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Govt to fine contractors for faulty work
Rain comes as blessing for apple growers
Crop protection under NREGS unfeasible
Pea-crop experiment evokes mixed response
Technical varsity to come up at Palampur
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5 pc DA for state employees: Dhumal
Cong dares BJP to face CBI inquiry
Nadda, Thakur assail Virbhadra
Docs lock horns with health dept
68-year-old rapes minor
NH to seek expert opinion on ‘weak’ road stretches
Cops seize records of market board secy
Girl students honoured
Students’ body flays grading system
Work on IT park to begin soon
Drinking water schemes for villages
Village health centre a boon
Idols stolen from temple
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Govt to fine contractors for faulty work
Shimla, September 21 It was following delay in completion and faulty works that the government had ordered a departmental inquiry. “Heavy penalty will be imposed on contractors besides directing them to redo the work where problems were being faced without any additional payment,” said Ravinder Singh Ravi, minister, Irrigation and Public Health. The penalty is being imposed on contractors who undertook the IPH, PWD and electricity works in the Giri scheme. It was found that the scheme was not functioning properly due to inferior quality work and equipment. Ravi said faulty works and equipment were being replaced so that the scheme could provide maximum possible supply to Shimla. “The scheme is already providing up to 14 MLD water and it is expected that by 2016, we will be able to supply its full capacity of 20 MLD,” he said. Sources said it was decided to impose heavy penalty on the contractors and get the work done from them all over again so that the scheme gave maximum possible supply to the town. “If we had brought in new contractors, there would have been further delay and the objective of giving relief to people would not have been fulfilled,” said a senior official. The Giri scheme, set up with the objective of fulfilling the water requirements of the “Queen of Hills”, has been been facing rough weather for one reason or the other. In fact, the BJP government, after assuming power, had pointed out that substandard material had been used, including bends and gaskets, which had resulted in leakages at several points. Keeping in mind the increasing water requirement of the town, the government had proposed the Rs 11.97 crore Pabbar water supply scheme. The scheme has been posed before the World Bank for funding after getting approval from the central government. With supply from the Pabbar, water requirement of almost six lakh people can be met which is the targetted population in Shimla by the year 2046. |
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Rain comes as blessing for apple growers
Shimla, September 21 The rain came at a time when harvesting was at its peak and prices had started declining due to heavy arrivals of fruit in the market. Over 520 trucks of apple were being sent to market daily when a late burst, at the fag end of the monsoon, suddenly turned drought into deluge. Incessant rain forced growers to suspend harvesting operations and the landslips, which blocked roads at numerous places in the apple belt, affected the movement of trucks. The market had started showing signs of a slump with prices in the Delhi market, where 70 per cent of the produce is disposed of, coming down sharply in the first week of September. However, the sudden reduction in arrivals due to delayed rain saved the market from the impending slump. The rates of superior grade of royal delicious variety plummeted to Rs 1,250 per standard box from Rs 1,550 and that of rich-a-red variety from Rs 1,250 to around Rs 900 per box. However, the spell of inclement weather prevented any further decline. In fact, over the past one week, the rates have increased again and royal delicious is fetching over Rs 1,500 per box and rich-a-red Rs 1,200 per box. Yesterday 2.25 lakh boxes were sent out to various markets. So far, over 85 lakh boxes have been exported. The rain may also help in improving the size of the fruit in higher hill areas and Kinnaur where harvesting commences around third week of September and continues till the end of October. The growers in mid hill and higher hill areas had delayed harvesting in the hope that belated rain would help improve both the quality of fruit and production. It has been a lean year and the total production is likely to be only around 1.40 crore boxes as against 2.56 crore produced last year. However, a redeeming feature has been that even inferior quality fruit is fetching attractive prices and the market has stayed high all through. This is evident from the fact that so far only 320 tonnes of fruit has been procured under the market-intervention scheme as against over 6,500 tonnes last year. |
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Crop protection under NREGS unfeasible
Shimla, September 21 The Union Ministry of Rural Development has considered the proposal of the state under which jobless persons were to be engaged for protecting crops from monkeys and, prima facie, found it unfeasible. It is of the view that it will not be possible to accurately measure the quantum of work performed by them. The main emphasis is on creation of durable assets through works executed under the programme. Crop protection work does not fit in the schemes of things. The Vidhan Sabha had, during the recent monsoon session, passed a resolution, urging the Centre to include the scheme under NREGS. Chief Minister PK Dhumal had taken up the matter with the Union Minister but chances of its inclusion are slim. Himachal Pradesh has been one of the leading states in implementation of the scheme and last year it spent Rs 332.28 crore, far ahead of Uttarakhand (Rs 135 crore), Haryana (Rs 110 crore) and Punjab (Rs 71.77 crore). This year too it was hopeful of achieving a target of Rs 450 crore by the end of the year. The state government