|
|
|
|
|
Act to rein in sports bodies in the offing
469 officers get notices for not filing TDS return
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Firms study viability of ropeway projects in Dharamsala
akhon dekhi screened
Internet, mobile phone users cautioned against cyber crime
Reduce carbon emissions to save glaciers: Experts
SBI branches not to accept income tax in cash
Workshop on cyber crimes begins
Training course of forest guards ends
Unit area property tax and parking issue
Chandigarh trader ends life in Kangra
Infant’s body found near Kullu bus stand
Chirag is apex court Registrar
Three sheds of packaging firm gutted
Three killed in road mishaps
National Unity Day celebrations today
|
|||||||||||||||
|
Act to rein in sports bodies in the offing
“We intend to hold a longer session in Dharamsala even though it will put a burden on the state exchequer. Four important Bills, Sports Bill, Lokayukta Bill, Town and Country Planning Bill and a Bill to check haphazard construction along bypasses, will be tabled during the session,” said Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh here today. The Sports Bill is expected to generate a lot of political heat as the Himachal Pradesh Sports (Registration, Recognition and Regulation of Associations) Bill enacted in 2005 was done away by the BJP when it assumed power in 2008. With Anurag Thakur, Hamirpur MP and son of former Chief Minister PK Dhumal heading the HP Cricket Association, BJP legislators are bound to create an uproar in the Assembly when the Sports Bill is tabled, accusing the government of wanting its interference in sports bodies. Virbhadra said it was essential to make sports associations more democratic and transparent with regard to holding of elections and membership. The Act will be on the lines of the Sports Act of the Centre, says the CM. “Under the proposed Bill, the post of president cannot be held for more than two terms though a two-time president can seek re-election after a break,” he said. There should be free and fair elections with due participation from district bodies who should elect the state body. The HPCA is already under the Vigilance scanner in six cases pertaining to change in its status from a society to a company, violations under the Forest Act for cutting trees, alleged irregularities on grant of land from common village land and pulling down of lecturers’ residential quarters, adjacent to the cricket stadium at Dharamsala. The new Lokayukta Bill, which was referred to the Select Committee of the Vidhan Sabha earlier, is awaiting the nod of the House. The recommendations of the committee have been discussed by the Cabinet also. Similarly, the amendments to the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Act, which could not be made due to the abrupt adjournment of the monsoon session, is also to be passed so that over 25,000 unauthorised constructions in the state can be regularised. Bypass Act on cards
To curb the haphazard constructions coming up along bypasses in various towns, the government proposes to bring about a Bypass Act. “The Act will ensure that the roof of the building will be at least one metre below the road and the structure above the road also has limited storeys,” said Virbhadra. He lamented that the purposes of having bypasses had been defeated as they had become more congested than the main towns. |
|
469 officers get notices for not filing TDS return
Mandi, October 30 He said notices had
also been issued to 188 officers in Bilaspur and 32 in Mandi for not filing TDS return in the previous financial year. The department had collected ~15,843 crore in the form of TDS from the North-Western region in the previous financial year. He said the department had set a target to collect of ~19,000 crore this year and so far, they had collected ~9,100 crore. During the previous financial year, they had collected ~840 crore from Himachal Pradesh and during this year, they had set a target to collect ~1,020 crore from the state. He said a target of ~258 crore had been given to the Palampur range for this financial year and so far, they had collected ~110 crore as TDS. In view of the importance of the TDS, the
Centre had created six new posts of Chief Income Tax Commissioner (TDS) which will be based in
Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad and Bangaluru. He said the government was also increasing the number of Income Tax Commissioners (TDS) from 19 to 25. He said the government had also decided to appoint an Income Tax Officer (TDS) in Mandi. The workshop was organised by the Income Tax Department (Palampur) for Drawing and Disbursing Officers (DDOs) of Mandi and Bilaspur districts. Nearly 900 DDOs
from different departments of the government and banking and insurance sectors participated in the workshop. A powerpoint presentation was given on new
