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Over 48 lakh likely to cast vote
today
Constituency watch |
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Politics over apple continues in state
CM confident of clean sweep
People will give befitting reply to vendetta politics: Dhumal
Russian envoy grateful to Modi for investment
Rohtang
pass
Tribals in 3 polling stations to boycott LS poll
Residents against setting up of cement plant in Nerwa
Girls bag top positions in state education board XII exams
Prisoners, undertrials barred from casting
vote
‘CM emerged star campaigner’
Power projects threat to tribal areas of Kinnaur
Tough contest in Solan, Sirmaur
In Nagrota Bagwan, Congress cashes in on Bali’s clout
Handcuffing/Chaining of Ailing
Undertrial
It’s a relaxed day for leaders after month-long campaigning
World Asthma Day observed
Nature study camp begins in Dalhousie
Two polling booths live on Youtube today
‘BJP, Cong failed to get funds for state'
Voting sees exodus of labour force to native places
Mining mafia continue to have a field day in Sundernagar
‘EVMs to be kept under strict vigil’
Cong luring voters: Dhumal
Anurag accused of hiding info in affidavit
Workshop for voters Shanta thanks voters
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Over 48 lakh likely to cast vote
today
Shimla, May 6 Though rigging or use of muscle power is unheard of in the peaceful state, the fact that 41 polling booths witnessed over 90 per cent polling did cast suspicion. It is abnormally the high voting percentage which has led to these booths being placed in the critical category. The highest number 19 of such critical booths are in Shimla district followed by 16 in Bilaspur district. There are five such booths in Sirmaur and only one in Chamba district. Sources confirmed that one of the polling booths at Kiar Koti, falling in the Kasumpti constituency on the suburbs of the state capital, registered 98 per cent polling in the December 2012 polls. To everyone's surprise, 93 per cent of these votes were cast in favour of the sitting Congress MLA Anirudh Singh. Though there was no complaint or demand for a re-poll, the exceptionally high voter turnout placed the booth in the critical category. Though there is no apprehension of any violence during the poll, the BJP, which is in the opposition here, has demanded deployment of paramilitary forces in Haroli represented by Industries Minister Mukesh Agnihotri. A total of 48,13,071 voters (24,77,430 male and 23,35,641 female), including 84,461 first-time voters, will exercise their franchise tomorrow. Out of a total of 7,384 polling booths, 352 have been declared hyper-sensitive and 999 sensitive. Two auxiliary polling booths have also been set up. While Mandi has the highest number of 1,985 polling booths, Shimla has 1,922, Kangra has 1,795 and Hamirpur has 1,660. Twelve model booths have been set up in each 12 districts. The first-time voter of India, Shyam Saran, will again cast his vote at Kalpa in the tribal district of Kinnaur. Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Narinder Chauhan said all polling parties and election material had reached the polling booths in tribal and far-flung areas. A polling party of seven persons bound for the Bara Bhangal area of Baijnath in Kangra district was airlifted to the polling station. About 10,000 policemen, 6,000 Home Guards, 45 companies of central security forces, 1,400 Home Guards from other states and 30,000 polling staff from the state government have been deployed on poll duty. The polling for the Lok Sabha as well as the Sujanpur Assembly bypoll will take place on May 7. MANDI:
All arrangements have been completed for the polling in Mandi tomorrow. The polling will be held between 7 am and 6 pm. As many as 76 polling stations have been declared hyper-sensitive and 201 sensitive while 1,708 polling booths are ordinary. Seventeen model polling stations have also been set up in the constituency. Total 1,985 polling stations have been set up in 17 Assembly segments of this constituency and 9,130 employees have been deployed for the polling duty. Deputy Commissioner Mandi-cum Returning Officer Devesh Kumar said, "To maintain law and order during the polling, 3,894 police personnel and 38 sections of paramilitary forces have been deployed." There are total 11,40,489 voters out of which 5,79,786 are male voters and 5,60, 753 are women voters, including 9,919 service voters. To reach two polling stations - Batwada in Sunder Nagar and Banhei in the Darang Assembly segments, the polling staff will have to walk 10 km to set up polling stations.
— TNS Critical booth Kiar Koti in Kasumpti registered 98 per cent polling in the December 2012 poll. To everyone's surprise, 93 per cent of these votes were cast in favour of the sitting Congress MLA Anirudh Singh. Though there was no complaint, the exceptionally high voter turnout placed the booth in the critical category.
