|
|
|
|
FIR registered in DAV school row
Controller of stores in the dock
Govt makes provision for social audit of
NREGA: CM
Crime Review Conference |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Anurag assails Centre for not compensating state
Hotel gutted, owner charred to death
Army exhibition attracts schoolkids
Cold wave conditions ease
Woman killed in accident
The ill-fated bus around which residents gathered after the accident.
Photo: Mahesh Chander Sharma
4 evacuated from snow-bound Tingri
House gutted
CM releases book
‘Tourism neglected in Ghumarwin area’
Declamation contest held
|
|
FIR registered in DAV school row
Una, January 13 Interestingly, it is for the first time that political overtones to the entire controversy have come to the fore. In the FIR, the brother of local MLA Satpal Satti has been named as In a press release issued here the members of local management committee have alleged bungling of funds in the school. They have alleged that since decades, till 2008, an account of the school was being run in Kangra Cooperative Bank. However, now the new principal was depositing entire funds of the school in a new account opened in the State Bank of Patiala in the name of an unregistered society. This amounts to bungling of funds. The principal of the school is now operating two accounts, one under the name of local management committee appointed by the DAV Delhi and the other by the local unregistered society. The operation of two accounts is continuing despite the Delhi-based DAV committee writing to banks against allowing illegal operation. Since 1964, when the DAV management committee took over the school, the local management committee appointed by it was running the affairs of the schools. However, now suddenly in 2008 a few people claiming to be a society are trying to take over the institution. It is a blatant abuse of power, the members of local management committee alleged. There are over 3,000 students enrolled in the school who are worst sufferers in this entire controversy. Many times the warring groups have fought in the school campus over the control of premises. The school has also been locked many times by
warring factions. The matter had also been brought to the notice of Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal. However, till date the government had maintained a silence over the controversy. The parents of schoolchildren have demanded that the government should intervene to restore system at the school as it providing grant to run the school. |
||
|
Controller of stores in the dock
Shimla, January 13 The average rate of ‘tor’ steel of various diameter approved as per the rate contract finalised on December 12 last works out to be over Rs 40,000 per tonne for bulk supply with minimum order of at least one truck load, whereas the same quality material is available at a retail price of Rs 31,000 to Rs 32,000 per tonne. The wide difference in rates has put a big question mark on the functioning of the controller of stores, which approves rate contracts for a host items for government purchases. According to information gathered from official sources, different government departments have purchased more than 1,000 tonne of steel over the past one-month from the five firms on the rate contract. The Public Works Department (PWD), the main consumer, has in Kangra district alone purchased over 700 tonnes. The loss on account of price difference to the PWD comes to over Rs 1 crore. Intriguingly, the controller of stores has been approving rates for the products of local manufacturers on the basis of steel prices of the Steel Authority of India, which are much higher as it makes the product from ore and not scrap. It is worth mentioning that the PWD itself considers the material supplied by local manufacturers inferior in quality and it specially uses SAIL product for bridges and other important structures precisely for this reason. Engineers wonder why the entire requirement of steel is not procured from SAIL if rates are to be worked on its prices. Moreover, in a hill state like Himachal Pradesh, which fall in the seismic zone, high quality steel reinforcement was essential in all structures to ensure safety. Principal Secretary, Industries, Subhash Negi said he had directed the Industries Department to review the rates under the existing rate contract immediately and also initiate process for a fresh rate contract. He said the reduction in prices would be effected retrospectively to ensure that the government department which made purchases during the period were not put to loss. Further, the fresh rate contract would be approved on the basis of new parameters for rate, freight charges and quality. Information would be sought from manufacturers about the source of raw material and they would be asked to quote both ex-factory rates and kilometre-wise FoR (Freight on Roads) rates. Different rates would be approved for products made from raw material sourced from prime producers of steel and ISI certified manufacturers which would truly reflect the price difference in prevailing market rates. The government would also study the pattern of the DGS and D (director general of supplies and disposal) and if the rate approved by it were lower it would opt for a rate contract on similar lines.
