Dharamsala, June 14
Stepping up the crusade against Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, disgruntled Congress leaders today met at Dehra in Kangra district and decided to launch 'dharam yudh' against the corrupt regime in the hill state by month-end.

They also unanimously elected former minister and sitting MLA from Shahpur Vijay Singh Mankotia as their leader and authorised him to plan the agitation and decide on whether to launch a third front or merge with some other party to strengthen their mass base.

Prominent among those present in the meeting included two former ministers Kewal Singh Pathania and Vijay Joshi, who extended support to Mankotia, and 50 disgruntled Congress leaders.

Major Mankotia claimed that the crusade against the CM, his wife Pratibha Singh, corrupt politicians in power and corrupt bureaucrats had gained momentum.

He said the hill state was in dire need of someone to take the initiative to root out corruption. "I am determined to do this job with the help of my supporters", he added.

Claiming that he had many more CDs and documentary evidence against the Chief Minister, his wife and many ministers to prove their involvement in many illegal activities, Mankotia said all of them would be exposed one by one during 'dharm yudh' Vijay Joshi and Kewal Pathania alleged that Virbhadra Singh and his colleagues had collected money from people and big industrial houses. They denied that the BJP was supporting them to launch the crusade against the state government.

Earlier, Mankotia and his supporters were welcomed by municipal councillors from Dehra and Jawalaji who announced support to the new outfit emerging in the state.

Later, Mankotia and his supporters visited the Jawalamukhi temple.

Sundernagar, June 14
A joint team of the police and forest officials yesterday night intercepted a TATA 407 vehicle (HP-66-0358) in which timber was being transported in violation of the forest laws. As per official sources, the timbers belonged to a senior IAS officer constructing a hotel in the name of one of his relatives. Although the field staff completed the initial formalities, the subsequent pressure was so much that the vehicle had to be released with the forest produce. The vehicle left for its destination in the morning.

The vehicle was intercepted at Aut around 9.30 pm as the range officer (RO), Panarsa, had got information that timber was being smuggled. The driver told that the timber was being transported from the sales depot of the Forest Corporation, Dhanotu, Sundernagar, to Manali. It was found that the sizes of the timbers were different from that mentioned in the challan. Variation in volume was also noticed. The field staff started the procedure as per provisions of the Forest Act. The vehicle was taken in possession along with the forest wealth and the driver and one other person were detained.

Immediately after the incident, the range officer started receiving telephone calls from senior officials asking him not to detain the vehicle. The officer in charge informed about it to the conservator of forest immediately.

According to conservator of forests, Mandi, C.S. Singh since the field staff had taken the name of a senior IAS officer, he immediately passed on the information to the SP, Mandi, and requested him to take necessary action and further apprised the principal chief conservator of forests about the episode.

He also deputed a team of forest officials headed by DFO (headquarters) P.L. Gupta to visit the spot and assist the RO there.

The Mandi ASP and divisional manager of the HP Forest Corporation, Dhanotu, Sundernagar, also rushed to spot. Meanwhile, many other top forest official intervened into the matter. All officers present on spot had a long discussion and afterwards directed the RO to release the vehicle. Interestingly, no written order was given to the RO.

The timber was received just a few days back from the divisional manger of the HP Forest Corporation, Kullu, and was auctioned only yesterday.

The RO told The Tribune on telephone yesterday night that he had seized the forest produce along with the vehicle. He said the secretary (forest) had contacted him on the telephone in that connection.

Many forest officials dealing with the case strictly have been asked to relinquish their respective charge today itself. None of the top officials from the Forest Department was available for comments.

Shimla, June 14
The Red Ribbon Clubs would be set up in every department to bring awareness about AIDS and sensitise the employees about this disease.

Chief secretary S.S. Parmar said all employees in the departments would be made members of the Red Ribbon Club so that awareness about AIDS could be created. Parmar was presiding over a high-level meeting of the Himachal Pradesh State AIDS Control Society, here today.

He informed that two nodal officers would be appointed to give information to the employees about every aspect of AIDS. “The most effective way to deal with the disease is to create awareness and the employees can play a significant role in this regard,” he said.

He also asked the Health Department to specifically target the youth as they were more vulnerable to the disease besides, launching major campaigns in all the educational institutions. “Tests for detecting AIDS are being conducted free of cost in all government health institutions as it was essential to check the further spread of the disease,” he said.

Parmar said the government was trying to create awareness among the people by using both the traditional as well as the modern means to educate every section of society. Sulakshna Puri, project director, Himachal Pradesh AIDS Control Society detailed the activities being undertaken as far as AIDS scenario was concerned.

