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Old deodars become first casualty
Shimla toy train back on track
Engines overhauled
Bali Episode |
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SBI launches schemes for
apple growers
Kaushal embarks on ‘purification campaign’
Bara Bhangal to have road connectivity soon
Relief cheques distributed
Centre to give Rs 15 crore for slaughterhouse
Himachal Gaurav Puraskar
Mystery disease kills 7 animals
Relief for APL families
Nari Seva Sadan inaugurated
Scholarship plan for ST students
Minister visits rain-hit area
Health service providers
get training
Frequent leopard attacks scare villagers
Residents block highway
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Old deodars become first casualty
Shimla, August 22 Work for the construction of the Jakhu aerial ropeway began today with the axing of four deodars near the base point adjoining Hotel Shivalik View. Even though Jagson International Ltd has approval from the Union Ministry of Forest and Environment to fell trees, it left many, including school children, stunned when the actual pulling down of deodars began. It was after much deliberation and delay that the state government finally approved the Jakhu aerial ropeway in June. The company has been given permission to fell 31 trees though 108 tress have been identified that come in the way of the ropeway. Environmentalists had echoed their concern over the setting up of the ropeway as they felt that old British-era deodars would be lost. Their concerns assume significance in view of the fact that many deodars are drying while some that have attained their full age have developed flat tops. Environmentalist and state convener of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) B.S. Malhans said that one cannot replace a 100-year-old deodar even by planting 1,000 new ones. “Even the British undertook minimum constructions on the Jakhu hill, realising that it was very good for conserving water, besides being sacred because of the Jakh devta ,” he said. The project had been delayed for quite some time as the proposed site fell in the no- construction eco-fragile green area. In fact, the Town and Country Planning Department had raised strong objections to the proposal of the company to erect an 11-storeyed structure. Later, the company was asked to raise a need-based structure only. Even before the project was approved it was felt that the project would be an eyesore on the Jakhu hill, which is still covered by thick deodar and oak forests. “Even though the company is claiming that only 31 trees will be axed the other 108 trees that come in the way of the ropeway will also have to be removed,” admit senior forest officials. Moreover, some of the deodar trees here are 200-year old and are as good as heritage, they added. |
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Shimla toy train back on track
Shimla, August 22 The services have been restored on 60-km stretch of the 96-km distance between Shimla and Dharampur with three trips up and down daily, according to the divisional railway manager (DRM), Ambala, H.K. Jaggi. Repair work is in progress at Koti where around 200-m stretch of the track was badly, he said. The track on this section would be repaired in a week if the weather remained favourable, he added. He said the Railways incurred a loss of Rs 1 lakh daily because of the suspension of the traffic on the track. Superintendent of the Shimla railway station B.S. Gill said the response of passengers was poor today. “Many people are still not aware that the train services between Shimla and Dharampur have been restored,” he added. SOLAN: With a team of UNESCO officials slated to inspect the Kalka-Shimla rail track on September 11, the timely resumption of traffic on the 104-year-old track had become a cause for concern for the officials. A seven-member team will inspect the track and send its report for grant of heritage status to it. The team’s proposed visit is giving sleepless nights to railway officials. Men and machines are at work to make the entire track functional. Ever since the railway traffic hit a roadblock after a cloudburst and the subsequent washing away of the Koti railway station, the railway officials have been facing a tough time in getting the track restored. With today’s restoration of traffic on the Shimla-Dharampur stretch, three trains began from Shimla at 8.25 am, 10.30 am and 12.22 pm. Two trains later went back to Shimla at 1.35 pm and 3 pm, respectively, while the third train would leave at 7. 35 am tomorrow, rail traffic inspector Dinesh Sharma said. With a view to facilitate passengers who had already booked their tickets in advance, the officials were exploring the possibility of starting bus services to transport passengers from Dharampur to Kalka. The bus fares would be borne by the Railways itself. Arrangement of buses was being made, officials added.
— PTI, OC |
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Engines overhauled
Shimla, August 22 The diesel engines of the toy trains have frequent complaints of breakdown. “Though loco maintenance work is carried out on routine basis, the Railways used this suspension time to attend to major loco problems at its workshops at Kalka and Shimla,” said divisional railway manager (DRM), Ambala, H.K. Jaggi. — PTI |
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Panel seeks info from public
Tribune News Service
Dharamsala, August 22 Last week, the Division Bench comprising Chief Justice V.K. Gupta and Mr Justice Rajiv Sharma of the High Court had asked Justice O.P. Garg, who retired from the Allahabad High Court, to inquire into the matter responding to a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Vijay Kumar, a resident of Kangra district. After receiving the orders of the high court authorising him to conduct the inquiry, Justice Garg had sought the help of Amrit Lal Sharma, assistant commissioner to the deputy commissioner of Kangra, to collect relevant information and material related to the issue. The AC said anybody desiring to provide information or material in any format could contact him during the office hours at his office and submit the same by the end of this month. The one-member inquiry committee has said that the AC will have to give a duly signed receipt of the written information or material provided to him by any individual, group or party. Meanwhile, Justice O.P. Garg has fixed September 10 as the first date of hearing into the alleged allegations in the court of the district magistrate of Kangra at 11 am.
