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Over 47 lakh to cast vote on May 7
508 polling booths to be set up in Una
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April 19 last date to be voter: EC
Admn gears up
First timers to play crucial role in Kangra
Voters welcome NOTA option on EVMs
Corruption to be election plank: Shanta
Capt Batra’s mother to spearhead AAP's campaign in Hamirpur
Cong defying poll code: BJP
Link to rural areas lost in acts, clearances
Rebels’ entry opposed in Manali
HRTC staff’s strike on March 11
Minister inaugurates ESIC college building
Foundation stone laid online
IIT Una to be functional from April: Agnihotri
Industry Minister Mukesh Agnihotri lays the foundation stone of the IIT at Saloh village in Una on Wednesday. Photo: Rajesh Sharma
State gets two new Addl Chief Secys
7 panels formed for HC admn
Hamirpur to have medical college
Virbhadra okays 12 proposals
of new industrial units
Minister stresses on workers’ safety
Land selected for medical college at Nahan
SDM meets political leaders
Rain, snow combine to keep spring’s march on hold
Police motorcycle riders add to Ridge’s security quotient
Untrained hands uproot medicinal plants
Nauni, Ethiopia varsities to sign MoU tomorrow
Order on Shops Closure
Medicos seek time scale review
Burglars decamp with cash, jewellery
One killed in road accident
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Over 47 lakh to cast vote on May 7
Shimla, March 5 Keeping in view the inclement weather conditions, polling in the hill state having three tribal Assembly segments will take place on May 7 while counting of votes will be on May 16. The election code of conduct came into effect immediately after the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the elections at 10.30 am. It was only minutes before this that Union Minister Oscar Fernandes inaugurated the building of ESI Medical College in Mandi today. “As per the directives of the ECI, we will ensure free, fair and impartial elections in the state,” said Narinder Chauhan, Chief Electoral Officer. He said there were 47,40,044 voters in the state, including 24,41,162 men and 22,98,882 women voters. The expected expenditure was likely to be Rs 28.37 crore which would be borne by the ECI, he added. Himachal is one of the few states which has 65.89 per cent of voters with photo identity cards. There are 62,133 voters in the 18-19 years age group, 10,22,690 in the 20-29 group and 11,60,683 in the 30-39 age group. This segment alone comprises 45.86 per cent of the total electorate. The 32,000 voters, who completed 18 years before January 2014, will cast their votes for the first time. A total of 7,382 polling stations will be set up in the four Lok Sabha segments of Shimla (reserved), Mandi, Hamirpur and Kangra with 6,855 polling in the rural areas and only 527 in urban areas. Out of these, 459 have been declared hyper-sensitive, 1,022 sensitive and the remaining 5,896 as normal. Besides 22 companies of paramilitary forces, police and Home Guards and about 50,000 employees will be deputed on election duties. To keep a check on paid news, a special software has been acquired which will keep a tab on such news, besides the official machinery which will monitor all such developments. As per a new clause by the ECI, election manifestoes of political parties will also be closely monitored. With polling percentage in the 2009 and 2004 Lok Sabha polls being a mere 58.43 and 59.71 per cent, efforts will be made to create awareness among voters to cast their vote. |
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508 polling booths to be set up in Una
Una, March 5 Jain said there were 3,36,764 registered voters and the process of addition or deletion of names on the voter lists would continue for some more time. He said March 9 had been fixed as a special day when people could visit their polling booths and check the voters list for addition or deletion of names. He said about 2,500 personnel would be on poll duty besides observers, micro observers and nodal officers. Superintendent of Police Anupam Sharma said special teams would be set up to check illicit liquor, unaccounted money and arms during the run-up to the elections. ADC Darshan Kalia and Election Department officers were also present.
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April 19 last date to be voter: EC
Kullu, March 5 ADM, Kullu, Vinay Singh Thakur said the counting would be held on May 16. The last date for filing the nomination papers would be April 19 and notification be issued on April 12. He said those desiring to enroll themselves for the voter list could apply before April 19 at the block-level office. He directed political parties to abstain from defacing public and private properties by displaying posters, banners and hoardings. — OC |
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Admn gears up
Chamba, March 5 Deputy Commissioner, Chamba, Kadam Sandeep Vasant, who is also the district election officer, briefed mediapersons about the arrangements being made for the upcoming elections. He said Chamba district consisted of five Assembly constituencies, out of which four Assembly segments, Bhattiyat, Dalhousie, Chamba and Churah, fall in the Kangra Lok Sabha constituency while Bharmour tribal Assembly segment falls in the Mandi LS constituency. The DC said 15 nodal offices had been asked to adhere to their assignments with responsibility. “There are 3,27,128 electors in the five Assembly constituencies of the district, adding that 591 polling stations had been set up with requisite facilities. Following the directions of the Election Commission of India, the model code of conduct committee and the media certification and monitoring committee (MCMC) had already been set up, the DC said.
