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Velu’s no to upgrading Jogindernagar rail track
Shimla-Kalka track dedicated as heritage site
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Transfers on public complaint only: Dhumal
Govt serving private interests: Cong
Dhumal criticises Cong
Virbhadra’s statement flayed
Medical College
Thakur questions transferring of ‘go sadan’
Revision of electoral rolls
Revenue Dept assessing actual land prices
Govt to form medical advisory council
Dry weather hits cash crops
Govt spends Rs 13 cr on cheaper ration: Dhawala
Dam to be named after Parshuram
Lack of cancer screening taking toll on patients
Lavi Fair begins tomorrow
Training programme concludes
APS Noida wins quiz
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Velu’s no to upgrading Jogindernagar rail track
Shimla, November 9 This was stated by minister of state for raiolways R. Velu while interacting with mediapersons here today. He said the Railways proposed to link Leh through Bilaspur, Kullu, Manali and the Lahaul valley as a strategic project. It already had sanctioned a preliminary survey to study the feasibility of the proposed route. Funds had been granted for the purpose. Since the proposed track would pass through difficult mountain ranges, it could take up to two years to complete the task. “Normally, the projects of strategic importance are taken up as national projects and in case these are considered important from the defence point of view, at times, the Ministry of Defence is also involved,” he said. It was too early to talk about the mode of execution of the project as much would depend on the survey report that would provide some idea about the cost, if the project was found feasible, he added. Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal had been demanding upgrading of the Pathankot-Jogindernagar section and its further extension to Leh via Mandi, Kullu and Manali. Regarding the frequent breakdowns of engines on the Kalka-Shimla section, he said one new diesel engine had already been provided for the section and two more would be made available shortly. |
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Work on to complete Baddi rail link
Kalka, November 9 When he was asked about the fate of the Chandigarh-Baddi rail line that has been mired in the Rajiv Gandhi Chandigarh Technology Park (RGCTP), Mani Majra controversy, he said the Railways was facing difficulties in acquiring land while laying new railway tracks. “The park is coming in the way of the Chandigarh-Baddi rail link and the Railways is in the process of acquiring land in the area,” he said. Earlier, he unveiled an inscription plaque at the Kalka railway station around 7.30 am. Several such plaques have been placed at prominent places at various stations on this railway track. The aim is to tell commuters that they are at a world heritage site. The track happens to be Indian Railways’ fourth world heritage site. The three others are: the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (formerly known as Victoria Terminus or Bombay VT), the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway and the Nilgiri Mountain Railway. Minister for agriculture, Haryana, Harmohinder Singh was also present there. |
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Shimla-Kalka track dedicated as heritage site
Shimla, November 9 The union minister also laid the foundation stone of a rail museum to be set up in the memory of Baba Bhalku, the illiterate engineering genius who played a vital role in translating the dream project of the British into a reality. A special cover brought out by the Postal Department on the occasion was also released. The UNESCO had accorded the World Heritage Site Status to the railway line describing it as “one of the most authentic mountain Railways in the world,” early this year. The process of documentation for the obtaining the coveted status was started on 2003 when it completed 100 years of existence. The rail track, involving construction of 107 tunnels, numerous lofty arched viaducts, over 800 small and big bridges and continuous succession of as many as 919 reverse curves. Passing through valleys and spurs the 95.4-km narrow-gauge track climbs to 7,000 ft at Shimla from 2,200 ft at Kalka flanking mountains. It became operational on November 9, 1903. It was the most expensive project of that time for which the contract for the construction was awarded to the Delhi-Umbala Company in 1898 at an estimated cost of Rs 86,78,500. However, during execution the cost doubled and it was finally competed at a cost of Rs 1,71,07,748. Valu said the Wrold Heritage Status granted by the UNESCO was a testimony to the fact how well the Railways had maintained the century old line all these years keeping all original features intact. Even the rolling stocks and other facilities had been maintained in good shape. This was despite the fact that it was a loss-making section all through and even today the Railways was losing over 6 crore annually on its operations. |
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Transfers on public complaint only: Dhumal
