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Probe report to be tabled in House
Singhi Ram, Rahi remanded
Cong rues false cases against partymen
NREGA launched in 8 districts
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Padyatra by single women
Transmission lines drain on forests
Nathpa-Jhakri generation target hiked
Steps to supply quality medicines assured
Justice should promote equity, says SC judge
Probe into land to Tibetans
CM to inaugurate sewage plant
Man gets 7-yr RI for raping minor
2 feared dead, 2 injured in mishap
Love affair behind death?
Villagers booked for hunting porcupine
Poverty led him to immolation
Youths’ Murder
Sabha seeks 70 pc jobs in hydel projects
College posts de-notified
Manimahesh Trust to preserve temples
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Probe report to be tabled in House
Shimla, April 1 This decision was taken by the state Cabinet here today. The government had entrusted the inquiry to IPH secretary Deepak Sanan to look into the irregularities in the appointment of PTA teachers during the Congress regime. Though the report has been submitted the government has so far not taken the final decision about the fate of over 8,000 teachers. The Congress, on the other hand, has been demanding that the government should not remove only such PTA teachers whose appointments were against the norms. The Chief Minister as well as education minister I.D. Dhiman have already stated in the Assembly that a lot of irregularities had been detected in the PTA appointments. It has been mentioned in the report that no interviews were held at certain places for appointment. A suggestion has been made in the report that the government should stop the grant-in-aid being given to meet the salary requirement of these teachers, which will leave the PTA teachers with no other option but to quit. Wanting to gain political mileage and embarrass the Congress, the BJP regime has decided to place the report in the House so that a detailed discussion can be held. |
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Singhi Ram, Rahi remanded
Shimla, April 1 Meanwhile, Surinder Malhotra, a retired deputy secretary in the school board, has been sent to judicial custody till April 11. He was arrested by the Vigilance Bureau last week for his alleged involvement in the case. Singhi Ram and Rahi have been booked for their alleged role in the fake certificate case on the basis of which Congress leader’s daughter, Upma Kashyap, took admission to Lady Sri Ram College, Delhi, on the basis of a certificate with 90 per cent marks issued by the Himachal Board of School Education. Interestingly, the CBSE Himachal plus two topper that year had secured 83 per cent marks while Upma was issued a certificate with 90 per cent marks. |
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Cong rues false cases against partymen
Shimla, April 1 The party expressed concern over the failure of the BJP government to sustain the supply of subsidised ration items through the public distribution system. Under the scheme, rice, wheat, atta, three types of pulses, two types of edible oil and iodized salt was made available to all sections of people at subsidised rates. The supply of these items, especially pulses and edible oils, had virtually vanished from fair price shops. |
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NREGA launched in 8 districts
Shimla, April 1 Speaking at the launch ceremony, he said the government would consider bringing about necessary changes so as to enable direct elections for the zila parishad, panchayat samiti, gram panchayat and other urban local bodies. “This will help in providing stability to these grass level units of democracy and make them more effective,” he said. Dhumal said all aspects of holding direct elections would be examined so that direct elections can be held. The government has decided to appoint 1,181 gram rozgar prerak under the NREGA to create awareness amongst the people about the benefits of the scheme so that maximum people are benefited and employment is provided to the card holders. He said each prerak would look after three panchayats as a result of which all 3,243 panchayats would be covered under the scheme. “The government is committed to empower the gram panchayats with more power so that they can function effectively for the speedy development of their areas,” he said. Dhumla said till now the NREGA had been launched in Sirmaur, Chamba, Mandi and Kangra districts but now the entire state would benefit from the scheme. He asked the panchayats to create awareness about the scheme, which aims at providing employment to youth within the radius of 5 km. Horticulture minister Narender Bragta and secretary rural development Srikant Baldi were also present on the occasion. HAMIRPUR: Hamirpur DC Nandita Gupta today inaugurated the NREGA in Hamirpur district at Bamsan block by distributing cards to eligible youths. She said availability of water is very important for developing life in the rural area and appealed the people to accord priority to water and land conservation. The DC said 14,609 works have been approved by different gram sabhas under this scheme and 14,530 cards have been distributed and asked the people to take maximum benefit from this scheme. |
