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Govt misleading people: Dhumal Bill to set up urban
development body presented 42 Civil Judges transferred |
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Will Kol Dam enhance life of Bhakra Dam by 18 years? Shifting of civic body office to
Town Hall flayed The week-long International Shivratri fair were formally declared closed this evening by Himachal Pradesh Governor, Mr V.S. Kokje, at the sprawling Padal Stadium in keeping with ancient traditions. Farm varsity to have NCC girls wing Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University, Palampur, will soon have a NCC girls wing. This was disclosed by the Vice-Chancellor, Dr Tej Partap, who was honoured with the rank of Colonel Commandant of the NCC by the H.P. NCC Group Headquarters, Shimla. Chamba hoteliers demand airport The hotel industry in Chamba district has demanded a change in the policy on airport infrastructure formulated by the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation in 1997 that no airport could be constructed within a radius of 150 km of existing airports in the country. 
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Govt misleading people: Dhumal Shimla, February 25 Initiating the debate on the motion of thanks on the Governor’s address in the Vidhan Sabha, he said the Congress government had failed to address any of the issues on which it came to power. It had promised to provide employment to at least one member in each family and now it was back-tracking by saying that jobs would be given to one member of each IRDP family. There was much talk of 70,000 jobs in the industrial sector and another 10,000 jobs in various departments but the reality was that no employment had been provided, he alleged. There was mention of the Chamera-II project in the address which was almost completed ruing that the BJP regime which got it executed at a much lower cost. The foundation stone of the project was laid in 1982 but the project did not take off in mid-nineties. Its cost was estimated at Rs 2700 crore in 1994-95 and later an agreement was signed for Rs 2300 crore. However, under the BJP-led government at the Centre, it was brought down to Rs 1683 crore. Had the Congress started work on it immediately after Chamera-I, it would have been completed much earlier and at a very low cost. Regarding infrastructure for primary education, he said in 1998 when the BJP came to power, as many as 1964 schools were without any room and 2126 schools had only one room given by panchayats or mahila mandals. It was the BJP government which implemented the Rs 126-crore Sarswati Bal Vidya Sankalp Yogna to construct more than 12,100 rooms for primary schools across the state. Even for the universalisation of elementary education project, Rs 553 crore had been sanctioned by the Centre. He alleged that the government was engaged in a vilification campaign against him and the name of some persons who secured jobs even before the BJP came to power were being dubbed as his relatives to land credence to the charge of nepotism. Earlier, Mrs Anita Verma, moving the motion of thanks, alleged that the BJP government had left the administration in shambles. Besides, rampant corruption and nepotism, the present government also inherited a debt burden of Rs 15,000 crore. She alleged that there was large-scale corruption and bunglings in recruitment carried out by the state Subordinate Services Selection Board and the Kangra Central Cooperative bank. The funds meant for development projects were misused, particularly in the Hamirpur district. Supporting the motion, Mr Jagat Singh of the Congress, alleged that the BJP government gave hydel projects to private parties for a song. |
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Heated exchanges in House Shimla, February 25 The BJP members were on their legs as soon as Mrs Asha Kumari, Education Minister, informed Mr I.D. Dhiman that as many as 438 middle schools, 96 high schools and 104 senior secondary schools had been opened during the year. The BJP members alleged that their priorities had been completely ignored while opening schools. Besides, new institutions had been opened in excess of the provision made in the budget. The minister maintained that new institutions were opened taking into consideration the survey conducted by the department, the request received from the public during the tours of the Chief Minister to various places and the priorities given by the legislators. She said the government had announced the opening up of seven new colleges in the budget. However, since there was a court order against the appointment of lecturers on a contract basis, the government utilised the allocated funds for opening schools. However, this did not satisfy the Opposition and the members continued to protest against the alleged discriminations with their constituencies in the matter. Prof Prem Kumar Dhumal, former Chief Minister, urged the government to lay in the House the survey and the priorities of the legislators on the basis of which schools had been opened up. |
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Bill to set up urban