Renukaji (Nahan), November 9 He said the government had maintained cordial relations with employees and taken several steps for their welfare after resuming power in the state. He made it clear that there would be no compromise on the issue of merit while recruiting government servants. Encroachments on government land would not be tolerated, he said. The government would soon take a strict action against some ‘big sharks’ in that regard, he added. He said the government was making efforts to provide railway link to Sirmaur by getting approval from the railway ministry for the proposed Ambala-Paonta-Dehra Dun section. He said the first national highway was given to Sirmaur during the previous regime of the BJP and the second national highway (Paonta-Rajban-Shillai-Meenus-Hatkoti) has been approved by the present government with the allocation of Rs 107 crore. He ragged the previous Congress government for failing to start the Rs 2,400-crore Renuka Dam project. He said his government had released Rs 200 crore for its construction. He said he was not against the proposed steel plant sanctioned by the steel authority of India for Sirmaur district, if sufficient land and power was available for it. He said the government was going to revive the Nahan foundry. It could also be converted into some technical training institute, he added. |
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CM inaugurates bridge at Dadahu
Renukaji (Nahan), November 9 The bridge has been constructed at a cost of
Rs 5.56 crore on the Dadahu-Birla-Trimali-Paonta road. With the inauguration of this bridge, a 40-year-old old demand of more than 14 panchayats of Saindhar and Dhartidhar areas has been met. The bridge has reduced the distance between Dadahu to Poanta from the existing 80 km to 43 km. Thousands of farmers of 60 gram panchayats of Sangrah and Nahan development blocks having road connectivity with Dadahu would be also benefited with the construction of the bridge. Health minister Rajeev Bindal, MLA Prem Singh, Kush Parmar, former minister Shyama Sharma, BJP secretary H.N. Kashyap, former marketing board chairman Virender Kashyap were also present on the occasion. |
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Govt serving private interests: Cong
Shimla, November 9 This was stated by general secretaries of the party Mukesh Agnihotri and Kuldeep Rathore at a joint press conference here today. They said making the best medical care available to the people at affordable cost had been the prime concern of the Congress and the hospitals that the BJP government planned to give to private parties were set up with this objective only. Once these hospitals were attached to private colleges, the services would be affected and the charges for treatment would go up, they added. The Congress was not opposed to setting up of private medical colleges, but the private parties concerned must set up their own hospitals. The very objective of privatisation was to have private investment in medical education and hospitals were one of the main components. If government hospitals were to be used for the purpose, the very objective of privatisation would be defeated. They lambasted Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal for claiming credit for the ESIC medical college sanctioned for Mandi by the Centre. They said he had out rightly rejected the proposal for a government college. It was the Congress that had launched a stir in support of a government medical college and it was the Congress-led government at the Centre that had obliged the state. The two leaders asserted that most of the decision were part of the commitments made by Prime Minster Manmohan Singh. |
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Dhumal criticises Cong
Bilaspur, November 9 Addressing a public meeting at Kandraur, about 18 km from here, today after laying foundation stone of the Rs 65 crore Kol Dam Drinking Water Supply Scheme, the Chief Minister said this scheme would supply drinking water to about one lakh people of 180 villages of three Assembly segments of Bilaspur Sadar, Ghumarwin and Kot Kehloor and would also augment water supply of 41 schemes and would supply at least 70 litres of water daily per person in these villages. Dhumal lashed former Chief Minister Vir Bhadra Singh and challenged his statement that this project was sanctioned during the regime of Vir Bhadra Singh. He said this drinking water project was initiated and sanctioned by him and would now be implemented by the BJP. |
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Virbhadra’s statement flayed
Nurpur, November 9 In a statement issued here today, Sushil Kaushal of the association said Virbhadra Singh was misleading the unemployed youths even after knowing that inquiry into the PTA appointments had been conducted following court’s direction. “If court recommends revocation of these appointments, no one can reinstate them. If he was pro-unemployed, why were teachers appointed through PTA committees?” he said. He said the previous government had even submitted an undertaking in the high court saying that the appointment of PTA teachers was a temporary arrangement. “Now when the present government has initiated the process to appoint regular teachers, Virbhadra should not issue such misleading statements,” he said. He also called upon to the agitating PTA teachers to call off their stir and assist the Unemployed TGT Association so that no government could do injustice to unemployed youths. |
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Medical College
Mandi, November 9 He said he would take up the issue of the withdrawal of the July 15 notification as regards attaching the zonal hospital to the proposed private medical college in Mandi with the Chief Minister soon. He accused the Congress of indulging in the petty politics on the issue. Talking to reporters, he claimed the issue of the medical college was dead and the sangharsh samiti should give up the strike. The Congress had been taken off guard on the issue as the state government had started the process for setting up an ESIC medical college at Ner Chowk, he added. He dismissed the statement of Congress president Kaul Singh Thakur that the ESIC medical college was the outcome of the efforts of the Congress and the chain hunger strike. He said the project was the result of an initiative of the Chief Minister. |
