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Three Dalits made to sit separately
Plea to assign Rampur project to state
agency
Judicial custody for murder accused
Social security govt’s top
priority
Abolition of posts resented
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Medical waste a major health hazard in
Kangra
Teachers for power at domestic
rates
Order to put on hold toll tax
collection
Give priority to hygiene, Thakur tells Rotarians
DNA samples taken from trekker’s
body
Farmers elated at court orders on Suketi
khud
Govt fudged inflation figures:
BJP
Rs 12.8 cr for Larji project area
Police to hold workshop soon
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Three Dalits made to sit separately
Hamirpur, September 19 The meal scheme was started in the state under the direction of the Supreme Court. Mr Onkar Bhatia has demanded the registration of a criminal case against the teachers concerned . In a statement, he said it was a serious issue that Dalits were still discriminated against in the state Vijay, Monu and Vipan, class fifth students of the school, told reporters that they were asked by their teachers that from tomorrow onwards they would have to sit separately. Balbir Singh, Sarla Devi, Veena Devi, Bhandari Ram, Mansa Devi and Chhotu Ram,their parents, were very upset over the step motherly treatment being meted out to their children in schools. They said they would meet the local MLA, Mr Sukhvinder Singh Sukhoo, and the Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh, in this regard. However, Mr Ishwar Parmar, Headmaster of the school, said students sat in a separate row on their own and it was wrong to say that they were made to sit separately by the school staff. Mr Onkar Bhatia, alleged that there were many cases of atrocities on Dalits in Mandi, Kullu, Sirmaur and Shimla districts but the state government was sleeping over the situation. He warned the state government that the federation would hold dharnas at all district headquarters if no action was taken against those discriminating against Dalits. When contacted,Mr Devesh Kumar, Deputy Commissioner, said that if this incident had happened it was most unfortunate. He said he would direct the Deputy Director of Education (Primary) to inquire into the matter. The Deputy Director of Education was not available for comments. The Nadaun police visited houses of Dalit students to seek their statement. |
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Mid-day meal: 50 students taken ill
Nahan, September 19 A student, Ashiq Ali, became so serious that he was admitted to Civil Hospital, Paonta Sahib. Others were discharged after first aid on the spot, Paonta Sahib SDM C.P. Verma said. He said he had sent the team of doctors to the school and the area to look into the matter. The samples of water and food have been collected by the Health Department authorities. The laboratory report of these samples was expected by tomorrow, he said. —
UNI |
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Plea to assign Rampur project to state
agency
Shimla, September 19 In a detailed memorandum to Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh the Himachal Power Engineers Association has asserted that the takeover was a viable proposition and the state government should put up the proposal before the Centre during the high-level meeting to be held in New Delhi on September 21 to finalise the agreement for the Rampur project. The equity share of the Centre in the Rs 8,495 crore Nathpa-Jhakri project was only Rs 3,182 crore, which could be easily paid back from the returns of the project in three to four years. The annual revenue from the project will be over Rs 1,600 crore, the association has said. It pointed out that the SJVN had during the execution of the Nathpa-Jhakri project blatantly violated the agreement pertaining to terms and conditions of the employees taken on deputation from the state electricity board and as such there was no point in allotting more projects to it. On the one hand the management of the nigam repatriated the deputationists and on the other it recruited its own staff in violation of the agreement signed between the union power ministry and the state in August 1991. Consequently, the number of board employees came down from 2,870 to 1,019, while the nigam raised its own cadre of 660 personnel. As per the norms laid down by the nigam, out of the 1,019 deputationists, only 217 would be retained at the Nathpa-Jhakri project and another 89 at the Rampur project. It was demanding four more projects — 400 MW Shongtong Karcham, 400MW Thopa Powari, 680 MW Jangi Thopan and 450 MW Khab — for retaining 775 employees and engineers of the board whose repatriation had been ordered early this month. Mr Sunil Grover, general secretary of the