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First timers to play crucial role in Kangra
Dharamsala, March 5 In the 2009 elections, there were about 11 lakh voters. The trend of Lok Sabha elections reveals that the victory margin of candidates was just between 20,000 and 30,000 votes, the first time voters will play a crucial role in the coming elections. Taking a cue from the statistics, BJP candidate from Kangra Shanta Kumar has already started an exercise to tap young voters. He has started his account on Twitter and Facebook to interact with them. Political parties had earlier been harping on their traditional vote banks in the form of cadres and caste polarisation during elections. However, the addition of substantial chunk of young voters is going to change the old equations and election strategies in the coming elections. The Aam Admi Party (AAP) has made an impressive debut in Kangra with large number of youth and ex-servicemen taking party membership. However, with the party choosing former BJP MP Rajan Sushant as its candidate, the young members of AAP are disenchanted. They have openly raised their voice against the candidature of Rajan and have threatened to oppose. Meanwhile, Kangra DC Paul Rasu, addressing a press conference here today, said the code of conduct had been imposed. The activities of political parties would be under scanner. The expenditure being incurred on electioneering would be considered in the expenditure of parties.
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Voters welcome NOTA option on EVMs
Shimla, March 5 The button has been introduced for the first time in the history of the Lok Sabha poll. Though the law is still not clear on what will happen if the NOTA button receives a majority of votes as compared to other party candidates in the fray, it will force political parties to field clean candidates, say first-time voters and experts here in reaction to the ECI’s announcement of NOTA button in EVMsin Delhi today. The first-time voters and experts have hailed the NOTA choice on the EVMs. The NOTA button will lead to systematic change in elections as political parties will be forced to project and field clean candidates, says Dr Mamta Mokta, a professor, Department of Public Administration, Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla. “Political parties will be under restraint to field their best candidate that is the need of the hour,” she adds. The ECI has not spelt out as to what per cent of votes received in the NOTA button will result in the rejection of candidates in fray, says Ranjet Negi, convener, Himlok Jagriti Manch, Kinnaur, an NGO working in the tribal belt. State chief electoral officer Narender Chauhan said the NOTA button was the choice to satisfy the electors to exercise their franchise as the guidelines were not clear on if NOTA button received a majority of votes. It would encourage voters who, otherwise, do not come to cast votes, but a candidate, who gets a higher number of votes, would be declared as a winner, he explained. Of country’s 10-crore first-time voters, Himachal has over 32,000 first-time voters, who evoke a similar opinion on the NOTA button. “The party will think twice before fielding their candidates as we stand for good governance,” said Rajat Chauhan and Mahima, first-time voters. Though the CPM, AAP and the HLP have hailed the NOTA choice on the EVMs, other political parties are a peeved lot over the NOTA choice.
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Corruption to be election plank: Shanta
Palampur, March 5 Addressing a seminar of BJP delegates of the Palampur region this afternoon, Shanta said people were fed up with the misrule of the UPA as the common man had been hit by corruption in public life, rising prices of essential commodities and unemployment. He said it was evident from the present political situation that people wanted to get rid of the Congress which had brought the nation on the verge of bankruptcy because of its faulty planning and policies. Shanta Kumar said the NDA government headed by Atal Bihari Vajpayee left the office in 2004, the cost of a dollar was Rs 34. The price of petrol per litre was Rs 36 and sugar Rs 17. He said today the cost of a dollar had crossed Rs 62. The prices of other essential commodities had also registered three-time increase because of the failure of the government to check hoarding. Shanta Kumar said in Himachal too, the situation had gone from bad to worse. Most of the state and national highways had potholes. He said corruption was rampant, public distribution system had almost collapsed and fair prices shops had no stocks of essential commodities. Shanta Kumar said faulty distribution of LPG had caused inconvenience to the public. Earlier, Shanta Kumar was accorded a warm welcome when he arrived at the seminar. He was presented with a sword by the district president of the BJP Vinay Sharma. Over 300 delegates, including former MLAs and ministers, also attended the seminar.
