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Misuse of red lights atop vehicles to be checked
Swamy lambasts Team Anna for sparing Sonia
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Medicos to observe pen-down strike today over stipend
Power board adds insult to injury
Memorial to Beant Singh’s Assassin
Says he is not in race for CM’s post
Industry losing crores due to power cuts
Villagers block highway over motorcyclist’s death
Groundwater situation grim in Kala Amb industrial area
Yatra a poll gimmick: BJP
BJP to hold dharnas
Manch blocks highway over demand for college
Father held on rape charge
205 kg of ‘nag chhatri’ seized
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Misuse of red lights atop vehicles to be checked
Shimla, June 11 Chief Secretary S Roy has directed the Home Department to check all such vehicles, which are making unauthorised use of red lights without being entitled to do so. He has also asked the Home Department to furnish a weekly report to him about the challans and other action being taken in this regard so that the nuisance being created by those posing to be VIPs and their close ones can be curbed. It is a common sight in the hill state to see swanky vehicles bearing outside registration numbers flashing red lights even without being authorised to do so. Often these vehicles flout traffic norms as they go about zipping along with blatant use of hooters. “It is found that in many cases these vehicles from outside the state use red lights without entitlement and the occupants often behave in a high-handed manner, as they consider the Himachal police to be mild-mannered,” admitted a senior police officer. The problem of unauthorised use of beacon lights also exists within the state with politicians, bureaucrats and police officers using it beyond entitlement as a status symbol. As per the notification issued by the Transport Department on December 31, 2008, under Rule 108 of the Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, there are about 105 dignitaries, including the Governor, the Chief Minister, the Chief Justice, the Speaker, High Court judges, ministers, chief parliamentary secretaries, MPs, the Lokayukta, the Advocate-General, MLAs, the Chief Secretary, additional chief secretaries, the State Election Commissioner, the Information Commissioner and the DGP who can use the red light with a flasher atop their vehicles. The dignitaries have been allowed the use of red light on their vehicles keeping in view their security and for the regulation of traffic. “It is often seen that most DCs, SPs, ADCs, SDMs and DSPs use the red and blue lights atop their vehicles along with a flasher outside their area of jurisdiction,” admitted a senior police officer. He added that they were not entitled to use a flasher and certainly not outside their jurisdiction. The Police Department is itself one of the biggest violators in this regard as very often DSPs can be seen flashing red lights atop their vehicles. The issue of use of red light by certain officials after retirement and some politicians and their relatives who are no longer entitled to use it has also come to the notice of the authorities. In some cases the dignitaries, including bureaucrats, have been using red beacon atop more than one vehicle, including private ones, whereas they are entitled to use it only on one vehicle. |
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Swamy lambasts Team Anna for sparing Sonia
Shimla, June 11 “By pointing a finger at Manmohan Singh and overlooking the UPA chairperson (with the status of a Cabinet Minister), who is mainly responsible for the rampant corruption and most of the ills plaguing the country, Team Anna is only playing into her hands. She is only looking for an opportunity to ease Manmohan Singh, who is personally clean, out of office to pave the way for her son Rahul Gandhi’s entry to the throne,” said Swamy, who is in the city in connection with a seminar. He said the Congress president had been calling the shots in the UPA government and she could not escape responsibility for all the mess the coutnry was going through due to poor governance and graft. Once Manmohan Singh quits, Rahul Gandhi would step in and the political novice would lead the nation to a disaster. Team Anna was only facilitating in achieving her designs. He maintained that it was at Sonia Gandhi’s beheast that proposals like granting reservation to Muslims and the Communal and Targeted Violence Bill were being mooted and laws to curb religious conversion challenged in the court of law. The Congress was doing all this to sow the seeds of separatism in the minds of minority communities. He said he would not allow this to happen and he was in Shimla to oppose the petition filed by Christians in the High Court to challenge the Freedom of Religion Act passed during the Virbhadra Singh regime. Swamy asserted that he was not against Muslims and Christians. However, he was opposed to granting reservation to the communities which ruled over the coutnry and let loose a reign of oppression on the Hindus. The Indian rupee was sliding as black money of politicians was being converted into dollars thorough hawala channels, mostly in Dubai, where the ISI ruled the roost and was in the knowhow of all transactions. Pakistan was using this information to blackmail the politicians involved and this was the main reason that the government was not taking any strong action against it and soft-pedalling on even most important cases like that of Afzal Guru. |
