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Wednesday,
October 16, 2002, Chandigarh, India  
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Catch-22 situation for Sukh Ram Dissident BJP leader meets
Virbhadra Normalcy in Chamba border areas: SP Who pasted bills against Dalai Lama? Launch of Uhl stage III
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Fiery end to effigies of evil PIL filed against illegal mining Hamirpur needs more colleges
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Catch-22 situation for Sukh Ram Shimla, October 15 The issue will be discussed threadbare at the crucial meeting of the state executive of the party to be held here tomorrow. It is a catch-22 situation for the party. If it goes along with the BJP, the anti-incumbency factor will go against it heavily. An alliance with the Congress will be mutually beneficial for the two parties, but the intense rivalry between factions headed by Mrs Vidya Stokes, PCC chief, and Mr Virbhadra Singh, Leader of the Legislative Party, was coming in the way. Mr Virbhadra Singh, an arch rival of Mr Sukh Ram, was not in favour of having any truck with the HVC. Moreover, there was a clash of interest involving individual leaders at all levels. There were already several aspirants for each seat in the Congress and an alliance with the HVC will deprive the party of some seats, which was not acceptable to the section opposed to the HVC. In fact, some leaders like Mr Ram Nath Sharma, who had resigned from the HVC to join the Congress, were still waiting for a nod from the party high command. The conviction of Mr Sukh Ram in the telecom scandal is coming in handy for his detractors in blocking any understanding between the two parties. A proposal mooted by some leaders for the merger of the HVC into the Congress was shot down by Mr Virbhadra Singh who has been against opening of flood gates for the re-entry of deserters. Instead, he insists, the cases of individual leaders should be considered on merit. With the Assembly election still four months away, the two parties are in no hurry to take a decision on the issue. The mood in the Congress is upbeat after its good showing in the recent Jammu and Kashmir poll. In the situation, it is hardly surprising that Mr Sukh Ram, while keeping options for an alliance with the BJP or the Congress open, is preparing to go it alone at the hustings. He has also made it clear that an alliance will be possible only with the party willing to accept and implement its economic agenda. His proposed statewide tour is also aimed at convincing the cadres that the party is serious about contesting all 68 seats on its own. Besides giving a final shape to the economic programme, the state executive is also likely to decide the route and other details of the supremo’s tour, which will set the tone for the party’s poll campaign. According to party sources, Mr Sukh Ram will be on the wheels along with other senior leaders for almost a month. He will be addressing 10 to 12 meetings daily and no time will be lost in breakfast and lunch. It will all be a packed affair. The vehicles accompanying him will be fitted with communication facilities, fax and other required items to enable the supremo to carry out his office work and remain in touch with the rest of the world during the month-long odyssey. |
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Dissident
BJP leader meets
Virbhadra Hamirpur, October 15 Mr Virbhadra Singh was on way to Jwali from Shimla when he stayed in the Hotel for lunch. Mrs Asha Kmari, MLA and local Congress leaders accompanied him. Sources in the hotel said that there were no discussions between Mr Narendra Thakur and Mr Virbharda Singh. Both exchanged greetings only. Mr Virbhadra Singh refused to say anything to the Press. He said that he had not come to meet the Press but for discussions with party persons only. There are reports that Mr Narendra Thakur remained in the hotel for more than one and half-hours. He simply took tea there. He had come to the hotel much before the arrival of the former Chief Minister. The unscheduled meeting between Mr Virbhadra Singh and Mr Thakur may upset BJP calculations in the Hamirpur district, if both they join hands in elections. Mr Narendra Thakur is the former district BJP chief and was expelled from the party recently. |
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Normalcy
in Chamba border areas: SP Chamba, October 15 Talking to newspersons here today, Mr Yadav said he went on a 15-day tour of the Pangi tribal area, and Kihar and Tissa security sectors. He said the jawans of security forces, including the Himachal Armed Police (HAP) and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), had been conducting a combing operation and surface patrolling on the borderline. The security forces were keeping a strict vigil on the border areas of the district adjoining Jammu and Kashmir. The SP toured checkpoints at Luj, Dharwas and Bhagotu near Saach Pass in the Pangi tribal valley, about 80 km from the Kishtwar township in Jammu and Kashmir. |
