Hamirpur, April 14
Congress candidate Rajinder Rana filed his nomination papers for the Hamirpur parliamentary constituency before Returning Officer Rohan Chand Thakur today.

Rana was accompanied by Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) president Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Industries Minister Mukesh Agnihotri and former MLA Urmil Thakur.

Former MLA Kuldeep Pathania also filed his papers as the covering candidate for Rajinder Rana.

The Chief Minister and other Congress leaders also addressed a public meeting at the Gandhi Chowk before this.

Addressing the rally, the CM said: “PK Dhumal, out of love for his son, has converted the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) into his personal property ignoring the interests of players and has himself become its patron.”

Attacking the functioning of the HPCA, the CM said: “What else can be expected from them, when no player can cast his vote in the HPCA election. Not only this, the voting rights of the players have been given to those who cannot even handle a bat.”

“During the BJP regime, instead of development of the state, corruption and nepotism of only one family grew,” he said.

Setting aside the allegation of political vendetta, Virbhadra said: “I don’t keep any personal rancour, but to expose the misdeeds of the previous government, no culprit will be spared no matter how high position he holds. On the other hand, no innocent will be touched.”

Commenting on the statement of BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi, he said: “Even BJP leaders have accepted that there is no Modi wave in the country and it will not be surprising if the BJP changes its leader.” 

Mandi, April 14
Former Chief Minister and vice-president of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Shanta Kumar said, "The election this time is quite different as there is a strong urge for change among people."

Talking to mediapersons here today, he said, "Due to its failures and misdeeds, the Congress is fighting the worst battle for its existence and the NDA and Modi wave is sweeping the country."

Attacking the UPA government he said, "Corruption, price rise and attacks by Maoists have increased during the Congress regime and the Indian Army is demoralised as enough ammunition is not available."

He said, "NDA planners in New Delhi have already started planning a future policy framework to give shape to new policies."

He said after coming to power, the NDA government would promote tourism sector in the state, develop airports and railway lines and start heli-taxi service by starting public-private partnership.

Replying to a question, the BJP leader said, "The departure of Urmil Thakur from the BJP is unfortunate, but such a development will not affect the party."

Bharatiya Janata Party leader Jai Ram Thakur was also present in the press conference.

Shimla, April 14
Voters, including members of NGOs, have asked the Election Commission of India (ECI) to exercise a stringent model code of conduct to curb the growing practice of “Aaya Ram, Gaya Ram”, in which candidates switch parties out of opportunism.

The voters have expressed concern that BJP and the Congress leaders have been staging shows to welcome rebels into the party fold, create a “media hype” and swaying gullible voters. Such parties should be taught a lesson as most of these turncoats have been rejected by voters in the successive elections in the state, they said.

“This is making a mockery of free, fair and clean elections as parties try to take advantage of stage-managed tactics to woo voters. This practice needs to be curbed,” said Anil Verma of the Association for Democratic Reforms, an NGO working to bring about electoral reforms since 2002. “We are taking up the matter with the ECI to curb this unhealthy practice when the model code of conduct is in effect,” he added.

Both the ruling Congress and the BJP have been staging shows of rival party men joining their party for the past few weeks.

The recent cases were those of Narender Thakur, who first left the BJP and contested from the Hamirpur Lok Sabha seat, then the Assembly seat and lost the elections and now, he had joined the BJP again and will contest from Sujanpur. Similar is the case of his sister-in-law Urmil Thakur, who joined left the BJP and joined the Congress.

Dulo Ram from Kangra switched sides thrice and joined the BJP recently after leaving the Himachal Lokhit Party (HLP). HLP leader Khushi Ram Balnata, a former BJP legislator from Rohroo, who had contested from Kusampati in 2012 as an HLP candidate and lost in the poll. Balnata joined the BJP along with his supporters a few days ago.

Naveen Dhiman from Kangra and HN Kashyap from Solan joined the BJP after the code of conduct came into force.

Dharamvir Dhami, who had joined the BSP in the 2007 elections re-joined the Congress in 2009. He had contested as an Independent in the 2012 assembly elections. VS Mankotia left the Congress, joined BSP and is now back in the Congress.

