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Another inquiry establishes scam in forest project
Intellectuals should play pro-active
Govt plans study on accident-prone areas
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Disabled being denied
Anand Sharma to launch
BJP promises one rank, one pension
Virbhadra ridicules BJP stand on terror
Mining mafia invading trout habitat
Ragging Death
Gramin bank with zero balance accounts
HIMUDA directed to pay Rs 10,000 to plot allottee
EC imposes restriction on vehicles
Girl killed in mishap
Conference on material science
‘Only Cong can give stable govt’
BJP will win all seats: Dhumal
Minister slams Cong MP
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Another inquiry establishes scam in forest project
Dharamsala, April 16 The inquiry has established misappropriation of funds allotted to the Amlela panchayat. Fake vouchers were reportedly used to make payments to PWD officials for getting estimates made for various works. However, none of the officers of the PWD had admitted before the inquiry officer that he took money for working out estimates. A PWD officer in whose name payments were allegedly made is non-existent. Fake entries were found in muster rolls while fake payments were shown to have been made to tractor owners for transporting various materials. The inquiry officer found misappropriation of Rs 1.05 lakh. The report has been handed over the district panchayat officer for further action. Under the Sanjhi Van Yojna launched in the state under DFID assistance, an amount of Rs 20 lakh was issued in 2003 for Amlela village. The amount was used for the construction of a water harvesting structure (WHS), create wire spurs, water storing structures (WSS), check dams and planting trees in 10 hectare forest area of the village. A survey by The Tribune team in the village revealed gross irregularities in the implementation of the project. The water harvesting structure has been brought up on Chanoli drain passing through the village. However, the structure, which cost of Rs 5 lakh, is in such an area that it is of no use to the villagers. A water storing structure brought up in Ghiran Khad was washed away. The plantation said to have been carried out under the scheme was nowhere to be seen. Prabhat Chaudhary, a zila parishad member, had been complaining against irregularities in the scheme since long. |
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Intellectuals should play pro-active role: Ansari
Shimla, April 16 “The functioning of the institutions received inadequate attention and they were insufficiently scrutinised by the intellectuals as democratic functioning of society became synonymous with the election process. The neglect has been pervasive, with some exceptions, raising questions about the health of intuitions and the state of governance,” he observed while delivering the 13th Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan Memorial Lecture on “The intellectual and society: Role and responsibility” at the Indian Institute of Advanced Study here today. Quoting extensively from the works of Radhakrishnan, Edward W.Said, Rajani Kothari and other scholars Ansari provided an in-depth analysis reasons for the disenchantment with the state. It was largely a consequence of the failure of the instruments of accountability and the democracy becoming non-deliberative. India remained a democracy but a populist one and a new political imagination was called for to accommodate minority and marginal groupings to bring a meaningful change. In the emerging scenario contents of politics were being redefined and with new actors and new movements. It was no longer limited to economic or even political demands, seeking to cover women’s issues, public health, ecological and cultures issues, necessitating a review of ideological positions on the nature and content of democracy. He said the changing and more forgiving social attitude towards corruption was rather disturbing as it was an inconvenient fact of democracy and even acknowledged by the administrative reforms commission on “ethics in governance”. He said political will and focused pubic support for implementation specific recommendations of the commission was required in much greater measure than was forthcoming at present. Referring to the economic amelioration strategy Ansari said public opposition to acquisition for land for SEZs and related approaches to industrialisation had triggered off debate about alternate models of development which had received further impetus in the wake of the global financial crisis. Terming environment as a key emerging area of concern he said that despite good work being done by activists like Sunita Narain and Vandana Shiva public awareness of environment issues was still in its infancy. It was the responsibility of the intellectuals to speak truth by advocating the correct alternative on all these emerging issues. The Governor Pratibha Rau presided over the prestigious lecture which is an annual feature of the institute.