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Thakur questions transferring of ‘go sadan’
Bilaspur, November 9 Addressing mediapersons at the circuit house on Friday, he said it was an “unauthorised” step of the government. The Congress would never allow the BJP government to misuse the precious forestland of the government. Thakur said the “go sadan” was started under a Central Government scheme around 18 years ago. The Centre had provided Rs 28 lakh for the purpose through the Forest Department. He said the ‘go sadan’ was situated on government forestland that came under the Forests Preservation Act. “The Act specifically directs that not an inch of the forestland can be allotted or transferred or even given on lease without specific written permission from the Central Government,” he said. |
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Revision of electoral rolls
Hamirpur, November 9 He asked the officials to make the drive a success by ensuring the enrolment of every voter in the rolls and check the birth certificates of new voters. |
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Revenue Dept assessing actual land prices
Solan, November 9 This often led to revenue loss worth crores in the form of stamp duty, which is charged at the rate of 5 per cent of the land value. It was common knowledge that registration of land deals was being executed at rates which were much lower than the ones shown on papers. An illustration of this point was a recent case where 10.5 bighas of land at Rihun village near Kumarhatti was sold for a petty sum of Rs 5.12 lakh as per the official documents, but inquires revealed that the land was actually sold for crores as per the prevailing rate. The revenue authorities in the district had already submitted their recommendations for land lying along the national highways, state highways and 100 mt from the main roads as well as major industrial areas, but the State Revenue Department was yet to complete the exercise across the state. The stamp duty evasion was initially prompted by the fact that the neighbouring states had lower stamp duty. Though the state government had reduced it from 12 per cent to 5 per cent so as to discourage this trend, little was achieved in curbing its evasion. Himachal now had the lowest stamp duty rates than the neighbouring Punjab, where it was 8 per cent while in Haryana it was charged at 7 per cent for males, 5 per cent for females and 6 per cent if the land was bought in partnership by a male and female. In Chandigarh this rate was as low as 6 per cent. The Revenue Department had constituted a committee headed by deputy commissioners in each district. Further the SDMs and tehsildars were directed to access the rates of their respective areas. Officials said the department was supposed to notify these rates before they were finally adopted as the prevailing market rate. |
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Govt to form medical advisory council
Una, November 9 He said this was necessary because the health services of the state had been lauded in the country for providing better health services along with education in the country. The Chief Minister was today addressing the 3rd Annual conference of the state chapter of Indian Medical Association-Cum-Continuous Medical Education, here at Una. He said the government was considering providing law protection to the doctors who face the anger of public, adding that the death of a patient is not the cause of negligence of the doctor. He assured the conference that the necessary law would be framed at the earliest in the state. The Chief Minister said Employee’s Service Institute (ESI) would be set up the medical college, Mandi. Dhumal said a large number of imminent state doctors working in other states as well as abroad had their desires to form a trust to start a Medical College in the state. He assured all possible help that government can provide to the doctors. He honored some imminent doctors of the state who were providing specialty services at PGI, Chandigarh, and other renowned private hospital in the neighboring states. Una branch of IMA presented a cheque amounting to Rs 1 lakh to the Chief Minister Relief Fund and the teaching and non-teaching staff association of the Government Post Graduate College, Una, also presented cheque amounting to Rs 43,500 to the Chief Minister Relief Fund. Meanwhile, health minister Rajiv Bindal while addressing the conference said the Health Insurance Scheme launched in Kangra and Shimla districts for the people living below poverty line (BPL) families would be extended to the remaining 10 districts of the state. He said under this scheme BPL families would be entitled to health insurance cover up to Rs 1.4 lakh and people living above poverty line would avail of this facility at normal charges of Rs 830 only. He advised to the private hospitals in the state desires of participating in this scheme to get themselves registered to the health department of the state. Dr Bindal said the government was well aware of the need of people who required health care and Rs 4 crore had been released to provide better infrastructure in 2,240 health sub centres in the state. |