development body presented Shimla, February 25 The Bill provides for the planning and development of housing colonies, satellite towns and new towns through either the authority or private builders. It also provides for the registration and grant of licences to promoters, resource mobilisation, settlement of disputes, encroachment removal, and promote planned colonies. Mr Rangila Rao, Excise and Taxation Minister, introduced the Himachal Pradesh General Sales Tax Amendment Bill providing for the imposition of sales tax on lottery tickets at a rate of 20 per cent. So far lottery tickets are exempt from sale tax. |
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Virbhadra
issuing misleading ads, says Rana Chandigarh, February 25 Accusing Mr Virbhadra Singh of issuing misleading advertisements by distorting facts, Mr Rana said Mr Virbhadra Singh is trying to take credit to the previous government’s achievements. |
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42 Civil Judges transferred Shimla, February 25 Mr Rajesh Sharma, Civil Judge (Junior Division)-cum-ACJM, Arki, has been posted at Solan, K.K. Sharma, ACJM, Joginderngar, has been posted at Una. Mr R.K. Sharma, ACJM, Hamirpur, has been posted at Gumarwin, Theog ACJM Rakesh Kainthla and JMIC Vivek Sharma have been transferred to Amb whereas Mr Yashwant Singh would now be ACJM, Nurpur. Mr Mukesh Bansal, JIMC, Dehra, has been posted in court No I at Dehra and MR Rajeev Sood has been posted at Kasauli in Solan. Mr Yogesh Jaswal has been posted in court No I at Palampur and Mr R.K. Tomar, JMIC II, Una, has been posted at court No II at Kangra. Mr Ajay Mehta, JMIC, Barsar, has been posted at Theog and Mr Pune Ram, JMIC III, Shimla, would now be JMIC, Ani. JMIC II Rajiv Bali has been posted at Jogindernagar, JMIC Pawanjit Singh has been transferred to Manali and Mr Jaswant Singh, JMIC, Chamba, has been transferred to Shimla (Court No II). JMIC Jyotsana S. Dadhwal has been transferred to Kangra court No I and Mr Madan Kumar, JMIC II, Nurpur, has been posted at Indora. Mr Hans Raj, JMIC II, has been transferred to court No I at Paonta and Mr Barinder Thakur, JMIC, has been transferred to Arki. JMIC II Aparna Sharma has been transferred to Mandi court No II where as Anuja Sood has been posted at Nadaun. JMIC Gaurav Mahajan has been transferred to Barsar and Mr Naresh Kumar has been posted as JMIC, Hamirpur court No I, Kanta Verma, JMIC II, Dharamshala, has been transferred to Hamirpur. Mr Ranjeet Singh JMIC III, Mandi, has been transferred to Gohar at Chachiot. The high court has also given appointment to 18 new officers as Civil Judge (Junior Division)-cum-Judicial Magistrate. Mr Avinsha Chander has been posted at Paonta, Mr Aneesh Garg at Palampur court No II, Mr Rajesh Chauhan at Bilkashpurand, Ms Parveen George at Shimla court No III. Mr Abhay Madyal has been posted at Nurpur, Mr Sachin Raghu at Mandi court No III, Mr Rajinder Kumar at court No II Rohru, Abira Basu at Shimla court No IV, Sapana Gupta at Shimla court No V and Mr Partap Thakur at Una. Mr Arvind Kumar has been posted at Chamba, Mr Parvinder S. Arora at Dehra, Mr Yajuvinder Singh at Dharamsala court No I, Mr Hitender Kumar at Dharamsala court No II, Mr Hoshiar Singh Verma at Nahan and Mr Pankaj at
Jubbal. |
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Will Kol Dam enhance life of Bhakra Dam by 18 years? Kol Dam, February 25 The muck dumped along the right and left banks of the Sutlej poses a serious threat to the Gobindsagar reservoir, which has been silting at a rapid pace. Though the NTPC officials maintain that routing of river water through tunnels would be regulated and will come at a manageable velocity, enough precautions, including velocity breakers, need to be provided to prevent damage or flash flooding downstream of Sutlej. Dumping of muck has not only constricted the width of the river at the mouth of tunnels but has also enhanced chances of its getting swept into the river and into Gobindsagar reservoir. Besides threat to the Bhakra Dam, the NTPC was also yet to deposit Rs 27 crore assessed as Net Environmental Value of the project. Sources reveal that it has petitioned for downward review of this amount. Reports indicate that the Principal Secretary, Environment and Forests of Himachal Pradesh has convened a meeting on February 28 to consider among other things dumping of muck along the river banks at Kol Dam. Basic objections being raised that under Ministry of Environment and Forests norms, no two dumping sites should be less than 5 km of each other. But in this case, they all are within this area. Further, since forestry in Himachal Pradesh is community-based, even the local forest officials were not consulted in finalising the dumping sites. As such the concept of community forestry was given a go-by. Mr S.S. Negi, Secretary, Himachal Pradesh Pollution Control Board, maintains that in case any violation of the Water (Prevention of Pollution) Control Act, 1974, was taking place, the Board would launch prosecution against the execution agency, which in this case is the NTPC. Mr Negi maintained that the Board had been