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Taxi strike, tourists stuck
29 yrs on, Chamba cement plant yet far
Cement plant ‘not in state interest’
Shimla MC poll: BJP names 21 candidates
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Drawing water from dams
HPU Campus Round-up
Dharamsala set to become educational hub
Direct recruits’ demand opposed
School board to pay GPF on
day of retirement
1,000 participate in essay contest
Rising road mishaps debunk govt claims
Work on Chakki bridge yet to begin
Farmers to oppose forcible acquisition
Trees felled for road
Illegal tree felling on in Snor valley
SJVN signs MoU with Konkan Railway
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Taxi strike, tourists stuck
Dharamsala, April 30 As per reports available here, hundreds of tourists got stranded Dharamsala, McLeodganj, Dalhousie and Chamba. Attendance in private schools here was thin as the taxis did not pick up students from their homes. Most schools in the town do not have the facility of school buses. Parents had arranged private vehicles to carry students to schools. Meanwhile, transport minister G.S. Bali held a dialogue with the taxi operators of Kangra district here this afternoon and allowed them 45 days to install the meters with an undertaking to this effect from their respective taxi unions that the meters would be installed within this period. He also allowed the taxi operators to purchase the meters from any company provided that it got its product registered with the Transport Department. With regard to the fines being imposed on the taxis without meters for the past one week, the minister asked all regional transport officers to stop this for 45 days. It may be mentioned that there are about 18,000 registered taxis, with 4,000 in Shimla and 4,500 in Kangra district. Besides, an equal number of unregistered taxis The basic reason for opposition of the taxi operators was that hundreds of taxi operators were running taxis without registration and if they went for installing meters they would first have to get the illegal taxis registered by paying a hefty tax. Although the relief of 45 days was granted today, sources in taxi unions of Kangra district revealed that they might move the Supreme Court against the decision of the high court making electronic fare meters mandatory in the hill state. HAMIRPUR: Local taxi operators observed a complete strike on Monday in protest against the decision of the state government making installation of meters in taxis mandatory. The strike was observed under the banner of the Veer Bhumi Taxi Operators Union. President of the union Rakesh Kumar accused the state government and transport minister G.S. Bali for playing with the future of the taxi operators. He also criticised the regional transport officer, Dharamsala, for indiscriminately challaning taxi operators. |
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Plea to modify scheme
Shimla, April 30 Secretary of the Vishal Taxi Operators Union Madan Bansal said that only those vehicles which plied within the municipal limits should be covered and not all vehicles as had been done by the government. The members of the Joint Action Committee said that in case the government does not modify the scheme they would fight it out legally right up to the Supreme Court. |
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29 yrs on, Chamba cement plant yet far from reality
Chamba, April 30 Though an MoU for the execution of the cement plant at Baroh-Sikridhar hills was signed by the present government with Jai Prakash Associates on February 1 this year, yet the work on it failed to take off courtesy pending clearance from forests, environment, pollution and several other departments. It may be noted that the idea of setting up the much publicised cement plant was conceived way back in 1977 during the Janta Party regime. A period of about 29 years has elapsed but the plant is still far from realty. The locals are of the opinion that the cement plant would help in the economic upliftment of the region by way of employment generation. Roads, bridges and other developmental activities in the area would also get a facelift with the start of the cement plant. However, the residents living in the area surrounding the proposed site of the plant have urged the government to formulate a welfare policy so that their interests could be safeguarded. Meanwhile, official sources reveal that the 2-MT capacity plant to be set up at an initial outlay of Rs 800 crore would be commissioned after five years. It will provide direct employment to 1,000 persons and indirect employment to over 5,000 persons. The area has about 70 years’ deposits of limestone and the per day limestone extraction would be about 6,000 truckloads daily with an annual production of about 2 MT tonnes of cement. As per the MoU, the company would have to spend 1.5 per cent of the total cost of the project on the local area development and employ at least 70 per cent of the manpower from within the state. Besides, it would have to give job to at least one member of the families displaced due to the construction of the project. Such families would be given rehabilitation package, sources further reveal. The sources claim that the company would use the state-of-the-art pollution control technology as environment is the main concern of the government. |
