H I M A C H A L   P R A D E S H

Quake-hit in Chamba await relief
Chamba, October 10
Unofficial reports of damages caused to government and private houses buildings and roads partially in different parts of Chamba district following the earthquake, which shook the Chamba area on Saturday, are still pouring in.

HP soldier among dead in quake
Una, October 10
A 26-six year old Army man from Daulatpur Chowk village, Una district, Himachal Pradesh, was among 15 soldiers killed in Jammu and Kashmir after an earthquake hit the region on Saturday, family sources said today.

All revenue tehsils to go online by December
Nurpur, October 10
The process to computerising the land revenue record in Himachal Pradesh is in progress and the record will be available online by December end.

HP vintage car rally to be annual event: CM
Shimla, October 10
It was a riot of colour as the “old beauties” converged on the Ridge at the conclusion of the two-day Delhi-Shimla Heritage Drive of Vintage and Classic Cars here yesterday.

7 hurt in mishaps
Kangra, October 10
Seven persons were injured in different accidents in the district today and three drivers were arrested for negligent driving and another for hitting, the police said here today.

Agitating workers lathicharged
Baddi, October 10
Tension prevailed on the premises of Birla Textiles here this afternoon with the police resorting to firing in the air to disperse an agitating mob of over 2,500 industrial workers.

Quake-hit in Chamba await relief
Our Correspondent

Chamba, October 10
Unofficial reports of damages caused to government and private houses buildings and roads partially in different parts of Chamba district following the earthquake, which shook the Chamba area on Saturday, are still pouring in.

Since the district administration was on a two-day leave on account of second Saturday and Sunday, official information about the quake losses is not available as the loss is yet to be assessed and compiled and the relief and rescue operations are to be carried out. The affected are waiting for the authorities to swing into action.

On the other hand, the latest unofficial reports said several houses and buildings were partially damaged due to the quake. About 14 houses were damaged in Chamba tehsil alone besides in Bhattiyat and Churah tehsils of the district, the reports indicated

Despite the fact that a comprehensive and integrated disaster management plan has already been drawn up for Chamba district headed by ‘monitoring committee’ to cope with natural disasters, there is no control room and emergency telephone numbers to report the damages caused due to the earthquake.

HP soldier among dead in quake

Una, October 10
A 26-six year old Army man from Daulatpur Chowk village, Una district, Himachal Pradesh, was among 15 soldiers killed in Jammu and Kashmir after an earthquake hit the region on Saturday, family sources said today.

Ajay Kumar and 14 other soldiers, who had been manning a post in the Uri sector, just 10 km away from the LOC, were killed when debris from the mountain slopes fell on to their bunker. Ajay’s father Chaupal Singh, a retired teacher, said he had received a message from the Army authorities, intimating the family about the tragedy. — UNI

All revenue tehsils to go online by December
Our Correspondent

Nurpur, October 10
The process to computerising the land revenue record in Himachal Pradesh is in progress and the record will be available online by December end.

The Revenue Minister, Mr Sat Mahajan, talking to the mediapersons here yesterday after inaugurating computerisation of the local vehicle registration and licensing (VRL) office said all tehsil headquarters in the state would be linked with the offices of the Chief Minister, the Revenue Minister and the Financial Commissioner (Revenue). He said the government was facing a big challenge in recreating the land record in certain parts of the state where it had been destroyed completely. “The Revenue Department has decided to undertake a fresh land settlement in these areas particularly in Una district for the recreation of land record,” he informed.

Mr Mahajan who is also the Rural Development and Panchayti Raj Minister pointed out that Kangra had become the first district in the state having computerisation in VRL offices on all eight-sub division headquarters. The minister said the Government had also planned computerise all gram panchayats in the state within next three years. “In the first phase 700 panchayats will be provided computerisation facility in the current fiscal year,” he added.

HP vintage car rally to be annual event: CM
Tribune News Service

Shimla, October 10
It was a riot of colour as the “old beauties” converged on the Ridge at the conclusion of the two-day Delhi-Shimla Heritage Drive of Vintage and Classic Cars here yesterday.

The elegant cars showed no signs of age, thanks to the passion of the vintage car lovers who cared for them like their children. There were 51 of them who completed the rally proving ample proof of their endurance.

