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Butail reprimands health officer Recruitment scam suspect told to hand Govt staff come under intelligence scanner Need to preserve extinct foodgrain species Himachal’s project for religious tourism |
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Don’t be misled by politicians, Manjit Rai tells students CPM demands sack of
Vice-Chancellor The CPM today demanded immediate sacking of the Vice-Chancellor of HP University, Dr S.D. Sharma, from his post for his alleged involvement in various deals and harming the cause and reputation of the university. Palampur, December 7 Mrs Chandresh Kumari, Health Minister, today warned the doctors serving in government hospitals to keep away themselves from private medical practice and other illegal activities. Kufri park to get snow leopards The Himalayan Nature Park at Kufri, near here, will soon have a pair of rare snow leopards as a new attraction for wildlife lovers. The pair is being brought from the Padmaja Naidu National Zoological Park, Darjeeling, under an exchange arrangement. Early carpeting of road sought The 2-km Sanghol-Tikroo road in Jaisinghpur tehsil has not been carpeted for the past over 15 years even though gravel and other necessary material have been laid on it.
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Butail reprimands health officer Hamirpur, December 7 He made these remarks at a district-level meeting of the grievances committee here today. The minister became furious when none from the Department of Health was present at the meeting. He directed the DC to summon the CMO. However, the district health officer turned up at the meeting after an hour and tried to explain his position by saying that he had no knowledge about the meeting. The minister thus directed the DC to seek an explanation from the CMO in this behalf as today’s meeting was one of the most important meetings of the district. Mrs Vidya Zar, who had unsuccessfully contested the Nadaunta assembly seat, alleged that weightage was being given to those who were non-Congress persons while performing various government works in her areas. However, the SDM, Barsar denied these charges and added that everything was going on smoothly as per government directions. Addressing the meeting, Mr Butail exhorted the district administration to ensure that works related to common people were given priority as people were real custodians of democracy. He said that the main aim of the state government was to help the poor and down-trodden sections of society. The minister told the members that the government would not tolerate any encroachment on government land and timely and adequate steps would be undertaken to take back the land from the possession of encroachers. |
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Recruitment scam suspect told to hand over tape Shimla, December 7 Responding to a letter written by Mr Katwal to the Director-General of Police, the department has informed him that it has not received any such cassette from the government. At this stage, interrogating the persons whose conversations have allegedly been recorded does not arise. It also denied knowledge of the cassette being handed over to Mr Arvind Kaul, Chief Secretary, by him some months ago. It advised Mr Katwal that if he had the cassette in his possession, it should be promptly given to the department. Regarding the query of Mr Katwal if Mr Virbhadra Singh, Chief Minister, who has been claiming that there is “solid evidence” against the former, was questioned, the department said it was the prerogative of the investigating agency to decide whether or not to interrogate a person. The department also declined to oblige Mr Katwal by revealing the evidence against him and told him to wait for the challan, which would be presented in court shortly. The department has denied that it has been leaking information regarding the ongoing probe to the media. Mr Katwal has been claiming that he has handed over a cassette to Mr Kaul in which the conversations of senior Congress leaders, including Mr Virbhadra Singh and some ministers, who approached him for getting their candidates selected, have been recorded. However, Mr Kaul has denied receiving any cassette from him. |
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Govt staff come under intelligence scanner Shimla, December 7 According to reliable sources, the government had recently issued instructions to the intelligence wing of the police to send regular reports on the state of public utilities like roads, educational institutions, hospitals, dispensaries and other institutions. It will keep the government informed whether the institutions were providing services to the satisfaction of the people. The government functionaries will also remain under the gaze and those found negligent in discharging their duties will ace action. Doctors, paramedical staff, teachers and other such functionaries will be kept on toes all the time. Recently doctors at Una Hospital were transferred en masse on the basis of the intelligence reports that they were more interested in private practice than attending to the patients in the hospital. Those, responsible for maintenance of roads, electricity and water supply could no longer afford to neglect their duties. Bad roads or erratic water and power supply could spell trouble for the employees concerned even if they mange to keep the politicians in good humour. |
