Dharamsala Mandi Shimla

Cong men meet Sukh Ram in Kangra
DHARAMSALA, July 9 — The presence of some Congressmen considered close the PCC chief, Mr Sat Mahajan, at the dinner hosted for HVC supremo. Mr Sukh Ram, in Kangra has raised many eyebrows.

FIR lodged against four
SHIMLA, July 9 — The management of the Himachal Pradesh State Cooperative Bank has lodged an FIR with the police against four persons, including a former chairman and ex-managing director of the bank in connection with the alleged irregularities in the construction of the bank's new head office building.

Dental college gets Centre’s clearance
SHIMLA, July 9 — The uncertainty over the functioning of the Government Dental College here has been removed with the Centre granting permission for establishing the college with retrospective effect.

Mandi bids farewell to brave son
MANDI, July 9 — Havildar Krishan Chand of 13 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles, who laid down his life in a fierce battle with the intruders on July 6, was cremated here on the banks of river Beas with full civil and military honours today.

2.5 lakh relief for disabled soldiers
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, July 9 — The Himachal Pradesh Government has decided to grant a cash relief of Rs 2.50 lakh to each permanently soldier disabled while fighting the Pakistani intruders in Kargil and other sectors.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the Cabinet which was presided over by the Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal, here today.

The Cabinet also decided to set up a separate bench of the Administrative Tribunal at Dharamsala.

Briefing newsmen about the Cabinet decisions, Mr Dhumal said that the disabled soldiers would also be provided employment according to their suitability.

He said that it had been decided that the soldiers with over a 50 per cent disability would be granted Rs 2.50 lakh and those suffering less than 50 per cent disability would be provided financial help of Rs 1 lakh each by the state government.

The Cabinet paid tributes to those soldiers killed in action in Kargil and also appreciated the firm stand taken by the Prime Minister on the issue. This had boosted the morale of the armed forces.

The Cabinet also appreciated that it was for the first time that the point of view of the country has been properly put across by the government, which has resulted in international support to India on the Kashmir issue.

The Cabinet thanked the Prime Minister for including Mr Dhumal as a member of the high level committee for recommending uniform, relief for Kargil heroes. The Chief Minister's visit to Kargil for boosting the morale of the wounded soldiers was also appreciated.

Mr Dhumal said that the Cabinet decided to completely scrap sales tax on bricks so as to encourage construction of houses in the state. With the scrapping of the 4 per cent sales tax, each truck load of bricks would be cheaper by Rs 132.

An office of excise and taxation headed by the Deputy Commissioner, Excise, would he opened in the central zone at Mandi. Twelve posts had been sanctioned by the Cabinet for the office.

The Cabinet decided to continue the market intervention scheme for mango at the rate of Rs 3.75 per kg and also handling charges of Re 1 per kg. Fortyfour collection centres of mango would start functioning from July 15.

The market intervention scheme for apple would also continue to function and the procurement centres would be set up from August 1 to October 31.

Subsidy on cartons would stay and the transport subsidy for import of wooden boxes would also continue.

The Cabinet sanctioned 100 posts of women constables for being posted in all urban police stations to handle the cases in which women were involved.

Six posts of Drug Inspector and five posts of Food Inspector had been sanctioned to further strengthen the network to check food and drug adulteration.

More sops for HP fruit growers
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, July 9 — In a bid to further promote fruit cultivation in Himachal Pradesh, the state government will distribute 221 lakh saplings among 6000 small and marginal farmers this year.

According to an official spokesman, this will be done under the special subsidy assistance plan. Various other incentives are also being provided for horticulture. Under the Scheduled Caste Component Plan 4 lakh fruit saplings, horticultural tools and implements, compost and other production material will be distributed to around 14,040 growers.

In addition to this, under the state plan (subsidy) and special Central assistance 1.05 lakh saplings would also be distributed. Besides this, under ‘‘outside tribal areas scheme’’ special Central assistance of Rs 6.92 lakh would be spent on the distribution of 20,000 saplings, Rs 1.95 lakh would be spent on distribution of 5,000 plants/tools etc. to 250 growers under tribal pocket scheme.

Efforts are being made to promote cultivation of olives, figs, hops, kiwifruits, strawberry and flowers and mushroom production and bee-keeping. During 1998-99 314 metric tonne of compost for mushroom production was produced at two departmental mushroom developmental projects located at Chambaghat and Palampur and distributed among mushroom growers. Under the bee-keeping development programme, 418 bee-colonies have been distributed amongst bee-keepers and 351 metric tonne of honey has been produced.

Elaborate arrangements are being made for the availability of the packing material to the fruit growers. The public sector-integrated carton manufacturing factory at Pragati Nagar (Kotkhai) manufactured about 43.60 lakh telescopic cartons during 1998-99 and distributed among the orchardists.

The horticulture industry of the state is presently contributing about Rs 330 crore per annum to the gross domestic product. Due to higher productivity and income per unit area from fruit crops, horticulture in the state is playing a vital role in improving the socio-economic conditions.

So far apple remains the dominant fruit crop in the state. Other fruit crops like mango, citrus stone fruits and floriculture, bee-keeping, hops and mushroom growing are also steadily coming up in the potential areas.

Incentives in the form of subsidy on the cost of essential inputs required for the establishment of horticultural production units like orchards, mushroom growing, bee-keeping etc. are being provided to small and marginal farmers and other weaker sections of the farming community so that they can increase their income through horticultural production.

