|
|
|
|
Nalagarh truckers join nationwide strike
Armed Forces
Affiliation fee for pvt schools cut
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Transmission master plan to save forests
Govt ignoring people’s interests: Cong
PSUs to set up engineering college
Hail-control system to be installed
Palampur MC limits to be extended
Awaiting salaries for 15 months
Attachment of one-third salary of salesman ordered
Order to refund Rs 45,000 to Kufri hotels
Antique Icons
Workshop on streamlining of land acquisition held
Plea to shift khokhas from bus stand
Drive to spread traffic awareness
New chairman to take oath today
Lineman’s Death
Ex-chief secy dead
|
||||||||
|
Nalagarh truckers join nationwide strike
Solan, January 7 General secretary of the union Vidya Rattan said lending support to the All-India Motor Transport Congress’ (AIMTC) demands of reducing fuel prices, slashing tyre costs and allowing exemption from collecting 3.09 per cent service tax on gross freight from the customers, they had decided to proceed on strike. The union, however, has decided to continue transportation within the state as they feel the state government has no role in accepting the demands that pertained to the Centre. Though the call to proceed on strike was given on January 5, the NTOU continued to transport goods till yesterday afternoon. It was after receiving calls from their counterparts in various parts of Punjab and Delhi that they decided to proceed on strike. Peeved at their act of carrying on the transportation work, the truckers from the Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh area had to face the ire of other truck unions in Kanpur, Rohtak and various parts of Punjab. Some trucks were damaged at Kanpur and Rohtak following which all interstate transportation was suspended today. Union president Sardar Gian Singh said they would continue the strike till the issue was resolved at the national level. The strike has created panic in the BBN industrial area as the economy was already facing a slump. President of the BBN Industries Association Rajinder Guleria said, “They may be agitating for a just cause that can be settled in a peaceful manner, but the industry is going through a slump and this strike has further created a stalemate in the market. We request the Union Government to find an amicable solution at the earliest so that this stalemate is resolved.” The BBN area was bound to suffer more as majority of its raw material and finished goods were transported from outside. President of the Himachal Drug Manufacturers Association (HDMA) Sanjay Guleria said, “Being the last quarter of the financial year, it is a crucial time for business activity. Since all units focus on meeting the annual targets, this is inopportune time for the truckers’ strike. The strike, if prolonged, will adversely affect the availability of medicines, including life-saving drugs, in the market.” |
||
|
Armed Forces
Shimla, January 7 Speaking at the 28th meeting of the Kendriya Sainik Board at New Delhi today he said that present policy of making recruitment on the basis of RMP (recruitable male population) had affected the intake from hill states. While all the central government ministries had a formulated policy for merit-based recruitment, the armed forces were implementing population-based criterion for the purpose. The present policy deprived deserving, nationalist and brave youths of hills from serving their motherland. The chief minister urged the Centre to formulate a national policy of compensation for soldiers who laid down their lives while fighting the enemies and come out with a package for the welfare of the dependent families. He said compensations of Rs 10 lakh was sanctioned to the families of Kargil martyrs but the amount was subsequently reduced to Rs 5 lakh. He demanded restoration of the originally sanctioned amount. The country had fought battles with Pakistan and China in hilly terrains and the youths from the hilly areas were mentally and physically better equipped for such battles. He suggested that security of prestigious events like Commonwealth Games and utilities like the Delhi Metro be handed over to the ex-servicemen who were better trained and equipped. He urged the Centre to set up eco-task force comprising ex-servicemen for effective implementation of the catchment area treatment (CAT) plans. The ministry of defence should submit a comprehensive proposal to the ministry of environment in this regard. He also called for a national policy for the use of CAT funds to avoid unnecessary litigation. Pleading strongly for the implementation of one-rank-one-pension policy for the ex-servicemen he lamented that the issue had been hanging fire for the past over 15 years. |
||
|
Affiliation fee for pvt schools cut
