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Another fake marks sheet racket busted
Kasauli Development Plan to be notified again
Economic slowdown may ease power situation
‘Govt to give priority to villages’
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Power shortage may affect new industries
Father gets life term for killing 3 kids
Contracts of dental docs not to be renewed
Wife commits suicide, husband held
Dowry Case
Govt to end Bhakra oustees’
ordeal
Nagar parishad seeks funds
Ragging made me singer: Kunal
‘Expedite pay fixation issue’
30 hurt in bus mishap
Two youths die in mishap
'Karva chauth’ package
Lamba new ARTRAC GOC
Decomposed body found
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Another fake marks sheet racket busted
Dharamsala, September 29 The two accused--- Surinder and Bharat Bhushan of the Indora area--- used to contact students who were declared fail in the board examinations. They used to assure the students that they could reduce their misery from fail to reappear or compartment in one subject in case they filled the re-evaluation forms with the board. For this service, the accused charged Rs 4,000 from each student. The accused also got hand in glove with education board employee Gyaneshwar Thapa, who allegedly stole an authorised stamp and some mark sheets from the board’s office. He started preparing fake mark sheets in which the students instead of fail were shown as pass with reappear in one subject. Many students with the help of the said fake marks sheets took admission to higher classes despite being declared fail in the board examinations. The matter came to the fore recently when around 20 students filled the forms for reappear examinations with the board. When the board authorities entered the data into the computer the students who had applied for reappear were displayed as fail. The board authorities then forwarded the cases to the district police for further investigation. Kangra Additional SP Umapati Jamwal, who is investigating the case, said during interrogation the accused revealed that they used to divide the money collected from students equally among themselves. He added further that investigation into the case was still going on and role of other persons in the racket cannot be ruled out. The court had remanded all three arrested accused into the police custody. The education board authorities have also suspended the accused employee. It is not for the first time that a fake marks sheet racket has been busted in the education board. Former chairman of the education board BR Rahi and former Congress minister Singhi Ram are already facing charges of producing fake marks sheet for latter’s daughter. |
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Kasauli Development Plan to be notified again
Shimla, September 29 The KDP had already been approved by the Cabinet and only notification had to be issued. However, it was on the advice of the Law Department that it was decided to re-invite public objections and to grant greater relaxation for
rural pursuits. With the exercise of inviting public objections being undertaken once again, the KDP would be further delayed. It was on the directions of the high court that the government included some of the villages in the suburbs of Kasauli to cover Greater Kasauli under the provisions of the TCP Act. Nine new villages have been included to the existing 25 villages so that no unregulated construction activity could come up even in the suburbs
of Kasauli. The entire portion falling under Army Cant would be governed under the Cantonment Area Act, 1924, and the TCP Act would not be applicable here. The TCP Department had now given relaxation for construction of 600 sq m built up area without seeking permission so that the rural populace does not feel stifled by regulations. At present no construction activity valued above Rs 25 lakh can take place in the Kasauli area so that the pristine environs of the hill town do not get vitiated by excessive urbanisation and commercial activity. The HC had directed the government to regulate construction activity in Kasauli so that the place retains its old world charm and commercial complexes do not put strain on its resources like land, water and electricity. The Kasauli Bachao Andolan had sought court intervention to regulate construction activity. It is reliably learnt that there will be strict curb on excessive construction activity in the hill town and only those projects, including hotels, will be allowed to come up if they prove to be an asset to the place. It is likely that the government will not provide water to any commercial venture be it a hotel or an apartment and they will have to make their arrangement. The water resources of Kasauli are already under tremendous strain and only 70 litre per person is being provided against the urban norm of 150 litre per person. Though one third of the total area that will form part of the KDP is cantonment area, even then strict regulations need to be in place to save the town from mindless constructions. |
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Economic slowdown may ease power situation