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Cement plant ‘not in state interest’
Sundernagar, April 30 He toured the area along with a team of environmentalists and interacted with local residents assembled on the spot. Kulbhushan Upmanyu, a close associate of Sunder Lal Bahuguna, a noted environmentalist, said on the World Environmental Day the Himalaya Bachao Abhiyan Samiti would organise a national-level function here against the setting up of the cement plant in which noted environmentalists of India, including Sunder Lal Bhuguna and Medha Patekar would participate. He said the Paryavaran Rally will be against the decision of the government. He said the present model of development accepted by the government did not suit the state and there was a need to review it. He said the present model of development benefited few and uprooted thousands. It would also destroy the natural resources. The members of the team stayed on the spot for about three hours and listened to the grievances of the residents. Later, the team members assembled at Khatrwari Chowk and the environmentalists addressed the gathering on the spot. All environmentalists wondered when the Bandali Sanctuary Area was so close to the mining site, how the project could be cleared. They further requested the Minister of Environment and Forest to look into the matter. Convener of the Himalaya Bachao Abhiyan Guman Singh, appealed that all parties should come forward to fight the wrong decision of the government, as this would affect lakhs of people of the area and destroy the fertile land of Balh Valley. |
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Shimla MC poll: BJP names 21 candidates
Shimla, April 30 The four wards from where a decision on the party candidate is pending are ward No 3 (Kaithu), ward No 9 (Nabha), ward No 12(Ram Bazar) and ward No 23 (Patiog). Out of the seven BJP councillors in the present MC, only r Pradeep Kashyap has been repeated as the wards of others have either been reserved for women or scheduled castes. The list of candidates issued by the BJP is ward No 1( Bharari) — Sanjeev Sood; ward No 2 (Ruldubhatta) — Sanjeev Thakur; ward No 4 (Annadale) — Pradeep Kashyap; ward No 5 (Summer Hill) — Sukh Ram; ward No 6 (Tutu) — Sagar Chand; ward No 7 (Boileauganj) —Kiran Baba; ward No 8 (Tutikandi) — Tarawati; ward No 10 (Fagli) — Sanjay Sood; ward No 11 (Krishnagar) — Bandana; ward No-13 (Mall Road) — Naveen Sood; ward No 14 (Jakhu)- Manoj Kuthiala; ward No15 (Benmore) — Anup Vaid; ward No 16 (Engine Ghar) — Kamal Thakur; ward No17 (Sanjauli) — Sanjay Sharma; ward No 18 (Dhali) — Paras Ram; ward No 19 (Chamiana) — Rajender Chauhan; ward No 20 (Maliana) — Nisha Sharma; ward No 21 (Kasumpti) — Sanjay Sharma; ward No 22 (Chotta Shimla) — Rajender Thakur; ward No 24 (Khalini) — Tikku Thakur; and ward No 25 (Kanlog) — Brijbala Sood. Cong yet to name nominees
Meanwhile, the Congress is yet to finalise the names of candidates for the municipal corporation (MC) elections the ruling party has minimised chances of undercutting with the return of former Mayor Manoj Kumar to the party fold today. Manoj Kumar, who had been expelled for six years when he contested the 2002 MC elections as an independent candidate, rejoined the Congress today. A three-time councillor, he is learnt to have joined the Congress after having received an assurance from Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh that he would be fielded from ward No 14 (Jakhu). Manoj Kumar, who had floated Shimla Vikas Party, had announced that his party would fieldcandidates from all 25 wards. As such his homecoming will save the Congress from the damage he could have done. The Congress has so far received 101 applications along with affidavits from contenders for the party
ticket. The party had laid down the condition that those keen to get the party ticket must apply with an affidavit that in the case of denial of the ticket he or she would not contest against the official party candidate. |
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Indian tourists can’t afford ‘Hill Puffer’
Shimla, April 30 Today was one rare occasion when the steam charter puffed its way on the serpentine narrow-gauge rail track from the once summer capital of the British till Kano, near Kandaghat, a stretch of almost 56 km. It was a group of 10 Japanese tourists who hired the steam charter to enjoy the panoramic view along the route. Due to high fare for chartering the steam engine which has a capacity for ferrying 22 passengers, it has never had the opportunity of having more than three runs in a year since it was reintroduced in 2001 by the Indian Railways. Last year also it was only in January, April and December that it was hired by foreign tourists. This year this is the second run that the steam engine has had with the earlier one being on January 1. Even though the Railways reduced the tariff of the steam engine to make it more affordable and to promote tourism in the hill state but it seems beyond the pocket of the Indian tourists. Infact, the Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation was proposing to have collaboration with the state tourism department for having special packages for tourists so that it could be popularised. The steam engine, inaugurated by British Viceroy, Lord Curzon in 1903, now runs on a much reduced stretch of 31 km between Kaithalighat and Shimla. It was reintroduced in 2001, hoping to save the famous Himalayan toy train from extinction, a proposal has been sent to UNESCO by the Indian Railways to grant it a world heritage status. |
