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Admn seeks chopper to retrieve bodies
Nine more scrub typhus cases reported
800 J&K pilgrims to Manimahesh enter Chamba
CM reviews restoration work of Gaiety Theatre
No power project on Tirthan river, says minister
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Illegal land sale deeds: industrialists’ involvement denied
3 convicted for embezzling relief funds
Docs threaten statewide stir
NPA not delinked from basic salary, says govt
Fresh probe into Godhra fire motivated: BJP
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Admn seeks chopper to retrieve bodies
Mandi, September 3 Talking to The Tribune, Mr Randhir Salaria, duty director, Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports, Manali, said the bodies could only be airlifted from the Kang-La glacier after a recce to identify the spot as there was no exact information as to where the bodies were lying. “The climbing season is off and it needs 10-12 days to reach the spot through the trekking route.” Mr Salaria said a joint team of the police and experienced mountaineers were needed as the Kang-La
glacier was at the height of 18,000 ft and could endanger the life of the team members as it lies on precarious spot from the trekking route, about 90 km from Keylong, the district headquarters of Lahaul and Spiti. Mr B.R. Verma, Deputy Commissioner, Lahaul and Spiti, said they were awaiting the
government's nod and there was no formal request from the Swedish Embassy in Delhi for a chopper. “They have yet to verify the addresses back in the country. The operation needs airlifting as it takes three base camps to reach the spot.” Mr Verma told The Tribune that the Spanish Embassy in Delhi did not confirm that the nationals belong to Spain as reported in the media. “It was Spanish team that came back from the Kang-La glacier last month and its local guide and cook confirmed that the four bodies are lying there”, he adds. What makes the retrieval a tough task by the land route is the fact that weather is bad and it may have snowed in the Kangri-La, said the officials. A Manali-based Gorkha cook and a Kulu-based trekking guide who guided the Spanish trekking team on the Udaipur-Ghunjar-Thaanpatan-Kang-La route last month said they spotted four bodies in the fissure of the glacier. “We kept it a secret not to scare the trekkers as the trek overlooks into the deep crevice”, said Ram Bahadur, a cook and Mr Laxmi, the trekking guide. They recovered few papers from woman’s body but the papers were in bad shape. The papers have sent to the Swedish Embassy through the Gurgaon-based trekking company, ‘Quest for verification’. The trekking team had reached Manali in the last week of August after crossing the Kang-La, a pass that lies in the Zanskar range and connects the landlocked snowbound valleys of Lahaul in Himachal Pradesh and Mewat in Jammu and Kashmir. The Kang-La pass at 18, 000 ft is the most formidable route and is approached from Udaipur, the subtehsil headquaters in the Lahaul and Spiti district. “It takes four-five days from Thaanpattan to hit the Kang-La pass, said the trekkers. The Gurgaon-based trekking agency confirmed that the Swedish nationals had left for trekking in the Lahaul valley way back in 1981-82, but their whereabouts had remained unknown since then. “We have sent the documents to the Swedish Embassy in New Delhi for verification”, they told the officials. Sources said the Swedish embassy is verifying the documents sent to them about the two nationals feared missing since 1981-82. “But other two bodies there remain a mystery”, said the officials. What has deepened the mystery is that nobody had ever lodged a complaint with the Kulu and Lahaul Spiti police about the missing trekkers, said SP Lahaul Spiti D.K. Yadav. |
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Nine more scrub typhus cases reported
Shimla, September 3 The Principal of the IGMC, Prof L.S. Pal, said six new patients of fever had been admitted during the past 24 hours. He said so far 182 patients of fever had received treatment at the IGMC while there had been 46 confirmed cases of scrub typhus, from all over the state, so far. He said the weil felix test was regularly being conducted on all patients, who were coming for treatment to the IGMC. The patients were stable and responding well to treatment. Since scrub typhus generally strikes during the rainy season and continues for a little more time post monsoons, it is being expected that the number of patients afflicted by the disease would gradually reduce, he added. HAMIRPUR: Scrub typhus is spreading fast in various parts of the district these days. Nearly 197 persons suffering from the fever have reported in various
hospitals of the district so far, according to Dr Suman Sharma, Chief Medical Officer, Hamirpur. Dr Sharma told The Tribune here this afternoon that only one case of scrub typhus had been identified in the district. She said that all patients suffering from the fever were getting regular treatment and there was no shortage of medicines with the department. The symptoms of the fever are increase in body temperature, pains and vomiting in many cases. Dr Sharma said that all steps had been taken to check its spread. She said that the worst affected was the Barsar area of the district and most of scrub typhus cases had been reported from there. Patients from adjoining Una district were also getting treatment at the Barsar hospital and as such the number of cases was increasing day by day. |
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800 J&K pilgrims to Manimahesh enter Chamba
Chamba, September 3 Some more devotees are expected to cross the Chamba border on their way to the Manimahesh pilgrimage for a holy dip on the auspicious occasion of Janmashtmi which fall on September 7. The pilgrims are accompanied by about 200 sheep and goats and mules for carrying
