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State to move apex court for more BBMB arrears
Rain throws normal life out of gear in Kangra
Heavy rain hits local trade with China
Idols, gold worth Rs
1.50 cr stolen from Rohru temple
Central team assesses rain losses in Kinnaur, Sirmaur
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Mankotia loyalists join Jogta group
Samiti gets assurance on Dadour bypass
Civil Judges designated as Addl CJMs
Illegal structures razed in Mandi
AAP opposes demolition drive
Vendor consumes poison over eviction, survives
People object to inclusion of villages in BBN Master Plan
Forest Corp will fill vacant posts: Pathania
No order to disconnect street lights: Board
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State to move apex court for more BBMB arrears
Shimla, July 23 The decision was taken by the Cabinet which was presided over by Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh here today. The state, which had earlier claimed over Rs 4,200 crore, had brought down its share to Rs 2,751.69 crore. However, the Centre had reduced Himachal's claim to mere Rs 1,497.39 crore which the state is unwilling to accept and is now planning to knock the doors of the Supreme Court. In another significant development, the Cabinet decided to select about 7,750 ASHA workers under the National Rural Health Mission in the Health and Family Welfare Department on honorarium basis. The ASHA workers would be given Rs 850 per month. The Cabinet also gave its nod to rebidding for the allotment of 960 MW Jangi Thopan Powari Hydro Electric Project in Kinnaur. It was also decided to raise the income limit from Rs 4.5 lakh to Rs 5 lakh per annum for determining the creamy layer among the Other Backward Classes (OBC). The Cabinet decided to give one-time permission to make admission to B.Tech courses in private universities and engineering institutions for the academic session 2013-14 on the basis of qualifying examinations. However, the candidates, who have secured 65 per cent marks in physics, maths and one of the subjects out of chemistry, biotechnology, computer science and biology, would be eligible for admission. The Cabinet gave its approval to guidelines for selection of priority households in order to implement the National Food Security Ordinance 2013 with certain modifications. It decided to open a sub-tehsil at Kotla in Kangra district. The new sub-tehsil would have seven patwar circles of Kotla, Trilokpur, Bhali, Nadauli, Dol, Wahi Pathiyar and Kothi Wandi-1, having a population of 26,828. The Cabinet decided to enhance old-age pension under social security pension from Rs 400 to Rs 500 and also the War Jagir amount from Rs 2,000 to Rs 5,000 from April 2013. It was also decided to provide free travel facility in deluxe and ordinary government buses to gallantry awardees within the state. It gave approval for creating supernumerary posts of 139 patwaris for Kangra and Shimla. The Cabinet decided to provide one-time incentive of Rs 75,000 for all those students who were selected in any Indian Institute of Technology, All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and Indian Institute of Management (IIMs) in India. The Cabinet also allowed enhancing the state government block guarantee in favour of the National Handicapped Financial Corporation, Faridabad, from Rs 8 crore to Rs 15 crore. It gave its nod to create authority of hydro project safety, quality control and water management in the Directorate of Energy, for developing an efficient and effective monitoring mechanism of various hydropower projects being executed in river basins of the state. The Cabinet accorded its approval to enhance the authorised share capital of Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (HPPCL) from Rs 1,000 crore to Rs 1,500 crore. It was decided to enhance the cadre strength of Block Development Officers (BDOs) from the existing 85 to 113 in the Rural Development Department. The Cabinet gave nod for filing up 90 posts of Veterinary Officer in the Animal Husbandry Department through direct recruitment on a contract basis and 33 posts of ayurvedic pharmacist in the Ayurveda Department, reserved for ex-servicemen. The Cabinet gave its nod for cancelling the Letter of Intent (LOI) issued to the Vocational Education Foundation for setting up a medical college at Hamirpur as it failed to implement the LOI even after three years. Cabinet decisions
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Rain throws normal life out of gear in Kangra
Kangra, July 23
Kangra experienced 126.2 mm rain and most of the khads and rivers were swollen. A heavy landslide was reported from outside Baba Balak Nath Temple in the town, halting the movement of the traffic. Visitors to the temple could not enter as the landslide blocked the gate of the temple. Landslides disrupted the traffic on the Kangra-Samirpur, Kangra-Zamanabad and old Kangra and Kangra-Shimla roads. SDM Kangra Ajeet Bhardwaj said the landslides from the roads were removed but the JCB could not reach the gate of Baba Balk Nath Temple as the road was damaged. Some areas were flooded due to overflowing of drains and nullahs but the situation returned to normal after the rain stopped before this noon. The reports of rain were received from Dharamsala, McLeodganj, Jawalamukhi, Dehra, Gaggal, Shahpur, Mallan, Nagrota Bagwan , Ranital, Dhraman and Chamunda Devi. Dr KS Thakur, scientist in charge, Research and Extension Centre of CSK HPKV, said heavy rain was a boon for paddy crop but would damage pulses. He suggested the farmers to take care of the pulses crop by removing the weeds before the crop was damaged.
