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Infighting can mar Cong prospects in MC poll
BJP changing names of Central schemes: Cong
BJP to announce candidates by May 5
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Virbhadra’s rally at Nurpur
‘No transparency in promotion of gramin bank staff’
Rates notified for land sale deeds in Kangra
Turban controversy settled
Rs 18.97 cr for tourism development
High Court upholds Asst Director’s appointment
Finish work on time, officers told
Freedom fighter Sada Ram Chandel dies at 92
ICU becomes operational
Incessant rain damages fruits, crops
Police officers transferred
Appointed
JEs rue govt apathy
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Infighting can mar Cong prospects in MC poll
Shimla, April 28 Though there were unconfirmed reports that a decision had been taken to induct Janartha back into the party, nobody in the state Congress committee confirmed the news. However, it was today that a letter written by Birender Singh, AICC general secretary and in charge of party affairs in Himachal, to state Congress chief Kaul Singh on April 13 clarified the whole position. Janartha, a staunch loyalist of Union Minister Virbhadra Singh, is the strongest candidate for the post of Mayor as he enjoys wide acceptability. However, with the rival factions averse to his re-induction into the party, attempts were made by a section of the leadership to keep information about the revocation of his expulsion under wraps, so that he could not emerge as a candidate for the post of Mayor, for which direct elections are being held for the first time. Despite Birender asking the HPCC chief to re-induct Janartha into the party with immediate effect and issue a press note in this regard, the HPCC kept maintaining that they had not received any such intimation. Incidentally, Janartha’s return to the party was okayed by Motilal Vora, Member Secretary, Central Disciplinary Committee, and the same was conveyed to Birender on April 12 itself. Janartha had to face the music by way of his expulsion from the Congress for contesting the election of the Deputy Mayor against the Congress nominee. He had desperately been trying to return to the party fold before the MC poll as he stands a bright chance of being made the candidate for the post of Mayor, for which direct elections are being held for the first time. Now, it remains to be seen whether the Congress will consider Janartha for the post of Mayor or he will once again be made a victim of infighting and factionalism. Though the Congress has retained its hold over the Shimla MC, this time it will face a tough challenge from the BJP as well as the CPM with direct election to Mayor and Deputy Mayor. The CPM has already announced the candidature of Sanjay Chauhan for the post of Mayor and Tikender Panwar for Deputy Mayor, while the BJP and the Congress are still undecided about their candidates. |
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BJP changing names of Central schemes: Cong
Shimla, April 28 Addressing a press conference here today, senior Congress leader and seven-time MP Vilas Muttemwar, who is the in charge for the monitoring of flagship programmes of the UPA government, said all the BJP-ruled states in the country had tried to change the names of these schemes. He today held a meeting with senior party leaders and office-bearers to get the feedback on UPA’s flagship programmes. “We will prepare a detailed report of such instances, along with the irregularities being committed in their implementation, so that appropriate action can be taken by the Centre,” he remarked. Muttemwar also took a strong exception to allegations by the state BJP regime that the Centre was discriminating with the hill state. “There is no question of discriminating with any state whether it is Congress-ruled or non-Congress ruled and on the contrary we have received reports that the state here has failed to utilise the money received from the Centre under various programmes,” he said. The Congress leader said under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), Himachal had been given special concession where 90 per cent of the funding was to be given by the
Centre yet it could not utilise the funds. “Even under the Rajiv and Indira Awas Yojna, the money given for Shimla was diverted elsewhere and a large amount of money went back to the Centre
as the state failed to utilise it,” he said. Muttemwar added that in some cases the state government had also changed the norms of these Central schemes to suit its convenience, which would also be brought to the notice of
the Centre. Speaking on the occasion, HPCC chief Kaul Singh said the state Congress today urged Muttemwar to get a CBI inquiry done of the Atal Swasthya Yojna for which money was being provided by the Centre under the NRHM and alleged that the state BJP regime was misusing the money being provided under the NRHM. |
