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Exam Scam
Forest Act implementation poor in state: Report
Dharamsala addicts are back again
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Kutlehar Forest Case
‘Large-scale mining in state disastrous’
Workers go on strike near Baddi
Youth Cong to hold seminar in Kangra
Handicrafts expo from tomorrow
18 shops raided, 1.5 quintal of sweets destroyed
Inspection of metalled roads from today
Employees seek arrears before Divali
Keep tab on construction activities: DC
‘Development not at environment’s cost’
CM inspects sinking Ridge
Governor to visit Chamba
Four houses gutted in Chamba
Manali-Leh road now closed from Nov 15
3.7 kg of charas seized; 3 women arrested
Man hit by truck, dead
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Exam Scam
Dharamsala, October 31 Sources in the committee told The Tribune that 78 students, who did not appear in the exams, were identified after scrutiny of just about 50 per cent records presented before the committee. Members of the committee forwarded the names and addresses of the students to the secretary, education board. However, the board authorities have not yet forwarded the names to the police for further action against these students. The secretary, board, Prabhat Sharma, admitted that the committee had handed over a list of 78 students to them. He, however, added: “We are further verifying the records of the students whose names have been given to us. A committee under additional secretary has been formed to scrutinise the records. Action against the students will be taken after the inquiry is completed”. The delay in scrutinising the records is, however, raising many eyebrows amidst reports that efforts are there to water down the scam. Meanwhile, the newly appointed chairman of the education board RS Gupta has directed the board authorities to rectify the anomaly in the result of girl student from Bilaspur. The student had directly represented her case to the chairman. In her complaint, the student had alleged that she was declared fail in social sciences examination due to a mischief of a local school teacher. On scrutiny of her answersheets of social sciences paper, it was found that almost all her answers were crossed. Since the answers were crossed, the evaluators did not give her any numbers and she was declared fail. The student pleaded before the chairman that the teacher who had animosity with her crossed her answersheets. The chairman has now asked the education board authorities to rectify the anomaly so that the student does not suffer loss of academic year. Officials are now overcautious while declaring the results of supplementary examinations. Generally, the results of supplementary examinations are declared in October. However, this year the results have not been declared as yet. The students of 10+2, who had appeared in supplementary examinations, were hopeful of getting admissions in universities in the state. However, the delay in declaration of results might dash their hopes. |
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Forest Act implementation poor in state: Report
Forest Rights
Act The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, is a key piece of forest legislation passed in India on December 18, 2006. It has also been called the "Forest Rights Act", the "Tribal Rights Act". The law concerns the rights of forest-dwelling communities to land and other resources, denied to them over decades as a result of the continuance of colonial forest laws in India. The state proposes to implement it in tribal areas of Kinnaur, Lahaul-Spiti, Pangi and Bharmour
Shimla, October 31 It is of the firm view that there should be no diversion of forest land till the FRA is enforced fully. Disagreeing with the general perception on the part of the government that given the specific geographical condition it cannot be implemented in the whole of the state, it has asserted that 70 per cent population is eligible for benefits under the FRA by virtue of being dependent on forests for survival and livelihood needs. The government should issue the necessary orders for the implementation of the Act in the state with immediate effect to ensure that forest-dependent population is not denied its legitimate forest rights, the committee which visited the state recently for the purpose has stated in its report. More importantly, it has recommended that an effective mechanism should be put in place to ensure that there is no diversion of forest land until the FRA is fully implemented. Proceedings in the high court and other courts or any authority orders regarding eviction of that occupying forest land should be put on hold. These orders were issued under the provisions of the Indian Forest Act, the Forest Conservation Act which had been superseded by the FRA. The state government should promptly take a decision on the claims that have been received in the tribal areas and the criteria laid down regarding the eligibility of the beneficiaries should be withdrawn as it is a direct contravention of the provisions of the FRA and also delaying the process of recognition of forest rights in the tribal areas. On the issue of ‘nautor’ lands, the FRA could be considered in case of poor families settled in forest land up to 20 bighas. It should be ensured that each village filed community claims as per the revenue records and any new use of forest resources. In case of failure to do so, the government should recognise the rights enlisted in the revenue records as the community rights under the FRA. Special focus has to be laid on the filing of claims by groups of migratory graziers for which an inventory should be created, based on the data available with the forest department. The new timber distribution policy is against the spirit of the FRA and these rights should be now made a part of new Act. The Forest Act 1927 should not be confused with land reform as it was passed by the British to annex Indian forests. The rights of locals were restricted and reduced to privileges and later on completely extinguished. After Independence more and more acquisition of gram sabha land, village forest, ‘nistar’ jungles and common property resources were acquired under the