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Heavy rain hits local trade with China
Shimla, July 23 Even though 80 traders have applied for the trade pass to the office of the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Pooh, the trade has not yet begun due to the absence of road connectivity. Trade through Shipki La is undertaken by the locals between June 1 and November 30 every year. However, with rain causing major havoc in mid-June, trade was also affected as people are busy in restoration works. Even as, the traders have applied for getting trade passes, a majority of them are skeptical about the possibility of the roads being opened early. Trade along this route has not really picked up ever since it was resumed in 2004. Work for restoring the road connectivity is underway, but it is still not certain when it will be through. “Even now, about 15-km stretch beyond Khab has no road. The mule tracks have been washed away, so it will be difficult to carry goods for trade to Shipki village in Tibet,” said Bharat Bhushan, trader of Dubling village. The authorities are hopeful that the road connectivity will be restored within a week, but the response among the traders seems to be lukewarm not only because of the havoc caused by rain, but also due to rules being made more stringent. “The latest ban on bringing Tha horses and Chigu goats from Tibet into India has dampened the spirits of most of the traders who used to carry Chinese thermos, blankets, jackets and shoes on horseback after purchasing the animals in Tibet,” said Bhushan. He, along with other traders from Dubling, Shalkehr, Pooh and other villages, feels that rather than easing out restrictions, the authorities are becoming even more strict. This year the traders have yet to purchase spices, ration items and carpets which are bought by Tibetans in Shipki. In 2012, a total of 46 traders had visited Shipki village in Tibet and goods valued at Rs 89.80 lakh were exported and goods valued at Rs 87.29 lakh brought from Tibet. Infact, the Indo-China trade picked up last year as 12 new items were added to the list of old items which could be traded. In 2011, the trade was merely namesake as only 24 traders had visited Tibet with goods worth Rs 5.77 lakh. On their return, they had brought goods, including horses and goats, worth Rs 9.19 lakh.
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Idols, gold worth Rs
1.50 cr stolen from Rohru temple
Shimla, July 23 It was this morning that villagers found chowkidar of the temple Hira Lal dead and the valuables of the temple stolen. The theft in one of the biggest temples, located about 12 km from Rohru, has once again exposed the lack of adequate security arrangements in the ancient temples in the state. Head of the Temple Committee Shamsher Thakur said two ashdhatu idols, weighing six kilograms each, two idols of Lord Ganesha and another idol of Vasudeva, with a priceless sapphire on its forehead, and an antique necklace had also been stolen. Besides this, over one kg gold and several ornaments of silver had also been stolen. The temple, built in typical hill architecture, is made of wood and is believed to be over 300-year old. Shimla Superintendent of Police Abhishek Dulllar has launched a hunt to nab the culprits. Even as 10 teams of the police are combing the forests, along with the local villagers, the temple committee has announced an award of Rs 2 lakh for anyone giving information about the theft. It was only six months ago that some antique idols had been stolen from an ancient temple in the remote Chirgaon area of Rohru subdivision. The police has stepped up vigil along all inter-state borders and set up nakas. A team of forensic experts along with dogs has reached the spot to get clues about the culprits. Police officials said all antiques, including the idols of the temple, had been taken out as there was a local fair, where the deity had gone in his palanquin. The available video footage had also been collected to get evidence about the culprits.
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Central team assesses rain losses in Kinnaur, Sirmaur
Shimla, July 23 Four team members, led by Mina, today reached the district headquarters of Reckong Peo and visited adjoining areas ravaged by rain and flashfloods. The team will visit Pooh and Gyabong tomorrow by road and Sangla on July 25 before returning to Shimla. The team visiting Kinnaur is accompanied by Amandeep Garg, Special Secretary, State Disaster Management Authority, the Engineer-in-Chief of both the Public Works and Irrigation and Public Health (IPH) Departments, and the Director, Horticulture. Two of the team members from Delhi left for Sirmaur district, which too has witnessed great damage due to the heavy rains during June. The team will leave for Mandi tomorrow to assess the damage in that part of the state. “The team had specially come to assess the damage in Kinnaur, but since our memorandum covered the damage to roads, water and electricity infrastructure, horticulture and agriculture in the entire state, they chose to visit Sirmaur and Mandi as well,” said Tarun Sridhar, Principal Secretary, revenue and Industry.
