|
|
|
|
|
MC to generate power from treated sewage
Bindal: Stop criticising ambulance services
18 cm of snowfall at Keylong
Lightning in the sky over the Jubbar Hatti airport, Shimla, on Wednesday. Photo: Amit Kanwar |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Dissolve MC: Samiti
Beopar Mandal chief revolts against Bali
Identify places for unclaimed vehicles, HC to DC
‘Kullu to be smoke-free’
Minister orders probe against doc
Dibha bawri water unsafe
Chargesheet against BJP govt
Bid to sell wheat meant for BPL families
World Bank for reforms in environment policy
Seminar against alcohol today
Fishing banned in Gobind Sagar
Sushant flays govt for power projects to private firms
Magician Shankar keen to set up academy in HP
|
|
MC to generate power from treated sewage
Shimla, June 2 As far as power generation is concerned, there are a total of six sewerage treatment plants (STP) in Shimla while three are underconstruction. The biggest STP is located in Lalpani and the MC is hoping to get 15 MLD treated water, which can be used to generate up to 1 MW power. “Though we are still working out the modalities, we hope to earn substantially as a proper revenue sharing model will be in place with the developer,” said AN Sharma, Commissioner (MC). He said the developer would have to give the first right to purchase the power to the MC or share the revenue. The estimated cost for the ambitious project is likely to be met through the funding of Rs 125 crore that had already been received from the Centre for augmentation of water supply, replacement of old pipes and other such works. With the population of Shimla being close to 2 lakh, besides the 75,000 floating population of tourists and daily commuters who come here to work from suburbs, providing adequate water supply to all has been a major challenge for the MC. There are a total of 25 wards in Shimla and the MC intends to provide round-the-clock regular water supply. During the peak summer season, there are occasions when certain localities have to go without water for four or five days. The scarcity adversely affects tourism also. The MC owes more than Rs 80 lakh to the Electricity and Irrigation and Public Health Department for water and power supply. |
|
Bindal: Stop criticising ambulance services
Solan, June 2 He said it was unfortunate that the Congress while in power had failed to utilise the funds available under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) and the allocated budget had lapsed year after year. Figures revealed that in 2005, the then Congress government had utilised only 17 per cent of the allocated budget, in 2006 this figure rose to 25 per cent while in 2007 the Congress government could make use of only 33 per cent of the budget. Addressing mediapersons here today, Dr Bindal said they had enhanced the utility of the NRHM funds and 137 per cent of the funds had been utilised for improving health services in the state. He said it was strange that the Congress-ruled states like Delhi and Haryana had failed to introduce such services and the Congress was criticising these services for petty political gains. Talking about the future plans he said they would soon start demo training of the ambulance staff so that they could handle patients in various emergency situations like accidents, trauma, etc. The panchayat level representatives would also be trained for apt patient handling. He said 74 ambulances available in the hospitals would be earmarked for inter-hospital transportation within the state which will have a fixed driver and telephone facility.
|
|
Shimla, June 2 Keylong in tribal Lahaul-Spiti district received 18 cm of snowfall while Rohtang, Kunzam, Saach and other high mountain passes received moderate snowfall, causing a sharp fall of six degrees in minimum temperature in the area. The Rohtang Pass (13,050 ft), which opened for tourists yesterday, was blocked for a few hours but it was cleared as the snow melted. The state received widespread rains with Nadaun wettest in the region with 80 mm of rain. The minimum temperature dropped to 10°C in Shimla. Keylong, which received 18 cm of snowfall, was the coldest in the region with minimum temperature dipping to 4°C, seven degrees below normal. The local Met Office has predicted more rain and thundershowers during the next 48 hours due to the effect of western disturbances. — PTI
|
|
Dissolve MC: Samiti
Shimla, June 2 President of the samiti Chanderpal Mehta today said the stand adopted by the elected councillors of retaining the merged areas with the MC was against the wishes of the people of the area. He said the people who attended the meeting demanded that the MC should be dissolved as it had failed to serve the purpose for which it was made. “The merged areas of Totu, Dhalli and New Shimla still lack the basic facilities and there is no justification in imposition of property tax here,” he said.
|
|
Beopar Mandal chief revolts against Bali
Kangra, June 2 Mehra, once a right hand man of Bali, said he would contest the polls from Nagrota Bagwan as the constituency had become a victim to outsiders and during the current tenure of Bali the development works had come to a standstill. He alleged that the party cadre was a harassed lot and the Congress workers had been marginalised by the MLA. He alleged that the MLA had created an atmosphere of terror among the party workers. He also alleged that the people of the constituency were feeling cheated.
