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Swan changes course, destroys crops
State to have 10 anti-hail guns
Land triggers tiff between revenue, forest depts
BSNL subscribers face inconvenience
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Thakur inspects work on national highway
Congress may take back rebels
Inflation
Off-season vegetables to get insurance cover
Woman’s face blackened; paraded
14 doctors to be posted in Chamba
Benami deal: Kingpin’s bail rejected
Three washed away in Ravi
Landslides hit traffic
Guv, CM greet people
2 killed in mishaps
Heavy rain in Chamba
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Swan changes course, destroys crops
Shimla, August 16 With the work on the channelisation of the Swan underway, the river reportedly changed its course and caused large-scale damage to crops. The river causes damage to crops almost every year. Meanwhile, power and water supply in the state capital remained erratic. Several deodar trees got uprooted and landslides led to traffic jams at several places in the town. Irate villagers blocked traffic on the Shimla-Kinnaur national highway at Jeuri Nanan under the Jhakri police station in Rampur till late in the evening. They were demanding the arrest of those involved in the murder of ITBP jawan Prem Dass. He was reportedly murdered by some villagers yesterday. They lifted the blocked only after getting an assurance from the DSP and officials of the district administration. Meanwhile, Mandi received 44.3 mm rainfall over the past 24 hours, followed by Nahan (29 mm), Bhuntar (27.5 mm), Dharamsala 20.8 (mm), Shimla and Sundernagar (16.6 mm each), Solan (7.8 mm) and Kalpa
(1.5 mm). As per the local meteorological office, there will be rain and thundershowers at many places in the state over the next 24 hours. |
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State to have 10 anti-hail guns
Shimla, August 16 This will make Himachal the first state in the country to experiment with the latest technology of anti-hail guns, which are used by growers and farmers in many countries abroad. With no company in India making these guns, the task of installing the first such gun is likely to be entrusted to a foreign firm. Infact, Rs 80 lakh has already been sanctioned to the state under the Horticulture Technology Mission (HTM) for acquiring one anti-hail gun. “Very soon we will float the tenders for installing the anti-hail gun so that the process is transparent and we get the best quality product,” Horticulture minister Narender Bragta said. He said a Rs 27 crores project for installing 10 anti-hail guns in various parts of the state had already been submitted to the Centre and was likely to be approved soon. “Infact Union agriculture minister Sharawd Pawar was so impressed with the presentation and technology on which the anti-hail gun is based, that he has given directions to get in touch with the foreign company through the concerned Embassy,” Bragta said. However, the state government is keen to get these guns from within India in case some company comes forward with the proposal to make it here, as this will save a lot of money which will have to be paid as an import duty. It was a Spanish company, SPEG, which had made the presentation on the anti-hail guns here some time back. With each such gun costing over Rs 80 lakh, the cost along with other attachments, including a radar, is likely to raise the price further. As per the proposal chalked out by the horticulture department, one radar would be used for controlling the 10 anti-hail guns. The guns could not be used just for protecting apples and other fruits but other agricultural crops also. The anti-hail guns create shock waves and ionizes the high energy every four to five seconds. The gases released by it go up to 15,000 feet at the speed of sound and a part of the wave is revibrated through the clouds which finally cause hail formations. Fruit worth crores, especially apples, peaches, plums, mangoes and other crops suffer huge damage. With the installation of these guns, damage on account of hail will be checked. |
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Land triggers tiff between revenue, forest depts
Mandi, August 16 Even the forest department has recommended action against the violators, including revenue officials, involved in the demolition. Forest minister J.P. Nadda, who was here yesterday said the check post would continue to operate from Chail Chowk till the matter regarding the forest check post land was resolved between the two departments. However, residents in the Chail Chowk area said some panchayat members acted at the behest of the forest mafias, operating in Sundernagar, Gohar and Karsog subdivisions and demolished the check post, making smooth sailing for the timber smuggling. The local administration has also come under turmoil from the forest department for shielding the violators. The conservator of forests Mandi, B.D. Suyal, said the check post had been functioning for the past 47 years and was demolished on last Sunday when staff was on leave. “The post was notified by the deputy commissioner Mandi in 1961 and the forest department is the owner of the land and it never brought this to his notice.We have requested the divisional commissioner to rebuild the check post ”, he added. Taking a serious note of demolition of the forest check post, the additional chief secretary, who is also the principal secretary forests, Avay Shukla, has written a letter to the divisional commissioner Mandi, recommending a strong action against the erring officials involved in the demolition of the check post under the Indian Forest Act. But Nadda said it was an interdepartmental matter and would be resolved shortly as they had been told that the land belonged to the revenue department. ADC Mandi C.P. Verma, Chail Chowk Pradhan and other members also claimed that the land belonged to the revenue department. And they removed the check post from their land after the public demanded to raise public toilets there. |
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BSNL subscribers face inconvenience
