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Renuka Dam Project
Approval of Building Maps
Cong flays agriculture market project
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Record generation at Nathpa Jhakri
Gramin bank staff call off strike
Tanda college to be super-speciality hospital
War of words to claim credit
Inadequate Staff at College Kaul Singh
Delay in extension of MC limits flayed
Winter food stock sent for Bara Bhangal residents
11 lakh APL families get subsidised ration
Villagers threaten to boycott poll
Charges Against Cong Leaders
Maiden Sobha Singh award for Chandigarh artist
Rahi Mohinder Singh
53 homeless families provided land
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Revised proposal to save forest cover
Rakesh Lohumi/TNS
Shimla, November 23 The corporation has decided not to fell trees standing on the land to be submerged for a short period during the year. The maximum height of the dam is 148 m (778 m from the sea level) and the total land being acquired is 1684 hectare. However, the maximum reservoir level is 775.85 m, while the normal storage level is 766 m at which the water spread will be 1210 hectare. Since the basic purpose of the dam is to fulfil the water needs of Delhi by supplying 275 million gallons per day, the height of the dam cannot be reduced as it will affect the live storage of 49,800 ha.m (hectare metre) required to meet the demand. The corporation has now decided not to fell trees falling in the submergence area between the normal reservoir level and 762 m (4m less than the normal level) which will come under water temporarily. The normal reservoir level is 766 m and the minimum draw down level is 710.50 m with dead storage capacity of 22800 ha.m. The revised proposal will help save 25 per cent of the 1.83 lakh trees, including 1,51,439 on the forest land, facing the axe, says managing director of the corporation Tarun Kapoor. Further, out of these, the full-grown trees with girth of more than 30 cm numbered only 8,033 which will further come down to under 7,500 after the revised proposal. There were also no special or endangered forest species as only the brood-leaved species were involved which could be regenerated easily within 10 to 15 years. However, the environmental organisations like the Himalaya Niti Abhiyan and the Renuka Bandh Sangharsh Samiti were maintained that the actual number of trees to be submerged including private land was about 15 lakh. The 445 bighas of deemed forest had 32,243 trees, a density of about 1000 trees per hectare, which is higher than the reserve forest area.
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Cabinet nod likely for single-umbrella panel
Pratibha Chauhan Tribune News Service
Shimla, November 23 The recommendation of the Cabinet Sub-Committee which today proposed to have a single-umbrella committee under the Municipal Corporation (MC), is likely to be granted nod by the Cabinet at its meeting to be held on November 25. However, with regard to the contentious issue of lifting the ban in the 17 green belts of the capital town, the committee has decided to maintain status quo. Chairman of the Cabinet Sub-Committee and PWD and Revenue Minister Thakur Gulab Singh said, “The decision to have a single-umbrella panel is aimed at expediting the process of approving building maps and at the same time save the public from cumbersome procedures at multiple levels. Once all the powers are vested in the MC, the Core Area, Restricted Area and State Heritage Advisory committees will cease to exist.” Interestingly, the committee has recommended the constitution of a Heritage Advisory Committee even though a State Heritage Advisory already existed. “The new Heritage committee will now be headed by the director, Town and Country Planning (TCP), and will meet at least once a month to ensure speedy disposal of cases for map approval to the MC single-umbrella committee,” confirmed Deepak Sanan, Principal Secretary (TCP). Eminent architects, urban design architects and historians would be its members as was the case till now. The committee also recommended that all those unauthorised constructions, which had been built without approval could do so by paying 10 times the existing permission fee. “Only those building which confirm to the norms for construction will be approved even though there is no exact data of such structures,” Sanan added. Once the Cabinet approves the proposal, the role of the TCP Department will be reduced to a monitoring and inspection agency for planned and regulated development. Even with regard to approving maps in the areas outside the MC limits, it is the local urban bodies, which will have the powers. Architects empanelled by the TCP Department will approve the map, which will be filed before the Special Area Development Authority (SADA) authority. The main objective of having a single-umbrella committee is to simplify procedures and do away with multiple agencies. Now, it remains to be seen how well the MC can run the show as its past record has been far from satisfactory and it has come in for severe criticism for its failure in enforcing the law effectively.
