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Dhumal dares CM for debate on Kangra
Six districts ignored in Mahila Cong
HP’s sanitation project in doldrums
Buildings on slopes prone to quake
Anti-WTO protest by Leftists
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Memorial to be raised at Kharo
Scheme to market trout
Steps to increase AIDS awareness
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Dhumal dares CM for debate on Kangra
Dharamsala, November 26 Addressing a press conference, he said even though a host of developmental works materialised in the Kangra region during the BJP government, the present government did not have even a single project to boast of in this region. Listing out the projects sanctioned for the lower Himachal region during the BJP regime, he said his government always gave preference to the areas of lower Himachal. “The fact that both two new tehsils opened by the BJP government were located in this region and the only polytechnic in the state was set up in Jaisinghpur highlighted the fact that the then BJP government gave priority to the lower Himachal region.” The present government had de-notified the proposed colleges in Shahpur and though new colleges at other places in the state were being set up, educational needs of the people of Shahpur were being ignored. It appears that the college was denotified merely because Major Vijai Singh Mankotia is the MLA from Shahpur, he said. He alleged that the Chief Minister was himself violating the model code of conduct by laying down foundation stones of electricity projects. Mr Dhumal added that he had received reports from the managements of private schools that they were being forced to attend the function being organised by the Himachal Pradesh Board of School Education on November 27 to honour meritorious students. He said that most of the nearly 40 headmasters from Kangra district had been transferred out by the government on their promotion even though there were enough vacant positions within the district. Mr Dhumal alleged that the seniority of a Chief Engineer of the Public Works Department (PWD) from the lower Himachal region had been overlooked by shifting him to the designs branch, and this spoke volumes about the discriminatory attitude of the government.
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Six districts ignored in Mahila Cong
Shimla, November 26 Addressing a press conference here today, Himachal Mahila Congress chief, Ms Kamla Prarthi, today released the list of 20 office-bearers, nominated by the All India Mahila Congress chief, Ms Rita Bahuguna. She also announced the names of 18 district presidents, as the bigger districts will have separate chiefs for the rural and urban areas. The districts, which will have two presidents, includes Shimla, Kangra, Kullu, Mandi, Solan, Chamba and Lahaul Spiti. No representation has been given to the important districts of Kangra, Una, Hamirpur, Bilaspur, Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti. "The list is still not complete and there is room for accommodating more office-bearers from the left out districts," is how Ms Prarthi explained the imbalance in the list of the office-bearers. She admitted that most of the previous office-bearers had been retained and search for suitable women workers was on to fill the vacancies. Ms Chanchal Nayyar (Chamba) will be the senior vice-president. Ms Padam Sharma (Mandi), Ms Shakuntla Panta (Parwanoo), Ms Archana Dhawan (Shimla), Ms Asha Chopra (Mandi) and Ms Sharmila Patyal (Shimla) would be the vice-presidents. The general secretaries are: Ms Geeta Negi (Rohru), Ms Satya parmar (Nahan), Ms Chander Prabha Negi (Rampur), Ms Jainab Chandel (Arki) and Ms Prem Lata (Jubbal). |
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HP’s sanitation project in doldrums
Mandi, November 26 Launched on August 15 by the Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh, the mission had caught the fancy of villagers, but they faced a major problem i.e most villages in the state do not have round-the-clock water supply. Numerous villages and towns here are facing shortage of potable water, leave alone the maintenance of toilets, revealed officials. However, residents of water-sufficient villages mainly of Kulu valley and villagers who are well-off have built toilets. "Awareness has increased, but main problem remains i.e water and how to manage the septic tanks and pits in the absence of sewerage system", said Priyavratri, a Zila Parishad member in Dharampur, which has the highest 28 per cent toilets in Mandi district. In the district, which has got Rs 10.30 crore grant from the Centre, the district administration with help of an NGO, Mandi Sakhasharta Samiti (MSS), is carrying out the mission in over 473 panchayats. The Mandi Deputy Commissioner, Mr Subhasish Panda, who covered Jhenjheli, Jogindernagar, Dharampur and Sundernagar blocks said they hoped to liberate the district from the habit of defecating in open by installing toilets within a time period of three years. "First you show results, we will reward you", he added. He cited the example of Kot panchyat in Dharampur, where 88 per cent of houses have toilets and urged the villagers to emulate this example. "As many as 70 panchayats will be covered in the first phase," he added, promising a panchayat having achieved the target will be rewarded with schemes worth Rs 50,000. Mr Bhupinder Singh, secretary, MSS, said the most backward block was Seraj with just 10 per cent of houses having toilets. "We spread the message among the villagers through nukad nataks narrating how the older people, children, and women face problems and how they can come out of it by having toilets. We educate them to install toilets/ pits at least 15 m away from the water sources", he added. The ADC Mandi district, Mr R.S. Gupta, who covered Gohar and Balh blocks holding awareness campaign said the main focus of the campaign was the families below the poverty line (BPL), including 1,982 schools and 224 anganwadis, which have no toilets. "The villagers get a token money of Rs 600 per toilet. The panchayat which excels will get Rs 2 lakh, block would get Rs 10 lakh and for the district, the reward will be of Rs 30 lakh", he added. |
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Buildings on slopes prone to quake
