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Wednesday,
March
20, 2002, Chandigarh, India  
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Rallies
being held to educate people: Virbhadra Protest
over invitation to Congress leader Cong
factions to share dais JD(S) may part ways with morcha HP to
spend 933 cr on education |
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Shimla to have ‘enough’
water this summer ‘Annul
resolution on water tariff’ Promises
to martyr’s family ‘unfulfilled’ Shivratri
fair concludes Overbridge
costs ‘being’ exaggerated Company
told to pay damages Petition filed on labourers’ detention
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Rallies being held to educate people: Virbhadra Hamirpur, March 19 Talking to mediapersons here last night, he said it was wrong to say that no prior information was given to the PCC and various DCC about the rallies. He had sent registered letters to all intimating them about the rallies, he told reporters. Mrs Anita Verma, vice-president of the Himachal Congress Committee, also attended the press conference. Mr Virbhadra Singh claimed that Congressmen were united in the state and they were all set to bring the party back to power. He said if some persons had reservations on the issue, it was up to them to decide their fate, as the people would support those who would fight for their rights. The former Chief Minister said the BJP was on its way out from the state politics and this would be made clear in the state Assembly elections next year. He said the people were fed up with the present government and wanted it to teach a teething lesson. He said the BJP was facing internal dissensions and it had faced the music in the recent elections held in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal and Manipur. He said in Punjab, while the Akalis managed to win many seats, the BJP could win only three out of 23 seats it contested. The same thing would be repeated in Himachal Pradesh, he added. Mr Virbhadra Singh said developmental activities had come to a near stand still in all parts of the state and the plan figures proved this allegation. He said there was no increase in the plan funds for the state, whereas non-plan expenses were on the rise. He said he was for bringing transparency in the working of the Himachal Pradesh Subordinate Selection Board. This board had become a den of corruption and records of all recruitments were being burnt after three months of declaration of the results, he alleged. He said in the event of the Congress coming to power, persons of eminence would be appointed as members and the Chairman of the board and the board would continue to function from Hamirpur. Talking about the HP Public Service Commission, he said there was no need to shift it from Shimla to Hamirpur, as it was a constitutional binding to keep it at Shimla. He dubbed the Justice Kainthla report as a political document prepared against him and the Congress. The Congress would go to the people against this document and tell them the truth, he added. |
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Protest
over invitation to Congress leader Shimla, March 19 A number of sangh leaders have opposed the move and warned that they would boycott the convention if the sangh went ahead with the proposed programme. In a joint statement here yesterday, about a dozen leaders of the
sangh, including Mr Karam Singh and Mr Subhash Chand, president and general secretary, respectively, of the Parivan Mazdoor
Sangh, Sundernagar, Mr Thakur Singh and Mr Khem Singh, president and secretary, respectively, of the Mandi unit of the sangh and Mr Devi Roop
Walia, a former organising secretary of the sangh, have disapproved of the decision. They pointed out that the constitution of the sangh did not provide for inviting any political leader to preside over the convention. Only the Transport Minister was invited to the convention. |
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Cong factions to share dais Chamba, March 19 The rally will be presided over by former Chief Minister and Congress Legislature Party
(CLP) leader in the Vidhan Sabha Virbhadra Singh and addressed by several Congress leaders. Congress leaders of this region, including a former minister, Mr Sagar Chand
Nayyar, a local MLA, Mr Harsh Mahajan, Mr Khem Raj Abrol, DCC president, Mr
S.P. Dhall, president of the local municipal council, Mr Nand Kumar Chauhan and Mr Madan
Rawat, are busy attracting large crowds for this rally, besides leaders from
Bharmour, Bhatiyat and Banikhet. Congress leaders are in a mood to reproach the BJP-led government in the state and the Centre for its lack of governance,
mismanagement in resource generation and anti-people policies. Ms Asha
Kumari, a sitting MLA and former Minister for Primary Education, ruled out any division
within the Congress. |
