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Delhi’s wait for water from HP dam may be prolonged
Sushma, Advani to meet PM on package extension
Sonia to lay Rohtang tunnel’s foundation stone on June 28
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CM lays stone of substation
CPM holds demonstrations
Cong accused of having dictatorial mindset
Govt may cancel contractor’s lease
Labour Secy reviews college project
Footwear shop gutted
Yoga camp held
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Delhi’s wait for water from HP dam may be prolonged
Shimla, June 24 It was only last week that officials of the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest gave this direction to the executing agency, the Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation (HPCC). According to sources, the HPPC has also been asked to submit fresh proposal with curtailed use of forestland from the present 900 hectares to about 750 hectares to be diverted for Renuka dam and the project. Having been accorded status of a national project keeping in view the fact that it will quench thirst of the national capital, it was expected that all clearances would be accorded at a fast pace. The need to expedite the project was being felt all the more in view of the proposed Commonwealth Games. “The Ministry of Environment and Forest, in order to save more trees from being felled, is keen that enumeration is undertaken so that those trees falling below four metres of the highest water level are not disturbed as they could survive even after being partially or fully submerged,” said Tarun Kapoor, managing director, HPCC. He said though the figure of trees likely to face the axe was 1.51 lakh, almost 70,000 of it were class V that primarily comprised shrubs and saplings. “The entire process should not take more than two months so we hope to start work the moment forest clearance is accorded and the Planning Commission grants its nod,” said Kapoor. Delhi has paid its share of Rs 214 crore while Haryana, as one of the partner states, has given Rs 25 crore for the Rs 4,000 crore project. The central government will, however, be bearing 90 per cent of the cost of the project for which a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed by HP, Haryana, Punjab, Delhi, UP and Rajasthan in May, 1994. The coming up of the Renuka dam and a power project of 40 MW capacity will displace about 750 families residing in 37 villages. Locals, along with environmentalists and NGOs, have been opposing coming up of the project as families are seeking enhanced land compensation and rehabilitation and relief package. Oustees of the Renuka dam have now decided to oppose the project. Apart from resettlement-related issues, they have also started questioning the very basis of the project. They contest that if Delhi wants to use waters of the Giri river, there is no need for the dam as the water from here flows into Yamuna which moves on towards Delhi. |
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Sushma, Advani to meet PM on package extension
Dharamsala, June 24 Chief Minister PK Dhumal stated this while talking to mediapersons at Palampur today. Dhumal said the industrial package had been withdrawn just from the BJP-ruled states. He also questioned the extension of industrial package to J&K and northeastern states. The logic that package to Himachal was a financial burden on the Union Government was baseless, The Chief Minister presided over the “Sarkar Aap Ke Dwar” programme organised by Kangra district administration at Baijnath, to listen to public grievances. As many as 358 applications were registered out of which 180 were disposed of while the rest were handed over to the departments concerned for time-bound disposal. He sanctioned additional funds for completion of various ongoing developmental projects in different parts of the district over and above the already sanctioned budget. Rs 1.95 lakh was sanctioned in favour of Naresh Sharma of Bharmar village as muscular dystrophy operation expenses at Sion Hospital, Mumbai, Rs 1.50 lakh for Mahila Mandal, Khadi Manah, Rs 2 lakh for Mahila Mandal, Andarli Manah and Rs 20 lakh for reconstruction of government senior secondary school building at Lohardi in Chhota Bhangal area. He directed authorities to complete construction of building of Baijnath government degree college by December this year and restore regular drinking water supply to Sansai, Koti and Majhoti villages. The CM also presided over a function organised by Dhouladhar Sewa Samiti at Palampur late last evening. The government had decided to sensitise young citizens of the country by making them repeat the environment protection pledge in their daily morning prayers so that they could not only discipline their lives, but also inspire their parents and neighbours about the necessity of environment protection. The CM also honoured former MLA Dr Shiv Kumar Sharma for his outstanding social services. |
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Sonia to lay Rohtang tunnel’s foundation stone on June 28
Manali, June 24 Border Roads Organisation (BRO) chief engineer (Project Rohtang Tunnel) PK Mahajan said the single-tube double-lane Rohtang tunnel, which would reduce distance of the Manali-Leh highway by about 46 km, would be ready by 2015. He said the tunnel would be strategically important for the Indian Army in the border areas of
Leh-Ladakh. After completion of the Rohtang Tunnel it will also help in promoting cultural and adventure tourism in the Lahaul valley and all agricultural produce of the tribal valley will have all-weather access to market, Mahajan added. |
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CM flays Virbhadra for criticising govt
Rangad (Hamirpur), June 24 Even in implementation of 20-point economic programme, which is headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Himachal topped in the country, he added. Refuting Virbhadra’s claim about development of Hamirpur district by him, Dhumal said, “People know very well what the condition of roads in Hamirpur town was. Even remote area of Dodra Kawar, under the Rohru constituency and represented by him, was connected by road only during our regime.” The work on Hamirpur bypass, being constructed at a cost of Rs 27 crore, has begun while work on new bus stand for Hamirpur would also begin next month, Dhumal added. Local MLA Urmil Thakur also addressed the
public meeting. |
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CM lays stone of substation
Palampur, June 24 He said five 11 KV feeders would be taken out of the 33 KV substation —
Khaira, Jalag, Khaira-Lahat-Kotlu, Maniara and Reet. He said the upcoming substation would cater to the future power demand of the area.
