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Cabinet amends TCP Act
Factionalism Blues
Gail team visits BBN area for natural gas need
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Forestry research to be in focus now
Sketch of suspected ‘terrorist’ released
LIC launches new policy
Fake Entries in Record
Drive to keep vigil on outsiders
56 hurt in bus mishap
CPM seeks fiscal steps
Drinking water shortage
618 families affected due to natural disasters
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Cabinet amends TCP Act
Shimla, December 9 Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal presided over the cabinet meeting. The decision comes as a big relief to 3,215 persons whose cases had been pending with the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Department under the retention policy for 2006. As per the cabinet decision, all persons who had made violations during construction could apply to the director, TCP, up to February 28. The government has fixed a deadline of June 30 for deciding all such cases by the competent authority. The cabinet further approved the proposed guidelines under Appendix-I of Rule 10-A and 10-B of the Himachal Pradesh Town and Country Planning Rules, 1978, for development of Information Technology Park in Waknaghat planning area in Solan district. The cabinet also approved amendment in the Himachal Pradesh Panchayati Raj (Election) Act, 1994, by incorporating the provision of convening subsequent meetings after the initial two meetings to elect the chairman and the vice-chairman of zila parishads and panchayat samitis. In case of non-filling of the resulting due to no-confidence motion or indirect elections of chairman and vice-chairman of zila parishads and panchayat samitis due to incomplete quorum of the House, punitive action will be initiated against the public representatives absenting themselves from the elections. A decision was also taken to place the Eternal University (Establishment and Regulation) Bill, 2008, in the coming session to replace the Eternal University (Establishment and Regulation) Ordinance, 2008, and the Chitkara University (Establishment and Regulation) Bill, 2008, by replacing the Chitkara University (Establishment and Regulation) Ordinance, 2008. The cabinet also approved relaxation in the recruitment and promotion rules of the teachers of Government Medical Colleges and Government Dental College by allowing one-time relaxation in the probation period, provided they fulfilled conditions like desired experience and eligibility criteria for promotion as prescribed by the Indian Medical Council and the Indian Dental Council. The cabinet also exempted teachers of the Government Dental College from the condition of qualifying departmental examination. It approved an amendment to the Himachal Pradesh Public Record Act, 2006, to incorporate provisions for management, administration and inspection of records of various government departments, public sector undertakings, constitutional bodies, corporations, commissions and committees constituted by the state government. It also approved transfer of land measuring 1,017.50 sq m for the construction of a police station at Santokhgarh in Una district. |
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Factionalism Blues
Mandi, December 9 Insiders say Congress councillors gave away MMC’s top post to Vaidya on a platter, thereby exposing factional division within the district unit of the party. Vaidya defeated Mahinder Singh, a Sukh Ram supporter, by eight votes to four. Even pro-Congress councillors had first supported the no-confidence motion moved against former president Sushila Sonkhla, a supporter of Sukh Ram, then they openly voted in favour of Vaidya, not caring two hoots for the party. Sources said the tussle between two groups was clearly evident in the MMC politics. “Both Sukh Ram and Kaul Singh have stakes in the MMC as they live in this town and pull strings in the MMC,” they pointed out. Another beneficiary of this tussle has been Tosh Kumar, who has been elected vice-president of the body. Tosh, a local contractor, has been trying to capture this post for the past two terms. He got eight votes while five councillors abstained from voting. The district unit of the party was planning to take action against its councillors who had voted in favour of Vaidya, but noting has not been done so far. “The move to support Vaidya has been viewed as a part of the strategy adopted by supporters of Kaul Singh Thakur to oust pro-Sukh Ram supporters from all posts, cutting down his influence to size at all levels of party politics,” commented insiders. |
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Gail team visits BBN area for natural gas need
Solan, December 9 The team was here to conduct a demand survey to gauge the potential requirement of natural gas after signing of a cooperation agreement between the state government and Gail on November 4. This will help them assess the proposal of extending the Dadri-Bawana-Nangal natural gas pipeline in the industrial areas of the state. The officials from the Industries Department, which is the nodal agency to facilitate information collection, including joint director Suresh Sharma, member secretaries Tilak Sharma and Anshul Dhiman accompanied the team. The Rs 300-crore project envisaged to set up a pipeline extending up to 65 km would become functional by 2011. The GAIL had, therefore, started its groundwork soon after signing of the cooperation agreement. With investment worth Rs 27,000 crore having been made in the state after the 2003 central industrial package it was the first instance when GAIL had come up to set up a plant in the state. With scores of textile mills, cement plants and other such units the option for natural gas would help serve the fuel needs of the burgeoning industry. The GAIL officials explained to the industrialists how the availability of natural gas would bring a clean and environment friendly