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Forest thanas to check timber mafia
All set for Kullu Dussehra
Art exhibition marks Durga Puja
BSNL to launch IPTV service this month
All set for paragliding event |
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MMS Case
Burning of Official Record
Hamir Utsav on November 1, 2
PTA teachers on fast from today
Students of La Montessori School, Kalehali, present a dance at the annual day function. Photo: Subhash Sharma
Plan to preserve grandeur of Dalhousie
Rs 2 cr for cricket stadium at Bilaspur
State No. 1 in health, education: Survey
Tibetan parliament to take baton from solidarity panel
Sarva dharma sammelan
Doc reinstated
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Forest thanas to check timber mafia
Shimla, October 7 Equipped with vehicles, wireless, mobile phones, arms and other required facilities, the proposed thanas will function on the pattern of police stations. Each thana will be headed by an official of the rank of deputy ranger and have a team of forest guards for carrying out patrolling. The staff will be provided by reorganising and merging existing forest beats. Instead of a forest guard looking after one beat, five to six forest guards will collectively work under a thana. With the forest mafia becoming bolder and more organised, field officials have been finding it difficult to discharge their responsibilities. In a recent instance in the Deha area of Theog forest division, offenders tied a forest guard with a tree, axed many trees and escaped. Such incidents have forced the department to organise the field staff into teams under thanas so that they can physically take on those indulging in organised crime. The objective of the entire exercise is to put in place a quick-response system to
deter offenders, says principal chief conservator of forests Pankaj Khullar. To begin with, five thanas will be set up in areas that have become notorious for forest offences in Shimla and Mandi districts. The first three thanas are to be set up at Panarsa in Mandi, Deha in Theog and Bamta in Chopal. These thanas will have a “munshi” for registering complaints and maintaining record. The laying of roads to provide connectivity to every panchayat has added to the problems of the department. These roads have enabled the mafias to extend their activities into the interior. Smuggling of timber has become easier, convenient and economically attractive. The new roads are mostly out of department’s radar as evident from the fact that not many new check posts and barriers have been set up. Himachal will be the second state after Madhya Pradesh to introduce thana system to control forest offences. The department already has flying squads but these have not proved very effective. The thana system will enable the department to focus on selected areas where mafias are more active. |
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All set for Kullu Dussehra
Kullu, October 7 SP Jagat Ram said elaborate security arrangements had been made. Nine special security zones had been created for Dhalpur Maidan. Armed personnel would be posted round the clock at some points. He said 1,100 additional police personnel had been deputed for the security. Sniffer dogs and bomb disposal squads had been established besides installing CCTV and wireless systems at sensitive points. A fire station would also be established at Dhalpur Maidan. M Sudha Devi, deputy commissioner, said cultural troupes from Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Goa, Rajasthan and Sikkim would perform during the seven-day festivities. |
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Art exhibition marks Durga Puja
Chamba, October 7 In the exhibition, animation movie shows made with famous artist Prabal Pramanik paper-cutting art, titled “Mahishasuramardini Durga” and “Prem Setu” were screened at the museum meeting hall. “In his paper world”, a documentary on the paper-cutting art was also screened. The animation movies made by Pramanik’s Academy of Arts created a harmony between traditional art and modern technology. The documentary gave many technical details about the paper-cutting work of Pramanik. Many noted artists of Chamba, including Vijay Sharma, attended this show. Earlier, on September 29, at Tara Mandir in Kangra, an exhibition of Devasthanakala paper-cutting art was also organised. Different forms of Devi Adyashakti Mahamaya in Devasthanakala paper-cutting art were displayed. Devasthanakala paper-cutting art is a traditional Indian art with a strong decorative impact and free flowing design. It is an art that requires the ability and confidence to cut out from paper without drawing or tracing, and has traditions reaching back to hundreds of years. This art was used to decorate temples during religious festivals in Bengal, Orissa, Mathura and Vrindavan. Pure Devasthanakala art is never a direct copy from another picture, and no line is made before making the paper cuts. It is necessary for the artist to posses the skill to make these paper cuts instantly with the help of his visual imagery. Prabal Pramanik presented this art through his own creative angle, though keeping in mind the dictums of the scripture when presenting the forms of Adhyashakti. His Holiness Lalbaba, the chief priest of Tara Mandir, inaugurated this show at a well-attended ceremony. Pramanik gave live demonstration to the visitors at the exhibition. |
