 |
Thursday,
September 18, 2003, Chandigarh, India  
|
2 more die of mystery fever Nation page: Mystery fever: experts leave for Shimla Unauthorised structures mar monuments, says Jagmohan
Nadda blames Cong for scam |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Court rulings reflection on govt functioning: BJP Soldier’s wife murdered HC orders closure of stone crushers Rs 60 cr to green Himachal hills Long queue of vehicles on Shimla road Independent Students Union wins all posts Student crushed to death 15 cr project to boost
dairy farming Cannabis on 50 bighas destroyed School board to involve panchayats to
check copying 90 kanal land for college approved Sair
festival celebrated Concern over new forest policy MP announces 50 lakh for bus stand Woman mauled by leopard Undertrial escapes, cops suspended
|
|
2 more die of mystery fever Shimla, September 17 During the past 24 hours two more persons died at Indira Gandhi Medical College Hospital here. While Gulab Singh of Sirmour succumbed to the fever last evening, Rama
Devi, a 30-year-old woman of Chopal, died this afternoon. Four more persons were admitted to the hospital today. In all 29 persons are undergoing treatment for the fever. According to Dr
Hardyal, so far about 90 patients had been brought to the hospital, mostly from the lower hill areas, out of which 10 had died and 51 had been discharged. Ten blood samples have been sent to the
CRI, Kasauli for analysis. The NICD team will collect blood samples of the patients, record their history and gather other information. The institute had been collecting blood samples since 2001 but had failed to diagnose the cause of the fever. The fever breaks out towards the end of monsoon every year. |
|
|
Unauthorised structures mar monuments, says Jagmohan Shimla, September 17 Speaking at a seminar on “Sustainable Tourism Development in Himachal Pradesh,” he said such unauthorised structures and their occupants were the root cause of the “uncleanliness” prevailing around the monuments and also the tourist places which hampered tourism. What was worse was that any effort to set things right was resisted and there was no support from any quarter. He said tourism could not be promoted in isolation and a holistic approach to take care of all aspects of governance was required. A new social awakening was required to rejuvenate the culture and restore the old glory of the country. He said it was imperative to synthesise culture, tourism and a clean and orderly civil life to attract tourists. If the taxi operators, hoteliers and others connected with the tourist trade cheated and overcharged the visitors, it would not help the cause of the tourism industry. He emphasised the need for a result-oriented initiative based on development of a centre of excellence, which could be replicated elsewhere in the country. Such an approach had worked wonders in Kurukshetra and Ajanta where the number of visitors and those who prolonged their average stay had increased significantly. He assured that there would be no dearth of funds if the state implemented the already sanctioned projects like the Leh-Manali Buddhist circuit expeditiously. He said two or three new schemes could be sanctioned as soon as the ongoing projects were completed. Mr Jagmohan said the hub approach for promoting tourist destinations could be adopted for Shimla, Kulu and Dharamsala. Quality tourism and mass tourism had to go side by side to ensure economic viability of the industry. Mr Virbhadra Singh, Chief Minister, suggested that income from rural tourism ventures should be exempted from tax like the agricultural income to boost tourism. He said the tourism units were eligible for various concessions and incentives announced by the Centre under the new industrial package, irrespective of the location. He said the issue needed to be clarified further by the Centre in the Department of Industrial and Policy Promotion in the context of incentives for tourism units. He said a reference had been made to include building, furniture and furnishings in the definition of plant and machinery for tourism units. He sought the intervention of Mr Jagmohan for an early notification in this regard. Mr Virbhadra Singh urged the Union Minister to transfer some of the Kangra miniature paintings lying in the National Museum, New Delhi, to the state. He also pleaded for treating Himachal Pradesh on a par with the north-eastern states in the matter of inter-state cultural exchange and approving the proposal for setting up of state archives. The seminar was organised by the PHDCCI to help evolve strategies for development of tourism in the state. The local Hotels and Restaurant Association submitted a representation demanding exemption from tax deduction at source on commission. If the provision could not be waived, the limit be raised to Rs 50,000. All hotels within the municipal limits be taken out from the purview of the Pollution Control Board as their sewerage line was connected to the municipal main. |
|
Nadda blames Cong for scam Shimla, September 17 Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday he said the BJP came to power only on March 24,1998, and the alleged tampering with the file took place on March 28, 1998, as per a conspiracy planned much earlier. He said the firm from which the purchases were made was introduced during the Congress regime. He advised Mr Ram Lal to take care of his department and explain why a senior officer was removed after a very brief stay and if there were some charges against him why a vigilance probe was not ordered. He said the functioning of the Industries Department had come under a cloud following allegations that funds were extorted from industrialists for the “vichar manthan
shivir” of the Congress. The powers of the District Industries Centres were centralised at the Directorate. Mr Nadda said by alleging that the BJP government recruited doctors which did not have degrees duly recognised by the Medical Council of India (MCI). Mr Ram Lal had only shown his ignorance as the degrees were not recognised by the MCI but the government. He said the BJP government had ordered a special audit and a vigilance inquiry into the health purchase scam to bring the guilty to book.
