|
|
|
|
|
ASSEMBLY IN SESSION
Bali under fire over ration shortage
Rs 8.70 cr insurance claims elude apple farmers
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Pensioners’ Day: Elderly honoured
monkey menace
Draft Development Plans for 27 towns soon
Shifting of Tainted Officers
BJP surprised at EC’s stance on CM case
Sanskrit teachers seek TGT status
BJP meeting dates out
Action sought for serving stale food
in HPU
Freedom fighters remembered
Bali meets pvt bus operators
Sukhu hails Lokpal Bill
Undertrial gives cops the slip
Course for football coaches ends
2 killed as car falls into gorge
|
|
Smooth sail: Cong, BJP sink differences
Rakesh Lohumi Tribune News Service
Dharamsala, December 17 It was obvious that the two parties had resolved the issues and arrived at an understanding to ensure smooth functioning of the House. Before that, Speaker BB Butail clarified that he had not given three rulings on the adjournment notice given by the BJP yesterday as alleged by some members. He said he had given only one ruling and rejected the notice on the ground that more than one issue had been clubbed. Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh also clarified regarding the reported remarks in the media made by him about the conduct of the Opposition in the House. He said he had not seen the newspapers but he did not use any derogatory words against the Leader of the Opposition or any other member. He said he had made a statement in context of the overall political environment and had full respect for the members of the Opposition. Denigrating a political opponent would also lower his esteem as he was also a politician and there was no question of making uncharitable remarks. The matter was raised by Rikhi Ram Kaundal, who mentioned the media reports in which the Chief Minister had made derogatory words such as “goondas” against the members of the Opposition over the protest staged in the House yesterday. PK Dhumal said the Chief Minister must clarify about the news reports as if what had been stated was true, then there was no point in having a discussion. The Opposition relented after Virbhadra Singh clarified twice the context in which he had made the statement and stated that he did not make any disparaging remark. Thereafter, the Speaker proceeded with question hour and the days proceedings were conducted smoothly. Intervening during the reply to the question of Ishwar Dass Dhiman (BJP), the Chief Minister said the state road transport was acquiring 1,300 new buses which would enable it to provide adequate services for students who were being provided free travel facility. He stated that after Mohinder Singh (BJP) had said there were not enough buses for over 10 lakh students who were studying in schools and free travel facility was meaningless. Earlier, Transport Minister GS Bali said the government was spending Rs 30 crore on providing free travel facility to students. Revenue Minister Kaul Singh informed Gulab Singh that so far no special assistance had been provided to the state for carrying out relief and restoration works. The committee, which visited the state to assess the damage, had given a report but Rs 1 lakh per km for roads repair recommended by it was far less for hill areas and the matter was referred to a group of ministers headed by Sharad Pawar.
|
|
Bali under fire over ration shortage
Dharamsala, December 17 The issue was raised by Mohinder Singh (BJP) through a discussion on the implementation of the Rajiv Gandhi Ann Yojna in the Food Security Act which, he said, had been started without any discussion in the House. The government had launched the scheme to ensure food security but the public distribution system (PDS), through which it was being implemented, had virtually collapsed. The minister was making announcements without any survey or data and there was nothing on the ground. He wanted to know from the minister whether or not the quantum of wheat and rice to which they were entitled had been procured and distributed to the people. He said the ration card holders were not receiving pulses, sugar, edible oil, flour and other items. There were reports of substandard wheat flour being supplied to people and also complaints of unavailability of ration in the PDS shops. The prices of LPG and other items had also been increased manifold. He asserted that the quota of APL families should not be curtailed after implementation of the new scheme regarding which no details had been provided. Asha Kumari (Congress) said the Opposition was criticising the scheme without any valid reasons. The scheme reflected the thinking of the Congress to provide succour to the poor. She suggested that the number of PDS outlet should be increased and mahila mandals and panchayats should be associated with it. Chief Minsiter Virbhadra Singh said it was an important issue and all should deal it with seriousness. If there
were some shortcomings in the implementation, constructive suggestions would be welcome to improve things. |
|
Rs 8.70 cr insurance claims elude apple farmers