Dharamsala, January 7 In another decision the board has decided to allow the private schools to conduct practical examination for class XI on their own from the 2010-11 academic session. Earlier, the said practical examinations were conducted by the board for private schools while government schools were allowed to conduct the practical examinations on their won. The board has empowered the chairman of the education board Chaman Lal Gupta to decide on emoluments given to teachers deputed for table marking in examination
centres. The chairman would also decide on the areas in which table marking centres are to be created. The board also gave financial benefit to its pensioners. It decided to give medical reimbursement facility to its retired employees. The amount of medical reimbursement allowed, however, is yet to be decided. The employees who had failed to opt for the pension scheme earlier would also be given another chance to take benefit for the scheme. The board has decided to recruit nine computer experts. For this purpose the board allowed creation of new posts. The board has decided to do away with the system of holding class X examination in December in the schools located in difficult areas. Now only the class VIII examination would be held in these schools in December. For the next academic session the class X examination for students in said schools would be conducted
in March at par with rest of the state. The board also decided to upgrade 115 examination centres in the state and create additional 61 centres. The board also finalised the syllabus and book for those students who take Punjabi as optional subject in classes VI, VII and VIII. For mentally challenged students the board decided to give relaxation in age for opting for various examinations. The minimum pass marks for mentally challenged students have also been reduced to 25. |
||
|
Now, transmitters to track movement of bar-headed geese
Nagrota Surian, January 7 To know their exact migratory route, the wildlife authorities would tag transmitters to the body of bar-headed geese coming to Pong Dam reservoir this year. The transmitters would help in tracking their movement through a satellite link. Range officer at the Pong Dam Wildlife Sanctuary DS Dadwal said the BHNS would apply to the Chief Conservator (Wildlife) to seek permission for tagging transmitters to the birds. Since these birds were protected under the Wildlife Act, permission of the Chief Conservator was mandatory for carrying out any such exercise. The Pong Dam reservoir has been attracting a huge population of bar-headed geese for the past many years. Of the total bar-headed geese population coming to the country, 45 per cent lands in the Pong Dam area. So far, around 24,795 bar-headed geese have been recorded this year. The wetland area has received over 1 lakh winged visitors till date. According to the authorities, 1,03,700 migratory birds and 10,502 resident varieties of birds have arrived in the wetland area till date. The number is likely to grow in the coming months. Large flocks of bar-headed geese and other migratory bird from the trans-Himalayan areas can be seen feeding in the fields adjoining the wetland area. The other major migratory bird varieties that have flocked the area this year include northern pintail (16,921), common coots (16,090), common pochard (9,603), little cormorant (6,325), common teal (7,190), large cormorant (8,467), tufted ducks (10,101) and black head gulls (1,668). The authorities here also claim to have seen 27 sarus cranes in the area. Sarus cranes are named as endangered species in the IUCN red list of endangered species. The wildlife authorities have also started an endeavour to create a database regarding the wildlife in the Pong Dam wildlife Sanctuary. As per the data collected till date, 340 varieties of birds, two species of turtles and 80 species of butterflies have been recorded in the area. The data regarding the habitat of the recorded varieties is still being generated. A team of the Asian Development Bank will also visit the area tomorrow. The team is likely to finance a Rs 14-crore project to develop the area on the pattern of the Bharatpur Wildlife Sanctuary. |
||
|
Transmission master plan to save forests
