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HRTC MD fails to appear before Garg panel
Power supply to Dabur’s Baddi unit stopped
HC seeks status report on pollution
Shanta’s mother passes away
Set up units in hill state, CM to Himachali NRIs
Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh interacts with Himachali NRIs in Washington on Tuesday. |
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Govt agrees to scientific culling of wild animals
Staff seek relaxation in recruitment rules
Raising of shops in Chowgan decried
Golf tourney at Naldehra on October 13
Cong ‘not ignoring’ Changar project
NHRC seeks report from state govt
Fisherman saves woman
Officials skip JCC meeting
Kanshi Ram remembered
Shikhar award for Chitra Mudgil
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HRTC MD fails to appear before Garg panel
Tribune News Service
Dharamsala, October 9 In a message sent to Justice Garg, the officer had sought two days to appear before the committee pleading that he was busy in official work that could not be postponed in the interest of the state. Considering his request, Justice Garg granted him two days and asked him to appear before him on October 11 at 11 am in the district magistrate’s court here. However, Ramesh Dhawala, BJP MLA from Jawalamukhi, appeared before the committee and presented a report of his party’s fact-finding team on the issue. He said the dance scenes shown by the news channel appeared to be indecent and as such the act of Bali was condemnable. “It has brought shame to our society and the state as a whole”, he said. Chairman of the Block Development Committee (BDC) of Nagrota Bagwan Geeta Devi in her statement said the minister was nowhere seen in the footage shown by the channel. The persons shown in the news were Bali’s son and son-in-law, she added. Contrary to her statement, vice-chairman of the BDC Ramesh Chand said the person shown in the news was Bali and his conduct as shown in the news was indecent. He alleged the party arranged by Bali’s friend Raj Arora was pre-planned and everything was in the knowledge of Bali. He said the power supply and the cable network were disrupted in his area while the news was being telecast. Ramesh Chand said he, along with his colleagues, went to the local police post to lodge a complaint in that regard and it was only after his efforts that the power supply and the cable network were restored after some time. He said few influential persons of Nagrota Bagwan on Monday evening had threatened him of dire consequences if he appeared before the committee to record his statement. Fearing threat to his life, he had telephonically lodged a complaint with the local police station last evening itself and to the local SP today morning, he added. President of the Gurkha Association Arun Bisht, who along with his 14 supporters submitted affidavits in favour of Bali, said Bali was a leader of the masses and his sudden resignation had not only hurt him but also his community. Claiming that there was nothing indecent in the party, he said Bali had become a victim of a deep-rooted conspiracy. Ramesh Chand Rana, additional superintending engineer of the electricity board, cable operators of Nagrota Bagwan and Kangra and a few other persons also appeared before the committee to record their statements. Star News files SLP in SC
Star News today filed a special leave petition (SLP) in the Supreme Court to seek exemption from appearance before the one-man Justice O.P. Garg committee. The Garg committee had summoned the chief executive officer and reporter of the news channel for deposition tomorrow. Amrit Lal Sharma, assistant commissioner to the Kangra district magistrate, who is assisting the judicial committee, said he had received a telegraphic message from the Star News authorities, saying that as they had filed an SLP in the apex court, the hearing by the committee be adjourned till the final decision of the SC. “I have handed over the telegraphic message to Justice Garg”, he said. Justice Garg said that he would pronounce a decision on this message tomorrow. |
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Power supply to Dabur’s Baddi unit stopped
Solan, October 9 The irregularity was noticed by board’s executive engineer Brij Bhushan on Saturday afternoon. He was informed that a dark-coloured effluent was found flowing in the Sandholi Nullah. It appeared to have been freshly dumped. Acting fast Bhushan conducted a spot inspection of the entire stretch of the nullah and caught Dabur India’s chavanprash unit openly dumping their sludge into the nullah. Since sludge consists of organic effluents which are rich in heavy metals, it is considered highly toxic for the aquatic flora and fauna. Its management agreed that since the sludge tank had developed a leakage the sludge had found it’s way into the nullah. Not only was this sludge being dumped on the sly, but also the unit had been using a by-pass drain to let off their toxic effluents into the nullah. This was in violation of the norms where each unit was allowed one drain to let-off their treated effluents into the water bodies. The presence of this second drain proved that the nefarious activity had been going on in a planned manner and the unit was deliberately dumping toxic-ridden effluents into the water bodies. A