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assembly in session
Debate on Governor’s address a one-side affair
CM: All roads under rural plan complete
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Phone-tap row: Probe in 'final stage'
More snow, rain over next 2 days
Govt may simplify land purchase for industry
HPMC to overhaul processing units
40% Bilaspur farmers take to sericulture
Leopard trapped in snare, dies
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Bonded labourer remark: BJP moves breach of privilege notice against CM
Bhanu P Lohumi Tribune News Service
Opposition leader Prem Kumar Dhumal said BJP legislators were pained by the consistent derogatory remarks being made against by the elected representatives and had decided to issue the Privilege Motion. “This attitude of the Chief Minister and the Congress is not only insulting for the BJP legislators, but also for the electorate they represent,” Dhumal said. It is for the first time in the history of Himachal Assembly that the entire Legislature Party has moved a privilege notice against the Chief Minister. The BJP MLAs had staged a walkout from the Assembly for two consecutive days — both during the Governor’s address and also before the debate on Motion of Thanks on the Governor’s address. BJP Legislature Party Chief Whip Suresh Bhardwaj said the party had served a privilege notice on the CM for his objectionable remark. “All 26 BJP legislators were signatory to the notice that was given to Speaker Brij Bihari Lal Butail today,” he said. Dhumal said the BJP also wanted the House to function smoothly. “If it was a minister or an MLA using offensive language, the Chief Minister could have intervened, but when it is the Leader of the House who is responsible for this unsavoury atmosphere, who will check this trend, which is unhealthy for democracy?” he questioned.
Pandemonium prevails
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Debate on Governor’s address a one-side affair
Shimla, February 4 Eventually, only eight members from the Congress participated in the debate. Moving the motion, Congress MLA Sanjay Rattan condemned the behaviour of the BJP members. “It has become a habit with them to level false allegations. Now even the BJP will have to do a lot of answering as Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has named a BJP leader from Himachal as being amongst the most-corrupt politicians,” he said. He said the BJP was making a hue and cry in the House only to divert public attention from the inquiries being conducted against them by the Vigilance Bureau. “If they have not done no wrong then why are they scared? The truth will be known only after the inquiry is completed,” he said. The motion was seconded by first-time legislator Congress Bambar Thakur. “The BJP is flustered because the Congress regime has initiated a probe into the irregularities in the affairs of the HP Cricket Association that is headed by Dhumal’s son,” he said. It is because of all these inquiries that Dhumal is more bothered about his son than the BJP, he said. Participating in the debate, Transport and Food and Civil Supplies minister GS Bali said it was unfortunate that the BJP also boycotted the diner hosted by the Governor. “The differences of opinion and tussles in the House must be left there and not carried outside the Assembly,” he said. He credited the government with the state’s balanced development. “The hurdles created by the BJP in setting up of the Himalayan Ski Village makes entrepreneurs think twice before investing in the state,” he said. Team Dhumal skips customary dinner
The BJP Legislature Party, including Leader of the Opposition PK Dhumal, lodged their displeasure by skipping the customary dinner hosted by Governor Urmila Singh at Raj Bhawan on Monday. This is perhaps the first time that Opposition members have given the dinner a miss. “We have great respect and regard for the Governor. However, we are not being allowed to raise issues and are not sure whether or not we would participate in the debate at all,” said Dhumal. He said a final decision would be taken at the Legislature Party meeting on Wednesday. |
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CM: All roads under rural plan complete
Shimla, February 4 Replying to a question from HLP leader Maheshwar Singh, Virbhadra said the entire funding of roads built under the PMGSY was done by the Centre after a detailed project report is prepared. He said the funding was done as per the estimates, adding that no additional funds were provided in case the road was left incomplete within the sanctioned expenditure. He, however, mentioned that construction of five roads was held up in Kullu due to land disputes and non-clearance by the Environment and Forest department. In a reply to another question of Congress MLA Ravi
Thakur, the CM said activities such as river rafting, rock climbing, mountaineering, trekking and skiing have been identified to promote winter and adventure tourism in Lahaul and
Spiti. — TNS |
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Anurag wants Hamirpur on religious tourism circuit
Una, February 4 Punjab Chief Parliamentary Secretary (Health and Family Welfare), Navjot Kaur
Sidhu, accompanied him at the inaugural session of the religious procession from the temple. Thakur said six main shrines of Naina
Devi, Chintpurni, Jwalamukhi, Deotsidh, Chamunda Devi and Brajeshwari temple need to be included in the religious-tour itinerary by the state tourism department so that tourists visiting the state stay here for longer duration.
