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Sunday,
September 2, 2001, Chandigarh, India  
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Hybrid
maize seed a boon for farmers HRTC
losses continue to mount HP may
introduce Punjabi in schools Police
remand for Health Director
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Discrimination
against Kangra alleged Phoolan
surrendered for Malkhan: ex-DGP Phone
exchange number swells to 128 in Mandi Complaint
against private bus operators Sagar
wants OBC named for RS seat Former
varsity court member stages dharna
IN FOCUS IMPCC
to register cable TV complaints Novel
punishment for eve-teasers Anganwari
workers stage dharna Scheme
for water carriers 1
killed as jeep falls into khud
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Hybrid maize seed a
boon for farmers Mandi, September 1 The seed which has been developed by a Hyderabad company, has transformed the economy of the farmers who were reluctant to use the seed when it was launched. A team of mediapersons who went round several villages in the district to assess the impact of the hybrid seed and interviewed a cross-section of the farmers found that the wonder seed had given a boost to the rural economy. Nasib Chand of Lohara village said he was lucky to have used Kanchan Hybrid (KH-9374) seed of maize. He proudly took newspersons to his fields with a bumper maize crop ready for harvesting and said the new seed was likely to double the yield. A demonstration plot at Nalsar village where KH-409 variety had been raised by the company in the field of Dagu Ram also showed very good results. Kashmir Singh, a farmer of Mahadev village, said the hybrid seed had changed his fortune as the maize yield in his field was much beyond his expectations. A farmer of Hatgarh village was also impressed with the new seed which had helped him overcome his poverty. At Naulakha village, Balak Ram showed to newsmen the large-size maize cobs fully covered with grains. He remarked it was a wonder seed. Another farmer Bangali Ram of Kannaid village said its unique feature was that the cobs sprout at the centre of the plant enabling it to withstand the onslaught of winds. Mr Anil Kumar Mittal, an expert from Hyderabad, said the company had concentrated its activities to Mandi district as it was the largest producer of maize in the state and catering to the needs of the neighbouring states. The company was developing new strains every time with greater yield. When contacted, the District Agriculture Officer, Mr A.R. Sharma, said about 50,000 hectares was under maize cultivation of which over 40 per cent was under hybrid seed cultivation as against the target of 25 per cent due to the tremendous response from the farmers. This year farmers were provided 3200 quintals of hybrid seed, he said. |
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HRTC losses continue to mount Shimla, September 1 The corporation, which has accumulated losses to tune of Rs 249 crore, is losing over Rs 4.5 crore every month. It has not been able to deposit the provident fund of the employees amounting to Rs 18 crore for the past one year. It has even exceeded cash credit limit, which was recently enhanced from Rs 20 crore to Rs 30 crore. Its overdraft is hovering around Rs 35 crore at present. The main reason for the mounting losses is that the state government has not increased the bus fares since October, 1999. While the price of diesel was enhanced by 20 per cent in September, 2000, the prices of spare parts have also been increasing. The expenditure on account of salaries has also risen steeply over the period. Consequently, the average expenditure per bus per km has increased from Rs 14.28 in 1997-98 to almost Rs 18 at present. The average income, however, has registered only a nominal increase from Rs 13.11 to Rs 14.75 per bus per km. The situation has worsened due to lack of compensation for providing free and concessional travel facility to various categories of commuters like students, freedom fighters, employees and physically handicapped persons. The corporation loses a revenue of Rs 40.57 crore on this account and another Rs 35 crore for plying buses on uneconomical routes. However, against a revenue loss of Rs 75.57 crore, it was being given only Rs 27 crore as grant-in-aid annually. The corporation is one of the better managed state transport undertakings and it has, over the past two years, taken several steps to contain the operational costs. For instance, the strength of fleet of buses has been reduced from 1,780 in 1998-99 to 1,728 in 2000-01 and increased the life of buses by 50,000 km to 1.50 lakh km. The fleet utilisation at 98 per cent has been the highest in the country. While the number of vehicles has declined, the total annual mileage had increased from 13.80 crore km to 14.09 crore km. The average mileage per bus per day has increased from 210 km to 223 km. The average occupancy, which had been declining due to privatisation since 1995, has also been stabilised. It came down from 69 to 53 per cent over the period. The average mileage per litre of diesel has improved from 3.43 km to 3.54 km and the accident rate has declined from 0.14 to 0.12 per lakh km. All these steps brought down the cash losses from Rs 32.97 crore to Rs 21.42 crore. But the government will have to do something to save the corporation from collapse. The officers of the corporation feel that the government should increase the bus fares by 20 to 25 per cent to contain the losses. If it was not in a position to take a harsh decision, it should adequately compensate the corporation for the losses on account of concessional travel and plying of buses on uneconomical routes, they maintained. The government, however, does not seem to be in a position to exercise either of the options. |
