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Villagers block highway for
6 hours
Varsity location likely to be bone of contention
RTI exposes plight of 130 sweepers
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Probe ordered against health centre in charge
Another top slot for state
High court issues notice to state govt
In Son’s Memory
Govt sets kharif production target
Site for ayurvedic R&D institute finalised
Advisory panel formed
Heads may roll as Cong discusses poll debacle
Restoration of urban forest control sought
Founder’s day of Army Public School
Temples vulnerable to burglars
Man held for duping six youths
Secy caught under influence of liquor
Man held for death of companion
Yajna by Kashmiri Pandits
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Villagers block highway for
6 hours
Narianpukhar (Dharamsala), June 1 Rajiv Sharma of Sehri village was found dead at Narianpukhar crossing on May 19. The police registered a case under Section 304-A of the IPC suspecting it to be a hit-and-run case. However, villagers suspected that Rajiv was murdered. They had named certain suspects in the case. However, after an investigation, the police continues to maintain that he was
the victim of a hit-and-run case. Not satisfied with the police investigation, villagers today blocked the highway. About 100 villagers descended on the highway around 10 pm and started raising slogans against the police. They demanded action against the police officials who, they alleged, had been tried to hush up the case. The traffic remained blocked till 4 pm. Commuters and tourists coming to Dharamsala and other hill stations in the area were a harassed lot. They were directed to take an alternative route through Gara area. The villagers threatened to intensify the agitation in case the police did not arrest the accused named by family members of
the deceased. Kangra SP Atul Fulzele said the police had deputed a forensic expert to carry out a post-mortem examination of the body. The expert had opined that the deceased seemed to have died after being hit by some vehicle. After that, the inquiry was entrusted to an ASP. He also reached at a similar conclusion. The suspects named by the family members of the deceased were questioned by the police. However, the investigation indicated that they were not present in the area when the incident took place. However, to pacify the family members of the deceased, the case had been now handed over to the Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) of the
state, he added. About blocking of the highway, he said a case would be registered against those who disrupted traffic. |
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Varsity location likely to be bone of contention
Dharamsala, June 1 Kewal Singh Pathania, spokesperson of the HPCC, at a press conference here has said that the Union Minister for Steel Virbhadra Singh would soon arrange a visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to get laid the foundation stone of central university at Dharamsala. He said it was during the stint of Virbhadra Singh as Chief Minister that it was decided to set up central university near here. Now that he is union minister, Virbhadra Singh would ensure his decision is implemented and central university comes up in the vicinity of Dharamsala. The issue of university location has been a bone of contention between the Congress and the BJP. After the present government took over, it decided to bring up the university in the Dehra area. The Congress leaders, however, alleged that the location of the university had been shifted to Dehra as the area fell in Hamirpur constituency that is represented by Anurag Thakur, son of Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal. The residents of Dharamsala also made a sangarsh committee over the issue and opposed the present government over transferring the location of the university. They also carried out an agitation over the issue. The state government has been justifying the move of locating the central university in Dehra on the pretext that about 500 acres of land was required for setting up the institution. Such a huge chunk of land is not available in the vicinity of Dharamsala. However, that the Himachal Congress has strong representation of two union ministers in the central government, the issue of location of central university might become bone of contention between the state and the Centre. Pathania also said that the work for proposed SAIL plant in Kangra district would be started very soon. Though the foundation stone for SAIL plant was laid by former Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan, no administrative approval for the project was given. However, Virbhadra Singh besides the said project would also bring another Rs 1000 crore steel project in the state. |
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RTI exposes plight of 130 sweepers
