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PM likely to visit HP this month
HC shuts down Dhangu Majra, Damtal stonecrushers
FM’s announcements with an eye on poll: Dhumal
Sanawarians set two records in athletics
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11 convicted for felling trees
Diploma engineers resent stagnation
Seed treatment campaign planned
HPAIC workers without salary for 6 months
Plea to promote organic farming
NSUI to honour teachers
Tibetan Admn blames China for disturbing peace
State gets 36 pc deficient rain this year
‘BJP disturbing peace in state’
Undertrial commits suicide in Kangra court complex
NREGA to be extended to 8 other dists: CM
Kaushal welcomes PC’s announcement
4 hurt in mishap
Hoteliers upbeat
Lauded
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PM likely to visit HP this month
Shimla, October 3 The Congress leaders are themselves terming the cancellation of the visit of the Prime Minister to the state capital on September 30 as a blessing in disguise. Two central ministers, P. Chidambram and Oscar Fernandes, who addressed a rally here yesterday also made some announcements on behalf of the Prime Minister. Though the date for the visit of the Prime Minister has not been finalised he is likely to come here towards the end of October. Since one big rally has already been held in Shimla he might now come to Kangra or another place in lower Himachal. The top state leadership of the Congress is hoping that Manmohan Singh, besides announcing the Rs 1270-crore relief on account of damage due to rain and floods, would give liberal financial assistance to the state. Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and other senior leaders have already met UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh to chalks out the poll strategy. “Since the Assembly elections are due in February next year the high command has already chalked out an extensive plan where Himachal will be high on its priority list and a lot of projects could come its way,” said a senior minister. After losing out Punjab to the Akalis, the Congress high command is keen to retain Himachal. The state government has sought a relief of Rs 1270 crore as damage on account of rain and relief. The fact that the cancellation of the Prime Minister’s visit is being made an issue by the BJP, the state Congress leaders are keen that he visits Himachal at the earliest. It was as a damage-control measure to send two senior ministers to Himachal to launch the national ‘aam aadmi bima yojna’ from Shimla. The BJP has always accused the central government of giving step-motherly treatment to its own government in Himachal. As such the high command is keen that this notion is wiped off by announcing a number of sops as a run-up to the elections. |
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HC shuts down Dhangu Majra, Damtal stonecrushers
Shimla, October 3 A Division Bench comprising Mr Justice Deepak Gupta and Mr Justice V.K. Ahuja further directed that no mining operations or crushing operations could be permitted to continue in the above-said areas till a well thoughtout working-cum-environment plan was formulated. For this purpose the court constituted a four-member high-power committee to look into all aspects, especially concerning environment, and recommended whether any mining should at all be permitted in these areas or not. The court further directed the committee that while formulating the plan it would hold public hearing and would also hear the crusher owners before taking a decision in the matter. Sanjeev Gupta, IAS, will head this committee with Vineet Kumar, conservator of forests; secretary of the Pollution Control Board and state geologist Arun Sharma as its members. The court directed the committee to file its report before December 31. The Bench also directed that no mining or excavation of sand etc. would be carried out by any of the crushers in the Damtal and Dhangu Majra areas mentioned in the report of the state geologist. The court also directed the Kangra deputy commissioner and the SP to ensure that all adequate assistance was made available to the committee. |
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FM’s announcements with an eye on poll: Dhumal
Shimla, October 3 In a statement issued here today Hamirpur MP P.K. Dhumal said the announcements had been made by the union finance minister with an eye on the the Assembly poll just six months away. “The Congress regime has had a change of heart towards the common man only with an eye on the elections, due in February next year,” he said. Dhumal said after exploiting the youth, farmers, fruit growers, employees and daily wagers the government is now trying to woo the electorate by making hollow assurances. “The Congress can no longer befool the people of the state with schemes like the aam admi bima yojna as the people have made up their mind to vote the Congress out of power,” he said. Dhumal said it was impossible to complete the Bhanupali-Barmana rail line within a short span of two years as it has been pending for the past 25 years. “Similarly as far as the Nangal-Talwara rail line is concerned only a 30-km line has been laid in the past 34 years and Congress claims of completing the remaining 63 km in two years is an impossible task,” he said. The BJP leader said since the Congress came to power there has been rampant corruption, price rise and unemployment. “It is only the family members and relatives of Congress leaders who have been getting jobs, ignoring merit and the deserving candidates,” he said. State BJP general secretary Khushi Ram Balnatah said once again the Congress-led UPA regime had disappointed the people of Himachal. “There was no mention of the Rs 1270 relief sought by the state government on account of the damage due to rains and flood,” he said. Balnatah