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Govt plans study on accident-prone areas
Shimla, April 16 The study would be conducted by a consultant firm approved by World Bank, said state Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Gulab Singh Thakur. Through a tender system, three firms (for conducting the study) have been short-listed and their names sent to World Bank for the approval, he said. According to a survey conducted by the Traffic Tourist and Railway wing of the police in 2007, around 536 accident-prone ‘black spots’ were identified in the state. Chamba district had the maximum number of accidents with the tally reaching 227. Nineteen people were killed in the district on Tuesday when a private bus fell into a 500-metre deep gorge. Engineer-in-chief of the PWD Arun Mahajan said the department had put warning signs at more than 150 spots on the roads across the state. — PTI
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Disabled being denied right to education
Shimla, April 16 There are only four teachers for 122 students as against the norm of one teacher for every eight students. There are hardly any facilities worth the name in the institution that provides education up to matriculation, says Ajai Srivastava, convener of the state chapter of the society for disability and rehabilitation studies. Children have to live in inhospitable conditions in this residential institute. Their plight can be judged from the fact that there are only 58 beds and more than two inmates have to share each bed. As a result, skin diseases have become common among them. No medical facilities are available in government-funded institute that was upgraded from middle to high school level without adding any staff or required infrastructure. Despite that, some of the students have been able to pass their matriculation examinations with flying colours. However, they could not pursue higher education as there is no institution in the state offering plus-two courses for such students. Srivastava demanded that the only institution for boys should be upgraded to plus-two level and strengthened by providing adequate staff, dispensary and other facilities. It was mandatory for the states to provide free education to disabled persons up to 18 years of age, besides giving them scholarships, he added. However, Himachal Pradesh did not have any institution for providing education |
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Anand Sharma to launch Cong campaign today
Chandigarh, April 16 Harassment of Hindus and Sikhs in and around the Peshawar area by the Taliban in Pakistan was a serious issue that needed immediate attention, he said. Reacting to media reports that Hindus and Sikhs living in the northwest province The Pakistan government would be asked to ensure immediate end to harassment of minorities there, he said. News reports suggested that many Hindu and Sikh families have expressed their desire to move to safer places, especially India, and seek political asylum there. Anand Sharma said the future line of action would be decided after a report had been received through diplomatic channels. Admitting that developments across the border were serious, he said it was a tough stance taken by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the effective use of diplomatic channels by the UPA government that within 15 days of the terrorist attacks on Mumbai, the United Nations adopted a resolution banning the organisations behind the attacks. Even some individuals were declared “most-wanted” criminals. Manmohan Singh was a man with vision, intellect and integrity. Describing him as a man of steel nerves, he said signing of the nuclear treaty with the USA was a landmark in the history of modern India. Now, when the world was facing a financial meltdown, world leaders had been consulting him. “It is only the Congress that can provide a secular and stable government as the BJP has neither any national agenda nor any ideology to steer the nation ahead,” Anand Sharma said. Anand Sharma is one of the five spokesmen appointed by the Congress high command to campaign in support of party candidates for the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. He will formally launch the Congress election campaign in Himachal Pradesh by addressing a workers’ rally at Solan in the afternoon tomorrow. “The Congress-led UPA government at the Centre has not only introduced transparency in administration by introducing the Right to Information Act, but had also gone full blast in implementing the Social Security Act by promising 100 days of work to the unemployed every year,” he claimed. Anand Sharma, who comes from Himachal Pradesh, will stay in his home state for the next three days before moving to other parts of the country to campaign for Congress candidates. He will also campaign in Haryana.
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BJP promises one rank, one pension
Bilaspur, April 16 Anurag Thakur said the party had decided to exempt income tax of all servicemen and ex-servicemen, if voted to power. He claimed that during a short period of time, he had succeeded in getting allocation of funds to the tune of Rs 350 crore for construction of the Bhanupali to Bilaspur Rail line and a hydro engineering college here.
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Virbhadra ridicules BJP stand on terror
Kullu, April 16 He kept his focus on the national issues and ridiculed statements of BJP senior leaders on terror and national security besides lauding his own developmental achievements during his chief ministership in Himachal Pradesh. At almost all meetings he said the state BJP leaders were worried about participation of Sukh Ram in his campaign while they should be worried about their factionalism. He said he had successful election meetings in Mandi district with Sukh Ram’s son and former minister Anil Sharma. Sukh Ram would join him after the doctor’s advice as he had undergone a minor surgery. Virbhadra Singh said he did not understand the version of the BJP leaders asking for public debate. They should understand that media was so strong these days that all statements given were published or shown through electronic media which clearly expressed the viewpoint. What else is in a debate, he exclaimed. He ridiculed that “in fact the BJP leaders He said that the people of the country and our state were well aware of the difference between the practical approach of the Congress party and beating about the bush of the BJP. Virbhadra Singh also said that the BSP or the CPM would not have any effect in Himachal Pradesh in the Lok Sabha elections. He emphasised that the BJP had nothing to its credit as for as the development of Himachal Pradesh was concerned. The works done by the Congress government were falsely claimed to be theirs but people know and the results of the Lok Sabha elections would put a stamp on the right thinking of the people of the state. Virbhadra Singh returned today to Mandi.