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Capt Batra’s mother to spearhead AAP's campaign in Hamirpur
Shimla, March 5 The war against Pakistan had seen the Tiger Hills being recaptured by the Indian Army. The legendary war cry could be an inspiration for Captain Batra's mother too. Kamal Kanta Batra (66) is heading for the poll arena under the AAP banner. She has decided to take the plunge into the Lok Sabha elections against Dhumal's cricketer son Anurag Thakur on an AAP ticket. The Congress is yet to decide its candidate from Hamipur. AAP has decided to field Kamal Kanta Batra, hailing from Sujanpur, in the Hamirpur LS constituency to take on BJP's second-timer MP Anurag. "They wanted me to fight the elections, but I refused to as I am not keeping good health. We feel AAP has recognised our contribution to the country. Thus, my wife agreed to contest the poll. She has been involved in social service in the area," the PVC recipient's father Girdhari Lal Batra told the Tribune. "It will be a means to serve society and the motherland," his wife said, talking about her candidature. "If the state's people give us an opportunity, we will keep the faith," said the mother of three surviving siblings. "Not only does AAP want to make a strong foray into the state by fielding the mother of a Kargil war hero, but it also intends to take on Anurag. He figures in Arvind Kejriwal's list of leaders alleged to be corrupt," said a party volunteer. The final call on the party's tickets in the state will be taken by the AAP's core central election panel led by Yogendra Yadav, Sanjay Singh and Pankaj Kumar, said Sandeep Bisht, party's observer for the state. While AAP has already decided to field Rajan Sushant, former Kangra BJP MP from Kangra seat, the panel is considering two former state administrative officers, Hriday Ram, a former BJP MLA from Renuka and HN Kashyap, a former BJP ticket-seeker, from the reserved Shimla LS seat. Bisht said they had received more than 500 applications for the Mandi, Hamirpur and Shimla seats. "We are screening each candidate as per AAP criteria of clean image and character. The final list may be out in a few days," he added.
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Cong defying poll code: BJP
Shimla, March 5 Urging the EC to take note of the situation, he said the state government should be dismissed immediately and strict action should be taken against the erring officials. Quoting ESI medical college, he said despite the fact that there were no water and electricity at the college and no medical or paramedical staff had been recruited there, the Congress government today inaugurated its incomplete complex. — TNS |
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Link to rural areas lost in acts, clearances
Shimla, March 5 The pace of forest clearance is tardy and 2,183 roads constructed by the Public Works Department (PWD) are awaiting regularisation, while work on 377 sanctioned road projects was held up due to non-clearance under the FCA. The PWD has set up two committees, one headed by Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) and the other by the Chief Conservator of respective areas to carry out the inspection of the roads constructed in violation of the FCA in a time-bound manner, Naresh Sharma, Himachal Pradesh Public Works Department (HPPWD) Engineer-in-Chief said. A forest officer of the rank of Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF) has been posted in the department to monitor the FCA cases, while nine other forest officers of additional CCF and CF have been deployed to monitor and coordinate the cases. The maximum number of violations (835) is in Mandi Zone, while 599 violations have been detected in Shimla Zone, followed by Kangra (495) and Hamirpur (254). In circle-wise violations also, Mandi Circle is on the top with 429 violations, followed by Jogindernagar, 287, fourth circle (Shimla) 212, Dalhousie circle 202, Rohroo 182 and Nurpur 164. Another impediment in the construction of roads was setting up of village-level committees to process the clearance certificate under the Forest Rights Act (FRA). The department is also finding it difficult to construct roads in tribal and hard areas under the PMGSY as a condition, that the contractor will be responsible for maintenance of the road for five years, was acting as a “disincentive” and contractors are not coming forward to compete in the tender process.
