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Govt working on debt reduction: CM
Clear HP dues, CM asks Punjab, Haryana
Govt to take over Thural degree college
Vice-Regal Lodge mesmerises Pak journalists
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Forest Dept drive ruffles feathers
Pensioners to hold rallies
Booking cancellation worries Railways
Chamera village to be illuminated
Rain, sleet hit ice skating
Three killed in road mishap
Shimla hotel damaged in fire
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Govt working on debt reduction: CM
Nurpur, January 9 Mr Virbhadra Singh categorically refuted the allegations of former minister Major Vijay Singh Mankotia, who had accused the government of discriminating against Kangra district and ignoring the Rajput community in the state in the sammelan of Rajput sabhas at Indora in Nurpur subdivision a couple of days back. Annoyed over the outbursts of Major Mankotia, the Chief Minister said all such allegations had been levelled out of frustration. He said Kangra, Una and Hamirpur districts were the most developed districts in the state. He added that till now, four of the five Chief Ministers belonged to the Rajput community. He claimed that the best way to deal with leaders like Major Mankotia was to ignore their outbursts. Talking about the large-scale encroachments on government land in the state, the Chief Minister alleged that it was the outcome of the wrong policies of the previous government, due to which 67,000 encroachments had increased to 4.5 lakh. He added that the government was contemplating a new policy on encroachments to benefit poor farmers and act against big land grabbers. He reiterated the policy of his government to give top priority to connect all villages in the state. |
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Clear HP dues, CM asks Punjab, Haryana
Palampur, January 9 Addressing a news conference here this morning, he said as per the provisions of the Act, Himachal Pradesh was entitled to 12 per cent power free of cost and 9.17 per cent share in all three BBMB power projects —
Dehar, Bhakra and Pong Dam — but it had been denied its share. He alleged that these states did not want to resolve these issues through dialogue and were delaying payments of crores due to Himachal Pradesh.
Criticising the non-cooperative attitude of these states, he said Himachal Pradesh had moved the apex court to seek justice. He regretted that even in the apex court, the Punjab Government was not filing its reply. He said the way both these states were behaving with Himachal Pradesh, there was little scope for regional cooperation. He said he would also take up these issues with the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh. He asked both states to adopt a positive approach and come to the dialogue table to resolve all pending issues and clear the liabilities, which had crossed the Rs 20,000 crore mark. To a question, the Chief Minister said Shanan Power House at Joginder Nagar was the property of Himachal Pradesh and the Punjab Government should hand it over to the
state. Mr Virbhadra Singh condemned the Punjab Government for opposing the industrial package granted to Himachal Pradesh by the Centre. He said this special package had been granted to all special category states, exempting new industrial units from payment of excise duty and income tax. The aim of this package was to boost industrialisation of backward areas, but Punjab was misrepresenting facts before the Centre and pleading that this step had resulted in an adverse effect on the industry in Punjab. |
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Govt to take over Thural degree college
Dharamsala, January 9 He was addressing a gathering at Thural on the occasion of the silver jubilee celebrations of the college. He said with the taking over of the college, the education system in the area would be strengthened. He said it had been a long pending demand of the people of the area that they should have an institution for higher education. “The modalities of the taking over would be completed by the state government soon. Best efforts would be made to safeguard the interests of the employees of the college,” he said. The Chief Minister said the government would prepare necessary plan to create requisite infrastructure to cater to the need of the students of the college. He also appreciated the academic record of the college during the last 25 years. He said the state government had a vast network of educational institutions, which were being now consolidated to bring about qualitative improvement in the education system. He said that the state had over 77 per cent literacy and women literacy was also 68 per cent, which was much above the national average. Revenue Minister Sat Mahajan said the lower areas of Himachal, especially the merged areas of Kangra, Hamirpur and Una had attracted the special attention of the Congress government and uniform development was being ensured in the state. Mr Chander Kumar, MP, said he would take up the matter relating to the development of Kangra district with the Central Government so that its pace would be intensified. Mr Jagdish Sapaiya, chairman of the managing committee of the college, Mr J.C. Katoch, principal and Thakur Singh Bharmouri and Jagjivan Pal, both MLAs, were also present on the occasion. |
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No plan to take over Vivekanand college: CM
Palampur, January 9 Talking to newspersons here this morning, he said the state government had given land to this trust for setting up a medical college and hospital at Palampur and the same was being constructed by the trust. He said the trust had already constructed certain buildings on the land, therefore the question of taking over of the institute never came up before him. He said if any such request was received from the trust in future, then the government would consider it. The Chief Minister said there was no plan to set up AIIMS-like institute in Palampur in accordance with the Union Government decision. |
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Vice-Regal Lodge mesmerises Pak journalists
