Shimla, November 10
The local Municipal Corporation (MC) has urged the government to take over the two illegally constructed floors in the 13-storeyed structure raised as part of the Jakhu aerial ropeway project, which is hanging fire as a final decision on the violations committed is yet to be taken.

Even as the government has failed to take a final decision with regard to construction of two additional floors without permission by the executing agency, Jagson International Ltd, the MC is keen that this space should be taken over by the government and put to some constructive use.

The case for taking a final decision on the project was placed before the single umbrella committee, headed by the MC Commissioner twice but considering the violations and the fact that it falls within the green and core area, the matter will have to be placed before the Cabinet.

“I have written to the government to take over these two floors which have been constructed without permission so that the project can also be made operational and at the same time this space is also put to use,” said AN Sharma, Commissioner, MC.

“Even if raising two additional floors was a structural necessity to save more trees from being axed, the promoters should have sought prior approval from the government rather than going ahead with it illegally,” said officials. They added that compounding the two floors by imposing a heavy penalty would only amount to encouraging violators and the best method to send across a strong signal to such people was government takeover.

However, the government is yet to act on the request of the MC to allow it to use this additional space. A majority of the people are of the opinion that a public facility like a museum, a library or a planetarium should be set up so that it is open for use to the people as it is centrally located. “Taking stringent action in this case will act as a deterrent for others, especially the influential who will think twice before committing violations and taking the government for a ride,” said a senior bureaucrat.

The Jakhu aerial ropeway project has been surrounded by controversy for one reason or the other and the completion has been delayed inordinately. The project, vehemently opposed by environmentalists and locals, today stands as the tallest 13-storeyed structure in the town which will become the take-off point for the ropeway.

Notwithstanding the fact that the project was allowed to come up in a no-construction green area, which also falls in the core area, the promoters constructed the two additional floors though the approval was granted only for 11 floors.

Even though the Forest and the Tourism departments have in their reports said that they had no objection to the two additional floors and they are keen that the project takes off, but the majority opinion is that the government must act stringently to send across a strong message to the violators. 

Mandi, November 10
Students of Jawaharlal Nehru Engineering College, Sundernagar, today urged the Principal Secretary, Technical Education, SK Dash, to appoint a regular and well-qualified faculty with a regular Principal in the college, declare the BTech examination results in time and make proper transportation and hostel facilities for students. They also sought the inauguration of the administrative and academic blocks.

In an interaction with students and faculty in the college today, Dash listened to the students’ grievances. He was accompanied by the Special Secretary, Technical Education, JC Chauhan, the Director, Technical Education, Vijay Chandan, and Principal in charge of the engineering college, Vinita Arya.

Students told the Secretary that they were without a regular Principal and regular MTech teaching faculty.

“The present ad hoc BTech faculty was not competent enough and could affect their career prospects,” they said.

The students resented that the results of BTech-III and BTech-V semesters were declared after 11 months by HP University that had adversely affected their studies and future plans. The students demanded that the government should put in place a system for campus placement for BTech students in the college.

Though the PWD has improved facilities and expedited the construction and completion of campus works after The Tribune highlighted it in its columns, the academic and administrative blocks are yet to be inaugurated. Dash assured students that he would redress their problems. He said posts were being filled by the state public service panel.

Don’t go to media: Principal Secretary

Principal Secretary, Technical Education, SK Dash warned students and faculty members at an interactive session that they should not go to the media with their problems. “You should inform us and we will solve them. The college is new and still it has done commendable progress in terms of developing infrastructure,” he said.

Hamirpur, November 10
Work on the bypass to Hamirpur town, being constructed by the National Highway (NH) division has been stalled following the Forest Department’s objection to dumping of mud on forest land.

The department had taken a strong notice of dumping of mud in the forest land near Hamir Hotel and the forest area leading to Bazuri and Nalti and had asked the NH authorities to stop dumping mud on the forest land.

The NH division is constructing a 6-km bypass to Hamirpur town on the NH-88 from Mattan Sidh to Pucca Barroh to ease traffic in the town for the past one year.

Interestingly, though a large quantity of mud had been dug during the cutting of hillocks for the construction of the bypass, but no dumping site was identified for quite long and the mud was being dumped on forest land.

This was being done in violation of the Forest Conservation Act, affecting the flora fauna, environment and ecology of the area.

Taking a serious note of the illegal dumping, the Divisional Forest Officer, Hamirpur, had served a notice on the NH authorities to stop dumping mud on forest land immediately which stalled the construction work on the Hamirpur bypass.

The DFO, Hamirpur, PK Thakur, said, “Our officials had found vehicles involved in the construction of the Hamipur bypass dumping waste material in the forest area during the night and had imposed a penalty; we have asked them to stop dumping in the forest area and immediately identify a dumping site”.

“We had also requested the Deputy Commissioner, Hamirpur, to intervene and a meeting was also held in this regard. Bsides, forest officials were asked to keep a watch on dumping of mud on forest land,” the DFO added.

