Pihri (Dharamsala), January 22
Suresh Thakur, a teacher in local primary school of Pihri village, was enthralled today. ‘I have been putting up in this area for the past 42 years. It is for the first time that I have seen the state Chief Minister visiting this village.’

This was the enthusiasm shared by residents of this village, a declared backward panchayat of the Changar area located about 70 km from here. The Changar area is one of most backwards areas of the district where people battle barren land scanty rainfall and shortage of basic amenities as education, drinking water and health

Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal visited the village today to inaugurate the drinking water scheme brought in the area at a cost of about Rs 1.15 crore. The large gathering of villagers illustrated the urge among people to see a CM of their area visiting their village for the first time.

Though the area is most backward, the residents evolved an innovative way to put forward their demands before the CM. A little girl from the local government school sang and narrated the vows of area and stated demands in local dialect arousing impressive response from visiting dignitaries.

Carried by the emotion set by the song the CM also gave apolitical address. He urged people of Changar to revive their traditions. He also laid the foundation stone of the water harvest scheme for the area and lift irrigation scheme that would irrigate 10 hectares.

The CM also acceded to all demands raised by the little girl and announced up-gradation of local High school to senior secondary school from the next session and providing better health and other infrastructure facilities. He also announced up-gradation of Sullah and Masrora schools from Primary to middle and Siror High school to senior secondary level.

Ravinder Singh Ravi, minister for irrigation who represents the area, claimed that the entire development in the Changar area of the Thural constituency has taken place during the regime of present government. The BJP candidate for the forthcoming Lok Sabha constituency Rajan Sushant also chose the occasion to launch his election campaign in the area.

Shimla, January 22
A case of mistaken identity of bodies at the mortuary of the Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) here resulted in the family of AK Kaul, hailing from Kashmir, performing the funeral twice, leaving the hospital authorities red faced.

By the time the blunder was detected it was too late and the Kaul family had cremated Agya Ram’s body. The family of Agya Ram along with hospital officials rushed to the crematorium at Sanjauli, but by then the last rites had already been performed.

Yesterday Kaul had been brought here from Basantpur, near Naldehra, for treatment, but died even before doctors could attend to him. Another patient Agya Ram, originally hailing from Haryana, but residing locally, too died yesterday while being under treatment at the orthopaedics ward. Both the bodies had been kept in the mortuary inside the Casualty Department.

It was today at 10.30 am that Kaul’s brother-in-law arrived at the mortuary and identified the body and took it away. It was later at 1.30 pm that the family of Agya Ram created a ruckus that the body was someone else’s. The mistake took place despite the fact that the bodies have tags with the name of the patient.

Medical Superintendent, IGMC, Dr SS Minhas said it is relatives who always identify the body and in this case too Kaul’s brother-in-law saw it before taking it. “Even though we maintain proper records, all the same we will hold an inquiry to ascertain if there was any negligence on part of the staff on duty,” he said.

Later, on the intervention of the hospital authorities the two families reconciled. While the family of Agya Ram was denied the right to perform the last rites due to the mistake, Kaul’s family did it twice.

Shimla, January 22
The District Consumer Forum today directed the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) and the State Civil Supplies Corporation to jointly pay a sum of Rs 3,48,167 to Pyare Lal and Kundan Lal, whose residential building was damaged in a blast caused due to a faulty LPG cylinder.

The forum headed by its president and district judge Pritam Singh held that the blast took place due to leakage of gas from the faulty refill that triggered a massive fire and extensively damaged the third and top floors of the structure.

It awarded Rs 2,98,167 on account of loss to the building, Rs 20,000 for the injuries suffered by one of the complainants (Pyare Lal) and Rs 30,000 for loss to the moveable property. The two respondents were also asked to pay to the complainants interest at the rate of 9 per cent per annum from the date of filing the complaint (March 22, 2006) till the making of the full payment, besides a litigation cost of Rs 2,500.

The complainants had booked a gas refill on October 24, 2005, with the in charge of the depot of the Civil Supplies Corporation at Rohru.

When it was put to use, gas started leaking from it at a great speed resulting in a massive blast. They had alleged that the blast was caused due to a manufacturing defect and it caused a loss of Rs 5 lakh to them.

Shimla, January 22
An MoU for extending financial assistance for creating tourism-related infrastructure will be signed between the state government and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) tomorrow and it is being expected that over Rs 300 crore funding will be provided.

