|
|
|
|
Rail Network
Cancer society to launch awareness project
Hike in medical seats doubtful: Bindal
Industry goes without power
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Grey natural pearls found
Thousands of shells are seen scattered over the reservoir of Pong Dam where the first-ever three grey natural pearls were found by officers of the Himachal Pradesh Fisheries Department on Sunday.
A Tribune photo
2 killed in landslide
Postmaster suspended
Khimi dares Cong to file affidavit
24 Punjab Regiment scales peak
BJP: Virbhadra must resign
|
|
House resents raw deal to state
Rakesh Lohumi Tribune News Service
Shimla, August 7 Speakers from the treasury benches and the opposition were unanimous regarding the neglect of the state which had virtually not seen any worthwhile expansion of the rail network over the past 60 years. Every member who participated in the discussion raised by Roop Singh Thakur of the BJP, lamented that the only broad-gauge project taken up after Independence to connect Nangal with Talwara was under implementation for the past over 30 years. Chief Minister PK Dhumal minced no words in criticising the policy of the Centre and said states where people took to violence were rewarded whereas peaceful states like Himachal Pradesh were handed out a raw deal. The coalition culture at the Centre, with regional parties managing to secure important portfolios like the Railways, had further accentuated the imbalances. Ministers adopted a parochial approach serving the interests of their own constituencies, he added. China had already built a rail track through Tibet right down to the country’s border and it planned six more tracks, posing a serious threat to the national security but no concrete steps were being taken to expand the rail network in the border states to meet the challenge, he said. Rail line to Leh via Manali should be taken on a priority. He approved of the suggestion of members for construction of rail link from Kalka via Baddi and Nalagarh to join the Bhanupali-Bilaspur line in place of the Chandigarh-Baddi track which had not been found viable because of non-availability of land. Initiating the discussion, Roop Singh said two narrow gauge lines were built by the British and the state was still out of the broad-gauge map. He said the Centre had allocated Rs 47 crore for Nangal-Talwara, Bhanupali-Bilaspur and Chandigarh-Baddi projects in the current year’s budget. Randhir Sharma and Satpal Satti called for early completion of the 83-km Nangal-Talwara line, while Harsh Wardhan urged the government to pursue the Yamunanagar-Paonta Sahib-Kala Amb- Ambala rail link to provide connectivity to Sirmour. Mukesh Agnihotri wanted Una to be linked with Jejon and a goods trains to be introduced.
|
||
|
Cancer society to launch awareness project
Shimla, August 7 Having done pioneering work in various parts of the country as a leading specialist and president of the society, Dr Suraj Verma, will formally launch the project on August 14. Over 5,000 persons between Mashobra and Naldehra will be screened through a door-to-door survey in villages falling in the area. “It is unfortunate that despite advancement in medical field, people are still dying of cancer because of lack of awareness and above all delay in detection,” said Dr Verma. Despite the best education, even today, in 80 per cent cases, cancer was detected either at the third or fourth stage, when a person could not be cured, he added. “Community involvement being a must for any project, local girls will be involved in the survey which will help screen the potential cases and also create awareness by distributing relevant literature about cancer and its possible symptoms,” he said. “Depending on the medical condition, patients will be sent to the IGMC, the PGI (Chandigarh), AIIMS (Delhi) and Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital,” he added. He intends involving corporate houses and hospitality industry in giving liberal donations for the noble cause. Dr Verma felt despite a network of health institutions, not much efforts had been made to make people aware about the disease. “Another aspect which pains me immensely is the manner in which some corporate hospitals indulge in indiscriminate use of expensive medicines, more out of commercial pursuit than medical requirement,” he lamented. VK Bhatnagar, chairman, Himachal Cancer Detection Society, will be assisting Dr Verma in his crusade against the lethal disease. |
||
|
Hike in medical seats doubtful: Bindal
Shimla, August 7 Replying to a question of Randhir Sharma in the Vidhan Sabha, he said a proposal to increase the number of MBBS seats from 65 to 100 and postgraduate seats from 39 to 48 at the IGMC had been sent afresh to the Centre. An