The state government is providing 50 per cent subsidy to the small and marginal orchardists having an orchard area of up to 25 bighas of land and 30 per cent subsidy is being given to the orchardists having an orchard area of above 25 bighas of land. The government is also providing 50 per cent and 30 per cent subsidy on various pesticides and fungicides for the control of apple scab, canker disease, mite pest and also for the control of major insects, pests and diseases of mango, litchi, peach, plum, almond and citrus fruits. During 1999-2000, 160 metric tonnes pesticides would be distributed. The subsidy worth Rs 2.05 crore would be given in this sector.

Cong men meet Sukh Ram in Kangra
Tribune News Service

DHARAMSALA, July 9 — The presence of some Congressmen considered close the PCC chief, Mr Sat Mahajan, at the dinner hosted for HVC supremo. Mr Sukh Ram, in Kangra has raised many eyebrows.

The HVC chief, Mr Sukh Ram, toured Kangra to offer condolences to the bereaved families of Kargil martyrs. Some of the Congressmen close to Mr Mahajan and claimants of Congress tickets too were present at the dinner. "What is most surprising is the fact that those who have been given new posts by the PCC chief in the party or frontal organisations did not miss the opportunity to meet Mr Sukh Ram," grumbled a youth leader.

The General Secretary of the AICC, Mr R.K.Dhawan, during his recent tour to Shimla had made it clear that the stand of the party, as far as Mr Sukh Ram is concerned, still remained the same. Under such circumstances Sat Mahajan confidants, being in full attendance during Mr Sukh Rams visit, were giving an impression that in defiance of the party high command’s stand, efforts to join hands with the HVC leader were still on. Infact some of the Congressmen of the district were agitated over the presence of their partymen at dinners hosted for Mr Sukh Ram.

Congress MLAs themselves hold dissenting views regarding Mr Sukh Ram’s coming back. However, majority of the MLAs, including the CLP leader, Mr Virbhadra Singh, contest that till Mr Sukh Ram was absolved of the corruption charges, the Congress should not take him back.

Another interesting development that came to light during the visit was that some of the HVC men preferred to stay away. "Some of the HVC workers are probing the possibility of their entry into the Congress, for which they feel that they need to distance themselves from Mr Sukh Ram, "commented an HVC leader. Some of those keen to rejoin the Congress reportedly met the CLP leader, Mr Virbhadra Singh, at Palampur and expressed their keenness to come back.

Earlier also there had been reports that some of the HVC leaders from Kangra district had been annoyed as their demand for a change in the district body had not been accepted. It was still being said this group of disgruntled partymen had kept their options open of joining either the Congress or the BJP.

Political analysts say that it suited Mr Sukh Ram to show that he has good relations with people in the Congress.

FIR lodged against four
Embezzlement of bank funds
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, July 9 — The management of the Himachal Pradesh State Cooperative Bank has lodged an FIR with the police against four persons, including a former chairman and ex-managing director of the bank in connection with the alleged irregularities in the construction of the bank's new head office building.

The FIR was lodged on the basis of the report of the committee set up by the board five months ago, to inquire into the matter. The committee headed by Mr Sher Singh, a director on the board, had in its report pointed out grave irregularities leading to embezzlement of over Rs 35 lakh.

Besides Mr Nehar Singh and Mr B.S. Nanta, former Chairman and Managing Director of the bank, respectively, Mr H.K. Sareen, building contractor, and Mr S.K., Sharma, Executive Engineer, have been named in the FIR.

As many as Rs 2.29 crore were spent on the building which was estimated to cost Rs 81 lakh.

The contractor, the inquiry report revealed, had quoted very high in the tender rates compared to others. But his overall rates were low. Moreover, he did not complete the work in the stipulated period but was paid Rs 58,45,195 instead of Rs 38,45,269. He did not complete the works for which he had quoted very low rates and the bank authorities did not provide any safeguards by way of withholding payments. Consequently after receiving the full payment he started refusing to do the remaining job.

Dental college gets Centre’s clearance
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, July 9 — The uncertainty over the functioning of the Government Dental College here has been removed with the Centre granting permission for establishing the college with retrospective effect.

This was disclosed to reporters here today by the Health Minister, Mr J.P. Nadda, in the presence of the Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal.

Mr Nadda said the permission of the Central government had come retrospectively from 1994, when the dental college was set up.

The future of the students had been hanging fire without the Centre’s permission to run the college having 20 seats. It was established during the former Congress government in the state.

He said the central permission had been granted due to the keen interest taken by Mr Dhumal in the matter.

Mandi bids farewell to brave son
From Our Correspondent

MANDI, July 9 — Havildar Krishan Chand of 13 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles, who laid down his life in a fierce battle with the intruders on July 6, was cremated here on the banks of river Beas with full civil and military honours today.

Krishan Chand (40), was a resident of Mohalla Magwain of this town. His son Gaurav (11) lit the pyre.

The body of the soldiers was brought here last evening and was kept in the historic Seri Pavilion to enable mourners to have a last glimpse.

Shops in the town remained closed today as a mark of respect to the departed soul. Thousands of men and women converged to the Seri Pavilion to attend a condolence meeting.

Wreathes were placed on the body of the martyr on behalf of the Governor and Chief Minister.

A contingent of police fired several rounds in the air to salute the martyr and reversed the arms to pay respect.

Those who attended the funeral, included Mr Sukh Ram, HVC Chief and his son Anil Sharma a former MP. Mr Maheshwar Singh, the Zila Parishad Chairman, Mr D.D. Thakur and district officials.

Later Vidhan Sabha Speaker Thakur Gulab Singh visited the house of the martyr and consoled the family.