Mandi, June 1 According to information received by the RTI Bureau, Mandi, from the HGB and Punjab National Bank (PNB), which is lead bank for the HGB, there are over 130 sweepers in the HGB, which has opened its branches in almost all districts in the state. The sweepers in bigger offices work six hours a week and three hours a week in smaller offices, the RTI revealed. The HGB claimed that a sweeper works for only half-an-hour to one-hour per day. However, they are made to work for four or six hours a day in each branch, the RTI revealed. On the other hand, sweepers charged that bank officials have been assuring them that if they work for four to six hours per day they would be regularised. “Even we have to do extra work at officers’ house and if we do not obey them they threaten us showing them the doors,” they rued. Chairman of the RTI Bureau, Mandi, Lawan Thakar said the RTI had shown that sweepers were being blackmailed like that since 1987. “They are not even given any uniform and whenever they tried to raise their just demands they are fired and made to act like their slaves,” he charged. On the other hand, while the HGB has followed PNB for its services and rules in all other posts, but not for sweepers, the RTI showed. Also, the PNB has rules, regular pay rolls and uniforms for sweepers and are promoted as per quota, the RTI revealed. HGB chairman Dr Phool Singh said the case relating to sweepers was pending in the Central Labour Court, Chandigarh. “But the case is in the process of being finalised as we have also filed our reply to the court,” he explained. He said the HGB followed rules of regional rural banks and had its own rules and regulations and do not follow that of the PNB. |
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Probe ordered against health centre in charge
Hamirpur, June 1 The CMO has directed the Medical Officer Health (MOH), Hamirpur, to conduct a thorough probe into these charges and submit a report to him. The action has been taken by the CMO after receiving complaints from at least six health workers and other supervisory staff working under the in charge of the Kuthera PHC. According to sources, “The subordinate staff working at the Kuthera PHC had been complaining about dereliction of duty by the in charge of the PHC for quite some time and now made a written complaint in this regard.” The subordinate staff had been alleging, “The PHC in charge do not attend office, remains absent without leave, do not attend official meeting and even asks staff to deliver his salary at his home.” It is notable that in charge of the Kuthera PHC, who is a specialist and has been posted here despite there being no regular post of a specialist in this PHC. The Block Medical Officer (BMO), Toani Devi, under whose jurisdiction Kuthera PHC falls, confirmed this fact. BMO Dr PC Sharma said, “There is no post of a specialist at the Kuthera PHC and he should be posted at Community Health Centre (CHC) or district hospital.” PHC in charge Dr Sunil Sharma said, “I have
been doing all my duties but have been suffering from a spine problem for quite some time thus availing leave.” The Hamirpur CMO said, “From preliminary inquiry it looks there is some problem and I have ordered a probe to find out if there is any irregularity or dereliction of duty on his part, which will be conducted by MOH, Hamirpur.” |
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Another top slot for state
Shimla, June 1 A communication of the Government of India in this regard was received by Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal here today. It said the state had exceeded targets under most of the components of the programme during the said period. The Chief Minister complimented the implementing agencies for their outstanding performance and asked them to maintain the pace of progress so that the state could achieve even more success during the current financial year. The state did exceedingly well in the implementation of the target under the Swaranjayanti Gram Swarojgar Yojna and covered 7,157 beneficiaries against the target of 1,446. Under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme (NREGA), the state issued 7,91,847 job cards,
generated employment for 1,18,75,000 persons, paid Rs 77.28 crore as wages and created 531 self-help groups (SHGs) against the target of 524. Under the minimum wages enforcement plan (including farm labourers), 53 claims were settled against the target of 11. The achievement was 100 per cent under the public distribution system (PDS). In all, 3,85,135 tonnes of grains were lifted against the target of 3,83,980 tonnes. Similarly, the achievement was 104 per cent under the Food Security Plan (Antodaya Ann Yojna) and 107 per cent under the Accelerated Rural Water Supply Programme. The total sanitation campaign was under implementation in the state and concerted efforts were underway in association with gram panchayats. Out of total 3,243 gram panchayats, 1,300 had been declared open-defecation free (ODF) so far, while 265 had been awarded the National Nirmal Puruskar. As many as 56,173 SC families had been provided assistance and 18,248 anganwari kendras made functional.