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Padyatra by single women
Dhami, April 1 They could be fighting a lone battle against all odds but the spirit and courage of a strong contingent of 1,785 single women who embarked on a pad yatra from Dhami to Shimla today left everyone full of admiration and empathy. Women from eight districts of the state turned up in large numbers at Dhami to take part in the march, which will conclude at the state Vidhan Sabha on April 3. Carrying placards and banners they raised slogans in support of their demands. With help and support from 15 NGOs, including Sutra, women from Una, Kangra, Hamirpur, Sirmaur, Solan, Bilaspur, Mandi and Lahaul-Spiti districts started assembling in Dhami about 34 km from the state capital, last evening. Despite arrangements been made for older women to travel by cars, along with the march by others, most of them insisted on walking the 14 km distance from Dhami to Ghanatti. After spending the night at Ghannati they will walk till Hiranagar and day after will submit a memorandum to the Chief Minister outside the Assembly. The Sanghathan has been demanding pension for all single women above the age of 65, free health care facility, land on lease for farming and BPL status with separate ration cards in their own names. The response from the public has been overwhelming, as donations over Rs 8 lakh have been collected. Donations ranging from Rs 25 to Rs 35,000 have poured in to support the cause of single women from all over the world. “Some personal contacts like Des Hey, a Canadian teaching in a Honk Kong school has sent Rs 38,000 while a Canadian carpenter residing in Toronto sent $500,” says Subhash Mendhapurkar, director of Sutra. |
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Transmission lines drain on forests
Shimla, April 1 The department had taken up the matter with the government and urged it to take steps for the implementation of tentative transmission plan to ensure that there was no multiplicity of HT (high tension) lines as it will lead to massive deforestation as lakhs of trees. The data compiled by the department reveals that so far over 1.20 lakh trees had been axed in recent years to pave way for construction of transmission lines. It was an alarming figure if one takes into consideration the fact that very few transmission lines have been erected in the state, as the BBMB projects, which account for bulk power generated so far, are located at the border of the state. So far very few transmission lines have been erected to evacuate power from major projects like Nathpa Jhakri, Baspa, Malana and Chamera which together account for about 2,500 MW. The total potential of the state was 20,564 MW of which only 6,393 MW had been exploited and projects with aggregate capacity of 5,951 MW were under execution. Since the remaining projects were located in the interior so more trees will have to be felled to construct transmission lines for evacuation of 14,171 MW of power over the next decade. In all about 500 projects, including mini and micro-hydel schemes, will have to be constructed to exploit the full potential. If every project builds its own transmission line the total length of the network will exceed 25,000 km for which there was not enough space in the narrow valleys. The department is also facing problems due to singing of memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the execution of mini and micro-hydel projects without involving it at any stage. Once the MoU is signed it is under pressure to grant various clearances. The department had written to the government to associate during the pre-feasibility study stage so that forest and environment related issues could be taken care of before awarding the project. If the matter is brought to the department after singing the MoU, forest clearances are a fait accompli. |
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Nathpa-Jhakri generation target hiked
Shimla, April 1 A memorandum of understanding (MoU) to this effect was signed between Anil Razdan, secretary, power, on behalf of the ministry Sutlej Jal Vidyut Nigam CMD H.K.Sharma at New Delhi. The enhanced target will enable the nigam to generate revenue of Rs 1378 crore during the year from the country’s largest hydroelectric project. In 2007-08 the project achieved a record generation of 6450 million units, 509 million units more than previous year’s generation of 5941 units. It exceeded the target set by ministry for the year by 53 million units. Sharma attributed the performance of the project to efficient silt management and machine
management. The MoU also includes targets of construction of the 412 MW Rampur Project as per which the Kasholi adit of is to be completed in March, 2009, Goshai adit by October, 2008, and the Kazo adit by August, 2008. The MoU provides for excavation of 5250 meters of the 15 km long head race tunnel by March, 2009. It further spells out schedules for the submission of detailed project reports (DPR) for the 252-MW Devsari project in February, 2009, and the 56-MW Naitwar Mori project in July 2008. As per terms of the MoU, the Ministry of Power will support the SJVN to be designated as a schedule 'A' Company and also help it join the club of mini