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Cong flays agriculture market project
Shimla, November 23 Addressing a joint press conference here today, secretary of the party Rohit Thakur and president of the Shimla district (rural) unit Kehar Singh Khachi said Chief Minister PK Dhumal had laid the foundation stone of the project even before preparing the detailed project report. The government was not clear about the project and the mode of funding. No budgetary allocation had been made and the Rs 20 crore being released was the money collected by the agriculture market committee as market fee. Initially, it was said Asia’s biggest market would be set up with an investment of Rs 400 crore but later foundation stone of a Rs 100 crore project, to be implemented in three phases, was laid. They said Dhumal indulged in similar gimmicks during his earlier term and launched twin wineries project in PPP mode with Indage India Limited in 2000 but nothing had come up till date. The government was claiming that roads were kept open during the season but the fact was that 70 per cent of the 1,11,000 tonne of apple procured under the market intervention scheme rotted at the collections centres for want of timely transportation. In all, more than 10 lakh bags of apple worth over Rs 32.5 crore had been spoiled. The fact-finding committee, which will look into the problems faced by the growers over the past three years, is headed by economist Dalip Thakur.
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Record generation at Nathpa Jhakri
Shimla, November 23 As per the memorandum of understanding signed by the Sutlej Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVN) with the Union Ministry of Power, the target for the period was 5,822 million units and 6,000 million units mark was to be crossed on December 12. The record generation had been possible despite the plant being shut down for 22 days on account of high silt in July-August. The unprecedented rains in the catchment increased discharge in the river, raising the level of silt considerably. However, the project still managed to achieve the milestone 20 days ahead of schedule due to better water and machine management. Director (electrical) of the SJVN RP Singh said last year too the project had been able to generate 6,000 million units on the same day and ended up the year generating a record 7,019 million units, which was 407 million units more than the design energy of 6,612 million units. — TNS
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Strike hits AIR, DD transmission
Shimla, November 23 The agitation of the employees demanding withdrawal of the Prasar Bharati Act affected the transmission of local programmes and there was also no news bulletin. The centre relayed programmes from Delhi for four hours during which local programmes were transmitted. The local All India Radio remained off the air for about one hour from 12.26 pm and also could not come out with the news bulletin. The transmission was continuing but some scheduled programmes were affected.
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Lawyers hold protest
Shimla, November 23 The association condemned the indifferent attitude of the authorities towards their demand for retaining the courts in the present complex and other issues being raised by it. The new complex being constructed was neither suitable for litigants nor advocates and both would be affected by shifting of the courts. It lamented that the association was not associated with any committee formed for selection of the site for construction of a new complex.
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Gramin bank staff call off strike
Mandi, November 23 According to All-India Rural Bank Employees’ Association president DC Sharma, the employees today called off the strike as the bank management accepted their pending demands. Sharma said the management should regularise the part-time workers of the bank and the backlog of promotion quota should be completed on time. He said employees had ended the chain hunger strike after the bank management gave assurance to meet the demands.
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Tanda college to be super-speciality hospital
Shimla, November 23 Addressing a press conference here today, Health and Family Welfare Minister Rajiv Bindal said the objective of his government was to raise the number of MBBS and postgraduation seats so that there was no shortage of doctors at any level. “Tomorrow will be a historic day as the foundation stone for the setting up of six super-specialities of oncology, cardio-vascular thoracic surgery, cardiology, neurology, neurosurgery and nephrology will be laid at Tanda,” he said. He said it was under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Surksha Yojna that a sum of Rs 150 crore would be spent on creating the six super-specialities. “While the Centre will provide a sum of Rs 125 crore, the state will give Rs 25 crore along with the land, manpower and running of the institution. “It was on August 31 that a meeting was held in Delhi with the Union Health Ministry and the final notification for creation of super-specialities was issued on November 10,” Bindal said. He said though no monetary sanction had been received so far, it was obvious that it was just a matter of time. The Health Minister said against a total of 115 MBBS seats at Tanda medical college and Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) in 2008, the number would touch 465 after two years when the BJP regime completes its tenure. “The Tanda college which had a very rough sailing all along has achieved a number of milestones and now it will provide tertiary care services to the people,” he said. He added that the MD seats too had increased from 39 to 70 and shortly MD in four super-specialities of cardiology, cardio-thoracic vascular surgery, gastroenterology and neurosurgery would be started shortly. He said similarly diploma in nursing in super-speciality care would also be added shortly. Bindal said with the starting of the medical college and hospital at Palampur and another one by ESI at Mandi, patients would get better health facilities closer home. “Letters of intent have been issued for setting up of medical colleges at Hamirpur, Sirmaur and Una while efforts are on to have similar colleges at Chamba and Sarkaghat as well,” he said. |
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War of words to claim credit
Dharamsala, November 23 The visit has already triggered a war of words between Congress and BJP leaders to claim credit of the development of the project. Chander Kumar, former Congress MP from Kangra and AICC member, claimed today that Rs 125 crore for the upgradation of the Tanda medical college was released by the Centre during his stint as MP from the area. He also said the state government was to issue its contribution of Rs 25 crore to get the grant from the government. However, the present government had failed to release the amount due to which the project had been delayed. The state government had no contribution in getting the project sanctioned, he claimed. HPCC spokesperson from Kangra Kewal Singh Pathania, in a press note issued here, thanked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and AICC president Sonia Gandhi for allocating the project to Himachal. The Minister of Health, Himachal, Rajiv Bindal, has refuted the claims of the Congress leader. He said the Congress leader had no knowledge regarding the project. The state government had received the sanction letter from the Union Government regarding the upgradation of the Tanda medical college only this month. Only the sanction had come, but no money had been received from the government for the project as yet, he said. About the state government contribution of Rs 25 crore, he said a part of the money had already been deposited with hospital consultancy service that would undertake the construction of super-speciality wing of the Tanda medical college. The consultancy service was under the control of the Union Government, he said. Bindal also said the Union Government was giving money for the infrastructure. The major investment included in recruiting staff for super-speciality service and running the hospital that would be borne by the state government. Meanwhile, the Congress leaders have decided to welcome Ghulam Nabi Azad at Gaggal airport at Kangra. They are not going to attend the main function. Kaul Singh, HPCC president, and Chander Kumar said they had not been extended any invitation for the main function at the Tanda medical college. Congress MLA from Nagrota Bagwan GS Bali would attend the function.
