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Foreign secy’s trip to Dharamsala put off
Bid to loot salary
14,000 tonnes of foodgrain rot in FCI godowns: RTI
Global warming? Welcome to Lahaul-Spiti
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Bus Stand Project
Hike in power duty jolts investors
CPM urges schools to remain closed
Chairman’s election set aside
Last date extended
Shyam Kumar is Palampur agri varsity VC
Cement loading dispute resolved
Leopard attack getting common
HC bans mining in village
Man murdered
Woman commits suicide
Workshop on disaster management
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Foreign secy’s trip to Dharamsala put off
Dharamsala, July 2 The next date of her visit has not been fixed as yet, which, according to sources, can be anytime in the near future. The proposed visit of the Foreign Secretary to Dharamsala, headquarters of the Tibetan government-in-exile, assumes significance in view of diplomatic initiative of India to thwart the proposed supply of nuclear reactors to Pakistan by China. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is also sending National Security Adviser Shiv Shankar Menon to Beijing as his special envoy. The visit is coming at a time when nuclear nexus of China and Pakistan is viewed as irritant for India. China has adopted a very aggressive diplomatic position against the Dalai Lama, especially after violent protests in Tibet just before the Beijing Olympics. China had blamed the Dalai Lama for engineering the protests. The protests also seemed to have shocked the Chinese authorities as it proved that the Dalai Lama still exercised considerable influence in Tibet even after 50 years in exile. In the recent past too, due to diplomatic pressure exerted by China, the Russian government denied visa to the Dalai Lama. China had also gone cold on the bilateral talks between its functionaries and the envoys of Dalai Lama. During the last round of talks, the envoys had submitted a memorandum of proposed autonomy under the Chinese sovereignty. However, the China rejected the proposed memorandum. The Chinese authorities also recently took their Panchen Lama to a visit in monasteries in Tibet. The Tibetan government-in-exile has been maintaining that the real Panchen Lama was abducted by the Chinese authorities at the age of five, just after he was identified by the Dalai Lama. |
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Bid to loot salary
Solan, July 2 In an emergency meeting convened today at Nalagarh by various associations of the HP State Electricity Board under the chairmanship of Dev Raj Sharma, they said the police had remained a mute spectator to various incidents where windowpanes of their vehicles and offices had been broken by miscreants and their chowkidaar had been manhandled. Expressing dissatisfaction over the police’s inaction in yesterday’s incident, the employees alleged that it failed to act swiftly and this helped the miscreants flee the spot. The employees alleged that whenever such incidents occurred, employees were made to bear the brunt and they were victimised merely on the basis of suspicion. The employees have now demanded that no single employee would handle billing responsibility as well as technical work till the management made appropriate arrangement for their offices. Since cash worth Rs 25 lakh and above was being handled single-handedly, it had become a dangerous proposition. The association also resented the increasing casualty rate of line men where repair work at odd hours proved fatal in the absence of security measures. The association now demanded immediate arrest of the culprits, failing which they threatened to switch off power supply throughout the state. Meanwhile, the board’s executive engineer RK Pathania said he had written to senior officials to ensure insurance cover to the employees carrying cash through the Cash Carry Insurance policy and field employees had been directed not to deal singlehandedly in cash and make use of official vehicles while executing such duties. Baddi SP Chander Shekhar Pandit, however, said the board was violating the compulsory notification of the state whereby distribution of salary through cash had been done away with since the past two years. He said the board employees were inviting trouble by carrying such huge amount of cash knowing well that the area was not safe. |
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14,000 tonnes of foodgrain rot in FCI godowns: RTI
Shimla, July 2 According to information obtained by RTI activist Dev Ashish Bhattacharya, the nodal government procurement agency had as many as 13,824 tonnes of “non-issuable” foodgrain stock as on January 1. It included 9,452 tonnes of rice, 3,329 tonnes of wheat and 1,040 tonnes of paddy. The maximum quantity of 7,104 tonnes of totally damaged stock was in the northern region, followed by 2,587 tonnes in the western region and 2,570 tonnes in the
eastern region. The RTI information also revealed that the government had not taken any action to fix responsibility for large-scale damage to foodgrain stock despite an assurance given by the Agriculture Minister in Parliament in August last year. The issue was raised by members on the basis of information obtained by Bhattacharya under the RTI Act and the minister had assured that a team would be constituted to probe into the matter and, on the basis of its report, corrective action would be taken. The information provided by the FCI revealed that during five-year period upto 2007, a whopping 5.77 lakh tonnes of foodgrain, which included 3.95 lakh tonnes of rice and 1.83 lakh tonnes of wheat, 22,000 of paddy and 110 tonnes maize, had been damaged in its godowns. The copies of file notings and official correspondence reveal that the FCI had sought repeated extensions for fulfilling the assurance given in Parliament and no team had been constituted till April 26, 2010. “This clearly shows that the government is not serious about taking action in the matter,” said Bhattacharya who has obtained about 300 pages of information under the RTI Act on the issue. The attitude of the government is all the more surprising in view of the recent media revelations that liquor was being stored in FCI godowns, he added. |
