Shimla, April 29
The acute drinking water shortage and the failure of the door-to-door garbage collection scheme dominated the proceedings of the monthly meeting of the local Municipal Corporation (MC) today.

The councillors demanded that residents should be provided adequate drinking water at least on alternate days. Expressing concern over the acute water scarcity in the capital most of the councillors demanded that concrete steps must be taken to provide relief to the people.

In an important decision, the MC today decided that the task of garbage collection from homes would now be entrusted to five NGOs rather than one agency. They are Green carpet, Pragti Sudhar Sabha, CDC, Himalayan Enviro Care and Navchetna.

At present it is Green Carpet and CDC that are taking care of the garbage collection scheme. However, large portions of the capital are still not covered by the scheme leading to filth and improper disposal of garbage. Each of these organisations will now be given four to five wards for collecting garbage.

The MC also ordered an inquiry into appointment of an ineligible candidate in the computer wing of the corporation. The MC also decided to fill about six posts to ensure smooth implementation of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).

Shimla, April 29
Even though the Vigilance inquiry in the case registered against health minister Rajiv Bindal for alleged irregularities in recruitment in the Solan municipal council had been completed, the matter will now be reinvestigated.

While turning down the request to grant sanction for prosecution, the government has asked the Vigilance to look into certain important aspects that were overlooked. “The inquiry in the case is complete but certain important areas that were not looked into will be examined by the Vigilance Bureau due to the shortcomings,” confirmed P.C. Kapoor, Principal Secretary, Home and Vigilance.

Kapoor said the Vigilance Bureau had been asked to complete the inquiry in these areas also at the earliest. “Certain aspects like application of recruitment and promotion rules and see whether a person who is already working can be absorbed or not will be looked into,” he said.

It was during Congress rule that a case had been registered against Bindal in December, 2007, with regard to alleged irregularities in recruitments in the Solan municipal council. Dr Bindal was the president of the council in 1998 when the recruitments were made. The case had been registered against him under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Even though the Vigilance Bureau had completed the inquiry into the case during the Congress regime the sanction from the government for prosecution was still awaited when the announcement of Assembly elections was made.

With the change in government now the matter will be reinvestigated so that certain areas ignored in the earlier inquiry are looked into.

Palampur, April 29
Hundreds of workers of the CPI today staged a dharna outside the office of local SDM here in protest against the rising prices of essential commodities and failure of the Centre and the state government to control it.

Earlier, hundreds of workers of the CPI took out a demonstration in the town. They passed through the main streets of the town raising slogans against the government. Later, a rally was held outside the office of SDM, where various CPI leaders criticised the UPA government for its failure to check the prices of essential commodities. They alleged that the UPA government was patronising big companies and allowing them to open mega stores in the country. These companies were indulging in hoarding of essential commodities, creating artificial scarcity of essential goods and later selling these at high rates.

The CPI leaders alleged that none of the UPA leaders were serious to control the prices of essential commodities and were advocating that high prices were the result of failure of the US economy. They said these leaders were befooling the people.

HAMIRPUR: The CPM and its frontal organisations today held a protest demonstration outside the DC office against price rise.

Hundreds of activists of the CPM, SFI, JMS and other marched in the market of Hamirpur carrying placards and raised slogans.

Later they held a rally outside the DC office, which was addressed by CITU secretary Kashmir Thakur, SFI state president Joginder Singh, JMS leader Satya Galoda and others.

In their address Left leaders criticised the BJP government for failing to check rising prices of essential commodities and alleged that not only is it shirking from its responsibility but have also reduced the ration being supplied through the PDS to benefit the traders.

Bilaspur, April 29
Rajesh Dharmani, Congress MLA from Ghumarwin constituency in this district, who earlier extended hand of cooperation to the state BJP government in interest of development of his constituency, has now raised a banner of revolt against the government. He has served an ultimatum to the government that if some pressing problems of the area are not solved within next two weeks, he would be constrained to launch an agitation in shape of demonstrations and dharnas in protest against the government.

Talking to mediapersons here today, Rajesh Dharmani said Ghumarwin civil hospital is being served only by one doctor whereas there should be nine doctors in this hospital to cater to hundreds of patients who daily visit it. Most of them only get disappointment and are referred to district hospital at Bilaspur.

