 |
Monday,
April 22, 2002, Chandigarh, India  
|
Wildflower Hall: govt stand ‘vindicated’ Shimla MC poll scene hazy Outbreak of jaundice feared Slums cause fear of epidemics Bhan seeks report on blood bank |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
A bridge awaits repair Foreign dignitaries visit Devta mela
Ram Navami celebrated Minister opens truckers’ office Kulu area waterless for nine days Hike in cable TV rates on anvil
|
|
Wildflower Hall: govt stand ‘vindicated’ Shimla, April 21 The company would have now four directors instead of seven. The company has four and the government three in the existing set-up. Further, one of the EIH nominees shall be the managing director and a government nominee the chairman. All policy decisions would be taken only at board meetings and only unanimous decisions would be implemented. The managing director, who would be responsible for day-to-day affairs of the company, shall on a fortnightly basis circulate a summary of the performance of the hotel to all directors. He asserted that the Company Law Board had not given any direction on shareholders except that some of the shares of Mashobra Resorts Limited would be dealt with suitably and that no general meeting be convened or held so that there would be no need to exercise voting rights on the shares. The first board meeting would be held before April 30. The board had also suggested amicable settlement between the parties through disinvestments of shares by the government on the basis of valuation of the land and offered to appoint an independent valuer for the purpose. The government, however, had been emphasising reversion of the property on leasehold basis as per the original highest offer of Holiday Inn Group. The final hearings would take place on July 11 and 12. Meanwhile, the EIH had also invoked the arbitration clause and appointed Justice R.S. Pathak as their arbitrator. In response, the government appointed Justice M. Jagannadha Rao as its arbitrator. |
|
Shimla MC poll scene hazy Shimla, April 21 While political workers led by ministers, ex-ministers, legislators and other senior leaders are toiling hard under an oppressive summer sun, voters continue to be indifferent to the campaign. The lack of enthusiasm among the voters, particularly for the BJP and the Congress, the two main contenders, is all too conspicuous. In the given situation, the Morcha, a joint front of eight political parties, and the HVC, which launched the campaign early, could play the spoilsport for the main parties. In the previous election, a clear picture emerged before the polling even though the Left parties and Independents did their best to make the fight triangular. Overall it remained a two-party affair with the BJP and the Congress occupying the centrestage since both these parties have been plagued with infighting, the situation is ideal for other parties to chip in and make their presence felt. The BJP is hoping to gain from the division of Opposition vote and the infighting in the ranks of the Congress. However, it is struggling to keep its traditional vote bank intact. The anger of its own cadres, who feel ignored, could upset its calculations. With less than a week to go for polling, the parties have put their full strength into the campaign. While the BJP ministers and legislators and chairpersons of various boards and corporations are moving from door to door to seek votes, Mrs Vidya Stokes, the PCC chief and Mr Sukh Ram, the HVC Supremo have also joined the campaign. The campaign of the Morcha is being spearheaded by Mr Mohinder Singh, a former PWD Minister, and Mr Rakesh Singha, a CPM leader. The poster war has also reached its peak. The BJP posters are dominated by the picture of the Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, while the Congress is using the picture of Ms Sonia Gandhi. The BJP is seeking votes for a change in the 16-year-old political set up in the corporation and speeding up development in the city, which had suffered under the Congress rule. The Congress, on the other hand, is focusing an larger issues. A defeat of BJP will be the first step towards ousting the anti-people government in the state and the Centre, its leaders are trying to explain to the voters. The BJP is trying to convince the voter that a BJP ruled corporation would be in better position to deliver the goods as the party was in power both in the state and at the Centre. The Congress, on the other hand, is quick to point out that elections to the state Assembly are only a few months away and claim that the Congress will be back in power soon. As the unending process of arguments and counter-arguments continues, factors like the reputation and public contacts of the candidates are playing their role weighing on the minds of the electorate. |
|