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Phone-tap row: Probe in 'final stage'
According to the SVACB sleuths, they have recorded all statements of those connected with the case, including former DGPs B Kamal Kumar and DS Minhas and ID Bhandari, the present Additional Director General of
Fire Services. Minhas, B Kamal Kumar and Bhandari had headed the Vigilance and CID during the Dhumal government, when the phones of certain politicians, mediapersons and other officials and non-official people were allegedly tapped without mandatory permission from the Home Department violating the Telegraph Act, the investigators revealed. The vigilance has kept Minhas and Bhandari on the edge as probable accused in the link, while B Kamal Kumar, who now lives in Hyderabad, has emerged as its witness in the case, sources revealed.
The link to establish the involvement of the then Chief Minister, who also headed the Home Department, is under investigation, they said. “We have recorded their statements. The probe is in its final stage and we are waiting for some more forensic inputs in the case,” AP Singh, IG Vigilance, claimed. Despite these claims, the Vigilance is yet to probe the role of the landline and mobile phone service providers as to how
they allowed the tapping of phones of their customers without written complaints from the Home Department.
“We are investigating everyone connected with the case, be it service providers or the then CID or former DGPs or other policemen,” Arvind Sharda, DIG Vigilance-cum-media spokesperson, said. Top officials working
in various departments said the phone-tapping probe was significant, as there were certain
objectionable conversations in the data retrieved from the hard disks of the computers in the CID and Vigilance offices, which the public should know. They said the case had made it obligatory for
the present CID and Vigilance Bureau to put the culprits behind the bars so that the official machinery was not misused for political and individual gains. The police, in fact, have sealed the data stored in the CID and Vigilance computers, which was retrieved by the Forensic Science Laboratory soon after the Virbhadra Singh government came to power in the state on December 25, 2012. He accused Dhumal of invading the privacy of individuals and for treating them as criminals by tapping their phones and conversations. “The culprits will be
sent behind the bars in the case as the CID and Vigilance agencies were misused by the Dhumal regime,” he
had charged. VB’s incomplete groundwork
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More snow, rain over next 2 days
Shimla, February 4 The local Metrological Department has predicted heavy snow and rain in the higher and mid-hills during the next 48 hours and heavy to very heavy snow and rain on February 6. The minimum and maximum temperature decreased by 4-5°C and 1-2°C. Intermittent snowfall was experienced in tribal areas of Lahaul and Spiti, Kinnaur, Pangi and Bharmaur. Kelyong received a maximum of 14 cm snow followed by Kalpa (6 cm) and Bharmaur (3 cm). Intermittent rains lashed the middle and low hills with Manali receiving 25mm rainfall followed by Salauni (19mm), Bharmaur (14mm), Chamba (13mm), Seobagh (11mm), Dharamshala (10mm), Kheri and Rampur (9 mm each) Kumarsen, Bhuntar and Banjar (8mm each), Shimla, Nurpur, Kangra and Bajura (5mm each). The sky remained heavily overcast and the mercury dipped to -3.1°C and -1.8°C in Keylong and Kalpa, while the key tourist destinations of Dalhousie, Manali and Shimla shivered at 1°C, 1.2°C and 3.3°C, respectively. Hamirpur recorded a low of 5.6°C followed by Una 6°C, Sundernagar 6.7°C, Solan 7.5°C, Bhuntar and Kangra 7.6°C and Nahan 7.9°C. |
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Govt may simplify land purchase for industry
Solan, February 4 In a notification issued on January 30, the Revenue Department has not only reduced the number of formalities to four, but also it has done away with several NOCs involving various departments like the Town and Country Planning, Irrigation and Public Health, HP State Electricity Board Limited, Forest department etc. Though the earlier measure was aimed at ensuring that basic amenities like water, power etc were available for any upcoming unit, it had become a time-consuming exercise for the investors. As per the new notification, a copy of which is available with The Tribune, the investors, while seeking permission for buying land under Section 118 of the HP Tenancy and Land Reforms Act, will be required to submit only four documents which include field map, record of rights and affidavit, stating that the land-seller would not become landless after proposed sale of land and he would not claim any benefit under any scheme for the landless, indicating that the land proposed to be purchased is
