H I M A C H A L   P R A D E S H

First case of domestic violence enters court
Dharamsala, February 26
Taking cognisance of a request filed by Anita Devi, a victim of domestic violence, under the recently notified Domestic Violence (Prevention) Act, 2005, the chief judicial magistrate of Dharamsala today issued a three-day notice to her brother-in-law to appear in the court and file a reply.

Debate on Governor’s address: BJP criticises govt for price rise, unemployment
Shimla, February 26
Former Chief Minister and leader of the opposition, P.K. Dhumal said today keeping in view grim job scenario in the state the government must provide for unemployment allowance in this Budget session of the assembly.

Rule on illegal structures amended
Shimla, February 26
The Himachal Government notified the state town and country and planning (1st amendment) rules to help regularise unauthorised structures under the retention policy.

BBMB to fund 50-cr dam project
Mandi, February 26
Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh said that the Bhakhra Beas Management Board (BBMB), would fund most of the cost of Rs 50 crore dam project, being constructed in the town to revive its century old bathing ghats, including its ecology and beauty, as the board had the moral responsibility for doing so.

Power sale jolts House
Shimla, February 26
The issue of sale of power to the Power Trading Corporation (PTC) at lower rates, resulting in huge losses to the government, dominated question hour in the Assembly today.

In-laws remanded in suicide case 
Kangra, February 26
Five members of the in-laws of Sapna Devi, who was allegedly forced to commit suicide in Chawari village on Saturday last, were remanded in judicial custody for 14 days by the judicial magistrate here today.

20 rooms, 3 shops gutted
Shimla, February 26
Three shops and over 20 rooms were gutting in a devastating fire that broke out in a wooden building in Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh late this afternoon, a senior state government official said.

Weather devours Rs 81-cr fruit crop
Dharamsala, February 26
Drought-like conditions in December and January followed by severe frost have wiped out almost half of the fruit crop and newly planted saplings in Kangra district.

Satellite images for Baddi master plan
Baddi, February 26
The satellite images can be used to prepare the master plan for Baddi industrial belt. The idea behind move was to get complete and thoroughly information about the area. The newly formed Baddi-Barotiwala- Nalagarh Development Authority (BBNDA) was currently entrusted with the job to prepare the master plan.

First case of domestic violence enters court
Kulwinder Sandhu
Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, February 26
Taking cognisance of a request filed by Anita Devi, a victim of domestic violence, under the recently notified Domestic Violence (Prevention) Act, 2005, the chief judicial magistrate of Dharamsala today issued a three-day notice to her brother-in-law to appear in the court and file a reply.

Perhaps, this happens to be the first case of domestic violence that has come to a court in the state.

Anita, a resident of Manjgram village of Shahpur subdivision of Kangra district, has alleged that her brother-in-law Vijay Kumar used to harass and torture her at her in-laws’ house in the absence of her husband.

The victim's husband works in Gujarat and comes here after around three months and that too for a few days only.

Last week, not only Anita but also her father-in-law was allegedly beaten up by Vijay Kumar. This forced the woman to approach Jagori, a voluntary organisation working for 
women empowerment in the district.

Rajni, coordinator of the organisation, said she had interacted with Anita a number of times and tried to resolve the matter socially at her home but it did not work out.

"Then I motivated Anita to gain strength and approach the court under the Domestic Violence (Prevention) Act to seek justice. After few interactions, she mustered courage and decided to teach a lesson to her brother-in-law," she added.

Today, Rajni, who was accompanied Anita, filed a criminal case under the Domestic Violence (Prevention) Act in the CJM's court.

Mr R.K. Thakur, chief judicial magistrate of Dharamsala, heard the request of Anita. Later, he issued a three-day notice to Vijay Kumar to personally appear in the court and file a reply in that regard. The next hearing would be on February 28.

Debate on Governor’s address: BJP criticises govt for price rise, unemployment
Tribune News Service

Shimla, February 26
Former Chief Minister and leader of the opposition, P.K. Dhumal said today keeping in view grim job scenario in the state the government must provide for unemployment allowance in this Budget session of the assembly.

Participating in the motion of thanks to the Governor’s address, Mr Dhumal said two most important issues of price rise and unemployment did not find mention in Governor V.S. Kokje’s address to the House on the opening day of the Budget session on February 22. Mr Dhumal said the Chief Minister should announce an unemployment allowance for the jobless.