IFA. |
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Dharamsala addicts are back again
Dharamsala, October 31
They have also sought an audience with the Dalai Lama who has given his consent to hold a two-day teaching session for them starting from November 2. The group had started a social networking site. It was started by Gavin Kitty, a foreign tourist, who thought of contacting people who visited Dharamsala between 1970 and 1980. The site is Olddharamsalawallahs.ning.com. The entry to website is through invitation from friends. Slowly the site picked up and now it has about 140 members from Australia, New Zealand, Mangolia, Europe and the US. The members then decided to gather at Dharamsala. They arrived at McLeodganj a few days ago along with their families, some of them even came with their grandchildren. They held a meeting at Chinar Lodge today where The Tribune correspondent interacted with a few of them. Most of them were, however, media shy. Garratt Marion Joyce is an Australian who visited Dharamsala in 1980. “I came here as a child and now I have come with my children,” she said with a smile. She was nostalgic about visiting the place again. “I used to stay in Khazanchy Mohalla in lower Dharamsala. Shopkeepers there were very friendly. I want to go and meet their families in the next few days,” she said. Dunston Berenice Deign is also an Australian who has come here with his family. He remembered the snow-clad Dhauladhar mountains and the pristine glory of the area in 1970s. Though a lot has changed in Dharamsala since 1970s, it retains its spiritual touch, he said. Jakic Ivanka, a Croatian, had also visited Dharamsala earlier. She had since then migrated to the US. She is now one of the organisers of the get-together of the group here and is happy to be back in Dharamsala. Kanajet Zimmermann, also from the US, remembers that in 1970s Nowrojee’s was the only major shop in McLeodganj. There were just four to five other shops and the Dalai Lama temple was also very small. Now the place has grown as a big tourist place, she said. Ram Sawroop has been running his hotel in Mcleodganj for the past 35 years. He was also interacting with the old Dharamsalawallahs, trying to get whereabouts of some of his old acquaintances. He said many foreign tourists were attached to the spiritual ambience in Dharamsala. It was unlike any other tourist place. The members of the group were today planning to visit the places and spots around Dharamsala. However, many of them are too old for mountaineering and trekking, they regretted. |
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Kutlehar Forest Case
New Delhi, October 31 The officer, Mahendra Pal, and generations of his ancestors had been managing the Kutlehar Forests spread over 16 tapas (tikas) ever since Kutlehar
was a princely state in the Kangra Hills. However, under the terms and conditions of Pal’s appointment in 1958, he was entitled to retain 75 per cent share of the total income from the forests, with the remaining 25
per cent payable to the government. The state government took over the forests on March 11, 1995, following the passage of the Kutlehar Forests (Acquisition of Management) Act, 1992. About a month before the takeover, Pal had handed over 1,33,591 resin blazes to Una divisional manager of the Himachal Pradesh State Forest Corporation and the Pricing Committee had decided the prices of the blazes at Rs 25 each for the 1995 season. But the corporation refused payment in view of
he takeover. Pal then filed a suit in the high court for recovery of Rs 35.67 lakh along with interest at 16.5 per cent, which was dismissed twice, first by a single Judge and then by a Division Bench. He then came to the Supreme Court. The quantum of the amount would be decided by the high court within six months, the Supreme Court held. |
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‘Large-scale mining in state disastrous’
Bilaspur, October 31 This clear warning was served both to government and people by Shridhar Murti, national convener of a social awakening organisation, Mines, Minerals and Peoples, while delivering his keynote address in a state-level seminar organised on the subject here by Himalaya Niti Abhiyan Samiti at Panchayat Bhawan recently. Shridhar Murti earnestly pleaded that all large-scale mining activity should be immediately banned, already sanctioned mining should be strictly controlled under appropriate law and no new mining should be allowed. He said it was a great tragedy that government was allowing a large number of Hydro power projects, cement plants and qarrying under various names and
excuses, under political pressures or that of big industrial houses. He said he was dismayed at the manner in which all districts of the state were being exploited by the ‘mercenaries’ of the adjoining states of Punjab, Haryana and Delhi on a large scale in supplying stones for hundreds of stone crushers situated in those states on HP borders. They were, virtually,
minting huge money at the cost of HP. Kulbhushan Upmanyu, a renowned environmentalist, who presided over the seminar, said the Himachal chapter of the organisation was also formed. |
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Workers go on strike near Baddi
