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25 pc fare hike mooted to bail out HRTC
Delimitation
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Centre sanctions two new IRBs
Convert Jogindernagar rail line into broad gauge
Subsidised ration scheme to continue: CM
Heated exchanges at BJP meet
JBT students call off strike
Action plan to combat anaemia in women
CM urged to create national park to boost tourism
New Jawalamukhi NP chief takes charge
Banks told to strengthen security at ATMs
Forest cover on decline
Sale of tea gardens under lens
Bid to rape minor girl
Snow losses put at Rs 10 cr
Villagers demand shifting of power line
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25 pc fare hike mooted to bail out HRTC
Shimla, February 17 As per the proposal submitted by the Transport Department the fare for hill areas is to be increased from 74 to 92.50 paise per km and the plain areas from 47.50 to 59.40 paise per km. The hike will bring in an additional revenue of Rs 45 crore to the HRTC which is incurring a loss of about Rs 80 crore annually. If the government maintains the level of grant-in-aid at the existing level of Rs 40 crore the corporation will be able to overcome operational losses. Apart from the accumulated loss, the HRTC also has outstanding liabilities amounting of Rs 88 crore to various companies which supply spare parts and had also drawn money from the employees provident fund (EPF) to meet its day-to-day expenditure. It has utilised Rs 39 crore from the EPF for payment of salaries and also not deposited interest amounting Rs 11.38 crore towards the fund. Other outstanding payments include Rs 10.13 crore towards supplier companies, Rs 9.45 crore towards the special road tax and Rs 2.97 crore towards overtime of drivers and conductors. The HRTC has also availed its bank credit limit of Rs 30 crore to the extent of Rs 27.61 crore. The government had three years ago enhanced the annual grant-in-aid from Rs 27 crore to Rs 48 crore on condition that the HRTC will reduce the strength of its fleet from 1780 buses to 1500 by March, 2007. However, the HRTC not only violated the provisions of the MoU signed in this regard but also increased the number of buses to 1825. As a result the government reduced the grant to Rs 40 crore in the current year. Transport minister Krishan Kapoor blamed the previous Congress government for the poor financial health of the HRTC. The frequent increase in the price of diesel effected by the UPA government was also equally responsible. The rate of diesel has over the past four years gone up by 47 per cent, spare parts by 78 per cent, tyres and tubes by 50 per cent and batteries 119 per cent, leaving no option but to hike the bus fares. It will also provide the much-needed relief to the private bus operators who have been finding it difficult to ply their services. |
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Delimitation
Shimla, February 17 The Hamirpur parliamentary constituency will now be spread over five districts with the inclusion of the Dharmapur Assembly segment, hitherto a part of the Mandi constituency. In its place, the Jwalamukhi Assembly segment has been shifted to Kangra parliamentary constituency. Hamirpur seat will now comprise all the Assembly segments of Bilaspur(4), Hamirpur(5), Una(5) districts and the Dehra and Jawan-Pragpur segments of Kangra and Dharmapur segment of Mandi district. The Jwalamukhi segment has been under the Kangra parliamentary constituency to make up for the loss of Thural, the seat of irrigation and public health minister Ravinder Ravi, which has been wiped out in the delimitation exercise. There is no other change and Kangra comprises 13 seats of Kangra district and four seats of Chamba district. While Kangra district lost one seat, a new Manali Assembly segment has been carved out in Kullu district, which gained one seat, taking the total number to four. The addition of Manali makes up for Dharampur segment, which has been shifted to Hamirpur in the Mandi Lok Sabha constituency. It now consists of nine segments -- Mandi district, all the four segments of Kullu, three tribal segments of Bharmour, Lahaul-Spiti, Kinnaur and Rampur segment of Shimla district. There is no change in the constitution or status of Shimla (SC) Lok Sabha seat. There are, however, major changes in the Assembly segments. The number of seats reserved for the Scheduled Castes has increased from 16 to 17 with Solan, the seat of health minister Rajiv Bindal, falling in the reserved category. Rohru, the Vidhan Sabha seat of former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, has been reserved and in its place Kusumpti has been de-reserved in Shimla district. The Kumarsain segment has been wiped out and a new constituency, Shimla (rural), has been created. Gagret, the seat of former industries minster Kuldeep Kumar, has been de-reserved and in its place Chintpurni has been reserved for the Scheduled Castes in Una district. Santokhgarh has been renamed as Haroli. In Kangra district, Gangath has been renamed as Indora, Jwali as Fatehpur, Guler as Jawali. Pragpur (SC) has been de-reserved and renamed as Jaswan-Pragpur after merging parts of old Jaswan constituency, and a new constituency Dehra has been formed with the remaining areas. Rajgir (SC) has been renamed as Jaisinghpur (SC) and Baijnath has been reserved for the Scheduled Castes in place of Pragpur. In Chamba district, Rajnagar (SC) has been renamed as Churah (SC) and Banikhet as Dalhousie, while Chachiot in Mandi district has been renamed as Seraj. In Hamirpur district, Mewa (SC) has been re-christened as Bhoranj, Nadaunta as Badsar and a new constituency Sujanpur has been carved out, while Bamsen, the seat of Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, has been merged into Hamirpur. In Bilaspur district, Kot Kehloor has been renamed as Sri Naina Deviji. In Sirmour, Renuka will now be called Renukaji and Paonta as Paonta Sahib. There is no change in the number or status of seats reserved for the Scheduled Tribes. The Kinnuar, Lahaul-Spiti and Bharmour will continue to be reserved for the Scheduled Tribes. The delimitation exercise has been carried out on the basis of the boundaries of administrative units right from districts to patwar circles as on February 15, 2004. Similarly, the wards of Shimla Municipal Corporation, which have been altered several times in the recent past, will be considered on the basis of 2001 census data. |
