Shimla, July 11
Contrary to its promise made in the election manifesto, the BJP government has scrapped the Himachal Pradesh Administrative Tribunal.

The Government of India has cancelled the notification dated August 26, 1986, vide which the tribunal was established. As per an official press note, the notification comes into force with effect from July 8, 2008.

The tribunal has been scrapped even though the BJP had in its election manifesto (point 3.19) promised to set up a permanent Bench of the tribunal at Dharamsala and Mandi. The tribunal had been holding a circuit Bench at these two places.

The tribunal had been without a chairman since the retirement of Justice M.R.Verma and a judicial member.

The two administrative members, Vijay Pal and B.S.Chauhan, were unaware of the notification. In fact, they have passed a number of orders and admitted new cases since July 8 till date.

The BJP had been against the tribunal and had considered it to be against the interests of employees. In fact, the Shanta Kumar government had recommended its scrapping in 1990.

However, since it was set up under a Central Act, there was no provision for abolition in it.

Subsequently, some other states had also raised the issue and the Act was amended some time back to incorporate a provision that tribunals could be abolished on the recommendation of the state.

About 23,000 cases are pending with the tribunal. The official statement was silent about the matter.

However, it did mention that to protect the interest of the employees serving in the tribunal the government has decided to adjust them against the vacancies available in the state High Court and other government departments.

Dharamsala, July 11
The residents of Lal Singhi village in Una district might get reprieve from the ordeal that they have been facing since the reorganisation of Punjab and merger of hilly areas in Himachal Pradesh.

The government has directed officials of the settlement office at Dharamsala to prepare the record of the village as per the actual possession of inhabitants.

Officials concerned said the work would be started as soon as higher officials of the department directed them to do so.

Even after more than 50 years of the formation of the state, residents of Lal Singhi village have not been able to sell, divide or get their land demarcated as the original record of the village was lost after Una, a tehsil of Hoshiarpur district in Punjab initially, was merged in Himachal.

Recently, the government allowed registries of the land in the village. However, the mutation of sold land could not be effected as the original record is not available. Since the land has also not been divided among families, frequent disputes mar the development of the area.

After the villagers raised a hue and cry over the issue, the previous government made efforts to locate the record.

Teams of revenue officials were sent to Hoshiarpur district to locate the old records, but not to much avail.

Thereafter new record was prepared. However, the newly prepared record was not accepted or implemented.

Now, the government has once again issued directions to prepare record as per the actual occupation. However, officials of the settlement office apprehend that this also might not solve the problem.

Actual possessions are already disputed in the village. It is necessary to take consent of the residents before making ground possession permanent, otherwise there will be multiplicity of litigation.

Despite the work in progress, it is unfortunate that the state government or officials of the Revenue Department have not been able to prepare new record as regards about 3,600 hectares in the village to settle the problem of residents permanently.

The delay can be attributed to the inefficiency of the revenue officials or their unwillingness to resolve the issue as it make people dependent on them.

The settlement officials here blamed the first DC of Una for failing to procure the record of the village from Hoshiarpur.

Mandi, July 11
The police today registered a prima facie case of “cheating, benami transaction, criminal conspiracy and corruption” in the controversial “benami sale deed of the royal property” here against the district revenue officer, the registrar, seller Devinder Jamval, and buyers Khub Ram, Gopal, Kashmir Singh and Subhash Kumar under various Sections of the IPC, the Benami Transaction Prohibition Act and the Prevention of Corruption Act.

“The deal was benami and allegedly done with the connivance of officials, sellers and buyers”, the police said.

The deal caused a loss of Rs 33.29 lakh to the state exchequer in terms of stamp duty charged at the rate of 5 per cent. “The total value of the sold land is Rs 10.36 crore that is three times more than the value calculated by the registrar for which the stamp duty was charged by him”, the police claimed.

Stamp duty of Rs 1.15 lakh was charged first on April 24 when the sale deed was registered and then stamp duty of Rs 17.37 lakh was charged on May 5 as an “afterthought”, the police claimed.

The police found that Khub Ram, who bought the land, was a waiter at a convent school in Shimla. He had no known sources of income to buy the property.

Later, Khub Ram gave the power of attorney to Subhash Kumar from Bari, an associate of Tek Chand, a money-lender-cum contractor.

But, DRO B.S. Negi said stamp duty of Rs 18 lakh was charged after the value of the land was assessed at Rs 3.70 crore.

Mandi SP M. Chandra Sekhar said a case was registered after the police established prima facie evidence in the benami deal. No arrest has been made so far, he added.

Besides, a 1-km link road to the Army station would also be constructed by the local Municipal Committee.

The maintenance would, however, be entrusted to the Army as the road would exclusively be used by them.

All related works to the link road, including cutting and widening, would also be done by the state government.

Shimla, July 11
The state government will undertake an exercise for identification of martyrs who contributed significantly during the 1857 national uprising and raise memorials in their honour at suitable places.

