Inclusion of HVC men in Cong resented
SHIMLA, Feb 27 — The inclusion of "supporters" of the Himachal Vikas Congress in the list of office-bearers of the state unit of the Youth Congress has created resentment among Congress activists.

Potable water to get priority: Dhumal
HAMIRPUR, Feb 27 — The Chief Minister, Prof Prem Kumar Dhumal, has described the new Budget of the Central government as people-oriented, saying that a majority of people will benefit from it.

Rs 14.11 cr sanctioned for HP roads
SHIMLA, Feb 27 — The NABARD has sanctioned Rs 14.11 crore financial assistance to the Himachal Pradesh Government for constructing various roads.

BJP MLA made chairman
SHIMLA, Feb 27 — Mr Des Raj, BJP MLA from Gangath Assembly constituency in the Kangra district has been appointed chairman of the Himachal Civil Supplies Corporation.

4-day Holi mela begins
SUJANPURTIRA, Feb 27 — The four-day state-level Holi Mela started here today on a colourful note.

Forest guard suspended
CHAMBA, Feb 27 A forest guard was suspended in the illegal tree felling case in Tundah forest of Bharmour tribal subdivision in Chamba district.

• Press accreditation panel set up
• Protest march by Cong workers
• 3 deodars felled, 9 uprooted

Inclusion of HVC men in Cong resented
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Feb 27 — The inclusion of "supporters" of the Himachal Vikas Congress (HVC) in the list of office-bearers of the state unit of the Youth Congress has created resentment among Congress activists.

The list of office-bearers was released here yesterday after its approval from the party high command.

It is being alleged that certain supporters of Mr Sukh Ram, HVC chief, and a couple of those who had been expelled from the party for working against official candidates of the Congress during the recent Assembly elections, have been appointed office-bearers of the Youth Congress.

The list is learnt to have been prepared by Mr Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu, president, Youth Congress, in consultation with the PCC chief, Mr Sat Mahajan, and certain other "anti-Virbhadra Singh leaders".

The Youth Congress activists met here today and decided to lodge a protest with the party high command in this regard. Mr Kuldeep Singh Pathania, former Youth Congress chief, also took a strong exception to the inclusion of HVC men as office-bearers.

Mr Pathania claimed that at least three office-bearers had crossed the age limit for continuing as members of the Youth Congress. He expressed shock over the inclusion of only three office-bearers of the dissolved body in the new set-up, claiming that two persons engaged in liquor trade were also made office-bearers while active workers of the party were ignored.

He said not even a single office-bearer had been included from Sirmour district, where all five MLAs belonged to the Congress.

Mr Sukhu, however, claimed that no section was ignored while constituting the party.

The recent replacement of three district presidents of the Congress has also rattled party members.

Potable water to get priority: Dhumal
From Our Correspondent

HAMIRPUR, Feb 27 — The Chief Minister, Prof Prem Kumar Dhumal, has described the new Budget of the Central government as people-oriented, saying that a majority of people will benefit from it.

In his reaction to the Budget, he said the main thrust of the Centre was to help people belonging to all sections of society. He said some harsh decisions were to be taken to deal with the budgetary deficits created because of subsidies.

Meanwhile, he has said his government will give priority to the supply of drinking water, construction of roads and to repair old roads in the state.

He said this while addressing a gathering near Poong village of the district today. Earlier, he inaugurated two drinking water supply schemes, costing the state exchequer about Rs 96 lakh. He also laid a foundation stone of a bridge over Poong Khad which would link Hamirpur with Patlander via Ree village. A sum of Rs 40 lakh would be spent on its construction.

The Chief Minister said efforts were being made to provide drinking water to all villages of the district, adding that the state government had cleared several proposals for the augmentation of various existing water supply schemes in the district. Adequate funds would be provided for these schemes in next year's state Budget.

He described the proposed anti-price rise agitation of the Congress, starting from March 1, as anti-people.

Mr Ramesh Dhwala, Irrigation-cum-Public Health and Department Minister, said corruption would not be tolerated and the guilty would be punished.

The Chief Minister also opened a bridge near Bagehra village, costing about Rs 28 lakh. This bridge would link Sujanpurtira with Jangelberi. He also inaugurated a hostel at Sainik School, Sujanpurtira. It would house 95 students.

‘Dead’ man recovers
From Our Correspondent

SHIMLA, Feb 27 — Hemraj (30), a driver of a private contractor, who was allegedly declared dead thrice, a week ago, is now recovering at IGMC Hospital here.

He met with an accident in Samrala while driving a Tata Sumo. A woman occupant died on the spot and Hemraj was comatose. He was taken for dead by people, but removed to a hospital.

It was in a local hospital that he almost died and was referred to a hospital in Chandigarh.

"For the third time I was declared dead in Chandigarh and was kept in a mortuary for one night," says Hemraj, who does not clearly recall the name of the hospital. "My nose was stuffed was cotton. When I regained consciousness, I removed it and blood oozed out from my nose," says Hemraj. "I tried to wake up others but they were probably dead. I kept on knocking on the door and was taken out in the morning. I was told by my fellow patients that I remained in the mortuary for a long time", adds a still shaken Hemraj.

