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Friday,
April 12, 2002, Chandigarh, India  
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HP Cong MLA Khachi dead
Decks cleared for
cement plant Follow Ambedkar’s
example: Governor |
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HC halts construction in prohibited area Strategic road
still incomplete Nitish rules out widening of track Judge rues rights violations 119 in fray for MC poll HP to have surplus power by 2003: minister Lahaul-Spiti
website launched
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HP Cong MLA Khachi dead Shimla, April 11 Mr Khachi (75), who was a sitting MLA, will be accorded a state funeral at his native village of Ghamana in the Kumarsain tehsil tomorrow. He is survived by his wife, Giani Devi, two sons and a daughter. His death has been mourned by people from all walks of life. The Governor, Dr Suraj Bhan, the Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal, Minister for Health, Mr J.P. Nadda, for Education Minister, Mr I.D. Dhiman, Minister for Horticulture, Mr Narendera Bragta, Minister for Cooperatives, Mr R.R. Kaundal, and many other ministers and legislators laid wreath on the body of Mr Khachi. The Speaker, Thakur Gulab Singh and the Deputy Speaker, Mr Ram Dass Malangar, laid wreaths on the body. The PCC chief, Ms Vidya Stokes, a former Chief Minister, Thakur Ram Lal and Congress MLAs, Mr Yogendera Chandra, Ms Asha Kumari, Mr Harsh Mahajan, Mr Singhi Ram, Mr Gangu Ram Musafir, Mr Ishwar Dass and many others were present at the marketing committee premises at Dhalli where the body of Mr Khachi was kept for paying last respects. Ms Jenny Prem, Mayor of the Shimla Municipal Corporation, was also present. A condolence meeting was held in the PCC headquarters under the chairmanship of MsVidya Stokes to mourn the death of Mr Khachi. The Chief Secretary, Mr Harsh Gupta, and senior officers also paid floral tributes to Mr Khachi. The Congress has suffered a further set back due to the death of Mr Khachi as its strength in the Assembly has reduced to 27. A large number of people turned up at the hospital at Dhalli to pay respects to the departed leader. It is learnt that Mr Khachi developed restlessness late at night when he was shifted to the Indira Gandhi Medical College. He breathed his last early in the morning when efforts of the doctors to revive him failed. Mr Khachi had a wide circle of friends and travelled widely. He had his initial studies at Lahore and higher studies in the Delhi University. He was connected with the cooperative movement in the state. Dr Suraj Bhan and Mr Dhumal have expressed shock over the death of Mr Khachi and said Himachal Pradesh had lost a parliamentarian of repute. Thakur Gulab Singh has expressed shock over the sudden death of Mr Khachi who was held in high esteem by all political parties and members of the Assembly. Thakur Ram Lal said the contributions of Mr Khachi in the development of the state would always be remembered. The void created due to his death would be difficult to fill. Mr Mohinder Singh, coordinator of the Him Loktantrik Morcha, has expressed grief over the death of Mr Khachi. The ruling BJP chief, Mr Jai Kishen Sharma, Mr Suresh Bhardwaj, Mr Kripal Parmar and Mr Maheshwar Singh, all MPs said the state had lost a great leader. The Minister for Horticulture, Mr Narendera Bragta, expressed condolences over his demise. DHARAMSALA: Mr Virbhadra Singh said on Thursday that Mr Khachi’s death was not just the loss of the Congress but of the state as a whole. Mr Virbhadra Singh, who was scheduled to address a public meeting at Baijnath on Thursday, cancelled the function and just held a condolence meeting as people from the adjoining areas had already assembled till the news of Mr Khachi’s death, who represented the Kumarsain Assembly segment reached here. Mr Virbhadra Singh, said Mr Khachi’s death was a personal loss to him as apart from being a colleague he was a close friend. Other senior Congress leaders including former Speaker and MLA, Thakur Kaul Singh and party MLAs Chander Kumar and B.B.L. Butail were present at the condolence meeting, where two minutes silence was observed in the memory of the departed soul. Senior Congress leader and former HPCC president, Sat Mahajan also expressed grief at the demise of Mr Khachi, who was his college class mate and a personal friend. He said Mr Khachi’s death was not just the loss of Congress party but of the state as a whole. Former minister, Shiv Kumar also expressed grief at the demise of the Congress MLA. |
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Decks cleared for
cement plant Chamba, April 11 The Industries Minister said all necessary formalities had already been completed and the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests had cleared the decks for giving an environmental clearance to the cement plant in the near future. Mr Kishori Lal said Mr Shanta Kumar, Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, who is keen to launch the much publicised cement plant as early as possible of late held a meeting of senior officers of the Himachal Pradesh Government, the Central Government Departments and also the officers of Larsen and Toubro enterprise to finalise the setting up of the cement plant in the district. The Industries Minister said all aspects relating to the cement plant had been identified and discussed at the meeting, which was successful. He said the departments concerned had been directed to sort out petty bottlenecks coming in the way of setting up of the proposed cement plant before April 30. The Industries Minister asserted that the state government was committed to fulfil the long-cherished dream of the people of this alpine region of Chamba and decided to launch the proposed cement plant in June, 2002, positively. The cement plant would produce 10 lakh tonnes of cement annually and directly and indirectly, generate employment for about 10,000 persons of the Chamba region in particular and the state as a whole, he added. |
