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NREGS in eight districts from October 10
Industries milk exchequer
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CM leaves for USA
M.S. Traders’ Scam
Chief secy told to file affidavit
Dhiman raps Hamirpur admn for bad roads
New technology for mushroom cultivation
Pensioners for ‘special cell’ in AG office
BJP takes serious view of October 2 clash
Central varsity for Kangra, IIT for
Mandi: CM
March against SEZs held
BJP flays govt
2-yr jail for escape
Rohru defeats Chamba
PNB dharna
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NREGS in eight districts from October 10
The decision was taken by the state Cabinet here today. It also decided to introduce the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) with effect from October 10, 2007, in the remaining eight districts of Shimla, Solan, Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Una, Kullu, Kinnaur, Lahaul and Spiti, providing 100 days of assured employment to the job card holders. The scheme is already under implementation in Sirmour, Chamba, Kangra and Mandi. It sanctioned 1,456 posts in various departments and approved draft guidelines for issuance of essentiality guidelines for land transfer for regulation of hotel construction. The Cabinet decided not to retrench the work force under State Social Welfare Board and State Council for Child Welfare projects. The employees will be absorbed in various government departments and DC offices. It sanctioned 128 (class III) posts for board and the council, besides 50 posts of balwari teacher. It also gave nod for establishment of three permanent lok adalats under the Legal Services Authorities (Amendment) Act, 2002, to help settle minor service-related cases like electricity and water and approved extension of the validity period of the MoU signed between the government and India Cements Limited for setting up a cement plant based on Gumma-Rohana limestone deposits in Chopal for one year. It approved an annual income of Rs 12,000 to qualify for low-income certificates and sanctioned an ITI for the Chintpurni constituency along with nine posts initially with three trades. It accorded sanction for creation and filling of 300 posts of assistant librarian in the Education Department, 162 posts for Indira Gandhi Medical College, 284 posts for Dr. Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College, Tanda, to make the same functional on priority, 294 teaching and non-teaching posts for the newly upgraded 14 government senior secondary schools, 41 posts of patwari in settlement division, Kangra, to be filled from eligible and seniormost casual patwaris working in the same division, upgradation of 27 posts of junior engineer to assistant engineer by abolishing the equal number of posts of junior engineer in the Irrigation and Public Health Department, 16 posts of for newly created subdivision (civil) at Padhar (Mandi), 13 posts of assistant engineer (civil) in the IPH Department, among others. It approved amendments to the State Medical Education Service rules to include teaching experience of registrar for the promotion and recruitment of associate professor and approved recruitment and promotion rules for the posts of deputy director, CMO, medical superintendent, principal (training) from the feeder category of block medical officers in the Department of Health and Family Welfare. |
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Industries milk exchequer
Shimla, October 5 The state Vigilance Department and Anti-corruption Bureau has unearthed a fake F-form racket where several industrial units have been availing concessions on the basis of fake F-form. It was last week that the Vigilance Bureau here was intimated by the excise authorities at Tikamgarh in Madhya Pradesh that Form-F submitted by two industrial units was fake and not issued by them. They further stated that they did not even have the series forms of which have been submitted by the two units. The Vigilance Department has booked two industrial units,
R.K. Enterprises and Varun Enterprises, based at Taliwal in Una district for availing concessions on the basis of fake forms. With the excise authorities at Tikamgarh confirming that Form-F was fake, the two units will have to deposit an amount of Rs 44 lakh as penal tax, which includes penalty and interest. The Vigilance Bureau has now sought the details of all industrial units which have availed concessions by using Form-F from the Excise and Taxation Department. The record of all industrial units that have availed concessions between 2001and 2006 will be thoroughly scrutinized, said Virender
Kanwar, SP, Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau. Besides these two units, the Vigilance Bureau is also investigating the cases of Mahavir Chemicals, Ganesh Enterprises and Lakshmi Narain Corporation for a similar irregularity. After notices were issued to these three units they have deposited Rs 50,000 each with the Excise Department and requested it to assess the tax they have to pay. The Vigilance Bureau has brought sevewral other industrial units under the scanner. There have been complaints even in the past that many units came here only to avail concessions and were never keen on serious investment in
Himachal. |
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Snow halts motor rally
Manali, October 5 The motor rally was terminated at Keylong due to heavy snowfall in Patseo and Baralacha Pass and the rallyists were directed to return to Keylong, sources said. While about 5-6 inches of snow had accumulated on roads in Patseo, it was about 2 feet thick on the roads in Baralacha Pass forcing organisers to abandon the rally mid-way, they said. The decision was taken keeping in view the safety of the rallyists and the results would be declared on the basis of performance of the participants till Keylong, they said. As many as 145 teams, including six from abroad, were participating in the event which was flagged off from Shimla on October 2. The motorists were to traverse through Manali, Kaza, Dhankar, Gramphoo, Leh and Kargil, before finishing at Srinagar on October 8. The contestants included two women team who were to traverse through some of the highest motorable passes in the world namely Jalori Pass, Rohtang Pass, Kunzum La, Baralacha Pass and the highest motorable pass in the world in Tanglang.
