H I M A C H A L   P R A D E S H

HP transfers 8 IAS officers
Shimla, January 23
The Himachal Public Relations Department will be headed by an officer of the department after a gap of nine years. The state government today posted Mr B.D.Sharma, additional director, as Director, Public relations, relieving Mr Balram Sharma, Director vigilance of the additional charge.

Dhumal receives lukewarm response
Dharamsala, January 23
The Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal, received a lukewarm response on his arrival at Kangra for the annual winter sojourn as the BJP’s intention to use the Kainthla Commission report as a political weapon during the Assembly poll, became evident.

Dhumal seeks people’s help to fight terror
Kangra, January 23
The Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, has assured the people of the state that all steps have been taken to protect the interests of the people in the state in view of terrorism affecting the state.

HP gives top priority to roads
Hamirpur, January 23
Realising the importance of roads in the socio-economic development of any area the state government has given utmost priority to the construction of roads during the past few years.

Larji project may end power crisis
Mandi, January 23
With the last blast of 2,160 meter-long tunnel of the 126 mw Larji Hydroelectric Project under execution in the district, a major step towards the completion of the project was taken today. 

Cycle rally flagged off
Nahan, January 23
The Minister of State for Youth Services and Sports, Mr Parveen Sharma, flagged off a cycle rally, Rashtriya Yuva Yatra , from Paonta Sahib, yesterday. The rally has been organised by the Nehru Yuva Kendra and has participants from seven states.

63 km completed on Killar-Chamba road
Chamba, January 23
The Killar-Chamba state highway via the 4,390-metre Saach Pass, in the difficult and mountainous geological terrain, will not only connect Chamba with the tribal valley of Pangi in the district, but also reduce about 320 km of the total distance of 500 km by surface transport.

Briton, Iranian held for carrying charas
Shimla, January 23
The police has arrested four persons, including a British and an Iranian national, and seized charas worth Rs 55 lakh from their possession.

Lok Janshakti expels two members
Shimla, January 23
The Lok Janshakti Party today expelled Mr Surendera Chauhan and Mr Ram Lal Suri from the organisation on charges of anti-party activity. The announcement regarding their expulsion was made here by Mr Ashok Thakur, press secretary, of the party.

Himachali trout project a success
Shimla, January 23
The Himachali trout is these days being marketed and sent to Delhi as the Norway assisted project at Kulu has succeeded in producing quality fish.

ABVP dharnas against terrorism
Shimla, January 23
The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad today organised statewide protests against terrorism. The activists of the Parishad staged dharnas in all towns, like Solan, Rampur, Mandi, Kulu, Una, Dharamsala and Palampur and submitted memorandums urging the government to take effective steps to curb Pakistan-sponsored terrorism in the country.

Experts highlight need for bird surveys
Parwanoo, January 23
Various techniques for identifying the diseased vultures-specially the white-backed and long-billed species, were discussed by avian experts from all over the Indian subcontinent and from the UK on the third day of the workshop on Vulture Monitoring and Bird Survey Techniques.

HP transfers 8 IAS officers
Tribune News Service

Shimla, January 23
The Himachal Public Relations Department will be headed by an officer of the department after a gap of nine years. The state government today posted Mr B.D.Sharma, additional director, as Director, Public relations, relieving Mr Balram Sharma, Director vigilance of the additional charge. Mr Balram Sharma has also been promoted Commissioner-Cum-Secretary, Home and Vigilance. Mr D.P.Joshi was the last officer of the department to hold the post of Director. The post was held by officers of the IAS cadre since Mr Joshi was made adviser in 1993.

