New Delhi, November 24
Accepting the recommendation of the Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG) on coal, the Coal Ministry yesterday de-allocated the coal block allocated to the joint venture company of Himachal EMTA Power Corporation Limited and JSW Steel Limited, besides deducting 50 per cent of their bank guarantee (BG).

The de-allocation of the coal mine allocated jointly to Himachal EMTA and JSW Steel came after the IMG found that the progress on the Gourangdih ABC coal block in West Bengal was unsatisfactory.

The Himachal EMTA coal mine de-allocation is part of the four coal blocks de-allocated over the last two days by the Coal Ministry which were given to a total of 15 companies.

In a letter yesterday, the Coal Ministry informed Himachal EMTA and JSW Steel that it had decided to accept the recommendations of the IMG and would not only de-allocate the coal block, but also deduct 50 per cent of the BG, which amounted to Rs 6.67 crore.

“As the company has been given a number of opportunities to develop the coal block and the associated end-use project and the allocate company has failed to develop the same as per the milestones prescribed without any valid reason for the delay, it has been decided to de-allocate the coal block,” the letter said.

It added, “It is further decided to forfeit 50 per cent of bank guarantee related to the development of the coal block as per the recommendation of the IMG. The bank guarantee to the extent of Rs 6.67 crore will be deducted and deposited with the government and the company shall not be eligible for the allocation of any alternative coal block in lieu of the de-allocated coal block. The recommendation of the IMG has been considered and accepted by the government.”

The ministry also decided to de-allocate and cut in full the BG in regard to three other coal blocks given to 13 other firms, including Bhushan Steel and Strips, and Monnet Ispat. It told Monnet Ispat to deposit in full a bank guarantee of Rs 62 crore.

Bhushan Steel, along with seven other companies, including Adhunik Metaliks, had been allocated the New Patrapara coal block in Odisha. In a letter to Domco Smokeless Fuels, the ministry informed the company, “It has been decided to de-allocate the Lalgarh (North) coal block in Jharkhand, allocated to it.”

With regard to the North Dhadu coal block, allocated to four firms, including Adhunik Alloys and Power and Electrosteel Castings, the ministry said, “It has been decided to de-allocate the coal block. It is recommended that the bank guarantee of Rs 56.03 crore is also forfeited.” A total of 58 mines were issued show-cause notices.

Shimla, November 24
Chief Justice Kurian Joseph today called upon law-enforcing agencies to adopt a pro-active approach to eliminate domestic violence from society.

He was speaking at the inaugural function of the two-day sensitisation programme on “Issues related to domestic violence” for police personnel, magistrates, protection officers and members of NGOs, organised by the HP State Legal Services Authority, here today.

The Chief Justice said the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005, was enacted for effective implementation of rights provided to women in the Constitution.

“Though appropriate provisions had been made under law to provide relief to victims of domestic violence, endeavour should be on prevention of its occurrence,” he remarked.

He said mass awareness was an effective solution to check domestic violence in society. “Society, especially men, should be sensitised about the provisions under law to refrain from subjecting women to harassment,” he said.

The Chief Justice urged officials to perform their duties more effectively and win over the confidence of victims of such incidents.

Justice RB Mishra, Judge, state High Court and Executive Chairman, HP, State Legal Services Authority, said: “Women are highly respected in Indian society and our scriptures also preach us to uphold their dignity.”

He said the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005, was enacted for protecting the rights of women and to help them lead a respectable life in society.

DK Sharma, Member Secretary, HP State Legal Services Authority, welcomed the Chief Justice and the others and detailed about the aims and objectives of the programme.

Nahan, November 24
Eleven persons, including a woman, were killed and 21 others injured, six of them seriously, when the private Bolero (HP17-0449) in which they were travelling fell into a 250-foot-deep gorge at Barsog-Khala village on the Bhakhal-Timbi road in the Shillai subdivision around 11 am today.

Eight persons were killed on the spot while three succumbed to their injuries at the Civil Hospital in Paonta Sahib. Six victims, Raksha, Dhruv, Lakshmi, Beena, Nazira and Tunga Ram, were referred to the PGI in Chandigarh.

Three others, Nitu Ram, Rajinder and Baliya, were admitted to the Regional Hospital in Nahan. A few others were undergoing treatment at a hospital in Shillai.

According to Additional Superintendent of Police Sanjeev Lakhanpal, the accident occurred due to the negligence of the driver. The vehicle was overloaded, with between 30 and 35 persons travelling in it.

The police rushed the injured to the hospital in Paonta Sahib. The bodies were handed over to the kin of the deceased after post-mortem examination.

Those killed were identified as Kanwar Singh (42) and his wife Kamla Devi (32) of Bhambal village, Naresh (37), Kapil (17), Nima Devi (17), Dhanvir (35) and Hira Singh (50) of Kiari village, Kalyan (45) of Bashog village, Bhup Singh (47) of Kufu village, Dhongu Ram (47) of Pou Gunda village and Balero driver Baldev (28) of Timbi village.

Sirmaur Deputy Commissioner Padam Singh Chauhan and Paonta Sahib Subdivisional Magistrate Tashi Sandup reached the spot along with a team of doctors and paramedical staff.

The district administration extended immediate relief of Rs 15,000 each to the next of kin of those killed and Rs 3,000 each to the injured. A case was registered under Sections 279, 304-A, 337 and 338 of the Indian Penal Code for causing death by rash and negligent driving.

Shimla, November 24
The decline in tourist flow to Himachal Pradesh, mainly on account of the revival of tourism in Kashmir, is a cause of concern for the Tourism Department and hoteliers. The response to Christmas and New Year celebrations are also not very encouraging.