Shimla, January 7 With the Forest Department’s new agenda to protect environment, the newly created HP Power Transmission Corporation Ltd is in the process of preparing a transmission master plan for various river basins like Sutlej, Beas and Ravi. “Having a common transmission corridor will save diversion of forest land and felling of trees in river basins to a great extent and we have decided to adhere to it very strictly,” asserted Forest Minister JP Nadda. This is being done to reduce the diversion of huge chunks of forest land for laying of transmission lines which require five times the land required for setting up the project. As a first step in this direction aimed at protecting forests and environment, the authorities have succeeded in convincing the Malana Power Company, executing the Allain-Duhangan project in Kullu to evacuate power of other projects which are to be executed later through their lines. “The Malana Power Company has agreed to evacuate power of other projects like Malana-II, Palchang and others coming up in Lahaul valley through their transmission lines in the Beas,” confirmed Jagdish Sharma, managing director of the HP Power Transmission Corporation. He revealed that the company had already set up a 165 km line from Manali to Nalagarh, but now the electricity board and the transmission corporation would take care of the line beyond Panarsa so that other projects could pool in their power. This he added would even bring down the transmission and distribution losses due to higher capacity lines. The additional chief secretary, Forests, Avay Shukla, said the entire exercise of having transmission plans for river basins would protect the area from tourism point and not inhibit aviation services in the area. “Since 1980 a total of 78 sq km of forest land has been diverted under the Forest Conservation Act for various developmental works like roads, power projects and drinking water scheme,” he disclosed. Shukla said even in the execution of Karcham Wangtoo Project in Kinnaur, the power producers had been asked to submit a revised case where they would lay the transmission lines on the right bank rather than the left bank where 22,000 trees would have been axed. Moreover, the line they will set up will also evacuate the power of other projects like the 960 MW Jangi Thopan and Thopan Powari and other projects being set up on the Sutlej basin in Kinnaur district. |
||
|
Govt ignoring people’s interests: Cong
Bilaspur, January 7 Addressing mediapersons this afternoon, Congress party district spokesman and zila parishad member Jitendera Chandel said most of the posts of specialists in the hospital were vacant, which affected the services at the hospital. He was accompanied by another party spokesman Mast Ram Varma and former zila parishad member Basant Ram Sandhu. Chandel said negligence of doctors, shortage of staff and mismanagement prevailing in the hospital led to the death of Ramku Devi of the area. He blamed Forest Minister JP Nadda for the mess and said he was wasting his time in making false declarations and laying foundation stones of the projects initiated by the previous Congress government, instead of improving facilities for the people of
the area. He demanded an inquiry into the death of Ramku Devi. He criticised the government for its alleged failure to maintain regular supply of essential commodities at government ration depots. He was also critical of the government over the issue of PTA teachers. |
||
|
PSUs to set up engineering college
Shimla, January 7 A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting between Chief Minister PK Dhumal and Union Minister of State for Power Jairam Ramesh in Delhi today. Secretary, Union Ministry of Power, VS Sampath and chairman-cum-managing directors of the NHPC and the NTPC were also present at the meeting. The government will sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with these undertakings shortly. NHPC chairman spoke about the progress of the Parbati-I and the Parbati-III projects. He said the projects would be completed as scheduled by October, 2010, and November, 2010. The shortfall in employment to the local people would be made up as laid down in the agreement. The union minister directed officers of the PSUs to sort out all pending issues with the state government at the earliest. Dhumal also discussed the issue of unbundling the state electricity board and urged the union minister that the state be treated on a par with other states in the matter of implementation of the Electricity Act, 2003. He said the Centre should also take into consideration the track record of the board. |
||
|
Hail-control system to be installed
Shimla, January 7 Horticulture minister Narendar Bragta said here today that a proposal for setting up of 10 anti-hail guns had been sent to the Centre for approval. He said that Rs 80 lakh had been received under the Horticulture Technology Mission for installation of one anti-hail gun on experimental basis. Presiding over a meeting to review the functioning of the horticulture department he said around 35 per cent qualitative loss had been recorded in fruit due to hailstones, one of the major calamities, which resulted in substantial economic loss to farmers, particularly the fruit and vegetable growers. He said that suggestions and technical opinion would be invited from the experts to establish hail control system before coming to a final conclusion. He said that horticultural saplings would not be allowed to be imported from the nurseries outside the state to ensure quality. The government would strictly monitor the quality of the planting material in the local nurseries. He said that under the Horticulture Technology Mission 85,300 farmers had benefited so far and 1790.3 hectares of additional land had been brought under horticulture, 2971.9 hectares under vegetables, 1202.4 hectares under floriculture , 402.2 hectares under medicinal plants, 122 hectares under aromatic plants and 602.2 hectares under spices cultivation. To meet out the irrigation requirements, 1414 water storage tanks and 1134 tubewells have been constructed to irrigate 1203.4 hectares of area. Further, 476.4 hectares had been brought under drip irrigation and 1269.4 hectares under sprinkler irrigation. |