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High court issues notice to state govt
Shimla, June 1 While issuing notices a Division Bench comprising Justice RB Mishra and Justice DD Sood said the petitioners have established a prima facie case, therefore, the respondent should not fill the vacant post without prior permission of the court. The court, however, granted liberty to the government to continue with the process. The court further said the entire selection process would be subject to the final outcome of this petition. This order came on the petition filed by Seema Rai and others alleging that the entire selection process is arbitrary, as the selection has been made only on the basis of
interview. The petitioners said the provision of selection on the basis of viva voce in recruitment and promotion (R&P) rules is
also bad. They said once the commission holds a written test it should have made the selection by preparing the joint merit list of the written examination and the interview. They said the interview of 100 marks, ie 75 per cent of the written test, is against the judgment of the SC. The petitioner added that the rules of business of the commission provides that screening test would be conducted
if the applicants for the posts are inordinately large but in the present case only 228 applicants applied for 100 posts hence the entire process is against the law. The court directed all respondents to file reply to the petition and directed to list the case after four weeks. |
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In Son’s Memory
Dagshai, June 1 Udai was an alumnus of Army Public School here and his parents, Col K.K.K. Singh (retd) and mother Sudha have set up a trust for the purpose to provide for the education and support of children
of martyrs at their son’s alma mater. “Udai was very proud of his school and we make it a point to come here each year on the school’s Founder’s Day,” Colonel Singh, who is based at Noida, said. “Ever since Uday left us in 2004, we have sought to find definition and meaning to our lives. With this in mind, the idea of establishing an educational trust was conceived,” he added. Belonging to 1st Para, a special forces outfit, Udai’s citations tell a tale of indomitable courage and exemplary leadership. In July, 2002, tasked with engaging terrorists in Danti forest in Jammu and Kashmir, then Capt Udai Singh moved along with his squad and closed on the terrorists under heavy volume of hostile fire. With extreme courage and excellent marksmanship and tactical acumen under fire, he killed two terrorists in a close quarter combat, for which he was awarded the Sena Medal. As a Major in the Rajouri area two years later on a search and destroy operation, his party suddenly came face to face with a group of terrorists approaching from higher ground. During the deadly firefight that ensued, the officer sustained multiple gun shot wounds. Displaying extraordinary courage, with utter disregard to personal safety, the officer continued to close in with the terrorists, killing one terrorist and wounding another. Major Udai Singh then helped extricating his fatally injured buddy before succumbing to his injuries. For this, he was decorated with the Shaurya Chakra. Colonel Singh said students they were supporting were all children of commandos from 1st Para, their son’s unit. “Our endeavour is to provide for the children of martyrs from this unit as it has suffered a lot of casualties, but there is no hard and fast rule to this extent. We would be wiling to consider children of martyrs from other units provided they clear the school’s entrance tests,” he added. |
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Govt sets kharif production target
Shimla, June 1 Stating this here today, director of agriculture JC Rana said the target for paddy had been fixed at 1.2 lakh tonnes and in addition 6,000 tonnes of oilseeds, 1.58 lakh tonnes of potato and 6.89 lakh tonnes of vegetables would be produced. In all 4.69 hectares would be brought under the kharif crops during the season. He said the department had arranged the required inputs, including 23,000 quintals of improved seeds, 20,500 tonnes of fertilisers, 100 quintals of bio-fertiliser, 95 tonnes insecticides and 50,000 improved farm implements. To ensure quality 1,000 samples of fertilisers, 150 of insecticides and 600 of seed would be drawn and tested. In all 62,500 samples of soil would be analysed to help farmers use the right combination and quantity of fertilisers. Seeds would be provided on 50 per cent subsidy for which Rs 3.25 crore had been provided under drought relief. |
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Site for ayurvedic R&D institute finalised
