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Now, police begins hunt for ‘stolen’ Vir Chakra
Tourists make a beeline for Gulaba
To escape monkey menace, farmers look to PM
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State makes headway in major projects
Price rise, unemployment major challenges for govt
Efforts on to strengthen agri sector: CM
SDO held for taking bribe
Revenue officers’ meeting held
Panchayats roped in to repair water sources
Court asks DC to give landfill site to Shimla MC
Anurag urges banks to publicise policies
Transmission line a disaster
for apple farmers
Khair growers ask govt to address their woes
Reduce fare of red buses: CPM
‘Adopt latest techniques for self-employment
Film on warming in Shimla
HPSEB presses for revised scales
Rs 8.97 cr for watershed scheme
Four held for looting cash
Man held with charas
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Now, police begins hunt for ‘stolen’ Vir Chakra
Shimla, December 23 It has come to the notice of the state police that a Vir Chakra awarded to a soldier hailing from Bilaspur district has been stolen. Even though no formal complaint or request has come in from the family of the awardee but the police through its own sources has information about the family from whose house it has reportedly been stolen. “We
have received verbal information about a Vir Chakra having been stolen from a
village in Bilaspur and the CID is already investigating the matter,” said
Director General of Police G.S. Gill. He added that further details would be
known only after the CID completes its investigation. Gill said efforts had
also been stepped up to get back the George Cross stolen from the house of
Brahmi Devi, widow of martyr Kirpa Ram of the 8th battalion of 13th Frontier
Force Rifles, from London. “We are in constant touch with the owner of the
George Cross, Ashok Nath, and efforts are on to get it back to Himachal,” he
said. It is reliably learnt that Nath if at all agrees to part with the medal would seek £20,000 as that was the reserve price put up for it at the auction which was ultimately stalled due to the intervention of the Himachal police through Interpol and with the help of Scotland Yard. Nath along with Jain, who sold the George Cross to him, have been asked by the police to come to Himachal for completion of investigations into the theft of the medal from the house of Brahmi
Devi. With a sizeable section of men from Himachal joining the armed forces, several valiant soldiers from the hill state have been honoured with decorations like the Prama Vir Chakra (PVC), Vir Chakra (VC) and other medals. Major Somnath Sharma, the first PVC recipient of India, hailed from Kangra and was awarded the highest wartime gallantry award in 1950 for the valour he exhibited in encountering Pakistani intrusion in Badgam in 1947. His father was Major General Amarnath Sharma, while his brother Gen V.N. Sharma rose to become the Chief of Army Staff. Out of the total 21 PVCs awarded so far, four have come Himachal’s way to
Major Somnath Sharma, Major Dhan Singh Thapa (in 1962), Capt Vikram Batra and
Rifleman Sanjay Kumar. Major Sudhir Walia from Palampur was honoured
posthumously with Ashok Chakra, the highest peace time gallantry award.