Kullu, April 14
Congress candidate from Mandi Pratibha Singh addressed several public meetings at Thatibeed, Jibhi, Palach and Largi in Banjar subdivision of the district today.

She said the Congress party was not only behind the development of the state but of the country as well. She said the BJP had failed to do any progressive work in the state and favoured corrupt practices during its regime.

She will address public meetings at Sainj and adjoining villages tomorrow. Banjar MLA Karan Singh, Congress party in charge for the Mandi parliamentary seat Harsh Mahajan and several senior Congress leaders accompanied her during her two-day tour of the district. 

Shimla, April 14
Riding on the crest of the Modi wave, former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal says the Congress is fighting a losing battle.

He confidently says that this time the voters will explode the myth that maximum seats are won by the ruling party in the state during the Lok Sabha elections.

He even holds Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh responsible for bringing political debate to a new low by pursuing the politics of vendetta.

He speaks about the strength of the BJP and weaknesses and failures of the UPA government at the Centre and the Congress government in the state and foresees the dawn of a new era after May 16, bringing the politics of vindictiveness and vengeance to an end.

The Tribune spoke to Dhumal, who was here to campaign for the party candidates. Here are the excerpts:

Political debate has degenerated to an all-time low and personal attacks have overshadowed the issues. Why is it so?

The political vendetta unleashed by Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh against the previous BJP government and a consistent slander campaign has vitiated the political atmosphere and we are left with no option, but to respond, react and retaliate. The BJP raised public issues such as corruption, unemployment, women, internal and external security, injustice against the state during the UPA regime and made just a passing reference to individual scams and irregularities by the Congressmen, but the entire political campaign of Virbhadra Singh was “designed” to attack individuals only to divert the public from its dismal performance and failures.

Is the BJP banking on the Modi wave alone as other issues have taken a backseat in the campaign?

There is a strong Modi wave across the nation and the BJP has put the Congress on the back foot by declaring its prime ministerial candidate to give clarity of choice to voters. But we are primarily seeking votes on the account of our past accomplishments and failure of the UPA government during its 10-year rule and lackluster performance of the state government during the past 15 months. We are fighting elections on important public issues and the party is upbeat as a strong Modi wave is visible in the state, while the demoralised Congress has already accepted defeat.

The government has accused the HPCA of converting it from a registered society to a company without the approval of the Registrar and registered cases against it. The cricket associations of Punjab, Haryana and Delhi are all registered as "no profit no loss" companies under Section 25 of the Companies Act and to get support from the BCCI, the HPCA also took a similar decision.

The Congress government is making a mountain out of a molehill as maximum fine for such offence is a meagre Rs 200. Just wait for May 16 when the election results will be out.

You are also targeting Virbhadra Singh on corruption. What is your take on allegations against former BJP MLA Baldev Sharma from Badsar?

The High Court has snubbed the CBI and asked it to prepare a conclusive report. The allegations of phenomenal rise in the income from orchards, unsecured loans raised from an individual and purchase of property by his kin are in public domain. But as the matter is sub judice, I don't want to comment over it. The police are investigating the allegations against the former BJP MLA and I will avoid commenting on it too.

How do you presume that the Congress has accepted defeat before the polls?

There is an exodus of senior Congress leaders from the party. Candidates are opting out of the contest, refusing party tickets and joining the BJP. Normally, we listen to rumours that politicians buy ticket, but this time there are conjectures that politicians are giving money to save them from being forced to fight elections. 

Shimla, April 14
Apart from Arvind Kejriwal and other star campaigners, Gul Panag, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate from Chandigarh, may boost the lacklustre campaign of AAP candidates -- from Hamirpur Kamal Kanta Batra, mother of Kargil war hero Capt Vikram Batra, and Kangra nominee Rajan Sushant.

Even as the Congress star campaigner and Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and BJP star campaigners PK Dhumal and Shanta Kumar have been slugging it out on the HPCA corruption case, AAP volunteers in Hamirpur and Kangra are trying their best to reach out to voters.

Kamal Kanta Batra has covered Una and is campaigning in Hamirpur where Congress candidate Rajinder Rana has queered the pitch for BJP's sitting MP Anurag Thakur.

Both BJP and Congress are busy in staging shows, but AAP volunteers prefer to meet voters rather than holding stage shows, which are an old tactic to woo the silent voters as each voter is intelligent, said Ghirdari Lal Batra, father of Capt Vikram Batra.