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Keen BJP-Cong contest on the cards in Shimla
Bhanu P Lohumi Tribune News Service
Shimla, May 6 Both parties did vigorous campaigning in the constituency spread over three districts of Shimla, Solan and Sirmaur. Narendra Modi and Rahul Gandhi addressed rallies at Solan, while BJP chief Rajnath Singh addressed a rally at Nahan. Virender Kashyap, sitting BJP MLA, who won the seat for the first time in 2009, is seeking re-election and has a daunting task at hand to retain the seat, while the Congress has pooled all its resources to wrest the seat. The presence of CPM candidate Jagat Ram could cut into Congress votes, while AAP candidate Subhash Chand may corner some BJP votes. Out of 17 segments falling in this constituency, seven Assembly seats are in Shimla and five each in Solan and Sirmaur. The BJP is concentrating in Solan and Sirmaur districts where it won six out of 10 seats, while the Congress is pinning hopes on Shimla district, the home district of the Chief Minister, to neutralise gains of the BJP in Sirmaur and Solan districts. The sprawling constituency has 11,53,363 voters, including 6,71,131 men and 5,46,232 women, and the Congress has lost this seat only thrice since 1967. But the fact that the Congress is in power in the state is working in its favour as Himachal has a history of going with the party in power in the state. The BJP has been able to take the slogan “Ab ki bar, Modi sarkar” to all parts of the country, but it is difficult to gauge the sway in favour of Modi, especially in rural and remote pockets. The Congress had fared badly in the Assembly elections in Sirmaur and won one out of five seats. In Solan district, the party was behind the BJP with two out of five seats and its MLA from Doon is in jail in the Jyoti murder case. It is “Modi versus Virbhadra” in this constituency and the percentage of polling will have a material bearing of the outcome of the poll and as such, both the BJP and the Congress are making efforts to ensure that all their votes are polled. Bad road conditions, import of cheap apple, corruption, price rise and access to quality education are the key issues in this constituency and both major parties harped on this issue during the campaign. The Congress has a strong presence in Rohru, Chopal and Shimla (Rural) Assembly constituencies, while the BJP is eyeing Nahan and Rajgarh Assembly segments which it wrested for the first time in 2012 Assembly polls. The sitting MLAs and defeated party candidates of the BJP and the Congress in all Assembly segments are holding the fort at a local level, while the CPM is concentrating on a few pockets and depending on the support of trade unions, its youth and student wings (DYFI and SFI). The ABVP and the BJYM actively participated in the campaign to boost the prospects of the BJP, while the Youth Congress and the NSUI were fully involved in the campaign. While BJYM national president Anurag Thakur who is contesting the election from Hamirpur was tied down to his constituency, state Youth Congress president Vikramaditya Singh, son of Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, runs a parallel campaign.
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Politics over apple continues in state
Shimla, May 6 The apple is mainly imported into the state from the US, China and Chile and farmers fear that the lifting of 50 per cent import duty and one per cent surcharge on foreign apple would spell doom for the Rs 3,200-crore apple economy in the state. They have been consistently demanding the increase in import duty to stop the influx of foreign apples. Rakesh Singha, CPM secretary and president of Himachal Apple Growers’ Association, said: “The empty rhetoric and promise will not help farmers. The BJP as well as the Congress should be clear whether they will protect farmers and give subsidies on inputs, fertilisers, insecticides and issue support price for various fruits or not.” Even BJP leader and former horticulture minister, Narender Bragta has dared Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and horticulture minister Vidya Stokes to debate on what they have done for the apple economy during their respective tenures? In India, farmers can store only 45 lakh cartons in cold or controlled atmospheric stores (CAS). On the other hand, the Congress dispelled growers’ fears saying that the BJP and CPM were creating panic among growers as there was no move to lift trade barriers on the import of apples and the foreign import would not hit the fruit in the state directly. HPMC vice-chairman Prakash Thakur said: “The apple from the US is being sold at Rs 3,500 per carton, while the Kinnauri apple is being sold at Rs 3,600 per carton. The import duty of 50 per cent and one per cent surcharge will continue.” Bragta said Modi had chalked out a plan for farmers during his Solan rally. “We have set up anti-hail guns after technical experts’ recommendation at sabzi mandi in Parala, HPMC processing plant at Guma and Parwanoo. Not only this, we have removed 7 per cent commission charged from growers by arhtiyas in Delhi,” he claimed. Reacting to Bragta’s claims, Prakash Thakur said the BJP government did not spend even a penny from the state budget. “We paid Rs 29.68 crore to the HPMC from Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA). The anti-hail guns are not a proven technology and they are funded from the Centre. The BJP sold multi-crore Guma carton factory for peanuts and failed to provide funds for Parala sabzi mandi as Rs 100 crore was to be raised from the Asian Development Bank. It was the Congress government which gave processing plants and gave support price to farmers,” he claimed. Singha, however, said: “Neither Modi nor Gandhi talked about how farmers would keep the trade barriers which will be removed under the World Trade Organisation (WTO). The clause will be over after four years, then how will they give subsidies to farmers once this transition period ends in 2018?” To this, Prakash Thakur replied: “The Centre will do the give-and-take exercise once the WTO countries sit down for the next round of talks in the near future as there is no move to lift import duty on apples.” |
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CM confident of clean sweep