Solan, October 31 District president of AICTE Satish Sharma, who lent support to the agitation, said the management was adopting suppressive tactics. Though more than 200 workers were employed, merely 35 were shown on the rolls as permanent. The remaining employees were neither issued identity cards nor were given other benefits like uniforms. He alleged that the management had refused to pay bonus and was pleading losses while in reality construction of another unit was underway and they were operating another unit, Omex Industry, on the premises which was not registered under the Factories Act at Malkhu Majra. He asserted that the management was exploiting the labourers. Workers said the unit management had in 2005 refused to accept them as unit employees and since no records were maintained it had led to an agitation. Similar tactics were again adopted to suppress their genuine demands. The vice-president of the firm SP Jaiswal has, however, termed the strike as illegal and asserted that the unit is undergoing losses and hence cannot pay bonus. He said there were 35 permanent employees only and some workers were employed on a casual basis through labour contractors. He added that they were raking up the issue of Ram Krishen unnecessarily as he was suspended for genuine reasons and it could not be revoked. He said 10 to 15 workers, who were willing to work, had been stopped by the agitating employees from entering the unit and they had now sought police help apart from writing to the labour commissioner, DSP Baddi, and Labour Officer. This revelation had, however, put a question mark on the working of the labour department, which had failed to ensure identity cards to the employees which was now causing their exploitation. |
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Youth Cong to hold seminar in Kangra
Nurpur, October 31 This was stated by Vishavranjan Mohanti, the national secretary of the YC and in charge Himachal Pradesh, in a press conference here last night on his way back from Chamba to Delhi. He said the state YC had been directed to constitute panchayat-level committees by November 13. He said keeping in view the poor strength of women in the YC of Himachal Pradesh, the state leadership had also been asked to enroll the maximum number of women during membership drive. He disclosed that the YC would also organise separate seminars for the Schedule Castes and women in the state. The AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi would be in touch with every unit from gram panchayat to the state unit of the YC. He could make query about the performance of any organisational committee, he said. Claiming the success of three-day-long mahasammelan of the YC workers concluded at Chamba on October 30, Mohanti said it was the first occasion when office-bearers of the YC from 68 assembly segments and 12 districts had direct interaction with national YC office-bearer. On this occasion, Manmohan Katoch, state YC president, and Manoj Pathania, member, central election committee of the YC, were also present. |
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Handicrafts expo from tomorrow
Shimla, October 31 An official spokesperson said here yesterday that the traditional handicrafts and handlooms would include woollen shawls, mufflers, stoles, caps, jewellery, carpets, Chamba rumals, Chamba chappals, jackets and pullan. All these products would be available at 20 per cent discount at the exhibition site at Neelam Bhawan, near local Bus Stand, Sanjauli. He said the exhibition-cum-sale of traditional handloom products of Himachal was also on at Chhota Shimla, Mandi and McLeodganj, which would conclude on November 5. These exhibitions were being organised under the district events sponsored by the Development Commissioner for Handlooms, Government of India. He said people were evincing keen interest in traditional handloom products displayed in the exhibition. He said such exhibitions would be organised at Kullu, Gohar and Rekong Peo cluster areas of the state, besides Chandigarh, Agra and Varanasi in the coming months. |
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18 shops raided, 1.5 quintal of sweets destroyed
Bilaspur, October 31 Kayashtha said these sweets were heavily coloured and all colours were dangerous for human health. He said owners of the sweet shop were also warned against the use of “khoya” and cheese imported from outside the state as there were reports of these items being made of poisonous substances. He also said no silver foils should be used on the sweets. He also instructed owners of the sweet shops to keep their shops clean and sweets covered and ensure that all precautions were taken while preparing these sweets, failing which action would be taken. He said nobody would be spared from legal action if found indulging in adulteration or preparing sweets under unhygienic conditions. Earlier this team had suddenly inspected shops in Ghumarwin, Ghaghus, Berry and Barmana bazaars during the last few days and had destroyed huge quantities of adulterated and coloured sweets. He said the campaign would continue unabated and samples would be checked of all sweets imported from outside the state. |
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Inspection of metalled roads from today
Hamirpur, October 31 The Public Works Department (PWD) had directed all its chief engineers (CEs), superintending engineers (SEs) and executive engineers (XENs), to conduct inspection of all roads from November 1 to 21, other than their areas. The inspection had been initiated by the state government to ensure repair of all damaged roads during the rains or for other reasons from the contractors who had undertaken metalling or upgrade works. As per the contract condition, all such works are under the guarantee period of five years and in case of any damage the contractors are suppose to carry out all repairs. The state government also wants to fix responsibility of officers for lapses, if any on their part. It is notable that many roads are in poor condition causing inconvenience to passengers and vehicle owners in many parts of the state. All roads metalled and upgraded by PWD divisions or under National Highway divisions in the state will be covered under the inspection programme. The PWD has already fixed schedule of all inter- divisional inspections that has been conveyed to all its divisions and officers will be starting this work from November 1, simultaneously in all divisions. Principal Secretary PWD PC Kapoor said, “Since many roads metalled or upgraded recently have been damaged causing financial loss and inconvenience to pubic, all such roads will be inspected to ensure their repair through contractors and fix responsibility for lapses if any in carrying these works.” |
