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Financial comptroller transferred over tiff with teachers
Solan Deal
Apple fest begins at Manali
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Dev Sadan inaugurated amid voices of dissent
Govt keen on Rs 729-cr Pabbar water scheme for Shimla
Rau urged to stall land transfer to Jaypee Co
Celebrations of youth hostel movement begin
Prez praises Dhumal for noble gesture
Cement plant opposed
Transportation of apple
Factory strike enters 7th day
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Financial comptroller transferred over tiff with teachers
Dharamsala, August 26 On the other hand, the financial comptroller alleged the funds were being misused by certain teachers. “They are targeting me as I have become a bottleneck in the use of funds,” he said. In the past two months, the fight between them had flared up to such an extent that the teacher met Chief Minister seeking financial comptroller’s transfer and later wrote to the SP, Kangra, regarding misappropriation of funds in the university. President of the teachers’ association Ashok Sharma said they went to meet the financial comptroller seeking release of their interim relief on July 7. However, he misbehaved with them. “We reported the matter to the vice-chancellor. None of the teachers misbehaved with the financial comptroller despite provocation,” he maintained. Research projects in the university might get delayed due to the fussy attitude of the financial comptroller, he alleged. He was evaluating research projects in terms of profitability. “However, in research, sometimes one does not get anything despite spending crores,” he said. The financial comptroller was not available for comments as he was away to Shimla. However, his family members alleged they had been victimised for annoying a strong lobby of teachers in the university. The interim relief to teachers is released from the funds received from the Union Government. When teachers came to meet the financial controller, they were told that the interim relief would be released as and when funds were received from the Union Government. However, they insisted that the interim relief be released to them from other financial resources of the university, they said. Though the financial comptroller has been transferred, he is yet to relinquish the charge at the university here. However, the questions raised regarding the fund utilisation in the university remain unanswered. |
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Land exceeds permissible limit
Our Correspondent
Solan, August 26 The fact that a non-Himachali can be granted permission for purchasing only 500 sq m land for residential purposes under the provisions of the HP Land Reforms and Tenancy Act, 1972, the permission granted to 18 persons from Haryana to buy land which was 280 sq m more than the permissible limit has brought the role of the officials responsible for processing the case under a scanner. Initially, the field staff reportedly assumed that one biswa as equal to 37.5 sq m, while later they realised that it was equal to 42 sq m in Pargana Bharoli Kalan as per the existing revenue laws. Thus 11.1 bighas calculated to 9,282 sq m. DC Amandeep Garg agreed if the land granted to the 18 buyers exceeded the permissible limit of 500 sq m, it was a violation of the Act. Officials said although a special permission could be granted in case a buyer wanted to buy land in excess of the permissible limit, but no such permission had been granted in the present case. Naib tehsildar Narayan Chauhan agreed that the permission granted to 18 persons to by 11.1 bighas of land was in excess of the permissible norms. However, he added that the crucial point regarding the measurement of one biswa was brought to his notice later. Meanwhile, the government was also probing how the sale deeds were executed at a much lower price than the prevailing market price, causing revenue loss to the government.
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Apple fest begins at Manali
Manali, August 26 Dhumal congratulated the departments of tourism and horticulture and the district administration for organising the festival. The trend would be continued in future also, he said. He also laid the foundation stone of a five-storeyed building of the panchayat bhawan. The building would be constructed at a cost of Rs 69.85 lakh. He said despite bad weather conditions, 75 lakh apple boxes had been transported from Himachal to different fruit markets outside of the state. The apple support price had been increased from Rs 4.75 to Rs 5.25 per kg under the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) after the BJP came to power in the state, he added. Horticulture minister Narender Bragta, Vidhan Sabha deputy speaker Khimi Ram, MLAs Govind Thakur, Kishori Lal and secretary (tourism) Manisha Nanda were also present on the occasion.
