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Wednesday,
February 20, 2002, Chandigarh, India  
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Plague-hit
areas limp back to normalcy
‘Plague’
may hit HP tourism Chamba
needs rejuvenation: trust |
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AAI team
visits Kangra airport Scribe
alleges threat by BJP MLA NHPC to
take over 7 more projects 2 Uzbek
women arrested BADDI DIARY Fill
posts for disabled, says Chief Secy CM
inaugurates new school block College
students boycott classes Congress workers hail inclusions Agro-project
for women launched
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Plague-hit areas limp back to normalcy Shimla, February 19 At least 12 patients are receiving treatment at the
PGI, IGMC and Rohru. The condition of two patients in the PGI was stated to be serious. While the National Institute of communicable Diseases
(NICD) has yet to come out with its findings on the samples collected by its team, the doctors of the IGMC here have already identified the disease as pneumonic plague as they detected “yersinia
pestis” bacteria in the sputum of a patient. An official spokesman said here today that because of the timely action of the authorities the disease has been nipped in the bud before it could take a bigger toll. No fresh case in the past five days has been reported. The medicos are, however, taking no chances and all relevant surveillance measures and procedures are still being continued in the affected villages. Far away from these villages are the towns of Shimla, Kulu,
Manali, Dharamsala and other tourist resorts of the state. Life has been normal in these towns throughout the past fortnight and the tourists are still seen in large numbers. The Chief Secretary, Mr Harsh Gupta, has been keeping a vigil on the situation and assured the visitors and tourists that there is nothing to panic, the spokesman added. |
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‘Plague’ may hit HP tourism Shimla, February 19 In fact, the hoteliers have already started feeling the pinch with some couples mostly honeymooners, already cancelling booking not only to Shimla but also to far off places like Manali. The tourism industry, which did not have a good season during Christmas and New Year due to lack of snow, has been pinning its hope on the current marriage season to make up for the lost business. However, the outbreak of disease has dashed all hopes. The occupancy in hotels which was expected to be 30 to 40 per cent has come down to around 10 per cent. Even the regular visitors are scared to enter the state, says Mr Umesh Akre, vice-president of the Himachal Hotels Association. “I have been getting endless telephones calls from Gujarat, Maharashtra and other far off states inquiring whether it was safe to visit the state. My efforts to convince them that it was an isolated case did not cut much ice,” he said, while blaming the media, particularly the satellite news channels for blowing up the incident out of proportion. He has already met Mr Harsh Gupta, Chief Secretary, and urged him to launch a counter campaign to apprise the people about the factual position and “undo” the damage caused by the adverse publicity that the media gave it. The situation is no different in Manali. The tourist traffic has declined by about 60 per cent over the past one week, according to Mr Madan Awasthy, general secretary of the local hoteliers’ association. He has written a letter to Secretary, Tourism, urging him to take whatever measures were required to save the tourism industry from adverse publicity in the wake of outbreak of plague. The tourism industry is more worried about the summer season. While tourism traffic starts picking up towards the middle of April the booking for the entire season up to June is mostly confirmed towards the end of the February and March. The first half of season belongs to tourists from Gujarat and Maharashtra, the two states which account for more than 30 per cent of the total tourist traffic. The affluent Gujaratis, who start arriving in the first week of April, are all the more scared of the dreaded disease as they bore its brunt not long ago. A senior officer of the Tourism Department admitted that the plague scare could affect the inflow of tourists by about 30 per cent. Foreigners, in particular, were very sensitive to such matters and do not take even the slightest risk. As such most of them were likely to omit Himachal Pradesh from their itinerary, he added. It remains to be seen what strategy the government adopts to dispel the scare. |
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BJP flays Virbhadra on ‘plague’ utterances Shimla, February 19 Mr Ganesh Dut, party spokesperson, said instead of supporting the government, which had spared no effort to deal with the situation. Mr Virbhadra Singh was trying to instigate the people. He said even the Prime Minister and the Union Health Minister wanted to visit the affected area and the families of those who had succumbed to the disease. He said the utterances of Mr Virbhadra Singh were in sharp contrast with Mr Ram Lal Thakur, former Chief Minister, who appreciated the effort of the government. Mr Virbhadra Singh was by his unwarranted statements harming the interests the state. The plague scare could affect tourism in the state. |
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Jubbal schools closed till February 22 Shimla, February 19 Earlier, these institutions were ordered to remain closed till February 20. |
