H I M A C H A L   P R A D E S H

Panel formed to check traffic violations
Shimla, August 31
Mr S.K.B.S. Negi, District Magistrate, has constituted a committee of officers for regular checking of vehicles in and around Shimla town to avoid violation of government orders on plying of vehicles on the sealed and restricted roads.

Rape case of Belgian tourist takes new turn
Dharamsala, August 31
The rape case of a Belgian tourist in McLeodganj on August 24 took a new turn today with the victim giving an application to the police, stating that it was only an attempted rape as she had managed to resist the accused from succeeding in the act.

Steps to decongest Manali
Shimla, August 31
Creation of a green zone along the Beas, restricting construction of hotels in the core area and development of six growth centres are the main features of the plan to decongest Manali.

Govt plans panel on development
Shimla, August 31
Piqued over repeated allegations of discrimination against lower hill areas of the state, Mr Virbhadra Singh, Chief Minister, yesterday declared that the government was considering to constituting a high-level committee to bring out the factual position relating to developmental in the state and the budgetary provision made by successive governments.

It’s must for owner to plant trees in plot
Shimla, August 31
Concerned over the vanishing green cover, particularly in the high-altitude tourists places, the Himachal Government has made it mandatory for plot holders to plant at least five trees or trees equal to a number of inhabitants in a plot.

Poor sanitary conditions worry forum
Palampur, August 31
The Palampur Welfare and Environment Protection Forum has expressed grave concern over poor sanitary conditions in the town. The forum today submitted a memorandum to the SDM, Mr Abhishek Jain, and urged him to initiate steps to restore the glory of the town.

Transport employees threaten stir
Shimla, August 31
The Joint Action Committee of the State Road Transport corporation, employees today served a 14-day notice on the management of the corporation for implementing its demands, failing which it will launch a statewide stir.

Three killed in road mishaps
Nurpur, August 31
Bihari Lal, a resident of Naya Nagar, Hamirpur, died when he was hit by an HRTC bus (HP-34-7004) at Tattal, near here, last night. The deceased was one of the pilgrims going to Manimahesh in a Tata Sumo vehicle. He was crossing the road when the mishap occurred.

Panel formed to check traffic violations
Tribune News Service

Shimla, August 31
Mr S.K.B.S. Negi, District Magistrate, has constituted a committee of officers for regular checking of vehicles in and around Shimla town to avoid violation of government orders on plying of vehicles on the sealed and restricted roads.

It will also check route permits, speed limit, noise pollution, driving licence, idle parking, time table in buses, proper uniform and misuse of red lights and boards on the vehicles.

According to the order issued by him here today, the Additional Deputy Commissioner and the Additional Superintendent of Police will check vehicles at Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC), Tara Hall School and Lakkar Bazar, the Additional District Magistrate, Law and Order, and the Deputy Superintendent of Police (Traffic) at DC office, Chaura Maidan and AG office, the Additional District Magistrate (Protocol) and the Station House Officer, Chhota Shimla, at US Club, Ram Chandra Chowk, Chalet Day School and Chhota Shimla, the SDM, Shimla (Urban), Regional Transport office (Headquarters) and the SHO, Sadar, at bus stand and Lift, the SDM (Rural), and the DSP (Headquarters) at Totu, Chakkar and Boileauganj, the Tehsildar (Urban) and the SHO, Dhalli, at Sanjauli and Dhalli; and the Tehsildar, Shimla (Rural), and the SHO, Boileauganj, at Tara Devi.

As per the order, the officers will ensure random and proper checking of all vehicles in their respective areas and would submit the daily report along with challan issued to the District Magistrate, Shimla.

Rape case of Belgian tourist takes new turn
Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, August 31
The rape case of a Belgian tourist in McLeodganj on August 24 took a new turn today with the victim giving an application to the police, stating that it was only an attempted rape as she had managed to resist the accused from succeeding in the act.

She has further requested that her affidavit should be considered as her evidence also as she is a student and will have to leave the country in a couple of days for Belgium.

When contacted, ASP Kapil Sharma said they would wait for a report from the forensic laboratory before making any changes in the FIR by converting it into a case of attempted rape. He, however, confirmed that the victim had submitted an affidavit to the police.

As per the complaint lodged in the Forseyth Ganj police station on August 26, the accused Ladakhi youth had befriended the victim, who had come to McLeodganj with two of her friends from Belgium. He offered to take her friends for trekking to Triund, but returned mid-way on the excuse that he was not feeling well.

He reportedly waited for her at she guesthouse where he was staying till 11 pm for her to come back from the market and then entered her room on the pretext of talking to her for some time.

Steps to decongest Manali
Tribune News Service

Shimla, August 31
Creation of a green zone along the Beas, restricting construction of hotels in the core area and development of six growth centres are the main features of the plan to decongest Manali.

The development plan approved by the government aims to shift the tourism activities from the main town, which had already been saturated with hotels, to the rural areas. The town and its surrounding areas have over 400 big and small hotels with a bed capacity of about 15,000 and the total area under hotels is over 18 hectare. However, the average occupancy is only about 40 per cent. Allowing new hotels to come up will not only increase congestion but also affect the financial viability of the existing ones. It is for this reason that the plan discourages construction of new hotels.

To disperse tourism-related activities to the rural areas, six new sectors are proposed to be set up at Naggar, Old Manali, Vashisht, Aleo, Prini and Suinsa-Ranghri by land pooling and re-constitution mechanism in the public-private partnership. The flood-prone land along the banks will be reclaimed to create space for a truck stand and car parking. A modern bus station is proposed to be constructed at the Aloo ground. The projects will be implemented on build ,operate and transfer (BOT) basis.

