 |
|
CM
leaves for Delhi to discuss ministry downsizing Tourists
head for Hemis festival
Demolish
infrastructure in PoK: Malik |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Encroachers
to be dealt with strictly: CM 18 more
gastro cases in Hamirpur village Good
rain produces bumper crop Rajmata
of Chamba dies in Dubai Resident
docs hit by exam delays Contractor
told to pay excess money HP to
train 200 nurses 
|
|
CM leaves for Delhi to discuss ministry downsizing Shimla, June 27 The Chief Minister was scheduled to visit Delhi on July 2 after the Budget session, However, he proceeded today on receiving a communication from the high command. He is likely to meet Mr Ashok Gehlot, the Central leader incharge of the party affairs in the state, Mr Moti Lal Vohra and other leaders who are involved in the downsizing exercise. The leadership will ascertain the views of the Chief Minister and also gather other information necessary to carry out the task in an objective manner. The exercise has to be completed by the deadline of July 6. According to party sources, the four-member committee comprising Mr Moti Lal Vohra, Mrs Ambika Soni, Mr Ahmed Patel and Mr Gehlot set up for the purpose will lay down the criteria for downsizing after ascertaining the views of the Chief Minister and the Pradesh Congress Committee leader, Mrs Vidya Stokes , and other leaders. Mrs Stokes, who is already in Delhi, is learnt to have met some members of the committee and apprised them of her views. The committee is also seeking information from other agencies. With Mr Chander Kumar resigning as Forest Minister after winning the Lok Sabha poll, the state has 15 Cabinet ministers, including the Chief Minister, and a Chief Parliamentary Secretary. It can have a maximum of 12 ministers under the new law. It is obvious that at least four ministers will lose their jobs. Mr Virbhadra Singh had been repeatedly saying that he would have a two-tier ministry and the reconstituted ministry would be a mix of experience and youth. The clear indication is that some young legislators could be inducted as ministers of state. Even if three or four young legislators are assigned the job of ministers of state, as many members of the existing Cabinet will have to either quit the ministry. Kangra, the biggest district, has as many as five ministers and at least two will have to be shown the door. Similarly ,Shimla has three ministers and the number will have to be limited to two. Much will depend on Mrs Vidya Stokes who will have to make a choice between the PCC chief and the Power Minister to uphold the one-man -one-post principle. There are also districts like Hamirpur, Sirmour and Solan, which do not have any representation in the ministry. Further, small districts like Chamba and Una have two ministers each and the number will have to curtail to one each. There is a strong case for including at least one of the three tribal legislators in the ministry. The high command will indeed have an important role in the whole exercise as it has to ensure that downsizing did not lead to discontent in the party. |
|
Tourists head for Hemis festival Manali, June 27 Hordes of tourists are heading for the Hemis festival from Manali everyday. The two-day journey from Manali is thrilling. Tourists scan the Rohtang pass and the Lahaul valley where they have a lunch halt. Then comes the mystical Surajtal and the Baralacha pass, at 15000 feet and Serchu, the land of the golden water, as the night halt, where they enjoy highland dinner at the height of 14,000 feet in a snow-clad quiet place, say the HPTDC managers. The tourists then head for Leh, crisscrossing three passes — Bara la-cha, Tanglang Laat, 18,000 feet and Le Chung La at 16,000 feet. “The journey covers over 400 km of the Lahaul-Ladakh cold desert and we are charging just Rs 1,200 per person”, says Mr Rajinder Sharma, Divisional Marketing Manager, HPTDC. Hitting the cold desert this time are the mid-budgeted Bengali and foreign tourists, who look for ‘safety and hospitality and are willing to explore newer valleys’. Manali is good and it is safer to stay in HPTDC hotels and log huts, says Prasanojit from Kolkata, who is travelling with his family. The corporation would start the special journey package every alternate day from July 1. Cashing in on the ‘Hemis boom’ are also private travel agencies encouraging high-budgeted tourists to land at Bhuntar airport to do the Manali-Leh circuit. “We are offering packages for the tourists journey to Leh and back”, says Mr Sanjay Kumar, director, Monal Himalayan Travels, Manali. “The Manali-Leh circuit has become very popular this time as tourists look for new cold desert valleys”, he says. |
|