“Apart from Gopal Rai and Sanjay Singh, we expect Arvind Kejriwal will come for campaigning in Hamirpur and Kangra for which the dates are not fixed”, said Kamal Kanta Batra. “We expect Gul Panag from Chandigarh to campaign here”, Batra added.

During the campaign, AAP has discovered a growing resentment against the BJP and the Congress as these have no new agenda for the people, claimed Batra.

“Young voters, women and ex-servicemen, government employees and farmers will vote for us as there is no 'Modi factor' in Himachal”, added AAP volunteers.

It is learnt that AAP has kept Shimla candidate Subhash Chander on hold as he is a defaulter and has dubious background, said DR Kashyap, another AAP ticket aspirant from Shimla.

AAP has sought to change Shimla's Subhash Chander and Mandi's Jai Chand Thakur as both are week and have failed to catch the fancy of the voters, he added.

Kamal Kanta Batra and Kangra candidate Rajan Sushant would file their nominations on April 17, said the party sources.

Mandi, April 14
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate from the Mandi constituency Jai Chand Thakur has said the party will pose a strong challenge from here in the elections.

Talking to mediapersons here last evening, he said, "The main aim of AAP is to establish swaraj and a corruption-free society, and the party is busy in the election campaign and getting a good response from the public."

He said, "People are fed up with the BJP and the Congress and are looking for an alternative. AAP is proving to be a new ray of hope as the party has begun a new and different type of politics in the country centering on the common man."

Setting aside any controversy regarding his nomination in the local unit, Jai Chand said, "There is no controversy about my nomination for the Mandi seat as my name has been approved by the party on merit; party workers are with me and I will file nomination papers on April 18."

Chamba, April 14
Expenditure Observer (EO) for the Kangra Lok Sabha constituency Abhay Kumar today said election officials who performed well in their duties would get appreciation, while those showing laxity in their assignments would be taken to task.

He said this while addressing a meeting of Assistant Returning Officers and other officers heading teams related to the election process.

Kumar said the flying squads and the Static Surveillance Teams should make sure that they file their daily reports.

He said these should be forwarded to the District Election Officer, Expenditure Observers, General Observers and Assistant Expenditure Observers, apart from the Superintendent of Police.

The Assistant Expenditure Observers would be totally held accountable for their areas, he said.

The Expenditure Observer said the banks had also been directed to send their daily report about the deposit and withdrawal of an amount of Rs 50,000 or above.

Later, he interacted with the Media Certification and Monitoring Committee and inspected the control rooms.

Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Election Officer Kadam Sandeep Vasant, Superintendent of Police DK Chaudhary, Assistant Returning Officers and other election officials of the district attended the meeting.

Kangra, April 14
State Urban Development Minister Sudhir Sharma today lambasted former Irrigation and Public Health (IPH) Minister Ravinder Ravi for misleading people over the Central University of Himachal Pradesh (CUHP) issue. He made it clear that the CUHP would come up at Dharamsala at any cost.

Sudhir was addressing Congress workers at the Jodha Mal Sarai here today. He said the state government had already identified the land for the CUHP at Dharamsala and a proposal was submitted to the HRD Ministry by the state government in this regard. The foundation stone of the project site would be laid soon after the expiry of the model code of conduct.

Sudhir criticised Ravinder for making a public statement that the university would come up at Dehra and Narendra Modi would lay the foundation stone of the same. He described such statements as misleading, baseless and wishful thinking of the BJP leadership of the state.

Sudhir said the UPA government had sanctioned the CUHP, but the BJP government allegedly because of its wrong policies left the project for years together. He said when the Congress government, led by Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, made a focal point to establish it at Dharamsala and identified the land for the university project, it disturbed the poll scenario for BJP candidate Anurag Thakur in the Hamirpur constituency.

Sudhir categorically denied that the university would ever come up in Dehra as most of the land identified for the purpose was a ‘bird sanctuary’. He, however, said some streams of the CUHP, including medical and engineering ones, would be set up at Dehra and a proposal in this regard was submitted to the HRD Ministry.

