P R A D E S H
Thursday, April 8, 1999
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H I M A C H A L P R A D E S H |
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Thursday, April 8, 1999 |
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Gujjars' kothas burnt in
Chamba Dhumal's stand clarified |
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 BilaspurDharamsala Kulu Shimla Nahan
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Plea to reconsider
airport project Devotees reach Paonta Sahib 13 Congress leaders join BJP Tibetan school's body threatened NABARD to invest Rs 230 crore Diversion of stream opposed Forest panels constituted |
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Gujjars'
kothas burnt in Chamba DHARAMSALA, April 7 — The burning down of about a dozen kothas of the Gujjars in the Tissa area of Chamba, bordering Jammu and Kashmir, has put the security forces and the district authorities on alert. As per information received, several kothas in the Charota, Chamradu, Banoti and Salotha Dhar areas falling under Tissa subdivision have been burnt down. The authorities are completely clueless as to who could be behind the act. At the time of the year, the kothas of the Gujjars, at a height of over 10,000 feet, are deserted as during winter they go down to the plains of Punjab and Kangra with their buffaloes. It is only by May, that they return to their kothas. Since the place where these kothas have been burnt down is completely uninhabitated, the authorities are perplexed as to who could have done such an act. While the authorities are probing all the possibilities, intelligence agencies have been put on alert as it is being felt that it could also be a tactic of the militants to create a communal divide amongst the people. The Deputy Commissioner, Chamba, Mr Sanjay Murthy, confirmed the burning down of 11 kothas falling under the Nakrod police post in Tissa subdivision. He said a Gujjar, Isa Hukru, had given a complaint to him about the incident which took place on April 2. Mr Murthy said so far none of the Gujjars had reached the area and the burning incident had been noticed by an advance party. The Gujjars will reach the area by May only. He said that an ASI had left for the spot, as the place could be reached only after a trek of six hours. The matter was being enquired into. Ever since the killing of 35 persons in the Satrundi and Kalaban areas of Tissa in August last year, tension has been simmering between the two communities residing here. The fact that five persons who had been taken away as hostages by the militants have also not been found out has added to the problem. While the Gujjars, who had been taken away, had returned back safely, the people belonging to the other community were still untraceable. Immediately after last year's incident, there had been some trouble between the people of two communities. Residents of the area suspect that militants could also be behind the burning of the kothas. It is a known fact that during winter the militants take refuge in the kothas of the Gujjars. To escape the pressure mounted by the security forces in Jammu and Kashmir, the militants are known to enter Chamba, in Himachal, which is a safe hideout. The residents allege that it could be a move by militants to instigate the Gujjars against the locals and then use them for infiltrating into Himachal. The decision of the
Centre to withdraw the CRPF from here could prove to be
dangerous in the light of this incident. |
CM gives health cards to
senior citizens SHIMLA, April 7 — Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister, has said the government will consider issuing multipurpose cards to senior citizens with a view to giving them preferential treatment in various public utility services. He was speaking on the occasion of the inauguration of an age-care programme, coinciding with World Health Day at Indira Gandhi Medical College Hospital here today. The Chief Minister honoured senior citizens on the occasion and also issued health cards to them at a special OPD centre set up at the hospital. The special card would enable senior citizens in getting preferential treatment in the hospital and save them from inconvenience. Mr J.P. Nadda, Health Minister, who presided over the function, said 7 lakh elders would be given special cards in the state and the first Tuesday of every month would be dedicated for the cause of the aged and special clinics would be arranged for them on that day. He said special OPDs for elders would be set up at all zonal, district and 200-bedded hospitals in the state. SOLAN: The Chairman of the HP Agriculture Marketing Board, Mr Virendra Kashyap, inaugurated a special clinic for senior citizens organised in connection with World Health Day at the district hospital here on Wednesday. The Joint Director, Health Services, Dr P.K. Gupta, said after the upgradation of healthcare services in the state, the average life expectancy had touched the 64.5-year mark. There were now about 5 lakh persons over the age of 60 years in Himachal Pradesh. The Chief Medical Officer, Dr L.B. Purohit, said clinics for the aged would be held every Tuesday in room no 3 of the district hospital. KULU: The Himachal Pradesh Government has decided to establish separate OPDs in all district hospitals in the state for senior citizens. This was stated by Mr
Ganesh Dutt, Vice-Chairman of the HP Housing Board, here
on Wednesday on the occasion of World Health Day. |
Chandel
clarifies Dhumal's stand SHIMLA, April 7 — Mr Suresh Chandel, President of the state unit of the BJP, has accused Mr Sat Mahajan, the Pradesh Congress Committee chief, of destroying the statement made by Mr P.K. Dhumal, the Chief Minister, regarding government stand on state's share in Chandigarh under the Punjab Reorganisation Act. In a statement here yesterday he said the Chief Minister never meant that the BJP—HVC Government had foregone state's 7.19 per cent share in the city. He alleged that the Congress was speaking in different voices inside and outside the state Assembly. The BJP chief claimed that it was only his party which had the courage to raise the issue of power projects and property of the composite state of Punjab under the Act, and had also been successful in making the Central Government to agree on certain aspects of the issue. He said Himachal was suffering because of the follies of successive Congress governments which neglected the interests of the state. Besides, the Congress governments at the Centre had all along been ignoring Himachal's claim. Every section of the Punjab Reorganisation Act passed by Parliament stood implemented in letter and spirit except those relating to the share of Himachal, he alleged. Mr Chandel said till 1990 the Congress and government never thought of even raising the issue of grant of share to Himachal, but when the BJP Government in 1992 launched an agitation on the issue then Congress government at the Centre the Congress party had not supported it. He claimed that because
