Dharamsala August 25
Besides Shimla, the other two important towns of state Dharamsala and Mandi would also have satellite townships. The minister for transport and urban development Kishan Kapoor who has recently returned from a foreign tour gave this information while talking to The Tribune here today.

Kapoor said he had various models of satellite townships during his tour to Hong Kong, Thailand and Australia. The models would be discussed with the urban development department to implement them in the state. The government was mulling to develop a satellite township for Dharamsala near Gaggal airport, the minister said.

Though the minister has talked about satellite townships the government has till date failed to provide basic facilities in the existing townships. In Dharamsala the residents despite presence large numbers of perennial natural sources of fresh water get just one hour supply of drinking water. In many areas the people have to lay their own pipeline for long distances to get drinking water supply. The condition of sanitation in the town is also poor.

They are very few parking places in the main markets and there is no planned colony in the town.

So, planning for the new townships the state should concentrate on developing basic infrastructure in existing townships.

The minister also told that the state government has seriously taken note of poor condition of roads in Kangra district. Many of the roads the work for which was carried out during the stint of previous government have given up in a short time span.

The government has ordered an inquiry into damage of roads.

The state government was also contemplating strict action against the guilty contractors. The contractors who are found to have been carrying out sub standard work would also be blacklisted from the PWD department, he said.

Dharamsala, August 25
The government plans to seek grant from the Centre to complete the much-delayed Shah Canal project. Sources said the grant would be sought under the Bharat Nirman Fund.

The plan for the project was prepared in 1983. An agreement between the governments of Punjab and Himachal was penned in the same year.

However, it took about 15 years for successive governments to start some concrete work on the project. As per the construction plan prepared in 1997, the cost of the canal was put at Rs 143.32 crore. The Punjab Government was to pay Rs 88.49 crore out of it while remaining amount was to be contributed by the Himachal Government.

Since then the Punjab Government has paid Rs 65 crore to the Himachal. However, the construction work progressed at a tardy pace leading to escalation of costs. As per present estimates, the construction cost has escalated to Rs 317 crore raising the Punjab share to about Rs 200 crore and Himachal’s contribution to more than 100 crore.

Owing to financial condition of both states, it seems unlikely that they are in a position to contribute the escalated cost of construction.

So, the present state government has decided to seek funds from the Centre.

Minister for irrigation and public health Himachal Ravinder Ravi has gone on record saying that they are seeking Rs 17.64 crore from the Punjab Government. The statement makes its clear that the Himachal Government does not hope that the Punjab Government will pay the escalated cost due to delay in construction.

Shah Canal chief engineer Goel also admitted that the state government had prepared a project to seek escalated cost of project from the Union Government under the Bharat Nirman Fund.

The only canal irrigation project of Himachal is expected to provide irrigation facilities in 15,287 hectare and 92 villages. As per the plan, it is to be developed on both sides of the Beas.

Most of these villages are arid despite the fact that they are located in the vicinity of Pong Dam reservoir.

If the government gets the grant from the Union Government, the next deadline for the completion of the canal will be 2010.

Shimla, August 25
Governor Prabha Rau has stressed the need for preparing a pilot project for promoting child welfare activities in the state so that necessary funds could be secured from the Government of India.

Presiding over the 25th annual general meeting of the State Child Welfare Council here today, she said Central funds would enable the state to implement the schemes meant for the welfare of children more effectively.

She also emphasised on the need to launch a mass drive for enrolment of members so that maximum people could be associated with such activities. Non-official members should try to raise funds for carrying out activities of the council more effectively and also invited suggestions for improving its functioning.

Rau said the council was rendering commendable service to the underprivileged children and providing them with all possible assistance to progress in life.

Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, who chaired the meeting, reiterated the resolve of the government to provide all possible financial assistance for the welfare of children. He said Rs 1.82 crore had been spent under various state-sponsored schemes and Rs 2.91 crore under various Central schemes for undertaking child welfare activities during 2007-08.

Dhumal called upon the non-governmental organisations and influential non-official members to motivate business houses to join the movement for transforming the lives of poor and deprived children by ensuring their proper education and rehabilitation.

Social justice and empowerment minister Sarveen Chaudhry gave details of various social welfare schemes under implementation in the state.

Palampur, August 25
Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal has said here that the maintenance and repair of the roads damaged during the monsoon would be the top priority of his government.

He said special campaign would be launched by the government in the next three months to repair all roads of the state.

Talking to newsmen here, Dhumal said heavy rainfall in the past three months had caused damage to the public property in the state. Roads, drinking water supply schemes and irrigation channels were worst affected.

Chief Minister said the state needed crores of rupees to repair the roads.

He said the Kiratpur-Manali National Highway was in a bad shape. The PWD had initiated a number of measures to restore the vehicular traffic on the highway, but authorities were facing difficulties because of rain.