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Chamba needs rejuvenation: trust Chamba, February 19 Surrounded and protected on all sides by the snow-clapped mountain ranges of the mighty Dhauladhar-Himalayas, the twin town — resplendent with ancient temples, shrines, royal palaces and heritage buildings, have a long-chequered history of their own. According to the convener of the Chamba chapter of the INTACH, Mr Harish Chandra Sharma, Bharmour was the capital of the then Brahmapura kingdom from 2nd century AD to the 10th century AD and the present Chamba town remained capital of the erstwhile state from 11th century AD onwards. Both the small but elegant hill towns still retain their distinct hill culture, glory and grandeur of the bygone era in their unique character, architecture and style. Under the centrally sponsored scheme drawn up by the Union Ministry of Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation in collaboration with the Ministries of Culture, Tourism and Finance, select towns would be given Rs 25 crore each over a period of five years to help rejuvenate them by preserving and conserving the townscape, including heritage sites, ancient monuments and buildings of the area which are threatened by haphazard phase of development and are prone to greater urban stress. The ministry had drawn a list of 135 cities of religious and cultural significance so far, which need improvement in urban infrastructure and civic upkeep. The ambitious schemes would go a long way in preserving the rich cultural heritage of Chamba and Bharmour towns, besides boosting tourism in the mountain locked picturesque Chamba district, Mr Sharma said. |
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Diplomats to aid of convicted foreigners Shimla, February 19 More than 200 foreign nationals have been arrested in the past two months, particularly in the Kulu and Manali areas which have become a virtual haven for drug addicts. Efforts of the police and other authorities have failed to contain the menace. A short while ago, a British national, Ian
Stillman, who had been sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment under the NDPS
Act, exerted diplomatic pressure to secure his release on the plea of being a handicapped person. The Western media also came to his rescue and started raising a hue and cry about civil liberties. However, the high court upheld the sentence given by the district court. Diplomatic pressure is also reportedly being mounted by Israel for the release of two
girls, Ravit Shirki and Cohen Berta, who have been sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment with a fine of Rs 1 lakh. It is learnt that some senior functionaries of the Israeli embassy recently came here in connection with the case. Shirki, who delivered a baby girl while undergoing imprisonment in the jail at Nahan, was pregnant when she was arrested near Bhuntar in Kulu last June. The father of Berta is reportedly a high official in Israel. There are reports that the President of Israel has written to his Indian counterpart for the release of the girls on humanitarian grounds. These girls have also filed an appeal in the high court against their conviction. It is worth mentioning that a good number of foreigners have settled
in the interior areas of the district without valid documents. However, the police, handicapped because of a shortage of manpower, has been unable to trace them. During a visit to some of these areas, one feels as if one has landed in some foreign country. According to the Superintendent of Police, Kulu, Mr Venugopal, 91 foreigners have been arrested during the past three years, including seven women. This year, 34 foreigners have been arrested so far, 20 of them under the NDPS act for possessing drugs and 14 under the foreigners Act. The 91 foreigners arrested include 14 Italians, 11 Israelis, 10 Britons, eight French and German nationals each and seven Japanese. Other arrested include two nationals each from Austria, Canada, Iran, Kenya, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Switzerland and the Slovak Republic, besides one national each from Australia, Afghanistan, Belgium, Congo, Chile, Finland, Greece, New Zealand, Russia, Sweden, Somalia, Sri Lanka. Tanzania, Tunisia and Yugoslavia. |
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AAI team visits Kangra airport Dharamsala, February 19 The team comprising senior AAI officials from the planning wing visited the airport and reviewed progress on the extension of the runway from the present 3,900 feet to 4,500 feet. Due to a small runway, only 18-seater Dornier aircraft can land here, which is the reason behind the high air fare. Work on the resurfacing of the runway has already been completed. The main building of the airport is also being constructed to provide more facilities to passengers. Keeping in mind the tourism potential of the Kangra and Chamba areas, the government is keen that bigger aircraft are able to land here. Also, McLeodganj is the abode of the Dalai Lama and a large number of foreign tourists come here throughout the year. The state government has also made a special request to the Centre to have subsidised air fares in Himachal on the pattern of Jammu and Kashmir and the North-East. The matter regarding the handing over of the airport security to the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), has also been approved by the AAI. It was following increased militant-related activities in Kangra and Chamba that security was tightened at the airport. The Himachal Government is also getting a civil terminal constructed at the Pathankot airbase to facilitate the landing of bigger aircraft. |
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Scribe alleges threat by
