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Incomplete fact sheet delays TIN allotment
Tight security ahead of Sonia’s visit
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Cong men to cash in on Sonia’s visit
Truck unions hike freight charges
Investors join hands to form association
‘India must accelerate road, rail construction’
Empower gram sabhas: RTI activists
16 foreigners held at Kangra rave party
Home-stay scheme a success
JBT course worries educationists
SHO slaps case on journalist
26 kg of copper seized
15.8 kg of charas seized
Two women found dead
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Incomplete fact sheet delays TIN allotment
Shimla, June 27 The task of assigning TIN to the registered dealers is to be completed by June 30. However, so far, only about 5,000 dealers have been allotted the number. There are about 50,000 dealers in the state out of which 35,000 to 40,000 are actually engaged in trading activities. So far, only about 25,000 dealers have submitted fact sheets. However, a majority of them have not furnished full information and submitted incomplete document creating problems for the Excise and Taxation Department. Excise and Taxation Commissioner JC Sharma said the department was adopting a lenient approach to facilitate traders so that they could be issued TIN at the earliest. The main purpose of the fact sheet was to have updated data about the dealers which was in their interest. The dealers were particularly averse to furnishing sureties that were mandatory under the new Act. While some of the dealers have not submitted photographs, others have left the column regarding kind of trading activities being carried out unfilled. The TIN would make procurement of goods, particularly from outside the state, much easier as details of the dealers could be traced on its basis through the web portal TINXSYS created by the Centre. It would also enable the authorities to track the transactions and prevent leakage of revenue and malpractices in business. TIN is a unique number with standard 11-digit format similar to PAN (Permanent Account Number) of the Income Tax Department. It will provide dealers unique identification number to identify them either at the barriers or elsewhere with minimum chances of use of other dealer’s number. TIN will also enable dealers to trade their goods and commodities without hassles and facilitate smooth switchover to new GST regime proposed for implementation from the next year. |
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Tight security ahead of Sonia’s visit
Manali, June 27 According to sources, Sonia will arrive by a helicopter at the Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment (SASE) helipad, 4 km from here, and will straightaway drive to the Rohtang tunnel site. The entire Solang Ski Slopes is decked up to welcome Sonia where she will address a large gathering of party workers and residents of Lahaul-Spiti and Kullu valley. Keeping in view the arrival of Sonia and other top dignitaries of the Congress and the BJP, security has been beefed up and tourists will not be allowed to visit the Rohtang Pass tomorrow. However, the Rohtang Pass, which is usually closed on Tuesday by the BRO (Border Roads Organisation) for road repairs, will be open on coming Tuesday for the convenience of tourists. Party workers will host a traditional lunch known as “Dhaam” at Solang valley on the occasion. |
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Cong men to cash in on Sonia’s visit
Mandi, June 27 As election for the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC), fixed for July 19-24, draws near, both factions are trying hard to bring forth their own men to be elected as district presidents, according to sources. Meanwhile, Pradesh Congress Returning Officer Rajni Pathak, who chaired the meeting of Assistant Returning Officers (AROs) and District Returning Officers (DROs), put across the point that fair and impartial elections were need of the hour. On the other hand, both the factions are out to tilt the balance to their side in a show of strength tomorrow at Solang nullah where Sonia would address them. All state Congress leaders, in fact, have made a beeline for Solang nullah to welcome Sonia Gandhi and plead their case for the state party leader. The hectic lobbying is understandable as Virbhadra Singh, before proceeding for Manali from here, cautioned party president Kaul Singh, who is toeing pro-Stokes line that “if the organisational polls were not held in a fair and impartial manner, the state Congress would face the serious consequences”. Kaul Singh and Sonia would address Congress party workers tomorrow at
Manali. |
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Truck unions hike freight charges