|
|
Court rulings reflection on govt functioning: BJP Shimla, September 17 Talking to reporters here today, he said the state high court had quashed the decision of the government to dissolve the BJP-controlled Dalhousie Nagar Panchayat. The state’s appeal against the decision of the high court to grant bail to Mr S.M. Katwal, a former chairperson of the state subordinate services selection board had been rejected by the Supreme Court. The apex court has asked the state to approach the high court if custodial interrogation was required. The latest case pertained to the Himachal Pradesh University in which the high court upheld the action of the Vice-Chancellor on the reversion the Mr R.D. Panwar to the government and appoint Dr S.Kapoor as Registrar in his place. Regarding the ordinance, which the government proposed to promulgate to amend the Himachal Pradesh University Act he said the Governor, Mr V.S. Kokje, had made some important suggestions to be incorporated in the ordinance. These would help ensure smooth functioning of the university. He said the party had urged Mr Jagmohan, Union Minister for Tourism, to allow funds for augmenting the Shimla water scheme. He said in this regard the Rs 72 crore were proposed to lift water from the Giri water project.  |
|
Soldier’s wife murdered Kangra, September 17 Mr Surender Thakur, SHO Nagrota Bagwan police station, said the victim, Veena Devi, mother of two children, according to the circumstantial evidence was murdered. He said the body was without clothes and bore injuries. He said whether Veena Devi was raped or not it would be confirmed only after the post-mortem examination. Her husband Trilok Chand is serving in the Army and posted at the front. The body was sent for the post-mortem examination to Dr R.P. Government Medical College at Dharamsala. This is the second murder of a woman in the district during the past 10 days. Earlier the Vice-Principal of Dhauladar International School at Dari, Reenu Sood, was murdered. The police, however, managed to solve the murder case and arrested Sagar Rana who was remanded in the police custody till September 22 by a court today. The youth was making CDs of sexual actions with girls and later blackmailing them and pushing them into prostitution, Kangra district police chief S.Z.H. Zahdi, said today. |
|
HC orders closure of stone crushers Shimla, September 17 A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Vinod Kumar Gupta and the Justice R.L. Khurana observed that in past four months the committee even failed in checking or regulating large-scale pollution, of air and noise. The court observed that this committee was not interested in implementing the order or is not efficient in handling this task. The Bench further observed that in such circumstances the earlier committee is hereby superseded and the High Court would constitute a committee, to check all relevant aspects of the stone crushing units causing pollution and endangering human life. Considering the fact that this order was passed without hearing the stone-crushers the High Court observed that owners may approach this court for the vacation of this order or modification of this order and listed this case for further hearing on September 22. More than 13 writ petitions from all over the state were pending in the high court since 2001. |
|
Rs 60 cr to green Himachal hills Chamba, September 17 Disclosing this at a press conference at the local Circuit House, Mr Chander Kumar, Himachal Forest Minister said that earlier the 60 crore was allocated for this project. Strengthening of forest infrastructure would be undertaken in the first phase identification of zones would be taken up in the second phase of the project. The minister said that Village Forest Development Committees would be involved in the project. On hydel projects such as Chamera hydroelectric project (Stage III), Kuthed, Budhil and Holi Bajoli projects on the river Ravi in Chamba district, the minister asked the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) authorities to prepare catchment area treatment (CAT) plans for private lands also from the holistic point of view in addition to CAT plan for government land. The minister said the government wanted to complete the Chamba-Baijnath Highway without disturbing the forest cover. He said that a two-km-long tunnel had been proposed to be constructed to save hillsides and snow-bound ranges of Jalsu Pass coming on this highway thereby making it an all-weather road. The Forest Minister said that to study biodiversity in the mountainous regions of this hilly state, experts had been asked to find ways to develop pasturelands from sheep and goats. |
|