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Who pasted bills against Dalai Lama? Dharamsala, October 15 The bills bear the name of the Himachal Liberation Front , which appears to be a new organisation. They were probably pasted on Sunday. In Mcleodganj, which comprises Tibetan population and foreigners, some notice boards have been put up for the convenience of people to help them keep in touch with their friends and relatives without meeting them personally. Important news and functions are also announced on these notice boards. People are free to pin their feelings on these boards. It seems that taking benefit of this facility some one pasted these two bills, which have created quite a stir in the town. Senior police officials have visited Mcleodganj and were trying to probe whether this could be the handiwork of Tibetan followers of Shugden cult, who have been highly critical of the Dalai Lama in the past. When contacted, Prof Samdhong Rinpoche, Chief Kalon (prime minister) of the Tibetan Government-in-exile, played it down, saying that though some handwritten leaflets were noticed but it appears that the media has blown it out of proportion. “Still,” he said, “We have to be careful and take suitable precautions.” The Dalai Lama is presently in Austria. Meanwhile, the police has beefed up security around the Dalai Lama’s house. |
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Launch of Uhl stage III
today Mandi, October 15 According to HPSEB Chairman Kanwar Shamsher Singh, excavation for the head race tunnel would be taken up on a war-footing. The cost of the project according to June, 1999 price index would be Rs 479 crore. The project is being executed by the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board (HPSEB). Himachal Vidhan Sabha Speaker, Gulab Singh who represents Jogindernagar constituency in the Assembly will preside over the inaugural function. Minister of State for Power and Technical Education, Ravinder Singh Ravi, will welcome the Chief Minister. The project when completed will easing power crisis in the region. Mr Gulab Singh said Rs 15 crore had been provided for the project in the current year and if more funds were needed, these would be provided by the government. Located near Jogindernagar the Power House will be constructed on the right bank of the Beas river near Chulla village. The project earlier envisaged utilisation of the tail water of Uhl stage-I (Shanan)-110-MW and Uhl stage-II (Bassi) 60-MW and its capacity was 70 MW. Later surveys were conducted to raise installed capacity of the project to 100-MW by adding the water of Neri and Rana rivulets after de-silting. All water will be carried through 1145-meter-long and 700-meter-long open channels to Bagla reservoir with 17.60 Ha.m capacity to meet peak load demand in lean season. The water will further be carried to tunnel intake through 398-meter-long aqueduct over Rana rivulet. The water will be carried through a 8.27-km-long tunnel from the aqueduct to 36.50-meter-high surge shaft of 13 m diameter. Two generators of 50-MW each shall be installed in the power house. Himachal has the hydel power potential of 20300 MW, of which only 1549 MW had been harnessed by Himachal and other agencies. Himachal is bestowed with 25 per cent of country’s total hydel potential. |
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Fiery end to effigies of evil Kulu, October 15 Devotees pulled the wooden chariot to the middle of the ground where the idol of Lord Rama established at the camp temple for the week-long rituals. Dr Suraj Bhan, Governor of Himachal Pradesh, was also present at the starting point of the rath
yatra. Later, he inaugurated the exhibitions on various local handlooms, handicrafts and industrial and power sector developments. UNA: Dasehra was celebrated at
Chowki-Moniar in Kutlehar constituency of the district with great fervour. Prof Prem Kumar Dhumal was present on the occasion. He announced the upgradation of governments high school,
Chowki-Moniar from the next acadamic session. Mr Ram Dass Malangar, Deputy Speaker, HP Vidhan Sabha, and Mr Praveen Sharma, State Minister for Excise and Taxation also spoke. CHAMBA: Dasehra was celebrated at the historic Chowgan on Tuesday with gaiety and religious fervour. The effigies of Ravana, Meghnath and Kumbhkarna were burnt amidst a huge gathering. Earlier, a grand procession was taken out through the local bazars on the occasion. Wrestling matches were also organised. FARIDKOT: Dasehra was celebrated in the district headquarter town with great enthusiasm and fervour on Tuesday. Thousands thronged the local Nehru stadium to witness the main function. Representatives of various political and social organisations including Mr Avtar Singh Brar Former Education Minister, Mrs Deepinder Kaur
Mehtab, chairpersons, Maharawal Khewaji Charitable Trust, Mr A. Venu Prasad and Mr Harinder Singh Chahal, Deputy Commissioner and SSP, respectively, also graced the occasion. Students of various educational institutions presented cultural programmes. Later the Deputy Commissioner lit the effigies of Ravana, Kumbhkarna and
Meghnath. HOSHIARPUR: With the burning of the effigies of Ravana, Kumbhkarna and Meghnath the 10-day-long Dasehra festival concluded at the Ram Lila ground here on Tuesday. PHAGWARA:
Effigies of
Meghnath, Kumbhkarna and Ravana were set ablaze around sunset on Tuesday at about 12 places in and around Phagwara to mark
Dasehra. AMRITSAR: Dasehra was celebrated with traditional fervour and gaiety here on Tuesday. It was also celebrated at Goal Bagh and other traditional grounds. Various clubs too held special functions on the occasion. KAITHAL: Dasehra was celeberated with enthusiasm here and in other parts of the district. The effigies of Ravana, Kumbh-karan and Meghnath were put on fire in the presence of a huge crowd at the local Ram Lila, ground here. |
