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BJP set to revamp all committees
Cong protests against govt policies
Monsoon weak, but enough for kharif crop
CM woos employees
Cong holds protests to oust BJP regime
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Soldiers of world peace on foot in town
Labour under MNREGA not being paid on time
Waste drums being disposed of unscientifically
Palampur docs stage protest
Congress flays BJP for ‘neglecting’ Bilaspur
Appointments in state Cong unit cancelled
Power theft detected, house owner fined
30 apply for Cong ticket in Bilaspur dist
‘BJP threatening CPM activists’
‘Give funds to Bhakra Dam oustees’
Janmashtami celebrated with fervour
Protest against bid to close school
SFI against ban on student body poll
SPs transferred
Child drowned in dam
Woman commits suicide, husband, father-in-law booked
Two pilgrims killed in landslide
Man hangs himself after quarrel
Man gets 3-month jail for rash driving
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BJP set to revamp all committees
Shimla, August 9 The overhaul of the three committees, the main bodies to shortlist and recommend candidates to the Central screening committee, has been done in consultation with Chief Minister PK Dhumal and Rajya Sabha MP Shanta Kumar. It has reliably been learnt that while inducting new faces, an effort has been made to strike a balance between Dhumal and
Shanta loyalists. “We will announce the revamped committees by the middle of August so that the party is fully geared up for the poll,” said state BJP president Satpal Singh Satti. Party sources said the party had almost finalised candidates from about 35 seats where there was no dispute. This included a majority of sitting legislators. The party was contemplating new faces in a few cases to nullify the anti-incumbency factor on account of non-performance or the sitting MLA not being popular. Some time back, there were reports that the party might consider fielding new faces from about 20 constituencies to enhance its victory chances. The BJP had got into election mode and senior leaders at the Centre had started visiting the state. Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and BJP national vice-president Rajnath Singh would address a rally at Hamirpur on August 11. Party president Nitin Gadkari had visited Kangra to address a national convention of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha some
time back. The party has been encouraged by the SAD-BJP regime getting a second term in Punjab. With this objective in mind, the party high command has placated Shanta, who is now talking of the party retaining power. The BJP wants to take advantage of factionalism in the Congress and the defiant posturing of former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh so that it helps
them indirectly. POLL READY * Three panels are the main bodies entrusted with shortlisting and recommending candidates *
Overhaul carried out in consultation with PK Dhumal and Shanta Kumar *
Revamped committees to be announced by the middle of August, says Satti *
About 35 candidates almost finalised, most of them being sitting legislators |
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Cong protests against govt policies
Dharamsala, August 9
Kewal Singh Pathania, Congress leader from Shahpur, while talking to mediapersons said the rally was a part of its statewide campaign, “Change BJP Government, Save Himachal”. Chander Kumar, former MP and senior vice-president of the HPCC, said the people of the state were “fed up” with the policies of the present government. “The land of the state has been put on sale for outsiders by the present government. The state government has failed to generate anything on its own as most of the development projects going on in the state are being funded by the UPA Government,” he said. Ajay Mahajan, general secretary of the HPCC, said mining mafia was ruling the roost in the Nurpur area. Many people from outside the state were “exploiting” the mines of the state on “political patronage” from those in power. Sujjan Singh Pathania, Congress MLA from Jawali, also addressed the dharna. However, the dharna failed to muster much support as there were just over 100 people in the rally despite the fact that it was a district-level function.
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Monsoon weak, but enough for kharif crop
Shimla, August 9 The overall deficiency has declined from 73 per cent at the end of June to 38 per cent today, but the main foodgrain-producing districts of Kangra and Mandi have been receiving almost normal rain. The average precipitation has been 315.6 mm till date compared to the normal of 510 mm. The maximum deficiency has been in Lahaul-Spiti (87 per cent), followed by Chamba (67 per cent) and Kinnaur (56 per cent), which do not contribute much to agricultural production. Maize and paddy crops have recovered fully from the impact of the dry spell in the first half of the monsoon. If rain continues till the first week of September, the state may have a bumper kharif crop. The target for the current season is 8.87 lakh tonne. Last season, the state achieved a record production of 8.63 lakh tonne despite delayed sowing, says Director of Agriculture JC Rana. Kangra has received 855.2 mm precipitation compared to the normal precipitation of 954 mm. The 10 per cent deficiency will not have any impact on crops. Mandi has recorded 584 mm precipitation compared to the normal precipitation of 705 mm. Kullu district is having normal rain, with just 2 per cent deficiency. In meteorological terms, the monsoon is considered normal if there is a variation of up to 19 per cent from normal, says local meteorological office in charge Manmohan Singh. Even in rain-deficient districts like Una (44 per cent), Solan (40 per cent), Bilaspur (33 per cent), Shimla (29 per cent) and Hamirpur (25 per cent), the situation is not drought-like and the precipitation is enough to meet crop requirements. The production target is 7.35 lakh tonne for maize and 1.31 lakh tonne for paddy, which are still achievable. Maize has been sown on 2.96 lakh hectare and paddy on 76,000 hectare.