Shimla, September 29 The state electricity board had projected an annual growth of over 25 per cent but the actual growth in the last financial year, when the global meltdown hit the economy, has been as low as 8.5 per cent. There was a sudden surge in demand for power in the industrial sector following the grant of central package of incentives, leading to sharp increase in power consumption from 2005-06 onwards. The state electricity board, which was forced to make additional purchases of power to meet the demand in the lean winter months, can breathe easy for now as the demand is likely to remain sluggish for quite sometime. The total consumption of electricity within the state shot up from 2925 million units in 2004-05 to 3568 units in 2005-06 and to 4300 million units in 2006-07, registering a growth of over 20 per cent. The industrial consumption increased from 1979 million units to 3100 million units over the period with an annual growth of 30 per cent. However, in 2008-09 the total consumption in the state was only 5460 million units, a modest increase of 432 million units over the previous year. The growth was almost one-third of the projections and exactly half of the previous year’s growth of 17 per cent. The industrial consumption increased by just 285 million units to 3385 million units in 2008-09 as against 600 units in the previous year. The growth rate was 9.2 per cent, down from 18 per cent. Apart from economic slowdown the uncertainty over the extension of industrial package which is expiring on March 31, 2010, has held back investors. However, the softening of demand for power will be a blessing in disguise for the state electricity board which had to procure much more power from outside the state to meet the peak winter demand which had swelled from 140 lakh per day to 195 million units over a period of three years. The state faces acute shortfall during winter as demand goes up and generation at various hydroelectric projects declines due to reduction in discharge of various rivers and streams. The generation from board’s own projects has been below normal this year as lack of snow during the last winter and deficient rains during recent monsoon has caused significant decline in discharge. |
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‘Govt to give priority to villages’
Bilaspur, September 29 This was stated by Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal while addressing a largely attended meeting at Jhandutta after laying foundation stones of Rs 22.34 lakh sub-treasury building, Rs 10 lakh Baba Sahib Dr Ambedkar bhawan and Rs 7 crore Government Degree College building, about 50 km from here
today. Dhumal said his government had decided to give top priority to roads, health, education and self-employment apart from keeping an eye on faster development of weaker sections in the villages of the state. He said villagers were forced to go to towns because they did not find the basic facilities here and the government was committed to ensure that all modern facilities were provided in the villages itself. This would help them stick to their homes and fields, he added. The Chief Minister said Rs 353 crore Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Kisan Baghwan
Yojna, with 80 per cent subsidy content for setting up of poly houses and allied facilities, which was started in the state last year and the recently inaugurated Rs 300 crore Doodh Ganga Pariyojna through
NABARD, would provide very cheap and attractive loans to farmers and cattle breeders upto Rs 3 lakh. These were two very ambitious schemes that would help farmers and can bring an economic revolution in the rural areas of the state, he added. The Chief Minister responded to earlier demands of local MLA and Vidhan Sabha Deputy Speaker Rikhi Ram Kaundal and said
Marottan-Delhi bus service would be timed in such a way that it reached Delhi at 4 am so that farmers could get better price for their fresh flowers, mostly sent through this bus service. He said steps were afoot to provide air-conditioned buses to carry unseasonal costly and perishable articles, flowers and vegetables to the outside markets. Forest Minister JP Nadda also addressed the meeting while Naina Devi MLA Randhir Sharma was present along with other party leaders. |
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Power shortage may affect new industries
Solan, September 29 This had created a piquant situation for the industries as the 2003 central industrial package will expire in March next year. Though there was talk of the package getting extended for a year, but the announcement was yet to come through. Investors were, therefore, in a hurry to initiate their operations at the earliest as only then they could avail the incentives. Though the state electricity board was hopeful of commissioning the Uparla
Nangal-based 200 MVA sub-station by the end of October to meet the power requirements, it was slated to take another three months. The SWCA has, recently, cleared as many as 20 new projects out of which 10 units would be set up in the BBN area. These units comprise a power-intensive forging unit at Manpura village, a distillery unit near
Nalagarh, yarn unit, pet bottles manufacturing, rubber unit, edible refined vegetable oil, etc. Though Manoj Sharma, director, industries, said the issue of power shortage had not been brought to his notice by officials of the power board, he said the units would be commissioned before March next year. Though field officials said they were issuing power availability certificates (PACs) once a unit sought a clearance from the
SWCA, they admitted that in the present situation, when there was almost 40 per cent shortage and units were generating captive power using DG sets, provision of power for the new units could become a problem in the near future. It could also create problems as after issuing a PAC, they were bound to release power connections to a unit or else the investor could move court. It seemed like a race against time for the electricity department which is trying its best to arrange adequate power for the industries in the BBN area which housed almost 70 per cent of the state’s industries.