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Tourists make a beeline for Gulaba
Manali, December 23 Hundreds of tourists who have arrived in Manali from all over the country made a beeline for Gulaba where there was enough snow. A festive atmosphere prevailed at Gulaba, as tourists were seen enjoying Yak ride, snow skiing and throwing snowballs on each other. President of the Manali Hoteliers’ Association Tek Ram Thakur said due to
early snowfall on the Rohtang Pass, the town had become the most popular
tourist destination for Christmas and New Year and this would boost tourism in
Kullu valley. He said private hotels in Manali offered various exiting packages and special discounts to customers during this season. Some of the leading private hotels are also registering 75 to 80 per cent occupancy, he added. According to BN Kpoor, AGM, HPTDC, Manali, hotels are registering occupancy
up to 70 to 75 per cent and hope to get more booking at the weekend close to
the New Year’s eve. The HPTDC will organise local folk dance and dancing
competitions for couples at the clubhouse. Besides this, the HPTDC will also
serve local food in all complexes. Manali DSP Ashish Sharma said additional police personnel and traffic police have been deployed at different points to maintain law and order situation. However, stress would be on preventing drinking at public places in the town, he added. |
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To escape monkey menace, farmers look to PM
Shimla, December 23 In a memorandum addressed to the PM, the samiti has pointed out that annually agricultural produce worth Rs 400 crore is being destroyed in Himachal due to wild animals, especially monkeys. As a result of the damage caused by animals, many farmers have given up cultivation of maize, vegetables and other crops. They
said ineffective and small measures like sterilisation of monkeys had failed to
tackle the situation which was becoming more grave every day. “The Centre
must lift the ban on export of monkeys for medical research and these animals
should be translocated to forests outside the state where there is sufficient
food for them and there is no threat of any devastation,” the samiti said. The samiti demanded that under the Wildlife Protection Act, monkeys, wild
boars, rabbits and other such animals be declared vermin. “To provide
immediate relief to the farmers, crop protection must be covered under National
Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) and other Central government welfare
schemes.” The samiti members pleaded that since most of the problems like allowing
export of monkeys fell under the purview of the Central government, steps must
be taken to help farmers and fruit growers. They further demanded that farmers
be given representation on the Animal Welfare Board so that they get an
opportunity to effectively raise their problems. |
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State makes headway in major projects
Shimla, December 23 Even though conceived with the objective of finally providing a strategic road link up till Leh, it is the people of Lahaul who stand to benefit immensely. Having emerged as a major educational hub with the coming up of some premier institutes like IIT, central university and National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) whose commissioning though delayed would make the hill state a much preferred destination. Classes at IIT, Mandi, were likely to start from the next academic session even though it would take several years before the campus of the status of an IIT would be developed. The first batch of students have already been enrolled at Roorkee. Unfortunately progress on another prestigious institute — central university — approved along with the IIT for Himachal has been slow as it is mired in political controversy. The grant of the two premier institutes was announced by the then Finance Minister, PC Chidambaram, at a rally on the Ridge here on October 2, 2007, but even after two years the dispute over the site of the university remains unresolved. The Congress regime in the state had decided to set up the university at Dharamsala but the BJP on assuming power preferred Dehra in Kangra. Though the Centre has for the second time announced the name of a Vice-Chancellor for the university, it remains to be seen whether he would join or decline the offer like the previous appointee. The NIFT at Cheb in Kangra where classes would start from the next session and the launch of the National Institute of Fashion Designing (NIFD) at Hamirpur would also greatly benefit students. Making strides in the field of hydropower generation the 100-MW Sainj power project in Kullu executed by the Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation was commissioned recently. Similarly, the Rs 45 crore Solan water supply scheme had also been commissioned but certain shortcomings, including major leakage in the Giri water supply scheme for Shimla, still hampers its full commissioning. Another sector in which the state was making headway was road construction. Several major road projects under the Rs 1,362 crore World Bank Mission were being made although visa problem encountered by 100 Chinese workers had brought work to a halt on the Rs 125 crore Una and Theog-Shimla roads being executed by the Chinese firm.
