H I M A C H A L   P R A D E S H

Expel Rattan, Chauhan from Cong: Virbhadra
Shimla, August 27
The CLP leader and former Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh, today lashed out at the Congress leadership for admitting those persons in the party who had prepared the “charge sheet” against him that has been rejected by the CBI.

Parvati wreaks havoc at Manikaran
Kulu
In the absence of flood protection walls at Manikaran, the Parvati river has created havoc, washing away property worth lakhs of rupees. About 15 kiosks and two pucca buildings opposite the historical Ram Temple have already disappeared.

Politician held under Excise Act
Nahan, August 27
The Sirmaur police arrested wine contractor turned politician, now a leader of the Lok Janshakti, Sadanand Chauhan, today from Snow View Lodge, Shimla. Mr S.P. Singh, Superintendent of Police, Sirmaur, said here today in a press statement that Chauhan had been arrested in connection with a case under the Excise Act registered at the Rajgarh police station on April 13.

PARWANOO DIARY
Residents voice grievances
Parwanoo
An association of the residents of HIG houses in Sector 6 was formed here to take up the problems of this sector with the Administration. The Assistant Commissioner of Parwanoo, who lives in this sector, also participated in the meeting.

BADDI DIARY
Quarrying continues unabated
Baddi
The Himachal Pradesh government is yet to initiate any move to set up a high-level committee to look into indiscriminate quarrying and the damage it causes to river beds in the Baddi-Barotiwala belt, even if an assurance in this regard was given more than three months ago.

Pro-active plan to check infiltrations: IG
Chamba, August 27
The security forces have drawn up new pro-active strategy on the borders of Chamba district in Himachal Pradesh to prevent the infiltration of terrorists, according to Mr K.S. Rana, IG (Law and Order), Himachal Pradesh.

HP Congress office-bearers
Shimla, August 27
Mr Daulat Chaudhary has been appointed Chairman of the Himachal Pradesh Backward cell of the Congress by the PCC chief, Mrs Vidya Stokes. Mr Tara Chand Chaudhary has been appointed convenor of the cell.

ITBP team scales peak

Expel Rattan, Chauhan from Cong: Virbhadra
Tribune News Service

Shimla, August 27
The CLP leader and former Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh, today lashed out at the Congress leadership for admitting those persons in the party who had prepared the “charge sheet” against him that has been rejected by the CBI.

Mr Virbhadra Singh, while talking to newsmen here, said that such persons had no moral right to continue in the party and should be thrown out.

He said those involved in preparing the “charge sheet” include Mr O.P. Rattan and Mr Kewal Ram Chauhan. Certain Congress leaders here had got them admitted in the party only to “malign me”, he alleged. They should seek a public apology if they wanted to remain in the Congress.

Mr Virbhadra Singh regretted that these persons were admitted in the party without waiting for the outcome of the CBI investigation. They had prepared the “charge sheet” when they were supporting the BJP government as members of the Himachal Vikas Congress (HVC) which is a coalition partner of the state government.

He said that the “charge sheet” was a result of the stern action he had taken against the forest mafia when he was Chief Minister.

Mr Virbhadra Singh said that no document pertaining to his erstwhile princely state of Bushahar was missing from the official record and the claim of the Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal, that some important papers were missing showed his frustration after the refusal of the CBI to book a case against him.

Mr Virbhadra Singh said that Mr Dhumal should shun politics of personal vendetta and channelise his energy towards the development of the state.

The office of the Chief Minister had started functioning like a recruitment board and employment was being done not on merit, but on the recommendation of Mr Dhumal, he alleged.

Parvati wreaks havoc at Manikaran
Subhash Sharma

Kulu
In the absence of flood protection walls at Manikaran, the Parvati river has created havoc, washing away property worth lakhs of rupees.

About 15 kiosks and two pucca buildings opposite the historical Ram Temple have already disappeared. The Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation’s hotel, Parvati, has been closed as the building has been declared unsafe. A part of the building had been washed away during the recent floods.

