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PCC appointments with an eye on poll
Cabinet adopts report on Naina Devi disaster
Hundreds hold protest against cement plant
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Rain causes Rs 1,541-cr loss
Dalai Lama returns to Dharamsala
6th session of Tibetan parliament begins
Indian women prone to breast cancer after 35
Eight processing units to check wastage of fruit
Govt accused of mismanaging apple procurement
BDC chairman, vice-chairman removed
Villagers take away forest wealth
Govt seeks report on ‘sinking village’
Scientists urged to focus research on poverty reduction
Six Congress leaders expelled
2,070 common services centres to be set up
Student missing
Thind’s medical leave extended
Rs 11-cr profit for SIDC
Plea for narco test of murder accused
CM: Preserve allied astrological sciences
Brown sugar worth Rs 3 lakh seized
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PCC appointments with an eye on poll
Shimla, September 9 With eight vice-presidents, eight general secretaries and 26 secretaries, the number of office-bearers equals that of members of the executive body. Obviously, the effort has not been on strengthening the organisation as such, but to make it broad-based and actively involve as many party men as possible to gear up the party for the coming elections. Most of the prominent leaders having allegiance to various factions and leaders have been accommodated and some new faces inducted at various levels to build the next line of leadership. The wards of senior leaders have also been included in the team of office-bearers. They include Ajay Mahajan (son of veteran leader Sat Mahajan), Anil Sharma (son of former telecom minister Sukh Ram), and Aishwarya Katoch (son of former minister Chandresh Kumari). There are seven women among office-bearers. While Satya Prakash Thakur, Ajay Mahajan, and Kuldeep Rathore have been retained as general secretaries, four new faces representing the upcoming leadership, B.D. Chaudhary, Mukesh Agnihotri, Sudhir Sharma and Sukhwinder Singh, have been inducted. Former minister Asha Kumari also finds place in the list of general secretaries. Among vice presidents are A.N. Vidyarthi, Kunjna Singh, Gangu Ram Musafir, Ram Lal, Sujan Singh Pathania, Anil Sharma, Anita Verma and Harbhajan Singh. Ran Vijay Singh has been retained as treasurer. With Kaul Singh taking over the reins of the party, the protracted factional war involving rival groups headed by former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and leader of the opposition Vidya Stokes has paled into insignificance for the time being. However, a majority of the office-bearers are from the Virbhadra Singh camp, though loyalists of almost all those who matter in the party have been included. PCC chief Kaul Singh, who extensively toured the state before selecting his team, saw no harm in having a large set-up. New talent could be provided opportunity to hone their organisational skills only by entrusting them with responsibility, he said. It would also enable the party to have focus at the assembly segment level. For instance, the secretaries could be given charge of two assembly segments each to strengthen the party at the grass-roots level. |
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Cabinet adopts report on Naina Devi disaster
Shimla, September 9 The decision was taken by the State Cabinet which met under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal here today. It unanimously adopted the inquiry report of the Divisional Commissioner, Mandi, which conducted probe into the stampede at temple on August 3 and decided to implement the recommendations. The two sectors were involved in a fatal stampede which claimed 142 lives. Henceforth, all visitors who visit the shrine to pay obeisance will be required to get themselves registered at the entrance counters after which they will be sent in batches of not more than 200 to avoid any untoward incident. Additional arrangements will be made by the district administration during special occasions like Navratras, holidays, Tuesdays, Saturday and Sundays to manage the expected rush of visitors. The pilgrims would be routed through a circular way to the main temple and back to the base area where basic facilities like water, toilets and medical assistance will be created. The three temple properties in possession of the managers (Mohatmims) will be required immediately to create more facilities for the pilgrims to enter and leave the temple. Street lights will be provided around the temple, Kainchi More and Naina Devi to Tobha via Badoh, including at the entrance of the holy town besides ensuring well-lit path in the area. It decided that medical facilities of the level of a community health centre will be ensured during the fair to cater to the needs of the pilgrims. It decided to create improved sanitation network on the campus with adequate separate toilet blocks for men and women. Dependable public address system and pilgrims guide cell will be set up to regulate the pilgrims as also guiding them in a systematic manner. Drinking water will be provided at regular intervals and close circuit TV installed to monitor the crowd. Two emergency escape routes for pilgrims will be provided and employees will be trained in disaster management to deal with any situation. The Deputy Commissioner and the Superintendent of Police will camp at the site during the fairs and crowded days and also submit a monthly detailed note to the government about the implementation of the decisions. More rain shelters, parapets and other infrastructrual facilities will also be created. |
