|
|
|
|
Cement plant gets 469 acres of forest land
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
HIV cases declining in state, claims Dhumal
MC workers remove encroachment by restaurant ‘Nalini’ on the Mall in Shimla on Wednesday. Photo: Amit Kanwar
Shops gutted in McLeodganj
Jobs to HIV positive: Kangra leads by example
Foundation day at Nauni varsity
Ragging convict files appeal in HC
Stop opening pvt varsities: CPM
Election schedule out
Panipat man cheated of Rs 2.5 lakh; two held
Goyal is ADGP, Law and Order
DC assures villagers
BSNL staff on 3-day strike
60 donate blood
Kaul Singh takes on BJP govt
|
|
Cement plant gets 469 acres of forest land
Sundernagar, December 1 Under the law, forest land cannot be leased out without forest and environmental clearances. But in this case, it seems that the company has secured 469 hectare of forest land likely to be used for mining. While officials conceded that mandatory clearances were yet to be received from the Centre, they were unable to explain how the land was leased out in the first place. The successive Congress and BJP governments in the state have favoured the plant. In 1990, the then BJP government first sought to allow the project, which was opposed by the Congress. But ironically, it was the then Congress government which signed an MoU in this regard in 1995. In 2002, the BJP government shifted the project site, while the Congress government in 2005 provided the in-principle forest and environmental clearances. It then was left to the present BJP government to initiate land-acquisition measures in 2008. It was found that the entries of lease were being entered by the revenue staff and the Director (Industries) had signed a mining lease pertaining to 725.8 hectare on January 15, 2007, in favour of Harish Cement Ltd. The lease was then registered by Sundernagar tehsildar on January 31, 2007. It included 469.68 hectares of forest land and 249 hectares of private land. The company had moved a case for the diversion of 173 hectare only for mining purpose, which was accorded, but for the rest of the land (296 hectare) no case for diversion was moved. Sundernagar tehsildar Hira Singh Thakur confirmed that the lease deed was registered. He said the Director (Industries) had leased out the land after verifying the facts and it was only attested in his office. According to DFO, Sundernagar, BK Babu, only “in-principle” forest clearance for 173 hectare of forest land was received and no final clearance had been accorded by the Centre. Commissioner (Industries) Onkar Sharma said he would inquire the matter and anybody found guilty would be booked for leasing out the forest land without complying with the provisions of the Forest Conservation Act. |
|
HIV cases declining in state, claims Dhumal
Shimla, December 1 He said the number of integrated consultancy and testing centres had gone up to 49 from 21, an increase of 130 per cent since 2008, and two new integrated consultancy and testing vehicles also pressed into service. Further, eight Link Anti-Retroviral Centres had been established at Nahan, Bilaspur, Kullu, Una, Nalagarh, Mandi, Chamba and Solan to provide medicines to identified infected 1,145 persons who were also being provided free of cost travel facility to visit the Centre. Dhumal said during the past two years 77,104 prospective mothers got themselves examined for HIV/AIDS. He said Red Ribbon Fairs were being organised and clubs constituted in 218 colleges, technical institutions and three universities of the state to create awareness among youth. As many as 51,301 calls were received at the toll free telephone helpline started to provide information about the disease. The awareness was indeed increasing and over the past 11 months 41,444 youths opted for test. MANDI: Though the state health and family welfare department will start anti-retroviral therapy (ART) at the Mandi zonal hospital soon, coverage of voluntary HIV tests still remains just 6.6 per cent of the total population in 49 ICTC centres. District AIDS programme officer Dr Hemant Kapur, while talking to The Tribune on the sidelines of World AIDS Day awareness rally today in the town, said they had earmarked the space and were putting in equipment and infrastructure for the ART clinic at the zonal hospital. He said Mandi had reported 365 cases of HIV/AIDS since 2002 when the ICTC centre was started in the hospital. States AIDS officer Sulakshna Puri said over 2 lakh tests had been conducted voluntary at the 49 ICTC centres in the state.
|
||
|
CM talks tough against violators
Shimla, November 1 Chief Minister PK Dhumal today directed Commissioner (MC) AN Sharma to deal with all such cases firmly and take action against the violators. He said nobody should be allowed to violate the norms and the MC should ensure that all constructions should be under the rules. It was after the media raised the issue of illegal construction on a drain by a restaurant near the Lift last evening that the MC was forced to take action. A team of the MC, headed by an engineer, today demolished the structure raised on the drain that also came on the road. Even the MC staff removed the construction on the drain which was done by adjoining shopkeepers so that there was no obstruction in the drain. “We will look into all violations and it has come to our notice that the drains have been covered by most shopkeepers,” Sharma said. Sharma said the MC was holding an inquiry into the construction of a hotel-cum-residence by Kapil Mahashe near the Lift as complaints had been received in this regard. “An inquiry is underway and we are examining all files concerned and will take action if there are any violations,” he said. Several constructions on the Mall Road, which happen to be not just the Core Area but also the designated Heritage Zone, are being undertaken in violations of the norms. In some cases, it is surprising how the MC has approved new maps of buildings in the heritage zone when only reconstruction along old lines is permissible. Sources in the MC said in some cases the old maps of buildings falling in core and heritage area had gone missing from the MC files and owners were being granted permission for reconstruction on new maps, which was against the norms. The constructions that are being undertaken are technically correct since they are approved by the MC, but there is a big question mark over the approval granted by the MC.