— PTI |
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CM leaves for USA
Shimla, October 5 The Union Ministry of Finance has facilitated the meetings with World Bank executives for appraisal of the projects in the pipeline for funding. The bank loans are proving very beneficial to the state as these are in the shape of a 90 per cent grant though the Government of India. The projects to be discussed include additional funds for the state road project to the tune of $ 412 million for which the PWD had already conducted feasibility studies. The development policy loan of $200 million for the state had already been sanctioned by the bank. He will also hold meetings with the captains of industry there to woo foreign investment. |
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Judicial probe demanded
Balkrishan Prashar
Chamba, October 5 In its memorandum submitted to the chief secretary to the Government of Himachal Pradesh recently, the association demanded to institute legal proceedings against the departments and officials pinpointed for their lapse in the magisterial inquiry report. M/s M.S.Traders, who defrauded and fleeced the people of Chamba, have not be traced so far. The magisterial report submitted by inquiry officer Ritesh Chauhan, an IAS officer, had held almost all concerned departments involving the Excise and Taxation Department, civil and the police administration accountable in the case. According to official sources, the inquiry report had been submitted to the state government for initiating legal action against the erring officials under whose nose the cheating episode of lakhs of rupees was nurtured and nourished due to lapse on their part. What irked the affected people of the area was the administration’s reticence on the entangling business. The civil and the police administration failed to respond to the law. Over 100 persons had deposited their receipts amounting to about Rs 15 lakh with the inquiry officer. Through these receipts, the people had deposited huge sum in advance for the goods anticipated to be bought by them. The inquiry report revealed that owner of M.S.Traders, Sell Durai, son of Mathuvel of Tamil Nadu, along with five persons had started the business on April 23 in Chamba town and fled on May 27.
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Five to vie for Miss Tibet title
McLeodganj, October 5 They are Deeki Dolma (20) from Gangtok, Tenzin Dolma (21) from McLeodganj, Tenzin Pema (19) from Dehra Dun, Tenzing Dolma (25) also from Gangtok and Tsering Yangzom (20) from Kollegal, Karnataka. Lobsang Wanyal, the organizer of the Miss Tibet Pageant, said the winner of the contest would be given a cash prize of Rs. 1 lakh. The first runner-up Rs 50,000 and the second runner-up will get Rs 25,000. “These cash prizes will enable them to pursue higher education and training”, he said. He said as many as 10 women had applied but only five out of them were selected as per the rules and regulations. “I hope to have even more contestants in future”, he added. The first contestant, twenty-year-old Deeki Dolma is from Gangtok, Sikkim. She is presently doing her final year B.Com (honours) from Hindu College in Delhi. She said Miss Tibet was not just a title but a responsibility one held towards the community. “I will be the voice of the Tibetans to bring forth Tibetan issues to a broader audience all over the world. My call can help bring more supporters for the Tibetan cause. The second contestant, 21-year-old Tenzin Dolma is a local contestant from Mcleodganj. She wants to be a good human being, and whatever profession she takes up, she will keep in her mind that first and foremost she is a Tibetan. “Through media, I can help Tibetans get more supporters for their freedom ”, she hopes. The third contestant, 19-year-old Tenzin Pema is from Clement Town, Dehra Dun.. She has not set any goals for the future but would like to continue with her studies. “Miss Tibet can help the Tibetan cause by spreading the awareness about the Tibetan people's aspirations for a free Tibet. Through the pageant, Tibetan women can show the beautiful culture of Tibet”, Pema said. The fourth contestant, 25-year-old Tenzing Dolma is from Gangtok, Sikkim. She is working with a real estate company in Sikkim. Like other contestants, she said “The Miss Tibet Pageant is a platform that will help the world to understand that Tibet exists and Tibetans are suffering”, she adds. The fifth contestant, 20-year-old Tsering Yangzom is from the Tibetan settlement of Kollegal in Karnataka. For her, “Miss Tibet is a beautiful platform through which Tibetan women can show the unique culture of Tibet. They can also speak about the plight of the Tibetan people suffering under the Chinese occupation.” |
