|
|
|
|
HPSEB lineman thrashed by political worker dies
Another case registered in bitumen scam
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Proposed Atal Nagar to be linked to Kasauli with ropeway
Chinese Ambassador meets Dhumal
AIDS test before marriage not mandatory
E-Samadhan launched
Keylong experiences coldest night
Overspeeding led to rail mishap: Probe
Teachers oppose proposed Education Bill
NIT students carry out study on ‘Face Recognition’
Closure of bus service causes resentment
Fine slapped on DC office
79 bags of ‘govt’ cement seized
|
|
HPSEB lineman thrashed by political worker dies
Dharamsala, December 27 Ram Krishan, a lineman in HPSEB, was allegedly trashed by Rahul, a resident of Nagrota Bagwan and general secretary of the Vyopar Mandal, on the night of December 22 after a minor altercation. He was allegedly beaten and taken to the police station by Rahul. The accused also trashed lineman in front of policemen. Ram Krishan had to be hospitalised after being beaten by the accused. From Tanda medical college the victim was shifted to the PGI, Chandigarh, where he died today. Tension prevailed in Nagrota Bagwan town as the people accused the police of allowing HPSEB employee to be beaten in the police station. Meanwhile, the police had arrested accused Rahul and registered a case under Section 302 of the IPC against him. ASP Pritam Singh said inquiry into the case had revealed no error on the part of police officials. Inquiry had revealed that when the accused brought the victim to the police station the inspector in charge asked the later to get a medical conducted so that a case can be registered against the former. However, the victim refused to pursue the case saying that he was a government employee and did not want to get a case registered. Now that the victim had died the police had arrested and registered a case. No action was being taken against the policemen, the ASP said. The employees union of the HPSEB also took out a procession in Nagrota Bagwan today. KANGRA: Police force was deployed during the procession to avoid any untoward incident. Additional SP Preetam Singh Thakur and DSP OP Jamwal personally monitored the situation. Amar Nath Saithi, adviser, HPSEB Employees Union, addressed the employees outside their office. He was critical of the BJP and the Congress leadership for exploiting the death of an employee for their alleged political vested interests. Former Transport and Tourism Minister GS Bali demanded suspension of the entire staff of Nagrota Bagwan police station and a probe be ordered into the incident. He demanded that the policemen found guilty be punished. Jamwal said the accused had been remanded to 15 days judicial custody by the court today. |
||
|
Another case registered in bitumen scam
Shimla, December 27 This is the seventh case that that the Vigilance has registered with regard to irregularities detected in the supply of bitumen by private transporters to various PWD divisions all over the state. Senior Vigilance officials confirmed that the case was today registered with regard to irregularities of over Rs 6 lakh in Solan division after scrutiny of records. Besides MK Enterprises, the PWD officials in charge for bitumen supply in the Solan division have been named in the FIR. The six other places where the Vigilance had already registered cases include Una, Badsar in Hamirpur, Nahan, Poanta Sahib, Chamba and Kaza. DSP in the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) of the Vigilance Bureau Arvind Digvijay Negi had been scrutinising the records of 26 of the 57 PWD divisions in the state where there were allegations of irregularities in the supply of bitumen. The nodal agency Him Agro Industries had earlier imposed over Rs 2.85 crore penalty on the four defaulter transport companies, who failed to make deliveries or took payment without making supply. The penalty imposed on MK Enterprises, Chandigarh, was Rs 94.33 lakh, Amit Singla and Company- Rs 1.67 crore, Brijlal and Mohan Lal Company- Rs 13.75 lakh crore and Haryana Transport Company- Rs 9.23 lakh. The Vigilance Bureau is also looking into the reasons for extension of the contract awarded to these companies beyond March 31, 2008, when the contract had to expire. The contract was extended till June 30,
2008, despite the fact that irregularities had already come to light by then. It was in May earlier this year that the Vigilance Bureau had seized the records from 26 divisions of the PWD regarding irregularities in bitumen supply between March 1, 2007, to March 31, 2008. It was during investigations that it was detected that at several places entries had been made in the stock registers of the PWD when the supply had not been made at all. In other cases the stocks had reached their destinations almost six months late. The BJP in its chargesheet had alleged that there had been large-scale irregularities and said on assuming power they would order a probe into the bitumen scam. |