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BJP to announce candidates by May 5
Shimla, April 28 Addressing a press conference here today, local MLA Suresh Bhardwaj said the state BJP regime had taken several decisions in the recent past which were in the interest of residents. “The Cabinet at its next meeting will give land ownership right to several people who owned buildings but not the land on which it was raised,” he said. Bhardwaj said the Congress despite having control over the Shimla MC, remained unconcerned towards the issues of residents of the town. “The BJP has also decided to regularise unauthorised structures after compounding them,” he said. The BJP leader said the state had also provided relief to owners of green plots in Shimla, who had bought land prior to 2000. They would, now, be allowed to construct houses on these plots, which fell in the no-construction zone. Bhardwaj said the BJP would announce the names of its candidates for Mayor, Deputy Mayor and councillors by May 5. “We want to field the most suitable candidates and for this we are also getting a survey done so that the most deserving person with maximum chances of winning is given the ticket,” he said. |
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Development activities in Palampur slow: Shanta
Palampur, April 28 It was evident from the major scams that surfaced during the past two-and-half-year regime of the
UPA. Addressing a mammoth public gathering here today, Shanta Kumar said now corruption had spread in such a way that no one remained unaffected by it. He said the BJP was aware of this fact and would not only just fight against corruption, but also indulge in self-introspection.
Shanta Kumar said in the UPA regime the country had gone bankrupt and the Prime Minister was watching the drama - the rich were growing richer and the poor poorer. He told party workers that there should be no place for the corrupt in the party. The public well understood this problem, therefore they should reject such politicians, only then the party could claim itself to be a “party with a difference”. Referring to local issues, Shanta Kumar said during the past four years of the party regime, development activities remained at a snail’s pace in Palampur despite the best efforts of BJP MLA Parveen Sharma. He said a number of new projects like the construction of
three-storeyed parking, Sorabh Van Vihar and ropeway project, for which adequate budget was also made available, but could not be executed affecting the development of the area. He regretted that despite assurances from the state government, Vivekananda Hospital and Medical College could not be completed because of lack of “political and administrative
will”. Krishan Kapoor, Romesh Dhawala, both Cabinet ministers, Parveen Sharma, Vipan Singh
Parmar, Capt Atma Ram and Des Raj, all MLAs, were also present at the rally. |
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Virbhadra’s rally at Nurpur
Nurpur, April 28 Talking to mediapersons here today, state Congress general secretary Ajay Mahajan, who had also contested the last Assembly election from here as a party nominee, said Pathania must measure his political stature before daring five-time Chief Minister, two-time PCC chief and present Union Cabinet Minister Virbhadra Singh. “The Union Minister can hold rallies in areas as and when required and for this purpose the Congress does not need permission from others. It is capable of replying in the same coin those who issue such threats,” he asserted. He dared Pathania to stop Congress stalwart from holding rallies in the Nurpur area, it was not any politician’s personal asset. Taking on the Congress stand of giving district status to Nurpur, the Congress general secretary reiterated that its stand was clear that as and when new districts were carved out in the state, Nurpur would get priority in getting district status. “The BJP and its leaders have always misled people on this sensitive issue and also used it as political gimmick during election year only,” he claimed. Meanwhile, Central Youth Congress Election Committee member Manoj Pathania and general secretary of the state Congress Kisan Cell Yogesh Sundri in separate statements had also flayed the local MLA for issuing such threats. |
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HLP seeks CBI probe into purchase of valves