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Rebels’ entry opposed in Manali
Kullu, March 5 The factionalism has been the main cause for the defeat of the Congress in Kullu and Manali constituencies for the last three Assembly elections. |
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HRTC staff’s strike on March 11
Una, March 5 Nanak Shandil, secretary, HRTC Employees Joint Coordination Committee, said their demands included conversion of the corporation into a roadways as a government department, provision of pension and other benefits to HRTC employees, putting a check on unauthorised bus operators, filling all vacant posts in the corporation, regularisation of contractual staff after five years of service and provision of additional increments to employees on completion of four, nine and 13 years of service. They also demanded repair and maintenance of all workshops, amendments in the recruitment and promotion rules, provision of grade pay to left-out employees and procurement of good quality spare parts for buses.
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Minister inaugurates ESIC college building
Ner Chowk (Mandi), March 5 The minister was accompanied by Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and Health Minister Kaul Singh Thakur. The minister directed the officials concerned to make the college operational in the next few months and commence the first academic session from July 2014. Fernandes said, “I had laid the foundation stone of the ESIC medical college in 2009. The medical college will provide health facilities to industrial workers and local people.” He said, “A sum of Rs 900 crore is being spent and 30 medical colleges, including 12 with super-specialty facilities, are being built.” The minster praised UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, AICC vice-president Rahul Gandhi and Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on the occasion. The Chief Minister said the college would enhance medical facilities in the state and benefit local people. Fernandes also launched the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana scheme for auto-rickshaw drivers at Ner Chowk.
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Foundation stone laid online
Nadaun (Hamirpur), March 5 The minister performed the ceremony from the Chandigarh airport by interacting with officials sitting at the Deputy Commissioner's office, Hamirpur. Sharma said, “The Spice Park being developed at Dhanpur Bada will be developed in three phases -- infrastructure building, training for exporting local produce such as ginger and turmeric and value addition of local produce.” He said, “HPCC president Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu had been pursuing the project for long.” Spice Board Chairman Dr Jai Tilak, HPCC president Sukhwinder Singh and DC Hamirpur Rohan Thakur were present at Hamirpur on the occasion.
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IIT Una to be functional from April: Agnihotri
Una, March 5 A sum of Rs 122 crore is being spent on the institution with 50 per cent Central assistance. While the names of Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and Technical Education Minister GS Bali were also mentioned on the plaque, both were not present. The minister said this would be the 12th such institution in the country and first in the state. He said while the classes would begin from April this year from a temporary accommodation, the institute’s permanent structure would be completed by 2020. Agnihotri informed that the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development had recently accorded sanction to start 54 new Central schools in the country, adding that the notification regarding this had also been received. Meanwhile, Una SDM (civil) Dhanvir Thakur joined as the first SDM of Haroli. On 16 February during his Una visit, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh had announced the creation of new civil sub-divisions at Haroli in Una and Sujanpur in Hamirpur districts. The Haroli SDM office has been temporarily housed in the Haroli Block Development Office. In another inauguration spree in the Haroli segment, Kangra Central Cooperative Bank chairman Jagdish Sipaya inaugurated two branches of the bank at Bathu and Bhadsali villages. He said this was in lines with the mandate by the Reserve Bank of India to provide better banking services to the people in the rural areas.
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State gets two new Addl Chief Secys
Shimla, March 5 The Cabinet, which met here yesterday, had granted the approval for the creation of two posts of Additional Chief Secretary. With the promotion of these two officers belonging to the 1983 batch, the strength of Additional Chief Secretaries has gone up to six. The four Additional Chief Secretaries are Deepak Sanan, PC Kapoor, Ajay Mittal and Vineet Chawdhry. PC Kapoor will retire on April 30 this year. The government also ordered the postings and transfers of some officers. The charge of Principal Secretary, Public Works Department (PWD) held by Narinder Chauhan, who is the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), has been given to Pharka. Tarun Sridhar, Principal Secretary (Revenue and Forest) has been given additional charge of Financial Commissioner, Appeals. Besides, the government ordered transfers and additional charge to about 12 Himachal Administrative Service officers.