The government also transferred eight other IAS officers and three State Administrative service officers, besides promoting Mr Ashok Thakur, Commissioner-cum-Secretary tourism, to the rank of Financial Commissioner-cum-Secretary. He will continue to hold the present charge. Ms Rajender Bhattacharya, Additional Chief Secretary, Labour, Employment, Training, Printing and Stationery, has Additional charge of Secretary, home and Vigilance. Mr Arvind Kaul, Financial Commissioner-cum-Secretary, cooperation, has been given additional charge of housing. Mr Ravi Dhingra, Financial Commissioner-cum-secretary, Revenue, will hold the additional charge of Biotechnology. Mr S.S.Negi, Financial Commissioner (Appeals) has been also given the charge of Labour, Employment, Printing and Stationery, besides Secretary technical education. Mr Narinder Chauhan on return from leave has been posted Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Finance, Institutional Finance and Director Public finance vice Mr Deepak Shanan who has proceeded on leave. Mr R.D. Nazeem, Additional Director Industries has been posted Deputy Commissioner, Kulu, vice Mr A.J.V. Prasad, who proceeded on interstate deputation.

Mr Divesh Kumar, Subdivisional Officer (Civil) Palampur, will take over as additional Director Industries. Mr Jagroop Singh Rana, Assistant Settlement Officer, Dharamsala, has been posted as Subdivisional Officer (civil) Nalagarh vice Mr Kalyan Chand who goes to Palampur in the same capacity.

Mr K.K.Khanna, Under Secretary, State backward Classes Commission will also hold additional charge of Under Secretary Welfare.

Dhumal receives lukewarm response
Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, January 23
The Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal, received a lukewarm response on his arrival at Kangra for the annual winter sojourn as the BJP’s intention to use the Kainthla Commission report as a political weapon during the Assembly poll, became evident.

Accompanied by ministers, party MLAs and officials, the Chief Minister, who has spared only two and a half days for the first leg of the winter move, seemed to be sparing no effort to prove that Kangra was in no way being discriminated against and was getting its share of development funds.

However, the Kainthla Commission report, indicting the CLP leader, Mr Virbhadra Singh, and five other Congress MLAs for alleged political violence at the time of the formation of the government in March,1998, remains the highlight of not only Mr Dhumal’s speeches but also his ministerial colleagues and MLAs.

During the public meetings addressed by Mr Dhumal at Ghallian village, Kangra and Bhatoli Phakorian, the focus of criticism has been the former Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister has been announcing numerous schemes and projects for the Kangra region to dispel the notion that there has been any discrimination against the home district of Mr Shanta Kumar, an arch-rival.

He said land worth Rs 10 crore had been given for the Vivekanand Medical Institute at Palampur and several crores spent on strengthening the infrastructure at Tanda Medical College. He inaugurated a para-clinical block const- ructed at a cost of Rs 4.52 crore and laid the foundation stone for 167 staff quarters at Tanda.

The Chief Minister said all efforts were being made to promote tourism in the Kangra valley. A sum of Rs 30 crore would be spent on making a civil terminal at Pathankot and Rs 10 crore on extending the runway at Gaggal airport.

He said money was being spent on the beautification of Kangra Fort, the Kathgarh temple, Pragpur heritage village, the Rock Cut temple at Masroor, Mcleodganj and Jwalamukhi. He said efforts were on to develop Jwalamukhi on the pattern of the Vaishno Devi shrine and set up an aerial ropeway at Neugal in Palampur.

Mr Dhumal announced that a cancer hospital would be set up at Paprola Ayurvedic College, which would be made a centre of excellence.

He inaugurated a lift irrigation scheme of Rs 97.82 lakh on the Baner khud at Ghallian village and laid the foundation stone for a Rs 10 lakh Krishi Bhavan at Icchi.

Mr Dhumal today laid the foundation stone for a lift irrigation scheme at Tripal village.

Dhumal seeks people’s help to fight terror
Our Correspondent

Kangra, January 23
The Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, has assured the people of the state that all steps have been taken to protect the interests of the people in the state in view of terrorism affecting the state.

Mr Dhumal said this at a “meet the Press” organised here by the Trigarth Press Club last evening. He said those who had abetted terrorism had themselves fallen victim to it.

He said those who patronised the LTTE became victims of its fury.

