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Monday,
April 15, 2002, Chandigarh, India  
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Sonia’s remarks shameful: Dhumal Dhumal’s clean chit
to Selection Board
766 posts in HP Forest Dept vacant |
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BRO men clearing up Rohtang highway Residents resent Nitish’s rejection of rail project Follow
Ambedkar’s ideals: Bhan Ex-servicemen seek quota
in HP Judicial Service Devta Mela from April 17 Thousands throng Brajeshwari temple
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Sonia’s remarks shameful: Dhumal Shimla, April 14 Talking to reporters at Hamirpur, he said: “It is most unfortunate that a person like Sonia Gandhi, who is the president of a national party which ruled the nation for years together, made such remarks”. Meanwhile, Professor Dhumal said that the liberal assistance given by the Vajpayee government over the past four years had enabled the fund-starved state to scale new heights on the development front but the ultimate solution to its perennial financial crises could only be found by raising resources. In his message to people on the eve of Himachal Day, he said the state received special Central assistance to the tune of Rs 1,200 crore, besides project-specific assistance running into crores which was unprecedented. No other Central government had given such assistance to the state in the past 50 years, he said. He said what Mr Vajpayee had done for the state could not be matched by achievements of the Nehru family. However, no state could survive for long on the mercy of the Centre or by raising loans, he said, adding that resources would have to be raised to make the state self-reliant. Realising this, the government had made a comprehensive plan to exploit the state’s vast potential for the development of hydel power and tourism. A hydel power generation programme had been formulated under which 10,000 MW of additional power would be generated by 2008. This would yield an annual income of about Rs 1,800 crore. Work had already been started on projects with an aggregate generation capacity of 7,155 MW in the past four years. These included the 2051 MW Parbati project, the 800 MW Koldam and 1,000 MW Karcham-Wangtoo project. The state was poised to generate 2226 MW of additional power by the end of 2003. To harness the hydel potential of the Satluj fully, the government purposed to set up an Upper Satluj valley corporation in the joint sector. For strengthening the transmission and distribution system, any accelerated power development programme had been started and proposals amounting to Rs 714 crore had been sent to the centre for approval. A sum of Rs 25.32 crore had already been received. As many as 2,870 industrial units with an investment of about Rs 500 crore and potential to provide employment to 19,000 persons had come during the past four years. Two fruit-based wineries were coming up in the state and a frozen food unit had also been set up at Kala Amb in the joint sector. Economic activities to the tune of Rs 20,000 crore had been envisaged by 2010 by boosting the information technology sector. All IT units, including educational and service units, had been exempted from sales tax up to 2007, and a software technology park and high speed data connectivity facility had been set up in Shimla at a cost of Rs 6 crore. Similarly all bio-technology units had been allowed tax holiday up to 2012. The tourism industry was also being promoted in a big way. Various steps such as a 10-year tax holiday on entertainment units had been undertaken. As many as 3,000 km of new roads had been constructed and 3,200 km of road length metalled in the state. The government had made a plan to link every village having a population of 250 and above by road during the next three years. To ensure better healthcare, seven district hospitals had been upgraded to zonal hospitals and 187 new health institutions had been opened. Recognition had been granted to Dr Rajendra Prasad Medical College, Tanda, and Government Dental College, Shimla, which were started by the previous government without taking permission. The intake capacity at Ayurvedic College Paprola had also been increased from 30 to 50. The government had enhanced social security pension from Rs 100 to Rs 200 per month, benefiting about 1.71 lakh persons, widows, and physically handicapped. The daily allowance of Home Guards had been increased from Rs 52 to Rs 75 and to improve their career prospects, 15 per cent posts in police department would be filled in from the Home Guards. Besides, 15 per cent seats of forest guards and jail warden would also be filled in from eligible Home Guards. Ayurvedic doctors had been given non-practising allowance at the rate of 25 per cent of the pay on a par with allopathic doctors. Various concessions had been announced to benefit farmers, including abolition of sales tax on chemical fertilisers, and supply of electricity for threshers and floor mills. |
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Dhumal’s clean chit