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Tourist resort suffers neglect
Palampur, April 30 The resort was being developed on 60 acres of land in the memory of great martyr of Palampur, Capt Sorabh Kalia, who sacrificed his life during the Kargil conflict. The project was started so as to attract thousands of tourists who visited Kangra every year. The project started in the year 2000, after the Kargil War, when Shanta Kumar was a minister in the Union Cabinet. The state forest department was asked by the state government to execute this project and government land over 60 acres had been acquired for this. Till date, Rs 2 crore has been spent on the project by the state government. Out of this amount, Shanta Kumar had provided Rs 1 crore from his MP area development fund while the remaining amount was given by the state and union governments. But the project has become a victim of dirty politics since 2003, when the BJP government was voted out of power in the state. No funds were made available to the project and today the project site is covered with thick lantana bushes. The funds over Rs 2 crore spent by the government has virtually gone to drains. Despite the fact that Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh time and again had assured the residents that the government would complete this project but all in vain.
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Govt to take up issue with Centre: CM
Tribune News Service
Shimla, April 30 This was stated by Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh while presiding over the third annual review meeting of the IPH Department here today. He said there were some old projects that had reservoirs to feed generators, while the new projects were being constructed on the run-of-the-river pattern. He said the state had hydro power potential of 21,000 MW that was being harnessed by the government and the private sector. He asked the IPH officials to ensure drinking water supply to the people during the summer season and keep alternative arrangement ready for drought-prone areas. He emphasized the need to remodel the water supply and irrigation schemes that were sufficient to meet requirements of the people for at least 50 years. He said the government was according top priority to the Shimla, Solan, Bamsan and Lagwalti water supply schemes that would be dedicated to the people as early as possible. He also stressed the need for expeditious execution of the Shah Nehar, Siddhatha and Balh Valley irrigation schemes so that better irrigation facilities could be ensured.
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Authorities to act tough with students
Tribune News Service
Shimla, April 30 The university is contemplating taking action against political outfits that have violated the Himachal Pradesh Open Place Public Disfigurement Act, 1985. The authorities are to initiate contempt proceedings against students who in violation of the High Court orders had indulged in writings, wall paintings or pasting posters. In view of the MC elections scheduled for May 23, the authorities have issued strict directions to various student outfits that classes should not be disrupted as has been the past practice. Infact, the vice-chancellor, Dr Anil Wilson, wants strict adherence to the 75 lecture condition. The authorities might rusticate some students who despite being on conduct probation list have been involved in criminal activities. VC to seek legal opinion on IIHS issue
The dispute with regard to the appointment of research personnel at the Institute of Integrated Himalayan Studies (IIHS) at the Himachal Pradesh University still being unresolved, the authorities have decided to seek legal opinion. The decision to seek legal opinion was taken at the executive committee meeting, chaired by vice-chancellor, Dr Anil Wilson. The 13 member research staff employed at the institute and the UGC centre of excellence at the HPU have been pleading their case for being absorbed permanently in the institute if the IIHS is allowed to be continued by the UGC. They have pleaded that why they should join as freshers when they have been appointed by the selection committee as per rules. UGC to approve more colleges for courses
Over a dozen more colleges in the state are likely to be covered under the UGC sponsored professional add-on courses. Proposals have already been sent and 12 more colleges are likely to be approved by the UGC under the 11th Plan. “The professional courses are already being run in over 15 colleges for which over Rs 5 crore have been given by the UGC,” informed Prof Rajender Singh Chauhan, dean of college cum director, college development council. He said keeping in view of the climatic and geographical conditions of the hill state, the academic council has approved the syllabi of 12 courses which include floriculture, bee keeping, fashion designing, communicative english, fisheries, tourism and travel, accounting and secretarial assistant. A sum of Rs 12 lakh has recently been approved for starting the add-on courses in Una College. The students can do a certificate, diploma and advanced course in any of the 12 courses. HPUTA promises jobs for teachers