Outbreak of jaundice feared Kasauli, April 21 The people are forced to meet daily requirements, including drinking dark brick red coloured water since last Sunday. The water is unfit for human consumption. Even the animals refuse to drink this water. A sample of this water which was got tested from an accredited laboratory was found to be unfit for human consumption. The report has indicated that the water was highly turbid with the rate of turbidity being as high as 45 normal turbidity units (NTU). With desirable NTR being five and the maximum permissible limit being 25 this sample was declared unfit for drinking. There is a high concentration of suspended solids measuring 67.4 mg per litre with the total dissolved solids being as high as 290 mg/litre. According to prescribed standards of potable water the amount of suspended solids should be nil. The water sample has also been found to be highly alkaline with the ph being 9.53 while a limit between 5.5 to 8.5 is the desirable safe limit for drinking water. The odour of the water is also unpleasant which aggravates if stored for some time. The officials who conducted various tests spanning 36 hours stated that the water should not be consumed by humans as it could lead to the outbreak of disease in the region. The officials of the IPH Department stated that a new source was being tested for water supply which was under observation. To disinfect the water bleaching powder was being administered which according to them contained only an excess of iron which posed no danger. This is contrary to the laboratory analysts of the water sample which has put the iron content at a safe limit of 1.463mg/litre. The locally placed junior engineer could not be traced for comments. The officials yesterday suspended water supply when inquiries were made by The Tribune on the supply of contaminated water and stated that alum would be added to the water which would be supplied by Tuesday. In the absence of any other option the residents are at the mercy of the local panchayat which had made no alternative arrangement for providing water. Some favoured ones including the residents of Motkona and a temple complex were getting clean water here while the common man is at the mercy of IPH Department. The keyman when asked about the quality of water cautiously stated that they are supplying whatever quality water was available unmindful of the consequences. |
|
Slums cause fear of epidemics Parwanoo, April 21 Some of these slums have come up on private plots. Owners of these plots sometimes have to go to court to get their lands vacated. Despite the alert sounded by the Government of India under its National Malaria Eradication Programme to maintain cleanliness in high-risk areas, the authorities concerned seem oblivious to the danger posed by the slum areas. Doctors add since all members of a family are forced to live in a small ‘jhuggi’, infections can be hazardous. Stagnant water is common in these areas which expose the residents to diseases carried by mosquitoes. Residents say since slum-dwellers form a vote-bank for the political parties, therefore, no leader has raised his voice against the growing slums. On the contrary, at the time of elections, the parties help them to get electricity and water connections. When a jhuggi-owner leaves this place, he sells the jhuggi to some other person at a very high cost. The jhuggis in these slum areas pucca structure and the going rate for a jhuggi is said to be Rs 10,000 to Rs 20,000. Sometimes the jhuggi-owners also rent out their jhuggis. The antecedents of the jhuggi dwellers are seldom verified by the police. Residents feel people from outside the state are not allowed to purchase land in Himachal Pradesh, but the government can also get the land occupied by these owners for the years together vacated and claim it. |
|
Bhan seeks report on blood bank Shimla, April 21 The matter was brought to his notice by a voluntary organisation, Ashadeep, which has been organising blood donation camps to help patients. Mr Ajay Srivastav, convener of Ashadeep, informed the Governor that while various voluntary organisations were holding blood donation camps for the benefit of poor patients, the “bureaucratic attitude” of the management, particularly the doctors in charge, was defeating the objective. Blood was being allegedly given to influential patients without taking any blood in exchange. As a result, hardly any blood was left in the bank for the really needy. The government provided Rs 15 per donor to the bank for providing refreshment but its benefit was seldom given to the donor, he alleged. No proper directory of donors has been maintained and even the voluntary organisations which were ready to help were not contacted at the time of emergency. |
|
A bridge awaits repair Kumarhatti This has caused great inconvenience to a population of around 2,500, mostly Scheduled Castes families. An HRTC bus service on the road has been discontinued and private buses return from near Government Primary School, Kanda, as these cannot go beyond that point due to the damaged bridge. Villagers have to trudge long distances to catch a bus. The worst affected are vegetable growers of the area who have to incur additional expenses to transport their produce to markets. The sick and the aged have also been put to hardship. Concrete supporting walls of the bridge were built a few years ago. “Our representations to the department concerned to complete the repair work have been ignored in view of the shortage of funds,” say villagers. Politicians’ promises that the work will be done soon have not been fulfilled. The condition of the Subathu-Chabbal road is also poor. The 14-km kutcha road has not been metalled despite a demand by villagers. The condition of the Dharampur-Kanda road has also gone from bad to worse due to the lack of timely repair. At some points the metalled portions of the road have disappeared. The road is potholed and needs to be widened. |
|
Foreign dignitaries visit Devta mela Sundernagar, April 21 The procession was delayed as per tradition, it starts when chief deity Mahunag arrives at the temple. Many foreign ambassadors along with the Foreign Secretary, and Planning Board members and other dignitaries attended the fair. The ambassador of Russia, Mr Alexander M.