|
|
Identify places for unclaimed vehicles, HC to DC
Shimla, June 2 A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Kurian Joseph and Justice Sanjay Karol passed this order on a PIL wherein it was pointed out that the vehicles seized in connection with certain complaints were not disposed of in accordance with law. In this petition, residents of Boileauganj highlighted the same problem persisting in their area where open space was being used for this purpose by the police. They further urged the court to permit the Education Department to use the open space as playground for the students of Government Senior Secondary School, Boileauganj. The court also issued an interim direction to the DC and the SP, Shimla, to identify an appropriate place within a month and take steps for the shifting of vehicles to that place.
|
|
‘Kullu to be smoke-free’
Kullu, June 2 Deputy Commissioner BM Nanta, while presiding over a workshop here today, revealed that directions had been issued to all educational institutions, government and private offices to strictly follow the notification of no-smoking in the public areas. He said the sale of items containing tobacco was banned within the 100-metre area of educational institutions. — OC |
|
Minister orders probe against doc
Solan, June 2 Chief Medical Officer, Solan, Dr MK Sharma said Dr Manju Mittal, a senior doctor, had been entrusted the task to inquire into the matter and submit a report within a week. Dr Bindal said the senior doctor would inquire into the matter after talking to the girl student and establish the truth in this case. Appropriate action would be taken against the doctor if he was proved guilty. The revelation of this case had sparked a row of protest from other girl students and Nalagarh residents yesterday who wanted immediate action against the doctor. The doctor had later sought a written apology after the BMO had intervened in the matter. — OC |
|
Dibha bawri water unsafe
Mandi, June 2 As a result, bawris in this temple town are getting contaminated and both IPH and Mandi Municipal Council remained apathetic towards the maintenance of the traditional bawris. The team today inspected the Dibha bawri, which residents still use for drinking, and found it contaminated. Another six bawris are either defunct or are unfit for human consumption. The team found that the leakage from the old defunct sewerage line is the main reason for contamination of the bawri. Residents and the RTI Bureau, Mandi, who had complained about the Dibha bawri blamed both IPH and council for their failure to provide sewerage connections to the residents. Executive Engineer, IPH, PC Thakur said they had inspected the bawri and found it unfit for human consumption. The IPH had laid its sewerage line and residents should get connections from this line, he added. The MC and IPH had decided to issue notices to residents for using the old line and take action, Thakur asserted. The traditional water sources were not maintained by the IPH, but by the councils and panchayats, he added, passing the buck on the council. The council claimed that they would take action in the case after illegal connections were detected by the team and residents.
|
|
Chargesheet against BJP govt
Shimla, June 2 This became evident from the issues identified at the first meeting of the five-member chargesheet committee presided over by its chairman GS Bali here today. The theme of the chargesheet will be “Himachal on Sale” with the focus on a host of issues, including shady land deals, particularly permissions granted under Section 118 of the Land Reforms and Tenancy Act, opening of private universities, sanctions to builders for construction of apartments, allotment of land to the State Cricket Association, award of eco-tourism projects and policy changes in the power policy and Town and Country Planning rules on extraneous considerations. Unlike past, when chargesheets mainly targeted ministers and powerful leaders of the ruling party, the document will specially focus on the bureaucracy to hold them accountable. The committee identified four ministers and about a dozen bureaucrats who had direct involvement and carried out the dirty job for the political bosses. Bali said it would not be a routine political chargesheet, but a credible document with sufficient evidence supporting the charges. He said he had written letters to all party leaders to provide details about various scams and scandals with documentary evidence. Some material had already been received and the committee would now tour the entire state to interact with the people, including whistle-blowers. The high command had given 10 weeks to finalise the chargesheet, but the committee will not rush through matters and it could be extended. While Kuldeep Pathania, Harsh Wardhan and Mukesh Agnihotri attended the meeting.