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SBI launches schemes for
apple growers
Chandigarh, August 22 The first scheme is to give infrastructure support to the existing apple orchards so that they can meet their capital requirements of pump-sets/irrigation systems, sprayers, other orchard equipments, transport vehicle and supports like water storage tanks, drip system, grading/storage/packing house etc. The second scheme is for rejuvenation of old apple orchards. Under the scheme, the old, low producing orchards will be replaced in phased manner with new varieties giving quality fruit. This will ensure continuity in flow of funds even to small orchards who don not have other orchards/alternate source of income. With this, more and more farmers who were earlier avoiding replacements in one-go will be encouraged to opt for the same. This, ultimately, will rejuvenate the old orchards of the state, leading to higher production of quality fruits and orchards will prosper. Repayment of such loans is convenient to the orchard owners without extra burden during the replacement period. Another interesting scheme is for financing lessee of apple orchards to meet the financial requirements of the lessee farmers who, in addition to their own orchards, take on lease the orchards of the farmers who find it difficult to manage/market their orchards/produce due to their engagements elsewhere. |
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Kaushal embarks on ‘purification campaign’
Bilaspur, August 22 He has demanded that either the Chief Minister should dismiss him from the Cabinet or ask him to resign himself for saving the image of the Congress in state. Addressing mediapersons at Circuit House today afternoon, he said Ramlal Thakur was defeated for the third time in the Lok Sabha election from the Hamirpur constituency only because he did not enjoy good reputation among the people. His defeat had also affected the image of the Congress. He said Thakur had amassed huge wealth after becoming minister. He also tried to mislead the Election Commission by giving wrong figures about his wealth while filing his nomination papers for the Lok Sabha byelection. Kaushal said despite clear rules framed by the government for filling anganwari posts and specific instruction from the Chief Minister that only the poorest of the poor and deserving candidates be appointed to these posts, Thakur pressurised officials concerned to appoint only those women who were recommended by him. He said this had caused resentment among people in Bilaspur district and thousands of poor families of district had turned against the government on the issue. He said such leaders should not be allowed to continue to indulge in objectionable activities as it would harm the party. He said he had to launch this “purification campaign” in the party because neither the Chief Minister nor the Congress president had bothered to set things right despite his repeated pleadings with them. He demanded a CBI probe into all anganwari appointments made in the district. |
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Bara Bhangal to have road connectivity soon
Dharamsala, August 22 The village is situated at a height of over 16,000-feet above the sea level is inhabited by ‘gaddis’, who along with their cattle migrate down during the winter and live in the Chota Bhangal and Bir areas near Baijnath in Palampur subdivision of the district. Presently, the residents of this village have to trek for three days to reach the village from the nearest roadside at Chota Bhangal in the district. From the other side in Chamba district also there is a trekking route to this village taking almost similar time to reach Bara Bhangal. The state government instead of connecting this remote village from the Baijnath side in Kangra district has proposed to connect it by road link from Chamba district. Once connected by road link, the total distance of Bara Bhangal from Dharamsala via Chamba-Holi would be approximately 285 km and it would take at least 14 hours to reach the district headquarters. A detailed project report in this regard prepared by the state government will be discussed for the sanctioning of this amount by the Union Ministry of Rural Development at New Delhi on August 27.Confirming this, PWD chief engineer R.S. Kanwar said this project would hopefully be sanctioned by the Union Government. |
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Relief cheques distributed
Nurpur, August 22 He disbursed natural calamity relief cheques of worth Rs 1,30,000 to 14 affected families and directed the SDM to conduct survey of loss occurred to private properties and disburse relief amount to the remaining affected families. He also sanctioned Rs 2.5 lakh for the construction of protection wall near damaged houses at Nage da Pail in the subdivision under the mid Himalyan and watershed development projects.
