Snow-clearing in full swing
MANALI: Come summer and tourists make a beeline for hill stations to escape the heat of the plains. This year there is a drastic drift in the weather conditions.

Dharamsala-Lahore bus service mooted
NURPUR, April 20 — The Himachal Pradesh Road Transport Corporation has proposed to launch the Dharamsala-Lahore bus service.

Internet users face problems
DHARAMSALA, April 20 — The Internet connection holders in Palampur are facing inconvenience due to the faulty Internet facility being provided to them for the past three months.

Pension, other benefits for absorbed staff
SHIMLA, April 20 — In a landmark judgement the Himachal State Administrative Tribunal, has allowed the restoration of pension to government employees who were later on absorbed in various corporations and also all the attendant benefits, including arrears, dearness allowance, interim relief and revision of pension from time to time, and the facility of medical reimbursement which were being denied to them heretofore.

Punjab gesture to oustees
SHIMLA, April 20 — The Punjab Government has agreed to give suitable jobs to family members of Thein dam oustees having higher academic qualifications as a good will gesture.

Woman commits suicide
KANGRA, April 20 — A woman, mother of four children, consumed poison and a boy was crushed to death in this district during the past 24 hours.

Urdu poet honoured
SHIMLA, April 20 — Dr Naresh, an eminent Urdu poet writer and Professor in modern literature Punjab University, was honoured by the All India Ghalib Educational society, Himachal chapter, at Solan today.

No going back to Cong: Sukh Ram
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, April 20 — Mr Sukh Ram, president of the Himachal Vikas Congress, today ruled out the possibility of returning to the Congress or joining hands with the party to topple the government. He said his party's unconditional support to the Dhumal government would continue to take the fight against "feudalism to its logical end."

The HVC supremo, who held an hour-long meeting with Mr P.K. Dhumal, Chief Minister, here today, told mediapersons that there was no truth in rumours that he was rejoining the Congress and asserted that the HVC, which had emerged as the third political force in the state, would maintain its identity. It would not be merged into either the BJP or the Congress.

However, he did not mince words while expressing displeasure over the "indifferent" manner in which the state government had been pursuing a CBI inquiry into charges against his archival and former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh.

He said most charges in the HVC charge sheet were part of the BJP agenda and the party had promised a CBI probe into these in its elections manifesto.

It is learnt that during today's meeting he impressed on Mr Dhumal to expedite the CBI inquiry. The HVC leader, it is understood, also urged Mr Dhumal to withdraw all "politically motivated" cases registered by the Virbhadra Singh government against prominent leaders of his party.

He expressed his displeasure over the failure of the government to take a suitable follow up action of the Supreme Court verdict on the Kutlehar forest case which had exposed how erstwhile rulers of states bypassed law for personal benefits. He said it was a fit case against Mr Virbhadra Singh for handing over to the CBI.

Mr Sukh Ram said in the changed situation, Himachal politics would no longer be influenced by developments at the Centre and different political formations would rule the state. Referring to the financial problems, he said he was not against raising loans for development.

The previous Congress government had squandered away funds and raised loans to meet liabilities which plunged the state into a debt. He said the Dhumal government should take notice of the misuse of helicopter by Mr Virbhadra Singh and take suitable action.

He also underlined the need to set up a coordination committee of the BJP and the HVC for smooth functioning of the coalition. The committee could help iron out minor irritants.

HPCC infighting comes to fore
From Our Correspondent

SOLAN, April 20 — Noisy scenes, heckling of rival leaders and eve-teasing, including bottom pinching and tearing off clothes of certain, women members of sewa dal, marked the day-long Panchayati Raj Sammelan, organised by the Himachal Congress Committee at Baddi yesterday.

The unseemly conduct of certain activists of the Congress party left a few senior leaders shaking heads in disbelief. One senior Congress leader was moved to tears when he saw the treatment being meted out to women, some of whom were seen covering in a corner of the hall.

Trouble seemed to have started when supporters of former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and H.P.C.C. president Sat Mahajan tried to project their respective leaders before the visiting A.I.C.C. leaders Mani Shankar Aiyyar and Anil Shastri.

The president of the Parwanoo Truck Operators Union, Mr Amarjit Singh Bawa, a Virbhadra loyalist of long-standing organised a rousing reception to the former Chief Minister when he reached Parwanoo at 9.30 a.m. He and his large body of supporters raised slogans projecting Virbhadra Singh as the undisputed leader of ability. Slogans were also raised in favour of Mrs Sonia Gandhi but none in favour of Mr Sat Mahajan.

When the cavalcade reached Baddi, a large number of Mr Sat Mahajan's supporters tried to pay the Virbhadra loyalists in the same coin. Soon the atmosphere became tense. Verbal exchanges were prevented from degenerating into clashes by entreaties by Mr Mahajan and Mr Virbhadra Singh to their respective supporters at least on three occasions.