Addressing the inaugural session of a two-day seminar on “Pahari Gandhi Baba Kanshi Ram and his role in 1857 Revolution” being organised to celebrate his birth anniversary here today, Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal said that the government would also maintain registers at the district headquarters in which the contribution of the freedom fighters would be recorded.

The state government would seek cooperation of research scholars and local people to collect documentary evidence and detailed information about freedom fighters and compile their history.

The exercise would also bring to fore the role of people of the hill state in the freedom movement. He said a statue of Rani Laxmibai would be installed in at Rani Jhansi Park on The Mall here.

Efforts would be made to trace the history of martyr Ram Prasad Bairagi, who hailed from Subathu in Solan district, and other such prominent martyrs all over the state.

Efforts were being made to promote Pahari language but much more was to be done to secure the status of a recognised language for it.

He paid rich tributes to Pahari Gandhi Baba Kanshi Ram, who had contributed significantly by bringing out motivational literature to give momentum to the
freedom movement.

The Chief Minister released three books---'Pahari Bhasha Vyakaran', 'Himachal Ke Darshniya Sthal' and "Sinduri Saanjh Aur Khamosh Aadmi' ---on the occasion. He also honoured Ravi Kant Sharma and Vijay Kumar, grandsons of Baba Kanshi Ram.

Shimla, July 11
Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal today visited the residence of Brig Ravi Dut Mehta , who was killed along with three others in the car bomb attack on the Indian Embassy at Kabul, to offer condolences to the bereaved family.

He spent some time with S.D. Mehta, father of Ravi Dut, and assured all possible help to the family from the government.

He said the sacrifice of Brig Mehta would not go in vain and he would be remembered for upholding the rich tradition of the Indian forces.

He announced Rs 3 lakh as an ex-gratia grant to the family and announced that the road from Longwood Chowk to Keleston (Housing Board Colony) would be named after Brig R.D.Mehta.

Dhumal also sent a condolence message to the family of Roop Singh of Dhaban village in Mandi, who was also killed in the bomb attack. He announced an ex-gratia grant of Rs 1 lakh to the family.

The Chief Minister said soldiers from the state had written a history of brave sacrifices. As many as 52 soldiers laid down their life during Operation Vijay launched to flush out the foreign infiltrators from Kargil.

Two of the four Param Vir Chakras awarded for exceptional bravery during the battle were conferred upon soldiers hailing from the state. The first Param Vir Chakra winner of the country, Major Som Nath, also hailed from the state.

Dhumal said that the state was committed to protecting the interests of serving and retired defence personnel of the state and recently created an independent department to look after their welfare. He said Mukhyamantri Sainik Kalyan Kosh had also been created for the purpose.

Shimla, July 11
The government is considering formulating a computer education plan to make information technology a thrust area of the education sector, said Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal speaking at the launching ceremony of 'Sankalp', the second phase of the computer education programme for which an MoU was renewed with Intel here today.

A CD-ROM on Technology Aided Project developed by state teachers was also released on the occasion.

To keep pace with the modern tools of communication the government would ensure that every student was educated in information technology.

Despite all odds the state had made a solid beginning in the sector by being the first state to establish an IT university in the private sector.

Besides, almost all major IT companies had established units in the state to produce software to feed the markets the world over.

Dhumal said that in the second phase thousands of more teachers would be
trained and given responsibility to further expand the reach of IT education in
educational institutions.

Education minister Ishwar Dass Dhiman said during the second phase 80 multi-media centres would be set up, besides adding 37 government degree colleges, 234 senior secondary schools where a minimum of 50 students opted for IT education.

Shimla, July 11
Though there is a possibility of slight decline in the apple production this year, the growers are hoping to get good rates for their produce as there is an increase in the size of the fruit on account of high moisture.

With an expected production of about 2.35 crore boxes of apple this year, the government is making all arrangements to ensure that the growers are able to get a good price and there are proper transportation arrangements.

The apple season begins in mid-July and continues till mid-October when the fruit from the higher areas is harvested.

Horticulture experts say the produce this year is expected to be slightly less as compared to the last year as apple has a pattern of giving a good crop every alternate year and with decrease in temperature at the time of flowering.

“However, with high-moisture content, the fruit this year has attained a good size which will cover up the fall in the production by over 25 to 33 per cent,” says Prof S.P. Bhardwaj, Horticulture University at Nauni.

He added that the growers should not show undue haste in sending their produce to the market.

It is only in the apple belts above 7,000 feet in the Kinnaur, Chpoal and Dodra
Kawar areas that the size of the fruit has remained small due to less rainfall and
low temperature.

“Even the growers here will benefit because the shape of the fruit is perfect that will fetch them good prices,” he says.

In fact, the growers too are hopeful that in the absence of a glut in the market, they will be able to get good prices throughout the season.

They are only keen that the government arrangement with regards to availability of trucks and roads is good.