report had been sent to the member secretary by the Baddi office on Saturday after the incident came to light. Gulati today ordered disconnection of the unit’s power supply as the laxity was considered a serious violation of the norms. Experts opined that the sludge which was the end-product of the effluent treatment system was required to be disposed of either by storing in lime pits or by an incinerator. The unit had been punished earlier for the same laxity some years ago when its power supply was disconnected and it was directed to make adequate arrangement for its sludge storage. Despite this, the unit had erred yet again and it appeared it was a habitual offender opined officials of the board who added that such erratic behaviour from reputed units was a matter of concern as each of them had the onus of abiding by the norms. This was the second major incident where a unit had been caught dumping untreated effluents openly in water bodies in the past fortnight. Earlier, a paper unit, Haripur Paper Mill, was also caught red handed by officials of the pollution control board dumping toxic effluents into the Sitomajri nullah on September 27. Earlier, pharmaceutical units, including J.C. International and Megha India limited, were found having no sludge storage facility at the unit site.
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HC seeks status report on pollution
Shimla, October 9 A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice V.K.Gupta and Mr. Justice Rajiv Sharma passed this order on a PIL filed by Abhishek Rai in this regard. According to the petitioner the minerals and sand are being extracted indiscriminately by using the same for the construction of power projects. The Bench further directed NEERI to see whether the “policy guidelines for registration, location, installation and working of stone crushers in Himachal” was in conformity with the laws of the land, if not, the suggestion be made this. The court also said NEERI will also see that whether the mushrooming of hydro electric projects should be permitted to be on the same river basin with in a short distance. NEERI will prepare the report after carrying out a field operation within a period of six months. The principal secretary, environment and pollution control of the state was responsible to coordinate with NEERI for the implementation of these directions.
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Shanta’s mother passes away
Dharamsala, October 9 As per the information available from family members, she had not been feeling well for the past few days. Her condition deteriorated in the afternoon and she breathed her last around 1.35 pm. Shanta Kumar was present by her side when she breathed her last. Her cremation will be held at Palampur tomorrow. A large number of BJP workers and local people thronged the residence of the BJP leader after the death of his mother. Shimla: Senior BJP leaders have expressed grief at the demise of the mother of senior Shanta Kumar. State BJP chief Jai Ram Thakur, Lok Sabha MP P.K. Dhumal, Suresh Chandel, state unit organisation secretary Mohinder Pandey, state BJP general secretary Khushi Ram Balnatah expressed sympathy with the family. BILASPUR: BJP leaders, including BJP state spokesman Randhir Sharma, BJP MLA K.D. Dharmani, former minister Rikhiram Kaundal, district BJP president Daulatram Thakur, general secretary Ashutosh Sharma, district party joint spokesman Vikram Sharma and former Kisan Morcha district general secretary Roshan Thakur, have expressed grief on the death of Kashalya Devi, mother of BJP national vice-president and former Chief Minister Shanta Kumar. Kaushalya Devi (93) had been ailing for some time. She breathed her last at her home at Palampur on Tuesday afternoon.
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Set up units in hill state, CM to Himachali NRIs
Shimla, October 9 Addressing a gathering of NRIs of the Himachali origin who called on him under the aegis of "My Himachal" group in Washington today, he said immense investment opportunities were available in various sectors in the hill state which had attained an higher growth than the national growth rate. He also apprised them of various incentives and facilities being made available to the industries under the central package and exhorted them to take maximum benefit out of the concessions. Himachal Pradesh had developed excellent infrastructural facilities and was surplus in energy with added advantage of a peaceful industrial climate. He congratulated "My Himachal" group members for setting up a Himachali Origin Association at the global level. He suggested that the association should organise social functions more frequently and invite native Americans to promote Himachali culture which would help project the state at the international level. He appreciated the group for instituting scholarship schemes for deserving students in the state and undertaking other social and economic programmes in various parts of the state. President of the "My Himachal " group Bhugol Chandel lauded the contribution of Virbhadra Singh in making Himachal a model for development of hill areas. He said that members of his group would act as ambassadors of goodwill from Himachal Pradesh to project its distinct cultural and historical identity to help boost tourism.