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Hundreds hold protest against cement plant
Sundernagar, September 9 The samiti again demanded the shifting of the plant site on the plea that the present site was situated in a thickly populated area and setting up the plant there would affect the health of lakhs of residents. Moreover, it would consume agricultural land and adversely affect the Bandali wildlife sanctuary. The delegates assembled at Jawahar Park and marched up to the SDM office where they submitted him the reminder addressed to the Governor and the Chief Minister. The samiti maintained it was not against the government decision of setting up industry in the state, it was just opposing the setting up of the cement plant in a thickly populated area. Representative of some of the farmer organisations that were earlier favouring the decision to government were also seen participating in the protest march. Some BJP and Congress men also joined the protest. General secretary of the Himachal Kishan Sangh Joginder Thakur, BJP leader from Nachan segment Virenther Thakur, president of the Sundernagar Sangharsh Samiti A.S. Raghwa, president of the Paryavarn Sarakshan Samiti Col B.S Raghwa, president of the Himachal Kisan Sabha Kushal Bhardwaj and many other delegates also addressed the gathering. |
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Baddi road needs another route
Solan, September 9 Being the industrial hub of the state and having close proximity to Chandigarh, the BBN area is daily visited by industrialists. Several trucks loaded with industrial goods and raw materials also ply on this road. The rains have added to the problem. The drive on the roads is bumpy and inconvenient. The Chief Minister has rarely used this road and often uses a chopper to visit the area. The excessive wear and tear has made it difficult to maintain the road. Though Himachal, Haryana and Punjab had decided to construct an alternative road, Siswan-Baddi, it was yet to be constructed despite a lapse of almost 25 years. The senior vice-president of the BBN Industries Association, Deepak Bhandari, said, “It was unfortunate that the road was not constructed despite several approvals by the Punjab government. Though Haryana had already constructed their part of the road, Punjab was yet to begin the construction. Despite the orders of the Punjab and Haryana High Court to complete this road by June 2009, little has been done till now by Punjab.” The construction of this road would reduce the distance between Chandigarh and Baddi. According to an estimate, nearly Rs 2 crore per month could be saved on fuel alone if this alternate route was constructed. Two more alternative roads are available in the area, which can reduce the distance between Chandigarh and Baddi. These include -Nayagoan to Basaulan, near Pinjore Airport and PGI, Chandigarh to Kona in Haryana. |
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Rain causes Rs 1,541-cr loss
Shimla, September 9 He stated this in a videoconferencing with the deputy commissioners. “At least 1.41 lakh hectares of agricultural and 12,98 hectares of the horticultural area had been affected. The crop loss had been valued at Rs 199.47 crore and horticulture loss valued at Rs 204.60 crore,” Dhumal said. “Loss to the tune of Rs 180 crore has been caused to roads, bridges, drinking and irrigation water supply schemes,” he said. He said the state Assembly in its recent session had adopted a unanimous resolution, seeking relief from the centre for repair and restoration work. “We have sought an interim flood relief of Rs 500 crore so that the restoration work could be started before the assessment of the damage by the central team,” he said. The Chief Minister said the rainy season was still in progress and the estimate of damage was likely to increase. Dhumal said the state government had pressed its entire manpower and other resources to provide relief to the people so that normalcy could be restored. He asked the DCs to give top priority to public grievances and provide relief to the people at the
grassroot-level. He directed the officers to ensure that no commodity being provided under the public distribution system was misused or smuggled. He said stern action would be taken against the guilty. |
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Dalai Lama returns to Dharamsala
Dharamsala, September 9 “He reached his official palace in the evening after spending 11 days in Delhi and Mumbai,” said Thubten Samphel, a spokesperson for the Tibetan government-in-exile. “The spiritual guru is in excellent health... no need to worry...will be back to routine affairs in a few days,” Samphel said. He said the Nobel Peace laureate had no plan to visit the USA, where his eldest brother Taktser Rinpoche died on September 5. However, the decision had nothing to do with his own health, Samphel clarified. Meanwhile, thousands of Tibetans and Dalai Lama’s supporters had started gathering here since morning to welcome him. He was admitted to Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai on August 28 after he complained of “abdominal discomfort”. He was discharged from the hospital on September 1. — IANS |
