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Kinnaur, Spiti valley in grip of intense cold
Fresh order bans roadside constructions
Blast accused stayed at Paonta Sahib
Police team to visit Bihar to look for paper leak accused
Solan beauty catches Satish Kaushik’s eye
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Women staff accuse management of harassment
CM, Mankotia to mend fences
St John’s wins trophy in declamation contest
Tibetan Democracy Day celebrated
2 killed in road mishap
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Kinnaur, Spiti valley in grip of intense cold
Reckong Peo/Chamba, September 2 The Spiti valley and the entire Pooh subdivision of Kinnaur remained cut-off today as the Hindustan-Tibet Road was once again blocked beyond Reckong Peo following the reports of fresh landslips from the landslide-prone area of Pangi village. Boulders coming down from the landslide area have damaged a stretch of the road completely blocking traffic on both the sides. There were also reports of landslides on the Hindustan-Tibet Road at Malling Nullah on the Kinnaur and Spiti border where the vehicular traffic has also been halted for the time being. The engineers and labour force of the General Reserve Engineering Force (GREF) were making efforts to open the road link as soon as possible. Many tourists were reportedly stranded on the other side of the upper Kinnaur and Spiti valley. The state transport has initiated a transit-shipment service at the blockade sites so that daily commuters and the tourists did not suffer inconvenience. The district administration has, for the time being, asked the PWD to stop the blasting being carried out to widen the old Hindustan-Tibet Road, which is just above the new Hindustan-Tibet Road. Meanwhile, reports reaching here revealed that the minimum temperature in most of the villages of upper Kinnaur and Spiti valley had suddenly dropped to sub-zero levels forcing the people to stay in their homes. In Reckong Peo, the district headquarters of Kinnaur, moderate rainfall has been recorded since last night. The maximum temperature here remained below 10 degrees throughout the day. The minimum temperature was likely to dip to the sub-zero level if the rain continued during the night time, said weather experts. Meanwhile, the Himalayan ranges in Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh and the adjoining massifs of Pir Panjal hills in Jammu and Kashmir have experienced the first snowfall of the season. The low-lying areas have been experiencing heavy downpour for the past about 24 hours. As a result the temperatures have dropped drastically. The water level of the Ravi has also risen. Officials in Bharmour Tribal Township informed that the early spell of snowfall had caused intense cold in the region compelling the inhabitants to take out heavy woolens. The vehicular traffic on the Chamba-Hadsar highway leading to Manimahesh has been blocked and thousands of pilgrims are stranded on way to Manimahesh. The officials, however, maintain that the work to remove debris from the highway was in progress and the vehicular traffic was expected to be resumed by this evening.
— TNS |
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Fresh order bans roadside constructions
Shimla, September 2 The Director, Town and Country Planning (TCP) Department, on August 29 has written to all the Deputy Commissioners, the Chairmen of Special Area Development Authorities (SADA), Municipal Councils and other local bodies to check such ribbon development. It is the main valleys like Kulu-Manali, Paonta, Doon, Ghumarwin and Kangra and the main highways, which have witnessed unprecedented construction activity leading to unregulated growth. “The government is investing lions’ share of its Budget on the development of highways and other roads but consumerism and urbanisation forces are playing havoc with the land resources by carrying out ribbon development along the roads,” say officials. They say that such roadside developments decline the value of land along it and as such hampers the planned growth of a place. This fact has even been pointed out even by Mr John Howell, World Bank Consultant under the State Road project. The issue pertaining to encroachment by houses close to the roads has been observed as a major bearing on the slope stability. Mr Howell has said in his note on ribbon development along the main highways. He has suggested the need to explore a belt along the roads for undertaking erosion control and stabilisation work to safeguard infrastructure from external damage and reduce the incidence of slope-related disaster affecting private properties by the use of bio-engineering. It has been witnessed that as most of the commercial and industrial pursuits are being carried out along the roadside vehicles are parked there further adding to traffic congestion. The government has already banned construction higher than 1.50 metres along the valley side on the highways and other important roads as it obstructs the scenic view and multi-storeyed structures are eyesores, which are disliked by the tourists as well. The TCP Department has in the past also issued directions that such haphazard activity along the roads will lead to haphazard growth and obstruct the further planned development of the area. All agencies concerned have been directed to exercise strict control for planned and sustainable development along the highways and other roads. The officials point out that due to poor regulatory control there is a haphazard growth of houses, shops and other structures even along the smaller village roads, which will create a problem at a later stage when these roads have to be widened.