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PIL filed against illegal mining Shimla, October 15 Despite repeated complaints and alleged police inaction one forest official has finally moved a public interest litigation in the HP High Court in this regard. Sources say that in the Junga-Chalanda belt the mining mafia has been undertaking illegal quarrying despite being in the knowledge of the police and forest officials. The sources also say the stones are being used to construct retaining wall on the Shoghi-Junga road. Interestingly, where these stones are being used the contractors have already been paid a lumpsum by the government. The mining mafia sells their stones to the contractors at a lower price. The sources say the mining mafia enjoys the patronage of a local leader and as a result no one is willing to stop illegal mining. The PIL, which has been moved by Mr Amit Sharma, a wildlife official, states that illegal mining has caused widespread loss to the environment here and even the natural sources of water have dried up. |
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Hamirpur
needs more colleges Hamirpur The district tops in the literacy percentage not only in the state but also in norther India and the credit for this goes to the successive state governments for opening many educational institutions right from the primary section to the college level. The district has degree colleges at Hamirpur, Nadaun, Kanjyan, Sujanpurtira and Chakmoh. While the first four colleges are government colleges, the Baba Balak Nath Memorial Trust, a government-owned organisation, runs the last one. Postgraduate classes are available only at the Hamirpur college. Kanjyan College was announced on April 15 and its classes are running in the old building of B.Ed college at Tarkwari in the Mewa assembly segment of the district. Infrastructure facilities like teachers, clerical staff, class IV employees, labs, staff grounds, building etc are in short supply in most colleges. The Hamirpur college has 68 lecturers as against the sanctioned strength of 78. Most of the posts in the English Department have been lying vacant. It is one of the biggest colleges in the state having a strength of more than 4000. The college needs a good library as the present one is not in a position to cope up with the demands of teachers and students. The present library is housed in a congested room and no funds have been given for the construction of the library complex. Boys are forced to live in private buildings by paying exorbitant rents. Their demand for a hostel has yet not been accepted by the government. The condition of the girl’s hostel is also bad. It needs expansion as well as more facilities for its inmates. Work on the proposed indoor stadium has not yet started for reasons best known to the state government and the college authorities. The degree college at Nadaun is housed in tinned roof rooms meant for the industrial area. The college building is under construction and is likely to be handed over to the department after September 15. The condition of the degree college at Sujanpurtira is no better. Its classes are running at two places. This college was taken over by the state government after the merger of two private colleges. The new college has been named after Late Jagdev Chand Thakur, a former HP minister. Fifteen posts of teacher have been lying vacant. Same is the case of non-teaching staff. The lone private degree college running at Chakmoh is without a regular Principal. Only arts subjects are taught in the college. The college has its own beautiful complex but sans hostel for students and residential accommodation for the teaching and non-teaching staff. The fourth degree college at Kanjyan is presently running in a private building at Tarkwari. Nearly 150 students have taken admission to the BA and B.Com first-year courses. Teachers are yet to join the college as their posting orders are still in the pipeline. Construction of the college complex has started which is likely to be completed in one year. People want another degree college at Mahre/Barsar and the taking over of the Chakmoh college by the state government. |
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VC hand in glove with ABVP: SCA
Shimla, October 15
Mr Kuldeep Bhardwaj, president of the SCA, said the Vice-Chancellor was out to appease the saffron forces and commercialise the institution. He pointed out that Airtel had been allowed to set up a tower atop the university library. |
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Women teachers’ body formed Shimla, October 15 She said they met Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister, and Mr I.D. Dhiman, Education Minister, regarding their demands for 20 holidays, relaxation in transfer orders and maternity leave facility. |
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DPRO attack case settled amicably Bilaspur, October 15 The DPRO said here today that the controversy has now been resolved and he would take suitable course to withdraw the FIR he had got registered at the Sadar police station. |
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