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HP may introduce
Punjabi in schools Chandigarh, September 1 A recommendation to this effect was made when the National Minorities Commission summoned the Secretary and the Director of Education of Himachal to New Delhi last week to ascertain the state’s stand on the status of Punjabi. All six members of the commission held the hearing. The commission had also summoned Mr Harbhajan Singh and Mr Paramjit Singh Chanana, president and general secretary, respectively, of the Himachal Pradesh Shiromani Akali Dal. Sources reveal that the Secretary of Education, Mr S. Roy, told the commission that the state had already decided to introduce Punjabi in 140 schools in five districts for students of classes IX and X. The only problem in the way of implementation of the decision was the nonavailability of Punjabi teachers. The state government had been sending batches of 30 teachers each from its existing staff for training in teaching Punjabi at Patiala. The proposal of employing Gyani pass candidates as Punjabi teachers was also under consideration, Mr Roy said. Sources reveal the commission took the stand that since Telugu, Tamil, Sanskrit and even Urdu were being offered in all schools, why Punjabi was being denied the same status. The Education Secretary and Director of Education were asked to report back to the state government and convey the recommendations of the commission. Sources revealed that the Himachal Government would act on the recommendations of the commission soon and make a formal announcement at the appropriate level. The commission is also likely to summon Rajasthan and Chandigarh Administration officials on the status of Punjabi language in their respective territories. |
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Police remand for Health Director Shimla, September 1 Dr Chauhan was arrested by the Vigilance Department yesterday and was produced in the court of the special judge this afternoon. His arrest was in connection with the alleged irregularities in purchase of equipment for the Health Department. The purchases were allegedly made from a fraudulent company in Delhi which, on the basis of forged letters had claimed to be recognised by Super Bazaar, Delhi. The scandal was exposed when Super Bazaar wrote to the Himachal Pradesh Government that it had nothing to do with the company. The scandal rocked the Vidhan Sabha in the last two sessions and the Chief Minister, Mr. P.K. Dhumal, had ordered the authorities to register a case and further investigate the matter. A former Director of Health Services, Dr
K.S. Sohal, has also been booked by the Vigilance Department, but was allowed to leave after questioning yesterday as his father had expired. Meanwhile, the Himachal Medical Officers Association
(HMOA) has demanded that the influential persons behind the irregular purchases by the department should be exposed by the Vigilance Department. The vice-president of the
HMOA, Dr Sanjay Pathak, in a statement today said the director was a small fry to indulge in gross misappropriation without a powerful backing which must be tracked down and all direct and indirect beneficiaries should be exposed in the enquiry. He said the maladministration of the Health Department was continuing because of the secretaries being shifted frequently and the directors being appointed on ad hoc basis. All purchases should be made through the standing purchase committee of the department. |
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Discrimination
against Kangra alleged Dharamsala, September 1 Addressing a press conference here today, Mr Bali, alleged that the BJP leaders were issuing misleading statements regarding the works undertaken in the Kangra region. “Comparison of the development works undertaken by Mr Virbhadra Singh and Mr P.K. Dhumal during their three and a half years rule, in Kangra would clearly show that the government which claims to protect the interests of the people of the lower areas has actually discriminated against them,” he stated. Mr Bali, lashed out at the state police for acting in a biased manner at the behest of the political bosses. “The most glaring example is the case regarding the abduction of the OBC zila parishad women members, in order to prevent them from casting their votes in election of the Chairman of the body,” he stated. Despite affidavits filed by the two women and all evidences being available, the police had not taken action. “Now efforts are being made to hush up the entire matter as the Kangra police