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Father gets life term for killing 3 kids
Dharamsala, September 29 Deputy District Attorney BR Marwaha, while talking to The Tribune, said a case against the accused was registered on August 22, 2007. The accused, a resident of Bakrada village in Indora area of Kangra district, had three children--- two sons and a daughter. He, however, suspected his children to be illegitimate and often threatened his wife that he
would kill them. On August 21, 2007, his wife had gone to her parental house along with her three children. Bidhi Chand reached the house of his in-laws and found the children alone with his dumb sister-in-law. He allegedly tied down his sister-in-law and killed the children with a sharp-edged weapon. While he was committing the heinous act, Kishan Chand, a passerby, heard the screams
of children. He reached the window and saw Bidhi Chand committing the crime. Kishan Chand tried to catch the accused who, however, managed
to flee from the spot only to be caught later. He was sentenced to life imprisonment and asked to submit a fine of Rs 30,000 by the judge under Section 302 of the IPC. In case of default of fine, the accused would have to undergo further
imprisonment of one year. |
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Contracts of dental docs not to be renewed
Shimla, September 29 Addressing a press conference here today, the Contractual Dental Doctors Association urged the government to reconsider its decision, as they would be badly affected. “How can the government penalise us for a faulty selection criterion which surprisingly is not much different from the one being adopted now by the RKSs,” said Dr Amitabh Sharma, secretary of the association. They demanded that the government should make public the report of the inquiry that had been conducted into their appointments. “In the fresh recruitment of doctors being made by the RKS, weightage is being given only to interview and academics have practically been ignored,” he said. Dr Sharma pointed out that when there was not much difference in the recruitment norms adopted by the Congress regime for their selection in 2006 and the ones being adopted by the RKS now, then there was no justification in terminating their contract. They said in case the government still does not consider their plea for renewal of contract, they would knock the doors of the court. The government decided to terminate the contract of the 64 dental doctors appointed during the Congress regime on the plea that their selection was based on a system where 40 per cent marks were for interview and the selection board could use this to benefit any candidate of their choice.
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Wife commits suicide, husband held
Nurpur, September 29 She had reportedly consumed some poisonous substance
yesterday. According to information, the police took possession of the woman’s body when it was being taken for cremation, following intimation given by panchayat pradhan last evening. The accused did not inform about her mysterious death to her parents and made an unsuccessful bid to destroy the evidence by making all arrangements to cremate her. Maya Devi of Banet village near Chuwari and the mother of the deceased, in her complaint to the police, alleged that her son-in-law used to physically and mentally torture her daughter who had married him about 12 years ago. She also suspected that her daughter was murdered. The police, after conducting a post-mortem examination, handed over the body to the relatives who cremated it in the presence of the police at Danni village this afternoon. According to the post-mortem report, suspected poisoning
has been found along with minor injuries on face and arms of the deceased. The police has started investigations into the case. |
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Woman commits suicide
Our Correspondent
Kangra September 29 According to the police, Indu Bala, a mother of three, allegedly consumed some poisonous substance yesterday at her home and was rushed to the hospital where she was declared dead by the doctors. Rajinder Kumar, a resident of Ripomisra village near Amb and the brother of the victim, lodged a report at the Jawalamukhi police station that Indu Bala was married eight years ago to one Rumail Singh and had two daughters and a son. She was allegedly tortured by her husband and in-laws Sankar Dass and Krishena for dowry for the past many years. He alleged that after the victim gave birth to two daughters, she was tortured for the same by them. Unable to bear constant humiliation, she committed suicide, he said. The body of the victim was handed over to her relatives for last rites after a post-mortem examination. However, the post-mortem report was awaited, accoring to the police. The police has registered a case under Sections 306 and 498 of the IPC and the investigation was in progress. However, no arrests were made till the filing of the report.
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Govt to end Bhakra oustees’
ordeal
Bilaspur, September 29 This was stated by Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal at a public meeting organised here today after inaugurating Rs 60 lakh fire brigade building at Nihal sector. The Chief Minister said it was also the duty of the central government, BBMB and the beneficiary neighbouring states to share this burden of their rehabilitation and his government would take up the matter with a view to end their ordeal as soon
as possible. He said two new sectors would be created at new Bilaspur township and rehabilitation plots would be allotted to the remaining deserving oustees. A state-level meeting of the Bhakra Dam Oustees Rehabilitation and Advisory Committee under his chairmanship would be invited very soon to settle other issues, he added. The Chief Minister said an amount of Rs 16.50 crore would be spent on improving the condition of the National Highway-21 from Suharghat to Sungal. Rs 5.70 crore were being spent on providing
additional accommodation in Government Postgraduate College. Earlier, local MLA and Forest Minister JP Nadda said Rs 12 crore had been sanctioned as the first instalment of Rs 65-crore ambitious Kol dam drinking water supply scheme and 22 roads had been sanctioned for construction during this year under the PMGSY which would connect a large number of villages with population of 250 and above. |
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Nagar parishad seeks funds
Hamirpur, September 29 This issue was debated at the meeting where members reiterated that more than a dozen development works were being stuck up due to paucity of funds. The members were of the opinion that as the grant of Rs 42 lakh received was for a specific purpose, this had not eased the financial crunch in the parishad and thus more funds were required for the development works. The meeting expressed its concern on slow receipt of funds even from the budgetary allocation. A few members also took up the matter of slow progress of laying of sewerage line and construction of septic tank and decided to form a committee to take up this matter with the irrigation and public health department for early completion of the work. The members also expressed their concern on the tardy progress of houses being constructed by the Himachal Pradesh Urban Development agency. The meeting decided to take up the matter with the agency to ensure speedy construction of houses for homeless.
