|
|
|
|
|
Village starts sinking, residents shifted
Promotion Bill a ploy to divert attention: Dhumal
We will defeat Virbhadra again, says Dhumal |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
CM announces solar power project
BJP violating Forest Act, says Cong
Balnatah may join HLP
HP proposes to sell power to West Bengal
Silt-hit farmers resent poor compensation
Panel opposes quota to SCs, STs in promotions
Deadline over, gyms not in sight
Project to renovate Paryavaran Bhawan launched
Woman’s death: Residents protest police inaction
Man gets four-year jail for bid to murder
Man, woman friend arrested on wife’s plea
Driver killed in road accident
HLP, Gaurav Manch to contest unitedly
Athletics coach’s kin seeks justice from women’s commission
BJP responsible for HPSEBL’s losses: CPM
|
|||||||||||||
|
Village starts sinking, residents shifted
Khudian (Dharamsala), September 5 When a Tribune team visited the area today, the residents said all houses in the village were either partially damaged or destroyed. They said the hill on which they had their houses had started sliding and their houses developed cracks, due to which they had to shift to save their lives. Since their primary vocation was animal husbandry, they were living in the tents with their domestic animals. Inside the tents the life was miserable, they said. Ramzan Din, one of the residents affected, said they had to leave most of their belongings in their houses. They could be rehabilitated only if they got land to construct new houses, he said. Women complained of lack of power supply to the tents. Sahkeena Begum, whose children were young, said it was difficult to survive in the forest without power. The studies of children were also being affected, she rued. Mosquitoes and other insects had been making life miserable for children during the monsoon. The district administration had promised them temporary power connections, but nothing had been done so far. Enquiries from the Power Department revealed that the board had demanded Rs 1.25 lakh from the district administration for giving temporary power connections to the displaced. Jwalamukhi block Congress president Nardev Kanwar, who visited them today, promised them a generator till the Electricity Department gave them temporary connections. He said the district administration should provide them power connections immediately as it was difficult to survive in a forest without electricity, especially during the monsoon. If the Congress was voted to power, the displaced would be allotted government land and financial compensation for constructing new houses, he said. He gave a financial grant of Rs 4,100 from his pocket to a poor family. When contacted, the Kangra Deputy Commissioner said the district administration had provided them the tents free and Rs 5,000 per family as ex-gratia grant. The damage to their houses was assessed earlier and the displaced were provided financial grants ranging from Rs 30,000 to Rs 60,000, he further said. He admitted that the people would have to be provided alternative land for houses as the entire village was sinking and was not fit for rehabilitation. The process of identifying land had been started, he added. LIVING HELL
|
|
Promotion Bill a ploy to divert attention: Dhumal
Shimla, September 5 Interacting with mediapersons here today, he said the Congress had not consulted any political party before giving its nod to the Bill. This included the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party, which supported it, he said. The Bill was being introduced in haste with the sole objective of diverting attention from the Coalgate scam, he said. The UPA had adopted the same approach on the Lokpal issue and this Bill would meet the same fate, he added. Referring to Assembly elections in the state, he said the BJP would make the raw deal handed out by the UPA to the state its main plank. It would also bank on its achievements on the development front despite the lack of adequate support from the Centre, he further said. The BJP would question the UPA and the Congress on the termination of the industrial package granted by the NDA regime, which was up to March 2013, three years before schedule, he said. The Centre had filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court against the state government in the BBMB arrears case and the arrears were being reduced after the verdict, he said. The UPA would have to answer on the non-expansion of the rail network in the state, the reversal of the decision to shift the Dogra Regiment to Himachal Pradesh and the delay in laying the foundation stone of the hydro-engineering college in Bilaspur, he added. |
|
We will defeat Virbhadra again, says Dhumal
Bilaspur, September 5 After performing puja at the temple, he said there was no doubt that the infighting in the Congress would benefit the BJP in the elections. Answering questions, the Chief Minister was confident that the BJP government had carried out so much progress and development in the state that it would win the elections. This had been proved by the response during his public meetings, he
