Jhungi (Mandi), October 12
Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today announced a grant of Rs 84 lakh for the Nachen (reserved) constituency.

Addressing a gathering here after laying the foundation stone of a primary health centre, Mr Virbhadra Singh warned the field staff that pardhans would check office registers and forward the complaints of absenteeism in schools, health centres and offices to the government.

He also announced Rs 40 lakh for the construction of a six-room science laboratory building for Government Senior Secondary School, Jhungi.

He announced a grant of Rs 20 lakh for the construction of a residential complex for doctors and paramedical staff.

The Chief Minister announced two veterinary hospitals, one each at Jai Devi and Mushogal, upgradation of two middle schools Rohanda and Brakholi to high school level.

Mandi MP Pratibha Singh donated two grants of Rs 5 lakh for a school building and Rs 3 lakh for the construction of a sarai at Jhungi.

Kangra, October 12
The Irrigation and Public Health (IPH) Department and the National Highway wing of the HPPWD are on loggerheads on certain estimates submitted by the latter. This has left the much-publicised Kangra sewerage scheme in the lurch , resulting in the stoppage of work for the past more than one month.

The foundation stone for the Rs 9.22-crore sewerage scheme was laid by Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh with much fanfare on January 17, 2004, but even after three years, the scheme is in doldrums.

During an investigation, it was found that National Highway 22 Executive Engineer had submitted an estimate of Rs 28 lakh to the IPH Department for payments, but the IPH Department described the estimate to be “exorbitant”. This led to the tussle between the two departments, and the NOC by the NH wing was not issued, as the IPH Department did not make the payments of Rs 28 lakh. Executive Engineer IPH, Mr Mukul, confirmed that the estimate submitted by the NH 22 Executive Engineer was on the higher side. He said from the Kangra bus stand to the Zamanabad road and from Tehsil Chowk to the SDM office, more than 1 km was getting affected. He said the IPH had deposited Rs 14 lakh with the NH wing but the NOC was awaited.

The Executive Engineer, National Highway, 22, Mr Nag, said the IPH officials did not contact his office in connection with the estimates issued, so the NOC was not issued. He confirmed that his department had received the first installment of Rs 14 lakh from the IPH Department.

Kangra, October 12
Pensioners today demanded that one month’s pension be given to the pensioners in Himachal Pradesh for travelling in two years on the pattern of Punjab, besides 5 per cent of basic pension be increased when the 
age of 65 years was attained by the pensioner and 10 per cent at the age of 75 years.

Raising this demand, Mr S.L. Gupta, general secretary, District Kangra Pensioners Sangh, told The Tribune after the meeting of pensioners culminated in the local Tandon Club that at this old age free travelling after every two years be given to a pensioner in the form of one month’s pension as was being done in other states. He said pensioners demanded enhancement of 5 and 10 per cent of the basic pension after attaining the age of 65 and 75 years, respectively. He said Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh had assured that this demand would be accepted but nothing was done as yet.

An ad hoc committee of the Kangra block pensioners led by Mr P.R. Agnihotri was constituted. More than 100 pensioners attended today’s meeting where it was decided that the pensioners’ state executive would meet here on October 15 to chalk out its further strategy. 

Chamba, October 12
The Centre of Indian Trade Union (CITU) organised a protest march in the main bazars of Chamba town today. Women activists also participated in the demonstration and raised anti-government and anti-Chief Minister slogans.

They were strongly protesting against the anti-labour attitude of the Hindustan Construction Company (HCC) executing the Chamera hydroelectric project (stage-III) on the Ravi in Chamba district. They alleged that the HCC was violating the provisions of the labour laws and state government officials had become silent spectators.

The CITU activists were raising slogans against the management of the HCC for using the labourers as merely “bonded labourers”, withholding the salaries of certain labourers and deployment of the new labourers, ignoring the old labourers of Himachal Pradesh.

The CITU activists in a memorandum submitted to the DC of Chamba threatened to continue their stir until the HCC management adhered to the law of the country.