association, said in case these project, with aggregate capacity of over 2,000 MW, were got executed through a state agency, thousands of unemployed would get jobs and the state would earn revenue running into billions of rupees annually. The SJVN had not executed the project efficiently as a result of which there were huge time and cost over-runs. The cost doubled from Rs 4,330 crore to Rs 8,500 crore and the equity share of the state increased from Rs 562 crore to Rs 1,060 crore. The generation cost of Rs 2.80 per unit was also on the higher side. Mr R.L. Justa, convener of the forum, who is also member of the Shimla District Grievances Committee, has urged the Chief Minister to promulgate an ordinance to ensure that 70 per cent jobs in all power projects, including those being executed in the private sector, be given to local people. He said the Rampur project was a very attractive proposition as the cost of generation would be only around Rs 1.80 per unit, almost 50 per cent of other hydroelectric projects. The project should be assigned to the state electricity board, because Malana-I and Baspa Stage-II, which were very economical projects, had been earlier allotted to the private sector. Further, with the Larji project nearing completion, the board would not have any major project in hand. |
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Judicial custody for murder accused
Shimla, September 19 According to police sources, the accused, a taxi driver (31), had extramarital relations with the victim for the past seven months. He is learnt to have told the police that earlier in June the two of them had been to Vaishno Devi and later visited Manikaran in Kulu district. He has already confessed that he accompanied the victim to Shimla and had known her for the past some time. The victim had been running a boutique in Delhi. A relative accompanying the victim’s husband had tipped the police about the extramarital affair. |
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Social security govt’s top
priority
Shimla, September 19 As many as two lakh aged, handicapped and widows are being given social security pension. Out of these, 28,481 eligible persons were sanctioned the benefit this year. A sum of Rs 48 crore is being spent on these pensions annually. The government has set up separate welfare boards for the uplift of Scheduled Castes, Other Backward Classes, minorities welfare board, Gaddis, Gujjars, Labanas and Gorkhas. These boards closely monitor the implementation of schemes started for the betterment these communities. A special component plan is being implemented through the Social Justice and Empowerment Department for the economic uplift of Scheduled Castes. Under the plan, a sum of Rs 113.37 crore was spent during the last financial year. The State Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation provided financial assistance of Rs 16.25 crore to 5,024 persons under various schemes during 2003-04. The State Minorities Financial and Development Corporation sanctioned Rs 62 lakh for members of minorities to start their own ventures. The corporation is also helping rehabilitate handicapped persons and has given loans to 77 such persons. The State Backward Classes Financial and Development Corporation has advanced Rs 2,003 crore for setting up self-employment ventures. Under the “Marriage grant to destitute girls” scheme, a grant of Rs 5,100 is being given to parents and guardians of girls whose annual family income is less than Rs 7,500. As many as 989 girls benefited from the scheme during 2003-04. As many as 1,439 handicapped students got scholarship and 485 handicapped girls and boys benefited from marriage grant during the last financial year. In addition, 167 handicapped persons were sanctioned loans under the self-employment scheme. |
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Abolition of posts resented
Shimla, September 19 The union, which met here today, drew the attention of the government to the fact that the drawing wing in the Public Work Department and the Irrigation and Public Health Department had been functioning with a skeletal staff as the vacant posts had not been filled for a long time. In fact, the drawing staff of division offices was being deployed to clear the workload of circle offices in many circles. As a result the staff were forced to work till late hours. There was no justification in scrapping posts of drawing cadre when vacant posts of clerical and other cadres had been filled. |
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Medical waste a major health hazard in
Kangra
PALAMPUR: In the absence of any treatment plant, liquid waste from hospitals here finds its way to drains while solid waste is thrown into municipal dumps. This is becoming a major health hazard in the town.
