H I M A C H A L   P R A D E S H

Flood relief: BJP to move adjournment motion
Shimla, August 4
The BJP will bring an adjournment motion in the Vidhan Sabha tomorrow to force a discussion on the damage caused by floods and relief and restoration measures across the state. Stating this at a press conference here today, Mr P.K. Dhumal, the leader of the BJP legislative group, said the floods had affected life in various parts of the state and his party wanted a wide-ranging discussion on the issue.

5 killed as jeep falls into gorge near Chamba
Chamba, August 4
Five persons, including two women and a driver, were killed and five others seriously injured when a private Commander jeep No. 48-3312 veered off the road and fell into a 70-metre-deep gorge at Shikari Mor near Tissa, about 75 km from here, last night.

Dr Parmar remembered on his 99th birth anniversary
Shimla, August 4
Rich tributes were paid to Dr Y.S. Parmar, the founder of Himachal Pradesh, on his 99th birth anniversary here today. Presiding over the function organised in the Vidhan Sabha complex, Mr Virbhadra Singh, Chief Minister, said the sound foundation for the development of the state laid by Dr Parmar had enabled it to emerge as a model for development of hill areas.
Floral tributes being paid to Dr Y.S. Parmar, the founder of Himachal Pradesh, on his 99th birth anniversary in Shimla on Thursday.
— Photo by Anil Dayal

Manimahesh pilgrimage from August 26
Chamba, August 4
The famous Manimahesh pilgrimage in Chamba district will start on August 26 on the eve of Janmashtmi this year and conclude on September 9, the occasion of Sri Radha Ashtami when pilgrims and devotees of Lord Shiva will take holy dip in the sacred icy cold waters of the Manimahesh Lake at an altitude of 4170 metres.

Councillor refutes MLA’s allegations
Solan, August 4
Refuting allegations of the local MLA alleging irregularities in the execution of sewage work here, the general secretary of the state Youth Congress and local municipal councillor, Mr Sanjay Awasthi, said today the allegations were politically motivated.

Police recruitment from August 22
Kangra, August 4
Recruitment for posts of 154 constable in the 3rd India Reserve Battalion and 48 posts in the Ist India Reserve Battalion (all male) will be held in Kangra district at Battalion Ground Sakoh, Dharamsala.

Veopar Mandal wants SP suspended
Chamba, August 4
The District Veopar Mandal has threatened statewide agitation if the Superintendent of Police Chamba, was not suspended and transferred before the inquiry ordered to be conducted by the Divisional Commissioner was not completed.

Flood relief: BJP to move adjournment motion
Tribune News Service

Shimla, August 4
The BJP will bring an adjournment motion in the Vidhan Sabha tomorrow to force a discussion on the damage caused by floods and relief and restoration measures across the state.

Stating this at a press conference here today, Mr P.K. Dhumal, the leader of the BJP legislative group, said the floods had affected life in various parts of the state and his party wanted a wide-ranging discussion on the issue. He said the BJP would oppose the amendment to the municipal Act under which the clause debarring those having more than two children from contesting elections is to be deleted as it was a retrograde step. There was an urgent need to control the population and even the apex court had upheld the law. He said it was surprising that the government was planning to sterilise monkeys and dogs but was least concerned about the growing human population.

The BJP leader demanded withdrawal of “Progressive English Learning Series”, a book published by the state board of school education for Class V, as it had derogatory references to Lord Hanumana. He said the chapter “Story of Rama” had female characters using abusive language which hurt the sentiments of Hindus. He said action should be taken against those responsible for it.

He alleged irregularities in the selection of trained graduate teachers by the state subordinate services selection board. He said initially a list 650 candidates of medical group was released but subsequently a supplementary list of selected candidates was also released which was unprecedented and cast serious doubts over the functioning of the board. The process for the selection of candidates for JBT training course could not be completed even though entrance test had been held twice for the purpose.

5 killed as jeep falls into gorge near Chamba
Our Correspondent

Chamba, August 4
Five persons, including two women and a driver, were killed and five others seriously injured when a private Commander jeep No. 48-3312 veered off the road and fell into a 70-metre-deep gorge at Shikari Mor near Tissa, about 75 km from here, last night. Four persons died on the sport while one succumbed to injuries on way to hospital. There were 10 persons in the vehicle.

According to police sources the deceased had been identified as Devki Devi, Kamla Devi, Farooq Mohammed and Latif Mohammed driver of the vehicle. The body of the fifth deceased had yet to be identified. Of the five injured, three had been admitted to a nearby Tissa hospital while two had been referred to the Regional Hospital, Chamba, but the condition of these two was stated to be critical.

The police had registered a case in this connection and investigation into the cause of the accident.

The local authorities of Churah subdivision in the district had rushed to the accident site to carry out relief and rescue operations, the report said.

Mr Harsh Mahajan, Animal Husbandry and Urban Development Minister, and Mr Surinder Bhardwaj, local MLA who is also the president of the District Congress Committee, expressed sorrow over the accident and sympathy with the bereaved families.