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Centre sanctions two new IRBs
Shimla, February 17 Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal after a meeting with Union home minister Shiv Raj Patil at New Delhi today in this regard said that one battalion would be exclusively for men and the other would be exclusively for women. The women batttalion would be constituted for the first time in the state and would be trained in such a way so that it meets the security needs in terrorist and the Naxal-affected areas of the country. It would be specially trained to meet the international norms for deployment in the international peace missions under the aegis of the United Nations. He said the home ministry would provide Central assistance of Rs 25.50 crore as the raising cost for these battalions and in all 2,000 posts of different categories would be created in these battalions. Out of the total strength of 1925 rank post, 65 wireless staff and 20 posts of medical and ministerial staff would be created in these battalions. The Centre would also provide Rs 16 crore as capital cost for meeting the expenditure on creation of infrastructure which would be provided in the shape of grant-in-aid from funds allotted under the security related expenditure. He said all vacancies in these battalions will be filled shortly and the entire recruitment process will be completed by 2010. The state government would send quarterly report to the Centre on the status of these battalions. The state government would bear the annual recurring expenditure and also the balance of capital nature for providing the basic infrastructure for the battalions. It would also make the battalions available to the Centre as and when any exigency arises. It had been agreed that battalions could also be deployed in any part of the country which faces law and order problem but clarified that if battalions were deployed to any other states on request of concerned state. The Centre would bear expenses when such deployment was made to exempt category states like Jammu and Kashmir and North-East region. Dhumal said training to the recruits would be imparted as per the model syllabus so as to increase the operational efficiency of the battalion. At least 250 constables in each battalion would be trained as special task force with special capabilities to work in terrorist and the Naxal-affected areas. He said a selection board comprising representatives of the Central police force would be constituted to make all recruitments for the battalion and the entire recruitment process would be completed within two years. |
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Convert Jogindernagar rail line into broad gauge
Nurpur, February 17 He informed that he had already raised the issue of converting Kangra valley railway line into broad gauge before the Union ministry of railways but the same was shelved under the pretext of poor prospects for generation of revenue from this rail service. He informed that he had taken a plea that keeping in view of the geographical conditions of the state and promotion of tourism industry the Railway Department should overlook such condition of generation of revenue from this service. He pointed out that he had also taken this issue with the Prime minister, railway minister and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and the railway minister had assured him to earmark railway budget for the expansion of railway services in the state. He lamented that the former railway minister of the former NDA government had laid the foundation stone of Kalka-Parwanoo railway line but no work had been started so far on the proposed project. He informed that he had also raised the demands of improvement of railway stations, platforms and replacement of obsolete engines in the hill state. |
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Subsidised ration scheme to continue: CM
Chamba, February 17 Dhumal said the Union home minister had assured two more Indian Reserve Battalions for the state one for men and the other for women. He said that grant of Rs 25 crore had been sanctioned to those who rare animals, Gujjar and Gaddis to carry out their traditional occupation. He said that Rs 5 crore would be spend in Chamba district. He said the state government would be ensuring implementation of the Minimum Wages Act in public and private sectors and protect the interests of the workers of the state. He said the service rates would be applicable under the National Rural Employment Assurance scheme ensuing 100 days to every job guarantee holder card in all districts of the state. He assured completion of sewerage scheme of Chamba and construction of a new bus stand in Chamba on priority for which funds would be allotted. Earlier, Mohal Lal, district BJP president welcomed the Chief Minister and urged him for strengthening the regional hospital by deploying adequate medical professionals. The Chief Minister also inaugurate a Rs 70.35 lakh Ohli bridge across Kaded Khud on the Mangla-Ohli-Bharian road which would benefit residents of the local gram panchayats.