Solan, August 16 Trouble started when the computers developed a snag on July 7 leading to deletion of details of all telephone numbers. Though manual feeding of details was underway, it was yet to be completed. Subscribers said they had paid their bills but the computers continued to show non-payment of bills leading to disconnections. Many subscribers, including owners of cyber cafes and private sector employees, have been rushing to the District Telegraph Office and the main telephone exchange at Jawahar Park to get their phone services
reinstated. Sources in BSNL said the main server, which had developed some technical defect on July 7, remained un-operational till August 3. Efforts were on to rectify the system but there were as many as 2,000 to 3,000 subscribers, whose records were still to be fed to the computers. As many as 2,500 phones were disconnected in the SSA, comprising Solan and Sirmaur districts. As many as 114 phones were restored in one day after the subscribers lodged
a protest. “BSNL did not bother to verify whether connections were being disconnected due to non-payment or due to their own internal problem” rued a subscriber, whose business suffered due to disconnection. General manager, SSA, Solan, Rajesh Kapoor, said, “A temporary snag had occurred in the main computers three weeks ago due to which the data of subscribers was deleted from the computers. Process was on to feed this data to the computers and some telephone numbers were disconnected in the process, which were reinstated later.” |
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Thakur inspects work on national highway
Bilaspur, August 16 Thakur said in this region, whole hillock was made of lose soil and incessant rain always results in a number of landslides on this stretch of road, thus, blocking of this road. “At present five JCB machines have been clearing the debris at various places, but every time a spot is cleared, another landslide appears with a larger amount of debris falling on the road, making things worse due to the very nature of hill-soil of this hillock,” he added. The minister said this national highway was very important as this road was the direct link for the supply of essential commodities from neighbouring states. Thakur said a proposal had been sent to the National Highway Authority of India for making this NH-21 (Chandigarh to Manali) four lane on BOT basis and the central government was considering the matter. He said another alternative road was soon to be constructed that would have two big bridges and one tunnel from Kainchi-ka-mode on this road. The proposed road would reduce the distance between Swarghat and Bilaspur by almost half. Accompanied by local Kot-Kehloor MLA Randhir Sharma and all district officers, including additional district magistrate P.C. Verma, SP K.K. Indoria, executive engineer, national highway, B.S. Bharwal, ACC general manager Atul Khosla and other PWD officers, PWD minister Thakur instructed all concerned officers to remain on the spot and ensure clearance of this road for free flow of traffic. Addressing mediapersons at Circuit House, Thakur said the state was experiencing heavy rains during this monsoon since first week of June. The Revenue Department has assessed a total loss of more than Rs 1,000 crore till now due to heavy rains and floods.
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Congress may take back rebels
Shimla, August 16 The former Chief Minister is learnt to have conveyed his displeasure to the party high command, opposing the entry of the BSP leader back into the party. As such, efforts to pave the way for the return of Mankotia back into the party have been put on the hold. Virbhadra Singh is learnt to have pointed out that Mankotia should not be taken back as he had caused irreparable damage not only during the last Assembly elections but also at the time of the Hamirpur byelection. Most of the Congress leaders admitted that BSP’s presence in the election arena was the main reason for the party’s defeat in the elections. Ever since he took over as HPCC chief, Kaul Singh has clarified that those who had parted ways with the Congress at the time of elections could be taken back. About 12 senior Congress men, who had contested the Assembly elections on the BSP ticket or as Independents, have got in touch with Kaul Singh. “I will convey the sentiments of these leaders to the party high command and it is for them to take a final decisions in this regard,” said Thakur. He added that many of these leaders had polled a good percentage of votes and the party would have no objection to their return. It is learnt that the Congress is keen to take back rebels so that it can perform well during the Lok Sabha elections. However, on the issue of taking back Mankotia, he said it was for the high command to take decision. “In case Mankotia expresses his desire to join the party, I will convey it to the high command and it is for them to take a decision in this regard,” he said. It is learnt that the high command has sought views of the HPCC chief on admitting former education minister and BJP leader Karan Singh from Kullu into the party. Karan Singh, after being denied the BJP ticket, had successfully contested as a BSP candidate from Banjar. Sometime back, he had applied for being admitted to the Congress.
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BJP blames it on UPA
Our Correspondent
Nurpur, August 16 Addressing a press conference here yesterday, state BJP vice-president and former Rajya Sabha MP Kirpal Parmar said wrong economic policies of the UPA were responsible for inflation. Talking about the implementation of the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission in the country, he said it was an eyewash and did not benefit the employees. “The rate of inflation was 4.5 per cent when the commission gave its recommendations, but it increased to 11.5 per cent when the Union Cabinet gave its nod to these recommendations,” he added. He claimed that 21 per cent hike in pay scales would not benefit the government employees. Parmar said, “To fulfil all promises, the BJP has adopted its manifesto as its policy document,” He said the government had not only taken steps to develop the state as a power state, but also launched the Atal Bijli Bachat Yozna to conserve electricity by distributing free CFLs to the domestic power consumers.