The extensive use of plastic in health institutions is resulting in a sharp increase of waste which needs special treatment plants. In fact, plastic has replaced glass in most medical institutions. Despite Kangra being the biggest district with a large number of private and public health institutions, including Government Medical College, Tanda, no efforts have been made in the past 10 years for the scientific handling of biomedical waste. Most of hazardous and non-hazardous waste is being thrown into local khuds and streams the water of which is tapped for public drinking water supply schemes. In Palampur, medical waste is being dumped into the Bhiral khud. This stream is the major source of drinking water supply in lower areas. It is surprising that the Irrigation and Public Health has no treatment plants to purify water tapped from these khuds, forcing people to consume contaminated water. Hospital waste is a potential source of dreaded diseases like HIV, hepatitis, jaundice, typhoid and other epidemics that spread through contamination of water. Official sources reveal that water-borne diseases have become quite common here with every fifth person suffering from one ailment or the other. The bio-medical waste management and handling rules, 1998, provide for check on the generation and handling of all biological and medical waste. But it is a sad state of affairs that neither the Himachal Pradesh Government nor the HP State Pollution Control Board has gone through these important notifications and rules framed by the Government of India. Therefore, various nursing homes and health institutions are openly flouting these rules not only in Palampur but also elsewhere in the absence of any check from the government. The Municipal Council of Palampur is also openly flouting these rules by dumping the entire medical waste near the town. Despite opposition from the public and a local social organisation, the Palampur Welfare and Environment Protection Forum, the entire medical waste is being dumped into streams and khuds that are a major source of drinking water. Most municipal dumps are situated on the national highways at Palampur, emitting a foul smell all the time. Senior officers who pass through these roads daily have not bothered to initiate action against the defaulters. |
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Teachers for power at domestic
rates
Shimla, September 19 The institutions are not in the position to pay the hefty bills as a result of which water and power supply had already been disconnected in many of them. The Himachal Government Teacher Union has demanded the immediate reversal of the decision and urged the government to ensure that the educational institutions were charged for these basic services at the domestic rates as earlier. Mr D.S.Pathik, spokesperson of the union, said there was some justification in charging the commercial rates from private institution as they charged a heavy fee from students. But the government institutions were virtually providing free education and there was no provision for funds. As the government had reduced the annual contingency grants from Rs 5000 to Rs 500, this move was not justified, he said. The union alleged that the directorate of education was not concerned about the problems and welfare of school teachers and it was focusing on colleges. The union demanded a separate directorate for secondary education and filling of the posts of deputy director to joint director of the school cadre, which were lying vacant. The union also demanded two special increments to all teachers after 20 years of service and creation of post of headmasters in all middle schools. |
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Order to put on hold toll tax
collection
Solan, September 19 Observing that a motorist who travelled about 250 metres to get petrol filled at an Indian Oil Corporation petrol station was being illegally charged toll tax while remaining in Himachal Pradesh, the Judge has directed the contractor to comply with the order within 24 hours. The barrier had become a contentious matter as the contractor allegedly forced commuters to pay toll tax each time they crossed over to get petrol filled, have meals at a dhaba or buy liquor. Mr Ravinder Singh, a local lawyer, said the barrier had been set up within the boundary of Himachal Pradesh while as per norms it should have been set up at the border of Himachal and Haryana. |
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Give priority to hygiene, Thakur tells Rotarians
Kumarhatti, September 19 The minister was addressing the gathering of Rotarians during silver jubilee function of the Kasauli Rotary Club at Pine Wood Hotel, Barog last night. He urged Rotarians to bridge the gap caused by diversity in religion and culture. The uproar over increase in population of Muslims was unnecessary and undue, he said. Rotarians should pay more attention to grassroot problems. The need of the hour was to construct more toilets than temple, gurdwara and mosque in country, as hygienic come first, he maintained. The Rotarians should work to improve the health and hygienic condition in country mainly in rural area, he said. During the occasion former presidents of the Kasauli Club were honoured. Mr. M.S. Kohli a former club president (1987-88) urged the club members to donate their eyes. The club donated a hockey kit to a Dharampur school. |
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DNA samples taken from trekker’s
body