Besides, many roads in the state were damaged and vehicular traffic on many roads was disrupted.

The state government had asked all deputy commissioners and superintendent engineers of the PWD and the IPH to submit detailed reports of damages caused due to rain so that formal request could be made to the union government for the allocation of funds.

Chief Minister said he would soon visit New Delhi and urge the Prime Minister to release funds for the repair of all roads that were damaged due to rain in the state.

Shimla, August 25
A computerised monitoring system will be soon put in place to ensure speedy redressal of grievances and transparency in the functioning of the government.

Stating this while reviewing the progress the department of redressal of public grievances here today, Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal said the government was considering to evolve an online system for public grievances monitoring which would directly link the office of the Chief Minister to the common man at the grassroots level. Under the proposed system any person could register his complaint through cyber cafe, personal computer or even in the deputy commissioner’s office which would be monitored at the levels of secretaries and head of the departments. He said all ministers and MLAs would also have access to the grievance monitoring system and added that the complainant would be provided latest information regarding the status of the complaint under the proposed system.

Dhumal said with the adoption of this mechanism, complete transparency would be ensured from the highest office to grassroots level, besides accountability of the officers.

He said computerisation of working of government departments was very essential for efficient functioning. The Reference Monitoring System for tracking the movement of files in the secretariat would be strengthened further and directed all the departments to ensure the effectiveness of their online services.

Chief Minister said Grievance Redressal Cells had been created in all the departments besides designating nodal officers for attending the public complaints. The government had directed all the departments to depute a woman officer at the State Headquarters to look into complaints field by women. 

Shimla, August 25
The government will reward stake holders of forests for protecting the forest cover with financial benefits and contribute towards increasing green cover in the state.

This was stated by Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal while addressing a public meeting at Ghariyana in Sunni area yesterday. He launched the forest plantation campaign in the state to celebrate 59th state-level van mahotsav by planting a sheesham plant.

He also laid a foundation stone of the Government Degree College campus to be constructed at a cost of Rs 8.03 crore and a suspension bridge over the Satluj connecting Thali village at the cost of Rs 6.75 crore.

Dhumal said hydroelectric projects were contributing 50 per cent towards the state exchequer. He said efforts were being made to tap 12,000 MW of hydropower generation in four years.

He said though the government was keen to generate employment opportunities in the state but this would not be allowed at the cost of environmental damage. 

Shimla, August 25
The much-hyped switchover from khaki to blue uniform might not prove to be a very smooth transition for the state police. It is not just the police force that is reluctant to don the new uniform, but even the public is not very upbeat about the move.

The state CID has got a negative feedback about the change after it conducted a survey at its own level. Faced with practical problems like non-suitability of the blue uniform because of climatic conditions and financial burden, the government could have a rethink on the issue.

It was after mulling over the idea for the past five years that the state government sometime back gave the go-ahead for the change of police uniform from the present khaki to blue. The idea to change the uniform was to get rid of the colonial khaki and the fear attached to it so that the police could have a public friendly and smart image.

About 15,000 police personnel, up to the rank on inspector, will be dressing up in the new sky-blue shirt and dark blue trousers and a beret of the same colour over the next some time. Till now, only the marching contingents were provided the new uniform for the August 15 parade.

While admitting that the CID had undertaken a survey to get feedback about the proposed new uniform, ADGP (CID) D.S. Manhas said it was well thought move for the betterment of the police and its functioning.

As per police rules, only one shirt and one trouser is given to the cops annually. “Khaki is not just more durable but also better suited for the cold and tough job that cops do. With most of the private security agencies having their staff in blue uniform, it would not be a very good idea to have policemen in a uniform of the same colour,” said a senior officer.

“We are still working out the details of uniform change that will be effected in a phased manner as we have to take into account various factors like old stocks of khaki and its shelf life,” said B.N.S. Negi, IG (headquarters).

Dharamsala, August 25
About 500 women associated with the Army Wives’ Welfare Association (AWWA) participated in a 2-km “Run-for-Fun” race at Yol to mark the closing ceremony of the 43rd anniversary of the raising of their organisation today. Functions were organised at various formations of the Rising Star Corps spread across the region.

The Army authorities said the winner of the race covered the distance in 11 minutes 50 seconds, which was commendable keeping in view the hilly terrain.

Later, Rupa Sharma, president of the Rising Star AWWA, said the society needed to change its attitude toward women. They should be treated on a par with men.

During the 25-day anniversary celebrations, various awareness and self-employment programmes were organised by the AWWA for the wives of Army personnel. She also inaugurated the Nari Pari project for girl child at Yol cantonment.