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Blast accused stayed at Paonta Sahib
Paonta Sahib, September 2 This revelation has set the alarm bells ringing in the local police, who was not only unaware of the presence of this Jaish-e-Mohammed activist but also had little knowledge that the Mumbai Police had picked up another youth Jitender from Purruwala village on August 25. Rashid’s interrogation led the Mumbai Police to investigate his earlier antecedents. The Mumbai Police also visited the Sailakui industrial area in Uttaranchal, where he had been working in a unit named Dixon from December 2005 to July 30, 2006. He had presented himself as Jitender at this unit for procuring a job. The unit manufactures air-conditioners. Sources revealed that Rashid Sheikh had procured this job by presenting himself as Jitender, a resident of Purruwala village in Paonta Sahib. Rashid had befriended Jitender, who lived nearby. Rashid had procured his Class XII marks sheet on the pretext of getting him a job. It was his interrogation which made the Mumbai Police lay its hands on Jitender. A Mumbai Police team, in a clandestine manner, picked up Jitender from Purruwala village on August 25. The visiting police team also warned the parents of Jitender not to disclose about this case to anyone. His worried father Amar Singh, who makes his living as a farmer, however, informed the local police about the incident. Jitender has just appeared in BA I as a private candidate. The sources said Rashid had been working as a munshi with a Nahan-based advocate prior to setting up a junk dealer’s shop. The local police in a late move was now investigating his links with the residents of Purruwala village. The SP, Sirmaur, Mr D.K. Yadav, said they had stepped up vigil in the area and the police was now investigating whether Rashid had developed any other intimacy with any youth during his stay. He agreed that it was a warning signal for the police and since there was an influx of industrial labour from far and wide the area could become a safe haven for criminals. He said the police had been alerted about such incidents and the whereabouts and identity of strangers in the area was being closely monitored. However, it remains to be investigated whether Rashid had committed any other crime during his stay here although locals said he distanced himself from the locals and rarely interacted with them. With little police action, the area already had the dubious distinction of being a hotbed of illegal liquor, mining and wood smuggling. Despite these trades being operating openly the police had done little to curb them.
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Police team to visit Bihar to look for paper leak accused
Shimla, September 2 Jaijeet Singh, who had been employed by the owner of the printing press only three years ago has been absconding since the Punjab PMT question paper was leaked. During interrogation of the owner of the printing press, it has been confirmed that Jaijeet is the main person behind the leak. Jaijeet Singh is learnt to have been missing from Lucknow since the day the Punjab question paper was leaked. Even the Punjab police has sent teams to his native place to look for him. The printing press owner and his employee, who were interrogated by the police were let off by the police today. Another police team which had gone to Gopalganj, looking for Munir Alam, the main tout for Himachal, returned today. Munir Alam, who contacted local youth to act as touts, is an employee of the Labour Bureau office here. He was supposed to join duty after leave on August 16 but has not returned. Police sources said he had even withdrawn his children from the schools here and the entire family had left the town. Munir’s father and twin brother are learnt to have told the police team that he had no links with his family. |
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Solan beauty catches Satish Kaushik’s eye
Solan, September 2 Yamini,
lovingly call Nidhi by her family and friends, was so nervous about the
proceedings and newly found celebrity status that she chose to take
leave from her college—MCM DAV, Sector 36, Chandigarh—to be with her
family at Solan. She also wanted to discuss the new development with her
grandparents, parents, uncle, aunty and of course, younger brother
Bhushit. “Like for any common girl, the offer was a surprising as
well as shocking one. I was quite happy to get it from a director who
has many superhit films to his credit. But I am not the kind of person
who jumps at an offer without considering other facts of the life,”
said Yamini at her home. For her, pursuing studies is also very
important. Yamini did her schooling in DAV Public School at Solan. She
has rejected some modelling offers last year. “Last year, I got a
modeling offer in the same way when I went to see a NIFT fashion show at
Mohali. But then I preferred my studies to the glamour world,” smiles
Yamini. But this time it is different. “Yes, I am in a dilemma, but
not in haste. I will consult my family members. As my parents have been
very supportive and broad-minded, the final decision will be mine,”
said Yamini with a twinkle in her eyes. About the offer, she said, “Mr
