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Coldest Night in Shimla
Four days on, 40 stranded in Lahaul valley
Studies first priority, CM tells teachers
Nauni varsity staff seek switchover to GPF
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Work on Shimla-Parwanoo four-laning to begin in six months
Work on Rohtang tunnel from May
NHPC spending Rs 40 cr on roads
Bank director continuing in violation of norms?
Beopar mandal seeks dialogue every six months
Roving traders evade taxes
Minister detects LPG misuse
at dhabas
CM to look for new seat after delimitation
Restoration of temple to pujaris opposed
Educational hub planned near Baddi
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Coldest Night in Shimla
Shimla, January 20 Meanwhile, Shimla today recorded the coldest night of this winter season at 0°C, while the minimum temperature at Patseio in Lahual-Spiti plummeted to minus 18.5°C, the met office said. Mercury plunged below the freezing point not only in the tribal area but also in most of hill stations like Narkanda, Manali and Dalhousie. Water pipes in some areas burst due to freezing of water. The temperature in Lahual valley ranged from minus 10°C to minus 20°C. Kinnaur was slightly warmer with Kalpa recording a minimum of minus 8.2°C. Narkanda had a minimum of minus 3°C and Shimla 0°C. Kalpa received 8 cm of fresh snowfall and Solang Nullah received 15 cm. In Kinnaur, a worker of the general reserve engineering force (GREF) Paras Ram Mirtha, a native of Jharkhand, died after he was hit by a boulder while removing snow to open the road at Pangi Nullah near Reckong Peo. Another labourer Tsering Gattu who was working for a private contractor died in snow clearance operation near Tapri. In yet another accident one person was killed and three others injured an Indica car fell into khad after skidding near Bhabhanagar. The deceased was identified as Satish Kumar of Bari village. Pooh division remained cut-off for the 12th day today and many parts of the district were without electricity as power supply was yet to be restored in 62 out of the total 262 transformers serving the area. A spokesperson of the GREF said it would be possible to open the road to Pooh by Wednesday, provided there was no more snow. The local met office has forecast isolated snow and rain over the next 24 hours. DALHOUSIE: Dalhousie, the famous hill station, received snowflakes today thereby plummeting the mercury to 3°C according to an official report received here today. The peaks of Chamba district have been experiencing heavy snow for the past four days continuously while the low-lying areas have been having widespread rain accompanied by thunderstorm. The snowy weather has paralysed the normal life in Chamba district. The interior link roads have been blocked due to snow and landslip at different points following widespread rain. The horticulture experts predicted that snowfall in the high altitude apple belts is beneficial for the ensuing apple crop. |
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3 killed in landslide
Hamirpur, January 20 Chhote Lal (50) a resident of Nepal, Jethu Ram (35) belonging to Chhatisgarh and Deepak (24) a resident of Jharkhand have died in the incident and Sunil (20) and two other labourers were seriously injured. The incident occurred at about 3 pm when all of them were carrying out digging work for construction of a library in the NIT campus. |
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Four days on, 40 stranded in Lahaul valley
Mandi, January 20 Sources in the Keylong district hospital said on phone that the 15-year-old girl admitted to the hospital had been referred to the regional hospital or the IGMC, Shimla, for further treatment. There are three other patients who await transportation to Kullu. The area has recorded over five feet snowfall so far. Although the district administration received the flight schedule today from four different helipads of Stingri, Tandi, Warring and Udaipur from the state secretariat, no flight could take off due to bad weather. The BRO and the PWD have cleared the helipads, but the life continues to be at a standstill in the tribal belt. SDO(civil), Lahual-Spiti, Vinay Kumar said more than 20 passengers, including one seriously ill patient, await transportation from Keylong to Kullu. “We hope four flights will take place from four different helipads tomorrow,” he added. |
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Studies first priority, CM tells teachers
Shimla, January 20 He said it had often been observed that schoolchildren were forced to attend public meetings wasting their study time and putting them to inconvenience. Henceforth, school children would carry on with their studies and not seen standing on the roadside to welcome the dignitaries visiting their areas. Every educational institution would be at liberty to organise various functions, sports events, extra-curricular activities and the school management must encourage active participation of every student. The teachers needed to concentrate more on students and carry on teaching with dedication and commitment. In the age of cut-throat global competition every available minute was required to be utilised for equipping the students with better knowledge and skills, which could help them shape their careers. He said that the valuable time of schoolchildren would not be permitted to be wasted in observation of social formalities. He warned that failure to comply with the orders would make the government take stringent action against the errant teachers. Dhumal said efforts would be made to create congenial educational environment in all institutions, where students could pursue studies without any distraction. Extra-curricular and sports activities were also required to be promoted amongst the students for their overall personality development. However, focus had to be on the academic activity. He appealed to the teaching community to give their best to the students and help the state emerge as the knowledge hub of the country. It had also been observed that during public meetings and on certain other occasions community lunches were being served in educational institutions. It must be ensured that educational institutions were not made the venues for public meetings on working days. It would go a long way in creating proper academic environment in the institutions. He said the authorities should ensure that the school premises were not used for private functions. At times students were forced to clean the mess created by such functions, which needed to be avoided. |