earlier proposal was rejected by the Centre on August 23, 2004. The case, which was being followed up at various levels, would take some time. The Centre would have to refer it to the Medical Council of India (MCI) for conducting inspection of the college for the purpose, he said. Thereafter, the council would submit its report to the Centre on the basis of which permission could be granted for increasing the seats. Bindal said the government was doing all within its means but the prospects of getting a nod were not very bright. The government had taken steps to remove various shortcomings in infrastructure like library, auditorium and space for classes as pointed by the
MCI so that seats could be enhanced at the earliest, he added. He also said there was a proposal for introducing postgraduate courses at Dr Rajendra Prasad Medical College, Tanda, with 21 seats in selected disciplines for which the faculty was already available. Answering to a question posed by Roop Singh, he said the government
had also taken up with the Centre the case for upgradation of Rajiv Gandhi Ayurvedic College, Paprola, to a national ayurvedic institution. Revenue Minister Gulab Singh assured Praveen Sharma that an inquiry would be conducted into the change of entry in the revenue record and immediate mutation of a building which had been in the possession of the state electricity board for the past several decades. He said the hasty manner in which the whole case had been dealt raised doubt and an inquiry would bring to light if there were any irregularities. |
||
|
Industry goes without power
Solan, August 7 The board was trying to distribute the 70 MVA of power between Baddi, Barotiwala and Nalagarh industrial areas and the industrial units were directed to make use of generation sets. A top executive of a major pharmaceutical unit said, “Our production has come down by as much as 70 per cent and adequate diesel is also not available to run the diesel sets to meet the production targets. The cost of production has gone up. Though the board said it will compensate them for the use of diesel-generation sets, it will create more complexities in availing the benefits.” Another pharmaceutical entrepreneur while ruing shortness in power supply said, “For the first time we are feeling that Himachal has transformed into Haryana as power supply has become erratic Though we have diesel-run generation sets, the power cuts are so abrupt that it disturbs the entire production activity. At times the power supply is snapped in the midst of crucial production processes and this leads to wastages.” Board’s executive engineer Arun Gupta said they were in the testing stage and hopefully power from the 100 MVA transformer would be restored later in the evening today. This would help provide some more power to the industry. He added that all efforts were being made to restore the power as early as possible. Board officials have been also working out a roster system in consultation with the industry so that some power could be saved. The fact that the restoration of the entire sub-station would take few months the board had sought help of the industry to save some power in the form of weekly offs so that uninterrupted power was available on other days. |
||
|
Grey natural pearls found
Pong Dam, August 7 These findings have generated immense interest among nature lovers who feel that more research should be conducted so that the potential of this precious gem could be exploited for the welfare of the Himachalis and the country as a whole. Curiosity was writ large on the faces of employees of the Fisheries Department, including assistant director, Pong Dam, Ashok Kumar Verma, when they spotted certain shells on the bed of the dam on Sunday. After collecting the mussels embedded with grey natural pearls, they informed the director-cum-warden, fisheries, BD Sharma, at Bilaspur about the same. Verma claimed to have found three natural pearls during his inspection at the dam. The size of one pearl was 3 mm and two were 2 mm. The shells of freshwater mussels embedded with grey natural pearls were lying along with millions of shells spread over the reservoir bed. An elated Sharma, however, claimed that the department had already introduced freshwater pearl culture in lower Shivalik hills, especially in Una district. He claimed that more than 16 fish farmers were engaged in culturing the freshwater mussels (Lamellaeden marginellis) in their fish-ponds. A progressive fish farmer of the district, Dinanath of Bangana, has been successfully producing design pearls for the past one year. “We have been exploring the possibilities of mussels stock in the Pong reservoir for its further extension since February. Certain farmers in Kangra district have preferred stock due to its good quality than what is available in the rivers of Una,” he claimed. |
||
|
2 killed in landslide
Mandi, August 7 Besides, the Shil khud blockade, triggered by heavy rains, damaged property worth Rs 1.20 crore in 20 house-cum-shops, sending residents running for cover on Thursday. A joint team of district administration accompanied by Transport Minister Mohinder Singh reached Kumarda to retrieve the bodies of the two victims buried in a mound of debris.
