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Bottlenecks on Dharamsala roads
Dharamsala, June 20
With scores of tourists converging on Dharamsala and McLeodganj to escape from the scorching heat in Punjab and Haryana, bottlenecks have become the order of the day on all main roads.

IIAS speeds up selection of director
Shimla, June 20
The process of selection of the new director of the Indian Institute of Advanced Study will get underway with the meeting of the five-member search committee on June 30 at New Delhi.

Price hike artificial, alleges BJP
Nurpur, June 20
Himachal Pradesh BJP joint in charge Rajinder Rana in a statement released here today claimed that the party’s statewide protest demonstration yesterday against Congress government failure to curb the rising prices of essential commodities was a grand success as thousands of people had come out to express their anger against anti-government policies.

Dakog killings: four arrested from Moga
Chamba, June 20
In a major breakthrough, the Himachal Pradesh police has arrested four persons from Moga in Punjab during its raids conducted at various places in Gurdaspur, Jalandhar and Moga in connection with the Dakog killings in Chamba district on June 11.

Shortage of specialists to hit Rural Health Mission
Shimla, June 20
Shortage of medical specialists despite several interviews held by the Health department is threatening to affect the effectiveness of the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) as there aren’t sufficient doctors to be posted at the 35 first referral units (FRU) to be set up in the state under the programme.





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EARLIER STORIES



HP to seek Rs 200 cr as drought relief
Shimla, June 20
With an estimated loss of Rs 400 crore due to drought in the state, the Himachal Government will shortly be seeking an assistance of Rs 200 crore from the Centre.

No hike in bus fares: minister
Shimla, June 20
Transport and Tourism Minister G.S. Bali today said that despite heavy losses being incurred by the Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) due to repeated increase in the diesel price, the government did not propose to hike the bus fares.

Theatre hones actor’s skills: Bajpai
Kasuali, June 20
Having carved a niche for himself in Hindi films with his intense and powerful portrayal of varied roles ranging from playing Bhiku Mhatre in “Satya” to the subtle and resistant performance in “Zubeida” and his latest portrayal of a football coach in under-production “90 Minutes”, Manoj Bajpai is an actor known for his emotive acting.

Deans’ panel for curriculum changes
Solan, June 20
Stressing the need for bringing about need-based changes in the curriculum of B.Sc (horticulture and forestry), the chairman of the Fourth Deans Committee, Dr S.L. Mehta, yesterday said this would help develop human resources equipped with the latest technical knowhow.

4 labourers killed as truck falls into gorge
Chamba, June 20
Four labourers were killed and three wounded when a truck, loaded with gravel, veered off the road and fell into a gorge at Gattighar, 22 km from here, late last evening.

2 killed as jeep falls into khud
Shimla, June 20
Two persons were killed and four injured when the jeep they were travelling in rolled down a khud on the Fagu-Satog road, 18 km from Fagu, today.

Doc’s transfer resented
Palampur, June 20
Panchayat pradhans of the Chadhiar-Sansai area, Mahila Mandal current and past Presidents at a meeting have opposed the transfer of Dr Roshan Lal Kaundal from Chadhiar.

Bus operators threaten to move High Court
Shimla, June 20
The Himachal Pradesh Private Bus Operators Association has threatened that it will move the High Court if its demand for a revision of bus fares is not accepted in 15 days.

 


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Bottlenecks on Dharamsala roads
Vibhor Mohan
Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, June 20
With scores of tourists converging on Dharamsala and McLeodganj to escape from the scorching heat in Punjab and Haryana, bottlenecks have become the order of the day on all main roads.

Owing to lack of parking lots and effective traffic management, traffic comes to a virtual standstill on the road leading to McLeodganj and the Bhagsunag waterfall. Unchecked parking of vehicles, especially government vehicles, on both sides of the road leading to Bhagsunag has made the situation even worse.

“In the first place, tourists should be made to park their vehicles a little before McLeodganj, Bhagsunag and Naddi by making available sufficient parking space. Secondly, no attempts have been made by the district administration to regulate traffic on the roads leading to the popular tourist attractions,” said Mr Randeep Saini, a tourist from Jalandhar.

“Most of the cars and jeeps parked along the main road leading to the waterfall are government vehicles, which should ideally be setting an example for others. It seems that the district administration was not expecting this kind of a rush in McLeodganj and the adjoining areas and has made no elaborate plans to handle the crowds. Traffic policemen are deployed only on the entrance to McLeodganj and with buses coming all the way to the main chowk, even they have a hard time managing the traffic,” said Mr Amarjeet Singh, an LIC agent from Ludhiana.