He said Pakistan would also suffer for aiding and abetting cross-border terrorism.

He urged the people to help the administration to check the menace of terrorism.

Mr Dhumal said the state would attain self-reliance by 2008 through an income of Rs 1,800 crore by supplying 10,000 MW of power to other states and by improving an eco-friendly system and tourism in the state. He said by the end of this year the state would produce 2,226 MW additional power and the state would earn 12 per cent royalty on it.

He said a disinformation campaign was being carried out by the Congress that the BJP was ignoring Kangra district.

Earlier, addressing a public meeting here, the Chief Minister announced a Rs 10.13 crore sewerage project for this temple town.

He also announced a park and said a musical fountain would be constructed in it to attract tourists.

HP gives top priority to roads
Our Correspondent

Hamirpur, January 23
Realising the importance of roads in the socio-economic development of any area the state government has given utmost priority to the construction of roads during the past few years.

The centrally located district of Hamirpur, that falls on the Shimla-Dharamsala highway, is one of the main districts of the state that has seen overall development, besides the construction of roads on a warfooting after it was made into a full-fledged district in 1972.

Prior to 1966, when Hamirpur was a part of the erstwhile Kangra district, it had only 183 km long roads, including 143 km kutcha and 40 km pucca roads. At that time, there were only one dozen small and medium size bridges in the area. However, the roads length rose to 289 km including 214 km, of kutcha and 75 km of pucca roads. The road density, that was 16 km per 100 sq km in 1966, also rose to 25 km per 100 sq km.

However, during the past three decades the district has witnessed a marked rise in the construction of roads and now it tops not only the state but also India as the road density here stands at 100 km per 100 sq km. Similarly, the total length of the roads in the district has also increased to 1,341 km, including 755 km pucca and 586 kutcha roads.

Larji project may end power crisis
Our Correspondent

Mandi, January 23
With the last blast of 2,160 meter-long tunnel of the 126 mw Larji Hydroelectric Project under execution in the district, a major step towards the completion of the project was taken today. The face I and face II of the tunnel coincided perfectly which is 8.5 meter in diameter.

The Chairman, HPSEB, Kanwar Shamsher Singh, ignited the last blast today in the presence of a large number of engineers and workers.

Kanwar Shamsher Singh said the first unit of the project was scheduled to be commissioned by March, 2004, and would go a long way in resolving the power crisis faced by the region.

He said the work on the project was going on a war-footing. The work of the underground desilting chambers and 71 meter deep surge shaft and pressure shafts had been accelerated.

He said the work on the underground power house was also making a headway. The Larji project would generate 6000 million units of power annually and earn an annual revenue of Rs 150 crore to the state.

Cycle rally flagged off
Tribune Reporters

Nahan, January 23
The Minister of State for Youth Services and Sports, Mr Parveen Sharma, flagged off a cycle rally, Rashtriya Yuva Yatra , from Paonta Sahib, yesterday.

The rally has been organised by the Nehru Yuva Kendra and has participants from seven states.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Parveen Sharma cautioned youth against ‘intellectual terrorism ’, which he said, was distorting the glorious past of the country.

Kumarhatti : The rally which reached here, was given a warm welcome by the local and the Barog yuva mandal, led by Mr Naveen Sood and Mr Sanjay Kumar, respectively. The members of the rally also addressed the youth.

63 km completed on Killar-Chamba road
Our Correspondent

Chamba, January 23
The Killar-Chamba state highway via the 4,390-metre Saach Pass, in the difficult and mountainous geological terrain, will not only connect Chamba with the tribal valley of Pangi in the district, but also reduce about 320 km of the total distance of 500 km by surface transport.

When complete, the highway will be a milestone in the tribal terrain of Himachal Pradesh. People will be able to take a 180-km short-cut route to Killar, the tribal subdivisional headquarters of Pangi from Chamba.

An official spokesman of the state Public Works Department said here today that so far construction work on 63 km of the highway had been completed at an expenditure of Rs 3 crore.

