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Air Force
choppers rescue 13 tourists, labourers IIAS to be
shifted in phased manner Cong
campaign not negative, says Anand Sharma Charges
framed against Cong leader |
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Govt
apathy towards Chamba irks residents Trust
brings hope to the destitute Encroachments
on govt land removed Rlys
union decries unified cadre Award
for film by school students Visually
challenged end fast Stir by
college students HRTC
told to settle students’ fare issue
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Air Force choppers rescue 13 tourists, labourers Manali, November 22 Those who were rescued by the rescue team from Directorate of Mountaineering and Allied Sports, here and airlifted from Chhota Dara by IAF choppers to SASE helipad at Bahang are Chhering Dorje resident of Spiti, Vinod, Suman, Tashi Dolama, Rahul Thakur Inshika (1) daughter of Rahul, Sonam Angroup and Anita. Those who were airlifted from Chhatru are Ses Ram, Inder Chand, Mehar Chand, Gudu Ram and Bal Bahadur. In the last flight two instructors from Mountaineering and Allied Sports, Manali, rescue team members Mr Jagat Thakur and Nanak Soni who were
airdropped yesterday at Chhota Dara with food and medicines were airlifted to SASE helipad at Bahang. According to the Directorate of Mountaineering sources 128 persons who were trapped between Koksar and Sisu due to heavy snow on November 16 last also crossed over the 13,050 foot high Rohtang Pass today with the help of rescue team of Directorate of Mountaineering and Allied Sports, Manali, from Koksar to Manali. |
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IIAS to be shifted in phased manner Shimla, November 22 The deadline of December 31 set by the Supreme Court for handing over the heritage complex to the Archaeological Survey of India for maintenance is fast approaching, but the HRD Ministry has not taken any initiative so far to ensure continuation of the institute in its existing habitat. Instead, the Union Ministry of Tourism and Culture is learnt to have written to the HRD Ministry to hand over the central portion of the main building immediately and asked for vacation of the core area of the complex over the next five years. In the meantime, new buildings can be constructed to house the institute outside the core area. The development has come as a surprise to Fellows and employees who were banking on the assurance of Dr Joshi that the decision of the Union Cabinet not to shift the institute will be respected at all costs. He had asserted that a wayout would be found to retain it in the majestic building after studying the verdict of the apex court. Hopes of the institute being retained in the Rashtrapati Niwas complex were raised as both the BJP and the Congress were keen to see the institute flourish in the hallowed premises, gifted by a former President, Dr S. Radhakrishnan, who felt that keeping the huge complex vacant for an occasional visit of the President to the hill resort was a colossal waste. However, the shifting of the institute now seems inevitable, more so, as the move to take over the building has come after the visit of Dr Jagmohan, Union Minister for Tourism and Culture, to the complex. Eminent scholars from across the country and prominent leaders of major political parties have sought the intervention of all those who matter, right from the Prime Minister and the President to Mrs Sonia Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition, not to shift the institute. Moreover, shifting of the institute will not in any way help in the preservation of the heritage complex. Instead, it may prove counter-productive, as the ASI neither has the requisite manpower nor adequate funds to properly maintain the huge complex. The ASI is already looking after the maintenance of the heritage zone, spread over 25 acres, for which the HRD Ministry is giving about Rs 2 crore annually. The fund-starved ASI will not be in a position to spare huge funds for its maintenance. The scholars maintain that prestigious institutions have been housed in heritage buildings the world over. It is not at all essential to vacate a building for preservation. The institute has been facing an uncertain future ever since the apex court ordered its shifting from the Viceregal Lodge complex. |
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Cong campaign not negative, says Anand Sharma Shimla, November 22 Talking to mediapersons he said the Judeo exposure was only incidental and the Congress was not waiting for it to launch its campaign. There had been numerous scams starting from Tehelka and petrol pump allotment episodes to the latest expose and these would naturally be a major election issue. He said it assumed more importance because the BJP claimed to be a “party with a difference” and its “Chal, Charitra and Chehra” stood thoroughly exposed. He said the Congress was banking on its good performance in all states. The manner in which the Rajasthan Government had handled four consecutive droughts was a big achievement. Similarly, in Madhya Pradesh the strengthening of the panchayati raj institutions was a great success. He said the most important factor in favour of the Congress was that it had credible, competent and experienced leadership in all states. The BJP lacked this it would certainty make a world of difference in the electoral arena. He maintained that the Congress was seeking a positive mandate on the basis of its achievements over the past five years. |
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Charges framed against Cong leader
Shimla, November 22 The charges were framed against Mr Sharma by Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) R.L. Azad while hearing the defamation case. Prof Dhumal, too, was present with his lawyers. Mr Azad read out the charges to Mr Sharma. However, the Congress leader denied the charges. The CJM then directed Prof Dhumal to appear in the court on February 28 next year, when the court would examine the former Chief Minister and five of his witnesses. Prof Dhumal through his counsel today submitted a list of five witnesses to the court. Besides Mr Sharma, others named in the case are Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Moti Lal Vora. Prof Dhumal in his complaint had alleged that all three Congress leaders during the course of the Assembly election campaign in February this year had made false allegations against him that he had accumulated wealth in crores of rupees in Punjab.
