SPECIAL COVERAGE
CHANDIGARH

LUDHIANA

DELHI



THE TRIBUNE SPECIALS
50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS
H I M A C H A L    P R A D E S H    E D I T I O N

Forest Violations
Cabinet defers decision in Radha Swami case

Shimla, October 12
The dilemma over regularisation of the gross forest violations by the Radha Swami Satsang here at the Ramachandran Chowk continues as the Cabinet today failed to take a decision on the contentious issue, which has been in public gaze for the past two years.

State okays rules to prevent green felling
Shimla, October 12
Thousands of precious green trees will be saved from the axe every year with the state government approving new timber distribution (TD) rules to rationalise allotment of trees to right-holders on the directions of the Himachal High Court.

Diwali bounty for pensioners
Shimla, October 12
As many as 97,300 government pensioners and 15,200 family pensioners will receive revised pensions along with two instalments of additional dearness allowance from this month.

CM for quality food products
Shimla, October 12
Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal today directed various departments to step up checking to ensure quality sweets, particularly milk products, during the festival season.



YOUR TOWN
Shimla



EARLIER STORIES



SPG inspecting the community hall, Dharamsala, where Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will address students
SPG inspecting the community hall, Dharamsala, where Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will address students on Wednesday. Photo: Kamaljeet

Pinegrove celebrates annual day
Solan, October 12
The 19th Annual Day of Pinegrove School was celebrated at Subathu today where renowned educationist Shomi Ranjan Das presided over the function and lauded high academic and cultural standards exhibited by the students and staff.

Ghee sample fails lab test
Hamirpur, October 12
Yet another sample of a desi ghee brand, sample of which was drawn by the district health department a month back, has failed the laboratory test and found to be adulterated.

Anurag lays stone of Ambedkar Bhawan
Hamirpur, October 12
Hamirpur MP Anurag Thakur laid the foundation stone of Ambedkar Bhawan at Khagal today. While addressing people on the occasion, he said the construction of this building would be quite useful to the people of the nearby area and the state government was constructing such bhawans in every assembly constituency.

Steps to check TB, AIDS
Shimla, October 12
Health Minister Dr Rajiv Bindal today said the BJP regime had reconstituted Rogi Kalyan Samitis (RKS) and had initiated special campaigns for checking the spread of tuberculosis, anaemia and AIDS.

Man gets life term
Mandi, October 12
Mandi Fast Track Court Judge TS Kayastha today sentenced Roshan Lal, a resident of Alh village in Jogindernagar, for murdering his wife Meena Devi, to life term.

Three sweet shops raided
Una, October 12
The district administration along with the Health Department today raided three sweet shops namely Om Sweets, Mahajan Sweets and Saini Sweets and Cold Corner Restaurant in Una and collected samples of sweets and cheese.

Building gutted
Chamba, October 12
A two-storeyed building was gutted in a fire, rendering three families homeless, at a village in Garima panchayat falling in Bharmour tribal subdivision in Chamba district last evening, according to a report received here today.

Candlelight protest
Mandi, October 12
ABVP activists held a candlelight protest on the campus of Postgraduate Vallabh College here today reiterating their demand of removal of Deputy Commissioner Onkar Sharma for his alleged misbehaviour with the ABVP delegation five days ago.





Top








 

Forest Violations
Cabinet defers decision in Radha Swami case
Pratibha Chauhan
Tribune News Service

Shimla, October 12
The dilemma over regularisation of the gross forest violations by the Radha Swami Satsang here at the Ramachandran Chowk continues as the Cabinet today failed to take a decision on the contentious issue, which has been in public gaze for the past two years.

Since a public interest litigation (PIL) on the issue is pending in the court, the government has been directed to take a final view on the issue by either regularising or rejecting the violations. The Chief Secretary has to file an affidavit in the Himachal High Court about the final view taken by the government in this regard. It is learnt that a final viewpoint will be arrived at by convening a special meeting of the forest and MC authorities later this week.

The case for regularising the violations which included raising a huge 10 m x 133 m retaining wall and endangering almost 114 trees was placed before the Cabinet today. The Cabinet deferred a decision today as it sought some clarification.

The issue has become so complex that an opinion from the Union Law Ministry was also sought and the position of the Supreme Court ruling, with regard to violation of the Forest Conservation Act, 1980, was obtained. Now, it is being deliberated whether the Land Preservation Act, 1978, would be applicable or only the Municipal Laws would apply.

