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2nd language status for Punjabi sought
HP seeks Rs 22.32-cr
aid for drought HP hikes permit fee
for restricted roads Review priorities on hydel projects, forum asks govt |
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PWD
finds chowkidar a hard nut to crack Parmar varsity students hold protest Tourism policy sans action: report TN seeks to tap tourists in Himachal Snow, rain dip mercury
in Himachal Slow on power reforms, board faces fund denial Havildar cremated Five killed in Mandi road accident
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2nd language status for Punjabi sought Paonta Sahib, May 23 At a congregation held in the historic Gurdwara Paonta Sahib yesterday to mark the Shaheedi Jor Mela of Baba Banda Bahadur, a resolution was adopted to urge the Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh, to ensure that teaching of Punjabi was introduced in all schools of the state. The previous BJP government had in 1999 as a part of the tercentenary celebrations of the birth of the Khalsa taken a Cabinet decision to introduce Punjabi in various schools. But in the absence of an adequate number of trained teachers, Punjabi classes introduced in some schools were later withdrawn, much to the annoyance of the community. The Himachal School Education Board also introduced Punjabi as an elective subject for students of IX and X class. To protest against the apathy of the state government towards the Punjabi language, some parents even went to the Shimla High Court to challenge the discontinuation of Punjabi classes in certain schools. Jathedar Kartar Singh Takkar, general secretary of the Parbandhak Committee of Gurdwara Paonta Sahib, who moved the resolution, said the demand would now be taken up with the Chief Minister. “We will pursue it vigorously so that the Punjabi classes are introduced during the current academic session,” he added. By another resolution, the congregation demanded that a national memorial be raised at the historic Lohgarh Fort, which Banda Bahadur had used as his makeshift capital before launching the India’s first freedom struggle against the Muslims. Though the previous BJP government in the state and the NDA government at the Centre had promised to raise the national memorial by promising the foundation stone laying ceremony by Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee, nothing happened. The new Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, who had campaigned in favour of the Congress candidate in Paonta Sahib last year during Assembly elections, had promised that once the Congress came to power, this demand of the Sikhs of Himachal would be met. Hailing the elevation of Dr Manmohan Singh as the first Sikh Prime Minister of the country, the congregation also congratulated the Congress President, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, for giving the minorities their long-deserved due in making the most qualified representative of the microscopic minority Prime Minister of the country. Jathedar Kartar Singh Takkar said the Shiromani Akali Dal chief, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, should focus more on Punjab and leave the Sikhs elsewhere to fend for themselves. Among those who addressed the special congregation yesterday were Mr Sukhdev Singh Bhaur of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, Mr Satnam Singh of Dal Khalsa and Mr Bhagwan Singh Johl. |
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HP seeks Rs 22.32-cr
aid for drought Shimla, May 23 The Irrigation and Public Health (IPH) Minister, Mr Kaul Singh Thakur, yesterday held a meeting with senior officials of his department and the Municipal Corporation, Shimla, to review the drinking water supply situation in the state. He informed that Rs 22.32 crore had been sought to deploy 438 tankers, install 976 hand pumps, energise 130 hand pumps and link 162 traditional water sources all over the state. To ensure regular monitoring of the drinking water situation in the state, special nodal officers and zonal circle officers had been appointed, who would submit weekly reports. Mr Thakur stated that due to the drought-like situation, 1431 of the 7142 water supply schemes had been affected. He further added that 37 tankers had been deployed in various parts of the state to ensure supply of water and 32 hand pumps had been installed. Apart from this, 276 new sites had been identified in the drought-affected areas where hand pumps would be installed before the rainy season. |
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CM indifferent to drought, says Nadda Shimla, May 23 In a statement issued here, Mr Nadda regretted that instead of trying to gear up to meet the problems arising out of the drought-like situation, the Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh and his Cabinet colleagues were camping in Delhi, waiting for the government formation. “No doubt