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Follow Ambedkar’s
example: Governor Shimla, April 11 Dr Suraj Bhan, who is also the chancellor of HP University, was the chief guest at a birth anniversary celebration function of Dr Ambedkar organised on the university campus here today. Paying rich tributes to Dr Ambedkar, he said he was a patriot and scholar who enriched society with his immense contribution. Emphasising education for the poor, the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes, he suggested constituting a revolving fund for the grant of scholarship to students of these categories in the state. Dr Suraj Bhan said that Article 370, which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir and Article 17, which stated that untouchability was abolished were not drafted by Dr Ambedkar. He said it was evident from various commentaries available on the proceedings of the constituent assembly that Dr Ambedkar was not in favour of giving special status to any state. Prof S.D. Sharma, Vice-Chancellor, said Dr Ambedkar created an awakening in the Indian masses especially the underprivileged. He stressed on following the path shown by Dr Ambedkar. Prof Ranbir Singh presented a framework for Ambedkar studies. He said studies on Ambedkar should be multi-disciplinary, comparative and objective. Prof N.K. Sharda, Pro VC, said that it had been decided to set up a revolving fund for granting scholarship. Nahan: The Governor of Himachal Pradesh, Dr Suraj Bhan, has suggested that wasteland in the country should be allotted to the poor to ensure their socio-economic uplift. He said from the 45 crore acres, lying waste 20 crore acres could be made cultivable in about two years. He said this land could be
allotted to four crore families, with each getting five acres, which would make at least 22 crore people self-reliant. Speaking at the birth anniversary celebrations of Dr B.R. Ambedkar, organised by the Valmiki Sabha at Valmiki Nagar here on Wednesday, the Governor paid rich tributes to the leader. He said Dr Ambedkar succeeded with his merit, dedication and hard work and urged people to follow Dr Ambedkar’s ideas which, he said would be a real tribute to him. Stressing upon the education of SCs and STs as the key to their all-round development, Dr Suraj Bhan suggested modifications in the procedure of awarding scholarships. He said scholarships could be given to deserving students in the beginning of the academic year by creating a revolving fund. Mr Sanjeev Sharma, president of the Nagar Palika Parishad, in his presidential address, highlighted the contributions of Dr Ambedkar and said the Constitution was his gift to the country. Mr Babu Ram Narnaul, president of the local Valmiki Sabha, requested the Governor to allot land for construction of a Valmiki community building. Earlier, the Governor laid the foundation stone of Ambedkar Gate in Valmiki Nagar, which would be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 5 lakh. |
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HC halts construction in prohibited area Shimla, April 11 A Division Bench of the high court comprising Chief Justice W.A. Shishak and the Mr Justice L.S. Panta passed the order on a petition filed by the Government of India alleging that the respondent Col Roy, is raising a construction in the prohibited area, as per the notification of Central Government. It was further alleged that other people had also started purchasing land within the prohibited area. It was contended by the counsel of government, Mr Baldev Singh, that they had Air Force station radar, and various other systems apart from arms and ammunition in the area. It was further alleged that the petitioner had represented to the respondent authorities but in vain. Col Roy started collecting material in December and had raised pillars in the prohibited area. The Division Bench issued a notice to the Secretary, home, Deputy Commissioner, Solan, and the person raising construction in the prohibited area and directed them to file replies within four weeks. |
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Strategic road
still incomplete Nurpur, April 11 According to sources, the road provides an alternative approach to Jammu and Kashmir. It's total length is 17 km, out of which 11 km falls in Himachal Pradesh and the rest in Punjab. The part of the road falling in Himachal Pradesh is complete but the Punjab Government had failed to build small bridges on the Charata and Mangni rivulets in its area. Enquiries reveal that the Punjab Government had, however, awarded the tenders for constructing these bridges about three years ago but failed to release funds to the contractor who reportedly left the work midway. The sources reveal that the MOST had allocated funds for this purpose but these were diverted to some other development project. |