Shimla, January 9 Keen to visit the monument, the Pakistani journalists went straight to the heritage complex. “It is a dream come true,” exclaimed Mr Arshad Ansari, president of the Lahore Press Club. “We had read in history books about the events which shaped the destiny of India and Pakistan and today we were standing in the same hallowed premises where they took place,” he said. Mr Amjad Warraich , special correspondent of The News and a keen student of history, said the visit had helped him in “perfecting the knowledge” he had acquired regarding the freedom movement. It not only provides a peep into the developments which preceded the Partition but also gives a fair idea of how the British ruled a vast empire from the then summer capital of undivided India. Ms Farah Warraich , News Editor of the Daily Jang, found Shimla much like the Murree hills in Pakistan. The only difference was that Shimla was much bigger. The people and the roadside bazaars were also same. Mr Amjad on the other hand was quick to observe the loss of green cover and quipped "Like Murree , where timber mafia has been active, Shimla also seems to have fallen prey to a similar mafia.” Mr Z. Arahat Zulfikar of the Daily Din was overwhelmed by the warmth and hospitality extended by the local people. All their doubts and misgivings were cleared, he said. In the light of his experience he felt that people-to-people contact was most important and should be intensified to build pressure on the two governments to improve relations. Mr Ramesh Chaudhary, president of the Chandigarh Press Club, along with some other members accompanied the visitors from across the border. They were received by Mr Krishna Bhanu, president of the Shimla Press Club, and members of the governing council. |
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Kashmir belongs to us, say Pak journalists
Solan, January 9 A group of 57 journalists of the Lahore Press Club, who halted here enroute Shimla, had an informal discussion with the local journalists today. Mr Zahir Khan
Babur, coordinator of the trip and journalist of the Naway Waqt, an Urdu daily, asked if US President Bush could apologise for atrocities against Iraq why can’t the state Assemblies of these two nations seek apology from the people of both countries? He said it was indeed surprising that the original Punjab state here had been split into Haryana, Punjab and Himachal and added that they had kept alive the Punjabi culture intact in their country. While expressing happiness at this visit he said similar visits should also be undertaken by the Indian journalists to Pakistan. |
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Cultivation through contract farming
Nahan, January 9 Mr Man Mohan Malik, chairman of the factory, and several imminent persons of the area addressed the gathering on the occasion. Mr Malik said the institute was the first private institute in the state that had promoted cultivation of herbs on contract basis. He said contract farming would improve the economic condition of farmers of the area, besides generating more employment opportunities. He said a large number of farmers were coming forward to work under the contract farming system. This year, cultivation of thyme, dill and basil was adopted and the number would be increased from the next season, he added. The climatic conditions of the area were suitable for herb cultivation. Initially the project had been launched in a limited area in the surrounding villages of Paonta Sahib, Bhungerni, Shiv Pur, Nehalgarh, Patti Natha Singh, Surajpur, Puruwala, Gutahnpur and Jamaniwala. The results were encouraging and farmers had started approaching the company for having a package for herb cultivation, he said. There would be a considerable increase in the area under herb cultivation next year. The cost of agricultural inputs and labour expenses were more in herb cultivation but the return was also on the higher side, he added. |
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Forest Dept drive ruffles feathers
Hamirpur, January 9 There are at least 200 such families who have built huts in various forest areas of the town. At least seven families have moved from ward No. 7 forest area. It was not known where these families have shifted. Meanwhile, the drive to remove migrant labour in Hamirpur town has reportedly slowed down. Though no reason for this has been given, insiders in the department feel that this follows the intervention of a group of local politicians who are not keen on shifting the migrant labour. The Department of Forests had earlier issued strict orders to the migrant labour to vacate the land by yesterday. Mr Hari Singh Dogra, Divisional Forest Officer (Territorial), Hamirpur, told The Tribune here yesterday on phone that the eviction drive would continue. He said the department had located three sites in the town, where migrant labour had built their huts. He said the department would serve them 15 days’ notice and thereafter they would be forcibly evicted. Highly placed sources in the state government told The Tribune here that a group of Congressmen of the town were unhappy with the action taken by the Forest Department. Due to the reasons the Chief Minister was visiting the district. A delegation of migrant labour met the Hamirpur Additional District Magistrate, Dr K.D. Lakahanpal, at his office today and demanded that they should not be displaced from the present sites. |
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Pensioners to hold rallies
Nurpur, January 9 Addressing a meeting of the pensioners here yesterday, state president of the sangh B.D. Sharma said it was unfortunate that even Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, whom memoranda had been given by the pensioners seeking justice, seemed not to be sympathetic to the senior citizens. He took a strong exception on the existing anomalies in the fixation of family pensions in the state. Later talking to mediapersons, Mr Sharma said the sangh had been demanding an old-age increment of 5 and 10 per cent in pension after the age of 65 and 75 years, to enhance the fixed medical allowance from Rs 40 to Rs 250 per month and travelling allowance after a gap of two years. He said the sangh had decided to hold statewide rallies from January 25 to March 25 at the block and district levels in protest against the apathy of the state government. Mr Sharma pointed out that to get justice, the pensioners might file a writ petition in high court. He urged the Chief Minister to release the instalments of arrears of dearness allowance before January 25. |
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Booking cancellation worries Railways
Solan, January 9 With almost all schools closed for the winter break, there was a rush of those making bookings for places like Chennai and Kanyakumari. The largescale destruction caused to life and property in the southern half of the country has adversely affected the usual rush of tourists from Himachal. Though these bookings had been made at least two months in advance, people are reluctant to visit any southern place. There is also a sharp decline in those making advance bookings for the rest of the season. Officials rued that the Railways suffered a steep decline in the revenue collected from bookings as the season was not receiving any enthusiastic response.