A 25 m stretch from the highest flood level of the Beas will be maintained as “green zone” along the banks in which no construction will be allowed. The minimum plot size for the construction of a hotel is 1000 sqm, though small guest houses will be allowed on plots ranging from 250 sqm to 1,000 sqm with 50 per cent coverage.

In the core area, a maximum of two storeys will be allowed with a floor area ratio(FAR) of one (1.00). In the restricted zone maximum of three storeys plus a parking floor will be permissible with a FAR of 1.50 for residential buildings and 1.75 for hotels. In other areas, four storeys plus a parking floor will be allowed with a FAR of 1.75.

Other proposals include a commercial complex, a hospital and a sewerage plant at Prini, wholesale market and warehousing at Palchan and Barod and a senior secondary school at Aleo. The development covers 1152 hectare, including 166 hectare of the Manali Nagar panchayat and 12 peripheral settlements. The existing population is 17,340 and the plan has been formulated up to 2021 when the population would be about 50,000. The influx of tourists during the peak season is about 18,000 persons per day and the plan will suffice for a daily influx of 35,000 persons.

Govt plans panel on development
Tribune News Service

Shimla, August 31
Piqued over repeated allegations of discrimination against lower hill areas of the state, Mr Virbhadra Singh, Chief Minister, yesterday declared that the government was considering to constituting a high-level committee to bring out the factual position relating to developmental in the state and the budgetary provision made by successive governments.

Talking to mediapersons here, he said he wanted to resolve the issue once and for all so that people were not misled anymore. He said his government had always accorded top priority to the development of lower areas and the Dr Rajendra Prasad Medical College at Tanda was one such example.

Referring to the demand by Mr Kewal Pathania, a former minister, that the Chief Minster should be from the lower hill areas, he said he was voicing the concern of vested interests. Terming it a conspiracy to malign him, he said he would take up the matter with the party high command for disciplinary action against him.

He said the Congress was a democratic party and its members were free to raise issues at the appropriate fora and taking matters to the press amounted to indiscipline.

The Chief Minister said elections to Panchayati Raj institutions would not be held on party symbols as the government was not in favour of taking politics to homes of people. It would give people a free hand to elect their representatives by rising above all political considerations so that deserving candidates were elected to units of democracy at the grassroots level .

The Chief Minister said the BJP was a House divided and striving for survival, both at the national and state level. He said the party needed to put its house in order instead of demanding his resignation on minor issues.

It’s must for owner to plant trees in plot
Tribune News Service

Shimla, August 31
Concerned over the vanishing green cover, particularly in the high-altitude tourists places, the Himachal Government has made it mandatory for plot holders to plant at least five trees or trees equal to a number of inhabitants in a plot.

Necessary provision has been made in the rules by the Town and Country Planning Department. It will be the responsibility of the land owners to plant the saplings and protect them. The depletion of vegetation has affected the environment and robbed the hills of much of its scenic splendour.

In high-altitude places like Shimla, Dalhousie, Dharamsala and Manali, preference has to be given to the evergreen deodar and other coniferous varieties. The purpose is not only to improve the quality of environment, which has been degraded due to large-scale cutting of trees for new constructions, but also to restore the scenic charm. The conifers lend a unique charm to the landscape which provides the hill stations a distinct identity.

The Deputy Commissioners and Municipal Commissioners, who head the urban bodies and special planning areas, have been asked to enforce the provision and make all-out efforts for ensuring massive plantations in the state.

The Forest Department has been asked to provide plant material for the purpose.

Poor sanitary conditions worry forum
Our Correspondent

Palampur, August 31
The Palampur Welfare and Environment Protection Forum has expressed grave concern over poor sanitary conditions in the town.

The forum today submitted a memorandum to the SDM, Mr Abhishek Jain, and urged him to initiate steps to restore the glory of the town.

Briefing media persons, Mr K.B. Ralhan, president of the forum, said that despite repeated requests the Municipal Council had failed to arrange for the proper disposal of garbage. He said the forum had appealed to the SDM to intervene and provide garbage collection bins in the town.

The menace of the stray cattle was also brought to the notice of the SDM. It was stated that stray cattle were attacking school going children and senior citizens.

Another issue, which was brought to the notice of the SDM was a direct opening of sewerage into the Mol khud, which is a major source of drinking water in the lower areas of Palampur.

Transport employees threaten stir
Tribune News Service

Shimla, August 31
The Joint Action Committee of the State Road Transport corporation, employees today served a 14-day notice on the management of the corporation for implementing its demands, failing which it will launch a statewide stir.

The committee organised gate meetings today to draw the attention of the management and the government towards its demands.

The main demands include merger of 50 per cent dearness allowance with the basic salary and grant of Rs 56 crore to make up for the amount withdrawn for meeting the day-to-day expenditure of the corporation from the employees provident fund.

Three killed in road mishaps
Our Correspondent

Nurpur, August 31
Bihari Lal, a resident of Naya Nagar, Hamirpur, died when he was hit by an HRTC bus (HP-34-7004) at Tattal, near here, last night. The deceased was one of the pilgrims going to Manimahesh in a Tata Sumo vehicle. He was crossing the road when the mishap occurred. The bus was on its way from Manali to Katra. The police arrested the driver, Jaswant Singh, under Sections 279 and 304 (A) of the IPC.

In another road mishap a school going girl, Priya (9) was injured when she was on her way to the school. A jeep (HP-54-B-201) hit her. The Jawali police has arrested the jeep driver, Anup Kumar, under Sections 279 and 304 (A) of the IPC.

In the third mishap, Nehru, driver of a three-wheeler, died on the spot near Dankuya when the vehicle overturned. Three passengers were injured in the mishap.