Costly equipment and machinery in this hospital is just rotting as there is no doctor or technician to handle these machines and patients have to go to private clinics for various tests.

He said the conditions at the community health centre at Bharadi are no better. It is also suffering from paucity of staff and facilities.

Dharmani said he had personally met the Chief Minister seven weeks ago and had submitted him an memorandum and apprised him regarding these deplorable conditions. But nothing has happened since then and things are just there where these were then.

He also said most of villages of Ghumarwin constituency are suffering due to acute shortage of drinking water.He urged the Chief Minister to immediately pass suitable orders to provide relief to the people at least in these two pressing matters.

Bilaspur, April 29
Devesh Kumar, district election officer cum Deputy Commissioner, said on directions of the Election Commission, the fourth round of preparation of photo identity cards and photo based voters lists is being conducted in all four Assembly segments in the district here. All voters who still remain to be included in this essential facilities, should make it a point to contact their polling booth level officers like patwaris, panchayat secretaries and those appointed for this purpose in the area immediately.

Kumar said in Kot Kheloor constituency these cards and lists are presently being prepared and the process would continue till May 2. In Sadar constituency this facility would be available between May 4 to May 9 and in Ghumarwin constituency it is presently going on and would continue till May 4. He said in Gehadwin constituency these facilities would be available from May 5 to May 9 in polling booths during office hours.

He said those who have not yet got photo identity cards and those whose photos are not included in voters lists and those who have to get their photo identity cards corrected due to some mistakes or wrong photographs, can take advantage of this free of cost facility. Those who have lost their identity card or have got torn identity cards, can also take advantage of this facility but they have to pay Rs 25 as fee for this facility.

Hamirpur, April 29
BJP candidate from Hamirpur Anurag Thakur today defended the party's decision to field him from the constituency, asserting that he was ''no novice in politics''.

Refuting the claims of the opposition party that he has been given the ticket because he is Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal's son, Anurag Thakur said: ''It is wrong to say that I have been given the ticket because I am Chief Minister's son. I have been in active politics for close to 15 years.''

Thakur also launched a scathing attack on AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi, saying that it was in fact Rahul Gandhi who was new in politics. ''Mr Gandhi is an MP because of being AICC president Sonia Gandhi's son. He has no other qualifications,'' he said.

Shimla, April 29
In a new initiative to strengthen the tribal economy through environment-friendly income-generating activities in the fragile mountainous regions, Himachal Pradesh Agriculture University, Palampur, and local NGO Himalayan Research Group have joined hands to promote agro-tourism in the picturesque Sangla valley of Kinnaur district.

The scheme, to be implemented through community participation, will be formally launched with the two-day Sangla valley household tourism festival being held on May 9 and 10. The tribals have been organised into a group under the banner of the Sangla Valley Sustainable Development Society. The event will showcase the tribal culture, cuisine, handicrafts and folk music and dance mainly to attract foreign tourists. Experts would interact with the tribals to educate them about various aspects of agro-tourism. The event has been sponsored by the research institute of organic agriculture (FiBL), Switzerland, and the state departments of Tribal Development and Tourism.

Explaining the concept of agro-tourism Dr Tej Pratap, vice-chancellor of the university and the man behind the initiative, said that the tourists would not only live as in the houses with tribals but also participate in various farming activities. They would also venture into higher reaches to which the tribals migrate during the summer along with the livestock. They would enjoy organic food, yak rides and also get acquainted with medicinal plants found in abundance in the mountain ranges overlooking the valley.

He said his university had provided training to 25 tribal boys and girls in various skills required in the hospitality industry so that the tourists got quality services during their stay. The families which would play hosts to the visitors had already renovated their houses without tampering with the basic tribal architecture and created decent facilities. About 140 families had given a facelift to their houses but only 30 to 35 families which fulfilled the minimum basic standards would be registered with the Tourism Department under the guest house scheme.

A seminar on “household tourism and agribusiness for livelihood of tribal people in Sangla valley” would provide platform for interaction between experts and local people to help apprise them of the opportunities in the sector and make the event an annual feature.