He said during the BJP regime, the PWD Divisional Office was shifted from the DRPGMC, Tanda, to Balakrupi and the orders were reversed by the present Congress government because it was an anti-people decision.

He said projects such as the CUHP, NIFT, Food and Crafts Institute and DRPGMC and its Rs 150-crore superspecialty hospital were part of contribution of the Congress government.

Sudhir asked Congress workers to launch an awareness campaign at the grossroots level to make people apprise of the achievements of the UPA I and II.

Shimla, April 14
Governor Urmila Singh and Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh have congratulated people of the state on the occasion of 66th Himachal Day.

They hoped that the state marched rapidly on the path to prosperity and gained new heights, emerging as a role model of development for other hill states.

Shimla/Chamba, April 14
Tension gripped the remote Holi village in the tribal area of Chamba as a mediaperson and some other protesters were allegedly attacked by promoters of the 180-MW Bajoli-Holi hydropower project.

Environmentalists and local tribals are opposed to the project and allege that the government has allotted the project without looking into aspects such as rehabilitation of the oustees. They also expressed resentment over the permission given to the promoters to change the site.

Several women groups have also joined the struggle against the project.

Rahul Saxena, an activist working with the Himdhara environmental group, alleged, "Promoters are intimidating protesters and using repressive measures. Recently 31 women from four mahila mandals of the Holi panchayat were arrested by the police and taken 70 km away to the district headquarters at Chamba. However, even after they were released on bail by the court next day, the women have refused to relent and are still holding a protest at the site."

“The project is harmful for the fragile hill ecology of the area and will threaten the livelihood of the local population,” he said. He said that a local mediaperson, Dileepa Ram, was attacked by a contractor working at the project site today and that he had lodged an FIR at the Bharmaur police station and also demanded security.

The women groups have written a letter to political parties, seeking their intervention in protecting the rights of tribal people. They have also alleged highhandedness of the project authorities.

The project site has been shifted from the earlier proposed location at the right side of the Ravi, where no habitation exists, to the left side without addressing the issue of compensation and rehabilitation of the ousted people. The women groups have alleged “criminal intimidation and violence” in Holi. 

Shimla/Manali, April 14
With no provision to run the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) or electric buses and taxis, the Manali Hoteliers’ Association (MHA) and the Manali Paryavaran and Vikas Mandal (MPVM) have requested National Green Tribunal (NGT) chairman Swatantra Kumar to review the order of banning the entry of vehicles beyond Vashisht Barrier.

They said the order would spell doom for the local tourism industry, as it was the only source of livelihood for them. The movement of those living beyond this barrier would also be affected, they added.

The MHA and the MPVM, an umbrella body of taxi operators and tourism stakeholders, have shot off a joint memorandum, a copy of which is with The Tribune, requesting the NGT chairman to reconsider the order issued on February 6, 2014.

MHA president AR Thakur said: “Villagers from Kothi, Shanag, Burwa, Palchan, Solang and other areas frequent Manali to buy their items of daily needs. Not only this, they frequent the town to visit the hospital or send their wards to school.”

Residents said the government had already set up a green tax barrier at the entry point of Manali, which can be used to check pollution emitted by vehicles. “The second checkpost could be installed at Gulaba to avoid inconvenience to local residents,” they suggested.

“Plying CNG or electric vehicles from Vashisht onwards is only a dream. Not even a single CNG vehicle exists in Himachal, as it is impractical on a hilly terrain,” they said.

Ved Ram Thakur, vice-president, MPVM, and pradhan, Shanag gram panchayat, said: “The abrupt shift to CNG or electric transport will render hundreds of taxi operators without work. Not only this, tribals, including farmers of Lahaul-Spiti, depend on the Manali-Rohtang highway to transport their produce. They will face hardships due to the move.”

AR Thakur said: “The proposed ropeway from Vashisht to Rohtang will be availed only by high-end tourists. We welcome the order to decongest Rohtang for tourists by opening the Bhrigu Lake area, Hamta Pass, Chanderkhani Pass, Bijli Mahadev peak, Ranisui lake, Loma Dugh and Gautam Shila. But shifting the fuel system from Bharat Stage-III to BS-IV norms should be taken up in a phased manner. The abrupt shift will render thousands of vehicles off road and financially burden the public.”