Solan, June 27 While truckers pleaded that the hike in fuel prices had left them with little option but to revise the freight, the industry had been left with little option. The union has around 6,000 trucks which transport good across the nation. Since the Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh industrial area house about 70 per cent of the state’s industry, its major impact was sure to be felt here. Since its raw material and finished goods were transported to various parts of the country, this hike would add to the cost of production, thus necessitating rise in the price of finished goods, observed an investor. “Since the cost of raw materials would also go up, the price rise would become imminent and given the circumstances, price rise of 10 to 15 per cent was in the offing on finished products,” opined Anil Sharma, secretary Nalagarh Industries’ Association. Hike in freight charges by truck unions, however, drew flak from the industry which asserted that the freight charges were already higher by at least 20 per cent in comparison to the other states. Though a number of corporate houses had set up depots at Chandigarh and Zirakpur to transport goods on their own from these destinations, truckers here hesitated to provide trucks for shorter destinations, hence forcing the industry to hire their trucks on higher costs. Since cement plants like the JP Associates, ACC and Ambuja Cements used trucks to transport their material, the cost of cement is likely to be revised after this hike in freight, opined an executive of a cement unit. This would also burden builders who would be forced to revise their
prices for flats and other building projects. |
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‘Petrol price hike to hit masses’
Dharamsala, June 27 Earlier, while addressing a press conference, Shanta alleged that by affecting increase in prices of petroleum products, the UPA government had illustrated that it was against the common man. “The government could have easily imposed luxury tax on the rich to raise resources. Instead, it chose to burden the poor and common man,” he said. The step taken by the UPA government was identical to the Emergency imposed in the country by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, he added. Ironically, she had also imposed Emergency on June 25 and the current decision has also been imposed by the UPA government on the same date, he said. He also alleged that the present government had compromised with corruption. Despite the fact that clear charges of corruption had come up against their ministers, the UPA government had failed to act. “The government has also failed to implement the UN proposal on corrupt practices. Many countries like the US have used the proposal to bring back black money of their country from Swiss banks. Though India was signatory to the proposal, the present government has not taken any step to bring black money back to the country,” Shanta alleged. He also alleged that Naxalism was once again gaining ground in the country due to widening gap between rich and poor. The BJP would organise a nationwide agitation and force the government to rollback decision on increase in prices of petroleum products. The party would collect 10 crore signatures from across the country and submit them to the President against decontrolling of petroleum products, he added. BJP workers, led by Shanta Kumar, staged a dharna before the Dharamsala Secretariat and raised slogans against the UPA government. Later, they submitted a memorandum to the district administration. |
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Investors join hands to form association
Solan, June 27 Newly nominated president Jeewan Aggrawal, representing RR Castings, said since the area comprised a hub of induction furnaces and steel rolling mills, there grievances had failed to be highlighted elsewhere. Though the two industrial areas comprise a large number of pharmaceutical, electrical, packaging, food and beverage units, its various issues had failed to be highlighted adequately. The most disturbing issue pertained to erratic power supply. Since it housed nearly 20 to 25 induction furnaces and steel rolling mills, irregular power supply led to huge production losses. Despite being major payers of power bills, their views had, hitherto, remained unrepresented as they had no representative. Members of the newly created association unanimously elected Jeewan Aggrawal as their president. It was also decided to convene a meeting and constitute the executive body soon. Aggrawal said other crucial issues like entry tax had become another point of concern and it would be addressed on priority. Further, with no designated site for truckers at Barotiwala and Jharmajri, their haphazard parking along the roads often created traffic problems. The high freight charged by them by not commensurate with the rates prevalent elsewhere in the region and this issue needed immediate attention as fresh hike has been announced by truck unions after recent hike in fuel prices. Roads of the prestigious Export Promotion Industrial Park at Jharmajri, where most of the MNCs were housed, were potholed and presented the area in poor light in front of foreign dignitaries who visited their plant sites. The association has decided to take up issues pertaining to sewage, drainage, street lights, maintenance of roads and bridges on priority. Prem Sharma, president, Nalagarh Industries’ Association, while welcoming the step, said it would help plead their cause effectively to seek speedy redress of their problems. |
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‘India must accelerate road, rail construction’