“The Governor’s address approved by the Cabinet was an unsuccessful attempt to cover up failures and four-year rule of the Congress government in Himachal,” he remarked. He said the four-year Congress rule had been marked by corruption, regional discrimination in jobs and development and back-door entries in recruitment.

He said the unemployment figure had crossed 10 lakh and providing an allowance to educated jobless youth was a must. Commenting on the price rise, he said all that the UPA government had done in this respect was ‘shifting of responsibility’.

“The Centre cannot wash its hands off the price rise problem by stating that UPA chief Sonia Gandhi had written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who had shot letters to all Chief Ministers to take effective steps,” he said.

Accusing the government of regional discrimination in giving employment, he said most of the jobs in the recent selections made in the Secretariat were given to persons from Shimla district.

The allegations drew reaction from the Chief Minister who intervened, to stay that people from all over the state reside in Shimla and give local addresses, giving an impression that all selections had been made from Shimla district. Mr Dhumal also criticised the government’s policy of giving extensions to officers which surprisingly were co-terminus with the tenure of the government.

Initiating the debate on motion of thanks to the Governor’s address, Congress MLA from Banikhet Mrs Asha Kumari said the holding of the Assembly session and construction of the Vidhan Sabha complex in Dharamsala was an achievement of the Virbhadra government.

“Holding the session in Dharamsala was not just an example of good governance but in line with the Congress stand of being against caste and region-based politics, which the BJP indulges in,” she remarked. She said Mr Virbhadra Singh was credited with undertaking decentralization of offices and creating the north, south and central zone.

She said it was under the chief minister’s leadership that Himachal had been ranked amongst the best in the country in the health, education, public distribution and social sector.

Seconding the debate on the motion of thanks, Congress MLA, Mukesh Agnihotri said the BJP wanted to evade discussion on development issue. He said the BJP had always used the card of regionalism, an allegation levelled by his own ministers and party MLA’s.

Mr G.S. Bali, Tourism Minister also participated in the debate.

Rule on illegal structures amended

Shimla, February 26
The Himachal Government notified the state town and country and planning (1st amendment) rules to help regularise unauthorised structures under the retention policy.

The amended rules, which will remain in force up to March 31, 2007, shall apply to all the planning areas, special development areas and municipal areas in respect of unauthorised constructions carried out up to June 30, 2006.

Under the rules structures up to five storeys on the valley side will be regularised, irrespective of the number of storeys above the road. Earlier, buildings rising more than 1.5 m above the road level could not be regularised.

The retention policy has also been extended to colonies developed by the Himachal Urban Development Authority. — TNS

BBMB to fund 50-cr dam project
Kuldeep Chauhan
Tribune News Service

Mandi, February 26
Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh said that the Bhakhra Beas Management Board (BBMB), would fund most of the cost of Rs 50 crore dam project, being constructed in the town to revive its century old bathing ghats, including its ecology and beauty, as the board had the moral responsibility for doing so.

Talking to The Tribune here, before he opened the Rs 20 lakh Sakodi bridge, Virbhadra said that BBMB had destroyed ecology of the ancient town and its historic bathing ghats by constructing the Pandoh dam upstream on the Beas river for the 990 MW Beas-Satluj link project.

He also said that Rs 50 crore project, to restore the pristine beauty of town has been sent for approval.

When quizzed regarding the proposed cement plant being set up at Chambi-Khatravari, in the district would spell doom for the educational hub of Mandi- Sundernagar, Virbhadra blamed the former BJP Government for shifting the site to the present site.

On the "bogey of regionalism" raised by the BJP in the state, Virbhadra Singh claimed that the issue had been given a happy burial by people in the past. "The Congress would romp home in the next Assembly elections as state has made strides in development under its rule", he asserted.

Virbhadra Singh also said that the state has experienced an emotional integration under the Congress rule. “Kath ki handi bar-bar nahin charti” (You can not befool/cheat people time and again). “We have a long history of development to count on. In contrast, BJP has nothing to offer”, he claimed.

Power sale jolts House
Tribune News Service

Shimla, February 26
The issue of sale of power to the Power Trading Corporation (PTC) at lower rates, resulting in huge losses to the government, dominated question hour in the Assembly today.

The issue was raised by BJP legislator Mohinder Singh, who demanded an inquiry into the sale of power to the PTC at lower rates. He said when private companies like Adani group were willing to purchase power at higher rates why was the PTC given preference?

Power minister Vidya Stokes informed the House that the government decided to sell power to the PTC as it was considered safer compared to other companies. The name of the company was recommended by a committee, formed for the purpose.