Rough estimates indicate that there has been a decline in visitors to the state by almost 20 per cent during the last two months. To make matters worse, cancellations have started pouring in for bookings made for New Year celebrations.

The Tourism Department plans to hold discussions with hoteliers and others associated with the industry so that effective steps can be taken to retain tourist flow to the state.

Travel writers and travel agents are also being roped in to elicit their views on this adverse trend and the corrective steps that can help tourism flourish.

The Civil Aviation Department has swung into action as well. The feedback of hoteliers and others associated with the tourism industry is being taken.

The department has convened a meeting of all District Tourism Officers in the state here on December 6 so that the issue can be deliberated upon.

“Hoteliers have indicated a decline in tourist flow by almost 20 per cent during the last two months. We want not just to improve tourism as a product, but to look into the reasons for the decline as well,” says Arun Sharma, Tourism and Civil Aviation Director.

What is adding to the worries of hoteliers is the lukewarm response to Christmas and New Year celebrations so far. Some hotel cancellations have also been reported.

“Poor infrastructure, absence of flights and imposition of green tax, especially for weekend tourists, have taken their toll on the tourism industry,” remarks Harman Kukreja, president of the Hoteliers Association.

He says the imposition of green tax has severely hit weekend tourism in Shimla. Tourists do not wish to come here due to water and parking shortage, narrow roads and traffic jams, he adds.

Sharma says there may be several reasons for the decline in tourist flow like Assembly elections, suspension of air flights and the opening up of the Kashmir valley for visitors.

“The revival of tourism in Kashmir is a positive development. Our only concern is to keep attracting visitors by offering them the best,” he asserts.

He says they are in the process of holding talks with hoteliers, whose suggestions are being sought on marketing Himachal Pradesh as an international tourist destination.

With Kingfisher, the only airline operating in Himachal Pradesh, suspending operations, air connectivity has been snapped. The state has airports at Bhuntar in Kullu, Jubbarhatti in Shimla and Gaggal in Kangra.

Shimla, November 24
The Himachal Pradesh Government has been selected for the Award of Excellence for a human resource management project by the Computer Society of India (CSI).

The project report had been submitted by Principal Secretary, Personnel, Manisha Nanda in collaboration with the National Informatics Centre.

The state has been selected for this award under the Projects Category-G2E.

The award will be given on December 2 during the annual convention of the CSI in Kolkata.

The project being implemented by the state is known as Manav Sampada providing complete human resource solutions for 2.33 lakh employees of 146 government departments and corporations posted in 27,918 offices at various places across the state.

Kangra, November 24
A large number of pilgrims from all over the state and other parts of the country, besides a few foreigners, visited the Jayanti Mata temple here today on the first day of the five-day Panch Bhishma Festival.

The temple, located on a hillock between old Kangra and Nandrul villages overlooking the Kangra valley, is a major attraction throughout the year, particularly during the festival.

During the first day of the festival, pilgrims started climbing up the hill from the wee hours. Shouting ‘Jai mata di’, reciting Vedic hymns and singing bhajans, they went in long queues to pay obeisance.

Pilgrims from West Bengal also came in large numbers. Women worshipped tulsi in their homes.

The state government does not seem to be interested in the development of the area as a pilgrimage destination and the exploitation of the tourism potential.

The government has even failed to get metalled a 300-metre road stretch and improve parking lot at the site. The broken stairs to the temple speak a lot about government apathy.

The temple could be connected to the old Kangra Fort with a ropeway, which might prove as a major attraction for tourists visiting the Kangra valley, said Rarekshit Raj, a local resident.

The festival is associated with the Mahabharata and the wedding of Tulsi and Saligram. Bhishma is said to have laid on a bed of arrows on these five days.

Dharamsala, November 24
Another Tibetan reportedly set himself on fire in protest against Chinese rule in the Tsekhog region of eastern Tibet yesterday.

According to sources here, Tamding Dorjee (29) set himself ablaze near the entrance of the local Chinese administrative office of Dokarmo town in the Tsekhog region of Malho at around 6:30 pm.

According to exile sources, Tamding raised slogans for the long life of the Dalai Lama with folded hands while flames engulfed him. He died at the site of his protest. Following the self-immolation, thousands of local Tibetans gathered to offer prayers and attend the funeral which was carried out later in the night.

Latest reports indicate that local Chinese authorities have cut off Internet and phone lines in an attempt to contain the spread of the news.

With Tamding’s self-immolation, 81 Tibetans have set themselves on fire in Tibet since 2009, demanding freedom. The alarming escalation in the protests has witnessed 19 Tibetans burn themselves in November alone with seven self-immolations in the last seven days. The protests continue even as Chinese authorities announced heightened restrictions and the implementation of a five-point notification giving stern orders to punish self-immolators, their families, their villages and even those who had offered condolences and prayers to the bereaved family members and relatives, the Tibetan exile sources here alleged.

Solan, November 24
The police has registered a case of trespass and criminal intimidation against Naveen Kumar and his accomplices for trying to enter the girls’ hostel of Pt Gauri Shankar Memorial Polytechnic at Devnagar in Arki tehsil on Thursday evening by pelting stones and intimidating the inmates.

Arki Station House Officer Hari Bhagat said a case under Sections 451 and 506, IPC, was registered against Naveen and his accomplices. He said the boys were on the run and the police was investigating the case.

Preliminary investigations revealed that Naveen, a local youth, had been teasing a girl studying at the institute for quite some time. She had complained to her parents, which angered him. On Thursday evening, Naveen and his friends pelted stones at the girls’ hostel and tried to enter the hostel forcibly.

Praveen Kumar, working at the institute, informed the police. The youths fled before the arrival of the police.