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Kangra Cooperative Bank
BJP neglecting Chopal: Cong
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Cong misleading people on SAT: BJP
Kariyali-Kothi-Salbagh Limestone Deposits
Anganwari Appointments
Dharna staged
Transfer of naib tehsildar resented
Misuse of vehicle by top cop
CM directs NTPC to expedite work
Brig Mehta made state proud: CM
Sunil Sharma is DCC chief
‘Enact’ law to check quackery
BJYM to hold rally on Aug 9
Man held for wife’s death
Woman succumbs to head injuries
Five feared drowned
Honour for writer
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Kangra Cooperative Bank The
backgrounder The recruitments were made in 1999. The bank had initially advertised 62 posts of junior clerk. Later, the number posts was increased to 122. However, the bank recruited 229 candidates. A waiting list of 50 candidates was also prepared. Out of these 50 candidates, 49 candidates were recruited on daily-wage basis. As per the report, most of these candidates were wards of senior officers and influential employees of the bank. After a year, the services of even these employees were regularised. The Law Department had held that all 229 selected candidates had joined duty and hence there was no need for the bank management to prepare a waiting list. The department observed these appointments were against the provisions of the HP Cooperative Society Rules. Thus, the department termed these appointments as illegal.
Dharamsala, July 16 As per representatives of the bank employees’ union, earlier 60 per cent vacant officer-cadre posts were filled on the basis of seniority, 20 per cent through qualification improvement and rest 20 per cent directly. At present, there are 126 vacant posts in the bank. In violation of the directions of the registrar (cooperative societies), the management has decided not to conduct any test for the 20 per cent posts required to be filled directly. The posts to be filled through seniority have been reduced from 72 to 42. On the other hand, posts under the qualification-improvement quota have been increased from 25 to 47 to allegedly accommodate some of candidate whose termination had been recommended by the Law Department. The candidates being benefited are wards of higher officials of the bank. The managing director (MD) of the bank was not available for comments. However, general manager S.C. Sharma denied the charges. He said every thing was being done according to rules. About the status of employees in question, he said the report of the Law Department and the letter of the Directorate of Cooperation was forwarded to the board of directors of the bank. The board had authorised the chairman to answer to the directorate’s letter. When asked why the employees are being allowed to continue despite the Law Department holding that they were recruited in violation of the rules, he said the board of directors of the bank had endorsed their recruitment and now it had to defend its decision that was taken according to rules. As per a document available with The Tribune, the Law Department had submitted a report recommending termination of services of 49 bank employees in August, 2007. It has been a year since then, but the bank management has failed to take any action on the report. After the submission of the report by the Law Department, even the Directorate of Cooperation had also written to the managing director of the bank asking the bank authorities to terminate the services of these employees.
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BJP obliged liquor lobby: Cong
Shimla, July 16 Addressing his first conference after taking over the reins of the party he said that the reduction in VAT was effected on the ground that the rates were lower in the neighbouring states but the same logic was not being applied to petroleum products. Petrol, diesel and cooking gas were cheaper in the adjoining states as they had reduced VAT on these products to provide relief to the common man but the Chief Minister was adamant that tax would not be reduced. The state was losing as the sale of petroleum had come down drastically with truck owners which transported cement, apple and other commodities mostly getting their fuel from outlets outside the state. The BJP had made inflation a major election issue and it had promised to bring down prices. However, after coming to power it had added to the woes of the people by diluting the subsidised ration scheme introduced by the Congress government. The public distribution system had virtually collapsed in the state. The BJP had also reversed the decision of the Congress regime to set up a government medical college in Mandi. Instead it had announced that a private medical college would be set up in its place which was not acceptable to the people. He maintained that the Centre had nothing to do with the scrapping of the State Administrative Tribunal and the government was misleading the people by stating that it had been abolished by the Centre. The Congress would launch a statewide stir in which lawyers and employees would also be involved to force the government to restore the tribunal. He said the statement of the Chief Minister that the government would establish a Bench of the high court at Dharamsala was misleading as the proposal had already been rejected by the high court that there was no justification for it. Kaul Singh made it clear that indiscipline would not be tolerated at any cost and those making statements in the media against the party or any leader would be held accountable. |
