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8 pilgrims from Kanpur killed as bus falls into gorge
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Move to change hydropower policy raises eyebrows
Tourists from Delhi and Gurgaon protest at the Kothi barrier in Manali. Photo by writer
Land records just a click away
Green India Mission to develop forests
One-day mountain bicycling event held
The Hercules MTB Shimla 2012 rally flagged off from the Ridge in Shimla on Sunday. Photo: Amit Kanwar
Beware of anti-social elements: SP
Pensioners seek benefits on Punjab pattern
Mandial likely to join HLP
Cong, BJP are anti-youth: CPM
Floods cause damage to potable water schemes
Conveyance allowance of disabled not revised
8 gamblers booked
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8 pilgrims from Kanpur killed as bus falls into gorge
Dharamsala, July 15 As per initial investigation, the driver failed to control the bus on a sharp turn on the Kangra-Ranital road and hit a hillside. When he turned the bus to the other side, it rolled down into a gorge after breaking the pavement. SP, Kangra, Diljeet Thakur said the pilgrims had come for Amarnath yatra from Kanpur. After the yatra, they had come from Jammu to the Chamunda temple in Kangra district yesterday. The driver had not taken any rest and was driving continuously. When the accident took place, the pilgrim tour was going to the Jawalamukhi temple. While eight pilgrims died on the spot, others were shifted to the Tanda Medical College. The doctors said the condition of all but one of injured pilgrims was out of danger. Deputy Commissioner KR Bharti said all the injured were being provided free medicines and food. He said transport facility was also being provided to shift the patients to other places in case their kin made such a request. The district administration appreciated the help extended by local people in the rescue of the injured from the mangled remains of the bus. In fact, people were agitated at the slow rate of rescue by the local administration, especially the health authorities. Certain agitated locals broke windowpanes of the vehicle of the Kangra CMO. Those who were killed in the accident have been identified as Rakesh Yadav, Kupma Devi, Sonu Verma, Ramesh Tiwari, Rajinder Singh (driver of the bus) and Raj Kumar Soni. Two of the deceased were yet to be identified. The DC said there was no provision under the rules to provide financial assistance to accident victims who were not residents of Himachal. The police has registered a case.
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Move to change hydropower policy raises eyebrows
Shimla, July 15 The move is likely to raise a controversy as the projects proposed to be allotted to independent power producers (IPPs) not only include ‘self-identified projects’ but also the projects for which applications were invited on a first-come-first-served basis. According to the proposal, only self-identified projects for which there was a single application would be allotted. However, the move to allot projects on a first-come-first-served basis raises doubts as the same policy has already landed some politicians and bureaucrats in jail in the 2G Spectrum case at the Centre. Further, the amendment proposed in the hydropower policy to allow transfer of ownership of a project six months after its commissioning instead of the existing two years is likely to draw flak as it will make it easier for the original allottees to ‘sell off’ projects. Initially, the period was three years and later it was reduced to two years. The issue was debated at the recent meeting of the Infrastructure Development Board (IDB) and the final decision will be taken only by the state Cabinet. The amendment in the hydropower policy is being carried out on the plea that projects were not making headway as the IPPs were facing financial crunch. By allowing transfer of ownership, they will be able to attract investment from other private parties. However, the government move only lend credence to the allegations that projects allotted through the MoU route to influential parties did not have the financial and technical capability to execute the projects. In case the IPPs are not in a position to execute the projects, the government should cancel the allotment and invite fresh bids, particularly in case of the projects assigned through the MoU route, as it will enable the fund-starved government to earn some revenue in the shape of upfront premium and get additional free power on the basis of competitive bidding. However, insiders reveal that most of the projects have already been sold off by the original allottees and the government decision will only help secure their interest. Controversial move
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Kothi barrier hits tourism in Lahaul-Spiti
Kothi (Manali), July 15 Though the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), which maintained the 473-km-long Manali-Leh Highway, opened the 13,050-ft-high Rohtang Pass on April 29, the Rani stretch and the road beyond was not made motorable for traffic in May, said hoteliers in Lahaul-Spiti. “Tourists in private vehicles were discouraged to visit Lahaul at the Kothi barrier. The occupancy remained below 50 per cent for a week even during the peak season this year,” said Tashi Deleg, president of the Lahaul Hoteliers’ Association. “Domestic tourists have fizzled out from the first week of July. Only a few trekking groups of foreigners land here daily these days,” said hoteliers. Even Spiti, famed for its gompas and monasteries, reported a leanest season this year,” the hoteliers added. Tourists said they faced problems in getting passes during holidays as they did not find anybody at the DTO office in Manali. As a result, they had to cancel their trip beyond the Kothi barrier. Not only this, they have been facing problems with cab operators and cops daily at the Kothi barrier. “We have to go to the SDM-DTO office from this barrier to get passes, but nobody is there in the office after 5 pm or before 10 am,” the hoteliers said. “Nobody