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Fresh snow spells more trouble
Winter Carnival fails to attract tourists
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Blizzard leaves three dead in Chamba
Malnutrition report: HP among better states
Relaxation in Parking Rules
Works under HPSIDC move at a snail’s pace
Centre biased against non-Cong-ruled states: CM
Illegal Mining in Chakki River
Pollution board to ensure proper disposal of electronic items
Bilaspur truck union poll on March 25
99.7 per cent children going to school in HP: Dy Speaker
36 panchayats in Mandi district without electricity
JE arrested on graft charge
Two get 6-month jail for forging property papers
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Fresh snow spells more trouble
Shimla, January
11 Long traffic jams blocked the
circular road and the traffic on roads leading to upper Shimla was
suspended. Apart form local people, a large number of tourists were also
stranded due to the fresh snow. The minimum night temperature hovered
around the freezing point and the water supply was affected in several
areas in the state capital due to freezing of water pipes. Thick ground
frost appeared on the roads during the morning and slippery road
conditions hampered vehicular movement. The Kullu-Manali road was opened
last evening, but the road connecting Rohru, Theog, Narkanda, Jubbal and
Chopal was still blocked. Traffic to Rampur and Kinnaur was being
routed through Basantpur and some buses were being plied to Rohru via
Vikasnagar. Keylong in the tribal Lahaul and Spiti district recorded the
coldest night of the season with the minimum temperature dropping to
minus 15.4 degrees Celsius. High-altitude tribal areas were groaning
under arctic conditions with the minimum temperature ranging between
minus 18 and minus 28°C. Shimla was also quite cold with a minimum
temperature of minus 0.9°C. The day temperature also dropped to 1.8°C
after fresh snow. Meanwhile, Public Works Minister Gulab Singh Thakur
today claimed that of the 167 major roads, over 126 roads closed in the
state due to widespread and heavy snowfall had been opened for vehicular
traffic. Of the 87 roads blocked due to snowfall in Shimla zone, 56
roads had been opened, while in Mandi zone, 44 of the 51 roads were
through for traffic and all major roads had been opened in Kangra
district. |
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Winter Carnival fails to attract tourists
Manali, January 11 Most resorts and hotels wear a deserted look. The occupancy in private economy hotels and
HPTDC-run hotels is thin. Only a few rooms have been hired by the carnival committee in private hotels for over 23 cultural tropes, revealed hoteliers. There has been only a small increase in the flow of tourists here, but that is largely due to the snow and not the Winter Carnival, say hoteliers and travel agents. “We are not aware about the carnival. We have come to see snowfall here from
Mumbai,” said Amit Shah and his wife. Last year, Chief Minister PK Dhumal had declared the Winter Carnival as a “national festival” to attract more tourists in the lean winter months. However, there is no fixed date for the carnival and hence it cannot be included in the calendar of events of the Tourism Department. The carnival has been converted into a VVIP affair, which is controlled by the party in power, said AR
Thakur, who runs Manali Continental Hotel at Vashisht. “The carnival should involve all stakeholders regardless of their political affiliation,” he added. “There should be a fixed date for the carnival so that it can be marketed well in advance in metros across the country,” said Harinder
Thakur, who runs his heritage resort at Sarsai near Manali. “The winter carnival has yet to come out of its local mela tag and has no fixed date,” said Piyush
Kapur, general manager, Holiday Inn, Manali. “It should be decontrolled and should involve private players so that it becomes popular like the Goa carnival among tourists all over the country and abroad,” he added. The president of the Manali Hoteliers Association, Gajendra
Thakur, said there had been some increase in tourist arrivals as compared to last year. “However, we will take up the matter of fixing a permanent date in mid-January for the carnival and ensure that it finds its place in the calendar of events of the Tourism Department,” he added. The chairman of the carnival committee and Deputy Commissioner,
Kullu, BM Nanta said they involved all stakeholders before deciding on a date. “We are open to suggestions. However, weather in winter plays spoilsport as it happened this time. We have invited artistes from all over the country and are projecting the local Pahari cuisine, art and culture,” he added. |
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Blizzard leaves three dead in Chamba
Chamba, January 11 According to reports, three persons, two in Kidi belt and one in the Kandla snowbound area, had died while a dozen houses had collapsed due to heavy snowfall. Most roads had been covered under heavy snow while many trees have been uprooted. A number of electricity poles and a few transformers have also been damaged, affecting the power supply. However, the water supply in Chamba town is normal. The power supply, which remained disrupted for about five days, was restored last night. The government machinery has been pressed into service and traffic on the Chamba-Pathankot road, the lifeline of the area, has been restored. Work to clear snow on other roads which have been affected due to the heavy snowfall, is in progress.