Kaushik called me up and apprised me of the project. He also cleared
that I would have to undergo a screen test and other formalities
necessary for a newcomer”, said Yamini, who has taken part in school
plays. Yamini’s father Roshan Sharma owns stone-crusher and is in the
transport business while her mother Nisha is a housewife. Though taken
aback by the suddenness of the offer, her parents expressed their
happiness over the news, and said: “We will support her if she decides
to join the film industry.” Being a fan of John Abraham, Nicole
Kidman and Bipasha Basu, it will be more exciting if John Abraham played
her hero, added Yamini. She is most likely to say ‘yes’ to Kaushik. |
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Women staff accuse management of harassment
Baddi, September 2 The girls, who come from the Derabassi area, said the management had tried everything to harass them since the day they joined here after their transfer from the Torque unit at Issapur, near Dera Bassi. They even accused the management of beating up three of their colleagues on August 26. We were subjected to inhuman treatment by the management that wanted us out of the unit at any cost, the women rued. Yesterday, the official vehicle was not sent to fetch us from Derabassi following which they lodged a complaint with the Labour Inspector and the police station at Dera Bassi. The matter had also been reported to the local Labour Inspector. The women were transferred here from the Torque unit at Issapur, near Dera Bassi, on May 31 after the Punjab and Haryana High Court direction. They were on the list of 85 employees who were transferred from the Issapur unit to here. Though other employees joined here, the 10 girls had staged a seven-month agitation at Issapur against the move. The High Court had asked the Torque management to provide the transferred women employees with the transportation facility. Mr Chhatwal refuted all allegations of women while blaming them for creating indiscipline in the unit. He said their work standard was far below and they used to abuse their seniors. Their irresponsible behaviour had forced the management to take action against them, asserted Mr Chhatwal. They had been issued show-cause notices on August 31 and an inquiry was under way on the allegations against girls, asserted Mr Chhatwal.
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CM, Mankotia to mend fences
Shimla, September 2 Mr Mankotia is learnt to have accompanied the Chief Minister to Delhi two days ago and returned with him to the state capital today. Due to bad weather, the Chief Minister’s chopper had to return from Saharanpur after which the two leaders travelled together in the Shatabdi from Delhi to Kalka. Mr Mankotia even had lunch with the Chief Minister and his wife, Pratibha Singh, MP, at her official residence in Delhi today. Mr Mankotia, after being dropped from the Cabinet during the downsizing of the ministry, had been critical of not just his party’s government but had also embarrassed the Chief Minister on several occasions. |
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St John’s wins trophy in declamation contest
Subathu, September 2 Nineteen schools from Karnal, Patiala, Chandigarh, Dehra Dun, Solan and Shimla participated. The gold medal in the English section was bagged by Kalyani Gupta of PNNM Geeta Adarsh Vidyalya, Solan, while Savvy Aggarwal of DC Model Senior Secondary School, Panchkula, walked away with the silver medal. Tushar Khanna of St John’s High School, Chandigarh, won the bronze medal. In the Hindi section, Abhinav Gurang of Chapslee Senior Secondary School, Shimla, won the gold medal. Ajay Tripathi of Military School, Chail, was awarded the silver medal and the bronze was won by Sagrika Chehal of St Kabir Public School, Chandigarh. There was a close competition, active participation, excellent preparation and great enthusiasm amongst the participants. The topic: “The Cry of an Unborn Female Child” was most spoken upon. Col B. Pant of Military Hospital, Kasauli, was the chief guest. He gave away the prizes. |
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Tibetan Democracy Day celebrated
Dharamsala, September 2 Braving the rain, Tibetans turned up in large numbers to participate in the celebrations. The Tibetan Prime Minister, Prof Samdhong
Rinpoche, was the chief guest. “Soon after his coming into exile, the Dalai Lama embarked on a major administrative reforms by introducing a democratic system of governance, thereby leading to the establishment of a popularly-elected Assembly of Tibetan People’s Deputies on September 2, 1960,” said the statement. A cultural programme was also presented on the occasion. |
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2 killed in road mishap
Reckong Peo, September 2 A spokesman for the district administration said the new pick-up jeep (PB-11L-Temp-8676) rolled down from the road into a deep gorge between Pangi village and Reckong Peo, claiming two lives. The deceased were identified as Sanjeev (28), a son of Gian Prakash, and Raj Man (29), a son of Jai Pal Singh, both residents of Pangi village.
— TNS |
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