courtesy demands that the state government should felicitate the new Prime Minister and his Cabinet but this can certainly not be done by causing inconvenience to the public, who are facing an acute water shortage problem,” he stated. He further added that instead of waiting for an audience with the new Power Centre in Delhi, it would have been better if the Chief Minister and his minister had held meetings to ensure that the situation was kept under control. |
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HP hikes permit fee for restricted roads Shimla, May 23 The token permit fee was increased for one route on restricted roads from Rs 240 to Rs 1,500 per annum and from Rs 600 to Rs 2,000 per annum for more than one route. Similarly, the permit fee was increased from Rs 600 to Rs 1,500 per annum for one sealed route and from Rs 1,200 to Rs 3,000 for more than one route on sealed roads. Though the permit fee was hiked in the beginning of this year, vehicle owners are feeling the pinch now with the expiry of respective permits issued for a quarter prior to increase in the permit fee. The residents have to get the permits under compulsion either due to location of their residences or for visiting government offices situated at or around the restricted roads. A secretariat employee complained that he had to cough up Rs 1,500 in order to get a permit simply because he had to cover a 50-m stretch of restricted road in order to go to his office. A government schoolteacher using a two wheeler to go to his residence accessible through a restricted road described the increase as ‘’extortion’’. The minimum penalty to ply a vehicle on the sealed roads without a permit is Rs 5,000 and Rs 3,000 for plying a vehicle on restricted roads. On subsequent violation the penalty amount prescribed is double. There are eight sealed roads and nine restricted roads in Shimla. Government vehicles have been exempted from token fee for permits. Though the policy guidelines concerning the regulation of vehicular traffic in Shimla speak of drastic reduction in existing number of permits for vehicles on sealed and restricted roads, there is no dearth of government vehicles using these roads, flouting the very objective of these guidelines. According to a criteria, a permit is not to be issued to a vehicle owner simply because his residence is located on a restricted or sealed road or that he possesses a parking place on a restricted or sealed road.
— UNI |
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Review priorities on hydel projects, forum asks govt Shimla, May 23 Mr R.L. Justa, convenor of the forum, drew the attention of the government to the fact that the previous BJP government had selected less economical projects for execution like Larji and Uhl-III, the construction cost of which was likely to range between Rs 8 to Rs 10 crore per megawatt. The cost of generation would be over Rs 4 per unit. In contrast, the project like the 144 mw Sawra Kuddu, 86 mw Dhamwari Sund, 44 mw Tangnu Romai and 36 mw Paudital Lassa were much more attractive with a average cost of construction around Rs 5 crore per megawatt. In all there were 10 projects in the Yamuna basin with aggregate capacity of 374 mw within Shimla district alone. He said most of these projects did not involve any displacement of population and submergence of forests. The water of Pabbar and its tributaries was free from silt and necessary infrastructure was also available to start work immediately. The cost of generation was likely to be around Rs 2.50 per unit. Mr Justa, who is also a member of the Shimla district grievances committee, said that the previous BJP government had closed down the investigation and construction circle for the Yamuna basin located at Rohru, which must be revived. |
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PWD
finds chowkidar a hard nut to crack Sundernagar, May 23 Many officials of the state government have complained against the chowkidar. In July 1998 the chowkidar was arrested on the charge of theft and was kept in police custody for more than 48 hours. According to the rules, an employee detained in police custody for more than 48 hours has to be suspended, but no such action was taken. The chowkidar continues at the rest house in spite of the fact that the Chief Minister’s Office had ordered an inquiry against him. An inquiry regarding the possession of huge assets is also pending against him. In March, PWD officials, along with the local police, had inspected the rest house at midnight and found the chowkidar had unauthorisedly given out eight sets of rooms. No action was taken against him at the time. Three days after this, the Chief Minister stayed at the rest house and said strict action would be taken against him. The Chief Minister’s Office had already ordered action on an earlier complaint. Now, the office of the SDO, Sundernagar, has forwarded its findings to senior officials. However, the report does not mention the detention of the chowkidar, which is there in the police record. According to PWD sources, the chowkidar is being supported by certain politicians. |