— Minister of Health, Himachal, Rajiv Bindal
— Chander Kumar, former Congress MP from Kangra and AICC member
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Inadequate Staff at College
Shimla, November 23 The court took cognisance on a letter written by the students of the college to the Chief Justice, highlighting their problems. They alleged in the letter that the college was running in four rooms and the post of principal and lecturers were also vacant in the college for the last two years. While treating this letter as Public Interest Litigation, the court listed the matter for further hearing on December 29.
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Delay in extension of MC limits flayed
Palampur, November 23 In a meeting held here today, the forum appealed to Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal to issue a notification for the extension of municipal limit without any further delay so that elections for the municipal council could also be held along with coming panchayats polls. The forum also passed a resolution to this effect demanding inclusion of all adjoining panchayats of Ghuggar, Aima, Lohana, Bundla, Bindravan, Maranda and Holta so that the urbanised localities could become a part of the new municipal council. It was also resolved that in the last 10 years Palampur town had expanded and over three dozen new housing colonies had come up in the panchayats areas where over 35,000 residents reside outside MC limits. Therefore, extension of municipal limit was immediately required. Being the smallest municipal council of the country, population of present Palampur municipal limits is only 4,000. It was never extended since its inception in 1955. Copies of the resolution were sent to Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal; Secretary (Urban Development); and Deputy Commissioner, Kangra, for speedy action. |
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Winter food stock sent for Bara Bhangal residents
Dharamsala, November 23 Kangra Deputy Commissioner RS Gupta said majority population of Bara Bhangal shifts to the Bir area in Baijnath during winter these days. The panchayat of the village had also moved a resolution seeking subsidised food items at Baijnath. We are also providing subsidised ration to residents of Bara Bhangal in the Bir area also, he said. Bara Bhangal village is located across the Thumbsar Pass at a height of about 16,000 feet on the border of Kangra and Chamba district. The village is located near the source of the Ravi river. It is also the only apple growing area of Kangra district. However, till date there is no approachable road to the village and residents have to trek about 18 km through mountains to reach there. Most of the villagers depend on farming and animal rearing for livelihood. In the recent past, the village was self-sufficient to meet its needs. However, slowly the residents are migrating to lower area like Bir to evade the harsh winter. However, with the new heli-taxi tourism being promoted by the state government the village can attract tourists to its pristine surroundings. As per the gazetteer of Kangra district, Bara Bhangal was once a state in itself. The rulers of state ruled up to the Baijnath area. However, the neighbouring states slowly conquered its areas and Bara Bhangal remained limited to a remote village in the snow-clad Dhauladhar mountains.
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11 lakh APL families get subsidised ration
Chamba, November 23 Speaking to mediapersons here today, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Ramesh Dhawala said 52 kg of ration was being provided to the APL families and 60 kg of ration to BPL (below poverty line) families through 4,407 fair price shops in the state. In order to curb corruption, the minister said the entire public distribution system would be computerised from the next year so that the poor could derive optimal benefit; adding that the process to prepare smart cards under this scheme would also be undertaken in the state. The minister said working of all godowns in the state would be logged on the online network soon. Regarding scarcity of LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) prevailing in the state, the minister clarified that owing to certain refineries being out of order the state was getting inadequate quantity of LPG supply. However, the problem is expected to be sorted out soon, the minister said. The minister appealed to the public to lodge their complaints with the concerned officials if there was any irregularity in the supply of cooking gas and kerosene.