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7 panels formed for HC admn
Shimla, March 5 A committee of Acting Chief Justice Mansoor Ahmed Mir and Justices Sanjay Karol and Rajiv Sharma will look after the service conditions, disciplinary and Vigilance matters of judicial officers/Additional District and Sessions Judges/District and Sessions judges. Apart from this, the committee will look into the creation, constitution and establishment of courts and designation of senior advocates. The committee comprising Justice Sanjay Karol, Justice Dharam Chand Chaudhary and Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan will take care of the building and infrastructure of the courts and matters relating to mediation, conciliation and ADR mechanism. To devise targets to clear backlog in the High Court and subordinate courts, the committee of Justice Rajiv Sharma and Justice Dharam Chand Chaudhary has been constituted. This committee will also look into the framing of rules for the High Court and the district judiciary. It will be concerned with matters covered under the Right To Information Act, including necessary steps for follow-up. For taking care of all complaints against advocates, a disciplinary committee under the Advocates Act has been constituted. It comprises Justice Rajiv Sharma and Justice VK Sharma. For matters pertaining to recruitment, promotion and creation of posts in all cadres of the High Court and administrative appeals, representations and disciplinary matters relating to the employees of district judiciary, a committee of Justice VK Sharma, Justice Dharam Chand Chaudhary and Justice Tarlok Chauhan has been constituted. This body will also look after affairs involving finance, including matters relating to the 13th Finance Commission and pertaining to the purchase and distribution of books for judges' library/libraries at the residences of judges/libraries in the district judiciary. The committee of Justice VK Sharma and Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan will look after matters relating to the functioning of juvenile justice boards in the state. To monitor the progress of computerisation and e-courts in the High Court and district judiciary, a committee of Justice Dharam Chand Chaudhary and Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan has
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Hamirpur to have medical college
Shimla, March 5 Stating this here today, Sukhu said the decision to approve the college had been taken yesterday by Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad. "I am grateful to Azad for acceding to my request of giving a medical college for Hamirpur district," said Sukhu. He added that the formalities had been completed and the decision was conveyed to him last night. Sukhu said despite PK Dhumal remaining the Chief Minister for the two terms, he had not been able to set up any such facility which benefited the common man from Hamirpur. "Even his son Anurag Thakur, who remained a Lok Sabha MP, has not bothered for the common man," said Sukhu. He said despite having announced two medical colleges for Chamba and Sirmaur under the category of the most backward districts, the minister agreed to grant another one for Hamirpur. "Hailing from the hill state of Jammu and Kashmir, he can relate to the problems of people living in these difficult areas and for this, the people of Hamirpur will always remain indebted to him," he said. Sukhu said the Congress would win all four Lok Sabha seats. He said the BJP could not take the people for a ride with its false propaganda against the Congress.
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Virbhadra okays 12 proposals
of new industrial units
Shimla, March 5 The new proposals approved by the authority included Reliance Cement Company Pvt Ltd, which proposed to invest Rs 3,400.72 crore with employment potential to 350 persons at Nerwa sub tehsil and Chopal tehsil, Shimla. Other projects approved were Amba Metal Melting Furnace Point, which proposed to invest Rs 35.99 crore and employ 54 persons, Himadri Ferro Alloys Pvt Ltd Rs 309.64 crore and employ 520 persons, Barmendra Agro Tech Pvt Ltd Rs 102.06 crore and employ 100 persons, CDR Agros Rs 33.16 crore and employ 184 persons, Himalaya Alkalies and Chemicals Ltd Rs 150 crore and employ 250 persons. Among the expansion and revised proposals were Abbott Healthcare Pvt Ltd which proposed to invest Rs 87.87 crore and employ 54 persons, DP Chocolates, Unit-II, Rs 72.85 crore and employ 130 persons and M/s Theon Pharmaceuticals Ltd Rs 25.83 crore and employ 173 persons. Loreal International Ltd was also given approval in principle for setting up their unit in the state. The CM said keeping in view the increasing demand of land by entrepreneurs who were keen to invest in the state, construction of double-storey buildings in the already existing compounds would be considered. Industry Minister Mukesh Agnihotri was also present at the meeting. |
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Minister stresses on workers’ safety
Shimla, March 5 Speaking on the occasion of National Safety Day here yesterday, Agnihotri said the Labour and Employment Department was ensuring that the managements provided a secure work atmosphere with the usage of protective equipment by workers and regular test of machinery. The Factory Act, 1948, had been enacted for the safety of workers employed in factories, which was being enforced by the Labour Department through regular inspections, the minister said. Issuing duly-attested identity cards to workers of factories had been made mandatory by the Labour Department and every factory was being inspected prior to the registration to ensure safety, health and welfare of the workers, he added. Moreover, the department had prepared a safety manual to sensitise the employers, Agnihotri said.