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CM woos employees
Shimla, August 9 He stated this at the “Mukhya Mantri Samman Samaroh” organised by the mahapanchayat of the Himachal Pradesh Non-Gazetted Officers Federation here today. He promised efforts to remove stagnation and committees to resolve demands of workers. He said cutting and tailoring teachers would be preferred in recruitment as panchayat secretary and aanganwari worker. He said one more opportunity would be given to class IV employees promoted to clerk to clear the typing test. He said a committee would be constituted for a policy to protect computer teachers’ interests. He added that the salary of primary assistant teachers had been enhanced from Rs 5,000 to Rs 6,500. He said efforts would be made to disburse it with that of regular teachers. Federation president Surender Thakur thanked Dhumal. MLA Suresh Bhardwaj, HIMUDA vice-chairman Ganesh Dutt and HP Building and Construction Workers Welfare chairman Joginder Verma were present.
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Cong holds protests to oust BJP regime
Shimla, August 9 Party leaders participated in protests held at the district and block levels. The protest at Shimla was led by party general secretary Kuldeep Rathore. Shimla (urban) Congress president Pradeep Singh, Shimla (rural) Congress president Kehar Singh Khachi, MLA Sohan Lal and former MLAs Harbhajan Singh, Rohit Thakur and Adarsh Sood participated in it. Addressing the gathering, Rathore said people were disillusioned with the rampant corruption. He said the land mafia had spread its tentacles as the government had devised novel ways to allow outsiders to purchase land in the state. The main objective of opening a large number of private universities without requirement was a ploy to grab land, he further said. Governance has hit the nadir, he added. Law and order had virtually collapsed, he said. Almost all sections of society were unhappy over indifferent governance and were keen to end it, he added.
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Soldiers of world peace on foot in town
Shimla, August 9 Having made it to the Guinness and Limca record books, the 20-member group arrived here today. On June 15, 1995, Mahendra Pratap, managing director, Yuva Jagriti Jan Jagran Anterved Sewa Sansthan, Lucknow, began the yatra. The objective was creating world peace, harmony and universal brotherhood and spreading concern against dowry, female foeticide, corruption and terrorism. “During this period, all 20 members, including three women, have continued the mission,” said Jitin Prasad, who joined the group at the age of 11 years. He said the cause had taken them across Pakistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Myanmar. “Our biggest achievement was when three Naxalites, who had taken three of our members hostage in Jharkhand, surrendered in 2009,” he said. A team member, Ashok Kumar, had died of jaundice in Pilibhit. “That did not deter us,” Pratap said. They had organised seminars and talks at schools, colleges, universities and panchayats. They stayed at a gurdwara here and later, continued their journey.
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Labour under MNREGA not being paid on time
Dharamsala, August 9 He further said most works being carried out under the MNREGA were of Rs 1.5 lakh or less. As per provisions of the Act, 60 per cent of the amount has to be spent on hiring labour. The government releases money in instalments. The first instalment was generally spent on procuring material, due to which payment to labourers generally got delayed, he adds. Sarpanches of Dadamb, Kher Shahpur, Rait and Latiana also said they were unable to pay labourers hired under the MNREGA on time. Local Congress leader Kewal Singh Pathania alleged that certain panchayats not considered supporters of the ruling party were being targeted. He further said many panchayats had approached him with complaints that payment to labour under the MNREGA is, at times, delayed by months. He said he would write to Union Minister for Panchayats and Rural Development Jairam Ramesh regarding violations of the Act in the district. Enquiries from officials concerned revealed that labour had to be paid every fortnight. Since the primary objective was to provide employment in rural areas, the delay was a serious violation. When contacted, Kangra Deputy Commissioner KR Bharti said the matter had been brought to his notice for the first time. Directions would be issued to officials concerned so that the provisions were complied with, he said. When contacted, Shahpur BDO Pardeep Kumar denied bias against certain panchayats. He admitted the delay in payment to labour, adding that it was due to procedures under the MNREGA. As per provisions, only 60 per cent of the amount could be released initially and the next instalment was released only after the receipt of utilisation certificate from the panchayat for the amount sanctioned earlier. He claimed that this was causing a delay in payment to labour in all panchayats, he said. He added that about Rs 2 crore has been distributed among 54 panchayats of the Shahpur block in the last three months and Rs 1 crore would be released shortly, he said.