provisions of the TDS. Chief guest HC Negi answered queries of the officials and also redressed their grievances. Participants face inconvenience
|
|
Firms study viability of ropeway projects in Dharamsala
Dharamsala, October 30 Prabhat Chaudhary, district tourism officer, Kangra, said officials of Tata company said soon the state government would invite bids for installing a ropeway from Dharamsala to McLeodganj and McLeodganj to Triund. The idea of bringing up the projects in Dharamsala was mooted by local MLA and Minister of Town and Country Planning Sudhir Sharma. Earlier in 1990, former CM Shanta Kumar had proposed a ropeway project from Dharamkot to Triund. However, the project remained limited to the foundation stone for the last more than 23 years. During the previous BJP government, the expression of interest was invited for bringing up the ropeway project. However, the state government failed to get any bidder. Efforts were also made to shift the ropeway project from Indrunag to Triund instead of Dharamkot to Triund. The proposal also failed to generate any response. The sources here said no person was interested in the Dharamkot-Triund ropeway due to lack of viability. The cost of 7-km ropeway was calculated to be about Rs 50 crore. Since Triund is part of the reserve forest area, the person constructing the ropeway would not able be raise any hotel or other residential complex there. Simple ropeway project to Triund was not considered as viable by investors. It is for the first time that
a ropeway is being proposed from Dharamsala to McLeodganj. However, the projects will have to obtain forest clearances that are hard to come from the Union Ministry for Environment and Forests. The government would also find it difficult to rope in investors for the projects. Bitterness between successive BJP and Congress governments has led to low investor confidence in the state. The previous BJP government had signed a MoU for bringing up the Anandpur Sahib-Naina Devi Ropeway. The project was cancelled by the present government on plea that it was not in the interests of the state. The previous Congress government from 2002 to 2007 had proposed a ski village project in Kullu that involved major foreign direct investment (FDI). The project was cancelled by the successive BJP government. Though the present government is trying to revive the ski village project, investors are now not displaying keenness towards it. The sources here said investors feared that any company that bags the project for ropeways in Dharamsala would require at least 3 years for all kinds of clearances, including that from the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests. However, in case the ropeway projects are executed, they will add to tourism potential of the area and ease traffic problem. |
|
International film festival kicks off in McLeodganj
Lalit Mohan Tribune News Service
Dharamsala, October 30 During the festival, the films produced by short film makers on various themes, including that of Tibet, will be screened. The district administration is extending all support to the festival that has attracted film makers for the past three years. “Akhon Dekhi”, a film directed by Rajat Kapoor, was the first film to be screened during the festival. The film is about Bauji, a 55-year-old man, who lives a dreary but eventful life in a small house in old Delhi. He lives in a joint family that shares a small house cramped with people. One day, Bauji decides that he has been blind all his life following other people’s belief. He decides that from now, he will not believe anything that he has not experienced. He will only believe what he sees, nothing else can be certain. There are quite a few challenges on his onward journey, but Bauji never loses sight of what is before his eyes. Rajat Kapoor is an Indian actor, writer and director born in Delhi in 1961. He attended the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII). He made his acting debut in the 1989 Kumar Sahni’s film, “Khayal Gatha”. His directorial debut was with “Private Detective: Two Plus Two Plus One” (1997). In 2003, he wrote and directed the independent film, “Raghu Romeo”, which won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi. Kapoor then directed and starred in “Mixed Doubles” (2006). His latest film, “Ankhon Dekhi”, (2014) received critical acclaim and was a commercial success. The festival willd screen a series of Indian short films curated by filmmaker Umesh Kulkarni. Umesh is an alumnus of the Film and Television Institute of India, and his film “Three of Us” premiered at Berlinale in 2008. It is a moving, lyrical film about an ordinary day in the life of a not-so-ordinary family – in which the mother cooks, the father delivers newspapers and the son reads with the aid of a magnifying glass that he holds with his toes. Devoid of music and dialogue, the film still captures the deep-seated sorrows of the family, the disabled son, who is completely dependent on his parents, and the rhythm of the life they have built together. Locals encouraged
