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Financial crunch: Govt pins its hopes on WB
Kangra gets NIFT centre
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LS Polls: Interesting battle ahead at Hamirpur
BJP to bank on state govt’s achievements: Shanta
BJP chief flays Centre
McLeodganj Bus Stand Project
Girl’s phone calls keep police in quandary
Dharna staged
MNC offers to invest Rs 500 cr
Pat on Home Guards’ back
Patient dies for want of timely care
Leopard cub shifted to zoo
Minor raped
2 thieves held
Former VC quizzed
Posts to be filled soon
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Financial crunch: Govt pins its hopes on WB
Shimla, January 21 The state has proposed a Rs 2,700-crore annual plan for the next financial year. For funding it, additional resources will have to be raised, but the government is not in a position to do so. Since the resources of the Centre have taken a hit due to the economic slowdown, a substantial hike in special plan assistance is ruled out. Raising additional loans will not be possible as it will negate the very purpose of the Rs 900-crore development policy loan sanctioned by the World Bank to help find a permanent solution to the state’s financial woes. The first tranche of Rs 400 crore had already been released to the state. The strategy now being worked out by the Finance Department is to control non-plan expenditure and seek the release of the second tranche of Rs 500 crore from the World Bank. The state has already taken up the matter with the bank and impressed upon it that early release of the tranche will enable it to limit the SLR borrowings during 2009-10 at around Rs 1,600 crore. The figure for the current year is Rs 1,931 crore. The outstanding loan has already crossed the Rs 24,000-crore mark. Under the non-plan spendings, the expenditure on travelling and daily allowance, medical bills, use of official vehicles and other office-related expenses will be curbed. An exercise has been started to quantify the workload of major departments for optimum utilisation of manpower. While the switchover to e-governance has made many posts redundant in some departments, rapid expansion has led to shortage of manpower in others. The task of assessing the workload in the new digital environment and manpower requirement has been assigned to private consultants. In the first phase, five major departments that account for most of the employees are being covered. These include the education, health and family welfare, public works and the irrigation and public health departments. The World Bank has been quite satisfied with the state’s performance in achieving the targets under the fiscal responsibility and budget management (FRBM) act over the past two years. However, it is worried that the state may go off tangent from the fiscal correction path due to increased liability on account of pay revision next year. It wants the state to stay as close as possible to the target of bringing down the budget deficit to 3 per cent of the gross state domestic product in 2009-10. |
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Kangra gets NIFT centre
Kangra, January 21 Shankersinh Vagela while speaking on the occasion gave full credit of bagging the institute to the present state government and Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal. He said that there should be no politics over development. The present state government took a lead by offering land and infrastructure for the NIFT and so was allotted the project. He said that the attitude of people towards fashion was changing and there was tough competition among the candidates for taking admission in 13 NIFT institutes across the country. The students passing out of institutes are getting ready placements. With the kind of plan being developed for Kangra NIFT, it would be most favourite destination for students after Delhi, the minister claimed. I would direct the experts at the NIFT, Kangra, to make designs for traditional weavers of Himachal so that they get better price of their produce, the minister added. The Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal while speaking on the occasion said that the institute would help improve the economy of the area. Besides it would also create awareness and training facilities for locals adopting which they can improve their economy. He said that Kangra district besides NIFT was also going to get Vivekanand Medical College and a central university. The union government has also sanctioned Rs 150 crore for upgrading the facilities at Tanda medical college at par with the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi. The former Chief Minister and Rajya Sabha member Shanta Kumar thanked the union government for allotting prestigious NIFT institute to Kangra district. Director and CEO of NIFT Dinesh K Rangra when contacted by The Tribune said that five graduate-level courses in fashion technology, accessories designing, textile designing, fashion communication and apparel production are being started from the current session in NIFT, Kangra. There would be 30 seats in each course. The students for the institute would be selected on the basis of all-India entrance test. Besides, for the first time PhD programme is also introduced in NIFT, Kangra. The research scholars at the institute would try to fund ways of using the traditional organic dyes produced in Kangra in fashion technology. The fabrics being produced from organic dyes are in great demand in western countries. This can provide an alternative source of income to artisans producing organic dyes in the region. |
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LS Polls: Interesting battle ahead at Hamirpur
Shimla, January 21 While the chances of the Congress fielding Narinder Thakur, son of BJP stalwart Jagdev Chand from Hamirpur, cannot be ruled out, Chandel too could finally take the plunge after having waited for quite some time. The three-time MP has been waiting in the wings for being suitably and respectfully accommodated by the party and is keeping his options open about contesting the Lok Sabha polls. Being a three-time MP from Hamirpur before he was disqualified from Parliament after his name figured in the ‘cash for query’ scam, Chandel’s presence in the election arena could cause discomfiture to the BJP. Even though Anurag Thakur, the BJP candidate and son of chief minister, P.K. Dhumal, is comfortably placed but Chandel could cause a dent in the BJP vote bank if he decides to contest or go against his party. Chandel is learnt to have met senior BJP leadership both at the Centre as well as in Himachal to plead his case. Chandel asserts that at some point of time he has to contest elections so that he gets a clean chit from the electorate after his name came up in the ‘cash for query’ scam. At the same time the possibility of Narender Thakur who joined the Congress recently, being fielded by the party is high. In case he succeeds in getting the Congress ticket, the BJP would certainly be at a certain disadvantage. As such even though the BJP is most comfortably placed in Hamirpur but the presence of these two leaders could make the contest interesting. |