With the commissioning of the Sansari Nala bridge the 15-km road, connecting the border areas of Kishtwar in Jammu and Kashmir to Chamba via Batot and Jammu, was recently opened to the traffic.

Briton, Iranian held for carrying charas

Shimla, January 23
The police has arrested four persons, including a British and an Iranian national, and seized charas worth Rs 55 lakh from their possession.

District police chief N. Venugopal said the police seized 500 gm of charas from British national Anthony David Kelly while checking a bus at Bajaura. He was travelling from Manali to Dehra Dun.

Iranian national Hossein Pishehvar was arrested when the police seized 3 kg charas from his bag during checking at Manikaran. He reportedly failed to produce travel documents and the search of his bag yielded the contraband, Mr Venugopal said. Cases have been registered. UNI

Lok Janshakti expels two members
Tribune News Service

Shimla, January 23
The Lok Janshakti Party today expelled Mr Surendera Chauhan and Mr Ram Lal Suri from the organisation on charges of anti-party activity.

The announcement regarding their expulsion was made here by Mr Ashok Thakur, press secretary, of the party. Their expulsion came soon after they made certain allegations against the Congress leader, Mr Virbhadra Singh, regarding his landholdings. They had sought action against Mr Virbhadra Singh on this account.

Mr Chauhan was earlier president of the Shimla district unit of the party. Mr Suri is a member of the executive committee of the Chopal unit. Mr Thakur said the two leaders had violated discipline by issuing “baseless” statements instead of strengthening the party.

Himachali trout project a success
Tribune News Service

Shimla, January 23
The Himachali trout is these days being marketed and sent to Delhi as the Norway assisted project at Kulu has succeeded in producing quality fish.

According to Dr Kuldip Kumar, Director, Fisheries, the project has opened several avenues for the exploitation of the cold waters for fish production as well as employment generation in the upland areas.

The trout, which was rare two years ago, is now abundantly available in the waters and is being sent to Delhi from the department’s fish farm.

A Centrally-sponsored pilot project for cold water aquaculture has also been sanctioned for Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Uttaranchal. It envisages remodelling of the existing trout farms by providing a liberal subsidy of up to Rs 85,000 per unit. Under the project, 125 units will be benefited during the current year.

The Norwegian Government has sanctioned another project on fish health and upgradation in research and training for problems relating to fish diseases in trout farming.

ABVP dharnas against terrorism
Tribune News Service

Shimla, January 23
The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad today organised statewide protests against terrorism. The activists of the Parishad staged dharnas in all towns, like Solan, Rampur, Mandi, Kulu, Una, Dharamsala and Palampur and submitted memorandums urging the government to take effective steps to curb Pakistan-sponsored terrorism in the country.

They also raised slogans condemning terrorism and burnt an effigy of Pakistan’s military ruler General Pervez Musharraf in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office here.

The parishad demanded that the government should use military power to destroy terrorist training camps, refuse to accept America’s mediation in solving Kashmir dispute, serve an ultimatum on Pakistan for handing over wanted terrorists and keep a strict watch on “Madarsas” to prevent misuse there of. 

Experts highlight need for bird surveys
Tribune News Service

Parwanoo, January 23
Various techniques for identifying the diseased vultures-specially the white-backed and long-billed species, were discussed by avian experts from all over the Indian subcontinent and from the UK on the third day of the workshop on Vulture Monitoring and Bird Survey Techniques.

The morning session began with Dr Vibhu Prakash, Principal Project Investigator, Bombay Natural History Society, explained about the different kinds of vultures found in the Indian subcontinent. Besides five vultures belonging to Gyps species, four other kinds of species also frequent the Indian subcontinent.

Dr Andrew Cunningham, a pathologist from the Zoological Society of London, specified the pathological requirements for identifying the symptoms of disease in these vultures. Training in bird survey is being imparted to members of different NGOs, forest department employees and wildlife enthusiasts.