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BJP neglecting Chopal: Cong
Shimla, July 16 Secretary of the party S.P.Katyal said that an acute shortage of staff had paralysed the functioning of most of the health institutions in the area. As many as 17 ayurvedic health centres were without doctors in Chopal subdivision and 12 of the 21 posts of pharmacist had been lying vacant for a long time. Besides, 36 sub-centres were without health workers. BJP ministers had been frequently visiting the area but only to inaugurate sports tournaments and cultural programmes and were least bothered about the problems being faced by the people. The ayurvedic centres at Talor, Khakhrona, Dhar Chandna, Sheela and Babt were being run by daily-paid workers. The health centres at Throach, Jhina and Lani Bamta were been managed by peons. The staff of civil hospitals at Nerwa and Chopal had been shifted out on political considerations. As a result, the patients were being taken to far-off places like Dehradun and Vikasnagar in Uttarakhand for
treatment. |
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Cong misleading people on SAT: BJP
Shimla, July 16 In a statement issued here today along with two ministers, Kishan Kapoor and Sarveen Chaudhary, he said the BJP was a well-wisher of the employees as the decisions concerning them were taken by rising above political considerations. “The tribunal has not been able to deliver justice to the employees which is evident from the fact that 24,000 cases are still pending,” he said. The BJP chief said the tribunal was referring back the original applications of the employees to the departmental secretaries for decisions. He said the Chief Minister had already clarified that a Bench of the high court would be set up at Dharamsala so that justice could be delivered to the employees. BILASPUR: The state Employees Federation has criticised the scrapping of the Administrative Tribunal by the state government. Addressing mediapersons here , president of the state NGOs’ federation Ram Singh lashed those employees’ leaders, who welcomed the step. He called them self-seekers, who were out to sacrifice employees’ interests for the sake of their personal benefits. He said the tribunal provided relief and justice to thousands of harassed and victimised employees. |
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Kariyali-Kothi-Salbagh Limestone Deposits
Shimla, July 16 The department has invited bids for the grant of a prospecting licence for the Kariyali -Kothi-Salbagh limestone deposits in Shimla district. As many as 24 companies, including most leading cement manufacturers, are in the race for the licence. However, 11 companies have no experience in cement production or mining. The applicants included four big companies, ACC, Ambuja Cements , Lafarge and India Cements, which have already been allotted cement plants in the state. Other major companies in the race are Laxmi Cements, Madras Cements, Dalmia Industries and Binani Cements. Preliminary investigations carried by the department had indicated limestone deposits ranging from 400 million tonnes to 500 million tonnes in the belt. Although mining lease will be granted only on the basis of proven deposits as identified by the prospecting licensee who will certainly get priority in allotment. The prospecting licensee will be given three years to assess the deposits and, if required, the period could be extended by another two years. In all the state has 2000 million tonnes of proven deposits, 1500 million tonnes of probable and 6000 million tonne of possible limestone deposits. Most of the probable deposits were in far-flung and inaccessible areas of Lahaul-Spiti and Shimla districts. At present three big cement plants are functioning in the state and two more will be commissioned over the next two years. Besides, four more big cement plants of 2 million tonne capacity each were coming up at Nalini, Al Sindi, Gummah and Chamba. Once all the plants are commissioned the total production of cement in the state will touch the 18 million tonne mark. It will take some time to exploit the Karyali-Salbagh deposits which will take the total production past the 20 million tonne mark. |
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Anganwari Appointments
Shimla, July 16 Social justice and empowerment minister Sarveen Chaudhary said here today the