|
|
Bid to sell wheat meant for BPL families
Nurpur, June 2 On a tip-off villagers held a naka last night in the village and stopped a jeep carrying these wheat bags allegedly loaded from a local co-operative society godown. After that they intimated the Fatehpur police chowki. The police impounded the vehicle and took the wheat bags into its possession. The jeep driver and the trader fled from the scene. DSP Rajinder Jaswal said a complaint under the Essential Commodities Act had been registered today. — OC |
|
World Bank for reforms in environment policy
Shimla, June 2 An indication to this effect was given by a team of the bank headed by Sonia Chand which held discussion with the officials of the various department concerned here today. The bank proposed to lend $ 200 million in three tranches of $ 70 million each. The detailed project report for the first phase is to be finalised by September 15 under which issues pertaining to the four core sectors of growth will be taken up on priority. The bank is of the view that various development projects fail to address the issue as sustainability and the matter ends with the culmination of the project. The focus will be on hydropower, tourism, industrial and agri-horticulture sectors which will propel economic growth of the state over the next few decades. The objective of the programme is to evolve a model of sustainable development for hills which could be replicated in hilly terrains across the country. Himachal will be the first state in the South Asia to embark on such a programme. Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal said the programme would show the path of sustainability to the rest of country. Dr Herbert Acquay, Chief, South Asia, World Bank, said he had extensive and fruitful discussions with the senior officials of the state and expressed confidence that the state would be able to implement the programme successfully. Chief Secretary Rajwant Sandhu said the government was keen to undertake reforms in key areas. Additional Chief Secretary, Environment, Sudipto Roy, said the broad objective of the programme was to support the government to implement policy and institutional reforms to facilitate environmentally sustainable development.
|
|
Shimla, June 2 “Ours is a group of people who have been through this problem and, thus, can help others overcome the problem to be able to lead a healthy and happy life,” said a member. He said the name, profession, social status and all other personal details of any person seeking the help of the AA was kept secret. Advice can also be sought from the AA on helpline 94170-37358 or at the website www.aachandigarh.com. — TNS
|
|
Fishing banned in Gobind Sagar
Bilaspur, June 2 Assistant Director of Fisheries Sunil Mehta said here today that the ban had been imposed under provisions of the HP Fisheries Act, 1976, with a view to help fishes in reproduction as this was the period of regeneration. Mehta said any violation of this order was a cognisable and non-bailable offence which could lead to imprisonment for three years and an additional fine of Rs 5,000. The government had also increased compensation allowance of fishermen from Rs 1,025 to 1,200 from this season for this two-month ban period while a total of Rs 19,58,400 would be paid to 1,632 fishermen families as financial assistance during this year. — OC
|
|
|
Sushant flays govt for power projects to private firms
Dharamsala, June 2 Rajan Sushant who was in Dharamsala today to inaugurate a national-level exhibition organised by the Creative Centre for Rural Development alleged that as a minister in Himachal Cabinet in the previous BJP government he had proposed that the power projects in the state should be brought up by the state government. “However, now almost all major power projects in the state have been outsourced to private companies. The logic for giving power projects to private players is that the state government does not have funds for bringing them up. However, ironically if the private companies can raise funds from banks to bring up power projects, why the state government cannot do that,” he said. “The powers projects have been allotted to private companies due to commission considerations,” he added. While responding to a query from newsmen, Sushant said, “I had gone to meet Baba Ramdev who is starting a crusade against corruption. A party leader asked me if I had sought permission from the party to join Baba Ramdev on corruption issue. However, I have made it clear categorically, that there is no need of permission from anybody to join crusades against corruption.” |
|
|
Magician Shankar keen to set up academy in HP
Shimla, June 2 Addressing a press conference here today, Shankar, who is ranked amongst the top four world-class magicians, said though he had been training people while being based in Delhi, now he was keen to set up a proper academy. “I have urged the Chief Minister and other officials to provide me land so that I can run one-year diploma courses which can help youth earn a livelihood,” he added. Shankar who will be performing in the state capital after a span of 11 years at the Gaiety Theatre for the next 15 days is pained at the misuse of the art of magic by some saints and babas. “Magic is 70 per cent hand trick, 25 per cent hypnotism but it should never be misused to hoodwink people the way it is being misused by some sadhus and spiritual gurus,” he lamented. |
|
|
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | E-mail | |
Health and Ayurveda Minister Rajiv Bindal today said the Congress should stop criticism of the free ambulance services launched in the state under the Atal Svasthaya Sewa as it was benefiting thousands of people across the state.
The higher reaches in tribal areas had another spell of snowfall while the mid and lower hills were lashed by heavy rains, causing a sharp fall in minimum
temperatures.
The Shimla MC will shortly invite bids for the task from private parties so that it can generate resources as it is severely cash-strapped. With the erstwhile summer capital of the British being plagued by the major water scarcity problem, the initiative could provide a major relief to not just the locals, but also tourists who also suffer on this account.