Dharamsala residents, Indian-Tibetan filmmaking couple Ritu Sarin and Tenzing Sonam, have started the festival to bring high-quality independent cinema to the city, encourage local talent and create a meaningful platform to engage all communities in the area. |
|
Internet, mobile phone users cautioned against cyber crime
Shimla, October 30 This information came to light at a two-day workshop, which was held to make law enforcement agencies aware of cyber crime. It was organised by the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology in collaboration with the Data Security Council of India (DSCI). “Cyber crimes like cyber terror attacks, web defacements, stealing of data, hacking and stalking, email and financial frauds pose a threat to Internet users that cost about 1.2 billion dollar every year,” said Dr AS Kambli, senior director, Department of Electronic and IT (DEITY). He shared data on incidents of cyber challenges with the investigating agencies to help them check, monitor and analyse cyber crime in the country. “There are 355 integrated data centres, 17.4 m high speed Internet users, 24.3 m Internet users and 904 million mobile phone users in the country, which means a big challenge to prevent cyber crimes,” he added. The national cyber security strategy was to maximise and protect the resources and benefits of the digital economy, said Dr Kambli said. “It is important to collect, analyse and disseminate and send alerts on cyber incidents for greater security,” he added. What is worrisome is that the telecom sector with more than 800 million subscribers and 20 million Internet subscribers is mostly owned by private players, say experts. The global undersea cable communication is owned by private players, they add. The cyber financial frauds are on the rise due to the fact that more than 30 per cent of total transactions are done online in the country, DSCI forensic experts say. “The critical factor is quick response from law enforcement agencies that can help detect the digital evidence. Cyber criminals can operate from across the border to commit a crime,” said Dr K Venketsh Murhty. Satwant Atwal, IG (Crime) and in-charge of the state cyber cell, said Himachal had reported over 356 cases of cyber crime for the last few years and 30 cases were reported till date this year. “We are setting up a cyber lab and increasing the number of trained staff,” she said on the sidelines of the workshop. She said a police investigation officer should lodge a complaint and take assistance of cyber forensic experts in cases of threat complaints or obscene messages on mobile phones or social media under the IT Act. Most of the cases in the state related to ATM and email frauds and stalking through mobile phones, obscene messages and mobile phone thefts, she added. |
|
Reduce carbon emissions to save glaciers: Experts
Shimla, October 30 More than 100 scientists and experts from premiere institutes across the country, who are closely monitoring the Himalayan glaciers, shared their observations at a two-day national conference on “Himalayan Glaciology”, organised by the State Council for Science Technology and Environment, which began here today. Tarun Sridhar, Principal Secretary, Forests and Environment, and Prof Anil Kulkarni, chairman of the Project Advisory Committee on Himalayan Glaciology delivered the keynote address. Even as scientists from premiere institutes made presentations about the potential fallout of 10,000 fast melting glaciers in the Himalayan, Sridhar stressed the need for presenting data and statistics which could be comprehended easily by laypersons and policy-makers for effective use to arrest glacial melting. “We certainly need better water management and for this we need to undertake studies of Himalayan glaciers which are inter-disciplinary and collaborative,” Sridhar said. Sridhar said there should be constant data sharing as issues like climate change and global warming were not bound by physical or administrative boundaries. Prof Kulkarni said, “We all know the area of glaciers, but we do not know their depth. We are soon going to launch a new technique, which makes it possible for us to find out the depth of a glacier and the water in it.” “It is a challenging time because of the fact that there is a lot of burning of bio-mass, which has enhanced black carbon deposition on glaciers, leading to their faster melting,” he said. He also stressed the need for identification of areas where there was potential for lake formation due to glacial melting in near future. He said the government was pumping in a lot of money to ensure that there were studies on global warming and glacial melting as there was a lot of interest in the international community on the issue. He added barring the glaciers in Karakoram and Arunachal Pradesh, most of the glaciers were being monitored. Dr IM Bahuguna from the Space Application Centre, Ahmedabad, highlighted the role of space-based inputs for monitoring Himalayan cryosphere. He said most of the Himalayan glaciers were witnessing enormous changes whether it was in the Karakoram Ranges or other places. Scientists from institutes like geological Survey of India, Lucknow, Indian Institute of Science, Ahmedabad, Space Application Centre Ahmedabad, Wadi Institute of Himalayan Geology, Dehradun, JNU Delhi, IIT-Mumbai, Kashmir University, Srinagar, and Garhwal University, Srinagar, were present at the conference. |
