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Four tourists killed as Tavera rolls into gorge
Bio-carbon credit project gets World Bank nod
179 Hamirpur polling stations hyper-sensitive
Student’s Death |
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Sangla tourism fest begins
DC launches ‘bhagidari’ project
Rs 24.2-cr drought relief sanctioned
State to seek Rs 15,000 crore as carbon credits
Fire consumes 300 trees
Woman commits suicide
Tribune Impact
Seminar on power reforms held
No-trust move fails
215 examined at camp
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Four tourists killed as Tavera rolls into gorge
Solan, May 9 The deceased were identified as Manisha (9), Nalani (34), K.C.Natrajan (42) and Manju Parsad (41). The two seriously injured passengers, Kalawati and Nikhil, were taken to the local regional hospital for preliminary treatment. They were later referred to the PGI, Chandigarh. Driver Naseer, who hails from Delhi, was admitted to the regional
hospital here. Preliminary investigation revealed that they were going to Shimla. The driver allegedly lost control over the vehicle near Waknaghat, making the vehicle roll down a 250-foot -eep gorge. While Manisha, Nalani and K.C. Natrajan were killed on the spot, Manju Prasad succumbed to his injuries at the local regional hospital. Chief Medical Officer S.N.Sharma said that the post-mortem examination of the dead would be conducted tomorrow after the arrival of their family members, who have been informed about the mishap. Kandaghat SDM S.K.Saklani, who visited the spot and supervised the relief and rescue operations, said Rs 10,000 had been extended as an immediate relief to the injured while next of kin of the dead would be given the relief on their arrival tomorrow. The police has registered a case. |
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Bio-carbon credit project gets World Bank nod
Shimla, May 9 Forest minister J.P. Nadda stated this by while addressing officers of the Forest and Environment Departments at a review meeting here today for follow up action on the recent visit of the official delegation headed by additional chief secretary Avay Shukla to Costa Rica to study various bio-carbon credit models. He asked the Forest and Environment Departments to examine if the benefit-sharing model of environmental conservation of Costa Rica, where the owners of private forests were paid for carbon sequestration and other environmental services, could be replicated for the CAT plans of hydroelectric projects and other catchments rehabilitation, particularly those pertaining to drinking water sources. Such model could help in effectively involving the local communities, which played a vital role in protecting the environment. Nadda said the World Bank had approved the bio-carbon credit project in principle and asked the two departments to ensure that the Project Design Document and the Tripartite Agreement was ready within three weeks for approval by the Cabinet and the World Bank. The project is first of its kind in the country for which the final agreement would be signed with the World Bank by July, positively. He said the objectives of the departments should be the involvement of local communities in the conservation of environment and added that the government would endeavour to develop more programmes for PES (Payment for Environmental Services). The Minister also reviewed preparation for preventing and controlling forest fires during the summer months and also announced that the government would sanction a monthly allowance of Rs 100 towards the mobile phone bills of forest guards and range officers during summer season so that better communication channels are established for immediate response and preventive action.
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179 Hamirpur polling stations hyper-sensitive
Shimla, May 9 Chief electoral officer Manisha Nanda said here today that 1172944 electors would exercise their franchise. One auxiliary polling station has also been set up in the Gagret (SC) segment. The Una assembly segments had the maximum number of 96 polling stations, she added. The Election Department had provided 1611 EVMs, including reserve and two EVMs for each remote polling station. Price rise due to faulty policies
Hamirpur: BJP leader and joint in charge of BJP affairs in Himachal Pradesh O.P. Dhankad has criticised the UPA government for its failure on various fronts. Talking to mediapersons here today he said “though byelections do not change governments these definitely create an atmosphere for a change and the Hamirpur byelection result will definitely create an atmosphere for a change at the Centre.” Dhankhad said the “UPA government has failed to control inflation for the last two months and the economy is in a gloomy phase.” The BJP leader said “due to wrong policies of the UPA government it has been forced to import wheat at Rs 1600 per quintal.” |
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Father seeks probe
Ashok Raina
Kangra, May 9 Sharma in his letter addressed to the Chief Minister expressed his deep suspension that there was some foul play in the death of his son. He alleged that when his son Samved had a mysterious fall at 3 am the administrative authorities of the college, including the hostel warden, did not inform the police in a deliberate attempt to suppress all facts and evidences. He further alleged that the college administration was trying to present this tragic death as a mere accident but certain acts of the administration were vividly raising suspicion that everything was not true in their story. Sharma said the college administration even did not lodge an FIR with the police after Samvad’s mysterious fall and the police came for the investigation only when some of his relatives approached the police. He said he was informed about the incident at 4 am and was asked to come to the PGI, Chandigarh, where Samved was being taken but as the police