Mandi, April 28 HLP leaders fired a fresh salvo on the government at a press conference they addressed here today after presiding over the party’s executive meeting. They had supportive documents which they had obtained under the RTI Act, they claimed. Maheshwar alleged that Tilak Raj was a chowkidar of the Dharamsala cricket stadium run by the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association headed by the Hamirpur MP. This land was a prime land and the power of attorney was in the name of Tilak Raj and they demanded a probe in the matter, he said. The HLP leaders further alleged that the IPH bought valves worth crores of rupees at higher rates for the Shah Nahar project allegedly at the behest of the IPH minister. “The actual cost is Rs 23,000 per valve, but the IPH bought it for Rs 56,000 per valve that caused a big loss to the state exchequer,” they claimed. Trashing the Health Minister’s clarifications on the Atal Swasthya Sewa Yojna, they alleged that the land for the call centre at Dharampur in Solan had been given to Anjali Eicher Emergency Private Ltd as per a letter of the Health Department issued on February 13, 2010. So how was the GVK company running its control room there as it was a non-profit society, Sofat alleged, demanding a CBI probe into the ambulance being run by the company under this health scheme. They claimed that the HLP was gaining strength and had enrolled over one lakh members so far. “We will contest Shimla municipal corporation polls this time,” they stated. |
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‘No transparency in promotion of gramin bank staff’
Mandi, April 28 Narrating their grievances to The Tribune, managers of the bank on the condition of anonymity complained that the promotion examination followed by an interview was conducted in a non-transparent manner by the bank. The bank neither declared the written examination result nor was it put on the website till today, they resented. They further charged that the bank management gave more weightage to the interview than to the written test and the internal confidential report and the performance of the candidate. As per the new rules of the bank, promotion was given on the basis of the written test (50 per cent), interview (30 per cent) and a confidential report of five years (20 per cent), they said. There were cases where certain candidates who figured in the over-43 rank were catapulted to the first two positions, insiders alleged. “We will take the matter with the Punjab National Bank (PSLV division), regional rural banks (RRBs) cell, New Delhi, as the bank did not observe transparency in promoting the staff in March this year. There was no declared category-wise promotion for the SC/ST, general,” they alleged. The HGB conducted a written test in February-March and promoted 51 clerks to scale-1 managers, 12 scale-1 managers to scale-II managers, three scale-II managers to scale-III managers and 30 messengers to clerks. The selection board comprises Chairman, HGB, deputy development manager, NABARD and a PNB manager. Rubbishing all allegations as baseless, Chairman, HGB, SK Sharma said the selection was hailed by a majority of the staff, who felt motivated now. “It was fair, transparent and on the basis of merit and approved by the board,” he added. He said all candidates were invited for the interview and selected by the selection committee notified by the board. “Promotion was based on rules and criteria and there is no scope for any favours in today’s era of banking,” he added. He said they could not put the results on website as they were busy in bank closing on March 31. Sharma said the bank had recruited directly 61 clerks, 51 officers and four managers to run new branches in the state. The HGB had achieved all targets in all components of the NPA, deposits and loans, he claimed. |
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Rates notified for land sale deeds in Kangra
Dharamsala, April 28 The rates are now available on the website of Kangra district, and sellers and buyers can go directly to tehsildars and get their land sale deeds registered at the notified rates. Earlier, buyers and sellers of land had to go to patwaris to get certificate of average land price in their respective mohals to get the land sale deeds registered. The average land price was worked out by patwaris annually on the basis of the land sale deeds registered in their respective areas. This left a lot of scope for manipulation on the part of patwaris and other lower revenue officials regarding the price at which sale deed was to be registered. Deputy Commissioner (DC), Kangra, RS Gupta talking to The Tribune, said under the new policy the land for sale purpose had been categorised into three categories. This included the land adjoining road that had the highest commercial value, land ranging up to 50 m from the road and land lying beyond 50 m. As per the formula worked out after deliberations with revenue officials, the value of land lying up to 50 m from the road had been considered as 75 per cent of the price of land lying along the road. The value of land lying beyond 50 m from the road had been fixed at 50 per cent