H I M A C H A L   P R A D E S H

Leasehold system in HP to go
Shimla, September 21
The Himachal government has agreed in principle, to convert the lease deed of 99-year for plots and flats acquired from the state housing board into “free hold” from January 1, 2003.

HRTC to set up sub-depot at Chawari
Shimla, September 21
The Himachal Road Transport Corporation has decided to set up a sub-depot at Chawari in Chamba district to provide better passenger transport service to the people of remote areas.

Cong MLA alleges discrimination
Mandi, September 21
Congress MLA and former Vidhan Sabha Speaker Thakur Kaul Singh today alleged that his Darang constituency was being discriminated against in matters of development.

Housing scheme for lawyers sought
Shimla, September 21
The Himachal Pradesh High Court Bar Association has urged the government to introduce a cooperative residential housing scheme for lawyers in Shimla on the pattern of the IAS officers and secretariat employees.

Leopards create panic
Chamba, September 21
At least three leopards are prowling the areas around Chamba town, which has created panic among residents.

Inter-school declamation contest held
Subathu (Kasauli), September 21
St Mary’s Convent School, Kasauli, St Kabir’s School, Chandigarh, and Pinegrove School, Subathu, jointly lifted the overall trophy at the second inter-school declamation contest held at Pinegrove School here today.

Leasehold system in HP to go
Tribune News Service

Shimla, September 21
The Himachal government has agreed in principle, to convert the lease deed of 99-year for plots and flats acquired from the state housing board into “free hold” from January 1, 2003.

This was stated after a meeting of Himachal Urban Development Minister R.D. Kashyap and Mr S.S. Zogta, Secretary-General of the New Shimla Residents Welfare Society, here today. He said the minister during talks with the representative of the society also agreed to exempt houses, flats and plots up to 65 square metres of plinth area from any charges.

The processing fee for the conversion would be Rs 1000 per case and the transfer charges would be 10 per cent of the actual cost. The said charges would be paid in four equal instalments with 12 per cent rate of interest along with ground rent.

After conversion to free hold the property could not be sold for five years, if one chose to do so, he would have to pay requisite transfer charges except in case of blood relations, who had to bear the charge of Rs 1000 each.

HRTC to set up sub-depot at Chawari
Tribune News Service

Shimla, September 21
The Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) has decided to set up a sub-depot at Chawari in Chamba district to provide better passenger transport service to the people of remote areas.

A spokesperson of the corporation said the as many 18 buses were operating in the Chuwari-Shiunta area, catering to the needs of the people living in interior areas of the district. At present the repair of buses, in case of breakdowns, was delayed as the nearest depot was at Chamba, which was at a distance of 112 km. The sub-depot would enable expeditious repair of the buses and would ensure better supervision of the bus operations.

Cong MLA alleges discrimination
Our Correspondent

Mandi, September 21
Congress MLA and former Vidhan Sabha Speaker Thakur Kaul Singh today alleged that his Darang constituency was being discriminated against in matters of development.

Talking to this correspondent he lamented that with as many as 180 posts of teachers lying vacant in his constituency most of the schools had been rendered non-functional in this backward segment of the state.

Mr Thakur Kaul Singh challenged those, who claimed that a lot of development had been done in the Darang constituency, to explain why no road had been laid there under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna during the tenure of this government.

He said people had been disillusioned with the present government and wanted a change. The discrimination in matters of development against the constituencies of the Congress MLAs would prove disastrous for the BJP government, he added.

Housing scheme for lawyers sought
Tribune News Service

Shimla, September 21
The Himachal Pradesh High Court Bar Association has urged the government to introduce a cooperative residential housing scheme for lawyers in Shimla on the pattern of the IAS officers and secretariat employees.

Mr I.D. Bali, president of the association, said land could be allotted at the Heeranagar, Sankat Mochan temple or Panthaghati areas.

Leopards create panic
Our Correspondent

Chamba, September 21
At least three leopards are prowling the areas around Chamba town, which has created panic among residents.

Last night, three leopards were spotted at three different places in the TB Hospital area, Karian, and Sultanpura, at the same time. The leopards have already killed three head of cattle. Residents say that in the past couple of weeks leopards have already attacked six persons, who had a narrow escape.

Inter-school declamation contest held
Tribune News Service

Subathu (Kasauli), September 21
St Mary’s Convent School, Kasauli, St Kabir’s School, Chandigarh, and Pinegrove School, Subathu, jointly lifted the overall trophy at the second inter-school declamation contest held at Pinegrove School here today.

Fifteen teams from schools of North India, including, Karnal, Patiala and Shimla, participated.

The gold medal for the English section was bagged by Amanjot Singh of Pinegrove School, the silver medal was awarded to Yachika Dhawan of St Kabir School, Chandigarh, and Prachi Kapil of St Mary’s, Kasauli, walked away with the bronze medal for the English section.

In the Hindi section, Vasu Jha of DAV Public School, New Shimla, won the gold medal, Pankaj Sharma of St Mary’s Convent School, Kasauli, was awarded the silver medal and the bronze was awarded jointly to Manjodh Kaur of Lawrence School, Sanawar, and Mehakinder of St Kabir, Chandigarh.

Dr K.C. Malhotra, former Vice-Chancellor of Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla, gave away the prizes.