registration was compulsory in the PGI so instead he was taken to the Government Hospital, Chandigarh, without informing him. He alleged that he was informed within an hour that Samved was dead and his dead body was being brought to his home in Dharamsala. He expressed surprise as to how the warden and the students without lodging an FIR, without getting the post-mortem conducted and even without a death certificate could bring the body of Samved to Dharamsala as these were the needed legal requirements for the investigation. He alleged it was only following the intervention of his relatives that the body was taken to Baddi and an FIR was lodged and the post-mortem was performed. Despite his requests he was not given the copies of the FIR and the preliminary post-mortem report and not even the death certificate of his son till date. He wrote to the Chief Minister that neither the statements of the hostel inmates nor of his relatives who were present and so much so even his statement was not recorded by the police till date. Chief warden of the college Col Tarnach (retd) said when Samved met with the accident it was the prime duty of the management to rush him for the medical aid. He was taken to a local hospital from where he was shifted to the Government Hospital, Chandigarh. Some of his friends and two hostel wardens, Chander Shekhar and Charandass, accompanied him to Chandigarh. He said immediately after the accident his father Vinod Sharma was informed about it and when he was communicated about the death of Samved, Vinod Sharma told the friends of Samved that he wanted the body to be brought to Dharamsala. Col Tarnach said first Vinod Sharma told the friends of Samved to get the body to Dharamsala and later on he conveyed the same views to him too. He said, “It was on my insistence that the case was registered by me at the Nalagarh police station.” He said his father was not eager to get the post-mortem done. Regarding the falling incident, Col Tarnach said he might have been attending to a call on his mobile and might have slipped as the mobile too was recovered from the scene.
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Sangla tourism fest begins
Shimla, May 9 A brainchild of the local Sangla Valley Sustainable Development Society and the Himalayan Research Group, the new initiative aims to strengthen the tribal economy through environment-friendly income generating activities in the fragile mountainous region. Vice-chancellor of the agriculture university, Palampur, Tej Pratap while inaugurating the festival said household and agri-tourism hold the key to the self-employment and empowerment of people in the remote tribal pocket. Deputy commissioner of Kinnaur P.S. Darek was the guest of honour. He assured all possible help to facilitate the activities of household and agri-tourism in the valley. Hundreds of locals and tourists from different parts of the country and abroad participated in the opening ceremony. It was followed by a feast of traditional dance, drama and music, which provided a glimpse of the unique and rich cultural heritage of the local tribals. Fresh vegetarian and non-vegetarian traditional delicacies of the valley prepared by local people were appreciated by all and the foreign tourists were particularly happy to be a part of the festival inauguration. Chairman of the SVDS Vidya Karan Negi said the festival would help popularise the culture and cuisine of Sangla and also enable to revive the traditional agriculture crops and practices. The two-day festival has been sponsored by FiBL, Switzerland, an NGO and departments of tribal development, tourism and civil aviation and the state government.
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DC launches ‘bhagidari’ project
Solan, May 9 Garg, while giving details of the scheme, said bhagidari was a partnership model that will involve industry, government and community as its stakeholders and will demonstrate an educational model in People-Public-Private mode for others to emulate. He further said corporate houses will develop government primary and middle school in Jharmazri village, government primary school, Majra (Nalagarh), government primary school, Taksal (Parwanoo), government primary school, Kalujhinda (Barotiwala) and government primary school, Lodimazra. In it’s first phase, bhagidari will enhance the infrastructure of schools by the corporate interventions to develop boundary walls, toilets and to provide innovative teaching kits, play ground facilities, drinking water facilities. The initiative is in harmony with the Government of India and CII’s agenda on demonstrating public-private-partnerships for social development. |
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Rs 24.2-cr drought relief sanctioned
Shimla, May 9 He said that keeping in view the drinking water scarcity the government was taking all steps and providing water through tankers, wherever necessary. It was also providing fodder for cattle through imports from neighbouring states. Transport subsidy was being provided on the transportation of fodder. He said that Rs 2 crore had been sanctioned for providing gratuitous relief, Rs 25 lakh for drinking water, Rs 10 lakh for fodder transportation in Shimla district. Similarly, Rs 4.4 crore had been sanctioned for Kangra (Rs 4 crore for gratuitous relief, Rs 20 lakh for drinking water and Rs 20 lakh for fodder transportation) , Rs 3.7 crore for Mandi, Rs 25 lakh for Solan, Rs 1.3 crore for Una, Rs 1 crore for Kulu, Rs 95 lakh for Chamba, Rs 3.6 crore for Hamirpur, Rs 1.35 crore for Bilaspur and Rs 50 lakh for Lahaul Spiti and Kinnaur. Besides, Rs 2 crore had been sanctioned to the IPH Department for installing hand pumps in Solan district. He directed all deputy commissioners and the officers concerned to monitor the drought situation so that people did not face any difficulty. He directed them to send reports on drought to the state headquarter so that funds could be released.