has approached the Himachal Pradesh High Court for quashing of the FIR, which has names of some ministers and MLAs,” he said. He requested the court to take note of the biased functioning of the officers concerned and if allegations were found true, strictures should be passed against them. Mr Bali, threatened that after change of government, inquiries would be held against all those officers who not acting judiciously. On the other hand the law and order situation in the state is deteriorating with a sharp increase in the number of murders, rapes and crime against women in the government failing to take any effecting steps, he alleged. Mr Bali, alleged that government employees were being compelled to make donations for a superspeciality hospital and medical college at Rolta near Palampur. Over a hundred employees have approached me, who had been initiated to make donation. Demanding a CBI inquiry into the matter he said that if the government was so keen on setting up the hospital, they should collect money from corporate houses instead of harassing employees. He added that moreover the hospital would not be for the common man as they would not be able to afford the high charges. |
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Phoolan surrendered
for Malkhan: ex-DGP Kangra, September 1 This was disclosed here today by the former Director General of Police, Madhya Pradesh, Mr O.C. Sharma, while addressing mediapersons. He said Phoolan Devi did not surrender in her own interest but to save Malkhan Singh’s life whom she reportedly married later. He said after the surrender of Phoolan Devi, Malkhan Singh followed suit. He said another condition that she had laid down before her surrender was that she should not be handed over to the Uttar Pradesh police. Therefore, a case was
registered against her in MP and she was not handed over to the UP police. Mr Sharma, who was the Inspector General of Police, MP in 1991 said during his visit to the Gawalior Jail, he saw two girls in the annexe of the jail who were identified as Phoolan Devi and Munni Bai. Phoolan was neatly dressed and maintain a low profile, he added. He said he directed the Jail Superintendent to arrange for a teacher to teach Phoolan Devi in the jail and her first sample signatures were received by him as IGP (Prisons) after three months, which he had kept preserved in his office. It was then that she started reading and writing, Mr Sharma added. He said the MP Government had provided shelter to the family of Phoolan Devi in Gawalior and the family was allowed to visit the jail daily, at this was a part of the conditions for her surrender. |
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Phone exchange number swells to 128 in Mandi Mandi, September 1 Replying to a question, he admitted that there were problems in the working of the internet due to some snag in the equipment of a private company which had been directed to rectify it without further delay. He said due to this fault new internet accounts were not being released. He said 800 new connections had been provided up to August 31 and the total equipped capacity in the telecom district had gone up to 59,528 lines. The expansion work of the Mandi exchange was being done on a war footing. He said the Intelligent Network Services, on which the work was in progress, were likely to be launched in Mandi exchange within one month. The CLIP facility had already been introduced in Mandi and a cluster of exchanges around it. It would also be introduced in the remaining exchanges shortly, he added. |
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Cong rally in
CM’s constituency Hamirpur, September 1 Nearly 5,000 persons drawn from various parts of the district took part in the rally. Nearly 12 sitting MLAs and six former ministers were present. The rally was organised by Mr Kuldip Singh
Pathania, former Youth Congress chief. Among those present were — Mr Ram Lal Thakur, Mr Kaul Singh, and Mr Kuldip Kumar, and Mrs Asha Kumari, all former ministers, Mrs Anita Verma and Mr Rattan Singh, former parliamentary secretaries, and leaders of various frontal organisations of the party. However, no senior leader of the Congress led by Mrs Vidya Stokes was present. The former Chief Minister launched a scathing attack on the BJP leadership, especially the Chief Minister, for non-performance on all fronts. |
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Complaint
against private bus operators Shimla, September 1 In a written complaint to the Chief Justice, the organisation alleged that the private bus operators were not only violating the Motor Vehicles Act and the traffic rules with impunity, but also overcharging the commuters. While many of the buses were not fit for plying, the drivers and conductors were also not trained to do the job, it alleged, adding that. They also did not wear uniform and misbehaved with commuters. Smoking in the buses and taxis by drivers and conductors was a common feature and if the passengers objected, they picked up a quarrel, the organisation said, adding that driving under the influence of liquor, particularly in the evening, was also common. It said the time-table for plying buses was also not being followed and taxis were plying without metres. It urged the court to intervene in the matter and issue appropriate directions to the authorities concerned. |
