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2 power projects get clearance
‘false’ documents for road Construction
Dhumal lays stones of museum, hotel
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Seats under ex-servicemen quota lying vacant
Hamirpur, September 12 Though the state government is giving 15 per cent reservation to ex-servicemen in government jobs of various categories, the Directorate of the Sainik Welfare, Hamirpur, is not finding enough eligible candidates to fill hundreds of technical posts.
Vegetable, fruit growers block traffic
Farmers’ mahapanchayat on Sept 18
Canada keen on investing in state
Minister seeks Central funds for roads
Shanta’s book on graft released
1 killed, 3 hurt in road mishaps
45 youths duped by media company
Langurs continue to attack people
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2 power projects get clearance
Shimla, September 12 Estimated to cost around Rs 392.61 crore, the Rupin project, being executed by Shri Bajrang Power & Ispat Ltd, will usher in an era of economic activity in the landlocked Dodra Kwar. It is a “run-of-the-river” project to be set up on the Rupin stream, a tributary of the Tons river which merges into the Yamuna. The project has been planned to harness the hydropower potential of the Rupin and its tributary, the Nargani, which will be diverted by constructing a raised crested gate weir taken through a 2.5-km-long and 3.2 metre diameter D-shaped concrete-lined tunnel downstream of the proposed trench weir on the Rupin. The combined water of the Nargani and the Rupin streams will be routed through a surface de-silting basin-cum-storage-tank to the 6-km-long headrace tunnel of 3.2 m diameter. A gross head of 285.3 m and a discharge of 19.46 cumecs will be utilised to generate 180.40 million units of electricity annually in a 90 per cent dependable year. The power will be evacuated from the pooling station at Gosangu through a 132 kV double circuit line up to Sunda to be constructed by the state transmission utility. The Uhl khad project be set up on the Uhl tributary of the Beas by Kharnal Hydroelectric Limited will cost Rs 115 crore. The water of the khad will be diverted by a 23.4 km D-shaped tunnel to the powerhouse to be set up near the point where it meets the Beas downstream of the Pandoh Dam. The main Uhl river has already been diverted from Barot to Sundernagar for the Shanan project. However, some tributaries join the river between Barot and Pandoh. The proposed project will utilise the total head of 110.89 m and discharge of 17.75 cumecs to generate 64.06 million units of power annually. The generation cost in the first year will be Rs 4.12 per unit, while the levelised generation cost will be Rs 2.99 per unit. |
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‘false’ documents for road Construction
Shimla, September 12 RTI activist Om Prakash today made a representation to the DGP seeking initiation of criminal proceedings against those who had furnished wrong information and forged the signature of the “dead” to get approval for the construction of a road from Parsi Cemetery to Old Brewery. He alleged that some of the people whose names had been shown as residents of the area never resided there. “There is a major resemblance in the handwriting in the representation given to the CM office seeking construction of a road and the one in the agreement to sell and the General Power of Attorney, which indicates that there could be some link,” he said. In his letter addressed to the DGP, he demanded that the handwriting in the two documents, one which was supposed to have been submitted by residents and the other by the owners of the construction firm should be got examined by handwriting experts. As per the documents obtained by the activist, the purchase of cement for road construction was strangely bought from Kaharapatthar, 100 km from here. “The purchases were made by the Forest Department without obtaining the permission of the Civil Supplies Corporation and strangely from Kharapatthar and not locally,” he alleged. The housing colony has been in the eye of a political storm ever since the name of some influential persons, having political clout was linked to the project. The Opposition Congress has time and again been raising it in the House, alleging major irregularities like felling of trees to enable construction of a road to the site. Chief Minister PK Dhumal during the recent Assembly session had said barring one tree, which fell on its own, not even a single tree had been cut and all had been found to be intact. “I have urged the DGP to get an impartial probe into the case and submitted all the relevant documents so that action can be taken against the accused,” said Om Prakash. He added that the road for which money was given by the Shimla DC never existed either in the revenue or forest records and was extended illegally only to benefit the owners of the project. He added that the copies of the complaint had also been sent by him to the Governor, the CM, the Secretary, Home and Forest, the Deputy Commissioner and senior forest officials. |
