Shimla, May 24
Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal today refuted charges of witch-hunting being levelled against his government and assured that every corruption case would be dealt with as per the law of the land.

Interacting with mediapersons here today, he said there was no question of his regime acting with vengeance and the Vigilance Bureau would procure necessary documents that could withstand legal scrutiny. “The BJP chargesheet has been handed over to the Vigilance Bureau for investigation and the cases would be dealt with as per the law of the land,” he said.

When asked about IAS officer Subhash Ahluwalia and his wife having met him today, he said he had only assured them that there would be no witch-hunting and everything would be done as per law. He added that the charges levelled by Major Vijay Singh Mankotia could also be considered for investigation, subject to availability of documentary evidence.

He said BJP candidate for Hamirpur byelection Anurag Thakur would win by an impressive margin as the Congress had failed to woo voters. “The four-month achievements of the BJP were far more impressive than the five-year tenure of the Congress,” he said.

Shimla, May 24
The government will revise its TD allotment policy so that customary rights of the people can be restored and the difficulty being faced by them in meeting their domestic requirement be removed.

This was stated by Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal while reviewing the functioning of the Forest Department here today. “This is being done to solve the problems being faced by people who are finding it difficult to arrange wood for even performing the last rites of the dead,” he said. He said the TD allotment policy was being examined so that all related aspects could be considered to make it more practical and rational.

“The state volunteered to protect forests and imposed a complete ban on green felling, but now the situation was becoming worrisome as people were not willing to render their services to protect forests as they were not being granted their customary rights,” he opined.

He hoped that with the formulation of the new TD policy, people’s rights would be protected and they would cooperate in protecting forests. He also emphasised the need for promotion of scientific silviculture to protect existing forest wealth and also increase the green cover for environmental benefits.

Nurpur, May 24
The construction of science laboratory building of the Government Senior Secondary School, Jassur, near here, hangs in balance due to non-availability of land for the proposed building.

The school was upgraded last year during the previous government regime. Former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh laid the foundation stone of the building on April 11, 2007. The building was to be built with an estimate cost of Rs 59 lakh. Though the budget allocation was made for its construction during the previous government regime, not even a single brick was laid so far to start the construction of the proposed building.

Inquiries revealed that the Secondary Education Department had initially proposed the construction of science block of the senior secondary school on the vacant premises adjoining the Government Primary School of Jassur.

The former Chief Minister had reportedly laid its foundation stone without the transfer of land by the Elementary Education Department to the Secondary Education Department.

The Secondary Education Department had written to the Elementary Education Department to transfer ownership of the vacant land in name of their department. But the former did not respond in this connection. As a sequel, the construction could not be initiated even after 13 months of foundation laying ceremony. The first session of the upgraded senior secondary school was started last year but students here face a lot on inconvenience without the science laboratory.

Subash Dhiman, deputy director senior secondary department, admitted that the construction of the laboratory building could not be started due to non-availability of land. “After the failure of transferring of ownership of the primary school land the department has now proposed its construction on the premises of senior secondary school,” he clarified.

Shimla, May 24
The government has withdrawn the permission granted by the previous Congress regime for the setting up of 39 nursing schools in the state claiming that it was done in violation of the norms laid down by the Nursing Council of India (NCI).

The Health and Family Welfare Department sent letters to these 39 institutes two days ago, stating that the NOCs had been withdrawn and now the issue would be taken up afresh. The government also withdrew the permission given by the Virbhadra regime to eight institutes for starting diploma in medical laboratory techniques (DMLT).

The Health Department withdrew the NOCs for setting up 39 nursing schools after the high court dismissed the case pending before it in that regard. Some organisations that had been denied NOCs had moved the court saying pick-and-choose policy had been adopted while issuing NOCs.

The government has prepared a nursing policy that will be shortly placed before the Cabinet for approval. “The policy has been ready for some time now. It was delayed due to the model code of conduct,” said a senior health official.

Sources said once the Cabinet approved the nursing policy, the organisations could make fresh application to the department. “Those institutes whose NOCs had been withdrawn can apply again and the bank guarantee of Rs 10 lakh deposited by them will remain with the director, medical education,” said an official. He said those who were not keen to apply again could take back their bank guarantee from the DME.

At present, there are two nursing schools in the private sector while six are being run in the government sector. The two private ones are located at Kullu and Nalagarh. The government nursing schools are located at the IGMC, Shimla, Tanda Medical College, Kangra, zonal hospitals at Bilaspur, Mandi, Nahan and Rampur.

Senior health officials said an effort had been made to ensure that the new nursing policy was fair and transparent and treated all on a par.

Solan, May 24
Reacting to the news item “BDO floats road project near IAF station”, DC Amandeep Garg has initiated an inquiry into the case. The ADC has been entrusted the task to inquire into the matter and submit a report in 15 days. A separate inquiry has been instituted by the forest minister. Confirming this, forest minister J.P. Nadda said an in-depth inquiry had been ordered and it would be conducted in a time-bound manner.