issuing notices to the NTPC over various suspected violations in the past also. Mr T.K. Chatterjee, General Manager, NTPC at Kol Dam here, however, maintains that “our corporation is neither in any conflict or dispute with the Himachal Pradesh Government. Rather, we are partners in progress and development. “Our project has been so designed that it will arrest the flow of silt downstream of Sutlej which in turn will extend the life of the Bhakra by 18 years. Besides, we have been very supportive of various departments of Himachal Pradesh Government and involving them in the project. Himachal Pradesh Pollution Control Board has been given a study to assess the impact of the project for Rs 32.55 lakh.” “This Rs 4493 cr project also includes Rs 65.23 crore Catchment Area Treatment Plan which will treat 35549 hectares of land and generate indirect employment for Himachalis. Under the compensatory afforestation plan, 2000 hectares will be covered. As such there is no question of any conflict or dispute with any department of the Himachal Pradesh Government. The entire project staff is sensitive to environmental concerns and we reiterate our commitment of maintaining ecological balance and putting extra efforts in making sure that all laws, guidelines and instructions are meticulously followed,” Mr Chatterjee added. He said there was no reluctance on the part of the NTPC authorities to release funds either for Catchment Area Treatment Plan or compensatory afforestation. All funds would be released in due course of time, Mr Chatterjee added. |
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Shifting of civic body office to
Town Hall flayed Hamirpur, February 25 The building was in news since its inauguration last year as no booths for those who were dispossessed from it had so for been constructed by the builders. Under the original plan, small booths were to be constructed and later on given to the poor people to rehabilitate them. However, when the building was inaugurated, it was without booths. Originally, the district library was to be shifted to the complex as per plan. However, the office of the civic body was shifted to the complex without the knowledge of the people of the town. Mr Ajmer Singh, Executive Officer of the local civic body, justified the shifting of the office saying that it was the unanimous decision by all civic body members. However, former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal blasted the BJP councillors for the shifting of the civic body to the complex. He said the building was meant for the use of people and not the office of the civic body. When contacted, Ms Roshni Devi and Mr Deep Kumar, president and vice-president,
respectively of the local civic body, justified the shifting of the office to the town hall complex. They said all members of the body had taken a decision in this respect. However, Two of the BJP members, Ms Roshni Devi and Mr Dig Vijay Singh, said they were not taken into confidence and the decision was arbitrary. |
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Shivratri fair concludes Mandi, February 25 Earlier, the Governor performed the traditional pooja at the temple of Madho Rai, the ruling deity of the erstwhile Mandi state and participated in the mammoth shobha yatra. Hundreds of idols of hill gods and goddesses accompanied by their respective hill orchestra followed the rath of Madho Rai. Contingents of mounted police, homeguards and NCC, officials and residents of the town wearing coloured turbans marched to the venue of the fair to bid farewell to the deities who had converged here from far off places. The pulling down of the Shivratri flag by the Governor marked the conclusion of the fair. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Kokje said Himachal was famous for its fairs and festivals which reflected the exuberance and buoyancy of the hill folk. The fairs had gone a long way to preserve the rich cultural heritage of the state, he added. |
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Farm varsity to have NCC girls wing
Dharamsala, February 25 This was disclosed by the Vice-Chancellor, Dr Tej Partap, who was honoured with the rank of Colonel Commandant of the NCC by the H.P. NCC Group Headquarters, Shimla. Dr Tej Partap said it was important to have a girls wing in the university. He said NCC had been providing avenues to girls and boys to join the armed forces as well as contribute to nation-building through social work.
Welcoming the chief guest, Group Commander of HP NCC Group Headquarters, Col A.S. Chitchot, said a trainer plane would soon be added to the air wing at Kulu which would help train cadets. |
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Chamba hoteliers demand airport
Dalhousie, February 25 As a result of the policy a proposal for the construction of an airport at Banikhet, near here, had to be given up by the state government in 1998 and Rs 45 crore sanctioned for the project had to be returned.
Hoteliers say the present policy has hit prospects of increase in tourism in the picturesque Dalhousie- Chamba region. |
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