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Look for private jobs, CM exhorts youth
Survey blames it on man for animal attacks
Sharma flays negative attitude of BJP
Farce and fraud in name of IT education
HP on road to strong rural economy
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One-rank, one-pension scheme under consideration: MP
Rohtang likely to open on May 25
Industrial units at Kamli village sparks row
Centre working to realise Rajiv’s dreams, says MP
Chamba millennium fete from Oct 20
CII moots housing project at Baddi
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Look for private jobs, CM exhorts youth
Solan, May 22 Emphasising that no government could provide 100 per cent employment, he said large-scale industrialisation had opened vast opportunities to the youth in the state. He was addressing a gathering of people at Government Senior Secondary School, Barotiwala, after dedicating two bridges to the public at Baddi. He said the Central industrial package had attracted investment worth Rs 10,700 crore and would provide employment to 1.5 lakh persons. Condemning advocates for opposing the professional tax, he said the funds generated would be utilised for the uplift of weaker sections of society. Terming the agitation of the advocates as politically motivated, he said he would not hold talks with them on this issue. The agitation had been launched by those eyeing the Bar council elections, he said. The Chief Minister directed officials to take strict action against traders using Vat to fleece customers. He said it was unfortunate that the BJP, which had introduced this tax, was now opposing it when in the Opposition. He said it had become imperative to introduce this tax as it was a global need. He said Rs 7.42 crore had been provided by the Central Government to construct the Swarghat-Baddi highway, which had assumed importance after the large-scale industrialisation. He said the government was keen on reviving sick units in the state. He reiterated the resolve of the government to ensure 70 per cent employment for local youth in industrial units and said provision for adequate housing in industrial areas was being given priority. Meanwhile, the newly nominated Chief Parliamentary Secretary and local MLA, Mr Lajja Ram, gifted a silver crown to the Chief Minister. Earlier, the Chief Minister dedicated two bridges — one on the Tipra khud constructed at cost of Rs 31.50 lakh and the other on the Barotiwala khud constructed at cost of Rs 30 lakh — to the public. The gathering was also addressed by Industry Minister Kuldeep Kumar, Mr Lajja Ram, the Vice-Chairman of the Forest Corporation and MLA from Kasauli, Mr Raghu Raj, Mr K.D. Sultanpuri, Chairman of the 20-point programme and other Congress office-bearers.
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Survey blames it on man for animal attacks
Shimla: Concerned over the increasing attacks of wild animals on human beings and livestock, the state wildlife department has decided to study the problem of human-animal conflict in-depth and evolve an effective strategy to find a permanent solution. The exercise is being carried out in collaboration with E-Collage, a non-government organisation (NGO) specialising on environmental issues. Its expert Sujaya Chaudhary has already surveyed the worst-affected areas of Hamirpur and Sarkaghat, which account for almost 45 per cent of such incidents, to ascertain the reasons for the increasing human-animal conflict. After extensively touring the areas and collecting all required information from the local people about the attacks on humans and livestock he has identified lack of thick bushy vegetation on the forest floor, expansion of human settlements and agricultural fields into forests, and fragmentation of the natural habitat due to construction of roads and other projects as the main factors responsible for the attacks. The forests in these areas mostly comprise pine trees, which do not support any undergrowth. Thick bushes, which provide hiding space to animals, are found only on slopes along the nullahs and other water sources. Animals like leopard and bear do not find any vegetative cover to hide. While moving in open they frequently come across human beings and often attack them out of fear. There have been 7,363 incidents of attacks on livestock and 422 on human beings in the state from 1991-92 to 2003-04, Of these the maximum number of 153 incidents of attack on humans took place in Hamirpur. Leopards, accounted for 289 attacks, followed by bear which were involved in 79 incidents. Much hue and cry is made about the monkey nuisance but only 18 cases of the simians attacking humans have been reported. The big spotted cat was also responsible for the maximum 78 per cent of the attacks on livestock, followed by bear and wolf (8 per cent each) and snow leopard (5 per cent). Though a highly protected species, leopards have been at the receiving end. It is evident from the fact that as many as 93 of them were killed by hunters or local people and another 74 entered houses and got trapped. Eight of them were killed after being declared man-eaters. Besides 146 died a natural death over the period. Mr A.K. Gulati, Additional Principal Chief Conservators of Forests, and wild life, said the department would come out with a comprehensive document to deal with the human-animal conflict which would include long and short-term measures required to ensure peaceful co-existence of the two. For instance, the study made it incumbent to encourage growth of bushes and other suitable vegetation on the forest floor and at the same time discourage such growth close to villages to keep the prowling beasts away.
