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| Monday, September 23, 2002,
Chandigarh, India
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Virbhadra hardens stand on expulsion issue Cong-HVC merger move
gains momentum BJP dissidents against ticket to Pathania DCC serves notice on MLA PDS revamped to include more items |
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Bank job scam unearthed Mining, construction change weather pattern? Dhumal opens Employees’ Bhavan
DYFI, SFI decry govt policies HP varsity Youth Festival concludes
Move to open medical college 4,000 cr for Parvati hydel project Private bus operators
resume services
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Virbhadra hardens stand on expulsion issue Shimla, September 22 In a statement issued here today he said the acts of indiscipline during public functions were “stage-managed” so that dedicated partymen, who deserved the ticket, could be expelled from the party on the pretext of enforcing discipline. He mentioned the incidents involving Mr Manjit Singh, an ex-MLA from Nadaunta, who had gone to welcome the Pradesh Congress Committee Chief, Ms Vidya Stokes, but as per his information, he was beaten up in her presence. After a similar incident Mr Kuldeep Pathania, ex-MLA from Bhatiyat, was expelled from the party. The former Chief Minister said such arbitrary actions in the election year were not good for the party. A systematic attempt had been made to create an impression that those loyal to him would have to suffer as if it was a crime to be his supporter. Those, who criticised him publicaly, were being rewarded with important posts in the party. Attempts had been made to entrust, important responsibilities to certain leaders who were instrumental in preparing the charge-sheet against him, submitted to the CBI by the Dhumal government. He said when his supporters chose to stay away from the party functions of the PCC chief, they were accused of non-cooperation. However, now when they were attending her functions on the directive of the high command, they were being charged with indiscipline and expelled on flimsy ground. He termed the reported remarks of Ms Vidya Stokes against him at Nadaunta as uncalled for and said such efforts would not tarnish his image in the eyes of the public, which would give its verdict at an appropriate time. |
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Cong-HVC merger move
gains momentum Shimla, September 22 While informal talks have been going on between the leaders of the two parties for the past quite sometime, the matter is likely to be discussed formally during the visit of Ms Moshina Kidwai, general secretary of the All India Congress Committee and in charge of party affairs in Himachal, on September 25 and 26. According to party sources, the possibility of some senior HVC leaders meeting Ms Kidwai is not ruled out. The re-entry of leaders like Mohinder Singh, who floated his own party after breaking away from the HVC, is also under consideration. The party is not averse even to the induction of BJP dissidents, some of whom were in touch with it. If all goes well, the party could announce the merger during Mrs Sonia Gandhi’s rally to be held at Mandi next month. The HVC has a strong presence in Mandi, the home district of Mr Sukh Ram, and the merger would benefit the Congress. While the HVC and the Congress have been divided on the issue of the merger, a larger section in both the parties feels that the coming together of the two parties will be mutually beneficial. The HVC is an offshoot of the Congress and there are no ideological differences and the homecoming of the deserters will only strengthen the party at the grassroot, the Congress leaders maintain. Mr Virbhadra Singh and Mr Sukh Ram have been at loggerheads for almost a decade and it was the intense leadership tussle between the two leaders, which led to the formation of the HVC. While serious differences persist between the two leaders, Mr Virbhadra Singh had, while opposing merger, stated that cases of individual leaders could be considered. On other hand, the merger move is not likely to face any bottlenecks in the HVC. The final decision has to be taken by the high command. There are many old friends of Mr Sukh Ram in the party, like Mr Sushil Shinde and Mr Kalpnath Rai, who are in favour of bringing the “estranged” leaders back to the partyfold. |
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BJP dissidents against ticket to Pathania Nurpur, September 22 The dissidents criticised the working style of the MLA, Mr Pathania, a close confidant of Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal. The dissidents claimed themselves to be the real BJP cadre in the local Assembly segment and passed a few resolutions to highlight their grievances before the party high command and the Chief Minister. They decided to approach Mr Dhumal and apprise him of their grouse against Mr Pathania and demanded that in the ensuing Assembly elections party ticket should not be given to Mr Pathania. |
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DCC serves notice on MLA Hamirpur, September 22 Party sources said here today that if no satisfactory reply was received, the DCC would recommend to the Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee to suspend and thereafter expel Mr Dogra, along with his supporters, from the party for anti party activity. At the Congress rally, speeches of all Congress leaders were constantly disrupted amid slogan shouting by warring groups of the Congress, one led by Mr Dogra and another by Mr Rajendra Zar, general secretary of the state unit of the party. Meanwhile, there are reports that the party high command is upset over the Mahre incident, which gave wrong signals to the people that the Congress continued to be a divided house in the home district of the BJP Chief Minister, Prof Prem Kumar Dhumal. Senior Congress leaders have asked the state party chief, Mrs Stokes, to submit her report on the episode. |