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BSNL to launch IPTV service this month
Shimla, October 7 Stating this at a press conference organised in connection with the conclusion of BSNL week here today, chief general manager of Himachal Circle Anil Kaushal said the focus was on expanding the broadband services, which had not been growing at the desired rate because of low PC (personal computer) penetration in the state. The broadband services were available on demand in 254 locations, but the total number of such subscribers was only 17,000 so far. Work was on to add 400 more locations to raise the total capacity to cater to 56,000 customers. BSNL had entered a tie-up with five computer hardware companies for supplying computers on instalments to enable the subscriber to avail of broadband services. The computers would be equipped with inbuilt modem compatible for BSNL broadband connection and the customer could enjoy special discounts on rental for 2 years. A festival offer under which 20 per cent discount was being offered for six months had been launched to popularise broadband services. In country like Korea the broadband density was 25 per cent whereas it was less than 1 per cent in our country. He said teledensity-wise Himachal was among the top three states after Kerela and Punjab. The teledensity in the state was 47 per cent as against 27 per cent for the country. BSNL had the highest number of connections and accounted for more than 33 per cent of the teledensity. The company had decided to provide a prepaid mobile connection to landline subscribers in the rural areas for free of cost. Prepaid schemes for students have also been started under which charges are as low as 8 paise per call and 8 paise per SMS. This SIM was available at a discounted price of Rs 50. The company plan to set up 192 more base transmitter stations (BTS) to augment the radio mobile capacity by 3,70,000 and introduce 3G services in 15 towns. Besides, 110 BTS would be provided to expand and strengthen the WLL (wireless in local loop) network, which already had 90,000 subscribers. |
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All set for paragliding event
Dharamsala, October 7 The pilots participating in the event would take off from Billing and land in the Bir area. The landing area comprises agricultural land. The farmers have already being given compensation of Rs 70,000 for the damage to their crops due to the holding of the event. The government had also started the work of acquiring about 70 kanal land at the landing place. The process of acquisition of land was already in progress, she said. The event is being organised here after two years. It can provide a major boost to adventure tourism in the district. However, lack of infrastructure is a major bottleneck in organising such events here consistently. At present, no proper accommodation is available for the participants and tourists coming to Bir Billing. There are just a few private guesthouses in the area owned by local people. The facilities available at these guesthouses are also not very good. The participants only have the option of staying at Palampur. Manisha Nanda said orders had been given for making adequate arrangements for tackling any emergency during the contest. Five ambulances would remain on the standby during the championship. The PWD authorities had also been directed to repair all connecting roads, she said. |
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MMS Case
Sundernagar, October 7 The court observed that since the investigation of the case was not complete so the bail application was rejected. Earlier to it, the sessions court had rejected the anticipatory bail application of the accused who was booked for the offence of rape and under Section 3 of The Schedule Castes and Schedule Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. As the woman, who was also seen in the obscene MMS, had filed a complaint before the court alleging her sexual harassment and the court directed the police to register the case. Interestingly, the police arrested the accused for the third time in connection with this case. For the first time, he was arrested by the police when a complaint regarding him that he was seen along with a woman in an obscene MMS in August, but was released on bail. Afterwards the police added new provisions of Information Technology Act, the accused was again arrested and remained in jail for six days and was again granted bail by the court. The police once again arrested the accused as his anticipatory bail application was rejected by the court, which he filed subsequent to the registration of an FIR, which was registered by the police on the direction of court on the compliant of the woman who was figuring in MMS alleging charges of rape. The bail application was rejected on Saturday but the copy was available for
perusal today. |
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Burning of Official Record