“With revenue record indicating ‘van’ on private land in some of the khasra numbers, the issue before us now is whether private land can be recorded as ‘van’,” said a senior bureaucrat.

Even though the MC, Forest and Town and Country Planning (TCP) Departments have given an adverse report, the government seems to be dithering in taking a final decision. The report of the three-member committee has even recommended that since the main violations are with regard to the huge retaining wall, it should be pulled down, as this will also save the trees which have been endangered.

According to the report of the Forest Department, 18 trees are at distance of less than the prescribed 2 m distance from the retaining wall while 96 other trees could be threatened due to the coming up of the wall, without seeking any prior permission.

At a time when the Forest Department has launched a special deodar plantation drive to increase the green cover, being lenient with regard to such gross violations could send a wrong signal. As far as individual cases are concerned, the government is very strict about allowing any violation in the Forest Conservation Act.

Top

 

State okays rules to prevent green felling
Rakesh Lohumi
Tribune News Service

Shimla, October 12
Thousands of precious green trees will be saved from the axe every year with the state government approving new timber distribution (TD) rules to rationalise allotment of trees to right-holders on the directions of the Himachal High Court.

Under the new rules, villagers will not be allotted standing trees in the forests and instead provided converted timber at the nearest road head for building new houses and carrying out major repairs to existing houses.

For a new house, three cubic metre of converted timber will be provided once in a lifetime or 30 years and major repairs one cubic metre once in 15 years. Timber will be supplied at 30 per cent of the prevailing market rates as determined from the sale price of the state forest corporation which has sale depots across the state.

However, below poverty line (BPL) families will be charged only 10 per cent of the market cost.

Timber will be provided to right-holders only if the forest, in which they had rights, were well stocked and timber was available “silviculturally” for extraction according to the forest working plan. In case of over-exploited forest where any further fellings was “silviculturally unsustainable”, no timber will be allotted. Converted timber of only those species will be allotted which are available for felling in the forest in which the applicant had rights. The timber distribution rights will not be transferable by way of sale of land under Section 118 of the Land Reforms and Tenancy Act. Applications will be received upto March 31 every year and the eligibility of applicants verified by June 30. Converted timber will be supplied by December 30. If a right-holder commits any forest offence, his TD right will be suspended for a period of 10 years.

The government rejected the suggestion of amicus curie that right-holders be asked to plant 10 trees for every availing TD as impractical as they were spread over a large area, making monitoring impossible. It also did not agree with the suggestion that inferior timber be provided for house construction and no timber provided for repairs.

The rates of TD were fixed way back in 1872 as one-fifth of the market rates which varied from Re 1 and Rs 2 per tree and the same rates were being charged even though the market rate of some of the species like deodar ranged from Rs 1 lakh to 1.5 lakh. When the high court imposed a ban on grant of trees in June, 2006, about 45,000 to 50,000 green trees were being allotted to right-holders annually.

In all, 2,10,934 green trees, with a standing volume of 5,49,484 cubic metre worth over Rs 275 crore, were sanctioned to right-holders between 1994-99, charging a meagre amount of Rs 2.13 lakh. Further, 1,65, 890 green trees, worth over Rs 550 crore, were given to right-holders from 2002 onwards till June, 2006.

Top

 

Diwali bounty for pensioners
Tribune News Service

Shimla, October 12
As many as 97,300 government pensioners and 15,200 family pensioners will receive revised pensions along with two instalments of additional dearness allowance from this month.

The state Cabinet at its meeting held here today decided to release the enhanced pension benefits in accordance with the recommendation of the Fifth Punjab Pay Commission to all its pensioners and family pensioners with effect from January 1, 2006, on the analogy of the revised Pension Rules of the Government of India. While the revised pension will be payable from October, to be paid from November, a decision regarding release of arrears will be taken later. The additional recurring burden on the state exchequer will be to the tune of Rs 340 crore and the financial liability on account of arrears will be Rs 1,100 crore.

The two DA instalments due to pensioners at the rate of 6 per cent from January, 2009, and 5 per cent from July, 2009, will be paid in cash and additional financial benefits will be Rs 120 crore per annum on this account. In all, pensioners in the state will receive financial benefits worth Rs 1,560 crore.