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Off-season vegetables to get insurance cover
Shimla, August 16 This was stated by Chief Minister P.K. Dhumla today, while speaking at the closing ceremony of the two- day-long Theog Mahotsav at Theog. “Himachal was the first state to bring perishable commodities under insurance cover and ginger, cash crop of Sirmaur and Solan, has been covered under it,” he said. He said efforts would be made to bring off-season vegetables under this cover so that the risk was covered for the growers. “It is a matter of great satisfaction that growers in Solan and Shimla have taken to the cultivation of off-season vegetables and the government will provide all possible assistances to them in this regard,” he said. Dhumal said the marketing network was also being strengthened to meet the demand of the people and provide the growers an appropriate platform to get remunerative prices for their produce. He added that the sate government would now pay an equal share of the premium of the crop insurance, which was earlier being paid by the farmers. He said the government had taken a number of decisions for the welfare of various sections, including employees, women, farmers and youth. “The election manifesto of the BJP has been adopted as a policy document and our government is committed to fulfil these promises,” he said. |
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Woman’s face blackened; paraded
Palampur, August 16 She had reportedly left her husband three months ago and started living with a person named Ajit Kumar. However, She was never married to him. Ajit died yesterday and parents of Veena brought her to the house of her in-laws in Matt village. When the villagers came to know about her arrival, as many as 50 women assembled at the village chopal. They caught hold of Veena by the neck and blackened her face. Shoes were hung around her neck and was mercilessly beaten up. Nobody came to her rescue. When the matter was reported to the police, a police party reached the village and persuaded the women to cool down. However, no case was registered against the culprits. Situation in the village was tense but under control. The police had made adequate arrangements for the security of Veena.
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14 doctors to be posted in Chamba
Chamba, August 16 State health minister Rajiv Bindal announced this while addressing the Independence Day celebrations at the historic Chowgan of Chamba yesterday. The minister said 150 ayurvedic doctors would soon be appointed in ayurveda institutions in the state. He said the government was also considering the opening of 15 nurse colleges out of which one would be opened in Chamba district. Bindal said the government was determined to provide quality-education. Health network was being strengthened and best health services were being provided to the people, he added. Meanwhile, Bindal sought intervention of the central government in resolving the Amaranth Shrine Board land row. The minister said the Mandi-Leh-Ladakh railway line had been approved by the Centre. He honoured progressive farmers and horticulturists for the commendable achievements in their respective fields. He also awarded the panchayats under the Maharishi Valmiki Sampuran Swachhatta Puruskar Yojna. |
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Benami deal: Kingpin’s bail rejected
Mandi, August 16 Khub Ram, who worked as a waiter at Shimla-based convent school, had been dozing the police ever since the deal was unearthed in May. The high court sources said he had applied for the bail at the high court but it was rejected yesterday Meanwhile, district revenue officer BR Negi and the registrar of the benami deal, has been granted the anticipatory bail from the district court here. Even the state government has ordered an inquiry into the matter. The police raided Sanjay’s house as he along with his family remained absconding from the town, ever since the police registered a case and named him and his associate, Subhash from the same area as ‘strong suspects’ wanted in these two cases”. Mandi SP M. Chander Sekhar said, “The police has launched a manhunt to nab the absconders, Khub Ram, Sanjay and Subhash, but they are changing stations frequently avoiding arrest.”
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Three washed away in Ravi
Chamba, August 16 Those killed included two labourers, Ram Dyal of Khargidi village in Bihar and Kesru Ram of Kharoti in Salooni tehsil of Chamba district. They were employed with the Hindustan Construction Company. They were coming back after finishing their shift from a construction site of the Chamera project when the incident took place. A sudden landslip from the hillside reportedly pushed them into the Ravi. Their bodies were yet to be traced. The third death was reported from Holi, around 75 km from here. A youth, Milkhi Ram of Saloon village in Bharmour tribal subdivision, was washed away after he slipped from a hillslope and was washed away in river water. He, along with his wife, was going to attend the marriage of a relative. Even
his body could not be traced so far. |
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Landslides hit traffic
Mandi, August 16 Similarly, traffic on the Chandigarh-Manali highway remained disrupted at Gambhrol temple as the repair of the road was still in progress. The loose strata from the hillside continued to fall on the blocked stretches of the highways due to heavy rain in the region. PWD minister Gulab Singh Thakur inspected the spot of landslide at Gambhrol and instructed engineers to clear it making fit for two-way traffic. |
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Guv, CM greet people
Shimla, August 16 The Chief Minister, accompanied by his wife Sheela Dhumal, called on the Governor. Rau tied a rakhi to the Chief Minister on the occasion. The Governor said Raksha Bandhan represented the commitment of a brother towards his sister. She felicitated the women folk of the state on the occasion. Earlier, members of the Brahm Kumari Organisation and the Tibetan Women Association called on the Chief Minister and tied rakhis to him. Dhumal reiterated his government’s commitment to protect women’s interests. |
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2 killed in mishaps
Sundernagar, August 16 In another incident, Satya Devi (14) was killed and Hima Devi (16) injured at Saul Khud village, about 35 km from here, after being hit by boulders that came rolling down the hill yesterday. The girls were grazing cattle at that time. The injured girl was admitted to the Civil Hospital. |
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Heavy rain in Chamba
Chamba, August 16 Sources said here today that the transportation services could not ply in the far-flung belts of Nayagran, Hadsar, Badgran, Satrundi and Raipur owning to landslide at different points of the link roads.
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