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State hopes to find buyers for surplus power
CBCS system to be introduced at postgraduate level
Kisan Sabha activists gherao SDM’s office
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Bharat Nirman public information drive concludes
Girl raped in Solan hotel
Himachal students form body in Delhi
Agri varsity reserves front row for farmers
‘Sudden absence’ of paediatrician hits health services in Nurpur hospital
27 students selected in placement drive
Nurpur holds run for nation programme
64,563 made literate in Chamba district
‘Bharat Jago Daur’ organised
Holy chhari reaches Manimahesh lake
Bank poll: Ex-chief alleges misuse of machinery
Shashtri appointed member of SAIL
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State hopes to find buyers for surplus power
Shimla, September 11 Some of the states, including Maharashtra, Assam and Rajasthan, are in touch with Himachal regarding their demand for power in view of the Assembly elections and the beginning of the festival season. In fact, Maharashtra is keen to purchase almost 500 MW, while Rajasthan too is trying to negotiate purchase of power with the Directorate of Energy in Himachal. With almost 900 MW of surplus power at its disposal, the Directorate of Energy, too, has written to many state governments if they wish to purchase power from Himachal. This 900 MW of power includes over 500 MW received as free power and 350 MW as equity power. “With generation at the 412 MW Rampur hydro-power project likely to start by next month, we are expecting to get an additional 43 per cent, which will roughly work out to be 190 MW,” said an official. Even though Uttar Pradesh is yet to pay Himachal the entire amount of Rs 200 crore that it owes for purchases of power, the UP government has once again got in touch, seeking more power. “While seeking more power, they have assured us that the remaining Rs 170 crore for the purchase made earlier will be paid within this month,” said officials. With the sale rate of power at the Energy Exchange of India showing considerable improvement to Rs 3.25 per unit after hovering at Rs 1.80 per unit for quite some time, Himachal is keen to find buyers so that the revenue receipts from the power starts looking up. Considering the fact that during the first half of 2013, the revenue receipts from all the important power sector have registered a decline of almost Rs 500 crore, Himachal is keen to encash on the power demand that will arise in states like Rajasthan, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, where Assembly elections are due and later in some other bigger states as well. Sources said with the demand of power from the recession-hit industry likely to dip, the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board (HPSEB) too could surrender power though they had anticipated an increase of 10 per cent in the demand for power. Problem of plenty
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CBCS system to be introduced at postgraduate level
Shimla, September 11 Unlike the undergraduate level, it will be much easier to have the CBCS for postgraduate programmes as semester system is being followed since the beginning and only the courses will have to be suitably revised. Himachal Pradesh University has already framed draft regulations for the CBCS and continuous assessment grading pattern (CAGP) for the purpose. A candidate will have to earn a minimum of 100 credits with passing grades for the successful completion of a master’s degree distributed over four semesters (24 to 28 credits in each semester). Out of these, 48 credits will have to be earned in compulsory courses, 48 credits in elective courses, including 16 credits in courses outside department and four credits in minor research projects. Only such candidates who enrol for a minimum of 18 credits per semesters and complete successfully 100 credits in four successive semesters shall be considered for declaration of ranks and medals. If a candidate admitted to a master’s programme is not able to accumulate the required 100 credits and earns not less than 48 credits, including at least 24 credits of core courses, he or she may opt to exit and receive a bachelor honours degree or PG diploma in the subject. The MPhil and pre-PhD programme will be of one-year duration spread over two semesters. A candidate will have to earn a minimum of 36 credits, 12 credits each for core courses, proficiency courses and thesis, with passing grades for the successful completion of the degree. One can avail a maximum of three semesters, one-and-a-half year in total research degree programme. For the PhD programme, the duration will be five years, extendable by two years. The programme will have course work with at least 12 credits of core and elective courses in the main subject and 12 credits of elective courses in the allied subject. The thesis work will be considered as equivalent of 24 credits. A student who has done MPhil from the university with the course work will be exempted from doing the 12 credits of core and elective courses in the main subject and required to earn only 12 credits of elective courses in the allied subject. The CBCS system will afford more flexibility to students in choosing subjects and they can opt for across the streams under the open elective category. |
