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Sunday,
April 21, 2002, Chandigarh, India  
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Water scarcity brings villagers to streets Repair water schemes, demands
samiti Cong not to allow ‘fictitious’
voters Case involving former Addl SP
adjourned Parmar varsity VC eyes global
market VC favours more refresher
courses |
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Councillors ‘failed’ to implement
mandate 10 rescue teams in search of
Kitchen Three forest fires in Kangra Additional charge B.Com (II) exam now on April 30
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Water scarcity brings villagers to streets Hamirpur, April 20 The Sasan gram panchayat of Hamirpur district located on the Hamirpur-Dharamsala highway is the worst-hit. People of the area have decided to stage a dharna and resort to a road blockade on April 30 if by then their water supply problem is not solved. Reports reaching here say that century-old water sources have either dried up or started drying up. Worst affected are the government water supply schemes. People of rural areas are forced to fetch water from wells located in the far-flung areas, in tracking down in the scorching sun. The failure of government agencies in giving them water through tankers, as promised by the state government, has led to such a pass. The overall water supply situation at the district headquarters town of Hamirpur is far from satisfactory. People living on the first or second floors of their buildings are the worst-hit. The water pressure is low and the duration of water supplying is less. The water level in the Hathli khad, the source for the Hamirpur town water supply scheme, has receded by 40 per cent. The failure of the Irrigation and Public Health Department to timely complete the augmentation of the town’s water supply scheme and to fetch water from the Beas has led to such a situation. The state government had prepared a plan for the augmentation of the town’s water supply scheme. However, due to non-availability of timely funds, the augmentation work could not be completed. Local people blame political leaders for their sufferings. They say, they lure them with promises, get votes and thereafter forget these. They want more funds for the priority schemes. The shortage is attributed to a downfall in the watertable, which is un-precedented, says Mr R.N.Sharma, Superintending Engineer, Irrigation-cum-Public Health Department. He says nearly 100 villages in the district have been identified as worst-hit and if there is no rain in the coming week, the situation may aggravate further. When contacted, another district officer said the administration was seized of the situation and if need be tankers would be deployed for the supply of water in the affected areas. |
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Repair water schemes, demands
samiti Shimla, April 20 Mr Ramesh
Kaundal, President of the samiti, pointed out that the existing drinking water supply schemes were in bad shape and the problem had become acute due to the callous attitude of the Irrigation and Public Health Department. There was no proper staff to run the existing schemes in the subdivision as a result of which the distribution was irregular. The
Kalyanpur, Changer, Lawaha, Shamoh and Shehrol villages of Shehrol panchayat were the worst affected due to shortage and improper distribution. Consequently, even these villages were in the grip of a severe water crisis as early as April. He alleged that the Hudu Nala drinking water supply scheme meant to serve some of the villages of
Shehrol, Kunhar and Barog panchayats had not been made functional even though the laying of pipe line and other related works had been completed about five years ago. The work on the Rs 23-lakh Jol khadd lift drinking water scheme in Shehrol panchayat was almost complete but the department seemed to be in no hurry to make it functional. Similarly the villages of Barog panchayat, including Dhar Brahmna and
Bater, were also facing an acute water shortage as the drinking pipe line from Bhajolu to Dhar Brahmna had been dismantled by the PWD while constructing a link road. More than five to six years had elapsed but the authorities had not cared to repair the pipeline despite repeated pleas of the public. The samiti has demanded immediate repair of these drinking water schemes and urged the administration to supply drinking water through tankers till these schemes were make functional. |
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Cong not to allow ‘fictitious’
