Shimla, August 10
The BJP today asserted that it was discharging its duty by demanding the resignation of Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh for facilitating free and fair probe into allegations against him by the CBI and the Income tax Department.

“The case relating to allegations of corruption against the Chief Minister is sub judice in the Delhi High Court. The CBI is inquiring into the matter and the Income Tax Department has been given one-week time by the HC to file the status report to the department and under such a situation, the demand for resignation of the CM for free and fair probe is justified and the BJP will continue to raise this demand”, state BJP general secretary Randhir Sharma today said.

Accusing the Chief Minister of working with “feudal mindset”, Sharma said the “BJP is keen to participate in the proceedings of the House and raise important issues but the Chief Minister is not interested in fruitful discussions and provoking the Opposition by making intemperate remarks”.

He said a stalemate continued during the first three days of the ongoing monsoon session but the Chief Minister made no serious efforts to end the deadlock.

The BJP has given notices for discussion but what to talk of tendering the resignation, the Chief Minister is not even inclined to allow discussion on this issue in the House, he said, adding that Singh might have become the Chief Minister for the sixth time but he was yet to learn to function in a democratic fashion.

Sharma said the Congress contested the Lok Sabha poll under the leadership of Virbhadra Singh and lost all four seats and conceded lead to the BJP in 59 of 68 Assembly segments which clearly shows that he had lost people’s mandate and “we have full right to ask for his resignation on moral grounds”. 

Shimla, August 10
Governor Urmila Singh and Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh greeted the people of the state on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan here today.

The Governor said in her message that the festival would not only strengthen the bond of brotherhood, but also play a significant role in creating a cordial atmosphere in the society.

Virbhadra Singh said Raksha Bandhan symbolised love and affection between brothers and sisters. He hoped that it would strengthen the bonds of brotherhood among people cutting across caste, creed and religion.

Maina Deo tied raakhi on the Chief Minister’s wrist at his private Holly Lodge residence. 

Shimla, August 10
As the state health and education departments failed to sort out the affiliation row of Maharshi Markendeshwar Medical College, Kumarhatti, Solan, in a legally tenable and transparent manner, the Himachal Pradesh Private Education Institutions Regulatory Commission (HPPIRC) has asked the government to clarify the “affiliation status” of the college in “unambiguous” terms.

The commission pointed out that the confusion created over the college’s affiliation was causing problems and it was not able to act as per the mandate of the commission. Sources in the commission said there were different admission norms for private medical institutions affiliated to Himachal Pradesh University and constituent colleges of private universities and there was no management or NRI quota in the colleges run by private universities.

The 50 per cent management quota is admissible in the colleges affiliated to Himachal Pradesh University (HPU) and the counselling for admission is conducted by the HPU. The government has been maintaining that as per the conditions in the essentiality certificate, the permission was given to the Maharshi Markendey University Trust, affiliated to HPU, but the MCI gave the permission to Maharshi Markendey University, which was in violation of the terms.

The college got the fee structure approved from the Committee of Health Department and also got 50 per cent management seats but later it claimed that it was a constituent College of the university and was not affiliated to HPU. The government committed a grave irregularity by allowing the college to go ahead with the admissions, creating a piquant situation.

“In case the government stands by Health Minister Kaul Singh’s statement that MMMC is affiliated to HPU and it has all the options open, the admission of 150 students of the second batch of MBBS will be done through counselling by the HPU but if it is treated as a university colleges, then there would be no management quota and only 25 per cent of the seats would be reserved for Himachal students,” sources in the commission said.

The MCI has approved 150 seats for the second batch of MBBS but the government has not so far taken any decision on the admission process. However, the college has already issued an advertisement for admission and maintained that there would be 50 per cent management and 15 per cent NRI quota for which there is no provision in the University Act.

Shimla, August 10
Former Chief Minister PK Dhumal today urged Union Home minister Rajnath Singh to deploy Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) in the border area of Chamba district following reports of infiltration.