The trophy for the best oldest car was won by Dimpy Kapoor for his 1927 make Standard Coventry. Gary was the pride owner of Austen Chummy (1928) which bagged the second place. It also bagged the trophy for the best maintained vintage car. The Stud Baker(1930) of Pervez Rehman was adjudged the third best car in the oldest car category. The prize for the second best maintained car was won by Tutu Dhawan for his Mercedes (1934)

Mr K.C. Anand, the moving spirit behind the vintage car rally, bagged the trophy for the most beautiful vintage car for his Hindustan Traveller(1950).

The Gateway of India trophy for the best American car was bagged by Ajay Kapoor for his Ford(1956). He was followed by Ashok Khosla (Chevy-1965) and Ashish Sharma (Ford-1967).

Bunny’s Jajuar (1951) won him the BCS trophy for “Sarvottam British Car”. Srikant (Venten-1962) bagged the second position. In the oldest German car category Gary (Mercedes-1968), Tutu Dhawan (Mercedes-1934) and Dimpy Kapoor(Mercedes-1970) secured the first, second and third position, respectively.

Speaking at the prized distribution function, Mr Virbhadra Singh, Chief Minister, announced that the vintage and classic car rally would be made an annual event from next year.

He said the Vintage Car Rally had been a biennial event which drew a number of vintage car lovers. Keeping in view the response, the state government had decided to make it an annual feature.

Mr Virbhadra Singh said the state government had formulated a plan of Rs 97 crore plan for the upgradation of the tourism infrastructure. He said the development of tourism circuits for creation of additional facilities in Chamba, Mandi, Bilaspur, Rohru-Chanshal, Temple tourism, Maharana Partap Sagar Circuit, helicopter services, tourist transport facilities, round the clock toll-free information centre services and upgradation of civic infrastructure were being taken up under the programme. All three airports in the state were being expanded to meet the increasing demand of the high paying tourists, and a proposal for setting up of an international airport at Sundernagar was also being pursued.

Mr K.C. Anand, Chairman of the Vintage and Classic Car Rally, hailed the announcement of the Chief Minister that the rally would be made an annual event.

He said 51 participants from country participated and some cars were about 100 years old. He said next year more than 100 cars would be participating and the event would be made more interesting.

7 hurt in mishaps
Our Correspondent

Kangra, October 10
Seven persons were injured in different accidents in the district today and three drivers were arrested for negligent driving and another for hitting, the police said here today.

Kangra District police Chief S.P. Singh said that four persons were injured when the car they were travelling by overturned in the Kotwali Bazar of Dharamsala town. He said that the driver of the car was arrested for negligent driving.

He said that Mr Rahul Gautam was injured when hit by a bus (HP 56 0478) at Nagni under Palampur Police station and driver Shiv Kumar was arrested. Mr Joginder Singh resident Sanehat in a hit and run case. Injured were admitted in different hospitals in the district. 

Agitating workers lathicharged
Our Correspondent

Baddi, October 10
Tension prevailed on the premises of Birla Textiles here this afternoon with the police resorting to firing in the air to disperse an agitating mob of over 2,500 industrial workers. The workers had threatened immolation if their demands were not conceded to by the management of Birla Textiles.

Failing to get any relief from the management, the labourers had struck work since morning. They resorted to throwing stones on the factory premises.

The police which was deployed to maintain law and order had to lathi charge the mob to disperse them. This, however, yielded little result. It fired in the air around 4 pm to disperse the agitating workers.

The workers are demanding a Divali bonus. They stated that they were forced to live in small rooms where 10 persons shared one room. Each of them had to pay Rs 80 per month as electricity bill which was too exorbitant, they rued. Despite repeated reminders to the management, the condition of the Labour colonies on the campus did not improve.

This forced the labourers to strike work.

The management, on the other hand, said the police was called to prevent any untoward incident of immolation. The factory premises appeared like a cantonment. The DSP of Nalagarh, Mr Sandep Dhawan, tehsildar and labour officials reached the spot in the afternoon to take stock of the situation. Talks were going on between the officials and factory management till the filing of this report.

The police officials hesitated to comment on the incident but empty bullets recovered from the site bore testimony to the firing. Groups of mediapersons trying to enter the factory were forcibly stopped at the gate.

Cops, officials, workers hurt

About 12 policemen, including one SHO, were hurt when the agitated mob pelted stones at a police party that tried to disperse them. A few officials of Birla Textile were also hurt when the agitated workers entered the administrative block on the unit premises. The SP of Solan, Mr Gianshwar Singh, while describing the situation as peaceful and under control, said though there were reports of some shots having been fired in the air, it was yet to be found who had fired them. The possibility of labourers possessing countrymade pistol could not be ruled out. Reports of more than 12 workers who received injuries during the police lathi charge were also received here.