The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Himachal Pradesh Edition

	Cabinet nod to reopen 255 timber depots Tribune News Service Shimla, November 9 The state Cabinet today gave nod for reopening of 255 timber depots, including 57 dealing only in imported timber, which were closed over the past four years on a need basis. The depots, to be opened after assessing the requirement, will only deal in imported timber (brought from other states or abroad) and not sell the indigenous species. The main imposed species include hollock, Malaysian saal, Burma teak, red marandi, yellow marandi and chirandi. The decision has been taken to meet the timber requirement of users. It will also encourage self-employment ventures, particularly furniture units, a large number of which have closed down since August 1, 2010. The Cabinet, which met under the chairmanship of Chief Minister PK Dhumal, also decided to enhance the loan-raising limit of State Electricity Board Limited from Rs 4,000 crore to Rs 5,000 crore and provide guarantee for procuring bonds for Rs 1,200 crore from banks and financial institutions. It granted permission for flying a distinctive flag along with red beacon on official vehicles of the Chairman of the State Finance Commission and the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) and also approved renaming of the Ropari chowk and the Ropari-Jaisinghpur road via Harot (Kangra) after Shaurya Chakra Awardee martyr Subedar Kehar Singh, and the Bhatoli-Malyavar road in Ghumarwin (Bilaspur) after Vir Chakra Awardee late Sukh Ram. The Cabinet gave the nod for re-demarcation of jurisdiction of nagar panchayats of Rewalsar and Sarkaghat in Mandi district for planned and regulated development of the area. It also granted approval to amend the Himachal Pradesh Fire Department Uniform Rules, 2005, and Himachal Pradesh Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Rules, 2008. It has allowed continuation of 20 posts of assistant engineer in the PWD up to March 31, 2012, and granted permission for filling of eight posts of different categories on deputation and four posts on contract basis in the Department of Environment, Science and Technology. Besides, five posts of different categories in State Technical University will be filled on a secondment basis and a post of system analyst by outsourcing. Major Decisions 255 timber depots to be reopened after assessment, which were closed over the past four years on a need basis The loan-raising limit of State Electricity Board Limited to be enhanced from Rs 4,000 crore to Rs 5,000 crore Permission granted for flying a distinctive flag along with red beacon on official vehicles of the Chairman of the State Finance Commission and the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) The Cabinet also gave the nod for re-demarcation of jurisdiction of nagar panchayats of Rewalsar and Sarkaghat in Mandi district The HP Fire Department Uniform Rules, 2005, and HP Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Rules, 2008 to be amended
	Manali-Leh route being used for drug trafficking Pratibha Chauhan Tribune news Service Shimla, November 9 The Himachal police has alerted its counterparts in Jammu and Kashmir about the emergence of the Manali-Leh road link as a relatively unhindered and preferred route for trafficking of drugs, which are then smuggled out to various places within and outside the country. It is on the basis of specific intelligence input that the Himachal police has decided to step up vigil along this land route, which of late is being used to smuggle out charas and opium. Following this the Himachal police has started search of all vehicles going from Manali to Leh at the Sarchu post. “We have alerted the Jammu and Kashmir police to step up vigil along the Manali-Leh circuit as there are reports that narcotics are being smuggled along this route and then taken further, including using the air route as a mode of easy exit,” said DS Manhas, DGP. He said as compared to the frequent checking along the Kullu-Delhi land route through Chandigarh, Punjab and Haryana, the Manali-Leh link was the most comfortable route for those into drug trafficking. The fact that there is hardly any checking beyond Keylong on the Manali-Leh road makes it an ideal route. According to intelligence agencies, in many cases the narcotics are then taken out through the air route, where it is quite easy to route it out by packing it in the check-in baggage. Those into the illegal drug trade are also using various other methods like parcels and couriers to send hashish and opium out of the state and country. The Kangra police is still trying to ascertain the source of the parcel, emanating from Dharamsala, where 1 kg of charas was smuggled out by concealing it in a Buddha head and seized at the London airport. This is not a stray case as there are several other instances where parcels sent out from Kullu, Manali, Mandi and Dharamshala post offices have narcotics concealed in them and these have been seized by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB). It is on account of a stepped-up destruction campaign of cannabis and poppy plants this year that production is likely to be less, resulting in higher profits. “We have undertaken destruction of cannabis planted on 13,000 bighas and poppy on 403 bighas which is the highest till date and this is evident from the number of catches coming down,” said Manhas. The quantity of opium seized this year has come down to a mere 10 kg from 36 kg last year and charas to 200 kg from 640 kg seized last year.