— UNI |
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Govt apathy towards Chamba irks residents Chamba, November 22 The protesters alleged that the situation in the district had worsened during the rule of BJP as well as the Congress governments. Later, association members led by the president, Mr
M.C. Marwaha, submitted a memorandum, relating the woes of Chamba residents to the Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh, through the Deputy Commissioner of Chamba. According to the memorandum Chamba lacked the basic necessities of life, health, education and cleanliness. Hospitals were without medical specialists. The association maintained that there were hardly 12 doctors in the Zonal Hospital who remained busy in various assignments like national health programmes, court duty and camps regarding health activities. The local Government Post-graduate College did not have the requisite teaching staff. A number of posts of lecturer too were lying vacant. Chamba has vast hydel and tourism potential as three hydroelectric power projects are already generating more than 1,000 MW of power, but it often faces the problem of low-voltage of electricity, power cuts due to the shortage of power supply. Chamba Chowgan, which was once the pride of Chamba, bears a deserted and desolated look. Its lush green look has become a thing of the past. The district administration was criticised for being a mute
spectator to the miserable conditions prevailing in the district. |
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Trust brings hope to the destitute BANIKHET (Chamba): The Yog Manav Vikas Trust, an NGO headquartered in the serene environment of this town, is determined in its mission of providing succour to the suffering and downtrodden. The trust has been set up by officials of the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation, serving in remote areas of this district. They have seen the suffering of rural people and backward tribes in these areas. The trust is backed by experts from fields as diverse as management, engineering, education, environment, alternative healing and spiritualism. It has earned a place in the hearts of many in the villages as well as acceptance by government officials in less than two years of its operation. The mission of the trust is to provide community service in the form of shelter homes, orphanages, rehabilitating disabled children, literacy programme, women’s empowerment, health care, and social and economic uplift. A vocational training institute for girls and women is being run by the trust since 2002, which has been recognised by the Union Ministry of Human Resources. It runs courses in cutting, tailoring, dress making and secretarial practices. In the first year, 85 rural girls are being imparted training, with branches at Brangal, Wangal and Minjar. A course for certificate in computer applications (CCA) for boys is proposed to be introduced this year. The Himachal Pradesh State Commission for Women has awarded three helplines for women in distress to the trust, functional at Shimla, Una and Chamba. According to Mrs Kiran Dodeja, chairperson of the trust, 50 school-going poor students of 25 villages have been adopted for complete education support up to class X. The criteria for support have been laid down. A scholarship of Rs 250 and 350 per month for the best students in classes V and VIII, respectively, is provided to motivate them. A well-equipped computer centre has been set up on the trust premises for imparting computer literacy to the rural population. The trust has established Bal Ashraya, a home for orphans, near the Bhalayee temple, housing 12 children. The children are provided with all their needs and study in Government Senior Secondary School, Bhalayee. Health checkup for over 1,400 children of 25 villages has been undertaken. More than 70 children were found having poor vision and were provided with free spectacles. A separate society under the banner of Yog Manav Aromatic Plant Growers Society has been registered for motivating farmers to grow aromatic plants like geranium and lavender, besides cultivating medicinal plants and promoting high-yielding varieties of local agriculture produce. On future schemes of the trust, Mrs Dodeja says there are plans to open a B.Ed college and shelter homes for orphan girls, widows and the aged. |
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Encroachments on govt land removed Palampur, November 22 Mr Mahesh Sharma, Executive Officer, Palampur Municipal Council, said over 60 encroachments were removed in Palampur town. No one would be allowed to encroach on roadside land. He said encroachments had become traffic hazards in lower areas of the town and Gurdwara road. According to reports, the SDM Baijnath, removed 80 encroachments at Baijnath and Paprola town. Encroachments were made on National High Way No. 24. |
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Rlys union decries unified cadre Kumarhatti, November 22 The decision was not right as there was considerable gap in initial grades of yard masters and station masters he pointed out. The decision would not benefit the staff of station masters as most of the employees of yard masters and traffic inspectors’ cadres were already getting high-grades as compared to station masters, said Mr
Rajput. The restructuring could be suited to station masters if the initial grade be enhanced from Rs 4500-Rs 7000 to Rs 5000-Rs8000, Mr Rajput added. The decision would adversely affect the promotional avenues of station masters. |
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Award for film by school students Shimla, November 22 The 20-minute film was produced and directed by Pankaj Chauhan, a student of class X of the school. The production unit consisted of 15 students and their teacher Sanjeev Attari, who was the chief advisor of the unit. In a message here today, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh has congratulated the production unit of the film. He said creating awareness about environment protection and hazards of soil erosion was the apt topic that the children had chosen as these were two major problems that the hill state was facing.
— UNI |
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Visually challenged
end fast Shimla, November 22 Mr Singhi Ram here said the meeting of the Association would be convened soon for sorting out the demands. He said the government was sympathetic towards their demands and hoped that some solution would emerge during the meeting with the Chief Minister. On the assurance by the minister the association decided to postpone their indefinite fast. The minister also offered juice to Sher Singh, who was on fast for the past two days.
— UNI |
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Stir by college students Nurpur, November 22 Only three regular lecturers had been running this college having lone in adequate arts faculty. The striking students took out procession in the town today and raised slogans in support of their demands. |
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HRTC told to settle students’ fare issue Dharamsala , November 22 Parents of the students had filed petitions with the forum. In an interim order, the forum’s presiding member, Mr S.D. Sharma, and a member, Ms Sonia Banta, had stayed the fare hike. Hearing the petitions today, Mr Sharma and Ms Banta directed the HRTC authorities to look into the cases and settle these within 40 days. |
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Kalpa declared heritage village Shimla, November 22 |
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Flying training at Bhuntar Kulu, November 22 Wg Cdr Anil Arora, Commanding Officer, said a Zen micro-light aircraft had been allotted to this unit and would be stationed at Bhuntar after the construction of a hangar at the airport. |
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Former AG cremated Shimla, November 22 |
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