P R A D E S H
Tuesday, February 23, 1999
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H I M A C H A L P R A D E S H |
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Tuesday, February 23, 1999 |
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spotlight today's calendar |
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Subsidise air travel: HP
govt Congress
pushed state to bankruptcy: CM |
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HVC feels sidelined by
Dhumal Mizoram
CM visits farm varsity Cases
against BJP leaders withdrawn
Hola
Mohalla mela begins today Left
workers stage dharna Congress
got Sidhata project 'cleared' 3
houses gutted |
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Subsidise
air travel: HP govt SHIMLA, Feb 22 — The Himachal Pradesh Government has urged the Centre to subsidise air travel in Himachal Pradesh on the pattern of north-eastern states to promote tourism. This was stated by the Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal, here today while presiding over the first meeting of the High Power Tourism Advisory Board. It had been decided to set up a tourist information and reception centre at Vakanaghat, near here, where all types of information, including availability of accommodations in hotels at Shimla and other important places in the state would be made available to tourists. Emphasising the importance of tourism in the economy of the state, the Chief Minister said the potential of every kind of tourism, including nature, heritage, religious and adventure, should be exploited expeditiously through concerted efforts as there was great scope for tourism development in the state. He ordered a fresh survey on scientific lines regarding tourist arrivals in Himachal Pradesh as the previous survey had been done long ago in 1990. After globalisation and liberalisation, there had been tremendous increase in the number of tourists, especially from abroad. Mr Dhumal said that two 'vanaspati' gardens — one at Manali and other in Chamba district — would be set up at an estimated cost of Rs 9 crore to give a fillip to nature tourism. There had been a number of complaints, regarding fleecing of tourists, especially in the transport sector, and said it should be ensured that whenever tourists visit the state they feel comfortable and take back pleasant memories. He was informed at the meeting that the matter had been taken with the Government of India to take up the improvement of existing three airports — Jubbarhatti in Shimla district, Bhuntar in Kulu district and Gaggal in Kangra district — so that 50-seater aeroplanes could land there. It was also decided in the meeting that more de luxe coaches would be introduced in the state. To develop Maharana Sarovar as an attractive tourist complex, it was decided to set up a committee under the chairmanship of Secretary, Tourism, and comprising of officers concerned to coordinate and monitor the progress. A sum of Rs 2.50 crore would be spent on its development. It would have aquarium-cum-snake park, restaurant on the island and water sports activities. It was also decided to
develop various other lakes like Khajiar and Chamera in
Chamba district, Pandoh in Mandi district, Renuka in
Sirmaur district, Gobindsagar in Bilaspur district and
Dal Lake at Dharamsala in Kangra district. |
Congress
pushed state to bankruptcy: CM GALORE, (Hamirpur), Feb 22 — Himachal Chief Minister, Prof Prem Kumar Dhumal. Addressing a well-attended public meeting here last evening after inaugurating a newly constructed building of the Primary Health Centre here, said that Rs 23 lakh were spent on its construction. Prof Dhumal lashed out at the previous Congress government for pushing the state into fiscal bankruptcy. He said that the annual income of the state was just Rs 625 crore and the interest to be paid to the financial institutions was to the extent of Rs 850 crore alone. And if the salaries of the staff were also be added, it amounted to Rs 2,100 crore. He announced on the occasion that Naib-Tehsildar, Nadaun, would sit at Galore for 15 days every month to solve the revenue problems of the people of the Galore area. He said that a Sub Tehsil will be opened at Galore very shortly. The Chief Minister also announced the construction of a high-level bridge over Maan Khad on the Dandroo-Tipper road of the area. Mr Baldev Sharma, MLA welcomed the Chief Minister and state that the BJP government was performing its duties well. It was the CM's first visit to Nadaunta Assembly segment of the district after becoming the Chief Minister. The Chief Minister also laid the foundation stone of an ITI complex at Bani in the district. A sum of Rs 30 lakh will be spent for the construction of the ITI complex. The Chief Minister gave
them a call to beware of the forces trying to create
feelings of regionalism and casteism. |
HVC feels