of the price of land lying along the road, he said. The DC said in Kangra district a further exercise had been carried out before notifying the rates at which land could be sold in mohals. The land lying along the national highways was considered to be of maximum commercial value, followed by land lying along state highways and rural roads. He further said the average rates of land in different mohals of Kangra district had been worked out. Some mohals like McLeodganj were in an entirely different category as the entire land there was commercial and had high value. However, in some mohals such as Dharamsala and Dari, rates were almost identical and so average rates of these revenue states were fixed. Over all in Kangra district 600 land sale rates had been notified for 3,908 revenue states, Gupta said. He claimed that the rates notified in Kangra district had been accepted by people by and large. There were just 10 objections from people in the entire 3,908 mohals of the district. In some cases where objections were genuine, necessary amendments would be made. He claimed that the new policy had simplified the procedure of land registrations for common citizens and it would help the government in checking revenue theft. |
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Student delegates take to philanthropy
Solan, April 28 Headed for Col Rampal’s Eco Home; Orphanage, Sabathu; Kasturba Ashram, Shimla; Leprosarium, Mandodhar; Cancer Ward, IGMC, Shimla and Old-Age Home, Panchkula, they participated in various need-based service projects. Among the activities undertaken at these service centres were painting the walls, mending the path, tilling and composting flower beds, distribution of food and fruit baskets and other donations from the Round Square Organisation. Interactions with needy people and sharing their joys, sorrows and dreams helped lift their spirits. “If you respect your gurus, parents and elders, there’s no stopping for you in life…,” said an elderly citizen residing at the Old-Age Home, Panchkula, during an interaction. The closing ceremony of this regional conference was performed last evening with a recap and presentation of the service projects. Dr Dhillon, educationist, graced the closing ceremony and urged all the delegates to make service a part of their daily lives. He also gave away prizes to the MGD, Jaipur, for securing the first position in a theme-based school performance. “Angels” bagged the best Baraza for theme-based activity, and Prajnesh and Somya, both from “Angels”, and Aditya from “Contributors” were declared first, second and third, respectively, in the individual declamation contests. Praveen Vasisht, Headmaster, Lawrence School, Sanawar, in his vote of thanks lauded the active participation of all student delegates in the conference and said, “When we serve others, we are serving ourselves as we are the first recipients. There is more in us than we think and let’s take that one extra step to serve others.” |
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Turban controversy settled
Shimla, April 28 The Principal of St Edward’s School, Father John Bosco, today agreed to tender a written apology in view of the protest lodged by the Sikh community at a meeting with officials of the district administration police and members of the Sikh community. Naresh Kumar Lath, Additional District Magistrate (Law and Order), presided over the meeting, which had been specially convened today to settle the sensitive issue. Lath said the Principal had also been directed to issue a circular by April 30 that students up to Class VI would wear a patka, while those in senior classes would tie a turban. Jasvinder Singh, president of the Guru Singh Sabha, Shimla, was also present at the meeting. Enraged by the dictate of the Principal, Sikhs had approached the district administration to intervene into the issue. They had threatened to stage a protest in case the school authorities did not withdraw the earlier decision. Trouble had started when a Sikh student was asked to tie a patka and not wear a turban to school. |
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Rs 18.97 cr for tourism development
Hamirpur, April 28 Giving this information to mediapersons here today, Deputy Commissioner, Hamirpur, Rajinder Singh Thakur accompanied by Deputy Director, Department of Tourism, RS Rana said: “The Ministry of Tourism, GoI, has sanctioned Rs 18.97 crore for integrated development under pilgrim circuit, Hamirpur circuit, integrated development of off-beat circuit and IHM