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Dev Sadan inaugurated amid voices of dissent
Kullu, August 26 Dhumal later said at a public meeting, “All days are holy for the service of devis and devtas and the welfare of the poor and suffering.” He announced a grant of Rs 4 crore for the district for rain damage and Rs 2 crore for a hospital building. The CM reached here after inaugurating the apple festival at Manali. He was accompanied by horticulture minister Narinder Bragta, deputy speaker and Banjar MLA Khimi Ram and Kullu MLA Govind Thakur. Dhumal did not respond to the queries of mediapersons about the boycott of the function by the Kardar Sangh. Addressing a public meeting at Dhalpur Maidan, he said, “Serving the humanity is more important than anything else.” Dhumal urged the people to vote for the BJP ensuring win on all four Lok Sabha seats in the coming Lok Sabha elections. President of the Kardar Sangh, Kullu, Devi Singh Thakur and president of the Dev Sadan O.P. Sharma said: “We were not consulted by the officials about the inauguration of the Dev Sadan and we are not participating in it. Dev musicians do not come out from the temple treasuries during this month as it is considered unholy.” They said they had come to receive the chief guest, but did not participate in the traditional puja as it was not advisable in this month. As bajantris were not available, musicians were hired from clubs to accompany devis and devtas, devalus said. The CM left for the Bhuntar airport from where he flew to Shimla immediately after the function. Chief representative of Lord Raghunath, chief deity of Kullu Dussehra Maheshwar Singh said at the public meeting that the Dev Sadan could be transferred to kardars and ‘devalus’ during the second Navratras and urged the CM to be as the chief guest on the occasion. CM’s announcements
He also handed a cheque for Rs 12.5 lakh for the construction of the Malana temple destroyed in fire early this year. |
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Govt keen on Rs 729-cr Pabbar water scheme for Shimla
Shimla, August 26 This was stated by Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal while speaking at a function organised by the Shimla Hoteliers and Restaurateurs Association here today. “The government is in the process of preparing a detailed project report in that regard,” he said. He said the formalities required for getting the World Bank funding for the project had already been completed so that the work could be started at the earliest. “We are contemplating upon taking up another lift water supply scheme from the Sutlej. The scheme is expected to cost around Rs 275 crore,” he said. He said the water sources feeding Shimla were drying up and even the ground level had decreased manifold. “Although the Giri water supply scheme has been completed and was on a trial run, the supply lines had been damaged due to heavy rain,” he said. He said the government would take up protection of traditional water sources and their recharging by constructing dams all over the state so as to check soil erosion. The government would liberalise the route permit Act for the sealed and restricted routes so that hoteliers could get relief. “Efforts are on to create more parking lots so as to regulate and improve traffic movement in the town both for the convenience of the local people and tourists,” he said. He said the government would put in efforts to restore the lost glory of Shimla. “We will take steps to make the town pollution-free and develop more spots of tourist interest,” he said. The Shimla Hotels and Restaurants Association made a contribution of Rs 1.51 lakh towards the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. |
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Rau urged to stall land transfer to Jaypee Co
Shimla, August 26 A delegation of the manch led by its convener R.S. Negi submitted a memorandum to the Governor in this regard
here today. The Governor has been urged to intervene and protect the rights of the tribal people and save the fragile ecology of the area. The manch pointed out that under the Panchayat (Extension of Schedule Area) Act, 1996, and the State Transfer of Land (Regulation) Act, 1968, land in tribal areas could not be transferred or acquired without the
consent of the gram sabhas concerned. However, in case of the Karcham Wangtu Project, about 1,650 bigha land had been granted on lease although the gram sabhas had passed a resolution opposing citing the threat the project posed to
environment. It was not the only project coming up on the Sutlej, about 10 mega projects were being constructed over 150-km stretch of the river. Moreover, such mega projects were being built in an area prone to earthquakes and floods. The rights of the people were being extinguished and not much was being done for the rehabilitation of the project-affected families. Thousands of deodar and kail trees were to be axed for laying transmission lines and the debris was being dumped on the banks of the river. Members of the manch said it was a fit case for the Governor to exercise the emergency powers under Schedule V and stop the government from indulging in unlawful acts. |
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Celebrations of youth hostel movement begin
Dalhousie, August 26 Students from Sacred Heart Senior Secondary School, Dalhousie Public School, Guru Nanak Public School and Central School for Tibetans took part in it and presented cultural items.
Monmohan Singh Bawa, one of the founder members of the youth hostel movement in India, said there were more than 4,500 youth hostels across the world. Bawa said Sir Bertrand Glancy, the then Governor, inaugurated the first youth hostel in India at Tara Devi near Shimla for Punjab scouts and guides. Bawa added that youth hostels provided economical stay and
promoted international understanding. |
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Prez praises Dhumal for noble gesture
Palampur, August 26 She had been bedridden for the past 13 years because of severe arthritis and had written to the President in May for mercy killing. In a letter addressed to Seema Sood, Patil appreciated the humanitarian step initiated by Dhumal for her treatment. He constituted a medical Board that shifted her to Fortis Hospital, Mohali, Chandigarh. Seema had requested the state government three years ago for financial help, but did not get any reply. She even wrote a letter to the then Chief Minister Vir Bhadara Singh, but no one came to her rescue. Thereafter, She sought the permission of the President for mercy killing. |
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Cement plant opposed
Shimla, August 26 The samiti maintains that the shifting of the plant from Al Sindi to Ghagar-Thali would cause water pollution and affect farm production in Thali, Shakrori, Sahaj, Ghariyana, Madhorghat, Juni, Basantpur, Reog, Sunni and Tattapni areas. A representative of Jan Abhyan Sanstha Richa said that Shakrori village had the potential of being developed into a model village . However, if the plant site was shifted to Thali the purpose of model village would be defeated as agricultural development would be severally hit. |
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Transportation of apple
Shimla, August 26 Horticulture minister Narender Bragta said here today that 4,500 tonnes of apple had been bought through various procurement centres in the state. “Large-scale arrangements have made for the smooth transportation of apple to the markets so that the growers do not face any difficulty,” he said. Under the market intervention scheme, 35 procurement centres had been opened in Kullu district through which 180.54 tonne apple had been bought. Till date, 19.5 lakh apple cartons had been dispatched from Kullu
district. |
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Factory strike enters 7th day
Nahan, August 26 President of the labour union Mohamad Nadeem and secretary Amarjeet Singh have alleged that due to continuous misbehaviour of one factory supervisor with other workers and silence of the management on this issue despite several complaints has forced them to go on a strike. However, the manager of the factory said the management was trying to resolve the matter through dialogue. |
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Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal inaugurated the first-ever three-day Himachal Apple Festival here today. The festival is being organised by the Department of Tourism and Civil Aviation.