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Price rise, unemployment major challenges for govt
Shimla, December 23
Rising prices have pushed sales through the PDS outlets as more and more APL
(above poverty line) families are getting their supplies. However, the ration
quota under available from Centre is declining. The government could bring more
items under the ration scheme to check the price rise. Creating jobs for over eight lakh unemployed youth is a major concern, particularly at a time when the economic slowdown is likely to persist for some more time. While schemes like the NREGA, poly-house cultivation and Dugdh Ganga could encourage self-employment in rural areas, there are hardly any jobs for hundreds of management professionals and engineers. The situation has worsened due to the failure of the government to bring IT industries and establish IT parks. The government drew much flak from all quarters for virtually opening the floodgates for private universities ignoring the Supreme Court verdict. While universities have been allowed in border districts like Solan, none have been allowed in areas like Kulu, Chamba, Mandi, Bilaspur, Kinnaur and Shimla, where they are needed. The major task ahead is to put a regulatory mechanism in place for institutions of higher education to determine fee structure in a transparent manner, maintain academic standards and enforce discipline to prevent the recurrence of sordid incidents like the Aman Kachru ragging murder case. Despite hosting two major conferences on environment and taking some green initiatives, preventing the dense forests from degenerating into open forests still remains a big challenge. Besides, unauthorised and excessive construction on hills which has been the main reason for behind environmental degradation, and checking deforestation need to be curbed. The
controversies and legal battles over major projects like the Himalayan Ski
Village project and the 960-MW Jhangi-Thopan Powari Hydroelectric Project will
continue to rage on in the coming year. After the Centre’s affidavit in the
SC against free power, a long legal battle to secure 12 per cent free power in
BBMB projects and its due share under the Punjab Reorganisation Act in 2010
seems inevitable. The state will also have to take a final call on the
restructuring of the power board in the ensuing year. On the political
front, the Congress lost the Shimla Lok Sabha to the BJP for the first time
since 1977. It also tasted defeat in the Rohru assembly seat, a bastion of
former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh. The development has set alarm bells
ringing for the party for the ensuing year. The BJP’s performance was also of
concern in its stronghold Kangra. Therefore, the two parties will have to
redraw their strategies to recover the lost ground. |
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Efforts on to strengthen agri sector: CM
Shimla, December 23 While presiding over a meeting here today, he said 64 Agriculture Extension Officers (AEOs) would soon be recruited on priority in the Department of Agriculture to strengthen the department and make specialised agricultural services available to the people at their doorstep.
The Chief Minister said agriculture was the core sector, which had remained
neglected for a long time. He said Himachal being a hilly state had majority of
its population dependant upon agriculture for their sustenance. “The majority
of the area under cultivation in the state is rainfed and only some areas have
irrigation facilities, which too need to be modernised,” he stressed.
He said the Rs 353-crore Pandit Deen Dayal Kisaan Baagwan Samridhi Yojna and the Rs 300-crore Doodh Ganga Pariyojna were the two major projects which aimed at economic empowerment of farmers. He said government was providing 80 per cent subsidy to farmers under Pandit Deen Dayal Kisaan Baagwan Samridhi Yojna and 50 per cent interest-free loan to the beneficiaries availing benefits under Doodh Ganga Project. The Chief Minister said it was the endeavour of the government to generate employment avenues for qualified agriculture scientists.
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SDO held for taking bribe
Mandi , December 23 Acting on a tip-off, the Vigilance team, led by DSP Bhupinder Kanwar, today laid the trap at the SDO office and caught the accused red-handed. According to sources, the complainant had stated to the Vigilance Bureau that the accused was demanding a bribe of Rs 1,800 from him for clearing his bill worth Rs 56,000 pending with the SDO office. The bill pertained to the electrical work the contractor had done in the Judicial Complex,
Mandi. The SDO was arrested under the Prevention of Corruption Act. |
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Revenue officers’ meeting held
Bilaspur, December 23 The DC stated this while presiding over a meeting of all revenue officers of the district. She also reviewed progress of the pending work in the department and speed and efficiency regarding disposal of long-pending cases at Jhandutta, about 50 km from here, this afternoon. She said the District Disaster Management Committee should also streamline its functioning so that it was found in a good shape when some unforeseen disaster suddenly strikes anywhere. |
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Panchayats roped in to repair water sources
Hamirpur, December 23 Though these traditional sources of water prove very useful in fulfilling water needs of people especially during summer months, water contamination in some of these bodies led to spread of water-borne diseases. Water-borne diseases like diarrhoea and viral fever are quite common among people using water from these sources. This project which is in the final stages of completion was started in July 2009 when the DC, Hamirpur, had directed all BDOs to take up this campaign with panchayats. The panchayats were asked to identify at least five traditional water sources in their area and combine this work with the construction of water supply scheme, sanitation facilities and health and hygiene programme undertaken under NREGA. The steps undertaken include preparing barriers to stop the access of animals near the water source and covering the opening of bawli and wells. The project also includes cleaning of water sources periodically for which local panchayat would also maintain a proper record. Irrigation and Public Health officials have been entrusted the job of providing structural design for the renovation work. At present renovation and preservation of 500 traditional water sources is being undertaken and work would be completed by the end of this month. Hamirpur DC Abhishek Jain said, “The work of renovation and preservation of traditional water sources is almost complete and 500 of such sources would be renovated by December 31.”