to Selection Board Hamirpur, April 14 At present, the board is functioning from the building of the HP Information and Public Relations Department located near the Hathli Khad on the Hamirpur-Shimla highway. The Chief Minister said there was complete transparency in giving jobs and the board had given 5,500 jobs to educated unemployed youths since its inception. He asked the people not to be misled by the propaganda by the Congress. He said whatever his government had done for the state during past four years, the Congress could not do during its 50 years’ of rule. Mr Dhumal said his government had approved upgradation of four primary schools to middle standard, 15 middle schools to high schools and upgradation of 19 high schools to senior secondary schools and had also given approval for the creation of 24 posts in middle schools, 105 in high schools and 418 posts in senior secondary schools. It also approved the creation of 236 posts of headmasters in senior secondary schools. The state Cabinet had earlier given approval for postings of headmasters in senior secondary schools to remove stagnation and ensure smooth functioning of senior secondary schools. Speaking about the Justice Kainthla Commission report he said it had exposed the Congress for its role in violence in Shimla. The Chief Minister said the work for the augmentation of the Hamirpur Water Supply Scheme was in progress and the scheme was likely to be completed by October next. He, however, said the local residents would not face any water shortage during summer. He said the work for the bypass of Hairpin town was also in progress. Education Minister Ishwar Dass Dhiman, Parliamentary Secretary Urmila Thakur and the Chairman of the HP Subordinate Selection Board, Mr Surendra Mohan Katwal, also addressed the audience on the occasion. |
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766 posts in HP Forest Dept vacant Shimla, April 14 With the fund-starved government virtually imposing a ban on new recruitment and the department effecting promotions under pressure from the employee’s union a large number of posts have been left vacant. The situation is worst at the lowest level, with 660 of the total 2687 posts of forest guard lying vacant. Similarly, 45 posts of forest ranger out of 314 and 61 out of 143 posts of Assistant Conservator of Forests are vacant. Direct recruitment for the post of Deputy Ranger had been discontinued about two decades back to provide promotional avenues to forest guards. Over the past 10 years, a large number of guards were promoted, but the posts which fell vacant as a result had not been filled. Similarly, the posts of forest ranger were also being filled only through promotions and there had been hardly any recruitment against the 40 per cent quota for direct recruitment. The department had wound up a flying squad based at Hamirpur, which looked after the entire border belt from Tunu Hatti in Chamba to Mehatpur in Una. The decision was surprising, particularly as the government had subsequently lifted the ban on export of khairwood and resin. Illicit felling and resin tapping were likely to increase, especially in border areas, after the lifting of the ban. The available field staff had not also been properly deployed. In many cases, one forest guard was looking after upto three beats and in such cases it was physically impossible for the person concerned to keep a watch on the large forest areas. A number of favoured guards had been deputed on special duties, including checking barriers. |
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BRO men clearing up Rohtang highway Manali The highway, which runs north from Manali, has now been opened to vehicular traffic up to Gulaba, 24 km from here. The place up to which road is open is popularly known as “snow point”. Slowly and steadily as the road is cleared of snow, this point keeps on moving higher till Beas nullah, meadow of Marhi and finally the crown, Rohtang pass, at 13,050 ft. The key tourist town of Manali has started witnessing a reasonably good influx of domestic and foreign tourists. They have started moving to Gulaba for a visual feast of snow-capped mountains. According to Mr PK Mahajan, Commander of 38 Task Force (GREF), massive efforts are being made to open the Rohtang pass, gateway to Lahaul and Spiti. He stated that the snow clearance operation on the Manali-Leh road this year began in the first week of March. At present, the snow-clearing equipment has reached Beas nullah, the 32-km point of the Manali-Leh road. He said snow clearance was fast this year, as three independent teams are deployed for opening the 222-km Manali-Sarchu section of the road with the help of Austrian snow-cutter, as well as other modern machines. The team from Manali is just short of Marhi, while the second team is clearing snow near Khoksar. The third team is moving towards the 4883-metre high Baralacha Pass. With a dedicated and well organised team of BRO jawans and officers, the Tandi-Thirot road has been thrown open for vehicular traffic. Snow clearance on the Thirot-Sansari-Killar road is being done on a war-footing to serve residents of the Pangi valley. The opening of the Rohtang pass for vehicular traffic will bring relief to the population of Lahaul and Spiti. The Leh highway also played a key role during the Kargil conflict and played a crucial role in carrying food, arms and ammunition for Indian troops in Leh. Every tourist who visits Manali would always like to go up to Rohtang pass — the most popular destination. Besides affording a magnificent view of the snow-clad peaks of the Chandra Bhaga range, the pass is the source of the Beas. The 51-km long road to Rohtang pass is replete with magnificent views of the snow-capped mountains to the north and the lush green Kulu valley to the south. |