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PDS revamped to include more items Shimla, September 22 Basically meant for supplying subsidised ration to various sections of people, the PDS is being increasingly used to provide non-PDS commodities like tea, soaps, detergents, notebooks, edible oils, pulses and salt at reasonable rates. A new scheme, “Sarvpriya”, has been launched under which household goods are being made available to the people in rural areas at their doorstep. The entire population of the state, comprising 13,34,614 families, has been covered through a network of 3,957 fair price shops. During the last financial year, 82,680 tonnes of wheat, 1,17,465 tonnes of rice and 57,167 tonnes of levy sugar was supplied through the PDS in the state. Besides, 18,820 MT of wheat was distributed under the Antyodaya Ann Yojna. As many as 6,373 senior citizens were being provided foodgrains free of cost under the “Annapurna Scheme”. The “Food for Work” programme has been launched under which people engaged in various developmental works would be given 20 per cent of their wages in the form of foodgrains. A similar scheme, entitled “Sampuran Gramin Rozgar Yojna” has been implemented. Under this scheme, the beneficiaries are being given 5 kg foodgrains per manday. Adequate allocation of foodgrains has been made for the drought-affected areas. The Central government has provided 1,19,250 tonnes of rice and 30,000 tonnes of wheat for the purpose. All drought-affected families are being given 20 kg wheat and rice per family. Wheat is being given at the rate of Rs 5.15 and rice Rs 6.90 per kg. During the year 2001-2002, as much as 77,880 tonnes of rice and 7,470 tonnes of wheat was disbursed to the consumers. Foodgrains are being supplied at half the cost for institutions like vocational training centers, hospitals and mobile dispensaries. Other organisations engaged in welfare activities are being provided 5 kg foodgrain per person per month at the Below Poverty Line rates. Students living in hostels of tribal areas are being given 15 kg of foodgrain each per month at highly subsidised rates. The facility is also available to those students studying in hostels being run by non-governmental organisation. Apart from supplying foodgrains to the consumers, the state government is also providing cooking gas and petrol through the PDS. The number of cooking gas agencies, has gone up from 69 in 1998 to 92. As many as 427 extension points are also functioning in various parts of the state for the benefit of consumers. A special scheme has been started to allot petrol stations and gas agencies to the dependents of Kargil martyrs. So far, three petrol stations and six gas agencies have been allotted to the dependents of the martyrs and five more are in the pipeline. |
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Bank job scam unearthed Dharamsala, September 22 Kangra Central Cooperative Bank, with its headquarters at Dharamsala, had advertised for filling the posts of 77 Class IV employees more than a year-and-half ago and early this year made recruitment on the basis of the tests. It is alleged that all laid down norms like no relative of an employee or a board member can be recruited, were flouted with impunity and most of the officers entrusted with the job of holding the examinations made sure that their relatives qualified and got appointed. The allegations of huge sums having been paid gained credence as the objective question papers were leaked. Political bosses pressurised the managing director to recruit their candidates also. As a result number of candidates recruited swelled from 77 posts to more than 225. While the near and dear ones of the employees and senior BJP leaders have been recruited many workers appointed on daily wages have been shown the door. |
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Mining, construction change weather pattern? Palampur Scientists say that the main reason for sudden change in the rain pattern is attributed to the large-scale unscientific mining combined with the setting up of big power and cement plants, roads and buildings. Illegal mining and quarrying has been going on unchecked for several years which further contributed to the environmental imbalance. The installation of two major cement plants have further aggravated the situation. The dust and smoke coming from these plants has become an environmental hazard. Besides, over 5,000 trucks working at these plant sites have also become a major source of pollution. The latest study conducted by a private NGO regarding environmental imbalance revealed that over 5,000 hectares of land had been seriously affected by mining and construction activities. The large-scale destruction of the state’s forests by mining has resulted in severe drought and flash floods. The report, based on this study, says that Kinnaur, Solan, Shimla and Bilaspur districts, which fall in the catchment areas of the Sutlej river, are the worst affected. The report has cautioned the Union Government as well as state government of serious consequences if timely measures are not taken. The report has put a question mark on the future of Bhakra and Pong Dams built at a high cost since no steps have been taken for large-scale plantation in the Sutlej and Beas basins recommended by various government and non-government agencies. Its capacity to hold water is falling year after year because of heavy siltation caused by destruction of forests, mining and other activities in the catchment areas. Unless these activities are stopped, silt would continue to flow en masse into these dams every year. It says that the bed of both dams has risen by two to three metres and caused a three-fold rise in the flow of sediment into these dams. The report expressed concern that even the directions of the apex court were kept aside. The construction of over a dozen small and big hydel projects are going in the basin of these two rivers falling in the state. The Union Government, in its latest report released in August, stated that global warming caused by increasing pollution and environment imbalances are some of the factors responsible for the sudden change in weather and failure of the monsoon. It is an open fact that the Himachal Pradesh Government has no environment policy, therefore construction activity in the hills and other mass movement have caused irreparable loss to the environment. The Sutlej valley, falling between Kinnaur and Bilaspur regions which at one time used to be covered with thick forests, has gone barren because of reckless mining. In the Beas valley falling between Manali and Mandi, destruction of forests have been reported over 15 years. It is most unfortunate that owners of cement plants manage to go round all restrictions imposed by environmentalists. It is a fact that despite opposition from environmental groups and the media two years ago, the state government sanctioned a cement allowing it to axe 10,000 green trees to facilities the extraction of limestone. It has now given the nod for setting up two more cement plants in Chamba and Mandi districts. |