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Dry weather hits cash crops
Kumarhatti, November 9 However, now delay in sowing could trigger anther failure on agriculture front. The farmers feared the low yield of wheat if the things could not be improved soon. The most of farmers in rain-fed area have failed to sow the wheat on time. The low level of moisture in the earth has further added to their woes. The lack of rain has delayed the wheat sowing by two weeks, lamented a farmer here. No rain in near future would mean no sowing of crop this time, rued a farmer of Patta Ka Mour near here. Generally the wheat sowing starts after October 20 and by this time the most of farmers would have completed process. However, a random survey of nearby area showed that the farmers were yet to start the sowing. The seeds have procured well in advance to complete the process timely by most
of farmers. The farmers’ worries were increasing with each passing days, as the sowing season was about to end. As per the roughly estimates, the normal sale of wheat seeds in area was around 5,000-quintal, however till now, 2,500-quintal of wheat seeds have sold by the Agriculture Department as against the normal expected sale of
3,500-quintal. Ironically the dry weather has also cast its shadow on peas crop. The worst affected was arkel variety of peas. The peas crop was immediately sown after the harvesting of maize crop in mid-September, but lack of rain has affected the good prospectus of crop. |
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Govt spends Rs 13 cr on cheaper ration: Dhawala
Bilaspur, November 9 This was said by civil supplies minister Ramesh Dhawala while presiding over a day-long meeting of district grievances committee here on Friday. Dhawala also directed the Horticulture Department to ensure that the entire amount of Rs 65 lakh allocated by the government under the Horticulture Mission for this district is made available to the applicants in time. Replying to points and grievances raised by non-official members, the minister said Rs 5.12 crore drinking water augmentation scheme from Ali Khud was in an advanced stage of implementation and 70 per cent of its construction is complete and paucity of drinking water in several areas of town here, including Diara sector, would be removed soon. He said registration of all types of cattle had been made essential in first phase of solving problems of stray cattle roaming all around villages and towns in the state, while in the second phase all stray cattle would be led to the go sadans being set up in several areas of the state to solve this problem. He said steps are already afoot to sterilise dogs at various animal husbandry hospitals to face the menace of ever increasing population of dogs. The meeting was also attended by MLAs: Rikhiram Kaundal, Randhir Sharma, Ex-MP Suresh Chandel, Ex-MLA K.D. Dharmani and DC Devesh Kumar. |
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Road project running behind schedule
Shantha (Chopal), November 9 There are landsides, big potholes, pits and the pointed boulders, sharp and narrow turns on the roads, as contractor has not adhered to norms of the PMGSY. Even after three years contractor has got the free run. The contractor got this project on November 23, 2005, under the PMGSY. “He was supposed to complete the road, including 4-km long soling work, by November 2006, but he has yet to complete the work even after nearly two years running behind target,” said PWD sources. The children of the village cross through the hazardous roadsides as the big boulders still hang in balance on the steep hillsides posing hazards to the walkers and domestic cattle. The heavy spells of rain on September 18-20 triggered landslides on the road exposing the poor construction quality of the road. “The road has damaged traditional water baolis and nalas,” said Govind and Sunny Raj, residents of Shantha. Apple farmers were hard hit by the apathy of both the PWD and the contractor. “We have to pay Rs 30 per apple box as mule charges to transport fruit to road head last month”, rued N.R Chauhan, principal (retd). It took long 30 years for the residents to get the sanction of the road from the ministry of environment and forests. The PMGSY came as boon for them and the PWD stared the work on the road in 2005. Farmers, including the sick and children, continue to suffer for the want of proper connectivity. Shanta, Dewat, Batewari and Bahal have emerged as one of the biggest apple belt in Chopal segment, but they have to pay heavy mule charges for transportation. Even as the road cost was estimated Rs 1.92 crore the PWD finally allotted work to the influential contractor for Rs 2.63 crore with reasons best known to the PWD. PWD executive engineer, Chopal, Kartar Singh, said he had joined recently and had asked the contractor to expedite the work and restore the road for the small vehicle by early December. “The rain had damaged the road at several places. The contractor has been imposed a penalty of Rs 2.63 lakh for delaying the work,” he said. |
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Dam to be named after Parshuram
