Shimla, November 5
As a precautionary measure to prevent fatal accidents, the government has decided to cancel the route permits of all private bus operators found playing music systems in their vehicles. Use of phone by the driver while driving will also invite the same action.

Playing of stereo in buses is banned under the Central Motor Vehicles Act, unless and until the vehicle has a separate cabin for the driver and conductor. Despite this, practically all of them play blaring music during travel.

Kishan Kapoor, transport minister, said the staff of the Transport Department would conduct raids to check the use of stereos in vehicles. “Besides the cancellation of permits, the bus owners will also be penalised. No bus of the Himachal Roadways Transport Corporation (HRTC) has a stereo installed in it, but in case a stereo is found to have been installed in any bus, strict action will be taken,” he said.

Although the exact cause of the yesterday’s accident near Kufri, which claimed 45 lives, would be known only after the inquiry report, the injured said the driver was handling the remote of the CD players when the bus plunged into the 600-foot-deep gorge.

The minister yesterday seized the stereos being played in two private buses while he was on his way back from the accident site at Kufri. He said the use of mobile phone by the driver while on the wheel would also invoke strict action as this could easily endanger the lives of passengers.

Kapoor said it would now be ensured that the vehicles were in a fit condition. He admitted that at times there was negligence even on the part of the HRTC staff. “I was shocked when on a surprise visit I found that a carpenter has been entrusted the responsibility of getting passed 10 HRTC buses at Tara Devi,” he said.

A carpenter had no mechanical knowledge and action would be taken against senior officials who allowed such a thing, he added. “No official will be spared if found guilty of negligence as nobody has the authority to play with the lives of people,” he said.

“Only Volvo and air-conditioned buses of the HRTC have stereos as there are separate cabins for the drivers in these. None of the other over 1,800 government buses have music systems installed in them,” said T.C. Janartha, managing director of the HRTC.

Mandi, November 5
The Right to Information (RTI) Act has exposed a timber scam involving over Rs 1 crore through the misuse of timber distribution (TD) rights by some influential persons in the deodar-rich Panara and Katola forest ranges in Drang block in the district.

The RTI has exposed the TD misuse scam in which over 1,000 deodar sleepers were taken away from the Katola and Panarsa forest ranges by over 70 influential persons during the previous Congress regime.

These persons reportedly managed to show themselves as residents of the Katola and Panarsa forest areas, availed the facility of TD right and took away the timber to places as far as Shimla, Sarkaghat, Paddar and Mandi for housing needs. They reportedly did it in league with the local forest mafia.

The case highlights the bitter fact that while the common man does not get TD rights for even genuine needs, timber mafia and influential persons manage to play with rules and regulations and can get timber as and when they require it.

The then conservator of forest, Mandi, the DFO headquarters and the range officer, Panarsa, were suspended for a day when the timber racket was exposed by the Chehtigarh mahila mandal in 2007.

The RTI has exposed a deeper nexus between influential persons and the timber mafia. The forest department has reportedly counted over 180 stumps of deodar trees illicitly cut during 2005 to 2007.

RTI information revealed that “two influential persons took away 126 and 86 deodar sleepers, respectively, from khasra number 166 in the Bambola area after claiming that they were residents of the area and owned orchards and land there”.

RTI activist Yashodanand Wazir, district president of the Kisan Morcha, has got 50 pages of information from the Forest Department here. He has demanded a probe into the TD scam claiming that the government is protecting influential persons, while the common man is suffering.

He has also demanded that the TD rights should be restored to the villagers.

Conservator of forests, Mandi, B.D. Suyal, said the fake cases of permission would be investigated into. The entire staff of the ranges had been transferred and chargesheeted, he added. “The departmental inquiry is also on. I am not aware of the RTI information given by the department, but official-mafia nexus, if any, will be probed into,” he added.

Bilaspur, November 5
Narender Thakur, former BJP leader and son of former BJP minister late Thakur Jagdev Chand of Hamirpur, who has recently joined the Congress along with his supporters, claimed that the Congress would win all four parliamentary seats in Himachal Pradesh.

He said efforts of Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal on the cost of government funds to ensure victory of his son Anurag Thakur from Hamirpur constituency would be dashed to the ground as people have lost faith in the BJP and now masses are fully disappointed with anti-people performances.

Addressing mediapersons here this afternoon, Narender Thakur accompanied by some of his supporters from Hamirpur district, who were formerly BJP leaders, and prominent Bilaspur Congress party leaders, including ex-MLA Tilak Raj Sharma, Nagar Parishad president Kamlender Kashyap and Congress district spokesperson Tejesvi Sharma, said actually the BJP came to power in the state after it assured people that it would care for benefits of the “aam aadmi”, but now the people have learnt through their experience that this government had only catered to the interests of big industrialists and contractors and had deprived them of several facilities which they were getting during the earlier Congress rule.