Nahan, June 14
Acting on a complaint received from the Dadahu unit of the Youth Congress and a news item published in The Tribune, the state government today ordered an inquiry into the allegations of ‘mismanagement’ of the Dadahu referral hospital and the alleged ‘carelessness and deplorable attitude’ of the hospital staff and doctors.

As per information received late this evening, chief medical officer (CMO), Sirmaur, has deputed a senior official to inquire into the allegations and the incident that led to the gherao of the hospital staff on the night of June 9.

As per sources, block medical officer P.S. Bhati will conduct the inquiry that will commence on Friday. Sirmaur CMO A.K. Gupta paid a visit to the hospital yesterday and asked the staff to provide every possible facility to the people of the area. He pointed out several flaws during the inspection and asked the staff to take corrective measures immediately. He said no carelessness would be tolerated. He also interacted with residents.

Hamirpur, June 14
With the summer season at its peak, several villages of Hamirpur district are facing acute scarcity of water.

There are many villages where drinking water supply has been affected due to receding ground water level. Some of these are not getting daily supply of water, while at many places people have to wait for long hours due to low water pressure.

The hand pumps installed by the IPH Department have either become non-functional or supplying poor quality water.

The Bhoranj, Saloni, Tohni Devi, Jahu areas of Badsar division, Rohal area under Nadaun block and some other areas are facing shortage of water. Raj Kanta of lower Jharlog from the Bhoranj area of Badsar Tehsil said, "We are facing acute scarcity of water for many days."

The residents of Kahodta panchayat in the Jahu area are also not getting enough water. BDC member Asha Devi said, "The Bakhota-Kadohta water scheme has been affected due to illegal pilferage of water at various places and villages at the other end are not getting water at all."

The residents of the Rohal area staged a protest in front of the IPH office yesterday as they were not getting regular water supply and had to deploy labourers to fetch water from natural sources at distant places.

Superintending Engineer of the IPH Department, Hamirpur circle, R.P. Tandon said, “The receding water table has affected the water discharge in some of the water schemes.”

However, efforts are on to supply water through 26 water tankers deployed in the Bhoranj area of Badsar division to maintain water supply, besides installing additional hand pumps.

The hand pumps installed by the IPH Department have either become non-functional or supplying poor quality water

Shimla, June 14
Mercury dipped across the state as most parts received pre-monsoon showers over the past 24 hours.

Barring Kullu and the tribal districts of Kinnaur and Lahaul Spiti , all other districts experienced moderate to heavy rain. Nahan recorded 71.6 mm of rain which was the maximum in the region, followed by Agaar (Hamirpur) 71 mm, Dharmasala 51.8 mm, Shimla 51.2 mm, Palampur 32 mm, Una 20 mm, Sundernagar 16.5 mm and Solan 15.5 mm.

Shimla recorded a maximum temperature of 24.5°C down from yesterday’s 25.8°C ,while the minimum came down to 15.3°C from 16.6°C.

Weather changed rather abruptly as the city recorded the hottest ever day on June 10, when the mercury shot up to 31.5°C. The city was lashed with heavy rain this morning which was accompanied by lightning and thunder.

Similarly, the maximum temperature dipped from yesterday’s 34.5°C to 326°C, but there was no change in the minimum temperature which remained at 21.76°C. Bhuntar recorded a maximum of 34°C ,which was down by 1.5°C, and the minimum also declined from 22.19°C to 21.3°C.

Hamirpur, June 14
The ongoing tussle between the HP School Lecturers association and the Education Department on the issue of teaching of classes IX and X has now been casting a shadow on the studies of students in senior secondary schools.

While school lecturers are sticking to their stand of not teaching classes IX and X in addition to classes XI and XII, students have been left high and dry with TGT teachers also refusing to teach them.

At Patta government senior secondary school, 144 students of classes IX and X are not being taught for the past over two months. There are reports that studies of classes IX and X have been affected at many other schools also.

President of the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) of the school Mukesh Sharma says, “Fiftyeight students of class IX and 86 of class X are not being taught as both lecturers and TGTs are refusing to teach them for the past two months.”

He said, “The PTA has already written to the Chief Minster and the education authorities and has sent signed memorandums to the school principal and deputy director, education, Hamirpur.”

It is learnt that five lecturers and several TGTs have been appointed in this school, but none of them is ready to teach despite requests from the PTA and orders from the authorities concerned.

Deputy director education Amar Nath Sharma said, “The government has already circulated its orders dated May 11 in which it has been made clear that lectures have to teach classes IX and X besides plus-two classes and in their absence, the classes should be taken by TGTs, failing which disciplinary action would be initiated.”