Meanwhile, occupancy in most private and Himachal Tourism Development Corporation hotels in Dharamsala and McLeodganj is full and most restaurants in the area are open till late in the night due to the heavy rush of tourists.

Mr Vijay Inder Singh, owner of Pong View Hotel on the McLeodganj road, said all rooms in his hotel had been booked for the next two weeks and the number of tourists pouring in on Dharamsala was likely to increase after the weather turning pleasant with a brief shower yesterday. “The availability of rooms in the economy class is unlikely in any quality hotel and most tourists are now checking in at the hotels located slightly away from the main roads,” he said.

With teachings of the Dalai Lama coming up from June 24, McLeodganj is likely to become even more happening. More than 300 followers of Buddhism from Taiwan are likely to turn up for the special session of teachings being held on a request by a Taiwan-based Buddhist Centre. 

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IIAS speeds up selection of director
Rakesh Lohumi
Tribune News Service

Shimla, June 20
The process of selection of the new director of the Indian Institute of Advanced Study will get underway with the meeting of the five-member search committee on June 30 at New Delhi.

Facing criticism from various quarters for the inordinate delay in the appointment of the new director , the Union Ministry for Human Resource Development has expedited the process for the selection of the next incumbent. The three-member search committee set up earlier has been reconstituted in accordance with the new policy and procedure for appointments in autonomous institutions laid down by the Government of India.

As per the policy, all the appointments in institutions wholly or substantially funded by it would come under the purview of Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), including those posts which combined the functions of the Chief Executive and Chairman.

The three-member panel consisted of Dr U.R. Ananthamurthy, former chairman of the Sahitya Academy; Dr John Massey, Director of Dalit Studies; and Dr S.K.Thorat, Chairman of the University Grants Commission in February. Two more members, including a representative of the department of personnel and training, have been inducted in the committee as required under the new procedure for selection. The necessary amendments in the article of association and the recruitment and promotion rules of the institute will be effected later to ensure that the post is filled at the earliest.

The search committee will finalise a panel, which will be forwarded to the government, by the chairman of the governing body with his recommendations. The panel will have to be implemented by the ministry in toto. Any deviation will require the prior approval of the ACC.

Dr Bhalchandra Mungekar, chairman of the governing body, when contacted, refused to give any time frame but asserted that the appointment of the new director would be made at the earliest. He said the institute was in the process of finalising the academic activities to be undertaken during the year.

Meanwhile, the institute has started the process for the selection of new fellows. About 240 applications have been received. The number of fellows could go up to 56 from the present 32, as accommodation for 24 more fellows has been created.

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Price hike artificial, alleges BJP
Our Correspondent

Nurpur, June 20
Himachal Pradesh BJP joint in charge Rajinder Rana in a statement released here today claimed that the party’s statewide protest demonstration yesterday against Congress government failure to curb the rising prices of essential commodities was a grand success as thousands of people had come out to express their anger against anti-government policies.

He said both the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister were noted international economists but the prices had shot up between 100 and 200 per cent. During the NDA government at the Centre and Prem Kumar Dhumal rule in the state, the prices were under control.

He claimed that the current price hike was manmade. “The grains and cereals are procured at low rates but sold at soaring prices to earn huge profits by creating artificial shortage,” he alleged. He said there was no increase in the procurement price of sugarcane, but the prices of sugar had been doubled.

Lashing out at the Virbhadra Singh government, Mr Rana said educational institutions, universities and the Board of School Education had become dens of scams. Demanding revocation of the PMT conducted by HP University in the wake of statewide protests by parents of the candidates who had appeared in it, he demanded a high-level probe into the allegations levelled in the declaration of the PMT results.

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Dakog killings: four arrested from Moga
Our Correspondent

Chamba, June 20
In a major breakthrough, the Himachal Pradesh police has arrested four persons from Moga in Punjab during its raids conducted at various places in Gurdaspur, Jalandhar and Moga in connection with the Dakog killings in Chamba district on June 11.

Revealing this in a press release here this evening, Mr P.L. Thakur, Deputy Inspector-General (DIG) of Police, Northern Range, Dharamsala, said on the basis of investigation in the light of information given by the lone eyewitness, the police had nabbed four culprits at Moga. They had been identified as Gurcharan, alias Shammi, Balvinder, alias Modi, Harjinder Singh, alias Gija, and Charanjit, all residents of Pathankot.

Mr Thakur said Gurnam Singh of Pathankot had been taken in custody who might provide more clues about the other persons wanted in the triple murder case.

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Shortage of specialists to hit Rural Health Mission
Tribune News Service

Shimla, June 20
Shortage of medical specialists despite several interviews held by the Health department is threatening to affect the effectiveness of the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) as there aren’t sufficient doctors to be posted at the 35 first referral units (FRU) to be set up in the state under the programme.