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Court asks DC to give landfill site to Shimla MC
Shimla, December 23 The division bench comprising acting Chief Justice Ram Bhawan Misra and Justice Rajeev Sharma observed that this direction has been issued to protect the health of the entire town. The court directed the Pollution Control Board to render all assistance to the
MC, Shimla. The high court had yesterday taken note of the fire incident at the site of the bio-conversion plant at Darni ka Baghicha in Shimla and appointed one-member committee to look into the incident. The court had also directed the Forest Divisional Manger, Shimla, to hand over the site to the corporation within one week and directed the MC to complete all formalities to establish the plant at the new site available near Tutu in Shimla within eight weeks. The court had added that corporation should establish the new plant within six months Today, the counsel of the corporation apprised the court that landfill site near the plant was not available to the MC, Shimla. After hearing the state government, the court directed the Additional Chief Secretary (Forest) to provide landfill site within
four weeks. |
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Anurag urges banks to publicise policies
Hamirpur, December 23 He stated this while presiding over a function after dedicating a PNB ATM at Tauni Devi today. Thakur urged the bankers to publicise the programmes and policies of the banks so that people at the grassroots could be benefited. He said the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) had launched PMEGP, a new credit linked subsidy programme after merging two schemes to generate employment opportunities through establishment of micro enterprises in rural as well as urban areas. Cirlce head of the PNB RK Goel was also present on the occasion. Later, Thakur also inaugurated a Community Hall at Surah. He also presided over the annual prize distribution function of Government Senior Secondary School at
Pohanj. Addressing students, he asked them to give equal importance to sports and education and to work hard to survive in a competitive era. He said the state government was striving hard to provide quality education and sports facilities to the students and players in
the state. |
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Transmission line a disaster
for apple farmers
Ghurdor (Kullu), December 23 The Kisan-Bagawan Sangharsh Samiti of farmers in over 12 panchayats accused the company of adopting double standard. The villagers from Prini, Jagatsukh, Sajla, Sarsai, lower Naggar, Ghurdor and Seobag, who have plans to develop new houses or hotels or health spas cannot do that now as their dreams lie shattered due to the transmission line. “I have planned to develop a health spa in my orchard here but my dream
has been shattered because of the transmission line,” rued Nakul Khullar, a
progressive orchardist. “I have lost six bighas of orchard land to the tower,”
he added. Convener of the samiti Ramesh Thakur said even the AD hydro had adopted
double standard for paying compensation to the farmers. “They have paid for
trees and forest land for the 35 sq m corridor through which the line is
running to the government, but is not paying anything to the farmers for the
said corridor,” he resented. The farmers said the company had misled public from day one and lured them by paying as per their whims and fancy. AD hydro transmission line in charge R Bhatia claimed that there was no provision for compensation for the land above which the corridor would run as per the Indian Telegraph Act. Kullu DC BM Nanta said the administration was sorting out the matter with
the farmers and the company in a best possible way. “We will go for
compulsory acquisition to make way for the line as we have been asked to file
affidavit in the high court on December 29,” he added. |
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Khair growers ask govt to address their woes
Bilaspur, December 23 Addressing mediapersons at the circuit house here today, state convener of the manch Krishan Kumar Kaushal accompanied by a number of kisan leaders, including Kesh Pathania and Kishan Singh Dhiman, said at present intermediaries were exploiting the poor farmers by the force of their ready money. The farmers were being misled and fleeced to sell khair trees at a throw away price of Rs 500 to Rs 900 per quintal while the actual market price of this produce was several times higher.