||
|
Palampur MC limits to be extended
Palampur, January 7 This was stated by MLA Parveen Sharma while talking to mediapersons at the Press Club this afternoon. “At present, the municipal limits of the town extend up to 1 km only. The area has a population of around 4,000,” he said. The present municipal limits were decided in 1955 and there had been no extension since then, he added. “Over the past 10 years, a number of new housing colonies and markets have come up outside the MC limits. These colonies do not have proper civic amenities. Therefore, the government has now agreed to extend the municipal limits up to HP Agriculture University, Maranda, on the one side, Bundla village and the Chimbalhar area on the other,” he added. Sharma said the paper work for the same had been completed. There were certain anomalies that would be removed over the next one month. Since the panchayats did not have sufficient funds for the development of these areas, garbage disposal had become a major problem in these localities. Therefore, it was necessary to extend the MC limits. He said it was a long-pending demand of Palampur residents. Sharma also said that additional Rs 50 lakh had been sanctioned for the construction of a garbage-disposal plant for the town at Lohana village. |
||
|
Awaiting salaries for 15 months
Chamba, January 7 This is not the first time that their salaries have been delayed. Such delays have become quite common over the past three years. Even the craft instructors engaged on contract basis have not got their salaries for the past three months. Consequently, resentment prevails among the employees of the corporation. According to sources, the three part-time employees engaged for making shawls, jackets, jute mats are usually given their salaries only after the sale of their handmade articles. The staff members, who have not got their salaries for the past 15 months, include the manager in charge, the emporium manager, assistant accountant, bill clerk and master craftsperson. Seven instructors, including six women, engaged on contact have also been working without salaries for the past about seven months. Manager in charge of the Chamba office of corporation Ranjeet Kumar said the head office of the corporation had been apprised of the situation but no action had been taken in the matter so far. He said various government departments were flouting the government directive by not placing orders for the livery shoes from the local footwear units of the corporation. This had led to drying up of orders. The number of employees in the footwear unit had gradually come down from 12 to seven, he added. |
||
|
Attachment of one-third salary of salesman ordered
Nurpur, January 7 DDR Suresh Rangra, who was here to hear the recovery proceedings, said the secretary and salesman of the society had been summoned for today, but none turned up. He informed the Cooperative Department in its audit conducted in 2002 of the society of finding embezzlement of money in the society and ordered recovery of Rs 27,13,934 and Rs 3,42,397, respectively, from the secretary and salesman of the society. “But both have failed to deposit the money and the department has initiated recovery proceedings against them,” he added. He said the department in its last option would attach their immovable properties if they failed to deposit the money. It is alleged that a large number of depositors in Bhadwar gram panchayat had deposited their hard-earned money with the society, which failed to return the same to them and closed all of a sudden living depositors in a lurch. |
||
|
Order to refund Rs 45,000 to Kufri hotels
Shimla, January 7 The forum passed the order on a complaint filed by manager of the hotel wherein he alleged that the A&P Tourism Services in January, 2002, sent tourists in the hotel of the complainant and total charges of board and lodging to be paid was settled at Rs 95,453 out of which Rs 50,000 was paid in cash and balance sum was promised to be paid through a cheque, but later on the said cheque bounced