Hamirpur.” In addition of this, the state government has released Rs 70.29 lakh for renovation of temples, construction of parking and wayside amenities in the district, they added. They said to popularise tourism in rural areas Bela village under the Nadaun sub-division had been selected to develop it from the tourism point of view under the “Har Gaon Ki Kahani” scheme for which Rs 4 lakh have been sanctioned by the department for its landscaping, beautification, development of facilities and infrastructure in the village. The tourist information and wayside amenities centres at Targhel and Nadaun are also under the pipeline and work on these would begin soon, besides rafting in the Beas at Nadaun would be started soon. The parking being constructed near the DC office would be completed in May, the DC added. ADM, Hamirpur, Rajeshwar Goel and assistant engineer, tourism department, PS Thakur and other officers were among those present. |
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High Court upholds Asst Director’s appointment
Shimla, April 28 The appeal against the order of the Single Judge Division Bench comprising Justice Deepak Gupta and Justice VK Ahuja observed that the appellant had not concealed anything from the appointing authority. As a result, the appellant would continue to serve as Director,
SFSL, HP, till his attaining the age of superannuation. According to the appellant, Dr Gaur, he had joined as Assistant Director with the state government on a deputation basis in April 1990. This post was upgraded and Dr Gaur promoted and absorbed as the Deputy Director in August 1994. Further, he was promoted as Director of the
SFSL, HP, on an ad hoc basis in January 1998 and regularly promoted as Director in March 2001. And in May 2003, the state government passed an order notionally absorbing the petitioner in service with effect from his initial date of joining the state in April 1990. After this order of the state, the appointment of Dr Gaur was challenged and prayed to set aside and quash the notification dated April 2003 and issue declaration to the effect that he was ineligible to be appointed on a deputation basis as the Assistant Director in the respondent department. It was pleaded that Gaur was not having educational qualification and required experience as provided in the instructions of the department. The essential qualification was masters degree in chemistry/physics/ botany/zoology/bio-chemistry/forensic science/mathematics from a recognised university or equivalent whereas Gaur had MSc in anthropology. The Single Judge of the HC had accepted the petition and observed that the appointment of Dr Gaur was bad in law. This order was challenged in appeal before the Division Bench by him averring that the petition having been filed after a long delay of over 14 years was barred on the principles of delay and that when petitioners had not even challenged the appointment/promotion of the appellant as the Director, either on an ad hoc basis or regular basis, regarding which orders were passed in January 1998 and March 2001, respectively. |
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Finish work on time, officers told
Bilaspur, April 28 Roy was presiding over a district-level meeting of officers to review the progress of development works under various departments here recently. He said any paucity of funds or other difficulties which could not be solved at the district-level here, should be immediately reported to the higher authorities for immediate solutions. The Additional Chief Secretary talked about a number of projects and special problems of the district and gave suggestions on each of these after knowing all the aspects regarding the same. He insisted that all heads of offices should hold regular monthly meetings of their entire staff to know about the progress of government programmes and also of handicaps and difficulties of the field staff in implementation. Deputy Commissioner Ritesh Chauhan said all government instructions should be implemented. Earlier, he gave details of the various special problems of the district. He sought more funds for repair of government buildings and quarters in the town and district here. Additional District Magistrate Darshan Kalia, SDMs RK Gauttam and Sandip Kadam and all officers of departments were present. |
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Freedom fighter Sada Ram Chandel dies at 92
Solan, April 28 Health and Ayurveda Minister Rajeev Bindal, Lok Sabha MP Virendra Kashyap, Kasauli MLA Rajiv Sehjal and Solan Deputy Commissioner C Paulrasu expressed their grief his demise and prayed to the Almighty to give peace to the departed soul and strength to the family to bear the loss. Sada Ram was cremated today with full state honours in Dagshai. Kasauli Tehsildar Lalit Sharma laid a wreath on the behalf of the state government and Rs 5,000 was extended by the district administration to the family. Freedom fighter Sada Ram Chandel was born on December 20, 1920, at Palti village of Gumarvin tehsil of Bilaspur district. He was one of the first soldiers to have joined the INA constituted by Netaji Subhas Chander Bose. While serving the INA he served in Singapore, Japan etc. He took an active part in the freedom struggle and was sent to Kala Pani by the British. He came to Madras in 1947, and in 1950 he joined the Himachal police from where he retired in 1977. He was honoured with a Tamar Patra for his services to the nation by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on August 15, 1972. |