Solan, August 25
Following an inquiry initiated into the purchase of land by Justice Nirmal Yadav of the Punjab and Haryana High Court and 17 others, Chandigarh Police sleuths today visited the office of the tehsildar here to collect copies of the registration papers.

ASI Ramesh Kumar, who had come on behalf of the Chandigarh Police, said he had been assigned the task to procure the sale deed of the said land deal.

Naib tehsildar Narayan Chauhan said they had sought copies of the sale deed that were made available to them after they duly applied for it.

Meanwhile, the district administration has denied having received any direction to inquire into the case. ADM Rakhil Kahlon said, “No such direction has been received as yet by the district administration.” There was, however, no violation of Section 118 as due permission had been sought after the case was sent from here. The sale deed of the case had been executed as per the prevailing procedure and no violation of any kind had come to their notice, he added.

Nurpur, August 25
The timely action of the local administration has saved huge loss of life and property in Toki, Kandrori and a part of Malot gram panchayats in bordering areas of Nurpur subdivision. The inhabitants of these gram panchayats have been living under the constant fear of flood fury in the rainy season as they had a harrowing experience in last year’s rainy season when Chhonch rivulet had changed its course. 

Its flood waters had entered over 80 houses and caused extensive damage to stranded crops as the fields were submerged into water along the river bank. Without taking any risk the local administration acted in time when this perennial river had flashflood on the intervening night of August 6 and 7. The SDM, Nurpur, approached 270 Engineer Regiment of the Yol-based Rising Corps for requisition of army machinery to check flood threat in the rivulet.

A visit to the spot where army’s engineer wing has launched its operation in the Chhonch river on Sunday revealed that flashfloods had not only breached the river bank at two places but also attributed to alteration of river course towards rural populated area. According to Major N.Shrivastva who has been supervising flood control measures in the river having breadth over 600 metres, two army dozers were pressed into service on August 14 immediately after receiving orders from 270 Engineer Regiment. He said army men deployed on the mission had first channelled river course and now were creating river banks which had been eroded due to flashfloods. “After taking first precautionary measures of channelling of river water the army dozers have repaired one breach measuring 75 metres long and 4 metres high and the other breach with 100 metres length and 4 metres height is going to be repaired,” he added. The inhabitants of flood-prone gram panchayats have lauded the efforts of the army dozers team who were working relentlessly to plug river breaches to save life and property of the rural people from the threat of flashflood. 

Dalhousie, August 25
Dalhousie Public School (DPS) at Dalhousie in the state has been selected for the state award under the Computer Literacy Excellence Awards for Schools - 2007 (CLEAS-2007) by the union ministry of communications and information technology.

According to an official communiqué received by DPS from Govind, senior director of the union ministry of communications and IT, the CLEAS-2007 award consisting of a trophy along with a cash prize of Rs 1.5 lakh would be handed over to principal of the school by the union minister of communications and information technology. He would be awarded at a function on August 28 at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi.

Shimla, August 25
The Society for Sustainable Environment Ecological Development Society (SEEDS) is organising a workshop to sensitise schoolchildren and teachers as regards disaster risk reduction, especially in case of earthquakes.

Two community seminars, teachers’ training workshop on disaster risk reduction and earthquake drills for schoolchildren will be organised during the three-day workshop. The workshop is being organised under the project “Reducing vulnerability of schoolchildren to earthquakes in Asia Pacific Region” initiated by the United Nations Centre for Regional Development (UNCRD).

The teachers will be given technical information related to earthquake and disaster risk reduction activities. The fact that Shimla falls in high seismic risk zone-V is one of the reasons for the holding the workshop.

Experts from various fields are participating in the workshop. The training will help in making teachers experts in disaster risk reduction so that they can become a channel to spread the culture of disaster safety in their schools as well as in the community.

Manali, August 25
A three-day Himachal Apple Festival organised by the state Department of Tourism and Civil Aviation will kick off tomorrow at Nehru Park here. Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal will inaugurate the festival.

According to Kullu district tourism development officer, stalls exhibiting different varieties of apples would be set up by the local orchard owners, mahila mandals, NGOs and hoteliers of Manali.

Different apple bakery products and stalls of fresh apple juice will also be a part of the festival.

Painting competitions would be organised by the local schoolchildren at the mall road.

An apple orchards walk for visitors and competitions like apple peeling, baking apple pie and apple carving would also be organised. Prize distribution will be held on August 28.

Shimla, August 25
Station director of the All-India Radio (AIR), Shimla, T.K. Rawal has urged all state government departments to come out with publicity programmes for effective dissemination of information as regards policies and programmes through electronic media, especially those concerning developmental issues.

Addressing representatives of various departments at a monthly meeting of the inter-media programme coordination committee, he said the live phone-in programmes introduced by various Akashwani and Doordarshan Kendras had become popular among the people and benefited the masses to a great extent.