The BJP legislator said by selling power to the PTC, the state incurred a loss of about Rs 90 crore.

In reply to another question by Harbhajan Singh Bhajji of the Congress, transport minister G.S. Bali informed the House that the inter-state bus terminus (ISBT) at Shimla would be ready by 2009.

In-laws remanded in suicide case 
Our Correspondent

Kangra, February 26
Five members of the in-laws of Sapna Devi, who was allegedly forced to commit suicide in Chawari village on Saturday last, were remanded in judicial custody for 14 days by the judicial magistrate here today.

According to the police, father-in-law Saligram, mother-in-law Piungala Devi, husband Raj Kumar, brother-in-law Bushan and sister-in- law Kuki of Sapna Devi (21) were remanded in a 14-day judicial custody.

The police said that one of the accused, brother-in-law Baldev had absconded. The police has registered a case under sections 398, 306 and 34, IPC, against him.

20 rooms, 3 shops gutted

Shimla, February 26
Three shops and over 20 rooms were gutting in a devastating fire that broke out in a wooden building in Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh late this afternoon, a senior state government official said.

“Three shops and over 20 rooms were gutted in an accidental fire that broke out from a room in the house in the Janug Ghat market, near Theog, 32 km from here, but no loss of life and property was reported in the incident,” Theog SDM Gopal Chand told UNI over the telephone from Theog.

He said the fire personnel and people from the nearby areas fought the fire for over three hours before bringing it under control.

According to preliminary reports, property estimated to be over Rs 25 lakh was gutted in the incident, he said, adding that over three families residing in the house had been rendered homeless. — UNI

Weather devours Rs 81-cr fruit crop
Kulwinder Sandhu
Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, February 26
Drought-like conditions in December and January followed by severe frost have wiped out almost half of the fruit crop and newly planted saplings in Kangra district.

As per a recent survey conducted by the Horticulture Department, the total loss due to drought and frost in the district has been estimated at Rs 56 crore and Rs 25 crore, respectively.

According to the statistics of the loss prepared by the department, a total of about 2.30 lakh saplings of mango were damaged due to drought-like conditions in December and January. The impact of frost resulted into loss of more than 18 lakh saplings of mango.

Similarly, the total loss of saplings of litchi due to drought and frost was 1.16 lakh and 38,400; papaya 37,890 and 22,590; citrus fruits 1.91 lakh and 28,908; amla 84,000 and 19,300 and saplings of other fruit crops 55,000 and 18,389, respectively.

Damage to seedlings and saplings of fruit crops in the private nurseries due to drought and frost was 1.49 lakh and 1.96 lakh, respectively. As much as 8.92 lakh seedlings and saplings in government nurseries were damaged.

Horticulture experts say frost actually starts to freeze the cells and damage the leaves and shrubs making the sapling open to bacterial diseases. It puts extra burden on the farmers in the form of anti bacterial sprays.

The flowers and fruitlets of mango and litchi were also hit due to the adverse weather conditions. Their yield is likely to come down by over 40 per cent, the experts feel.

Satellite images for Baddi master plan
Jagmeet Y. Ghuman

Baddi, February 26
The satellite images can be used to prepare the master plan for Baddi industrial belt. The idea behind move was to get complete and thoroughly information about the area. The newly formed Baddi-Barotiwala- Nalagarh Development Authority (BBNDA) was currently entrusted with the job to prepare the master plan.

The master plan was being chalked out to develop Baddi on the pattern of Noida besides regularising the already existing infrastructure and planning the show in systemic manner. The satellite images are needed in facilitating the optimum exploitation of area available for development of industry in and around Baddi.

Confirming the development, Dr Amandeep Garg, CEO of BBNDA, said the satellite images could be beneficial in understanding the areas properly. The images would give wide ranges of alternatives for future course of action, he pointed out.

Disclosing some other important functions being undertaken by BBNDA, Dr Garg said that the authority has roped in various agencies to set up the basic required infrastructure in Baddi. The Sulab International has initially agreed to set up five public toilets in Baddi at a total cost Rs 50 lakh. The toilets would be constructed on Chandigarh pattern, he remarked. The Sulab would be given rights for 10 year to use these toilets for advertisement purpose, he informed.

“The rain shelters in various locations of Baddi would be constructed on BOT basis. The process was under way to acquire land for the construction of more parking places in Baddi, said Dr Garg. The five parking places have already been earmarked in Baddi, he maintained. There was also plan to rope in the local residents in carrying out the tree plantation along roads in big way.