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Friday,
May 2, 2003, Chandigarh, India  
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‘Congress hushing up corruption cases’ Himachal BSP unit dissolved Rs 856 cr
for development of tribal areas Water scarcity in Himachal villages Dhumal
govt ‘spoilt varsity’s atmosphere’ |
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Police unable to trace missing kids New MD of forest corporation
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‘Congress
hushing up corruption cases’ Shimla, May 1 Addressing a press conference here, he said while an application had been moved in the court to withdraw the case against Mr Sanjay Sharma and Mr H.S. Mattewal in connection with the irregularities in Agro-Packaging India Limited, an FIR against another senior officer who had been close to Mr Virbhadra Singh, Chief Minister, was being cancelled. Not only that, the cases concerning the violation of the Land Ceiling Act against Mr Virbhadra Singh were not being pursued in the right earnest. In the Sagar Katha case Mr Virbhadra Singh had demanded certain documents from the vigilance but these were not being given, In short, the Chief Minister who headed the vigilance department, was not supplying the documents to Mr Virbhadra Singh, the accused. He said he had moved two applications in the high court to pre-empt any move of the government to get the PIL filed in connection with the violation of the ceiling Act against Mr Virbhadra Singh. He said if need arose he would not hesitate to move the Supreme Court to ensure that cases against the Chief Minister were taken to the logical conclusion. Referring to the action taken against Mr S.M. Katwal, Chairman of the State Subordinate Services Selection Board, he said it was a rare case in which an officer had been subjected to “interim suspension with full pay”. The reason for it could be the fact that there was tape-recorded evidence indicating that some senior Congress leaders were among those who had made recommendations for selection of certain candidates to Mr Katwal. Making recommendations to influence the selection process was also an offence and the government should have registered a case against them. Mr Sharma alleged that the administration had virtually collapsed due to the unprecedented and irrational transfers of IAS officers and HPAS officers ordered by the government over the past two months. Almost 80 per cent of the state administrative services and 60 per cent of the IAS officers had been shifted. |
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Himachal
BSP unit dissolved Hamirpur, May 1 He admitted that the party had suffered badly in last Vidhan Sabha elections in the state but said efforts would be made to make it people-oriented. Mr Kashyap said the party would contest Lok Sabha elections in the country on its own except in UP where it would have an alliance with the BJP. He, however, said that post-poll alliance would be held with any political party to form the government at the Centre. The BSP leader justified the registration of cases against the Samajvadi Party leader, Mr Mulayam Singh by the UP government. He alleged that Mr Mulayam Singh had played havoc with the state and he should be penalised for it. |
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Rs 856
cr for development of tribal areas Bharmour, May 1 Stating this at a public meeting in Chaurasi Complex of Bharmour township today the Chief Minister said that tribal sub-plan was introduced during the Congress regime in 1974-75 and Rs 9.04 crore were spent under this sub-plan during the Fifth Five Year plans from 1974 to 1978. He said that in the Bharmour area alone Rs 138 crore would be spent under Tenth Five Years tribal sub plan. Mr Virbhadra Singh said the construction of roads, opening of health and educational institutions in the tribal areas would be added priority of the government so that people living in these areas were benefited. Referring to the development of the Bharmour area, Mr Virbhadra Singh said Rs 2.75 crore would be spent on the construction of Dinka to Khani road, Thalla to Chhodiya and Dhakog to Badgram roads under Prime Minister Gram Sadak Yojna. He said Rs 1.21 crore would be spent on the construction of Holi-Utrala road. He said bridges over Quarssi Nullah and Lihal Khud would also be constructed. The Chief Minister said people of Himachal Pradesh had rejected the BJP-led government in the state because it had failed to honour its poll promises. He assured people that the Congress government would live up to the expectations of the people. Congratulating labourers on May Day, the Chief Minister announced to enhance daily wages to Rs 75 in a phased manner and regularise the services of those labourers and daily wage earners who had completed seven years of service. Mr Virbhadra Singh stated that the Congress government was committed to harnessing the hydroelectric potential of the state but reiterated his commitment to reviewing the memorandums of understanding (MoUs) signed by the BJP government. The Chief Minister said his government would review the MoU of Chamera Hydroelectric Projects Stage-II and III and ensure employment to the educated youths of the state and contract works for the locals. Mr Kaul Singh Thakur, Irrigation Minister, Mrs Asha Kumari, Education Minister and Mr Harsh Majahan, Animal Husbandry Minister also spoke. |