Kadakin, ambassador of Germany, Mr Heimo Richtewr, ambassador of
Lebnon, Dr Jean Daniel, Foreign Secretary Chokila Iyer, Mr Jayanta
Sanyal, member, Planning Commission, and Mr Abinash Kohali, President, Indian Export Association attended the fair. |
|
Ram Navami celebrated Shimla “Bhajans, kirtans” and religious discourses were held to mark the celebration in the region Thousands of people visited tastefully-decorated temples at Kangra,
Jawalamukhi, Chintpurni and Naina Devi to offer prayers and participate in the celebrations. Reports of enthusiastic celebrations were also received from Mandi, Kulu, Hamirpur, Bilaspur, Solan and Kangra. |
|
|
Minister opens truckers’ office Sundernagar, April 21 While addressing the gathering Mr Thakur said the BJP government had done many development works in the past four years. Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee had been kind enough to help the state, he added. Earlier, the Forest Minister inaugurated the building of the office of the Dhanotu Truck Union. Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister, would lay the foundation stone of a cement factory at Sundernagar in July, Mr Thakur said while addressing a gathering there. Mr Virender Kashyap, Chairman, Marketing Board, Mr Tek Chand, MLA, Nachan, Mr Dile Ram, former BJP minister, Mr Ved Parkash, president, the BJP visit of Nachan; and Mr Baldev Saini, Chairman, Marketing Committee, were among others who addressed the gathering. |
|
|
Kulu area waterless for nine days Kulu, April 21 The authorities concerned said there was a blockage which was being detected. They said the water supply could be restored only after the blockage was removed. Some residents alleged that water was being diverted to a house belonging to an officer of the IPH Department and which was under construction. They urged the government to take effective steps to restore water supply. They are only three handpumps in the area and there are long queues for water. |
|
|
Hike in cable TV rates on anvil Shimla, April 21 The Cable Operators Welfare Association is working out the new rates as major TV channels like Star, Zee, Sony, Starsports ETC have substantially increased per subscriber charges which work out at Rs 170 for five major channels. Taking into account the cost of providing cable TV service and maintenance, the cost for subscriber was as high as Rs 350. At present, the cable operators are providing services at rates ranging between Rs 50 and Rs 180 and cable operators feel that if the subscription is not raised to Rs 300 to Rs 350, most of the operators would be forced to close shop.
PTI |
|
|
Beldar dies before getting dues Bilaspur, April 21 INTUC state vice-president Parasram Parmar said here today that it was an example of negligence with which common labour force here was being treated by some PWD officers. Mr Parmar said in another case, blacksmith Lachhiram, who retired on July 31, 2001, has also not been paid his retirement benefits totalling Rs 79,464 despite his repeated requests to the officers concerned. |
|
Governor opens TV serial’s shooting Shimla, April 21 Addressing the gathering, the Governor said the shooting of films and serials like “Devbhumi” would widen the spiritual knowledge of the masses besides promoting religious tourism in the state. Mr Satish Chandra, Chairman, Punjab Pollution Control Board, was also present on the occasion. |
|
|
5 held
for HPU clashes Shimla, April 21 The police is on the look out for over a dozen students believed to be involved in the clashes. |
 |
| Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir | Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs | Nation | Editorial | | Business | Sport | World | Mailbag | In Spotlight | Chandigarh Tribune | Ludhiana Tribune 50 years of Independence | Tercentenary Celebrations | | 122 Years of Trust | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
