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Fisheries await compensation from power producers
Doctors to intensify stir
New regional hospital
Student’s plea against MC
BDC members rise in revolt against BDO
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No hope for Illegal sawmills
New tehsil: Lawyers boycott courts
Regulate traffic, plead senior citizens
More hamlets to get drinking water
White paper on TGTs sought
More areas deserve to be sanctuaries
Plea for troop withdrawal condemned
Sturdy Pahari cattle breed
faces extinction
Sale of girl: Accused remanded
4 of family killed in accident
‘Run-for-Fun’ today
Boy dies of rabies
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Fisheries await compensation from power producers
Shimla, March 26 The NTPC, executing the 800-MW Kol dam project is yet to make the payment of Rs 2.25 crore to the fisheries department. Similarly, the NHPC, executing the Parbati project, is yet to pay over Rs 1 crore to the fisheries department. Perturbed over the non-payment of the development fund by various power projects, the state-level committee constituted to issue the NoCs to the projects has asked the HPSEB, which approves mega projects, and Himurja, which grants micro and mini projects, to ask various executing agencies to deposit the payments. Adopting a stern view on the issue, the fisheries department has even conveyed to these agencies that they will have to pay extra on account of the delayed payment. "Since the fisheries department is only the mediator and the money is given to the PWD or HIMUDA, which prepares projects for the development of fisheries, the power producers will be made to pay for the cost escalation of the work due to delay on their part," said a senior official. The department is awaiting a payment of Rs 70 lakh from the agency executing the Budhil power project, which is to come up in Chamba. The Rs 1-crore development fund from the Rampur power project has also not been deposited. "In fact, in the case of the Kol dam, the authorities after committing in writing to make the payment before March 10 have still not done so," informed a senior official. The authorities had requested that they be allowed to pay in instalments which the fisheries department declined. The Rs 1-crore fund to be deposited in the case of Parbati-II would be spent by the department for rebuilding the damaged trout farm at Nagni, near Banjar. Sources in the department said despite the government making it mandatory for the power producers to obtain NoCs from the fisheries department after paying the development fund meant for promoting fisheries, it was not being adhered to strictly. The money paid by the power producers is spent on improving infrastructure at fish farms like remodelling, strengthening fish seed production and building new hatcheries.
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Doctors to intensify stir
Shimla, March 26 A meeting of the Resident Doctor’ Association (RDA) was held at the IGMC where a decision was taken to intensify the stir following the failure of talks with the Secretary, Health, to resolve the issue. RDA president Rajesh Sood said keeping in view the convenience of the public, resident doctors would be available for emergency services. If the government ddid not accept their demand they would be forced to intensify the agitation. The RDA said the 20 per cent enhancement announced in the stipend was not acceptable. "We simply want the government to follow the Punjab pattern and give us a stipend at par with them and give it along with DA so that the issue is resolved once and for all," he said. The enhanced stipend would have a financial implication of merely Rs 5 lakh per month for the government. He demanded that the government must grant four advance increments to all specialist doctors instead of a PG allowance. The RDA demanded the age of voluntary retirement should be 20 years and not 30.
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Shimla, March 26 According to spokeman of the State Health and Family Welfare Department, the proposed new regional hospital would be an ultra modern hospital equipped with all the latest medical machines including ultrasound facility. He said that Rs 25 lakh had been provided in the budget estimates for the year 2007-08. An official committee had been set up under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner Shimla, which would select a suitable site for the hospital. The spokeman said that the complex of the hospital would also have residences for the doctors and the para-medical staff. — PTI
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Student’s plea against MC
Shimla, March 26 The state chief of the Akhil Bhartiya Anusuchit Jati and Anusuchit Janjati, Tarsem Bharti today said that about 25 more persons who had come in the grip of jaundice, would file complaint before the Consumer Forum to seek compensation and supply of quality water in future. Abhayvrat in his complaint has said that it is after consuming the contaminated water supplied by the MC that he got jaundice. He has demanded a compensation of Rs one lakh as he could not appear for his exams and had to remain admitted to the Indira Gandhi medical College for some days. Bharti said, “since the residents of the town are consumers, it is the duty of the MC and IPH to supply pure and odourless water in adequate quantity because people pay for it.” |
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BDC members rise in revolt against BDO