The priority of the newly elected president of the Himachal Pradesh University Teachers Association (HPUTA), Prof Mohan Jharta, and his team is the filling up of 150 vacant posts of teachers in the university. He said the HPUTA would request the government to enhance the grant-in-aid being given to the university to improve the financial position of the institute. Besides this, the HPUTA would urge the vice-chancellor to hold interviews for the promotion of teachers under the career advancement scheme and those due for promotion under the senior scale and selection grade. His new team includes Dr Sita Negi, vice-president, Dr Kishori Lal and Dr Shyam Lal Kaushal, general secretaries, Dr Raghuvir Singh, joint secretary and Dr S.S. Chauhan, treasurer. |
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Dharamsala set to become educational hub
Dharamsala, April 30 A proposal to set up a central university here is under the consideration of the Union Government, while Amity, a private educational institute, has submitted a proposal to the state government for setting up a private university here. Another private university of international repute on Buddhist studies is also under the consideration of the Tibetan government-in-exile in association with the state and the Union Government. A survey to identify land for the central university has been conducted. Sources in the Education Department said the land and complexes of local degree college, college of education, the district institute of education training, two government schools and their adjoining areas are being under consideration for housing the university. Amity has also submitted a proposal to the state government for setting up a private university for running professional and technical courses. Many other private institutes, including the ICFAI, have also come here for setting up their centres. Prof Swami Buddhanand, a renowned scholar and head of the global peace mission, has initiated efforts to set up a private university of international repute on Buddhist studies. Apart from these proposals, a medical college, a law college, a regional centre of Himachal Pradesh University and college of education are already functioning here. Agriculture university at Palampur, postgraduate college of ayurveda at Paprola and veterinary college at Palampur also fall within 35-km radius of Dharamsala. As far as the sports activities are concerned, the town houses a cricket stadium that meets all international standards. Ranji matches are played here. The town also has a regional centre of the Sports Authority of India, a mountaineering institute and an institute of paragliding.
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Direct recruits’ demand opposed
Shimla, April 30 It also opposed the demand for a single cadre of lecturers as it was against the interests of TGTs and promotee lecturers. President of the association Jiwan Sharma said the present ratio of 40 : 60 for direct recruits and promotees was working perfectly well and over the past two years 798 TGTs had been promoted as headmasters, 468 TGTs as school lecturers and 402 headmasters as principals. |
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School board to pay GPF on
day of retirement
Dharamsala, April 30 Chairman of the board B.R. Rahi said the board would also give the pension certificate to the employee on the day of the retirement. Meanwhile, assistant secretary Kartar Mehra and four other board employees-- Sita Ram, Dev Raj, Geeta Ram and Raghav Mishra - who retired on Monday were handed over the cheques for provident fund, earned leave encashment and pension certificates before their farewell party.
— TNS |
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1,000 participate in essay contest
Dharamsala, April 30 Vatsala Khera, wife of the local district magistrate, was the chairperson of the jury that adjudged the entries. Among students from classes I to V, Mridul of Rainbow International School, Nagrota Bagwan, won the first prize, while Shakshi of Adhunik Public School, Dharamsala, and Hafsa Khatoon of Central School, Yol Cantonment, won the second and the third prize, respectively. For classes VI to XIII, Amit Koundal of Government Senior Secondary School, Kathog, won the first prize, while Saumya Gupta and Nitish Chandan, both of Sacred Heart School, Dharamsala, won the second and the third prize, respectively. For classes IX to XII, Anmol of Him Academy, Hamirpur, got the first prize, while Vishaka Gupta of GAV, Kangra, and Monika of Him Academy won the second and third prize, respectively. |
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Rising road mishaps debunk govt claims
Palampur, April 30 Despite tall claims by the state government, checking accidents are only confined to files and nothing worthwhile has been done to ensure the road safety. The government is well conversant with the fact that 98 per cent of the total population of the state is dependant on the road transport, but the passenger safety has been completely neglected. The situation is such that an accident-free day is news while heavy casualties have become a matter of routine. After every mishap, the government orders probe, but no follow up action is taken on reports. Sometimes vital issues are pointed out in the reports, but these are being ignored. Though there has been manifold increase in the number of vehicles in the state, state and interstate traffic has also gone up, the width of most of the roads is the same as it was 30 years ago. Most of the road-widening projects have been hanging fire because official bottlenecks, pending court cases and non-availability of funds. The condition of internal roads is worst where frequent bus accidents are taking place. In the past five years, over 1,210 persons had lost their lives in different road accidents while over 2,760 were injured. |