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Committee to promote fruit-based industries
Shimla, June 11 Announcing this while inaugurating a two-day national seminar on “Hill Horticulture - Challenges and Opportunities”, organised by the Department of Horticulture in association with NABARD here today, Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal said value addition was the key to better returns. Once processing facilities were available, growers would not have to sell fruit to government agencies under the Market Intervention Scheme. Poor quality fruit would be processed to produce various value-added products. The state was producing 38 species of fruits like apple, mango, peach, cherry and stone fruits. The setting up of fruit-based industries would save growers from the transportation of fruit to distant markets. Efforts were afoot to import high-yielding varieties of fruit plants to boost productivity to match global standards. He said a Rs 100-crore modern marketing yard was coming up at Parala, near Theog, and a similar marketing yard was to be constructed at Karluhi in Una for the benefit of the growers of lower areas. These markets would help attract buyers from all over the country to the state and the growers would not have to go outside to market their produce. The Chief Minister said the state government had formulated a plan to connect all fruit-producing villages, which had so far not been connected with motorable roads or where road connectivity was not feasible, with ropeways for the smooth transportation of the produce. He said the anti-hail gun experiment had been successful and would be replicated in other hail-prone fruit-growing areas in a phased manner. He called for developing fruit varieties which could help meet the challenge of climate change and global warming. Horticulture Minister Narender Bragta said the government had submitted a Rs 256-crore project to the Government of India for installation of anti-hail guns in 40 identified developmental blocks to save fruit crops. A weather-based crop insurance scheme had been implemented in 10 developmental blocks for mango and 17 developmental blocks for apple. |
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Medicos to observe pen-down strike today over stipend
Kangra, June 11 They said they informed Principal Dr Anil Chauhan in writing today about the strike, which would affect the working of the hospital, and also faxed the letter to the Chief Minister, the Health Minister, the Secretary (Health), Director, (Medical Education), Additional Director and the Medical Superintendent of the DRPGMC. There were 25 postgraduate students studying in 19 departments and 50 interns were working in the college. The students said postgraduate students were getting a monthly stipend of Rs 15,000 in the first year, Rs 16,000 in the second year and Rs 17,000 in the third year and the state government made an enhancement at the end of the last financial year and increased the stipend in the first year to Rs 25000, in the second year to Rs 27,000 and Rs 30,000 in the third year, but without making any budgetary provision for their stipend for the 2012- 2013. The Principal said it was decided today that in order to avoid disruption of the hospital services in public interest postgraduate students and interns would be provided stipend of two months from some different source till the budget would be sanctioned for their stipend. He said the Additional Director informed him that the matter was already taken up with the government and was pending with the Finance Department to grant an approval for the budget for the stipend. |
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Power board adds insult to injury
Dharamsala, June 11 To add to his woes and displaying callousness towards the tragic incident, the department has given him a paltry compensation of just Rs 5,000. Talking to The Tribune, Rohit said he was playing in the fields near his village on March 18, 2012. Suddenly his hands touched an open wire lying in the bushes. He received a shock and fell unconscious. Rohit’s father Narinder alleged that they took him to the government hospital in Nurpur. Doctors operated upon Rohit and severed both his arms. “My child was a brilliant student and used to top in his school examinations. However, now his life has been spoilt as he has lost both his arms and has been rendered physically challenged,” he said. Narinder alleged that while they were trying to cope with the tragedy that hit their child’s life, a few officials from the department came and paid them Rs 5,000 and got some papers signed from them. “Later, when we approached senior officials of the department, they scolded us for not taking care of our children. The attitude of the officials was shocking,” he said. Narinder alleged that they approached local MLA Kuldeep Pathania, but he also failed to help them. Superintendent Engineer of the Electricity Department Des Raj Narial said an inquiry had been constituted under the Executive Engineer, Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board, Chamba, regarding the incident. Meanwhile, philanthropists have urged the Chief Minister that the child should be adequately compensated. |