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6th session of Tibetan parliament begins
Dharamsala, September 9 A one-minute silence was observed to remember those who sacrificed their lives during peaceful demonstrations in Tibet this year. Expressing support for Tibetans’ non-violent approach in Tibet, speaker Karma Chophel said the parliament was deeply concerned over the suppression tactics being adopted by China in Tibet. He gave an updated account of important activities of the Tibetan Solidarity Committee constituted by the Tibetan parliament and Kashag in its effort to bring an immediate end to the alleged repression tactics being adopted by the Chinese government. He said the present session would discuss the efforts of the Tibetan Solidarity Committee that was leading all activities in the exile community in accordance with the policies of the Central Tibetan Administration, under its unified leadership. Allaying concerns over the health of the Dalai Lama, he said he was in good health and the doctors had advised him to take rest. He asked Tibetans and supporters around the world not to worry. Meanwhile, he appealed to the Tibetans to continue concerted efforts to enhance collective merits of the Tibetans and pray for the long life of the Dalai Lama. The members also mourned the demise of former member of parliament Yungdrung Namgyal, who was elected representative of the Bon school of Tibetan Buddhism. The session will go on till |
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Indian women prone to breast cancer after 35
Kullu, September 9 This was stated by many doctors during the two-day seminar of the Northern Chapter of Association Surgeons of India, MID-TERM CME-2008, held at Sarabai. They were speaking on the basis of the survey of the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR). The ICMR had confirmed the figures after an intensive survey throughout the country, the doctors added. However, in America every 8th woman in every one thousand is prone to the disease. Dr S.M. Bose, the former surgeon head of the PGI, Chandigarh, said the council had asked the people to avoid the advice of the gurus or yoga teachers, as cancer could not be cured by yoga. The survey of the ICMR has also confirmed that unmarried women, issueless women and the women who were not feeding children must also get their breasts examined after the age of 35, as they were more prone to the disease, the doctor added. Dr Bose said the women who smoked and had alcohol could also be affected. He said women should not feel shy to get their breasts examined, as the disease was fatal. More than 150 surgeons from medical institutions like PGI, Chandigarh, Fortis Mohali, Tata Memorial Cancer Centre, Mumbai, Asopa hospital, Agra, IGMC Shimla, Rohtak University, Tanda Medical College and PGI, Rohtak, took part in the seminar. |
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Eight processing units to check wastage of fruit
Shimla, September 9 The eight processing units will be located mainly in Shimla, Kullu, Mandi and Shimla districts where most of the apple orchards are located. At present the processing units owned by the HPMC is located on the border of the state at Parwanoo. The coming up of the processing units in the fruit growing belt will save transportation cost and the money being given by the government under market intervention scheme (MIS). Besides the use of the entire culled apple, the processing units will greatly help in making use of stone fruits like peaches, plums, apricots and pears for making various products. As compared to some advanced countries like the USA, Holland and New Zealand where there is loss of barely 10 per cent of the fruit, in Himachal this figure is as high as 33 per cent. Huge quantities of apple is lost during packing and transportation while the loss in case of stone fruits like peaches is much more. The fact that the HPMC has got a order for supplying 6,000 metric tonnes of apple concentrate to a private company besides inquiries by several other companies has motivated the government to set up processing units. Horticulture minister Narender Bragta confirmed that the state government would approach the Centre for seeking funds to set up the processing units. “In fact we are keen that the cold storage and packaging units are located at places like Jarol, Rohru and Gumma so that the fruit can be processed near the growing area only,” he said. He said the existing units would be totally revamped and latest technology would be acquired for processing purpose. “We would welcome the coming up of such projects as joint ventures or it could be solely through private investment,” he added. |
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Govt accused of mismanaging apple procurement