Hamirpur, October 7 ADM (Hamirpur) Vijay Chandan, who has yet to submit a detailed report to the DC in the case, has not found any prima facie irregularity in burning of the official record. Talking to The Tribune, the ADM said, “After inspecting the record of the board, it doesn’t look that any irregularity has been committed.” Deputy Commissioner (Hamirpur) Abhishek Jain had ordered an inquiry into the case after getting reports that some important official record had been burnt. According to the findings of the ADM, “the OSD had constituted a six-members board to destroy the office record pertaining to period before 2000. The record was burnt on the recommendation of that board.” “After the inquiry, it was found that no audit objections were raised in the audit report and the AG had been giving clean chit to the board for the past many years,” the ADM said. He said it would take him some more time to submit the inquiry report. |
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Hamir Utsav on November 1, 2
Hamirpur, October 7 This was stated by Hamirpur DC Abhishek Jain after holding a preparatory meeting for the festival. He said MP Anurag Thakur and local MLA Urmil The DC said eight subcommittees had been formed to make the festival a grand success and efforts were being made to solicit cooperation from the public. |
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PTA teachers on fast from today
Shimla, October 7 Addressing a press conference here today, Pankaj Kumar and Shishu Pal, vice-president and general secretary of the association, said the agitation would be intensified and five teachers drawn from various districts would sit on fast unto death from tomorrow. The PTA appointees would boycott teaching work all over the state in protest against the police action. Dharnas and protest rallies would be organised all over the state. They said none of the protesters indulged in stone throwing, as alleged by the police. They demanded immediate transfer of the SP, the ASP and the DSP, who were allegedly responsible for the unprovoked lathicharge. They alleged the police was not even providing correct information about the teachers arrested yesterday. The association alleged the bureaucracy was misleading the government on the issue. It urged the government to clearly specify and define what was meant by an “unqualified teacher”. The PTA teachers were providing services in remote areas where regular teachers were not willing to serve. Meanwhile, the CPM has condemned the incident of lathicharge on teachers. It betrayed the intolerant and undemocratic attitude of the BJP government, it said. |
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Colourful show by kids
Kullu, October 7 Dharmender Sharma sang a local song depicting the history of freedom fighter Pratap Singh in Kuluvi language, which filled the atmosphere with emotion. Lalita Kanwar, principal, said the play was presented to commemorate the sacrifice of the freedom fighter and the atrocities done by the British on the Indians. A cultural programme was also presented. The school also honoured the topper (student of the school) of the National Science Congress and 10 national gold medal winners, besides distinction holder students of Himachal Pradesh in the CBSE.
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Plan to preserve grandeur of Dalhousie
Dalhousie, October 7 The Dalhousie development plan would ensure that no unwanted structures come up in the town thereby ruining its scenery, greenery and grandeur. The land profile of the Dalhousie municipal area does not leave scope for major activity like road construction or any other project. Set in the picturesque setting on the northwestern end of Dhauladhar ranges of the mighty Himalayas, Dalhousie was conceived as a sanatorium for military personnel in 1954 during the British regime. As there is little scope for further expansion owing to forest cover on all sides, the entire focus of the plan for Dalhousie, approved by the state government, would be on conserving the rich heritage of the Dalhousie has witnessed a spurt in hotel construction activity over the past few years, as a sequel to which the number of hotels has increased. In fact, the limited land availability has forced a check on unwanted construction, although the town caters to the housing requirements of the locals. According to the development plan for this wonderland, the number of storeys, which would be allowed for hotels and commercial establishments, would be four while for residential purposes only three floors can be built. The effort of the planners is to leave the upper part of the town, including Bakrota, which is strategically important, untouched and allow little construction activity or major changes. A major part of the town falls under the Cantonment Board which itself checks any unwanted construction activity or interference in the existing profile. In order to ensure conservation of edifice of the British period and churches scattered all over the town, heritage zones have been demarcated in pockets. As per the norms laid down for heritage zones all over the state, only reconstruction and minor additions and alterations would be allowed in these pockets. The existence of thick forests around Dalhousie has proved to be a natural check on haphazard and unregulated constructions. Though this would put additional pressure on the limited vacant land available and the built-up structures, Dalhousie as such is not witnessing unprecedented growth; the development plan reveals. |
