P R A D E S H
Friday, June 4, 1999
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H I M A C H A L P R A D E S H |
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Friday, June 4, 1999 |
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spotlight today's calendar |
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Nod to prosecute IAS
officer |
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Environmentalists protest to PM Strike
hits HPTDC working 7
killed in Himachal mishap Shanta
Kumar making ‘false promises’ Hang
gliding likely at Jot |
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Nod to prosecute IAS officer SHIMLA, June 3 — The Vigilance Department has been given permission by the government to prosecute an IAS officer, Mr Raj Mani Tripathi, who was allegedly involved in a fraudulent land transaction, evasion of stamp duty and abuse of power as Deputy Commissioner. The Additional Director-General of Police (Vigilance), Mr V.K. Malik, today said that sanction to prosecute eight government officials allegedly involved in 11 cases of corruption had been received. The officers include a Development Officer of the Horticulture Department and an assistant engineer. Twenty-three persons, including a naib tehsilder and secretary of the Dalhousie Municipal Committee in Chamba district, had been booked for alleged abuse of power and accumulating assets disproportionate to their known sources of income. Five cases had been registered by the anti-corruption zone, Chamba, relating to illegal construction of hotels and wrongful acquisition of land and properties at Dalhousie, valued at more than Rs 1.75 crore by non-Himachalis and non-agriculturists in violation of the HP Land Tenancy and Reforms Act. Kuldeep Raj Mahajan, Secretary of the Municipal Committee, Dalhousie, allegedly conspired with several hoteliers for illegally constructing hotels and apartments. He allegedly fabricated and forged documents and records to allow Mr Hargobind Singh of Amritsar to construct the Golden Heights Apartments at Dalhousie; Mr Ravi Parkash, Mr Satpal and Mrs Kanta Devi to allow construction of Hotel Ravi View, Mr Chaman Lal of Pathankot, Mr Telu Ram of Jalandhar, Mr Satish Seth and Mrs Asha Aggarwal to illegally construct and acquire Chaman Hotel and Hotel Bombay Palace. A similar case had been registered against the owner of Goncha Resorts, Mr Mohindervir Singh. The value of illegally acquired properties in these cases was more than Rs 1.75 crore. The DSP, Vigilance, Chamba, alongwith a team of officers, has been specially assigned the task of investigating these cases on a priority. Another case involving grant of false OBC certificate to one Ashish Kumar of Chhatrari, issued by then Naib Tehsilder B.D. Sharma and Jai Ram, a patwari in the office of the Deputy Commissioner, Chamba, had been detected. It has been alleged that though Ashish Kumar is a Brahmin, he was allegedly granted as OBC certificate. On the basis of the 'false' certificate, Ashish Kumar underwent training as veterinary stock assistant and was subsequently given employment in the Animal Husbandry Department at Chamba. A case has been registered in the Anti-Corruption Zone, Nahan, against Jagdish Chand, a forest guard of Shambhuwala, Nahan, for allegedly accumulating assets disproportionate to his known sources of income. The DSP, Anti-Corruption Zone, Nahan, submitted a challan against Ravinder Singh, former pradhan of Ludhiana panchayat, in Sirmaur district, for preparation of 'false' muster rolls for the construction of a link road and water tank in the panchayat area. In a crusade against corruption and corrupt practices, the Vigilance Department would give rewards where persons gave credible information relating to corruption by public servants, especially amassing of disproportionate assets, possession of unaccounted money, bullion, benami land transactions, embezzlement, power theft and evasion of taxes. Individuals can receive rewards up to Rs 1 lakh, depending upon the total value of disproportionate assets or unaccounted money. Fifteen per cent of the
reward money would be released as soon as the contents of
the complaint were verified and it was registered for
inquiry. As per this scheme, the identity of the
complainants would be kept secret. All such complaints
can be made to the vigilance zones in all districts or to
the vigilance headquarters in the office of the ADGP,
Vigilance. |
Row over digging of trenches by