Order was restored when Mr Sat Mahajan started speaking ignoring heckling and catcalls, even as Mr Virbhadra Singh sat holding his head in his hands and pain writ large on his face. When contacted Mr Virbhadra Singh and other leaders including former minister Vijendra Singh denied any unseemly conduct by partymen. Mr Shiv Kumar, a general secretary and spokesman of the D.C.C. denied incidents of eve-teasing and claimed that the conference was held peacefully.

Snow-clearing in full swing
From M.C. Thakur

MANALI: Come summer and tourists make a beeline for hill stations to escape the heat of the plains. This year there is a drastic drift in the weather conditions. The winter spell being a short-lived has made way for the summer to set in early. Kulu and Manali, the famous hill stations, have started witnessing a reasonably good influx of tourists. Every tourist who visits Kulu and Manali would always like to put his foot atop the Rohtang Pass which is the dream destination of every visitor.

According to Mr S.S. Porwal, Commander, 38 BRTF (GREF), massive efforts are being made to open the 13,050 ft-high Rohtang Pass by the last week of April this year. Normally in the preceding years the majestic Rohtang Pass, which is closed for all vehicular traffic by mid-November, used to be opened as late as the first week of June. Presently, the snow-clearing equipment and machineries have already reached the 45-km stretch of the 475-long Manali-Leh road.

This year the snow clearance operation commenced from third week of February against the normal schedule of the third week of March every year. The snow clearance progress is very fast this year, as three independent groups are deployed for opening the Manali-Sarchu (Manali-Leh) highway, with the help of latest machinery. This year, for the first time in Himachal Pradesh, Austrian-made snow cutters "Steyr" have been put in use.

The team from Manali is just short of the Rohtang Pass. The second team is clearing the snow between Khoksar and the Rohtang Pass. The third team is working towards the Baralachala Pass. With the early start the snow clearing operation and with the dedicated and well-organised team work of officers and jawans under the BRTF, the Rohtang Pass is likely to be thrown open at the end of April, which will be a record.

The opening of the Rohtang Pass for vehicular traffic will bring great relief to the people of Lahaul and Spiti valley. The snow clearance work on the Tandi-Thirot and Sansari-Killar-Thirot road is also being done on a war-footing to cater to the urgent needs of the local population of the Pangi valley. The Tourism Industry here will be a major beneficiary as the tourist will be able to go up to the snow line and enjoy the scenic splendour of the great Himalayas.

The 51-km-long road from Manali to the Rohtang Pass is full of scenic splendours, magnificent views of snow-capped mountains of the Pir Panjal and Dhauladhar Ranges to the north and the lush green Kulu valley to the south. The icy winds at the Rohtang Pass give memorable moments to the visitors.

In 1989, the Government of India threw open the Manali-Leh highway to foreign visitors whereas the tribal belt of Spiti and Kinnaur were opened to overseas tourists in 1992. The journey from Manali to Leh is replete with adventure and thrills. The road to Leh spirals its way through the Rohtang Pass, Baralachala Pass, Lachlungla Pass and Tanglangla Pass.

With the opening of the Manali-Leh road to foreigners, the overseas tourist influx into Himachal Pradesh has seen a tremendous increase during the past few years. Now foreign and domestic tourists can go from Kashmir to Leh and then from Leh to Manali or vice-versa, making a complete circuit to the heartful delight of the visitors.

About 70 km from Manali at a place known as Gramphu, the road bifurcates to Spiti and Kinnaur tribal areas. The road from Gramphu to Batal runs along the Chandra river and then in a zigzag manner runs over the Kunzum Pass (4551 m) till it reaches Kaza and Kinnaur, popularly known as cold deserts of the Himalayas.

Dharamsala-Lahore bus service mooted
From Our Correspondent

NURPUR, April 20 — The Himachal Pradesh Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) has proposed to launch the Dharamsala-Lahore bus service, Mr Krishan Kapoor, Himachal Transport Minister, here last evening after inaugurating computerised bus body fabrication machinery of worth Rs 30 lakh at divisional workshop of the HRTC at Jassur near here on Monday said that necessary permission and route permit was being applied for this bus service. He revealed that the HRTC had earned an additional revenue of Rs 20 crore in one year's rule of the BJP-HVC combine government in the State. He said that the divisional workshop at Jassur was being expanded and strengthened to generate more employment opportunities.

Mr Kapoor pointed out these new fabricated buses would be more comfortable, spacious, durable and shock proof in which passengers would not receive injuries in the head-on collision mishaps on the road.