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Rs 2 cr for cricket stadium at Bilaspur
Bilaspur, October 7 This was announced by Anurag Thakur while addressing a largely attended first public meeting in connection with his two-day tour of Bilaspur district at Dhaun Kothi about 50 km from here today. Thakur said the state government was taking all necessary steps to identify and encourage sports talent in villages of the state and an amount of Rs 40 crore would be spent on the construction of stadiums in schools of the state and under this scheme five schools of each Assembly segment would be selected for this facility every year. Randhir Sharma, local MLA and BJP state spokesman, said a record amount of Rs 20 crore has been provided for development works to Kot Kehloor constituency during the last nine months by the Chief Minister. |
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State No. 1 in health, education: Survey
Shimla, October 7 Only 6 per cent of married women have experienced spousal violence that is the lowest in the country. Similarly, just 1 per cent households fall in the lowest wealth quintile as against 20 per cent for the country. The fertility rate has come down from 2.1 in 1998-99 to 1.9 in 2005-06, which was almost one child less than the national average. It was below the replacement level, which indicates the success of the Family Welfare Programme. The use of contraceptives was the highest in the country and at 73 per cent in the state. The infant mortality rate was on the lower side at 36 per thousand live births as 22 out of the 29 states had a higher rate. It ranked fourth in the country in the matter of immunisation coverage. A matter of concern was that 10 per cent of the children in the state had not received polio drops despite the ongoing national campaign to eradicate the disease. Sulabha Parasuraman and S.K. Sethi from the International Institute of Population Sciences, Mumbai, while giving details of findings said the turn around achieved by Himachal Pradesh which was now among the top five state in almost every area was quite amazing. It was fit case for researchers and planner to study so that its performance could be replicated in other states. The only area of concern was the high level of malnutrition and anaemia in children and women. As many as 43 per cent women and 39 per cent of the children under 5 years were stunted (short for their age), 19 per cent wasted (too thin for their height) and 37 per cent were underweight. While 30 per cent of adults were emaciated, 14 per cent women and 11 per cent men were obese. Only 57 per cent women and 60 per cent men were in the healthy weight and height brackets. Further, 55 per cent children in the 6-59 months age group were anaemic (26 mildly anaemic, 27 per cent moderately anaemic and 2 per cent severely anaemic). It had declined by considerably since last survey when it was 70 per cent. Institutional deliveries are still low at 48 per cent and only 43 per cent of the women received a postnatal check up within the stipulated two days period. |
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Tibetan parliament to take baton from solidarity panel
Dharamsala, October 7 Protests were carried out at national and international level under the guidance of the committee. Now, after the completion of the Olympics, Tibetan leaders feel there is a need to keep their movement alive. Members of the Tibetan Solidarity Committee today announced that under the guidance of the speaker, the deputy speaker and members of the political section of the standing committee, Tibetan parliament-in-exile will take over the responsibility from the committee. The committee and its members at the regional level would remain the same. Meanwhile, the Dalai Lama has expressed condolences to the families affected in the earthquake that hit Damshung county and neighbouring areas west of Lhasa in Tibet on Monday. “I am deeply saddened at the loss of life and property as a result of the earthquake that struck Damshung county and neighbouring areas west of Lhasa on Monday. Our prayers go out to those who have lost their lives in the tragedy and offer condolences to their families and those affected by the natural disaster,” the Dalai Lama said. |
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Sarva dharma sammelan
Shimla, October 7 Director of the department Prem Sharma said the two-day festivities would be held at the Ridge. Chief Ministers of neighbouring states, including Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Parkash Singh Badal would be invited for the event, he added. |
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Doc reinstated
Shimla, October 7 President of the Medical Officers Association Rajesh Sood has hailed the decision and said it was patently wrong to suspend a doctor without even conducting an inquiry. The government had rectified its wrong action by reinstating the doctor, he said. |
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To attract more participants, the price money for the championship had been increased to Rs 5.35 lakh, she said. “An international observer has been hired for adjudicating five events to be organised in the paragliding world championship,” she added.