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Allow IIT from this session, CM urges Centre
IIT, Central University Status
Forest Dept to protect trees on pvt land
Red beacon, ‘Press’ sticker on MLA’s car
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Dharna outside HPU VC’s office
OBC Hostel
Demand cash memo, get prize
HPU foundation day today
HC quashes NIT order
Postal dept in the red
Cement Plant
Plantation drive by US students
Suicide attempt by two, saved
Efforts to end Super Max factory dispute
Development plan for Khajjiar
No-trust motion against BDC official defeated
Kangra water supply fails
Fast against Olympics
Body found
2 killed in accidents
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Allow IIT from this session, CM urges Centre
Shimla, July 21 In a letter to the Prime Minister, he has said that the land for setting up the institute has been identified near Mandi and details have been sent to the Centre for evaluation before the scheduled visit of a central team for inspection of the proposed site. The 530-acre chunk of land is easily approachable from various sides. There is enough provision for essentials like water and electricity. Till the necessary infrastructure is created at the proposed site, the state government will make available the academic block of Vallabh Government College for the institute. Mandav Hotel of the State Tourism Development Corporation, PWD rest house and hostel at Drang will be made available for residences of the director, the registrar and other staff of the institute and hostels for boys and girls. Arrangements for additional accommodation will also be made and, if required, the IPH rest house can also be placed at the disposal of the institute. As an alternative, the premises of the National Institute of Technology, Hamirpur, can also be considered for starting classes of the first batch. The NIT, Hamirpur, has been adjudged the best NIT in the country by the World Bank for its quality infrastructure and allied facilities, he has said. According to the Chief Minister, the government has also selected suitable land for setting up the first Central university near Dehra in Kangra district. He has expressed hope that the Union Government will consider the request of the state and take effective steps to initiate the admission process for the IIT courses from the current academic session. |
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IIT, Central University Status
Shimla, July 21 While thanking Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the Government of India for sanctioning Rs 760 crore for the opening of IIT and also for sanctioning a central university for the state he said it was due to the efforts of the Congress government that the Centre consented to set up two premier educational institutions in the state. He said union finance minister P. Chidambaram had made announcement regarding the opening of the two institutions while addressing a public meeting in the state capital last year. He had further announced that the central university would be set up near Dharamsala and IIT in Mandi. After coming to power Dhumal tried to shift IIT from Mandi but his efforts were foiled by the Congress. The government had also sanctioned a medical college in Mandi but the notification issued was rescinded by the present regime and it had decided to set up college in the private sector.
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Forest Dept to protect trees on pvt land
Shimla, July 21 The Tree Protection Act, which is likely to be passed by the Assembly during the monsoon session, will give adequate powers to the Forest Department to protect green cover in the state capital. The department will extend the same management facilities for trees standing on the private land as are applicable to trees on government land in case the owner gives consent. Most importantly, the obsolete clauses of the British Tree Act of 1885 will be appropriately amended to suit the present-day requirements. To ensure that every tree in the town is saved, the Forest Department has identified four private properties in the town, some of these measuring around 50 bigha. “The department will take steps like toe walling, soil conservation etc. so that the existing trees can be protected along with stress on regeneration,” said Rajesh Sharma, DFO (urban),
Shimla. The department will undertake these protection measures on landholdings where the owners express their inability to take care of the trees and urge the department to manage them scientifically. The department has been taking every possible step to ensure that the green cover in the town is protected besides facilitating regeneration so that the town has ample greenery. The department is hopeful that with the penalty clauses being made more stringent, people will be more particular about saving trees. At present, the clauses in the Municipal Corporation Act, 1994, are so mild that nobody takes these very seriously. After the Tree Protection Act comes into being, the fine for felling a green tree will be raised from Rs 500 to Rs 50,000. Once the Tree Protection Act comes into force, no construction will be allowed within 5 m radius of any green tree. The penalty for causing damage to a tree by way of lopping or other means will be above Rs 15,000. At present, the minimum distance that has to be maintained from a tree is 3 m, which is not sufficient for allowing natural growth of plants. |