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Employees seek arrears before Divali
Shimla, October 31 President of the federation Prem Singh Bharmouria said a deputation of the employees body and the corporate sector coordination committee met Dhumal at his residence yesterday and urged him to give a Diwali gift to the employees by releasing arrears. He said the Chief Minister cited financial stringency being faced by the government as the reason behind the government’s decision to pay arrears in instalments. The deputation impressed upon him that he should at least pay the arrears to class IV employees, who were the worst-hit by increasing prices, in one instalment so that they could celebrate the festival. In case of other categories, the government should clear arrears if possible before Diwali. The deputation expressed its full cooperation to the government and said the employees would not be misled by the false statement of some self-styled leaders. |
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Pinegrove celebrates annual day
Subathu, October 31 Exhorting the young children to exploit the available opportunities, he said India was a rising economic power having the largest youth population. Therefore, it was imperative to use education as a resource to harness this power so that it could contribute towards nation building. Earlier, the senior students held a march past with the school flag at an impressive parade. Lt-Gen Sharma inspected the cadets and took the salute. The children presented a wide array of items, including gymnastics, chair tricks, folk dance, besides other cultural programmes. The creative skills of the children were amply visible in the numerous art and craft ensembles which were displayed at an exhibition. What won the maximum appreciation from the audience was an immaculately choreographed blind-fold dance. “Deepdaan” a play with a historical theme and a Rajasthani folk dance “Kachi Ghori” also won applause from parents. The school’s annual report highlighting the achievements of the past year in academics, sports and other extra curricular activities, was also presented by the students of class V. Eeshita Manchanda, Pratyush Kumar and Hitesh Kumar of class XII while Kanishka Meel, Simran Vinaik, Shitiz Sehgal, Pulkit Mittal and Smarth Kakkar of class X were awarded gold, silver and bronze medals for their outstanding performance in the CBSE examinations held in March 2010. Seven students of various classes were awarded “Diamond Stars” for their impeccable behaviour. They were chosen through a comprehensive system of voting. The proficiency in sports medal was awarded to Rajnimrit Sidhu. Chinar House lifted the academics trophy while Deodar House bagged the trophy for the Champion House of 2010. |
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Hanuman’s statue to be unveiled on Nov 4
Shimla, October 31 The imposing idol is coming up in the front of the existing temple at the peak dedicated to Lord Hanuman. The idol has been built using steel, concrete and cement at a cost of over Rs 1.5 crore by a devoted business family of Delhi. The idol is being painted with fluorescent orange colour, associated with Lord Hanuman, and illuminated with floodlights. It will shine in the day under the sun and glow like a huge lamp at the top of the hill through the night uplifting the spirits of the devotees and giving a thrill to the tourists. The visual impact will be immense as the idol will standout from the lush green hill covered with thick deodar forest and will be visible from far away. Nikhil Nanda, a Delhi-based businessman, set up an industrial unit at Kala Amb in the state after seeking blessings of Lord Hanuman at the temple. The unit flourished and he chose to create this monument to thank the Lord. He is stated to be close to the Bachchan family and Abhishek Bachchan might land up in Shimla to attend the unveiling ceremony at which Chief Minister PK Dhumal will be the chief guest. Legend has it that Lord Hanuman stepped at the peak while on his way to the Drona Giri hill in search of “sanjeevani booti” urgently needed to revive Lakshman during the Rama-Ravan battle in Sri Lanka. The word Jakhu, it is believed, was derived from Hindi word “Yakhsa”, with whom Hanuman had an encounter at the peak. It is not known exactly when the existing temple came at the site but it is believed to be more than a century old. |
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Keep tab on construction activities: DC
Chamba, October 31 The DC cautioned that haphazard constructions were detrimental to the life in the event of any natural calamity, as the entire hilly district of Chamba falls in the sensitive seismic zone, adding that such constructions also spoiled the aesthetic glimpse of the surrounding area’s landscape. In the meeting, the DC had discussions with the committee members about the approval to be granted to the proposals of residential and commercial buildings that fall in the planning area of Dalhousie hill town, so that the provisions of building bylaws could be stringently adhered to. The DC asked the committee members to keep a tab on various construction activities springing up in the town planning area of Dalhousie, so that the day-to-day directives of the government about the building bylaws could not be overlooked at any level during the construction process.