Dr Parmar remembered on his 99th birth anniversary
Tribune News Service

Shimla, August 4
Rich tributes were paid to Dr Y.S. Parmar, the founder of Himachal Pradesh, on his 99th birth anniversary here today.

Presiding over the function organised in the Vidhan Sabha complex, Mr Virbhadra Singh, Chief Minister, said the sound foundation for the development of the state laid by Dr Parmar had enabled it to emerge as a model for development of hill areas.

Successive Congress governments worked for realising his dream in letter and spirit. Himachal Pradesh was the first state in the country to create a department of horticulture and a university of horticulture and forestry to boost fruit cultivation and afforestation.

Dr Parmar was instrumental in the creation of necessary infrastructure for bringing about industrial revolution and harnessing the hydro-electric potential of the state. During the past two years alone the state had succeeded in attracting an industrial investment of over Rs 11,500 crore and all major business houses were setting up their units in the state.

He also introduced the three dimensional forestry which helped in greening the hills.

The Chief Minister also released the biannual edition of “Vidhan Mala” dedicated to Dr Parmar.

Mr G.R. Musafir, Speaker, said Dr Parmar was a strong democrat who had firm faith in the democratic system and a patron of “pahari” culture and tradition. Dr Parmar had implemented land reforms with true spirit to remove the social disparities.

Earlier, floral tributes were paid to Dr Parmar by garlanding his statue on the Ridge.

Manimahesh pilgrimage from August 26
Our Correspondent

Chamba, August 4
The famous Manimahesh pilgrimage in Chamba district will start on August 26 on the eve of Janmashtmi this year and conclude on September 9, the occasion of Sri Radha Ashtami when pilgrims and devotees of Lord Shiva will take holy dip in the sacred icy cold waters of the Manimahesh Lake at an altitude of 4170 metres.

Giving this information over the phone today, Mr H.S. Negi, Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), who is also the Mela Officer of the Manimahesh pilgrimage, said the holy Chhari of Manimahesh would commence from Chamba a week before the holy dip. The local administration was all set to provide adequate security to the pilgrims coming from the Bhadarwah area of Jammu and Kashmir.

Mr Negi said the local officers had been directed to make all possible arrangements such as regulating the traffic, providing medicines, fuel, water and electricity for the facilities of the devotees. The use of intoxicants had been banned during the pilgrimage, he asserted.

Mr Negi said suitable steps would be taken to keep the Manimahesh Lake clean. Temporary toilets would be constructed during the pilgrimage. He appealed to the pilgrims to bring with them pullovers and sweaters and other necessary material required for the high-altitude pilgrimage.

Though the 15-day-long pilgrimage is yet to commence, pilgrims trekkers and tourists from the neighbouring states have already arriving.

Councillor refutes MLA’s allegations
Our Correspondent

Solan, August 4
Refuting allegations of the local MLA alleging irregularities in the execution of sewage work here, the general secretary of the state Youth Congress and local municipal councillor, Mr Sanjay Awasthi, said today the allegations were politically motivated.

Addressing mediapersons here today, he said the MLA, Dr Rajiv Bindal, had failed to protect the interests of the masses. The MLA had maintained silence when work on the scheme began in 1998 during the BJP government’s tenure and now he was raising baseless objections.

Refuting his objections Mr Awasthi said the planning of the scheme had taken into account various parameters like the existing population, its future expansion, capacity of hostels, hospital beds, migratory floating population etc, Since the plan was chalked out in 1995, the census figures of 1991 had been referred. The scheme had not taken into account the peripheral areas of Deoghat and Brewary due to the non-feasible topography and existence of another scheme there.

Making a scathing attack on the working of Dr Bindal, Mr Awasthi said he had failed to come out with any strategy to ensure employment for the local youth. Though the Central industrial package had been announced during his tenure, the local youth was frustrated as nothing had been done for them. The MLA had used his MLA development fund for executing work belonging to the BJP only, he added.

Police recruitment from August 22
Our Correspondent

Kangra, August 4
Recruitment for posts of 154 constable in the 3rd India Reserve Battalion and 48 posts in the Ist India Reserve Battalion (all male) will be held in Kangra district at Battalion Ground Sakoh, Dharamsala.

Kangra district police chief S.P. Singh said today that aspirants for above posts should report at employment exchanges at 9 a.m. He said on August 22 candidates from Nurpur and Indora employment exchanges, on August 24 from Dehra, Jawali and Baroh on August 26 from Lambagaon, Nagrota Surian and Fatehpur on August 27 from Palampur and Baijnath and on August 29 from Dharamsala and Kotla employment exchanges.

Veopar Mandal wants SP suspended
Our Correspondent

Chamba, August 4
The District Veopar Mandal has threatened statewide agitation if the Superintendent of Police Chamba, was not suspended and transferred before the inquiry ordered to be conducted by the Divisional Commissioner was not completed. For this, the Himachal Pradesh State Veopar Mandal has extended support to the Mandal.