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Need to preserve extinct foodgrain species Chamba, December 7 In his keynote address at the prize distribution function and closing ceremony of a four-day state-level Children Science Congress-2003 here last evening, the minister expressed concern over the local nutritious foodgrain species which had been gradually becoming extinct and posing serious threat to the biodiversity. The minister said that during the sixties in 20th century, a number of species of rice had gone extinct and it was imagined that hardly 10 per cent of the species of rice would be grown in the fields by 2006. But taking into account the dire need of nutritious food to the increasing population of our country, it should be ensured that this process should not adversely affect the environment and biodiversity. The minister said that most of the land of our country was best suited to agriculture, adding that with the introduction of land reforms and latest technical know-how the production of foodgrains had increased manifold, but at the same time the soil erosion and water pollution had too increased with the excessive use of fertilisers and pesticides. The minister underlined the need of conservation of land and water sources. Mr Mahajan said that the convention had provided a rare opportunity to the schoolchildren between 10 to 17 years of age to highlight their scientific skill and interest. He said that organising such conventions would go a long way in preaching and disseminating the scientific knowledge. The main topic of this convention was ‘Food system — for the survival of all”. The minister honoured Mr Sanjeev Puri, a science lecturer of Government Senior Secondary School, Chamba, for his performance in the field of science. In the science model competition, Raj Kumar Rana, student of Government Senior Secondary School, Phagli (Shimla), was adjudged first, Pankaj Sharma of Government Senior Secondary School, Kulu, second, and Ekansh Chauhan of Guru Nanak Mission Public School, Paonta (Sirmaur), third. |
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Himachal’s project for religious tourism Shimla, December 7 The project envisages creation of basic facilities like toilets, tourist information centres and eating houses and strengthening of the tourism infrastructure in the important pilgrim centres like Naina Devi, Deot Sidh, Chintpurani, Jwalaji, Baijnath, Kangra and Chamunda. The circuit will commence from Chandigarh and terminate at Vaishno Devi in Jammu passing through various temple towns of Himachal Pradesh. The famous Sikh pilgrim centre of Anandpur Sahib will also fall en route. The Centre has already sanctioned Rs 7.23 crore for the development of a Buddhist tourist circuit in the hill state under which the centuries-old Gompas will be given a facelift and basic amenities will be provided at places like Sirchu, Rohtang and Gispa in the tribal areas. Besides, facilities will be strengthened at some tourist towns outside the tribal belt like Manali, Kulu and Riwalsar which will form part of the circuit. The main objective of these projects is to promote religious tourism for which the state had a vast potential in a big way. The emphasis will be on creating decent facilities for the middle-class tourists who thronged the various temples in the state in large numbers. Special integrated development plans were being prepared for pilgrim centres which will take care of all problems from water supply to garbage disposal and ensure regulated growth of the townships. |
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Don’t be misled by politicians, Manjit Rai tells students Kumarhatti, December 7 Sharing his views with The Tribune during a stopover here this afternoon, Mr Bhardwaj said the purpose of his walk was to interact with students of schools and colleges and urge them to concentrate on studies and not be misled by politicians. “I want to tell students to keep distance from anti-social activities and contribute towards building a good society”, he maintained. He also intends to spread the message of peace, unity and universal brotherhood. On being questioned what motivated him to undertake a yatra, he said he was shocked to see the ever-increasing interference of politics in various spheres. “Once I saw a procession of a political party having a good strength of students. It was a pity to see even girls being lathicharged and pushed in to police vans. At that moment I decided to undertake a yatra to educate students,” he said. Mr Bhardwaj, who retired as Head Clerk from Northern Railway in 1995, hopes to complete the yatra in three years. On
November 6, the ADC flagged off his journey from Srinagar. |