— OC |
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‘Development not at environment’s cost’
Hamirpur, October 31 Presenting their papers and debating “Urbanisation and Green architecture” at the two-day conference ICONUGA-10 in the National Institute of Technology here most of the architects emphasised no development should take place at the cost of environment. The conference was inaugurated by Architect Vinod Gupta, who in his keynote address talked about sustainability and its importance for the future generations. Dr Meenakshi Jain, Head of the Architecture Department of NIT, welcomed the guests. Architect Surender Bagga, chairperson of the All-India Association of Architects, Punjab chapter, also shared his view on sustainability and HT Patel of Ganpat University, Kherwa, talked on water management. Ivan Affar from Italy also spoke on sustainability of cities. Qazi M Ariff from Bangladesh shared his experiences about urbanisation in his country and stressed the need of saving environment while developing cities. Vijay Uppal, chief architect, HP PWD, and Dr Vijay Dogra of the Architecture Department of the NIT also talked about Urbanisation and Green architecture.
— TNS |
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CM inspects sinking Ridge
Shimla, October 31 He inspected the sinking portion and ascertained the progress of restoration work being undertaken by the municipal corporation. He said the Ridge was an important landmark of the state capital and its sinking was a matter of concern. The municipal corporation should take immediate remedial measures and, if required, services of experts should be requisitioned to find out permanent solution to the problem. A 40-m stretch of the Ridge in front of the Gaiety Theatre overlooking the Ice Skating Rink started sinking due to heavy rain during monsoon. Some of the portions have sunk more than 2 m. |
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Governor to visit Chamba
Chamba, October 31 The communiqué said during her tour, the Governor would visit the famous historic Chourasi temple complex and pay her obeisance. On November 3, the Governor would preside over as the chief guest of the closing ceremony of the ongoing of the 5th Raj Kumar Brijender Singh Memorial Cricket tournament. Later, she would leave for Shimla the same day.
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Four houses gutted in Chamba
Chamba, October 31 According to delayed official report received here today, the fire broke out abruptly and within minutes the flames engulfed four houses. Had the villagers not acted swiftly to douse the flames, the entire village would have been burnt to ashes. The loss caused due to fire had been put at Rs 30 lakh. The local administration of Pangi tribal subdivision rushed to the incident site to carry out relief and rescue operations, the report said; adding that an immediate relief of Rs 5,000 each had been disbursed to the victims. The affected families had been evacuated to a safer place and blankets and foodstuffs for five months had also been provided to them. |
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Manali-Leh road now closed from Nov 15
Manali, October 31 The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) earlier declared on October 6 that the highway would be closed from October 31. The Commander, 38, BRTF, A.K. Dikshit, said here today that the BRO had received a request from the state government to keep the Manali-Sarchu road open till November 15. The opening of the Rohtang pass for more days has brought great relief to the people of the Lahaul and Spiti valley.
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3.7 kg of charas seized; 3 women arrested
Shimla, October 31 The arrested persons were identified as Ganga Devi, Ramkali, Raj Kumari and Ram Singh. The police also recovered 2 kg of poppy seeds, 12 bottles of beer, three bottles of Indian-made foreign liquor and 11 rods of
gelatine.
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Man hit by truck, dead
Nurpur, October 31 According to the police, the deceased was hit when he was crossing the road and the truck driver had been absconding since then. A case under Sections 304 (A) and 279 has been registered and the truck impounded. The body of the deceased has been handed over to his family after a post-mortem examination.
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