Long queue of vehicles on Shimla road Kumarhatti, September 17 Elaborating on arrangements to check the flow of more debris, Mr Baljeet Singh Rajpal, Superintending Engineer, Himachal PWD, NH (Narkanda Circle), who rushed to the scene yesterday, told this correspondent that the highway had been broadened at the point so that the traffic was not disrupted due to the flow of debris. Round the clock labour had been deputed on the site to remove the falling earth on the highway, he said, adding that there was no chance of more landslips now. Meanwhile, a visit to the site this afternoon showed that due to one-way traffic at the point, the traffic moved at a snail’s pace with long queue of vehicles on both sides. The flow of debris was noticed and it could turn severe in the case of more rain. The traffic remained suspended completely for more than three hours on Friday evening and for two hours yesterday afternoon due to massive landslips. |
|
Independent Students Union wins all posts Solan, September 17 Munish Thakur was elected president and he polled 311 votes defeating Anil Kumar who got 148 votes. Kuldeep Justa was elected the vice-president. He got 297 votes and defeated Raman Kumar who got 161 votes. Dinesh Negi was elected the secretary. He polled 305 votes and defeated Ravinder who got 115 votes. Nitin Khajuria was elected joint secretary defeating Ved Prakash. All posts of class representatives were also won by the
ISU. |
|
Student crushed to death Chamba, September 17 According to the ASP, Mr N.D. Sharma, the victim was on his way back from tuition. A case has been registered. In another incident, a private jeep went off the road and rolled down a hillock on the Chamba-Chowari road about 40 km from here, last evening. One person succumbed to his injuries on the way to hospital. The deceased has been identified as Manohar Lal (30), a resident of Baret village of this district. —
PTI |
|
15 cr project to boost
dairy farming Dharamsala , September 17 Giving details, Mr Baldi said the project would run for five years and during the current year Rs 3.46 crore had been earmarked for this. He said efforts were being made to increase milk production in the district through this centrally aided project. He said 20,000 families living below the poverty line would be provided added income so that their living standard improved through rearing of improved cattle and milk production. He said 744 groups had been formed in the district from amongst farmers, women and each group would have 15 to 25 members. He said to train farmers in better animal care 252 workshops, 224 training camps, 84 rallies and 120 awareness camps had been planned. Deputy Commissioner said farmers and animal owners would be trained in scientific rearing of cattle and marketing of milk. |
|
Cannabis on 50 bighas destroyed Kulu, September 17 A team of about 300 personnel of the NCB, the police and the Home Guards equipped with grass choppers, sickles and arms reached Malana yesterday. Mr A.P. Singh, SP, said here the cultivation of cannabis in Malana was much more than expected. He said we thought that the cultivation was on about 500 bighas, but the team found it to be on more than 1,200 bighas. Today’s operation started from Bi-Chin Thach. Meanwhile, Mr Maheshwar Singh, local MP, had a different opinion about the destruction of cannabis plants. He said the police and the NCB should check drug peddling. The cannabis were also being used for making ropes, shoes and medicinal purposes. He said the cultivation of cannabis was registered in the revenue records. It was learnt that the villages of Malana had also convened a meeting to decide their protest action against the drive of the NCB and the police. |
|
School board to involve panchayats to Dalhousie, September 17 The Chairman of the school board, Mr B.R. Rahi, revealed here last evening that the school board was seriously planning to evolve a strategy to enlist active participation of the public through gram panchayats to bring an end to the menace of copying. Mr Rahi said that eradication of this evil was one of his priorities since he assumed his office as Chairman of the board. He claimed that his predecessors had been constantly harping on bringing about viable and concrete changes in the functioning of the examination system of the state school board but none of them had ventured to uproot practice of copying. It may be recalled that Mr B.R. Rahi is the first Chairman of the school board who comes from the school stream and has understanding of the board’s affairs and various systems of the schools’ board. Meanwhile, prominent educationists including national awardee Dr R.D. Sharma, state awardee Principal A.N. Sharma and leaders of various teachers’ unions have commended and described the initiatives being taken by Mr Rahi as a step forward towards amelioration of the school board’s examination system.