A high-level team of the ADB has already visited a number of sites in the state, including Shimla and Kinnaur areas. Though the bank has agreed to fund a number of projects, there are certain projects that have been kept on the hold on which a final decision will be known only when the agreement is signed tomorrow.

The bank has agreed to provide an assistance of Rs 20 crore to the local municipal corporation (MC) for strengthening the Ridge by erecting a huge retaining wall and undertaking beautification of the Mall.

“Though we have posed the ambitious project of erecting a lift and an elevator from the proposed parking for about 1,500 vehicles at Darni Ka Bagicha on the bypass to the Lift, it is still not known whether the ADB will give the go-ahead for the project or not,” said a senior official.

With parking being one of the biggest problems in the state capital and at other tourist destinations, the authorities are keen that the facility is created keeping in view the floating population of visitors during the peak tourist season.

The bank has already agreed to fund projects for creating parks and preserving some of the heritage structures of the British time falling in the heritage zone extending from the secretariat to the Viceregal Lodge. “Another project on which the team members have shown keen interest is the restoration of three heritage buildings, US Club, Ripon Hospital and the Deputy Commissioner’s Office,” he said. The bank is willing to provide Rs 10 crore each for the restoration and conservation of the three projects, but the government is keen that instead of these projects money is utilised for the creation of tourism facilities and better parking lots.

The tourism authorities are keen on developing and promoting cultural tourism in the tribal districts of Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti, keeping in view the fact that a large number of visitors, especially foreigners, show interest in the ancient monasteries and other monuments. The ADB team has agreed to provide about Rs 20 crore for protecting some of the monasteries and “lakhangs” (rare manuscripts) at Kanam, Sangla, Kamru and Kalpa in Kinanur district.

Hamirpur, January 22
The Hamirpur district Panchayat Raj Department has taken an initiative to make elected panchayat presidents and other members aware about various provisions of criminal laws through a training programme so that they can exercise their legal powers more competently.

This programme will be conducted under the aegis of the Central Government. All panchayat presidents, vice-presidents and ward members will be given training about various legal provisions.

The training is important since 46 sections of the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRI) Act, 1994, (from Section 30 to 76) deal with the judicial work of elected PRI representatives and only complete knowledge of these provisions can ensure impartial resolution of disputes.

Under the training programme, elected panchayat members will also be told about provisions under the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Indian Evidence Act. District Panchayat Officer Satish Sharma said, “The programme is being organised jointly by the Centre and the state governments and the expenditure for the training will be borne by them in 75: 25 ratio.”

Hamirpur district would be the first to hold such a workshop to train panchayat representatives in a phased manner. “While judicial officers will be invited as resource persons at these workshops, other officers like deputy commissioners, ADM, SDM and etc. will also impart legal training to the participants,” Sharma said.

The department would provide study material written in simple language to all those attending the programme. After the training, these representatives would also be given a book containing major criminal acts for their ready reference, he added.

Shimla, January 22
Health Minister Rajiv Bindal today said the attitude adopted by the previous Congress regime had led to deterioration in health services in the state. “Had the Congress regime opened more medical and nursing colleges, we would not have faced difficulty in filling the vacant posts of doctors, nurses and other paramedical staff,” he said. The BJP regime had decided to open five medical colleges and 27 nursing colleges in the state in near future, he added.

He said efforts were on to fill the posts of doctors so that people did not face inconvenience. “Out of 259 posts of doctors sanctioned for Kangra district alone, 219 have already been filled and the remaining will be filled shortly,” he said.

He criticised the previous Congress regime for having opened Dr Rajendra Prasad Medical College in haste with an eye on the elections. “When the Zonal Hospital, Dharamsala was attached to Dr Rajendra Prasad Medical College, it only had nine doctors. The strength now has gone up to 24,” he added.

He said Dr Rajendra Prasad Medical College provided health services to 800 patents daily. He said the number of registrars had also gone up from 49 to 81. “Efforts are on to provide super-speciality services to the people of Kangra and adjoining areas at Tanda medical college,” he said.

Shimla, January 22
The chairperson of the scheduled castes department of the state Congress has appointed presidents of the assembly constituency level units of his department.