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Nauni varsity staff seek switchover to GPF
Solan, January 20 Association president O.P. Thakur and general secretary Man Mohan Sharma told The Tribune that while two other universities of the state had introduced this scheme, they were yet to get a second chance for the switch over. It was in 1997 when the university employees were given an opportunity to exercise their option to opt for either the GPF-cum-gratuity scheme or to continue the CPF-cum-gratuity scheme. Emphasising their claim, the association said majority of them could not avail its benefits due to sheer ignorance. While the employees of the two universities, including Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla, and Agriculture University, Palampur, were given a second opportunity to opt for the change, they were denied the same. They alleged that it was done on purpose. The university took plea of Provision 9 of the scheme, which held that the option once held was final. The other two universities had allowed a second chance to their employees leading to its implementation in 2002 and 2005 respectively in both universities. The employees further held that since the issue involved no financial liability, there was no hassle in allowing a second option. This was clarified as per a letter written by the controller to the principal secretary (horticulture) in May 2005. A delegation of the association that had met health minister Dr Rajiv Bindal requested him to intervene. Lack of interest of the university authorities was clear from a letter written by vice-chancellor Dr Jagmohan Singh to the additional chief secretary (horticulture) on November 28, 2007, at the time when code of conduct for the bygone Vidhan Sabha poll was in force. While the letter states that out of 108 employees, about nine had superannuated while two had expired, it also mentions that it cannot be presumed that all 97 employees would opt for the scheme and hence they would continue to be covered under the existing CPF scheme. The employees alleged that these adverse comments clearly gave an indication that the authorities did not want to exercise the second option.
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Work on Shimla-Parwanoo four-laning to begin in six months
Shimla, January 20 The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) is in the process of finalising the detailed project report for the section, which will have three tunnels, including a major one under the Barog hill. In all a 106 km length from Parwanoo to Dhalli is proposed to be four-laned at an average cost Rs 15 crore per km. The matter was discussed at a meeting under the chairmanship of chief secretary Ravi Dhingra here last evening at which the chairman of NHAI, N. Gokul Ram, was also present. Work on the Zirakpur-Parwanoo section is already under way. The detailed project report will be approved over the next three months and the second package of work (Parwanoo-Solan section) will be awarded by June next with a completion time of three years. Thereafter, the detailed project report for the four-laning of Solan-Shimla section will be revised which could take up to a year. There is proposal to have two major tunnels at Shogi and Kusumpti to bypass congested portions. If all goes as planned the entire highway will be four-laned over the next five years. The problems related to acquisition of land and obtaining various clearances for the Pinjore-Kalka-Parwanoo bypass were discussed at the meeting. Out of the total 12 km length of the highway, which will be constructed on a newly aligned 5 km portion falls, which falls in Himachal Pradesh. The chief secretary directed the Forest Department and the pollution control board to speed up the process of clearances and ensure that all queries and issues were settled within two weeks. It was decided that work on the toll plaza and other infrastructure required at the entry point should also start immediately so that various departments do not face any problem in collection of various taxes after opening of the realigned highway. The state government has urged the Centre to four-lane the 67 km Pinjore-Baddi-Nalagarh-Swarghat highway, which serves the largest industrial hub of the region. The volume of traffic has increased manifold over the past three years due to spurt in industrialisation in the wake of the package of incentives granted by the Centre in 2003. CHANDIGARH: Dr Rajiv Bindal, Himachal health and family welfare minister, told The Tribune on sidelines of a function organised by the Panchnad Research Institute here yesterday that widening of the strategic Parwanoo-Shimla highway would provide a major relief to commuters and tourists to the hill state. On completion of the alternative Chandigarh-Baddi road, the minister said the Himachal government would again take up the matter with the Punjab government to complete its stretch of road so that various stakeholders could benefit from the road connectivity. |