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Residents resent Nitish’s rejection of rail project Kangra, April 14 The people had been hopeful that the minister would honour assurances given to them by member of parliament that the 163-km-long narrow gauge railway track, one of the oldest tracks in the country constructed during the British rule, would be made broad gauge. The project would boost tourism in the state. Mr C.R. Mahajan, a retired executive engineer, said the railway track, touching 33 small and major railway stations between Pathankot and Jogindernagar had many a beautiful scenic spot, including Maharana Partap Dam. Mr B.L. Sharma, SDO (retd), HPSEB, said, “A small state like Himachal devoid of industrial development, needs a boost in tourism.” Major Vijay Singh Mankotia, former Tourism Minister, said the BJP leadership had been blaming non-BJP governments for ignoring the project. Now when Kangra was being represented by a BJP leader, Mr Shanta Kumar, and the BJP was leading the Central Government why had this project been dumped, he asked. The minister who travelled on Wednesday last by a special train from Pathankot to Maranda did not stop at any station to know about passengers’ problems. There were frequent engine failures on this track, said an ex-serviceman, Colonel Choudary. The train generates an annual income of Rs 3.75 crore, lacks facilities and maintenance and, above all, there is no ticket checking. A resident of Nagrota Surian, Mr M.L. Sharma, said such decisions of the Central Government would certainly carry a negative impact on the BJP during the polls in the state. |
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Follow Ambedkar’s ideals: Bhan Shimla, April 14 Dr Suraj Bhan, Governor, and Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister, paid floral tributes to Dr Ambedkar at a function here today. Others present at the function at the Ambedkar Chowk included Mr Narendra Bragta, Horticulture Minister, Mr R.D. Kashyap, Urban Development Minister, Mrs Vidya Stokes, PCC President, and Mrs Jaini Prem, Mayor, Shimla Municipal Corporation. The Governor also honoured three employees engaged in the cleanliness work for their outstanding services in the local municipal corporation area on the occasion. While the first prize of Rs 11,000 was given to Mrs Chandrawati of the Chaura Maidan, Mr Dharampal of the Mall Road and Mr Surendra of Sanjauli received the second and third prize of Rs 7,000 and Rs 5,000, respectively. The Governor called upon the people to annihilate the curse of untouchability and strengthen the social fabric by infusing the feelings of fraternity, equality and social justice to all sections of society. Addressing a religious congregation of the Nirankari Mission, presided over by its head Baba Hardev Singh Ji, said all religions of the world taught a common path aimed at the attainment of celestial power and building up of a peaceful and prosperous society. Appreciating the role of the mission, Dr Bhan said it had been rendering great service to the humanity. |
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Ex-servicemen seek quota
in HP Judicial Service Sundernagar, April 14 The president of the association, Capt Devi Singh (retd), in a seven-page representation to the Chief Minister, said after Operation Vijay, the Himachal government had promised that rules for the recruitment of ex-servicemen in the Himachal Judicial Services would be framed soon, but no steps had been taken in this regard. Recently, the Himachal Public Service Commission conducted interviews for the recruitment of six judicial officers but no provision was made for reservation for ex-servicemen, he said. |
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Devta Mela from April 17 Sundernagar, April 14 Mr Jagdish Sharma, Deputy Commissioner, Mandi will inaugurate the traditional fair and Mr Roop Singh, Forest Minister, will be chief guest at the closing function. According to Mr Baldev Thakur, S.D.M Sundernagar, and chairman of the Devta Mela Committee, all arrangements have been made to provide facilities to the persons who will be accompanying the hill gods and to keep alive the traditional aspect of the fair. On the last day of the fair, an attractive procession of deities ( more than 100) will start from Mahamaya Temple and after taking a round of Sundernagar, covering nearly 5 km, the procession will be end in Jawahar Park where the deities will be given a traditional farewell. |
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Thousands throng Brajeshwari temple Kangra, April 14 Pilgrims from Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh reached here to pay their obeisance at the Brajeshwari temple, one of the 52 shakti peeths. Mr Prabhood
Saxena, Deputy Commissioner, today said that all arrangements had been made for the pilgrims to visit Kangra, Jawalamukhi and Chamunda and adequate police force had been deployed to maintain order and regulate traffic. Parking places has been identified. |
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Suhi fair concludes Chamba, April 14 |
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