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Dhumal lays stones of museum, hotel
Solan, September 12 This was stated by Chief Minister PK Dhumal after laying the foundation stone of Rs 8.66-crore HPTDC Hotel and National History Museum and Geo Park at Kasauli today. He said with the establishment of the Geo Park, Himachal Pradesh would be the first state in the country where study material of historical importance regarding geology would be available for study and research for geologists. He said it was a matter of pride that Kasauli has paleontological (fossil) wealth since time immemorial, which were not found anywhere in the world. He said the state was endeavouring to develop tourism circuits in a planned manner and Rs 17 crore were being spent on various tourism activities in Solan district. Dr Rajeev Saijal, MLA, welcomed the Chief Minister and detailed out the activities of the segment. He also urged the Chief Minister for providing Rs 40 crore for various roads in his assembly segment. Dr Arun sharma, Director, Tourism; Principal Secretary, Tourism Manisha Nanda; MD, HPTDC, Vineet Kumar; Dr PC Sharma and AK Ahluwalia were among those who were present. Dedicates tourism centre at Solan
The tourism sector is contributing 18 per cent of the State Total Domestic Product. This was revealed by the Chief Minister after dedicating the Tourism Information Centre at Solan constructed at a cost of Rs 1.36 crore today. He said at present 2,150 hotels were registered in the state where 25,800 rooms facilities were available to accommodate 56,000 guests. As many as 370 houses were registered under the Home Stay Scheme in the rural areas of the state where traditional food cuisines were served to tourists, adding that the visitors were also being acquainted with the Himachali culture and customs. The Chief Minister said Rs 17 crore were being spent on various tourism activities in Solan district. He said Rs 4.20 crore was being spent on the Solan Tourism Circuit, Rs 4.80 crore on the Chail Circuit, Rs 7.05 crore on the Jubbarhatti-Arki-Nalagarh circuit, and Rs 70 lakh on the Rural Tourism Circuit. He said that necessary tourism infrastructural facilities were being created in the district like wayside amenities, tourism information centres, parkings, parks etc. etc. In addition to this, picnic spots, trekking paths and other public facilities would also be ensured to the people. Dhumal said the state had published coffee table books, “Har Ghar Kuchh Kehta Hai”, and Har Gaon Ki Kahani to attract tourists to the state. He said in the first phase, the legend from one village of each district was incorporated in Har Gaon Ki Kahani and more such 102 legends of villages would be published. Dhumal said the state had been awarded with the Best Tourist State Award, Best Hill destination, Best Summer Destination, and Best Adventure Destination. MLAs; Manisha Nanda, Principal Secretary Tourism; Arun Sharma, Director, Tourism; and other senior officers were among those present. |
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Seats under ex-servicemen quota lying vacant
Hamirpur, September 12 Despite efforts of the Directorate, several posts are lying vacant under the quota reserved for ex-servicemen. The categories in which a large number of vacancies are available are dental hygiene, dental mechanics, shashtri, agriculture extension officers, junior engineer (civil), computer operators, junior officer in the Zoology Department and pharmacists in the Medical Department. These jobs are basically offered to rehabilitate ex-servicemen since they complete only about 20 years of active job while serving the armed forces and retire after this period. The Centre has launched several schemes to rehabilitate the ex-servicemen after their retirement since they are capable of doing other jobs. Under the plan, the state government had been offering 15 per cent quota in all the government jobs to the ex-servicemen in the state. Though eligible candidates from the ex-servicemen category for technical jobs are not available in the state, the Directorate has not been able to recommend the same to fill
these posts. Meanwhile, Brig Rajinder Singh Rana (retd), Director, Sainik Welfare, Hamirpur, said: “Since the state government has provided 15 per cent quota for the ex-servicemen in all the categories of government jobs, a large number of posts are being offered to them.” “But hundreds of technical posts are lying vacant as we are not finding qualified people to fill these posts and now we have sent a report to the Defence Ministry for asking serving armed personnel to acquire technical qualification during their service,” he added. The Directorate is also appealing ex-servicemen through awareness campaigns to take technical courses to increase their employability in the government sector. |
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Mid-day meal workers hold protest
