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Pong Dam oustees’ serais closed
Polling for Tibetan Parliament held
Govt committed to welfare of freedom fighters:
CM
Auction-cum-tender system to continue
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Pakistanis of Chamba origin to be special guests
Ex-servicemen protest against govt apathy
Teacher booked for funds scam
Revenue tribunal likely to remove encroachments
Timber sales centre sought at Banikhet
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Pong Dam oustees’ serais closed in Rajasthan
Nurpur, March 18 The then government in 2002 had constructed three serais for the benefit of Pong Dam oustees at Anupgarh, Gharsana and Ramgarh, but these serais have been closed for the past few months, causing hardship to the oustees visiting there to manage and cultivate their “murabbas” as these serais were found locked. The water and electricity supplies in the serais has already been disconnected. According to Mr Satish Kumar, a former delegate of the Pong Dam Oustees Advisory Committee, who recently visited Rajasthan along with other oustees, found all serais closed. Instead a school was running in the corridor of the serai at Anupgarh. He said even one serai constructed at Raja Ka Talab in Nurpur subdivision had also been closed. It is pertinent to mention that 75,268 hectares were acquired, displacing 30,000 families of 339 villages in 1973 in the wake of construction of Pong Dam. Rehabilitation of a large number of displaced families was still going on. Meanwhile, the state government had raised a Pong Dam oustees welfare fund. There is a demand to maintain these closed serais by utilising this fund. The Deputy Commissioner, Relief and Rehabilitation at Raja Ka Talab, Mr A.K. Shukla, when contacted, pointed out that the government had handed over the management of the serais in Rajasthan to the oustees’ committee last year, which was responsible of its maintenance and proper utility. |
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Polling for Tibetan Parliament held
Dharamsala, March 18 Thanks to a campaign launched by different organisations before the preliminary round in September last year, a very young House is likely to be elected this time. Mr Tashi N. Phuntsok, Chief Election Commissioner, told The Tribune that over 70 per cent polling was recorded in Dharamsala. “With the elections being held close to the Tibetan new year, most Tibetans in different settlements were at home and could cast their votes,” he said. Of the total 89 candidates nominated by the people in the first round, 43 would be elected to the assembly. The 89 seats were divided into 21 each for the three Tibetan provinces, four each for the five religious schools, four for the Tibetans settled in Europe and two for North America. Mr Phuntsok agreed that a large number of youngsters were likely to be elected to the ATPD, going by the results of the preliminary round. The final round of the elections for the Prime Minister would be held in June. Mr Tenzin Tsundue, whose Friends of Tibet had extensively taken part in spreading the message of electing young faces to the assembly, said the campaign was showing results and for the first time a relatively young House could be elected, which would infuse a new life into the Tibetan Government-in-Exile. One of the young nominees for the ATPD said that at least 40 per cent, if not the majority, of the total deputies elected this time would surely be youth. A large turnout of voters was seen in the polling centre set up at the Tibetan library in McLeodganj. The Tibetan community had been very enthusiastic about the elections and the turnout was better than the last elections, said Mr Phuntsok.