said that the attitude of the central government had always been non-cooperative towards Himachal. “Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during his last visit to Himachal in 2005 had announced a package of Rs 4,200 crore but nobody knows what happened to that and even the two central ministers made no mention of it,” he said. He said the Centre had till date not extended the special industrial package given to Himachal till 2013, as proposed earlier during the NDA regime. “An announcement has been made with regard to opening of an IIT and a central university but no venue or budgetary provision had been made for this,” he remarked. Balnatah said that there was contradiction in the promise made by the Prime Minister and what union finance minister P.Chidambram announced here yesterday. “While the Prime Minister had promised that the Bhanupali rail line would be taken up as a national project, it has now been said that the Centre will share 75 per cent of the cost with the state,” he said. |
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Sanawarians set two records in athletics
Chandigarh, October 3 As many as 14 events were conducted during the athletics meet for boys as well as girls. The Himalaya House lifted the overall house championship trophy, while the Kalinga Cup for the best athlete (Boys) was awarded to Karan Hora and Nippon Singh. The Bala Cup for the best athlete (girls) was awarded to Christina Hansingh, while the Fatehpal Cup for the best athlete (under-14 years) was won by Karan Huindrom. A Friendly hockey match for boys and a basket-ball match for girls between the old Sanawarians and the present Sanawarians were also organised. A performance by the school orchestra titled ‘Bandish-Symphony’ and based on ragas and western classical modes, was also presented. Kathak, solo songs, an English play, musical chairs which had three acts by Ronald Mackenzie and ‘Long Long Ago’, a Piana act, were the other attractions of event. The school website with two domains - sanawar.in and sanawar.edu.in was launched today. The website will give a glimpse of all school activities and school news. Being an interactive website, each parent will get a separate login and password to enable them to access their child’s activities, results, appraisals and other information. A link will also be provided for the old Sanawarians website. The website has been developed by the school’s department of computer science and information technology. The evening came alive with a tattoo, comprising a bouquet of sound and light events put up by the students. This included mass PT and gymnastics, performance by the all-girl bugle band and karate. For the first time in the school’s history, a choreographer from Bollywood, Uma Shankar Khilnani, who is a part of Saroj Khan’s troupe has trained students for about two months. Under his training, 80 students performed a western dance and the grand finale dance. The sequences included latino salsa, bachata and the jazz. The grand finale dance was Dandia Ras, performed on the occasion of Navratras. Dandia, garba, manjira, , matka and gof, from different regions of Gujarat were presented by boys and girls. The tattoo show came to an end with all dancers forming the figure of 160, symbolic of the 160th founders day being celebrated this year. The evening was rounded off with a dazzling fireworks display. |
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11 convicted for felling trees
Sundernagar, October 3 The convicts belong to various villages under Gohar police station. The accused were nabbed by forest and police officials on 29-11-04 at Kelti in the Hilunu forests. The joint team found that the accused had felled four Deodar trees without any permit and converted these into 18 sleepers. |
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Diploma engineers resent stagnation
Nurpur, October 3 In a joint statement issued by Balwan Singh and Anil Gautam respectively, president and secretary of the association lamented that diploma engineers in the HPSEB had been awaiting their promotions for 30 years, whereas, degree holders had got five promotions within the same period. Opposing the practice to promote degree holders against reserve posts earmarked for diploma engineers, they warned that the state association would launch a statewide agitation to protect the interests of the diploma engineers. |
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Seed treatment campaign planned
Shimla, October 3 Director of agriculture J.C.Rana said here today that the campaign would be conducted on the pattern of the national pulse polio campaign to ensure that no farmer was left uncovered. He said seeds of all crops were generally infected with seed-borne and soil-borne diseases, insects and pests which not only affected germination but also the growth of crops at various stages. Seed treatment increases germination and ensures uniform crop emergence along with improved plant population. It also protects seedlings from early season diseases, insects and pests. The department had set up seed treatment campaign coordination committees at the state, district and block levels and demonstrations were being organised in farmers’ fields. |
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HPAIC workers without salary for 6 months