Shimla, September 12 The mid-day meal workers, who came from all over the state, staged a march from the bus stand to the Secretariat, raising anti-government slogans despite heavy rain. “With practically no job security, we have been rendering our services. With the closure of several primary schools, we have the threat of losing our jobs,” said Chavi Ram, vice-president of the Mid-day Meal Workers Association. He threatened that in case the government did not accept their demands and issued them appointment letters, they would be forced to launch a statewide agitation. “Our main demand is that proper service rules be framed so that we get appointment letters, vacation, minimum wages and job security,” he said. He said mid-day meal workers were not being given regular salary and times they got their wages after four to six months. “Like other departments, there should be a policy for the regularisation of our services and all service benefits should be extended to us,” he said. |
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Vegetable, fruit growers block traffic
Shimla, September 12 Today’s incident was the result of an ongoing tussle between the fruit and vegetable growers and the arhtiyas at the Dhalli Sabzi Mandi. The growers have been complaining to the authorities concerned against unfair means being adopted by the dealers while purchasing their produce. As a pressure tactic, the dealers today refused to accept potatoes, french beans, tomatoes, cauliflower, carrots and other fresh vegetables as the producers started pouring into the mandi. Taken by surprise at the sudden decision of the dealers not to accept the produce, the growers sought the intervention of the Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee to end the stalemate. When no action was taken by the committee, the growers from several nearby panchayats decided to block traffic to draw the attention of the authorities. All this while the produce of the growers remained on the road. It was only in the evening that the stalemate was resolved and the produce of the growers was taken. The Himachal Kisan Sabha today demanded an end to the alleged exploitation of the growers by the dealers who have been taking carriage charges and making undue deduction of almost 2 kg from all produce in the absence of an electronic weighing machines. |
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Farmers’ mahapanchayat on Sept 18
Kangra, September 12 Disclosing this here today, Kewal Singh Pathania Congress spokesman, who is spearheading the agitation against the decision, said a sangarsh samiti had been formed and it had decided to hold a mahapanchayat on September 18 which would be attended by farmers of the affected 15 panchayats, besides other Panchayati Raj representatives and farmer leaders from all over the district. He said the mahapanchayat would be attended by former Kangra MP Chander Kumar. Pathania said the samiti had given a call to the youth to come forward to attend the mahapanchayat to fight for their genuine rights. He disclosed that during the mahapanchayat the future strategy would be chalked out to ensure that the allotment of land to the BSF got cancelled. He said farmers were not averse to handing over the land to some big industry or government educational institutions. He said the aggrieved farmers had called on Union Minister Virbhdra Singh on September 8 in this connection at his Delhi office who assured them that the issue would be taken up with the Union Home Minister. The controversy had cropped up when villagers of the 15 panchayats, including Ansui, Bandi, Rajol, Kuthma, Makroti, Kaliada and Amabri, alleged that the state government had allotted this land for a BSF camp without seeking an NOC from them. |
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Canada keen on investing in state
Shimla, September 12 The issue was discussed during a meeting between Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal and Canadian High Commissioner to India Stewart G Beck and Scot Slessor, Consul-General, held here today. Dhumal apprised them of the investment opportunities available in the state, particularly in the hydropower sector in which Canada has immense expertise. Dhumal said agriculture and horticulture were the traditional avocations of the people and the government was focussing on diversification of crops. Schemes involving an expenditure of over Rs 1,000 crore were under implementation in the agriculture sector alone. An apple orchard rejuvenation scheme was also being executed to replace old rootstocks. Canada could help apple growers by providing high-yielding varieties. The Chief Minister said the state had vast forest wealth and aromatic plants in particular could be exported to different markets in Canada. He said the state would welcome Canadian investment in the education and food processing sectors. The state had an industry-friendly environment and it was taking care of the interests of entrepreneurs. Areas of
Interest
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Minister seeks Central funds for roads
