H I M A C H A L   P R A D E S H

Deadlock over NIT continues
Hamirpur, September 30
The Human Resource Development Ministry has expressed concern over the closure of the Hamirpur NIT, following a tussle between students and teachers. Though more than one month has passed since the institute was closed indefinitely, yet there are no signs of its reopening.

HP scraps rights panel
Shimla, September 30
The sudden decision of the government to scrap the state Human Rights Commission is likely to snowball into a major controversy with one of the members terming it as illegal, uncalled for and a retrograde step.

MC admits failure of lift project
Shimla, September 30
Serious irregularities in the local municipal corporation dominated the proceedings at a meeting of the civil body. The corporation also decided to hold a vigilance inquiry into the irregularities allegedly committed in the construction of a rest house at Bharari.

Heritage buildings get facelift
Shimla, September 30
By undertaking massive restoration work the Central Public Works Department has not only given a fresh lease of life to some of the prestigious heritage buildings of British era in the erstwhile summer capital but also solved perennial problems of water scarcity and garbage disposal.

Senior, high schools to teach IT
Shimla, September 30
Mr P.K. Dhumal, Himachal Chief Minister, said the state government had decided to introduce Information Technology subject in all senior and high schools in the state to meet the challenge of the 21st century.

• Date extended

Deadlock over NIT continues
Chander Shekhar Sharma

Hamirpur, September 30
The Human Resource Development Ministry has expressed concern over the closure of the Hamirpur NIT, following a tussle between students and teachers. Though more than one month has passed since the institute was closed indefinitely, yet there are no signs of its reopening. The HRD authorities are now in search of a regular Director for the institute as the present one has reportedly failed to solve the tangle.

Percents whose wards were named for the August 25 incident held a meeting with the authorities here today but failed to find solution. Both sides remained adamant on their respective stands and the meeting ended in a deadlock. The parents, however, assured full cooperation to the authorities for solving the tangle.

Dr S.K. Bhowmick, the acting Director of the Institute, told reporters after the meeting that no final decision had been taken at his meeting. He said that since the teachers had refused to work during the Dashera holidays it was not possible to reopen the institute before that the teachers had also refused to perform duties other than the teaching work, he added.

Replying to a question, he said the application of the teachers naming eight students for the August 25 incidents had been forwarded to the Hamirpur police for necessary action.

He said the Institute had also replied to various quarries made by the Himachal Pradesh Human Rights Commission, who had taken suo motu notice of the NIT incidents.

Sources in the HRD ministry said here today the Dr Murli Manohar Josh, the concerned minister had asked the Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Institute, Mr Lalit Mohan Thapar, to take timely and adequate steps for reopening the institute as well as to find a suitable Director.

Meanwhile, the decision of the state government not to interfere with the NIT affairs has made it clear that the government was only interested in the law and order situation on the campus and nothing beyond.

There are reports that Dr Bhowmick, the Acting Director of the Institute, is once again going to New Delhi to meet Mr I.M. Thapar and other officers of the ministry to apprise them of the latest situation on the campus.

The teachers are still wearing black badges in support of their demands. They have been demanding the reiteration of students responsible for damaging their vehicles and registration of criminal cases against them.

However, they are upset over the reports that the Human Rights Commission of Himachal Pradesh Government had taken a serious note of the prevailing situation on the campus and has asked the Hamipur, Deputy Commissioner, to submit a detailed report about the beating up of a student by the teachers that led to August 25 incidents.

The Deputy Commissioner has also summoned all those students, who were named by the teachers in their application, for their statement as part of an enquiry into the NIT affairs.

HP scraps rights panel
Tribune News Service

Shimla, September 30
The sudden decision of the government to scrap the state Human Rights Commission is likely to snowball into a major controversy with one of the members terming it as illegal, uncalled for and a retrograde step.

The decision taken by the Cabinet three days ago was kept a closely guarded secret. It came to light only when the order rescinding the notification vide which the commission was set up was issued.

No one in the government was prepared to come on record on why the commission was scrapped. Senior officers were tight-lipped about the legality of the decision. However, Mrs Neeru Vaid, one of the members of the commission, said it was illegal as the commission had been constituted under an Act of the Central Government and as such it could not be scrapped without its approval.