Demolish infrastructure in PoK: Malik Shimla, June 27 “According to my information, training camps, radio communication network and other linkages of the terrorists are very much there in PoK as well as Pakistan,” he stated. Infiltration had reduced, but not stopped completely, he observed. “Many people involved in policy-making in India feel that Gen Pervez Musharraf’s moves are more tactical than strategic,” he remarked, expressing doubt about Pakistan’s commitment to not extend support to terrorists. “We want an assurance from the Government of Pakistan and not just their army that help will not be extended to the militant outfits along with demolishing the training camps”, he said. General Malik (retd), was here to attend the international conference on the “Vitality of India in Regional and International Perspective” being held at the Indian Institute of Advanced Studies. Stating that both countries were moving in the right direction to reduce tension and security dangers, he felt the infrastructure being provided to terrorists would remain a sore point and stumbling block. Expressing satisfaction over the MoU between the Foreign Secretaries and the Lahore Declaration, he felt it was a positive step. Stressing the need for a dialogue between the two neighbours, General Malik said the unknown factors would remain unknown till they were discussed. “There can be no military solution to the problem of Kashmir which is purely a political problem,” he remarked. Talking about nuclear weapons, he said like the rest of the world, India too was in favour of their removal, but then this should not be applicable only to India and Pakistan but other nations should also follow it. “We are just not satisfied with happened in Pakistan earlier and the entire world now knows about it. What is required is reviewing of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT),” he demanded. “Unfortunately globalization is diluting rabid patriotism as it is getting increasingly difficult to find soldiers in a democracy as nationalism was on the decline,” he said. Not satisfied with the kind of money and perks being given to a soldier, few wished to join the forces, he said. He lamented that a soldier no longer got the respect and love from his countrymen that he received earlier. On the role of Muslim women in Pakistan and other Islamic nations, he said they could play a positive role in reforming the society and nation. “They are lending a voice against terrorism, fundamentalism and orthodoxy as they are its worst victims,” he said with a word of praise of some progressive Muslim women. |
|
5 killed, 24 hurt as bus falls into gorge Solan, June 27 The SP Mr Abhishek Trivedi and SDM Mr Lokender Chauhan immediately reached the spot on receiving the information. While the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Rajesh Kumar has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident it was learnt. The Ashoka Travels bus was plying before its scheduled time. The driver lost control while trying to negotiate a curve and the bus fell into the gorge. The driver, Shiv Raj Singh (33), 13-year-old Pawan and an unidentified man in his fifties were killed on the spot while Mukesh Kumar of Dhabota was declared brought dead by doctors at the district hospital here. The Nepalese woman succumbed to her injuries while being taken to the PGI in Chandigarh. Nine-year-old Jyoti from Bauch-Deothi village was sobbing inconsolably as she lost her brother Pawan and seven members of her family were admitted to hospital with grievous injuries. With neither an orthopaedic surgeon nor a paediatrician available, the help of private doctors was taken to treat the injured. Four victims with multiple injuries were referred to the IGMC in Shimla and another 10 were sent to the PGI. Local MLA Rajiv Bindal criticised the absence of a paediatrician and an orthopaedic surgeon at the hospital. He said this impeded timely relief operations and the question had been raised in the Vidhan Sabha. Those injured are Mehar Chand (28), Tarun (13), Pankaj (14), Kamlesh (11), Kallu Khan (34), Pintu Khan (19), Surinder Chauhan (25), Jyoti (10), Panna Lal (25), Reena (16), Surinder Kumar (28), Umesh Kumar (9), Amit Khera (25), Jai Pal (41), Duni Chand (25), Kiran Bhardwaj (50), Hem Lata (35), Bansi Arora (50), R.K. Bhardwaj (52), Arun (26), Sahil (17), Gopal Singh (25), Mamta Devi (12) and Dugi Devi (24). A magisterial inquiry has been ordered and the police has registered a case of rash and negligent driving under Sections 279, 337 and 304-A of the IPC. |
|
Encroachers to be dealt with strictly: CM Solan, June 27 The Chief Minister was talking to mediapersons at Lawrence School, Sanawar, last evening. He made it clear that there was no pressure on the government on this issue and it would not be partisan against the encroachers. Maintaining that the government would permit no laxity in employing at least 60-70 per cent Himachalis in the new industrial ventures, the CM said those who could not fulfil this criterion were free to invest elsewhere. He added there was enough trained manpower in the state. He asserted that the government would not compromise on this issue. Industrialists would share the state’s concern for generating employment when the state’s own resources, especially environment, were being affected by the large-scale industrial growth, he said. Flaying the BJP for raking up the issue of the MoU for fiscal reforms signed by the state government, he said it was imperative to bring about an economic discipline in the state to enable it to generate resources. He said the MoU was not only tabled in the house but had also been discussed threadbare. The previous BJP government, on the other hand, had been executing it under the table without taking the Vidhan Sabha into confidence. |
|
18 more gastro cases in Hamirpur village Hamirpur, June 27 Hamirpur, SDM, B.R. Kaundel and BMO Tounidevi Pritam Sharma visited the village and held talks with local people. They advised people not to drink water from the well and use tap water instead. The SDM told them that the district administration was examining the water from the well and it should not be used till the arrival of the report from the agencies concerned. A visit to the village showed that the well from which the people fetched water was fully covered and it was not known how rain water had seeped into it. Villagers said they had been using the water from the well for a long time and it could not be dirty and contaminated. However, as told by the authorities, they would use the tap water for some time. |