BDO Chandan Chauhan, meanwhile, clarified that he was authorised to move a case of diversion of forestland under the Vikas Mein Jan Sehjog as a proposal had been received from the gram panchayat. This was, however, contrary to the project report submitted by the BDO, who had mentioned the name of the scheme as Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sarak Yojna (PMGSY) and as per the state government norms only PWD was the authorised agency in Himachal to move such cases. A copy of the report had been obtained by The Tribune under the RTI Act.

The BDO said he had to deposit the net present value (NPV) in public interest. He, however, failed to explain why the money was deposited even after the project stood cancelled in February, 2008. The scheme was earlier sanctioned in November, 2006. It was this irregularity that had led the DC to initiate an inquiry into the matter.

Though the BDO says that the project had not been given any NOC by the defence authorities, he had himself written to the DFO, Solan, that the defence had no objection to the project. This was despite the fact that the said road lies well within the periphery of the Air Force station, Kasauli.

Shimla, May 24
Punjabi singer Hans Raj Hans, playback artiste Mohit Chauhan and Jazzy B would be the star performers at the five-day international summer festival that will begin here on June 2.

Talking to mediapersons here today, DC J.S. Rana said efforts were being made to give a chance to the local talent, including folk artistes, to perform in the festival. “Besides cultural evenings, events like flower shows, a Himachali food festival, band display and a dog show would also be held,” he said.

“The budget for this year’s festival is about Rs 40 lakh with sponsorship from six big companies,” he said. In order to ensure that there were activities all through the year, it had been decided to hold the Miss Shimla beauty pageant and a fashion show in September, he added. He said instead of the Miss Shimla, it would be the Miss Himachal pageant this time.

For the first time Shimla Doordarshan would have live telecast of the festival from 7 to 8 pm daily, Rana added. The highlights of the late-night programmes would be telecast the next day from 6 to 7 pm.

Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal would inaugurate the festival on June 2 while Governor V.S. Kokje would be the chief guest at the closing ceremony on June 6.

Shimla, May 24
The questioning of IAS officer Subhash Ahluwalia and his wife by Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau continued today as some other persons, who had served with him earlier, were also quizzed.

Ahluwalia was questioned for the first time today. His wife, Meera was interrogated again by the bureau.

Vigilance sleuths also interrogated Yogesh Behl, an official of the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation , posted at Manali. Some other employees, who had served with Ahluwalia while he was the principal private secretary to former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, were also questioned.

Dalhousie, May 24
The vehicular traffic on the Chamba-Pathankot highway was restored this morning. The highway remained blocked for around seven hours due to landslides following a cloudburst last night near Magazine, about 13 km from here. A number of tourists remained stranded on the highway.

M.S. Thakur, executive engineer, Dalhousie division of the Himachal Pradesh Public Works Department (HP PWD), said the traffic was restored around 9 am. Meanwhile, there were reports of widespread rain accompanied by thunderstorm in the mountainous region of Chamba district, causing damage to apple and other crops.

Hamirpur, May 24
About 52 per cent polling for the Hamirpur byelection held on Thursday, the lowest in the electoral history of the constituency since its formation in 1967, has not only baffled the contestants but also pollsters about its impact on the final outcome.

Though low polling in this election was predicted by many due to several factors, a decline of about 8 per cent of votes from the average polling during the previous 12 elections is unexpected.

Before this, the elections in 1991 and 1996 had witnessed 57.23 and 57.62 per cent polling, respectively.

Apathy of voters towards the present byelection and the absence of its
political significance seem to be the main reasons for the low turnout.

Claiming low percentage to their advantage, both contestants are throwing their own arguments.

Congress leaders say, “The low turnout has proved our contention true that the people are fed up with frequent elections for the Hamirpur seat due to the BJP.”

However, BJP sources say, “The low turnout is due to the factional fight within the Congress due to which the party failed to mobilise its voters. The BJP voters, on the other hand, came out in large numbers to vote.”

Though both parties are claiming that their campaigns had stirred the voters on the issues taken up by them, they are silent on the question why majority of the people had not expressed their mandate, if they were really moved by their arguments?

While it is difficult to assess the exact impact of low polling percentage on the outcome, apathy of voters has definitely created anxiety among poll managers of both parties.

Dadahu (Nahan), May 24
Four police teams, led by DSP Sanjeev Kumar, were combing villages of the Renuka area to nab as many as 50 assailants, who attacked traders in the Dadahu market yesterday and injured five persons. They caused damage to shops worth Rs 5 lakh.

The Police parties were patrolling the village, where the people shouted slogans and expressed their anguished against the attack. The police has, however, arrested four assailants so far.

Protesting against the attack, the Dadahu market observed complete Bandh today and the Beopar Mandal as well as the local panchyat decided to keep their shops closed till all the assailants were nabbed.

Angry over the alleged “inactive” role of the Renuka police, residents today took out a protest march in the Dahahu market and shouted slogans against hooliganism of some persons of the area and the Renuka police. A delegation, led by Dadahu panchyat president Mahesh Kumar Aggarwal, vice-president Amit Kumar and Beopar Mandal president Kulbhushan Goyal, submitted a memorandum to deputy commissioner Sirmour through Naib Tehsildar Dadahu.