— OC |
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Chamera village to be illuminated
Dalhousie, January 9 NHPC Executive Director M.M. Madan(region-II) disclosed here today that since all stages of Chamera Hydro-electric project had been named after Chamera village, which had now become a privileged village and had gained popularity across the country. The NHPC was making endeavours to give a news lease of life to the village, he added. Regarding progress achieved in Chamera village so far, Mr Madan claimed that entire village had been provided with the facility of water supply. He said the building of a primary school had been constructed. The construction of footpaths was another addition to the progress of the village, Mr Madan said. Besides, a graveyard had also been developed alongside the village. The undulating barren land around the village on the bank of Ravi river had been levelled by filling the rocky patches with fertile debris from the project thereby making it cultivable for crops, Mr Madan added.
— UNI |
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Rain, sleet hit ice skating
Shimla, January 9 The extent to which the unfavourable weather conditions have affected the season could be judged from the fact that only 15 sessions have been possible till today. In a normal year 35 to 40 sessions are completed by the first week of January and on average 75 to 80 sessions are held in a moderate season. In favourable weather conditions 95 to 110 sessions are possible. As water is frozen naturally under a open sky to form a thick sheet of ice on the rink the weather plays a vital role. The week-long national camp being held here from January 3 to train young ice skaters in speed skating has not been of much use as only one skating session has been possible so far. Lack of adequate number of skating sessions has affected the financial health of the Shimla Ice Skating Club which manages the rink. With weather playing truant only about 250 members have been enrolled for the season. Normally, over 400 members are enrolled. As a result the club lost over Rs 1 lakh as membership fee, its main source of income. Even if the weather improves, only about 50 sessions will be possible during the season. The club is exploring the possibility of installing refrigeration machinery to not only make ice skating possible during cloudy weather but also to help extend the season from the existing two months to atleast five months. Mr Virbhadra Singh, Chief Minister, has also asked the Sports Department to examine the possibility of setting up an all weather ice skating rink. Mr Bhuvanesh Banga, secretary of the club, said that various companies were being contacted to select the right refrigeration equipment which could be installed in the rink. A proposal would be formulated after suitable machinery if found for the rink. Until four decades ago even 120 to 150 sessions were possible and the season extended to almost four months. However, rapid degradation of environment due to the indiscriminate felling of trees has brought about a sea change in the weather. The minimum temperature which even dipped to minus 13 degree Celsius mostly hovers around the freezing point these days making it difficult for water to freeze naturally particularly during the day as a result of which very few evening sessions are possible. |
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Three killed in road mishap
Mandi, January 9 The police identified the deceased as Kulu residents Inder Singh and his son Sumit Pal and Ram Singh from Punjab. The injured, Santosh Singh and Jasbir Singh both from Mandi, were admitted to the Regional Hospital here and are reported to be out of danger. The ill-fated car was on its way to Kulu from Chandigarh. The cause of the accident could not be known. According to the injured persons, the driver lost control over the vehicle and it skidded into a gorge. The bodies were handed over to the relatives after post-mortem examination. In another incident in the district, the body of a middle-aged person was fished out from a well near Bagla, according to an information received from the Ratti police. The schoolchildren spotted the body and informed the police.
— UNI |
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Shimla hotel damaged in fire
Shimla, January 9 The fire was noticed at 6.45 am and fire tenders were called immediately. Firemen fought the flames for about two hours and succeeded in saving a major portion of the building. While six rooms and the kitchen were completely gutted, some portions were partly damaged. The cause of fire could not be ascertained immediately. |
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