claimed. Dhumal said the Centre was not fair to the state and had been blocking several financial and other rights. The state government had done something for every section of society, he added. He said the Centre was not releasing funds for repairing national highways, but the state government was keeping the roads usable by carrying out essential repairs from its own resources. He said the state government had sanctioned Rs 1 crore for repairing roads in Bilaspur district, of which Rs 50 lakh was being spent on the
Chandigarh-Manali National Highway 21. He said Rs 54 lakh would be released for solving problem of uninsulated underground electricity wires at Naina
Devi. He added that work on the Naina Devi-Anandpur Sahib ropeway project would be started soon. Local MLA-cum-party spokesman Randhir Sharma, district BJP president Ranjit Singh, Deputy Commissioner Ritesh
Chauhan, Superintendent of Police Santosh Patial and temple Trust officer Sukhdev Singh were present. |
|
|
CM announces solar power project
Bilaspur, September 5 Chief Minister PK Dhumal said this while addressing a public meeting at Toba, 110 km from here, last evening. He inaugurated the Rs 7.65-crore lift drinking water augmentation scheme for Naina Devi at Kot village. Dhumal also laid the foundation stone of the Rs 2.88-crore multi-storey car parking at Naina Devi, which would have a capacity of 75 vehicles along with a yatri niwas. He announced that a Motor Vehicles Inspector would be sent to Toba once a month and an emergency ambulance would be stationed at Naina Devi. He said the government had taken precautions to ensure that all sections benefited from its policies. Local MLA Randhir Sharma also spoke. |
|
|
BJP violating Forest Act, says Cong
Chamba, September 5 Congress party district spokesperson Dharam Malhotra said here yesterday that he had requested Union Minister of State for Environment and Forests (Independent Charge) Jyanti Natarajan recently to take action against the state government for selling the interests of the state by deciding to take a U-turn in the policy of the state regarding the transfer of land. In his letter to the Union Minister, Malhotra had also stated that out of the 65 hydroelectric projects under construction in Chamba district, there were many projects whose forest clearances were still awaited, but construction had been started after the government took the decision. “Now, the Ministry of Environment and Forests after examining the matter with regard to the change in the policy of transferring land in the name of companies executing the hydroelectric projects has informed that the project proponent could not start work on forest land or even non-forest land until permission under the Forest (Conservation) Act for the forest land involved in the proposal has been obtained,” an August 22 reply received by Malhotra from the Union Minister of State for Environment and Forests divulged. “Accordingly, the Union Ministry is separately requesting the state to ensure that no work is started until permission under the Forest (Conservation) Act is obtained and to report if there are any such violations,” as stated in the reply. Malhotra stated that in case the government failed to report the violations, the matter would be taken up with the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests. |
|
Balnatah may join HLP
Shimla, September 5 Balnatah’s proximity to HLP leaders is common knowledge, but his presence in Nahan during the core group meeting of the party, which is trying to forge a third front, has led to fresh speculation that he may join the party sooner or later. Though the BJP MLA from Rohru denied that he attended the meeting, speculation was rife about plans to contest on HLP ticket from Kasumpti as his constituency had been reserved for the Scheduled Caste. “It is a coincidence that I was at the Nahan rest house the day HLP leaders were holding the meeting. There is no question of attending it, though I met them as they are friends and former party colleagues,” Balnatah said. He admitted that he was exploring the possibility of contesting from Kasumpti. The core group of the HLP held its meeting in Nahan yesterday. It was attended by prominent leaders, including Maheshwar Singh, Mahender Sofat, Shyama Sharma, Dulo Ram and about half a dozen former MLAs. They discussed seat-sharing and election strategy of the Himachal Lok Morcha with the CPM, the CPI and other parties. With his constituency reserved, Balnatah did not have many options. Unlike Irrigation Minister Ravinder Singh Ravi and former minister Rajeev Bindal, Balnatah was unlikely to be adjusted elsewhere. Added to this was the fact that Balnatah was probably the strongest candidate the BJP could field from Kasumpti as per party surveys, though he was unlikely to be the final choice. Balnatah had been issued a notice by the BJP for writing a letter, seeking a change in the state leadership. He had been very vociferous in expressing his views, irrespective of the consequences. Since then, he had been interacting with the electorate in Kasumpti and visiting various areas of the constituency. It was a foregone conclusion that he would contest the elections here on HLP ticket. Though the BJP had not acted in furtherance of the notice, to which Balnatah had replied, it would not be surprising if he was expelled. His relationship with the party in the coming days would be interesting to watch. |