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Chief secy told to file affidavit
Shimla, October 5 A Division Bench further directed him to explain in his affidavit that how much amount was received by the state from these projects and how it was utilised towards compensatory afforestation, green belt development etc. The Bench further directed him to spell out the amounts received under various heads and the utilisation thereof projects-wise. The court passed these directions on a petition filed by Abhishek Sharma for protecting environment, ecology of Kullu district. According to the petitioner, minerals and sand are being extracted indiscriminately for the construction of power
projects. |
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Dhiman raps Hamirpur admn for bad roads
Hamirpur, October 5 He directed the administration to improve the roads so that no inconvenience was caused to people. Dhiman also asked the administration to expedite work on the sewage scheme which had led to the worsening of the condition of roads. The PAC chairman directed the officers to decide the long-pending issues at the earliest and not to divert funds to other works. The other PAC members present at the meeting were Asha Kumari, Surender Pal, Ramesh Chand Dhawala, Baldev Sharma and Harbans Rana, all MLAs. |
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New technology for mushroom cultivation
Solan, October 5 The technology, first of it’s kind, will give a big boost to growers as it will cut the cropping cycle by as much as 2 to 3 times. A team of scientists comprising Dr O.P. Ahlawat, Satish Kumar, V.P. Sharma and R.P Tewari told The Tribune that the new technique had the potential to give a good competition to superior varieties like the white button mushroom on the basis of it’s cost efficiency, superior aroma and texture. Jubilant at the breakthrough Dr Ahlawat said: “The introduction of this technique is crucial since paddy straw mushroom, which is the oldest variety, is cultivated in most of the South East Asian countries like China,Taiwan, Indonesia and Thailand. China alone produces 6 lakh tonnes of mushroom per annum both for local consumption and export.” The most significant achievement is the fact that the earlier technique gave a low yield of nearly 10-15 per cent dry substrate. This made mushroom cultivation economically remunerative. In India, this mushroom is cultivated under natural conditions in Orissa, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Kerala but it has low biological efficiency of nearly 8 to 10 per cent dry substrate. This new technique has made mushroom cultivation possible even at higher temperatures of 28 to 35°C and that, too, on comparatively cheaper agro-industrial wastes. Further with the cost of production coming down to nearly Rs 20 per kg, it will prove to be a viable option for the growers. He said the new technique would not only just give higher mushroom yield but would boost the overall mushroom production in the country. |
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Pensioners for ‘special cell’ in AG office
Chamba, October 5 In a press note issued here , district president of the association P.C. Oberoy said as per the notification of the Himachal Pradesh Finance Department issued on October 17 last year, the pension of all those who retired from government service before January 1, 1996, was to be revised on the basis of pension being drawn by them as on January 1, 1996. |
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Mountain biking rally flagged off
Shimla, October 5 The participants were flagged off by chief secretary Ravi Dhingra and Mayor Narinder Kataria, including last years’ champion, Satish of the Indian Army and top international cyclists like John Nobel, a Nobura expert from the USA , and Hugh Kingston from Australia. With more than 50 per cent of the participants coming from aboard, the competition will bound to be tough for the Indian participants. Keeping in view that foreign cyclists are more experienced than Indian cyclists, the organisers have created two categories for them along with the overall championship. Prizes will be give for the overall champion of the event along with top cyclists in the Indian and foreign category. President of the Himalayan Adventure Sports and Tourism Promotion Association (HASTPA), Mohit Sood, said if the government took steps, the state would emerge as a hot-spot on the international mountain biking map. The organisers had some anxious moments when Phil Giles from the United Kingdom and Aslam from Jammu and Kashmir lost their way near Mashobra. Rescue vehicle swung into action and located them. The bikers would have to cover 650 km during the event which concludes at Manali on October 14. |