Dhumal met Rajnath Singh in Delhi and handed over a letter to him, reminding that terrorists had struck in the area on August 3, 1998, killing 35 labourers in Satrundi and injuring eleven in Kalavan. A police constable was also killed in the terrorist attack.

The ITBP was immediately deployed along the Chamba border by the then Home Minister L K Advani but the force was later withdrawn during the UPA regime.

While informing the minister that Chamba shared 200-km border with Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir, Dhumal said as per news reports, terrorists were spotted near the Ravi basin a few days ago and the ITBP should be deployed at the earliest to prevent any untoward incident.

Rajnath Singh assured that he would soon visit the area to take stock of the situation and take necessary action.

Kangra, August 10
Resentment prevails among those seeking admission to MSc classes. They have been demanding a relaxation in the Himachal Pradesh University (HPU) admission norms at least in those colleges where the classes are starting for the first time as has been the past practice. Otherwise students are forced to get admission in nearby states and more than 75 per cent seats remain vacant in colleges in the state.

There are about 90 government colleges, five grant-in-aid colleges and many private colleges which are providing education in Himachal. Out of the five grant-in-aid colleges, four were postgraduate colleges.

Dr Pardeep Kumar, HoD, MCM DAV College, here today said MSc in physics and chemistry was introduced in the college from session 2014-15. He said as per HPU admission norms for MSc classes, one was required to undergo an eligibility test with minimum 35 per cent marks. He alleged that the rigid admission procedure was restricting students from getting admission to classes.

He said most of the students were deprived of higher education due to their family’s poor financial position. Citing an example, Pardeep said out of the 40 MSc seats for physics in the Kangra college, only 10 were filled and 75 per cent seats remained vacant, depriving 30 students of the state of higher education.

He suggested that relaxation in admission norms for MSc classes should be considered by HPU on the pattern of the recent relaxation of 5 per cent marks granted to those seeking admission to BEd and MEd through ICDEOL under HPU.

Dejected parents pointed out that the relaxation in norms was granted to all colleges when MSc courses were started for the first time. But at MCM DAV College here, this opportunity was lost. 

Dharamsala, August 10
The model adopted by the previous BJP government to make the state an educational hub is likely to bust. Most of the engineering colleges established in the state in the past a few years are facing financial crunch.

Sources said 12 out of 16 engineering colleges had been declared as non-performing assets (NPAs) by banks. This means that the banks will not extend any kind of financial assistance to the colleges in future as they have defaulted on the payment of interest.

The financial condition of the remaining four colleges is also not good and they are likely to be declared as NPAs by the banks. Due to the lack of financial support and fewer students, some college have already are planning the sale of their properties. This year, private engineering colleges in the state have failed to fill 80 per cent of the total seats.

They are negotiating with leading institutes to hand over the management of the colleges. However, the colleges will have to prove their financial viability after takeovers.

The college are blaming the policies of the state government for their problems. They say though the colleges were set up in Himachal, their objective was to attract students from across the country.Due to the economy slowdown, fewer students are opting for technical education. Secondly, the new colleges had to compete with already established colleges in Punjab and Haryana.

Later, the change in admission norms dealt a severe blow to the colleges in the state. While the admission process in being carried out as per the AICTE norms in Punjab and Haryana, a separate criterion has been adopted in Himachal.

As per the AICTE norms, a student with 45 per cent marks in Class XII was eligible for admission to engineering courses. However, a student need to pass the JEE entrance test or secure 60 per cent marks in Class XII to get admission in the private colleges of the state.

For admission to management courses, an entrance test is conducted by Himachal Pradesh University. For B Pharma, an entrance test is conducted by Himachal Pradesh Technical University and for diploma courses, the same procedure has been adopted by the HP Board of Technical Education. These tests are a prerequisite for admission in colleges. However, there is no such condition for admission in Punjab and Haryana. The private colleges said Himachal students were taking admission in colleges of Punjab.