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Nitish rules out widening of track Kangra, April 11 Mr Nitish Kumar was talking to mediapersons at the Bajjreshwari temple during his visit to the temple town this afternoon. He said there was a recurring annual expenditure of Rs 11 crore on this railway line with an income of Rs 3.75 crore only. He stressed that his railway project was surveyed by the department but the project was not sanctioned. Mr Nitish Kumar said this railway line which was constructed during the British rule would be a heritage project for the Railways. Mr Nitish Kumar visited Chamunda, Bajjreshwari and Jawalamukhi temples in the district today. |
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Judge rues rights violations Shimla, April 11 Delivering the inaugural address at the seminar on Friedrich Nietzsche and Human Rights, jointly organised by the Max Mueller Bhavan and the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, he said human rights were being violated with impunity. People were being killed in the name of patriotism and untouchability and other forms of discrimination were still being practiced. Menial jobs were still being performed by people of low castes. In his native state of Nagaland the Army had been violating the human rights. He had suffered even after becoming a judge of the high court, he said. In his opening remarks Mr Peter Sewitz, Regional Programme Director, Max Mueller Bhavan, said the relevance of the thought and philosophy of Nietzsche had been universally recognised. However, he had hardly studied these in Indian universities. While he was not very clear whether or not the human rights were universal, his works reflected at length on issues like elite versus democracy leading to a debate on which was the best form of government. About 20 scholars, including some from abroad, are participating. |
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119 in fray for MC poll Shimla, April 11 With the 36 candidates opting out of the fray today, the last day for the withdrawal of nomination papers, 119 candidates have been left. There will be straight contest in only two wards. While the sitting Mayor Ms Jaini Prem will take on Ms Swarna Devi (BJP) in Comeli Bank (Ward No 5), Ms Neelam Sharma (BJP) will face Ms Maya Kataria in Benmore (Ward No 17). There will be a triangular contest in Sabzi Mandi (Ward No 14). While the BJP and the Congress are contesting all 24 wards the Himachal Vikas Congress (HVC) has fielded candidates from 19 wards. The Him Lok Tantrik Morcha, a joint front of eight parties, is contesting from 20 wards. Its candidates have filed nominations as independent. The maximum number of 11 candidates have entered the fray from Krishna Nagar (Ward No 11) followed by Phagli (Ward No 10) from where six candidates were in field. The BJP and the Congress is facing challenge from rebel candidates in more than a dozen wards. The Congress had been ruling the Corporation eversince it came into existence 1985. |
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HP to have surplus power by 2003: minister Nahan, April 11 “Refuting the Congress charges of ‘not watching the interests of the state in power project agreements”, he said Himachal Pradesh was heading towards becoming an “electricity” state and would produce 1200 MW of additional electricity by 2003. He said at present work on 7155-MW power projects, in addition to old projects were going on and many of them would start production soon. He claimed that by the end 2008, the state would produce 10,000 MW out of its total identified potential of 22,000 MW. He said it was wrong to say the state government was signing power agreements only on 12 per cent royalty. |
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Lahaul-Spiti
website launched Shimla, April 11 The website provides information about the history, culture, tourism, facts and administration. The tourism section is very elaborate and covers everything from road maps, important distances, adventure tourism, fairs and festivals and monasteries to accommodation availability, rivers and lakes. Detail information had been provided for more than 20 trekking routes. |
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CM lambasts Opposition for politicising issues Shimla, April 11 Addressing a public meeting after dedicating the community assets created through voluntary effort at the local Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital, he decried the tendency of the Opposition to criticise decisions which were in the larger interests of the state and the people. The initiative taken by the government to improve things through public participation should have been appreciated, he said. |
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Cong demands Modi’s resignation Shimla, April 11 The resolution alleged that the attitude of Mr Modi had been most unsecular and the government machinery failed in protecting the lives of innocent people. The recent attack on mediapersons at the Sabarmati Ashram was an attack on the freedom of the press, he alleged. |
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Baddi dental college to start BDS course Shimla, April 11 The DCI has recommended to the Centre to renew its BDS course at the college. The DCI accepted the report of the joint inspection committee regarding the functioning of the college at a meeting of its executive committee held at Manipal. Admission of BDS students has so far been done only in the state government-run dental college here. |
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5 killed as van falls into nullah Shimla, April 11 |
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