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Stamp duty evasion rampant in Palampur
CPM holds demonstration against price rise
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Policy on migrant workers to be reviewed
Hamirpur: Photo I-cards
from April 28
Hamirpur Bypoll
CM: Good performance led to BJP win
Doc in the dock over surgery
Lack of specialist doctors lamented
Super-speciality hospital planned
Migrants’ Registration
Ghumarwin to have central school
Govt to hold Naman 1857
Man charred to death
Police solves burglary case
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Stamp duty evasion rampant in Palampur
Palampur, April 22 Reliable sources told The Tribune that the though the rate of land in Palampur currently was over Rs 8 to Rs 10 lakh per kanal, the sale deeds for such lands were bring registered at the rate of Rs 2 to Rs 3 lakh per kanal, causing a huge loss of stamp duty to the state government. With the price of land touching a new high in Palampur and the adjoining areas in the past few years, rich persons of the town who had purchased large pieces of land at throw away prices were now selling it on high rates. Enquiries made by The Tribune revealed that this stamp duty evasion racket was flourishing in Palampur with the active connivance of the local revenue authorities who
were registering the sale deeds daily without bothering to look into the factual position. Whatever a patwari recommends the tehsildar okays it. There were over five middlemen play an active role in the registration of sale deeds as they enjoy close proximity with the revenue authorities. It was revealed that most of the sale deeds were registered on powers of attorney obtained from the owner by the middlemen, with the real owners rarely coming to the tehsil. A number of social organisations of the town have urged Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal to order a high-level probe into this scam and bring the culprits to book. |
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CPM holds demonstration against price rise
Shimla, April 22 The CPM today staged a demonstration against the unprecedented price hike. The activists held a dharna outside the DC office and took out a procession through the Lower Bazar. The CPM leaders, including Tikender Singh Panwar, Sanjay Chauhan and Jagat Ram addressed the meeting. Panwar said the price hike had reached alarming proportions due to the neo-liberal policies adopted and followed both by the BJP as well as the Congress. “It is because of these policies that the essential food items which were earlier regulated were now freed from control and kept directly under the supervision of market forces,” he said. Panwar said to further compound the problem the government was practically dismantling the PDS system, which acted as a buffer for the prices. “This is being done to benefit the hoarders and black marketers and the BJP government has even reduced the compressed PDS quota,” he said. He demanded that in order to check the price rise, the government must universalise the PDS ration cards and take strict action against hoarders. He also demanded that ration with adequate quality of rice, pulses, edible oil, sugar be provided through ration cards. |
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Protests in Palampur, Kangra today
Kangra, April 22 District secretary of the CPI Himal Chand said here today that party workers had been moving door to door to apprise people about the implications of the UPA government’s failure to curb inflation. He criticised both the UPA and the BJP for their “wrong” economic policies. He said the public distribution system (PDS) should be strengthened and transparency should be ensured. He said the export of all such items should be stopped that were in short supply in the country. The CPI demanded reduction in taxes on petroleum products. Himal Chand also demanded strict action against hoarders. |
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Clean Shimla drive launched
Shimla, April 22 This was announced by minister of forests and environment J.P.Nadda while launching the seven-week “seeti bajao, Shimla bachao” campaign to check littering of the “Queen of Hills” involving schoolchildren. Members of the eco-clubs formed in schools would play the “whistleblower to warn the residents throwing garbage on streets and hill slopes. Nadda also flagged off a rally in which 400 schoolchildren from 20 eco-clubs participated. The campaign would conclude on World Environment Day on June 5. The government would work on various fronts to promote sustainable development. It would formulate an inter-sectoral strategy to effectively deal with environment-related issues after carrying out a comprehensive review of implementation of the laws concerned. He said as the protection of environment involved a number of departments and agencies