	ED takes possession of Rs 6 crore in foreign currencies Money was recovered from Karmapa trust in Feb Lalit Mohan Tribune News Service Una, November 9 The Enforcement Directorate (ED) today took possession of foreign currency amounting to nearly Rs 6 crore that was confiscated from Dharamsala-based Karmapa trust in February this year. The Una police had confiscated the said amount in about 26 different currencies from the Karmapa monastery. The ED had earlier filed an application in the fast-track court at Una seeking possession of the said amount. ED officials had pleaded before the court that the foreign currencies should be handed over to them, as the subject of investigating cases relating to the Foreign Contributions Regulation Act (FCRA) and Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) fell under their jurisdiction. The court had ordered the police to handover the currencies recovered from the Karmapa monastery to the ED. However, the amount of about Rs 53 lakh in Indian currency recovered from the Karmapa monastery has remained as the case property of the Una police. The sources here said now, the ED was likely to register a case under the FCRA and the FEMA against officials of the Karma Garchen Trust that was holding the foreign currency in the name of Karmapa. The Karma Garchen Trust had been maintaining that the amount recovered from their possession were contributions made by foreigners visiting Karmapa in India. However, the trust did not have permission from the Central Government to receive foreign contributions. Una SP Sumedha said: “Though the ED has taken possession of the case property (foreign currency), we are not going to drop the FCRA charges against the accused in the case registered here in Una.” She said: “We are waiting for permission from the Centre to file charges against the accused at the Una court.” Meanwhile, one of the main accused in the case, KP Bharadwaj, has moved an application in the court seeking back Rs 1 crore that was confiscated from the vehicle owned by him. The trust that had paid the money to Bharadwaj allegedly at Delhi has opposed giving back the said amount to him. The trust has opposed his plea. It has maintained in the Una court that the money should not be paid to Bharadwaj as one of the partners in the land deal has withdrawn his decision to sell land to them. According to information, the police intercepted a Scorpio vehicle at Mehatpur barrier in Una and confiscated Rs 1 crore on January 26 this year. On investigation, it was found that the money pertained to a land deal between Dharamsala-based businessman KP Bharadwaj and his associates and a trust headed by Karmapa. Later, raids by the police led to recovery of Rs 6 crore in 26 different currencies, including Chinese, from the trust. An amount of Rs 53 lakh in Indian currency was also recovered. Though it has been about nine months since the amount was recovered, the police is yet to file a chargesheet in the court against the accused.
	Desist from self-immolation, Karmapa asks Tibetans Lalit Mohan/TNS Dharamsala, November 9 The 17th Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorjee, has appealed to Tibetans to desist from self-immolation. He has become the first Tibetan spiritual leader in exile to issue an appeal requesting the Tibetans in Tibet to desist from self-immolation. In a statement issued here today, the Karmapa has stated that each report of self-immolation from Tibet “has filled my heart with pain”. Most of those who have died were very young. They had a long future ahead of them, an opportunity to contribute in ways that they have now foregone. In Buddhist teaching, life is precious. “To achieve anything worthwhile, we need to preserve our lives. We Tibetans are few in number, so every Tibetan life is of value to the cause of Tibet. Although the situation is difficult, we need to live long and stay strong without losing sight of our long-term goals,” the Karmapa said. He said since March this year 11 brave Tibetans had set themselves on fire while calling for freedom in Tibet and the return of the Dalai Lama to his homeland. “These desperate acts, carried out by people with pure motivation, are a cry against the injustice and repression under which they live. The situation is unbearably difficult, but in difficult situations, we need greater courage and determination,” he said. The Karmapa said the Chinese leadership should face up to the real source of these tragic incidents. Such drastic acts have their origin in the desperate circumstances in which Tibetans find themselves living. A ruthless response will only make things worse. Where there is fear, there can be no trust. The Dalai Lama has stressed that the use of force is counter-productive. “Repressive measures can never bring about unity and stability. I agree with the Dalai Lama that the Chinese leadership needs to seriously review its policies towards Tibetans and other minorities,” he said. The Karmapa said, “I appeal to right-thinking, freedom-loving people throughout the world to join us in deploring the repression unleashed in the monasteries in Tibet, particularly in the Tibetan region of Sichuan. At the same time I appeal to the Chinese leaders to heed Tibetans’ legitimate demands and to enter into meaningful dialogue with them instead of brutally trying to achieve their silence.” “Because the Tibetan issue involves truth and justice, people are not afraid to give up their lives, but I request the people of Tibet to preserve their lives and find other, constructive ways to work for the cause of Tibet,” he said.