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Kisan Sabha activists gherao SDM’s office
Mandi, September 11 Villagers staged a protest march in Jogindernagar town under the banner of the HKS and raised anti-government slogans in support of their demands. The protesters then gheraoed the SDM's office for three hours, demanding action on their charter of demands submitted to the government. Addressing the gathering, HKS leader Kushal Bharwaj claimed that the work under MNREGA was stopped six months ago. Farmers had lost several bighas of fertile land and several houses in flashfloods and landslides during the monsoon, but they got peanuts as compensation. Kishori Lal, Nand Lal, Sunil Barbal and other leaders said the Tikri road was illegally closed for the past one year. The PWD had promised to open the road in 15 days’ time, but nothing has happened even after two months. The flashfloods and cloud bursts had damaged fertile land in Kolang, Khuddi, Kundani, Chanehr, Kas and Jimjima villages. But the compensation given by the government was inadequate, Bhardwaj alleged. Similarly, the MNREGA works had come to standstill in several panchayats and payments for the work were still pending, the leaders alleged. "We demand all works be started and payment be paid to the workers," they added. The HKS activists warned that they would step up the stir if the demands were not fulfilled. SDM Kishori Lal said he had called a meeting of block development officers on September 20 to sort out the MNREGA issue. “We will demarcate the Tikri road where it has been blocked after the land owner harvests the standing crop so that the dispute is resolved,” he added. |
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Youth urged to draw benefits of self-employment schemes
Hamirpur, September 11 Addressing a public meeting after inaugurating a building of the community centre at Bani under the Badsar constituency today, Lakhanpal said the problems of the area would be redressed in a phased manner and the transformer of Bani would be upgraded to 63 KV from 25 KV to solve low voltage problem. He said after the rainy season, hand pumps would be dug in the villages facing drinking water shortage and efforts would be made to find a solution to problems of the constituency by carrying uniform development. Later, the CPS also laid the foundation stone of the science block at Government Senior Secondary School, Bani, and inaugurated district-level sports competitions of senior secondary schools on the campus. Addressing a gathering on the occasion, Lakhanpal laid stress on the participation of students in sports and cultural activities. Lakhanpal said the government had been making effort to construct playgrounds in rural areas to promote sports at the village level. He also instructed officials to prepare a plan for adding two rooms and a boundary wall around the school building. |
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Bharat Nirman public information drive concludes
Shimla, September 11 Addressing the gathering, Stokes lauded the efforts of the organisers for dissemination information in the rural areas and said the UPA Government had launched a food security scheme to cater to two-thirds of the national population to completely eradicate hunger and malnutrition from the entire country. The consistent efforts of the UPA regime had helped the peasantry and over 70,000 farmers got benefit of loan waivers during the last few years, she said. In another landmark initiative, a new land acquisition law had been enacted to ensure adequate compensation in case of acquisition of land for various projects, she said. She said MNREGA and others national flagship programmes were empowering masses by making them economically independent as they were getting jobs at their doorsteps. She urged women to come forward to take advantage of various Centrally sponsored scheme, especially the ICDS. In terms of human development index, Himachal was considered a model state as it figured among the leading states in sectors of health, power and housing and only 9 per cent of people lived below poverty line. A healthy baby show was organised in which 24 children below four years of age took part. |
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Chaudhary gave 41 missed calls to Jyoti in two days