BJP MLA Hamirpur, February 19 He also made a written complaint to the Hamirpur police today about the threat given to him by the BJP MLA. In his complaint, he has alleged that when he tried to seek comments from the MLA on the charges of graft against him by a BJP functionary of the Nadaunta area of the district, the MLA abused him and threatened him of dire consequences. Mr R.R. Sharma has also sent copies of his complaint to the Chief Minister, Director-General of Police and the national president of the National Union of Journalists. Meanwhile, Mr R.M. Sharma, SP, here has refused to register a case against Mr Baldev Sharma. In his letter to Mr Revti Raman Sharma, the SP has said no case can be made out on the basis of telephonic talks. He has also instructed the Hamirpur police station in charge not to take action on complaint of the journalist. |
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NHPC to take over 7 more projects Dalhousie, February 19 Stating this here today, Mr S.K. Dodeja, Executive Director of the NHPC, said this hydro-power revolution would usher in another era of large scale development in the state, although two hydroelectric projects of the NHPC , the 690 mw Salal hydroelectric project and the 480 mw Uri hydroelectric project — were already in operation and generating substantial power for the Northern grid. The 390 mw Dulhasti hydroelectric project was under construction in militancy-infested area. It was likely to be completed by next year. Mr Dodeja said the 1020 mw Burser hydroelectric project had also attained commercial viability. The feasibility reports of other three projects — 330 mw Kishenganga hydroelectric project, 30 mw Nimoobazgo hydroelectric project and 18 mw Chutak hydroelectric project — had been submitted to the CEA by the NHPC. At the international conference on non-fossil fuel generation held at Delhi from February 5 to 7, the NHPC had put these four projects on “road show” for investment in the joint venture. Mr Dodeja informed that the 280 mw Uri hydroelectric project (stage-II), was to be taken up for construction during the Tenth Five-Year-Plan at a national cost of Rs. 1700 crore. The Union Ministry of Environment and Forest had issued clearance for all these projects and studies relating to environment management plan (EMP) were in progress. |
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2 Uzbek women arrested Solan, February 19 Conflicting statements made by the women and the Indian national initially
described themselves as residents of Greater Kailash, New Delhi, and gave their names as Laila and Nargis. They said that they were bound for Shimla as tourists. However, the Indian said that they were proceeding to Kasauli. The S.P., Mr S.Z.H. Zaidi that the fact that the women could speak neither Hindi nor Urdu and communicated in broken English led the policemen to believe that they were laying. On interrogation, the women confessed to being Uzbek nationals who had been living in India without any valid documents for the past one year. During a routine search of their persons, the two were found to be possession of certain materials which pointed to their being possibly involved in the flesh trade. The Indian national who initially said that he was an employee of a Delhi-based travel agency and that he was taking the women to Kasauli under instruction of his boss, later changed his statement by saying that he was escorting the women to Shimla where they were to be picked by some other men at the bus stand. The three-were booked on charges of attempting to conceal their identity. The women were additionally charged with violating Section 14 of the Foreigners Act. |
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BADDI DIARY Baddi The early 80s brought industrial activity to this area, revolutionising life here. The hitherto barren wasteland of the region changed into a goldmine of industries, fetching jobs for the locals, elevating their socio-economic status. The hill panchayats of Nalagarh and Doon, falling in the Ramshahr area, present a deplorable plight. No development activity to link these to the better-equipped industrial belt has been brought about. The farmers are battling with problems which have remained unsolved despite repeated assurances from various politicians. Time and again, all development works have been focused in the industrial area by politicians, complain residents of Ramshahr. Despite the hardships, the farmers have brought glory to their region by growing vegetables, which have a special demand and in neighbouring states. This has substantially brought about prosperity here. Facilities like pucca road, proper transportation facility, and information bulletin regarding farming practices and assured irrigation can go a long way in helping the farmers. Nonetheless, the farmers manager producing a fair harvest of vegetables like tomato, peas, ginger, and off-season cauliflower, which are sold in Punjab, Haryana and Delhi. People feel that if 13 hill panchayats of Nalagarh and 23 of Doon areas, which are geographically located in the Ramshahr area, are converted into a separate development block, it will go a long way in improving their status. A social worker of the area feels that the government’s indifferent attitude towards this area can be gauged from the fact that even after more than five decades of Independence, people have to trudge mountains to reach for flung villages, forget accessibility to other primary facilities like education and healthcare. Politicians have been promising development works each time around elections, which have remained nothing more than promises. Even an average illiterate villager feels the difference between the developed plain region and the ignored hill areas. Politicians are least interested in visiting the inaccessible mountainous tracts to see the hardships and carry out the needed development work. The government’s decision of making new development blocks had given a ray of hope to the people here, but they felt betrayed when no such change came forth despite announcement. It would have benefitted as many as 56,000 voters in this less privileged belt. Labour office demanded The Solan faction of the Industrial Labour Union has demanded the opening of a labour office here. In a written statement issued at Solan, the district secretary, Mr Kulbhushan Mehta and the joint secretary, Mr Anup Sharma, have stated that keeping in view the large labour population residing in the area and working in various industries, cases of infringement of labour laws are a common occurrence here. Therefore it becomes necessary to appoint a labour officer here who can keep a check on such cases. A number of disputes relating to labour rights are pending in the labour office at Solan. Among the most recent cases is the illegal colosure of the DCM tools and dies unit resulting in retrenchment of a number of employees. |
