Shimla, June 7
Keen to rake in some money for its ambitious housing projects, the Himachal Pradesh Urban Development Authority (HIMUDA) will cancel allotment of plots of those who have failed to undertake construction even five years after the land was purchased at its colonies located in various parts of the state.

HIMUDA has made a beginning in this regard from the state capital where the price of land is very high. Notices have been issued to 102 plot owners in Sector- I, II, III and IV of New Shimla where a 250-sq m plot had fetched a whopping Rs 1.85 crore in an open auction two years back.

HIMUDA has also initiated similar proceedings in other towns like Baddi, Parwanoo, Kullu where plots are lying vacant for more than five years. “We have already issued notices to 102 plot owners in New Shimla and data of vacant plots in other towns is being compiled so that notices could be issued to others as well,” said Ganesh Dutt, vice-chairman of HIMUDA. In case, these plot owners are non-serious about constructing houses they will cancel their allotment and sell it to others, he added.

He explained that as per the terms and conditions laid down by HIMUDA at the time of sale of plots, construction had to be undertaken within five years or else the allotment could be cancelled. “In case, they are unable to give a valid reason, we will cancel the allotment and then hold open auction of such plots,” said Dutt.

He, however, added that the authorities would take into account valid reasons like medical grounds, locational disadvantage for people serving in the armed forces or somebody facing financial constraints. “In case, we do not find the reason convincing, we will issue another notice and cancel the allotment,” he said.

HIMUDA is hoping that by cancelling these plots, it will be able to raise several crores as the prices of land, especially in places like Shimla and Kullu, have skyrocketed over the last one decade. In fact, people are very keen to acquire a plot developed by HIMUDA as they have all facilities.

Mandi, June 7
Residents of Dharampur, Sarkaghat and Gopalpur today held an agitation against the shortage of gynaecologists, surgeons, anaesthetists and technicians at the Civil Hospital, Sarkaghat, being run as the first referral unit (FRU) catering to over one lakh people.

Staging a protest against the government’s failure to provide doctors and hygiene at the hospital, the residents under the banner of the Kisan Sabha and the Janvadi Mahila Samiti resented the government’s talks about health services at the doorstep, but there are no “specialist doctors at the hospital”. Most of the patients are referred to the zonal hospital, Mandi, said Bhupender Singh, who led the protest in front of the Civil Hospital.

Though it has been upgraded to 100-bed hospital about 10 years ago, it has laid 77 beds in the old building where patients are almost holed up as it has not enough space to accommodate even 50 beds, said insiders.

The toilets stunk as there was erratic supply of water and health staff looked the other way to maintain health and hygiene for the indoor patients, resented patients. There was no facility for the attendants of the patients in or around the hospital and as such they had to stay in the open, they rued.

The government has started the round-the-clock free delivery services for patients at the FRU, but there is no gynaecologist in this hospital. The doctors take risk as hospital does not have an anaesthetist or specialist to deal with the emergency.

Apart from Sarkaghat subdivision, hospital gets more than 500 patients daily from its adjoining areas from Ghumarwin, Bhoranj, Toni Devi and Ladbharol as well. The hospital does not have a blood bank and no surgeon, the residents said.

Senior Medical Officer, Sarkaghat, Dr BR Chauhan, said, “They face shortage of specialists. We need a technician, and five posts of doctor are lying vacant. But we refer complicated cases to the zonal hospital, which has a blood bank”, he added.

Shimla, June 7
A severe hailstorm caused extensive damage to the apple crop in the Kotkhai area in the heart of the apple belt.

The hailstorm struck in the afternoon and continued to lash the region for about 90 minutes. The maximum damage was reported from Baghi, Ratnari, Baghal, Kalbogh, Khaneti, Tharola and adjoining areas. Some areas like Khaneti and Tharola are situated close to Deorighat where an anti-hail gun has been installed. Despite that, the crop could not be protected.

Ironically, some areas like Baghi and Ratnari escaped the fury of the weather god and remained unaffected by the earlier spells of hailstorm. Almost 90 per cent of the crop has been destroyed.

The Horticulture Department has estimated the apple production in the current season at 2.50 crore boxes as against 4.46 crore boxes produced last year. With the latest damage, the figure is likely to come down further.

Meanwhile, secretary of the state Congress Rohit Thakur has urged the government to conduct a survey to assess the damage and provide relief to the affected farmers.

Shimla, June 7
The appointment of senior Congress leader from Hamirpur Anita Verma as president of the All-India Mahila Congress today came as a boost for the Virbhadra camp in the state which had been lying low for the past quite some.

She is the second women leader from the state to find place in the organisational setup at the national level. Earlier, a former minister from Chamba Asha Kumari was made the joint secretary of the AICC.

The appointment of Anita Verma has given a clear indication that the high command was keen to ensure factional balance in the state. If Asha Kumari represented the anti-Virbhadra Singh forces in the party, Anita Verma was his staunch supporter and both have been given important assignments at the national level.

Moreover, she hails from Hamirpur, the home district of Chief Minister PK Dhumal and her appointment would certainly help strengthen the party in region.

The Congress has virtually left the field open for Dhumal and he hardly faces any opposition in his home turf. Anita is expected to lend voice to the party and take on Dhumal on various issues.

She has the requisite experience as she had a stint as the joint secretary of the AICC almost two decades ago. She said it was a very important responsibility as the role of women was increasing at every level from the panchayat level to the national-level bodies. She thanked the Congress president for posing confidence in her.

PCC chief Kaul Singh, Union minister Virbhadra Singh and other leaders have hailed the appointment Anita Verma, which showed that leaders from Himachal were getting increasing weightage at the national level.

Shimla, June 7
The six-day Shimla International Summer Festival concluded on a high note with the renowned Bollywood playback singer Abhijit Bhattacharya enthralling a packed house some of his foot-tapping numbers. It was an apt finale to the festival as the huge crowd, mostly tourists, enjoyed every moment.

Starting off with relatively slow numbers like “Sunona sunona...” from the film “Chalte Chalte” and “Lamha lamha...” from “Gangster”, he gradually raised the tempo to conclude the programme with his all-time hit “Ole ole...” from “Dillagi”.

In between he rendered popular numbers like “Main roun ya hasoon...”, “Toba, tumhare ye ishare...” and “Tum dil ki dharkan ho...” drawing repeated applause from a lively audience.

He also sang some numbers of late maestro Kishore Kumar, like “O manji re...” and “Ye jo muhabbat hai...”, on public demand. Earlier, Bollywood composer Aanad Raj Anand also regaled the audience with his own popular numbers.

Bilaspur, June 7
Praja Mandal and INA freedom fighter Anant Ram (90) of Malyour village, near here, died after a brief illness in his home last night. His funeral at the village cremation ghat on the bank of the Sutlej was attended by panchayat representatives and leaders of various political parties and social organisations.

Anant Ram participated boldly in most of the movements of the INA first and later in the Praja Mandal. He was first sent to jail here and later turned out of the state by the then ruler of the princely state of Bilaspur.

Tehsildar Sidharth Acharya was present to pay last respects to him on behalf of government, while a police contingent reversed arms, fired five volleys of shots into the air and sounded the Last Post. — OC