Shimla, December 17 The farmers are at the mercy of two Chandigarh-based insurance companies, including the Centre-run Agricultural Insurance Company of India Ltd. “We have not even received the policy statements from the companies though we have paid our share of 50 per cent premium for the 2013 season”, said Laxman Thakur, Chairman, Ecohorts, Nandpur, a cooperative society in the apple belt of Shimla district. Under the policy, farmers have to pay 50 per cent premium while the state and Central Government pay 25 per cent each. “We do not know the insurance company and brokers as none of them have their offices in the state,” he added. Farmer representations to the insurance companies and the Horticulture Department have fallen on deaf ears so far. “We called up the insurance company in Chandigarh to send the policies and settle claims, but it dismissed the matter, saying the government had not deposited the premium so far,” rued apple farmers Chaman Tanta of Dochi and Ami Chand Khandalta of Salahar Jubbal. The farmers are also facing a lot of problems for the renewal of the policy. “We are asked by the department to submit all documents on land and the number of trees to be insured from patwaris and other offices, which are time-consuming. The government must put in place a simple system,” Laxman Thakur demanded. As per the official figures of the Horticulture Department, 41,333 apple farmers have availed crop insurance with a total premium paid up to Rs 24.85 crore. Out of this, 22,687 farmers are be to paid the claims worth Rs 8.70 crore, revealed official sources. The crop insurance scheme, launched in 2009-10, has been extended to 27 development blocks in Shimla, Kullu, Mandi, Chamba, Hamirpur and Kangra districts. In 2011-12, 21,452 apple farmers had availed the scheme and got claims worth Rs 24.47 crore as the weather had affected the crop, said the officials. The government has given 21 blocks to AICI and three blocks each to HDFC and ICICI Lombard, said horticulture officials. The more apple farmers are availing the policy due to the damage to the crop, observed scientists. Director, Horticulture, Dr Gurdev Singh, said the government had taken up the matter with the companies so that the claims were paid. On the other hand, officiating Regional Manager, AICI, Sudhir Dogra claimed that the state government had to pay the 25 per cent of the cost of the premium to the company. As and when they got the payment, they would pay the claims within a week, he added and blamed the state for the delay. |
|
Common facility centre for weavers soon
Kullu, December 17 “This was assured by the Development Commissioner, Ministry of Textile, in his recent rendezvous with Satya Prakash in Delhi, while he was there to mobilise the issues of development of handloom raised during the recent visit of Union Textile Minister Kavuru Sambasiva Rao to Kullu,” said Satya Prakash at a press conference here yesterday. He said issues of development of handloom weavers and cooperative societies, reforming of procedures, provision of necessary infrastructure and providing subsidised raw material were brought to the attention of the Commissioner during the tryst. He said most of the weavers and cooperatives of the region were not benefited by the loan waiver policy of the Ministry of Textile as the distinctiveness of the region was such that most of the weavers and cooperatives did not fall under the purview of the policy. He said according to the policy, loan waiver was allowed only to those weavers or societies who were able to generate working capital back in a year. He said complication in procurement of raw material for shawl and severe climatic conditions permitting less working hours made it impossible for even well-flourished handloom cooperatives to rotate full working capital in one financial year. He said shawls made here were a mix of handicraft and handloom and took more time for completion than ordinary handloom shawls. He urged the government to modify the loan waiver policy accordingly so that individual weavers and societies of the hilly terrain were also benefited and the ancient heritage was preserved. He said effective check mechanism should be implemented in order to determine that funds procured through schemes only for handloom products were not used for power loom products. He said the samiti had completed 5 years of its existence and general elections of the samiti would be held in March next year. |
|
Pensioners’ Day: Elderly honoured
Bilaspur, December 17 This was stated by Dr OP Sharma, former HP Director, Higher Education, while addressing pensioners as chief guest on the pensioners' Foundation Day here today. He urged pensioners to help in removing social evils from society and use their vast knowledge and long experience to help those in villages. District association spokesman Hukam Singh Thakur and district president Rama Nand Sharma also addressed the gathering. The sammellan was also addressed by Principal Devi Ram Chauhan, state senior vice-president JK Nadda, district president Rama Nand Sharma, general secretary Jagdish Dinesh and leaders Birbal Dhiman, Baldev Gauttam, Jaswant Chandel, Dr Upendra Gauttam and Sita Ram Sharma. The chief guest honoured Principal Devi Ram Chauhan and Tara Chandel and also 60 elderly pensioners from the district, who had attained the age of 80 years or more. Pensioners demanded the immediate release of 10 per cent DA instalment. Prominent leaders present also included Prem Lal Bina, Sohan Lal, Mahender Bakshi, Gopal Sharma, Bhag Singh, Lekh Ram Sharma, Thakur Dass Azad, Daulat Ram Chauhan, Udho Ram Shashtri, OP
