H I M A C H A L   P R A D E S H

Regular diploma holders ignored for promotion
Scam in Public Works Department
Shimla, August 16
A bizarre promotion scam in which nine work inspectors and supervisors were made junior engineers on the basis of unrecognised diplomas has come to light in the Public Works Department.

Minister promises action against quacks
Nahan, August 16
Addressing a press conference on the Circuit House here yesterday Health and Family Welfare Minister of Himachal Ms Chandresh Kumari said that stern action would be taken against the quacks exploiting poor people in rural areas.

Rains damage Hamirpur roads
Hamirpur, August 16
Widespread damage has been caused to roads and culverts in the interior parts of the district due to heavy rains. Worst-affected are the roads falling under the Bamsan area of the district. Official sources admit that loss to the department due to the rains was around Rs 5 crore.

Youth Congress general secretary acts good Samaritan
Nurpur, August 16
Following a news item published in a section of the Press on August 4 in which the plight of Shiv Kumar, a local resident, had been highlighted as he was not able to get his wife Seema Devi discharged from CMC, Ludhiana, Mr Yogesh Sundri, state Youth Congress general secretary, took upon himself to help him.

Schoolgirls perform during a Janamashtmi procession at Shimla on Saturday. — Photo Anil Dayal

Rid politics of bad elements, says Kokje
Paonta Sahib, August 16
Governor of Himachal V.S. Kokje expressed concern on the criminalisation of politics and said that Nation would have to think seriously to prevent it.

Religious tourism to be promoted
Shimla, August 16
Mr Virbhadra Singh, Chief Minister, has said the government would develop a Buddhist circuit to promote tourism in the tribal areas under a Rs 7.23-crore Centrally-sponsored scheme.

Deven Joshi to stage play at Gaiety Theatre
Shimla, August 16
Deven Joshi, stage actor and director, will return to the theatre after two decades with the staging of “Saari raat”, written by playwright Badal Sarkar, at the historic Gaiety Theatre here tomorrow.

• Forest Minister quits HPCC post
• 3 die, 4 hurt as truck falls into khud  near Theog

Regular diploma holders ignored for promotion
Scam in Public Works Department
Rakesh Lohumi
Tribune News Service

Shimla, August 16
A bizarre promotion scam in which nine work inspectors and supervisors were made junior engineers on the basis of unrecognised diplomas has come to light in the Public Works Department.

While a regular diploma in civil engineering throughout the country is of three years’ duration, the department has effected promotions on the basis of a six-month unrecognised diploma course run by the Mumbai-based British Institute of Engineering Technology. Interestingly, the department held a regular departmental promotion committee (DPC) meeting for promotions but made no effort to ascertain the genuineness of the diploma, which the candidates had obtained through a correspondence course.

The first person to secure promotion on the basis of the six-month diploma was the general secretary of the state Work Inspectors Association, Mr Ram Krishan. He got the benefit in the year 2000. Thereafter, two more office-bearers of the association managed to get promotions in a similar fashion.

Subsequently, many other eligible candidates in the department secured diplomas from the institute and sought promotions. In March, early this year, another DPC was held in which six more work inspectors were promoted on the basis of the unrecognised diploma. The cases of another 22 candidates were under consideration of the department. Most of those promoted had no knowledge of engineering and they were unable to carry out the duties of a junior engineer.

Intriguingly, some of those holding regular three-year diplomas were ignored. They are now running from pillar to post to seek justice.

Mr J.S. Katoch, Engineer-in-Chief, said the promotions were effected before he took over as the head of the department and he had decided to hold a thorough inquiry into the matter. He said the promotions were effected in accordance with the promotion rules of 1979 which provided for promotions on the basis of unrecognised as well as recognised diploma courses. When asked how a three-year regular diploma could be equated with an unrecognised six-month course, he said all these aspects would be looked into during the inquiry.

He said the department was taking up the matter for amending the promotion rules to scrap the obsolete clause, which provided for promotions on the basis of unrecognised diplomas. The genuineness of the institute and the course run by it was also being ascertained.

Those who have obtained such diplomas say that all that was required to clear these courses was to fill a questionnaire which was sent along with the prospectus. After two to three months, the candidate is intimated that he had passed the course and the certificate of “unrecognised diploma” is sent on payment of Rs 9,000, the stipulated fee for the course.