Shimla, September 9 In a statement here yesterday, Thakur who is also a leading apple grower said that the procured fruit was rotting in gunny bags at the collection centres. In Rohru subdivision alone over 50,000 bags of fruit were rotting because trucks were not available for their transportation. The weight of the procured fruit was fast declining, causing loss to the government. The procurement of fruit had been virtually stopped at the collection centres as there was no more room storage. Things had been made worse due to the fact that the transportation job was being assigned on political considerations. The growers who had to put up with shortage of trucks through the season were not getting even the smaller pick- up vehicles. They were being fleeced by transporters. The premature defoliation of trees being caused by fungal infection had further added to their woes. |
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BDC chairman, vice-chairman removed
Bilaspur, September 9 District panchayat officer Nand Lal, who presided over the meeting, said 27 members voted in the secret ballot, while chairman Budhi Singh, vice-chairman Ramchand Dangi and seven others were absent from the meeting. He said Budhi Singh and Ramchand Dangi were removed from their respective posts and the House would elect its new chairman and vice-chairman in its next meeting that was fixed for September 16. The meeting would be presided by the SDM at the same venue. Earlier, there was a clash between the members of the Congress and the BJP for these posts and the presiding officer then had declared Budhi Singh Thakur and Ramchand Dangi as the chairman and the vice-chairman, respectively. BJP leader and now MLA from Kot Kehloor constituency Randhir Sharma had then protested that despite BJP being in majority in this BDC, the Congress had pressurised the returning officer to give verdict in favour of the Congress leaders. |
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Villagers take away forest wealth
Badsar (Hamirpur), September 9 At many places, villagers are not only lopping the branches of fallen trees, but even chopping the trees to take away the timber. Timber worth lakhs is reportedly lying in several forests of the district as a number of pine; khair and eucalyptus trees were uprooted on that day. The maximum damage has been caused in the Badsar forest range where forest wealth of about Rs 25 lakh has been damaged. In the Bijhad forest range, the estimated loss was around Rs 20 lakh. Under the Nadaun and Aghar forest ranges, loss of around Rs 3 lakh and Rs 5 lakh, respectively, has been reported. The Forest Department is supposed to carry out immediate survey and marking of the fallen trees after which the timber is handed over to the forest corporation for sale, but this time the people have already started taking away the timber from many places. A team of journalists found people, including women, chopping trees and taking away timber on the Bhota-Badsar highway yesterday. Hamirpur DFO Sanjay Sood said, “We are gathering information about the damage. According to initial estimates, 100 trees have fallen. We have started the marking of these trees after which we will hand over the timber to the forest corporation and inquire into the complaints of timber being taken away by the people.” |
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Govt seeks report on ‘sinking village’
Dharamsala, September 9 Minister public health and irrigation Ravinder Ravi today said the government had directed officials of the Geological Survey of India to submit a report regarding the village. If the report declared the area unsafe, the villagers might be rehabilitated at some other place, he said. As the area is among the most quake-prone areas of the country, geologists have kept it in the zone 5 category. Last week, two quakes of low intensity were recorded in the district. The minister said the government had sanctioned Rs 1.62 crore for the rehabilitation of Dal Lake, located about 13 km from Dharamsala. The lake was of religious significance to the people of area, he said. |
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Scientists urged to focus research on poverty reduction
Shimla, September 9 “With India being the second largest producer of fruits in the world after China and vegetables, spices and floriculture too being vital components, climate change can adversely affect our potential,” she said. She stressed the need for incorporating environmental studies in school and college curriculum. “Empowerment through capacity building and technical training would not only increase women’s capacity to participate in implementation of programmes at the grassroot level but also involve them in policy making,” she remarked. She suggested that financial incentives and packages should be provided for improved land management, including resource conservation and fertiliser use efficiency and developing green house gas inhibiting technologies. She said a Green Research Fund for strengthening research on adaptation, mitigation, and impact assessment in the farm sector should be deliberated upon. She added enhancing and monitoring of factors like land, labour, infrastructure can help increase farm productivity and thus help in poverty reduction. Director of the Indian Institute of Vegetable Research Mathura Rai and deputy director of the Indian Council for Agriculture Research H.P. Singh also addressed the delegates. |
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Six Congress leaders expelled