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Mining mafia invading trout habitat
Larji/Gushaini, April 16 The mafia has started invading trout habitats by moving upstream in the eco-zone of the Great Himalayan National Park (GHNP) for extracting boulders and sand. Officials of the mining and forest departments appear to be hand-in-glove with owners of stone crushers and the contractors who were still being allowed to operate in the Tirthan riverbed, making mockery of the whole exercise of preserving the Tirthan as a paradise for trout angling. From Larji to Gushaini, trucks and tractor-trailers can be seen crisscrossing in the Tirthan riverbed round the clock, ferrying sand and boulders. This has spelled disaster for the trout population in the river waters. Mafia men have started advancing upstream from Sai Ropa, Hamani, Gushaini and Batahar riversides right inside the Great Himalayan National Park (GHNP). The riverbeds of the Sainj, the Beas and tributaries along the Mandi-Kullu stretch of the National Highway-21 also present same scenes. This despite the fact that mining has been banned in riverbeds under the Forest Even the construction of mini hydropower projects has been banned on the Tirthan as the government is promoting it as an exclusive habitat for fresh water trout and an angling destination in the state. However, there is no one to check the illegal mining activity going on in the area. The Mining Department has posted just one guard, who sits at Pandoh, to check such illegal activities. There are no barrier to check ferrying of sand and boulders between
Larji, where The Tirthan forms the boundary between Mandi and Kullu districts. The mining, forest and PWD officials from Kullu and Mandi, when quizzed on the issue, passed the buck on to each other. GHNP director Ajay Srivastva said no mining activity had been detected in the Tirthan river that fell in eco-zone of the park area from Gushaini upstream. “Mining activity may be going on downstream,” he added.
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Ragging Death
Kangra, April 16 Public prosecutor Pankaj Dhiman said the charge sheet prepared by the police was presented before Judicial Magistrate (First Class) Avinash Chander Sharma by Kangra SHO Partap
Thakur. The JMIC, Kangra, would refer it to the trial court of the District and Sessions Judge, Dharamsala, for further trial proceedings. According to the police, there are 37 witnesses, including 24 medical college students, who figure in the 194-page charge sheet against four accused---Dr Ajay Verma, Naveen Verma, Abhinav Verma and Mukul Sharma. The accused have been facing a murder charge under Section 302 of the IPC. The final report of the post-mortem examination confirmed the preliminary autopsy report that the death of Aman was due to head injury, the police said. The police further said it was within the purview of the District and Sessions Court whether to retain the case with itself for the trial or send it to the fast track court. Dr Ajay and Naveen were arrested by the Kangra police following a ragging complaint lodged by principal of the college Dr Suresh Sankhyan on March 8. The other two accused — Mukul Sharma and Abinav Verma — surrendered before the District and Sessions Judge at Dharamsala on March 10.
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Gramin bank with zero balance accounts
Chamba, April 16 It has so far opened over 20,000 accounts, which include about 12,000 accounts under NREGA (National
Rural Employment Guarantee Act). Clarifying misunderstanding caused among some NREGA beneficiaries in the Seri area of the district, chairman of the bank OC Rana said the centrally sponsored national rural employment guarantee scheme under NREGA had been launched for the uplift and betterment of weaker sections in rural areas.
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HIMUDA directed to pay Rs 10,000 to plot allottee
Shimla, April 16 The commission, headed by Justice Arun Kumar Goel (retd), Passed this order on an appeal filed by Vinod Prakash Gupta wherein he had challenged the order of the Shimla Consumer Forum dismissing his compliant. According to the complainant, he had booked a plot under the self-financing scheme floated by HIMUDA for a residential complex at New Shimla. He was registered under the scheme in December, 1990. The tentative cost of the plot was Rs 96,000. The board revised the rate to Rs 2,84,427 and the possession of the plot was also not given in time. The complainant was informed that he had failed to deposit monthly instalments and hence he would have to pay interest at the rate of 18 per cent per annum. According to the complainant, he had informed the board that he was ready to pay the balance amount along with interest. However, he demanded interest at the same rate on the sum deposited by him as the board had not given the plot to him within the stipulated period of time. He filed a compliant before the consumer forum, but it was dismissed. Setting aside the order of the forum, the commission observed that the respondent was liable to pay interest on the amount deposited by the complainant at the same rate from January, 1991, till October, 1996, the date when possession was given to him. Taking a serious note of the attitude of the board, the commission imposed costs and directed it to pay interest to the complainant from 1991 to 1996.