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Global warming? Welcome to Lahaul-Spiti
Kaza (Spiti) July 2 The warmer climes have enabled successful cultivation of apple in Lahaul and Kaza areas, which primarily confine to the cultivation of high quality peas and potatoes till now. Though apple was being cultivated on a small scale in Samdoh and Poh areas of Spiti and Pattan valley of Lahaul but now the government plans to distribute it to the villagers for mass plantation in the entire district of Lahaul and Spiti. Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal who visited Spiti recently says all-out efforts will be made to promote various destinations in Spiti from tourism point of view and at the same time supplement the income of the locals by encouraging them to take to apple cultivation. The results of 47,000 apple plantations undertaken in seven panchayats last year in Lahaul have been very encouraging, prompting the administration to take to its cultivation on a larger scale. “This year we intend to distribute 1.51 lakh apple plants to people in the remaining 22 panchayats under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGA) so that they are able to supplement their income,” said Ritesh Chauhan, Deputy Commissioner, Lahaul-Spiti. He said the plantation of apple undertaken in Lahaul valley last year in September-October had shown very positive results due to shift in the apple cultivation belt to lower areas. “With an increase in temperature of almost five degrees in the area, cultivation of apple has shown very positive results and now people are taking to it in a big way as they are planting royal delicious and spur varieties,” said N.K. Gupta, Deputy Director, Horticulture, Keylong. People in the Spiti valley too are keen to adopt apple cultivation. “We too are keen that apple is planted on a large scale in the Spiti area so that we can have additional income,” says Palzor, a resident of Rangrik. Horticulture officials say with apple cultivation not being undertaken on such a large scale in the tribal district so far, the produce is sold to the contractors locally. |
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Bus Stand Project
Mandi, July 2 He said this while talking to mediapersons at a public meeting at Kadoun in Seraj yesterday. He said the government had taken loan for the funding of the project and construction of the commercial complex was a must. However, he assured that he would order a probe if anything trickery was found
in the project. Meanwhile, the RTI Bureau, Citizens’ Council Mandi, the Congress and the CPM have joined hands alleging that the state government had targeted the project to “create a shopping mall as there was a provision for parking 18 buses only”. There is no provision for parking two wheelers, bicycles etc, they charged. Not only this but also there was a proposal that the panchayat bhawan would be taken over by the Himachal Urban Development Authority (HIMUDA) to increase the capacity of the bus stand to accommodate 58 buses. The RTI Bureau sought information from HIMUDA and Town and Country Planning (TCP) Department and inspected the site. It found that the map was not approved by the TCP. Mandi Congress MLA Anil Sharma charged that the bus stand had a capacity to accommodate 18 buses as the government was trying to create shopping complex which would defeat the purpose of the bus stand. HIMUDA, chief executive officer, SC Sud said the “bus stand would provide loading facility for 18 buses and would park 30-40 buses”. He refused to comment on the commercial shopping complex, but claimed that HIMUDA was competent to construct the bus stand. Transport and Urban Development Minister Mohinder Singh Thakur said the complex would be expanded to accommodate 60 buses taking over the panchayat bhawan. “It will have six floors housing 420 shops-cum-offices that will house banks and other commercial establishments and is getting approval for the extension from the TCP,” he added. |
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‘Rahul insensitive to people’s woes’
Hamirpur, July 2 Addressing a public meeting at Gandhi Chowk here today, Thakur said, “The Congress is trying to show the face of Rahul Gandhi to the country when the common man is facing grave problems. The party has given nothing but price rise, terrorism and Maoism to the country. The BJP will give them a befitting reply on July 5 by calling a nationwide bandh.” Having a dig at Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Thakur said, “The economic crisis of the country has deepened under the leadership of out PM.” Alleging involvement of a few Union Ministers in the IPL scam, Thakur said, “Fingers were raised at three Union ministers for their alleged involvement in the IPL scam. However, the Congress adopted silence over the issue to save the UPA government’s skin.” Comparing the Centre and the state governments, the BJYM president said, “While the Congress believes in bragging, the state government works for ‘aam aadmi’. It has provided thousands of jobs to teachers and other categories to combat unemployment.” MLA Baldev Sharma and other leaders also addressed the public meeting. Earlier, Thakur was welcomed by activists at different places in the district and later driven in an open jeep from Bhota Chowk to Gandhi Chowk. |
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Narender assails Anurag
Hamirpur, July 2 In a press release he said, “There can not be any comparison between Rahul and Anurag since latter is no match to Rahul Gandhi who is trying to ameliorate weaker sections of society.” He said, “Due to simplicity and devotion to the cause, lakhs of people are eager to sacrifice their lives for the country on a call of Rahul today.”