Some officers were also of the same view. They maintained that technically the government might not have committed any illegality but the fact remained that if the commission could be scrapped in this fashion, then it would create chaos. There would be no continuity and even a change of government could lead to such actions. Moreover, it was a step in the wrong direction which would not be appreciated by anyone, including the National Human Rights Commission, which had been all these years urging the states to set up such commissions.

The commission has been in the thick of controversies for the past quite some time. The government had initially given the charge of the Chairperson to the Lokayukta, Mr Justice Om Prakash. However, when it was pointed out that he could not hold the office, he was made Chairperson of the commission and given additional charge of the Lokayukta.

The two members of the commission, Mrs Vaid and Mr Kuldeep Patiyal, had opened a front against the Chairman. They had even passed a resolution removing Mr Justice Om Parkash from the post of Chairman. However, later it was pointed out that they were not competent to do so. With the Chairman and members pulling in different directions, the functioning of the commission had been severely affected.

MC admits failure of lift project
Our Correspondent

Shimla, September 30
Serious irregularities in the local municipal corporation dominated the proceedings at a meeting of the civil body. The corporation also decided to hold a vigilance inquiry into the irregularities allegedly committed in the construction of a rest house at Bharari.

The House also admitted the failure of the project of setting up a lift from the Rivoli bus stand to the Ridge maidan. The Municipal Commissioner would hold an inquiry into the construction of a toilet at a cost of Rs 15 lakh.

The House witnessed a heated debate on the Tehbazari issue and agreed to hold a special meeting on this issue.

The Congress councillors said the municipal corporation was setting up the lift project in the sink zone.

The municipal corporation decided to hand over the probe into the construction of the rest house at Bharari to the Vigilance Department. An amount of Rs 26 lakh has been spent on the rest house and another Rs 20 lakh is needed for its completion. The municipal corporation Commissioner, Mr A.N. Sharma, said the rest house was a white elephant and wanted the corporation to dispose it of at the market rate.

Heritage buildings get facelift
Tribune News Service

Shimla, September 30
By undertaking massive restoration work the Central Public Works Department has not only given a fresh lease of life to some of the prestigious heritage buildings of British era in the erstwhile summer capital but also solved perennial problems of water scarcity and garbage disposal.

The imperial grandeur of the elegant but neglected structures like the Grand Hotel, Gorton Castle, Railway Board, Viceregal Lodge and Yarrows (where Jinnah lived) has been restored without altering the architectural design and outward appearance. Major repairs have been carried out to strengthen the old structures, improve environment and provide modern amenities to the users.

The department took it as a challenge to strengthen the crumbling old buildings without altering the shape and design and were able to do so with the in-house expertise, Mr Sarvagya Srivastav, the Superintendent Engineer of Himachal circle, who also looks after the Jammu region, told newsmen, here today. A sum of over Rs 4 crore had been spent on the restoration programme.

The department had also come out with an innovative water harvesting system to solve the problem of water shortage. Rain water was being collected in tanks for low quality usage like washing, fire fighting and maintenance of lawns and flowerbeds.

This scheme had made the Grand Hotel which required 30,000 litres of water daily, self-sufficient during all seasons. Similar schemes were being implemented for the CGO complex at Longwood and Yarrows.

Over 6,000 trees had been planted to beautify the slopes and add colour to the landscape. 

Senior, high schools to teach IT
Tribune News Service

Shimla, September 30
Mr P.K. Dhumal, Himachal Chief Minister, said the state government had decided to introduce Information Technology subject in all senior and high schools in the state to meet the challenge of the 21st century.

Speaking at the annual day function of the local Sacred Heart School here today, he said initially the subject had been introduced in 236 senior secondary schools and was likely to be started in the rest of the schools in a phased manner.

He said the government was giving special attention to the promotion of vocational education so that students could take up trades of their choice to earn their livelihood. He said the Information Technology institute set up at Vaknagaht had been accorded the status of a deemed university.

Mr Dhumal lauded the efforts of Sacred Heart School in introducing rainwater harvesting and added that it was the need of the hour keeping in view the scarcity of water.

The Chief Minister announced a grant of Rs 25,000 for the promotion of cultural activities in the school. Sister Jacintha, Principal of the school, read out the annual report of the school.

Date extended
Our Correspondent

Shimla, September 30
A spokesman for the state government here today said that date for the submission of applications seeking compounding of construction violations in respect of buildings in nagar panchayats of New Shimla, Totu and Dhalli had been extended up to October 31.