	BJP steps up campaign in Renuka Pratibha Chauhan Tribune News Service Shimla, November 9 Despite facing a virtual revolt by a section of the party men in the Renuka Assembly constituency, the BJP Central Election Committee today put its stamp of approval on the proposal of the state party unit recommending the candidature of a former HAS officer, Hriday Ram Chauhan. The secretary of the BJP Central Election Committee, Ananth Kumar, today formally announced the candidature of Hriday Ram Chauhan from Renuka and Gurnam Kaur from Nalagrh. The two BJP candidates will be filing their nomination papers on November 11 in the presence of senior BJP leaders. A large number of party men, including previous BJP candidate and former MLA Roop Singh, today gathered in Renuka to decide the future course of action in view of the denial of the ticket to him. Roop Singh, who had contested the Assembly election from Renuka twice on the BJP ticket, along with party men had met state BJP chief Khimi Ram and other members of the State Election Committee to express his resentment at being ignored in the allotment of the ticket. There is a possibility that the disgruntled BJP faction in Renuka could field a rebel candidate. Senior BJP leaders, including ministers Mahinder Singh, in charge for the Renuka byelection, and Health Minister Rajiv Bindal and Lok Sabha MP from Shimla Virender Kashyap are already camping in Renuka to campaign in favour of Hriday Ram and get the party workers to campaign for him by sinking their differences. They reportedly met another former BJP candidate Balbir Chauhan, presently BJP state secretary who too had been miffed at the denial of the ticket to him and asked him to join the party campaign. However, the possibility of a BJP rebel being fielded by party men cannot still be ruled out. Senior party leaders are trying their level best to placate party men who were opposed to the candidature of Hriday Ram Chauhan. Chief Minister PK Dhumal is likely to be present at the time of the filing of nomination by the candidate in Renuka on November 11. The ruling party is trying its level best to wrest the traditional Congress seat of Renuka by ensuring its victory. Being the party in power, it definitely has an edge but now it remains to be seen to what extent Congress candidate Vinay Kumar, son of former MLA Prem Singh, can evoke sympathy in the name of his father who represented the constituency six times.
	BJP dissidents defiant, refuse to heed Shanta’s advice Ambika Sharma Solan, November 9 The Bhrashtachar Mukti Morcha comprising a dissident group of BJP leaders today refused to accept the plea of senior BJP leader and national vice-president Shanta Kumar to resolve all disputes within the party fold and give up the crusade against corruption. Though Shanta Kumar had appealed to the leaders to strengthen the party at this crucial juncture when the byelections for the Renuka and Nalagarh seats are due, the leaders refused to accept his plea. The morcha, which began its awareness campaign here today, held a meeting with the party workers to gauge their views on the misuse of public funds. Later, addressing mediapersons, the morcha leaders comprising Maheshwar Singh, Shyama Sharma, Radha Raman Shashtri, MN Sofat, Ranjeet Pathania, HN Kashyap and others said they were gathering information on corruption and misuse of public money. Though these leaders belonged to the Shanta faction, after the BJP’s central leadership was apprised of this feud, the morcha leaders had been directed not to indulge in anti-party propaganda at the onset of the byelections. This had prompted Shanta Kumar to issue a statement indicating his distance from the morcha and also the leaders from raising any specific issue. Maheshwar Singh said though they had taken up several issues relating to corruption with the government, it had failed to yield any result and this had forced them to constitute this manch. Though these leaders had been asked by the national president to meet them on November 10, they had declined to do so as they did not see much hope in raising these issues at various platforms after their bitter experience in the past. The morcha desisted from making public any case of corruption and brushed aside all queries on the pretext of verifying the facts and time and again harped on the fact that raising a voice against corruption was in consonance with what was being professed by their senior leader LK Advani.
	Winter session from December 19 Tribune News Service Shimla, November 9 The winter session of the state Assembly will be held at the Vidhan Sabha complex at Tapovan, near Dharamsala, from December 19 to 23. The decision was taken here today by the state Cabinet, which recommended to the Speaker to convene the four-day session from December 19.