ratna PSUs. The Ministry will also assist SJVN in obtaining speedy clearances for its projects from various statutory authorities. Meanwhile, the public sector company paid an interim dividend of Rs 136 crore to the Government of India and the Himachal Government, the two equity partners which have 75 per cent and 25 per cent share, respectively, for
the year. During 2006-07, the company paid a dividend of Rs 235 crore against a net profit of Rs 732.71 crore to the two equity partners. Sharma resented the dividend cheque of Rs 102 crore to the union minister of power Sushil Kumar Shinde. Earlier, the company had paid a dividend of Rs 34 crore to the state
government. |
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Steps to supply quality medicines assured
Shimla, April 1 He told Roop Singh (BJP) that 372 of the 2049 samples of pulses, rice, wheat , edible oil and salt had failed. The Shimla Municipal Corporation also drew 222 samples of edibles out of which 85 failed. Challans had been presented in 57 cases. In the case of medicines, 56 of the 5057 samples tested by the Health Department had failed. Challans had been presented in the court in 22 cases . Similarly, out of the 793 samples of insecticides and pesticides drawn by the Agriculture and Horticulture Department, 21 had failed. He said the government would take all possible steps to ensure that quality medicines were supplied through the retail outlets of the State Civil Supplies Corporation. Replying to a question of Subhash Manglet he said there was no proposal to open a cooking gas agency at Nerwa as a survey conducted by the IOC had found that this was not feasible. A minimum of 6,000 LPG connections were required for economic viability whereas there were only 2644 connections in and around Nerwa at present. He said the government could not do much in the matter as the agencies were opened by the corporation. As the last survey was conducted in 2006, the government could request it to carry out a fresh survey. Education minister Ishwar Das Dhiman said Rs 480.94 crore was received for the Sarve Shiksha Abhiyan from 2004-05 to Janaury, 2008, out of which Rs 442 crore had been spent. The Centre granted Rs 358 crore and the rest was contributed by the state government. The programme would continue till 2011-12. Health minister Rajiv Bindal informed Prakash Chaudhary that as per norms set up by the Centre a primary health centre could not be opened at Leda or Gagal. A primary health centre must cover a minimum population of 30,000 in the plains and 20,000 in the hills. Moreover, primary health centres and other health institutions already existed in close
vicinity. |
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Justice should promote equity, says SC judge
Shimla, April 1 He also emphasised that lawyers should not be obsessed that they should win the case by all means but they should assist the court in the lawful manner. The regional meet deliberated on enhancing objectivity and impartiality, accountability of the judiciary and commitment to social justice. The decision rendered in the court should be such so that it could be understood by the common man and it should be informed by reasons. The judicial officer and judges should be above board in their conduct and should be free from bias. Reasons are antithesis to arbitrariness and impartial decision would bring acceptability in the system. Justice Jagdish Bhalla, Chief Justice Himachal High Court, presided over the valedictory session. In his address he reiterated that new methods should be applied for resolving the disputes and conciliation, mediation and arbitration are best methods. The plea bargaining should also be effectively used as one of the tools. The legal justice should be combined with natural justice and equity. Mr Justice D.D. Sud, a Judge of the Himachal High Court , welcomed the chief guest and other dignitaries present on the
occasion. |
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Demonstrations by Tibetans peaceful in state: Dhumal
Shimla, April 1 “There were some peaceful demonstrations by the Tibetans in Dharamsala and other parts of the state but no untoward incident was allowed to take place,” Dhumal told reporters. Acting on the directives of the Central government, the HP Police had recently arrested about 100 Tibetan pro-independence protesters when they violated a notice asking them not to cross the limits of Kangra district as part of their march to homeland Tibet. Pointing out that Tibetan exiles and their spiritual leader the Dalai Lama had been living in the state for a long time, Dhumal said they have never had any complaint against the state. NAHAN: Nearly 100 Tibetans from the five main Tibetan settlements in the district have started a relay fast in the municipal ground at Paonta, near the SDM office, to register their protest against the ‘brute of Chinese Army’ in Lhasa and other parts of Tibet on the innocent Tibetan citizens. The posters carried messages to the world community to make a pressure on China to respect human rights in its territory, stop killing of Tibetans and allow international media in Tibet.