Nurpur, October 3 He said if HPAIC was keen to close these loss gathering units, the workers serving in these units should be transferred to other wings so that they could not face starvation due to non-disbursing of salaries. HIMAGRICO is the lone prestigious unit in the North India manufacturing quality agricultural implements and tools. But due to apathy of HPAIC it has been facing closure. Though it had formulated a working plan for the revival of this unit in April this year, but it did not work out. Inquiries reveal that under the proposed strategy the 50 per cent requirement of agriculture implements, road and forest tools by the public works, agriculture and forest departments had to be met through this unit. Apart from this a proposal to grant a working capital of Rs 50 lakh to HIMAGRICO was also submitted to the state government. The frontal workers organisation of the ruling Congress INTUC had struggled for the cause of workers of these units and had resorted to peaceful agitation in April this year. State INTUC general secretary Rajnesh Sharma had spearheaded the agitation. Now reacting sharply on the failure on the part of the HPAIC management to release salaries of workers and employees of these units in time, the state INTUC president Baba Amerjeet Singh said on telephone that he was taking up the issue with Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh. “In case the management adopted the same dilly dallying attitude, INTUC would again resort to agitation under the leadership of its state general secretary,” he asserted. The MD and the GM were not available for comments. |
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Plea to promote organic farming
Dharamsala, October 3 He was addressing scientists and experts on organic agriculture, policy makers, planners, progressive farmers and students after inaugurating a seminar on agriculture markets and marketing of organic products, at Palampur today. He said the entry of all chemical inputs meant for agriculture should be banned in the state as chemically produced food was causing irreparable loss to the human and soil health and damaging the fragile ecosystem. “Due to excessive use of chemicals, drinking water has also become full of hazardous chemicals throughout the country and spending on drugs and treatment has tremendously increased in India,” he added. It was wrong to think that farm production would decrease if organic agriculture was popularised. Time had come for organic agriculture and it would prove to be the most sustainable production system in the long run. He gave details about the increased production of various crops, livestock and poultry due to organic farming. |
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NSUI to honour teachers
Shimla, October 3 Addressing a press conference here, he said while the previous NDA regime completely ignored the state, the UPA had given it two premiere institutions of higher education. The Dhumal government failed to get any centrally funded institution for the state and managed only a private university at Waknaghat where students were fleeced and only 5 per cent seats were kept for Himachali students. The Centre and state governments had increased the education budget almost four times as a result of which the state was witnessing unprecedented expansion in the sector. As many as 31 new degree colleges had been opened in rural areas, he said. Since teachers and other employees were reluctant to serve in schools and colleges in the inhospitable tribal areas, the union had decided to honour the teachers who had put in more than 10 years service in these areas along with Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh. Pathania ridiculed the rival students’ organisation for demanding 8 per cent allocation for education when the government had already raised it over 20 per cent. This only indicated that their leadership was not aware of what was happening in the state. |
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Tibetan Admn blames China for disturbing peace
Dharamsala, October 3 The statement was issued with regard to the issue of 16 Tibetan children allegedly followers of the Shugden sect who were presently staying at the Tibetan Reception Centre. The local SP had issued notices to these children to leave the state within one week. He feared that their stay could lead to a law and order problem for the local police. The CTA today gave option to the newly arrived youths from Tibet to join schools or monasteries in India by shunning the Shugden sect. Those who were willing to do this could join monasteries by getting referral letters by the Tibetan Reception Centre for studies. However, the youths were adamant to continue to worship Shugden and insisted on getting monastic referral letters from them in Kathmandu. The youths and the representatives of the Shugden worshippers even approached Kashag on this issue. Despite repeated explanation and advice they continued to stay here, which had created concerns among the Tibetans in Dharamsala. Apprehending breach of peace and communal harmony, the local police had given notices to the youths to leave Himachal Pradesh within a week. |
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State gets 36 pc deficient rain this year
Shimla, October 3 Barring the tribal district of Kinnaur, all other 11 districts of the state received deficient rainfall. Kinnaur against a normal of 183.5 mm received 232.1 mm of rainfall with a surplus of 26. The other three districts which received slightly less than normal rainfall included Bilaspur (898.7mm), Mandi (1090.8mm) and Hamirpur (102.0mm). The districts of Chamba and Lahaul Spiti received scanty rainfall at 204.4 mm and 123.5 mm rainfall respectively. The districts of Kangra, Kullu, Shimla, Sirmaur and Solan also received deficient rainfall. |
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‘BJP disturbing peace in state’
Dharamsala, October 3 Party’s state general secretary Ajay Mahajan, state general secretary of the youth wing of the party Baldev Pappi, block president of the Nurpur Congress Karan Obrai and president of the Nurpur youth wing Sushil Mintu alleged the BJP leaders were indulging in violence. They said the violence in the BJP rally at Rehan in Kangra district on the day of Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary was a shameful act.