In the memorandum, the residents have alleged “inactive” role of the Renuka police. They have disclosed names of two policemen also in the memo.

ASP Sirmour Bindu Rani Sachdeva said today that the police had arrested Joginder, Surender, Bhagwan Singh (resident of Kathwar village) and Raj Kumar resident of Sirmouri Taal village.

She said one utility jeep that was used by the assailants was recovered with stones and lathies that were used in the attack. In this connection a case under Section 147, 148, 149, 323, 356, 427, 452 and 506 of the IPC has been registered in the Renuka police station.

The Beopar Mandal and the local panchyat have sought security against such attacks, as it was second attack on the shopkeepers within the past one year. 

Solan, May 24
The president of the Solan panchayat samiti has come under minority with nine of the 17 members moving a no-confidence motion against president Ramesh Chauhan.

A no-confidence motion, signed by nine members, including Laxmi Nand, Rama Sharma, Kirpa Ram, Sunder Singh, Ved Prakash, Maya Ram, Jeet Ram, Sumitra Devi and Balu Devi, was presented before the SDM Solan today.

The nine members include four Congress-backed candidates and they had moved a no-confidence motion against their own party men. The BJP was now endeavouring to wrest the seat of the president and efforts were afoot by the senior leaders to draw members towards their side.

SDM Vivek Chandel said he would serve a notice to Ramesh Chauhan to prove his majority within 15 days as per the laid norms.

While Chauhan backed by the Congress was the president of the Solan panchayat samiti, the post of vice-chairman was being held by a BJP candidate Jeet Ram.

Ramesh Chauhan was elected as chairman, while Jeet Ram won the election to the vice-chairman’s post. BJP candidate Sunder Singh had managed to secure only three votes, while the third contestant Ganesh Dutt had to remain content with three votes.

Similarly, the Congress’ candidate, Ranvir, who had contested for the vice-chairman’s post, had managed to get only five votes. This showed that at least three Congress candidates had voted in favour of the BJP candidate. The Congress-backed candidates had bagged eight seats out of the total of 17 in the Solan panchayat samiti elections. 

Solan, May 24
Apprehensions of an organised gang being involved in the large-scale liquor smuggling in the district have gained ground with the Parwanoo police failing to trace the owner of a truck involved in transporting illicit liquor worth Rs 10.38 lakh.

A police party, which returned from Ludhiana on Thursday, found that the registration documents of the truck (Pb-10-CW-5910) were fake. The papers bore the name of one Rakesh Kumar, a resident of Transport Nagar, Ludhiana, as the owner of the truck.

SDPO Ramesh Pathania said inquires made from the RTO, Ludhiana, and the secretary (transport) revealed that no such vehicle was ever registered there. All papers found in the vehicle, including the registration certificate and insurance cover, were fake.

The revelation has rung the alarm bells for the police as the vehicle, which was less than one-year-old, was a stolen vehicle and was used in the transportation of illicit liquor. Now, there is hardly any clue to the owner of the vehicle. Police officials said it appeared to be a deep-rooted organised network of liquor smugglers. “Till now, nobody has come to claim the ownership of the vehicle that was impounded on May 15,” they said.

Nurpur, May 24
As many as 27 rural farmers’ families from upper Khanni and Chogan villages of this subdivision recently submitted a memorandum to the state government through the local SDM. They demanded ownership rights of the shamlat land (Chokota Land Allotment) allotted to them between 1964 to 1972 by their gram panchayat for agriculture purpose. After running from pillar to post to get the ownership recorded of their allotted lands, these families have approached the BJP government for justice, which has been deprived to them for the past four decades.

They alleged that they were deprived of ownership right of the allotted panchayat land by some influential people of their gram panchayat, who hatched a conspiracy against them.

Inquiries revealed that the previous government had framed a policy to grant ownership right to those who had been allotted shamlat land for agriculture purpose by the gram panchayats until 1972 before the ownership of this land got transferred to the state government. The allottees were directed to file their applications before the deputy commissioner.

According to S.P. Jaswal, Nurpur tehsildar, the applications filed by these allottees were returned for want of no-objection certificates of their gram panchayats. He told that now these applications were forwarded to the revenue field staff for hearing the objections of the gram panchayat. 

Mandi, May 24
Mandi Medical College sangharsh samiti, comprising 36 organisations, including the Congress, today staged a rally-cum-protest march against the government for not setting up a government medical college here.

Former IPH minister and Drang Congress MLA Kaul Singh Thakur accused Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal of misrepresenting the facts on the issues of medical college.

He claimed that the Congress government had issued notice in this regard and identified land for the purpose during its tenure, but the BJP government withdrew the notification.

Thakur said they would not relent till the government took back its notification and set up a government medical college here.

The CPI, CPM, citizens council Mandi, IPTA, representatives of the various sabhas and associations addressed the protest rally and demanded a government medical college in Mandi.

“We will not accept private medical college as we want equal treatment in this regard. As, private college will be expensive,” leaders said and added that they would not relent till their demand was accepted.