||
|
Snow-capped Kothi lures tourist hordes
Manali, December 27 Although the weather is playing truant, tourists will not be disappointed as the Solang valley and Kothi, popularly known as ‘snow point’, are accessible by vehicles. A large number of taxis, private cars and deluxe buses can be seen going towards these points. Due to a heavy snowfall on the Rohtang Pass, the Manali-Rohtang road has become accessible by vehicles till 17 km from here, near Kothi. However, keeping in view the safety of tourists, the traffic police has put a temporary barricade on the Manali-Rohtang road and also advising all visitors not to drive further. The Manali-Leh Highway was officially closed for vehicular traffic by the Border Roads organisation (BRO). The road beyond this point is very slippery due to icing on the road. Nowadays, Kothi village on the Manali-Rohtang road has become the biggest attraction for all tourists to fly in a helicopter flight to see the panoramic clear view of snow-capped mountains, surrounded by the Pir Panjal ranges in the north-east and Dhauladhar ranges in the west. The Himalayan Heli Services in collaboration with the Himalayan Journeys, Manali, is organising a “helicopter flight seeing experience face-to-face” at the village to boost tourism in Kullu and Manali. Himanshu Sharma, director, Himalayan Journeys, said a five-minute joyride would cost Rs 1,750 per person. However, a special tour of the Rohtang Pass and surrounding 6,000 m high peaks in the region would cost Rs 5,250 per person, he added. |
||
|
Proposed Atal Nagar to be linked to Kasauli with ropeway
Dharamsala, December 27 While talking to mediapersons here today, Kapoor said the Himachal Pradesh Urban Development Authority had planned two modern townships near Baddi and ropeway link between proposed townships and Kasauli. The townships have been planned at Kalu Zanda and Madhala villages, near Baddi. The townships would be jointly named as Atal Nagar, which would be developed as an educational hub. At present four universities are proposed to be set up here. The aim of the township that would be 7 km from Kalka and 32 km from Chandigarh is to provide quality technical education to students from the state. The government plans to spend Rs 225 crore on the development of Atal
Nagar, he said. He further said that the government had proposed to set up a Shimla satellite township on 5,200-bigha land acquired for the purpose between Shimla and Vakanaghat. The land for setting up satellite townships at Nasloh, near Mandi, and at Gaggal, near Dharamsala, had also been acquired. In the satellite township being planned near Dharamsala, it had been proposed that a water body would be created near it by raising dam on the Gaj rivulet. The urban development authority would also bring up two new commercial centres at Shimla
and Parwanoo. The minister further said the urban development authority had also planned houses for urban poor
in different parts of the state. Under this scheme 600 houses would be brought up in Shimla at a cost of Rs 24 crore, 152 houses in Hamirpur at a cost of Rs 4.43 crore, 328 houses in Dharamsala at a cost of Rs 9.42 crore and 336 houses in Solan at a cost of Rs 9.58 crore. He also said a township would also be brought near the proposed central university at Dehra. The minister, however, failed to clarify weather funds for these projects would be generated from private participation or provided by the
government. About location of the central university, the minister said if the people who are opposing its location near Dehra can provide over 500 acre land near Dharamsala, I would also support them. However, there is no use of making political rhetoric when it is not possible to set it up near
Dharamsala. The minister, however, remained non-committal on reducing the bus fares in the state in view of reduction in fuel prices. |
||
|
Chinese Ambassador meets Dhumal
