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Forest dept surviving sans working plans
Commonwealth games
BJP decries Rahul’s remarks on RSS
Activists burn his effigy
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5 new industrial areas on cards
Security beefed up for Navratras
Rs 250 cr for connecting villages by roads
Power engineers rue staff shortage
Dhumal hails Prevention of Torture Bill
Cement plant shut after truckers’ brawl
Sailing expedition flagged off
Drug firm’s head gets 5-yr RI
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Forest dept surviving sans working plans
Shimla, October 7 The lackadaisical approach of the state towards scientific management of its dwindling forest reserves is evident from the fact that out of total 34 forest working plans covering 38 divisions, 20 have already expired and another eight will expire in the next three years. Working plans for Shimla-Theog and Una will expire in the current year and that of Outer Seraj next year. Similarly, the plans for Chamba, Hamirpur and Nahan-Paonta will be valid up to 2013 and Renuka and Nichar-Pooh up to 2014. The indifferent attitude of the department could be gauged from the fact that a pass has been under preparation for the last several years and unless work is expedited, the plans will become invalid. For instance, the plans for 2001-02 and 20014-15 period for Karsog and Dharampur are still under preparation. The plans have assumed added significance after the Supreme Court ruled that green trees could be axed only in accordance with the plans duly approved by
the Centre. The court had also laid down that fellings must keep pace with natural regeneration of forests for which adequate funds be kept apart. Besides, the Centre should closely monitor the fellings and ensure proper regeneration. In the absence of working plans, excess removals have been made from certain areas, particularly before June 2006 when the high court imposed a ban on allotment of trees under timber distribution rules despite a moratorium in green fellings. Lakhs of trees have been removed under salvage markings, TD allotments, construction of power projects, roads etc. The excess removals are to be balanced by reducing the quantum in the next plan that is possible only if plans are prepared in time. Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Vinay Tandon said the department was considering to outsource some work to expedite the process and it also planned to use satellite imageries to modernise the working plans. |
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Commonwealth games
Vijay Kumar, a resident of Harsour village under Badsar subdivision of Hamirpur district and serving subedar in Indian army, won the gold medal today together with Gurpreet in 25 meters rapid pistol fire category by scoring 587 points, for the second time in the Commonwealth Games. Talking to The Tribune from New Delhi a joyous Vijay Kumar said, “I had already won an individual gold medal in this category in 2006 Commonwealth Games. This time I have won this together with Gurpreet. Tomorrow I am participating in individual event and would try to win gold for the country in this event too.” There were instant celebrations in the area. In Harsour village, people rushed to congratulate his father and other family members and distributed sweets after getting this news and there was a general mood of celebration throughout the district. For his father, who himself is an ex-serviceman Subedar Banku Ram, it was a moment of great joy hearing the news of winning gold medal by his son today. Talking to The Tribune he said, “It is a great moment for our country and my family since it is second time Vijay has won gold medal in Commonwealth Games. This time it is special since games are being hosted in New Delhi.” He said, “Now we wish he wins gold medal in next Olympic Games for the country.” Vijay has won about 70 medals in different competitions, including gold medal in CIS World shooting championship. Chief Minister PK Dhumal and Anurag Thakur, Member of Parliament and President Himachal Rifle Association, have congratulated Vijay Kumar. Dhumal said every Himachali feels proud of his achievement and it would encourage other youths to actively involve themselves in the sports activities. |
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BJP decries Rahul’s remarks on RSS
Shimla, October 7 In a statement issued here today, state BJP spokesperson Ganesh Dutt said: “It is surprising that he has equated an organistaion like the RSS with SIMI that is a banned militant outfit.” Dutt said the Congress was projecting Rahul as the future Prime Minister but he seemed politically immature. “The manner in which he was raising issues of farmers, common man and youth it appeared that he was a level-headed leader. However, now it seems more of an outcome of efficient media management,” Dutt said. He regretted that such a statement would only embolden militant outfits and disappoint national organisations like the RSS. NURPUR: Himachal Pradesh Youth Congress president Manmohan Katoch extended support to AICC General Secretary Rahul Gandhi over his statement on the RSS that it was fanatic and comparable with banned outfit SIMI. He said the Congress would not keep mum over the undignified reaction of the BJP over the statement. Addressing a press conference at Press Club Bhavan here on Thursday, Katoch alleged that the RSS had tried to divide the nation and that the BJP distorted facts relating to Rahul’s statement. Lashing out at the state BJP government, Katoch said the RSS was running the government in the state and this government had sold interests of the state to industrialists. |
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Activists burn his effigy
Dharamsala, October 7 They alleged that Rahul had no knowledge and was just issuing statements
dictated to him by those trying to forcibly make him a leader. The RSS is a national organisation that works for the unity of the country. The statement has the potential to disrupt the
harmony of the country, they added. They said the Congress was just living in utopia of reviving its vote bank politics that amounted to dividing people. The Electorate of India has proved time and again that they voted for governance rather than vote bank, however, the Congress was not leaving its old antics, they alleged. |
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5 new industrial areas on cards
IDENTIFIED SITES
Solan, October 7 Five new industrial areas are being carved out in the Nalagarh industrial belt comprising Plasra, Manjholi, Swarghat Road, Nihala Khera and Lodhi Majra where almost 3,500-bigha land has been identified for industrial development. Since Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh (BBN) was the prime industrial area housing over 70 per cent of the state’s industry, this was the first choice of the investors. Commissioner, Industries, Onkar Sharma directed the officials to ensure availability of land for the prospective industries by getting the government land transferred to the department wherever