Shimla, May 6 He said contrary to propaganda, UPA government had undertaken several historic decisions and empowered people through the Right to Education, the Right to Food Security and the Right to Information, besides MGNREGA, road construction and housing for the poor. “I have never believed in personal attacks as it is a political fight. I have no animosity against anyone, but the Dhumals have left no stone unturned to level personal attacks against me and my family members. I too can say a lot and level charges against them, but I will not do so,” he said. He said the campaign was based on facts and figures and not abstract charges, the kind being levelled by the BJP. “The tirade launched by the BJP against me and my family does not affect me as the people of the state know me for the last five decades,” he said. Dismissing speculation that the Dhumal and Anurag had been made victims of political vendetta, he said the investigation should have been complete much earlier, but it took the investigating agencies a long time. “The investigation got delayed due to one or the other reason and at times due to court intervention so it is a mere coincidence that the charge-sheet or cases were filed around election time,” he said. Virbhadra also dismissed assumptions that there was a so-called Modi wave in India, leave aside Himachal. “This was clearly evident from the poor attendance at three Modi rallies and it was only RSS cadres and BJP workers who were present,” he remarked. Though he admitted that the Congress was putting up a united fight, he felt that a policy of pick and choose had been adopted in taking back rebels without applying mind. “All leaders and party workers should have been taken back in one lot in the interest of the party,” he said. |
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People will give befitting reply to vendetta politics: Dhumal
Shimla, May 6 Asserting that the situation was different this time, he told The Tribune that the people had realised the blunder committed by them by not voting the BJP in the Assembly poll in 2012 and were determined to rectify their mistake ensuring overwhelming victory of the BJP and ushering in era of for good governance. Framing of chargesheet in the HPCA case 10 days before the polling would backfire as “people are aware that it is a sinister move to malign BJP leaders during the poll”. It was time to compare development works carried out during the six years of the NDA rule and 60 years of the Congress' and even a layman would give credit to the NDA government and the BJP government in Himachal, he claimed. Dhumal said Himachal was on the threshold of a new era of development and it was a matter of a few days that people would see the new dawn and corrupt and non-performing UPA government would be out of power. The people would also teach a lesson to Congress leaders for degeneration of political debate to all-time low, he said, adding that politics of vindictiveness would also get a burial. Banking on the Modi wave, Dhumal said it was discernible in every nook and corner of the state and workers left no stone unturned to ensure victory of candidates which demoralised the Congress. The issues of corruption, unemployment, internal and external security, rising prices and discrimination against the state by the Centre registered well with voters who became emissaries of the BJP in the run-up to the poll, he added. |
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Russian envoy grateful to Modi for investment
Shimla, May 6 “Russia has had historical relations with the Congress and has the highest regards for Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi and in case of Modi too, we did not ask for forgiveness unlike some others,” he remarked. “I do not see any political party, including the Congress, the BJP or even the so-called Third Front, being averse to cordial relations with Russia which is based on a deep-rooted mutual friendship which has withstood the test of time,” he remarked. "I am confident India will choose the right government which will further strengthen the bonds between the two countries and take forwards the partnership in many areas such as the ongoing nuclear programmes in South India," he said. He said the only immediate remedy to the current aggravating situation is intra-Ukraine dialogue between the authorities and the region which were demanding justice. He said almost 80 per cent of the Russian-speaking population in the southern and eastern Ukraine were against Kiev and want justice. Kadakin, who also called on Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, here today expressed concern over the unsatisfactory progress in making the International Roerich Memorial Trust (IRMT) at Naggar in Kullu a vibrant cultural centre. “It is time to understand that this monument and bridge which Roerich established at Naggar should be preserved,” he opined. Highlighting the importance of the IRMT for Russia, he said even President Putin had echoed similar sentiments at the Russian Summit in Kremlin in October last when he had said the joint heritage of the Roerichs in India must be preserved by the two nations. He said a mega event was being planned to mark the 140th anniversary of Nicholas Roerich and cultural troupes from Russia would come and perform here. |
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Fresh snowfall may affect
polling
Dharam Prakash Gupta Tribune News Service
Keylong (Mandi), May 6 A resident, who crossed the Rohtang Pass this morning, said, "Due to fresh snowfall on the Rohtang Pass, the road has become slippery, affecting the movement of vehicles as these have to pass through snow wall as high as 10 feet.” “After the restoration of traffic on the road, about 40 Sumo vehicles and the HRTC buses were transporting residents every day from Manali to Keylong,” he added. The personnel of the General Reserve Engineers’ Force (GREF) working for the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) had opened the Rohtang Pass on May 3, working day and night to restore vehicular traffic to the district before polling on May 7. Opening of the pass had restored vehicular traffic on the road after about six months as small vehicles and Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) buses had started plying on the route the same day. About 5,000 residents from Lahaul and Spiti migrate every year before the closing of the Rohtang Pass with snow to Manali and Kullu to escape harsh winter in the district. All these residents were eagerly waiting to return to the district to participate in the polling and some of them are planning to return today or tomorrow. BS Thakur, Deputy Commissioner, Lahaul and Spiti, said, “The Rohtang Pass is open to vehicular traffic and vehicles are coming to Keylong as GERF personnel are maintaining a check on the road.” He said, “All arrangements for the polling have been made. All polling parties have reached and we have received 100 per cent reports from them.” There is a total of 22,534 voters in the district and 90 polling stations (62 in Lahaul and 28 in Spiti) have been set up, including the country’s highest polling station at Hikkim, at a height of 15,000 feet.