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Dhumal opens Employees’ Bhavan Hamirpur, September 22 He said this after inaugurating a Rs 6.50 lakh Employees’ Bhavan here. The money for the construction of the bhavan was given by employees, the district administration and Mr Suresh Chandel from his MP Local Area Development Fund. The Chief Minister clarified that the state government was not victimising employees. He also announced the creation of 26 posts of Superintendent (Grade II) in the offices of block primary education officers and posts of Superintendent for all senior secondary schools of the state. He announced a grant of Rs 1 lakh for the further construction of the bhavan. The Chief Minister also laid the foundation stone of Bal Ashram here last evening, to be constructed at a cost of Rs 25 lakh. Earlier, Mr Dhumal paid a visit to Dharamrath Rogi Seva Sansthan and distributed fruits among the patients. |
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DYFI, SFI decry govt policies Shimla, September 22 Addressing a press conference here today Mr Tikender
Panwar, General Secretary of the DYFI, and Mr Kushal Bhardwaj, President of the
SFI, said that the number of unemployed had crossed the 9 lakh mark and all avenues of employment had been closed. This was the result of faulty economic policies being implemented under pressure from the international funding agencies. The election promise of providing one lakh jobs annually had fallen flat. With the revenue deficit increasing progressively, the loan liability was likely to cross the Rs 25000 crore mark by 2004-05. The promise regarding the state’s share of 7.19 per cent in the BBMB project and 12 per cent free power as royalty in all hydel projects had also not been fulfilled. Not only that only 10 per cent Himachalis had been given jobs in hydel projects as against the promised 80 per cent. The J.P. University of Information Technology was a example of how the present government sacrificed the interests of the state. They announced that to highlight these issues the two organisations would hold a rally here on November 15, to be followed by a two-day state conference on November 16 and 17. A workshop was also proposed to be held to prepare a comprehensive document to present alternative policies before the people. The DYFI would observe September 27, birth anniversary of Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh, as blood donation day. Hundreds of activists would pledge commitment to the ideals of the great revolutionary and blood camps would be organised in the state. Candle light processions and seminars would be organised on the day. It would also organise district-level competitive student youth festivals in November and December. |
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HP varsity Youth Festival concludes Shimla, September 22 The Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof N.K. Sharda, welcomed the chief guest . Results: Poetic recitation:
(Surbhi, RKMV, Shimla) 1, Rakshita (GC, Dhaliara) 2 and Mohnish Kalyan (GC,
Kotshera) 3. Symposium: Yogita Sharma (PG Centre, HPU) 1, Bhawani Bhagat (GC, Nahan) 2 and Amita Salwan
(HPU), Evening College) 3. Elocution: Ajit Sharma (PG Centre, HPU) 1, Suresh (GC,
Sanjauli) 2 and Reeta Gautam (GC, Dhaliara) 3. Poetic symposium: Shilpi Sipahiya (GC, Dharamsala) 2, Salamuddin (GC,
Dehri) 2 and Tej Singh (GC, Kotshera) 3. Debate: Gaurav and Shweta Tegta (GC, Dharamsala) 1, Vijay Sharma and Sandeep Sharma (GC, Saraswati Nagar) 2, and Naresh Kumar and Ritika (GC, Kulu) 3. |
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Delimitation work to continue Hamirpur, September 22 The Chief Minister said the government would order an inquiry into the allegation levelled by the Golf officer of the Naldehra Hotel of the HP Tourism Development Corporation. Addressing a district-level mahila sammelan of the party near here the Chief Minister announced a grant of Rs 10 lakh each for the construction of Primary Health Centres at Bijhari and Nanawan besides Rs 10 lakh for the completion of the stadium at Bijhari. |
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Move to open medical college Paonta Sahib, September 22 It was also decided to raise a suitable memorial at Kila Lohgarh in the memory of Banda Bahadur. Officers of the Punjab Muslim Wakaf Board met Jathedar Gurcharan Singh Tohra, M. P. and sought his cooperation for the building a masjid at Kalindri Gate, Karnal in the memory of Pir Kalindri Shah. A delegation of the Haryana Sikh Dharmik Society met Mr Badungar. |
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4,000 cr for Parvati hydel project Kulu, September 22 The total underground work involved in this stage is 48 km and this particular HRT will be 6.8 km. In addition to the Adit-I tunnel, the work on the 275-meter-long diversion tunnel also started yesterday. |
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Private bus operators
resume services Shimla, September 22 The area residents had protested under the banner of Left parties and stopped private bus operators from entering the area. Only government buses used to ply and the HRTC had a shortage of buses. The Summer Hill area has a sizeable population as it houses the university campus, Chaili and Sangti areas. A lot of commuters come to the area. |
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