The idea of introducing agro-tourism was given by a Swiss who visited the valley five years ago. He sent two experts from the FiBL subsequently who spent three months in the valley to prepare a blueprint for the scheme. The NGO also provided funds for capacity building.

Hamirpur, April 29
The Congress nominee for the Hamirpur byelection O.P. Rattan would file nomination papers on May 3, at Hamirpur.

Spokesman of the Congress party Deepak Sharma said the party would also hold a public meeting at the Gandhi Chowk before filing the nomination papers on that day.

Former CM Virbhadra Singh, CLP leader Vidya Stokes, among others would address the public meeting.

Sharma said the Congress would highlight the issue of frequent elections for the Hamirpur parliamentary seat “which have been thrust on the voters by the BJP to fulfil the political ambition of one person” putting about Rs 100 crore burden on the tax-payers.

Nurpur, April 29
The rural as well as urban area of this border subdivision is in the grip of quacks that have mushroomed during the past few years. They are playing with the lives of innocent people by making tall claims of their health treatments.

The Health Department has turned a blank eye to the burgeoning menace here. As many as 100 quacks and unregistered practitioners have set up their ill-equipped clinics in various parts of this subdivision. They are allegedly exploiting the poor people who cannot afford expensive treatment by alluring them sure treatment of chronic ailments in nominal charges. It is generally found that these so-called medical specialists give steroids in powdered form to the patients who get prompt relief but invite dreaded side effects.

The ill-equipped clinics can be seen making thriving business at Nurpur, Suliali, Sadwan, Jachh, Rehan, Ganoh, Bharmar, Jassur and many other rural areas of the subdivision. Intriguingly, some unregistered practitioners are displaying signboards of medical specialists but the authorities concerned have failed to check even their credentials. Some outsider quacks have fixed their tents on roadsides of the Pathankot-Mandi national highway near Jassur and are running there vends claiming sure herbal treatment for chronic diseases.

Meanwhile, the local Free Thinkers Club, a non-government organisation, which has been raising voice against these quacks and treatment vends for the past few years has appealed to the state government to issue strict orders to the Drug Inspecting Authority and Health Department to curb the menace of quacks in the area.

Dr Vipon Mahajan, president of the club, said the club had taken up the issue with the Health Department so many times but no action had been taken. He warned that the club would soon file public interest litigation in the high court in this connection.

Dr Rajiv Bindal asserted that the government was serious against the menace of quacks and unregistered clinics in the state and added an act against this menace, which had been enacted last year but its rules could not be notified. “After notifying these rules the state Health Department would take strict action against the violators,” he claimed.

Shimla, April 29
In order to ensure that AIDS is not transmitted from an infected mother to a child, the State AIDS Control Society will associate the mahila mandals all over the state in its fight against the killer disease.

With the total number of full-blown AIDS cases in the state shooting up to 499 and HIV-positive persons being 2,622, the State AIDS Control Society has decided to reach out to women even in the remotest corners of the state. This is being done to ensure that all expectant mothers are made aware about the HIV-testing facility and medicines to ensure that the disease is not passed on to the child even if the parents carry the infection.

The society is keen that even if a mother is HIV infected timely and proper treatment can ensure that she gives birth to a healthy child without any infection. “This will not just help check the transmission of the disease from the mother to the child but also create awareness amongst the people who are still hesitant to talk about the disease because of the social taboos,” said Dr Sulakshna Puri, project director of State AIDS Control Society.

In fact, the National AIDS Control Organisations (NACO) had launched special projects to check ‘Parent to Child Transmission’. Many women who are themselves carrying the HIV infection and are unaware of their status pass on the infection to the child unknowingly.

“As part of our endeavour to reach the village level we will seek the help of the anganwari centres and mahila mandals so that people have information about the symptoms of the disease, testing and treatment facilities,” said Dr Puri. She added that as a precaution against spread of the disease, the clubs will undertake social marketing of condoms to prevent spread of AIDS.

As part of this initiative the first red ribbon club was opened in Shargin village in Shimla district with the help of the mahila mandal two days back. This has been done so that the fight against AIDS can be taken right up to the village level and people can be educated about it. Dr Puri said that besides the mahila mandal, panchayat members and the youth working in a local academy in Shargin village have been asked to help in checking AIDS.