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Parmar varsity students hold protest Solan, May 23 This was the second instance of unrest in the campus in the past two months where the students had resented the Vice-Chancellor’s decisions and had organised protest rallies. The inquiry report of the first incidence had also become an issue of contention between the two. The SCA, while asserting that the harsh decision had put the future of the students at stake, demanded a magisterial inquiry report into the March 26 violence incidence. While apprehensive of a strict action before the examinations it said the university authorities were deliberately trying to delay making public this report. This move would be used to harass the students at the time of examinations and hence the SCA was demanding to make this report public. The SCA maintained that it was ready to face the music in case the inquiry report indicted the students but it should be made known to them well before the examinations which begin on June 5. The students also demanded an immediate annulment of the Dr K.K. Jindal committee inquiring into the university violence. The 75-page report which had been handed over to the Deputy Commissioner, would now be sent to the Governor, who was also the Chancellor of the university. Statements of 250 students and about 150 university officials, in addition to visiting boxers and their coaches have been recorded, in the report prepared by the Additional Deputy Commissioner, Mr S.C. Negi. |
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Tourism policy sans action: report Shimla, May 23 These are the remarks made in the latest Himachal Pradesh Development report brought out by the Planning Commission about the state of affairs as far as promotion of tourism in Himachal Pradesh is concerned. The report clearly states that despite abundant natural beauty Himachal has failed to break the seasonality factor as the state witnesses tourist inflow mostly in summers with no thrust on dispersal of tourism to lesser and unexplored areas during other part of the year. “While there is wasted capacity in other parts of the state, the entire infrastructure and facilities are under stress in the Shimla-Kulu circuit,” reads the report. This in turn causes water shortage, traffic snarls and power problem, leaving the visitors with a poor overall impression of the state, with little chances of “return” or “recommended visits” as should have been. In 2002 a total of 50.44 lakh domestic tourists and 1.44 lakh foreign tourists visited Himachal. In terms of percentage of tourists visiting the districts Kulu and Shimla account for more than half of the tourist traffic, with the arrivals not being uniform over the year but concentrated in three four months only. Developing tourism clusters, which is an important highlight of the state tourism policy 2000, has not made much headway as most of the plans still remain on paper. Though the notification for the formation of the Tourism Development Councils and the Tourism Development Board has been issued but very little headway has been made in this regard as well. The Director, Tourism, Mrs Upma Chaudhary, when contacted said she was busy and should be contacted later. “The stark realisation is that tourism contributes only two per cent to the state domestic product, in a state like Himachal where the possibilities are endless,” is another observation made in the report. It is a pointer towards the fact that not much employment opportunities have been created despite the state tourism policy taking note of the fact that Rs 10 lakh investment in tourism industry generates 47 jobs, even when a labour-intensive sector like agriculture can provide only 44 jobs. “The tourism sector has to be seen as an industry by reorienting the entire philosophy to a marketing concept, focusing singularly on the tourist,” is one of the recommendations made in the report suggesting a change in policy The report has also emphasised the need for increasing the private sector participation in tourism both as a means of generating employment and providing new infrastructure. A suggestion has been made that the government should move out of tourism as a business activity and should play the role of a facilitator. |
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TN seeks to tap tourists in Himachal Shimla, May 23 “Depending on the kind of response we get from Himachal
Pradesh, we could open an information centre in Shimla,” says Mr Alag Rajan, Deputy Director of the corporation. At present the TNTDC has a centre at Chandigarh. Talking to mediapersons here yesterday, he said since places like Shimla, Manali and Dalhousie attracted a large number of tourists, the TNTDC intended to tap this section of people. “Though so far we have not planned any tie-up with Himachal Tourism, but we would explore such possibilities,” said Mr Rajan. He said the TNTDC was offering holidays and package tours for all sections of tourists, including those on a shoe-string budget. The corporation would ensure travel and hotel reservations. Mr Rajan said he had also met local travel agents in this regard. |
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Snow, rain dip mercury