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Work on Rohtang tunnel from May
Shimla, January 20 Chief Minister
P.K. Dhumal said here today that as per a communication received from union minister of state for defence
M.M. Pallalm Raju the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) had floated global tendered for the execution of the project. The tendering process would be over shortly and construction would start by the middle of this year. He said he would urge with the Centre to ensure continuous flow of funds for the speedy completion of the project. The state government would extend all possible help to the BRO for the smooth and speedy implementation of the project. He said former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was instrumental in making the project a reality. He took keen interest in the matter and passed necessary instructions for preparing the detailed project report. All necessary forest and environmental clearances had been obtained and the project would be completed by 2014. Work on approach roads to both portals measuring about 26 km had already been completed by the BRO. The tunnel would help shorten the distance between Manali and Koksar in Lahaul valley by 46 km and it would remain open for most part of the year. To ensure that snow and avalanches did not block the approach roads, construction of snow galleries was being proposed for the first time in the
country. Dhumal said Lahaul valley was known for its quality seed potatoes, quality off-season vegetables and other allied agriculture and horticulture produce that had global market. The growers of the valley had been depending on single crop for livelihood due to difficult geophysical conditions in the valley. With the completion of the tunnel, not only the distance between both ends would get curtailed, but the cash crops would also be marketed to different destinations more conveniently. |
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NHPC spending Rs 40 cr on roads
Dalhousie, January 20 The adjoining areas of NHPC projects are being immensely benefited due to the construction of bridges and widening of roads. Executive director of the NHPC (region-II) Nain Singh said a 500-m tunnel aligned with the Chamba-Bharmour tribal highway near Kharamukh, leading to the famous sacred pilgrimage centre of Manimahesh, had already been opened to vehicular traffic. The work to widen the 46-km Jarangala to Kharamukh tribal highway stretch and 30-km Goli to Chamba portion of the Chamba-Pathankot highway was in full swing for which around Rs 24 crore were being provided to the government’s Public Works Department (PWD) in a phased manner, he said. |
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Bank director continuing in violation of norms?
Hamirpur, January 20 The Act and bylaws of the bank say that no person can hold an office-of-profit in the bank if any of his relatives is employed in the bank, but the present vice-chairman continues to do so. Though the matter has been raised by some directors and the employees’ union at different levels, inquiries ordered in this matter have not yielded much due to red-tape and other considerations. The para 59(c) of the bylaws of the bank says, “He or she (director) ceases to be a member of the board of director in case he himself or any of his relatives accept an office-of-profit”. In this case, the brother of the wife of vice-chairman got appointed in the bank in 1999 while he was continuing as elected director of the bank. Even the clause 41(2) of the government cooperative rules of 1971 clarifies that “a member of the committee (director) ceases to hold the office if he or his near relative becomes a paid employee of that society”. Sources in the bank say the issue had been raised in the board meeting several times and even the employees’ union had taken it up with NABARD and an inquiry was ordered. Managing director of the bank Dhurv Vashisht said, “Rules are clear about disqualification of a director if any of his relatives is employed in the bank, but he cannot comment on a specific case.” The vice-chairman of the bank maintains: “Disqualification is attracted only if the director is involved in the recruitment or appointment of his close relative.” Telling about the inquiry conducted by the cooperative department, deputy registrar of cooperative societies,
Dharamsala, M.P. Bhardwaj said, “The inquiry report in the matter has been submitted to the office of registrar of cooperative societies at
Shimla.” |
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Beopar mandal seeks dialogue every six months
Bilaspur, January 20 Addressing mediapersons here on Saturday after the meeting of the mandal standing committee, state beopar mandal president Hem Chand Sood said the beopar mandal was fully confident that Dhumal would restore the process of dialogue between the state beopar mandal and the government which was kept blocked by former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh in the past. This had resulted in wide-spread corruption among some officers and lower staff connected with the trading community and also harassment of thousands of traders and shopkeepers of the state. Sood urged the Chief Minister to restore the previous convention of holding a high-level meeting with the state beopar mandal under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister every six months to solve all pending problems of the trading community. He said there was the pending problem regarding implementation of VAT and also rampant corruption, market fees, various types of challans and court cases, most of which were used as an instrument of extracting and extorting money from shopkeepers by the staff of concerned departments. |