Grga, Vijay Ram Sharma, TS Pathania, Sunder Ram Sharma, GL Sharma, Kuldip Singh Thakur, Jeet Ram Bains and Om Parkash Sharma. ‘Release DA instalment’
Una: The Himachal Pradesh Pensioners’ Welfare Association today demanded that the state government constitute a Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) with adequate representation to their cadre for addressing their pension-related problems. The demand was made by association president Ramesh Bhardwaj at the organisation’s establishment day held at the Town Hall here. The pensioners demanded that their pending dues should be calculated at par with the pensions and allowances of their counterparts in Punjab and the arrears should be paid at an early date. They also demanded the immediate release of the Dearness Allowance (DA) instalment. Association general secretary Pritam Bharti said the retirees of the Himachal Road Transport Corporation and the state Electricity Board should be given pension benefits at par with other departmental retirees. They also demanded release of adequate funds for medical reimbursement of their cadre, the bills of which were lying pending in different departments. The association honoured former state government employees who had completed 80 years of age. They also honoured eye surgery team, led by Dr Ashish Sawhney of the district hospital. The eye unit of the hospital was instrumental in providing free eye surgeries and other eye care to senior citizens. |
|
BDOs told to monitor rural development works
Chamba, December 17 The DC stated this while presiding over a review meeting of various development works being carried out in the district by the Rural Development Department here yesterday. Taking note of pending works pertaining to muster rolls and other entries, the DC asked the BDOs to initiate disciplinary proceedings against engineers and technical officials responsible for deliberate delay in discharging their duties. He said the presence of engineers must be ensured in the next review meeting so that shortcomings could be eliminated. Reviewing MGNREGA activities of the tribal Pangi block, the DC directed the BDO, Pangi, to ensure the presence along with block engineers in the meeting scheduled specifically for Pangi block to be held at Chamba on December 30. He underscored the need of convergence of horticulture, agriculture, animal husbandry and fisheries departments with MGNREGA. The DC said the latest data in respect of women SHGs was being updated on priority so that functional SHGs could be linked with the National Rural Livelihood Mission for generating self-employment avenues for rural women. He said the process of sending Aadhaar numbers with bank account numbers of MGNREGA workers should be completed in a time-bound manner. He reviewed progress under the Backward Region Grant Fund scheme and said for the current fiscal year, a provision of Rs 20.43 crore had been kept, out of which Rs 15.21 crore had so far been spent. |
|
Farmers' interests to be protected, says minister
Rakesh Lohumi Tribune News Service
Dharamsala, December 17 Replying to a discussion raised by Gulab Singh (BJP), he said the monkey menace had become a major concern even though their number had come down significantly due to the sterilisation programme started in 2006-07. As per the latest count, their population had come down from 3,17,112 in 2004 to 2,53,304 in 2013. As many as 77,000 monkeys had been operated so far. However, the monkey nuisance was increasing and it was obvious that they were migrating from forest areas to human habitations. Divisional Forest Officers were competent to grant permission for killing monkeys and other animals which destroyed crops, but people were reluctant because religious sentiments associated with them. He assured the House that the government would take up the matter with the Centre for lifting the ban on the export of monkeys and also take effective steps to get the stay granted by court on their killing vacated. It would also consider the demand of members for increasing the compensation for livestock killed by wild animals. It would also take steps to facilitate the grant of arm licences for self-protection to farmers. Earlier, Gulab Singh said while monkeys were causing nuisance during daytime, wild boars, blue bull and other animals destroyed crops and killing cows, goats and other livestock during night. He urged the government to come out with a concrete policy and action plan to contain the growing wild animal menace within a time-frame. Special drives should be launched to drive away the animals from habitations. Leader of the Opposition PK Dhumal said the problem was increasing as monkeys were becoming more aggressive after sterilisation as they were not accepted by their troops after human touch. He said the Forest Department should ensure that they were released in deep forest areas and some official should be deputed for the purpose. He said the matter should be taken up with the Centre for including crop protection as an activity under MGNREGA Jagjivan Pal (Congress) suggested that some oral contraceptive should be developed to contain the population of simians as was done in Italy where pigeons had become a major problem. Maheshwar Singh (HLP) underlined the need for maintaining a balance to ensure co-existence of human beings and wildlife.