— TNS |
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Undertrial commits suicide in Kangra court complex
Kangra, October 3 He was standing outside the courtroom accompanied by two policemen and as soon as the judge called him to appear before him so that charges could be framed against him, undertrial Virendra Kumar (35) of Baidi village in Kangra district ran away from the police custody and jumped from the third floor. He was taken to the government hospital where he was declared brought dead. ASP Prem Lal said an FIR was lodged against him on July 7 following a complaint by his wife. She had complained that her husband used to beat her up regularly for not bringing dowry. Since then, he was in the judicial custody and was lodged in the Dharamsala jail. He had reportedly applied for bail which was by the court, but no one turned up to sign the bail bond. The ASP said policemen Kushal Chand and Ajeet Singh, who had brought Virendra Kumar to the court, had been suspended from the service for negligence in duty. “A departmental inquiry will be initiated against him,” he added. |
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NREGA to be extended to 8 other dists: CM
Nahan, October 3 Virbhadra Singh said the government had decided to double the PDS quota to all categories of ration card holders from October onwards. Himachal was the first state to have made such a provision to check the rise in prices of essential commodities. The government was committed to making Himachal Pradesh a " knowledge hub" where private participation would be encouraged. The opposition had no issue against the Congress government and had been making futile attempts to attract the attention of the people. Speaking at another function at Kafota in the Shillai Assembly constituency, he said an ITI would be opened at Kaffota. He announced upgradation of the Kamrau sub-tehsil as a full-fledged tehsil. He said Dr. Rajendra Prasad Govt. Medical College, Tanda (Kangra) had been completed at a cost of Rs 400 crore. A medical college would be started soon at Mandi while another private one would begin at Hamirpur. The Chief Minister later laid the foundation stone of the Rs. 2.2-crore Rohgvi-Piabhar-Mashli water supply scheme which would serve 19 villages of the area. |
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Kaushal welcomes PC’s announcement
Bilaspur, October 3 Talking to mediapersons here today, he said during his three tenures as MP, he had been raising the issue with the Central Government and also in Parliament. Though he got repeated assurances, it was for the first time that such a categorical announcement had been made about the project. |
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4 hurt in mishap
Kumarhatti, October 3 The truck (HP-12 A- 7321) was allegedly moving on the wrong side. The bus was on its way to Reckong Peo from Chandigarh.
— OC |
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Hoteliers upbeat
Manali, October 3 “The regular flights will not only rope in high-end tourists, but also market Himachal as a destination for all seasons,” said Sonia Thakur, who runs Heritage village resort, near Naggar, in Kullu. The hotel occupancy rate in Manali had dipped to 20 per cent over the past few months and hoteliers were offering heavy discounts, even up to 50 per cent, to tourists. However, all this had not changed the things much, they added. “High-end tourists look for high-end facilities, but Manali has just a few hotels that offer top-class facilities,” they said. Majority of the guesthouses and resorts offer medium-class facilities. They need to upgrade facilities to attract high-end tourists, tourism officials said. According to air ticket booking agents, the three airliners are getting a good response as the occupancy remains over 80 per cent even during the lean season. During summers, there is hardly any seat available as the waiting list stretches for many days, they added. |
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