Shimla, November 26 Studies conducted by the Town and Country Planning Department reveal that 60 per cent of the 38,500 houses in the city and the adjoining special areas of Tutu, Dhalli and Kusumpti, are precariously perched on slopes of more than 45 degree on which no construction should have been allowed as per norms. As per the internationally accepted slope density norms, on a slope of 10 degree as much as 32 per cent of the plot should be kept in natural state , meaning that no construction be allowed over it. Further, on a 20 degree slope, the covered area should not exceed 55 per cent and for 30 degree it has to be within 28 per cent. No construction is to be permitted on slopes of 40 degree or more. Constructions carried on slopes of more than 40 degree are dangerous as the slope is more than tolerable limits in coping with the geo-hazards like earthquakes, landslides and dislocation of buildings. However, in areas like Kacchi Ghati six to 10 storeyed buildings have come up on slopes of 75 degree. The covered area is as high as 85 per cent. Similarly, in Sanjauli, four to five storeyed structures have been built on slope of 70 degree, covering 70 per cent of the site. In central Shimla, 90 per cent of the site area has been covered on 60 degree slope. It is the same story in Krishna Nagar, Phagli, Chakkar and Tutu where houses have been constructed on slopes exceeding 60 degree covering 70 per cent of the plot. In such a situation, a tremor or a major landslide could set off a concrete avalanche causing widespread destruction due to the chain effect. The committee constituted by the Government of India to frame guidelines under the disaster management plan on this aspect has recommended that construction should be permitted only upto a slope of 30 degree with appropriate restrictions. The department now plans to restrict construction activity on steep slopes which has played havoc with the cityscape besides making it susceptible to disaster. It has classified slopes upto 45 degree into three categories for specifying building norms in the proposal. While a maximum of three storeys, an attic and a parking floor will be permitted on slopes upto 15 degree, only two storeys and attic will be allowed on slopes between 25 to 30 degree. In case of slope ranging from 30 to 45 degree only one floor with an attic will be permitted. The recommended slope density norms have been implemented in the regional development plans from Goa and Mussourie. It remains to be seen whether the state government takes the norms into consideration in the development plan for Shimla which is being finalised. |
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Anti-WTO protest by Leftists
Mandi, November 26 The Jan Kawarna state coordinator, Mr Guman Singh, said they were holding a series of protests, highlighting the adverse consequences of the WTO, which have become visible in the state over the years. The Karwan troupe will hold anti-WTO performances at Una, Mandi, Dharamsala, Shimla and other places from December 25 to 29, he added. The leaders alleged that the government was increasing the prices of foodstuff, water, cooking gas and throwing the daily needs commodities at the mercy of the market forces, making these out of the reach of the common man. They alleged that the investors, taking advantage of subsidies offered by the state government, had fled the state in the past few years. The government had yet to rehabilitate the Pong dam oustees. Local farmers had become refugees in their homeland. The cement industries have become a big source of pollution in the state, they alleged. The state government, under pressure, has got loans from international funding agencies, mortgaging land, natural resources, including forest, water and land, they claimed. Private schools, training and educational institutions, and hospitals are mushrooming, while the government schools and hospitals have no enough staff, they lamented. They claimed that government posts were not being filled, while over 8 lakh youth were unemployed. The companies were not implementing the provision of 70 per cent local employment. Mr Hem Raj Pathania, convener, Swadeshi Jagran Manch, Mandi, said agriculture should be kept out from the WTO and the manch opposed the WTO summit in Hong Kong. |
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Memorial to be raised at Kharo
Shimla, November 26 This was disclosed by the Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh, while chairing the fifth Tribal Advisory Council meeting here today. The memorial would be a tribute to the soldiers who had laid down their lives while serving the nation. "The government will spend Rs 22 crore for carrying out rehabilitation and restoration work in Kinnaur district, where floods caused widespread damage," he informed. Restoration work on war footing had helped resume vehicular movement within two months of the devastating floods. The Chief Minister said that four biswa land would be allotted to families who had lost their houses in floods as a special concession. Besides, an assistance of Rs 27,500 per family would be provided for constructing houses under Rajiv Gandhi Awas Yojna. He said nine per cent of the state annual plan, which works out to be Rs 141.64 crore was being spent under the Tribal Sub-Plan for the development of the tribal areas of the state. Officials had been directed to expeditiously carry out works in the tribal areas. Mr
Virbhadra Singh also directed the HP State Electricity Board (HPSEB) to complete work on power transmission line from Tapri to Kaza and to Lossar by November next year so that quality power could be provided to residents of Pooh and Spiti valleys. |
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Scheme to market trout
Shimla, November 26 The Centre has sanctioned a Rs 1-crore scheme for the marketing of the cold water fish, known for its taste. The Himachal Pradesh Aquaculture Fishing and Marketing Society received the first installment of Rs 50 lakh under the Post Harvest Infrastructure Development scheme on November 21. This will maximise the profits of trout producers, who in the absence of the required infrastructure and marketing facilities, could not send their produce directly to markets in Delhi. The Animal Husbandry Minister, Mr Harsh Mahajan, said that after consultations with trout farmers cooperatives, the government would open aqua shops and kiosks at various places in the state. "At present practically the entire trout produce from the state is sent to five-star hotels through private agents in Delhi who purchase it from the farms," he said. |
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Steps to increase AIDS awareness
Shimla, November 26 With a considerable increase in the number of HIV patients in the state, the authorities intend mapping all ethnic groups. Among those who visit Kulu, Manali and Dharamsala are a large number of drug addicts, informed Dr C.D. Sharma, from the State AIDS Control Society. He said among the users were Israelis and Tibetans. The society was in touch with the Tibetan government-in-exile for raising awareness about HIV and AIDS among the Tibetan population, particularly in McLeodganj and Dharamsala. Six cases of AIDS have been detected at the Tanda Medical College counselling centre in Kangra. An earlier mapping done through ORG Marg had indicated that 88,036 persons were in the high risk group. The highest number of 68 AIDS cases is in Hamirpur. The number of HIV cases here is 267. The second highest cases are in Kangra district. Efforts are afoot to fully cover truckers and migrant labour. |
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