He said the BJP government had in reality become a government of “never to be fulfilled declarations”, transfers and unending inquiries against opponents which would virtually flop when launched in the courts of law as these are not based on facts but on orders to frame particular officers and leaders to pollute their image and to try to get political mileage out of this exercise.

Narender Thakur lashed at BJP state party in charge Satya Pal Jain who had condemned Thakur for joining the Congress and had said Thakur would get nothing in that party as the Congress is known for its standard policy of “use and throw”.

Thakur said Jain should not bother for him anymore, but should take care of his own party as it was not the habit of the Congress to “use and throw”, but this is the practice of the BJP and he himself was a victim of this.

Shimla, November 5
The CPM today held a demonstration outside the deputy commissioner’s officer and later took out a procession against the failure of the UPA government in curbing terrorism and communalism.

CPM activists took out a procession through Lower Bazaar and later held a corner meeting at Naaz. The CPM leaders, including Rakesh Singha, secretary of the state committee, Dr Onkar Shad, Tikender Singh Panwar and Dr Kashmir Thakur and Sanjay Chauhan lambasted the UPA regime for its inept functioning in controlling the activities of the separatist forces which were encouraging communalism.

The CMP leaders also lashed out at the Sangh Parivaar for spreading communalism by tearing the secular fabric of the country. “Several people have been killed across the country in the serial blasts which shook the nation but the intelligence agencies and police have failed to get to the culprits,” they said.

The CPM leaders also criticised the attacks on Christians in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and other parts of the country. They added that the BJP and the Sangh Parivaar was trying to create communal tension and provoking riots by giving terrorist blasts a communal colour.

They said the CPM would launch a strong anti-communal campaign to counter the nefarious designs of the BJP-RSS combine.

Shimla, November 5
The dream project of former union minister Shanta Kumar may finally take a concrete shape as the Vivekanand Medical Research Trust (VMRT), the Jaypee Sewa Sansthan (JSS) and the state government here today signed an accord for completing it. The project has been hanging fire since 1992.

As per the memorandum of understanding (MoU), the JSS, a non-profit trust floated by the Jaypee group for undertaking social activities, will provide the requisite financial, organisational and managerial support to the VMRT for setting up a super speciality hospital, a medical college and a nursing college at Palampur and also manage these institutions. The JSS has agreed to manage the project after completion.

The MoU was signed by chairman of the VMRT Shanta Kumar, managing trustee of the JSS Manoj Guar and principal secretary, health, Deepak Sanan in the presence of Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal.

The board of trustees of the VMRT will co-opt nine nominees of the JSS to take the total strength to 15. The managing trustee of the JSS, who is also one of its nominees on the board of the VMRT, will be appointed chairman of the managing committee.

Shanta Kumar said the new arrangement would not affect the objectives of the VMRT. The JSS was purposely selected as it was also a non-profit making organisation set up for undertaking various public welfare projects. Poor patients would be treated free of cost and the all institutions under the project would be managed on no-profit basis.

In the first phase, Kaya Kalp, a centre for naturopathy and yoga, was set up. It had emerged as one of the best with patients from 40 countries availing its services. In the second phase, work was started for setting up the medical college and hospital project and a building was also constructed at a cost of Rs 12 crore. However, it could not be completed for various reasons. People had donated Rs 25 crore for the project. With the involvement of the JSS, it would be completed in two years, he added.

The foundation stone of the project was laid in November, 1992, and the hospital was to be managed by the Indian Hospital Corporation. However, no further progress could be made after the BJP government was ousted in 1993.

Nurpur, November 5
Setting up of proposed special economic zone (SEZ) in Nurpur subdivision on the foothills of Kangra district, which have been approved in principal two years back is hanging in balance for want of final nod of the Government of India.

The Union Government had approved in principal three SEZs- Damtal (Nurpur), Gagret (Una) and Vaknaghat (Solan) in the state in 2006 and one year had been scheduled for completion of formalities of acquiring land for this purpose.

Inquiries reveal that Delhi-based private D.S. Construction company had to execute the SEZ project in Nurpur subdivision. It had to invest Rs 20,000 crore for this purpose and would create over 20,000 direct or indirect employment opportunities.

The proposed identified site for the SEZ could not be acquired due to flood-prone nature of the land. The construction company expressed its desire to shift the proposed site at the Milwan and Lodhwan area of this subdivision. The SEZ had to be set up on 300 hectares of land out of which 50 hectares of government land is available there whereas the remaining land had to be acquired from private landholders.

The construction company had applied for fresh approval of new identified site for setting up SEZ at the Milwan area in March 2007. The present state government had submitted a fresh proposal for setting up SEZ at Milwan to the Union Government and applied for further extension of period to acquire the land for the said purpose a few months back, but so far the Government of India had not responded and had not given final nod to the proposed SEZ.