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Tribals in 3 polling stations to boycott LS poll
Shimla, May 6 All words of persuasion of the poll teams deployed by the district returning officer, Lahaul-Spiti have failed to cut any ice with the remote villagers so far. Villagers insisted that they had no alternative other than boycotting the polls, said Chering and Sonam, local residents. The villagers resent that no candidate came here even during Assembly polls, leave alone the Lok Sabha elections. This time, no candidate - Congress' Pratibha Singh, wife of Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and BJP's Ram Swaroop, came for campaigning in Lahaul-Spiti, which falls in the Mandi parliamentary constituency, the tribals rued. Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and BJP leader of Opposition PK Dhumal flew in choppers to canvass in other parts of the state. But they did not bother to address even a single meeting in Lahaul-Spiti this time, said the residents. China has built a road near the border in Ladakh-Spiti sector, but the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) takes four months to open the Rohtang Pass. The strategic 8.82-km-long Rohtang tunnel project has missed the deadline for completion in 2015, they pointed out. The tribals of Challing, which has 115 voters and Karpat, which has 251 voters in the Miyar valley, which was hit by devastating flash floods last year, demand a staff of three teachers to teach three children enrolled in the primary school there as two teachers have been transferred elsewhere recently. The bridge across the river there is yet to be completed even after years, they resented. Similarly, tribals of Jasrath in Pattan valley, which has 126 voters, have announced boycott of polls tomorrow. They resented that the BJP and Congress governments failed to provide a link road to the villages in the area and they have to walk long distances to reach their destination. The Lingat polling station in Pattan has just 34 voters, lowest in the state, while Kaza polling stations has 710 voters, the highest in the tribal district. BS Thakur, DC-cum-returning officer, Lahaul-Spiti, said the teams had been deployed to persuade the villagers to cast their vote tomorrow. "We expect voters will come out and vote as we are trying to convince them that they should participate in the democratic process," he added. Similarly, the poll parties have reached snow-covered polling stations in Charang, Nako and Gimlu areas in upper Kinnaur, said DC, Kinnaur, DK Sharma. Hikkim, world's highest polling station n Poll parties have reached Hikkim in Spiti, the world's highest polling station located at a height of 14,567 feet. It falls in the Mandi constituency, the second largest Lok Sabha constituency after Barmer in the country. Lahaul-Spiti has more women voters - 11,300, than male voters - 11,281, enrolled in 90 polling stations, said District Returning Officer BS Thakur. Wireless sets have been given to the poll parties for free and fair polls, he added.
