 |
|
|
Congress resolves to regain power
Former Speaker Kaul Singh Thakur (garlanded) along with senior leaders Virbhadra Singh, CLP leader Vidya Stokes and Viplove Thakur after he assumed charge as the president of the state Congress in Shimla on Tuesday. Tribune photo: S. Chandan
Building Violations
Warm sendoff to Governor Kokje
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
BBMB wakes up to plight of Balh valley farmers
Kaul Singh wants SAT restored
Sarpanches to issue BPL certificates
A scuffle over haphazard parking outside Congress Bhawan in Shimla on Tuesday. A Tribune photograph
Watchman’s Murder
SAT scrapping not to hit justice delivery: CM
Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal receives a memento during a function of the Himachal Pradesh State Pensioners’ Welfare Association at Hamirpur on Tuesday. Tribune photo: Dharam Prakash Gupta
Sex Tests
Congress MLAs flay decision
Internet services hit in Mandi
DCs told to assess rain damage
Projects up to 25 MW may turn ‘small’
Employees, Bar welcome move
Mountaineering hut awaits completion
Plant herbs: Minister
Rs 28 crore sanctioned for Pangi
SFI holds protest
|
|
Congress resolves to regain power
Shimla, July 15 The ‘taking-over” ceremony was an elaborate affair and marked with much fanfare. Besides senior leaders of the state, AICC secretary Bhola Pande, Haryana Congress president Phool Chand Malana and Chandigarh Congress chief B.B. Behl also attended the ceremony. The occasion was used by all speakers to attack the BJP setting the tone for the coming Lok Sabha poll. Bhola Pande targeted BJP prime ministerial candidate L.K. Advani comparing him with Jinnah and Z.A.Bhutto, who had divided India and Pakistan. He said Advani currently represented such divisive ideology in the national political scene and he had to be stopped in his tracks to protect the unity and integrity of the country. He asserted that the Congress was on a strong footing in the state and losing power was no indication that the party had lost ground. He said the party setup in the state had been changed completely with the appointment of new presidents of the NSUI and the Youth Congress, who were selected by Rahul Gandhi. He ridiculed Chief Minister P.K.Dhumal for taking credit for the centrally sponsored schemes started by the UPA government and said without central assistance even the day- to-day functioning of the government would be paralysed. Leader of the Opposition Vidya Stokes said that the workers were the backbone of the party and without their cooperation no leader could succeed. Virbhadra Singh said the Dhumal government had been indulging in political vendetta and working overtime to harass Congressmen. The employees who sympathised with the party were also at the receiving end. Outgoing president Viplove Thakur said the workers should be loyal to the party and not to individual leaders or a particular faction. Two ex-ministers G.S.Bali and Asha Kumari were conspicuous by their absence.
|
||
|
BJP mulls strict action
Pratibha Chauhan Tribune News Service
Shimla, July 15 With an eye on the assembly elections, the Congress regime had announced the fifth retention policy for the entire state in June, 2007. Being a populist decision aimed at wooing voters, the policy provided for compounding 50 per cent deviation from the sanctioned plan even though it defeated the very purpose of regulated growth and the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Act. Even after one year the final decision in the matter is still awaited as after the change of regime, the government is considering taking a more stern view of the violations. Even though few had applied for regularisation of their structures under the retention policy, a petition had been filed in the high court against the retention policy. Under the fifth retention policy floated in the state, 2180 of the 3,200 cases are from Shimla itself. Contrary to the expectations of the government few applied under the retention policy as the matter had been taken to the court in the form of a PIL. The persons who have applied under the retention policy are still awaiting the final verdict by the court. However, planners and architects who were opposed to such a liberal retention policy are of the opinion that the government must be stricter so as to check further violations. Interestingly, even though planners and architects had recommended that only 25 per cent deviation from the approved building plan should be allowed under the fifth retention policy this was straight away raised to 50 per cent under pressure from influential people, defeating the entire purpose of TCP Act and the rules. What is even worse is the fact that as per the latest retention policy, an extra storey will be regularised in the restricted areas of Shimla, Manali, Dalhousie and Dharamsala, which have already turned into concrete jungles and face immense pressure. The committee constituted by the government to re-examine the issue of ban on construction in green areas has also not finalised its report. There has been a complete ban on new constructions in Shimla since 2000. Some persons who own plots in green areas had approached the government to give partial relaxation so that they could raise need-based structures.