Minister promises action against quacks
Our Correspondent

Nahan, August 16
Addressing a press conference on the Circuit House here yesterday Health and Family Welfare Minister of Himachal Ms Chandresh Kumari said that stern action would be taken against the quacks exploiting poor people in rural areas.

She also announced that growth of unauthorised laboratories and unregistered and unrecognised so-called training institutes of Paramedical Staff, in the state would be checked. She said that a two-member committee comprising the Deputy Director and the Additional Director of Health had been formed to look into such matter, in every two districts.

To fill 900 posts of Female and Male health worker, a training programme would be started very shortly in the state.

She said that previous BJP Government did not train people for this cadre due to which the state was facing shortage of such staff. She said that it would be ensured that at least one male or female health worker was posted at every Sub Centre to provide medical service to the rural people of the state.

The Health Minister warned that the drug inspectors and food inspectors found wanting would be transferred.

She said that the state had 181vacancies of doctor and the Cabinet had already given approval to recruit 100 doctors. She said that a meeting of all Chief Medical Officers of the state had been convened at the state headquarter on August 26. Information regarding the requirement of specialist doctors and nursing staff, in every district would be compiled and 8 specialist doctors and 181 nurses would be recruited.

Mrs Chandersh Kumari said that an inquiry would be conducted in cases where medicines of expiry dates were burnt, allegedly at CMO office compound Nahan recently. In future Dr In charge will report about the stock of medicines to the head of the department every two months and balance stock would be transferred to other dispensary.

Rains damage Hamirpur roads
Chander Shekhar Sharma

Hamirpur, August 16
Widespread damage has been caused to roads and culverts in the interior parts of the district due to heavy rains. Worst-affected are the roads falling under the Bamsan area of the district. Official sources admit that loss to the department due to the rains was around Rs 5 crore.

Road traffic to various parts of the Bamsan area has been blocked due to huge debris caused by heavy rains in the catchments of small khuds and nullahs. These were overflooded and caused heavy damage to the roads and fertile land.

No traffic is possible on the Bhatalambar-Khanauli road via Khairi. A sum of Rs 2.77 crore had been spent for the construction of this road. Former Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, who represents this area in the state Assembly, had declared this road open on October 28, 2002. The road between Doodhla and Khairi Bridge is badly damaged. Huge landslides have fallen on the road at six places. A vehicle carrying reporters from Hamirpur to cover the function of the former Chief Minister at Kakker yesterday had to stop due to the blockade.

The Public Works Department has taken no steps to clear the road of the debris and open the road for vehicular traffic. Similar is the condition of Banalag to Pahunch road in the Bamsan area, falling under the Tounidevi division of the Public Works Department.

On being contacted, XEN, B&R, Tounidevi, said efforts were on to reopen the roads. He said priority was being given to repair the roads where bus services was operation these days. He said the loss to the roads and culverts in the area alone was to the tune of more than Rs 1 crore.

Local people upset over the failure of the department to clear the road. They rued that the roads were not being maintained properly. The former Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, said he had also directed the PWD authorities to repair the roads.

The overall condition of the Hamirpur town road, particularly the road between the Post Office chowk and Dosarka, is bad. This road has not been repaired for the past seven years.

According to PWD officers, the work was not done as this road was part of National Highways-88 and no funds for this purpose had been received from the Central Government.

Youth Congress general secretary acts good Samaritan
Our Correspondent

Nurpur, August 16
Following a news item published in a section of the Press on August 4 in which the plight of Shiv Kumar, a local resident, had been highlighted as he was not able to get his wife Seema Devi discharged from CMC, Ludhiana, Mr Yogesh Sundri, state Youth Congress general secretary, took upon himself to help him.

Mrs Seema Devi had sustained about 70 per cent burns in an accident on April 18. She was referred to the CMC due to her serious condition and was admitted there the next day.

After 95 days of treatment the CMC management asked him to clear the bills amounting to Rs 1,56,685. He pleaded with the Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh, in this regard and had even moved an application.

But it was Mr Sundri who himself contributed and also collected money from his friends. He himself went to the CMC two days ago and managed to get patient discharged by clearing the outstanding bills.