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State to seek Rs 15,000 crore as carbon credits
Shimla, May 9 According to highly placed sources, the state government will shortly constitute a core team comprising the power, forest and transport secretaries so that the exact amount that to be sought from the World Bank can be worked out. It is learnt that a private power company executing a hydel project in the state has moved its case before the World Bank for being paid Rs 200 crore as carbon credits. “It is following this development that we have decided that Himachal can claim carbon credits worth thousands of crores as so much of hydel generation is taking place in the state,” said a senior official.
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Temperature dips
Shimla, May 9 The Met office said the maximum temperature in Dharamsala fell marginally and settled at 30.6°C against yesterday’s 31.2°C. While, the maximum temperature at Sundernagar came down profoundly by six degrees to stand at 30.3°C, as compared to 36.3°C recorded yesterday. Kalpa in Kinnuar district also recorded a fall in the maximum temperature, which stood at 17.4°C, as compared to 20.3°C recorded yesterday. The higher altitude areas of the tribal districts of Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti experienced fresh snow with Chamba and Kullu lashed by intermittent rain.
— UNI |
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Fire consumes 300 trees
Mandi, May 9 The forest officials and locals blamed the cause of fire on the electric spark in the transmission line, the HPSEB engineers expressed their doubts. Local residents in the Palace Colony informed that the sparks triggered off around 7.30 pm and it spread in the forest. The high velocity winds swept the town, which in turn fuelled the leaping flames to engulf the jungle within no time. The team of over 16 persons, led by DFO headquarters Kunal Satyarthi fought the flames till 12.30 am when the fire was finally extinguished. The police and the fire brigade teams rushed in and prevented the fire to engulf the lower side of the forest around the populated Palace Colony. |
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Woman commits suicide
Kullu, May 9 Though the husband claimed that the deceased was ‘mentally disturbed’, the police said it would investigate the case. The body could not be traced till today. The divers from Nangal have been requested to search the body. The BBMB management has also been informed about the drowning of the woman.
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Aid pours in for Seema
Our Correspondent
Palampur, May 9 Besides, Dr Castro, chairman of a charitable trust from Chandigarh, had also approached The Tribune for the treatment of Seema Sood. Meanwhile, an official of the state government visited the residence of Seema Sood today and conveyed the message of Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal about meeting all expenses on the treatment of Seema. He said necessary arrangements were being made to shift Seema to a good health institute at Chandigarh or New Delhi.
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Seminar on power reforms held
Shimla, May 9 Inaugurating the seminar, director general of the National Power Training Institute, Faridabad, Dr N.S. Saxena underlined the need for expediting power sector reforms in the state. He identified reduction in technical and financial losses as one of the major area on which the state power board should concentrate. While most of the speakers were in favour of pushing forward the process of reform, general secretary of the State Power Engineers Association Suneel Grover strongly opposed the unbundling of the board. |
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No-trust move fails
Kullu, May 9 Prem Tanta, district panchayat officer here said sitting chairman Shashi Pal Singh and vice-chairman Saligram would continue with their respective posts as none of the members reached the venue of the polling for and against the ‘no confidence motion’ initiated by panchayat samiti members. He further said the motion became ‘null
and void’. It may be recalled that the chairman and vice-chairman of the panchayat samiti, Kullu, were having affiliation with the Congress. |
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215 examined at camp
Mandi, May 9 Over 32 persons were issued the disability certificates and 12 patients were selected for the surgery to be carried out by the Trust at Udaipur in the near future. DC Onkar Sharma, the chief guest on the occasion, gave 25 wheelchairs and 20 hearing aids to the physically challenged. |
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Kangra, May 9