in Himachal Shimla, May 23 It was followed by a heavy downpour, which brought relief to the people from the heat. Trees were uprooted and power lines were snapped at Dharamsala and some areas of Kulu, Mandi and Shimla districts. Apple and other fruit crops were damaged in some pockets in upper Shimla and Karsog area of Mandi district. Many localities in Dharamsala remained without electricity till evening. Roofs of houses were blown away in some areas in Kangra. The regional fruit research station at Mashobra, near here, recorded 64 mm of rain overnight. The mercury plummeted sharply following the widespread heavy rain. The maximum dipped to 19.4°C from 31.3°C yesterday, while the minimum came down to 8.0°C from 17.6°C Celsius. UNI ADDS: Higher reaches of the tribal district in Himachal Pradesh on Sunday received a mild snowfall while mid and lower hills had rain. The weather, however, later cleared up in the afternoon here and in other parts of the state also. The higher reaches surrounding the picturesque Kangra valley and Rohtang Pass received a mild snowfall. According to a report from Dharamsala, higher areas of the Dhauladhar range in Kangra district have been receiving snowfall since last night while the Kangra valley was lashed by hailstorm and rain. Tourist resorts of Narkanda, Naldehara and Kufri also experienced rain on Sunday. |
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Hailstorm, rain lash valley Kangra, May 23 |
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Slow on power reforms, board faces fund denial Shimla, May 23 The programme is in its third year but the board has not been able to utilise even 35 per cent of the funds already released by the Centre. Out of the Rs 189 crore, the board received over the past over three years, only about Rs 50 crore have been utilised. The Centre had approved schemes involving an expenditure of Rs 327 crore for the improvement of power transmission and distribution infrastructure in all 12 circles. The entire amount was to be utilised by March, 2005. The slow pace at which the work has been progressing, the board may not be able to execute even half the schemes. The board stared off well and it promptly upgraded the energy metering system for which Rs 25.32 crore were sanctioned in the first year of the programme. Subsequently, when it came to improving the distribution and transmission network, it faltered and no headway was made until middle of 2003 in any of the circle. The main reason for it, according to sources in the board, was that the management failed to get the works executed on turn key basis as laid down in the agreement signed by it with the Union Power Minister. The board maintained that it had a huge workforce, which it would gainfully utilised in the implementation of the programme. However, it woefully failed in doing so due to indecision at the top level and lack of work culture. The Union Ministry during a recent review meeting made it clear to the board that if it failed to utilise the funds within the stipulated period, it would be constrained “short close” the programme, which meant that it would not release anymore funds. The tough attitude of the ministry has forced the board to take corrective measures to speed up implementation of the programme. It has now decided to award at least 50 per cent of the works on turn key basis to private parties. However, the decision has come too late. With less than a year to go, the board is in no position to utilise the entire sanctioned amount. Not only that, the board has not been pursuing the power sector reforms in the right earnest. The State Electricity Regulatory Commission issued 21 directions to the board in pursuance of the reforms agreed to by. However, it complied with only four in consequential directions and all major reformative action have been put on hold. |
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Havildar cremated Kumarhatti, May 23 Gurang of 3/1 Gorkha Regiment was killed on Wednesday while taking part in an Army operation to track down hiding militants in a forest area in Rajouri, Jammu and Kashmir. Gurang, who belonged to Morang districts in Nepal, had received training at 14 Gorkha Training Centre, Subathu, before being enrolled in the Army. Before being hit by bullets, Gurang had killed a militant. His body was brought to Subathu from Jammu yesterday. Besides senior officials of the 14 GTC, the SDM, Solan, and senior police officials attended the cremation. |
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Five killed in Mandi road accident Shimla, May 23 Four persons died on the spot and another succumbed to his injuries on his way to hospital, the police said. Out of the six injured, three have been admitted to Indira Gandhi Medical College Hospital here, while three others are undergoing treatment at a Hospital at Karsog. The jeep was on its way to Gualpur from Anni.
— UNI |
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Two arrested for robbery bid Nahan, May 23 |
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Water shortage Kumarhatti, May 23 |
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