The delay in giving clearance to the ambitious project had dismayed beneficiaries who had been waiting for its execution on the scheduled period. The proposed SEZ will have multi products manufacturing units, trading centre along with housing colonies. However, it is possible only after getting final nod from the Government of India.

It is pertinent to mention that the Government of India had so far given its nod to only one SEZ proposed to be set up at Gagret in Una district. Principal secretary of the state Industry Department Subhash Negi when contacted was found on long leave.

Meanwhile, Anil Lohia, HR manager of D.S. Construction, Gurgaon, clarified that the project was very much in pipeline and the company would execute the same after clearance from the Government of India.

Shimla, November 5
The environment fund set up by the state government will be replenished only through voluntary donations. To begin with, the Chief Minister and his Cabinet colleagues will start contributing Rs 100 per month from this month.

This was stated by Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal here today. He said the main objective of the fund was to raise resources for environment protection and to provide relief to those affected by natural calamities. Some grants would also be given to villages, non-government organisations, schools and other institutions, which played a proactive role in environment protection and related activities.

A part of it would also be utilised for conferring awards on individuals, organisations and institutions for making outstanding contribution to further the cause of environment protection.

Of the total fund, 50 per cent could be utilised for environment protection, 25 per cent for development of environment-related infrastructure, 10 per cent for creating awareness and 5 per cent for maintenance, logistic and routine expenditure.

Forest and environment minister J.P. Nadda said Himachal was an environmentally sensitive state and needed special efforts for conservation of ecology, flora and fauna.

The fund will be administered through an eight-member committee headed by the Chief Minister. It will have six official and two non-official members. At the state level, offices of the Chief Minister and the director of environment have been notified as the designated authorities for the receipt of donations. The fund will be operated by director of environment, who has been made member secretary for the purpose.

Shimla, November 5
Famous for its more than a century-old golf course, Naldehra will be developed as tourist destination along with Kufri and Fagu. The government will spend Rs 2.70 crore on creation of basic amenities for tourists as part of the Naldehra-Kufri-Fagu tourism circuit.

Stating this while inaugurating an amusement park at Kufri, near here, today, Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal said the government was encouraging public-private participation for creation of quality tourism infrastructure to help exploit the state’s vast potential and ensure that it no longer remained a seasonal affair. He said that different circuits had been created for implementation of tourism development plans to ensure that infrastructure was created in a focused manner.

The plan for development of Naldehra-Kufri-Fagu circuit would take care of all the basic facilities like parking, public conveniences, solid waste management, development of picnic spots, landscaping and sewerage management. It would be ensured that tourism industry did not lead to degradation of environment and that hygienic conditions were maintained at all the tourist spots.

The present government had succeeded in securing various tourism projects worth over Rs 42 crore in a short span of 10 months as tourism was being developed as a basic industry keeping in view its vast employment potential.

He said the state had also launched a 'Home Stay' scheme recently as part of its effort to promote eco-friendly tourism and acquaint the visitors with the rich culture, flora and fauna of the state, besides providing them a taste of the local cuisines. Various concessions were being provided to those who had acquired the required infrastructure for enlistment under 'Home Stay' scheme.

Efforts were being made to invite schoolchildren from different parts of the country to provide them opportunity to have a close look at the nature by spending time in apple orchards and also have visits to hydro electric projects and other developmental projects. 

Shimla, November 5
The process for construction of the strategically important Pathankot-Jogindernagar-Mandi-Manali,Keylong-Leh rail track gains momentum with the Union Government sanctioning funds for carrying out reconnaissance engineering-cum-traffic surveys.

Chief Minister P.K.Dhumal said that the railway ministry had sanctioned Rs 81 lakh for conducting surveys for construction of new broad gauge rail lines from Bilaspur to Leh via Kullu and Manali and Jogindernagar to Mandi. He said that similarly a sum of Rs 23 lakh had also been sanctioned for updating the survey for gauge conversion of 189 km Pathankot-Jogindernagar narrow gauge rail line.

He said the implementation of the project would help save on transportation costs of man and material to the borders and protecting the environment. The proposed railway line project needed to be all weather so that regular connectivity was maintained with the frontiers. He hoped that the project would soon see the light of the day and executed on war footing as a national project.

He said that he had first taken up the proposal with the President, the Prime Minister, the Union Finance Minister and the Union Railway Minister and convincingly drawn their attention towards the necessity of providing railway connectivity right up to the national borders. 

Solan, November 5
Asserting the need to replace PTA appointees after irregularities were detected in their selections education minister I.D. Dhiman said today that this was being done as per the high court directions, which had clearly stated that regular teachers could replace them.

He added that it was unfortunate that the same Congress which agreed to oust those PTA teachers whose selections were made ignoring merit in the Vidhan Sabha were now pleading their case. Dhiman who was here to take stock of the preparedness of the SCERT which was hosting the 35th national-level Children’s Science Congress here from November 25 to November 30, addressed mediapersons here.

