H I M A C H A L   P R A D E S H

Task force to check pollution
Solan, December 2
An inter-agency task force has been constituted to check vehicular pollution which was a major cause of concern for environmentalists. The State Board of Environment Protection and Pollution Control which till now had no powers to check vehicular emissions felt handicapped to check this menace.

‘De-reserve’ Gehadwin segment
Bilaspur, December 2
The Gehadwin Assembly Constituency De-reservation Samiti and the Gehadwin Area Vikas Manch have joined hands and have demanded that the Gehadwin Assembly segment, which has remained a reserved constituency since the last 50 years, should now be declared deserved and some other constituencies of Bilaspur district, which has greater population of Dalits should now be declared as reserved.

NAAC team visits HPU
Shimla, December 2
Prof S.D. Sharma, Vice-Chancellor, Himachal Pradesh University, today welcomed the National Assessment and Accreditation Council peer team here. The Vice-Chancellor honoured Prof Satya Prakash, Vice-Chancellor, Jiwaji University, Gwalior, chairman of the NAAC peer team, Prof A.K. Sengupta, Prof V. Krishna Kumar, Prof Furqan Qamar, Prof Nirupa Rani and Dr M.S. Shyamsunder.

HC transfers 7 officers
Shimla, December 2
The Himachal Pradesh High Court has transferred seven judicial officers. According to an official notification, Mr J.K. Choudhary, Member Secretary, Legal Services Authority, has been posted as District and Sessions Judge (Inspection) in the High Court against a vacant post.

Task force to check pollution
Our Correspondent

Solan, December 2
An inter-agency task force has been constituted to check vehicular pollution which was a major cause of concern for environmentalists. The State Board of Environment Protection and Pollution Control which till now had no powers to check vehicular emissions felt handicapped to check this menace.

The Member Secretary of the board, Mr Nagin Nanda, informed that according to a study conducted by the state board it was found that the vehicles running on diesel emitted more pollution as compared to the ones using petrol. The average defaulters in diesel vehicles ranges from 41.78 per cent to 55 per cent where as the ones in petrol vehicles ranged from 20.50 per cent to 37.56 per cent.

The Chairman of the board, Dr Rajiv Bindal, informed that the board had made recommendations to various departments, including transport, district administrations, civil supplies with respect to the improvements.

The major improvements included promotion of alternative fuels such as lead-free and introduction of clean fuelled vehicles like CNG, LPG or battery intensive checking to prevent fuel adulteration improvement of public transport system, intensive checking of centres issuing pollution under control certificates and blacklisting the defaulters, was also recommended.

A vehicular awareness camp was organised today at Parwanoo where it was found that the percentage of violators in case of diesel driven vehicles had gone up to 61.68 per cent.

‘De-reserve’ Gehadwin segment
Our Correspondent

Bilaspur, December 2
The Gehadwin Assembly Constituency De-reservation Samiti and the Gehadwin Area Vikas Manch have joined hands and have demanded that the Gehadwin Assembly segment, which has remained a reserved constituency since the last 50 years, should now be declared deserved and some other constituencies of Bilaspur district, which has greater population of Dalits should now be declared as reserved.

Addressing mediapersons here today the former NSUI state senior vice-president and also chairman of the NSUI state disciplinary committee Sanjay Guleria, who is convener of this De-reservation Samiti, said the samiti had collected signatures of more than 5000 voters of this constituency and were submitted to the Chairman, National Election Commission at Delhi. Now the samiti has submitted a detailed memorandum, proofs and documents to the Delimitation Commission. Committee members would also go to Mandi town on December 7 and present its case personally to this commission.

If the need arose the samiti would challenge this in the court and may decide to give a call to the people to boycott any election under reservation status, the samiti said.

NAAC team visits HPU
Our Correspondent

Shimla, December 2
Prof S.D. Sharma, Vice-Chancellor, Himachal Pradesh University, today welcomed the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) peer team here.

The Vice-Chancellor honoured Prof Satya Prakash, Vice-Chancellor, Jiwaji University, Gwalior, chairman of the NAAC peer team, Prof A.K. Sengupta, Prof V. Krishna Kumar, Prof Furqan Qamar, Prof Nirupa Rani and Dr M.S. Shyamsunder.

Speaking on the occasion, Professor Sharma said the university faculties had been carrying out specialised and socially responsive research in biotechnology, ethno-biosciences, industrial chemistry, wood sciences, tribal studies, clinical psychology and cultural scene of the state.

He disclosed that the future plans of the university included courses in rural management, defence studies, watershed management, applied philosophy and Indian culture.

HC transfers 7 officers
Legal Correspondent

Shimla, December 2
The Himachal Pradesh High Court has transferred seven judicial officers. According to an official notification, Mr J.K. Choudhary, Member Secretary, Legal Services Authority, has been posted as District and Sessions Judge (Inspection) in the High Court against a vacant post. Mr D.D. Sharma, District and Sessions Judge, Kinnaur, has been transferred and posted as District and Sessions Judge (Rules), High Court. Mr P. S. Rana, District and Sessions Judge, Chamba, has been transferred to Kinnaur. Mr V.K. Gupta, Additional District and Sessions Judge, Una, has been posted as District Judge, Chamba. Chief Judicial Magistrate, Hamirpur, Mr K.L. Sharma, after being promoted to Additional District Judge, has been posted at Una. Mr S.C. Kainthla has been transferred to Rohru.

Visually challenged ‘held, beaten up’
Our Correspondent

Shimla, December 2
Twelve members of the Blind Association have alleged that the police arrested them on the eve of the Prime Minister’s visit and also beat them up. These visually challenged are on dharna outside the secretariat in support of their demands. They were arrested on November 30.

Today they were produced in the court of ADM (Urban). They alleged that in jail they were humiliated and beaten up by the police. They are on fast since November 30, demanding action against the erring cops.

However, Mr Pradeep Kumar, SP, denied beating up of visually challenged.