CM lays foundation stone of hospital
From Our Correspondent

SOLAN, Dec 24 — The Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, laid the foundation stone of a 300-bed zonal hospital, proposed to be constructed at a cost of Rs 20 crore and also of a Rs 2.5 crore modern sub-jail here today.

Later, addressing a public meeting at the old bus stand here, he said his government was always ready to fulfil the needs of the people of the town, which had emerged as the second most important and the fastest growing town in the state.

Mr Dhumal said the proposed construction of the hospital and the shifting of the sub-jail, presently located in the heart of the town, to a secluded place, represented the beginning of the development of the town along modern lines.

He said the Union Government had agreed to provide Rs 2 crore for the town under its Integrated Development of Small and Medium Towns scheme. The first instalment of Rs 50 lakh would be received from the Centre before the end of the current financial year. The amount would be placed at the disposal of the local municipal council for the construction of a modern market complex and similar projects, he said.

Mr Dhumal said the Railway Minister, Ms Mamata Banerjee, had assured him regarding the early construction of railway over-bridges in the Chambaghat locality of the town and at Jabli in the district.

He said funds would soon be made available to augment the town's water supply by erecting a lift scheme based on the Giri river.

HPCC seeks probe into bitumen scam
From Our Correspondent

CHAMBA, Dec 24 — The Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) has sought a high-level probe into the bitumen scam at Mandi in the state and seizure of all accounts pertaining to this racket to avoid any laxity in its investigation.

Addressing newspersons at Chamba yesterday, the HPCC, General Secretaries, Mr G.S. Bali and Mrs Asha Kumari, demanded a judicial inquiry into the irregularities of 962 appointments in the Ayurveda Department, 1,200 appointments of daily wagers in the Public Works Department (PWD) and appointments in Kangra Central Cooperative Bank.

The leaders described the 300-mw Chamera Hydroelectric Project stage-II 'a sell-out' to a private company. They said it was against the interests of the state.

They alleged that the BJP-led government was favouring its men by giving them contracts in the Chamera project. The same, they said, was the situation in the Irrigation and Public Health Department and the PWD.

They criticised the Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, for his "failure" to table the written agreement of the Chamera project with a private firm.

The leaders described the Dhumal government as "inexperienced and non-functional" adding that if user tax was imposed, the HPCC would oppose it.

They said the White Paper presented before the Assembly was a mere statement of financial facts which revealed the deteriorating fiscal condition of the state.

Bus stand in pitiable state
From Bijender Sharma

DEHRA GOPIPUR: A look at the local General Bus Stand situated on the Hoshiarpur-Jwalamukhi state highway near the Government School makes it evident that it is in a shambles. It appears the Nagar Panchayat authorities are least concerned on improving the shabby conditions at the bus stand, which has been crying for attention for a long time.

Construction work on the bus stand started 16 years ago and it was built at a cost of Rs 3 lakh. Construction had to be abandoned midway due to lack of funds. After the levelling of the ground 10 shops were also constructed but other work was held up.

According to the government plan, a multistorey building was planned, but nothing has been done by the authorities yet. Thus, the bus stand is operating from a ramshackle building. The office of the Himachal Road Transport Corporation is also in bad shape.

In the absence of a boundary wall around the bus stand, stray cattle can be seen roaming in the compound with dung scattered all over. Congress grass and wild vegetation surround the area.

As toilets remain choked and are rarely cleaned, people ease themselves in the open. No water is there in the latrines.

Water taps are missing owing to theft. The handpump is not in a working condition. The metalled road inside the bus stand has potholes which get filled with rain water. The kutcha portion becomes slushy during the rainy season.

There is no check on cycles, scooters and auto-rickshaws which move in a haphazard manner in the yard. The bus stand does not have proper entry and exit gates.

Though two bus yards and sheds exist in the stand only a few bus drivers make use of them. Most of them park their buses at will. Many long route buses going to Hoshiarpur and Chandigarh do not enter the complex and prefer to pick up passengers outside the stand.

A number of buses bound for Una and Nangal also do not enter the bus stand and prefer to take a diversion from the chowk. There is no proper lighting arrangements in the compound.

The condition of various shops at the stand is not good. Several shops are situated in the open. Shopkeepers have been crying for pucca structures.

22 hurt as bus falls into nullah
From Our Correspondent

CHAMBA, Dec 24 — Twentytwo passengers were injured when a private bus carrying them overturned and rolled down into a 30-metre deep gorge at Merhu Nullah yesterday.

Giving this information here today, an official spokesman said the bus which was carrying 25 passengers was on its way from Chamba to Himgiri.

The condition of some of the passengers is stated to be critical.

The police has registered a case.