|
HP proposes to sell power to West Bengal
Shimla, September 5 It got a reprieve when Haryana agreed to purchase 400 MW at Rs 3.90 per unit, but it did not extend the agreement beyond August 31. As a result, the government was forced to dispose of power in the open market through the Energy Exchange of India at a lower rate of Rs 2.50 per unit. Measures taken to enforce grid discipline in the wake of recent failures of the northern grid had also affected power rates as distribution companies were avoiding overdraw. The Energy Department held negotiations with West Bengal for the sale of 330 MW available from the 1,500-MW Nathpa Jhakri project. Additional Chief Secretary for Power Deepak Sanan said an agreement to sell power to West Bengal at Rs 3.65 per unit could be finalised shortly. It was 25 paise less than what Haryana was paying, but would still be a good deal given the slump in the power market. The proposal would be put up before the Cabinet for approval. The rest, about 600 MW, would have to be sold through the exchange. From November to March, power was mostly supplied to the state electricity board to meet the winter shortfall. Unlike the past, it would be an attractive proposition as the tariff of Rs 2.90 per unit for government power fixed by the state electricity regulatory commission for the current financial year was much higher than market rates. The revenue from the sale of power was set to decline and the Energy Department had put the revised estimate at Rs 850 crore. The total revenue from the power sector, including upfront premium and other income heads, would be around Rs 1,000 crore. This was despite a substantial increase in the power available for sale from 630 MW two years back to 900 MW this year. Last year, it sold a bulk of the free power available as royalty from various projects at Rs 4.30 per unit to Uttar Pradesh, but the state was yet to pay about
Rs 190 crore. |
|
|
Governor honours 18 teachers
Shimla, September 5 The awards were presented in the presence of Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal
and Education Minister ID Dhiman. Addressing the gathering, the Governor said the challenge of providing education to rural girls had not diminished. She said there was a need to bring about a positive change in the behaviour of teachers and parents who must encourage girls to pursue education. Education was the birthright of every child. The Governor said for overall development, children should be strong and disciplined and teachers could play a vital role in ensuring intellectual and physical development
of a child. The Chief Minister said teachers were nation-builders as they laid a solid foundation during the primary stage of students’ lives. He said education was a priority of the government and it had devoted 19 per cent of its Budget on this sector. He said a number of schemes had been launched to inculcate competitive spirit amongst students. The Education Minister said the state had been laying stress on quality education and teachers had to play a pivotal role to achieve the same. Those honoured with state award included Chandreshwar Sharma, Principal, Government Senior Secondary School (GSSS), Kuthar (Solan); Gopal Chand, Headmaster, GHS, Majhranoo (Mandi); Kashmir Singh, lecturer, GSSS; Dhamandari (Una); Anil Kumar, lecturer, GSSS, Randhara (Mandi); Inder Singh Dhatwala, TGT, GMS, Gujrehara (Bilaspur); Ram Paul, TGT, GMS, Dharampur (Una); Chand, TGT, GHS, Suranganit (Chamba); Anil Kumar DPE, GSSS, Basal (Una); Rattan Chand, Shastri, GSSS, Majheen (Kangra); Jagdish Ram, PET, GSSS, Saloh (Una); Ram Swaroop Shashtri, GHS (Girls), Jwalamukhi (Kangra); Sham Lal, CHT, GPS, Dandroo (Hamirpur); Sandesh Sharma, CHT, GPS, Galian (Bilaspur); Rajesh Kumar, HT, GPS, Thakran (Una); Nirjala Devi, HT, GPS, Nagrota Surian, (Kangra); and Parmila Devi, CHT, GPS, Kothi (Bilaspur). |
|
|
Teachers’ Day celebrated at Tanda medical college
Kangra, September 5 Principal Anil Chauhan honoured medical teachers on the occasion on behalf of the RDA and the SCA. Students and resident doctors expressed their gratitude towards teachers, whom they described as genius guiding forces in helping them shape their future. The students presented cultural and western dance performances and paid tributes to the teachers. President, RDA, Rahul Gupta said the DRPGMC, Tanda, was heading to become the best medical college of the northern India. |
|
|
Silt-hit farmers resent poor compensation