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Malnutrition report: HP among better states
Shimla, January 11 There has been an improvement in both severe and moderate malnutrition compared to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-3) and the district-level health survey (DLHS), 2002. The survey covered Hamirpur and Mandi districts of the state. As against the 13 per cent severely and 43 per cent moderately underweight (with a weight deficit for their age) children up to 5 years in DLHS, the figures in the latest reports are 3 per cent and 18 per cent, respectively, in case of Hamirpur. Severe and moderate levels of stunting (height to age) was found to be 18 and 35 per cent, respectively, and the extent of wasting was at negligible levels at 2 per cent and 5 per cent. In case of Mandi district, there were only 4 per cent of severely underweight, 17 per cent moderately underweight as compared to the DHLS figure of 12 per cent and 37 per cent, respectively. The level of stunting was found to be severe among 20 per cent and moderate 40 per cent and the extent of wasting at 1 per cent and 6 per cent, respectively. In all, 1,507 children, 1,228 mothers, 1,231 households, 60 anganwari centres and 51 anganwari workers were covered to assess the nutritional status in the two districts. The survey was carried out by the integrated child and women development wing in collaboration with the state chapter of the Voluntary Health Association of India. The improvement in the state is attributed to the extensive network of the state anganwaris, which ensured over 90 per cent coverage in respect of supplementary nutrition and health education. The level of health and nutritional awareness in Hamirpur was higher than Mandi as evident from the percentage of mother giving breastfeed within one hour of delivery (Hamirpur 94 and Mandi 57). While 26 per cent of mothers had not heard of the word malnutrition in Hamirpur, the percentage was as high as 51 in Mandi. The percentage of mothers who gave semi-solid food to their babies after six months were 78 (Hamirpur) and 72 (Mandi). |
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HC seeks explanation from DM, SP
Legal Correspondent
Shimla, January 11 While passing this order, a Division Bench comprising Justice Deepak Gupta and Justice Sanjay Karol observed that “we are of the view that any such permission was in total contravention of the rules.” The court further observed that only the state government could relax any of the provisions of the Act for reasons to be recorded in writing for a period not exceeding seven days at a time in the public interest. “This power of relaxation is not even available to the state as far as the core Mall Road area is concerned. If the state does not have the power to relax the provisions for the core Mall Road area, we fail to understand how the DM or the SP could have relaxed the provisions of the Act and granted permission to tourists to park their vehicles in the core Mall Road area,” it said. The Bench further observed that “It is expected that the officials, especially the DM and the SP, enforce the law. It is not expected that they should themselves start violating the law and encourage violations of the law.” The court directed the Shimla DM as well as the SP, Shimla, to produce the entire records and also the file written replies stating therein under what circumstances they had passed such orders and permitted vehicles to be parked in sealed/restricted roads and the core Mall Road area. The court passed this order on a petition filed in this regard wherein the problem of vehicular traffic in Shimla, especially with regard to the implementation of the Shimla Roads Users and Pedestrians (Public Safety and Convenience) Act, 2007, was raised. It was brought to the notice of the court that on December 31, 2011, vehicles were parked on the sealed and restricted areas. Not only this, vehicles were also parked in the core area of Shimla town from Shimla Club to the Lift. Now, the matter will be listed on January 13.
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Works under HPSIDC move at a snail’s pace
Solan, January 11 This include various works like repair and maintenance of roads, sewerage and drainages in industrial areas of Gondpur (Paonta Sahib) and Kala Amb with a sanctioned budget of Rs 70 lakh and Rs 34 lakh, respectively. This work was assigned to the HPSIDC by the Industries Department over one year ago, but it has not been completed due to tardy pace of work. The augmentation of the water supply scheme (Taruwala-Gondpur), Paonta Sahib, with a sanctioned budget of Rs 68 lakh has also not been completed despite a lapse of one and a half years. Worse still, though the work to decongest the Kala Amb barrier was assigned to the HPSIDC six months ago, no work has been started despite the availability of budgetary provision of Rs 10 lakh. Even the construction of the Common Facility Centre in the Kala Amb area, having a sanctioned budget of Rs 2.26 crore, failed to start despite a lapse of a year. These facts emerged during the district-level grievance redress committee at Nahan today that was organised under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner Meera Mohanty; General Manager, District Industries Centre, GS Chauhan; ADC Lokender Chauhan; SDM and officials of various departments, including the PWD, the Electricity. GS Chauhan said they would explore the possibility of assigning these works to HIMUDA or the PWD as the HPSIDC had failed to execute crucial works even after over a year. A request would also be made to the HPSIDC to post a SDO-level officer in the Kala Amb or Paonta Sahib areas or better coordination and speedy implementation of works. The possibility of opening a fire station at Kala Amb was also discussed as a number of fire incidents have been taking place in the area. Officials of the HPSIDC, however, presented lame excuses like delayed award of tenders or inability of contractors to start work as the reasons which failed to cut ice with industry officials. Vipul Ghai, president, Sirmaur chapter of Laghu Udyog Bharti, said various other issues like unscheduled power cuts, unavailability of drinking water and poor upkeep of roads and other infrastructure were also taken up and since the meeting would be held every month, it would help address crucial issues. Representatives of the industry, including the Drug Manufacturers’ Association, were among those who were present. |
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Centre biased against non-Cong-ruled states: CM