This was stated by Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal at a press conference at the Circuit House here today. He urged the Union Government to consider provisions of railway lines through the Rohtang Pass and possibilities of construction of a railway tunnel along with the traffic tunnel. In reply to a question about the claim of BJP and Congress leaders behind the construction of the Rohtang tunnel, Dhumal said the BJP never mixed politics with development. However, he blamed the previous Congress government in the state for delaying clearances needed for the work on the Rohtang Tunnel. The Chief Minister thanked the Union Transport Minister for sanctioning all demands proposed by his government for the development of roads in the state. He said besides sanctioning five new National Highways, Kamal Nath had also accepted in principle the 1.7-km-long traffic tunnel on the Kiratpur-Manali National Highway. He said with completion of this tunnel, road distance would be shorter by 25 km. Later, Dhumal laid the foundation stone of the proposed building of the deputy director, education, at Lower Dhalpur. Addressing the gathering, he said education for all was the main priority of his government. |
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Empower gram sabhas: RTI activists
Mandi, June 27 Talking to The Tribune on the sidelines of the two-day seminar on the RTI organised by the Mandi RTI bureau yesterday, Magsaysay awardee Arvind Kejrival, who runs an NGO, said the RTI Act had generated a conflict of interests in the country and there was a need for laying the foundation for allocating powers to gram sabhas. The gram sabhas should decide funds and schemes, he asserted. RTI bureau president Lawant Thakar said no penal action had been taken by the state information commissioner (SIC) under Sections 19, 20 and 12 of the RTI Act against erring officials. He said in over 1,200 odd applications for appeals before the SIC, the penal action remains as negligent as 0.01 per cent. “In Mizoram, it is as high as 25 per cent”, he added. Kejrival said they were united under this common cause, bringing a mass movement to bring about a legislation to empower gram sabhas. “We have met top leaders like Rahul Gandhi and LK Advani. However, it needs a great political will to enact the law,” he added. He said activists such as Medha Patkar, Prashan Bhushan, Hazare and SC Beher were spreading this mass movement in the country in support of gram sabhas. Thakur said the RTI bureau was trying to bridge this gap so that deterrent value of the RTI Act in preventing corruption was maintained. “We have 100 participants, including officials and common man, who will express their views during the workshop to make the RTI Act an instrument of social change,” he added. |
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Failure to implement SC verdict
Shimla, June 27 Narrating his tale of woes at a press conference, he said he was being harassed by officials since 1980 and even orders of the SC in his favour had failed to provide him any relief. The main reason for it was that he had refused to submit to the demands of corrupt officials who had, as a result, ensured that the May, 1996, verdict of the apex court in his favour was
not implemented. He, along with other joint owners of the land, had sought permission in 1980 for felling trees, under the 10-year felling cycle, for planting an orchard. However, permission was denied for no reason. He had to fight a protracted legal battle right up to the high court which passed an order in September, 1990, directing the Forest Department to grant permission within one month. In all, 5,505 trees standing over 132 bighas were involved. The order was not implemented and an appeal was filed in the SC which decided the matter in his favour in October, 1994. The review petition of the department was also dismissed in January, 1995. However, the order was not implemented and he had to again approach the high court which directed secretary, forests, and secretary, revenue, to visit the spot and implement the order within 15 days. The marked trees were handed over to the forest corporation for felling on September, 1996, but no felling was carried out. He again initiated contempt proceedings but the government came out with a new plea that the area involved was very large and felling could have an impact on the environment. It proposed to takeover the forest to which he agreed. However, the government took no further action and now it had reverted the forest back to the owners. However, when he sought permission for felling, the department told him to approach the Centre for permission under the Forest Conservation Act. |
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16 foreigners held at Kangra rave party
Dharamsala/Kangra, June 27 Investigations by The Tribune revealed that some locals from Bhagsunag had organised the party. They had collected an entry fee from each foreign tourist. The venue was a hill top in the remote forest of Rait area. Drugs, beer and wine were arranged with the help of some local peddlers. Kangra SSP Atul Fulzele, when contacted, said the foreigners arrested did not have valid documents. They have been asked to produce valid documents or else a case could be registered against them, he said. However, the police managed to arrest a Nepalese cook, Keshav Pujari. Five gram charas was recovered from him and a case under the NDPS registered. According to sources, the police is also looking for locals of Bhagsunag who had arranged the party. The impact of the police raid could also be felt in Bhagsunag area. Many foreigners, who were part of the party, fearing police action, were seen in a hurry to leave the area. The sources revealed that they were leaving for Kasol, an area considered to be safe haven for those looking for drugs.