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Govt committed to welfare of freedom fighters:
CM
Shimla, March 18 The Chief Minister, who presided over he 13th meeting of the state Freedom Fighters Welfare Board, here today said that the government was committed to look after the welfare of the freedom fighters, who had made sacrificed their own comforts and spent time in the prison to attain freedom for the country. He said the government had decided to increase the honorarium of freedom fighters from Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,000 from November, 2005, which will benefit 1149 freedom fighters. He added that a decision had been taken to enhance the marriage grant to their daughters and grand daughters to Rs 10,000. Mr Virbhadra Singh said that it had also been decided to increase the grant to Rs 5,000 for performing the last rites of freedom fighters besides extending full state honour to them. “We have already taken a decision that the unmarried daughters of the freedom fighter would be entitled to the honorarium in case of death of both the spouses. He said that two per cent seats had already been reserved in the MBBS and BDS course for the wards of freedom fighters. “I have directed the concerned department to clear the medical bills of freedom fighters within a month, for which adequate funds had been provided,” he said. He announced that a new rest house would be constructed at Shimla for freedom fighters. “Besides this a state level memorial would be raised as a mark of respect to those martyrs who had laid down their lives and the bust of Vir Chakra winner Capt Hari Singh would be installed at Chopal,” he said. |
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Auction-cum-tender system to continue
Shimla, March 18 Mr Narinder Chauhan, Excise and Taxation Commissioner, said here yesterday that under the excise policy for 2006-07, the government had granted relief in excise duty on India-made foreign spirits (IMFS) by having one uniform rate of Rs 23 per proof litre for all brands of the IMFS. He said the excise duty on country liquor had been reduced from Rs 9 per proof litre (PPL) to Rs 7 PPL. The benefit of the excise duty reduction would also be available to Canteen Store Department (CSD), he added. However, it had been decided to retain the levy of Rs 2 per bottle as additional licence fee and 20 per cent VAT on liquor sale. He said, in addition, the quota of country liquor at 125 lakh proof litres had been retained and an additional quota of 20 per cent sanctioned for 2006-07 without any extra levy of excise duty. However, for an additional quota beyond 20 per cent, an additional licence fee of Rs 3 PPL would be levied. It would be mandatory for the bidders to lift a minimum 80 per cent quota of country liquor. He said the retail price of beer had been fixed at Rs 50 and Rs 60 for mild and strong beer. The departmental stores had been authorised to lift beer direct from L-IB and L-IC after payment of an assessment fee of Rs 15 per bottle. They could also sell wine and cider. Further with the new of financial year if any amount for the previous year remained unpaid no interest would be charged. The relief given by lowering the existing levels of excise duty would sustain the existing levels of consumption and lifting, thereby generating receipts from various excise heads. It was expected that the new excise policy would contribute in excess of Rs 335 crore to the state exchequer.
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Pakistanis of Chamba origin to be special guests
Shimla, March 18 This was stated by the Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh, here today while reviewing the arrangements being made by the government for the millennium celebrations. The Union Tourism Minister, Mrs Ambika Soni, will inaugurate the celebrations. The Chief Minister said a high-level delegation from Pakistan, comprising people of Chamba origin, would attend the celebrations of Chamba town, which will be completing 1,000 years of its existence. He said the town had been witness to a large number of historical events during this period. Mr Virbhadra Singh said the grand historical celebration would be marked by classical, folk, musical and dance performances by internationally renowned artistes like Swapan Sundri, renowned theatre director Habib Tanwar and eminent santoor player, Pt Shiv Kumar Sharma. He said a millennium gate would be dedicated to the people of the state. It was being constructed in the local style of architecture. “It will be an opportunity for the present generation to get a peep into the glories of the historic town,” he said. The Chief Minister directed the authorities to contact every person in possession of any valuable artifacts relating to the history of the town. He also emphasised the need for giving it wide publicity at the international level so that there could be maximum participation from abroad.
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Ex-servicemen protest against govt apathy
Palampur, March 18 They also held a rally in which various speakers criticised the Union government for its failure to meet their demands. They said it was unfortunate that despite making supreme sacrifices for their nation, there was none to watch their welfare today. A memorandum was also submitted to the local SDM Abhishek Jain requesting him to forward their demands to the state and Union government. Later briefing newsmen, Mr C.D. Singh Guleria, president of the ex-servicemen league said they were being deprived of their pensionary benefits and were not getting their due. He said most of the ex-servicemen were sent on pension at a young age and thereafter, there was no one in the government to listen to their grievances. He said despite repeated demands, the government had failed to implement their one rank- one pension demand. He said even the state government had failed to provide jobs to the ex-servicemen, though it had promised it to them time and again.