|
|
Draft Development Plans for 27 towns soon
Shimla, December 17 So far only 23 towns in the state have been declared as Planning Area (PA), while 34 others have the status of the Special Area Development Authority (SADA). Any construction activity in these PAs and SADAs is regulated under the Town and Country Planning Act, 1977. Most of the 27 left out centres are witnessing growth, which has led to a spate in unregulated construction activity. “We will soon entrust the responsibility of preparing the development plans of these left out 27 towns to agencies which are empanelled by the Urban Development Ministry,” said an official. He said the development plans of 18 of the 23 Planning Areas had already been approved by the government. “The reason for bringing the left-out towns under the ambit of the TCP Act is to ensure that there is planned growth and haphazard construction activity taking place does not hamper expansion plans. Since the ribbon development along the national highways and main roads emanates from small townships that become focal areas, the TCP Act will have to be extended to all the left out 27 towns,” he said. The TCP Act is still not applicable in major cantonment townships of Kasauli, Dagshai, Jutog, Yol, Dalhousie, Bakloh and Sabathu. Besides, the TCP Department has identified some new emerging areas like Jahu, Dhaneta, Jhanduta, Junga, Jasur, Fathepur, Jwali and Badsar, which would be declared as Planning Areas. The areas which have been found to be most prone to this ribbon development and urban corridors includes the valleys of Kangra, Kullu, Poanta, Balh in Mandi and the belts falling in Shimla-Parwanoo, Bhota-Hamirpur, Mehatpur-Una, Barotiwala-Nalagarh and Ghaggas-Barmana. One of the main purposes behind extending the Act to the state is to ensure that big projects like educational and health institutes coming up in rural areas seek permission from the TCP. “These big projects are putting a strain on local resources like water and power, but are evading paying anything extra to the government exchequer,” said an official. |
|
HPSEB official ignores transfer orders
Rajiv Mahajan
Nurpur, December 17 According to information, the HPSEB has ordered the shifting of its Class I officer from Damtal in Nurpur Electrical Division. The Executive Engineer, Nurpur Division, directed the officer of Kandrori subdivision to take over the additional charge of Damtal subdivision as board secretary had ordered to shift the Damtal officer at Jogindernagar in Mandi district. In this connection SK Sharma, Executive Engineer, Nurpur Electrical Division, confirmed that the board management had ordered to shift the Damtal officer on December 9 and he had received the communiqué on December 10. “To implement the board order, I have written to the officer of the electrical subdivision, Kandrori, to take the additional charge of Damtal, who resumed charge the next day. But the sitting officer at Damtal refused to hand over cash book and keys of the office chest and is still sitting in that office, notwithstanding his shifting to the Beas Valley Corporation in Mandi district,” he said. Sharma said he had written to the higher authorities of the HPSEB about the alleged disobedience by the officer. Meanwhile, JC Parmar, Chief Engineer, HPSEB, reiterated that disciplinary action would be taken against the erring board officer if he had disobeyed the order of the board.