voters Shimla, April 20 Mr Mahajan, along with sitting MLA Thakur Kaul Singh, who are taking care of the elections, alleged that the Deputy Commissioner, Shimla, had succumbed to government pressure and was not taking any steps to weed out the fictitious voters. They alleged that 150 voters had been registered from “Oakover”, the official residence of the Chief Minister. The leaders alleged that occupants of the four hostels of the university outside the Municipal Corporation limits had not been included in the electoral rolls. The Deputy Commissioner, who is Returning Officer, had accepted the objections in this regard, but did not take any action. Mr Mahajan and Mr Kaul Singh alleged that the ruling BJP had no faith in democracy as they had first crippled the democratically elected Municipal Corporation and now got fictitious names included in the voter list to “capture” the civic body. They warned that such mechanisations would not help as the people were fed-up of the “misrule” of the BJP government. A petition on fictitious voters would he heard by the High Court on Monday. They said the BJP had panicked and had deputed its ministers, MPs, MLAs and chairmen and vice-chairmen of boards and corporations for the campaign. They claimed that there was no groupism in the Congress and the CLP Leader, Mr Virbhadra Singh, and the PCC chief, Mrs Vidya Stokes, would jointly release the party’s manifesto here on April 23. They would also campaign for the party candidates. |
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Case involving former Addl SP
adjourned Shimla, April 20 The case has been filed by Mr Sada Nand Chauhan and Amrit Lal of Nahan. They challenged the order of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Nahan, in which complaint of petitioners was dismissed and all police officials were discharged for various offences under Sections of the IPC. The petitioner has moved the high court to set aside the order. The petitioners alleged that they were beaten up mercilessly by the police officials during “Chari Ka Mela” at Nahan on September 4, 1988. They were medically examined at the direction of the Magistrate and a case was registered under Sections 218, 323, 325, 342, 506, 466, 471, 147, 148, 149 and 120B. After recording the preliminary evidences the case was found under Section 323, 325, 506, 342 and 34, IPC, was not proceeded against Mr Pradeep Kumar because the permission under Section 197 of the CrPC was not accorded by the appropriate authority. |
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Parmar varsity VC eyes global
market Solan, April 20 Dr S.S. Negi, who recently joined the university as its Vice-Chancellor, while addressing a press conference here yesterday, said the emerging post-WTO regime market scenario warranted immediate steps for bringing the productivity and quality standards of fruit crops on a par with those of advanced exporting countries. He said the state, blessed as it was with varied climatic zones ranging from subtropical to high altitude cold deserts, was ideally suited for growing international quality mango, litchi, grape, walnut and apple. The west, particularly the USA, preferred red mangoes which grew easily in parts of the state. The litchi, which was known to be growing in a few pockets of the country, had also been found to be doing well in some districts of Himachal. Similar was the case of grapes and walnuts. However, while these fruits could compete favourably with the produce of other advanced countries in respect of taste and visual appeal, these would never find favour in foreign markets on account of the presence of pesticide residue on these. The high production cost factor — a direct result of excessive use of pesticides — and low productivity would be another inhibiting factor. He said in view of the fact that horticulture was the mainstay of farmers’ economy in Himachal, he had drawn up plans for enabling the local horticulturists meet the emerging global challenges. This would entail intensifying need-based and problem-oriented research for introducing high-yielding varieties and bio-control of plant diseases. Dr Negi, however, expressed concern at the current resource crunch being faced by the university, but said this problem would soon be solved by paying greater attention to generating domestic income through the sale of nursery plant seeds and fruits raised in the university fields and also by exploiting the consultancy field with greater vigour. Regarding the functioning of the university, he said that he had already started the necessary review work. The prevalent system of internal assessment in examinations would be dispensed with immediately. A coaching centre for preparing students for national-level competitions would soon be set up. It was also proposed to start a women’s polytechnic in various horticulture disciplines on the campus. |
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VC favours more refresher
courses Shimla, April 20 Apart from Prof S.D. Sharma, Vice-Chancellor, of the University, Dr R.K. Chauhan, Vice- Chancellor Guru Jambeshwar University Hisar and Maj.Gen (Retd.) B.S, Suhag, Vice-Chancellor, in Mahrishi Dayanand University Rohtak, were present on the occasion. Prof S.D. Sharma, Vice-Chancellor, HP University while welcoming the guests highlighted the importance of value education for teacher in the present scenario for bringing a transformation in society and for maintaining a conducive environment in the campus. Maj Gen (Retd) B.S. Suhag, Vice-Chancellor, MDU, Rohtak emphasised that the role of teachers in inculcating value among the students. He said the first institution to impart the value was family after which came the role of the teachers. Dr R.K. Chauhan, Vice-Chancellor, Guru Jambeshwar University, Hisar, stressed the need for such courses for the overall professional development of the teachers. He appreciated the efforts of the university for taking a initiative to start the refresher course. Prof