— OC |
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CPM holds demonstrations
Shimla, June 24 In a statement issued here today vice-president of the state committee of CITU (Centre of Indian Trade Unions), Rakesh Singha threatened to intensify agitation against the exploitative tactics of the HCC. “We will intensify our struggle against the anti-working class policy of the HCC and extend full support to the people of Kinnaur who are fighting to protect the environment and safeguard their interests,” he said. Singha said protests were held all over the state against the barbaric act of the HCC, including the forcible capturing of 28 workers from a camp at the project site and their dumping close to Bhawanagar. “The HCC has a very bad record as even in Chamba there were problems relating to wages, overtime as per law, employment cards, appointment letters and regular payment of wages to the workers,” he said. He said the company was exploiting the workers and what was most unfortunate was the fact that they were doing so with the connivance of the police and other government officials. “The Kinnaur district administration failed to take action against those responsible for alleged kidnapping of 28 workers as the police was hand in glove with the henchmen of the HCC,” he alleged. |
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Cong accused of having dictatorial mindset
Shimla, June 24 State BJP spokesperson Ganesh Dutt said people of India who had been a witness to the dark days of the Emergency would never forgive the Congress. He said it was on June 25, 1975, that the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had imposed Emergency in India, heralding the darkest period in the history of the nation. “The Congress may try and project itself as a very liberal party and pro-poor party but the fact remains that it has still not been able to overcome such dictatorial mindset,” he said. |
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Vehicle stolen from parking lot
Shimla, June 24 It was on June 21 that Sanjay R Verghese, director (materials), Imperil Hotels, while on a holiday with his family to the town, parked his Scorpio in the parking of the HPTDC, opposite hotel Holiday Home, for three days. He was given a receipt after payment of Rs 350 as parking charges for three days till June 23 following which he left for his hotel. To his utter dismay, it was on May 22 at about 7.30 pm, when he went to the parking to take some belongings, that he found his vehicle missing Later, on reporting the matter to the police, he found that an attendant of the parking had taken his vehicle out and had met with an accident near Sunni, in which he had died. Yogesh Behl, general manager, HPTDC, said the matter was very serious as it would send a very negative signal among tourists. “We will hold a thorough inquiry into the incident and in case any lapses are found, we will cancel the lease,” he said. “It is simply shocking and unbelievable that those running the parking lot can be so callous which is completely unheard of anywhere else,” said Verghese, who has been forced to extend his stay for few days to complete formalities. Even more unfortunate was the fact that it was a parking owned by the HPTDC, a government undertaking, he added. He was, however, all praise for the police for its prompt action and cooperation. The incident has not only raised doubts about the safety of such parking lots, but also sent a very negative signal, especially among the tourists. With parking being a major constraint, many locals too park their vehicles in these parkings along the Cart Road. According to police sources, the attendant, who had died in the mishap near Sunni, was carrying keys of all vehicles that had been parked in the lot that day. |
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Labour Secy reviews college project
Mandi, June 24 The Labour Secretary made his first visit to the site after the work on the ESIC medical college was started last year. He reviewed the progress of the ESIC project and inspected the site. He also reviewed the progress of the project by a presentation given by contractor firm Nagarjun Company and the NBCC. The Labour Secretary came on a short surprise
inspection and avoided the media. After assessing the work and analysing the presentations on the progress of the work, Chaturvedi expressed his apprehension to the officials, including NBCC, ESIC and Mandi DC, that the project was behind schedule by “few weeks”. In fact, the ESIC had set July 2011 as deadline for the completion of the project. But this deadline is unlikely to be met, as the project was already few weeks behind schedule, sources said. The delay is understandable in such a big project, a top official added. However, Chaturvedi expressed his satisfaction over the progress of the work on the project. He also inspected the quality of work as controversy had erupted over the supply of “spurious raw material like sand to the building by some organised suppliers raising questions over the quality control”, the sources revealed. Mandi DC Amandeep Garg said the team reviewed the progress of the works and inspected the site. |
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Footwear shop gutted
Palampur, June 24 Two fire brigades were rushed from Palampur to control the fire, but by the time they reached the spot the entire shop was reduced to ashes. However, with the efforts of firemen adjoining shops were saved. SDM Ratten Gautam said a revenue officer had been deputed to assess the loss. |
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Yoga camp held
Bilaspur, June 24 The children were given training in easy and methodical way in asanas, pranayam and special meditation fit for them. Yoga teacher Disha Kushwaha said these simple exercises, if practiced daily, had the ability to treat even the most incurable physical and mental ailments.
— OC |
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