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Centre to give Rs 15 crore for slaughterhouse
Shimla, August 22 The approval was accorded in a meeting with the commissioner and other senior MC officials in Delhi recently. The ministry has agreed to provide Rs 15 crore or 75 per cent of the total cost of the slaughterhouse under the 11th Five-Year Plan. It was way back in 1994 that the MC had prepared an ambitious proposal for setting up a modern abattoir in the town. Till now, the slaughterhouse had been functioning from the crowded Krishnanagar locality. “In fact a sum of Rs 35 lakh was given to the housing board to construct the slaughterhouse but due to paucity of funds the project never took off,” said a senior official. The MC has already identified land near Boileauganj for the construction of the new slaughterhouse. The moment the money is received from the Central ministry, the work will be started. The abattoir will have modern equipment, putting an end to the manual killing of animals with sickles. It will have provision for slaughtering 250 animals and all facilities for cutting and cleaning of slaughtered chicken and fish. |
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Himachal Gaurav Puraskar
Shimla, August 22 The award could also be conferred posthumously. The person who was to be decorated with the award should either be a Himachali or the commendable job should have been done in or for Himachal Pradesh, he said. He said members of armed forces, police forces and recognized fire services were also eligible for the award, provided the life-saving act or gallantry was performed by them otherwise than in the course of their duty. He said those who saved others by endangering their own life and show exemplary courage were eligible for consideration of the award, besides those who had done commendable work in arts, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, civil services and other fields. —
UNI |
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Mystery disease kills 7 animals
Chamba, August 22 The report further said the team of veterinarians had been asked to take stock of the situation and find out the cause of the outbreak of the mysterious disease. —
OC |
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Prices of essential commodities slashed
Tribune News Service
Dharamsala, August 22 A senior official of the state government said the previous stocks pending with the depot holders or in the stores of the Civil Supplies Corporation would also be sold at the new rates. Rice would be provided to APL families at Rs 9 per kg. Earlier, the rate of rice for this category varied between Rs 9.50 per kg to Rs 11 per kg in different areas of the state. The rate of wheat flour has also been slashed to Rs 8 per kg at those places where it was sold above this price. At places where it was sold below Rs 8 per kg, the price would remain the same. The prices of pulses have also been slashed from Rs 30 per kg to Rs 25 per kg. The new rates will also be applicable to all ration card holders, irrespective of their economic status. Refined oil has also been made available at the ration depots and its price has been fixed at Rs 40 per litre. The price of mustard oil, which was earlier available at Rs 50 per kg, has been reduced to Rs 45 per kg for the APL families. Every ration card holder will now have the choice to purchase any of the two items (mustard oil or refined oil) to a maximum limit of two litres per month. Meanwhile, the Directorate of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs has asked all district controllers of the department to ensure that the new rates are effectively implemented at all ration depots. Around eight lakh APL families of the state will benefit from the move.
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Nari Seva Sadan inaugurated
Shimla, August 22 He said setting up of such institutions was an endeavour towards facilitating the neglected women of society who had no source of income for their sustenance. He said the government was according top priority to social sector and was spending half of the budgetary provision on the vital sector. “A total of Rs 60 crore was being spent annually on providing 2.37 lakh old age, widows and handicapped social security pensions,” he said. He added funds would not be a constraint in the fulfillment of social welfare commitment of the state government towards the vulnerable sections of society. Virbhadra said the state had three nari seva sadans at Shimla, Mandi and Chamba, while the fourth one was being opened at Nahan. He added, women were being provided free boarding, lodging, clothes, health care and vocational training for their rehabilitation. He said efforts were also being made to get such women married so as to ensure their future and give them social security for leading a respectable life. “There is need for change in the mindset of the people towards such women by lending them a helping hand in their rehabilitation,” he said. The Chief Minister assured all possible help to the nari seva sadan and advised the management to cater to their welfare. “One very important aspect is to provide these women emotional support so that they can overcome their misery and start life afresh,” he said. He added that irrespective of economic and social status, every girl student was being provided free education facility till the highest level, as a result of which women literacy rate was amongst the highest in the country. |
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Scholarship plan for ST students
Shimla, August 22 An official spokesperson said the scheme aimed at supporting meritorious ST students admitted to identified quality educational institutions by providing full financial assistance. The scheme would be implemented by the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs through the Tribal Development Department of the state. He said that 127 institutions had been identified by the Centre, including National Institute of Technology, Hamirpur. A maximum of five scholarships had been allocated to each institution.
— TNS |
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Minister visits rain-hit area
Kumarhatti, August 22 Mahajan has instructed the MC and HIMUDA officials to expiate the repair work. He assured to provide funds for the work. Earlier, he held a meeting with officials over the measures required to undo the losses caused during rain. As per the MC estimation, Rs 50 lakh properties were washed away in the flash flood.
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Health service providers
get training
Shimla, August 22 Speaking at the closing ceremony of the two-day training programme here , facilitator of the commission’s sector investment programme Neena Shandilya said the training would assist in bringing about a desired change in their attitude towards patients. |
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Frequent leopard attacks scare villagers
Hamirpur, August 22 In the Jandaru area at least 12 domestic animals have been injured by the beast. In Bhota and Dhalot villages too reports of leopard attacks have been coming. The injuries inflicted by leopards on domestic animals have not only created a scare but panicked villagers are now demanding steps from the Wildlife Department, including laying of traps. Even local panchayats have sent resolution to the administration demanding action in the matter. The wildlife officials say they are visiting the villages to take stock of the situation and steps would be taken after that. They have asked the villagers to be more vigilant. |
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Residents block highway
Nahan, August 22 Villagers, including representatives of Devni panchayat shouted slogans against the police and alleged that the police did not take any action against the 12 assailants of Haryana, who came on four bikes and one car and fled after thrashing two youths of Devni village last night. The villagers charged that they had nabbed two assailants and handed them over to the Kala Amb police, but instead of taking action against them the police had come to visit the spot in the car used by the assailants. After being assured that action would be taken the residents lifted the blockade.
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