|
||
|
Govt makes provision for social audit of
NREGA: CM
Shimla, January 13 This was stated by Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal while presiding over at a meeting of the state-level Vigilance and Monitoring Committee and the State Employment Guarantee Council held here today. He said a grievance redress cell had been established at the directorate-level to ensure prompt response to complaints regarding irregularities in implementation of schemes and problems being faced by the people. He said Rs 158.21 crore had been spent under the NREGA against a total provision of Rs 293.36 crore up to November 2008. Under the Swaranjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojna all aspects of self-employment such as training, credit, technology, infrastructure and marketing were being covered for speedy economic uplift of poor families by providing them income-generating assets. He said against the target of credit mobilisation of Rs 19 crore for 2008-09 a sum of Rs 14.59 crore had been advanced. He stressed the need for preparing skill development projects in order to generate self-employment avenues to educate unemployed youth in rural areas. He said the Total Sanitation Campaign (TSC) had been taken up in all districts of the state with sanctioned projects worth Rs 101.50 crore. He said the government had given high priority to the implementation of this campaign. The government had instituted three award schemes namely, Maharishi Valmiki Sampooran Swachata Purskar and Mahila Mandal Protsahan Yojna. The Atal Awas Yojna was being implemented on the pattern of Indira Awas Yojna under which a provision of Rs 1,427.7 lakh for the construction of 3,708 new houses had been made. He said 1,230 houses had been constructed up to so far at a cost of Rs 238.592 lakh and another 2,774 houses were under construction. |
||
|
Ways to improve intelligence gathering discussed
Tribune News Service
Shimla, January 13 The conference was chaired by Director General of Police GS Gill and attended by the top brass of the police, including district police chiefs and DIGs. It discussed the issues related to preparedness of the force to deal with terrorist-related incidents and the security of sensitive locations like hydroelectric projects. While reviewing the cases under the Narcotics and Other Psychotropic Substances Act it was decided to lay emphasis on destruction of poppy being grown in the remote areas and proper investigation of the cases to reach the source and not merely prosecuting the couriers. It was noted that number of cases under the Act had increased by 50 per cent and seizures of charas and other such substances by 30 per cent. The total number of cases during 2008 increased marginally to 18,043 from 17,887 in 2007. There were 129 murders during the year as against 127 such cases last year, but the number of rape cases declined from 158 to 157. The maximum number of cases was recorded in Kangra as 2,979, followed by Mandi 2,768, Shimla 2,412, Solan 1,770, Kullu 1,634, Una 1,503 Bilaspur 1,305 and Hamirpur 1,140. The lowest number of 146 cases was in Lahaul-Spiti and 220 in Kinnaur.
|
||
|
Anurag assails Centre for not compensating state
Bilaspur, January 13 Addressing a largely-attended public meeting organised to honor him at Shri Naina Devi ji town, about 90 km from here, Anurag Thakur said the state government had repeatedly pleaded for compensation of these losses and even the Chief Minister had approached the Centre for the same several times, but nothing had happened and not even a single rupee had been paid up till now on this account though five months have lapsed. Earlier, he laid the foundation stones of Rs 1.25 crore rain shelters and Rs 18 lakh flyover at the shrine town, which would provide essential facilities to the pilgrims, who visit this shrine every
year. Thakur declared that four medical colleges were sanctioned in the state in private sector while a central university would also be set up. He said Himachal had attained top position in the country in matter of education and the government had increased annual budget on education to Rs 2,094 crore from earlier annual budget of mere Rs 197 crore and steps are afoot to develop state into an “education hub” for benefit of youths. Party spokesperson and local MLA Randhir Sharma pleaded that Anurag Thakur should ensure that this area is taken out of the wildlife sanctuary area so that thousands of people who have been suffering due to this anomaly can also enjoy all benefits which is presently being not allowed to them due to stifling rules. |
||
|
Hotel gutted, owner charred to death
Dalhousie, January 13 According to information, the fire broke out around 4.15 am and was first noticed by police officials who were on night patrol. Later, they reported the incident to Dalhousie Sub-Divisional Magistrate Subh Karan Singh. He immediately reached the scene and called the fire tenders. Fire brigade from the Air Force Station, Dalhousie, reached the spot and carried out the rescue operation in such a way that the adjoining buildings could be saved from engulfing in the fire. In the meantime, fire-tenders of the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation had also arrived from Khairi. Meanwhile, Additional Superintendent of Police DK Choudhary said the deceased had been identified as owner of the hotel Rohit Khanna (47). It was stated that the owner of the hotel woke up at the time of breaking out of fire, some eye-witnesses said; adding that the owner again went inside the building saying that he wanted to bring his documents, but he could not turn up. Revenue officials were assessing the exact loss and the cause of fire was also being ascertained. Dalhousie MLA Renu Chadha expressed her sympathies with the fire-affected family. |
||
|
Army exhibition attracts schoolkids
Dharamsala, January 13 Lt-Gen Vinay Sharma, General Officer Commanding, Rising Star Corps, formally inaugurated the function. The military equipment display, which was open to general public and students, was attraction for the visitors at the exhibition. The display of army band added attraction to the event. The students from schools and colleges showed great enthusiasm in display of the equipment. They showed tremendous interest in the briefing given by the army persons on various equipment and their characteristics. The exhibition was held with an aim to bring the Army closer to the people and motivate the local youth to join the Army. It is for the first time in the history of Yol cantonment that an exhibition on such a massive scale was organised for the people living here. The event also underlines the remarkable civil-military relationship in the state, an army spokesperson here said.