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Teacher booked for funds scam
Shimla, March 18 The FIR was lodged by the State Project Director of the Sarv Shiksha Abhiyaan (SSA) in the Sadar police station here yesterday. Dr Guleria has been repatriated to his parent department of Education, while strict departmental action has been recommended against him. The government has ordered an inquiry into the matter as it is suspected the money embezzled is quite huge. It was found that Dr Guleria had been forging the signatures of some teachers and withdrawing money in their name for being resource persons in workshops organised by the SSA. Sixteen persons have already given it in writing to the government that Dr Guleria forged their signature. Irregularity of over two lakh rupees has been detected, but it was being suspected that this amount would be much more. He is learnt to have allegedly taken government money in the name of honorarium and travelling allowance that is given to persons attending the workshop. Dr Guleria took double payment against bills by submitting the same bills at two places. |
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Revenue tribunal likely to remove encroachments
Shimla, March 18 This was stated by the Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh, while presiding over the review meeting of the District Planning Development and 20-Point Committee, here. “The government has launched a special campaign to remove encroachments from government land and effective steps are under way to get them vacated,” he said. He clarified that no encroachment on forest land would be regularised while other cases of encroachment would be considered sympathetically. “Repeated requests are being made to the encroachers to voluntarily surrender the encroached land to the competent authority and save themselves from legal action,” he remarked. He further said that the government had decided to give two ‘biswas’ of land to houseless and landless families in rural and urban areas. He added that the required land would be acquired for this purpose where government land was not available. |
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Timber sales centre sought at Banikhet
Dalhousie, March 18 The residents have also requested the Himachal Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh, to expedite according approval to the opening the centre as early as possible. This centre would not only generate revenue to the state exchequer but also provide employment to the local youths. The concerned officials had recently submitted a report to the state government regarding the viability of opening the timber sales centre. The land for this purpose is already available at Banikhet, the officials confirm. The timber is extracted in large quantity from the trees in the high altitude wooded forests where the trees are uprooted as a result of heavy snowfall, cloudbursts and flash floods on the hillsides in Chamba district which is comparatively larger in quantity than other parts of Himachal Pradesh, the official sources reveal. — OC
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Lawyers want court shifted to Bilaspur
Shimla, March 18 Later, the representatives of the Bar Association met the Chief Justice, Mr V.K. Gupta of the High Court who assured them that he would find a way out that the court, functioned for 15 days each Ghumarwin and Bilaspur every month. |
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Student caught impersonating
Solan, March 18 The case came to light when the centre superintendent, Mr Satish Kumar, during a checking of the identity cards of all examinees discovered that the identity card did not match with the person appearing for the examination. The identity card which bore roll number 80296 carried the photograph of Rajesh Kumar. The matter was referred to the police and a case for personating and conspiracy was registered against Sunil Kumar. |
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One dead in collision
Solan, March 18 Ajay was killed on the spot. His companion on the pillion escaped with injuries. The police has booked the driver of the HRTC bus under Sections 279, 337 and 304-A for rash and negligent driving. Although the Chief Inspector, HRTC, Mr Gurbachan Singh, wo visited the spot, said the bus had not hit the bike. The Regional Manager, HRTC, Mr Pankaj Singhal, said the bus had been impounded by the police. The deceased, who earlier worked in Hotel Shivalik, had gone to meet his friends when he met with the accident.
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Fire-affected families provided relief
Chamba, March 18 The local administration has provided Rs 5000 as immediate relief to the fire-affected family. Meanwhile, the administration has also provided relief of Rs 1.50 lakh to the fire victims of Bhanjaradu and Jassaurgarh in Churah subdivision of Chamba district, where in two separate incidents, 23 families had been rendered homeless and seven cattle heads perished last week. |
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Rajnath to address BJP meeting
Mandi, March 18 He would also launch the Ekta Rath Yatra in the north on April 6, while the leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Mr LK Advani, would lead the yatra in Gujarat on the same day, he added. Talking to the Press here, Mr Bhardwaj said BJP pradhans, mandal workers, state and district executive office-bearers would participate in the conference.
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Viplove lone Rajya Sabha candidate
Shimla, March 18 The nomination papers of Mr Kashmir Singh from Mandi were rejected as the no MLA had proposed his name. While filing of nomination papers for the Rajya Sabha, the name of a candidate has to be proposed by at least 10 legislators. Mrs Thakur will be declared elected on March, 20 after the deadline for withdrawal of nomination papers expires. She will be the sixth woman to be member of the Rajya Sabha from the state. |
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