they would have to work in tandem for effective enforcement of various laws. The Environment Ministry would be the nodal agency for purpose and it would convene a series of meetings for the purpose. Initially, the heads of departments concerned would be sensitised about the issues involved and the role their departments would have to discharge. In the next phase all key functionaries of departments would be involved in the exercise. He said disposal of non-biodegradable waste, particularly polythene bags and plastic material, was a major problem and the government had already directed the deputy commissioners to review the status of implementation of the State Non-biodegradable Garbage (control) Act. Special cells would be set up at the district level to monitor the implementation of the Act. A monitoring cell had already been
established. |
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Policy on migrant workers to be reviewed
Shimla, April 22 With continuous increase in the number of migrants in the hill state, there have been sporadic cases of conflict between the outside workers and locals. The decision has been taken in view of tension that has gripped the Nadaun area following the death of a child. “We will review the policy on migrant workers so that we have their record with the help of the Labour Department, who can issue them an identity card,” DGP Ashwini Kumar said. He added this would enable the police to have an exact idea about the total migrant labour force working in the state. The maximum number of workers engaged in hydropower projects and road construction are from Bihar, Chattisgarh, Jharkhand, Rajasthan and Nepal. The state government does not have an exact record of the total number of migrant workers in the state even though their population is floating and varies from time to time. At present the state police had made it mandatory only for people from Nepal and Jammu and Kashmir to get them registered at the nearest police station where they are employed or based. This too was done after militants and their sympathisers from Jammu and Kashmir started using Himachal as a safe haven and at times even killed people in the border areas of Chamba. The police became particular about Nepali migrants after their involvement in criminal acts like murder, rape and thefts started increasing. A huge Nepali population is employed in the apple and other fruit orchards mainly in the districts of Shimla, Solan, Sirmaur and Kullu. Though there have been minor skirmishes with migrant labourers in the state in the past but the manner in which people in the Nadaun area thrashed migrant labourers on Monday led to a serious law and order problem. Even though police officials admitted that the conflict between locals and migrants was more of a social problem in the absence of any exact record of the outside workers the police too was handicapped in keeping a random check. “It is only in case of involvement of any migrant worker in criminal activity here that we get his antecedents checked from our counterparts in his home state,” explained police officials. With more and more outside labour force being employed in various projects the government as well as the police will have to be very particular about maintaining law and order problem. |
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Hamirpur: Photo I-cards from April 28
Hamirpur, April 22 Gupta said the notification of Hamirpur parliamentary election would be issued on April 28 and nomination papers would be accepted between April 28 and May 5. The last date of withdrawal would be May 8, and polling would be held on May 22. The counting of votes would be undertaken on May 25. The work of making photo identity cards in all five Assembly constituencies of Hamirpur district would be undertaken between April 28 and May 5, Gupta said. KANGRA: Kangra DC K.K. Pant today promulgated Section 144 of the CrPC in the district and imposed a ban on carrying of firearms and lethal weapons in the meetings and processions of the political parties and associations. The DC through a notification imposed the ban with immediate effect till a week after the declaration of the results of Hamirpur parliamentary constituency byelections. Assembly constituencies of Jawalamukhi, Pragpur and Jaswan of Kangra district fall in the parliamentary constituency of
Hamirpur. |
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Hamirpur Bypoll