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Sharma flays negative attitude of BJP
Shimla, May 22 Addressing a press conference on completion of one year of UPA government, headed by Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, Mr Sharma said the BJP was not playing the role of a responsible Opposition as it had not so far reconciled to the fact that it had been ousted from power. It was for the first time that President’s address was adopted without discussion and several important Bills could not be passed, he added. Underplaying the differences with the Left parties, supporting the government, the AICC spokesman said there was a coordination committee to monitor the implementation of the common minimum programme (CMP) and a structured mechanism to deal with issues where the Congress and Left parties had different perceptions. He said there was no differences in the implementation of the “agenda of governance” which had been sincerely implemented and declared that the government would complete its five-year term. He regretted that the Opposition was denying the Prime Minister due credit for improving the image of India at international level and said the honour given to Dr Manmohan Singh by choosing him to speak on behalf of Asia at the recent Afro-Asian meet should have won appreciation from all, including the BJP. He said Dr Manmohan Singh had addressed the meet as a representative of Asia and not merely as the Prime Minister of India and this was no mean achievement. He said the performance and achievements of the UPA Government were remarkable in spite of the negative attitude of the Opposition and asserted that the achievements would be much more in coming years. He said inflation had been arrested and prices of petroleum products had not been hiked in spite of a phenomenal rise in the prices of
petro-products in the international market and the burden had not been passed on to common man in the country. Referring to the demand of the NDA for the resignation of Railway Minister, Lalu Prasad Yadav following the framing of charges against him by a CBI court, Mr Sharma said the issue warranted a national debate whether a person could be dubbed as guilty before he was convicted by the court. Further, a distinction had to be made between a person involved in a political case or some criminal activity or corrupt practice. He said when a person against whom charges had been framed could contest elections and allowed to enter the Parliament then how he could be debarred from functioning as a minister? |
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Farce and fraud in name of IT education
Mandi, May 22 According to sources, the state government has given the IT contract to the Regional Computer Center (RCC), but the institute has further sub-contracted it to the small institutes or owners who have not enough technical staff for the purpose. Moreover, the state government hiked the fees to Rs 130 from Rs 53.50 from the new session this year for the high school students to bring it at par with that for secondary schools. But a majority of the schools in many districts do not have a proper computer infrastructure for IT education and the private contractors too have not bothered to promote it so far, revealed the teachers. The money collected as IT fee from over 15,000 government schools in the state is being “pocketed” by the private institutes, revealed the teachers. “The institutes have sublet this IT contract to the faceless private computer institutes right under the nose of the government. The IT education is an open loot”, they alleged. Taking up the matter of “IT education fraud” is the State Shikkhshak Vichar Manch (SSVM), which has demanded a CBI probe into the matter. “The RCC is collecting money without doing anything in the name of IT education” alleged Mr Chuni Lal Shashtri, president of SSVM. “The CBI should probe the IT education fraud”, he demanded, while talking to mediapersons today. Mr Shashri said the students and their parents who were paying the hefty IT fee, were the worst hit. The Director, Secondary Education, Mr O.P. Sharma, when contacted, said the state government had awarded the IT education contract to the RCC. “We have got a separate IT education wing to look after the IT education”,
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HP on road to strong rural economy
Shimla, May 22 Besides Swaranjayanti Gram Rozgar Yozna and Sampoorna Grameen Rozgar Yozna, area specific schemes like the Goldmines project under which floriculture, sericulture and mushroom cultivation is being promoted in Bilaspur district, are being implemented. The Swaranjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojna is a major poverty alleviation programme under which 5686 Self Help Groups (SHGs) consisting of 10,287 below poverty line members have been formed. A sum of Rs 7.01 crore has been spent on providing subsidy and Rs 22.58 crore have been disbursed as loan assistance to these groups for undertaking various income generating activities. Besides, 3,816 individuals have been given assistance of Rs 2.46 crore as subsidy and Rs 11.45 crore as loan. In all loan to the tune of Rs 34.04 crore has been disbursed to 14,103 swarozgaris, out of which 7,252 belong to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. Efforts are afoot for ensuring micro credit linkage of SHGs. Under Sampoorna Grameen Rozgar Yojna (SGRY) over 30 lakh mandays would be generated by the end of this year. A total sanitation campaign strategy has been approved which involves a holistic approach to ensure community participation. A scheme to give awards to the cleanest gram panchayat in each block, district, division and the state has also been started. A sum of Rs 9.14 crore has been sanctioned by the Central Government under the project marketing of rural goods, under which 50 Himachal Grameen Bhandars and one Central Gramin Bhandar are being constructed. A Rs 8.87 crore Milch Livestock Project has also been sanctioned to boost dairy development in Solan district and a sum of Rs 4.81 crore has been provided to under Rural Development plan through diversification in agriculture project under which the cultivation of medicinal plants, aromatic plants, flowers and orchids, sericulture and innovative practices in animal husbandry are being taken up in Mandi district. People are being motivated to take up self-employment ventures through sericulture and Dairy Development Project. The Government of India has sanctioned Rs 14.89 crore under “Green Gold” project for the cultivation of medicinal plants, aromatic plants, flowers and orchids, off-season vegetables, mushroom and improved Dairy Management. Another Rs 13.01 crore have been sanctioned under the project “Intensive Dairy Development” for Kangra district.