|
||
|
Warm sendoff to Governor Kokje
Shimla, July 15 A warm sendoff was given to the outgoing Governor, who left for Delhi today. “It is an emotional moment for me as my stay here has been a memorable one and I will remember the sincerity and hard work of the people of the state,” he remarked. Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal said Kokje had fulfilled the duties as the Governor in the true spirit of the Constitution and upheld the dignity of the post. “He will be remembered by the people of the state as he remained closely associated with the social, cultural and religious activities,” he said. Dhumal also lauded the role of Lady Governor Leela Kokje and said that she had contributed significantly towards social activities, especially Red Cross activities. Ministers, judges of the high court, chief secretary and senior officials attended the function.
|
||
|
BBMB wakes up to plight of Balh valley farmers
Mandi, July 15 The plan will not only revive the “silt-littered fields in the Balh valley along the banks of the Suketi river, but also make the river thrive with aquatic life. The BBMB will fund the project and the Forests Department will implement it once it is put in place by next year. Director HFRI Mohinder Singh said, “We plan to propose planting of local species, considering the socio-economic and ecological needs of the area. A team of the scientists is gathering the relevant data. We have to submit the report by December.” He said the plan cost would vary from Rs 10 crore to Rs 15 crore. HFRI scientists said the plan would also propose how to revive aquatic life in the Suketi river. The high court has been monitoring the progress of the catchment area plan. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for July 24. The Tribune has recently highlighted how the BSL project has rendered these areas barren. BBMB’s chief engineer H.R. Rathi said, “The board has given Rs 15 lakh as consultancy fee to the HFRI for the plan. As per a direction of the court, we dredge out silt during the rainy season only as it gets washed down immediately. The catchment plan will be implemented by the state agency soon after we get the detailed project report.”
|
||
|
Kaul Singh wants SAT restored
Shimla, July 15 Addressing partymen after formally taking over as the head of the party he said that Chief Minister P.K.Dhumal, who had only political vendetta in his mind, was upset over the fact that employees shifted in violation of rules and regulation were being granted relief by the tribunal. He decided to do away with the tribunal as it was coming in the way of his vindictive agenda. The employees had been at the receiving end ever since the BJP assumed office and even those on verge of retirement had not been spared. The abolition of tribunal would further add to their woes. The Congress would do all that was required to get the tribunal restored and not hesitate to launch a statewide stir to achieve it. He also made it clear that the party would not allow the government to shift the location of the central university sanctioned by the UPA regime and ensure that it was established at Dharamsala. Kaul Singh lambasted the Dhumal government for taking credit for development works and it had even delayed inauguration of some completed schemes just to show these at its own achievement. He mentioned the water supply schemes for Hamirpur, Solan and Shimla, which were constructed at a huge cost. He made it clear the central university should be located at Dharamsala. Some BJP leaders were trying to shift it to Dehra. The party would see to it that it was established as planned and there was no change of location. The urged the party workers to gear up for the Lok Sabha poll and ensure victory of the party. He expressed confidence that the party would not only retain three seats but also wrest the Hamirpur seat from the BJP.
|
||
|
Sarpanches to issue BPL certificates
Shimla, July 15 The issue of the BPL certificates would empower the panchayats and reduce any delay in issuance of certificates to the beneficiaries, an official spokesman said in a release here. He said the certificates would be issued on the basis of the panchayat record, which would be countersigned by the pradhan of the gram panchayat concerned. Penal action would, however, be taken against the certificate issuing authority in case the certificates were found to be wrong or incorrect, he said. Besides, the person availing the benefit of such certificate would also be dismissed from the service and
criminal cases would be registered against him. He said the move was a part of the authorities to delegate adequate powers to the panchayati raj institutions and to further speed up development at the grass-root level. Reiterating the government’s resolve to strengthen and empower the panchayati raj institutions and the urban local
bodies, he said, it had already been decided to provide 50 per cent reservation to women in such institutions and bodies. The honorarium of all categories of elected representatives of panchayati raj institutions and urban local bodies
had also been increased, the spokesman said. He said this would not only benefit about 25,000 such elected representatives, but would also empower and encourage them.