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Roving traders evade taxes
Chamba, January 20 They are going door-to-door and selling their costly items under the nose of the authorities concerned but nobody seems to be bothered about their business. By this way, they are evading huge taxes, which is a loss to the state exchequer. No doubt, these roving traders are providing classic and costly commodities to the customers on cheaper rates and simultaneously the customers too are asking them to book their valued orders for the next time. Such traders are coming from different parts within the state. The business of these traders had posed a major threat to the local businessmen who are honestly paying the VAT of their sold items to the state exchequer, feels local shopkeepers. Even some officials were also reportedly involved in this malpractice but the Taxation Department had failed to nab such traders and curb this activity. It may be recalled that the people of this area have not yet forgotten much-publicised scam of M.S. Traders who decamped with lakhs of rupees paid to them for booking costly goods. The fraud took place in May last year. |
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Gang of telephone cable thieves busted
Nurpur, January 20 According to information, the accused gang members Kamal, Vicky and Shaka along with a gunny bag were witnessed by a local youth in suspicious condition at 6.15 am at Chogan here near the shop of a kabari. He informed SDO of the BSNL Tilak Thakur who immediately rushed to the spot and informed the police. Before the police arrived he caught one of the members of the gang and handed him over to the police. Later, the police nabbed two members of the gang and took possession of the gunny bag containing 17 kg of copper wire, which was taken out by burning telephone cables. According to the police, a case has been registered against the accused. It suspected the involvement of this gang into a number of thefts of telephone cables committed during past few months in the area. The accused belonged to Sansi tribal community who are living in jhuggis at Bassan da Mor and Jabbar Khud. It is pertinent to mention that the burgeoning menace of thefts of telephone cables in the area has not only put a large number of telephone subscribers in hardship but also perturbed the BSNL authorities in Kangra district. |
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Minister detects LPG misuse
at dhabas
Bilaspur, January 20 A number of these shopkeepers were found misusing household LPG cylinders instead of commercial ones meant for use in such shops. He is said to have warned the shopkeepers against the misuse of household LPG cylinders. Dhawala said the commercial use of household LPG cylinders was a major cause of their shortage. He ordered the officers concerned to take action against commercial consumers for this misuse. The minister also got an LPG cylinder weighed to ensure that it was of the same weight as written on it. |
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CM to look for new seat after delimitation
Shimla, January 20 Dhumal’s Bamsan seat in Hamirpur district would be re-christened as Bhoranj (reserved) seat after delimitation, sources said. His predecessor and five-time CM Virbhadra Singh would also have to search for a new constituency as his Rohru seat in Shimla district would become reserved. He had won from Rohru for the sixth consecutive time this year. Delimitation would also dislodge state health
minister Rajiv Bindal from his Solan seat that would be reserved for SC candidates.
— PTI |
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Restoration of temple to pujaris opposed
Bilaspur, January 20 The association said the pujaris earlier did not spend any money on providing facilities to the devotees or improving the temple. That was the reason why some social organisations had demanded that the temple management should be taken over by the government. The formation of the temple trust was welcomed by all, except pujaris. In a representation sent to Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, the association has said there may be some temples in the state which were taken over by the former Congress government due to mala fide intentions, but even while restoring such temples to their earlier managements, the government should ensure that such managements spend at least 50 per cent of total collections on temple development and facilities for devotees. |
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Educational hub planned near Baddi
Kumarhatti, January 20 Sources said bids had already been invited under the project for setting up institutions in the educational hub that would be spread in 55 hectares. “The idea is to tap potential in the border belts of Paonta Sahib, Kala-Amb, Parwanoo, Barotiwala, Baddi, Nalagarh, Mehatpur, Tahliwal and Gagret. These areas have been developed as industrial belts of the state,” they said. The step would endeavour to meet investors’ dreams and needs besides attracting “institutes of excellence” in the field of primary and secondary education, science, engineering, technology, IT, medicine, bio-technology etc. In order to keep pace with the technological advancements and accommodate growing needs of professionals, a need was felt to reinforce the development of the belt by equipping the area with a state-of-the-art educational hub having all types of educational institutions. It would have top-class infrastructure and support services. These might be developed by HIMUDA or by shortlisted institutions as mutually agreed upon, sources said. |
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