Rid politics of bad elements, says Kokje
Our Correspondent

Paonta Sahib, August 16
Governor of Himachal V.S. Kokje expressed concern on the criminalisation of politics and said that Nation would have to think seriously to prevent it. He added that an honest, and unselfish leaders could throw bad elements out of politics.

Mr Kokje who came here pay obeisance in Gurdwara Darbar Sri Paonta Sahib said that there was scarcity of good persons in politics because most of the leaders were corrupt and were engaged in self-promotion. He further said that the children below the age of 14 should get primary education and in this connection the Supreme Court had issued necessary directions.

The Governor said that after independence India made great progress in the field of Railways, Surface Transport, Telecommunication and Information Technology.

Regarding increasing influence of Western Music in the country, he appealed to the youngsters to raise their voice against this evil.

Jathedar Kartar Singh Takkar, Member, Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, Sri Paonta Sahib appealed to the Governor to help in the erection of a memorial of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur being established by the Committee. The Governor promised help in this great cause.

Vice-President Rattan Singh (Ex MLA, Paonta Sahib) Jathedar Kartar Singh Takkar and Manager of the Darbar Sri Paonta Sahib presented ‘Siropas’ (robes of honour) to Mr Kokje and to his wife.

Religious tourism to be promoted
Tribune News Service

Shimla, August 16
Mr Virbhadra Singh, Chief Minister, has said the government would develop a Buddhist circuit to promote tourism in the tribal areas under a Rs 7.23-crore Centrally-sponsored scheme.

Inaugurating the two-day Buddhist festival organised by the state Tourism Department at Keylong in Lahaul-Spiti today, he said under the scheme the Buddhists gompas en route would be given a facelift and wayside facilities would be created. He said the gompas which would be renovated included the famous Triloknath Temple,Kardana, Shashur, Guru Ghantal, Gondhla Gemur and Jispa in the Lahaul valley. Wayside facilities were proposed at places like Sirchu, Rohtang, Darcha and Jispa. He said the scheme would go a longway in boosting religious tourism in the hill state which was known for its ancient gompas and monasteries.

Deven Joshi to stage play at Gaiety Theatre
Tribune News Service

Shimla, August 16
Deven Joshi, stage actor and director, will return to the theatre after two decades with the staging of “Saari raat”, written by playwright Badal Sarkar, at the historic Gaiety Theatre here tomorrow.

Ravi Shankar, who has directed number of television serials, has come from Mumbai to act in the play directed by Mr Joshi, his mentor. Mr Shankar, who has produced and directed TV serials, including 15 episodes of India’s most wanted, said it was the urge to return to the roots which impelled the old team to come together and present something new to revive the old glory of theatre in the queen of hills.

Mr Joshi,who has worked with theatre personalities like Manohar Singh, blames television for the waning interest in the theatre but maintains that audience could be attracted by producing quality plays. The main hurdle in promoting theatre is the abject lack of facilities and financial support. Even room for rehearsals are not available and even the public sector undertakings preferred to sponsor programmes of Bollywood artists during various fairs and festivals in the state.

Forest Minister quits HPCC post
Tribune News Service

Shimla, August 16
Mr Chander Kumar, Forest Minister, today resigned from the post of vice-president of the Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC).

His resignation has come in the wake of a letter written by Mr Virbhadra Singh, Chief Minister, advising ministers holding party posts to follow the “one man, one post” policy. A number of ministers have been holding positions in the government as well as party organisation.

3 die, 4 hurt as truck falls into khud near Theog
Tribune News Service

Shimla, August 16
Three persons were killed and four injured when a private truck (HP 03-5142) fell into khud at Lafoo Ghati near Theog, about 30 km from here, this morning.

The vehicle was carrying apples from Kumarsain to Chandigarh. The deceased have been identified as Mr Subhash Chand of Zar village in Kumarsain, his son Robin Singh, and Mr Gian Chand Verma of Shar village in Kingle. Mr Subhash was a retired Deputy Superintendent of Police.

The injured included Sarrottam Singh of Palampur, Ajay Kumar of Snoh village in Kangra, Rajesh Kumar of Palampur and Jagdev Singh of Nahal village in Kumarsain.