— UNI |
||
|
Scuffle over wrong parking
Shimla, July 15 In fact, a haphazardly parked vehicle led to a scuffle with the driver of a private bus who wanted it to be moved aside to allow smooth flow of traffic. The two drivers came to blows but the situation was saved as Congress workers intervened to end the matter. There were some fireworks inside Congress Bhawan as former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and outgoing PCC chief Viplove Thakur had an oral exchange on the dais during the ceremony. It was triggered off when Virbhadra Singh during his course of speech said that he campaigned for the party in the recent Hamirpur byelections even though no one had asked him to do so. This irked Viplove who immediately pointed out that she had written a letter to him. Virbhadra Singh expressed anguish over the fact that his detractors were questioning his loyalty to the party and even asked the gathering to raise hands who considered him a Congressman. All raised hands in agreement. Earlier, Viplove Thakur earlier said that workers and leaders should have unflinching loyalty to the party and not to individual leaders or camps and asked those who were for the party to raise hands. Kaul Singh also caused a flutter by openly stating that those who were working as informers of the BJP should leave the party. It only lent currency to the reports that certain Congress leaders were hand-in-glove with Chief Minister P.K.Dhumal. |
||
|
Working of HPTDC hotel under cloud
Our Correspondent
Palampur, July 15 According to the police, a party was organised by local businessmen in the hotel yesterday. At the end of the party, two bottles of liquor were given to the staff by the organisers. The staff was drunk and it led to the murder of Amar Singh. The hotel has its own bar and under the Excise Rules, when a hotel has its own bar, no liquor is allowed from outside. But, the hotel authorities allowed the organisers to bring their own liquor, which was in gross violation of rules. Had the authorities taken the rules seriously and refused the organisers to serve their own liquor, this unfortunate incident could have been avoided. Atul Phuljhule, SSP, Kangra, was monitoring the investigation of the case and assured that the culprit would not be spared. Earlier, the police raided the hotel and arrested a gang of gamblers along with a heavy amount of cash. The management of the HPTDC took no action against the management, who allowed the gamblers to conduct their activities in the hotel. Now, murders were taking place in the hotel. Sources told The Tribune that Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal had expressed his anguish over the matter. He said it would have an adverse affect on tourists.
|
||
|
SAT scrapping not to hit justice delivery: CM
Hamirpur, July 15 He said this while speaking at a state-level function of the Himachal Pradesh State Pensioners’ Welfare Association on its 12th foundation day at government boys’ school here today. He said, “The state government would consider forming a joint consultative committee and providing interim relief to the pensioners who retired from the service on or after October 31, 2006. The committee will also be provided land for the construction of an office at Hamirpur and its office-bearers be ensured easy access to the state secretariat at Shimla.” He said, “All your problems are government’s problems and we will consider these sympathetically.” He also talked about various welfare measures taken by the government during the present tenure. Education minister I.D. Dhiman, Hamirpur MP Anurag Thakur, local MLA Urmil Thakur and president of the pensioners’ body B.D. Sharma also addressed the gathering. Chairman of the ex-servicemen development corporation M.C. Pramar presented a draft of Rs 11 lakh to Dhumal for the CM Relief Fund. Later, Dhumal laid the foundation stone of an institute of hotel management, catering technology and applied nutrition, the second phase of DAV school complex and a bank and post office block at the NIT.
|
||
|
Licences of 20 ultrasound clinics cancelled
Tribune News Service
Shimla, July 15 Rakesh Kanwar, additional secretary, health, said today that frequent checks would have to be conducted by health officials to enforce the PNDT Act strictly. He was speaking at a one-day workshop on “Online Data Entry Training” organised by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare here today. “Since the issue pertains to a sensitive issue like sex ratio, all possible legal and administrative help should be given by all officials in conducting inspections all over the state,” he said. He stressed the need for generating awareness among the public by holding campaigns in this connection. T.S. Chawla, under secretary in the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare assured all help to Himachal so that it could come out of the list of focus states with a low sex ratio in north India. Nisar Ahmed, state programme officer, informed the participants that there were 214 ultrasound machines in the state. “A total of 634 inspections have been conducted so far and action taken against 43 clinics, including the cancellation of licences of 20,” he said.
|
||
|
Congress MLAs flay decision
Shimla, July 15 In a joint statement, Kuldeep Pathania, Neeraj Bharati,
S.K.Bhardwaj, Sukhwinder Singh and Sohan Lal said the high court was already occupied and there was a huge backlog of cases. Moreover, it was located in Shimla and as such litigants from Kullu, Chamba, Sirmaur, Mandi, Una and Bilaspur found it difficult to pursue their cases there. So, the scrapping of the tribunal had virtually snatched people’s the right to justice as envisaged in the Constitution of India. “The Supreme Court has already upheld the validity of tribunals and the matter adjudicated by them are further legally screened by high courts. So, there was no point in disbanding the tribunal that had served well for the past 22 years without adequate staff,” they added. The BJP had been asserting that the it had adopted the election manifesto as the official document of the government, but the decision went against the promise of strengthening the tribunals. Meanwhile, the State Administrative Tribunal Bar Association has drawn attention of the government to a decision of the Kerala Government taken earlier this month to set up a State Administrative Tribunal in view of the mounting backlog in the high court. |