Shimla, December 27 Willingness to this effect was given by Chinese Ambassador Zhang Yan who along with a high-level delegation called on chief minister P.K. Dhumal here today. He was accompanied by Song Danhui, Third Secretary (Political), Yu Yao, Zuo Qiwei, attache and Yuan Yuesheng, Project Director, Longjian Road and Bridge Limited Company. Dhumal raised the issue of providing access to the Mansarovar pilgrims through Himachal Pradesh, which was shortest and comparatively more safer to undertake pilgrimage to the holy Mansarovar in Chinese territory. “I will write to the Government of India to take up the matter with its Chinese counterparts so that the route is opened for pilgrimage through Himachal as it would also go a long way in promoting tourism on both sides,” he remarked Dhumal said Himachal would welcome Chinese investment and technical expertise of Chinese in promotion of tourism, horticulture, hydro power and herbal production. Dhumal said hydro power, horticulture, information technology and small-scale industries were other sectors where Chinese cooperation could be of immense benefit to Himachal. He added that the state already had requisitioned the services of Chinese road construction company which would be creating quality infrastructure in the State. The Chinese Ambassador said that his government was willing to extend expertise in the field of tourism, horticulture, herbal cultivation and medicine manufacturing, information technology and hydro power generation. He said that trade and commerce between both the countries was on the increase and about $ 45 billion worth of it was being carried at the moment which was likely to increase further. |
||
|
AIDS test before marriage not mandatory
Shimla, December 27 Addressing a press conference here today Health and Family Welfare minister, Rajiv Bindal said there were legal hassles in making it mandatory to undergo test for AIDS, hence people would be encouraged to undergo voluntary testing. At a function organized by an NGO the chief minister had said that the
government would consider making it mandatory to undergo the AIDS test before marriage. He said awareness levels with regard to a precautionary approach against AIDS was increasing. “As compared to 12,700 persons who underwent voluntary tests for AIDS last year, the number this year has already crossed 20,000 in nine months,” he disclosed. With the number of HIV positive and full blown AIDS cases in the state on the rise, the number of voluntary counselling and testing centres (VCTC) in the state had doubled from 22 last year to 44 this year. “An anti-retro viral treatment centre, providing free medicines and treatment to full blown AIDS patients is functioning at the Indira Gandhi medical College (IGMC) here while the second one will shortly be started at Hamirpur,” he stated. He added that the government proposed to have an ART centre at the Tanda Medical College at Kangra. Bindal said that in order to provide all possible help to AIDS patients, the government had made provision for free travel facility to the patients and one attendant. Health minister said that the government had prepared a proposal to strengthen emergency medical services in the state so that in case of emergency and accidents, lives can be saved. “An ambulance with all emergency medical services will be readied so that the accident victims can be given emergency medical aid while travelling to the nearest hospital,” he said. He said that efforts were on to get the status of a health university for the Indira Gandhi Medical College. “We are keen that people get the best possible medical services at their doorstep and for this Rs 150 crore will be spent at Dr Rajendra Prasad Medical College, Tanda,” he said. |
||
|
E-Samadhan launched
Shimla, December 27 Launching the grievance redressal monitoring system, chief minister P.K. Dhumal said the governemnt was committed to provide an efficient, responsive and people-friendly administration. “The E-Samadhan would connect the office of the chief minister right up to the grassroots level as anybody can register his complaint through the internet, which will be monitored at the level of the secretariat,” he remarked. Under E-Samadhan, each department has appointed a nodal officer right down to the tehsil level, who would see that all complaints are dealt within a time bound manner. The chief minister stated in order to address problems of women, one lady officer had been designated in each department as per the promise made in the election manifesto of the party. He added that the software had already been tested in IPH, Food and Civil Supplies, Excise and Taxation, Forest, Revenue and Social Justice and Empowerment departments. Raj Bahadur, Director, Natinal Informatics Centre, said that for any complaint made by the complainant, an identity number would be given which would help track the progress. |
||
|
Keylong experiences coldest night
Shimla, December 27 Kalpa in Kinnaur district recorded the night temperature at minus 3.5°C, Una in lower hills was cold at 0.3°C and Bhuntar in Kullu district was cold at 1°C. The minimum temperature in Shimla was 5.1°C and Nahan was warmer at 10.6°C.