The NGT has ordered that public transport, army and government vehicles, which have to cross the Rohtang Pass, will be issued permits and these vehicles will not be stationed at the Rohtang Pass glacier.

The Rohtang Pass is a gateway to Lahaul-Spiti and is a lifeline for shepherds and pilgrims to Triloknath, Buddhist gompas and monasteries.

They cited a report of Physical Research Lab, Ahmedabad, saying: “No black carbon imprint has been detected at the Rohtang Pass. Secondly, there is no glacier in the radius of 10 km of the Rohtang Pass, according to a study by Milap Chand Sharma, Professor of Glacial Geomorphology, JNU, New Delhi.”

“There is no industry in Manali which causes pollution,” they said, adding that the movement of vehicles had not impacted the flow of the Beas as per the trend in annual discharge of the river as recorded by the BBMB. “We welcome the forestation in the upper areas and will make it a success,” they assured the NGT.

Solan, April 14
The three-day holiday in national banks from April 13 to 15 has caused a lot of inconvenience to people in the state.

As per the Negotiable Instruments Act, banks cannot stay closed for more than two days at a stretch. However, banks were closed yesterday owing to a Sunday and various national banks have declared a holiday today in view of Ambedkar Jayanti. Moreover, tomorrow is also a holiday in the state in view of Himachal Day.

Raman Kumar, who works in an insurance company and has to make financial transactions every day, said April 15 is celebrated as Himachal Day every year and so, banks should have abstained from declaring today a holiday.

“As the Central government has declared a holiday today in view of Ambedkar Jayanti, the head offices of all the banks are observing a holiday. However, the list of holidays available with the banks here had not listed today as a holiday,” said an official of a leading insurance company.

Traders, industry executives and students were a harassed lot as even ATMs could not be refurbished with cash, which exhausted in two days. However, all cooperative banks of the state were open today as the state government had not declared a holiday today.

It is reliably learnt that a complaint was made to the Reserve Bank of India’s Shimla office about the defiance of the Negotiable Instruments Act. An employee of a cooperative bank said Banking Division of the Ministry of Finance too had directed banks to not stay closed for more than two consecutive days. 

Norms flouted

As per the Negotiable Instruments Act, banks cannot stay closed for more than two days at a stretch. It is reliably learnt that a complaint was made to the Reserve Bank of India’s Shimla office about the defiance of the Act. An employee of a cooperative bank said the Banking Division of the Ministry of Finance too had directed banks to not stay closed for more than two consecutive days. .

Una, April 14
A shopkeeper of Lathiani village was killed after being hit by a Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) bus here today.

As per a police note, the deceased, identified as Ashwani Kumar, was going to his shop on a scooter at about 5 am.

His scooter was hit in the market area by the bus (HP-67-1508), which was going from Hamirpur to Jalandhar.

A case under Sections 279 and 304-A, IPC, has been registered against bus driver Mukesh Kumar of Kehdru in Hamirpur district.

Nahan, April 14
A Static Surveillance Team, led by MR Chauhan, Tehsildar, Paonta Sahib, confiscated Rs 26 lakh from an Innova car (DL-3CJ-8306) at the Behral inter-state barrier in Paonta Sahib sub-division at 12 am today.

"The team, which has been set up to check poll-related irregularities, has referred the case to the Income Tax Department as the occupants of the vehicle could not present any documentary proof for the source of money, though they claimed it had been withdrawn to pay wages to the employees of a private company," said Vikas Labroo, Deputy Commissioner, Sirmaur.

He said people should carry documents related to the source of money while transporting cash over Rs 50,000 in view of the model code of conduct. He said if the cash exceeded Rs 10 lakh, such cases would be referred to the Income Tax Department for necessary action.

The directions are especially meant for people affiliated to various political parties.

Various teams, including flying squads and Static Surveillance Teams, equipped with cameras to record videos related to such instances, are functioning under a magistrate to check unfair means in the elections in the district.

With the Paonta Sahib-Kala Amb belt housing a large number of industrial units, large cash transactions are a routine. 

Kangra, April 14
Five persons were arrested under the NDPS Act at Dehra and two were held under the Excise Act (one each at Baldar and Baijnath) during the past 24 hours, the police said here today.