Mandi, June 1 After inspecting the site, both CCRAS director-general Dr Lavekar and Ayush department advisor Dr SK Shama gave their nod to officer on special duty Om Sharma to finalise the modalities for acquiring the land from the Himachal Pradesh government. Lavekar said the research institute will also run the panchkarma centre, the foundation stone for which would be laid soon after the land was acquired. Apart from focusing on research on medicinal plants growing in the western Himalayas, the centre will also document traditional ayurvedic practices, he added. He stated the central government had decided to set up a dozen ayurvedic centres of excellence in the country. “Over 18 ayurvedic medicines have been standardised in India, many of which are becoming popular overseas”, he added. SK Sharma said the state government had hiked the budget for ayurveda from Rs 900 crore to Rs 4,500 crore. “Over 500 medicinal plants have been identified for their medicinal value, of which 80 percent are also available in Himachal”, he added. He informed four states had been chosen for the antenatal care project - Himachal and Rajasthan in the north and the rest in the south. Om Sharma said talks on the land acquisition had already begun with the forest and revenue department. |
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Advisory panel formed
Bilaspur, June 1 A notification issued here today said the Revenue Minister would be its chairman while forest minister; chief secretary; additional chief secretary (forests); additional chief secretary-cum-FC (revenue); principal secretary (power); principal secretary (IPH); secretary (PWD); chairman HPSEB; chairman BBMB; Mandi Divisional Commissioner; Bilaspur DC; HPPWD engineer-in-chief; HPPWD south and central zones chief engineers; superintending engineer of the Bhakra Dam Project at Talwara; executive engineer of the PWD, Bilaspur; and executive engineer of the HPSEB, Bilaspur; would be its official members and additional /joint secretary (revenue) would be its member secretary. The non-official members are Subhash Thakur (Bhagedh), KL Upadhyaya (Kosariyan), Inder Dogra (Nihal), Jagat Ram (Auhar), Hari Singh (Diara sector), Jai Ram Sharma (Lag Bagla), Shamsher Singh Patial (Matla) and Jai Kumar (Bilaspur). |
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Heads may roll as Cong discusses poll debacle
Shimla, June 1 An indication to this effect came when the house authorised PCC chief Kaul Singh to make whatever changes were required in the organisational set-up to strengthen the party. It was significant in view of the complaints that some leader did not put in their heart and soul into the campaign or even resorted to undercutting in some case.
The party has already set up a four-member committee under the chairmanship of Rajkrishan Gaur to look into such complaints. Besides state office-bearers, district presidents, heads of the five frontal organisations, heads of the eight departments, the four candidates who contested the elections were also invited for the meeting.
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Restoration of urban forest control sought
Shimla, June 1 Admitting that the transfer of the 1880.13 hectares of precious urban forests from it to the Forest Department in April 1996 had pushed it into a major financial hardship, the MC has sought restoration of the control over the forest wealth as per the Municipal Corporation Act, 1994. Unhappy over the move right from the beginning the MC had been resenting it all along but now a fresh request has been made before the state
government. The commissioner (MC) has said since the task of urban forestry, protection of environment and promotion of ecology was entrusted to the Urban Local Bodies under Chapter 20 of the HP Municipal Corporation Act, 1994, forests could have been handed over only after an amendment in the
said Act. The MC has also cited the problem being faced in undertaking development activities like creating parking slots, dumping sites, children parks as one of the reasons for restoring the urban forests back to it. “All such activities have come to a standstill as the clearances from the Forest Department in this regard are not coming through,” they claimed. To strengthen its claim for restoration of the forest area back to it the MC has attached views of the Principal Secretary, Urban Development, in this regard. As per that it has been stated that the notification of 2006 giving control of forests to the department was not in conformity with the MC Act, 1994. While staking its claim for getting back control over the forests, the MC has said it had been pushed into a major financial crisis after transfer of even the revenue earning properties. |
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Founder’s day of Army Public School