Shimla, January 11 While talking to newspersons here today, he said a large number of issues pertaining to state interests were hanging fire in different ministries and despite repeated pursuance nothing positive was coming through. “Himachal is in fact indebted to the Supreme Court for passing a landmark judgment in favour of the state in the matter of Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) arrears pertaining to the period from 1966 to 1996, which will be providing some relief to the state,” he said. He said despite urging the Centre to provide special package to the state to compensate the implementation of the Sixth Pay Commission, but till date nothing had come through. Dhumal said the state had also raised the demand to allow it borrowing based upon the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP), on the norms adopted by the Centre itself, but the Centre reduced the borrowing limit from Rs 2,200 crore to Rs 1,600 crore for the state. He said the Centre had provided negligible hike of barely 50 per cent to Himachal as compared to average of 125 per cent hike to other states with regard to the 13th Finance Commission recommendations. The CM urged the Centre to grant Special Economic Package to the state as a measure of compensation to meet the deficit caused due to the biasness at the hands of different ministries at the Centre. He said the Centre had discriminated against Himachal and Uttarakhand, which are non-UPA-ruled states, in extending the industrial package up to the announced date of March 2013. He said there was a long list of issues pending with the Centre which included enhancement in the recruitment quota of Himachal youth in armed and paramilitary forces, One Rank One Pension to ex-servicemen, relocation of Dogra Regimental Centre to Una in Himachal, due share in expansion of railway network in the state, adequate funds for repair and maintenance of the national highways. Dhumal said these issues had been raised by him in person with the PM time and again, but nothing positive had come out of the exercise.
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Illegal Mining in Chakki River Lalit Mohan Tribune News Service
Dharamsala, January 11 The committee that comprised mining and PWD officials of Kangra district in Himachal and Pathankot district in Punjab and the deputy commissioners of both districts, was constituted by the high court to study the impact of illegal mining on railway bridges on the Chakki and suggest measures to protect them. The committee had visited a damaged railway bridge on January 7. Sources said the committee had recommended that the Railways should consider replacing 82-year-old bridges in view of their worn condition. It recommended that the debris that had collected near the bridges should be removed and spread near the pillars of the railway bridges so that erosion along the pillars was reduced. The committee also proposed the creation of mining checkpoints to check illegal mining in the area. While accepting the report of the committee, the high court has ordered its continuation for reviewing the progress on the recommendations. The committee will meet on April 7 to review the progress on its recommendations by the departments concerned. The Railways and other departments that have their infrastructure in or around the Chakki river have been complaining consistently regarding illegal mining in the river bed and the damage being caused due to it. Experts are of the view that the railway bridge over the Chakki that connected Kangra district with Pathankot was damaged due to large-scale mining downstream of the structure. Though the Railways is in the process of constructing a new pillar to replace the damaged one to restore the railway bridge, the sources said erosion had already started in the three other pillars of the bridge. The rail traffic in Kangra district has been lying disrupted due to the damage to the railway bridge for the past few months. Earlier, a 100-year-old road bridge connecting Pathankot with Kangra district had got damaged allegedly due to illegal mining in the Chakki. The bridge was restored a few months ago. Court accepts report
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Pollution board to ensure proper disposal of electronic items
Shimla, January 11 The Himachal State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) has already tied up with the National Research and Technology Consortium, Parwanoo, to hold a detailed study on various aspects of e-management rules and proper recycling of electronic items. The study will also make an assessment of the quantity of these goods being generated in Himachal for disposal, the present system of disposal and the recycling arrangements that are in place at present. This has become all the more important as the Union Ministry of Environment will enforce the e-management rules from May 2012. The issue was discussed at length during a recent meeting of the board. “This is also an area of concern for us and we want that a proper mechanism is in place to take care of proper disposal and recycling of electronic items,” said Sudipto Roy, Additional Chief Secretary (Forest and Environment). A total of 19 electronic items have been identified to be covered under the e-management rules. It is learnt that talks are being held with some recycling units located in Baddi and Parwanoo to undertake some modifications so that they can also handle electronic items. At present there is no proper system for recycling of electronic goods and most of these are taken by kabaris (junk sellers) which are used for making products being sold in the grey market. The 19 electronic items that will be covered under the e-management rules have various parts like CRT tubes and other toxic parts which, if not disposed properly, can be harmful. “Considering the toxicity that some of these electronic items can create if not disposed of properly before being recycled, we will develop a proper mechanism,” said Sanjay Sood, member secretary, HSPCB. He said the board was making all arrangements so that it was prepared when the e-management rules came into force from May this year. Even the neighbouring states of Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand and Jammu and Kashmir do not have a proper mechanism for disposing of electronic goods scientifically. Considering the environmental concerns resulting from their improper disposal, the Centre is keen that proper rules and guidelines are followed by all states.