Shimla, September 12 Speaking at the national conference on public-private partnership (PPP) in national highways in New Delhi today, he said the detailed project report for the Solan-Shimla stretch would be completed soon and land would soon be acquired for the widening of the national highway. He also emphasised the need for four-laning the Ner Chowk- Manali section. The minister requested the Centre to provide additional budgetary support for implementing road projects in the PPP mode in Himachal Pradesh. Widening of roads under the PPP mode was not financially viable because of a long gestation period and limited financial returns, making the government support essential. |
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Shanta’s book on graft released
Palampur, September 12 He said it was evident from the fact that civil society led by Anna Hazare proved a ray of hope for the countrymen as they came out in streets to support his cause and forced the parliament and the government to present the Jan Lokpal Bill in the parliament. Shanta Kumar was speaking on the release of his book “Bhrashtachar Ka Karva Sach”. The book was released by Samdong Rinponche, former Prime Minister of Tibetan Government-in-exile, at a function organised here this morning. Shanta Kumar said he was feeling suffocated in the present political scenario and wanted to leave the politics to wage a war against corruption. He quoted that all western countries had stringent provisions in this regard, therefore, there was no corruption. Shanta Kumar also stressed for making a law against the opening of illegal accounts in foreign banks, adding that there should be a provision for a 10-year imprisonment for wrongdoings.
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1 killed, 3 hurt in road mishaps
Kangra, September 12 Kangra district police chief Deljit Singh Thakur said one person was killed and another seriously injured when their scooter was hit by an unknown speedy vehicle late last night at Icchi on the Pathankot-Mandi NH on the outskirts of this town. He said the duo were rushed to RPGMC, Tanda, where Suresh Kumar (40) of Jhikli, Icchi, was declared brought dead and the other injured Sonu of Chatru was referred to PGI, Chandigarh, as he was critically injured. Two persons, including a motorcycle rider, Gourav, were injured when their motorcycle skid off the road at Khola village, near Jawalamukhi, and the injured were admitted to the nearby hospital, the police said.
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45 youths duped by media company
Shimla, September 12 The youths today met district police chief Sonal Agnihotri and urged him to register a case against the representatives of the company. In their complaint, they alleged that eight of them had paid Rs 25,000 each for being appointed bureau chief after a two-month training while 37 had paid Rs 15,000 each for getting the job of a reporter. They alleged that neither did the company representatives provide them training nor were they given jobs and now the company representatives had suddenly disappeared from the scene. A case has been registered against the company in the Sadar police station. |
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Check monkey menace: Sabha
Shimla, September 12 Residents of the town, especially those residing in Jakhu, Tutikandi, Nabha, Phagli, Kaithu, Sanjauli, Summer Hill and Kasumpti areas, are facing the terror being unleashed by the simians, who have been attacking the people with over 24 cases of monkey bites in the past few days. Addressing the gathering, leaders of the sabha - Tikender Panwar, Kishori Dhadwali and Meera Sharma - accused the government of resorting to outdated and unscientific method to check the monkey menace. “The sterilisation campaign by the Forest Department has failed to check the menace and the monkey population is increasing at an amazing pace,” he said. Panwar said it was only by resorting to scientific culling that the monkey menace could be checked. “The government must take immediate steps to provide security to residents against monkeys, langurs and stray dogs as there had been an increase in the number of attacks on the people,” they demanded. |
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Langurs continue to attack people
Shimla, September 12 Fresh reports of attacks by langurs on people were received in the Tutikandi area on Saturday. Lately, there has been a sudden increase in the number of attacks by langurs. At least 24 people in the Tutikandi area have been bitten by langurs. The local Municipal Corporation (MC) and the wildlife authorities have been trying to control the monkey and stray dog menace in the town, but now langurs are increasingly attacking residents. Meanwhile, the Shimla Nagrik Sabha has decided to hold a protest on September 12 against the failure of the Shimla MC to check the increasing attacks by monkeys, langurs and dogs on the people of the town. The sabha resented the apathy shown by the MC towards the people. |
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