Facing flak for de-notifying a number of schools which had been upgraded during the tenure of the former Congress government days before filling of annual examination forms Dhiman said such schools either had no sanctioned staff or the requisite notification had not been made before resuming classes. He, however, added that such students, which were few in number, had been adjusted in the nearby schools.

Giving a tough message to the teachers indulging in tuitions he said surprise checks would be made and such activities would be curbed. He added that annual functions and inspections would be made mandatory in the schools. The minister, however, had little to defend when asked as to why only contractual appointments were being made and such arrangements would adversely hamper the quality. Though he asserted that they had enhanced the budgetary allocation by 142 per cent, contractual appointments which were made on lesser salaries allowed more unemployed youth to get employment.

However, he spared no effort in providing figurative details of the time bound promotions of headmasters and principals made after assuming charge he had little to say on what the government could do to post adequate teachers in the far-flung areas while they abounded in the roadside centrally located places. He, however, hinted that lists of those teachers who had spent more than 10 years in one place would be drawn and transfers as per the existing policy would be made.

He also stated that the National Science Congress was being held for the first time in Himachal and it would help infuse a scientific temperament among the students as models on the theme- Science Technology and Planet Earth would be presented by schoolstudents from across the nation.

Manali, November 5
A six-day environment cleaning expedition jointly organised by the Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF), New Delhi, and the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports, Manali, started here yesterday. Under this expedition a team consisting 25 officers, instructors, staff and porters would clean the Beas Kund region.

In a press note issued here by M. Sudha Devi, director of the Atal Bihari Vajpayeee institute, stated that the aim of this expedition is to clean the Beas Kund trail starting from Solang Nallah, which is being visited by mountaineers, trekkers and pilgrims.

The aim of the environment cleaning expedition was not only to bring back all rubbish left by the trekkers, improving the environment and preserving beauty of our mountains, but also for enhancing enjoyment of our mountaineers and trekkers.

She said the number of mountaineers, trekkers, tourists and pilgrims to the Himalayan region have been increasing from year to year. While we have been encouraging adventure activities among the youth of the country, but we are distressed to find that not enough care is being taken to keep the area clean. We have been receiving reports that in the Beas Kund region and particularly the base camps used by the mountaineers and trekkers have been spoiled and have become eyesores.

Sudha Devi said in spite of strict instructions by the IMF to the mountaineers to bring back the rubbish or burn or bury it, but not many trekkers are observing this.

Dalhousie, November 5
Politics has been and is the bane of Dalhousie. Lack of will of its citizens and commitment towards the growth and development has brought it to its present dismal and non-entity status. Name of Dalhousie, once an illustrious hill station known for its natural beauty and serenity, has almost gone missing from all tourism-promotion initiatives of the Central and the state governments.

A project to construct a museum in memory of Netaji Subash Chandra Bose, who spent a couple of months in Dalhousie in 1937 while being the president of the All-India National Congress, has been hanging fire for a long time.

A sum of Rs 10 lakh allotted by the then Union rural development minister Shanta Kumar out of MPLAD fund in 2001 was placed at the disposal of the administration. The Bharat Vikas Parishad (an NGO), with municipal president as one of its members, had to execute the project. The project failed as the municipal council did not provide the required space for it. The fund allotment lapsed with the dissolution of Parliament.

Subsequently, a fresh allotment of Rs 10 lakh was secured with the help of the then Congress MLA Chander Kumar. The MPLAD fund for the project was placed at the disposal of the municipal council. The blueprint of the project was forwarded by the municipal council to the Town and Country Planning Department at Chamba and the matter was procrastinated till March this year. The political scene in the state changed in the meantime. It seems the project has been rejected by district authorities.

Bilaspur, November 5
The Himachal Pradesh State Pensioners Welfare Association has presented a supplementary memorandum to the Fifth Punjab Pay Commission at Chandigarh. It has urged its chairman and other members to take into consideration the difficulties of pensioners with their increasing age, and also depleting of resources and support with advancing age.

Addressing mediapersons here today Jiva Nand Jivan, president of the association and retired commissioner from the Himachal Government, said the deputation also consisted of D.R. Parwalia, secretary general of the association, and four other state office-bearers and it pleaded its case with the commission.

Jivan said the state association pointed towards the anomaly in pensions due to difference between pension of same employee retiring before and after a particular date. The association urged that this differentiation should be removed and all employees retiring before or after a particular date should get equal pension and other financial benefits as was also earlier directed by the SC.

The deputation stressed that steps should be taken to ensure pension-raise commensurate to the price-hike of essentials and DA should not be de-linked from the prevailing price index. Jivan said the commission assured that it would take a considerate view on all these points along with earlier submitted memorandum before submitting a final report to the government.