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BJP takes serious view of October 2 clash
Nurpur, October 5 The clash took place in the presence of BJP national leader Shanta Kumar. The police had to intervene to restore peace on the dais. The supporters of former minister Rajan Sushant and his political detractor former BJP mandal president Arjun Thakur had indulged in violence and exchanged blows to prove their political strength before the party’s stalwart. The primary membership of Thakur in the party has been denied by Kangra district BJP president Vipin Parmar. The BJP insiders said the BJP high command had taken a serious note of the clash as the assembly elections were just four months away. Thakur claimed that he had been given the primary membership of the BJP for 2003-2008 by the then general secretary of the Kangra BJP Vipin Parmar at Chamba rest house in Pathankot. |
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Central varsity for Kangra, IIT for
Mandi: CM
Shimla, October 5 Talking to mediapersons today, he said the district administration of the two districts had been directed to locate a suitable site for the two projects. “While there is a requirement of 500 bighas for the Central university, a chunk of 300 bighas would have to be identified for the setting up of the IIT,” he informed. The Chief Minister is keen that the place and site is identified so that the foundation stone could be laid well before the elections. It was Union finance minister P. Chidambram who had announced the opening of a Central university and an IIT in the state, while addressing a rally at the Ridge on October 2. With an eye on the Assembly elections in February next year, the Congress is keen that the Centre clears some mega projects for the state. |
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March against SEZs held
Mandi, October 5 Talking to the reporters after submitting a memorandum to the President through the DC, Mandi, executive member of the manch Kashmiri Lal and state convener Deshbandhu claimed that the SEZ and Reliance Fresh and multinational companies had entered the country in large numbers which would push the country's farmers and small-time retailers out of business. |
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BJP flays govt
Shimla, October 5 In a statement issued here, state secretary of the BJP H.N. Kashyap said despite the state government bringing about 18 amendments in the Panchayati Raj Act, 1994, the panchayats had still not been given the powers. “The transfer of powers to the panchayats that was to take place during the 10 Five-Year Plan has not been done so far. As a result, the authority promised to the pradhans and others had not been given,” he said. |
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2-yr jail for escape
Dharamsala, October 5 Sources said 11 police personnel of the escort party had also been booked under Section 223 of the IPC for negligence in duty. However, they were let-off under Section 4 of the Probation of Offender's Act on furnishing Rana reportedly escaped from the window of a public toilet near the office of Una SP before being produced in a fast-track court.
— TNS |
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Rohru defeats Chamba
Kangra, October 5 Rohru defeated Chamba by 25:17 with Parveesh being the best shooter of Rohru who scored 14 baskets. Tarseem of Chamba Polytechnic scored 6 points. The results in the badminton category are: Girls singles- Sheetal of Hamirpur defeated Anjali of Chamba Polytechnic by 21:6, 21:9. Doubles- Hamirpur defeated Chamba in both the sets scoring 21:9 and 21:5. In another badminton category: Singles - Meenakshi of Government Polytechnic College, Kandhaghat, defeated Sawati of Polytechnic College, Kangra, by 22:20 and 21:19. Doubles- Meenakshi and Tok of Kandhagahat defeated Sawati and Nidiba of Kangra by scoring 21:17, 19:21 and 20:19. Government Polytechnic College, Amboata, defeated Government Polytechnic College, Hamirpur, in a cricket match by scoring 137 runs for 9 wickets in 20 overs. Amboata lost by 1 run. Joint director, Technical Education, Ashok Kumar Ahuja inaugurated the meet. |
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PNB dharna
Mandi, October 5 |
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Shimla, October 5