sidelined by Dhumal SHIMLA, Feb 22 — The ruling BJP alliance partner in Himachal, the Himachal Vikas Congress (HVC) has virtually been sidelined by the Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal, who now has refused to act on the dotted lines of Mr Sukh Ram HVC chief. The HVC activists claim that Mr Dhumal has dumped them aside eversince the BJP secured a majority of its own in the Assembly after winning various byelections. This was in sharp contrast to the earlier situation when Mr Dhumal accepted almost each and every demand of the HVC even by annoying his partymen. However, his style of functioning now has changed as his government was no more surviving on the support of the HVC. The HVC activists are sore that although the HVC was the real "king maker", but Mr Dhumal had appointed only one of the party nominee, Mr Vijay Joshi, who is also working president of the HVC, as chairman of an insignificant corporation. On the other hand, about 12 BJP men were doled the posts of chairman of various boards and corporations. Mr Dhumal has so far refused to oblige the HVC chief, Mr Sukh Ram, by inducting more HVC men as chairmen to give the party a wider participation in the day-to-day administration and also administrative and policy making process of the state. Mr Sukh Ram has desperately been demanding the setting up of a coordination committee of the BJP and the HVC for smooth functioning of the alliance,but this has also not been accepted by Mr.Dhumal. Irked over all this, certain HVC men have now started accusing Mr Narinder Modi, BJP general secretary and in charge of the party affairs in Himachal Pradesh, of playing a "mischievous"role. They allege that Mr Dhumal lacked the art of governance and was functioning on the advice of Mr Modi and a couple of handpicked junior level bureaucrats. Certain HVC men have also
been suspecting whether Mr Dhumal was seriously pursuing
their demand for a CBI probe against the former Chief
Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh. No progress has been made
in this direction although the HVC submitted a
"charge sheet"against Mr Virbhadra Singh to Mr
Dhumal about nine months ago. |
Facing
eco-degradation CHAMBA, Feb 22 — The steep hills of the Chamba region are on the brink of an ecological degradation due to inappropriate grazing. The capacity of the grasslands is fast depleting because of a complete lack of rejuvenating efforts. The existing fodder trees are being heavily lopped without any scientific consider action. The economy of the district is agro-pastoral with meagre crop-based farm incomes supplemented by livestock rearing. The presence of semi-nomadic and nomadic graziers is also a distinctive feature of this region where grass cultivation and planting of fodder saplings is the most marginalised activity. The Silviculture and Agro-Forestry Department of Dr Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Solan, has recently initiated efforts for arresting the ecological degradation of the slopes by observing "grass days," holding training camps and organising model demonstrations. Sloping agriculture land technology (SALT) is being demonstrated as the most viable alternative for degraded slopes and wastelands. Two such SALT models have been demonstrated in the villages of the Sahoo belt in the district. A "grass day" was also observed a few months ago at Sahoo village to create awareness among farmers about grass cultivation. Nearly 900 plants of morus, 200 of kachnar (bauhinia veriegata) 200 of Rbinia and 100 of khirak (celtis australis) were planted in different villages of the district. The department also organised a three-day training camp on agro-forestry at Baloo in collaboration with its centre operating in Chamba district during the fag-end of 1998 wherein recent agro-forestry technologies for the sustainable development of the hill areas along with the silvi-pastoral system for the improvement of pasture lands were demonstrated. The agro-forestry systems for wastelands development were also demonstrated to a group of farmers at different places in the district. Interestingly, the
participation of women exceeded that of men. |
Hola Mohalla
mela begins today UNA, Feb 22 — The famous Hola Mohalla mela at Maidi village at Dera Baba Badbhag Singh and Dera Manji Sahib, 40-km from here will start tomorrow. More than five lakh pilgrims from Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh visit this mela every year and bathe under the Charan Ganga waterfall. The District
Administration has made arrangements for the smooth
conduct of the Mela. The Administration has banned the
carrying of arms in Una district and the use of
loudspeakers, in the mela grounds. Medical posts have
been set up by the Health Department. Clean drinking
water will also be provided to the pilgrims. |
Left workers