the minimum requirement for the proposed industrial unit. The Revenue Department has sought objections from the people regarding this notification within a period of 30 days after which the rules would be notified. While ensuring that an investor has to spend minimal time in procuring permission for buying land, his application would either be considered and allowed or rejected within 15 days. This will ensure that the investors are saved
the harassment of inordinate delay in merely seeking permission for buying land as it has been observed that this permission takes at least 6 to
8 months. An investor has to spend almost a year in establishing his unit after seeking permission to buy land. After lapse of the central industrial package, the inflow of investment has declined and though the Centre's Cabinet Committee of Economic Affairs has cleared grant of transport subsidy and central investment subsidy to the state till March 2017, it is yet to allure investors to invest in the state. |
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Cultural fiesta marks Basant Panchmi
Kangra, February 4 Local residents and the Municipal Council members gathered at the Municipal Council office in the morning dressed in their traditional finery and moved towards the main market to reach Tehsil Chowk. The old Kangra town has been celebrating the day for the last four decades. The procession was led by Kangra Sub-Divisional Magistrate Ajit Bhardwaj and the First Lady of the town Suman Verma. Cultural programmes were presented by the students of different schools and artists from the Information and Public Relation department. The cold weather, however, did not dampen the enthusiasm of the festival. Manali village hosts special prayer meet
At a time when the entire upper Manali region is wrapped in a thick blanket of snow, Basant Panchmi was celebrated with great fervour at Vashisht village near Manali today. The village is not only known for its hot sulphur springs, but also famous for Vashisht Rishi, Rama and Shiva temples. People thronged these temples to participate in the special 'pooja'. Earlier, a procession was taken out from the Rama temple to a hot water spring, where the priest took a dip in the water and performed the prayer meeting. Locals brought along rice, dal, ghee and other spices to cook a special 'Khichdi' that was served among all present. Devotees served tea as part of NaMo campaign
Kullu: With an eye on Lok Sabha polls, BJP used the opportunity to gather support for their Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi. Devotees were served a cup of tea by BJP workers under the ‘NaMo Chai’ campaign on the occasion of Basant Panchami at Dhalpur on Tuesday. State BJP Vice-President Ram Singh said the campaign was held to refresh
devotees coming to attend the fair. — TNS |
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HPMC to overhaul processing units
Shimla, February 4 The HPMC will also establish three new units — two vegetable storage units at Ghumarwin and Nadaun and a fruit processing unit at Parala (the apple belt) — to meet the demands of
farmers. HPMC officials said the corporation was upgrading machinery of its
Parwanoo, Jabli and Jadol units as the old machinery has outlived its life. The machines were set up in the 1960s and now the plants need thorough overhauling, added officials. Besides this, farmers would get 20 kg universal standard carton for the quality fruit and a 20 kg gunny bag for the culled fruit to take care of over weighing and bruises. “The 20 kg bags are easy to lift and transport, suffer less damage during transportation,” said Prakash
Thakur, vice-chairman, HPMC. “Farmers have been complaining of over weighing of apple carton as commission agents encourage the practice for giving them higher price. These agents repackage the fruit and get higher prices in markets later. The standard universal carton being designed as per Bureau of Standards under the Weight and Measurement Act will be made mandatory this season,” said the HPMC vice-chairman. Over 30 per cent fruit, mainly apple, was procured as culled fruit by the HPMC at procurement centres in the apple belt every year. A substantial part of this produce rots on the roadsides before it reached the processing plants, said officials. To take care of the culled fruit procured from farmers, the HPMC was upgrading all units that would double the processing capacity of plants, said Prakash