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CPM demands sack of Vice-Chancellor Hamirpur, December 7 Dr Kashmir Singh Thakur, member of the state secretariat of the CPM, here today also demanded action against the former Governor of state, Mr Suraj Bhan, for providing monetary benefits to his near and dear ones while in power. He alleged that the university had become a den of corruption and its reputation was at stake and as such it was the need of the hour to sack all those having links with the BJP or the RSS and had taken jobs during the previous BJP regime. Dr Thakur also blasted the Governor, Mr Kokje, for shielding the Vice-Chancellor due to his links with leaders of the RSS and the BJP. He said that the Governor was not performing his duties as per the Constitution and the CPM would also demand his removal from the post. |
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Minister’s warning to doctors Palampur, December 7 Talking to mediapersons here, she said it was really a serious matter and the government would not spare any doctor found involved in such illegal activities. She said doctors posted in government hospitals were highly paid and also drawing non-practising allowance. Therefore, under conduct rules it was an offence to indulge in such activities. Earlier presiding over the one-day conference of Chief Medical Officers of the state, she said all vacant posts of the medical officer in rural areas would be filled soon. She said the Chief Medical Officers should initiate efforts in this regard and inform the government to fill the vacant posts in their
districts. Mr P.C. Kapoor, Secretary, Health, was also present at the conference. He asked the Chief Medical Officers that the benefits of the free health services being provided by the government must reach the poor. |
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Kufri park to get snow leopards Shimla, December 7 The pair is being brought from the Padmaja Naidu National Zoological Park, Darjeeling, under an exchange arrangement. Besides a pair of the highly endangered species, the national park authorities have also agreed to give two pairs of Tibetan wolves. In return the state Wildlife Department will give a pair each of the gorgeous monal, kalij and red jungle fowl pheasants. If all goes as planned, the animals will arrive here before the New Year, says Dr Lalit Mohan, Conservator of Wildlife. Dr B.R. Sharma, Director of the Padmaja Naidu Park, visited Kufri yesterday to ascertain if the park had the requisite facilities for keeping the animals in captivity. He found the climate and environment of the park located at a height of over 8,000 if suitable for sensitive animals. However, he suggested minor modifications in the enclosures to make life more comfortable for the animals in captivity. These included provision of wooden flooring, greater ventilation and an observation window in the night-sheds, besides removal of some protruding boulders from the enclosures. Two Wildlife guards, who will be attending to the animals in the Kufri park, have already been training at Darjeeling to acquaint with the animals. The veterinary doctor who looks after the health of animals has also got training in disease management to ensure that the animals were looked after well after being shifted to their new home. As transporting the animals by road could take more than four days, the authorities at Darjeeling are making efforts to airlift them up to Chandigarh. Dr Sharma is in touch with the defence authorities that have the kind of aircraft required for transporting the animals. The idea to acquire a pair of snow leopards was mooted about three years ago while the Kufri park was searching for a mate for Rozy, a female snow leopard. The animal was found abandoned in the cold desert of Spiti when she was one month old. However, she died before the plan could be finalised. |
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Early carpeting of road sought Palampur, December 7 The Gram Panchayat, Sanghol, at a meeting passed a resolution, seeking early release of the funds necessary to undertake carpeting of the road so that people are not put to great inconvenience in the rainy season. The panchayat has sent copies of the resolution to the Chief Minister and the authorities concerned, seeking their intervention to accomplish its objective. |
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Martyr cremated Palampur, December 7 Mr Kafu Ram, father of the deceased, told mediapersons that he was proud of his son who had laid down his life for the unity and integrity of the country. Schools in adjoining villages remained closed and prayers were held to mourn the death of the soldier. However, no junior or senior officer of the state government attended the cremation or visited the house of the martyr to console the bereaved family. |
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3-day Yuva Utsav begins Hamirpur, December 7 Mrs Verma said that Himachal Pradesh had rich cultural heritage and steps were on to preserve the same. Mrs Verma exhorted the youth to channelise their energy for the reconstruction. Earlier, the organisers of the utsav honoured the MLA on this occasion. Cultural programmes of various types would be presented during the next three days and the winners would be honoured. |
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9 injured in road mishap Hamirpur, December 7 All the injured have been admitted to hospitals at Hamirpur and
Bhota. The Hamirpur police has registered a case. |
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