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Govt agrees to scientific culling of wild animals
Shimla, October 9 Principal secretary (forests) Ashok Thakur and chief wildlife warden Vinay Tandon made an announcement to this effect at the state convention of the HP Kheti Bachao Sangharsh Samiti here today. They said rakhas would be appointed under the Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme at the panchayat level. They said the state government would take up the matter with the Centre so that there was provision in the scheme for keeping rakhas at the panchayat level. They said rakhas would protect crops from boars, monkeys and other animals. The government had also decided to constitute a panel of hunters to undertake scientific culling of monkeys and other animals causing damage to the crops. As part of other initiatives to check the menace, the government would also take up the issue of lifting of ban on export of monkeys with the Centre. Convener of the HP Kheti Bachao Sangharsh Samiti Kuldeep Singh Tanwar said they would wait for one month for these announcements to be fulfilled. “In case the progress on this front is found to be unsatisfactory even after one month, kala jathas would visit the rural areas and make the people aware about the problem and the stance of the government,” he added. Tanwar said the samiti would hold its state-level convention on December 23 and invite people from all walks of life to take part in it. “The results of scientific culling of monkeys in Shimla and Sirmaur have shown satisfactory results and the monkeys are withdrawing towards their natural habitat,” he said. |
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Staff seek relaxation in recruitment rules
Kangra, October 9 General secretary of the State NGO Federation S.R.Azad said the demand was raised at a meeting of the federal house of the State NGO Federation chaired by president L.S.Machan here, which was attended by hundreds of office-bearers of various NGOs. He said under the present recruitment and promotion rules, most of the class III and IV employees had joined at a particular post and retired at the same post with out being promoted during the entire tenure. Azad said the house demanded that as the retirement age by the Central government employees was raised by two years from 60 to 62 years, in the same way it should be increased from 58 to 60 years for the state government
staff too. The employees demanded implementation of the Cabinet decision of providing interim relief to them immediately and also demanded releasing of another D.A instalment to them. The employees demanded increments on the Punjab Pattern on 4, 9 and 14 year basis. He said hundreds of office-bearers of different employees NGOs of 92 departments participated in the meeting to raise the employees issues. |
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Raising of shops in Chowgan decried
Chamba, October 9 While the upper part of the Chowgan public promenade was cleared off encroachments recently and is presently being regenerated and greened, Chowgan number-III - the central part of the park - is being damaged and disfigured with new encroachments. Sri Sanatan Dharma Sabha, Brahmin Sabha, Rajput Kalyan Sabha and other socio-religious organisations have expressed their anger and anguish over the desecration of Chowgan number-III where bodies are cremated. Besides, certain obituary rites are also observed there. Meanwhile, the association has hailed a special grant of Rs 5 crore sanctioned recently by the state government for the development of roads and other necessary infrastructure in Bharmour where lakhs of pilgrims from India and abroad pass while going to Manimahesh. The association has urged Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh to construct a ropeway from Bharmour to Bharmani Devi temple where lakhs of pilgrims visit during the Manimahesh pilgrimage. The Chamba chapter of the Indian National Trust of Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) has also demanded the construction of the ropeway which would also go a long way in boosting tourism industry in Bharmour tribal valley.
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Golf tourney at Naldehra on October 13
Shimla, October 9 Tourism additional chief secretary Avay Shukla said here today that the event being organised by the Himachal Tourism Department in association with Emaar MGF Land Limited was a unique endeavour to highlight the robust golfing infrastructure in the state. He said the championship was the first of its kind in the region and was expected to attract a large number of corporate executives from all over the country. Shukla said the event would help catapult the more than century-old Naldehra golf course into a favoured golfing playfield as well as a conference destination, thereby attracting high end tourist to the state. He said the golf course was being upgraded with the acquisition of another 40 bighas of land so that national-level tournaments could also be held here. The championship would be inaugurated by Governor V.S. Kokje, while power minister Vidya Stokes would preside over the concluding function.