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Sagar wants
OBC named for RS seat New Delhi, September 1 Mr Sagar, who was in Delhi recently, said he had no intention of contesting the ensuing Rajya Sabha elections and would contest only the assembly poll. He said he was not projecting the claim of Mr Daulat Ram Chaudhary, former Congress MLA from the Kangra constituency, for the RS seat and there was no question of his putting pressure on Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal in this regard. Mr Sagar said he would abide by the decision of Mr Dhumal on the issue. The minister alleged that the Congress had provided stepmotherly treatment to other backward classes by withdrawing quota for OBCs in promotion in 1994. He said while the Congress had opposed the quota for OBCs in panchayats in the high court, the Dhumal government had provided 15 per cent reservations in panchayats. |
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Former
varsity court member stages dharna Shimla, September 1 He accused the Vice-Chancellor, Mr S.K. Gupta, of functioning in a vindictive manner. He said that the Governor and the Chief Minister had failed to take action on his earlier memorandum regarding the “illegal” appointment of a new secretary to the Vice-Chancellor. Mr Bains accused the Vice-Chancellor of having failed to implement the recommendations of Kaw, Wilson, and Dohroo committees. |
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IN FOCUS Parwanoo The width of the road also does not conform to the norms of the state highways. Encroachments on both sides of the road, from the Kasauli turning, leave the road narrower, making it difficult for vehicles to move. In the absence of a regular parking area, truck drivers park their vehicles on both sides of the road, which slows the movement of traffic, and causes traffic jams between Parwanoo and Sector IV. Whenever a VIP is due to visit Sector IV or Sector V, the PWD authorities in Kasauli become active and repair the road temporarily, filling the potholes with lose earth. The condition of this road becomes worse in the rainy season. Landslides block the road with rubble falling from the hillside. Sometimes the road remains closed for three or four days, which creates problems for commuters and school children who come to Parwanoo from Sectors IV and V. |
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IMPCC to register
cable TV complaints Shimla, September 1 An official spokesman today said the Station Director of the Doordarshan Kendra, here had been notified as the IMPCC for Himachal Pradesh. Any complaint
against any cable operator of the state can be registered in the office of the director. The cable operators were duty bound to show three channels of Doordarshan DDI, DD2 and Metro. Their failure to do so or for any other grievances, one could register a complaint by sending it in an application to the Director. |
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Novel punishment
for eve-teasers Solan, September 1 The three identified as Krishan Lal, Arvind and Kapil Dev were let off with a warning. But the SP, Mr S.Z.H. Saidi, made the youths write
Mein phir kabhi aisa nahin karoonga 1,000 times each. Mr Zaidi said he had deployed commandos in plain clothes outside the gates of schools, parks and bazaars to deal with eve-teasers. |
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Anganwari workers
stage dharna Dharamsala, September 1 Later, they submitted a memorandum addressed to the Chief Minister to the Deputy Commissioner. Their main demands include increase in the salary of the anganwari workers to Rs 2000 and of the helper to Rs 1200 and extra payment for additional work. They demanded they should be brought under the direct control of the Social Welfare Department and not the local panchayats. They are also objecting to the selection of the workers and helpers by the panchayat and not the department. |
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Scheme
for water carriers Shimla, September 1 According to a notification, the appointment will be made against vacancies or fresh posts by a selection committee. The DPEOs will identify primary schools for appointing water carriers. The selection committee will comprise representatives of panchayats, urban local bodies and the Education Department. |
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1 killed
as jeep
falls into khud Mandi, September 1 The deceased has been identified as Devi Singh of
Aut. The accident occurred when driver Karam Singh lost control on the vehicle. The driver has been admitted to a hospital where his condition is said to be out of danger. Meanwhile, in a fire incident in
Nagwain, the house of Jhabe Ram was reduced to ashes. Two Jersy cows were also burnt to death along with entire household goods. The loss has been estimated at Rs 3 lakh. The district administration has given an immediate relief of Rs 15,000 to the victim. |
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