inquiry had been instituted to ensure that only eligible persons were appointed. She said the deputy commissioner had been asked to conduct the inquiries at the district level and ensure that all complaints were disposed of by October. The affected candidates could lodge their complaints with the concerned deputy commissioner. In case of complaints already disposed off candidates were free to file appeals against wrong appointments along with relevant documents. She said top priority would be given to candidates from the weaker sections so that they could get employment in their native villages. Dharamsala: The district administration has decided to review the investigation into appointments of 565 anganwadi workers in Nagrota, Kangra and Nurpur blocks. The fresh investigation into this matter would be carried out by ADC Kangra Mamta Sharma. Sources here told that fresh investigations were being carried after hue and cry was raised over removal of certain workers. On June 26, a worker from Baijnath area had committed suicide after she was removed from the job. Interestingly, 1,200 appointments of the workers in the district, which were made during the time of the previous government, have been challenged in the court of district magistrate. Many of the workers have been removed allegedly at political behest. While the anganwadi workers are being removed on one pretext or another, the officers, who over looked the disqualification being found in candidate now at the time of appointment, are not being held accountable. |
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Dharna staged
Nurpur, July 16 The committee has been agitating for the cause of aggrieved women who had been deprived of anganwari appointments during previous regime by throwing all norms to wind. |
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Shoghi Firing
Dharamsala, July 16 State general secretary of BMS Kuldeep Guleria said they were demanding a compensation of 15 lakh to the kin of deceased labourer and Rs 5 lakh to those injured in Shoghi firing incident. We are also requesting the government to exercise their influence to force the owners of the company to pay compensation to the families of deceased and injured workers. The BMS leaders alleged that it was strange that the government was keeping silent over the incident despite the fact that the lives of labourers have been lost in the incident. If the government fails to act in the matter, the BMS would be forced to gherao the minister and intensify their agitation. The leaders of BMS alleged that the government was failing in getting the labour laws implemented in the state. Many industries were hiring workers through contractors that was leading to their exploitation. |
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Transfer of naib tehsildar resented
Bilaspur, July 16 Addressing mediapersons here today, the leaders of the area namely former BDC member Lekh Ram Maratha, former district marketing committee chairman and district Congress committee vice-president Shankar Das Kaundal , former Dhuni Panjail panchayat vice-president Nand Lal and other panchayat representatives Ramesh Thakur, Jyoti Ram, Madan Vaidya, Des Raj, Jeet Ram,Pawan Kumar, Kanshi Ram and president Kisan and Khetihar Mazdoor Union Rattan Lal Maratha, Ghial panchayat president Shankar Singh and district Congress committee vice-president Chandu Ram Thakur said sub tehsil was started at Namhole due to the efforts of former Congress minister Ram Lal Thakur and it was serving interests of 15000 farmers of 12 panchayats including Nahmole, Ghial, Deoth, Braham Pukhar, Dhuni Panjail, Sikroha and Kotla etc. The leaders said the abolition of post of naib tehsildar and transfer of naib tehsildar to another place has deprived farmers from all facilities regarding their revenue jobs. They demanded that the post of naib tehsildar be restored at Namhole, failing which people of the area would be forced to launch an agitation to compel the government to provide the facility at
Namhole. |
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Misuse of vehicle by top cop
Solan, July 16 Reacting to CID reports, the department has ordered immediate retrieval of the vehicle and directed that it be stationed at the police headquarters (PHQ). Confirming the information, sources said the official vehicle bearing a red beacon was being used by the official’s family. An official driver was also directed to remain stationed at Chandigarh. This misuse according to PHQ reports had been going on for the past several months. Fictitious entries were made in the logbook of the vehicle to show that it was being used for official work. Solan SP S.P.S. Verma said the vehicle had been withdrawn as it was required for the commandant of a newly set up battalion at Jungle Beri. Enquires revealed that the car was stationed at the armed police and training branch of the PHQ. |
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CM directs NTPC to expedite work
Shimla, July 16 Interacting with the visiting chairman-cum-managing director of NTPC, R.S.Sharma, the Chief Minister said Kol Dam had to pass through a number of hurdles before it could be allotted to the corporation. He said he had visited the project site to take a stock of the progress of project and was satisfied with it. He urged the corporation to complete the project at the earliest to help meet the increasing demand of power. Dhumal said there were a few clearances and modalities to be obtained and completed by the NTPC, which needed to be accorded top priority so that the project did not suffer. Chairman-cum-managing director R.S.Sharma of the corporation, apprised the Chief Minister of the progress and raised some of the issues pending with the state government. He said the Kol Dam reservoir work would be completed by the end of next calendar year. He urged the Chief Minister to settle the re-demarcation of the land falling in the dam area. |