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Residents against setting up of cement plant in Nerwa
Chopal (Shimla), May 6 LR Chauhan, a retired administrative officer, who has an apple orchard in Chopal, said: “It will be an ecological disaster and will ruin the apple economy. We will oppose the cement plant tooth and nail.” Residents said the government had proposed a second cement plant to be set up by India Cements Limited near Gumma against which they had now formed an anti-cement plant sangharsh samiti. Chopal has dense deodar jungles and is home to the Churdhar Wildlife Sanctuary, which is a pilgrimage centre for devotees of Shirgul and Bijjat Maharaj devta, the protestors said. “A cement factory in such an area is highly undesirable and we will request Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh to review this decision and remove the plant,” they added. They said the two cement plants, that are just 20 km apart, would be disastrous for the ecology. The cement plant at Gumma, for which the state government signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Reliance, lies close to Nerwa. This would definitely affect a large area, the residents said. From Kaidi, Piuntra and Thekra to Bharanu, Kiri, Shaak and Tharoach, the lower Shavli valley has also emerged as a new fruit and vegetable basket in Chopal. The Shilgrahan, Shantha, Dewat, Dhareuli, Khagna, Bodhna, Shilikain, Pabaas, Maraog, Bamta, Hambal and other areas have fruit orchards. Their protest is justified as nano-dust particles that release from the chimneys and mining site of the cement plant deposit on crops and grass impairing the photosynthesis process. “The fine particles cause skin and eyes allergies and can be cancerous in the long run,” said Jagdish Thakur, an orchardist citing various studies on the ill effects of cement plants as witnessed in the Barmana cement plant areas. Dr Mohan S Rathaur, a retired history professor, who lives near the proposed cement plant site in Bharanu, said: “The government’s plea that the cement plant will give employment is unacceptable, as it will wreak irreversible havoc to the area’s pollution-free ecology. It will be a disaster for the apple and vegetable economy and will benefit the mining mafias
and truckers.” On the other hand, officials in the Industries Department said the company had done its investigation and would prepare a detailed project report to move its case with the government and the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) to get an approval. They said it would also address people’s grievances. |
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Girls bag top positions in state education board XII exams
Dharamsala, May 6 Board secretary Balbir Thakur said 1,07,208 students had appeared in the Class XII examinations this year, of whom 71,653 were declared pass. Another 19,920 students were declared pass with compartment. The total pass percentage in the exams remained at 67.1 per
cent. Balbir said students could apply for re-evaluation or re-checking by May 20. The board would charge Rs 200 for re-evaluation and Rs 150 for re-checking, he said. In the science stream, Supriya Aggarwal from Him Academy Public School,
Hamirpur, topped by securing 484 marks (out of 500). Sakshi of Government Senior Secondary School, Chowari
(Chamba), secured the second place by scoring 483 marks. Ishant Jindal of Him Sarvodaya Senior Secondary School, Ghumarwin
(Bilaspur district), and Shubham Gupta of Blue Star Senior Secondary Public School,
Hamirpur, bagged the third position by securing 481 marks. In the arts stream, Anita Rani of Government Senior Secondary School, Pandoga (Una), topped by securing 450 marks. Ritu Parmar of Government Senior Secondary, Ghanari (Una), was second by scoring 446 marks. Damini Rana of Government Senior Secondary School, Kotla (Kangra), and Pooja Thakur of Government Senior Secondary School,
Anni, remained at the third position by securing 443 marks. In the commerce stream, the top four positions were bagged by students of Career Academy
Senior Secondary School, Nahan (Sirmaur). Aayushi Bansal topped by securing 472 marks followed by Raghav Manuja who got the second position (470 marks), Shubhankar Srivastava third (465) and Keshav Lohia fourth (462). In the vocational stream, Anuradha of Government Senior Secondary school, Nankhari (Shimla), topped by securing 678 (800) marks. Ankita Goyal of Government Senior Secondary School, Banjar
(Kullu), got the second place by scoring 676 marks. Subesh Kumar of Government Senior Secondary School, Jogindernagar
(Mandi), remained at the third position by scoring 668 marks. |
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Prisoners, undertrials barred from casting
vote
Shimla, May 6 These prisoners are barred from voting under Section 62(5) of the People’s Representation Act, 1951, and only those under preventive detention can be permitted to vote. There is no jail inmate under preventive detention and hence, no voting by jail inmates, officials of the Election Department maintained. As per the PRI, “No person shall vote at any election if he is confined in a prison, whether under a sentence of imprisonment or transportation or otherwise, or is in the lawful custody of the police." “Prisoners and undertrials cannot vote. If there was any person under preventive detention, we would have made arrangements for him to vote,” says Narender Chauhan, Chief Electoral Officer. There are about 1,800 convicts and undertrials lodged in Kanda, Nahan and Bilaspur prisons and a 13-member band of convicts led by Ram Krishan, a murder convict, participated in the Republic Day parade at the historic Ridge on January 26 this year. It was a momentous day for 13 prisoners, but they would not be able to participate in the Electoral Mahasangram -2014 and remain confined to the walls of jails. However, the Election Commission has made arrangements to facilitate voting by blind persons on EVMs and also provide attendants to disabled, aged and ailing persons. There were 65 blind persons enrolled in voter lists, including 49 men and 16 women voters, and arrangements had been made for all visually impaired voters, he added. Their names had been printed on ballot papers in a sequence in Braille letters to enable them to read the serial number so that they could cast their vote, the Chief Electoral Officer said. Arrangements have been made for 100 per cent disabled persons, aged and ailing persons to cast their vote and they would be allowed “attendants” to cast their votes.