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Home-stay scheme a success
Shimla, June 27 In all 653 rooms are available in these registered units where tourists can have a glimpse of rural life in a homely atmosphere. Over the last one-year 5,532 Indian and 220 foreign visitors stayed at the registered home-stay units. Kullu had the maximum --- 1,539 domestic and 132 foreign tourists in units at
Jong-Katrain, Manali, Jibhi, Banjar, Prini, Naggar, Jagatsukh, Bahang, Mohal, Haripur and
Kasol. Himachal Pradesh is the first state in the country to link MNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) with tourism-promotion activities and provide necessary infrastructure in selected villages “Har Gaon Ki
Kahani” scheme. It will help divert tourist traffic from congested destinations to villages creating employment for local people who will also get a chance to showcase their cuisine, folk culture and handicrafts. A committee has been constituted in each district under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner for implementation of the scheme which aims at developing villages of historic importance for tourists by providing basic amenities. |
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JBT course worries educationists
Kangra, June 27 Dr RD Sharma, former deputy director, education, and convener, HP Education Consultant Forum, while raising doubts, said here yesterday that the state government lacked proper educational policy regarding teachers’ training, resulting in making flocks of unemployed trained youths agitate and suffer. He said already a batch of 194 trained JBT teachers were awaiting appointments and 1,200 other JBT teachers had agitated for a long time in the state, feeling their future bleak and uncertain. Prabhat Sharma, secretary, Board of School Education, said 1,20,000 aspirants had applied for JBT test scheduled to be held on June 27, 2010, to select candidates between 2,600 and 2,700. — OC
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SHO slaps case on journalist
Kasauli, June 27 The incident occurred when the families were on their way to a private resort in Mashobra around 5.30 pm in a car driven by Garg. The SHO stopped the car which was just behind and driven by Garg’s driver Mangat and asked him to show the vehicle’s documents. Since the car was challaned by the Chandigarh police on June 22, there was no Registration Certificate (RC) and only a challan slip was in the car. Seeing that the driver was driving the car without the RC, Chauhan allegedly demanded Rs 5,000 to “sort out the matter amicably”. When Mangat showed his inability to pay the amount, he challaned him for “dangerous driving”. When Sharma and Garg tried to intervene, Chauhan flew into a rage claiming that he being the area SHO and could challan the vehicle for any offence. As Sharma and Garg protested the unbecoming behaviour of a police officer, Chauhan abused them before their families. Before leaving the venue he threatened to book them in a “criminal case”. Though the matter was brought to the notice of Solan SP Dhawan and Health Minister Rajiv Bindal, Sharma, Garg and Mangat were booked by the police on the SHO’s complaint for assaulting the SHO, tearing his uniform, creating nuisance and disrupting traffic. |
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26 kg of copper seized
Bilaspur, June 27 Superintendent of Police Kapil Sharma said earlier they had arrested these two persons after it recovered 30 kg of copper from their possession, which they said was extracted after cutting away and burning copper wires of telephone lines of the BSNL. The police had got remand of the accused and it was on their interrogation that they admitted to have hidden another instalment of copper underneath the pulley. Now, recovery of copper from the accused totalled to 56 kg. Ghumarwin BSNL Assistant Engineer Amarjit had registered an FIR that 1,100-m of telecommunication wires were stolen from various places in the area, thus disrupting telephone services. |
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15.8 kg of charas seized
Chamba, June 27 A police report revealed here today that one of the gangsters Abdul Latif was arrested on the spot while his two accomplices fled from the incident site. The other two accused were identified as Kwar Singh and Tek Chand of the Kalhel area of Churah subdivision. Meanwhile, the police had launched a hunt to nab the two accused involved in case. The approximate value of the charas was being put at more than Rs 80
lakh. — OC
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Two women found dead
Kangra, June 27 He said the husband of the victim had passed away more than 35 years back and her son and a son-in-law was taking care of her. The cause of the crime was not immediately known, however, the body had been sent for a post-mortem examination. Gandhi said in another incident a young woman identified as Pooja, who got married recently, was found hanging at her house in Banhi Nullah village. Parents of the victim alleged that she was tortured by her in-laws and forced to commit suicide. The body had been sent for a post-mortem examination. Meanwhile, the police has registered a case under Section 498A and 306 of the IPC and arrested her husband, mother-in-law and father-in-law.
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Kullu, June 27