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EC imposes restriction on vehicles
Shimla, April 16 Chief Electoral Officer Anil Khachi today said a maximum of five persons, including the candidate, would be allowed inside the chamber of the returning officer. “The expenditure on the vehicles that would be coming with the candidate at the time of the filing of nomination shall be taken into account for the total expenditure incurred on his election provided he remains in the fray,” said Khachi. |
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Girl killed in mishap
Shimla, April 16 The deceased has been identified as Nidhi. The injured have been admitted to a hospital.
Nidhi, a resident of Nehra village, died due to her serious injuries. The mishap took place when students of Sigma coaching centre were hit by the van that went out of control. The police later arrested driver Rajender Singh of Nankhari, who was allegedly under the influence of liquor. A case has been registered against him. |
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Conference on material science
Shimla, April 16 Over 150 delegates, including foreigners, are attending the conference which was inaugurated by Vice-Chancellor Prok S.K. Gupta here today. He said the conference would cover a wide spectrum of material science such as nano structured materials and ferrites. Delivering the key-note address, Prof S.B. Krupanidhi, eminent scientist from Material Research Centre, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, spoke on the most exciting aspect of the conference - nano technological aspects. Welcoming the delegates Chairman of the Physics Department Prof Mahavir Singh said the conference would provide a scientific platform to researchers to discuss recent advances in the area of synthesis and characterisation of electric, magnetic and optical properties of multifunctional materials.
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‘Only Cong can give stable govt’
Nurpur, April 16 In the concluding election meetings this evening, he alleged that the BJP was taking credit of development undertaken in the state during the past 15 months, but the state government had done nothing in this connection as all projects had been approved by the UPA government at the Centre. He claimed that only the Congress could give a stable and strong government in Delhi.
“The UPA government led by Manmohan Singh has set a world record of economic management to curb recession in the country,” he said.
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BJP will win all seats: Dhumal
Palampur, April 16 He claimed that Congress stalwart and former Chief Minister Virbhadara Singh had been facing a tough challenge from party candidate Maheshwar Singh in Mandi. Addressing a one-day state-level meet of the state Bhartiya Yuva Janta Morcha, he said the Congress had failed to come to expectations of the common people. He alleged the party did not fulfil promises made in their manifesto and virtually cheated the people of the state, who voted it to power. The CM said even today the Congress was creating hurdles in the development He claimed despite the poor financial health of the state in the past one year, the BJP government had taken various major developments in the state. He regretted that Congress leaders were making “personal attacks” on the BJP and false and baseless complaints were being made to the Election Commission. He said these acts of the leaders were open violation of the model code of conduct. Dhumal said the BJP government in its one-year tenure had been succeeded |
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Minister slams Cong MP
Solan, April 16 Addressing mediapersons Bindal said, “There is simmering discontent among masses on the issue as there is no clue to Shandil’s fixed abode and there is even no public telephone in the parliamentary constituency.” He added that his non-availability to the people kept him aloof from the issues concerning the masses and hence he could do little to solve them. Bindal said this would cost him dearly in the polls. He added that this fact came to the fore in his several meetings with the people and it was more stark in Sirmaur district where people had a little idea when the MP visited their area. Terming it as a gross injustice to voters, Bindal claimed that the people of Sirmaur had therefore decided to vote for the BJP. Later, he presented figurative details of funds worth crores sanctioned for various irrigation, sewage and road schemes by the state government and expressed optimism that BJP nominee Virender Kashyap would emerge victorious.
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Identifying “decay of institutions” and “rampant corruption” as the major ills responsible for the “dismal state of governance” in the country, Vice-Persistent of India M. Hamid Ansari today called upon intellectuals to play a pro-active role and come out with alternatives to bring the desired change.