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Land selected for medical college at Nahan
Solan, March 5 Bahadur, accompanied by officials of the Revenue Department and the Municipal Committee, said efforts would be made to transfer this land to the department concerned. A sum of Rs 190 crore had already been sanctioned for the project by the Union Government. — TNS
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Kullu, March 5 he cost of the removal of such publicity material would also be added to the cost incurred on the elections by the political party or candidate concerned, he said. — OC
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Rain, snow combine to keep spring’s march on hold
Shimla, March 5 Shimla and surrounding areas were lashed by icy winds accompanied by showers, while Jakhoo, Kufri and Fagu had light snowfall. High-altitude tribal areas had another spell of fresh snow. Koksar, Sangla and Rohtang Pass recorded 5 to 10 cm snow, while Udaipur and Kalpa received 4 cm and
3 cm snow. Moderate intermittent rain was witnessed at the mid hills. Kumarsain recorded 16 mm rain, followed by Manali and Tinder 10 mm, Bharmaur 8 mm, Tissa 5 mm and Rampur 4 mm rain. The minimum temperature rose marginally, while there was no significant change in the maximum day temperature. Bharmour in the tribal area of Chamba recorded the minimum temperature at -9.1°C, while Kalpa and Keylong recorded a low of -2.6°C and -2.1°C. This was followed by Manali 0°C, Shimla 4.9°C, Dharamsala 6.6°C, Solan 7°C, Bhuntar and Palampur 8.3°C, Nahan 8.6°C, Sundernagar 9.1°C and Una 10.2°C. Una was the hottest in the region with maximum temperature at 25.6°C, while Nahan and Sundernagar recorded a high of 19.7°C and 19°C, followed by Solan 18°C, Dharamsala 15.2°C, Bhuntar 14°C, Shimla 12.9°C and Kalpa 1°C. The local Met office has predicted dry weather in the region over the next four days and rain and snow at isolated places from March 10 onwards. Dry weather predicted * The Shimla Met office has predicted dry weather in the region over the next four days and rain and snow at isolated places from March 10 onwards
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Police motorcycle riders add to Ridge’s security quotient
Shimla, March 5 They will supplement eight women police motorcycle riders in the rapid police force deployed earlier to check crime against women
in Shimla. The Chief Minister said a free SMS-based online complaint system had been started and women and child help units headed by women police officers had been set up at the district level. Moreover, women police personnel had been deployed in every police station so that woman could lodge their complaints without any fear or hesitation, he added. Director General of Police (DGP) Sanjay Kumar and Deputy Commissioner, Shimla, Dinesh Malhotra were also present on the occasion.
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Untrained hands uproot medicinal plants
Dharamsala, March 5 RK Sharma, a local resident, revealed that plants had been uprooted from roadsides by local people who sold these for petty amounts to ayurvedic drug companies within and outside the state. The areas in which the extraction of the plant was being carried out, falls along the borders of Kangra and Mandi districts. The area has a rich growth of kashmal herbs. Since roots of kashmal plants are of medicinal value, people dig these from roots and sell these to pharmaceutical companies. Residents alleged that large-scale illegal extraction of plant from hills along the roads was leading to landslides. They said people dug about 5-foot-deep pits on the hills to extract roots of the plant. Senior forest officials, wishing anonymity, said earlier the DFO used to issue export permits of the plant. However, due to over exploitation of the herb, the Forest Department had banned its extraction and export from the state. If some people were extracting kashmal plants from roots, it was illegal, they said. Sources said a large-scale illegal extraction of the plant was reported from Chamba district. The plant was almost extinct from the roadsides in Chamba. People in the trade were now targeting areas, including Baijnath in Chamba and Jogindernagar in Mandi district, for the illegal extraction of the kashmal plant.
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Nauni, Ethiopia varsities to sign MoU tomorrow
Solan, March 5 The three-member delegation of Hawassa University which arrived here
on Monday evening includes Dr Girma Mengesha, Dean, Wondo Genet College of Forestry
and Natural Resources, Bereket Roba, Head, School of Forestry, and Dr Menfes Tadesse, Professor, School of Natural Resource Management. Nauni University Vice-Chancellor Dr Vijay Singh Thakur welcomed the delegation and apprised them of different teaching, research and extension activities of the university. He informed the delegation that all technical knowhow of the university would be shared for the conservation, development and management of forests in Ethiopia. The university would also provide all necessary assistance in the form of human resources and technical knowledge, he added. Dr Mengesha and
Dr Tadesse discussed different teaching and research activities of the Wando College of Forestry and sought collaboration on areas of mutual interest and prioritised needs. Roba threw light on the culture of Ethiopia. Dr RC Sharma, Director, Research, made a presentation on the research activities of the university, while Dr Krishan Kumar Raina, coordinator of the programme, said the basic objective of the Memorandum of Understanding would be the exchange of faculty and students for skill upgrade and capacity building
in the broad spectrum of forestry and related disciplines. Dr GS Shamet said similar types of collaborations would also be executed with other countries.