|
Good rain produces
bumper crop Kumarhatti, June 27 According to data collected from local terminal vegetable markets at Solan, Dharampur and Chakki Ka Mour, the arrival of produce in markets was quite high compared to that of past years. The average daily inflow of vegetable produce at Solan was between 100 and 120 tonnes, while Dharampur recorded nearly 20 tonnes. Based on past years records the peak arrival of produce at Solan and Dharampur markets during mid-July were 300 and 25 tonnes, respectively. The growers are getting satisfactory prices for their produce. The average wholesale rate of per kg tomato and capsicum were ranging between Rs. 5 to 6 and Rs. 8 to 10, respectively. The timely onset of monsoon has enhanced the prospects of local produce and has checked the inflow of vegetable from the plain. |
|
Rajmata of Chamba dies in Dubai Chamba, June 27 Ms Devendra Kumari was the mother-in-law of Himachal Pradesh Education Minister Asha Kumari. She was the princess of the royal family of Pratapgarh in Rajasthan. She was married to the late Raja Lakshman Singh of Chamba. Ms Devendra Kumari was the first legislator from Chamba after the merger of the princely state into Himachal Pradesh during 1962-67. In 1980, she was the Chairperson of the Himachal State Social Welfare Board. Local royal palace sources said here today that the cremation of Rajmata would be performed here. Meanwhile, state Governor V. S. Kokje, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, Mr Chander Kumar MP, Health Minister Chandresh Kumari, Animal Husbandry Minister Harsh Mahajan have mourned the death of the Rajmata and expressed their grief to the bereaved family.
— UNI |
|
Resident docs hit by exam delays Shimla, June 27 The association had approached the Vice- Chancellor of Himachal Pradesh University to ensure that examinations are held on time as postponement was becoming a regular feature, causing inconvenience to students. The president of the association, Dr Rahul Bhargav, said the last three post-graduate and one under-graduate examinations could not take place on the scheduled dates. “This kind of sudden postponement of examinations leaves the students in the lurch, causing a tremendous trauma and harassment to them,” he said. The association has also demanded the opening of a university extension counter on the Indira Gandhi Medical College premises. “Since the resident doctors are associated with patient care and functioning of the hospital, a lot of time is wasted whenever they have to go to HPU for work, which also affects the patients,” he said. |
|
Contractor told to pay excess money Sundernagar, June 27 As per the complaint filed by Shobha Ram, he proposed to construct a house and awarded work of construction for Rs 1.90 lakhs on June 30, 2000. The construction was to be completed by November, 2000. He had paid Rs 1.25 lakh, but when the party did not complete the construction even after one year of the scheduled date, the complaint was filed. But the contractor alleged that the complainant did not allow to complete the work as he was not satisfied with the work. The forum appointed a local commissioner for assessing the cost of construction. It was assessed Rs 1.02 lakh. The forum held that there was a deficiency in service on the part of the contractor as he could not complete the work within the stipulated period and directed him to pay the Rs 25,000 excess amount received by him along with Rs 5,000 as compensation plus Rs 1000 as costs of complaint. |
|
|
HP to train 200 nurses Dharamsala, June 27 She said the state government would provide 75 per cent financial assistance and the rest would be managed by the panchayat concerned. She was speaking at the 23rd annual function of the local weekly “Himachal Kesari” in Dharamsala. Deputy Commissioner Shrikant Baldi while expressing concern over the declining female child birth rate in the district said the district administration had announced a prize of Rs 5 lakh to gram panchayats for ensuring highest female child birth rate in the district. |
|
Man held with jackal skins, charas Dharamsala, June 27 Meanwhile, a scuffle between a group of tourists from Punjab and local residents was reported in McLeodganj last night. The tourists had blocked the traffic to dance on the main road, when one of them allegedly entered into an altercation with a local resident. The police was called to bring the situation under control. |
|
St Bede’s College
awarded “A” grade Shimla, June 27 The “A” grade was awarded to the institution after a comprehensive evaluation of the physical infrastructure, faculty and teaching process by the council. |
|
Encroachments dot Hamirpur bazaar Hamirpur, June 27 Shopkeepers selling shoes encroach on the roads, making it difficult for people to cross the roads. The Administration with the help of the local Nagar Parishad and the police, had launched a drive last week to remove all encroachments in the main bazaar. Some encroachments |
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Mailbag | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