— PTI, OC |
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Probe into land to Tibetans
Palampur, April 1 Chief Minister
P.K. Dhumal said there was no law that permitted such allotment of land to Tibetans in the state. He said during the Congress regime land was given on lease to Tibetans in Kangra district. The government had received reports and a legal action was being taken. It would be established under what circumstances these chunks of land were leased out to foreigners. He said revenue minister Gulab Singh had called for the revenue records from
Palampur. Dhumal said the chargesheet submitted by the BJP to Governor V.S. Kokje last year was a vital document for the BJP and necessary action would be initiated against persons named in it. However, there would be no political vendetta. |
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CM to inaugurate sewage plant
Mandi, April 1 He was speaking after inaugurating the five-day fair at Jogindernagar. He said the project would benefit residents and help maintain cleanliness in the town. The IPH Department would allot 1,200 sewerage connections in the town. Thakur also participated in the mela procession that started from Radha Krishna Temple to the mela ground amid rain. The procession was supposed to begin at 3 pm, but devtas, Hurang Narayan and Pasha Kot from Chuhar valley, could not reach in time due to rain. The mela committee had invited over 75 deities, but only 25 could reach here. Cultural nights will also be organised during the mela. |
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Snow, rain dip mercury
Shimla, April 1 While high-altitude
areas experienced mild snowfall, lower areas experienced rain and thundershowers. The sky had a thick cloud cover over Shimla and adjoining areas. Around 2 mm rain was recorded in the state capital in the evening. This brought down temperature in the area. Upper reaches of Pangi, Bharmour in Chamba district recorded a sharp plunge in temperature and witnessed mild snowfall. The lower regions of state experienced light showers resulting in slight dip in
temperature. — UNI |
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Mid-day meal workers protest
Hamirpur, April 1 The protestors also held a rally at Gandhi Chowk which was addressed by state CITU general secretary Kashmir Singh Thakur and SFI president Joginder
Thakur. The union has been demanding regularisation of their services, a salary of Rs 3500 and Rs 3000 per month for a worker and helper, respectively, and all facilities equivalent to government employees. The union expressed concern over not getting maternity leave despite the Supreme Court decision. The union also submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal through the DC. |
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2 booked for illegal sale of kerosene
Hamirpur April 1 Hamirpur SP Asif Jalal said the police last night raided a shop at Jahu run by Shakti
Chand, who was involved in illicit sale of kerosene to bus operators. As many as 1,800 litres kerosene was seized from him. The said trader could not produce any documents related to the purchase of kerosene. Shakti Chand divulged that he had purchased kerosene from Govardhan Singh, an IOC dealer of
Hamirpur, the SP said. The police also seized 8,000 litres of kerosene from the store of Govardhan Singh, who also did not have any entry in the stock register about the oil. The SP said both had been booked for their involvement in the blackmarketing of kerosene which was sold to private bus operators. |
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Man gets 7-yr RI for raping minor
Sundernagar, April 1 The girl, a student of class VIII at that time, had gone to market on July 10, 2006, but did not return home that day. Next day, she told her mother that she was raped by the convict and another person, Uttam Chand. They had taken her in a vehicle, she said. A case was registered under Sections 366 and 376 of the IPC. The prosecution examined 12 witnesses to prove the case. The convict was on bail earlier, but with the passing of the sentence the bail bonds were cancelled and he was taken into custody. |
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2 feared dead, 2 injured in mishap
Chamba, April 1 According to sources, the tractor was loaded with saria. It was coming from Dharwala to Rakh and belonged to Ashwani Kumar, a resident of Samra village, in Chamba district. Driver of tractor Ashok Kumar who belonged to Malakwal (Nurpur) and a boy had been rushed to a nearby hospital in serious condition while another boy Parvez had a narrow escape. The two persons named Salim Khan and Yunus Khan, both residents of Surangani had drowned in the Bagga dam waters along with the tractor, the sources revealed. Chamba ASP Dr D.K. Chaudhary said a case has been registered and rescue efforts to recover the bodies of the drowned has been launched. |
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Love affair behind death?