|
Artisans struggle to save bamboo craft in state
Shimla, October 30 The first-ever workshop came as a long awaited rejuvenator for artisans from Kullu, Mandi, Shimla and Uttarakhand. The artisans come from traditional “chanaal” families and survive on the craft. They have demanded that they be allowed to grow bamboo near homes to save the dying craft. They said they have been pushed to the brink as two rare Himalayan bamboo species were staring at extinction as there was no seriousness to revive the craft. The artisans also demanded a ban on plastic plates used for prasad at Kedarnath and Badrinath in Uttarakhand and Jwalamukhi, Naina Devi, Brajeshwari Devi, Chintpurni, Bhimakali, Hateshwari Devi and other shrines in Himachal. “We can supply much healthier bamboo plates to pilgrims,” they said. Dr Vineet Jishtu, a botanist at the HFRI, Shimla, said the two Himalayan bamboo species -nirgal and gara- witnessed a new phenomenon in 2006. The flowering of both species coincided and the plants died after that. Their revival takes about 8-10 years. The nirgal flowering takes place after 60 years, while gara, found in the higher temperate zone, flowers after 28 years, Dr Jishtu said. The plants die after they flower and as such, artisans face resource crunch as it was ready for use after 8-12 years, he added. They said they have been pushed to starvation due to bamboo crunch. “We spend three days and nights in the jungle to get a bunch of bamboo as species are becoming rare in Kullu, Mandi and Shimla region,” said Khemraj, an artisan from Bhorang, Kullu. “There is no assistance from the government and Forest Department to grow the species near our homes or provide training to make the craft better for consumers,” he said, while talking to The Tribune. They make kilta, tokri, shopa, walking stick, flute, fishing rod and hukka pipes, which are exported to Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. But the products need a better finish so that buyers are impressed, some artistes feel. “The Forest Department should plant nurseries near homes of artisans, train them and provide marketing at places such as the Delhi Haat and Pragati Maidan,” said Abli Ram of Chamoli in Uttarakhand. Though the national bamboo mission was launched in the state, it covers only commercial species grown in the plains. Dr VP Tiwari, director, HFRI, said the workshop had brought scientists, foresters and other stakeholders together and evaluated the scientific and socio-economic status of hill bamboo and help devise future action plan to promote the species and the craft. Dr Ashwani Kumar, Director General, ICFRE, said the hill bamboo needed immediate attention of forest managers. Scientists should come forward with some new concepts and projects to conserve the resource, he said. Dr GS Goraya, Deputy Director General (Research), ICFRE, said the two bamboo species should be cultivated and conserved. |
|
SBI branches not to accept income tax in cash
Palampur, October 30 An official told mediapersons here today that the bank had banned cash payment of income tax, but would accept cheques or demand draft. The decision will affect small tax payers who mostly deposit income tax only in cash. The instructions issued by the SBI to its branches caused widespread resentment among tax payers as cheques issued by them belonged to other banks and would take three to four days for clearance or they would have to open a new account with SBI. However, other banks, such as Punjab National Bank and State Bank of Patiala, are still accepting income tax in cash at its branches. The local Taxation Bar Association, in a resolution passed, urged the Ministry of Financé to review its decision and allow tax payers to make pay income tax in cash at the SBI branches to certain limit so that no inconvenience was caused to them. They said the decision of the bank would cause a rush of customers at the SBI branches as tax payers had to visit the bank twice or thrice to collect their challan and submit
cheques. |
|
Workshop on cyber crimes begins