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ICU becomes operational
Chamba, April 28 Detailing about the ICU, Chief Medical Officer Rakesh Verma said the six-bedded ICU created and renovated by the Health Department would be a boon for patients saddled in the mountainous terrains of Himachal Pradesh. Set up at a notional cost of about Rs 11.50 lakh, the ICU has been equipped with six oxygen concentrators, two infusion pumps, one three-channel ECG machine and nevulizer machine. Air-conditioners and bathroom facilities at the ICU are being provided at an estimated cost of about Rs 1.93 lakh. |
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Bribe case: Locker, papers of accused seized
Mandi, April 28 According to sources, XEN, HPSEB, Ramnath and Head Draughtsman Ganesh Dutt were on Thursday produced before the Special Sessions Judge in Mandi who sent them to three-day police remand. The Vigilance had caught them while taking a bribe of Rs 10,000 from the complainant, a contractor, at the project site in Jogindernagar on Wednesday. The Vigilance raided two private houses of the XEN at Dharamsala and Rehan in Nurpur and seized the locker and cash. SP, Vigilance, Mandi, Virender Sharma said the Vigilance was conducting the search and examining the documents related to the tender of the road at the project. The duo had been booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act and 120-B, IPC, he added. In charge of the Uhal stage-III project Harish Malhotra said they had sent a report of the duo to the Executive Director, HPSEB, the appointing authority, for action. |
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Incessant rain damages fruits, crops
Chamba, April 28 The reports said the small size of fruits in its early stage of growth was
falling down due to rain and hailstones. The wheat crop was also going to face damage with heavy rain continuing across the district, the reports said. The reports said the interior roads had been blocked by landslips at different points while some portions of land were reported to have sunk. Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner of Chamba Sharabh Negi has directed officials to compile the damages caused to fruits and crops due to incessant rains and hailstones in the district and submit the report to the district revenue authorities. |
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Police officers transferred
Shimla, April 28 Superintendent of Police (SP), Chamba, Madhusudan has been posted as SP, Hamirpur. He will be replaced by Kuldeep Sharma, SP, Hamirpur. The government also shifted eight Additional SPs and 18 DSPs posted in the districts. The DCs who were shifted yesterday include BN Nanta, DC, Kullu, who has been posted as Managing Director, Civil Supplies Corporation. Nanta will be replaced by ADC, Kangra, P Mandal. Sirmaur, DC, Meira Mohanty will be the DC, Solan, while Padam Singh Chauhan, MD, Civil Supplies Corporation, will take her place in Nahan. Rajeev Shankar, DC, Lahaul-Spiti, will be replaced by Secretary, HP State Electricity Board, SS Guleria. Sunil Chaudhary, DC, Kinnuar, will now be the DC, Chamba, while his successor will be Rajeev Shankar, who was the DC,
Lahaul-Spiti.
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Appointed
Bilaspur, April 28 Talking to mediapersons here today, HLP district president Daulat Ram Sharma said this appointment had been made by state president of the party Maheshwar Singh yesterday. He said Pathania would continue to work as district spokesman of party till new arrangement was made for the same. A number of HLP leaders of the state, including district general secretary Pradip Varma, Mahila Shakti Vahini president Shalina Thakur, district Yuva Sena president Raj Varma and presidents of all four constituency units of the district Uttam Chand Sharma, Daulat Singh Thakur, Captain Mast Ram and Prakash Chand Guleria have welcomed this appointment.
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JEs rue govt apathy
Nurpur, April 28 In a statement here today, Arun Pathania, president of the association, said Chief Minister PK Dhumal had announced and directed the management to enhance 2 per cent promotional quota and rectify prevailing pay scale anomalies of the cadre during the 10th general conference of the state association on February 2 last
at Una. — OC
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