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Waste drums being disposed of unscientifically
Solan, August 9 According to the Hazardous Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules, 1989, each industrial unit generating such waste is supposed to ensure proper handling and disposal without any adverse effect, which may result from such waste, and the unit shall be responsible for proper collection, reception, treatment, storage and disposal of such waste through an authorised operator. But since disposing such waste through authorised agencies is a costly exercise, it was observed that industrial units often dispose some drums to authorised dealers, while a larger share of such drums are sold to unauthorised dealers, who simply transport these drums after washing them in various rivers of BBN, thus polluting the water bodies with hazardous toxins. Though the industries are supposed to maintain proper inventory of such waste and its disposal, in the absence of adequate staff, this has failed to be monitored by the State Pollution Control Board. A visit to the BBN by this reporter revealed that such unauthorised dealers operated with impunity with no fear of law. This was evident from the fact that an unregistered utility vehicle carrying such drums not only whizzed past the Baddi barrier without any checking, but no policeman ‘bothered’ to check the unregistered vehicle. An unregistered utility vehicle spotted by this reporter was not only fully loaded with such drums, but it travelled from Nalagarh to Baddi and crossed the barrier without any checking. The State Pollution Control Board, in a recent fish mortality incident, had noted in its report that the dumping of industrial waste along the riverside was a common practice and despite the matter being taken up with the agencies concerned, no proper solution could be worked out. Superintending Engineer of the board Chetan Joshi said they had earlier also written to the other departments, including the police and the Excise and Taxation Department, to check such unauthorised operations and would again take up the matter with them so that such vehicles were checked at barriers. He added that shortage of adequate staff vis-ŕ-vis industrial units acted as a handicap for effective monitoring of hazardous waste management. In the absence of any full-proof mechanism to check these nefarious operators, they continued to play havoc with the toxic hazardous waste in the BBN, he said. |
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Palampur docs stage protest
Palampur, August 9 The strike affected indoor and outdoor services causing inconvenience to hundreds of patients visiting the hospital. According to information, the agitating doctors had lodged a strong protest against the recent notification of the Indian Medicine Central Council Regulation, 2012, which had laid down the minimum standard requirements of ayurvedic colleges and hospitals all over the country. Doctors had asked the government to quash this notification immediately as it was not in the “interest” of the nation and threatened to intensify agitation if the government failed to initiate timely action. Talking to mediapersons, Dr Neeraj Shukla, president, Post Graduate Doctors Association, said according to the recent rules notified by the CCIM, the teaching staff in the colleges had been reduced to 30 from 40 against the intake of 60 students, which was insufficient and would adversely affect teaching in colleges and deteriorate the standard and quality of medical education. He said the CCIM had also enhanced the age of superannuation to 70 years for teachers, adding that if this decision was also implemented, young doctors would never get a chance to become professor or reader. He said in another decision, it was notified that in future not even a single teacher would be appointed or promoted as professor or reader irrespective of his or her eligibility and vacant posts would also not be filled up, adding that this would be a great injustice to the ayurvedic community. The striking doctors also protested against the reduction of paramedical staff in hospital and colleges.
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Congress flays BJP for ‘neglecting’ Bilaspur
Bilaspur, August 9 The meeting was presided over by Santosh Dhiman, president of the committee. A resolution passed unanimously by the meeting said no new project had been started by the government and even projects like the Baghchhal bridge and synthetic track at the Luhnu Sports Complex here had been left incomplete. The resolution said the claims of Bilaspur for a medical and an engineering college or other higher technical college was also ignored. The project of developing a Central-State Adventurous Sports Complex here at the Luhnu ground for adventurous sports was also abandoned, it added. State Congress general secretary Ram Lal Thakur, MLA Rajesh Dharmani, former MLAs Dr Babu Ram Gauttam, Dr Biru Ram Kishore and Kashmir Singh Thakur, zila parishad members Hoshiar Singh Thakur and Basant Ram Sandhu and prominent party leaders Tejaswi Sharma, Pravin Sharma, Jitender Chandel, Bambar Thakur, Rajender Thakur, Dila Ram Dhiman, Gopal Sharma and Kamlender Kashyap were also present at the meeting.