The “rath ground” of Ram Temple has big cracks due to which the hot water “kund” near Naina Mata Temple has gone dry.

The lower parts of the village have become unsafe. Many buildings, including Naina Mata Temple, have developed cracks as the land is sinking due to erosion by the river.

Residents told this correspondent that the persons whose kisoks had been washed away or had to be closed as a precautionary measure had been rendered unemployed due to the indifference of the government.

Mr Gita Nand, a former panchayat pradhan, said the residents had been urging the district administration for the past three years to undertake flood protection work but to no avail. Residents had also met the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, in Manali during his recent visit. An amount of Rs 2 crore was promised by the Prime Minister. He alleged that the amount was received, but was used for some other purpose by the local authorities.

Mr Gita Nand said a proper ground was not available for religious functions at Manikaran. The present ground had shrunk due to floods and encroachments.

Mr Maheshwar Singh, who represents the Mandi parliamentary constituency, in which this district falls, said he had suggested the setting up of a Manikaran development authority which could have on it, among others, representatives of the public and the managements of Ram Temple and the gurdwara. A toll could be levied at Manikaran and the revenue earned utilised for the development of the area.

A plan to channelise the river to save Manikaran had to be drawn up and implemented on priority, he added.

Mr Ramesh Chand Chaudhary, Minister of State for Irrigation and Public Health, said a Rs 1.83 crore plan had been submitted to NABARD for flood protection work at Manikaran. For emergencies Rs 10 lakh had been sanctioned by the Deputy Commissioner, he said.

Politician held under Excise Act
Our Correspondent

Nahan, August 27
The Sirmaur police arrested wine contractor turned politician, now a leader of the Lok Janshakti, Sadanand Chauhan, today from Snow View Lodge, Shimla. Mr S.P. Singh, Superintendent of Police, Sirmaur, said here today in a press statement that Chauhan had been arrested in connection with a case under the Excise Act registered at the Rajgarh police station on April 13.

The SP said on April 13 a truck loaded with liquor was seized by officials of the Excise Department at Naina-Tikkar. The officials complained that the truck owner had a permit for a small quantity of liquor while the truck was carrying much more liquor than was permitted. The contractor, whose liquor was being transported by the truck filed a complaint against the Excise Department the next day producing permit and other documents and alleged that he was being harassed by the department.

The SP said a thorough investigation some of the documents showed that Sadanand Chauhan was the key player in the case. He would be produced in the court tomorrow. 

PARWANOO DIARY
Residents voice grievances
M.M. Bhandari

Parwanoo
An association of the residents of HIG houses in Sector 6 was formed here to take up the problems of this sector with the Administration. The Assistant Commissioner of Parwanoo, who lives in this sector, also participated in the meeting. It was pointed out that this sector was neglected because it lay between two development authorities — the Housing Board and the Nagar Parishad. The residents said that this sector was constructed a few year ago but had not so far been handed over to the Nagar Parishad for the maintenance of roads, streetlights and other civic amenities. The lack of a park in this sector was also pointed out. Because of this, the residents complained, children were forced to play on the roads.

The residents were also sore about the poor upkeep of streetlights in this sector. They also said that this sector was situated about 5 km from the main town and the police station. It became difficult for them to contact the police in times of emergency. They demanded a sub-police station be set up in the sector.

The Assistant Commissioner assured the residents that action on these issues would be taken soon.

Mr H.C. Jindal was nominated President of the Association. The other office-bearers were Mr Manjo Garg — secretary; Mr Sanjay Singla — treasurer; Mr K.S. Thakur and Mr Rajesh Katyal — executive secretaries; Mr C.M. Anand, Mr Vijay Mehra and Mr S.N. Ahmed — block representatives.

* * *

The Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) celebrated the 58th birth anniversary of Rajiv Gandhi in the office of Amarjeet Singh Bawa, president of the Himachal Pradesh unit of INTUC. Mr Raghu Raj, the local MLA, was the chief guest. A large number of INTUC workers attended the function.

