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Panchayati Raj bodies to be strengthened: CM
Ropeway projects hang fire
Virbhadra flays Dhumal on SSSB issue
Charge sheet against Harsh Gupta biased: BJP
Himachal Pradesh to set up 5 trauma centres
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2 die as truck falls into gorge
2 workers held for beating up colleague Baddi roads more prone to mishap
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Panchayati Raj bodies to be strengthened: CM
Kangra, January 5 Mr Virbhadra Singh said this while addressing the pradhans of gram panchayats of Kangra, Chamba and Una districts at the Dharamsala police stadium after administering the oath of office and secrecy to the 1,262 pradhans of these panchayats in the third phase of the oath-taking ceremony. He said the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) were the most significant ingredient of the democracy which needed to be strengthened and empowered with more executive, judicial, administrative and financial powers. He said the necessary modalities to authorise the PRIs to hoist the National Flag would be worked out on a priority basis. The government was committed to providing more powers to the PRIs so that the process of development was started from the grassroots level. The Chief Minister said that Himachal Pradesh was one of the front-running states which implemented the 73rd Constitutional Amendment in the first year. Expressing concern over the declining sex ratio in the age group of 0 to 6. He said it was bound to destabilise the social system. He said with the increase in the literacy, rate people needed to be made aware of the problem which would pose a serious challenge to the state in the coming years. He said gram panchayats would play a pivotal role in checking the adverse trend. He said any such incident taking place at the village level needed to be brought to the notice of the government so legal action could be initiated against the errants. The attendance at gram sabha meetings by the village-level government functionaries was being made compulsory. He said the panchayats would be authorised to exercise supervisory and inspectory powers over the village-level functionaries. Besides other mandatory functioning, gram panchayats would be empowered to prepare micro-planning for the area. Public utilities at the panchayat level, anganwari, PHC, veterinary dispensary, fair price shops, hand pumps and public taps would be under the control of gram panchayats. He said gram panchayat would be able to appoint part-time tailoring teachers, water carrier, panchayat sahayaks, junior engineers etc. at their own level, besides selecting the beneficiaries of the IRDP, BPL and other deserving categories. The benefits would also be delivered through those institutions. The Chief Minister said the panchayats needed to ensure that the beneficiaries of the Indira Awas Yojna, Rajiv Gandhi Awas Yojna and social security pensions were selected after scrutiny so that the benefits could reach the targeted groups. The government had decided to execute all watershed projects with the gram panchayat participation so that complete transparency was maintained in the execution of the project. He said a majority of development funds were being provided to the panchayats directly. The Chief Minister said that the salary of the part-time workers would also be disbursed through the gram panchayats and the state would be providing the required funds. He said the MPLAD and MLALAD schemes would also be implemented through the gram panchayats so that transparency was maintained and funds utilised for bonafide purposes. Later, he laid the foundation stones of the barracks for 60 policemen at the police lines Dharamsala, to be constructed at a cost of Rs 94.28 lakh and indoor stadium in the complex of the second Battalion of the HP Police at Sakoh to hold different games in the multipurpose hall to be constructed at a cost of Rs 52.28 lakh. |
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Ropeway projects hang fire
Kulu, January 5 The 650-metre long Shimla-Jhakhoo ropeways project has made no headway for the past 11 years. The Department of Tourism and Civil Aviation (DTCA) and the Jagson International are yet to sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to construct the ropeway which will cost Rs 16 crore. Earlier, the Shimla Municipal Corporation (SMC) was to execute the project. “But now the DTCA is to sign the MoU with the company by this year.”, revealed officials. The company will do fresh survey to select passage that does not involve felling trees in the Jakhu hill. Environmentalists have objected to the project as it will kill dozens of deodar trees to make room for the ropeways. The good news for the skiing lovers this year was that the Rs 12 crore ski lift project finally started off at Solang Nullah ski resort near Manali. The Power Himalayas company has started the construction of Solang nullah ropeway after years of row over row. “The company has agreed to allow villagers to use the Solang site for paragliding and other purpose. The villagers had opposed the “exclusive rights” given to company. The project is expected to be complete in two years”, the top DTCA officials said. But fate of the Bijli-Mahadev-Kulu ropeway remains uncertain. The Kulu town has been hit after Manali emerged as destination in the Kulu valley. “The ropeway can re-charge tourism here. Tourists can enjoy joyrides and can halt for a night or two in this town”, said Mr Arun Sharma, owner of Apple Valley Resort here. Even Chief Minister, Virbhadra Singh visited the Bijli Mahadev after the Kulu Dasehra last year and promised to clear the ropeway project, but it remains only a promise, added hoteliers. The Naina Devi-Anandpur Sahib ropeway has been