Nahan, November 9 The Chief Minister stated this while addressing a huge public congregation at Renuka Ji, Sirmour, after formally inaugurated the six-day-long state-level Renuka Fair by lighting the lamp on Renu Manch. Dhumal said keeping in view the demand of the residents, the state government would motivate private parties to set up a medical college in the district. He also made it clear that all 16 lakh electricity consumers would get four free CFL bulbs by the end of the year. He said the best rehabilitation policy would be adopted and history of Pong Dam and Bhakra would not be repeated at Renuka Ji. He said the Project Authority would higher education facilities in affected villages and construct degree college and ITI building at Sangrah and at Dadahu, where children of affected families would get reservation. He said Rs 140 crore was being spent on constructions of roads in the district during current financial year with additional Rs 20 crore thereby, increasing the annual budget by Rs 75 crore. He said out of 225 gram panchayats 200 had been connected with the roads and remaining would be connected by the year end. |
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Lack of cancer screening taking toll on patients
Shimla, November 9 With a steep increase of over 100 new cancer cases every year in Himachal the total number of cancer patients that are being treated in the Regional Cancer Centre (RCC) here has gone up from 708 in 1996 to 1,614 at present. With almost 80 per cent of the cancer cases being detected at a very advanced stage, the chances of the disease being cured are further reduced. While in 1996 a total of 80 lung cancer cases were reported, the figure has shot up to an astounding 234 cases. The cancer patients residing in border areas like Nurpur, Paonta Sahib, Nalagarh and Una opt for treatment at Chandigarh, Pathankot and other places, which are not accounted for in the total cancer cases of Himachal. Unfortunately, the project proposed by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) for undertaking screening of the general population for cancer detection in some of the areas of Himachal has failed to take off. “Three districts of Mandi, Una and Hamirpur were to be covered under the project, but for some reasons the project has not taken off,” said Prof Rajeev K. Seam, head of the Department of Radiotherapy and Oncology at the RCC, here. The RCC came into being in 2000 even though the cancer treatment facilities were extended to the people since 1996. “The incidence of cancer in Himachal has shown a rising trend in the last couple of decades which necessitates the need for generating awareness about the diseases, its symptoms, risk factors and preventive measures,” stresses Dr Seam. He added that setting up of cancer screening and detection centres at district-level would go a long way in ensuring early detection, which can help save lives. The most prevalent form of cancer in Himachal is cancer of the cervix, which affects the gynaecological system of women. “Uterine cervix cancer accounts for 21.61 of the total malignancies and its incidence is as high as 32.60 among women,” said Prof Seam. It for this very reason that the ICMR was keen to start the screening project in Himachal, but it has still not taken off. The commonest malignancy affecting the males is cancer of the lungs, which is directly linked to smoking. However, there is less incidence of oral cancer due to less paan and tobacco chewing habit in the state. |
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Lavi Fair begins tomorrow
Shimla, November 9 Himachali singer Thakur Dass Rathi and fusion singers Mallik Brothers will be other popular artistes to perform during the annual cultural event to be inaugurated by Governor Prabha Rau. Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal would preside over the closing ceremony. Himachali artistes and singers, Dheeraj Sharma, Kishan Verma, Lokender Chauhan, Shyam Singta, Mansa Pandit, Amit Gautam, Hemant Sharma and Shanti Heta will also get an opportunity to perform during the fair. The fair had attained international importance in the past due to trade activity, mainly with Tibet, China and countries of Central Asia. With the passage of time, the foreign trade declined and it transformed more into a cultural fest. It was started during the regime of Raja Kehari Singh of Bushahr in 1681, who signed a trade pact with the rulers of Tibet at border the village of Namgaya. Trade links after this pact were strengthened and traders from Tibet brought wool, and animals while the traders of Bushahr were allowed to sell items like woollens, food grains and salt. A horse show was added to the fair in 1984 and Chmurthi horses of Pin Valley of Spiti became a major attraction for horse lovers. This year, a horse exhibition was organised from November 4 to 6 during which 366 Chmurthi horses were on display. |
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Training programme concludes
Shimla, November 9 Speaking at the valedictory function, national coordinator for the All-India Coordinated Programme on Energy of the union science and technology department S.P. Gon Chaudhuri said renewable energy had a major role to play in the energy security of the nation. He said solar energy was emission-free and not limited like coal, petroleum that contributed heavily to global warming. There was an urgent need to popularise renewable energy to cut emission and generate new avenues for rural employment. |
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APS Noida wins quiz
Chandigarh, November 9 Five teams from various Army and Army public schools had participated in the competition, held at APS, Dagshai. Additional director, the Army Welfare Education Society, Lt Col (retd) YK Mamgain was the chief guest, while Stanley Paull was the quiz master. |
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