Panchkula, September 11 While Chaudhary, in his statement to the police, had stated that the victim was troubling him, a number of calls made by him, to which Jyoti did not respond, revealed an altogether different picture. A few days before Jyoti was strangulated and then crushed under a truck, the MLA called her up constantly (from the number which the police claim was used by the MLA) from November 11 to 17. This fact has come to the fore in the retrieved messages from Jyoti’s cellphone. On November 11, 2011, a message in Jyoti’s inbox showed there were 26 missed calls from his number at 2.06 pm and four missed calls on the same day at 3.23 pm. On November 12, 2012, the message showed 11 missed calls from his number. A “Happy Diwali” message was also there from Chaudhary’s number on November 13, 2012, on Jyoti’s cellphone, but
no response. While there were two missed calls on November 17, one was on November 20, one day before the murder. According to the police, it indicated that she was avoiding him, but he wanted to speak to her. On the intervening night of November 21 and 22, Jyoti was allegedly murdered by Chaudhary and his aides. Deputy Commissioner of Police Aswhin Shenvi said, “These so many calls indicate intimacy. We have sufficient proof to nail
the accused.” |
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Girl raped in Solan hotel
Solan, September 11 Her father alleged that he had also received a call from a youth, who had said he wanted to marry
his daughter. The girl was left near the Thodo Ground in the wee hours today after being raped. Police investigations revealed that she was taken to a local hotel, near Mohan Meakin Brewery, after making her sniff some substance, which made her unconscious. However, no entries were found in the register of the hotel about the youth having checked in there with the girl. Additional SP Padam Negi said a case had been registered under Sections 363, 366 and 376 of the IPC and efforts were on to trace the youth. Her medical examination was also conducted at
the local Regional Hospital today. |
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Himachal students form body in Delhi
Shimla, September 11 The newly constituted body included Sushil Negi, president, Abhivan Negi, vice-president, Priyamvada, vice-president, Alok Kamtes, general secretary, Mohit and Parv Negi, joint secretaries, Karam Sharma, treasurer, Niharika, cultural coordinator, Surjeet Bharmouri, Nigam Bhandari and Amit Rathour, advisers of
the association. Industries Minister Mukesh Agnihotri and general secretary of the All-India Congress Committee, Gireesh Chandrakar also participated in the first meeting of the association held at the Himachal Bhawan. Agnihotri said students studying in various educational institutions in New Delhi were the ambassadors of the state. He exhorted them to showcase the culture of the state and its good image at national and international levels. He spoke in detail about various programmes and schemes launched by the Virbhadra government for the welfare of the people and the overall development of the state. He said the government would not allow commercialisation of education at any cost. Kewal Singh Pathania, vice-chairman, Himachal Pradesh Forest Development Corporation, who has been made the adviser of the students’ body, called upon the members to work hard for the victory of NSUI candidates in the ensuing elections of the Delhi University. He said the government would make efforts to find a permanent solution to problems being faced by the students from the state in Delhi University. |
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Universal Brotherhood Day celebrated
Kangra, September 11 The event was organised by the local branch of the kendra to commemorate the historical speech delivered by Swami Vivekananda at the world religious conference on September 11, 1893. She said Swami Vivekananda had expressed apprehensions 120 year ago that fanaticism of religions was going to drench the earth with blood which came true when the World Trade Center was smashed. She stressed that the youth should be infused with the teaching ‘Nishkam Karmyoga’ of the Bhagwad Gita and come forward to help the needy and down-trodden. She elaborated that the mission of the Vivekananda Kendra focused on man-making and nation-building. Kangra Deputy Commissioner C Paulrasu, who was the chief guest, said the youth should make Swami Vivekananda their icon to lead an ideal life. On the occasion, a declamation contest was organised. Twinkle of DRPGMC, Tanda; Dev Verma of Government Polytechnic College, Kangra, and Kamal Preet of Dronacharya College of Education, Rait, got the top three positions, respectively. |
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Agri varsity reserves front row for farmers