— TNS
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Hike in power duty jolts investors
Solan, July 2 Earlier, it was the 12 to 13 per cent hike in the tariff, which was affected last month, and now the power duty hike of 13 to 20 per cent for large industries, which consumed a load of 100 kW and above, and 13 to 15 per cent for medium industries had put a burden on the investors. A hike of 34 paise to 38 paise per unit would be effective for the medium industries that drew less than 100 kW power while the large industries would suffer an increase of 52 paise to 58 paise per unit. Jeewan Aggrawal, president of Barotiwala Baddi Jharmajri Industries’ Association and MD of RR Castings, said, “The hike in tariff and power duty has made the power costly by 20 per cent and it has also broken their backbone. There is little rationale in increasing it as power is generated from water in the state and there is no change in its cost as against the neighbouring state where coal and fuel are used to generate electricity. While the board’s efficiency is going from bad to worse there is little being done to improve power quality.” Moreover, the state government could have hiked this duty in a piecemeal manner as this huge hike would upset the economics of especially steel and induction furnace-based units that thrive on power, Aggrawal added. Prem Sharma, president of Nalagarh Industries’ Association, said the hike had unnerved the industry as unscheduled power cuts was already causing production losses of 15 to 20 per cent. Rakesh Bansal, convener of CII Power Reforms Panel and general secretary Parwanoo Industries’ Association, said this came as a shock as the government had agreed to make power duty revenue neutral while converting it into percentage terms in September last year. The government was already getting a commensurate increase in its revenue per unit after the new tariff and hence this was uncalled for. |
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Dhumal visits CRPF jawan’s family
Dharamsala, July 2 Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal said this while talking to mediapersons at Dehra today. He was at Dehra to visit the family of Pankaj, the CRPF jawan from Sanot village, who was killed in a Naxal attack in Chattisgarh on June 30. Pankaj was cremated yesterday with full honours. His cremation was also attended by 18 MLAs and ministers of Himachal besides newly appointed president of Bhartiya Janta Yuva Morcha (BJYM) Anurag Thakur. Dhumal said national security should be accorded top priority by the central government. However, the present central government had failed to tackle terrorism. On the occasion, Dhumal gave a grant of Rs 1 lakh from the CM’s soldier relief fund to the aggrieved family. He also assured all help to the family of the deceased soldier. |
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Minister inspects work
Shimla, July 2 He expressed satisfaction over pace of the work and hoped that the Rs 228.26 crore project would be completed by 2012. He said work on this road would be speeded up with setting up of crushers, hot mix plant and wet mix macadam. Construction of bridges and culverts had to be accelerated so as to catch up with time, he added. The minister said by granting visas to Chinese officials of the company and engaging 380 local work force, the pace of work would further be accelerated. |
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CPM urges schools to remain closed
Shimla, July 2 In an open letter addressed to the principals of all schools in the state capital, district secretary of the CPM Sanjay Chauhan requested that July 5 be declared as a holiday to save children from inconvenience. “Since the strike will be observed right from morning to evening, we are making special appeals to parents, school principals and business community to observe a holiday so that everyone is saved of the inconvenience,” said Chauhan. He said the move to observe a complete “hartal” had been taken following hike in prices of petrol, diesel, cooking gas and kerosene by the UPA regime. “Hill states like Himachal will be severely affected as all goods are transported by road,” he said. This, he added, would lead to a substantial increase in the prices of most of the goods. Barring emergency services like plying of ambulances, all other business activity and transportation would not be allowed to move on
July 5, he added. |
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Chairman’s election set aside
Shimla, July 2 The Court of Registrar observed that Sharma was a full-time employee of the District Cooperative Union, Una, at the time of his nomination which was a clear violation of Rule 41(1) (d) of the State Cooperative Societies Rules. Since his nomination was not in order, his election as chairman was also not in order. Accordingly, his election as chairman of the federation as well as his nomination by the district cooperative union to the board of directors was set aside. It also directed the secretary of the federation to initiate the process filling the vacancies caused as a consequence. |
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Last date extended
Shimla, July 2 She said the application form as well as the OMR sheets should be complete in all respects before submission. “Incomplete and wrongly filled forms will be rejected and attaching BA results and percentage is a must,” she added. She said the counselling dates would be announced later.