|
|
90 kanal land for college approved Palampur, September 17 Mr Butail said the government had also decided to make budget allocations for the construction of a new complex of the college during the current financial year. He said with this decision of the government, the uncertainty prevailing about the future of the college had been set at rest. He said the government had also announced to set up a new college at Kharot in the Sulaha constituency which would help the students of the Changer area of the district. Criticising the previous government, which had shifted the college from here to Paror, the minister said it was an unwise decision and against the wishes of the local people. He said the college had been opened for Palampur town and there was no justification to shift it outside Palampur. |
|
Sair festival celebrated Kangra, September 17 Sair festival is celebrated by farmers in the valley by worshipping fresh crops and they pray for the better produce of foodgrains next year. The festival is also celebrated as the culmination of the rainy season in the valley. Members of the barber community were seen carrying ‘Sair’ (sweet bread with dishes) from house to house and people paid them cash, bangles etc as a symbol of prosperity, happiness and brotherhood. |
|
Concern over new forest policy Dharamsala, September 17 He said the decision of the state Forest Department to increase the forest cover to 60 per cent was laudable but showed concern over varieties selected for plantation. He said the matter had been raised with the state Forest Minister and senior forest officials at Shimla recently. He said fast-growing varieties like eucalyptus and poplar were a big drain on water and natural nutrients. |
MP announces 50 lakh for bus stand Mandi, September 17 He lamented that the bus stand foundation stone for which was laid by Mr Sukh Ram a decade ago. He said a modern bus stand was a necessity of this town of temples and gateway to the Kulu valley. He said he had directed the state government to take up the work without delay. He said if Himachal wanted to promote tourism it must build modern bus stand and good roads. Mrs Sheela
Sonkhla, Nagar Parishad President thanked Mr Anil Sharma for the grant. |
Woman mauled by leopard Mandi, September 17 On September 10, an 11-month-old baby, Neha, had been picked up from her house in the adjoining Sakroh village. The Forest Department had set up a cage but the beast, believed to have become a man-eater, has not been caught. On May 12, Dev Raj of Khutti village in Sarkaghat subdivision had been killed by a man-eater near his house. |
|
Undertrial escapes, cops suspended Nahan, September 17 Naresh Kumar, who was sent in judicial custody disappeared from the bus stand yesterday. The police has registered a case in this regard and police parties have been dispatched to several places to nab him. |
|
4 made members of rights panel Shimla, September 17 Mr B.S.
Chauhan, retired District and Sessions Judge, Mr I.D. Bali, advocate of the state high court, and Mrs Chander Prabha
Negi, social activist, were also appointed members of the commission. |
|
Holiday today Shimla, September 17 |
 |
| Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir | Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs | Nation | Editorial | | Business | Sport | World | Mailbag | Chandigarh Tribune | Ludhiana Tribune 50 years of Independence | Tercentenary Celebrations | | 123 Years of Trust | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