Mast Ram has been appointed president of Jubbal-Kotkhai, Ratti Ram of Kusumpti, Nand Lal of Shimla(rural), Yashpal Tanail of Chopal, Kishan Lal of Chamba, Krishan Kumar of Baijnath, Mehar Chand of Shiraj, Vir Chand of Dharampur, Rakesh Kumar(Barsar), Hukum Singh of Rampur, Pawan Kumar of Bhoranj, Hem Raj of Hamirpur, Kesho Ram of Kasuali, Jagat Ram of Karsog, Gial Chhan Dorje of Kinnuar, Kartender Singh Shahpur, Narotam Ram of Darang, Nain Singh of Paonta Sahib, Shyam Lal of Solan,Hem Raj of Pachad, Ramesh Chand of Rajgarh, Harbans Lal of Santokhgarh, Prem Bhagat of Arki, Hem Raj of Nachan, Tilak Raj of Bhatiyat, Kehar Singh of Naina Devi, Piar Singh of Gangath, Bant Ram of Kulehar, Swaran Kumar of Jogindernagar, Ranjni Kumari of Dharamsala, Sonki Ram of Sulah, Vijay Kumar of Palampur and Gurdeep Singh of Gagret.

They have been asked to constitute their own team of office-bearers.

Manali, January 22
The Solang valley, 13 km north of Manali, is not only famous for winter sports, but has also gained international recognition because of an “ice Shiv Lingam”, popularly known as “Anjani Mahadev”.

According to residents, the “ice Shiv Lingam” was discovered around 14 years ago. Baba Prakash Puri built a small temple and an ashram in the cave that houses the lingam. A large number of tourists visit this place between December and March to have a glimpse of the creation of nature.

Anjani Mahadev is situated around 2 km from the Solang ski slopes. Tourists generally undertake journey from ski slopes to Anjani Mahadev on foot or on horseback. This time, the ivory white lingam is about 25-foot high.

Saints and devotees from the Baba Prakash Puri Ashram, near Gurgaon (Haryana), organise a “bhandara” there on August 15 every year. Even later, they continue to serve visitors by offering them ‘kheer’ and ‘tea’ as prasad.

Acharya Pandit Naveen Shashtri offers pooja at the temple everyday.

Dharamsala, January 22
The conceptual canal of the Nurpur area of the district might come to life now. The Phina Singh canal that has remained on election agenda for the candidate contesting from Nurpur assembly constituency would now come in papers.

The state government has directed irrigation officials to prepare a project for conceptual canal of Nurpur. Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal and minister for irrigation and public health Ravinder Ravi while talking to The Tribune said that the state government was planning to seek Rs 147 crore from the union government for constructing the Phina Singh canal.

When asked he said that the said canal was a conceptualisation of village pradhan from Nurpur area Phina Singh. Phina Singh conceptualised that a canal could be constructed to divert the Chaki river water for the benefit of farmers of the area. Though the concept never came on paper and nobody knew and how it would be constructed, the candidates from the area generally used to promise people that if elected they would get Phina Singh canal constructed.

However, to respect the person who conceptualised the idea of construction of canal, the government has decided to name the canal being proposed by diversion of Chaki water as Phina Singh Canal. The ideas conceptualised by common man can sometimes guide the policies of the government, the minister said.

The minister also said that work of Shah canal was also progressing at a rapid pace after the Punjab government contributed its remaining share of Rs 17 crores for the project. The state government is seeking escalated cost of canal from the union government.

Kangra, January 22
Two Tavera taxis were found by the Kangra police with the help of the Punjab Police from Ludhiana and Jalandhar. Kangra District Police Chief Atul Fulzele said today that Tavera (HP01D-1242), which was involved with the murder case of driver Satish Kumar, was recovered from Ludhiana on the instance of two arrested youths. He said the third 55-year-old accused in the case was still absconding.

Fulzele said another Tavera taxi (PB010-BJ-8030) was found, which was hired by five youths from Kaleshvar Mahdev in Rakaar tehsil of Dehra subdivision. The taxi driver was thrown out of the running vehicle after his hands and legs were tied with a rope, but he survived with some injuries.

He said this Tavera was recovered from the Chahal court police station area of Jalandhar city. The five accused youths involved in this crime have been identified, but were still absconding.

Shimla, January 22
A mason, hailing from Punjab, was charred to death when his bedding caught fire at Gumma in the Kotkhai area of Shimla district last night.

According to the police, it was in the morning when the workers found the charred body of Trilok Singh in his room. Trilok hailed from the Hoshiarpur area of Punjab and had been working here for the past some time. Even though the exact cause of the fire is not known, it is suspected that the bedding could have caught fire from a lighted cigarette as he was reported to be drunk last night.