|
|
Shops gutted in McLeodganj
Dharamsala, December 1 Officials of the Fire Department blamed lack of information for the delay. They said the people informed them late about the incident. By the time fire could be controlled, eight shops were gutted. The shops included cyber cafes, a meat shop and a tailor shop. The fire incident has brought to the fore risk posed to habitations in McLeodganj due to illegal constructions. The roads in McLeodganj have been reduced to narrow lanes due to construction of markets on the roadsides. The heavy influx of tourists in this small hill station has led to massive increase in commercial activities in the area over the past
decade. The narrow lanes have made plying of vehicles almost impossible in the town. The shops that were destroyed yesterday were illegal structures developed by locals and further rented to outsiders who were running commercial activity. Very few commercial structures in McLeodganj have been passed by the Town and Country Planning Department. Though construction of more than four-storey buildings in the Dharamsala region has been banned, many high rising building can be seen in McLeodganj. None of the buildings is complying with fire safety norms prescribed by the Fire Department. A hotel was brought in the heart of McLeodganj during the stint of the previous Congress government on forest land. A PIL was filed in the Supreme Court which stopped its construction. The case is now under the preview of a special empowered committee of the Supreme Court that monitors diversion of forest land for other purposes. Though the case of hotel was taken up before the court through a PIL, the encroachments on forest land were rampant in the area. A large number of Tibetans have encroached and constructed habitations and guest houses on reserve forest land in McLeodganj. |
|
|
Jobs to HIV positive: Kangra leads by example
Dharamsala, December 1 The DC said anganwari workers and self-help groups (SHG) had been given training in order to make AIDS awareness programme successful in the district. There have been cases of social discrimination in the district and HIV-affected people find it difficult to get a job and earn a livelihood. Under MNREGA, all people are entitled to livelihood. Special provision has been made to ensure that there is no discrimination with People Living with HIV and they get a right to earn livelihood under this scheme. After directive from the administration, there has been no report of denial of the right to livelihood, said DR RK Sood, District AIDS Programme Officer, Kangra. The initiative was started around six months ago and all block development officers had been informed about it through the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA), he added. Kangra had been a role model in providing employment opportunities to HIV+ people under MNREGA, Dr Sood added. “The first case of discrimination for work came into light from Sulah-Lambagaon, an interior village in the district. Villagers petitioned against a widow of an HIV-affected man when she applied for work as an anganwari worker. However, she was provided a job by the SDM under MNREGA,” said Dr Sood. Stigma and discrimination still continues to occur at family, institutional and society levels and the process of fostering non-judgmental attitude is a daunting task. “I believe FIR needs to be registered against all who discriminate with HIV-affected persons on all grounds,” Dr Sood opined. However, there has been a new initiative by the Industries Department in the state to adopt 10 HIV-affected poor children. The process is in its initial phase and will be facilitated by the Himachal Pradesh State AIDS Control Society.
|
|
|
Foundation day at Nauni varsity
Solan, December 1 He later presided over a special function organised on the theme of “Women Empowerment”. He said Lahaul-Spiti district was the first district in the country having per capita income of Rs 1.49 lakh and 73 per cent work related to horticulture and agriculture was being performed by women. Registrar Rakhil Kahlon said society must change their mind towards women and help them in all spheres of life. Urvashi Garg from NABARD said women played a key role in the urban as well as rural economies and their efforts should be appreciated and supported. The Vice-Chancellor released a calendar of 2011 published by the directorate of Extension Education. He also released the first Journal of Farm Sciences published by Dr Rakesh Gupta, Dr Roshan Lal and Dr JK Dubey. The journal would provide a platform to scientists of the university and other institutions. The VC also honoured Sita Thakur, Mina, Kiran Kaudal and Satya Thakur for their contribution towards the welfare of the people of the area.