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Appointments in state Cong unit cancelled
Shimla, August 9 The decision was taken in view of the fact that appointments were being made even after the strategy committee of the party, which met here on July 27, had started the process for selecting party candidates for the Assembly poll. It was decided at the meeting that aspirants for party ticket would submit appplications before August 10 to the respective block unit which would to be further forwarded to the district unit and finally the state election committee by August 24. However, in the meantime appointments were made to block and district Congress committees, leading to objecitons from rival groups. In charge of the Media Department Mukesh Agnohotri confirmed that all such appointments had been scrapped.
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Power theft detected, house owner fined
Bilaspur, August 9 According to a report, acting on a complaint, the officials raided the house regarding unusual consumption of power. The report added that some tenant had earlier indulged in this practice, which had caused financial loss to the owner of the house. The officials urged people, who give their houses or shops on rent, to be ensure that tenants did not indulge in such a practice and should pay bills regularly. They said earlier also a similar theft was detected at Kotla village and a heavy fine was imposed on the owner of the house, adding that the department would continue such campaigns in future also. |
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30 apply for Cong ticket in Bilaspur dist
Bilaspur, August 9 District spokesperson of the party Pravin Sharma said here today that there were 15 applicants from Bilaspur Sadar, while there were only three applicants from the Ghumarwin constituency. He said for Bilaspur Sadar, former MLAs Dr Babu Ram Gauttam and Tilak Raj Sharma, former state secretary Bambar Thakur, state Congress Committee member Jitender Chandel, nagar parishad vice-president and its former president Kamlender Kashyap, district Mahila Congress president and former zila parishad chairperson Anjana Dhiman, District Bar Association president Tejaswi Sharma, city Congress president Raj Kumar Tadu, zila parishad member Basant Ram Sandhu, former block president Pravin Chandel and prominent leaders Bhupender Singh Thakur, Nirmala Rajput, Vijender Singh Chandel and Rajender Thakur, former zila parishad member, had applied for the party ticket. Three candidates from the Ghumarwin constituency are sitting MLA Rajesh Dharmani, former Parliamentary Secretary Kashmir Singh Thakur and district spokesperson of the party Pravin Sharma. Those who have applied for the Jhandutta reserved constituency include former MLA Dr Biru Ram Kishore, state Youth Congress general secretary and former state NSUI president Vivek Kumar, District Congress president Santosh Dhiman, former Talai Nagar Parishad president Prithvi Chand Dhiman and Gyan Singh Gmbhir.
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‘BJP threatening CPM activists’
Mandi, August 9 This was stated here on Tuesday by CPM general secretary Bhupender Singh. |
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‘Give funds to Bhakra Dam oustees’
Bilaspur, August 9 Talking to mediapersons here yesterday, Hoshiar Singh said all the 10 gram panchayats which he represented as Zila Parishad member were of Bhakra Dam oustees. He said the governments had failed to solve their problems for the past 55 years and now this money should be used to return them their debt which the state government had been owing them for uprooting them from their homes and fields. He also urged the state BJP government to provide land for 48 village lavatories in the Naina Devi constituency for which the Zila Parishad had already provided funds worth Rs 96 lakh.
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Janmashtami celebrated with fervour
Nurpur, August 9 Devotees from far-off places paid obeisance at the temple, where the only idol of Lord Krishna with Meera Bai had been established in the Nurpur Historical Fort by King Jagat Singh who had brought it from Chittorgarh. |
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Protest against bid to close school
Kangra, August 9 They moved a resolution against any such move. They apprised the Education Department authorities and the Deputy Commissioner of the demand of some agencies to construct a satsang bhavan on school land in the vicinity of the Bajjreshwari temple. Government Primary Teachers Federation’s Kangra district president GS Bedi said some vested interests planned to get the school closed and get a satsang bhavan constructed there instead. He said 50 parents, belonging to the below poverty line category, gathered at the school today to protest against the attempt. They were joined by 66 students and teachers, headed by federation’s block president Kamal Jeet. School management committee president Sushma Devi, who led the protest, said the school, spread over more than 1 kanal, would not be allowed to be closed. Block Education Officer Seth Ram said the school had an adequate number of students and teachers Parents Tilak, Hari Chand, Radha Devi, Anita and Suman Lata demanded the intervention of the Chief Minister to protect the interests of the poor and down-trodden.