|
|
BJP surprised at EC’s stance on CM case
Kullu, December 17 He said the issue had been highlighted in various media reports and the EC should had taken suo moto on the matter. He raised questions on the manner in which loans were accrued by the Chief Minister, his MP wife Pratibha Singh from Vakamulla Chandershekhar, who is executing a 15-MW Saikoti Power Project in Himachal and re-allotment of the project after it was cancelled and allotted to the HP State Electricity Board. He said special favours were granted to Venture Energy Technologies, owned by Vakamulla, to re-allot the project while 15 of such other projects had been cancelled during the same time. He said the CM termed the allegations false and fictitious and he should initiate a vigilance inquiry. He said the present MP from Mandi had announced schemes to a tune of over Rs 30 crore while the annual MP fund stands only at Rs 5 crore. He said no major developmental work had taken place in Mandi constituency. BJP state vice-president Ram Singh and district Kisan Morcha general secretary Chyovan Das were present. |
|
Sanskrit teachers seek TGT status
Chamba, December 17 The parishad also demanded that lecturers of Sanskrit subject be posted in all the government senior secondary schools and correct the errors in the syllabi on priority. These issues came in for discussion in a meeting of the parishad , which was presided over by its state president, Ramswaroop Sharma here on Sunday. The members of the parishad in the meeting said the Sanskrit teachers had been overlooked since 1986 and no constructive initiative had so far been taken for fulfilling their genuine demands. The Sanskrit teachers demanded the removal of disparity in their pay scales and pressed for making Sanskrit as compulsory subject in the schools. |
|
BJP meeting dates out
Shimla, December 17 In a statement issued here today, state BJP spokesperson Ganesh Dutt said the meeting for Kangra Lok Sabha seat would be held at Jawali on December 22, for Hamirpur at Shahtalai on December 23, for Shimla at the BJP state party office in Shimla on December 25 and for Mandi at Sundernagar on December 28. He said all senior BJP leaders, including National BJP vice-president and in charge of Himachal Balbir Punj, former Chief Minister PK Dhumal, Rajya Sabha MP Shanta Kumar, national BJP secretary Jagat Prakash Nadda and state BJP chief Satpal Singh Satti would be present at the meetings. He said party workers from Rampur and Kinnaur Assembly segments would attend the meeting of the Shimla parliamentary seat on December 25.
|
|
|
Action sought for serving stale food
in HPU
Shimla, December 17 “We have asked the university administration to the take weekly samples of all food items and send these for testing as they are playing with students’ health,” the SCA said. SCA president Rajan Harta, secretary Piyush Sewal and other office-bearers today held a meeting with the Dean, Students Welfare, Dr SS Chauhan, Dean of Studies Dr Suresh Kumar, Registrar Dr Mohan Jharta and medical and security officers and demanded action in this regard. The university officials assured the SCA that they would initiate suitable action.
|
|
|
Freedom fighters remembered
Bilaspur, December 17 Led by veteran freedom fighter KL Dabra, they also garlanded the statues of freedom fighters Hari Krishan and Romesh Chander Sharma. A meeting presided over by Dabra also recounted valiant deeds of the
freedom fighters of Bilaspur during the Praja Mandal Movement. Those who were present on the occasion included prominent Congress leaders Dr Babu Ram Gauttam, Col (retd) AP Gauttam, BJP leaders Daulat Ram Thakur and Roshan Thakur, Ram Gupta, Bal Mukand Sharma, Ram Gopal Sharma, Dr BN Sharma, Gantantra, Shyam Lal, Kranti Kumar Sharma, Rajender Handa, Dr Narendra, Dr SN Sankhyayan, Lachhu Ram Thakur, zila parishad member Babu Ram Thakur, Bilaspur Sadar BDC chairman Amar Singh Thakur, Rattan Lal Thakur, Prof BB Sankhyayan, Madhu Sankhyayan and Jai Kumar.
|
|
|
Bali meets pvt bus operators
Kangra, December 17 Bali held a meeting with private bus operators unions of Chamba, Kangra, Hamirpur, Una and Mandi in Bachat Bhawan at Dharamsala this evevning which was attended by the Director, Transport Department, Ritash Chauhan, Regional Transport Officers and other officers.
|
|
|
Sukhu hails Lokpal Bill
Shimla, December 17 He said the public would benefit greatly after the enactment of the Lokpal Bill as corruption would come down significantly and their grievances would be addressed without any delay.
— TNS
|
|
|
Undertrial gives cops the slip
Shimla, December 17 The accused managed to escape into a nearby forest when two constables were taking him in a vehicle to produce before the Judicial Magistrate,
Chopal. According to the police, when they reached Balghar, near Deha, Balbir escaped from their custody on the pretext of answering the call of nature. The SP,
Shimla, said the Theog ASI was investing the case.
|
|
Course for football coaches ends
Sundernagar, December 17 The course was organised by the Himachal Pradesh Football Association in collaboration with the All-India Football Federation. AIFF trainer Hilal Parrey came up with tips to add to training skills of the trainee coaches during the training camp that saw 38 participation of coaches from HP, Punjab, Haryana and Karnataka.
— OC
|
|
|
2 killed as car falls into gorge
Shimla, December 17 The police said the accident took place when the driver lost control over the vehicle. A case under Sections 279 and 304-A IPC had been registered.
|
|
|
|
| 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 | |