|
|
Ragging convict files appeal in HC
Shimla , December 1 Navin Verma approached the High Court against the conviction awarded to him by the Additional District & Sessions Judge, Dharamsala, whereby all four accused involved in the ragging case, Ajay Verma, Naveen Verma, Abhinav Verma and Mukul Sharma, were convicted and sentenced for a four-year rigorous imprisonment. While challenging the conviction in the appeal, Anup Chitkara, counsel for Navin Verma, contended that in the very beginning of the case, the deceased had told the appellant about his problem in the ear and on this, the appellant had sent him back to his room. This circumstance alone proves that the appellant had no intention to give any beatings to the deceased. Rather his conduct is of kindness and his humane behaviour. In the appeal, it was mentioned that the trial was highlighted by the media and the theory of the realistic Jurisprudence was applied against the convicts. Neither the trial can be termed as fair nor can it be said the trial judge was not at all influenced by the hype created by the media. It was further alleged in the appeal that the evidence was brought against the accused person at the instance and in connivance of the police. No case is made out against the appellant and he was absolutely innocent and has been falsely implicated in a false case. |
|
|
Stop opening pvt varsities: CPM
Shimla, December 1 In a statement issued here yesterday, member state secretariat of the CPM Tikender Singh Panwar said the opening of private universities without recognition was the biggest scandal, which would put at stake the career of thousands of students. “What is even more unfortunate is the fact that all this is being done with the connivance of BJP leaders who are guided by vested interest,” he said. He said the policy of the state government to allow opening of private universities was harming the interest of the state as students who were spending huge amounts on education would pass out from universities that were not recognised. Citing an example, he said no company would offer jobs to pass outs from unrecognised universities as any educational institution must have the UGC or the AICTE approval. “The government must understand that most of the students studying in these private universities have taken huge loans to complete their studies and when they are unable to find a job, the sole responsibility will be of the government,” he said.
|
|
|
Election schedule out
Kullu, December 1 He said the list of all polling booths would be released on December 10. The dates of filing of the nomination papers are December 10, December 13 and December 14 from 11 am to 3 pm while the scrutiny of the nomination papers would be held on December 15. The candidates could withdraw their nominations by 3 PM on the December 18, he added. The Deputy Commissioner further said the election schedule of the two panchayats of Ani block Jaban and Namhog and two of the Naggar block Karjan and Soyal would be declared later. The counting of the BDC and Zila Parishad elections would be held on January 4 from 8.30 am onwards while the total election procedures would be completed on the 6 January 2011. |
|
|
Panipat man cheated of Rs 2.5 lakh; two held
Kullu, December 1 Superintendent of Police Abhishek Dullar confirmed that the alleged accused had been arrested and interrogations were going on. The initial inquiries revealed that the tourist had got his car repaired here and for bill payment he gave the ATM card of his wife to the mechanic to withdraw money as he did not know the withdrawal process. The mechanic had withdrawn the cash and handed over his own card to him and retained his wife’s card. After a few days, the man found that from his wife’s account, more than 2.5 lakh had been debited and the location of withdrawal was
Kullu. Abhishek further said the accused had purchased a car with that money which has been seized, besides more than Rs one lakh recovered. A case has been registered, he added. |
|
Goyal is ADGP, Law and Order
Shimla, December 1 R.M. Sharma, who was posted as DIG, Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau, has been posted against the same post in the Prison department. Three IPS officers of the Himachal cadres, including Ashwani Kumar, former DGP and Director CBI, OC Thakur, IG (CID), and RL Sood, IG (Prisons), retired yesterday.
|
|
DC assures villagers
Sundernagar: A deputation from various villages of Sundernagar subdivision, who will be affected by stopping the ongoing construction work on the road, today met the Mandi DC. He apprised him that Harish Cement Ltd has asked the PWD to stop the construction of road which would affect more than 15,000 residents of 15 villages of
Sundernagar.
The DC asked the SDM, Sundernagar, and the XEN, PWD, Sundernagar, to send a report into the matter and assured the representatives of various organisation that their interested would be watched. Residents of nearly 15 villages were annoyed at the way the work on the road had been stopped as the road would pass through the mining area of proposed cement project.
|
|
|
BSNL staff on 3-day strike
Nurpur, December 1 The agitating staff held a demonstration and raised slogans against the Union Government and the BSNL management on the premises of subdivisional office at Jassur near here. The executive association’s office-bearers claimed that the strike was total and online banking service was hit due to the strike. The BSNL employees have been agitating for the refund of Rs 18,500 crore to the BSNL paid to the government of India towards 3G and BWA spectrum charges, to implement government’s commitments on financial viability of the BSNL by continuing licence fee and continuation of ADC and USO funds and stop disinvestment of the BSNL.
|
|
Shimla, December 1 “The hospital had given a call for emergency blood donation in wake of acute shortage and the Ashadeep responded immediately”, convener of the NGO Sushil Tanwar informed. As many as 60 came forward to donate blood. Some tourists also donated blood at the camp. — TNS
|
|
Kaul Singh takes on BJP govt
Kullu, December 1 Kaul Singh was addressing a public meeting at Dhalpur Maidan here. He said the Congress would also expose the double standards of the Dhumal government for the laws being adopted to favour the BJP workers and wrongly implicate Congress leaders. He said the interests of the Himachalis were being ignored. More than 7,000 hectare of land had been sold out to outsiders by misusing of the Act 118, he added. Earlier, Kaul Singh was given warm welcome by Congress activists.
— OC
|
|
|
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