Shimla, October 30 Upma said the e-governance projects had been launched in a big way that underlined the need for cyber security. The police were gearing up to prepare themselves to meet the cyber challenge and the IT Department assured all support to the Police Department, she added. DGP Sanjay Kumar said high-profile cyber crimes came to light in the country and these needed the immediate attention of the investigating agencies. Police officers needed latest training and equipment to prepare themselves to meet the challenge posed by cyber crimes as criminal use more advanced tools to circumvent the laws. Data Security Council of India (DSCI) director Vinayak Godse said the council had been organising workshops to create awareness about cyber crimes in the country. Satwant Atwal, IG (Crime) and in charge of the cyber cell, said the workshop would help IOs and police officers in detecting, analysing and monitoring cyber crimes in the state. |
|
Training course of forest guards ends
Sundernagar, October 30 He said forest guards had to play a major role in the protection of forest wealth of the state and the department was committed to providing best training to the field forest staff. In order to give the best training, Rs 10 crore would be spent for raising infrastructure at the Forest Training Institute and Rangers College, Sundernagar, and the Forest Training Institute at Chail, he added. |
|
Unit area property tax and parking issue Tribune News Service
Shimla, October 30 Mayor Sanjay Chauhan chaired the House. Deputy Mayor Tikender Panwar termed the walkout as a political stunt charging the BJP of sabotaging the House proceedings. Congress councillors pleaded that the corporation had failed to take over the Sanjauli parking complex as per the deadline of October 30, despite assurance. Sushant Kapret, Congress councillor from Engine Ghar, Sanjauli, said the corporation failed to come up to the expectations of residents. He said the plight of the new parking places remained the same. The corporation should carve out more parking spaces. On the other hand, the BJP councillors resented that Mayor Sanjay Chauhan and Deputy Mayor Tikender Panwar did not consider their plea to include factor value of 7 for the non-residential areas in the city for deciding unit area property tax in these areas. “We reject the factor value of 10 for these areas,” they objected and walked out from the House. The Mayor charged that the BJP councillors did not bring it to the notice of the House when the unit area method bylaws were finalized. Deputy Mayor Tikender, who had chaired the House when the factor values were finalised, said no corrigendum could be issued as the BJP did not raise objections when the factor value was finalised. He said the BJP had to bring in a resolution if they sought change in the factor value of the non-residential areas.
|
|
Police strength down, crime up
Palampur, October 30 The police strength at the local police station is the same as it was in 2001. Even the state government has failed to provide the police force as per the sanctioned strength. At present, the police force is almost half of the sanctioned strength. With the shortage of police force, lack of proper
transportation and the absence of night patrolling, anti-social elements have become active in the region. Despite large jurisdiction, the police station has only one jeep and one motor cycle for which 80 litres diesel and 20 litres patrol is provided per month, respectively. A senior police officer admitted that most of the thefts and burglary cases in the region were
being committed by criminals belonging to the adjoining states. He said the present strength of the constabulary was only 21, including the driver, cook and munshi. “Out of these, three constables remain busy with court matters like service of summons and warrants, while two are deputed for postmortems and MLCs in hospitals, one on Army duty at the firing range and two to three constables on leave at times. Besides, as
per the orders of the higher authorities, woman constables cannot be deputed for late hour duties,” he said. The official residences provided to policemen at the Palampur police complex are in a bad shape. The police station is itself 95-year-old which was constructed by the British in 1919. |
|
JCO cremated with honours
Mandi, October 30 The slain soldier was bid a tearful adieu by his family, relatives and hundreds of people from neighbouring villages who had gathered to witness the last rites of the martyr. The martyr’s 15-year-old son Saurbh lit the pyre. Former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, Dharampur MLA Mahender Singh Thakur, Sarkaghat SDM Rohit Rathore, DSP Sanjeev Bhatia and other police and civil officials were present. Rajesh joined the Army in 1988 and was recently promoted as Junior Commissioner Officer (JCO). The JCO is survived by his wife Nisha (38), daughter Anjali (13), a son, father Roop Chand and mother Leela Devi. The martyr’s body arrived here in a helicopter this morning and was then taken to his native village by road. A contingent of the Army led by Lt Chetan Prajapati accompanied the martyr.