The feedback being received about these programmes suggested that these programmes helped the consumers to dispel their apprehensions about the functioning of various departments dealing directly with the public, he added.

He said a plan was on the anvil to design and produce programmes on various developmental schemes and projects being implemented by various departments.

Mandi, August 25
Buddhist representatives of three monasteries of Riwalsar, members of the local nagar panchayat and residents of the town today condemned the removal and desecration of an idol of Lord Buddha from the Naina Devi temple and passed a resolution demanding re-enshrining of the idol in the temple. They demanded that the government should take over the affairs of the Naina Devi temple and appoint a committee run by the district administration in public interest.

Participants of the meeting, which was convened by SDM, Mandi (Sadar), Arun Sharma at Riwalsar, condemned it as an act of vandalism and insult to Hindu religion as Lord Buddha is believed to be the ninth incarnation of Lord Vishnu.

They also passed a resolution saying Dhanjay Sharma, accused in the case, was allegedly spreading communal hatred in the peaceful pilgrimage centre. “The Naina Devi temple committee headed by him be dismissed and taken over by the district administration in public interest,” they demanded.

President of the Zigar Bodh monastery K.S. Negi said, “I am a resident of Kinnaur and head of this monastery. We need security here as we feel insecure after the incident and highhandedness shown by anti-social elements.”

President of the Riwalsar nagar panchayat Pawan Gupta and other members of the body also condemned the incident and demanded strict action against Dhanjay.

The SDM said he would submit a report to the Mandi DC shortly. “We are taking views of the members of other panchayats in Sar Ki Dhar and Naina Devi. More meetings will be held in this regard shortly.”

Dhanjay and members of the Naina Devi temple committee did not participate in the meeting. “We will take their view in the next meeting,” Arun Sharma added.

He said participants passed a resolution that the district administration should appoint a new committee and take over the management of the Naina Devi temple.

Shimla, August 25
A plethora of regulatory laws notwithstanding, urban waste and construction debris continue to be dumped in nullahs, rivers and forests in many parts of the state causing damage to ecologically fragile hill environment, particularly forests and biodiversity.

The problem is severe in places like Rampur, Paonta Sahib, Sundernagar, Kulu and Manali where polythene bags, discarded plastic and items and other no-biodegradable and solid waste is finding its way into main rivers. For instance, in Rampur the garbage is being dumped on the steep banks of the Sutlej which eventually ends up in the river. In Sundernagar it is being disposed of on a narrow strip of land between the Saketi and Gagal Khads while in Paonta the entire garbage was being dumped on the banks of the Yamuna river.

In Kulu and Manali despite proper disposal facilities most of the waste is finding its way into the Beas. In fact, the Larji project authorities have to periodically remove waste from the intake point to keep the project running. Uphill the 13,050 ft Rohtang Pass had become a victim of unregulated and excessive tourism activity. Thousands of vehicles cause air pollution while the non-biodegradable material discarded by tourists causes environmental pollution.

In Shimla, the situation is worse. The hill slopes and nullahs remain littered with garbage in most localities. Even bigger threat to environment comes from the construction debris.

The major reason for it is that authorities have failed to come up with adequate number of dumping sites in locality and transporting debris to sites located at distance is expensive and impracticable proposition.

The issue was discussed by the minister for environment and scientific technologies at a high-level meeting of officers here today. After viewing a presentation made by the pollution control board, he directed the officials to take action against under the forest conservation act, the environment protection act and the non-biodegradable garbage control act.

The conservator of forests, Shimla Circle, was asked to challan defaulters and get forest areas cleared of the dumped garbage.

It was decided that the minister, additional chief secretary Avay Shukla and principal secretary, environment and scientific technologies, Harinder Hira, and principal secretary urban development will make a joint inspection of various locations in the Shimla city for a performance check of field officials.

Kangra, August 25
The police has registered a case of abduction and rape on the complaint of the father of the victim from Pathiar village, the police said here today.

O.P. Jamwal, Kangra DSP, said today that Tilak Raj, a resident of Pathiar village, had a lodged a complaint with the Nagrota Bagwan police yesterday. He said his daughter was allegedly abducted by Rakesh Kumar, a resident of the same village, on July 18.

He alleged that Rakesh Kumar alias Sanjoo took the victim to Jawalamukhi and raped her, the DSP said.

He said the accused took the girl to Dharamsala and later to Dhroh on July 20, where both of them consumed poison.

Jamwal said both were shifted to Dr RP Government Medical College at Tanada. The girl was discharged after few days, but Rakesh was still under treatment at his residence after he was discharged from the hospital.

A case under Sections 376, 363 and 366 was registered against Rakesh Kumar. But he was not arrested yet, as he was under treatment.