stage dharna HAMIRPUR, Feb 22 — At least 50 activists of the CPM and CPI staged a dharna in front of the district courts complex here today in protest against the 'anti-people' policies of the Central and state government. They blamed the BJP government for the problems being faced by the people in general and the residents of Hamirpur district in particular. Prominent among those who attended the dharna were Mr Kashmir Singh Thakur, the general secretary of the state CITU. Mr Lakhanpal Sharma, secretary of the district CPM, and Mr Mukesh Kumar, district secretary of the CPI. A rally was also held at Gandhi chowk which was attended by workers of Left parties, LIC and GI employees. Workers raised anti-government raised anti-government slogans and held a demonstration. The speakers at the rally alleged that the Central Government was working at the behest of foreign powers. They said that prices of various commodities were enhanced due to pressure from the World Bank. They demanded immediate
withdrawal of the hike in the prices of essential
commodities, fertilisers and cooking gas, failing which
they threatened to intensify their agitation. |
Congress got
Sidhata project 'cleared' DHARAMSALA, Feb 22 — The former IPH minister and MLA from Guler, Mr Chander Kumar, has claimed that the credit for initiating and getting the Shah Nehar and Sidhatha projects cleared from the Centre goes to the previous Congress government. Mr Kumar said that the 3 MW Sidhatha project, which would cost Rs 34 crore, had not been given environmental clearance by the Environment Ministry so far, and even NABARD had not agreed to finance it till now. 'During our (Congress) regime, we had spoken to the UNDP, and it had agreed to pay for the cost of the project and the hydel generation, whereas the state would have to bear the cost of the channels", he claimed. He added that the project report had already been prepared during the Congress regime and Rs 1 crore had been allocated for the survey during 1997-1998. He criticised the government for opening the project office at Gugleda, which was 33 km away, as there was no justification for it. "Nothing practical has been done by the Dhumal, government for which they are taking claim, as during our regime only we had taken up the matter with Punjab", he said. Referring to the Shah
Nehar project, the former MLA said that the Water
Commission had given an award, as per which Himachal
would be getting 250 cusecs of water and in the lean
period, if required, it could get up to 350 cusecs.
"It was the Congress government headed by Mr
VIrbhadra Singh which initiated secretary-level talks, in
1993, for the implementation of the award given by the
Water Commission", he claimed. He said that the
Congress government had given Rs 7 crore for the project
and opened the SE office at Jawali. Two divisions were
opened at Badhukar and Sansarpur Terrace, along with six
subdivisions. |
Mizoram CM
visits farm varsity SOLAN, Feb 22 — The Chief Minister of Mizoram, Mr Zoram Thapa, visited the main campus of Dr Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry at Nauni, near here, today. Mr Thapa had specially come here to gain a first hand knowledge of the horticulture-related technology, available with the University. He visited various departments of the university as well as the museum. The visiting Chief
Minister requested for the University's help in improving
horticulture in his home state. Prof L.R. Verma,
Vice-Chancellor assured all help by way of transfer of
technology and materials from the University's Germ Plasm
Bank. |
Cases
against BJP leaders withdrawn BILASPUR, Feb 22 — The Himachal Pradesh Government has withdrawn three cases which were going in courts here against state-level and district-level prominent BJP leaders regarding incidents of dharnas and road blockades on March 15,1995, October 27, 1997, and December 2, 1997. Reports reaching here said today that persons against whom these cases had been withdrawn included the BJP state unit President, Mr Suresh Chandel (MP), the Himachal Pradesh Small Savings Advisory Board Vice-Chairman, Mr Randhir Sharma, the Assistant Advocate-General (then district Secretary), Mr Vivek Thakur, the district President, Mr Subhash Thakur, the Senior Vice-President, Mr Daulat Ram Sharma, Vice-President - Mr Budhi Singh Kondal, the district General Secretary, Mr Swantantar Sankhayan and the district Bhartiya Janta Yuva Morcha President, Mr Chaman Thakur. These cases pertained to
offences under Sections 147, 147, 353, 186, 341, 506,
143, IPC, involving rioting, threatening, preventing from
performing duties obstructions and assault and
manhandling. |
3 houses
gutted CHAMBA, Feb 22 — Three houses were destroyed and three heads of cattle perished in a devastating fire at Kunda village of this district last night. Giving this information here today, Mr K, Sanjaymurti, Deputy Commissioner, said the revenue authorities had been asked to rush to the site and assess the loss and provide relief to the victims. The Deputy Commissioner
had sanctioned an interim relief of Rs 5,000 to the
victims and asked the revenue officials to distribute
tarpaulins and ration among them. |
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