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Winter carnival from Jan 2
Cold wave grips tribal areas
Encroachers protest against demolitions
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Enhance HP’s quota in Army, says Mankotia
DC holds meeting on
judicial complex
Vajpayee’s birthday celebrated
Probe sought into death of chowkidar
Inquiry on Dalit boy’s plea begins
Protest by salesmen of liquor shops
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Winter carnival from Jan 2
Mandi, December 25 What makes the carnival a fairytale romance for the honeymooners and revellers is the snow-capped Rohtang range and ski slopes of the Solang valley, the venue of the winter sports. Droves of tourists have started making beeline for the winter haven to get the real feel of snow in this
Himalayan ski resort, 105 km from this division headquarters. An attraction of the Winter Carnival is the Winter Queen, who is chosen by a panel of judges comprising tourists. “The fashion show and cultural events would be performed by the 24 different cultural troupes who have already confirmed their participation”, said carnival organisers. The procession featuring the snowman and cultural troupes, would start from the historic Hidimba temple and at the Mall, the venue of the carnival. About 20 to 30 per cent of hotels have been occupied since last week. Mr. Gautam Thakur, president, Hoteliers’ Association Manali, said the carnival was rarely publicised by the Tourism Department to attract more tourists. “The honeymooners and tourists could stay here for longer duration as the carnival would start from January 2”, he added. As many as 24 teams from across the country, including Punjab, Maharashtra and Karnataka have already confirmed their participation. It would be inaugurated by the Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh on January 2 at 9.30 am, said Mr Rameshwar Sharma, SDM, Manali, who is also the chairman of the carnival committee. “Last year, 29 teams participated in the carnival and this time we expect more teams”, he added. |
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Cold wave grips tribal areas
Shimla, December 25 Suraj Tal and Chander Tal lakes in Lahaul and Spiti district were frozen, following a sharp fall in the night temperature in many parts of the state. Icy cold winds were blowing in the tribal districts of Lahaul and Spiti and Kinnaur and Pangi valley in Bharmour areas of Chamba district, bringing normal life out of gear. All natural resources and streams in high-altitude tribal areas and a stretch of Chandra-Bhaga river were also frozen, reducing the discharge of water in the Sutlej, Beas and Ravi rivers. However, the bright and sunny weather today did bring some relief to the people of the state. The minimum temperature in Shimla also dipped to 1.6 degree from 2.7 degree Celsius yesterday. The temperature at Sundernagar in Mandi district also sharply declined to 1.1 degree Celsius from 5.3, while Bhuntar in Kulu district recorded 2.6 degree Celsius.
— UNI |
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Encroachers protest against demolitions
Shimla, December 25 The residents of the area got together under the banner of the Valmiki Sabha and threatened the government with serious consequences if the demolition drive was not stopped immediately. Though no structure has been demolished in this locality so far — a few electricity and water connections were cut yesterday — the residents are up in arms against the MC authorities, apprehending action on Monday. Almost 5,000 unauthorised structures have been identified in the town, which include encroachments on forest, MC and other government land. It is on the directions of the Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh, that the MC has swung into action against the encroachers. The Chief Minister has directed the MC to clear all forest land of encroachments within a fortnight. Irked by the MC action, some of the councillors said the timing of the demolition drive was wrong. “Removing encroachments is essential to send a strong signal to the violators, but not at a time when those evicted do not have a shelter in this biting cold,” said one of them. He added that alternatively, the authorities should have made some temporary arrangement. A section of the councillors also feels that while removing encroachments was essential, action must also be taken against the erring officials who allowed them to come up in the first place. “It is high time we started fixing responsibility by making officials accountable and took action if they allowed such unauthorised structures to come up,” said one of them. They point out that the MC has a full-fledged forest wing, headed by a Divisional Forest Officer, whose duty is to check all forest encroachments. Since some of the structures demolished are more than 15 years old, it is surprising how they were allowed to exist for so long, they add. Firm with their resolve to continue with the demolition drive, the MC authorities said they would remove the remaining illegal structures on Monday, irrespective of the threats and agitation by the encroachers.
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Enhance HP’s quota in Army, says Mankotia
Shimla, December 25 Mr Mankotia submitted a memorandum to President Kalam here on Thursday. He pleaded that with very limited avenues of employment, the state’s quota in the armed forces be increased. He said that it was on behalf of families of lakhs of serving and retired defence personnel in the state that he was making this request before the President who was the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. He said enhancement of the state’s quota would be befitting as the tiny hill state had produced four Param Vir Chakra recipients. He also raised the issue of ‘one-rank, one-pension’ which had been pending with the Centre for long.
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DC holds meeting on
judicial complex
Hamirpur, December 25 He said that a three-member team, comprising the District Judge, the president of the bar and himself would visit various places on December 28 and 29 to select a suitable site for the judicial complex. He, however, said that land for the judicial complex at Nadaun had been selected and a final report to this effect would be submitted to the Himachal Pradesh High court on December 27. The High Court through an order had directed the Deputy Commissioner to find suitable sites for the judicial complex at Hamirpur and Nadaun. |
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Vajpayee’s birthday celebrated
Hamirpur, December 25 Former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal was the chief guest at the function where party workers prayed for long life and good health of Mr Vajpayee. The party through a resolution praised the working of Mr Vajpayee as Prime Minister as well as the Leader of Opposition from time to time. The party also organised a blood donation camp on the occasion and distributed fruits to patients at the district hospital here. Earlier, Prof Dhumal inaugurated a new office complex of the party. — UNI
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Probe sought into death of chowkidar
Nurpur, December 25 The body of the deceased was found hanging in his hut on December 20. The police reported the death as suicide, but the union suspected it a case of alleged murder. The union alleged that the condition in which the body was recovered and the height of the roof of the hut were some of the mysterious circumstances which suspected a conspiracy behind the death of the deceased. Meanwhile, the local police has claimed that the chowkidar had committed suicide by hanging himself. Mr N. Minhas, SHO, revealed that a family dispute was considered to be the cause of suicide in the preliminary investigations. |
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Inquiry on Dalit boy’s plea begins
Hamirpur, December 25 Dhian Chand had alleged that he was beaten up, his clothes torn and maltreated by two policemen at the local bazaar and then inside the police station. When contacted, SP Daljit Thakur said the ASP was inquiring into the matter and once the report was received, the next course of action would begin. Insiders in the department say the SHO has denied most charges. He however, has admitted to slapping Dhian Chand on the cheek once. |
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Protest by salesmen of liquor shops
Kumarhatti, December 25 These were opened after a compromise was reached
between the salesmen and the contractors. Surinder, a salesman at a
Kasauli liquor shop, was beaten up last evening. As per the police,
the liquor contractors were annoyed with Surinder for mixing water with
liquor. There was also a complaint with the police in this regard.
Surinder was recently transferred to Kasauli. The salesmen are sore with
the contractors due to low salaries. No case has been registered.
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