Dharamsala, March 26 Out of total BDC 35 members, 32 protested against the alleged undemocratic attitude of the BDO on the premises of the local secretariat here today. They handed over a memorandum to additional deputy commissioner of Kangra Nandita Gupta to take appropriate action against the said officer and restore the democratic system of working in the panchayati raj institution. After handing over the memorandum to the ADC, chairman of the BDC Narendra Mongra said a sum of Rs 7.32 lakh was pending to be released by the BDC for various development projects, but the said officer released a major portion of the amount without the knowledge and approval of the BDC. Referring to rule No. 16 of the Himachal Pradesh Panchayati Raj (Finance, Budget, Accounts, Audit, Taxation and Allowances) Rules-2002, he said the powers to withdraw the amount were clearly vested with the BDC. The said rule envisaged that withdrawal from the fund of the Panchayat Samiti (Block Development Committee) or Zila Parishad, as the case may be, could be made only by means of cheques signed jointly by the secretary and the chairman of the Panchayat Samiti or the Zila Parishad, as the case may be, he claimed. Veena Sharma, a member of the BDC, said the officer was against the very principles of democracy. He was adopting an autocratic style of functioning, she added. She provided a zerox copy of the official noting of the BDO on a letter written by the BDC chairman to him with regard to the construction of a laboratory at the Kangra veterinary hospital in which the BDO has gone to the extent of commenting, “it is departmental work and not of the panchayat samiti. The chairman is no body to call explanation from the BDO. Please explain under which rule you have called the explanation of the BDO...The chairman is not the boss of the BDO. In future, such type of correspondence may not be made with the undersigned”. The BDC members present in the protest also demanded that the government should immediately remove the BDO concerned from his post and initiate a departmental action against him so as to restore the powers of the panchayati raj institution as per the Act. On the other hand, Kangra BDO D.R. Awasthi said the BDC had no rights to execute any development project in rural areas. “Its duty is to only plan development projects and recommend these for execution by the respective panchayats,” he said. He defended the release of funds directly to the panchayats saying the funds received by the BDC were grant-in-aid by the Union Government meant to be directly released to the panchayats for execution of development projects. He claimed he was the lone BDO in the state to implement Rule 93 of the Himachal Pradesh Panchayati Raj (Finance, Budget, Accounts, Audit, Taxation and Allowances) Rules-2002 that envisaged “decentralisation of utilisation of funds to generate employment at local level”. He said execution of development projects at the grassroots level by panchayats had generated job avenues for the poor at the local level, which should be praised rather than demoralising the official machinery. |
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No hope for Illegal sawmills
Shimla, March 26 As many as 450 sawmills were closed in the state after the apex court ordered that unregistered sawmills could not be allowed to function. The maximum unregistered sawmills were in the Hamirpur district. Besides, there are 3000 registered sawmills in the state. With a complete ban on green felling, there is little justification for such a large number of sawing units. Massive felling of trees on private land has taken place over the years but no steps could be taken to check it. It was for this reason that the empowered committee asked the government to provide detailed data about the growing tree stock outside the forest area. The forest department had approached the Forest Survey of India (FSI), which has been providing reports on the status of forests on government land every two years, to carry out an exact assessment of the tree cover outside forests. However, it has expressed its helplessness in undertaking the exercise for the entire state due to paucity of staff. It provided data pertaining to only four out of the total districts in the state for which it was already carrying out the assessment of tree cover outside forests for its report. Moreover, the assessment based on satellite imageries is an expensive and time-consuming exercise. The department has now decided to use the conventional village forest inventory method to make a species-wise assessment of growing tree stock outside the forests. It is for the first time in the state that availability of private timber is being assessed. It would take much time as data regarding growing tree stock had to be evaluated species-wise and district-wise. The exercise will enable the government to ascertain the states capacity to sustain forest-based industries. Uttranchal, Gujarat, Haryana and some other states have already carried out the exercise. Felling of private forests is allowed under ten year felling cycle. As per norms upto 40 per cent of the trees or 60 per cent of the standing volume is allowed to be felled. Saw mills had been set up in areas where hardly any private timber is available and it is common knowledge that trees felled illegally from government forests. The growing stock will enable the department to know whether or not the felling was being carried out within the norms. The forest department had supported the case of the sawmill owners before the committee and stated that they worked under the TD (timber distribution) rules.
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New tehsil: Lawyers boycott courts
Kangra, March 26 Himal Chand, President Bar Association Kangra, today in a memorandum to the Chief Minister Virbhdra Singh, said that Kangra which has been broken to pieces on political considerations by creating different Tehsils out of one thus shattering its historical and religious status and left Kangra economically shattered. The members of the Bar Association alleged that on political considerations Dharamshala, Baroh and Shahpur tehsils were carved out of Kangra Tehsil proving as a jolt to the Kangra and now again on Political considerations Nagrota Bagwan was being created as a new Tehsil as announced by the Chief Minister in a public rally at Rajiana Himal Chand said that creation of two tehsils Baroh and Nagrota Bagwan out of one assembly constituency would not only prove as a hole in the Govt. Exchequer of this debt ridden state but would violate the already laid Govt. policy of one Tehsil in one constituency. He in the memorandum said that geographically creation of the Nagrota Bagwan tehsil was not at all viable. The protesting lawyers demanded that Chief Minister should reconsider the decision and withdraw it in the larger interests of Kangra Subdivision and people of the area.
