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Sunday,
November 17, 2002, Chandigarh, India  
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State Agriculture Minister quits Cong flays VHP on yatra Scribes told to resist allurements Power substation opened at Prini |
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Release of truck irks locals Dharna by HPUTA Bail order set aside Panel for pensioners soon NIT to award degrees MC hikes water tariff National Integration
Week from Nov 19 Police duty meet inaugurated Body of bear found ABVP’s charge against varsity
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State Agriculture Minister quits Shimla, November 16 While sources say the minister has surrendered his official car and has stopped going to office from today, he denied that he had already resigned and said he had only made up his mind to do so. He said he had already apprised the Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal, of his intentions to quit, who had asked him to wait for two days. He said he would speak on the issue in detail after a final discussion with Mr Dhumal. The sources, however, revealed that he had submitted his resignation to the Chief Minister last evening. Mr Vidya Sagar did not mince words while listing his grievances against the Dhumal government and said the previous Congress government had increased the reservation for Backward Classes from 10 to 18 per cent, but the present government had not effected any increase. He said his constituency was being starved of funds as a result of which plans to construct buildings for hospital, office of the DSP and beautification of the Brijeshwari Devi temple could not be implemented. Employment exchanges were opened even at the sub-tehsil level, but Kangra, a tehsil headquarters, was ignored. Even in the matter of transfer of employees, he was not consulted.
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Cong flays VHP on yatra Solan, November 16 Mr Sharma, in an exclusive interaction with The Tribune, said the Congress had already conveyed its stand condemning the move of the VHP to the Election Commission. Castigating the BJP’s stand on the issue, he said the BJP-led Central Government had undermined the authority of the Election Commission. Ridiculing the BJP’s stand of criticising the release of political detainees in Jammu and Kashmir by the Mufti government, he said, “The government is functioning within the parameters of the common minimum programme which does talk of a review of individual cases of people detained for unspecified periods.” Reiterating his party’s stand in combating terrorism, he said there would not be any let-up in confronting the challenge of terrorism. On the party ticket to candidates for the impending Assembly poll in Himachal, the Congress spokesman said political and social merit, besides public image of the candidate, would be the criteria. |
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Scribes told to resist allurements Shimla, November 16 Vijay Sehgal, Editor of Dainik Tribune, Dinesh Kumar, Resident Editor of The Times of India, and Mr P.C. Lohumi, Bureau Chief of the PTI, spoke on the “Future of India and the Role of Media” Mr Bhim Sen, Principal Secretary, public relations, presided over the conference. Mr Sehgal said truth and authenticity were the hallmark of good journalism and truth and facts in the right perspective should be presented. He said the media should never be influenced by allurements and favours. Mr Dinesh Kumar said concept of journalism had undergone a phenomenal change in past couple of decades. He said print media’s role could not be undermined by the electronic media. The role of media was adjudged by its service to the masses, society and country as a whole and objectivity in reporting was the best touchstone of its performance. Mr P.C. Lohumi traced the history of journalism days of freedom struggle. He said media could prevent misrule, injustice and degeneration of social and cultural values. Mr Bhim Sen urged mediapersons to extend cooperation in disseminating the policies and programmes of the government. He said a journalists’ welfare fund had also been set up by contribution of Rs 2 lakh by the state government. Mr B.D. Sharma, also spoke.