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Brig Mehta made state proud: CM
Shimla, July 16 A large number of people from all walks of life attended the condolence meeting organised by the family of Brig Mehta in his memory. “People like Birg Mehta are source for inspiration for others and like a true soldier he lived and died for the nation,” he
remarked. Dhumal said Brig Mehta brought honour to the state by making the supreme sacrifice. “The state has produced valiant soldiers who have laid down their lives fighting the enemies be it Operation Vijay or other missions,” he said. He said the state government was committed to protect the interest of the serving soldiers as well as ex-servicemen. “The government has created a separate department so that issues like resettlement and the welfare schemes for the serving and retired soldiers can be dealt with properly,” he
said. Dhumal assured the family of Brig Mehta that the entire state was with them in their hour of grief. He handed over the ex gratia amount of Rs 3 lakh to the family members of the officers and assured all possible help from the state government. |
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Sunil Sharma is DCC chief
Hamirpur, July 16 The Congress sources have told that the appointment was made on Tuesday by PCC president Kaul Singh Thakur. The post of the district Congress president was lying vacant for quite sometime when Balak Ram Sharma had submitted his resignation after the last Parliament byelection in the district in which the Congress had to face humiliating defeat. Sunil, an MBA and civil engineer, is considered close to Nadaun MLA Sukhvinder Singh (Sukhu) and has served the Congress on various posts from the block NSUI president to the PCC secretary. |
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‘Enact’ law to check quackery
Nurpur, July 16 According to Sanjiv Guleria and Vipon Mahajan, president and senior vice-president of the association, respectively, they have expressed concern over the burgeoning menace of quacks, especially in border areas. They said the government should pass a Bill to make quackery a cognisable offence with provisions of imprisonment and heavy penalty. |
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BJYM to hold rally on Aug 9
Hamirpur, July 16 “A national-level campaign will be organised shortly to enrol the youth in the organisation and attract them to the policies of the BJP,” he added. |
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Man held for wife’s death
Bilaspur, July 16 Veena Devi (21), who married Suneel Kumar in April, died last night under suspicious circumstances. Her parents alleged that she was murdered as she was being maltreated and tortured to bring more dowry. They have registered an FIR against them. The police has arrested husband Suneel Kumar, father-in-law Rattan Lal and mother-in-law Savitri Devi. The police took the body into its possession and carried it for postmortem at the district hospital here. The police presented the accused in the court, which sent them in police remand up to July 21. |
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Woman succumbs to head injuries
Nurpur, July 16 According to the police, she boarded the Baijnath-Pathankot bus at Dhraman. As she was standing near the door, she fell when the driver applied the brakes to stop the bus at Jonta and was injured seriously. She was rushed to the civil hospital here which referred her to Tanda Medical College. The police has impounded the bus and arrested driver Ram
Swaroop. |
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Five feared drowned
Chamba, July 16 Official sources said the driver of the tipper was identified as Des Raj of Ulansa village in Bharmour tribal subdivision and the woman as Kusuma Devi. The two children had not yet been identified. The police had launched an operation to trace the tipper and the bodies in the Ravi. In another tragedy, a woman was feared to have been washed away in the Budhil rivulet, a tributary of the Ravi, near Bharmour last evening. |
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Honour for writer
Shimla, July 16 The collection being published in five volumes. The “unusual” story written by Harnot was first published in the magazine “Pehal” and it had attracted much attention and acclaimed by critics. Subsequently, it was published in a number of publications. Harnot was awarded the Antarashtriya Indu Katha Samman for the story in London. It had been translated into a number of languages. |
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Honours
Bilaspur, July 16 |
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