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Order on Shops Closure
Solan, March 5 A decision in this regard was taken at the board's meeting on November 25. The issue pertaining to the allotment of shops on a fresh basis was taken up at the meeting. Shopkeepers have refused to vacate the shops, fearing non-allotment in the fresh auctions. This has led to the closure of the 55-60 shops located on the Mall Road since March 1 after notices were issued to them to hand over possession of the properties to the board. Devinder Gupta, a member of the Beopar Mandal, said rentals were revised every year and there was little rationale in going in for fresh allotments. He added that since the livelihood of these families was dependent on these shops, the board should consider re-allotting them to the shopkeepers as they had no other source of income. The Mall Road, a key attraction for tourists in this cantonment town, wears a deserted look, with closed shops greeting them. Since these shops sell fast food, gift items and medicines, tourists and locals are feeling the heat. A local Rajesh Kumar said he had to get medicines from Garkhal located 3 km away as chemist shops in the vicinity were closed since March 1. He added that people who did not have conveyance could face difficulty in procuring medicines in case a medical emergency arose. Sources in the Cantonment Board, who chose to remain anonymous, claimed medicines had been made available at the board’s hospital to ensure patients did not suffer. They added that no decision about the terms of auction had been taken as yet. A decision would be arrived at when the board officials meet later this month. Locals said they should be allowed to operate their business till fresh auctions were executed so that no one suffered. Since no date has yet been finalised for the next board meeting, the impasse is expected to stretch on for several more days, thus affecting business and livelihood of the locals.
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Medicos seek time scale review
Kangra, March 5 Dr Sushil Sharma, press secretary, HMOA, said the association had demanded that the post-graduate quota be restored from 66 per cent to 90 per cent for GDOs and the decision to this effect be taken by the government immediately because the counselling for post-graduate courses would start next month. He said the HMOA further demanded that a seniority list of medical officers be made on the basis of the HP Service Commission. — OC
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Burglars decamp with cash, jewellery
Nurpur, March 5 DSP Manoj Joshi said a case under Sections 380 and 457, IPC, had been registered and investigations started. |
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One killed in road accident
Shimla, March 5 The deceased was identified as Nitish Kaundal, a resident of Janjedi in lower Khalini, Shimla. A case has been registered under Sections 279 and 304-A, IPC, at Theog police station. |
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As polling for the Lok Sabha elections in Himachal Pradesh will be held on May 7, 45.86 per cent voters below 40 years will play a crucial role in deciding the fate of the candidates who will try their luck this time.
Keeping in view the inclement weather conditions, polling in the hill state having three tribal Assembly segments will take place on May 7 while counting of votes will be on May 16.
Shanta Kumar, BJP leader and former Chief Minister, today said corruption during the UPA regime would be the key issue in elections. He said poor governance and scams unearthed during the 10-year regime of the Congress would dominate the election scenario.
Union Labour and Employment Minister Oscar Fernandes inaugurated the Employees State Insurance Corporation
(ESIC) Medical College building here today. The minister was accompanied by Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and Health Minister Kaul Singh
Thakur. The minister directed the officials concerned to make the college operational in the next few months and commence the first academic session from July 2014.
Industry Minister Mukesh Agnihotri today laid the foundation stone of the Indian Institute of Information Technology
(IIT) at Saloh village in the Haroli segment. A sum of Rs 122 crore is being spent on the institution with 50 per cent Central assistance.
While the names of Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and Technical Education Minister GS Bali were also mentioned on the plaque, both were not present.
Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today flagged off a fleet of motorcycle riders policemen for patrolling at the historic Ridge.
These 12 motorcycle riders will reinforce police personnel for increased patrolling to ensure the safety of women in
the state.
The Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, will soon sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Hawassa University, Ethiopia, to facilitate the students and faculty exchange
programme. The MoU will be signed on March 7.