	Conference on challenges before Indian economy Tribune News Service Shimla, November 9 A two-day national conference on “Challenges before the Indian economy - a search for alternatives”, being organised by the newly formed Economic Association of Himachal Pradesh (EAHP), got under way at Himachal Pradesh University here today. Vice-Chancellor ADN Bajpai released the logo and motto of the association with a call to serve the poorest of the poor in far-flung and inaccessible areas of the country. Inaugurating the conference, he stressed the need for having less needs within the limited facilities and resources in a mixed economy like India. “Under the indigenous conditions, the basic aim of limited resources must not be side-tracked as in the country of 122 crores only 120 people are millionaires and more than 80 crore inhabitants live below the poverty line.” In his keynote address, Prof Janak Raj Gupta, UGC Emeritus Professor and member, Punjab State Planning Board, highlighted the role of taxes in developmental activities of states. Prof Sheel C Nuna, Director, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia, stressed the need for initiating new dialogues for a balanced model of development. Over 200 delegates from across the country will deliberate upon various challenges like agriculture and food security, inflation and black money and state finances confronting the Indian economy.
	Rectify defects in poly houses, firm told Our Correspondent Sundernagar, November 9 The Consumer Forum, Mandi, has directed Jain Irrigation System, Jalgaon, Maharashtra, at present holding office in the BBMB Colony, Sundernagar, to rectify various defects in the poly houses of four consumers from Lakhyani village, Baroti Panchayat, of Sundernagar within 30 days. The forum has further directed the Deputy Director, Agriculture, Mandi, to supervise the work. Four Consumers - Raj Kumar, Sanjay kumar, Parkash Chand and Sanjay - placed an order for installation of poly houses in their land at Lakhyani village of Sundernagar under the Pandit Deen Dayal Kisan Bagwan Yojna and paid 20 per cent (Rs 86,184) of the amount and the rest was to be paid by the state Agriculture Department as subsidy. But Jain Irrigation System failed to install the poly houses even after one year of the payment. It was further alleged that the poly houses were of poor quality and were suffering from various defects, which were never rectified by opposite parties as a result of which the four consumers filed four complaints before the Consumer Forum, Mandi. On the other hand, Jain Irrigation System denied the allegations. During the pendency of complaint the forum appointed an expert from the Agriculture Department, who pointed out that the poly houses were suffering from various defects, including leaking. The forum after hearing both parties directed Jain Irrigation System, Sundernagar, to rectify the defects within 30 days from passing of the order.
	Man gets 5-yr jail for murder Tribune News Service Dharamsala, November 9 Additional District and Sessions Judge, Kangra, Purinder Vadiya has sentenced Sarwan Singh, a resident of Beli Jattan village in the Indora area, to five-year rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 5,000 for killing Surinder Singh in a land dispute case. District attorney CV Acharya, in a press note issued here today, said the accused, Sarwan Singh, shot at Surinder Singh with his licensed gun in a land dispute case on November 22, 2010. Surinder Singh later died following which a case under Section 302 of the IPC and Section 27 of the Arms Act was registered against Sarwan Singh. The prosecution produced 27 witnesses in the court against Sarwan Singh. The judge held Sarwan Singh guilty under Section 304 (part 2) of the IPC and sentenced him to five years’ rigorous imprisonment. The judge also held the accused guilty under Section 27 of the Arms Act and pronounced a sentence of three years against him. Both sentences will run concurrently.
	Three killed in accidents Shimla, November 9 Three persons were killed in two separate incidents in Shimla district today. According to the police, two youths - Bunny Dutta (22) from Rohru and Mohit (30) from Jubbal - were killed when the Scorpio (HP-10-A) they were travelling in met with an accident near Drani Ka Bagicha on the bypass in the wee hours today. Police sources said while one of the deceased died on the spot, the other succumbed to injuries in a hospital. In another accident of a utility jeep near Nihari in the Kotkhai area, one person Rajesh, a resident of Pronthi village, died. The utility rolled down into a deep gorge, killing Rajesh on the spot. — TNS
	28 bags of wheat seized Tribune News Service Mandi, November 9 The police today seized 28 bags of wheat and one bag of rice from two vehicles at Bairu under the Sarkaghat police station and arrested Ram Chand, salesman, cooperative society, Thauna, under the Essential Commodity Act. According to the police, a police team, led by Sub-Inspector Chanchal Singh, was on night patrolling when they checked the two vehicles at Bairu on their way to Riwalsar, the pilgrimage centre. The team found 28 bags of wheat and one bag of rice being carried illegally for sale to Riwalsar, the police said. The police seized the material and impounded the vehicles. Though the police had arrested a salesman in the case, but it was probing the fact that how sales depots were involved in the illegal sale of ration, sources said. Mandi SP Pupul Dutta said the salesman was arrested as he was carrying the ration illegally for sale to Rewalsar.