luggage. The final holy dip of the fortnight-long pilgrimage of Manimahesh will take place on September 22, on the occasion of Radha Ashtami. Giving this information here today, Mr G.P. Singh, Superintendent of Police, Chamba, said the security forces deployed on the borders of Chamba district, adjoining Jammu and Kashmir, were all set to provide an adequate security cover to the pilgrims coming especially from the Bhadarwah area of Jammu and Kashmir on their way to Manimahesh in Chamba district. The para-military forces accompanying these pilgrims on the Jammu and Kashmir side had handed over them to the security forces deployed on the Chamba side at Khundi Mural after verification of their onward journey up to the Manimahesh sacred lake for taking their holy bath, the SP claimed. The Jammu and Kashmir pilgrims sacrifice their sheep and goats as an offering to
appease Lord Shiva to redeem themselves from their sins. The final batch of pilgrims is expected to arrive in Chamba district through the Padhari Pass for taking the final bath. Meanwhile, the district administration has made all arrangements for the devotees hailing from different parts of the neighbouring states, who are on their way to Manimahesh. |
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CM reviews restoration work of Gaiety Theatre
Shimla, September 3 This was stated by Mr Virbhadra Singh, Chief Minister, while reviewing the progress of the restoration work of the Gaiety Theatre at a meeting here yesterday. The Chief Minister said that all facilities for organising cultural activities would be created within the premises for the convenience of art lovers and more than 150 year-old theatre would again become the venue for national and international events. He directed the authorities to work out details of requirements for various kinds of artistic pursuits. He said that the original architecture of the Gothic style had to be maintained and the restoration needed to be carried with quality material and in a time-bound manner. Mr Virbhadra Singh said that the State Language and Art Department would be the custodian of the premises, which would oversee all the arrangements and organise cultural activities from time to time. He said that the adjoining town hall building housing the Municipal Corporation should also to be restored after the completion of the Gaiety Theatre followed by Bentony building thereafter putting it to bonafide use. He said that the original structure of the heritage buildings had to be maintained and the restoration work carried in a restricted manner. He said that the state government would also safeguard the interests of the Amateur Dramatic Club, which had been organising and maintaining the Gaiety Theatre so far. Earlier the Chief Minister released the reprints of the historical books brought out by the Academy of Language, Art and Culture, namely. He also released a compact disc brought out by the academy based on the Pahari paintings of the state named as "Pahari Chitrakala-Ek Paridrishaya". Mr Ashok Thakur, Principal Secretary, Tourism, informed that the first phase of the Gaiety Theatre would be completed by May end next year. |
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No power project on Tirthan river, says minister
Mandi, September 3 Talking to reporters after chairing a state-level seminar on the “Role of veterinary council in regulating veterinary practice in Himachal,” organised by the HP State Veterinary Council (HPVC), here today, Mr Mahajan said the ‘machiyals’ in Jogindernagar, Sidhpur in Sarkaghat and Patlikuhal in Kulu were being developed into major fish-breeding centres for carps, mahaseer and trout to attract tourists and to promote fisheries as an industry in the state for which Rs 6 crore had been granted. To give it technical support, the government has set up a modern laboratory at Patlikuhal to promote fisheries in the state with the help of Norwegian experts, Mr Mahajan added, urging entrepreneurs to take up fisheries and dairy farming that were being promoted by the Virbhadra Singh government on a priority basis. Replying to a query, Mr Mahajan said the mass death of fish, reported last year in the Riwalsar lake, was due to overfeeding and were being taken to check overfeeding by devotees. In the dairy sector, the production had doubled in a year, yet the demand was much more than the supply, while the prices of dairy and animal husbandry medicine and other materials had reduced by over 40- 60 per cent during the past two years with the standardised rate contract system set up by the government, Mr Mahajan said. In Mandi district, milk production and procurement had doubled. The target of 30,000 litres of milk production per day would be achieved soon benefiting the local farmers, 70 per cent of whom depend on animal husbandry for their livelihood. Urging the veterinarians to work in tandem with the department, Mr Mahajan said the scientists should coordinate with the department proactively as the government had allocated Rs 12. 75 crore to improve the artificial insemination programme which would improve the quality of the livestock breeding and the milk yield. “The department has started the Rs 36 crore DRDA project in five districts including Mandi”, he added. On the veterinarians’ demand to give them the NPA, Mr Mahajan said the government would take a decision in this regard in October. “We are opening a gaushala in Sundernagar to check the stray-cattle menace in towns”. Dr P.R. Negi, President of the HPVC, urged the government to take preventive measures to check quackery in the profession. |
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Sharma is GM of Nathpa project