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‘CM emerged star campaigner’
Kangra, May 6 He said former CM PK Dhumal remained pinned to the Hamirpur Lok Sabha constituency for creating a congenial atmosphere for the victory of his son Anurag Thakur, who had always remained high profile and was not accessible to people of the area. Pathania alleged Anurag was always seen with cine personalities and cricket stars and now, when he was allegedly anticipating his defeat, both father and son were appeasing people of improving basic amenities. He said the campaigning by Dhumal only in the Hamirpur constituency was indicating that he feared the popularity of Rajinder Rana who was down to earth and a humble person. Contradicting comments of RS Ravi about Rana of shifting loyalities, Pathania said Rana was allegedly made a scapegoat by political vested interests to finish his political career so that a political platform for Arun Dhumal was created from the Sujanpur constituency. He charged the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) and its office-bearers with being in the hands of the BJP. He hoped that mandate of the people would go in favour of the Congress. |
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Power projects threat to tribal areas of Kinnaur
Reckong Peo (Kinnaur), May 6 The policy of successive governments to push hydropower projects in earthquake-prone seismic zone-IV has worried the tribals who are demanding that the areas above 7,000 ft in the Sutlej basin should be declared an eco-sensitive zone under the Environment Protection Act. No power project be sanctioned without obtaining an NOC from the ministries of Defence, Home and External Affairs and a ban be imposed on projects near sensitive areas and glaciers. Emphasising that due to the construction of storage dams for power projects, rivers have vanished. Environmentalists assert that the riparian distance between two projects should not be less than 5 km. Under the power policy of the government, power firms are required to release 15 per cent water downstream the dams, but Shrishti Negi, a local social worker, says that the discharge of water reduces drastically during winters and rivers and tributaries virtually go dry. “There should be the minimum construction activity and a modern tunnel boring machine (TBM) should be used and no power project should be located within a 5-km radius from human habitation and agriculture lands,” says RS Negi, president, Himlok Jagriti Manch, who has sent several representations to the government. The height of a dam should not be more than 20 m and the length of a head race tunnel not exceed 7 km to minimise environmental damage and only one project be taken up at a time within a 50-km radius. Safety tips
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Tough contest in Solan, Sirmaur
Solan, May 6 Interestingly, while the rallies registered commendable response from the voters, it remains to be seen which party benefits the most as the contest was close in Solan district, while in
Sirmaur, the Congress faced a tougher challenge. BJP's Virender Kashyap, despite having the advantage of knowing the voters as he was the sitting MP, was facing some anti-incumbency. Mohan Lal
Brakta, on the other hand being new to the voters of Solan and Sirmaur, was dependent on the party's campaigning which was kickstarted by Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh. Former Chief Minister PK Dhumal too made his presence felt in all Assembly segments of the two districts to bolster the poll prospects of
Kashyap. Since Kashyap had gained a margin of 12,290 and 20,233 from both Solan and Sirmaur districts in the last Lok Sabha poll, the number of votes he manages to get from here is crucial as it is a Congress stronghold. The BJP is heavily dependent on these two districts and the team led by party general secretary Dr Rajiv Bindal were sweating it out to ensure greater share of votes for their candidate. Though the Nalagarh Assembly segment had contributed the highest 8,394 votes in Solan district to
Kashyap, it remains to be seen if that margin can be kept intact as much has changed after the death of former BJP MLA HN
Saini. Though sitting MLA KL Thakur had won the Vidhan Sabha poll with the highest margin, no aggressive campaigning had been witnessed by either party in Nalagarh this time. With the youth showing a new enthusiasm to participate in large numbers in the poll and issues such as unemployment, education, corruption, etc, touching them to the core, it remains to be seen who benefits from this diverse situation. Equally important is the role of women for whom price rise, inflation, etc, will play a key role. |
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In Nagrota Bagwan, Congress cashes in on Bali’s clout
Dharamsala, May 6 A local leader said: “We have nothing to do with the candidate contesting, but we have to ensure the lead of the Congress in the Nagrota Bagwan constituency to ensure the victory of GS Bali and to strengthen his position in the party.” The rally was attended by HPCC president
Sukh-winder Singh Sukhu, who arrived 2 hours late. Raghubir Singh Bali, HPCC secretary and son of GS Bali, while addressing the rally said: “Nagrota Bagwan is the only Assembly constituency in the entire state that now has a government medical college and government engineering college.” He claimed that the Tanda medical college was brought to the Nagrota Bagwan Assembly constituency due to the efforts of GS Bali. “Now a government engineering college has been sanctioned for the area, the classes for which will start in the next academic session,” he said. GS Bali, while speaking on the occasion, said: “There is no wave either of Modi or any other leader in Nagrota