The government is taking timely steps to ensure that there is smooth transportation of the fruit.

It is trying to ensure that the growers do not face any problem. A control room-cum-barrier will be set up at Fagu from July 15 to October 15.

“This has been done to ensure that the growers do not face any problem in getting trucks and there is no over charging,” said a senior official.

The administration of the apple growing districts of Shimla, Kullu and Kinnaur have been asked to ensure that if the trucks from the transport unions within the state are insufficient then trucks from the adjoining states be arranged.

According to official records, about 59,000 trucks of apples were transported from the state during the apple season last year.

Mandi, July 11
Residents of Bari village, the home of Tek Chand,a money-lender who remained untraced for the last eight days, today staged dharna in front of the DC office. They were demanding a CBI probe into his sudden disappearance.

The residents, including family members of Tek Chand, were supported by the BJP, the CPI, the CPM, and the Congress leaders from the Bari Gumanu area, raised slogans and demanded CBI probe to trace him out as the police has failed to produce results in the case.

They met DC Onkar Sharma and handed over the memorandum, which is addressed to the Governor demanding a CBI probe.

Later, they met SP M. Chandra Sekhar and expressed their anguish and concern over his sudden disappearance of from the town.

They alleged that he was kidnapped at the behest of some influential vested interests as he has some financial dealings with them.

The SP assured them that the police had inquired more than 25 persons, including some residents, but there was no evidence to raise a needle of suspicion on them.

He said the search was on and the police was trying to track down the vehicle in which he was last seen.

Kangra, July 11
Two lovers made an unsuccessful bid to end their lives at Mallan village, falling under the Kangra police station, by consuming poison, as their parents were reluctant to their marriage.

They were rushed to Dr. R.P.Government Medical College, Tanda, where both survived, the police said here today.

Kangra DSP O.P. Jamwal said Navjoot, a resident of Simbal village, Palampur, was studying with Anu, a resident of Prem Nagar, Dehradun, and wanted to marry her. Parents of the duo were against their marriage.

Before consuming the poison they informed their relatives about their plans and went in the adjacent forest near Mallan Chowk.

The SHO Dehradun informed the Nagrota Bagwan police that a crime was going to take place but the police rushed to the area could not trace them out.

According to the police, some residents found the two in an unconscious condition and rushed them to the medical college, Tanda, where the two survived.

The police has recovered two separate suicide notes from them and registered a case. The girl is a minor and her age was 17 years, the police said.

Palampur, July 11
Supply of drinking water to the town and its adjoining areas was partially restored after three days last night.

Residents of many areas still facing the crisis of drinking water because of low pressures in pipelines.

A spokesman of the IPH Department told The Tribune today that inclement weather and debris dumped by a power company in Neugal river, which fed one dozen drinking water supply schemes in the region, were cause for drinking water crises.

He said the main water sources of Sidhpur-Khalet, Mehanja-Bindravan, Palampur town, Ghuggar-Aima and Daroh Garh water supply schemes had badly been damaged by mud and stones thrown by the power company into the water sources.

The department was making efforts to restore water supply to the affected areas but if rain continued, supply of drinking water would be again affected, he added.

He said the executive engineer, IPH, had issued directions to Om Power Corporation to suspend entire construction activities and stop dumping debris in the river.

He said company could not be allowed to damage the drinking water sources resulting in grate inconvenience to thousand of residents.

If the company failed to follow the directions issued by him, stern legal action would be initiated against the management of the company.

Meanwhile, K.B. Rahalan, chief of the Palampur Welfare and Environment Protection Forum (PWEPF) today appealed the deputy commissioner, Kangra, to requisite water tanks for the supply of drinking water in the town, if water crises continued.

He said the administration should seek help of the Army for the restoration of drinking water supply to the town and other areas of the region.

The PWEPF demanded stern action against erring power company who had damaged the water sources by dumping of debris in the river and reckless cutting of hills.

In past three days, long queues of the residents were seen in front of hand pumps and other natural water sources in the town.

In many parts of the town the residents had been carrying water from one to
two km distance.

Water crises also affected the proper functioning of various nursing homes and hospitals in the town.

Though the driver ran away, the police arrested Mehar Singh, another person who was in the jeep.

Shimla, July 11
Food and supply minister Ramesh Dhawala today warned that strict action would be taken against hoarders and black marketeers, as government was to provide subsidy on essential commodities to the people through the public distribution system (PDS).

“We are providing essential commodities like rice, wheat, pulses, edible oil, salt, kerosene and cook-ing gas through the PDS,” he said. He directed the officials to check profiteering, hoarding and black marketeering.

Dhawala said during the past two days, the inspection team of the department had launched a special campaign and sealed some fair price shops.

He said action would be taken against the owners of the government depots, who were indulging in black marketeering of kerosene.

He warned that action would be taken against hotel and dhaba owners, who were using domestic gas cylinders instead of commercial cylinders.