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Bilaspur truck union poll on March 25
Bilaspur, January 11 This notification was issued here on Monday from the office of the District Inspector, Co-operative Societies, Bilaspur, who has been made the registration officer for the purpose. The notification said the tentative list of voters for this election would be published on January 21 at the Barmana office and all offices concerned like those of the Assistant Registrar, District Inspector (Bilaspur), and inspectors of societies at Bilaspur Sadar, Jhandutta and Ghumarwin. All objections to these voters lists must be filed in these concerned offices between February 6, 2012, and February 9, 2012, between 10 am and 3 pm while the final lists would be displayed on February 13, 2012. The election of this cooperative society was due in December 2011, but at the insistence of the present management committee and due to certain pressing reasons, its tenure was extended by the government by three months till the end of March 2012.
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99.7 per cent children going to school in HP: Dy Speaker
Bilaspur, January 11 This was stated by HP Vidhan Sabha Deputy Speaker Rikhi Ram Kaundal while presiding over the annual prize distribution function of Government Senior Secondary School at Ghandhir, 60 km from here, today. Kaundal said HP was the only state in the country which was spending 19 pc of its budget on education and which had only 0.3 pc school dropout rate as 99.7 pc of children were now going to school. He said the state had achieved 83.78 pc literacy rate while the national rate was 74.04 per cent. He said the government was out to modernise the education system and had introduced IT education in 968 senior secondary schools and information and communication technology in 628 other schools. He also inaugurated a Rs 5.33-lakh classroom and announced a grant of Rs 3 lakh for the construction of stairs and Rs 5 lakh for the examination hall of the school. Deputy Director of Education Bir Singh also addressed the function while Principal Sunita Kumari presented the school progress report. The Deputy Speaker also gave prizes to the following students for standing first and second, respectively, in their classes: Class VI - Anchal and Abhishek; VII - Sachin Sharma and Anita; VIII - Dimple and Priyanka; IX - Anjali and Priya Kumari; X - Kanchan Kumari and Priyanka; X plus I - Puja Kumari and Sushma; and X plus II - Mamta Devi and Raj Kumar.
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36 panchayats in Mandi district without electricity
Mandi/Kullu, January 11 “We have been without power for the past four days in the Dalash panchayat as there is no JE here to monitor the supply,” Maninder Jishtu, a resident of Dalash, said on the phone. “There is no point in making a complaint as the HPSEB remains indifferent to erratic power supply in the area,” he added. The road continues to be blocked and the electricity supply is yet to be restored in the Bingal panchayat in Ani despite repeated requests to the PWD and the electricity board,” said Jangi Ram Negi, a former pradhan from Bingal. Congress leader from Seraj Virsingh Chauhan said at least 36 gram panchayats in Seraj had been cut off from the district headquaters for the past four days due to snowfall in the area. “There is no electricity for the past four days,” he added. He said people were having great trouble in taking patients to hospitals in Banjar and Mandi and the snowfall had exposed the lack of preparations on the part of the government. “The government is yet to mobilise its machinery to restore the power supply though the weather has cleared up in the past two days,” he claimed. Chauhan said the most affected were the gram panchayats of Jiuni, Janjheli, Lambathach, Boong, Khalwahan, Thatadhar, Thata, Ghaat, Gara Gushaini, Jahal, Kalni, Shiva Gathehr, Sarachi, Kulthani and Chet in the mid belt of Seraj. Even Karsog subdivision remained cut off from the district headquarters as the PWD is yet to clear the snow on the Rawanda-Neri stretch of the Mandi-Karsog road.
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JE arrested on graft charge
Dharamsala, January 11 The complainant had alleged that the accused official had initially demanded Rs 9,000 from him for sanctioning a grant of Rs 1.5 lakh for soil conservation measures in his village and raising a check dam on a local stream. Though he paid Rs 9,000 to him, he raised another demand of Rs 11,000. On this Madan Singh informed the Bureau that laid a trap for the official. The accused official was arrested today while accepting an amount of Rs 6,000 from the complainant. He has been booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act. |
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Two get 6-month jail for forging property papers
Mandi, January 11 The judge found the duo guilty of forging documents related to the joint property of their diseased sister and managed to transfer her share in property in their names in revenue records. Her son had lodged the FIR charging them under Sections 419, 465, 467, 471 and 120-B, IPC. The judge found them guilty in the case and convicted them. The judge ordered that in case they failed to pay the fine they would serve 15 days more in jail.
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