the BJP had made 7.19 per cent share as an issue in 1993,
during President's rule the then Governor, Mr Bali Ram
Bhagat, had to refer the matter to the central
government, but the then Home Minister, Mr S B Chavan,
rejected the claim. |
Plea to
reconsider airport project DALHOUSIE, April 7 — The tourism industry in Dalhousie has suffered a major setback as the Central Government has recently turned down a proposal regarding constructing an airport at Banikhet, 5 km from here. Airport project was designed to attract tourists from home and abroad thereby providing employment opportunities to the local residents, directly or indirectly. The airport project was cleared by the 10th Finance Commission, but with the Central Government rejecting this proposal, the future of tourism industry in Dalhousie appears bleak. The people of this
region have demanded from the government to reconsider
the proposal in the interests of the region. |
Devotees
reach Paonta Sahib NAHAN, April 7 — A march of thousands of devotees from Hastinapur in Uttar Pradesh arrived at Paonta Sahib Gurdwara today. The march was organised from this birth place of Bhai Dharam Singh, second Piara of the 10th Guru. Another yatra from Shri Jagan Nath Puri, the birth place of the third Piara Bhai Himmat Singh, is scheduled to arrive tomorrow. A procession of about 700 saints from Nirmal Sampradai Akhara, Haridwar, is also scheduled to arrive tomorrow to take part in the tercentenary celebrations of the Khalsa. A special kirtan darbar
will be organised at the gurdwara on the occasion. |
13
Congress leaders join BJP BILASPUR, April 7 — Thirteen Congress (I) leaders and activists of the Fatch area of the Badgaon panchayat, about 55 km from here, along with their supporters joined the BJP. Addressing mediapersons
here today, the BJP’s Gehadwin Assembly constituency
unit President, Mr Hardyal Singh Chandel, said these
leaders made this declaration at a largely attended
public meeting presided by the HP Cooperative Minister,
Mr Rikhiram Kondal, at Fatch last evening. He said these
leaders included panchayat samiti members, Ms Satya Devi
(Tihra), Mr Brij Lal, (Samleta), Mr Ratiram, Mr Sohan
Singh, Mr Banshiram, Mr Karam Singh, Mr Balbir Singh and
Mr Amar Singh (all of Fatch), Mr Krishan Lal, Mr Narayan
Singh, Mr Piar Singh and Mr Gajender Singh (all of
Badgaon). |
Tibetan
school's body threatened SHIMLA, April 7 — The All-India Central Tibetan Schools administration Staff Welfare Association has expressed concern over the threat issued to its office-bearers in the name of the Tibetan Youth Congress. The unsigned letter says "You are indulging in anti-Tibetan activity by being the member of the association and threatens the members with dire consequences. A spokesman for the association said the letter was despatched from Dharamsala on April 5. He said the Indian employees had been teaching Tibetan children for the past 40 years as such the charge of anti-Tibetan activity was baseless. It urged the Tibetan
authorities to check such illegal activities of the
Tibetan Youth Congress. |
NABARD to
invest Rs 230 crore SHIMLA, April 7 — The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development proposes to make an investment of Rs 230 crore in Himachal Pradesh during the current financial year. The bank invested Rs 156 crore during last year to achieve a record growth of 66.3 per cent. Mr A.K. Garg, General Manager, said major growth had been achieved in creation of rural infrastructure like roads, bridges, irrigation schemes and land development. A sum of Rs 88.58 crore had been sanctioned to the state for construction of roads, to villages bridges, flood control structors and irrigation projects which was the highest-ever under the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund. The bank has achieved a
unique position in the North by supporting the
supplementary credit delivery system for the rural poor
organised in 650 self-help groups and assisting about
7,000 families without any subsidies. The repayment
pattern of these self help groups had been excellent and
banks were quite enthusiastic about backing these groups. |
Diversion
of stream opposed NURPUR, April 7 — Residents of Pandred village of this sub-division are up in arms against the authorities of the Kandi Development Project which has undertaken a mini-irrigation scheme work at Madanpur village and diverted a stream which was their only drinking water source. In a memorandum
submitted to the authorities they alleged that the
authorities had assured them that the water source would
not be affected by the scheme. The villagers also alleged
that the huge government funds allocated for the scheme
had been misused. They demanded a high-level probe into
this scheme. They also threatened to launch an agitation. |
Forest
panels constituted KULU, April 7 — The Forest Department has constituted Village Forest Development Committees (VFDCs) to conserve the forest wealth and encourage participation of the local public in forest management. Mr C.S. Singh, Conservator of Forests, told newspersons that 40 VFDCs were operating in this district. He said forest checkposts would be strengthened and special incentives would be provided for honest staff. He also proposed to have mobile barriers and checkposts in the district to check timber smuggling. The state was planning
to announce an award of 25 per cent of the total cost of
confiscated contraband to informers, he added. |
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