Bagwan. The constituency has been blessed with phenomenal development works under the Congress rule. All villages in the constituency are connected with roads,” he
said. Sukhu talked of various development projects given to Kangra by the UPA government. He claimed that the Congress had given two national-level institutes to Kangra district — Central University and
NIFT. |
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Handcuffing/Chaining of Ailing
Undertrial Vijay Arora
Shimla, May 6 They all were present today before the court, along with the erring policemen. The Acting Chief Secretary stated in his affidavit that the erring policemen (escort policemen concerned) were placed under suspension and separate departmental proceedings had been initiated against them. It was further stated that a show-cause notice had been issued to the Senior Medical Superintendent, Indira Gandhi Medical College & Hospital (IGMCH), in this matter. A Division Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Mansoor Ahmad Mir and Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan directed the Chief Secretary and the SP, Sirmaur, to file a status report regarding the action taken in departmental proceedings by May 21. In its earlier order, the court had directed the Chief Secretary, the DGP, the SP, Sirmaur, and the escort policemen concerned to appear in person before the court. In compliance with these orders, all were present before the court. The court passed this order after taking suo motu cognisance of the note of the Registrar (Judicial) of the High Court. The note put up by KS Chandel, Registrar (Judicial), High Court, said he had noticed during his visit to the IGMCH that the undertrial, undergoing treatment for skin disease, was chained to a bed. Upon inquiry, he was told that the undertrial was handcuffed/chained on the orders of the head constable. The Registrar (Judicial) had reported the matter to the court with photographs.
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It’s a relaxed day for leaders after month-long campaigning
Shimla, May 6 They remained busy making political assessment. Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, who arrived here last evening, spent his morning meeting with party leaders and workers to take the feedback. Later in the afternoon, he flew to Rampur, part of the Mandi Lok Sabha seat, where he will cast his vote tomorrow. Union Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma, who led a nationwide campaign to counter the BJP onslaught, spent a relaxed day. He will cast his vote in the state capital before returning to Delhi tomorrow. Similarly, Dhumal too spent time at his home in Samirpur in Hamirpur interacting with party workers and taking feedback from them on poll prospects of the party. His son Anurag Thakur, who is contesting from Hamirpur, spent time at home before the polling day. Both of them will cast their vote tomorrow in Samirpur. Shanta Kumar will also cast his vote at his home town, Palampur. He too spent the day at his home, overseeing poll duties assigned to workers. |
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World Asthma Day observed
Kangra, May 6 While addressing a gathering of patients, she said this year’s theme was "You can control your asthma". Dr Parveen Sharma informed patients about various treatment strategies for treatment of asthma and deliberated on a research project started at the DRPGMC, Tanda, to find out a better strategy for the management of asthma patients. He said one of the most common global disease, asthma, today affects nearly 300 million people globally as per the WHO estimates. He said 10-12 per cent of adults and 15 per cent of children were affected by the disease. In contrast to west, prevalence of asthma in developing countries was variable and low. He said in India, there was a wide variation in prevalence. Certain metropolitan cities such as Delhi have more than six per cent, Chandigarh 2.5 per cent to 6 per cent and Pune has less than 2.5 per cent prevalence. He said the increasing prevalence of asthma, particularly in the developing countries, indicates the role of environmental factors in the etiology of asthma. These included air pollution, allergies, diet, hygiene hypothesis and occupational exposure, he added.
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Nature study camp begins in Dalhousie
Dalhousie, May 6 Over 700 participants in the age group of 10 to 15 years from different states of the country are expected to participate in the trekking programme which concludes on May 31. Each group consisting of approximately 60 to 100 participants today started reporting at the youth hostel, which is the base camp. They will participate in various activities likes rock climbing, river crossing, trekking to Dainkund, Jot, Kalatop, Dalhousie itinerary and enjoy bird-watching and star gazing. So far, 101 participants, including 29 girls, from Maharashtra and Gujarat attended the camp. An eminent trekker of Dalhousie, Sukhdev Singh Bawa, was the chief guest of the valedictory function held here today. Bawa said through such treks, the YHAI had been promoting adventure tourism in Himachal in a big way. He advised the participants to become environment conscious and avoid causing damage to forest areas while passing through them. The escort of the Gujarat group, Dr Apexa Shukla, trekker Raj Kumar Mehra, field director and manager of the youth hostel Capt RS Rana (retd), co-director Kunal Joshi and camp leader Manoj Kumar Sahu were also present at the function.