Palampur, September 11 The progressive farmers will also get preferential treatment in agricultural officers’ workshop, Kisan Melas, Kisan Diwas etc at the Directorate of Extension Education and four constituent colleges. Last month, Dr KK Katoch, after joining as Vice-Chancellor, had declared during his maiden address to the university community that the major clients of the university would be taking a centrestage in its programmes. This step is an indication of his determination to give a voice to the farmers in the university functioning. This is perhaps the first approach among all state Agricultural Universities in the country where farmers will be sharing front rows with policymakers, planners, senior officers and senior scientists. Dr Katoch says the “Farmers’ First” approach will not merely be symbolic, but he will make certain that progressive farmers are respectfully brought to attend such major programmes in the university by scientists and extension staff. Likewise, the university is taking steps to make their stay comfortable at Palampur and all Krishi Vigyan Kendras by improving facilities. All extension programmes to disseminate new scientific farm technology are conducted by the Directorate of Extension Education and eight Krishi Vigyan Kendras. Similarly, 13 research stations all over the state conduct location specific, need-based research and also sometimes organise trainings and other programmes for the farming community in the respective areas. Some specialised trainings are conducted by various departments of the four constituent colleges. The university also organises a state-level Kisan Mela, farm officers’ workshops in the Rabi and Kharif seasons and many such programmes where scientists and farmers participate. The Vice-Chancellor is also mulling to find ways to reserve some seats for the wards of farming families in BSc (Agriculture) in the College of Agriculture. He feels that children of rural background are at a disadvantage due to lack of quality education, poor financial condition, family background and lack of guidance etc. “Ultimately, the farmland is to be managed by farmers and if their younger generation is educated and trained in modern farming, the sky is the limit for the,” says Dr Katoch. |
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Seized illegal quarry material in BBN auctioned
Solan, September 11 Yunus Khan, SDM, Nalagarh, who was present on the occasion to oversee the auction along with the Superintendent of Police, Baddi, and DSP, said 28,400 metric tonnes materials worth Rs 1.15 lakh was auctioned near Chikni, Sheetalpur and Kenduwala. He said apart from this, vehicles involved in transporting illegal quarrying materials, which had been challaned earlier, were compounded and Rs 1 lakh was collected as the compounding fee. The local administration of the BBN was regularly nabbing illegal mining operators where vehicles involved in the activity were impounded and the materials collected was auctioned today. The SDM said care was taken to ensure that those procuring the material after the auction did not misuse the opportunity to extract more material. More than Rs 1 crore had been collected in the last eight months from those indulging in the illegal trade. With several escape routes leading to the neighbouring Haryana and Punjab, where mining is banned, illegal mining is a proliferating trade in the BBN area and though efforts like banning the movement of vehicles carrying mining material to other states and non-plying of vehicles carrying mining material between 8 pm to 6 am is in force, the administration has failed to curb the illegal activity.
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‘Sudden absence’ of paediatrician hits health services in Nurpur hospital
Nurpur, September 11 Paediatrician Dr Ashutosh Joshi said he was upset and depressed over the behaviour of in charge Dr SK Mahajan. He alleged that he was unable to work in the hospital in the present circumstances as he had been mentally tortured by the in charge. He said he had even informed local MLA Ajay Mahajan in this connection. He admitted that he had gone on leave and examined child patients at his residence so that they should not suffer. In this connection, Dr SK Mahajan said Dr Joshi was absent from his morning emergency duty on Tuesday without pre-intimation. “I simply sought a written explanation from him today regarding his absence from duty which infuriated him. As in charge, it was my duty to seek explanation from him as absence of a doctor on emergency duty is a serious matter,” he asserted. Meanwhile, local MLA Ajay Mahajan, who is in Delhi nowadays, clarified that this matter was brought to his notice and he had talked to the Kmgra Chief Medical Officer, hospital in charge and complainant. He said he had assured hospital doctors that he would solve this issue on his return within a few days. Former MLA Rakesh Pathania alleged that health services in the hospital had shattered during the past nine months and there was a conspiracy to mentally harass doctors who were having a good OPD. He warned that if health services were not improved, people would stage a dharna against the hospital administration.