Meanwhile, the Congress government is blaming the previous BJP government for the establishment of 16 private universities and 16 engineering colleges in the state without assessing their viability.

The government maintained that there were not enough students in the state for a large number of institutes. The government is maintaining that the implementation of basic eligibility criteria would improve the standards of technical education in the state.

Narender Rana, chairman of Himalayan Institute of Engineering and Technology (HIET), admitted that private engineering colleges were facing financial crises due less admissions. “If only 20 per cent of the total seats are being filled, how can the expenses of the colleges can be met?” Narender Rana said.

Bhupinder Sharma, chairman of Dev Bhumi Group of Colleges, said many colleges were planning to close some of the courses to meet the expenses. “The colleges may reduce the strength of their employees to overcome the financial crises,” he said. 

Plight of colleges

* The colleges failed to fill 80 per cent of the seats this year as separate criteria for admission turns students away from colleges

* As per the AICTE norms, a student with 45 per cent marks in Class XII was eligible for admission to engineering courses. However, a student needs to pass the JEE entrance test and secure 60 per cent marks in Class XII to get admission in the private colleges of the state.

* Moreover, fewer students opt for technical education due to the economic slowdown. New colleges get tough competition from colleges in Punjab and Haryana. 

Sundernagar, August 10
The Consumer Forum, Mandi, while allowing a complaint filed by Ramesh Chand of Dharampur in Sarkaghat subdivision of Mandi district, has ordered Ashok Leyland, Chennai, Supreme Automoblies, Mandi, and Bosch Limited, Panchkula (Haryana) to replace the fuel injection pump of the complainant’s vehicle with a new one within 20 days.It said if the order was not complied with, the opposite parties would have to pay a penalty at Rs 500 per day from the date of filing the complaint till the order was complied with.

The opposite parties were further directed to pay Rs 20,000 to the complainant as compensation for harassment and Rs 4,000 as the cost of the complaint.

As per facts of the case, the complainant had purchased a tipper, ECOMAT, in April 2012 by spending Rs 8.5 lakh from the opposite party. It started giving trouble from the very beginning and causing high consumption of fuel. The fuel pump was repaired many times, but the problem remained and it was removed by the opposite parties to be taken for repair. But it had not been fitted so far.

The opposite parties claimed that the problem was due to adulterated fuel and not due to any defect in the fuel pump. The opposite parties said they wanted to fit the fuel pump, but the complainant was not allowing them.

The forum said the act of the opposite parties amounted to deficiency in service. 

The order

* It said if the order was not complied with, the opposite parties would have to pay a penalty at Rs 500 per day from the date of filing the complaint till the order was complied with.

* The opposite parties were further directed to pay Rs 20,000 to the complainant as compensation for harassment and Rs 4,000 as the cost of the complaint.

Kangra, August 10
Ex-servicemen have demanded that the government should allocate more funds for implementation of the One-Rank, One-Pension scheme.

Capt Jagdish Chand Verma (Retd), state president, Himachal Pradesh Honorary Commissioned Officers’ Welfare Association, yesterday said the NDA government led by Narendra Modi had made a budgetary allocation of Rs 1,000 crore for the implementing One-Rank, One-Pension which was too less to meet out the requirement of ex- servicemen.

Verma said if this amount was divided among 22 lakh ex-servicemen, it came to Rs 378 per person per month whereas the difference in the pension of pre-2006 and post 2006 retirees ranges from Rs 500 to Rs 8,000 per month.

He further demanded that the new government should be fair to implement the One-Rank, One-Pension, a three-decade-old demand of the defence veterans, and it was more important it had been promised at various rallies by Modi as a prime ministerial candidate before the parliamentary election.

He said with a delay in implementation in the pension scheme, the ex-servicemen were right in doubting the government move.

Shimla, August 10
The state government signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the National Hydro-electric Power Corporation (NHPC) and the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC).