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One-rank, one-pension scheme under consideration: MP
Nurpur, May 22 He informed that the UPA government was also contemplating to moot the Integrated Tourism Project plan for the development of tourism in Himachal Pradesh for which Union Tourism Ministry had been asked to prepare blue print of ITP by identifying tourist spots in the state. He said the Union Government had allocated Rs 36 crore in the current fiscal year for the reconstruction of dilapidated interstate Chakki bridge and Kotla and Trilokpur bridges on the Pathankot-Mandi national highway. “The conversion of narrow gauge railway line of Pathankot-Joginder Nagar railway track into broadgauge and the construction of a four lane of national highway were all my priorities for which, launched concerted efforts in Delhi”, he added. Terming the completion of the one year of UPA government as remarkable and full of achievements, Mr Chander Kumar said during the one year rule of the UPA government the passing of Bills like Right of Information, Credit Company Act and Curbing of the Menace of Weapons of Mass Destruction were significant for the welfare for the country. “The proposed Bills of the Employment Guarantee Scheme and the Reservation in Private Industrial Sector are likely to be passed in the next Parliament session,” he added. He said the UPA government was committed to providing basic infrastructure of roads, telecommunications, electricity and potable water in all rural areas of the country by 2009.
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Rohtang likely to open on May 25
Shimla, May 22 BRO Commander K.B. Raju said today that continuous snowfall in the areas around the pass this month has hampered the movement of snow cutters and bull-dozers. Earlier, the pass was scheduled to open on May 15. Mr Raju said that Project Deepak and Himank of the BRO are making all efforts to open the 450-km long Manali-Leh road which passes through Rohtang Pass by May 31. The Manali-Rohtang and Rohtang-Keylong stretches of this road would be opened to vehicular traffic by May 25.The road from Manali to Rohtang had been cleared of snow but for vehicles to ply on this stretch, the snow along the sides had still to be cleared. Mr Raju said this time Rohtang Pass received a record snowfall of 60 to 70 feet, breaking the record of the past 25 years. Meanwhile, thousand of tourists are converging on Manali with the hope to visit Rohtang. The road up to Marri, half way to Rohtang, has already been opened for light vehicles. There are reports of fresh snow from Bharmour in Chamba, the Dhauladhar ranges in Kangra and higher reaches in the entire tribal belt during the past 24 hours. The lower areas are experiencing isolated rain and thunderstorm. The sky was partially cloudy in Shimla town also which was lashed by sharp showers and a thunderstorm last evening. According to the weather office, the weather is likely to improve in the next 48 hours.
— UNI |
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Industrial units at Kamli village sparks row Parwanoo, May 22 The panchayat has even failed to get house tax from such units despite repeated efforts, he said. Moreover, it has no knowledge about the owners of these units. Interestingly, no signboards have been installed outside the units, said Mr Upender Sharma.
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Centre working to realise Rajiv’s dreams, says MP
Kangra, May 22 Dr Anju Puri, in charge of the blood bank, said 24 youths donated blood on the occasion. Prof Chander Kumar said Mr Rajiv Gandhi, had dreamed of a better future for the country, particularly in the fields of information and technology, environment, communication and population control. He said the UPA government was making all efforts to make his dreams come true. Former Health Minister Chandresh Kumari, Parliamentary Secretary Surender Kaku, Mr Neeraj Bharti and Mr Raghuvir Singh Bali, both general secretaries of state Youth Congress and Mr Ajay Verma, district president Youth Congress, were present on the occasions. Earlier, at a press conference, Prof Chander Kumar was critical of lawyers creating a hue and cry over the professional tax issue. He sought the help of Youth Congress and Congress workers to create awareness among the people regarding VAT and professional tax.