|
|
|
Chandigarh trader ends life in Kangra
Kangra, October 30 The SHO said this morning when Bhawan Singh did not open his door, his driver and the dharamshala manager peeped into the room from a ventilator and found him hanging from a ceiling fan. They informed the police which recovered the body. The police said a suicide note was recovered from the room which mentioned that the businessman had committed suicide as he was suffering from depression. Meanwhile, the body was handed over to his relatives after the postmortem. The police said autopsy report indicated death due to asphyxia. — OC
|
|
|
Infant’s body found near Kullu bus stand
Kullu, October 30 The police confirmed that a case had been registered and the postmortem had been conducted at the Kullu hospital. Sources said the
corpse would be sent to Tanda medical college for further investigation. The incident has raised concern over the child-sex ratio of 962 as per
2011 census. It is to be recalled that a newborn girl was found dumped in a drain in Manali town on Tuesday. As per the locals, the act appeared to be the outcome of migrant traders, who flock the town during the Dasehra festival. Whereas, a few believed that the act was done by the inhabitants of a nearby slum. The police said further investigations were being carried out to trace the suspects involved in the incident. However, the mysterious appearance of the body of an infant in the busy area of the town has raised a question mark on the security of public places.
|
|
Chirag is apex court Registrar
Shimla, October 30 Having graduated from Vallabh Postgraduate College, Singh did his law from Himachal Pradesh University and enrolled as a member of the HC Bar Association in 1994. He remained the Deputy Advocate General from 2003 and was later appointed as the Additional District and Session Judge in 2007. He was also a member of the Indian delegation led by the CJI to Australia in 2009. He also remained a Judge of Himachal Pradesh Industrial Tribunal-cum-Labour Court before joining as the District and Session Judge,
Chamba.
|
|
|
Three sheds of packaging firm gutted
Solan, October 30 However, no loss of life was reported. The exact cause of the fire could not be ascertained. Inflammable materials were stacked at the store, which spread within no time and gutted three sheds located on the unit premises. The production area housing machinery was saved. — TNS
|
|
|
Three killed in road mishaps
Mandi, October 30 Auto driver Jagat Singh of Tahlihad and another person sitting in the vehicle were killed on the spot. Truck driver Baldev Raj of Matholi village in Bilaspur district, who fled the spot, later surrendered before the Bahl police. At the time of the accident, the truck was on its way from Kullu to Darlaghat. Baldev said
when he reached near Valley View Hotel at Chakkar, the three-wheeler came from the wrong side and hit his truck. In another accident, a woman was killed when the jeep she was travelling in skid off the road near Hawani under Sarkaghat police station. Kaushlya Devi, a resident of Hawani village, said the driver lost control on the vehicle and it skid off the road. She said her sister-in-law Indira Devi, a resident of Samsoh, was killed on the spot.
|
|
|
National Unity Day celebrations today
Kangra, October 30 Prof Yoginder Singh Verma, Vice-Chancellor of CUHP, said floral tributes will be paid to Sardar Patel at Temporary Academic Block (TAB) in Chattari, near Shahpur, and Camp Office in Dharamsala. To celebrate the National Unity Day, he will administer oath of brotherhood and oneness to faculty member, non-teaching staff and students. He said Registrar Jagdish Rangra (Retd Brig) will administer pledge to the staff members at Camp Office in Dharamsala. Prof HR Sharma, Dean Students’ Welfare and Provost, also the coordinator for the celebrations, said the Department of Economics and Public Policy and Department of Travel and Tourism would organise symposium on ‘National Unity, Safety and Security.’ The School of Journalism, Mass Communication and New Media will screen a documentary on Sardar Patel’s contribution to national unit. Meanwhile, 400 students affiliated with nine CBSE schools in the district will gather at Kangra Fort.
|
|
|
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | E-mail | |
Shimla, October 30