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Mankotia loyalists join Jogta group
Hamirpur, July 23 Though all office-bearers owing allegiance to the Mankotia faction had played an important role in the election, they have now decided to quit their posts. While their decision has given strength to the Jogta faction, the employees, who had elected them, are finding themselves in an awkward position. Those who have announced to resign are Sanjeev Kumar, general secretary, Sujanpur unit, Rajesh Kumar, general secretary, Nadaun unit, Prem Lal Thakur, joint secretary, Nadaun unit, Harnam Singh, executive member, Hamirpur unit, Vijay Kumar, senior vice-president, Bijahad unit, and some of the office-bearers of the non-teaching union. |
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Samiti gets assurance on Dadour bypass
Mandi, July 23 The Nachan MLA said the leaders had promised the samiti that they would consider their demand. The NHAI had decided to provide the service road to residents in the 4.71-km Naulakh-Dadour road stretch without changing the old alignment, said NHAI managers. But delegation members GR Nayak and Joginder Walia from the Kisan Sabha and Vijay Thakur and Vijay Abrol from the Beopar Mandal pleaded the case with the Chief Minister highlighting the problems that the four panchayats Dadour, Bhour, Kanaid and Chowk would face if the NHAI stuck to its old alignment. This section was a densely populated area of 20,000 people living on either side of the highway and would affect 450 houses and 200 shops. They said they had also met NHAI Chairman RP Singh, Chief General Manager SC Jindal and the project director who had come with Fernandes to Shimla. General Manager, NHAI, Satish Kaul told The Tribune that the old alignment still stood and there was no fresh direction to change it as of now.
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Civil Judges designated as Addl CJMs
Shimla, July 23 A notification issued by the Registrar General said all Additional Chief Judicial Magistrates would, in the absence of the Chief Judicial Magistrate of the district, exercise all powers of the Chief Judicial Magistrate under the Code of Criminal Procedure within the territorial limits of the district in which they have been appointed. It further said the HP High Court has designated all Civil Judges (Senior Division) -cum-Judicial Magistrate Ist Class as Additional Chief Judicial Magistrates in exercise of the powers vested in it under Section 12(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973.
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Illegal structures razed in Mandi
Mandi, July 23 The team demolished one illegal four-room structure raised by Mani Ram in lower Samkhetar. It also demolished three other illegal structures raised by Baishani Devi, Hari Singh and Shayam Jail in the Jail Road locality. The council has been directed to submit the compliance report on the next date of the hearing in the high court. KR Thakur said seven owners had volunteered to remove structures in the town. As many as 14 structures had been demolished so far and six illegal structures would be demolished in the next few days. Supported by the CPI, the CPM, the BSP and other organisations, residents have formed the Avash Adhikar Sangharsh Samiti against the demolition drive and submitted a memorandum to the government seeking a policy on regularisation of the structures.
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AAP opposes demolition drive
Mandi, July 23 They said the ruling Congress and the BJP made promises of “roti, kapda and makaan” only to grab their votes, while thousands of bighas of forest land were given to private university and outsiders. Staging a rally in support of the house owners, who have been rendered houseless by the ongoing demolition drive, AAP national executive member Des Raj Sharma said, “It is a pity that people who have raised some shelter after getting NOCs from the Mandi Municipal Council (MMC) and revenue and other officers, are facing demolition threat”. Des Raj said the owners whose houses had been demolished represented the lowest rung of society. It was a sad reflection on the BJP and Congress governments that their policies benefited only the powerful, while the poor faced bulldozers, he said.