Mandi, September 5 Silt ruins both rabi and kharif crops on over 1,100 bighas in 13 panchayats along the river every year. Farmers lodged a protest with the Mandi Deputy Commissioner today. They demanded a clear-cut policy for crop and land compensation. Their plight is made miserable by the mining mafias along the Suketi, who extract sand at night. Om Parkash of Do Lakh village in Bhangroti got just Rs 300 for 13 bighas. Prabhu got Rs 500 for 7 bighas and Prem Singh Rs 500 for 11 bighas. On the other hand, Raghu Ram of Chatra village got Rs 2,400 for bighas. Dhani Ram got Rs 1,300 for 2.5 bighas while Puran got nothing for 3.6 bighas. Tara Devi got Rs 2,700 for 2.5 bighas, Brij Lal Rs 2,400 for 4 bighas and Chudu Ram Rs 2,750 for 3.5 bighas. “We could not grow anything as silt made the land uncultivable. An amount Rs 2,700 cannot feed the entire family for a year,” they resented. Farmers in Chatra, Dadour, Khilra, Kummi, Chandyal and Behena panchayats on the right bank of the Suketi and Chulah, Gutgarh, Badsu, Nagchala, Bhangrotu, Ner and Sayera on the left bank face the silt menace every year. The Balh Kisan Sabha president demanded a rational policy of compensation and a joint inspection by the BBMB and the district administration
with the involvement of sabha members. BBMB Chief Engineer RB Jain passed the buck to the Deputy Commissioner, saying they paid compensation after funds were approved by the BBMB Chairman. “The BBMB and the Revenue Department carry out a joint inspection of both rabi and kharif crops and the rate is fixed by the Deputy Commissioner,” he added. Mandi Additional District Magistrate Pankaj Rai said farmers were compensated as per the report submitted by the joint inspection team and varied from year to year. |
|
Panel opposes quota to SCs, STs in promotions
Shimla, September 5 General secretary of the committee Rameshwar Gripta said it was shocking that some politicians with parochial outlook were trying to arouse the sentiments of people by bringing a bill regarding the legality of which the Attorney General had expressed serious reservations. He said selfish politicians had not learnt any lesson from the turmoil of 1990 that led to clashes among people on the issue and they were ready to sacrifice communal harmony and peace for consolidating their vote bank. The committee would soon hold a meeting and come out with an action plan for a nationwide stir to oppose the same. It had already decided to support the agitation started by employees in Uttarakhand and some other states, he said. Gripta added that state employees had been resisting such decisions in the past also as it would destroy the entire administrative structure and cause hostility among different sections of employees. |
|
Deadline over, gyms not in sight
Solan, September 5 Chief Minister PK Dhumal had announced gymnasiums for 600 of the 3,244 panchayats in the first phase. Fifty of the 211 panchayats in Solan district were to get the facility by August 15, but none had been allocated equipment yet. Sixteen of these panchayats were in Nalagarh block, 12 in Kasauli, eight each in Dharampur and Solan and six in Kandaghat. The panchayats had earmarked space for the purpose. The provision was aimed at tapping rural talent at an early age and providing basic facilities to the rural youth, who could hone their skills and take up sports as a career. The scheme was being implemented through the Panchayati Raj Department, which had placed orders to purchase equipment through a Baddi-based firm. District Panchayat Officer MS Negi confirmed that the scheme was suppose to become functional from August 15, but had been delayed as the equipment did not conform to the weight specified and was sent back. He added that they received a communication today that the new equipment was ready and they would inspect it before lifting it. He said it would be installed after inspection on the premises of the company. The equipment had put a question mark over the industrial unit supplying the equipment. It was yet to be seen whether the new equipment conformed to the standards specified. |
|
Project to renovate Paryavaran Bhawan launched
Shimla, September 5 He congratulated the Department of Environment for securing the
most suitable location for setting up its headquarters in the heart of the town from where it would able to carry its activities conveniently. He added that the government was sensitive towards the protection of environment and had been making efforts to motivate people and make them a part of
the campaign. Local MLA Suresh Bhardwaj, vice-chairman of HIMUDA Ganesh Datt, Mayor Sanjay Chauhan and Deputy Mayor Tikender Panwar, and Chief Secretary S Roy were among those present. |
|
Woman’s death: Residents protest police inaction