As per the guidelines of the Union ministry of Health and Family Welfare, every of the 35 FRU to be set up in the state should have six specialists from the Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Paediatrics, Surgery, Medicine, Orthopaedics and Anaesthesia department. Joint Secretary in the Union Health and Family Welfare ministry, Vineet Chaudhary, held a meeting with senior officials here today to discuss the progress of the NRHM.

Due to acute paucity of specialists in the state, the state health department might barely be able to appoint only three specialists in gynaecoloy, paediatric and anaesthesia at each of these 35 FRU. So far the government has identified 24 FRU’s while the remaining 11 have to be identified.

Desperate to get specialists especially in these six faculties, the Health department has been holding walk-in-interviews from time to time. Despite wanting more than 100 specialists, the Health department was able to recruit only three specialists, as the response was poor. In the absence of specialists at the FRU’s, the effectiveness of the NRHM would be lost.

“We have decided to hold walk-in-interviews every month so that we are able to meet the requirement of specialists for the NRHM as there is great shortage,” said Dr M.L. Mahajan, Director, Health and Family Welfare department. Admitting that there was acute shortage of specialists he said that the 36 pass outs from the medical college had already been posted in the Zonal Hospitals and the FRU’s.

It is not for the first time that the Health department is faced with shortage of specialists as even the Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC), Tanda Medical College and various Zonal and district hospitals are facing this problem.

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HP to seek Rs 200 cr as drought relief
Tribune News Service

Shimla, June 20
With an estimated loss of Rs 400 crore due to drought in the state, the Himachal Government will shortly be seeking an assistance of Rs 200 crore from the Centre.

It is learnt that the state government, after receiving the report from all the 12 Deputy Commissioners, has estimated the loss to crops and fruits at about Rs 400 crore. Within the next couple of days the government will send a proposal to the Centre, seeking an immediate relief of Rs 200 crore.

As per the government report, the districts of Kangra and Una are the worst-affected. “The work for assessing the extent of damage has been completed and we will shortly be seeking Central assistance so as to provide immediate relief to the farmers and fruit growers,” confirmed Revenue Minister Sat Mahajan.

There has been widespread damage to the apple crop in Shimla, Kullu and Solan districts. In certain apple-growing belts, mainly in Kullu and Shimla, there is almost 50 per cent damage to the crop. This was mainly due to a continuous dry spell at the initial stages followed by untimely rains.

In case of agricultural crops, there has been a great loss due to drought and untimely rains, which have added to the misery of the farmers.

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No hike in bus fares: minister
Tribune News Service

Shimla, June 20
Transport and Tourism Minister G.S. Bali today said that despite heavy losses being incurred by the Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) due to repeated increase in the diesel price, the government did not propose to hike the bus fares.

Talking to newspersons here, he said a proposal sent by the HRTC for making a hike in the bus fares would soon be placed before the Cabinet. “The government is in no mood to increase the bus fares and we will try to meet the losses on account of an increase in the diesel price by reducing our own expenditure,” Mr Bali said.

He said an increase of Re 1 in the price of one litre of diesel resulted in a total loss of Rs 4.50 crore to the HRTC annually.

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Theatre hones actor’s skills: Bajpai
Ambika Sharma

Kasuali, June 20
Having carved a niche for himself in Hindi films with his intense and powerful portrayal of varied roles ranging from playing Bhiku Mhatre in “Satya” to the subtle and resistant performance in “Zubeida” and his latest portrayal of a football coach in under-production “90 Minutes”, Manoj Bajpai is an actor known for his emotive acting.

In town for the shooting of this football-based film, Manoj shares a few moments with The Tribune at the picturesque Kasauli Resorts recently. “Acting was a childhood passion and it was this love for performing which took me to Delhi in 1982 from my home state Bihar. After spending 11 years doing theatre, it was a chance opportunity provided by Shekhar Kapur’s ‘Bandit Queen’ which took me to Mumbai,” he confides. His role as a character artiste Man Singh, however, remained unnoticed.

Theatre is an ideal ground for learning. It enables one to hone varied skills while performing live before audiences. “Theatre artistes have an advantage over raw actors as they know the job. It disciplines an artiste. Hailing from an agrarian background disciplined me further. My father is a farmer and mother a housewife and I hail from a small village, Bilwa, in Bihar,” he observes.

It was the role of Bhiku Mhatre in “Satya” which brought him the much-needed applause. “It was the first time that an underworld don’s realistic character was portrayed on screen. This fetched it instant publicity,” he quips.