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Red beacon, ‘Press’ sticker on MLA’s car
Solan, July 21 The matter came to light when the MLA came to attend a workshop on “Jan Jan Sanjivni Van Abhiyaan” organised by the Forest Department. The vehicle, a crème Scorpio (HP-12-C-2600), caught the attention of the
mediapersons, as it was bearing a red beacon, along with a press inscription, and was parked at the gate of the deputy commissioner’s office. The vehicle also bore a sticker for VIP parking. The MLA’s staff became vigilant after the mediapersons started inquiring about the vehicle. The policemen there also later found that this was a violation, as no journalist could use a red beacon and no MLA could use a press sticker. Inquires revealed that the vehicle was registered on the name of a
relative of the MLA. Since no one in her family was a journalist, there was no validity in using a press sticker. The MLA said her vehicle was undergoing some repairs so she used the vehicle. She said in a hurry she had forgotten to remove the press sticker. Inquires, however, revealed that the MLA used red beacon on three vehicles, including Ford Fiesta (HP-12-C- 2506) and Scorpio (HP-12-C-0066), along with this Scorpio. |
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Contaminated water in Palampur
Palampur, July 21 When villagers informed mediapersons yesterday about a decomposed body of an animal in the water source, the IPH swung into action and today with the help of villagers removed the dead animal. In the morning the carcass was lying in mid- stream, which was supplying water to the villages in the lower belt of Palampur. The area was emitting foul smell and dogs and foxes were feeding on them. P.S. Dhanotia, assistant engineer, IPH, said the water channel, where the dead animal found, did not supply water to the drinking water supply schemes of the IPH. The death toll because of water-borne diseases had gone up in the district.
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Dharna outside HPU VC’s office
Shimla, July 21 The CITU activists were led by their Shimla unit chief Vijender Mehra. They demanded that the labourers should be given their wages immediately as these had been pending for the past four months. They demanded that HPU officials should intervene and direct the contractors to make payment to the labourers. They alleged the contractors were exploiting workers. They were not being given weekly offs and there were also some other violations of labour laws. “The unhealthy practice of getting work done through contractors rather than dealing directly with labourers should be ended as it is the worker who is getting exploited,” said Mehra. In case the workers do not get their wages by July 24 as promised by the HPU authorities, an agitation would be launched, they said. |
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OBC Hostel
Nurpur, July 21 He conducted a surprise inspection of the ongoing construction of the hostel here two days ago. Talking to mediapersons over the telephone yesterday, Kapoor alleged that during the inspection he found that the construction of the building was of poor quality and the newly built roof slabs were leaking. Kapoor said he had ordered to halt the payment to the contractor, who was allotted the work through the Himachal Pradesh Housing and Urban Development Authority. He added that he got information that the original contractor, who was allotted the work, had given the job to another contractor by violating the norms. “I have also ordered to conduct a probe into it and requisite action would be taken if the allegation of subletting the work was found true,” he said. |
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Demand cash memo, get prize
Shimla, July 21 The VAT collection in the state has not been showing expected increase for the past some time as compared to that in other states. In 2005-06, the year when VAT was first introduced, the tax collections rose by 34 per cent, but the increase was only around 26 per cent for the next year. Last year, the collections rose by only 19.5 per cent. The department plans to launch a lottery scheme to encourage people to insist on getting cash memos whenever they made a purchase. The department will issue coupons to registered dealers to be given to the customers along with cash memos. Two coupons will be given with each cash memo. One of these will have to be dropped in the boxes installed by the department while the other will be retained by the customer along with the cash memo to be produced for claiming the prize won in the draws of lots. The draws of lots will be held district-wise around Diwali. There will be separate prizes for each district. The first prize will be a motorbike. Three colour televisions will be given as the second prize, while the five third prize winners will get a DVD player each. Any person producing 25 coupons will be given an assured prize, a bottle of fruit jam produced by the state-owned HPMC. After the Diwali draw, another scheme will be launched during winters for which the draws will be held in March. The idea is to bring unaccounted sale transactions on record to check tax evasion. Although the traders are required to issue cash memos for all purchases made in excess of Rs 200, but the rule is not being followed. In most cases, the people do not insist on cash memos while making purchases that provide traders an opportunity to evade tax.