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Heated exchanges at BJP meet
Hamirpur, February 17 When Mankotia was hearing complaints of Nadaun Assembly constituency, few party workers had heated arguments with him. These workers were later pacified by the intervention of senior party leaders. The party panel today heard the complaints of Nadaun and Jaswan Assembly constituencies and on Saturday it had heard the complaints from Hamirpur and Ghumarwin party workers.
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JBT students call off strike
Hamirpur, February 17 The students, who had resorted to an indefinite fast on February 12, had created a lot of pressure on education minister I.D. Dhiman. On Saturday, parents of the students had also joined the agitation. On Friday, the students had declined to call off the strike when deputy director of education asked them to do so assuring that their demands would be considered sympathetically. However, the students had demanded a firm commitment from the government on conducting their exams. Concerned over the indefinite fast by four students, the district administration also made efforts to persuade the students. DC Nandita Gupta assured them on behalf of the government yesterday that steps would be taken to conduct their exams within six months. She also offered juice to the agitating students before they called off their strike. |
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Action plan to combat anaemia in women
Shimla, February 17 This was announced by health minister Rajiv Bindal while presiding over a function organised by Manas Kalyan, non-government organisation, for distribution of woollens to lepers, here on Friday. He said the health of the children could be assured only by taking proper care of the health of women right from adolescence. He said the proposed plan would envisage quarterly medical checkups of school children and the focus from VII standard onward would be on girl students. The complete computerised data of health status of children would be maintained and the measures would be taken to bring improvement. The plan would be implemented jointly by the Health and Ayurveda Department. He also announced that all ayurvedic hospitals in the state would provide free medical check up and treatment to senior citizens on every Tuesday. He also said the office of the chief medical officer would be shifted from Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Hospital to provide more space for out patient department. Referring to the problems of the local lepers he said the government would prepare a project for their proper rehabilitation and appealed to the non-government organisations to come forward and do their bit in this regard. He said government would extend full cooperation to such organisation and Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal had already demonstrated his resolve by granting financial assistance to NGO’s like Abhi and Udaan soon after assuming office. He directed the deputy commissioner Shimla to identify suitable land for rehabilitation of the cured lepers and prepare a scheme for providing employment to them. He announced a grant of Rs 10,000 for Manas Kalyan. Local legislator Suresh Bhardwaj said that he would take initiative to provide proper housing facility to the lepers lining near the railway station.
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CM urged to create national park to boost tourism
Chamba, February 17 These sanctuaries are replete with varied flora, fauna and avifauna where herds of Himalayan thars (kerth) and ibex have special attraction for tourists and the visitors. The merging of these closely located sanctuaries into a ‘national park’ will bring a heavy influx of tourists He has also suggested the construction of a national highway - Pathankot to Leh via Tissa, Pangi and Keylong from the defence point of view. Chowfla has also demanded a blanket ban on mining to save the fragile Himalayan slopes of the region.
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New Jawalamukhi NP chief takes charge
Dharamsala, February 17 There were only two elected women members in the seven-member nagar panchayat, which gave advantage to Manisha in being elected as the chairman, despite the fact that she was the lone BJP member. Soon after taking over the office, Manisha urged the state government to abolish house tax in this holy town.
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Banks told to strengthen security at ATMs
Shimla, February 17 “The banks can be provided police security at ATMs on payment basis in sensitive areas where they feel either their own or private security guards will not be effective,” additional inspector general of police and spokesman Vinod Kumar Dhawan told PTI today. More than half-a-dozen cases of the ATM robberies have been reported in the city itself in the past six months. There have been similar reports from other districts too. Dhawan said in most cases the cash was illegally withdrawn from the ATMs by stealing the codes. —
PTI |
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Forest cover on decline
Shimla, February 17 The latest report of the Forest Survey of India (State of forests-2005) has revealed that dense forest (having a tree-cover in excess of 40 per cent) has come down by a significant 48 sq km as compared to the previous report (2003). It has declined from 8,976 sq km to 8,928 sq km over a period of two years. It is a matter of concern as only 25.81 per cent of the total geographical area of the state is under forest cover. The moderate dense forest (having a tree-cover ranging from 40 to 70 per cent), which accounts for more than 50 per cent of the total green cover, has decreased from 7,883 sq km to 7,831 sq km, a reduction of 52 sq km. The only redeeming feature is that the very dense forest (having a tree-cover in excess of 70 per cent) has increased, though insignificantly. The very dense forest has risen from 1,093 sq km to 1,097 sq km. The increase has mainly been in the open forest (having a tree-cover ranging from 10 to 40 per cent), which increased from 5,377 sq km to 5,441 sq km. The increase is attributed to the plantations in Bilaspur, Mandi, Kangra, Shimla, Sirmaur and Una districts both in the government and private areas. The total forest cover stood at 14,369 sq km, which included 383 sq km of scrub forests. Good news for the industries is that the tree cover (trees outside forests) has increased significantly from 491 sq km to 709 sq km, which indicates that raw material is available outside the forests. The tree cover has been assessed through a sampling based approach using high-resolution satellite (5.8 m) data for the first time. Field inventory was carried out on 558-sample plots spread over four districts from 2002 to 2006. The forest cover and tree cover add up to 15,078 sq km, which comes to 27.08 per cent of the total geographical area of the state. The national forest policy lay down that at least 66 per cent of the area in hills should be under forest cover. However, with two national parks and 32 sanctuaries the protected wild life areas account for 12.93 per cent of the total as against the stipulated 4 per cent.