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Vendor consumes poison over eviction, survives
Mandi, July 23 He was rushed to the Zonal Hospital where doctors stated that his condition was stable. Sukh Dev said he was allotted a slot at the Jail Road where he was not able to make both ends meet. He shifted to Paddal to make a living, but the council threw him out today, he alleged. The council, with the help of the local administration, was checking whether the vendors were not operating in the slots allotted to them or not. The SDM, Mandi Sadar, visited the victim and enquired about his health. President of the Rehri-Phari Union, Mandi, Surender Kumar condemned the action of the council. |
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People object to inclusion of villages in BBN Master Plan
Solan, July 23 Deputy Commissioner Madan Chauhan and officials of various departments were present at the public hearing. Various patwar circles Manjholi, Nangal, Dhabota, Bhageri, Baruna, Khilyan, Kashmirpur, Panjhera, Jogo, Ratiyor and Baddi are among the areas which are proposed to be brought under the BBNDA purview. While the state government is endeavouring to regulate constructions and ensure that a planned development is brought about in these patwar circles, villagers believe it is an attempt to thrust upon them various bindings by posing undue restrictions like floor area ratio, abiding by norms of the Town and Country Planning Act, etc. Nalagarh MLA KL Thakur, while terming it as an exercise being carried out in a hurry, said the Hindi version of the Master Plan should be circulated in the affected villages so that they could study the implications of the move and file their objections. He said a minimum six-week period should be given to people to study the document and after this a public hearing should be held to elicit their views. He said since the area was predominantly backward they could not decipher the English version of the plan, making the move meaningless. If this procedure was not followed, people would object to its implementation, he added. Officials in the BBNDA said objections were also invited through panchayats till July 27 and public hearings were being conducted to gather objections from people. Panchayat representatives of Sheetalpur village today turned up in large numbers to file their objections before the BBNDA authorities. They not only resented the move, but also said it was unfair to introduce the provisions of the much-dreaded TCP Act to villages. No industrial activity was being undertaken, while crucial issues like reckless mining had failed to be checked by the state government effectively. Villagers opined that they would have to seek permission for every little construction and this was a burdensome task. They said industrial activity was welcome, but imposing undue restrictions on permissions by implementing the TCP Act was not acceptable to them.
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Forest Corp will fill vacant posts: Pathania
Kangra, July 23
This was stated by Kewal Singh Pathania, Vice-Chairman, Forest Corporation, at a public meeting at a reception organised in his honour at Shahpur today after he assumed the new assignment of Vice-Chairman of the Forest Corporation. He said vacant posts in the corporation would be filled up shortly to improve its working. He said during the coming two months, Rajiv Gandhi Vatikas would be set up in 51 panchayats of the Shahpur Assembly segment where herbal plants would be planted and those panchayats with maximum surviving plants would be awarded. He said funds generated from the hydro-power projects would be utilised for the development of the forests in the state. He said during the past four months in Changer belt of Shahpur, 18 hand pumps were installed. Four new HRTC routes were introduced for this Changer area to provide better transport facilities to people living in these remote areas. He said Rs. 22 lakh was provided to poor and needy people of the area for their medical expenses from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund. He said on the pattern of the Mini Secretariat, a Rajiv Bhawan would be constructed at Shahpur to put all the departments under one roof so that people got all administrative services at one place. Shahpur would be made a municipal council and this issue would be taken up with the state government strongly. Shahpur Block Congress Committee president Susheel Sharma welcomed Pathania. On the occasion, Dev Dutt Sharma, Director General, Industries, Karan Singh, general secretary andYouth Congress president, and Madhubala, president, Mahila Congress, were present on the occasion.
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No order to disconnect street lights: Board
Shimla, July 23 A spokesman of the board said all street lights were functional, but some points might be out of order due to failure of the panchayats concerned to provide material required for repairs. It was the responsibility of the Gram Panchayats to make available the material as per the agreement with the panchayats. The board was maintaining the street light points from time to time for which the material was provided by the panchayats. He disclosed that the outstanding amount to the tune of Rs 12,36,712 in respect of Paprola panchayat and Rs 6,12,455 in respect of Baijnath panchayat was still pending as on June 30. However, keeping in view the inconvenience disconnection of power would have caused to general public, the board was continuing with the supply of power to the areas. He urged the panchayats to deposit the due amount soon for which notices had already been served on them.
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Thieves steal onions
Bilaspur, July 23 Incidentally, this shop is just a few yards away from the city police chowki.
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Rs 11 lakh
seized from kidnapper
Hamirpur, July 23 The accused was involved in a kidnapping with a ransom money of Rs 5 crore at Khanna in Punjab. He had entered the state with a huge amount in a car which was later seized by the police at Deothsidh. The amount seized today was hidden under a tree near the village of the accused. |
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Three teams of the Mandi Municipal Council (MC) yesterday started a demolition drive and razed illegal structures in lower Samkhetar and Jail Road localities. The drive was conducted under Executive Officer KR
Thakur.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) today came in support of the house owners whose “illegal structures” are being demolished in this town.
They said the ruling Congress and the BJP made promises of “roti, kapda and makaan” only to grab their votes, while thousands of bighas of forest land were given to private university and outsiders.