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HPU foundation day today
Shimla, July 21 Vice-chancellor Prof Sunil Gupta said a number of steps like 75 per cent lecture condition, better infrastructure, introduction of internal assessment in undergraduate and postgraduate courses had been taken to ensure better results. With the setting up of the directorate of correspondence courses in 1971, the university became the first institution in North India to offer courses through distance education. “Today, the International Centre for Distance Education and Open Learning (ICDEOL) has effectively met the social demand of higher education through correspondence courses as more than 50,000 students are enrolled with it,” he added. |
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HC quashes NIT order
Hamirpur, July 21 Gupta was compulsorily retired on September 27, 2007, on the basis of an inquiry report for an act of alleged nepotism while working as the controller of examination. Mr Justice Rajiv Sharma quashed and set aside the order of the board and restored the services of Gupta. Gupta joined duty from today. |
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Postal dept in the red
Shimla, July 21 K.C. Vijaykumaran Nair, chief postmaster general of Himachal circle, said here today that the total expenditure was Rs 85 crore, whereas the total revenue form the circle was Rs 72 crore. The entry of private courier services had made an impact and the share of the department in the business was coming down. The department had opened two private post offices in Shimla and Kullu on franchise basis last year. It had decided to open 25 more such outlets during the current year. Under the scheme only the counter services were franchised. He said the department had signed an MoU with the state Rural Development Department to facilitate payment of wages under the National Rural Guarantee Scheme through the post offices. Accounts of workers would be opened on the basis of job cards for the purpose. However, they would have an option to open an account in a bank that was nearer to their residence compared to the nearest post office. The government had accepted the recommendations of the committee regarding hike in the remuneration and grant of other benefits to part-time gramin dak sahayaks, which would be implemented along with the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission. It had also been decided that gramin dak sewaks would not be transferred until they make a request. The deposits in post offices were declining due to low rates of interests and the department had taken up the matter with the government for raising the rate of interest. The department would come out with a special envelope for Rakhi in which Rakhis upto 50 gm weight could be sent. |
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Cement Plant
Sundernagar, July 21 Sangarsh Samiti, president of the mining area, while addressing the gathering of farmers in presence of MLA Roop Singh Thakur, said the agents employed by the company were being paid hefty amount for the deal. But the farmers were being cheated as they were asked to sign the agreement and the copy of which was not given to them. Chuni Lal, president of affected farmers for the plant area, told the farmers how the company had started cheating the poor farmers with the help of some of the government officials. He asked them not to enter into a negotiation with the company. Roop Sing, MLA, Sundernagar, said the rate offered by the company was too low and to set up the plant it had to pay an adequate amount.
