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54 Chamba booths hypersensitive Star-studded campaign
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BJP MLA for probe into sale of tea gardens Reckless felling of deodars |
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Vivekanand hospital: Bali invites Shanta 4 acquitted in assault case
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54 Chamba booths hypersensitive Chamba, May 8 Mr Rahul Anand, Deputy Commissioner and District Election Officer, Chamba, said here today that about 2,300 poll officials trained in the operation of electronic voting machines (EVMs), along with about 1,500 security personnel had been deputed for free and fair elections. The DC said out of total 2,89,917 voters, 2,29,992 had been provided with photo identity cards for the facility to cast their votes. The remaining voters would produce PAN card, driving licences, ration cards and the identification evidences as prescribed by the Election Commission at the time of casting their votes. He said the Taleru polling station in Banikhet assembly segment of Chamba district had 23 voters, which was the lowest number in Himachal Pradesh. Similarly, the Chask Bhatori polling station, situated at an altitude of 4,170 metres in Pangi tribal valley, was the highest polling booth in Chamba district. The DC said there were about 12 polling stations in the district where polling officials would have to trudge for more than 10 km. To reach the Tepa polling station in the Rajnagar constituency, the poll officials would have to walk for 18 km which was the longest distance to be covered by the polling party in the district. The DC said out of 54 hypersensitive polling stations identified in Chamba district, 42 were located on the borderland of Chamba district adjacent to the terrorist-affected areas of J&K. Out of the total 502 polling stations, 115 polling stations had been identified as ‘sensitive’ in the district. |
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Star-studded campaign
draws to a close Shimla, May 8 It was the longest-ever campaign in the electoral history of the state during which a host of national leaders like Ms Sonia Gandhi, Mr L.K. Advani, Mr Arun Jaitley, Mr Shatrughan Sinha, and Mr Narinder Modi addressed election meetings. The electioneering was peaceful and no untoward incident took place in any part of the state. Mr Virbhadra Singh, Chief Minister, spearheaded the Congress campaign and Ms Vidya Stokes, PCC chief, also addressed election meetings all over the state. The ministers remained confined to their respective areas as the party had made it clear that those who failed to secure lead in their segments could face the axe during the impending exercise to downsize the ministry. Mr Vajpayee’s rally at Mandi provided a fitting finale to the prolonged campaign. To counter its impact, the Congress assembled its own galaxy of star campaigners including Mr Ashok Gehlot, Ms Ambika Soni, Mr Anand Sharma, Zeenat Aman and Asrani at Kulu which also forms part of the Mandi constituency. Mr Virbhadra Singh also addressed the rally. While the state BJP chief was present at the Mandi rally, Mr P.K. Dhumal, a former Chief Minister, addressed a series of election meeting in Hamirpur district, the last in his home segment of Bamsen. Mr Shanta Kumar addressed meetings in Rajgir, Sulah and Palampur segments on the final day. The Vajpayee versus Sonia Gandhi debate notwithstanding, political stability, corruption and development also came up as major issues during the campaign. Besides questioning the credentials of Ms Sonia Gandhi, the BJP repeatedly drew the attention of electorate towards the dismal state of Opposition which was in a complete disarray. Mr Advani, Mr Jaitely and Mr Modi and all other campaigners for the BJP underlined the fact that instability would be inherent in any Congress-led alliance as there were numerous claimants for prime ministership. The Congress mainly focussed on the corruption during the previous Dhumal government and took pains to convince the people that voting for the party in power in the state was in their best interest. There are 41,81,995 voters in the state who will exercise their franchise in 6232 polling booths.