Raj Kumar, who hailed from Dehra and ran a clinic there, survived in the landslide and was referred to the Mandi Zonal Hospital for treatment. The rescue team provided first-aid which trekked for six hours to reach the spot. The Mandi-Dharampur highway was breached at several places and was yet be restored at Gora
Nala. The landslide destroyed three houses, three cowsheds, and washed away 10 animals and a private bus (HP-33-4477). Restoration work under Mandi DC Onkar Sharma managed to transport passengers as Gora Nala culvert was washed away by the surging water.
Thunag township in Seraj suffered heavy damage as the blockade in the Shil khud flooded houses. Residents escaped from the flood but lost their belongings and other items, said Vinod Kumar,
pradhan, Byopar Mandal, Thunag. Rural Development Minister and Seraj MLA Jai Ram Thakur said 67 flood-hit families would be given a relief of Rs 2.29 lakh and two JCBs were working to clear the debris. “The loss is estimated to be around Rs 1.20 crore at Thunag while the total loss is yet to be assessed,” he
added. Mohinder Singh gave Rs 25,000 to Raj Kumar, Rs 10,000 to Amar Singh, Attar Singh,
Javanti, who lost their houses and Rs 5,000 each to Gopal Chand, Navratru and Hari Singh whose houses were partially damaged, under the relief manual. “The total loss at Kumarda has been estimated to be Rs 10 lakh, but we are making an assessment of the loss at Dharampur block,” he stated. |
||
|
Postmaster suspended
Mandi, August 7 After the scam was exposed, the inspector posts raided Dharam Pal’s house and recovered Rs 22,000 from him, sources revealed. Inspector posts Sanjay Kumar said the department was trying to collect more evidence in this matter so that criminal proceedings against the accused could begin. RTI information revealed that Dharam Pal was pocketing pensions being given by the social welfare department to six persons in the state. RTI Bureau president Lawan Thakur demanded that the department should make the system transparent and department of posts and telegraph should update its records so that the deserving gets pension. The RTI has also lodged a complaint with SP Mandi in this matter to book the accused in the case. |
||
|
Khimi dares Cong to file affidavit
Shimla, August 7 “Demonstrations and protests being organised by the Congress against the Vigilance action only exposes the party’s double standards on morality,” he said. He said the entire happenings after the registration of the Vigilance case clearly indicated that the Congress was a directionless party with no public support. He said when the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) had confirmed that the voice in the CD was that of Virbhadra Singh and his wife, there was no reason why an FIR should not have
been registered. The BJP chief said an issueless Congress party was now trying to whip public sympathy by terming the action as politically motivated and vendetta
against its opponents. “The Congress should desist from resorting to cheap tactics and fight elections on issues and not gimmicks,” he said.
|
||
|
24 Punjab Regiment scales peak
Shimla, August 7 Partially covered by snow throughout the year, the peak is considered to be the abode of Lord Shiva. Legend has it that Lord Shiva meditated there during winter. The peak has a natural Shiva lingam. The team comprising two officers, one junior commissioned officer and 12 jawans was flagged off on July 31 and after three days of gruelling trek through rocky ravines it reached the peak. Deputy leader of the team Maj Karan Vashishtha said the team also cleaned the base of the mountain, which had been littered with plastic waste, tins and biodegradable garbage. This is the second peak above 6,000-m altitude that the team had conquered. Earlier, it scaled the Mount Gangchua.
|
||
|
BJP: Virbhadra must resign
Shimla, August 7 The BJP legislature party, which met here today under the chairmanship of Chief Minister PK Dhumal, said Virbhadra Singh had not just misled people of the state but also the court by filing an affidavit that it was not his voice. “The reaction of the Congress party members in staging walkouts and holding demonstrations is an act of frustration,” said Randhir Sharma, secretary, BJP legislature party. He added that if the BJP wanted to indulge in political vendetta, it could have done so immediately after assuming power. The Vigilance was doing its job in a fair manner after seeking legal opinion, he added.
|
||
|
| 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 | |
The Cancer Detection Society of India (CDSI) will be launching its Rural Cancer Services in form of an awareness project and adoption scheme in the Mashobra-Naldehra area so that early detection can help in cure of the disease.
Pong Dam, August 7