||
|
Internet services hit in Mandi
Mandi, July 15 Servers were down from Chandigarh, claimed BSNL officials. The reporters, online traders, representatives of the pharmaceuticals tried to connect through all connections available, but they failed. The worst sufferers were the newspaper reporters, who could not send their reports on time despite the fact that the problem was brought to the notice of the BSNL in time. The cyber cafes in the town went out of business. “The BSNL should provide with some alternatives in such cases as it is the only Internet service provider in the region”, said Pankaj Thakur, a business executive. The BSNL telecom official on duty said they could do a little as the service was down right from Chandigarh. “We have informed them about the problem,” they added, passing the blame on the head office, Chandigarh. |
||
|
DCs told to assess rain damage
Shimla, July 15 Chairing a state-level meeting on Calamity Relief Fund, chief secretary Asha Swaroop said a sum of Rs 65.13 crore was available under the calamity relief fund with the state. “Details of the damage caused due rain must be sent by all DCs by July 20 so that a comprehensive memorandum seeking adequate financial assistance could be submitted to the Centre,” she remarked. She said the Union Cabinet had approved additional assistance of Rs 129.09 crore as relief for the unprecedented loss suffered by the state due to flash floods in 2005. She said Rs 29 crore had been proportionately allocated to all 12 districts, while Rs 26 crore had been released to various departments. “The departments are already undertaking restoration and repair of damaged roads, bridges and power set-up,” she
said. |
||
|
Projects up to 25 MW may turn ‘small’
Shimla, July 15 Addressing a conference on ''Himachal Pradesh: The Clean Energy Hub'', organised by PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry at Barog in Solan district, he said the projects up to two MW capacity would be reserved exclusively for Himachal entrepreneurs while the local people would be given preference in allotment of projects up
to 5 MW. Dhumal said the allotment of projects would be made in transparent manner through
competitive bidding and all norms and conditions applicable to projects up to five MW would be applicable to projects up to 25 MW capacity. The projects up to 100 MW potential were already being allotted through competitive bidding while global tenders would be invited for projects above 100 MW capacity, he said.
— UNI |
||
|
Employees, Bar welcome move
Nahan, July 15 Jaggi Ram Sharma, president, Sirmour Bar Association, said such decisions taken in the larger public interest by any government should not be viewed or opposed on the party lines. He appealed to the state government to revive the judicial pattern which existed before 1986 prior to the establishment of the SAT by delegating powers to the district courts to try all kinds of service matters. It was the best solution to provide quick and cheap justice at the doorstep to government employees. Gita Ram Tomar, chief adviser, Himachal Pradesh NGOs’ Federation, Sirmaur; Ramesh Thakur, President, Sirmour District IPH Employees Union; and Satyander Thakur, President H.P. NGOs’ Federation. Nahan, said that state government had given great relief to the employees by scrapping the SAT. They appealed to the CM to delegate powers to the district courts to try all service matters.
|
||
|
Mountaineering hut awaits completion
Chamba, July 15 The idea of constructing ‘mountaineering hut’ at Holi was conceived way back in 2003. The construction work for its building commenced in April 2005 with an outlay of Rs 62,78,615 (approximately Rs 62.78 lakh) which was scheduled to be completed in April 2007. The officials available at the sub-tehsil office at Holi revealed that the work on the building had been banging fire because of lack of funds. Surprisingly, year 2008 is now on the midway, but the work on this edifice is incomplete. |
||
|
Plant herbs: Minister
Chamba, July 15 Launching “Jan-Jan Sanjivini Van Abhiyan-2008” for people of this district yesterday, Nadda said the district had immense scope for cultivating medicinal herbs. He said the need of the hour was to protect and conserve the forest wealth of the state. He said the plantation programme would be made a ‘mass movement’ in the state and people should come forward to make it a grand success. The state government had decided to launch a campaign on a large-scale to make the state a ‘herbal state’. He said the Forest Department had chalked out an ambitious plan to involve people in this programme. |
||
|
Rs 28 crore sanctioned for Pangi
Chamba, July 15 This was stated by Speaker of the state Vidhan Sabha Tulsi Ram while laying the foundation stone of Rs 2.5 crore bridge at Shaur on the
Killar-Manali road. He said a direct Himachal Road Transport Corporation bus service from Killar to Chamba via Alwas road would be introduced. |
||
|
SFI holds protest
Chamba, July 15 They protested against the acute shortage of teachers in the government colleges at Chowari. The activists raised slogans against the government. After the rally, a meeting was held under the chairmanship of SFI state president Nirmal Panday, who criticised the government for not taking care of the students’ future as their studies were affected in the absence of adequate staff. |
||
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
Veteran Congress leader Kaul Singh today took over as the Pradesh Congress Committee chief on an optimistic note with senior leaders resolving to bring the party back to power in the state.
Governor V.S. Kokje said Himachal had emerged as a model hill state by making great strides in development and attracting tourists because of its peaceful and beautiful environment.
A warm sendoff was given to the outgoing Governor, who left for Delhi today.
Hamirpur, July 15