possible. Sharma said efforts were afoot to develop a food park in Kangra and Una districts as they wanted to attract industry to areas other than the BBN belt. He added that food-based industries using local produce like mangoes, citrus fruits etc. would be invited to invest here so that the local produce could get ready markets. Adequate land has been identified near Indora in Kangra district where Rs 1,500 crore would be invested. Besides, the department was setting up textile parks where big industrial units would
be set up. Talks were underway with several units and many had expressed interest for the same. He said the focus was to create more job avenues in
the state. |
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Security beefed up for Navratras
Dharamsala, October 7 The three temples include Jawalamukhi temple, Barjeshwari Devi temple in Kangra and Chamunda temple. He further said 681 police personnel, including three gazetted officers, 40 non-gazetted officers, 66 head constables, 252 constables, had been appointed for the purpose. An appeal has also been issued to visiting pilgrims to keep a vigil and inform the police in case anything suspicious comes to their notice, the SP said. Lakhs of pilgrims are expected to come to Kangra district to visit the holy temples till Dussehra. The visiting pilgrims would add to tourist influx in the district. However, the state Tourism Department has not offered any package to retain tourists for the benefit of locals. |
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Rs 250 cr for connecting villages by roads
Shimla, October 7 This was stated by Public Works Minister Gulab Singh while presiding over the review meeting of the Public Works Department here today. He said the state had set a target to connect all villages having population of 250 by 2012. “A novice way of using plastic waste in construction of roads had been started that would improve the roads,” he stated. He said the process would not only help in checking environmental degradation but would also minimise the frequency of road repairs, seepage of rain water and water stagnation due to presence of plastic. The plastic waste replaces approximately 10-15 per cent bitumen and saves about Rs 35,000-45,000 per km of a road stretch, he added. He said the department would identify certain roads stretches as “model roads” that would be made with plastic. The government was purchasing plastic waste at the rate of Rs 4/kg so that it could be utilised for road construction. He said 500 accident-prone black spots had been identified in the state, of which 288 had been improved by providing appropriate safety measures. He said crash barriers would be installed in all major accident-prone spots. He informed that pre-feasibility report regarding construction of tunnel on Bangana-Dhaneta, Karsehar-Telang on Jogindernagar road and Holi-Uttarla road had been prepared. A provision of Rs 2.17 crore had been made for preparing DPRs of these tunnels. |
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Power engineers rue staff shortage
Shimla, October 7 The association, at its meeting here today, lamented that there were 11 chief engineers (civil) and only one chief engineer (electrical) in the state power corporation and demanded that the number of latter should be raised to four. It also demanded strengthening of the state transmission utility which had to create the matching transmission infrastructure for evacuation of power from hydroelectric projects being constructed in the interior of the state. There was only one chief engineer (electrical) in the STU and at least two more should be inducted along with subordinate staff. Similarly, the energy directorate had at least two wings which were to be exclusively looked after by electrical engineers. However, they were forced to carry work with with just one chief engineer (civil). The association strongly opposed the move to take back engineers who had earlier resigned from the board and said it would affect career prospects of the staff. |
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Dhumal hails Prevention of Torture Bill
Shimla, October 7 “The Himachal government has suggested the inclusion of a minimum imprisonment of three years to the offenders which could be extended up to 10 years in addition to his removal from the service by the competent authority,” he said. He said the Bill would be instrumental in checking corporal punishment and ensuring that there was no violation of human rights in government offices. He added that the provisions would help protect people against any torturous acts causing grievous hurt to any person. |
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Cement plant shut after truckers’ brawl
Solan, October 7 Four truck unions ---Ambuja Darlaghat Kashlog Mangu, Golden Land Losers, Baghal Land Losers and Solan District Truck Operators--unanimously have halted all transportation since last evening after the management failed to accede to their demand. The truckers sat outside the unit and justified the hike on the basis of increased fuel and other charges, which they pleaded, had made plying of trucks uneconomical. They said each truck faced a monthly loss of almost Rs 10,000 thus the hike was justified. The truckers were paid freight charges at the rate of Rs 478 per tonne for transporting clinker and they were demanding that this rate should be hiked to Rs 709 per tonne. Similarly, as against the prevailing rate of Rs 5.73 per km per tonne for cement, the truckers demanded that this rate should be revised to Rs 8.86 per km per tonne. However, the management asserted that 48 per cent hike was preposterous. Though they had held a number of meetings in September and three meetings with the truckers in October to amicably resolve the issue, it failed to reach any compromise. The management said this would incur an expenditure of almost Rs 125-150 crore on the two units. A hike of 6 per cent was, however, on the cards apart from the revision of freight charges in February. With the production coming to a halt for the second day today, the state government faced a loss of revenue amounting to Rs 53 lakh per day in form of various taxes. Since almost 14,000 tonnes of material was transported each day, it also led to loss of labour for daily wagers among others. |
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Sailing expedition flagged off
Bilaspur, October 7 He said Gobind Sagar was presenting a panoramic view of a water body and was the most approachable training centre for the cadets. Commander Raj Kumar, Commanding Officer of 1J and K Naval Unit, said 35 senior NCC cadets, including 15 girls, drawn from colleges of Jammu and Kashmir are participating in the expedition. They sailed in four boats along with trainers and officers and would cover over 450 km in Gobind Sagar, visiting Bhakra Dam and all stations en route and back to Bilaspur. He said the objective was to apprising the naval cadets of the sea life and developing spirit of adventure.
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Drug firm’s head gets 5-yr RI
Sundernagar, October 7 According to information, a Mandi drug inspector purchased ‘Duemycetin’ ear drops from a medical store at Rewalsar town on September 27, 1999, and sent it for examination, but the drop was found to be of sub standard quality. The drug inspector filed a complaint against wholesaler and manufacturer of the drug under the provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetic Act. |
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Hamirpur, October 7