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27 students selected in placement drive
Solan, September 11 Dr Bansal said more than 500 students from Himachal Pradesh and the surrounding states participated in the placement drive. The selection process comprised a pre-placement talk, group discussion, technical and human resource interview, which was conducted by Rohit Singh, country head and his team. After a rigorous selection process, 27 students were selected. Out of the selected students, 15 students were from Bahra University, nine from the Rayat Bahra Group of Institutes and one from Himachal Pradesh University (HPU). Twentyfive students from the APG University also participated in the drive and two of them got selected. "The company had earlier recruited students from Himachal Pradesh in January, and students from various backgrounds had excelled in their positions and grown as individuals during their stint with Tommy," said Dr Bansal. Gurvinder Singh, Chairman of the Rayat Bahra Educational Group, said they endeavoured to make job opportunities available to students right at their doorstep so that they gained professional experience as soon as they completed their courses. He said arranging placement from companies was a regular feature of the university. Ritu Shah, public relations official of Bahra University, said the company had offered openings in Delhi NCR, Chandigarh, Punjab, Karnal and Jammu with a starting salary of Rs 15,000 to Rs 18,000 plus incentives and perks.
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Nurpur holds run for nation programme
Nurpur, September 11 SDM Ashwani Sood flagged of the races. As many as 177 students participated in the juvenile category. Nishant of Noorpur Public School, Suresh of DAV Public School, Bagni, and Chandervir of Noorpur Public School secured the top three positions, respectively. In the adult category, 55 students of Arya Government College and ITI, Nurpur, competed for the top positions. Akshey of ITI, Pankaj and Narinder of Arya College grabbed the first, second and third positions, respectively. In the third category, Surinder, Dinesh and Pravesh won the first, second and third positions, respectively. The winners were awarded by the chief guest. |
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64,563 made literate in Chamba district
Chamba, September 11 Disclosing this here today, ZSS district project coordinator Suman Kumar Minhas said Chamba district had already been adjudged the "model district" under the mission in the country. He said a basic literacy examination had also been conducted by the National Institute of Open Schooling on August 25 in government primary schools of the district under the mission for the improvement of neo-literates. Efforts were being made to bring awareness amongst neo-literates about the development and empowerment of people in convergence with different departments and development agencies, Minhas stated. He said the ZSS had planned to educate neo-literates regarding the electoral, legal, financial and disaster literacy, civil defence, women empowerment and child development through 283 lok shiksha kendras being run under the mission in the district.
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‘Bharat Jago Daur’ organised
Mandi, September 11 The daur organised by the saffron brotherhood across the state assumed a political colour as no Congress-affiliated activists participated in the race which was started from the Paddal Maidan by retired college Principal DN Kapur, who also runs Vivekanand Public School in the town. The participants included activists of the ABVP and other members of the Sangh Parivar. They carried banners and saffron flags. BJP media coordinator Nishant Sharma claimed that people from different walks of the life, including students, participated in the race. The event was organised by the Vivekananda District Committee to commemorate 150 years of his historic speech to enlighten youth, he added.
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Holy chhari reaches Manimahesh lake
Bharmour, September 11 Sadhus and pilgrims will start their return journey tomorrow itself after having a vision of Kailash Mount, the abode of Lord Shiva, saddled on the high peak of 5,656 metre. Chamba Additional Deputy Commissioner Sandeep Kumar said the district administration had made all possible arrangements, including the plying of special buses, providing medical facilities, sanitation, parking lots etc, for the facility of pilgrims en route.
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Bank poll: Ex-chief alleges misuse of machinery
Hamirpur, September 11 In a press statement, Mandial said the victory of 13 out of the 16 directors of the bank, especially in the Nadaun ward, was an outcome of misuse of power and government machinery by Congressmen. He said since the election was held through indirect voting by secretaries, some officials were allegedly asked to exert pressure on voters. — TNS
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Shashtri appointed member of SAIL
Bilaspur, September 11 Shashtri was also a member of SAIL when Virbhadra Singh was the Minister of Steel at the Centre earlier. He was also a member of the HP School Education Board during earlier tenure of Virbhadra Singh as Chief Minister.
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