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Plantation drive by US students
Dharamsala, July 21 The campaign started by planting sapling provided by the Department of Forests at Shaheed Smark. Chairman of the NGO Myra Jacob said their organization had been bringing students from the USA to India since 2004. The aim was to acquaint high school and college students from the USA about the culture of different countries. Such activities also served the purpose of sensitising students on global issues like environment and poverty. “This year, we have brought 16 students from the USA. They have already visited New Delhi, Jaipur and Rishikesh. One of the students, Neasha Arter, is of Indian origin. However, she is visiting India for the first time. She was born in Kolkata but was adopted by a USA-based couple. The diversity in Indian culture gives a very rich experience to the students from the USA,” she said. Members of the NGO were invited to carry out a plantation drive in Dharamsala by members of the Martyrs Memorial Service and Development Society, Dharamsala. Convener of the society Col S.C. Parmar (retd) said they would also plant saplings in forest areas of the district over the next one month. Tributes were also paid to the martyrs of the district whose names are engraved on the memorial. Soldiers laid wreaths at the memorial and lowered their arms to salute the martyrs. |
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Suicide attempt by two, saved
Kangra, July 21 They eloped on July 18 and the parents of the girl lodged a report with the Nagrota Bagwan police on July 19. The police said the lovers yesterday consumed poison in the Droah market. They were rushed by some residents to Dr R.P Government Medical College, Tanda, in unconscious condition. Both were given medical treatment and they were out of danger. The police has registered a case under Section 309 of the IPC against them. |
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Efforts to end Super Max factory dispute
Shimla, July 21 The police is trying to resolve the matter by facilitating talks between workers and the factory management. In fact, the main demands of workers have been placed before the management which will take the final decision by July 20. The representatives of workers, along with various workers’ unions, have demanded that the company should take the nine suspended workers back on work. The management had suspended these workers after which the workers proceeded on strike, leading to the showdown on June 30 when one worker died in the firing. The other demand is that the family of Amarjit Singh, who died in the firing, should be given Rs 15 lakh as compensation. The workers have also demanded that the seriously injured persons must be provided Rs 1 lakh each while those who sustained minor injuries should be given Rs 25,000 each. With almost 1,000 workers, mostly locals employed in the factory, everyone is keen that the issue is resolved at the earliest. The management is keen that the issue is resolved as the workers and CITU and BMS activists have been holding dharnas and protests outside the factory practically everyday, demanding the arrest of R.S. Malhotra, the owner of the factory. The police too has issued a summons to him to join investigations but after he furnished a medical certificate, he has been given some time. |
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Development plan for Khajjiar
Dalhousie, July 21 Munish Garg, deputy commissioner of Chamba, who is also the chairman of the Special Area Development Authority, Khajjiar, said objections and suggestions with respect to the draft plan could be sent in writing to the chairman, SADA, the assistant town planner, Chamba, the member secretary, SADA-cum-DFO (Wildlife Division), Chamba, and the Pradhan of the Khajjiar gram panchayat in 30 days from the date of publication of the notice in the official Rajpatra of the state government. |
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No-trust motion against BDC official defeated
Hamirpur, July 21 District panchayat officer Satish Sharma said the no-confidence motion could not be taken up due to lack of quorum and thus stood defeated. |
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Kangra water supply fails
Kangra, July 21 Neeraj Bhogal, SDO, IPH, said today that the Kangra water supply scheme failed yesterday when the main pipe from the Banner Khad near Samloti was damaged due to heavy traffic on the Sadarpur Tanda road. He said the traffic of the National Highway 20 was diverted to the Sadarpur Tanda link road following damage to the Kholi bridge. Bhogal said the pipe was damaged near the railway track at Tanda leaving the town without water supply. Efforts were on to restore the supply by repairing the damaged pipes. |
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Fast against Olympics
Dharamsala, July 21 About repeated appeals by the Dalai Lama, Norsang said the Tibetan Youth Congress was an independent organisation which did not take directions from anybody. The actions of the congress were decided by the 10-member executive committee of the organisation, he added. Members of the organisation said they were forced to take this decision as other ways of protests were not making any impact on the Chinese authorities. The atrocities against the Tibetans in Tibet were continuing unabated, they alleged. |
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Body found
Nurpur, July 21 It was first noticed by two children who informed villagers. The women seemed to be aged around 25 years. A case has been registered under Sections 302 and 201 of the
IPC. The body has been sent to Tanda medical college for a forensic examination. |
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2 killed in accidents
Mandi, July 21 In another accident, Dia Ram of Kahniari in Kullu was killed while two persons were injured when the Maruti car they were travelling in fell into a gorge along the Gohar-Thunag road. Dia Ram was killed on the spot. The injured, who could not be unidentified so far, were admitted to the Gohar hospital. |
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