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Work on Chakki bridge yet to begin
Kandwal (Nurpur), April 30 A foundation stone of the bridge, estimated to cost Rs 22 crore, was laid by T.R. Baalu, union minister of shipping, road transport and highway, on February 7. Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and other political leaders of the state were also present on the occasion. Half portion of the damaged bridge falls in Himachal, while the remaining comes under the Punjab's jurisdiction. The bridge has completed its life span. A major tragedy can happen any time as the bridge is unable to bear the volume of heavy traffic crossing it every day. Despite the restriction on plying of vehicles carrying a load of over 25 tonne, overloaded multi-axel vehicles and trucks loaded with gravel cross the bridge everyday. Enquiries by The Tribune team revealed that the heavily loaded trucks frequently ferry gravel, sand and boulders from stone-crushers in Pathankot and its vicinity to Himachal Pradesh. Sources in the Himachal Pradesh Public Works Department (National Highways) say the work on the bride will be started soon as the department has initiated the process for floating tenders. |
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Farmers to oppose forcible acquisition
Solan, April 30 The irate farmers, who met at Baddi today, nominated convener of Him Parivesh and environmentalist Gyanender Bhardwaj as their president and pledged to oppose all such moves. Bhardwaj said it was sad that the government had issued newspaper advertisements showing its intent to acquire about 2,000 bighas in this area. Gujjars and SCs who own most of the land in the area would be rendered landless if their small land holdings were acquired. The committee would fight all such forcible land acquisitions and ensure that only such land was acquired where no agricultural activity was undertaken. The aggrieved farmers would meet on May 3 at Manpura to chalk out their future course of action. Pradhan Ishwar Singh said it was unfair to dislodge permanent residents residing here for generations and pave the way for industries. The farmers stressed that the government should have at least taken them into confidence before advertising about the acquisition of this land. Bhardwaj said it could be another Nandigram in the making if a decision was not taken to put a halt on this forcible acquisition. |
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Trees felled for road
Nahan, April 30 The administration failed to carry out requisite inspection before allotting funds for the construction of the road on the forestland where trees were axed. Deputy commissioner R.S. Negi had reportedly allotted Rs 2 lakh (vide PLG-SRM(F) 199 (M)-S-LS/99-MAD-1169, dated February 9, 2006) for undertaking road construction. The work was handed over to the Kathar gram panchayat without obtaining requisite approval from the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest and it was in the knowledge of the district administration and the divisional forest officer, said Layak Ram, range officer, Paonta Sahib, in his inquiry report. He was given the task of probing into the illicit felling of tree vide office memo number 876, dated March 30. The demarcation of the land was done by the tehsildar of Sarahan on April 10 from where trees were earmarked for uprooting. The district authorities never sought approval from the competent authorities. The DC could not be contacted. |
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Illegal tree felling on in Snor valley
Kandi (Mandi), April 30 Over 350 tree stumps of deodars have already been cut and the field staff seized around 400 sleepers from three forest beats of Sakrunala, Dugesti and Faltnala in Panarsa forest range of Drang constituency, in Mandi, recently. The picture is alarming. This correspondent during a visit counted 55 stumps of deodar trees in Sakrunalla about 500 meters short of this hill-top right on the upper side of the Bajaura-Ropa-Kataul road. The scene is no different in Laksal, Dughesti, Falt Nalla, Jamu Nala. The Mahila Mandal, here, has brought this large-scale felling to the notice of the flying squad, who is currently doing combing in the forest to detect the scale of illegal felling. They told The Tribune that over 350-400 trees had been cut illegally over the months since January-February this year. |
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SJVN signs MoU with Konkan Railway
Shimla, April 30 The nigam that executed the country’s largest 1500 MW hydroelectric project involving construction of a 27.4-km tunnel has acquired expertise in geo-technical engineering, designing and boring tunnels in difficult terrains of the Himalayas. It has already extended consultancy services for many projects in Uttarakhand and Karnataka. |
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