hanging fire over the years as the project was conceived by then Chief Ministers of Himachal and Punjab, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal and Mr Parkash Singh Badal, respectively to mark birth of the Khalsa Panth at Anandpur Sahib. The detailed project report (DPR) was made, but the project was put on the backburner following the change of government both in Himachal and Punjab in 2003. The distance between the Shakti Peeth of Naina Devi in Bilaspur and the historic pilgrimage centre of Anandpur Sahib in Punjab will be reduced by over 60 km when once the ropeway was completed, revealed the travel agents. The same holds true for the two-phased Dharamsala-McLeodganj and the Dharamkot- Triund ropeways project in Kangra district, which has been pending for years. “Both projects remain non-starter so far as the state government has yet to call tenders”, said the DTCA officials. |
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Virbhadra flays Dhumal on SSSB issue
Mandi, January 5 Mr Dhumal turned the Subordinate Service Selection Board (SSSB), Hamirpur as an instrument to promote his own agenda through the then Chairman SM Katwal, who has been convicted by the Special Judge Hamirpur, he said. The list also included names, who were to be given jobs and who were not to be, Mr Virbhadra Singh claimed, citing the erased hard disk data retrieved by laboratory. “We are investigating the case further and law will take its own course,” he added. “After every three months, the files were erased from the hard discs, although all official records should be maintained at least for a period of five years”, he said. Mr
Virbhadra Singh asserted that the government would never dither on its anti-corruption agenda. Far from respecting the verdict of the Lok Sabha expelling 10 MPs in the cash-for-question scam that also included BJP Hamirpur Lok Sabha MP Suresh Chandel, the BJP MPs were moving court, which further exposed their moral bankruptcy and disrespect for Parliament, alleged Mr Virbhadra Singh. Replying to a query on the new Block Medical Officer (BMO) cadre, which is yet to be notified, he said that the cadre had been rationalised and rules amended to appoint the BMOs, CMOs and others in the hierarchy as per rules of seniority soon. “The government has stopped the exodus of new MBBS doctors to join the private service and posts of doctors were being rationalised in zonal hospitals”, he added. The government was opening a medical college in Mandi, but it would be in the private sector, he said. |
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Charge sheet against Harsh Gupta biased: BJP
Shimla, January 5 In a press note issued here today BJP leader Rajinder Rana said the government had tried to get back at him as the Harsh Gupta Committee had confirmed that almost 3,000 jobs were given on chits of political bosses during the previous Congress regime. “The government should clarify as to why no action has been taken against the guilty despite the BJP demanding action time and again,” he said. Mr Rana said instead of taking action against those involved in corruption cases the Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh, had rewarded them with ministerial berth. “How can a government which has been shielding the corrupt talk of eradicating corruption,” he quipped. He said during the Congress regime there had been a number of scams like the timber scam, illegal felling of trees in Sirmour, musical blast scandal in Dharamshala and the Himalayan Ski village project. “The only achievements that the present Congress regime can list is victimising honest officers and registering false cases against the opposition leaders,” he remarked. |
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Himachal Pradesh to set up 5 trauma centres
Shimla, January 5 The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has approved five trauma centres to be set up at a cost of 7.50 crore. The two trauma centres at Solan and Kulu will be made functional within the next six months, while the ones at Chamba, Rampur and Bilaspur will be ready a little later. The Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Mr Vineet Chaudhary, approved the trauma centres during his visit here last week. The trauma centres to be set up at a cost of Rs 1.50 crore each will function round-the-clock so that any emergency cases, especially road accidents can be handled without wasting time. Proper communication network will be established with the police and highway patrol party so that the staff at the trauma centre can be alerted the moment there is an accident. “We want that by the time the victims or patients arrive at the trauma centre our staff is already waiting for them with all basic preparations in place,” said Dr R.N. Mahanta, Director, Health and Family Welfare. He said the government wanted to get the trauma centres ready at the earliest. The funds for the building, equipment and other things would be borne by the Centre while doctors and other staff would be from the state health department. Since the trauma centre would function round the clock atleast 10 doctors for four different shifts would be required along with nurses, pharmacists and other para medical staff. The need for a trauma centre was being felt in the state as there are a lot of accidents, especially on the busy highways like Chandigarh-Manali and Kalka-Shimla. In both cases, a lot of time is wasted while shifting the injured to either Chandigarh or Shimla. “In case of serious injuries, especially of the head the first hour, called the golden hour, is most critical and if the patient is given medical aid during this time the chances of his survival automatically increase,” say senior doctors. According to police figures close to 2,000 persons die in road accidents every year.