|
||
|
Cold wave conditions ease
Shimla, January 13 Shimla experienced a relatively warm day with the mercury touching 15.6°C while the low was
recorded at 5.3° against yesterday’s 3.8° C, Met sources said. Night temperature also picked up in the high altitude, Lahaul and Spiti, where the minimum was recorded at minus 10.1°C at Keylong and minus -3.5°C at Kalpa, they said. Yesterday, the two places witnessed a low of -13.6° C and -4.5°C, respectively. Though, there was no fresh rain or snowfall, a thick deposit of snow up to 8-10 foot was reported from the Rohtang Pass. Manali witnessed a sunny day though a thin
layer of dark cloud hovered over the city late afternoon. The Met office forecast mainly dry weather in the state in the next 24 hours.
— PTI |
||
|
Woman killed in accident
Sundernagar, January 13 According to Sundernagar DSP Raj Kumar Chandel, the deceased has been identified as Sundri (45), a resident of Ner tehsil. The four seriously injured include Maya Dev, Narbada Devi Suresh and a kid. The condition of others was stated to be out of danger, he said. The incident took place when the ill-fated bus (HP-31-3400) was on its way to Sundernagar from Mandi. Sources said the driver could not control the bus and it fell into the field. He was negligent while driving, they added. The police has registered a case under Sections 279,337,338, 304 of the IPC against the driver, who fled the spot. |
||
|
4 evacuated from snow-bound Tingri
Shimla, January 13 The Indian Oil has been providing subsidised air fuel to the state government for evacuating patients. Rescue flights would continue for tribal districts as more people have registered themselves with district administrations for being airlifted. Meanwhile, cold wave continued to lash the state. Drinking water supply in some localities of Shimla town has been disrupted after water pipes froze. Kalpa town in Kinnaur district was cold at -3.5°C. Bhuntar recorded the minimum temperature at 1°C, followed by Una registering 1.8°C, Sundernagar 2.7°C, Shimla 5.3°C and Dharamsala 4.7°C.
— UNI |
||
|
House gutted
Kullu, January 13 Three families were affected, while goods in a shop of a Nepalese tenant also destroyed. The loss has been estimated at Rs 5 lakh. Meanwhile, irked over the government’s indifference towards establishing a fire station at Patlikuhal, residents of the area staged a dharna and stopped returning of fire tenders for two hours. They demanded that a fire station be established at the earliest otherwise they would stage dharnas at the DC’s office and boycott politicians’ functions. |
||
|
CM releases book
Shimla, January 13 The book attempts to analyse various dimensions of transport sector and provide an analytical framework for examining transport policies. The fallout heavy vehicular movement namely pollution, accidents and congestion have been examined at length along with discussions on alternate markets existing in various sub-segments of transport sector. Potential of the sector in generating revenue and possibilities of soliciting public-private partnerships in the development of transport infrastructure have been given a special treatment in the book. The Chief Minister lauded the effort of Batta for coming out with a book on an issue of common concern. |
||
|
‘Tourism neglected in Ghumarwin area’
Bilaspur, January
13 This demand was raised by Ghumarwin constituency MLA and District Congress president Rajesh Dharmani with Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal at a meeting of the annual plan in Shimla yesterday. Addressing the gathering regarding the development of Sohani Devi temple Dharmani said it was for the first time that an amount of Rs 10 lakh had been sanctioned by the government for providing facilities to devotees of the temple. |
||
|
Declamation contest held
Bilaspur, January 13 Akanksha of Government Senior Secondary School, Panjgaain, was declared the first winner, Pallavi of the Mahila Mandal, Jerakh, won the second prize and Bhawana of the Mahila Mandal, Panjgaain, was declared the third winner in the contest. In a cultural contest on this subject, Government Senior Secondary School, Panjgaain, won the first prize, Ranjana and associates of the Mahila Mandal, Jerakh, were declared the second and Purshotama Kumari and associates of the Mahila Mandal, Solag, Jurassi were declared as the third winner. |
||
|
| 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 | |
One woman was killed while 27 injured, four of them seriously, when a bus fell into a field situated 20 feet below the road at
Naulakha, near here, today. The seriously injured have been referred to the Zonal Hospital,
Mandi. According to Sundernagar DSP Raj Kumar Chandel, the deceased has been identified as Sundri (45), a resident of Ner
tehsil. The four seriously injured include Maya Dev, Narbada Devi Suresh and a kid.