has decided to focus on activities which enhance livelihoods so that the programme not only provides jobs, but also becomes an effective tool for poverty alleviation. Apart from weaker sections of the society, small and marginal farmers will be able to earn wages even while working on their own land under the revised scheme. Works like levelling of land, digging of pits for raising orchards, application of fertilisers, fungicides and insecticides, construction of water tanks and rainwater harvesting structures, irrigation channels and other allied works, could be taken up on farmers’ land belonging to weaker sections. It will help transform wasteland into sustainable income-generating assets, improve productivity and, in turn, increase returns. The panchayats have been asked to come forward with such schemes to ensure maximum benefit to the poor. The material component under the scheme will not exceed 40 per cent of the cost and in case it does, beneficiary, on whose land the work is carried out, will have to bear the additional cost. |
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Pea-crop experiment evokes mixed response
Malana (Kullu), September 21 Of the 225 members enrolled with the Malana Cooperative Society, only 92 members sowed peas. They produced 40 quintals peas from 118 kg seed. Villagers said the hailstorm had destroyed 60 per cent of the peas in early July. “We could not manage it well. The first consignment of peas which reached the market in pathetic condition depressed many growers,” said Dile Ram, panchayat pradhan, Malana. Even the NGO mismanaged the show and did not guide them properly. Before their first consignment of 22-quintal peas hit the market at Bandrol in Kullu, the high quality peas from Lahaul had already captured the markets,
the villagers rued. “The peas sold for just Rs 6 per kg at Bandrol as they were in a bad condition due to heat,” said Chande Ram, secretary, Malana cooperative. But amid mood of gloom some villagers had reasons to cheer. “We are selling Rs 32 per kg to the project people executing the 105 Malana-I project,”
they added. But all things considered, villagers have taken the first pea experiment in a positive way.
“We have learnt that good quality fetches better price,” said Baghi Ram, president,
cooperative society. “Next year we will grow more and better quality peas even cabbage and potatoes using sprays and fertilisers,” the villagers asserted. Malana Vikalp adviser OP Sharma said success or failure of the NGO would be judged after a gap of three to five years. “The project aims to win over villagers from the contraband cultivation. We are optimistic and will take care of weaknesses and time the next sowing of peas in March and July,” he added. |
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Technical varsity to come up at Palampur
The university is being brought up by SAI group of institutes that already has engineering colleges in Pathankot and Amritsar in Punjab. SK Punj, chairman, SAI group of institutes, while talking to The Tribune, said most of the private universities that had come up in Himachal had set up their campus in areas bordering Punjab. “However, we have decided to set our campus at Palampur, the heart of Kangra district, having maximum population in the state. According to our estimate, students from Himachal spend more than Rs 100 crore on getting technical education in institutes outside the state. We intend to provide education facilities to students on their doorsteps,” he added. Punj further said initially the university would offer just technical courses, gradually adding professional courses in the curriculum. “We would also try to structure our courses according to the needs of local students,” he said. The university would be the second private university in Kangra district. Arni University, that has come up in Kandrori area, has already started admissions. Since Arni university is located on the Himachal border on the Pathankot-Jalandhar highway, it is attracting most of the students from Punjab. However, SAI university would have to depend on local students. This would also be the second university in Palampur area that already has an agriculture university and Institute of Himalayan Bio-Resource Technology (IHBT), a CSIR centre. With the setting up of the present university, Kangra will head a step closer towards becoming an educational hub of the state. Besides the above said institutes, a Central University is also proposed in Dehra area of Kangra. However, for the project has got stalled due to political reasons. National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) has also started functioning at Kangra and a food and craft institute is proposed in Khaniara village near
Dharamsala. |
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5 pc DA for state employees: Dhumal
Hamirpur, September 21 This was stated by Chief Minister PK Dhumal while talking to mediapersons at Toauni Devi today. He said, “The pensioners will start getting the benefit from October 1 and will get enhanced pensions from November 1.” Keeping in view the geographical conditions of the state, “Prashashan janta ke dwar” programme will be continued since a large number of people cannot visit the state headquarters, he added. Reacting to Union minister Virbhadra Singh’s comments that “the state government ministers must remain in their skins”, Dhumal said, “Virbhadra Singh should mind that such assertions could create a situation where he would himself have to resign from the ministry.” Contesting state Congress chief Kaul Singh’s claim regarding appointments of 18,0000 teachers by the state government, Dhumal said the government had appointed and promoted 10,800 teachers till now and was committed to appoint 18,0000 teachers which would take some time. Setting aside criticism of his son Anurag Thakur by a few leaders, Dhumal said, “Anurag is promoting the game of cricket in the state which is indeed commendable. However, certain people are unnecessarily criticising him out of jealousy.”