Shimla, September 3 Mr Sharma had joined the organisation as General Manager (New Projects) on May 24,2004. A civil engineer, Mr Sharma has a vast experience in the execution of hydroelectric projects in India and abroad. He served as the head of project and Deputy Chairman of a joint venture of Libya and an Indian firm for about nine years. He was nominated as member of the Indo-Libyan Joint Commission held at Tripoli in 1996. He was also associated with the 540-MW Chamera project. |
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Illegal land sale deeds: industrialists’
Shimla, September 3 The Director of Industries has clarified that the department had issued essentiality certificates to facilitate purchase of private land to 21 entrepreneurs. This would enable them to secure permission under the land reforms and the Tenancy Act. He also clarified that land measuring 16,500 sqm was allotted to ‘Him process’ by the state housing board. The matter was adjucated in the high court where in ‘Him process’ won the case. The board was now insisting upon ‘Him process’ to pay differential rate of the plot amounting to about Rs 61 lakh. Regarding the allotment of land to the state small scale industries and export corporation, he said the corporation had already decided to surrender the surplus land measuring 9,283 sqm the department was considering to allot the land being surrendered by the corporation to the prospective entrepreneurs. The matter would be considered by the allotment committee shortly and the recommendations thereon would be sent to the board for formal allotment. Regarding the plot allotted in favour of M/s Banta Industrial and Engineering Corporation, he said the department had recommended the cancellation of the allotment to the housing board. However, the party filed a petition in the high court which was pending adjudication. |
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3 convicted for embezzling relief funds
Chamba, September 3 It had been alleged that the convicts fraudulently got the forged documents showing payments made to rains-hit people attested from the then Sub Divisional Magistrate, Chamba, Mr R.N. Batta. The Special Judge, Mr Goel, convicted them under Sections 409, 420, 467, 468, 471 and 13 (2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, and sentenced them to undergo rigorous imprisonment for three years each and fined Rs 33,000 each. According to the judgement, in September 1988 the house of Dulo Ram, Chanchho Ram, Waziru Ram, another Chhancho Ram, Jyoti Ram and Lakhu Ram of Chamba tehsil were damaged due to the rains. Following their applications, the SDM, Chamba, recommended that Rs 4,000 each as relief be paid to them. But the
amount sanctioned was misappropriated by Punnu Ram in connivance with the local Patwari and one Ramesh, who was working as clerk in the licence branch of the office of the SDM, Chamba. Punnu Ram had produced fictitious persons before the SDM, who were identified by Ramesh. However, signatures and thumb impressions of the people affected by the rains were forged by the accused. |
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Docs threaten statewide stir
Kangra, September 3 Dr Ajay Dutta, spokesman of the committee said here today that at a meeting of office-bearers of the Himachal Medical Officers Association, Resident Doctors Association, State Association of the Medical College Teachers and the Himachal Ayuervedic Medical Officers Association at Dr R.P. Government Medical College Hospital, Dharamsala, doctors expressed
resentment against the government decision. Describing the decision as anti-doctor one, he said at the meeting it was decided to launch a statewide agitation if the decision of the government regarding the delinking of the NPA from the basic pay was not withdrawn. Dr Dutta said it was resolved that the decision would not be tolerated under any circumstances. He said the committee would coordinate with the state body to chalk out the future strategy regarding the agitation. He said Dr Bhannu Awasthi, Dr Suresh Verma, Dr Ajay Pathania, Dr Naresh Gupta, Dr Annupam Khanna, Dr Rama Kant Awasthi, Dr Munish Saroch, Dr A.K. Kaundal and Dr Ajay Dutta were members of the newly formed committee. |
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NPA not delinked from basic salary, says govt
Shimla, September 3 The government spokesperson clarified that the notification issued by state government had been issued in pursuance to a similar order issued by the Punjab Government, dated August, 1, 2003. He added that dearness allowance to doctors on NPA is governed by separate notification issued on July, 28, 1998. The spokesperson further said there was no question of delinking payment of DA on NPA to the doctors. The doctors would continue to get DA as per past practice on the NPA in view of the decision of the government taken through the notification issued on August 12, 2004. |
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Fresh probe into Godhra fire motivated: BJP
Shimla, September 3 He said ever since the UPA government came to power, all its major decisions had been aimed at dividing the country on caste and religious considerations. “Ordering an inquiry into the Godhra incident is certainly not because of sensitivity towards the incident but part of a Congress’ move to appease the minorities for vote-based politics,” he said. He demanded that if the UPA government felt that the incident needed to be probed further then those who suffered during the 1984 Sikh riots in Delhi, Muradabad, Aligarh and Jamshedpur should also get justice. He said instead of following a policy of appeasement of the minorities, the government must put a check on sky rocketing prices. |
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