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30
taken ill after drinking pond water Palampur, May 8 Dr Vijay Sood, Block Medical Officer, said so far 31 persons were admitted to the hospital. All had been suffering from
gastroenteritis. A team of medical officers, along with the officials of Irrigation and Public Health Department, had already reached the village to collect the water sample for immediate chlorination of the water source. He said a medical team remained in the village for 70 hours and examined 257 persons who were suffering from the disease and provided them medicines. Dr Sood said four persons were serious. They had been identified as Kirpal Singh, Gita Devi, Jagdev Chand and Abhishek. The Executive Engineer, of the health department said the villagers had been directed for the chlorination of village ponds and bawdi regularly. Sufficient quantity of chlorine had also been made available to them. |
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BJP MLA for probe into sale of tea gardens Palampur, May 8 Addressing a press conference here Mr Thakur alleged that lands was sold on patta depriving the government of stamp duty and other taxes worth lakhs. He added that those involved were connected with Congress leaders who were allegedly shielding them. He argued that when the Land Sealing Act was passed, the state government had left some land with tea garden owners in excess of the permissible limit. This land was given to tea garden owners who were to act as custodians and were not the real owners. In such cases the owner was the state government, therefore, such land could not be sold. Thakur said in a number of cases the revenue record had been tampered with to change the ownership so that such land could be sold. Surprisingly, sales deeds of such lands were registered by revenue officials in violation of rules, he added. Even today 2500 kanals of such land was sold on patta and the mafia was trying to get permission from the state government for the registration of sales deeds. He claimed that those trying to sell these lands were denying ownership to the state government. He said he had raised the issue in HP Assembly but reply from the government was awaited. Thakur claimed that if sales of tea gardens was not stopped, Palampur would soon lose its natural beauty. He implored the government to come out with more stringent laws to check activities of land mafia. |
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Reckless felling of deodars PALAMPUR: The green cover in this picturesque town of Himachal Pradesh is under serious threat, especially within the municipal limits and adjoining panchayat areas where there is no check on the felling of trees. The deodar trees which were one time the beauty of the town are also dying day by day. In the past 10 years over 100 deodar trees have either been axed or have dried up. It is a matter of serious concern that none in the administration is bothered to preserve the green cover. No efforts have been made to plant saplings. Every year the Vanmahotsava is celebrated in the town, VVIPs are called to plant saplings but after some time no trees are seen. There is no post-plantation care. A few years ago saplings were planted near the PWD Rest House by the HP Forest Minister but today no trees are seen there. For the past few years various government and semi-government departments have taken forest laws lightly and a number of precious deodar trees have either been cut without the valid permission from the authorities concerned. In many areas of the town government buildings have come up by cutting trees. Recently an old tree was axed in front of the local tehsil. No body in the administration knew as to who granted the permission to fell this tree. There are many other such instances where the deodars have been axed overnight without any permission keeping aside forest laws made for this purpose. As per provision of law in such cases it was obligatory on the part of the department concerned or the municipal council to seek prior permission from the Forest Department, which is ultimately granted by the Deputy
Commissioner. Meanwhile, various voluntary organisations and environmentalists have lodged a serious protest with the authorities for reckless felling of the deodar and other trees. These organisations have sought registration of cases under the H.P. Forest Act against the culprits. However, the forest department says that in municipal areas, only the municipal council is competent to initiate action against the defaulters. It may be recalled that one deodar tree takes 70 years for full growth. Perhaps Palampur is the |
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Vivekanand hospital: Bali invites Shanta Kangra, May 8 He said to run the Vivekanand Medical Education and Research Hospital was not possible for this Trust as they have collected just Rs 17 crore against the required Rs 500 crore. He said the only option left with the VMERT is to get the proposed hospital attached with Dr R.P. Government Medical College. He said 12 years have passed and funds were collected when Mr Shanta Kumar was in power. Under these circumstances, the hospital was not likely to get completed even after two decades. |
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4 acquitted in assault case Sundernagar, May 8 All appellants were convicted on May 1, 2002 and sentenced to imprisonment for six months and fined Rs 500/- each for causing injuries to Krishan Chand, under Sections 323, 325, 506 of the Indian Penal Code. The appellants preferred an appeal against their conviction. The Court accepting the arguments of the Defence that there was material contradiction among the testimony of interested witnesses. The court
helds that the evidence produced by the prosecution was not convincing and satisfactory and acquitted the appellants of the charge framed against them. A Fast-Track Court recently started functioning at Mandi.
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Ex-VC moves HC for bail Shimla, May 8 Earlier, the high court had directed the police to give Mr Sharma a 10-day prior notice before his arrest. There are allegations that Mr Sharma during his tenure as Vice-Chancellor got printed papers on higher rates from a press which was owned by his relative. |
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Kangra ignored in IGMC recruitment: BJP Nurpur, May 8 |
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NCC gets 8 computers Shimla, May 8 The Governor stressed that NCC activities should be linked with social activities and hoped that personnel would be trained in the use of computers. He assured all assistance to expand activities of the national Cadet Corps. Col Chitchot informed that 24,000 students were associated with the NCC through 14 units. |
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Flower show 2004 on
May 29 Shimla, May 8 Mr Mela Ram Sharma, chief organiser of the “Sages Flower Show 2004” said that besides Garden competition, there would be contests in flowering potted plants, foliage and different types of decorative plants, hanging baskets, bonsai and cut flowers. Flower arrangement for schools and professional gardening competition would also be held. |
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