can put a barrier other than toll tax barrier on the national highway unless the High Court sanctions it,” said Pankaj, Rohit and Satyavan, all tourists from Gurgaon, who had cancelled their journey to Lahaul. However, Balbir Thakur, DTO-SDM, Manali, said they had deputed a special person even during holidays from 10 am to 5 pm to issue passes to tourists, adding so far they had not received any complaints. Amitabh Awasthi, DC, Kullu, justified the barrier saying that the police had put up this barrier last year after the High Court directed the district administration to control traffic to the Rohtang Pass and check traffic jams. “We cannot help it till the Rani Nullah stretch between Rohtang and Marhi is stabilised,” he added. He said they were controlling the traffic at Marhi and Rohtang between 8 am and 12 pm and closed the Pass for traffic every Tuesday allowing the BRO to improve the condition of the Rani Nullah stretch. |
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Land records just a click away
Shimla, July 15 The State Land Revenue Act has been amended so that mutations can be entered and attested at the tehsil level, making it possible for registered transactions related to land to be immediately entered in the revenue records. As a result, the people no longer need to visit the patwaris to get the changes entered in the record to facilitate updating in real time. The process of immediate attestation of mutations has also begun in all the districts. The government has notified various services to be provided by patwari, tehsildars and naib tehsildars in a time-bound manner under the State Public Service Guarantee Act. For instance, copies of revenue record, reports for issuance of various certificates and damage caused due to natural calamity and entry of mutation by the patwari are to be provided on the same day. The revenue officials have to issue certificates and attest affidavits and power of attorneys on the same day. The rate of stamp duty on mortgage deeds, family settlement deeds and exchange of land in the villages has been reduced to 0.05 per cent with a minimum of Rs 100 and maximum of Rs 1,000. This initiative will go a long way in increasing revenue. Under the Himachal Pradesh e-Stamping Rules, a new system for collecting stamp duty has been introduced on pilot basis in the districts of Solan and Shimla. The system is working smoothly and will soon be extended to other parts of the state. This will do away with the need of frequent visits to treasury and registration offices. A voluntary partition campaign has also been launched to make people aware of the benefits of seeking early partition to avoid future litigations. The procedure for securing permission under Section 118 of the Land Reforms and Tenancy Act has been laid down to clearly define eligibility for permission to purchase land or built up structures with the permission of the government. |
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Green India Mission to develop forests
Solan, July 15 According to the project, the state Forest Department is preparing a bridge plan involving the active participation of panchayats after according legal status to its joint forest management committees as committees of the gram sabha in the Panchayati Raj Act. The mission will be implemented in four forests circles, Dharamsala, Hamirpur, Bilaspur and Mandi, and the nitty-gritty of the bridge plan are being prepared in these areas, said Sanjeeva Pandey, nodal officer of the mission. This plan will include the activities to be undertaken to enhance forest cover in these four circles. Apart from this, five/10 perspective plans will be prepared in each area in consultation with stakeholders. Based on priorities identified in the situation, entry point activities will be taken up for confidence building of the community so as to rope in its active participation. Various indicators have been laid down to identify land which is proposed to be included under the mission. These indicators include various forest cover classes like dense, open and scrub, variation in forest types, rainfall and temperature and will also take into account other factors like ratio of SC/ST to the total population in the scheduled areas. As per the geographical distribution of forests, Himachal has 39.61 per cent area under tree cover, 8.71 per cent under dense forests, 17.24 per cent under moderate forests and 13.66 per cent is the open forests. The mission will help the community in various ways like improving fuel efficiency and promoting alternative energy sources, enhancing community livelihood, increasing corridors of connectivity, preserving community conserved areas and sacred groves and understanding, identifying and protecting area and catchment of hydrological importance. |
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One-day mountain bicycling event held
Shimla, July 15 About 37 riders, including many foreigners, were flagged off from the Ridge by Lt Gen Rajesh Kochhar, Chief of Staff, ARTRAC (Army Training Command) in all. The riders peddled through the Lakkar Bazar, Bharari onwards to Kamyana from where the competitive leg started. Flagged off from Kamyana in groups of six participants each, they descended at Kiarkoti on a gravel road for 10 km before climbing 7 km to join the Shimla-Naldera road at Sadhora. General Kochhar said it was essential that people undertook adventure activities for a fulfilling life and lauded the efforts of HASTPA in bringing the sport of mountain cycling to the state. The riders then rode back to the Ridge where the winners were given prizes by Municipal Commissioner, Shimla, MP Sood. He said the Municipal Corporation was also making efforts to promote cycling and had prepared a proposal wherein a number of cycle stands would be constructed in different parts of Shimla to encourage people to use cycles as a mode of transport. In the Men Solo category, Ajit Singh (Chandigarh), Luis Canto Moniz (Portugal) and Johan Bentinck (Holland) bagged the first three places, respectively. In the Student Solo category, Saket Malhotra (Chandigarh), Prem Singh (Jalandhar) and Devansh Chitkara won the three top positions, while Monica Singh (Chandigarh) and Devlieena Singh were the winners in the Women Solo category. The winners in each category were given a trophy and a cash prize of Rs 3,000, Rs 2,000 and Rs 1,000 for 1st, 2nd and 3rd positions, respectively. The winners of the Men and Women Solo categories were also offered free entry to the weekend edition of the MTB Himalaya scheduled to be flagged off on September 28, 2012. |