fuel to various consumers, including industrial, domestic and transport sector. Being an efficient fuel in comparison to the present options it would help the industries in a multifarious manner. The officials said this would ensure that uninterrupted power was supplied to them as it could also help generate power which could be used in times of shortage. The natural gas would also help run crucial industrial operations like boilers. Further, it would help cut the transportation costs by making available CNG. Further, the proposal would specially benefit the cement plants located in a cluster at Darlaghat and Barmana where JP, Gujarat Ambuja Limited and ACC plants are already operational. This would not only reduce the excessive wear and tear of the roads in lieu of the heavy trucks but would help preserve the state’s ecology. This was especially so as seven more cement industries were in the pipeline and the number of trucks plying on the roads everyday would go up to
about 20,000. GAIL was also assessing the information pertaining to fertiliser, power, industrial, domestic and transport sectors so as to develop the requisite gas infrastructure in the state. |
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This area lacks bridge to development
Dharamsala, December 9 The residents have to cross many flood-prone rivulets for going to Dhaliara town and other nearby areas. No road, bridge or causeway has been constructed on these rivulets even after more than 60 years of Independence. The result: People have to wade through or manoeuvre their vehicles through rivulet waters for going to even nearby places. Obviously, this can be life threatening during the monsoon. The water level in these rivulets, which are up 1-km-wide at some places, goes up suddenly during the monsoon, crippling the traffic for hours together. The main rivulets that cause inconvenience to the residents are Dai Khad, Badal Thor Khad, Chinor Khad and Rori Kori Khad. There is no bridge or causeway on these rivulets. School and college students have to skip their classes as and when the water level rises in these rivulets as it becomes very dangerous to cross these at that time. Supply of basic commodities and availability of various services also gets hit during the monsoon. The area falls in the Paragpur assembly constituency. Unfortunately, for the past several years, the constituency has been electing MLA from the party that sits in the opposition. Last time, BJP MLA Naveen Dhiman was elected from here while the Congress was in power in the state. This time, Cong MLA Yog Raj represents the constituency while the BJP rules the state. PWD officials said non-availability of funds was the main reason behind poor infrastructure in the area. They said they could carry out development works only in those areas for which funds had been earmarked. While the state government has provided road infrastructure in even the remotest areas of the state, it is hard to guess why it is not so in case of this area that belongs to Kangra district that sends 16 MLS to the Assembly. |
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Forestry research to be in focus now
Shimla, December 8 To begin with, the department will introduce certified seeds for raising plant material in the nurseries for various important species like deodar, fir, spruce, pine, kail and other conifer varieties. Seeds will be collected from selected genetically healthy plus trees and tested for qualities like germination in laboratory before supplying these to various nurseries. The conservator in charge of silvicultural research based at Sundernagar will function as the seed-certifying agency for the purpose. Healthy seeds with high germination rate will ensure proper growth of new plantations carried out by the department, explains principal chief conservator of forests Vinay Tandon. The equipment required for testing of seeds was already available with the department and certified seed will be introduced from the next planting season at some of the nurseries. The department has also decided to carry out scientific studies to work out the optimum levels for extraction of forest produces like herbs and wild edible mushrooms, grazing in high pastures and lopping of trees for fodder. Local people having usufruct rights will also be involved in the research as it would help educate them about the benefits and need of sustainable management of forests. Tandon said the shifting of vegetation due to global warming would be a major area of research to help combat the challenge of climate change. With the average temperature rising and snowline receding, a host of forest species were gradually moving up hill. For instance, apple had vanished from lower areas and new orchards were mostly coming up in high-altitude areas, he said. |
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Sketch of suspected ‘terrorist’ released
Nahan, December 9 The Paonta police said the sketch had been prepared by the police with the assistance of a tea vendor who sits in front of Paonta Sahib Gurdwara with whom the suspected spent nearly an hour. Today, an inter-state meeting between the security and administrative officers of HP and Uttrakhand took place in Paonta town in which the Uttrakhand police said that they had started big combing operations in the area and intensive checking of hotels and religious places. After getting crucial intelligence tips from the Paonta police, the Uttrakhand administration has decided to put off ‘peeth’, a local weekly bazaar, on December 11 at Kulahal on the Paonta border. The peeth would remain suspended for one more week for security reasons. The Uttrakhand police has further increased deployment of police force in the border areas to keep strict vigil. In the Paonta area a dog squad and a anti-bomb squad has already been pressed into service. According to sources, at 6 am a suspected person first asked for a cup of tea. When other customers left, the suspect first of all snatched the mobile phone of the tea vendor and started gathering information about the crowded places of Paonta town. He did not allow the tea vendor to even move a bit from the khokha till he remained there. When asked about his whereabouts, he refused to say anything and threatened a ‘terror attack in Paonta on December 11.’ |