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Regulate traffic, plead senior citizens
Dharamsala, March 26 President of the forum R.L. Mahajan said most old people live in the Civil Lines area which is prone to accidents. This area had haphazard and uncontrolled traffic as most educational institutes and government offices were located here, leading to frequent accidents. He demanded that special traffic police personnel should be deployed at certain points in the area like education board chowk and on all roads leading to educational institutes for effective traffic management. Mahajan said that a post office was also required near the district courts to facilitate the old. |
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More hamlets to get drinking water
Bilaspur, March 26 He was addressing mediapersons here today. He said plans for providing irrigation facilities in 2.09 lakh hectares had been sent to the Central Government for approval. During the next year, the government would ensure irrigation facilities in 90,000 hectares, while another 25,000 hectares would be covered under three medium-irrigation schemes namely Rs 75-crore Anandpur hydel project in Bilaspur district, Rs 54-crore Sidhatta scheme in Kangra district and Rs 62-crore Balha irrigation scheme in Mandi district. He said the government had started work on state’s biggest Rs 278-crore Shah Nehar irrigation project on war footing and these irrigation projects would be completed in two years. Kaul Singh Thakur said 1,180 hand pumps had already been installed in the state, while another 1,500 would be installed during the next financial year. He said the government had sent for approval to the Central Government Rs 14.82-crore Shri Naina Devi drinking water supply scheme for Bilaspur district as this would end scarcity of drinking water in this hilltop shrine town that was visited by lakhs of devotees every year. He said this would also help encourage temple tourism in the state. He said the Rs 66-crore Shimla drinking water supply scheme would become operational this year, besides the Rs 55-crore Giri Nadi drinking water supply scheme which would be ready by October end. The Bumsan-Meva drinking water supply scheme, which would provide piped water to 214 villages, would also become operational by December this year, he added.
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Governor visits Kayakalp
Kangra, March 26 Director of Kayakalp Sudershan Sharma, said that the Governor remained in the center for one and half hours and took keen interest in different methods of treatment of naturopathy and yoga. Former Union minister and president of the Vivekananda Medical Research Trust, which is the mother Trust of 'Kayakalp', also accompanied Kokji during his visit to Kayakalp. Kayakalp, an 86 bed health retreat, is treating people through the holistic transformation and drugless therapy of the body, mind and soul under one roof through traditional and natural treatment. Come to the aid of handicapped
Hamirpur: Himachal Governor V.S. Kokje has urged the people to come forward to help the handicapped. Speaking at a function organised by the Narain Sewa Sansathan here, he said it was the duty of every section of society to render help in making the handicapped economically self-sufficient. The Governor also distributed wheelchairs, artificial limbs, clippers, crutches and shoes among the handicapped, donated by the sansathan. The sansthan said free operations on the handicapped would be conducted at its hospital in Udaipur. |
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White paper on TGTs sought
Kangra, March 26 State Convener of H.P. Educational Consultant Forum and former Deputy Director of Education R.D.Sharma today asked the government to come out with a policy to adjust TGTs. Sharma said it was unfortunate that TGTs of even 1987 were still without jobs. Dr. Sharma said the government had been recruiting teachers, most of them unqualified, as para, tenure-based and stop-gap arrangement teachers, leaving thousands of TGTs without jobs. The forum demanded a ban on the opening of new B.Ed colleges in the state and reduce the intake of the current colleges from 100 to 25 till the backlog of TGTs was cleared. |
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More areas deserve to be sanctuaries
Chamba, March 26 Still there are some areas, particularly in Chamba district, which are very rich in wildlife and are not part of any sanctuary or national park. The Sahoo area is one such tract. It has got a variety of wildlife and is fit to be declared a sanctuary. Another area is opposite Sanghni-Langera across the river in Salooni tehsil. The area is rich in wildlife and there is almost no habitation, which makes it suitable for forming a part of a sanctuary. Likewise, Holi wooded ranges in Bharmour subdivision can also be a new habitat for wildlife. An official survey revealed that Chamba district was, at one time, very rich in wildlife. Its thick, extensive and varied flora, gorges, inaccessible alpine and high-lying areas provided safe abode for wildlife. Gradually, the forests were cleared to make room for villages and cultivation and the wildlife was affected in the process. Earlier, the interior areas of the region were not easily accessible and the wildlife remained protected there. After Independence, more and more areas were linked through roads. These led to increase in population in these areas. All these factors had an adverse effect on the wildlife there. Areas like Sahoo, Holi, Sanghni and Langera, which are still very rich in wildlife, need to be declared sanctuaries to protect these from exploitation.