Yoginder Verma, Director, Academic Staff College, apprised participants of the activities of the Academic Staff college. Prof. Verma emphasised that the teachers must shed off their cynicism and indifference towards change. He informed that Academic Staff College till now had organised 108 refresher courses and 59 orientation programmes in which more than 6000 teachers all over the country had been imparted training. Dr Y.K. Sharma, the co-ordinator of the programme, said the theme of the programme was to make the participants understand values in the social, political, economic, cultural, religious, spiritual, educational and scientific context. Dr Kulwant Pathania, Deputy Director, Academic Staff College, informed 22 lecturers and senior lecturers from Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh Uttranchal, Chandigarh, Delhi, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh participated in the course. |
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Councillors ‘failed’ to implement
mandate Shimla, April 20 Mr P.S. Negi, President of the society, said the erstwhile “summer capital” of the country had over the years transformed into a concrete jungle largely due to the failure of the authorities to implement building laws. The state government had from time to time framed adequate laws, regulations and building bye-laws but the municipal corporation had not been able to implement these effectively. The entire responsibility for the lapses fell on the councillors. The public perception was that all these years the councillors had failed in discharging their duty and responsibilities and had not implemented the mandate of the people. Apparently, the councillors had placed self-interest before the public interest, and the citizens must curb this proclivity by electing persons with a good image and integrity, he added. |
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10 rescue teams in search of kitchen Dharamsala, April 20 The parents of Joel Kitchen today visited Bir to get first-hand information of the rescue operations being undertaken by the police. Bill Kitchen, accompanied by his wife, will stay at Bir for two days and visit the take off site at Billing where Joel was last seen. The SP, Mr Sanjay Kundu, who is camping at Baijnath, said 10 search parties had been sent from Bir, Dharamsala and Utrala with Army personnel. “An area of 25 km around Utrala, where Joel was last seen, will be searched by the ground search parties,” he explained. Further aerial reccee would not be taken up. While 10 Army personnel have joined the search operations, the ITBP is likely to join in. A team of experts from the Mountaineering Institute, Manali, have left in search of Joel. Two paragliders, Bruce Mills and Andy, today made unsuccessful attempts to take off from Billing, but bad weather conditions hindered them. Mr Kundu, who gave details about Joel’s disappearance and the rescue operations to the Kitchen couple at Baijnath, said since he was last seen over Utrala area, there was a possibility that he had been caught in a storm that struck the area at about 2.30 p.m. on the day Joel went missing. The search parties would extensively search Banu Khud, Jalsu Pass, Utrala, Chota Bhangal and Bara Bhangal areas. Mr Kundu said as per unconfirmed reports, a glider had been seen near Bhag Machar peak near Utrala. Teams had been sent to the area. |
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Three forest fires in Kangra Kangra, April 20 One house was gutted in Nagrota Bagwan this morning when the tenent of the house was out of station. The cause of the fire was said to be a short circuit. The house belonged to Ram ji Das. Due to the dry spell fires destroyed forest property worth lakhs of rupees. One incident of forest fire was reported near the mission hospital in this town last night and two fire tenders fought the flames for two hours to control the fire. There was no report of any loss of animal or human life in the fire, Fire Brigade sources said. In another forest fire incident in the Pragpur area of Dhera subdivision forest property was destroyed in fire but the Kangra fire brigade could not reach the site as brake of the fire brigade vehicle failed while on its way to Pragpur, sources said. Fire brigade personnel had a narrow escape in the accident. A forest fire was today controlled near the Kangra railway station. Local residents also helped in controlling the fire. |
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Additional charge Shimla, April 20 Six HAS officers have been assigned additional charge of various departments. Mr Balbir Tegta will also hold the charge of Additional Secretary, Science and Technology. Ms Madhu Bala Sharma will also be Executive Director of the Housing Board. Mr Babu Ram Jamwal will be Additional Secretary, Power. Mr Rajeev Kumar Shankar will be Additional Director, Consolidation. Mr N.S. Suman will also hold the charge of Joint Secretary, Tourism. Mr Amitabh Awasthi will also be Deputy Secretary, Excixe and Taxation. |
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B.Com (II) exam now on April 30 Shimla, April 20 Leakage of the question paper is reported to be the cause of the cancellation of the examination.
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