Mr Raghu Raj recalled the vision of the late Prime Minister in creating a sound foreign policy. He added that Rajiv Gandhi had in a short period become the messiah of the downtrodden and the under-privileged classes. He also recalled the electronic revolution brought about by Rajiv Gandhi. Sweets were distributed among the workers.

BADDI DIARY
Quarrying continues unabated
Ambika Sharma

Baddi
The Himachal Pradesh government is yet to initiate any move to set up a high-level committee to look into indiscriminate quarrying and the damage it causes to river beds in the Baddi-Barotiwala belt, even if an assurance in this regard was given more than three months ago.

The environmentalists who had become optimistic at this decision of the government in May last, are now relapsing into a state of pessimism. The proposed auction of khuds in the area had also been postponed. But the efforts of the administration to check illicit extraction in stone, clay and gravel from the river beds have failed to solve this problem. The ban on the use of JCB machines is often violated. Moreover a large number of tractors from Panjab and Haryana continue to pick up quarrying material illegally.

According to the SDM, joint raids are being made to check this activity. The Mining Officer says that he has received no intimation from the Government regarding the formation of the proposed committee to study the mining problem.

* * *

A number of malaria cases have been reported in the region, according to local residents. Roads with potholes and ditches and garbage dumped in the open, besides emitting a foul smell, serve as breeding grounds for mosquitoes. The departments concerned have not woken up to the situation yet.

However, according to officials, no case of malaria has been reported in the region and if there have been some cases, these must the result of lack of personnel hygiene.

The 10,000 industrial workers employed in various units in this region have been demanding an ESI dispensary for a long time. In the absence of a specialised hospital, people have little to rely upon in emergencies. Patients are referred to the PGI at Chandigarh and this leads to loss of precious time.

* * *

Despite huge sums sanctioned for the repair of roads and bridges in the region from time to time, a number of them fail to stand the downpours and are damaged during the monsoon season. The banks of Balad river have been eroded and this has endangered the movement of vehicles, particularly at night. Last week the driver of a truck lost his life when his vehicle was washed away in Sirsa river. Another tempo carrying audiocassettes was also washed away in Balad river.

Pro-active plan to check infiltrations: IG
Our Correspondent

Chamba, August 27
The security forces have drawn up new pro-active strategy on the borders of Chamba district in Himachal Pradesh to prevent the infiltration of terrorists, according to Mr K.S. Rana, IG (Law and Order), Himachal Pradesh.

Mr Rana, talking to mediapersons here yesterday, ruled out the possibilities of any terrorist infiltrating into Chamba district. He said the battalions of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and the Himachal Armed Police (HAP) deployed on the borders were regularly combing the strategic points and carrying out anti-insurgency operations.

The IG asserted that the morale of the jawans of the security forces was very high. He said a high-level team of police officials along with the Deputy Commissioner of Chamba carried out an aerial recce of the borders of Chamba district on Saturday and took stock of the situation.

HP Congress office-bearers
Tribune News Service

Shimla, August 27
Mr Daulat Chaudhary has been appointed Chairman of the Himachal Pradesh Backward cell of the Congress by the PCC chief, Mrs Vidya Stokes. Mr Tara Chand Chaudhary has been appointed convenor of the cell.

Mr Swaroop Singh Chaudhary, Capt Tulsi Ram and Mr Man Singh have been appointed vice-presidents.

Mr Kuldeep Chaudhary, Mr Suresh Chaudhary, Mr Ram Dass Kaundal, Mr Arun Mehra, Mr Mahant Shivroop Singh and Mr Chandu Ram have been appointed general secretaries. 

ITBP team scales peak
Our Correspondent

Kulu, August 27
A team of the 25th Battalion of the Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) has scaled a virgin and unnamed peak (19,300 feet) in Lahaul and Spiti district in the Western Himalayas.