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Plea for troop withdrawal condemned
Kangra, March 26 Lt-Col Shakti Chand ( retd), president of the All-India Defence Personnel Welfare Association, Himachal Pradesh, said it was understandable that both Mufti and his daughter were raising this issue with an eye on the poll in Jammu and Kashmir. Col Shakti Chand asked Mufti Mohd. Sayeed to clarify as to why he didn't withdraw troops from the valley when he remained Chief Minister for three years. He described the demand as unfortunate and said such utterances were passing on a wrong signal to anti-national elements in the valley. |
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Sturdy Pahari cattle breed
faces extinction
Sundernagar, March 26 Talking to The Tribune on the sidelines of the weeklong long Nalwar Mela that will conclude on March 28, the hill cattle farmers say that the Pahari breed is vanishing in the state as the animal husbandry department is promoting the Jersey, Holstein and Friesian or Red Singhi breeds in the state under its Livestock Development policy. "As a result the Pahari breed has been pushed to the brink", they rue. The Apathy of the animal husbandry department has come to light as Pahari breed which is called zebu cattle is neither registered with CHRS, the hardbook of livestock, leave alone preserving it in its purity in the state, revealed farmers. Once the animal is registered with the CHRS, it enables the breed to make it more competent in the cattle markets, revealed officials. "It is needed for promotion and preservation "gene pool" of livestock". Even the farmers have evolved a breed of their own that best suits their local climate and farms fields. Hamirpur farmers prefer white bullocks which suit the sunny hot areas in the district. The Kangra and Palampur farmers prefer light coloured sturdy Pahari 'Lal Balus'. But the Chamba, Kulu, Jhenjhali and Karsog farmers go for either red or black 'Pahari breed, which better withstand the cold climate of the region. "Our ancestors have preserved the breed down the line and we are doing it now as Jersey and other bullocks become sick here. The Pahari breed suits the hilly areas and they are our prized heritage", says Balak Ram, a Pahari cattle breeder from Jai Devi in Sundernagar subdivision. Though bullock market for the Pahari breed has decreased by more than 50 per cent over the years due to an overall recession in the cattle market, but trade for the Haryanavi breed has picked up among farmers in the plain area over the years. Tulsi Ram, a cattle farmer from Talvali Jugahan in Mandi, who won the best award for his pair of Haryanvi breed today said: "Best pair of the Haryana breed sold for Rs 14,000 to Rs 20,000. The market is good this time and traders from Punjab, Haryana, UP and Jammu, besides all over from Himachal have come here". Hari Saran, another farmer says that over 80-90 per cent farmers still use sturdy pahari bullocks to till their fields and pahari cows for milk as they can not afford the power tillers or tractors. Deputy Director, Animal Health and Breeding N.L. Sharma says that the state policy so far has been to promote the high milk-yielding jersey cows, Holstein, Friesian or Red Singhi breeds in the state. "But the state government is planning to preserve the Pahari breed by crossing it with the jersey in semen bank and then distribute it to farmers", he adds. |
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Sale of girl: Accused remanded
Nahan, March 26 The police had arrested fifth accused Sudesh Kumar, owner of the Maruti Van used by the kidnappers of the minor girl. Sudesh Kumar was a close relative of Roshan Lal, who paid the money to purchase the girl. The police was trailing main accused Suresh Kumar and van driver Sanju. — OC |
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4 of family killed in accident
Shimla, March 26 The car was on its way to Jubbal from Nerwa when it fell into the Pabber river at Kuddu village this afternoon. Four bodies were pulled out from the river. Local people, who rushed to the site soon after the accident, were able to rescue two children. Those killed were: Janaki, her daughter Vidya, son Ram Prakash and granddaughter Kakshi. The injured children were yet to be identified, sources said. The cause of the accident was not immediately known. A case has been registered. — UNI
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‘Run-for-Fun’ today
Shimla, March 26 The Military World Games are scheduled to be hosted jointly by the Indian armed forces and the Government of Andhra Pradesh under the aegis of the Council of International Military Sports at Hyderabad and Mumbai from October 14 to 21. Over 6,000 sportspersons from the armed forces of 127 countries will participate in the multi-discipline event being held in an Asian country for the first time. The meet is unique as almost one-fourth of the title-holders of the Military World Games win medals in the Olympics and other international championships. The participants will be flagged off by Governor V.S. Kokje, who is also likely to participate in the event. They will be required to run distances of 4 to 5.7 km.
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Boy dies of rabies
Dharamsala, March 26 Dr J.S. Chandel. CMO of Kangra, said the child, who was referred referred to Dr Rajendra Prasad Medical College and Hospital here, died on the way. Dr Chandel said he had asked the block medical officer of Nagrota Surian to collect a blood sample of the boy for chemical examination. The BMO had also been asked to meet the gram pradhan of that village so that steps could be taken to kill the rabies- infected dog.
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