The MoU was signed for setting up of the first hydro-engineering college in Himachal.

According to a recent notification, the NTPC and the NHPC would share the initial cost of Rs 75 crore proposed to start the college at Bandla, in Bilaspur.

The college project had been hanging fire for last more than seven years.

It took years for the previous BJP Government to decide the site and land for the college at Bandla, said the sources.

Though the state government has fixed 70 per cent criteria for power producers to employ bonafide people from Himachal in all the projects, but the private power producers, including the NHPC, NTPC and the Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Ltd (SJVNL) have still not followed the same.

The NTPC, NHPC and the Central Government’s public undertakings during the previous Dr Manmohan Singh’s regime did not expedite the college project as the BJP ruled the state till December 2012, revealed insiders.

It was the previous PK Dhumal’s Government that decided to set up a hydro-enginnering college in Bilaspur, which falls in the Hamirpur Lok Sabha constituency represented by his son and BJP MP Anurag Thakur.

Ajay Sharma, Deputy Commissioner, Bilaspur, said the land for the college had been identified earlier.

“We have not received the copy of notification of the college so far,” he added.

Kangra, August 10
The Indian Doctors for Peace and Development (IDPD) organised a seminar on “Health Through Peace” at the DRPGMC, Tanda, here yesterday. The seminar was organised on the occasion of the anniversary of the nuclear bombing in Nagasaki in 1945, killing over 70,000 people.

“The world spends nearly Rs 24,000 crore every day on arms race, while about 15,000 children die of hunger each day,” said IDPD general secretary Dr Arun Mitra.

He said the IDPD, an affiliate of the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (recipient of Nobel Peace Prize 1985), had been campaigning since 1984 for the promotion of health care.

He said there was an urgent to divert the expenditure incurred on arms to health and education.

“The IDPD works in coordination with its counterparts in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka,” he added.

Dr SS Soodan, vice-president, IDPD, said the organisation had branches in 22 states.

“The seminar has been organised for the first time in Himachal and is going to be the 23rd state to join the movement,” he added.

He said the IDPD had also organised a week-long medical student’s exchange programme from June 7. Eleven students participated in the programme and visited medical colleges in Delhi, Faridkot, Amritsar, Jammu and Kashmir and Srinagar.

Dr Anil Chauhan, Principal, DRPGMC, welcomed the guests and said as per the available statistics, around $300 million was being spent each day by the nuclear-armed nations. 

Kangra, August 10
The government is contemplating to bring Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya (CSKHPKV), Agriculture Technologies Management Agency (ATMA) and the Agriculture Department under one umbrella to effectively develop the agriculture sector in the state. This will also boost progressive farmers.

The issue was discussed during a meeting, chaired by CSKHPKV Vice-Chancellor KK Katoch, at Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) here yesterday. Forest Corporation Vice-Chairman KS Pathaina was the chief guest on the occasion. Besides, Dr Atul, Director, Extension Education, and other scientists were present.

Pathania said this would improve the agriculture sector in this hill state and a meeting of the three departments would be held shortly.

Dr Atul said CSKHPKV would launch a mobile agriculture service to provide weather advisory to farmers of Kangra, Hamirpur, Chamba and Una districts on every Tuesday and Friday. He said this would help the university to be in direct touch with the farmers in the four districts.

Pathania rued that scientists of the agriculture university were not translating the government programmes into a reality and suggested that they mix up with progressive farmers at a village level.

Vice-Chancellor KK Katoch asked scientists to identify progressive farmers.

Shimla, August 10
The state police is facing a problem in training school girls in the remote and interior areas due to difficult topography and thin population of girls in schools.

The police had launched a programme to train girl students in self defence in March. But, the strength of girls in senior secondary schools across the state is very less due to difficult hill topography.

As a result, clubbing of schools is not feasible as they are located at long distances.