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BJP to bank on state govt’s achievements: Shanta
Nurpur, January 21 He was speaking at a press conference after arriving here from New Delhi today. He was accompanied by Rajan Sushant, party candidate from Kangra. “The party will also highlight the failure of the UPA government on all fronts, including price rise, corruption and terrorism etc,” he said. He held the UPA government responsible for the shortage of ration at government fair-price shops and cooking gas in the state. He said people of the country were in favour of a change at the Centre and had made up their mind to see LK Advani as the next Prime Minister. |
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BJP chief flays Centre
Mandi, January 21 Talking to mediapersons after the party declared all four candidates in New Delhi on Monday, BJP leaders said the UPA government had failed to control prices and tackle terrorism in the country. They claimed the people of the country were disillusioned with the UPA government and would vote them out of power in the coming Lok Sabha polls. They said it was due to the lack of pro-active approach and withdrawal of POTA by the UPA government that terrorists were striking in the country. They said the BJP was ahead of the Congress this time as it had declared its candidates in advance. “Our main issues would be rapid development in the state, they added. Thakur claimed the state government had fulfilled over 80 per cent of its promises made in the manifesto during its one-year in office. |
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McLeodganj Bus Stand Project
Dharamsala, January 21 As per copy of report available with The Tribune the committee has observed several anomalies in the existing structure. The committee that besides the Chief Secretary, had Principal Chief conservator of forests, engineer-in-chief, HPPWD, and Joint secretary, union ministry of environment and forests and director, town and country planning as its members was directed to give its recommendations as to how bus stand complex could be salvaged from present structure. The committee has recommended that the space at the top floor at road level should be used for parking of light vehicles keeping the valley view open to tourists. It has also observed that commercial structures developed at the top floor are not as per sanction obtained and are so subject to the decision of the Supreme Court. It has also recommended that to avoid traffic hazards and chaos on the road leading to Mcloedganj the gradient to ramp to proposed bus stand has to be improved by widening the curve. The number of bays for buses is required to be increased from the existing eight to 11. Additional two bays can be carved from the area earmarked for sitting of passengers at the entry point. It has also recommended that approach kept for car parking floor through ramp is narrow and the same is required to be widened by extension for proper manoeurability of light vehicles. If the recommendations of the committee are accepted by the central empowered committee of the Supreme Court, it can save the lower portion of bus stand project. The illegal hotel constructed on the upper side of road has, however, attracted severe reprimand from the Special empowered committee of Supreme Court. The committee has recommended demolition of structure and even imposition of Rs 1 crore penalty on the state government for allowing construction of illegal structure on forest land. |
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Girl’s phone calls keep police in quandary
Dharamsala, January 21 The senior police officials had a hard time explaining the situation to their different agencies. The SP, Kangra, Atul Phulzele when contacted by The Tribune over the issue had a grim face. Narrating the fact he said they got the information that long duration calls were being made from the vicinity of Dharamsala to Pakistan. ‘We verified the facts from the telecom authorities. It was found that a local girl had her paramour working as a carpenter in a Middle
East country. She had been making long distance calls to her paramour that attracted the attention of some responsible citizens. Since the facts were verified in the case no one was called to the police station and matter ended,’ he said. |
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Dharna staged
Dharamsala, January 21 Dharamsala residents were facing problems due to shortage of specialists at the hospital. The present government was biased towards the Dharamsala area, she alleged. Earlier, the central university proposed to be set up at Dharamsala was shifted to Dehra and now the facilities at the zonal hospitals were at their lowest ebb. The government was planning to reduce the status of this hospital, she alleged. In a separate press conference held in the evening, Minister for Transport and Urban Development Kishan Kapoor, however, ridiculed the charges levelled by the Congress leader. He said some of the doctors from the zonal hospital had gone to Tanda medical college as registrars. As soon as the government came to know about the situation, alternative arrangements were made. At present, there were 25 doctors at the Dharamsala zonal hospital. |
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MNC offers to invest Rs 500 cr
Dharamsala, January 21 This was stated by Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal after the representatives of the company called on him at Dharamsala yesterday. The CM said the state had adopted an open-door policy as regards foreign investment. The government would extend invitation to the Duke of Seville Spain Fransisco De Borirbone to visit Himachal Pradesh for completion of formalities before entering into agreement to take up projects like infrastructure creation. WALLTECH had come forward with the proposal to construct low-cost earthquake-resistant houses in public and private sectors under the public-private participation mode and create quality infrastructure. |
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Pat on Home Guards’ back
Hamirpur, January 21 Sharma said, “Home Guards have been fulfilling their duty with complete commitment and missionary zeal and at present 50,000 of them are involved in the civil defence.” He said they had made their identity at the national level and were doing their job with a complete devotion.
