H I M A C H A L   P R A D E S H

Probe sought into fertiliser purchase
Chamba, January 28
The BJP has sought a high-level probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation into the substandard brand of super-phosphate fertiliser purchased by the Himachal Pradesh State Cooperative Marketing and Consumers Federation (Himfed) in which the contents of super phosphate were hardly 1.27 per cent instead of 16 per cent.

Mandi college to start MA, B.Ed classes
Mandi, January 28
The Irrigation and Public Health Minister, Thakur Kaul Singh, today said the college would start the MA (geography) and BEd classes from the next session. Presiding over the 56th annual prize distribution function of Government Valabyh College here today, Thakur Kaul Singh said that construction of a hostel and a science block in the college would be started soon.

Students block traffic
Nurpur, January 28
Irate students of Class XII of Government Senior Secondary School, Bhadwar, near here, today blocked vehicular traffic on the Pathankot-Mandi National Highway for one hour in protest against the excess collection of school fee by the authorities.

Eight injured in bus mishap
Chamba, January 28
Eight persons were injured when a Bharadi-Pathankot Himachal Road Transport Corporation bus (HP-38-4884) overturned at Ghatasni this afternoon. The Deputy Commissioner of Chamba, Mr Rahul Anand, said that the seriously injured, Amar Singh, who was an employee of the state Irrigation and Public Health Department, had been referred to Pathankot for medical treatment.

Probe sought into fertiliser purchase
Our Correspondent

Chamba, January 28
The BJP has sought a high-level probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the substandard brand of super-phosphate fertiliser purchased by the Himachal Pradesh State Cooperative Marketing and Consumers Federation (Himfed) in which the contents of super phosphate were hardly 1.27 per cent instead of 16 per cent.

Making the revelation of super-phosphate fertiliser scam in a press release issued here yesterday, Mr Kishori Lal, a former minister and senior BJP leader, said that thousands of bags of dust in the name of super-phosphate fertiliser were being sold to the farmers and orchardists in the state and that too at the rate of Rs 180 per bag.

Mr Kishori Lal expressed apprehension that the scam was going on for a long time.

Mr Kishori Lal demanded compensation to those farmers and orchardists who had been using this super-phosphate fertiliser supplied by Himfed through the Agriculture Department.

Mandi college to start MA, B.Ed classes
Tribune News Service

Mandi, January 28
The Irrigation and Public Health Minister, Thakur Kaul Singh, today said the college would start the MA (geography) and BEd classes from the next session.

Presiding over the 56th annual prize distribution function of Government Valabyh College here today, Thakur Kaul Singh said that construction of a hostel and a science block in the college would be started soon. "The college has produced academicians and professionals who have contributed to the development of the state," he added.

Urging students to excel in allround activities, Thakur Kaul Singh said that the state had achieved a literacy rate of over 77.7 per cent, much more than the national level. "The government is spending over Rs 535 crore during the current year on education in the state".

Principal of the college Raksha Kapur read out the annual report of the college.

Students block traffic
Our Correspondent

Nurpur, January 28
Irate students of Class XII of Government Senior Secondary School, Bhadwar, near here, today blocked vehicular traffic on the Pathankot-Mandi National Highway for one hour in protest against the excess collection of school fee by the authorities.

It is alleged that the school authorities had collected over Rs 19,000 from 160 students. The parents and their wards complained to the principal but they did not get any satisfactory answer.

The protesting students, who also boycotted their classes, were pacified by members of local youth club and residents.

Eight injured in bus mishap
Our Correspondent

Chamba, January 28
Eight persons were injured when a Bharadi-Pathankot Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) bus (HP-38-4884) overturned at Ghatasni this afternoon.

The Deputy Commissioner of Chamba, Mr Rahul Anand, said that the seriously injured, Amar Singh, who was an employee of the state Irrigation and Public Health (IPH) Department, had been referred to Pathankot for medical treatment.

On receiving information, the DC directed the revenue officials of Bhattiyat subdivision to carry out relief and rescue operations at the accident site.

A relief of Rs 5,000 to the seriously wounded and Rs 1,000 each to the injured was given on the spot, the DC added.

2-hour power cut in Hamirpur
Our Correspondent

Hamirpur, January 28
The state power board has imposed a two-hour power cut in the district from yesterday.

A spokesman of the power board told The Tribune here this afternoon that the power cut had been imposed in view of the less generation in various power houses. He said that the power cut would be enforced in both rural and urban areas.

While the HPSEB authorities say that only a two-hour power cut had been imposed, the information is that the cut is for five to seven hours everyday.