Dagshai, June 1 Urging the students to strive for excellence and national development, Sapru said though the country was facing several problems like caste and communalism, the youth today is rising above such matters due to education, which is a healthy sign. Principal Col A K Maini (retd) said Army Public School, Dagshai, was adjudged as the 13th best boarding school of India in a survey conducted by the Indian Market Research Bureau in October 2008. General Sapru also gave away prizes for achievements in various fields. All-Round Best Student Award went to Sandhaya Kanwar. The prestigious Cock House Trophy for overall best performance was won by Patel House, which also bagged the trophies for cross-country and calligraphy. Tagore House bagged the adventure trophy while Nehru House won the athletic trophy. Indira House lifted the best-kept house trophy while Subhash House received the discipline trophy. |
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Temples vulnerable to burglars
Mandi, June 1 Expressing concern over the increasing temple thefts in the state- in Karsog, Mandi, Solan, Sirmaur, Kunzum in Spiti and Sangla in Kinnaur, police officials said the police has limited manpower to provide security to each temple. The best way to deal with the menace is by installing anti-theft alarms. The police investigation into the temple thefts revealed that burglars frequent the temple premises and get all possible information about the timings from priests or chowkidars before they strike. The antique idols and jewellery have ready markets in metros and burglars sell them to antique smugglers who have their own network in the region. The smugglers also get ready markets in tourist towns like Manali, McLeodganj and Shimla which are frequented by the high-spending foreign tourists. Most of the gompas or monasteries in Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur and temples in Kullu, Mandi, Shimla and Sirmaur have become vulnerable to thefts. Mandi SP Sonal Agnihotri said the police has appealed to all temple committee to install alarms so that burglars could be caught as soon as they strike. The alarms are easily available in the markets and range from Rs 500 to Rs 1000 or so, the SP said. |
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Man held for duping six youths
Shimla, June 1 It was on the basis of a complaint received from the youths that Sahota was arrested. Hailing from Nakodar, Punjab, he had been active in the state since January 2008 promising illegal immigration to foreign shores. “The six youths in a written complaint have alleged that they have paid Rs 2 lakh each to Sahota, who has neither made arrangements to send them abroad nor returned their money,” said SP RM Sharma. The youths are not too well educated and do not have any professional qualification. The six youths, five from Shimla and one from Hamirpur, have told the police that they made the payment to Sahota in instalments as he promised to arrange their travel to England on a business visa. Suspecting that they had been duped, the youths finally approached the police.
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Secy caught under influence of liquor
Sundernagar, June 1 According to the police, on the complaint of residents of the locality the police party nabbed a person yesterday night, who was later identified as Bam Dev Sharma (secretary, Marketing Committee, Mandi), under the influence of liquor. The police got him medically examined and registered a case and released him on bail, as the offence was bailable. It was further told that the accused could be fined up to Rs 5000 and can be sentenced imprisonment for up to six months. According to residents of the locality, they nabbed the accused under the influence of liquor and a rumour had spread in the area that the accused was found with a girl belonging to the locality and was thrashed by her parents and later on by some women. It was further told that the accused was a politically connected person so the police registered the case under bailable provisions of law in order to oblige the political bosses.
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Man held for death of companion
Bilaspur, June 1 They had reportedly set out for hunting yesterday morning. Shyam Lal somehow suffered bullet injuries in the stomach and on the arm. He was rushed to the Regional Hospital from where was referred to the IGMC, Shimla. He breathed his last in the evening there. It may be recalled that hunting is banned in
the state.
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Yajna by Kashmiri Pandits
Kangra, June 1 The yagna, on the occasion of Jaisth Ashtmi, was organised by the Kashmiri Hindu Welfare Society (KHWS) as its annual feature. During the nightlong programme Kashmiri bhajans were sung. Satish Bhat and DP Dassi, president and general secretary of the KHWS, respectively, said Mata Kheer Bhawani of Tulmula in Kashmir valley, a centre of faith for the Kashmiri Pandits, had been a guiding force for this community during the last two decades of migration.
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