Bilaspur, April 22 Party’s district unit president Kesh Pathania said a meeting of the committee was held here last night under the chairmanship of national general secretary Man Singh Manheda. Party’s state unit president Vijay Nayar, state vice-president and former industries minister Vijay Kumar Joshi and state coordinator Deep Singh Rahi and over 20 leaders were present in the meeting. Earlier, there were reports of differences among party leaders over the candidate for the Hamirpur byelection. One opinion was in favour of contesting the election as it would help preparing for the forthcoming parliamentary elections in a better way. However, one section felt there was no use wasting funds and efforts as the winner would be in power only for the remaining period of eight months. The party has directed all district units to constitute sector committees throughout the state by May 31 and hold meetings at the panchayat level for strengthening the party. |
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CM: Good performance led to BJP win
Shimla, April 22 Addressing the newly constituted executive committee of the Shimla unit, he said it was due to the impressive performance of the BJP between 1998 and 2003 that it was voted to power in the recent elections. To begin with the government had announced enhancement of the social security pension from Rs 200 to Rs 300 and an increase in the daily wages from Rs 75 to Rs 100. In view of the increasing unemployment scenario, 26,000 posts
of various categories, including 18,000 teachers, would be filled at the earliest. The Centre had sanctioned three India Reserve Battalions which would create employment for
3000 youth. Dhumal asked the party workers to make the masses aware of the pro-people decisions taken by the government within a short
span of its rule. The government would ensure that there is perfect coordination and party workers are consulted while taking decisions and framing
policies. State BJP chief Jai Ram Thakur, forest minister J.P. Nadda, local MLA Suresh Bhardwaj were
also present. |
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Doc in the dock over surgery
Kumarhatti, April 22 However, gynaecologist Bhupesh Gupta said the uterus was removed to save the life of the woman. “Had it not been removed immediately, she would have died,” he said. The woman had to be re-operated shortly after the caesarean operation due to heavy bleeding, said the doctor. There was no option but to go for the second operation as her blood pressure had gone down drastically due to bleeding, he added. Any gynaecologist in the world would have done the same in that situation, he claimed. “We are proud to have saved the woman and her baby by performing a tough operation under critical circumstances,” he said. On the other hand, Dhiman has sought immediate action against the doctor for allegedly playing with the life of his daughter-in-law, Mohini. Though the baby’s health was good, Mohini’s conditioned deteriorated after the delivery, he said. The doctor said there was a tumour in the uterus that required to be removed immediately. Clueless, the in-laws allowed the doctor to do everything to save Mohini. Even after that operation, the bleeding did not stop and Mohini had to be rushed to the PGI, Chandigarh. There, doctors revealed the wrongdoings of Dr Gupta, he said. As per the PGI doctors, wrong operations were performed on Mohini besides cutting her vein by mistake. Mohini remained in the PGI for 11 days, he added. On the other hand, Dr Gupta said the woman was asked to go to the PGI after her condition became stable. “We arranged an ambulance to carry her to the PGI and kept on inquiring about her health on the phone,” he said. A top gynaecologist of the state has also backed Dr Gupta’s claim. Under these circumstances, removing the uterus was a must, otherwise the patient could have died, she added. Dhiman has also raised a question about the private ultrasound clinic being run by the wife of Dr Gupta at Nalagarh. Patients were referred to her clinic for diagnosis although ultrasound facility was available in the civil hospital. He has sought an inquiry into the business and the construction of the posh hospital on the Nalagarh-Pinjore road. Copies of the letter have also been sent to health minister Rajiv Bindal, director (health) and CMO, Solan, Gian Chand. The BMO, Nalagarh, has been reportedly directed to conduct an inquiry into the case. The report was expected in four days, the CMO said. |
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Lack of specialist doctors lamented
Mandi, April 22 ''As against a sanctioned strength of 16 specialist doctors, there are only six doctors in these hospitals,'' he said at a press conference here. Rao said about two lakh people in the area were being denied health facilities due to the lack of doctors and other specialists. ''The large-scale transfers of doctors and specialists on political considerations by the BJP Government without filling the vacancies has thrown the health services out of gear in this subdivision,'' he said. ''Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal had announced on assuming power that no revengeful postings and transfers would be ordered and the government would refrain from ‘Badla Badli’, but it was doing just the reverse,'' he alleged.