As many as 35 Home Guards personnel from Hamirpur and 34 from Sirmour district were given training, who participated in the passing out parade. An impressive passing out parade and a
cultural programme was also organised on the occasion. Cadet Shashi Pal from Hamirpur was declared the best cadet, while Rakesh Kumar of Sirmour won the best discipline trophy. |
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Patient dies for want of timely care
Solan, January 21 The deceased who was travelling with his wife Nirmala and a four-year-old daughter Kusum in a Santro car failed to negotiate a sharp curve on the Patta-Barotiwala road and met with an accident around 4.30 pm yesterday. Though the victim was rushed to nearby PHC within a few minutes, Devraj succumbed to his injuries, as there was no doctor available there. The two other occupants of the car were later rushed to the CHC, Barotiwala, for treatment. Irked over the incident, villagers blocked traffic on the Patta-Barotiwala road in the evening. However, after an assurance of the CMO, Solan, that the PHC would have regular staff round-the-clock, the blockade was lifted around 1.00 am. Panchayat pradhan Pawan Gupta said the doctor used to commute daily from Chandigarh and left every day at 4.00 pm. He rued other doctor posted there had been deputed at the Barotiwala Community Health Centre. CMO Tagra today issued the repatriation orders of Dr Jyotsna Gupta, a peon and a supervisor, who had been deputed at the Barotiwala CHC. Orders were also issued to repatriate dental mechanic Rakesh Verma back from the Regional Hospital,
Solan. |
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Leopard cub shifted to zoo
Sundernagar, January 21 According to information, some youths spotted the cub at Kapahi village, which was being chased by jackals and was trying to save its life. The youths saved it and later informed the matter to forest officials and handed it to a team of officials from the forest division, Sundernagar. According to DFO Suket Pardeep Thakur, the cub was injured and was shown to veterinary doctor. Today it was shifted to Gopalpur zoo under the supervision of members of the forest team. |
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Fire breaks out
Shimla, January 21 The mishap took place
today morning as the LPG cylinder burst. Even though nobody was injured but the roof caught fire, resulting in major damage. Fire tenders were immediately rushed to the spot and the fire brought under control. The police said a damage of
Rs 5 lakh had been caused due to the fire. |
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Four youths held
Mandi, January 21 According to police sources, Sushil complained that he was on his way from Banjar to Mandi in his Tempo Trax on the highway on Monday evening. When they reached Saat Meel they were intercepted by four persons in a car (PB07-G3802) and were asked to get down. They took away the cash and decamped in the car, which ran out of petrol. They ran towards riverside and escaped under the cover of darkness, he charged. The police team acted on the complaint and nabbed the four youths who have been identified as Javir Singh, Munish Kumar, Devinder Singh and Atul Chandel, all from Mandi district. |
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Minor raped
Solan, January 21 The incident came to light today when the father of the victim lodged a complaint in this regard. In his complaint, he alleged the girl was traumatised by the youth and she could not muster courage to inform her parents. They, however, saw her blood-ridden clothes and on asking her she informed them of the mishap. According to his complaint, he, too, was intimidated by the youth and this deterred him from lodging any complaint for two days. The police has registered a case. In another incident, Sachin (12) was crushed to death by an unidentified pick-up vehicle on the Baddi-Nalagarh Road near Pir Stan yesterday. The boy who had come to purchase some vegetables on the road was killed on the spot. In yet another incident, Harpal, who was allegedly hit by an unidentified vehicle last evening on the Baddi-Nalagarh Road, succumbed to his injuries at the PGI, Chandigarh, today. |
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2 thieves held
Mandi, January 21 The police also impounded a vehicle (HP 53 3496), which used to carry iron goods to markets. The accused have been identified as Anil Kumar and Prem Singh, both residents of Baijnath in Kangra district. A case has been registered against them. |
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Former VC quizzed
Shimla, January 21 Verma is being questioned with regard to the appointment of assistant librarian at the Dr Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry during his tenure as VC at Nauni. It is alleged that the candidate who was selected for the post did not fulfil the eligibility and norms were not followed while making her appointment. |
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Posts to be filled soon
Shimla, January 21 She said the government had recently appointed 49 MBBS doctors to help provide better medical services to the people in remote areas. |
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