As many as 200 police trainers have been deployed for the purpose and so far about 25,000 to 30,000 girls from government schools, studying in Classes IX and X, have been trained in unarmed combat.

DGP Sanjeev Kumar said initially the training was being imparted after school hours. But, it did not yield desired results as students from far-off areas had difficulty in staying back after school hours.

“But now, the training has been made part of the school curriculum,” he said.

The self-defence training has also been introduced as an optional subject in schools. The physical education class is being utilised to impart training.

Cops are teaching combat skills, including punching, kicking and defending themselves in situations where the number of attackers is more than one.

The students are also provided with refreshment. Police vehicles are being used to take girls from one school to another. 

Palampur, August 10
Residents of a dozen panchayats of the town yesterday demanded the extension of municipal limits. They urged Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and local MLA Brij Behari Lal Butail, who is also the Speaker of the Assembly, to intervene and save the town from becoming a slum in the absence of proper planning.

Three social voluntary organisations — The Dhauladhar Sewa Samiti, Save Palampur and People’s Voice — asked the state government to check the unplanned urbanisation and construction in the town. They also urged the government to bring the satellite areas under the jurisdiction of 
the local Municipal Council (MC).

Representatives of panchayats and the social bodies said the MC was first set up in 1952 and its limits were never extended despite the fact that there was a manifold increase in the population of the town in the past 62 years. At present, 90 per cent of the town, including HP Agriculture University, was beyond the municipal limits.

Out of a total population of 50,000, only 3,910 residents live within municipal areas while 47,000 reside in adjoining panchayats outside the MC limits. These areas lack all basic amenities. Potholed roads and streets, overflowing drains and contaminated drinking water have become 
integral parts of these areas, they say.

Successive governments always deferred the issue to protect their vote bank. They neither extended the municipal limits nor granted district status, which were two major demands of local residents.

The sewerage project for adjoining panchayats and a multi-story parking complex sanctioned five years ago failed to take off in the absence of political will.

Garbage can be seen in every nook and corner of the town, which is not removed for days. The absence of a sewerage system in panchayats areas has further aggravated the situation. 

Palampur, August 10
Residents of Baijnath town and adjoining three panchayats have been facing an acute drinking water problem for the past three days. There are over 500 houses which have not received the water supply since Friday.

The Assistant Engineer, Irrigation and Public Health, Baijnath, told reporters that the pipes supplying water to the town were damaged by heavy rains and floods near the HPSEB sub-station. He said efforts were being made to restore the water supply to the town.

However, residents of the town said the IPH Department was not serious and no efforts were made to replace the pipe lines through new routes.

They said because of the defective alignment of the pipes through the Bhatwali khud there always arose a problem during monsoon every year. They said despite repeated requests, the IPH Department had so far not changed the alignment and people continued to suffer.

Chaman Dohroo, a resident of Baijnath, said he had apprised IPH officials of the problem time and again, but to no avail. He said the Executive Engineer, IPH Department, Palampur, was also well aware of the problem.

The residents today met MLA Kishori Lal and lodged their protest over the non-availability of water in the town. The MLA assured that he would look into the water problem .

Later, the MLA summoned officials of the IPH Department and directed them to restore the water supply within eight hours. 

Chamba, August 10
The district Brahmin Pratinidhi Sabha, along with various other representatives of the society, reproached the state government for ‘overlooking’ Chamba and giving it step-motherly treatment.

Addressing a joint press conference here on Friday, Vinay Sharma, president, Brahmin Pratinidhi Sabha, and Subhash Kalsotra said: “Chamba district is one of the richest districts in the country in terms of natural resources, including valuable forest produce, medicinal herbs, hydropower and tourism potential in addition to its cultural heritage.”

“The NHPC has been contributing nearly Rs 200 crore annually by way of royalty on power generated in Chamba district to the state exchequer,” they said, adding that the NHPC had been producing 1,269 mw power every year from its four hydroelectric projects, including 540 mw Chamera-I, 300-mw Chamera-II, 231-mw Chamera-III and 198-mw Baira-Siul power stations under operation on the Ravi basin in Chamba district.