and the complainant could not encash the amount. The bank stated that the cheque bounced due to insufficient funds in the account. While allowing the complaint the forum observed that both the parties are trying to shift their onus on each other, rather the fact of the matter was that they both were guilty of rendering deficient service and indulging in an unfair trade practice. The forum also imposed Rs 1500 as cost upon both of them. |
||
|
Antique Icons
Hamirpur, January 7 After the arrest of a local resident, Narender, in connection with the recovery of antique Budhha icon from his house on Monday night, the police had detained Sanjeev Kumar of Hamirpur and Tara Singh, a resident of Chowki, besides Rajesh Kumar, who was detained on Tuesday for allegedly supplying a ‘katta’ (country-made pistol). The police has also sent a message to the Delhi police to detain Reet Mohinder, a resident of Sasan under the Jwalamukhi police station, presently working there, after the recovery of an icon of goddess from his house near Nadaun on Tuesday. A middleman allegedly involved in the illegal trade, Rajneesh Kumar of Batoli village, has also been detained by the police on the basis of information given by Rajesh and is being brought to Hamirpur. SP Asif Jalal said, “We are investigating the case on the basis of information given by Narender and other detained persons. We have identified the ‘katta’ supplier of Kanpur and will soon bring him to Hamirpur.” |
||
|
Workshop on streamlining of land acquisition held
Chamba, January 7 This was the outcome of a regional workshop held under the aegis of Environics Trust, an NGO, which was chaired by Kangra divisional commissioner Dr A JV Prashad here today. The workshop was organised with the objective of streamlining the process of land acquisition and rehabilitating though such provisions were already laid down in the norms so that programmes pertaining to self-employment of local people could be started. The meeting was attended by the heads of various government departments and authorities of the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation and other projects, besides representatives of the panchayati raj institutions. Addressing the meeting, Prashad said the problems of people being affected with the construction of projects should be dealt without any delay and concerned agencies should understand their onus in this regard. He directed the authorities to conduct meetings at the panchayat-level to ascertain the problems of the people. |
||
|
Plea to shift khokhas from bus stand
Bilaspur, January 7 Led by its president Col Amba Prasad Gauttam (retd), the association held a meeting with Deputy Commissioner Amar Singh Rathore here and apprised him regarding some of the difficulties being experienced by the citizens and demanded immediate suitable action by the district administration in this regard. Association general secretary R. L. Sharma said here today the association demanded that early morning HRTC bus service to Shimla and Chandigarh should be extended to Bamta and Badhyat areas of town, rates of three- wheelers and taxis should be fixed and properly implemented, motor boat service in the Gobind Sagar should be streamlined and contractors should be forced to provide safety, cleanliness and regularity in time. The association also objected to activities of some scrap dealers and rag- pickers and demanded strict control and checking of their trade. |
||
|
Drive to spread traffic awareness
Manali, January 7 While addressing the students Deputy Superintendent of Police Ashish Sharma stressed on the need of instructing school students on traffic rules. He said co-operation and support of the students is essential in the observance of traffic rules. He also educated the students on the need for wearing helmet and not using mobile phones while driving. He said the aim was to make students aware of the traffic rules and regulation so that mishaps could be averted. |
||
|
New chairman to take oath today
Shimla, January 7 Sharma, who is currently posted at Chandigarh, is taking premature retirement from the Army to take up the new assignment. He will be administered oath by the Governor Prabha Rau tomorrow. The post fell vacant in September, 2007, when Lt-Gen Bhupinder Singh retired. The seniormost member of the commission S.Nigam had been functioning as acting chairman ever since. |
||
|
Lineman’s Death
Kangra, January 7 Rahul was arrested on December 26. The police today requested for his police remand and the court accepted the plea and remanded him in police custody. |
||
|
Ex-chief secy dead
Shimla, January 7 He is survived by his wife, two sons and a daughter. He had malignant tumour in the brain for which he was operated recently. A large number of people attended his funeral. An IAS officer of the 1960 batch Negi held several important positions during his career. |
||
|
| 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 | |