"We got a call that Hemraj had died in an accident", says Deviroop, his brother. The family hails from Tattapani, near Shimla. "But we got another call in the evening that he is alive, by then we had already rushed to Chandigarh", says Deviroop, now helping his brother in the orthopaedics ward of IGMC.

Hemraj is now out of danger and recovering.

Rs 14.11 cr sanctioned for HP roads
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Feb 27 — The NABARD has sanctioned Rs 14.11 crore financial assistance to the Himachal Pradesh Government for constructing various roads.

Mr A.K. Garg, General Manager, NABARD, here said today that two rural road projects, Marhi-Kamlah-Sandhol and Pander-Tatta Pani in Mandi district and two bridge projects, one over Suketi Khad at Chakkar and another over Giri river at Sataun in Sirmaur district, had been approved by the NABARD.

With this assistance, in addition to the construction of the two crucial bridges, a total road length of 86.50 km under these projects will be constructed. The completion of these projects will connect 24 villages benefiting more than 1.2 lakh rural population. These projects will greatly contribute to the timely inflow of agricultural inputs, marketing of horticultural, agricultural produce and non-farm products and will affect the economic development of the state.

Besides, the implementation of these projects shall generate direct employment. All these projects are scheduled to be completed by March, 2001.

BJP MLA made chairman
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Feb 27 — Mr Des Raj, BJP MLA from Gangath Assembly constituency in the Kangra district has been appointed chairman of the Himachal Civil Supplies Corporation, Mr Devinder Sharma also from Gangath has been appointed Director of the Board of Directors of the Corporation.

Meanwhile, Mr SS Negi, Financial Commissioner, Himachal was yesterday given the charge of the Revenue Department. He will also hold the additional charge of the Tribal Development.

Mrs Rajendra Bhattacharya has swapped department with Mr Negi. She now, will be Financial Commissioner (appeals).

4-day Holi mela begins
From Our Corespondent

SUJANPURTIRA, Feb 27 — The four-day state-level Holi Mela started here today on a colourful note. Thousands of men, women and children drawn from various parts of the Hamirpur, Kangra and Mandi districts of the state thronged the huge Chowgan maidan to take part in the opening day function, where Chief Minister, Prof Prem Kumar Dhumal declared the festival open.

Earlier, the Chief Minister performed, puja at the local Murli Manohar temple and prayed for the well-being of the people of the Hamirpur district. He also inaugurated an exhibition pandal set up by various government and semi-government departments. The Chief Minister was brought in a big procession to the temple.

During the rule of the Katoch Kings the Holi festival was started in this historic town and beating of the Tamaks marked the beginning of the celebrations.

The Chief Minister was accompanied by Mr Ramesh Dhwala, the HP irrigation cum Public Health Minister, Mrs Urmila Thakur, the Parliamentary Secretary and other important functionaries of the BJP and the BJYM.

Forest guard suspended
From Our Correspondent

CHAMBA, Feb 27 A forest guard was suspended in the illegal tree felling case in Tundah forest of Bharmour tribal subdivision in Chamba district.

An official spokesman said here today that a few other forest officials were also expected to face disciplinary action for their negligence in this episode of illegal cutting down of 30 trees.

He said the investigation in the case was going on and those found guilty would be prosecuted under the law. He added that all felled trees had been seized by the Forest Department.

Press accreditation panel set up
From Our Correspondent

HAMIRPUR, Feb 27 — The Himachal Government has reconstituted the state-level Press Accreditation Committee with the Commissioner-cum-Secretary Public Relations as chairman. The Director Public Relations will be its Member-Secretary.

Other members of the committee are: Mr B.R. Jaitley, Editor Divya Himachal, Ashwani Sharma, Correspondent Indian Express, Chander Shekhar, The Tribune, P.C. Lohumi, PTI, Ved Bhushan Mahajan, Punjab Kesri, Sushil Kumar, Ajit Samachar, Ganesh Dutt Sharma, Editor Monal Times, Ms Pratibha Chauhan, The Tribune, Ajay Srivastwa, Jansatta and Sita Ram Khajuria, Punjab Kesri.

The committee will consider applications of Press Correspondents for accreditation to the Himachal Government and review list of accredited correspondents if they violated accreditation rules. The term of the committee will be three years.

3 deodars felled, 9 uprooted
From Our Correspondent

CHAMBA, Feb 27 — Felling of three 12-year old deodar trees and uprooting of nine deodar trees recently near Chowgan here has come to light. According to local municipal council sources though a case relating to felling and uprooting of deodar trees has not yet been reported either to the Forest Department or to the police. Yet the council taking the matter seriously might lodge a complaint in this connection shortly. Sources revealed that there were 52 deodar trees in the grown up stage saplings which were being trained along the surroundings of Chowgan (ground) for the past 15 years due to efforts by the local Municipal Council to enhance grandeur of the town and improving the environment.

Meanwhile resentment prevails among the local residents over the failure of municipal council for taking action against the guilty, so far.

Protest march by Cong workers
From Our Correspondent

KULU, Feb 27 — Congress activists staged a demonstration at Kulu, Bhuntar and Manali today in protest against the rising prices of LPG and fertilisers and hike in power tariff.

The Congress workers led by Mr Raj Krishan Gaur, former minister of state for tourism, staged a demonstration at the district headquarters here. At Bhuntar, former Minister of State for Horticulture Satya Prakash Thakur led the protest march by the Congress workers of the Banjar block.