— UNI |
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Super-speciality hospital planned
Shimla, April 22 A government spokesperson said here today that discussions were held between Rajya Sabha member Shanta Kumar and J.P. Gaur and Manoj Gaur in New Delhi two days ago. He said they had agreed to set up a super speciality hospital, medical college and nursing institute at Palampur. Shanta Kumar had launched the Vivekanand institute at Palampur in November 1992. Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal had assured government help in completing the project, he said. |
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Migrants’ Registration
Nurpur, April 22 Thousands of such workers come to the lower areas of Kangra district every year. The state government has issued directions for the registration of migrant workers at local police stations, but these directions are hardly observed. According to information gathered from the local police station, only 97 migrants were registered in 2007 and there are only 10 registrations this year so far. On the other hand, the number of migrants working here is going up with each passing day. The Hamirpur incident has given rise to a feeling of insecurity among residents, especially about the security of their children. Most of the migrant labourers coming to the state are from Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar. They generally work as masons, painters and labourers with contractors and builders. However, most of them don’t get themselves registered with the police. |
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Ghumarwin to have central school
Bilaspur, April 22 Addressing mediapersons here yesterday evening, Dharmani said the issue of opening of a central school in Bilaspur district had been lingering on since long and the matter had been pending since sometime with the Central Government and with the state government due to various reasons during the past several years. He said he had been following this matter with the Central Government for sometime now and recently met Sonia Gandhi and pleaded her for this central school and had also presented a memorandum to her on this matter. She showed interest in this project and assured that she would ensure opening of this school at the earliest. |
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Govt to hold Naman 1857
Shimla, April 22 This was started by minister for social justice and empowerment Sarveen Chaudhary in New Delhi today. She received the “shaheedi kalash” on behalf of the state from deputy leader of the BJP in the Rajya Sabha Sushma Swaraj. Chaudhary said the “kalash” containing ashes from the places connected with the First War of Independence would be taken to various parts of the state. The sacrifices made by the freedom fighters would be highlighted so that the youth could learn more about the Independence struggle, she said. The minister said the contribution of Himachali freedom fighters and the role of hilly people in the struggle would be highlighted through audio-video and printed material. “Freedom fighters and their families will be specially invited to such programmes so that they can share their experiences with the people, especially the youth and schoolchildren,” she added. She also elaborated on various schemes for the welfare of freedom fighters and their families. |
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Man charred to death
Chamba, April 22 According to Chamba ASP Dr DK Choudhary, the deceased was identified as Gian Chand, a resident of Dhargala village in Chamba district. The relatives with whom he was staying were labourers. The police has registered a case. After the post-mortem examination the body was handed over to his kin for cremation, the ASP informed. In another incident, a 35-year-old man committed suicide by hanging himself with a tree near Drabad village in Dalhousie tehsil yesterday. The police recovered the body from the incident spot and handed it over to his relatives after carrying out an autopsy. He was identified as Charan Dass. The police is investigating the cause of suicide. |
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Police solves burglary case
Solan, April 22 According to Solan SP, S.P.S. Verma, the house of a Nalagarh resident S.K. Jain was burgled in January while he was away to Naina Devi with his family. The police after conducting investigations zeroed in on his neighbour Arvind, alias Kala, who had recently purchased an Alto car. Not only this Kala, who was running a small jewellery shop, had started spending huge sums of money, which was disproportionate to his known sources of income. The police later arrested him and on interrogation he confessed committing the crime. The police also arrested his accomplice Nitin yesterday evening though he had managed to flee on his scooter after information of Kala’s arrest. The police today recovered jewellery worth Rs 4 lakh, which was buried behind a temple located behind the Nalagarh Degree College. The SP also informed that a truck (HP-14-5164), which had gone missing from Rajgarh road here a few days back, was recovered from Haripur Dhar in Sirmaur. This truck was found parked without any owner for quite some time by a teacher. The vigilant teacher called up the truck owner as his cell number was printed on the truck. The owner, who had lodged a complaint with the police, then informed the police, who later sent a police team to recover the truck. The police on inquiring learnt that Ramesh hailing from Korag village was seen driving the truck. |
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Munish cremated
Hamirpur, April 22 |
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