Nurpur, September 5 They kept the body in front of the police station and staged a dharna against the failure of the police to arrest the six members of her husband Sujan Singh’s family at Papphan village. She was wedded four years back. Deceased’s father Achhar Singh alleged that his daughter was murdered and the police was trying to convert the case into one of suicide. He alleged that the police was shielding the accused by not registering a case of murder. He said Sujan had been demanding a car and torturing her. The agitators threatened to intensify the stir and refused to cremate the body until a case of murder case was registered. They claimed that injury marks on Kamlesh’s back indicated foul play. Jawali DSP Sanjay Sharma rushed to the spot in the evening. He said two of the accused whose names figured in the FIR were arrested and police parties were sent to arrest the other accused. He added that the police was taking action. |
|
Man gets four-year jail for bid to murder
Bilaspur, September 5 Sameer was sentenced to four-year imprisonment and an additional fine of Rs 7,000 under Section 307, IPC. He was also sentenced for two years and an additional fine of Rs 4,000 under Section 324, IPC, and jail of one month and an additional fine of Rs 500 under Section 341, IPC. However, all the sentences would run concurrently. Earlier, Public Prosecutor RK Barwal told the court that on October 25, 2010, at the taxi bus stand at Bilaspur town Sameer attacked Jaswant Singh and beat him up with some metal knuckle blows, leaving him bleeding profusely and unconscious on the road. Jaswant was rushed by the police to the Regional Hospital here, but when after two days of treatment his condition deteriorated, he was rushed to the CMC, Ludhiana, where he had to be operated upon. He remained confined there for 11 days before being relieved for home recovery. |
|
Man, woman friend arrested on wife’s plea
Bilaspur, September 5 Superintendent of Police Santosh Patial said here on Tuesday that the Women and Children Investigation Wing of the police was investigating the case and, fearing arrest, both Arun Chauhan and Sonu Devi had approached the court of the District and Sessions Judge here for anticipatory bail. But the court did not accept their plea. Later, the police arrested the accused persons
under the relevant sections of the law. |
|
Driver killed in road accident
Chamba, September 5 The report said the deceased had been identified as Parkash Chand and the injured as Ramesh. Ramesh had been admitted to the Chamba hospital. Both the occupants belonged to the local area. The police had handed over the body of the deceased to his relatives after postmortem and registered a case.
|
|
|
HLP, Gaurav Manch to contest unitedly
Palampur, September 5 Addressing a news conference here yesterday, Dulo Ram said the manch and the HLP would field candidates in all the 68 Assembly constituencies and it would emerge as the third front in the state. He said on September 8, the manch would start its election campaign in Kangra district and he along with Maheshwar would address joint public meetings in the Palampur constituency. Dulo Ram said people of the state were fed up with the Congress and the BJP, which had been facing corruption charges. People wanted to reject both parties in the elections and were in need of an alternative. While criticising senior BJP leader Shanta Kumar, he said people of the state had high hopes on Shanta as he fought against rampant corruption in the ruling BJP government, but later he joined hands with Chief Minister PK
Dhumal.
|
|
|
Athletics coach’s kin seeks justice from women’s commission
Bilaspur, September 5 In a representation addressed to the secretary of the state commission on Monday, Nand Lal said as Kamlesh was not alive to prove her case against the four accused persons whom she had named in her earlier petition to the commission, her relatives be given an opportunity to help the commission to come to the right conclusion in this matter. Nand Lal lamented that the commission chairperson and another member had visited Bilaspur town a couple of days ago and got statements of trainees etc of Government Sports Hostel, one of the stations where Kamlesh was subjected to mental and physical torture, but did not meet anyone from the petitioner’s side. Nand Lal hoped that Kamlesh would get justice at least from the state women’s rights commission.
|
|
BJP responsible for HPSEBL’s losses: CPM
Hamirpur, September 5 Secretariat member of the CPM Kashmir Singh said: “The board was earning profit two years ago but due to the wrong policies of the BJP government the HPSEBL has incurred losses of about Rs 900 crore.” He said: “The state government is getting power from the Bhakra Beas Management Board at 30 paisa per unit and 12 per cent free power from the Sutlej Jal Vidyut Nigam but is selling the same at Rs 4.50 per unit to the HP State Electricity Board Limited.” “The HP State Electricity Board Limited is selling the same to consumers at charges ranging from 70 paisa to Rs 3 per unit, incurring huge loss from its sale, he added. “The state had also added Rs 90 crore spent on distributing CFLs to consumers to the board’s account, adding to its losses” Dr Kashmir added. The CPM has also decided to launch a statewide campaign to expose the “wrong policies of the state government, which allegedly is an attempt to sell the HP State Electricity Board Limited to private companies”.
|
|
|
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | E-mail | |