— TNS |
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Shyam Kumar is Palampur agri varsity VC
According to sources, Sharma is a graduate from PAU and also a resident of Palampur. He also served in his parent institution. He was Dean of College of Basic Sciences at the PAU. Besides, he also held the position of programme director biotechnology here. After that he proceeded on a long leave and joined as director ICAR wing for plant genetic resources. Sharma would be replacing outgoing VC Tej Pratap. He would be facing the challenge to increase establishment expenditure of the university in view of implementation of new pay scales and shrinking budget. He would also have to tackle the issue of contributory pension of employees. The contributory pension fund of university employees is going defunct and authorities have demanded Rs 100 crore from the state government to sustain it. |
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Cement loading dispute resolved
Bilaspur, July 2 This agreement was signed by nine representatives of the contesting transport cooperative societies of the area after deliberations conducted under the chairmanship of Mandi Divisional Commissioner Ashwini Kapoor in presence of the Deputy Commissioner Nandita Gupta and Naina Devi MLA Randhir Sharma at Bhaga late last night. Terms of the agreement specifically state that the cement loading would be done by trucks of the “oustees and affected families”. While no family would have more than one truck, not more than 950 trucks would be allowed to be deployed for the purpose. The work would be streamlined under supervision of the assistant registrar, Cooperative Societies,, and the freight money would be deposited by the cement factory with the Bilaspur District Cooperative and Marketing Federation.
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Leopard attack getting common
Bilaspur, July 2 Retired headmaster Sita Ram Nadda became a victim of a leopard that was hiding in his storeroom. As soon as he opened the door of the storeroom, the animal attacked him. He was injured as the leopard suddenly pounced upon him and thereafter fled from the scene. The incident took place at Kot village, 60 km from here, yesterday. In another incident, a leopard attacked a cowshed of Man Singh in Khameda Khurd village, 70 km from here, yesterday and killed and carried away two of his goats. Some body parts of the goats were found near his house this morning.
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HC bans mining in village
Shimla, July 2 It further directed the Kullu DC to take all measures and safeguards, including fencing of the area in question, to ensure that no illegal mining activity is carried out in violation of the law. While passing this order, the Bench, comprising Justice Deepak Gupta and Justice Sanjay Karol, also burdened M/s Manorma Welfare Association, Hurla, with Rs 50,000 costs for violating environment laws and directed the society to stop further construction of stone crushing unit
on the site. The Bench further questioned that how a society carrying on activities of quarrying, mining and stone crushing be registered under the Himachal Pradesh Societies Registration Act, 2006. The Act was enacted to provide for registration and working of literary, scientific, educational, religious and charitable activities in the state. It registrar, Co-operative Societies, to probe into affairs of the society and take appropriate action in accordance with the law.
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Man murdered
Shimla, July 2 “He boarded the Karsog-Delhi bus from the bus stand at about 10.30 pm after his duty hours were over and got off at 103 tunnel to go home in Phagli, where he resided with his family,” said Dhiman. At about 11 pm, the police received information about a person lying injured in the area. He was rushed to Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) where he succumbed to injuries at 2.30 pm. The police has registered a case under Section 302 of the IPC as the body has injury marks. |
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Woman commits suicide
Shimla, July 2 “Though it appears to be a case of suicide, all the same, we are waiting for her brothers to arrive from Punjab so that they can see the body before the postmortem is conducted. In case they have any suspicion, we will record their statement and accordingly investigate the matter,” said Additional SP Anand Dhiman. |
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Workshop on disaster management
Chamba, July 2 A mock drill was also organised at Khairi, the dam site of Chamera power station-I. Chamba DC Devesh Kumar briefed about the objectives of holding the workshop. He said according to inputs from security agencies, dams in the district were at a high risk and the administration was directed by the government to remain alert and prepared for coping with any such incident. The security of dams is also important from economic point of view, the DC added.
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Dharamsala, July 2