They pleaded that the government should fix at least Rs 6,000 as a minimum price of the peeled (bark less) khair and should ask the State Forest Corporation to step into this business and purchase khair wood from farmers and then sell it to the concerned quarters as the commodity was much in demand throughout the country due to its multifarious costly uses in all variety of medicines, cosmetics and even fragrances etc.
They warned that if the government did not take initiative to save farmers from exploitation, the manch would be forced to start a kisan agitation for which the plan of action would be finalised on December 27 at Naina Devi in a meeting of the farmers of the district.
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Reduce fare of red buses: CPM
Shimla, December 23 The CPM today submitted a memorandum to Transport Minister Mahender Singh, seeking his intervention on the matter. They demanded that the fare in the red buses had been fixed at Rs 5 and Rs 10 as result of which a person travelling for one km had to pay Rs 5.
“Bus fares in Himachal are the highest in the country where a passenger
pays 82 paisa and the red buses have surpassed all past records,” said Sanjay
Chauhan, secretary, Shimla District Committee.
He added that most of these red buses were either plying vacant or were
parked at the bypass as people were avoiding travelling in them due to high
fares. He said the situation had been compounded further by the fact that the
old buses of the HRTC were parked as the old staff was plying the new red
buses. “As such the old buses have gone off the road and people are avoiding
the red buses, making it very difficult for the common man,” he said.
He demanded that the HRTC should follow the normal fare pattern for the red buses and at the same time recruit new staff so that the old buses also
run providing comfortable and affordable travel to commuters.
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‘Adopt latest techniques for self-employment
Bilaspur, December 23 He said the government was providing loans worth Rs 10 lakh in service sector and Rs 25 lakh in construction sector in which common youths were given 25 per cent subsidy and other special category youths like Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, minorities, handicapped persons, ex-servicemen and women of all castes were given 35 per cent subsidy to start their own self-employment units. He said even projects above Rs 25 lakh were entitled for 15 per cent subsidy under the Pradhan Mantri Rozgar Srijan Yojna while all expenditure of transportation of the machinery and such equipment would also be borne by the government. Dr Chand Sharma, general manager, District Industries Centre, also addressed
the camp. He said, “Even when the entire investment is made by the
entrepreneur, he or she still gets 15 per cent subsidy over the total project
amount.” |
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Film on warming in Shimla
Shimla, December 23
The film deals with the issue of climate change and the fact that there is
hardly any snow in the Queen of Hills now as compared to earlier times. Mumbai-based
Mohan received a national award for his film on Malana in Kullu. “For Whom
the Jingle Bells Toll” has been screened at various international and
national film festivals. The 30-minutes film on environment will be telecast by
Shimla Doordarshan on December 25 at 7.30 pm. |
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HPSEB presses for revised scales
Shimla, December 23 In a statement issued here today, president of the association K.L. Sharma said despite the Cabinet approving the matter almost three weeks ago, the employees were yet to receive the benefit. The association urged the government to implement the PSEB scales for HPSEB employees to prevent any anomaly in the future. The HPSEB Stenographers Association has also urged the management to grant them the revised scales. |
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Rs 8.97 cr for watershed scheme
Kullu, December 23 He said Ambedkar Bhawan would be constructed near Patlikuhal Bridge at a cost of Rs 10 lakh and land acquisition process for bus stand at Patlikuhal was in the pipeline. Govind said the programme was initiated to provide quick and hassle-free relief to rural people at their doorstep.
DC BM Nanta said as many as 138 cases were heard and 80 per cent of them were decided on the spot. The doctors examined 173 persons during the camp.
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Four held for looting cash
Una, December 23
When he asked them to vacate the place, they started quarrelling.
Two other youths joined them and then they beat up the pump man, broke the glasses of the office and snatched the cash bag from the complainant before leaving. The police has arrested all four youths - Prith Pal (23), Vishal Puri (21), Nikhil (23) and Gurinder Kumar (30). A case under Sections 382, 452, 323 and 506 of the IPC has been registered. |
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Man held with charas
Sundernagar, December 23 |
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Manali, December 23
Shimla, December 23