The Cabinet approved Himachal Pradesh Civil Services (Revised Pay) (First Amendment) Rules, 2009, to implement the recommendations of the Fifth Pay Commission, as applicable in Punjab, providing an additional increment at time of pay fixation in the next higher pay band.

It approved draft Timber Distribution Rights Rules, 2009, for public notification to invite objections and suggestions of the public in the light of high court orders dated September 3, 2009.

It granted permission to award widening and improvement of 39.173 km stretch of Ranital-Kotla section of the Mubarakpur-Dehra-Ranital-Kotla road.

Top

 

CM for quality food products
Tribune News Service

Shimla, October 12
Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal today directed various departments to step up checking to ensure quality sweets, particularly milk products, during the festival season.

He directed health authorities to keep a close watch over all such retail outlets and ensure that only good quality and hygienic sweets were sold.

He also directed the Food and Civil Supplies Department to ensure that there was no hoarding of essential commodities, especially sugar, ghee and other items, which were generally in great demand during the festival season.

He directed them to check the stocks to ensure that regular flow of supplies of essential commodities was maintained in the open market.

Dhumal also issued instructions to the law and order agencies to identify fire cracker sale points all over the state and take precautionary measures to prevent any accident due to fire. He also directed them to keep a strict vigil over anti-social elements and ensure that people did not face inconvenience in crowded markets and public places.

Top

 

Pinegrove celebrates annual day
Our Correspondent

Solan, October 12
The 19th Annual Day of Pinegrove School was celebrated at Subathu today where renowned educationist Shomi Ranjan Das presided over the function and lauded high academic and cultural standards exhibited by the students and staff.

Having headed prestigious institutions like Mayo College, Ajmer; Lawrence School, Sanawar; Doon School, Dehradun; Das commended the school management for providing facilities matching international standards for ensuring all-round development of the students.

The function also displayed art and craft exhibitions where children’s artistic potential was explored to the optimum.

An array of cultural programmes, which were presented on the occasion, made each parent proud as every student was given an opportunity to perform. It was, however, the eloquently choreographed shadow dance and a play “Dharavi”, depicting the heart-rendering plight of eunuchs, which evoked emotional outburst from the audience. The annual report of the past year’s achievements was also read out which threw light on the school’s progress in the field of academics, sports as well as cultural development.

Shaminder Singh Bassi, Karan Singh Chauhan and Jagjot Singh of class XII and Parth Garg, Saurabh Khurana and Roohi Singh of class X were awarded the gold, silver and bronze medals respectively for their meritorious performance in the board examination. Thirteen students of various classes were also awarded Diamond Stars for their impeccable behaviour. The sports medal was awarded to Akashdeep Sambyal and Chinar House lifted the Cock House Trophy and the Academics trophy.

The occasion also marked the presence of other eminent personalities, including Forest Minister JP Nadda and Parliamentary Secretary Virender Kanwar.

Headmaster AJ Singh exhorted the students to participate whole heartedly in sports and cultural activities besides academics as this alone would bring about the overall development of a child.

Top

 

Ghee sample fails lab test
Dharam Prakash Gupta
Tribune News Service

Hamirpur, October 12
Yet another sample of a desi ghee brand, sample of which was drawn by the district health department a month back, has failed the laboratory test and found to be adulterated.

The test report of chemical examination from the Food Chemical Examination Laboratory, Kandaghat, has found milk fat missing from desi ghee of “Ram Dev” brand.

The sample of this ghee was drawn by the food inspector from Bhareri about a month back and sent for the test.

It is notable that this is the third case of desi ghee brand found to be adulterated as two other brands were also found adulterated about two months back here.

As the sale of desi ghee has registered a substantial increase during the current festival season, several unscrupulous manufactures have gained access in the market and launched their substandard and adulterated products.

With the increase in cases of adulterated desi ghee, consumers have become wary of buying them here.

Confirming the failure of desi ghee sample, food inspector Manjeet Singh told The Tribune, “The sample of Ram Dev brand of desi ghee was drawn from a trader at Bhareri about a month back and sent for laboratory test to Kandaghat. However, it was found to be adulterated.”

The test report confirms that this ghee contains no milk fat and has been adulterated, perhaps with vegetable or animal fat, which is punishable for imprisonment of six months under the Food Adulteration Act. We would soon file a challan in the court in this case, he added.

Talking about the ill-effects of adulterated desi ghee, medical experts say, “Adulterated desi ghee contains no milk fats and is generally mixed with animal or vegetable fats which can be dangerous for vital human organs like the liver, kidney, heart etc and also affects certain other functions of the body.”