The police said four persons were arrested this morning at Hanuman Chowk at Dehra, when the police recovered 100 bottles of corex and 8,208 capsules of spasmo-proxyvon plus from them. The Santro car (HP-51B-0723) used in the crime was also impounded by the police. All four accused, identified as Amit Sharma of Julhard (Fathepur), Aksham Kumar of Tazara (Nurpur), Amit Kumar of Chamral Rehan (Nurpur) and Rajeev Kumar of Deenilarth (Kangra) were arrested under Sections 21, 22, 61 and 89, NDPS Act, the police said.

Surender Kumar of Kangra was arrested by the police under the NDPS Act today at Dehra and 4.580 gm of smack was recovered from him.

The police arrested Kashmir Singh of Kholi village under Sections 39 and 33 of the HP Excise Act, 2011, and recovered 2,250 ml country liquor from him, the police said.

In another case, the police recovered 9,000 ml country liquor from Dinesh Sharma of Trehal, Baijnath, who was arrested under Sections 39 and 33 of the HP Excise Act, 2011. 

Kullu, April 14
The District Kullu Chess Association (DKCA) organised a district chess tournament at the Kala Kendra here yesterday.

Over 30 players participated in the competition under the senior and under-9 categories. Vishal Sood, vice-president, New Himachal Truck Union, Kullu, was the chief guest on the occasion.

Lalit Vaidya emerged victorious in the senior category and Aditya Thakur in the under-9. Players for the state tournament were also selected during the event.

DKCA president Arun Kamboj emphasised on the importance of participating rather than on winning or losing. 

Baijnath, April 14
Residents of Baijnath and Paprola towns today lodged a strong protest over the poor sanitary conditions and regular traffic jams. They alleged that the state government was giving a step-motherly treatment to the twin towns and no steps were initiated to set up a municipal council and construct a bye-pass.

Prominent citizens of both towns, while addressing mediapersons at Baijnath, said sanitary conditions there had gone from bad to worse for the past one year. They said heaps of garbage could be seen littered in every nook and corner and were not removed for days together. They said both the towns were governed by panchayats which had no resources to keep these clean, install street lights and create a proper drainage system. Therefore, the government should make an alternative arrangement.

The residents also lodged their concern over regular traffic jams on the narrow Pathankot-Mandi national highway passing through the towns. They said despite assurances given by the Chief Minister, no steps were initiated to construct a bye-pass to divert the traffic and save them from inconvenience.

Baijnath also happens to be a famous tourist town as thousands of foreign and domestic tourists come here to visit the ancient Shiva Temple built in the 12th century. Baijnath is also a sub-divisional headquarters with two dozen important offices of the state government. Still it is devoid of all basic amenities.

As there is no municipal council in both the towns, these are governed by half a dozen panchayats which have no funds to recruit sweepers . A spokesman of the Baijnath and Paprola Beopar Mandal said the mandal had extended financial support to the panchayats to pay the salaries of sweepers. Still the panchayats were not able to manage the affairs of the towns.

Sundernagar, April 14
Suket Cine Co-operative Society Limited held its annual general meeting here yesterday.

Society president Bhim Singh Sen said a report pertaining to different social works done by it in 2013, along with financial details, was tabled before the House.

Society members, who have completed 70 years of age, were honoured. They were presented a shawl on the occasion.

These members included Justice DP Sood (retd), Bhup Singh, Yudhvir Singh, Dayawanti Awasthi, Madhav Singh, Roop Singh Prashar, Capt Rajinder Singh Guleria (retd), Geeta Devi, Dharam Singh Prashar and Prem Singh. It was unanimously resolved that the society would do more social works in the future.

Chamba, April 14
A day before the Himachal Day celebrations on April 15, some parts of Chamba town did not get water supply for 24 hours. Residents had to face a lot of inconvenience in meeting their requirement of drinking water.

Residents of the Jansali area, including the Kharura vicinity of the town, said they were witnessing the problem at a time when the activities related to the Lok Sabha elections were in full swing.

An Irrigation and Public Health (IPH) Department official, on the helpline number 222310, said the water supply pipe had burst and as soon as it was repaired, the supply would be restored. Another official on the same phone number, however, said there was no complaint of disruption in water supply from anywhere in the town, except a complaint from the Kharura vicinity.