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Cong ‘not ignoring’ Changar project
Bilaspur, October 9 Addressing mediapersons here at the circuit house, Thakur said earlier this project was only for a limited area and its expenditure was only Rs. 28.37 crore and now even the remaining dry panchayat areas of the Changar area have been included in it and its total cost would be Rs. 88.09 crore and it would irrigate 2,350 hectares of land and bring prosperity in all the panchayats. Criticising the BJP and the BSP leaders, Thakur said the leaders were rushing to media without first ascertaining the facts and they had their eyes on the elections. He said in the project, which would provide 25 cusecs of water from Nangal Hydel
Chennel, one cusec of water would be lifted from Tobba to Shri Naina Deviji town on expenditure of Rs 8 crore so that the pilgrim center was provided clean and safe drinking water throughout the year round. |
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Ration to Antodaya Families
New Delhi, October 9 Taking cognisance of a news report published in The Tribune, the commission directed that a copy of the report be forwarded to the authorities concerned. According to the report, families entitled to cheap ration under the Antodaya scheme had been deprived of the benefit.
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Fisherman saves woman
Bilaspur, October 9 Reports said that
Sulochna, alias Bubbly (25) of Garnad- Kapahada village, had come to Kandraur to look after her mother-in-law who was admitted in the government ayurvedic dispensary there. But
Sulochna, who was said to be depressed due to some reasons, is said to have jumped in to Gobind Sagar from the Kandraur bridge. Rattan Lal, who was fishing in his boat near the bridge, saw her falling in to the water and then struggling for life. He dragged her out of the water and rushed her to the near by dispensary, where later, she was declared out of danger after she received the first aid from the staff. |
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Officials skip JCC meeting
Chamba, October 9 However, presiding over the meeting of the JCC, Chamba DC Pushpendra Rajput ensured that efforts would be made to supply charcoal to all government offices in the district before November 15. At the JCC meeting, which was attended by more than 100 employees, about 34 issues were discussed, including vacant posts in various departments, upkeep of government residential buildings and other pending cases. |
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Kanshi Ram remembered
Bilaspur, October 9 Bilaspur Sadar BSP in charge and nagar parishad member Anil Kishore said members should take pledge to work for achieving India of Kanshiram’s dreams in which all Indians would live happily as brothers without any differentiation on the basis of caste, creed, region or religion. State secretary Kishorilal Sharma, Raj Kumar Chandel, Pankaj Bhardwaj, Lachman Dass, Nil Kashayap, Kishan Bhatia, Nandlal Chandel, Aashish Kumar, Ajay Hans and Rajiv Gupta also paid tributes to Kanshi Ram.
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Shikhar award for Chitra Mudgil
Shimla, October 9 President of Shikhar Keshav Narain said that the novel gave a soul-stirring account of the life of a woman and a skilful description of the agony of the downtrodden. The award, which carried a cash prize of Rs 51,000, would be conferred on October 22 at a public function at Dharamsala by Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh. Last year the award was conferred on renowned writer
Kamleshwar. |
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‘Govt creating new records in spread of education’
Bilaspur, October 9 |
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Water schemes for Nurpur
Nurpur, October 9 According to IPH executive engineer L.S. Thakur over 11,000 population of the area will benefit from these schemes. These schemes included the Treta-Jattoli, Dhiala-Chaniala, Balahat-Tiukar, Luharpura-Simbli, Chhabali-Danni, Sadwan-Lakhwal and Sirmani-Paddar water supply schemes.
— OC |
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House gutted
Dalhousie, October 9 |
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Chief Minister Virbhadra
Singh, who is on a week-long official visit to the USA, has invited NRIs
of Himachal origin to set up industrial units in the state.
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