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Cong dares BJP to face CBI inquiry
Bilaspur, September 21 He said this was essential from public point of view as industries were enjoying benefits worth crores of rupees under the industrial package sanctioned by the central government for the state. Addressing mediapersons at the Circuit House here this afternoon, Kaul Singh said people have the right to know if this was the sole such case in which a top officer of the state environment department was indicted. He said the Chief Minister could not escape responsibility only by saying that let this or that leader file an affidavit if CBI inquiry was required into this matter. Thakur charged that all development was at standstill since the BJP took over power in the state and it were only NREGA and Mid-Himalayan Watershed Projects under which development works were being implemented in state and both these were the projects of the central government. Large number of Congress leaders, including state vice-president Ram Lal Thakur, district president Rajesh Dharmani and Hamirpur leader Narender Thakur were also present. |
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Nadda, Thakur assail Virbhadra
Shimla, September 21 The ministers said it did not behove a leader of the stature of Virbhadra Singh to issue baseless statements against PK Dhumal and terming him a “majboor” chief minister. “Rather than issuing cheap and baseless statements, he should help in expediting developmental work in Himachal with central assistance,” they said. He should refrain from making such wrong statements especially when certain Congress leaders were raising doubts on his functioning when he was the chief minister, they added. They also said it was wrong to twist facts regarding a minister who had to leave the Cabinet meeting due to ill health. The two ministers said the pace of development in Himachal had been expedited during the BJP regime. “This fact has been recognised at the national level through a survey done by a magazine which rated Himachal as the fastest moving state besides ranking it at the top in seven areas,” they added. |
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Docs lock horns with health dept
Mandi, September 21 According to sources in the health department, Dr Puri enjoys a clout in the government and hence was re-employed twice in the past. Even now, Dr Puri was was given an extension (according to the health minister, she was re-employed) till March, 2009, in violation of the model code of conduct, justifying it on the ground that some important health projects were on. However, she was again given an extension till September 30 this year. Resentment has been brewing among the state health cadre, demanding strict enforcement of superannuation rules as and when an official reached that stage. Taking the state government head-on, the HMOA charged that the state government was hell-bent upon ruining promotional avenues of other senor medical professionals. “The repetitive extension or re-employment of Dr Puri is unacceptable to us and we oppose it,” asserted HPMOA’s general secretary Dr JN Chauhan. Meanwhile, Health Minister Rajiv Bindal said Dr Puri was “re-employed” in the department, not given any extension. Dr Puri did not take calls despite repeated attempts to get her view on the controversy.
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68-year-old rapes minor
Mandi, September 21 Though the police swung into action after the family members of the victim lodged a complaint on Sunday evening, the accused is yet to be arrested as he fled from his house when the police reached there today. According to sources, the girl had undergone medical examination but
doctors had reserved the opinion. Her blood-stained clothes have been sent for forensic examination to the state forensic lab at Junga, the sources added. According to the FIR lodged in the case, the girl was grazing cattle in the nearby field on September 17. Doda Ram, who was working in his field, lured the girl and allegedly
raped her. The sobbing victim came back home in a state of shock and narrated the traumatic experience to her parents. Since the village was situated in a remote area, her elder brother came to the police station yesterday and lodged the complaint. SHO Sundernagar, when contacted, said a case of rape had been registered and the police was making all efforts to nab the culprit. |
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NH to seek expert opinion on ‘weak’ road stretches
Mandi, September 21 After taking stock of the danger of falling rocks and boulders highlighted by The Tribune in these columns, a team of NH engineers led by chief engineer KK Kampani conducted a spot examination of the “weak road stretches at Bamnu Nullah and Guma on Jogindernagar-Mandi and other spots recently. However, engineers remained a puzzled lot, as they had no solution in sight. In fact, the 200-m road stretch at Guma and 100-m stretch at Bamnu Nullah on the Jogindernagar-Mandi highway pose danger to commuters as loose falling boulders continue to be a constant threat to travellers, more particularly during
the rains. The commuters are stranded for hours as traffic comes to standstill at Similarly, the falling boulders pose life hazards at Rais Nullah. Landslides have become a regular hazard at Gambhrola between Swarghat and Bilaspur, where the traffic is blocked for hours during the rains. Talking to the Tribune after inspecting the “weak spots” on the highways, Kampani said they have sought expert opinion from geologists. “After getting their report we will start work on the strengthening of these weak spots. We have put
signs boards forewarning commuters at these points but signboards are uprooted by anti-social elements from time to time,” NH engineers rued. |