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JD(S) may part ways with morcha Shimla, March 19 The state executive of the dal when met here yesterday decided that the party would go by the decision of the central high command regarding formation of a join front in the hill state to challenge the BJP and the Congress. Some of the members expressed their inability to join the morcha on the ground that one of its constituents is a partner in the NDA. The state executive decided to convene another meeting at Nahan on May 11 to take a final decision on whether or not to continue in the morcha. The dal expressed concern over the failure of the state government to get Himachal Pradesh included in the special central scheme being implemented to boost marketing of horticultural produce, floriculture and other agro-based products. In all 20 marketing-cum-export zones were being set up across the country but Himachal Pradesh, which was a major horticultural state, figured nowhere in the scheme. It criticised the indifferent attitude of the state government in the matter and urged the Union Minister for Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution to mount pressure on the Centre for setting up at least two export zones in the state. The party criticised the management of the Information Technology Institute, Vaknaghat for allocating only five per cent seats to Himachalis. In other states up to 85 per cent seats were kept for the local students. The dal termed the central Budget as the harshest in many years which would hit the poor and middle class alike. It demanded withdrawal of the hike in the prices of kerosene, fertilisers, cooking gas. |
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HP to spend 933 cr
on education Dharamsala, March 19 The Chief Minister laid the foundation stone of the cricket
stadium near the Sports Authority of India
(SAI) complex here today. He said with the completion of this project, Himachal would be in a position to hold international class matches. Mr
Dhumal, earlier addressed a public meeting at Praur, after laying the foundation stone of Capt Vikram Batra Government Degree College. The college which is being shifted from Palampur will be constructed at a cost of Rs 3.75 crore. “During the current financial year we have earmarked Rs 933 crore for the education sector to bring about qualitative improvement in the field of education,” he said. The Chief Minister announced Rs 35 lakh for the construction of the college building at Praur and urged people of Palampur to contribute under the “Vikas Mein Jan Sahyog “scheme. He also announced Rs 2 lakh for senior secondary school building at Naura and Rs 2 lakh for Sai Dhagree footbridge. He also announced five hand pumps to be set up in the area. |
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Shimla to have ‘enough’
water this summer Shimla, March 19 Adequate snow and rain during the winter after a gap of more than a decade has recharged the water sources catering to the hill resort. Last year the prolonged dry spell during the winter caused a sharp decline in the discharge of natural sources some of which almost dried up during peak summer. With snowfall becoming increasingly scarce, most of the tourist resorts have been facing shortage of water during summer. Last year water sources dried up even in the tribal areas Kinnaur and Lahaul Spiti. The glaciers which feed various nullahs and rivulets have been receeding with each passing year affecting not only the water supply schemes but also power generation in hydel projects. The problems become acute as demand for water in main hill towns increases sharply due to rush of tourists and its availability declines. For instance, last summer the daily availability of water from all sources in the state capital came down to 46 lakh gallons during the middle of May as against the demand of 70 lakh gallons. The local municipal corporation had to resort to rationing of water and in certain localities it was supplied on alternate days. This year the corporation could breathe easy as the discharge in the Gummah, Churhat and Ashwnini Khads, the three main sources, is quite good. August the requirement of 56 lakh gallons per day about 64 lakh gallons is available these days. Given the present level of discharge in the sources the availability of water will be much better than that of previous years, says Mr H.N. Kashyap, Municipal Commissioner. Besides, the supply from the Ashwini khad has been augmented and over 15 lakh gallons will be available from it. As many as 23 handpumps have been installed keeping in view the acute scarcity of water faced last year. Some of these have been energised. As such there was little possibility of the city confronting a serious water crisis during peak summer. The officials are, however, not taking any chances. They are taking all steps to ensure regular and adequate water supply during the summer. |
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‘Annul resolution on water tariff’ Kumarhatti, March 19 The
GOC-in-Chief has the authority to annul any resolution passed by the board. A letter the in this regard was submitted to the
GOC-in-Chief yesterday, a copy of which was marked to the Director-General, Defence Estate (DE), Ministry of Defence and Director DE, Western Command. They pleaded that Subathu was a small town and most of the inhabitants were pensioners. Charging commercial rates from them would be arbitrary and unjustified, they said. They alleged that Capt Mamata