“Thanks to the apathy of the state government that Chamba district has been put on low priority by the government,” they said.

They regretted that there was only one railway line, no national highway, no airport to link Chamba with the outside world.

“Not only this, there is no university, no research institute for precious herbs. The district has no IIT, IIM or an engineering college,” they said. They said: “Mere announcements are made during elections and people get lured.”“It will remain a dream to link the far-flung district with the rest of the country through the shortest highways by constructing tunnels from Chamba to Chowari, Holi to the Chammunda Devi temple in Kangra district and Chehni tunnel to reduce the distance of Pangi tribal region,” they said.

“Chamba town is without a proper bus-terminus and there is no mini-secretariat,” they said.They said social organisations from various sections of society had come forward to safeguard the interests of the district and its people and would fight for it.

Una, August 10
The shooting of Punjabi religious song sequence, sung by Jassi Sarang and Luv Kush, is underway at Brahmahuti temple near Handola village in Una district.

Brahmahuti is Lord Brahma’s adobe situated on the serene banks of the Satluj near Handola village. People from nearby villages thronged the temple to watch the shooting today.

Album director Baba Kamal said another part of the sequence would be shot on the banks of the Gobind Sagar Lake in Raipur Maidan village.

Artists of the Omkara Group from Una are also participating in the sequence. 

TAILPIECE

The waist-size of a person should decide one’s honesty. Dishonest, if it is between 35 and 40 inches; very dishonest, if it is between 40 and 50 inches; dishonest to the core, if it is above 50 inches. — Kaw Caw

Kullu, August 10
An award distribution function was organised to commemorate the birth anniversary of Thakur Ved Ram, a pioneer in introducing Kullu shawls here today.

Thakur Ved Ram National Award was conferred in the fields of literature, journalism, co-operatives, handicraft and handloom. The event was organised at the Bhutti Weavers Co-operative Society (Bhuttico).

Rakesh Kanwar, Deputy Commissioner, Kullu, was the chief guest on the occasion. He congratulated the Bhuttico for its outstanding performance.

Colonel Prem Chand, maiden conqueror of the famous Kanchenjunga Peak-cum-former director of the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports, Manali, and Simar Sadosh, founder chairman of the Punjab Kala Sahitya Academy, and News Editor of Ajit Samachar were the special guest of honour on the occasion.

Shankar Singh Chandel, former director of Himachal Pradesh State Co-operative Bank, Beena Nawar, former chief director of National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC), New Delhi, and Prem Lata Thakur, director of Kangra Central Co-operative Bank were awarded for their contribution to the co-operatives movement.

Jagarnath Prasad from Varanasi, Sukhdayal Tholang from Lahaul and Indira Devi from Bhutti Colony were awarded for their outstanding performance in cooperative and weaving sectors.

Dr Lalit Kishore Mandora, former Editor of the National Book Trust, New Delhi, was awarded for his contribution and dedication for literature.

Praveen Rai, Chief Editor, Himachal Kesari, was conferred with the award in print media.

Formulated in the memory of Late Dr TDS Alok for his contribution in journalism and literature and national award in electronic media in the memory of Late Subhash Sharma was awarded posthumously to Late Prem Singh of Kullu for his truthful and fearless reporting to a news agency.

Dr Vidya Sagar Negi, Chairman of the Bhoti Department, Himachal Pradesh University, was awarded with Purohit Chandershekhar Bebas Lok Sahitya National Award for his contribution in folk literature and culture.

The Chand Kullvi Lal Chand Prarthi Pahari Kala Sanskriti National Award was given to Ishwari Dass Sharma for his efforts to promote the 
culture of Kullu.