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Construction activity poses threat
Chandigarh, January 5 Excavation work is in progress at different sites on both sides of the track, towards the hill top and the valley. Raising the alarm on the issue, the Indian Steam Railway Society (ISRS) has sought a ban on construction activity which could result in sliding of the embankments holding the over 102-year-old KSR section. The ISRS has been in the forefront in preserving the steam heritage of the Railways in the country. As a result of the multi-storied structures, it has become difficult to find the access to the railway stations along the section, said Mr P.J. Singh, an Executive Member of the ISRS, who carried out a survey along the track. Excavation was being done right below the picturesque Barog Station. Due to the construction activity, the historic tunnels could be blocked in case of a landslide, he said Mr Rajesh Agrawal, Executive Director of the Heritage Directorate in the Railway Ministry, said it was a serious matter and a prompt action should be taken. He said as per the rules, no construction activity could be allowed up to a distance of 5 metres towards the valley and 3 metres towards the hill top. Mr Singh, who walked along the track from Koti Railway Station to Barog, has reported to the Railways that the tree line along the track was disappearing. A concrete structure had come right on the top of the tunnel No 10 at Kumarhatti Railway Station. Apart from threatening the structure of the tunnel, the sewerage disposal from the structure atop the hill was creating nauseating smell. Pictures of the construction activity, taken by the society, were being sent to the Railways. The KSR section and tunnels which are of historic importance to the country would cease to exist in case of a landslide along the track due to the construction activity, said a member of the ISRS. The Railways and the Himachal Government have been urged to check the activity so that the world heritage structures could be preserved. In 2003, the Railways and the Himachal Government had celebrated the 100 years of the KSR section and a steam heritage run was revived on the section by the then Railway Minister. “What would be the use of getting the UNESCO status if the track ceases to exist”, said members of the ISRS. While seeking the World Heritage Site Status, the Railways had stated the universal value of the KSR section. The KSR section was opened in 1903 and it applied bold and ingenious engineering solutions to the problem of establishing an effective rail link across a mountainous terrain of great beauty and was still fully operational.
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2 die as truck falls into gorge
Mandi, January 5 The truck was on its way to Barmana from Mandi when it fell into a gorge yesterday, killing one person on the spot while the other died at a hospital at Sundernagar. The injured, identified as Mohinder, has been admitted at Mandi Zonal Hospital, while the dead have been identified as Kirti All and Sita Ram. Sundernagar SDM Pankaj Roy has announced a relief of Rs 10,000 each to the next of kin of the dead and Rs 5,000 to the seriously injured. — UNI |
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2 workers held for beating up colleague Barotiwala, January 5 A verbal duel took place between supervisor Baldev and his juniors, Pradeep and Pritam, at High Crown Electronics Limited when they came out of the unit after their shift was over. The duo started to beat up Baldev when he asked them not to quarrel over small matters. Pradeep and Pritam fled from the spot when other workers of unit intervened, but the police arrested both of them. A case under Sections 341, 323, 506 and 34 of the IPC has been registered. Baddi roads more prone to mishap Baddi, January 5 In 2005, 33 persons were killed and 45 injured in around 40 accidents. Due to lack of parking places, trucks have been parked in an unplanned manner on roads, thus leaving a little space for smooth passing of traffic. Most of the time it also caused accidents. |
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