Shimla, September 19 “Though the dental status of the body brought here from the glacier indicates that it is of a woman aged about 30 years, DNA sampling and the dental X-ray report will further confirm her identity,” informed Dr V.K. Mishra, Head of Forensic Medicine. He said the report of the dental X-ray undertaken was awaited but in the meantime, samples for DNA profiling had also been taken. Doctors said though the body in all likelihood was that of the Swedish woman and the dental status matched with that provided by the Swedish Embassy, further confirmation was required. The team of doctors have also requested the Inspector-General of Police, Mr I.D. Bhandari, to seek more details from the Swedish Embassy on the height, hair and other physical attributes of Margot Lydia Aulikki Ryyanen, who came to India in 1981. Dr Mishra said the body weighed about 30 kg and had been mummified, lying in extreme cold for several years. “Though the height of the body is about 5 feet 6 inches, the woman could have been taller as lying there for such a long period the body could have shrunk,” said Dr Mishra. Moreover, the adipose or fat tissue in the body has transformed into wax. The team of doctors said the shoulder-length golden hair of the woman were intact. “Once we get more details about the woman from her family through the Embassy, we will be in a better position to confirm her identity,” they said. |
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Farmers elated at court orders on Suketi
khud
Sundernagar, September 19 The B.B.M.B had been removing the silt from the balancing reservoir here for more than two decades into the Suketi khud, which passes through the Balh Vvalley, and ultimately river Beas at Mandi. The farmers of the valley had been opposing the dumping of the silt into the khud as according to them it had destroyed thousands of bighas of land and the aquatic life along the khud. The problem of farmers was found genuine but no steps were taken by the BBMB and other departments to solve this problem. The BBMB had been throwing silt in -to the khud since 1978 in violation of pollution laws and the Forest Conservation ,1980. In the 2000 when pressure from the residents of surrounding area increased, the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute , Nagpur, was given the task of suggesting a solution , which formulated an environment management plan and suggested that the dredging should be restricted to the monsoon season. But the BBMB did not take any step to implement the plan suggested by NEERI . the H.P. Pollution Control Board filed a criminal complaint against the BBMB officials , including the Chairman and the court of the Additional C.J.M summoned the BBMB officials. The BBMB filed a separate writ petition in the High Court at Shimla on the plea that the Pollution Control Board had no power to sue the BBMB. During the hearing ,the court . directed the BBMB authorities to implement the interim report filed by experts in the matter.As per this report,the BBMB has to restrict the dredging operations to the monsoon months.Now the BBMB in compliance of the court order has stopped dredging. According to the Chief Engineer, B.B.M.B,Sundernagar,the dredging operations were stopped on September 1,2004 . In the past, many a time the dredging operations were stopped by the BBMB as per the orders of various courts but later were restored. The valley is considered the most fertile valley in this hill state. The farmers have welcomed the decision of High Court . |
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Govt fudged inflation figures:
BJP
Shimla, September 19 Mr Randhir Sharma, spokesperson for the party, said here today that the figures were being fudged to project as if the rate of inflation was on the decline, while the prices of all commodities had been increasing alarmingly. He said inflation remained completely under control during NDA rule and the abnormal increase in the prices was the result of the wrong policies being followed by the UPA government. |
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Rs 12.8 cr for Larji project area
Mandi, September 19 Presiding over a meeting of officials at Sadabai, about 50 km from here, Mr Thakur stated that this amount would be spent on developing nurseries, soil conservation and plantation work in the catchment areas of the Mandi, Banjar and Parbati forest divisions. Mr Thakur said the debris pumped out from the project sites should be treated as per norms under the Forest Conservation Act. |
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Police to hold workshop soon
Shimla, September 19 The police is collecting data of all the crimes, be it murder, rape or shooting incidents that have taken place in various city hotels over the years. This data will help the police in solving the pending cases. “We will shortly hold a workshop with hoteliers and ask them to follow particular safety guidelines to keep a watch on their guests,” informed the Superintendent of Police, Mr J.R. Thakur. It is being suggested that new columns would be added to the hotel register, where the guests’ telephone number and if possible their driving license or PAN number would be noted down. The police officials said, even today majority of crimes, including murders that had taken place in some of the hotels remain unsolved as the police failed to get any clue, because the hotel staff did not have the record and proper identity of their guests. |
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