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Villagers threaten to boycott poll
Hamirpur, November 23 Residents of upper Bherda, Manjhali, New Bherda and Sainu Di Thati have taken a decision in this regard after failing to impress upon the authorities to construct a patch of about 4 kms road connecting these villages. The villagers said, “We have been demanding the construction of this patch of 4 kms road for quite long and had taken up this issue at various levels, including with Chief Minister PK Dhumal, and are determined to boycott the election since construction of this road has not been taken up till now.” The villagers had also issued a similar threat during the 2009 parliament election but had agreed to vote after assurances from BJP leaders and reportedly by PK Dhumal. After allegedly failing to fulfil their demand, these villagers have issued threat to boycott the coming election, including election for the Bherda panchayat. The villagers said they had already donated land for the construction of this road and submitted affidavits in this regard with the department. |
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Charges Against Cong Leaders
Mandi, November
23 He was interacting with mediapersons on the occasion of his 66th birthday at Gandhi Bhawan here today during a function organised by the Mandi Sadar Congress. Interestingly, local MLA Anil Sharma was conspicuous by his
absence. Thakur ridiculed Dhumal’s threat that the state government would stop “bijli and
pani” to the Centre if the present UPA government did not stop “discriminating” against
Himachal. He said, on the contrary, it was Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Gulam Nabi Azad who was to lay the foundation stone of a super-specialty hospital at Government Medical College,
Tanda, for which the Centre had allocated Rs 150 crore. On the foundation stone of one of Asia’s biggest sabji mandis laid by Dhumal at Prala in Theog on Wednesday, Thakur said the mandi should have been opened at Parwanoo so that vegetable and fruit growers of other regions could also have benefited. “We don’t oppose the mandi at Prala but the government should also open a sabji mandi at
Parwanoo,” he added. On the Vigilance probe into the “charge sheet” prepared by the state BJP during the Virbhadra Singh regime in which the name of
Thakur, who was the then IPH Minister, also figures, the Congress leader dared Dhumal to order a CBI probe as the Vigilance probe being played up by the media was just to divert people’s attention from the “declining popularity” of the government. He charged the present DIG vigilance was acting like a BJP agent. “If Dhumal is serious he should order the CBI probe so that people also know the truth in the charge-sheet”, he claimed, but dither on making any reference to the CD cases and Mankotia tirade against the Union Steel Minister Virbhadra Singh that in turn has upset supporters of Virbhadra Singh. He further warned if the Dhumal government does not take back “fake cases registered against the Congressmen and stop the “vigilance bogey” against them, the Congress would launch statewide stir against the government. “It is acting in a vindictive manner, settling scores”, he charged.
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Maiden Sobha Singh award for Chandigarh artist
Dharamsala, November 23 This award, comprising Rs 11,000, a shawl, a citation and honorary life membership of the society, will be presented to the artist during a national-level seminar on Sobha Singh by Punjabi University in Patiala on November 29. Secretary general of the art society Hirday Paul Singh gave this information while talking to The Tribune today. He said Rahi Mohinder Singh was a realist painter. He had done commendable work in the rural areas
of Punjab. Rahi Mohinder Singh, popularly known as R.M.Singh, was born on April 5, 1965, at Bharoli Kalan village, near Pathankot, in Gurdaspur district, Punjab. He had been impressed by the works of Sobha Singh since his childhood and obtained bachelors degree in Applied Art in 1989 from Government College of Art, Chandigarh, he said. He has also worked for prestigious newspapers like Indian Express and The Tribune group of publications. He has also designed many books for education board, Haryana, the Punjab State University Textbook Board, the Singapore Sikh Education Board, the Ministry of Education, Singapore, besides working for many reputed magazines. His works are in the collection of Art Gallery of the Parliament House, the Punjab Arts Council, The Tribune Trust, University of California. |
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53 homeless families provided land
Dharamsala, November 23 He said homeless in rural areas would get two bisba land and in urban areas one bisba would be available for needy. “Till now, land has been provided to 53 homeless families in the district in which 45 were rural and eight were in the urban areas,” Gupta said. He added that this would be an opportunity for those who could not avail land in the past. The DC has issued orders to SDMs, tehsildars and naid tehsildars in the district and has instructed them to submit the applications at the district headquarters on time so that no needy would suffer.
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High Court notice to state govt
The Sobha Singh Memorial Art Society has decided to give its maiden Sobha Singh Art Award
(Sobha Singh Kala Puraskar) to artist Rahi Mohinder Singh of Chandigarh. This award, comprising Rs 11,000, a shawl, a citation and honorary life membership of the society, will be presented to the artist during a national-level seminar on Sobha Singh by Punjabi University in Patiala on November 29.
The state government has received the sanction letter from the Union Government regarding the upgradation of the Tanda medical college only this month.
Rs 125 crore for the upgradation of the Tanda medical college was released by the Centre during his stint as MP from the area