Jaisinghpura, August 18 The injured have been admitted to a Sujanpur hospital. The injured persons are Monika of Gander,Manglesh Kumari of Bardam and Anup Singh of Suan. According to police sources, brake failure led to the mishap. |
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