Sarin, Health Officer, was nominated a member of the board only for a day in the absence of the regular member, Major
V.C. Reddy, so that the revised water rates could be passed. |
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Promises
to martyr’s family ‘unfulfilled’ Nurpur, March 19 In a letter submitted to the Chief Minister, copies of which were distributed to mediapersons here yesterday, the bereaved father of the martyr recalled that the Chief Minister, Mr Dhumal, along with the local MLA and the HPTDC Chairman, Mr Rakesh Pathania, had come to the village on July 24, 1999, to express his condolences to the surviving family members of the martyr. The Chief Minister on that occasion had announced before the villagers a number of development works for the uplift of the gram panchayat in the memory of the martyr, Jagjit Singh. These announcements included naming of the local Government High School after the name of martyr Jagjit Singh and upgrading the school to the senior secondary level by March 2000. Besides, the link road between Palari and Kot was to be metalled and a civil dispensary opened in the village which would also be named after Jagjit Singh. Kashmir Singh reminded that he had offered his land for opening the dispensary. Apart from this, the martyr’s family was assured of allocation of a petrol pump or a cooking gas agency. Kashmir Singh regretted that the government had only fulfilled the promise of naming the high school after Jagjit Singh. He lamented that all promises made publicly on that occasion were politically motivated and were a bundle of lies. These tall promises were made to influence the electorate keeping in view the Lok Sabha elections at that time. The martyr’s father alleged that such false commitments were an insult to the martyrdom of his son who laid down his life for the sake of his motherland. |
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Freedom
fighter dead Bilaspur, March 19 |
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Shivratri
fair concludes Mandi, March 19 Earlier, the Governor performed a prayer before the silver image of Madho Rai at Dhamama Palace. Sovereignty had been vested in Madho Rai (Lord Vishnu) during the rule of Surya Sen (1637-1664) as all his 18 sons had died during his life time. Madho Rai is held in same esteem even now. The Governor participated in the shobha yatra along with thousands of devotees playing traditional hill music. The contingents of the police, home guards and the NCC also marched with the procession. Officials and the elite of the town wearing
multi-coloured turbans also accompanied the Governor. Addressing a congregation Dr Bhan said fairs and festivals of Himachal Pradesh had preserved the rich cultural heritage over centuries. “Himachal is a dev bhoomi where brotherhood, peace, cooperation and harmony are visible in day-to-day life”, he said. He lauded the valour of the Himachal jawans who laid down their lives while fighting against aggressors and terrorists. It was a matter of pride that the first Param Vir Chakra was awarded to a
Himachali, he added. Dr Bhan said the state had made tremendous development over the past decades and has emerged as a model for development of hill areas in the country. Mr Jagdish Sharma, Deputy Commissioner and Chairman of the Mela Committee, welcomed the chief guest. |
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Overbridge
costs ‘being’ exaggerated Bilaspur, March 19 They said the department was
calculating the cost on the basis of standard per metre assessment which did not represent the factual figures. Addressing mediapersons today after a meeting of the committee, its general secretary Jaikumar said this estimate was misleading as was the earlier estimate of Rs 100 crore regarding the Ali khud bridge near here, which was later constructed at a cost of Rs 11 crore only. He urged the Chief Minister to ensure that the orders we gave a year ago to the Engineer-in-Chief and other officers were implemented and that PWD officers visited the site alongwith people’s representatives. |
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Company
told to pay damages Shimla, March 19 The complainant had alleged that he has purchased two packets of chocolates for his son on November 16, 2000 from a local shop. He said worms were found inside the chocolate packets and they were unfit for consumption. Directing the company, Mr Goel observed that there had been a culpable negligence amounting to deficiency in service on the part of Cadbury India Limited in the process of manufacturing of chocolates. Therefore, we order to pay Rs 25,000 as damages to the complainant along with litigation cost of Rs 2000. |
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Petition filed on
labourers’ detention Shimla, March 19 He pleaded with the court for the release of the detenue from the “illegal” custody of brick-kiln owner. While issuing notices, a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice W.A. Shishak and Mr Justice L.S. Panta further directed the respondents, to file their replies before March 27. |
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