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Memorial to Beant Singh’s Assassin
Dharamsala, June 11 He said the BJP was adopting a different stance in Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab over the issue of terrorism. The BJP was a partner in the ruling alliance in Punjab. However, it was doing nothing to oppose the memorial being brought for a person who assassinated former Chief Minister of Punjab Beant Singh. He alleged that the BJP could not absolve itself of the responsibility of not opposing the memorial by just issuing a statement. It should walk out of the coalition government in Punjab in case it was serious over the issue, Bali alleged. Bali’s rath yatra reached Kangra district last evening. In his home district, Bali received an impressive response. Last evening, Bali’s yatra took a halt near the Chamunda Devi temple. He started his yatra from Chamunda this morning and passed through Nagrota Bagwan, his constituency, and Dharamsala. In Dharamsala, Bali held a corner meeting and addressed the youth form his specially designed vehicle. Bali claimed that his yatra had started having an impact as BJP leaders had started opposing it. Earlier, while addressing a press conference at Dharamsala this morning, Bali claimed that his yatra had received am impressive response from people in Kullu and Mandi districts. Asked about reports that even Congressmen had shown him black flags in Mandi district, Bali said they were just a few disgruntled Congressmen who had a personal grudge against him. On Virbhadra Singh’s statement that the rath yatra was his personal affair and the Congress had nothing to do with it, Bali said he had a letter issued by the Union Minister in which he had given blessings for his yatra. Bali said the first phase of his yatra would end tomorrow in Chamba district. The second phase of the yatra would begin by the end of this month and would start from Sirmaur district and end in the Indora area of Kangra district. |
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Says he is not in race for CM’s post
Palampur, June 11 Bali said his aim was to oust the corrupt BJP government from power and that was why he was moving out in the state to educate people against the “anti-people” polices of the BJP government, which had landed the state under a Rs 29,000 crore debt. Bali, who reached Palampur today in the first phase of his rath yatra, was given a warm welcome by local Congress leaders. Addressing mediapersons at the old bus stand, he said the BJP government had proved to be the most corrupt. In the 2007 Assembly elections, it had made tall promises with the people of the state, but failed to fulfil these. He said the Congress charge sheet which contained charges against the Chief Minister, ministers and MLAs of the BJP, along with evidence of corrupt practices, would be released soon. He clarified that the legal cell of the AICC was scrutinising the charge sheet and the PCC would make it public.
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Industry losing crores due to power cuts
Solan, June 11 According to an estimate, the board is facing a loss of about Rs 1.5 crore per day while losses worth crores were suffered by the industry due to the power shortage. Being the peak season of manufacturing, industries were forced to use diesel-run generators to continue the manufacturing activity. This was adding to the manufacturing cost as the power generated by diesel was costlier. With only large and medium sector units being able to invest in generators, a section of small scale manufacturers were forced to suspend their operations due to power cuts. The 12-13 hour power cut imposed on the industries in various industrial areas like Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh, Kala Amb, Una, Amb and Paonta Sahib had adversely hit the production activity. Pharmaceutical units were forced to operate on generators as they had to meet their export orders which could not be delayed for such reasons. Besides, power trips were causing losses in production and snags in the machinery as the product batches were disturbed while shifting to generators, confided an investor. Manufacturers of appliances like ACs, fans, torches and electrical irons also faced tough times, forcing them to switch over to generators. Even in large units comprising textile units generators were being used to meet the targets. This had increased the cost of production as every unit of power generated by generators was costlier by as much as Rs 2.50 to Rs 3, confided RK Sharma, a senior HR executive from Birla Textiles. Even cement units were being forced to use generators. Prem Sharma, president, Nalagarh Industries Association, who was running steel units, said the power load was barely sufficient to run one unit while all the others had to be shut due to lack of power, adding that power trips were being witnessed even in the lone unit he was operating. With the power scenario showing no signs of recovery even for the next few days the industries were slated to suffer more losses in the coming days. |