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Shimla, May 22 The Chief Minister went round the exhibition stalls and took keen interest in the books exhibited for children and general readers. He hoped the exhibition would benefit the readers of all types and tastes. Mr Avay Shukla, Principal Secretary, education, Mr T.G. Negi, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Ms Nusrat Ahmed, Director, National Book Trust, and others were present on the occasion. — PTI
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Chamba millennium fete from Oct 20
Chamba, May 22 Disclosing this here today, Mr Harsh Mahajan, Housing and Animal Husbandry Minister, who is the Chairman of the district-level committee for the millennium celebrations, said the town was getting ready for this mega event. Mr Mahajan said to make elaborate arrangements for the celebration in a big way, the state government had constituted various sub-committees to carry out respective assignments as entrusted to them. Mr Mahajan said these sub-committees were striving to bring Chamba on the international map of heritage tourism. Local specialities such as Chamba rumaal, chappal, jirish, chuck etc would also be in the limelight. Mr Mahajan hoped that the forthcoming millennium celebrations under the patronage of Mr Virbhadra Singh, Himachal Chief Minister, would go a long way in highlighting the history, arts, folklore, cultural heritage as well as glory and grandeur of the ancient hill towns of Chamba and Bharmour. |
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CII moots housing project at Baddi Baddi, May 22 It would provide accommodation to 24,000 workmen while the workforce is expected to reach one lakh. The scheme would be coordinated by a governing body comprising Director of Industries, Deputy Commissioner Solan, General Manager District Industries Centre, Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the CII, Himachal Pradesh State Council, President and Vice-President of Baddi-Barotiwala Industries and Parwanoo Industries Associations, Chief Manager Canara Bank, Town and Country Planning District head and officials of the state electricity board. With the state government having made it mandatory to provide employment to 70 per cent Himachalis it had become imperative to decentralize workmen housing schemes on land adjoining the industrial belt, opined CII officials. The pilot scheme proposed to construct 500 clusters of 24 workmen dwellings. The scheme was being financed by the HDFC Bank and Canara Bank. Land owned by the agriculturalists of the region would be put to use and the housing cost will be kept at a minimum. The industry would take these houses on a long term lease of ten years and repayment of constructive loan would be made through the monthly instalments. A sub-committee of representatives from the Canara Bank and HDFC Bank as well as industrial association had further been entrusted with the work of selecting the agriculturists for the pilot housing scheme. Selection would be made based on availability of water and electricity on the proposed land, land’s proximity to the industry, agriculturists willingness to spare at least one bigha for right to passage between two blocks of 24 dwelling units and having enough land for self sustainability after surrendering land for this scheme. A CII delegation, which met the Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh, recently had requested the government to consider allowing the mortgage deed to be made in favour of the bankers free of stamp paper duty. The Chief Minister had assured to look into the matter, said CII members. The industry would enter into an tripartite-long lease with the land owner and the finance companies and would pay a monthly EMIs to the bank till full repayment of loan against each dwelling. The EMIs would be paid for ten years with the instalments being Rs 1,000, Rs 1,300 and Rs 1,600 per month for the first three, next three and next four years respectively. The CII had also requested the state government to allow automatic land-use change from agriculture to housing and exempting the project from any local body and property taxes. The president of the industrial association, Mr Rajinder Guleria, said it would enable the local agriculturists, who had been unable to sell their land to the industry earlier, to get adequate remuneration for their land. While facilitating the speedy migration the scheme would provide an asset for the state government ensuring sustainability of the workers and would create self-employment opportunities for the locals, he added.
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Water scarcity hits Dharampur
Kumarhatti, May 22 The water supply is now available after the gap of two days. Long queues at water taps and hand pumps have become a common sight with residents jostling for a single bucket of potable water. The IPH Department is managing to store 2.50 lakh litres of water daily through boring pumps from khud whereas the town needs around 7 lakh litres water to meet its daily requirement. To meet the deficit, the IPH office on Friday made a written request to the higher authorities to deploy four water tankers for the town. A visit to the town showed that residents were themselves more or less responsible for the water crisis by misusing the water by adopting unlawful means to divert more water to their tap connections. |
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