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Cops seize records of market board secy
Mandi, September 21 According to sources, the police raided the office and seized the records pertaining to the committee. The RTI Bureau had lodged a complaint against the secretary, charging him of committing irregularities in the functioning of the committee and managing his hold on the post. RTI information sought by the bureau revealed that the post of the secretary could not be held for more than one year by an employee who is deputed each year from the agricultural department. But Bamdev has been holding this post for the past more than seven years, raising doubts about the functioning of the committee. Citing the recent case, RTI Bureau Mandi president Lawan Thakur charged that the secretary, in his bid to hold on to the post, made a false entry for his extension into agenda of the committee meeting held under APMC chairman Ved Sharma. “It was neither discussed in the meeting nor the secretary brought it to the notice of the chairman,” he charged. When Bamdev Sharma was contacted, he claimed that the extension issue was discussed in the meeting and was passed by members. OC Verma, managing director of board, said he had sought a detailed report from the committee. |
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Girl students honoured
Chamba, September 21 He also gave away cash prizes to students of local schools who excelled in their examinations. Prizes were won by Neha Anand, Natasha Singh and Priya Singh for outshining in class XII examination and Ankasha Gautam, Anmol Malhotra and Khushboo Sharma in class X examination. Surprisingly, all class XII students were from local Government Girls’ Senior Secondary School and all class X students were from local DAV School. Later, while giving details about the scheme Dr Naresh Bedi said the scheme was launched in the memory of his father late Mangat Ram Bedi. The scheme envisaged providing cash rewards of Rs 10,000, Rs 8,000 and Rs 6,000 to girl students who stand first, second and third, respectively, in class XII and Rs 7,000, Rs 6,000 and Rs 5,000 to girls who stand first, second and third, respectively in class X examination, Bedi added. On the occasion, a cultural programme presented by school students regaled the audience. |
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Students’ body flays grading system
Bilaspur, September 21 This was stated by Vijender Kesari, national general secretary of the All-India Students Federation (AISF), while addressing 14th state-level conference of the AISF here yesterday. He said the AISF would oppose such half-baked policies of the government, as these were not the results of proper consideration of consequences to common masses in future. Grading system in the classes would not only destroy the spirit of competition among students but would also give their future in the hands of teachers who were not properly trained to forget their prejudices.
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Work on IT park to begin soon
Shimla, September 21 BK Aggarwal, Principal Secretary, Information Technology, said here recently that the state government had already invited global tenders for setting up the project. Spread over an area of 64.73 acres, the park would be set up at an estimated cost of about Rs 462 crore. The broad concept of the project envisaged to set up an “IT Destination” comprising core (IT) activity and value additions such as residential, commercial and social infrastructure on public private partnership (PPP) model.
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Drinking water schemes for villages
Kangra, September 21 IPH Minister Ravinder Ravi stated this at Jawalamukhi today while addressing members of the IPH JE’s Association on the occasion of their annual convention. He said in order to provide drinking water to the common people JE’s and fitters have been asked to be in the field and to register complaints and arrangements have been made at the lowest level. He announced that for new water connection there was no need of a report from the patwari and only a simple affidavit would do the job. Earlier, JP Dutt state president of the association raised demands and the minister assured that the government would consider their genuine demands seriously. |
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Village health centre a boon
Shimla, September 21 The centre has attracted over 1,550 patients from surrounding areas and in all as many as 650 laboratory tests have been conducted during the period. It is catering to the basic healthcare need of nine panchayats including Shakra, Tattapani, Bindla, Balindi, Bagshad, Sawindhar, Saaj and Sunni, besides Thalli. Dr Himanshu Sehgal, who has been associated with the centre, said the centre had also been carrying out counselling on the need of ante-natal and post-natal care, immunisation and combating
anaemia. |
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Idols stolen from temple
Shimla, September 21 It was in the wee hours today that villagers intimated the police about the theft. A police team, led by Rampur DSP, left for the village and nakas were put up immediately at all exit points, especially on the Uttarakhand border on Rohru side. District police chief RM Sharma said one of the idols made of brass was found near the temple. “The idol must have fallen while the thieves fled with the precious idols. An alert has been sounded and all vehicles are being searched at exit points,” he said. About 5 kg of silver, besides one ashtdhatu idol and masks, have been stolen, he added. |
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Dharamsala, September 21