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SFI against ban on student body poll
Kangra, August 9 SFI unit secretary Abheshiek Chandel alleged that college and university management were feeling threat of exposure by the students regarding their ‘corrupt’ practices and hence found the best tool to ban students’ political activities. He said on one hand, the apex court had directed that student polls could be held in private institutions, while on the other hand, the state government was creating an atmosphere to check democratic and political activities of students in educational institutions. The SFI leader said the students would not accept this ‘dictatorial’ attitude of the Vice-Chancellor of Himachal Pradesh University and the state government. Meanwhile, Surender Kundra, former SCA president of Government Degree College, Dharamsala, demanded that Vice-Chancellor ADN Bajpayee should seek the opinion from student bodies too before taking a final decision on banning poll and political activities in educational institutions. However, some senior citizens and former principals of colleges have expressed satisfaction over the proposal of banning student elections as it was in the larger interest of the student community under the present competitive educational scenario. They appreciated the effort of the Vice-Chancellor in this direction.
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Shimla, August 9 Vimal Gupta, SP (Security) has been posted as SP (Intelligence) in the CID wing of the police. RS Negi, Commandant in the Ist India Reserve Battalion (IRB) at Junga has been posted as SP (Narcotics) in place of BM Sharma, with the two swapping places. Anand Dhiman, SP, Leave Reserve, has been posted as Welfare Officer, Police Headquarters. SP, Welfare, Rajinder Bhatia, has been posted as SP (Security) in the CID. Ramesh Chajjta, Commandant of the 6th Battalion at Kolar, has been posted as SP, Leave Reserve. Kushal Sharma, SP, has been posted as SP, Police Training College (PTC), Daroh. Sanjeev Gandhi, Commandant, PTC, Daroh, has been posted as Commandant, 2nd Battalion at Sukoh, in place of Rani Bindu, who will swap places with Gandhi. — TNS
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Dalhousie, August 9 The deceased child had been identified as Avinash who belonged to Kandi village of Salooni tehsil. Avinash was returning home along with some other children and on the way they stopped to take a bath alongside the reservoir. But he got drowned in the dam waters. — OC
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Woman commits suicide, husband, father-in-law booked
Nurpur, August 9 Ramna’s death sparked off resentment among residents and her relatives. They thronged the hospital mortuary and alleged foul play in Ramna’s death. However, Bishan Dass, her father, had earlier given a statement to the Jawali police that he did not suspect any foul play in his daughter’s death. According to the DSP, Jawali, the father of the deceased had altered his statement on Wednesday and complained to the police that his daughter had taken the drastic step to end her life after being tortured by her in-laws. The DSP said following this complaint the police had registered a case of abetment to commit suicide under Section 306, IPC, against Ram Lal, husband, and Ratan Chand, father-in-law of the deceased, and started investigations in the case.
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Two pilgrims killed in landslide
Chamba, August 9 Kuldip Sharma, SP, Chamba, said the deceased had been identified as Sansar Chand and Sanjay Kumar, both residents of Laddi McLeodganj village in Kangra district. The injured, Praveen Kumar and Rashpal, had been rushed to a nearby civil hospital, the SP said.The incident took place near Patti in the Bharmour area when the pilgrims were on their way to Manimahesh. They had parked their vehicle along the road and were asleep when the landslide occurred, the SP said. |
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Man hangs himself after quarrel
Bilaspur, August 9 Ths morning he came out of room and collected all the clothes and burnt these in the courtyard. At this his wife went to fetch the panchayat president. Shyam rushed to his room and hanged himself with a rope after bolting the door. His body was brought down by villagers but he was already dead. A case has been registered.
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Man gets 3-month jail for rash driving
Bilaspur, August 9 Assistant Public Prosecutor Champa Sureel had told the court that the driver had fled after causing an accident with another vehicle of Jagjit Kumar on February 25, 2004, at Kandraur, near here, resulting injuries to occupants of that vehicle due to his negligent and rash driving. |
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A spirited group has been on a world peace mission, undertaking a padyatra for the last 17 years. It will end five years from now after covering over 3 lakh km across 10 nations.
Having made it to the Guinness and Limca record books, the 20-member group arrived here today. On June 15, 1995, Mahendra
Pratap, managing director, Yuva Jagriti Jan Jagran Anterved Sewa Sansthan,
Lucknow, began the yatra.
The Students Federation of India (SFI) yesterday demanded that the proposal regarding the ban on holding polls in educational institutions in the state should not be implemented as it was against the rights of the students.