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Beware of anti-social elements: SP
Bilaspur, July 15 SP Santosh Patial said here yesterday that some clever anti-social elements had been declaring on the mobile phone or computer that “you have won a huge cash prize” and, thus, they would entice you into their trap by this “bait”. All people should ignore all such offers of prizes and lotteries etc. He said in all such cases, these prizes had been found to be fake. He said the police should be in formed by persons when they received any such phone calls, messages or e-mails from strangers. Patial said all should keep their ATM number secret and not give this number or ATM card to anybody, nor should they take help of anyone to take out money from the ATM. He said the police had found that most of these “ATM stealers” were unsocial elements from Haryana and those who stole unguarded vehiclesfrom Punjab. He told people not to park their vehicles on roadsides nor leave documents inside these. |
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Pensioners seek benefits on Punjab pattern
Chamba, July 15 In a press statement here today, state spokesperson of the association PC Oberoy sought medical allowance on a par with Punjab from October 2003 and sufficient funds to all the heads of departments to clear the backlog of medical bills. He demanded one-month basic pension after every two years for visiting religious shrines; the implementation of the orders of the Central government of February 2010 by which the pension had been increased; and 5, 10, 15 and 25 per cent increase in the pensions at attaining the age of 65, 70, 75 and 80 years, respectively.
— OC |
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Mandial likely to join HLP
Hamirpur, July 15 Mandial, who had represented the Naduan Assembly constituency twice in the Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections, was not keeping good relations with the state BJP leaders for quite some time. Mandial is organising a programme at the Nadaun Assembly constituency in which state HLP convener Maheshwar Singh has also been invited. A close associate of the first Chief Minister of the state, Dr YS Pramar, Mandial had remained quite active in this region and also worked as the Chief Parliamentary Secretary in his government. Later, Mandial had parted ways with the Congress and joined BJP and was also elected MLA from Nadaun in 1998 on BJP ticket. Talking to The Tribune, Mandial said, “I am organising a programme at the Nadaun constituency on Tuesday in which HLP convener Maheshwar Singh is also invited”. “I will consult my supporters and then take decision on my future course of action,” he added. |
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Cong, BJP are anti-youth: CPM
Mandi, July 15 According to the CPM, unemployment has increased many times in the state as no vacant
government jobs have been filled. The youth are frustrated as even the trained and educated lot is not getting employment. They have raised rebellions on the road, claimed Kushal Bhardwaj, CPM state secretariat member, in a statement here today. He alleged that both the Congress and the BJP represented the two sides of the same coin as parties in power have made a mockery of the unemployed youth of the state. Corruption is at its peak while
the state’s youth is disillusioned and frustrated, he charged. The governments are filling up jobs on an ad hoc basis. Even teachers are para teachers, PTA, on contract and the list goes on, the CPM alleged. The CPM claimed that the youth of the state had woken up seeing through the double face of the Congress and the BJP. These parties were pursuing same liberalisation policies that had harmed Europe and the US, the Left claimed. |
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Floods cause damage to potable water schemes
Dalhousie, July 15 The reports said water pipes of the Hathidhar potable water scheme had been damaged by the flood waters. Consequently, residents of about a dozen villages of the Khadet and Binna panchayats of the area did not get water in their taps. They had to bring drinking water from far-away traditional water sources. Officials of the Irrigation and Public Health Department had restored the flood-affected Jandrog, Motla, Samot and Rajei drinking water supply schemes. The Godhar-Binna and Chiun-Rathmora potable water supply schemes were also repaired and put into operation, the reports informed. The tentative loss was estimated at more than Rs 50 lakh. |
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Conveyance allowance of disabled not revised
Shimla, July 15 In fact, the conveyance allowance has not been revised since 1986 and they are still getting a pittance of Rs 75 per month. In the neighbouring states of Punjab and
Haryana, the allowance has been revised twice and their counterparts in these
states are getting Rs 1,000 per month. The disabled employees maintain that the government is indifferent to their woes as they do not
have any union to pursue their cause. The employees have urged the government to do justice to them by giving them the conveyance allowance on a par with Punjab as the state was committed to follow the pay structure of the neighbouring state. |
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8 gamblers booked
Chamba, July 15 The police had recovered Rs 9,500, along with packs of playing-cards from the gamblers, and registered cases against them at the Kihar police station under the Gambling Act.
— OC
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Shimla, July 15