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Villagers block highway over motorcyclist’s death
Kangra, June 11 Subdivisional Police Officer Dinesh Sharma said last evening Anil Kumar (34), a resident of Goaju, who was travelling on a motorcycle without a registration number, was hit by a private bus (HP 68-6161) after he was signalled to stop by the traffic police. He died on the spot. He said soon after the news about Anil Kumar’s death spread, residents of Goaju reached the spot and were joined by residents of Tharu village. They held a protest against the police and blocked the Pathankot-Mandi national highway for more than two hours, leaving hundreds of vehicles stranded on both sides of the highway. He said the protesters alleged that the traffic police was checking vehicles on the highway at Tharu village when Anil Kumar was signalled to stop by a police official. He immediately applied brakes and was hit by a private bus, leaving him dead on the spot. The protesters demanded the suspension of Nariender Kumar, Head Constable, alleging that he was responsible for Anil Kumar’s death. The police reached the spot and persuaded the people to open the highway. However, the protesters opened the highway only after Narinder Kumar was placed under suspension. Meanwhile, the police has registered a case in this connection. |
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Groundwater situation grim in Kala Amb industrial area
Solan, June 11 This was evident from the fact that only a few industrial units had come forward to register themselves with the groundwater authority despite the notification of the Act. Figures provided by the Groundwater Board paint a grim picture of the situation in the Paonta and Kala Amb valleys. While the Paonta valley falls under the safe category and the Kala Amb valley has been categorised as an over-exploited category. The report indicates that the Kala Amb and Una valleys need to adopt artificial groundwater recharging by constructing suitable structures. This necessitates the need to adopt more caution and the need to register all existing users and monitor their water withdrawals by installing meters. |
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Yatra a poll gimmick: BJP
Shimla, June 11 Party spokesperson Ganesh Dutt said the Congress had termed it as a private programme of Bali and the yatra even faced black flag protest en-route yesterday. While the yatra had failed to highlight the issue of unemployment, it had brought to the fore an ongoing war in the Congress. He said the Dhumal government had provided over 33,000 jobs in the past four years whereas the Congress, during its last term in the office, could only provide jobs to 6,336 persons.
Dutt added that Bali, being a minister, should make efforts to solve the unemployment issue rather than staging a political drama to hoodwink people. |
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BJP to hold dharnas
Shimla, June 11 Sate BJP chief Satpal Singh Satti said here today that protests would be held at the district, tehsil and block level in which party workers would court arrest. He also took the state Congress leadership to task by stating that rather than seeking cheap publicity by raising non-issues they should seek special assistance for the state.
— TNS |
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Manch blocks highway over demand for college
Mandi, June 11 Accusing the Chief Minister PK Dhumal of misleading the public on their demand, the activists staged a protest rally at Rewalsar. They blocked the Mandi-Sarkaghat highway for one hour in protest and threatened to gherao MLAs and ministers if the government fail fulfill their demand. Co-convener of the Kisan Sabha Bhupender Singh said they have no option other than resorting to the rasto roko agitation from today. |
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Father held on rape charge
Mandi/Kullu, June 11 The arrest was made today after the girl, accompanied by her uncle, lodged a complaint in this regard at the Bhuntar police station. The girl alleged that she was raped by her father late last night. DSP, Headqauters, Pankaj Sharma, who visited the spot, said Var Chand had been arrested on a charge of rape. He committed the crime in the wee hours today and was under the influence of liquor, he added. Family members told the police that Var Chand’s wife had deserted him. The victim and her elder sister were sleeping when the crime was committed. The police said the girl was in a state of shock and was being medically examined at the regional hospital,
Kullu. |
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205 kg of ‘nag chhatri’ seized
Chamba, June 11 The report said the police team intercepted a pick-up vehicle near Dhargala. The vehicle was without registration number and on searching the same it recovered 205 kg of “nag chhatri”, a costly forest produce.
— OC
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