Kangra, April 1 Kangra district police chief Atul Phulgalay said Sunny had acquaintance with a girl of his area in Jawali and used to meet frequently. They were students of the same college at Dharamsala. The girl was a friend of his sister, too. The SSP said Sunny went to the rented room of the girl in Depot Bazar and committed suicide there by hanging himself from the ceiling fan. The girl rushed Sunny to hospital where he was declared dead. She also informed Sunny’s father. What transpired between the girl
and Sunny was yet to be ascertained, he said. Sunny’s father D.C. Sharma did not suspect
anyone. |
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Villagers booked for hunting porcupine
Solan, April 1 The hunt, which took place last night was discovered when some villagers hailing from Dolli village saw some fire in the forest area. It fire was for removing the spines after which the meat could be consumed. The villagers on seeing the fire presumed that some miscreants might be tying to cook some hunted animal. They also saw a pick-up van (HP-64-0618) parked nearby along with some people who were trying to push a hunted animal into a sack. They immediately informed their pradhan about the happening. Panchayat pradhan Nand Lal informed the police, who arrested the miscreants, including Suresh, Rakesh, Maghu Ram, Sagar, Surinder, Babu Lal and Tek Chand. The police has also registered a case and further investigations were underway. |
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Poverty led him to immolation
Kangra, April 1 Rakesh Kumar poured kerosene on his body on the intervening night of Sunday and Monday and set himself on fire. Later, he came running out of his room engulfed in flames. According to village pradhan Ashwani
Kumari, Rakesh belonged to a poor family. He was living with his grandmother, brother and sister-in-law. He had no means of sustaining the family that forced him to commit suicide. Villagers said he had been moving from pillar to post to get a job, but in vain. He was under stress. He could not get married because of poverty. His brother and his wife were not at home when he committed suicide, the police said. He could not give any statement before
death. |
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Youths’ Murder
Shimla, April 1 The police has been able to ascertain from the family of one of the deceased,
Ashwani, that he had left for Shimla on March 28 with that trader. The family of Ashwani reached here today from Jammu to take his body. District police chief
R.M. Sharma said the family of the other deceased, Rajeev, was expected to arrive here late in the
night. Ashwani’s cousin Rajesh is learnt to have told the police that he had seen him leave in the car of the trader for Shimla on March 28. |
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Sabha seeks 70 pc jobs in hydel projects
Chamba, April 1 President of the sabha Jai Singh said here today that the sabha would air the genuine demands of local residents for providing 70 per cent employment to people of Churah valley and oppose those hydropower enterprises, which were violating their riparian rights. He alleged that the private enterprises, which were executing the mini and micro hydroelectric projects in the Churah valley, had so far failed to provide employment and also reasonable compensation for their land as per the prescribed norms laid down by the state government. These hydropower enterprises had so far overlooked the riparian rights of residents of Churah valley. |
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College posts de-notified
Nurpur, April 1 These included 27 posts of lecturer and 22 non-teaching staff. Out of these, two posts of lecturers (in physical education and sociology) and four class IV posts were filled. While issuing de-notification on March 20, the additional secretary higher education declared these filled posts as surplus. The P.K. Dhumal government had taken over this college during its previous regime in June, 2002. Principal of the college Hardev Katoch confirmed that the college had received de-notification
order. |
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Manimahesh Trust to preserve temples
Chamba, April 1 Besides, the famous Manimahesh pilgrimage would be organised and performed directly under the control of this public trust this year. According to Munish Garg, deputy commissioner, who is also commissioner (temples) of the trust, efforts would be made to breathe fresh life into the activities of the trust so that the upkeep of Manimahesh and Bharmour shrines could be given a face-lift. While tyhe Chamba DC is the commissioner of the trust, the SDO (Civil), Bharmour, is its member secretary. The resident commissioner of Bharmour is the chairman of the trust and the Bharmour tehsildar the temple officer. |
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