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Power substation opened at Prini Manali, November 16 The Chief Minister said in September 1995, a 2x5 MVA sub-station at Rangri on the Manali-Kulu road was damaged by floods leading to power supply disruption, causing inconvenience to people of the Manali region. So a 33/11 kv sub-station at Prini, a safer place away from the Beas river was proposed. And a construction of the 33/11 KV sub-station was approved by the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board at a cost of Rs 214.20 lakh in August 1999 at Prini. He said in view of increased load due to commercial complexes in Manali it was decided to have 2x5 MVA instead of 2x3.15 MVA grid for optimum utilisation of power so 2x5 MVA transformers were installed in 2002. Prof Dhumal said the construction of 33 kv HT line for second circuit was under construction from Naggar to Prini for funds had been provided in current year. The 33/11 kv sub-station at Prini was connected through 33 kv old feeder with existing 33/11 kv 2x2.5 MVA sub-station at Naggar. Second circuit of 33 kv HT lines would regulate power supply at Bajaura to Prini. Mr Chander Sen Thakur, local MLA, Thakur Kunj Lal, a BJP leader and former Horticulture Minister, Mr Khimi Ram Sharma, chairman Zila Parishad, Kulu Mr Gobind Thakur, former president of the state unit of the Bhartiya Janata Yuva Morcha were also present. |
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Karcham power project gets nod Shimla, November 16 The project is being executed with private sector participation in the Kinnaur district. The project implementation agreement was signed with JP Industries November 1999 at a cost was assessed at Rs 3784 crore. When commissioned the project will generate 4228.50 million units of power a year. The state
government will be entitled to get 12 per cent free power from the project, earning revenue of Rs 30 crore a year. This will also create direct and indirect jobs for the local youth. The company submitted a revised Detailed Project Report in view of flash floods in Sutlej in July 2000, which is awaiting techno-economic clearance from the Central Electricity Authority. Environment clearance for the site of the project was already accorded by the Ministry of Environmental and Forests. The project is being monitored by a high-powered committee of the state government and the project is likely to be commissioned in November, 2009. |
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Work on Rampur project to start soon Shimla, November 16 Stating this while presiding over the concluding function of the four-day international Lavi fair at Rampur on Friday Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister Himachal, said the government had accorded priority to the hydel power sector and to exploit the hydel potential of the Sutlej basin, a new agency, the Sutlej Basin Upper Valley Power Corporation had been set up. Harnessing of the hydel potential would go a longway in making the state economically self-reliant. The Chief Minister said that the government was pursuing with the Centre the case for according tribal status to the “Pandra Beesh” area of the Rampur subdivision along with Transgiri area of the Sirmaur district. Similarly, the case of Chuhar valley in Mandi, Bara Bhangal in Kangra and Dodra Kawar and Kupvi in Shimla district had also been taken up. He said two units, each of 250 MW capacity of the Nathpa Jhakri Project would be commissioned by December 2002. He announced a grant of Rs 17 lakh for various local roads and said postgraduate classes in economics, history and political science would be started from the next academic session in the local government colleges. |
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Release of truck irks locals Mandi, November 16 The Divisional Forest officer (Gohar) who tried the case as the authorised officer under the Indian Forest Act said he had to release the truck as most of the prosecution witnesses, including those of the Forest department, had become hostile and disowned their original statements made at the time of seizure of timber. Members of the Village Forest Development Committee of the Juni area alleged that the truck belonged to a relative of a BJP leader. They said the then DFO who had launched drive against timber smuggling was shifted overnight at the instance of the politician. The DFO, Mr Balbir Singh, who headed the flying squad did not appear to depose before the authorised officer despite repeated notices. The seized timber was the TD variety which is allotted to
right holders at a nominal price. The DFO, Mr S.K. Musafir, who was the authorised officer, when asked whether any departmental action was being contemplated against officials who went back on their original statements, he said the government
could consider that. Villagers fear that about 20 trucks seized in this connection might also be released. A team of newspersons who had recently visited the area had exposed how the sales depots opened in pockets surrounded by forests were being used to “regularise the large-scale smuggling. Following these reports, the depots were closed but no action was taken against the mafia king-pin of
Hamirpur who had been operating for over three years due to his political contacts. Recently four police personnel including the SHO Gohar had been arrested and suspended while attempting to smuggle timber. |
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Dharna by HPUTA Shimla, November 16 HPUTA also flayed the university administration for retaining the Chairman of the Department of English and wanted the varsity to review the decision. It also sought completion of the guest house at Noida and wanted the varsity administration to review decision on taking building on rent at Gurgaon and Panchkula for guest houses. Dr B.S. Maad, Dr Kishori Lal Bansal, Dr S.S. Narta, Dr Mahavir Singh, Dr Sewa Singh Chauhan and Dr Mohan Singh Jharta also sat on