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Two polling booths live on Youtube today
Kangra, May 6 The SDM said there were 197 polling booths in Kangra subdivision which include five hyper-sensitive polling booths in the Kangra Assembly segment and three in the Nagrota Bagwan. He said 13 polling booths were identified as sensitive in Kangra and 10 in the Nagrota Bagwan Assembly segment. These booths were equipped by Armed forces for carrying free and fair polls tomorrow. He said 16 micro observers were deputed in Kangra and 15 in the Nagrota Bagwan Assembly segments to keep a strict vigil on the activities in 31 sensitive and hyper-sensitive polling booths. He said 788 persons were deputed for conducting free and fair polls in 197 polling stations in the subdivision. |
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‘BJP, Cong failed to get funds for state'
Shimla, May 6 Both Modi and Rahul made empty speeches during their recent election rallies in the state saying they had special and emotional ties with people. They evaded basic issues because both parties sought to strengthen neo-liberal agenda of the Centre to get funds in the state, said Rakesh Singha, state secretary, CPM. The BJP and Congress governments failed to negotiate with the Centre to get more funds on the ground that cost of building roads and other infrastructure was much higher than in Punjab and Haryana, Singha added. The BJP and the Congress have kept people in the dark on Central issues. Their MPs including, Union Minister Anand Sharma, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and Shanta Kumar failed to get justice for the state in Parliament, charged Des Raj, convener, AAP. As a matter of fact, Himachal got just 50 per cent hike in Central funds as compared to 126 per cent given to other special category states by the 12th and 13th Finance Commission.
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Voting sees exodus of labour force to native places
Solan, May 6 Since polling is being held in various phases in states such as Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Bihar, labourers who went for a brief holiday were not allowed to come back for work here, confided a labour contractor from Baddi. He said this had created some shortage in April, adding that the situation was improving now. The BBN area accounts for 87 per cent of the total investment in the state and it contributes 50 per cent share to the state’s revenue. The migrant workforce was estimated to be around 1.5 lakh here. Since the model code of conduct had come into effect from March 5, little work under schemes like the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) was available to labourers in their parent states. With over three months having elapsed since the code of conduct was enforced, the labourers are now desperate to get work and are returning in huge numbers, said Anil Kumar, another labour contractor. |
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Mining mafia continue to have a field day in Sundernagar
Sundernagar, May 6 The material has been stacked near Ghangal aqueduct along the national highway, where policemen are generally seen during nakas. But, surprisingly, none have tried to stop illegal mining. A large number of tractors, tippers and trucks can be seen loading the mineral, but no one has stopped these so far. Residents said the practice was rampant for the past several days, adding that they had informed the officers several times, but to no avail. A source in Mandi
said the checking of every vehicle was not possible as the Mining Department was facing a staff crunch. On the other hand, the police claim that most of them were busy in election duties, hence, were unable to check vehicles. |
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‘EVMs to be kept under strict vigil’
Chamba, May 6 The DC, who is also the district election officer, said the polled EVMs of all five Assembly segments of the district would be stored in strong rooms at the Government Millennium Polytechnic College till the date of counting on May 16. The counting of votes would take place at the same venue, the DC stated. He said the Churah (SC-reserved), Chamba, Dalhousie and Bhattiyat Assembly segments fall under the Kangra Lok Sabha constituency while the Bharmour tribal Assembly segment falls under the Mandi Lok Sabha constituency.
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The Election Commission of India (ECI) will keep a close watch on the 41 critical polling stations in the state where more than 90 per cent polling took place in the 2012 Assembly poll and 75 per cent votes went in favour of one candidate.
Shimla, May 6
Shimla, May 6
Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh has emerged the star campaigner and traversed every nook and corner of the state to ensure win of all four Lok Sabha seats in the state.
This was stated by HP Forest Corporation vice-chairman Kewal Singh Pathania while interacting with mediapersons here today. He hoped that the Congress under the leadership and guidance of Virbhadra Singh would sweep all four Lok Sabha seats.
The ecologically fragile tribal areas of Kinnaur are facing disaster with hydropower projects coming up in the area, posing a threat to the environment, rivers, security and ethnic identity and culture of
tribals. Fear and anxiety is writ large on the faces of Kinnauris who rue that the issue has not become a matter of debate in the Lok Sabha poll and none of the parties has tried to address the issue.
In Nagrota Bagwan, the Congress is relying heavily on GS Bali, Minister for Food and Civil Supplies, Technical Education and Transport.
The party organised a huge rally at Hadsar village near Nagrota Bagwan yesterday. Local Congress leaders while addressing the rally said they should ensure the lead of Congress in the area, as it would bolster the chances of GS Bali becoming Chief Minister in future.
With a majority of the officers and the police busy in poll duties, the mining mafia has become
active in Sundernagar. Huge heaps of sand and bajri can be seen at several places around nullahs and
khads. Illegal mining is going on at a large scale and JBCs can be seen extracting sand and bajri from Ghangal khud near BSL Colony police station in Sundernagar.