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Sale of tea gardens under lens
Palampur, February 17 Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal has directed the Revenue Department to look into these cases and submit a detailed report so that necessary action could be initiated against the guilty, including buyers and sellers. It may be recalled that there is a complete ban on the sale of tea gardens in Himachal under Section 7-A of the H.P. State Land Revenue Act. It is learnt that in most cases the owners of tea gardens who had availed benefits under the HP Land Sealing Act and retained excess land also sold their tea gardens in gross violation of the law. Permission for the sale of tea gardens could be only granted in special cases of utmost importance like setting up of defence units, cantonment and other government establishments but in the past three years persons with political backing managed to secure the government nod overnight. Many outsiders, including Tibetans, have also succeeded in buying tea gardens and other landed property in the region. It is on record that earlier most of the tea gardens sold in the valley have been converted into housing colonies. |
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Bid to rape minor girl
Dharamsala, February 17 Police sources revealed that Jai Singh (42), son of Uday Pal Singh originally hailing from Ghaniava village in Pratapgarh district of UP, pretending to be blind sought the girl’s help to take him to his house. He took her to a building under construction in the Chilgarhi area where he tried to rape her. The frightened girl narrated the incident to her parents but they did not immediately inform the police due to social implications. It is learnt that he has admitted his crime. Jai Singh runs a dhaba in lower Sakoh village near the town. He was arrested from the dhaba. The police revealed Jai Singh was earlier also convicted in a case of raping a girl in Damtal village of the district in 1995. He was sentenced to 10-year imprisonment and released in 2003. He then started working in a local dhabha but later started his eating joint in Sakoh village. |
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Snow losses put at Rs 10 cr
Chamba, February 17 The figure has been arrived at on the basis of preliminary reports gathered by various departments. The DC said the district officers had been directed to submit the final report on losses to their respective departments. District officers had also been directed to carry out restoration work in interior snowbound areas and resume essential services such as electricity, water supply and transportation on priority, he added. However, there was no report of any casualty due to cold in any part of the district in the wake of recent snowfall, he said. The DC cautioned those residing on high-altitude slopes to beware of avalanches.
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Villagers demand shifting of power line
Prini-Haripur(Kullu), February 17 The villagers cutting across the party lines have constituted action committee demanding immediate shifting of the transmission line. This line poses constant life hazards for the farmers as it has been installed through the middle of the apple orchards without their consent. As per the CEIAA instituted by the union government cabinet in 2006, the project needs permission of the villagers after their grouses are well addressed. The villagers in panchayats of Prini, Gojra, Karzan, Soel, Haripur, Halaan, Naggar, Dehnidhar, Poend, Tharman, Shargie, Grahan, Beoli, Kais and Ardandi in the entire stretch where AD transmission line is being installed have come in open opposition to the high-voltage line. All the panchayats pardhans have signed the memorandum, which have listed the names of more than hundred villagers affected by the line, demanding they would never allow the transmission line on the present site. The protesting villagers have urged Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal to direct the district administration to the stop “illegal work” on the line as it poses constant hazard to farmers and would destroy tourism and beauty. The villagers demanded that the government should either shift the line or lay the underground cable for the line. They pointed out that the company earlier took their agricultural land for the 192 MW project site, destroyed the ecology of sacred Duhangan river by cutting and damaging thousands of trees for constructing a road. “Now they are killing our orchards by installing high voltage transmission line, rued Gudi Devi, pradhan, Archandi. Both the AD in charge transmission line, Ditoo Panickar and conservators of Kullu and Mandi maintained that central environment and forests ministry has yet to give its nod for the transmission line as it involves cutting down of over 10,000 trees on the forest land involved in the course of the line between Prini-Nalagarh substation. Deputy commissioner, Kullu, Abhishek Jain said, “The committee has been set up to look into grievances of villagers arising not only due to transmission line, but due to the project in general. I am not aware about its proceedings as I am in New Delhi for a meeting.”
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