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Fill posts for
disabled, says
Chief Secy Shimla, February 19 Presiding over a meeting of a committee constituted to review the implementation of the Person with Disabilities Act here today, he underlined the need to redress the grievances of the disabled at the earliest. It was informed at the meeting that 1,268 posts had been filled so far from among the persons with disabilities under the 3 per cent reservation quota. As many as 38 posts had been allotted by the Urban Local Bodies to persons with disabilities and 34 persons had also benefited by schemes of the Rural Development Department. |
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CM inaugurates
new school block Palampur, February 19 The Chief Minister was addressing a large crowd at Chachian after inaugurating the new block of Government Senior Secondary School, Gopalpur near here. He said that it was a fact that under the Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sadak Yojna this year, the maximum funds had been allocated for Anni in Kulu represented by a Congress MLA and Rohru, the constituency of former Chief Minister. He said last year Rs 60 crore was spent under this scheme and this year the budget has been raised to Rs 120 crore and due to his efforts an additional Rs 10 crore had been sanctioned recently. Mr Dhumal criticised the Congress for time and again raising the bogey of discrimination against Kangra. He said it was during the BJP regime that Himachal with a population of 60 lakh has been able to rise to the fourth place in per capita income. He gave credit for this to participation by the people and their confidence in his government. Giving details of the works undertaken in the Palampur area, Mr Dhumal said Rs 15 crore was being spent on the rural roads under PMGSY and another Rs 1.02 crore would be spent on 31 km roads under NABARD schemes. Rs 1.73 crore would also be spent on the Chamunda water supply scheme which is nearing completion. Later, the Chief Minister laid the foundation stones of a Rs 70 lakh marketing yard complex and Rs 1.07 crore shopping complex in Palampur town. Both the projects would be ready within the next financial year, Mr Dhumal added. Chief Minister also inaugurated the additional accommodation of the local Circuit House constructed at a cost of Rs 35 lakh. |
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MP inaugurates
school building Kulu, February 19 He claimed that the government had provided basic infrastructure to all educational institutions. He announced a grant of Rs 70,000 for a serai of the local Shiv temple and Rs 80,000 for the road from Bandal to Kothi-Age. |
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College
students boycott classes Hamirpur, February 19 They were demanding re-checking of papers through table marking system, timely declaration of their results, reservation of 10 per cent seats in various engineering colleges for them and allowing only non-medical students to appear for the entrance examination for the polytechnic courses. They also submitted a memorandum to the state government through the district administration. They alleged that the authorities were not listening to their problems and that was why they were forced to go on strike today. A student’s spokesman said that they would go on fast from February 23, if their demands were not met by then. |
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Congress workers hail inclusions Shimla, February
19 They said the inclusion of Mr Gangu Ram Musafir and Mr Chander Kumar indicated that Ms Sonia Gandhi wanted the grass roots people to come forward. Mr Ram Lal
Thakur, Ms Asha Kumari, Mr Yogendera Chandra, Mr Kashmir Singh, Mr Dharampal (all
MLAs) and Kewal Singh Pathania, president of the NSUI, said today that the aspirations of the party workers had been met. They were now hopeful that the nearly two dozen petitions pertaining to organisational elections, which were pending before the party high command, would be disposed of. |
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Agro-project for women launched Shimla, February 19 The projects have been extended to 10 districts, except Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur district. The scheme was started in 1993-94 in Theog, Rampur and Mashobra blocks of Shimla district where it was introduced on an experimental basis. But after its success in these blocks the scheme was extended to other districts of the state. There are 68 blocks in the state. Five women groups in each block comprising 20 women have been introduced. Even the budget for the programme has been enhanced to Rs 50 lakh in 2001-2002 from the existing Rs 4 lakh. Dr J.C. Rana, Director, said these women groups were also interacting with such groups in other states. An international fair “Krishi Expo 2002” will be organised in Delhi from February 27 to March 5 in this regard. |
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One killed in accident Kulu, February 19 |
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