Internet users face problems
Tribune News Service

DHARAMSALA, April 20 — The Internet connection holders in Palampur are facing inconvenience due to the faulty Internet facility being provided to them for the past three months.

People having the Internet connection say that within a fraction of a second they loose contact, and it is as good as not having the facility. "First it is very difficult to get connected and after so much effort, the link is lost within few seconds," complains an Internet connection holder.

They say that their pleas to the Telecommunication Department for rectifying the fault are met with the reply that certain equipment and a modem needs to be fitted to solve the problem. They say that they are made to suffer for no fault of theirs and add that the department should have started the facility only once it was fully equipped. Their request to the department to reimburse the money has not been acceded.

Tibetan leader dies due to torture
Tribune News Service

DHARAMSALA, April 20 — Sonam Wangdue, a Tibetan trader, is reported to have died in Lhasa, recently, due to the severe torture and inhuman treatment he suffered, while being under detention in a Chinese prison.

According to the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy, here the 44-year-old trader, also known as Shugden, was arrested in April, 1988, for his alleged involvement in the killing of a Chinese policeman, during a Tibetan demonstration. Sonam was sentenced to life imprisonment and was kept in the Gutsa prison, where he was tortured, resulting in injury to his kidneys, and a broken back.

Later he was transferred to the Drapchi prison, where he continued to suffer inhuman treatment, including being struck on the damaged kidneys. In 1993, he was released on medical parole, and was confined to a wheel chair, Sonam's life sentence was preceded by a pre-trial detention at Gutsa prison for one year. He was constantly tortured as the officers tried to make him confess to his involvement in the killing of the Chinese policeman.

According to reports, prior to his death, Sonam's lungs, head, kidneys, liver and intestine were seriously damaged.

The Tibetan government-in-exile here, keeps receiving details of the atrocious and inhuman treatment that political prisoners continue to suffer.

Pension, other benefits for
absorbed staff
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, April 20 — In a landmark judgement the Himachal State Administrative Tribunal, has allowed the restoration of pension to government employees who were later on absorbed in various corporations and also all the attendant benefits, including arrears, dearness allowance, interim relief and revision of pension from time to time, and the facility of medical reimbursement which were being denied to them heretofore.

Disposing of the petition of Mr M.K. Mahajan, a former General Manager of the State Handicraft Corporation, and Mr N.N. Jaggi and Mr M.L. Aggarwal, who were working in the H.P. Industries Department and were later on absorbed in different corporations, a Division Bench of the tribunal consisting of Mr S.M. Kanwar and Mr Narinder Thakur held that the petitioners were entitled restoration of pension from the day they completed 15 years after retirement from government service and other benefits.

The tribunal ordered that pension be released within three months and the arrears thereof due to the petitioners within a period of four months. It further held that the petitioners were government pensioners for all purposes and they would be entitled to medical reimbursement and all other facilities, concession and benefits available to government pensioners.

Punjab gesture to oustees
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, April 20 — The Punjab Government has agreed to give suitable jobs to family members of Thein dam oustees having higher academic qualifications as a good will gesture.

Stating this here today, Mr P.K. Dhumal, Chief Minister, said the applications of persons having higher qualifications for jobs could be forwarded to the General Manager, Ranjit Sagar Dam, along with the recommendation of the Deputy Commissioner, Chamba, for consideration.

He said as per the agreement between the Governments of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh, it had been stipulated that the oustees would be either given alternative cultivable land or employment.

Mr Dhumal appreciated the gesture of the Punjab Government to provide Class IV jobs to all oustees' families even though work at the Thein dam had been almost completed.

Woman commits suicide
From Our Correspondent

KANGRA, April 20 — A woman, mother of four children, consumed poison and a boy was crushed to death in this district during the past 24 hours.

Mr K.B. Sadiyal, SSP, said here today that Lalita Devi (27) of Mandal village allegedly committed suicide by consuming poison. The cause of the suicide is not known.

In another incident , a 60-year-old lady, Bhrami Devi of Khundia village, died of burns yesterday when she tried to save two oxen from the cowshed which was in flames.

Parveen Kumar (10) of Talarda village was crushed to death by a van today. He died on the spot.

The police has registered a case and arrested the driver and impounded the vehicle.

Urdu poet honoured
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, April 20 — Dr Naresh, an eminent Urdu poet writer and Professor in modern literature Punjab University, was honoured by the All India Ghalib Educational society, Himachal chapter, at Solan today.

The Ghalib award was presented to him for his outstanding contribution in the field of literature.

Mr Jagdish Sharma, secretary, State Bhasha Akademi, presented the award. He highlighted the contribution of Dr Naresh in enriching the Urdu, Hindi and Punjabi literature.

The function has been jointly organised by the Ghalib Education Society and the Department of Languages and Culture, Himachal Pradesh.