“ I have already taken up the matter with the director of education and am waiting for action in the matter” he added.

Shimla, June 14
Due to the old association with renowned personalities like Rudyard Kipling and the British Viceroys with certain remote places and old rest houses in the state, the State Tourism Department wants to capitalise on them to promote eco-tourism.

Wanting to promote eco-tourism in a big way, the government intends to woo tourists to the untouched areas in the interior parts of the state, by tracing their link with names like Rudyard Kipling and other senior British officers like the viceroys. Kipling, is known to have penned some of his famous works during his stay at some of the old forest houses in the interior parts of the state.

Taking cue from states like West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh and Uttaranchal, where wildlife sanctuaries, parks and zoos’ attract lakhs of tourists from all around the world, the government has made up its mind to focus on this area. All the prime properties of the Forest Department, which are most suited from the tourism point of view will be identified.

The Forest and the Tourism Department have identified 250 forest rest houses all over the state, which they want to throw open to tourists. With these rest houses being used only by government officials, a lot of money will have to be pumped in to renovate them and equip them with modern bathrooms, kitchens and other amenities for the convenience of visitors.

Literature about the old association where famous personalities have stayed, mostly during the British period or post independence, will be displayed at the rest houses.

The state has 32 wildlife sanctuaries and two national parks, having a large variety of wildlife, including some rare and endangered species. “To attract wildlife enthusiasts, the sanctuaries and parks in the state need improved internal management on scientific lines,” admit forest officials.

The Forest Department, too, is keen that eco-tourism should be given a fillip as the rest houses, some of which are lying in quite a shabby state can be renovated and maintained. “Besides ensuring better maintenance of these rest houses, the department will be able to generate revenue by opening its properties located in the most vintage locations for tourists,” said a senior forest official.

Solan, June 14
The munificence of police officials may cost them dearly with the examiner local funds accounts (ELFA) issuing directions to the officials to explain their position for short-realisation of penalties. The penalties were collected in lieu of compounding offences under the Motor Vehicles Act.

Though the matter had been hanging fire for the past several months, fresh directions from the ELFA have now put the officials in a tough situation. Problem arose when a special audit conducted by the ELFA found that the fine collected by the officials was much lower than the maximum limit. Each official has been asked to explain the shortfall ranging from Rs 50,000 to Rs 70,000. This is supposed to be paid by the official himself if the replies filed are not found convincing.

The officials are granted powers to compound offences under the Motor Vehicles Act. These offences include driving without requisite license, registration papers, not wearing helmets, driving in a drunken state, use of pressure horn, overloading, pollution etc. Fine ranging from Rs 100 to Rs 10,000 is charged for various offences, whereas if an official compounds an offence, he charges a lesser amount. An official is supposed to compound an offence after realising at least 50 per cent of the fine.

Officials, however, said it was an uncalled for situation as they were authorised to compound offences after charging a minimum of 50 per cent of the fine. They argued that there were hardly any cases where the realisation of penalties was lower than 50 per cent.

The officials asserted that the audit was supposed to ensure that there was no embezzlement of government funds, while lower realisation of funds was a matter upon which the court could give directions.

Bilaspur, June 14
Rakesh Soni, a goldsmith and general secretary Himachal State Youth Congress, was found unconscious at his shop at Barmana, 18 Kms from here on Thursday under mysterious circumstances.

Almost the entire jewellery in the shop is said to be missing. Sources said earlier in the day, two customers probably acquaintances of Rakesh Soni, visited him at his shop and later all the three left towards Sunder Nagar in Rakesh’s car and returned to the shop in the evening.

Nearby shopkeepers later confirmed that in the evening, Rakesh ordered three bottles of cold drink from an adjoining shop and after some time, when the cold drink vendor went to Rakesh’s shop to collect the bottles, he found the two customers pulling down the shutter of the shop and told him that Soni had suddenly taken ill and his condition had worsened and that they were rushing to bring a doctor. Both immediately left in Soni’s car.

The servant peeped in to the half closed shutter and found Soni unconscious and he raised an alarm. Soni was referred to PGI, Chandigarh. The police have registered a case and are investigating the matter. The abandoned car of Soni was found on the Berry-Panjgain road.

Shimla, June 14
The Railway Convention Committee headed by Kailash Joshi reviewed the functioning of the Shimla-Kalka section on Thursday. Besides, reviewing the position of staff and the finances, the five-member committee also inspected the Shimla Railway Station. Divisional manager, Ambala, H.K.Jaggi, said the committee was impressed with the amenities and cleanliness at the station.