— UNI |
||
|
Overspeeding led to rail mishap: Probe
Solan, December 27 The conclusion had been arrived upon by the graph of the speedometer, which showed that the normal speed limit of 25 km per hour had been exceeded
at several places. The accident had killed one passenger while six others were injured. Sources in Ambala said the final report of an inquiry being conducted by the Commissioner (railways safety) was likely to be concluded soon and this would give a detailed report about the cause of the accident. The initial findings based on a visit by a team of railway officials had found that though the train was supposed to maintain the highest speed of 25 km per hour, this limit had been exceeded at several places. Being a narrow gauge marred by sharp curves and cliffs the trains were strictly supposed to adhere to the speed limit so as to ensure safe journey for the passengers. Sources said it would be after the receipt of the final report that the Railways could contemplate some action, including fixing of responsibility. |
||
|
Teachers oppose proposed Education Bill
Kangra, December 27 Secretary general of the Himachal Government Teachers Union Subhash Pathaina in a statement said here today that if this bill was introduced, the control of the government schools would remain with panchayats, the Block Development Committee and zila parishad which would not only increase political interference in the schools but also affect the quality of education. Pathania said the union demanded that all seniority and financial benefits be given to those teachers who had rendered services on ad hoc and tenure basis in the state education department from the date of their first appointment. He urged education minister ID Dhiman to promote trained graduate teachers for school lecturers immediately in order to overcome the scarcity of teachers. |
||
|
NIT students carry out study on ‘Face Recognition’
Hamirpur, December 27 The final year students of the department, Manabesh Ray and Pradeep Kumar Subudhi, have carried out this study under the guidance of head of the department Dr Rajeevan Chandel and this work has been selected for the final round of ‘agilent engineering and technology
award’ this year. It will help in cases like identifying criminals, reconstruction of faces of people involved in terrorists attacks and murders. Telling about the efficacy of the technique, Chandel said: “It has been found from various test results that the proposed methodology is very superior and has more advantages over the existing face recognition methods.” The study tells: “This techniques can be applied to many real life applications like matching of photographs from passports, credit cards and driving licence and even for interpreting human actions
and behaviour.” |
||
|
Closure of bus service causes resentment
Bilaspur, December 27 Panchayat representatives, led by panchayat presidents Raj Kumari (Bassi), Dwarka Dass (Toba), Kuldip Kumar (Behal), Bassi vice-president Sanjiv Kumar and former presidents Maan Singh Dhiman, Sunita Thakur and Triveni Singh, said the bus service was very useful for passengers of the area as on it depended the regular postal service of at least four sub-post offices of the area, namely Lakhanpur, Raghunath Pura, Behal and Bassi. They pleaded that Bassi was a very popular pilgrimage centre of Sikhs, where the Guru Ka Lahore gurdwara is located, and hundreds of devotees visit this popular shrine every day. But this facility had been withdrawn now from them without any reason what so ever. They have urged the government to intervene and order immediate restoration of this bus service and provide relief to the people of the area. |
||
|
Fine slapped on DC office
Mandi, December 27 After hearing an appeal filed by Lawan Thakur against the DC in Shimla yesterday, the SIC imposed a fine of Rs 500 on the DC under the RTI Act and pulled up officials for not taking the Act seriously. Thakur had sought information from the DC office regarding the income and expenditure detail of the fair on July 27, 2007. As he did not get evasive reply, he made an appeal before the SIC in this regard. But later with the intervention of the SIC, he got the information on February 20. “Money will be given to Thakur as a compensation within 15 days”, an order ruled. |
||
|
79 bags of ‘govt’ cement seized
Palampur, December 27 The raid was conducted in the presence of local panchayat members, as the owner of the house lives in Delhi and a local contractor was executing the work. According to sources, this cement was given to the contractor for the construction of civil works in the Sulaha area of this region. But instead of using it in the government work, he allegedly sold the same to a resident of Bhadrol. The police is searching for the contractor. The PWD and the IPH authorities are also investigating into the matter and making efforts to find whereabouts of the contractor. |
||
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