Effusing energy and talent, Manoj says, “I act for myself. If the audience likes my films it is an appreciation, but even if they don’t, I don’t regret but move on.”

Acting in masala films like “Bewafa”, “Fareb” and “LOC” was an experience to take a break from the more intense films like “Aks”, “Shool”, “Zubeida”, “Satya”, “Bandit Queen”, etc. “These films tire an actor emotionally. Performance in “Aks” was one of the most difficult roles. Masala films on the other hand give one an opportunity to take a break from the more meaningful films. I don’t have to get into the character for such non-theoretical performances, but rely solely on my improvisational skills. It further provides variety and a chance to break away from being typecast,” he asserts.

A great fan of Naseeruddin Shah and Amitabh Bachchan, he feels they are the best actors in the film industry today. It is the intensity of Naseeruddin which inspires and encourages him to take on some of the challenging roles. He regrets not to have got an opportunity to act in “Devdas” and says, “It was a dream role which I would have loved to perform, but it was never offered to me.”

About his forthcoming projects he says, “ Film ‘90 Minutes’ which is being shot at Lawrence School, Sanawar, will be released by October. This is directed by Iqbal Rizvi who is a former student of the school.

The film is based on the motto of the school ‘Never Give In’ and is a tribute to it by the director. Apart from this, another film ‘Ek-Minute’ with a debutant director Mehboob, a famous lyricist, is in the pipeline. Yet, another film, with ‘Shool’-fame Shrinivas, tentatively to be named ‘Nilami’ are some of the future films,” he adds. Determined to stay on in the industry he said all he could think of now was to act and carry on with it.

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Deans’ panel for curriculum changes
Our Correspondent

Solan, June 20
Stressing the need for bringing about need-based changes in the curriculum of B.Sc (horticulture and forestry), the chairman of the Fourth Deans Committee, Dr S.L. Mehta, yesterday said this would help develop human resources equipped with the latest technical knowhow.

Presiding over a national-level meeting of the Fourth Deans Committee being held at Dr Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni,he said such recommendations would be made to the Indian Council of Agriculture and Research.

With funds worth Rs 7.5 crore being earmarked for the development of forestry and horticulture under the Tenth and Eleventh Five-Year Plans, there was immense scope in these fields. The changing scenario had necessitated the need to inculcate various subjects like import, information technology, post- harvest technology, marketing management, etc.

The committee would further recommend grant of adequate funds to the farm universities to equip themselves with the requisite facilities, training of teachers and upgradation of libraries.

The Vice-Chancellor of Dr Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Dr Jagmohan Chauhan, while speaking on the occasion said the need of the hour was to prepare human resource to suit the need of the industry. 

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4 labourers killed as truck falls into gorge
Our Correspondent

Chamba, June 20
Four labourers were killed and three wounded when a truck, loaded with gravel, veered off the road and fell into a gorge at Gattighar, 22 km from here, late last evening.

According to a report received here today, four labourers, Joginder, vehicle driver Harbans Lal, Dogru and Bittu, succumbed to their injuries at the hospital, while the three injured were identified as Himiya Ram, Daya Ram and 
Mahajan.

The bodies of the deceased were handed over to their kin after a post-mortem examination at the Zonal Hospital, Chamba. All the labourers belonged to the adjoining areas of 
Gattighar.

A case in this connection has been registered.

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2 killed as jeep falls into khud
Tribune News Service

Shimla, June 20
Two persons were killed and four injured when the jeep they were travelling in rolled down a khud on the Fagu-Satog road, 18 km from Fagu, today.

According to the police, the accident took place at about 8 a.m. when the Mahindra pick-up jeep rolled down. The deceased have been identified as Balak Ram (50) of Bakhelti and Jia Lal (37) of Devban.

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Doc’s transfer resented
Our Correspondent

Palampur, June 20
Panchayat pradhans of the Chadhiar-Sansai area, Mahila Mandal current and past Presidents at a meeting have opposed the transfer of Dr Roshan Lal Kaundal from Chadhiar.

It was decided to meet Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh tomorrow to seek the cancellation of the transfer orders. The Chief Minister had earlier promised a delegation from the area to cancel the transfer.

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Bus operators threaten to move High Court

Shimla, June 20
The Himachal Pradesh Private Bus Operators Association has threatened that it will move the High Court if its demand for a revision of bus fares is not accepted in 15 days.

The association said either the government should reduce taxes to provide relief to operators in view of the steep hike in the price of diesel or fix the minimum fare at Rs 4 on the pattern of Punjab.

The other demands include abolition of token tax levied on stage carriage, reduction in special road tax and waiving of VAT on diesel and spare parts. — TNS

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