The State AIDS Control Society will involve all 18,248 anganwari centres in its fight against AIDS so that awareness can be created in the rural areas. The red ribbon clubs have so far been set in 3,310 anganwari centres in the state.

Solan, April 29
With the DSP (headquarter), Kulwant Singh, obtaining an interim stay from the tribunal till May 15 against his transfer to the Third Battalion, Pandoh, the criteria adopted for transfers in the Police Headquarters has come under a scanner. Since this transfer order was issued barely within less than one-and-a-half month of the official’s joining duty here it had put a question mark over the working of the department.

This was the second such case in the Police Department in the district where an official had sought a stay after being transferred within a short time. Earlier, the DSP Vigilance and Anti-corruption Bureau, Basheer, had also obtained a stay for having being posted out of Solan barely within days. The execution of such transfers was contrary to Section 12 of the Himachal Pradesh Police Act, 2007, whereby an official could not be transferred before two years.

According to the Act, such transfers could be made only if the official fell under specific categories based on his working.

Singh, who had joined here on March 19, was transferred from Chopal earlier. Interestingly, while the state government was priding itself for having drawn up the broader parameters of the transfer policy no criteria appears to have been followed while transferring Singh.

With the district police earning the wrath of the politicians for having failed to solve the famous Shoolini idol theft case despite a lapse of several days this transfer order was supposedly a way to reprimand the department. Since the DSP (headquarter) was the lone official present on duty when the theft took place he was reportedly made the scapegoat for the police failure felt officials in the department.

Nurpur, April 29
The state government has formulated a new transport policy under which unemployed youth would be issued special route permits for plying six to 12-seater maxi cabs.

This was stated by transport minister Kishan Kapoor while addressing a press conference here yesterday. He said concession in special road tax (SRT) would be given to the beneficiaries. Most of the allotted routes (80 per cent) would be in rural areas, while the remaining would be on national and state highways.

He said there was no plan to add new buses to the present fleet of the HRTC. However, the buses that had outlived their utility period were being replaced in a phased manner.

Sundernagar, April 29
The fifth meeting called by the district administration to negotiate the rate of land with farmers for setting up a cement plant near Sundernagar ended unsuccessfully today. The farmers walked out of the meeting as the rates quoted by representatives of the company did not meet their expectations. They requested the administration not to call such meetings in future.

The meeting was convened under the chairmanship of Mandi ADC D.P. Verma in which Mandi ADM B.S. Dehal, Sundernagar SDM Ram Kumar Gautam, other revenue officers and representatives of various farmer organisations were present. The meeting went on for more than two hours.

The farmers said the cost of land near Sundernagar was around Rs 1 crore per bigha, while they were demanding only Rs 80 lakh per bigha. They said if the rate was not acceptable to the company, even those farmers who had been favouring the setting up cement plant earlier would join the section of farmers opposing the move. Some representatives of farmers also demanded share in the project.

On the other hand, executive president J.S. Kalra of Harish Cement Limited said the demand of the farmers was not justified. Representatives of the company said they could not give more than Rs 9.5 lakh per bigha.

Shimla, April 29
Shimla today recorded the hottest day of this summer at 26.6°C, while the maximum temperature at Una town surged to 40.8°C following another sunny day, the Met office said.

The maximum temperature in the state capital rose by a few notches to 26.6°C as against 26°C recorded yesterday.

The Met office said the day temperature at Una town surged to 40.8°C, which was the hottest place in the state during the last 24 hours, as compared to 40°C recorded yesterday.

The day temperature at Sundernagar rose to 37.1°C by 32.9°C at Bhuntar, 21°C at Kalpa in Kinnuar and 32.6°C at Dharamsala in Kangra district. Mandi town was also hot at 37.4°C, the Met office added.

The night temperature at Shimla town rose by more than a degree to stand at 15.7°C, 14.3°C at Sundernagar, 9.8°C at Bhuntar, 4°C at Kalpa and 19.5°C at Dharamsala.

The minimum temperature at Mandi rose by a few notches to stand at 15.5°C, while Una town recorded a night temperature at 14.5°C.

The Met office has forecast rain and thundershowers at isolated places in the state during the next 24 hours. — UNI