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LIC launches new policy
Shimla, December 9 Addressing a press conference here yesterday, Senior Divisional Manager of the LIC of India L.C. Meena said he hoped that the new policy “Jeevan Aastha” would once again make the Shimla division number one in the country. “Shimla division has already done a business of Rs 303 crore till November 30 and occupies number one position in the country,” he disclosed. Giving details about the new policy he said this would be a single premium plan with maximum period of 45 days. “Persons in the age group of 13 to 60 years can avail this policy which has a single premium plan and a loan facility after one year period,” he said. Meena further said that the plan could be surrendered after one year and loyalty addition was also available to the policy. The policy has a guaranteed return of Rs 90 per thousand for five years’ term and Rs 100 per thousand for
10 years term. |
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Fake Entries in Record
Mandi, December 9 The Rural Workers Association (RWA) has brought to the notice of the district administration the case of fake entries in the NREGA work in Saranda ward under the Pandoh panchayat in April. SP M. Chander Sekhar ceased panchayat register after the RWA lodged an FIR in the case. Kamla, a local woman whose name was entered wrongly in the muster roll by the pradhan and the then ward member Roshan Lal, had approached the RWA, which later lodged an FIR in the case. RWA convener and RTI activist Lawan Thakur said Kamla and her family members were pressured to withdraw the complaint, but she did not bow to the pressure. He said the suspension of the pardhan and the up-pradhan would act as a deterrent for other representatives. District panchayat officer K.C. Saklani confirmed that Hansraj and Roshan Lal had been suspended. |
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Drive to keep vigil on outsiders
Hamirpur, December 9 SP Asif Jalal said, “The police is preparing lists of all visitors who have stayed at religious places like temples, churches, mosques and gurdwaras during the past some time and have asked attendants and keepers of these places to record all details about the whereabouts of all visitors staying at these places.” “The police has also directed the owners of houses and other places where outsiders are staying to report their whereabouts at the nearest police station. Now, no outsider will be allowed to stay at any other place than his designated dwelling place during the night and in case anybody wants do so, informing about it to the police will be a must,” he added. In case of failure to follow these norms, the police would take action against such people. |
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56 hurt in bus mishap
Shimla, December 9 The bus was on way to Shimla from Barthata. Fortunately, it did not roll down the gorge; otherwise there would have been a big tragedy. There were 60 passengers in the bus. Two critically injured persons were taken to the Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC), Shimla. Sources said it seemed to be a case of rash driving. On hearing the news of the accident, horticulture minister and MLA from Jubbal Kotkhai Narendra Bragta, who was on way to attend a meeting of the state cabinet, rushed to the accident site. The minister directed the officials to provide all possible help to the affected persons.
— PTI |
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CPM seeks fiscal steps
Shimla, December 9 In a statement issued here today, a member of the State Secretariat of the CPM, Tikender Singh Panwar said the fiscal package announced by the PM to address the economic slowdown in the backdrop of the global economic crisis was grossly inadequate. “What is required is a much higher public expenditure programme aimed at generating employment and enhancing incomes of the working people through increased public investment in agriculture, expansion of NREGA, higher allocation for health and education and the PDS,” he said. He further said the sate
government had been totally neglected in the fiscal package. |
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Drinking water shortage
Bilaspur, December 9 He was addressing a public meeting at Dangaar here today. He also highlighted another demand of the people that daily HRTC bus service should be started from Dangaar to Chandigarh via Bharadi and Damehada. He alleged the children at the Bhola anganwari kendra have not got ration for the past four months. He demanded that it should be restored soon. He also stressed that in absence of a regular doctor at Dangaar health sub-centre, a doctor should be deputed to visit the centre at least twice a week. |
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618 families affected due to natural disasters
Chamba, December 9 Stating this here today Sandeep Negi, sub-divisional Officer (civil) of Chamba disclosed that under the natural disaster activities, 618 families had been affected and a sum of over Rs 82 lakh had been distributed to these families which included the highest amount of Rs 49.50 lakh given to the next of kin of the deceased and to those who had been injured in accidents at various points, Negi said. He said out of 618 families, 417 were affected as a result of cloudbursts and incessant rains in the region while 88 families were affected due to accidents and 48 families following fire incidents. |
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2-year jail for causing death
Bilaspur, December 9 |
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