Shiv Dutt Nirmohi of Udhampur in Jammu was conferred with Thakur Molu Ram Jeevant Pahari Bhasha Aur Sanskriti National Award for his efforts to promote language and culture of the mountainous region.

Octogenarian Ram Kumar Kapoor was conferred with Life Time Achievement award for his contribution to folk songs.

Sundernagar, August 10
A person was killed and two others were injured in a road accident when a car skid off the road at Ghiri village on the Sundernagar-Karsog road here last night.

The police said the car (HP-31C-1627) was going from Sundernagar to Karsog. When it reached the village, the driver lost control on the vehicle and it fell into a gorge.

Ankus, who was killed in the accident, was a resident of Purana Bazar. The injured were identified as Subaham of Harnora in Bilaspur district and Deepak of Mahadev. Both were admitted to the local Civil Hospital and stated to be out of danger.

DSP Kulbhushan Verma said a case under Sections 279, 337 and 304-A of the Indian Penal Code was registered against the driver. 

Una, August 10
A minor girl, belonging to a migrant family from Uttar Pradesh, today alleged that she was raped by another a minor living in the nearby hutments in Lalsingi village.

She also told the police that the accused had also suggested that she should elope with him to some other place.

Superintendent of Police Anupam Sharma said a case under Sections 363 and 366 IPC had been registered on the complaint of the girl and she had been referred to government medical college and hospital in Tanda for examination by a group of doctors. He said further investigations would be initiated after the receipt of the medical report. 

Nurpur, August 10
Ambica (24) of Panjara village died on the spot at Nagni Mata near Kandwal on the Pathankot-Mandi national highway this afternoon when a speeding motorcycle (HP38C-4513) coming from the opposite side hit her scooty (HP 38C- 2352) . The deceased was going from Jassur to Kandwal. Her aunty Bimla Devi hailing from Mukerian (Punjab), the pillion rider, also injured seriously in the mishap.

Palampur, August 10
The city celebrates several festivals, religious discourses and spiritual camps from mid-February to August end every year.

A large number of devotees visit shrines during this period. However, they make careless use of water bodies, leaving these water bodies polluted.

Open air defecation by campers and pilgrims on the banks of rivulets also becomes rampant during these months.

A study conducted by a team of medical experts along with a local NGO reveals that during monsoon rain carries human waste into water bodies which lead to rise in diseases caused by water contamination.

Medical experts are of the view that open defecation is a major cause of diarrhoeal deaths among children up to five years of age.

The government in collaboration with states had started the Central Rural Sanitation Programme (CRSP) in 1986 which envisaged promoting environmental sanitation.

The concept of sanitation was expanded to include personal hygiene, home sanitation, safe water, disposal of garbage, excreta and the disposal of water.

With this broader concept of sanitation, the CRSP adopted an approach namely Total Sanitation Campaign (TSC) from 1999.

To give another fillip to the TSC, the government also launched the Nirmal Gram Puraskar (NGP) Scheme.

Later, encouraged by the success of the NGP, the TSC was named as Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan (NBA).

The major objective was to bring about an improvement in the general quality of life in rural areas. Therefore, a special emphasis was laid on the setting up of rural sanitary marts.

However, the study reveals that despite spending crores of rupees and providing subsidies and incentives under various centrally sponsored schemes, nothing has been done so far.

The study also suggests that the installation of e-toilets is the cheapest mode to boost the environmental sanitation. 

Nurpur, August 10
An overloaded truck uverturned last night at Hilltop temple near Damtal on the Pathanko-Jalandhar national highway. Mehapak Singh, truck driver, died on the spot. He belonged to Saharnpur (Uttar Pradesh).

As per the police information, the truck (HR- 37C-7908) was overloaded with chicken on way from Ambala to Pathankot.

The truck was being driven at a fast speed and the driver lost control over it and it overturned.

The local police registered a case under Sections 279 and 304 (A) of the IPC. The police handed over the body of the deceased driver to the truck owner.