Nahan, September 9 They were expelled on the charges of anti-party activities during the last Assembly elections. Congress president Kaul Singh Thakur has expelled Tulsi Ram Chauhan, Jati Ram Thakur, Sahi Ram Chauhan, Ved Prakash Thakur, Chander Singh Kamal and Brij Lal Thakur from the primary membership of the party for the next six years. Expelled leaders were among the senior most Congress leaders in the district. Due to political differences with Prem Singh, sitting Congress MLA from the Renuka constituency, these leaders extended their open support to the BJP candidate, Balbir Singh, during the last Assembly elections. |
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2,070 common services centres to be set up
Shimla, September 9 Aggarwal said the services to be so offered would include voter registration, voter identity card, registration of police complaint, vacancy listing, passport enquiry, school board results, high court case list etc. He said the companies would set up CSCs in all districts falling under Shimla and Mandi divisions. A similar agreement had been signed for setting up 1,296 centres in Kangra division. He said the project was being executed in public-private partnership. The centres would be set up in a phased manner in a period of one year. The private partners would set up the IT infrastructure and identify village-level entrepreneurs to operate these centres. |
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Student missing
Kangra, September 9 According to Arun Kumar, father of the boy, Ankush had gone to his maternal grandmother in Sehri village on Saturday. He left Sehri at 7.30 am on Monday for his school Sarwasati Vidya Mandir, Garli, 3 km from Sehri. He said that Ankush did not reach the school and his family members tried to find him but failed to trace him. They lodged a police report today but so far the child could not be found. Ankush is a resident of Lohara village and was staying with his maternal uncle at Garli Pargpur to pursue his studies there. |
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Thind’s medical leave extended
Shimla, September 9 Thind has been asked by the Parwanoo police to get his voice sample test done in connection with a case registered against him in the Parwanoo police station. Thind has failed to turn up for the test on three earlier occasions and now he has given tomorrow’s date to the Parwanoo police for getting the test done. Thind who is posted as ADGP, State Human Rights Commission (SHRC), was to join back on September 8 as he had taken medical leave till then. However he has now got his leave extended till September 23. A businessman Ashok Mittal in his complaint to the police had alleged that Thind had taken Rs 9 lakh from him for getting his commercial premises vacated in Parwanoo. The businessman had handed over a CD to the police, which has recorded conversation of the IPS officer regarding the alleged deal for getting his premises vacated in lieu for money. |
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Rs 11-cr profit for SIDC
Shimla, September 9 This was stated by Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal while presiding over the meeting of the board of directors of the SIDC and the General Industries Corporation (GIC). Dhumal said there was an urgent need for all public sector undertakings to diversify their activities and earn sufficient profits to meet their commercial requirements. He said all public sector undertakings needed to keep updated with the latest marketing trends that could help in diversification of business activities. |
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Plea for narco test of murder accused
Mandi, September 9 Although the police has interrogated both Sanju and Subhash for more than a week, they have not divulged vital facts about the case. Mandi SP M. Chandra Sekhar said, “We have sent an application to the district courts, requesting the Sessions Judge to allow narco-analysis of the accused. We expect the test report will help us in cracking the case.” |
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CM: Preserve allied astrological sciences
Shimla, September 9 He was speaking at the closing ceremony of a one-day astrologers’ conference organised by the Trikal Jyotish and Paravigyan Anusandhan Sansthan here. He said Indian astrology was scientifically advanced and found mention in ancient scriptures. Its allied sciences like vastu shastra, tantra vidya and other similar disciplines were heading for extinction due lack of interest about them among the new generation. The astrologers, who had mastered such sciences, must share their knowledge with the younger generation to help preserve the ancient sciences for the betterment of humanity. |
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Brown sugar worth Rs 3 lakh seized
Mandi, September 9 Forty-seven pouches of brown sugar, worth around Rs 3 lakh, were seized from her possession after a raid was conducted at her house. A sum of Rs 33,470, allegedly earned from the sale of brown sugar, was also recovered. A case has been registered under the NDPS Act. The raid was conducted following a tip-off. The pouches of brown sugar were hidden under the cover of a sofa in her house. She was produced before a judge, who remanded her in police custody till September 12. “She has confessed that the sum of Rs 33, 470 seized from her house was got by selling brown sugar,” sources said. SP, SVACB, Mandi, Kapil Sharma said the bureau had launched a campaign against drug trade in the region. |
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