Thakur. He said, “The new unit is planned for Parala marking yard with a processing of 10 tonnes a day. It will take care of the fruit procured from
Jubbal-Kotkhai, Chopal and Theog and other areas.” HPMC managers said the Parwanoo plant would process 250 tonnes of fruit per day as compared to its earlier capacity of 120
tonnes. The Jadol unit would process 50 tonnes a day, which was almost twice its present capacity of 24
tonnes. The Jabli cold store would store 500 tonnes of fruit. |
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40% Bilaspur farmers take to sericulture
Bilaspur, February 4 Out of all these farmers, 4,200 farmers mostly women, successfully produce 70,000 kilogram of cocoon across the district every year. This large scale production of cocoon has brought these women income worth Rs 1 crore last year.” The seminar was jointly organised by the Silk Division at Ghumarwin and the Watershed Development Project and District Agriculture Department. Dharmani said 1 lakh mulberry plants were distributed among farmers under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and CDPE projects while more such plants were being distributed to the farmers under the Watershed Development Project this year. He added: “Six silk thread reeling units have been set up in Ghumarwin area and farmers are getting remunerative prices for their produce at their doorstep even as they supplement their income though their spare vocations.” Dharmani said a training hall would be constructed in the Ghumarwin Block Office premises so that it could help as a centre for holding seminars for farmers all year round. He urged farmers to get Kisan Credit Cards from bank branches near their village and take full advantage of cheaper finance facilities through these cards to meet their needs. Dharmani also distributed 5,000 mulberry plants and fertilizers among farmers. Silk Officer Baldev Chauhan said 100 farmers were given regular silk production training while more farmers would also be given this training. He added: “Cocoons can be produced twice a year, once March - April and then in July and August.” Deputy Director (agriculture) GC Lakhanpal, Deputy Director (horticulture) Shashi Sharma, Watershed Development Ghumarwin in charge Karamjit Singh Chauhan, senior Scientist KC Tyagi and Agriculture Subject Specialist Amin Chand Thakur also addressed the farmers at the seminar.
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Leopard trapped in snare, dies
A team of forest officials rushed to the spot. By the time the team of forest officials and wildlife department reached the spot, a large crowd had gathered there. Since a large number of people had gathered at the spot, the animal got restless and tried to free itself. In the process, the leopard injured itself. From examination, it seems the blood circulation of the leopard had stopped by the time the wildlife team tried to tranquilise it. Initially, the wildlife team tried to tranquilise the leopard by administrating a sedative in his hind legs. However, it did not work. A little dose was then administered in the upper part of its body. The wildlife team tied the leopard's neck before cutting off the wire trap. The move is said to have aimed at preventing the leopard from attacking the crowd that had gathered there in case the sedative did not fully act on it, said the
DFO. He further said the leopard died soon after it was shifted into the cage for carrying him to Gopalpur zoo for treatment. The Forest Department has registered a case under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife Protection Act against the farmer in whose field the wire trap was laid, and other unknown persons. The DFO said five days ago, another leopard got caught in a wire trap laid by poachers but escaped with injures in his hind paws. The animal was shifted to Gopalpur zoo. In that case too, an FIR was registered under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife Act against unknown persons. Leopard sighted near Ghumarwin Bilaspur: A leopard on prowl in Makdeyan village under Marhana Gram Panchayat near Ghumarwin has left villagers on high alert as they have been victims of leopard attacks in the past. Two villagers Bhim Singh and Kankesh Kumar claimed to have seen a wild cat last evening. The villagers alerted forest officials and the local police. A few unarmed forest officials rushed to spot and set up a trap to capture the animal .
— OC |
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Shimla, February 4
Shimla, February 4
Dharamsala, February 4