Dharna. |
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Bail order set aside Shimla, November 16 According to the prosecution, the Shahpur police at a naka checked a Maruti van going from Nurpur to Shahpur in which the accused was travelling and found 1 kg of charas in it. While granting bail to the accused, the Additional Sessions Judge held that there was total non-compliance of the mandatory provision of the sub-Sections 5 and 6 of Section 50 of the NDPS Act. While setting aside the judgement, Ms Justice Kamlesh Sharma held that the Additional Sessions Judge had totally misdirected himself in appreciating the facts and in applying the law there to grant bail to the accused. He had not cared to notice that prima facie it was a case of chance recovery and not of prior information and Section 42 and 50 were not attracted. |
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Panel for pensioners soon Shimla, November 16 This was stated by Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister, while presiding over a meeting of the State Pensioners Association here last evening. He said that the committee would have nominees of the association, besides Secretaries of Finance, Health and other departments concerned. He said district-level committees would also be formed for speedy redress of problems of the pensioners. Mr Dhumal said that the government was committed to safeguard pensioners’ interests so that they did not face hardship after retirement. He said that after the revision of pay scales of the employees the salary bill had increased from Rs 921.63 crore to Rs 2200 crore per annum and the pension bill had also increased from Rs 181.63 crore to Rs 465 crore. The Chief Minister said that the government would consider the genuine problems of the pensioners on priority. |
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NIT to award degrees Hamirpur, November 16 Stating this here this evening, Dr S.K. Bhowmick, the acting Director of NIT, said the meeting also decided to form a committee headed by the Director of the IIT, New Delhi, to finalise the action plan for the institute. The recommendations of the committee would be implemented later. He said the committee sought a complete report from him regarding the August 25 episode, which had led to closure of the institute for two months. Dr Bhowmick also said a number of decisions regarding the internal functioning of the institution were taken at the meeting. He, however, refused to elaborate. However, insiders in NIT said the meeting could not take many decisions, as most of the members of board were not present. So much so that the Himachal Government was represented by Mr Jagdish Chauhan, Additional Secretary, Technical Education in place of Mr S. Roy, Secretary, Technical Education of the state government. |
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MC hikes water tariff Shimla, November 16 The MC meeting said that the MC had to recover Rs 3.29 crore as house tax from government departments and Rs 8.32 lakh in water tariff arrears. The MC decided to hike water tariff for household consumers from Rs 1.80 to 2.50 and for commercial purposes from Rs 6 per 1,000 litres to Rs 9 per 1,000 litres. The meeting also decided to hike the honorarium for Mayor from Rs 2,400 to Rs 2,700 and Deputy Mayor from Rs 1,500 to Rs 1,800. |
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National Integration
Week from Nov 19 Shimla, November 16 An official spokesman said the national integration pledge which was normally administered on November 19 every year would be administered on November 18 this year as November 19 was a holiday. The spokesman said November 19 would be observed as National Integration Day, November 20 as Minorities Welfare Day, November 21 as Linguistic Day, November 22 as Weaker Sections Day, November 23 as Cultural Integration Day, November 24 as Women’s Day and November 25 as Environment Protection Day. |
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Police duty meet inaugurated Dharamsala, November 16 The DGP, Mr A.K. Puri, said the 14,000-strong police force had made an effort to keep Himachal peaceful. He said despite long and strenuous working hours, police personnel had brought laurels to the state by winning many prizes in games at the national level. He said three highway patrols had been set up to provide help to motorists passing through the state. |
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Body of bear found Chamba, November 16 Mr Ajay Yadav, Superintendent of Police, said here yesterday that a report had been lodged with the police by Mr P.K. Gupta, local Range Officer against Jai Ram and Hari Singh a gun was also recovered from the possession of Jai Ram, resident of Sua village. The SP said on inquiry, it was revealed that these persons had come to hunt in the forest area. He also stated that forest officials had heard the voice of gun firing on November 13 at about 9.30 a.m. At that time, Mr P.K. Gupta, along with the Deputy Range Officer and forest guard went to nala and recovered the body of bear. |
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ABVP’s charge against varsity Shimla, November 16 The parishad claimed credit for exposing the question paper scam and blamed the current SCA of the SFI for not being serious about the question paper scam. It added that the varsity had spent Rs 35 lakh more on examinations this year and the current SCA had remained mum on the issue. The parishad sought a CBI probe into the question paper scam. |
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