Meanwhile, Hamirpur Judicial Magistrate Vivek Khenval sentenced a supplier of Pepsi food drinks Munshi Ram to three months imprisonment with a fine of Rs 1,000 for supplying adulterated cold drinks to a supplier from Sujnapur.

The cold drinks, sample of which was drawn by the food inspector some time back, were found to be adulterated.

Top

 

Anurag lays stone of Ambedkar Bhawan
Tribune News Service

Hamirpur, October 12
Hamirpur MP Anurag Thakur laid the foundation stone of Ambedkar Bhawan at Khagal today.

While addressing people on the occasion, he said the construction of this building would be quite useful to the people of the nearby area and the state government was constructing such bhawans in every assembly constituency.

Talking about the demands raised by the local people, Thakur assured them that a dispensary at Matahani would be established soon and all other developmental needs would be taken care of by the state government.

He said since large number of people still live in the rural areas the state government was committed to undertake development works in the rural areas.

The MP said the state had taken a major stride in the fields of roads, health and education under the present regime for which it had been awarded at the national-level too.

He said the state had made a good progress in women empowerment for which it bagged the Diamond State award recently at New Delhi.

Earlier, he also held a meeting with officers of the district and reviewed the progress of ongoing works and asked them to work with a commitment to provide maximum benefit to people.

Top

 

Steps to check TB, AIDS

Shimla, October 12
Health Minister Dr Rajiv Bindal today said the BJP regime had reconstituted Rogi Kalyan Samitis (RKS) and had initiated special campaigns for checking the spread of tuberculosis, anaemia and AIDS.

In a statement issued here today he expressed surprise at the statement of HPCC chief Thakur Kaul Singh, where he has expressed doubts over the functioning of the health department.

He said the government had taken some major initiatives to strengthen the health infrastructure besides appointing doctors in the far-flung and hard areas like Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti. — TNS

Top

 

Man gets life term
Tribune News Service

Mandi, October 12
Mandi Fast Track Court Judge TS Kayastha today sentenced Roshan Lal, a resident of Alh village in Jogindernagar, for murdering his wife Meena Devi, to life term.

After examining 16 witnesses in the case presented by the prosecution and other party, the judge found Roshan guilty of murdering his wife and sentenced him to life term. He also fined him Rs 5,000 failing which he would be imprisoned for another six months.

According to the prosecution, Roshal and his wife were working in their farm on September 26, 2008. Roshan came back home two hours earlier then his wife. Her delay infuriated him, as he was very hungry. At that he picked up his bamboo stick and hit it on her head. She died on the spot.

Top

 

Three sweet shops raided
Our Correspondent

Una, October 12
The district administration along with the Health Department today raided three sweet shops namely Om Sweets, Mahajan Sweets and Saini Sweets and Cold Corner Restaurant in Una and collected samples of sweets and cheese. The team also checked cleanliness at these shops.

As information of raids spread in the town, many sweet shops removed sweets before the raiding party reached their shops. The raiding party included DC KR Bharti, SP Santosh Patial, CMO HK Attri, District Health Officer Dr Joshi, Food Inspector Jagdish Dhiman and EO of the Municipal Council Una Ramkishan Sharma.

Bharti said the samples of milk, cheese and sweets that were taken had been sent to testing laboratory.

Top

 

Building gutted
Our Correspondent

Chamba, October 12
A two-storeyed building was gutted in a fire, rendering three families homeless, at a village in Garima panchayat falling in Bharmour tribal subdivision in Chamba district last evening, according to a report received here today.

The report said three families, who were residing in this house, had been evacuated to a safer place.

Meanwhile, officials of Bharmour subdivision rushed to the site to take stock of the situation. The loss has been estimated to be more than Rs 10 lakh.

Top

 

Candlelight protest
Tribune News Service

Mandi, October 12
ABVP activists held a candlelight protest on the campus of Postgraduate Vallabh College here today reiterating their demand of removal of Deputy Commissioner Onkar Sharma for his alleged misbehaviour with the ABVP delegation five days ago.

On the other hand, the DC has denied the ABVP charges as baseless as they had come to collect funds in his office the permission for which was refused to the ABVP.

The ABVP, however, claimed that they had gone to raise their protest over the starting of IIT classes at the college and not for collecting funds.

Top

 





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 |