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Water scarcity in Himachal villages Palampur, May 1 Bhadal Devi, Chanjehar and Boda are the worst affected areas. A group of villagers told mediapersons here today that they were getting drinking water supply only once in a week. They said a water-supply scheme for this area was underway for the past one-and-a half years, but in the absence of a design for the proposed tubewell, the work was going on at a snail’s pace. Sources revealed that the authorities had so far spent Rs 12 lakh on this scheme, but had failed to finalise the structural design of the tubewell, thus causing inconvenience to the people. Even though pipelines had been laid, the tubewell had not been made functional, they added. The Executive Engineer, Irrigation and Public Health Department (IPHD), Thural, said the mechanical and structural design of the tubewell would be completed by the Tubewell Division, Gagret. He admitted there was an acute shortage of drinking water in the area, adding that the situation could be improved only when the tubewell was made functional. Meanwhile, villagers have asked the authorities to take necessary steps for an early completion of the scheme. NURPUR: Residents of the Khanni (lower) gram panchayat of this subdivision are also facing an acute scarcity of drinking water and as many as 40 public taps have gone dry with the onset of the summer. Five handpumps, installed in this panchayat, have not been operational for the past one month. In fact, water has become a dream for consumers of the area. The villagers are consuming untreated water from the nearby Chakki rivulet and a well and there is a lot of resentment against the IPHD for its failure to repair the handpumps and restore water supply in the area. According to Mr Ramesh Chand, a panchayat representative, women from the village had recently met the Rural Development Minister, Mr Sat Mahajan, demanding a permanent solution to their problems. Meanwhile, residents of Baduee and Khanni (upper and lower) gram panchayats are also up in arms against “illegal and unscientific” mining at the Chakki river bed by stone crushing units of the Haryal area in Punjab with the alleged connivance of the Mining Department. BHORANJ (HAMIRPUR): The water shortage problem in Bhoranj tehsil of Hamirpur district is becoming worse with every passing day. Every year, the area faces this problem. Leaders visit the area and give assurances to the people, however, no improvement has been made in the situation. Khuds like Sunaihal and Seer have started drying up due to excessive heat and the situation has taken such an alarming turn that the people have to trek for four to five km to fetch water. Worst affected are residents of Garsahar, Manoh, Tamroh, Karohta, Sahrwin, Bhaunker, Mundkhar and Sulangwan villages. The people of these villages have now decided to block roads to show their resentment. Mr Des Raj, Mr Nikka Ram, Mr Sanjay Kumar and Mr Polo Ram of Karohta village told newspersons that their children had to get up early and were forced to skip school to fetch water for their daily needs. In Garsar village, the newly constructed water-supply scheme, inaugurated with much fanfare last year by a former Education Minister, Mr Ishwar Dass Dhiman, had also dried up Mr R.N. Sharma, an SE in the IPHD, admitted there was water shortage in the Bhoranj area. He said efforts were on to put an end to the problem. Meanwhile, the work for the opening of tenders for the supply of water through tankers would be finalised this week. After this, the supply of water through tankers would begin, said Mr K.D. Lakhanpal, ADM, Hamirpur. Sources said the Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh, had instructed the Hamirpur district administration to ensure that there was no shortage of water in the area, following reports about the problem in The Tribune recently. |
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Dhumal govt
‘spoilt varsity’s atmosphere’ Shimla, May 1 Members of the cell lamented that genuine supporters of the BJP were sidelined during the Dhumal regime. A caucus of opportunists ruled the roost with the patronage of Mr Indresh and Mr Dhumal, spelling doom for the university. They
organised an open house to discuss the role of teachers’ unions in
the universities. Mr Dhumal was to be the chief guest, but he could
not attend the function. Prominent among those who flayed the
Vice-Chancellor were Prof. D.R. Sharma, convener, BJP teachers’
cell, Prof C.L. Gupta, former Chairman, State School Education Board,
Prof Sunil Gupta, Department of Commerce. Dr Sharma who enjoyed the
patronage of Mr Indresh handed out a raw deal to those associated with
the BJP. They cited the example of Prof. V.P. Sharma, Chairman,
Department of English who was removed due to personal biases. |
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Police unable to trace missing kids Palampur, May 1 According to their parents, the duo had taken Rs 4,000 with them. Tilak’s father Subhash Chand said the possibility of their having been kidnapped could not be ruled out. Ashok’s uncle Raj Kumar alleged that the police was not taking the case seriously. Police parties had been sent to a number of places in Punjab, but could not find any clue to the whereabouts of the children. All police stations in Punjab and Himachal pradesh had been informed. Posters carrying the photographs of the children had been
issue.
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New MD of forest corporation Shimla, May 1 Mr A.K. Gulati, Chief Conservator of Forests, Projects, has been promoted and posted as Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, wildlife Mr Krishan Das, Executive Director, State Forest Corporation, has also been promoted as Additional Chief Conservator of Forests. Mr G.S. Walia, Conservator of Forests, state electricity board, has been promoted and posted as Chief Conservator of Forests, Projects. Mr P.K. Sinha, consevator of Forests, Planning, takes over as Conservator of Forests, state electricity board. Mr Nagin Nanda, on return from deputation, takes over as Forest Adviser in the Planning and Policy unit vice Mr Mohinder Pal, who goes as Conservator of Forests, Projects. Mr G.S. Goraya, on return from leave, assumes charge as Conservator of Forests, PWD, vice Mr Thakur Singh, who has been posted as Conservator of Forests, Planning. Mr S.K. Sharma, Conservator of Forests, Projects, goes as Director, South, in the State Forest Corporation while Mr Narayanappa, Conservator of Forests (Silviculture), Sundernagar, has been posted as Conservator of Forests, Nahan. |
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2 drowned in Beas Hamirpur, May 1 In another incident, a fourteen-year-old boy was drowned in the river at Koohna village. The boy had gone to take the bath along with his three other friends. The bodies are yet to be traced, reports reaching here said today. |
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Woman found murdered Solan, May 1 A case has been registered at the Barotiwala police station under Section 302 of the IPC. The body has been sent to Community Health Centre, Nalagarh, for post-mortem examination. |
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