The Executive Engineer, NH division, Satish Nag, said, “We have identified a dumping site at Baroa and a major portion of mud would also be used for filling up of a bridge being constructed on the bypass.” 

Shimla, November 10
Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal visited the Shri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara Sahib at the bus stand on the occasion of Prakash Utsav today to pay tributes to the founder of the Sikh religion Guru Nanak Dev.

Speaking on the occasion, he said Guru Nanak Dev’s teachings for were more relevant today for strengthening the unity and integrity of the country. “Guru Nanak Dev had shown the world the path of peace, harmony and non-violence, which we all must adhere to strictly,” he said.

He said Guru Nanak Dev did not belong to any particular religion and worshipped all the faiths equally to uphold the high traditions of humanity.

Office-bearers of the sabha accorded a warm welcome to the Chief Minister on his arrival and honoured him with a siropa and memento.

Legislators Suresh Bhardwaj and Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, vice-chairman, HIMUDA, Ganesh Dut and president of the sabha Jasvinder Singh were present on the occasion.

SOLAN: The Lawrence School, Sanawar, celebrated the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev with traditional fervour and gaiety. A special team of granthis from Baru Sahib visited the school for facilitating Gurpurb festivities.

The school congregated at the Som Dutt Sports complex, which witnessed the chanting of holy scriptures from Guru Granth Sahib. The holy invocation was followed by ardas and Guru ka langar. Senior students performed kar seva by serving to one and all with great enthusiasm. Headmaster Praveen Vasisht and other staff members were present on the occasion. 

Mandi, November 10
Conveners of the Bhrashtachar Mukti Morcha (BMM) - Maheshwar Singh and Radha Raman Shastri - today said they would constitute the state executive shortly and launch a public contact programme roping in likeminded people on the issue of corruption in the state.

Though the morcha did not get a good response in Mandi today as only two former councillors - Anil Kapur and Sarita Handa - and Bijni panchayat pradhan Ranvir participated in the meeting, but the morcha leaders claimed it was a closed-door meeting not aimed at mass participation.

Talking to mediapersons, Maheshwar Singh and Radha Raman Shastri said they would constitute the BMM state body to coordinate its activities.

“We do not oppose any political party, but will make public the issue of corruption”, they added. The BMM leaders said they had served the BJP for decades, but were ignored and forced to form this morcha.

“We even took up the matter with national president Nitin Gadkari and general secretary JP Nadda, who is from Himachal, but they did not address our grievances”, they rued.

Referring to state BJP president Khimi Ram’s statement charging them with party indiscipline, Maheshwar Singh said he should not teach them discipline.

The BMM leaders said they were concerned how three private universities were given land in one panchayat. There are other issues which will be taken up after getting documentary evidence, they asserted.

They said they would participate in LK Advani’s Jan Chetna Yatra on November 16. The morcha was getting a good response and would soon form the state executive, Maheshwar added.

Mandi, November 10
Rural Development Minister Jai Ram Thakur said today that a postgraduate diploma in computer applications will be started from the next academic session of the college.

Inaugurating the state-level Youth Festival (theatre) at Government Valabh Postgraduate College here today, the minister urged students to uphold the rich cultural traditions of the state as the government was proving all facilities to students to tap their potential. The festival gives a platform to students to hone their skills.

Addressing the gathering, the minister said the government had started various courses at the college and would start the postgraduate diploma in computer applications. Over 52 colleges were participating in the festival.

Meanwhile, students of the college performed Shakespeare’s play ‘Love’s Labour Lost’ on the occasion.

Principal of the college Jamval welcomed participants and wished them good luck for competitions.

Solan, November 10
With the byelections to the Nalagarh and Renuka seats having become an issue of prestige for the ruling BJP, a galaxy of MLAs and ministers have been directed by the party to campaign in these constituencies.

A list of 11 MLAs and six ministers has been drawn up to campaign in Nalagarh in favour of the party’s nominee, Gurnaam Kaur, while five senior BJP leaders, including three ministers and an MP, and at least eight MLAs will toil in Renuka to muster support for the party’s nominee, Hriday Ram.

Dr Rajiv Bindal, Minister for Ayurveda and Health, has been spearheading the campaign and after drawing up a strategy for campaigning in Nalagarh, he visited Nahan today to take stock of the situation.

Bindal said several ministers, including Mahinder Singh, Ravinder Ravi, Jairam Thakur, chairman of the HP State Co-operative Bank Chander Mohan Thakur, Chief Parliamentary Secretary Sukh Ram, MP Virender Kashyap and at least eight MLAs would campaign for the Renuka seat.

In Nalagarh too, ministers, including those from the Shanta camp like Ramesh Dhawala, Kishen Kapoor and others from the the Chief Minister’s camp, including Narender Bragta, Dr Rajiv Bindal, Gulab Singh Thakur, BJP state general secretary Ram Swaroop Sharma and 11 MLAs, would participate in the campaign.