Rakesh Rani, a member of the parsihad, also demanded allotment of a room in community hall for local mahila mandal for storing various articles, including utensils etc. The meeting decided to put to auction its two parking places in Hamirpur town. The meeting also unanimously decided to grant 11 per cent DA to all its employees on the pattern of the state government employees. |
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Boy drowned in BBMB canal
Sundernagar, September 29 According to information, Amar Singh, father of the victim, who was serving as a driver in the
BBMB, had performed a havan on the occasion of Durga Puja in his house and had gone with Suraj to immerse the ashes in the canal. The victim, while immersing the ashes, fell in the canal and drowned before his father could raise an alarm. The police had registered a case and was investigation the matter. Meanwhile, BBMB authorities today deputed two divers to fish out the body of the victim from the canal but their efforts proved futile. Resentment prevailed among local residents as they alleged that the BBMB had failed to fence the sides of the canal due to which many persons had lost their lives in
the past. The state government had already issued directions to the BBMB to raise fences along the canal, but the BBMB had ignored the directions, they said. |
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Ragging made me singer: Kunal
Kullu, September 29 Kunal Ganjawala, famous playback singer, stated this today, before leaving for the “Star Night” of Kullu Dussehra at the Lal Chand Prarthi Kala Kendra. He said, “I was forced to sing during ragging in college and that was the point (humiliation) where from I thought of learning singing. I joined a singing school, Vidyapeeth in Mumbai, and was lucky to have a chance to make it to Sa Re Ga Ma Pa, a television programme. I was given the first chance for playback
singing by AR Rehman and since then no looking back in life.” “After singing for films like “Murder, Saanwariya, Kyon Ki” etc, I have also sung for forthcoming films like All The Best, Ek Aadat, Fear, Mr Khujli, Down Town and two Kannada films,” he added. Ganjawala said he had visited Kullu 23 years back in a school trip and now would again visit with his family for leisure. “My wife, Gayatri Mayor Ganjawala, who was also associated with music, will love to see the Himalayas,” he said. The “Star Night” was being sponsored by the Steel Authority of India.
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‘Expedite pay fixation issue’
Shimla, September 29 The issue came up for discussion at the meeting of the EC chaired by Vice-Chancellor Sunil Kumar Gupta, here today. Two members of the EC, Suresh Chandel and representative of non-teaching employees Waryam Singh Bains, strongly pleaded the case of the employees with regard to pay fixation. Principal Secretary (Finance) Ajya Tyagi and the Principal Secretary (Education) assured to expedite the matter. The Vice-Chancellor welcomed new members Ajay Tyagi; Dr Neeraj Sharma, Dean, Faculty of Engineering and Technology; and Dr Shyam Prasad, Department of Economics. |
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30 hurt in bus mishap
Palampur, September 29 One part of the bus fell on the railway line thereby blocking the Pathankot-Joginder Nagar railway track. The train services between Baijnath and Joginder Nagar were also disrupted. Later, Baijnath SDM reached the spot and supervised the relief and rescue operation. All injured were admitted to different hospitals at Palampur, Baijnath and Paprola while the five injured were referred to Tanda Medical College. Most of the injured passengers belonged to Bir, Mohanghati, Ahju and Chogan. |
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Two youths die in mishap
Solan, September 29 The collision led to the bike getting stuck in the wheels killing the duo on the spot. The police said the accident occurred due to rash and negligent driving of the bike driver, Varun Oberoi, who had rammed the motorcycle into a parked vehicle at Chambaghat area of the town. A case had been registered and further investigations were underway.
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'Karva chauth’ package
Shimla, September 29 Under the package available from October 6 to 9 the visitors could enjoy free stay for the third day after paying full tariff for the first two days. The discount will be equal to the room rent for the first day plus luxury tax. Thus, the corporation will pay the luxury tax for the third day. The package will be available in all hotels of the corporation. Managing director of the corporation Subhashish Panda said that ‘sargi’ for the occasion would be arranged by the hotel concerned free of cost. Dry fruits will also be arranged but on payment basis.
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Lamba new ARTRAC GOC
Shimla, September 29 Lamba replaces Lt-Gen BS Jaswal who takes over as General Officer-in-Command of the Northern Command. He will relinquish charge on September 30, 2009. |
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Decomposed body found
Hamirpur, September 29 SP Hamirpur Asif Jalal said the body was found lying about 20 feet away from national highway No. 88 near a forest. He said the woman had not been identified till now and there was no visible mark of injury on her body.
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