DoT HAMIRPUR, June 3 — The digging of trenches for laying cables by the Department of Telecommunications here has led to a controversy between its two wings — the project wing and the operation and maintenance wing — over the depth of the trenches to be dug. As many as 100 phones of the local telephone exchange have been lying dead in this town for the past five days due to faults in the underground cables near the local telephone exchange. The operation-cum-maintenance wing of the department has yet not been able to rectify the faults as the cables have been damaged by labourers during ongoing digging work. Sources in the department told The Tribune today that the wrong digging and subsequent laying of OFC cables by the project wing of the department and distribution of cables by the operation wing in the same trenches has led to the mess. As per specifications, the digging work should be done to the depth of about 1.50 m but it has been done only up to 90 cm to 1 m for OFC media. As per rules, digging work should be done separately by both wings of the department and there should be no overlapping of cables to locate the faults. However, in this town cables and OFC media have been laid in the same trenches, thus violating the rules and guidelines issued by the department. The wrong digging of trenches has not only created problems for telephone subscribers, but also caused fiscal losses daily, to the department due to non-functioning of phones. The officers of both wings of the department are said to be at loggerheads these days over the issue laying of cables. Mr Sanjeev Srivastwa, Divisional Engineer of the project wing of the department, admitted on the phone that the digging work for laying of OFC network in the town was faulty. However, no senior
officer of the operation wing was available for comments. |
Eco-friendly sprays for apple
advocated SHIMLA, June 3 — Horticulture scientists from the USA have suggested that the apple growers in Himachal Pradesh should adopt eco-friendly summer oil sprays for protecting the plants from pests. Two farm scientists, Dr Donn T. Johnson, Professor of Entomology in the University of Arkansas and Mr Guy Ames, visited various apple growing areas of the Shimla district and educated orchardists about the scientific methods for making their plants pest resistant. They have come here under the farmer-to-farmer programme of the Winrock International and were accompanied by Mr P.S. Srinivasan, country manager of the organisation and Mr Laxman Thakur, chairman of the Eco-horticulture Society. They stressed that the government should make available the summer oils to the orchardists as these were not yet available in the country. The summer oils take care of most species of pests and were an accepted management practice in Europe and the USA for controlling mite problem. These scientists said that immediate treatment of soil was required as wooly apple aphid disease has appeared in certain areas due to the long drawn drought. They appreciated the work being done by scientists of Dr Y.S. Parmar Horticulture University to tackle the diseases concerning leaf fall and mite. They said that trees had dried in certain areas because of the drought. These scientists stressed the need for introducing an integrated pest management programme. They said that the red mite problem has been brought under control to a great extent this summer. Mr Laxman Thakur said the drought has badly upset the crop prospects and it might be a horrible year for the growers. He demanded that the
government should immediately introduce crop insurance
for horticulture and also provide low interest rate loans
to the apple growers to sustain themselves as their last
year's crop was also not good. |
Parvati
project SHIMLA, June 3 — Several environment protection organisations have appealed to the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, not to lay the foundation stone of the 2051 MWS Parvati hydro electric project in Kulu district for which more than 10 km area of the Great Himalayan National Park (GHNP) has been denotified by the Himachal Pradesh Government. The PM is scheduled to lay the foundation stone of the project on June 6. In a letter to the Prime Minister, copies of which have been sent to the Environment Minister, Mr Suresh Prabhu, and the Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal, these organisations have warned that the project will greatly disturb the core area of the park due to extensive movement of men and material for the work on the project. They have pointed out that the GHNP is the home to a host of endangered plants and animals like serow, Himalayan thar,cheer pheasant, musk deer and the western tragopan which have been listed in the red data book of the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The western trogopan, in particular, is limited to the Western Himalayas and the GHNP is the only national park in the world that supports the bird. The signatories to the letter are Mr B.S Malhans, Co-Convener, INTACH regional chapter, Mr Ajit Kumar, President, Dhauladhar Public Education Society, Mr Rattan Chand, Coordinator, Chipko Soochana Kendra, Mrs Prem Condillac, Coordinator, Shimla Initiative for Nature, Environment and Wildlife and Kalpvriksh Environment Action Group, Pune. They have pointed out that while denotifying parts of the GHNP various critical issues have been ignored which was a matter of serious concern. A notification of the state government in March, 1994 states that the area is of great ecological, faunal geomorphological and geological importance. They have pointed out that the GHNP is one of the few national parks in the country that has been established after detailed scientific and ecological investigations by a team of internationally reputed scientists and experts. The park also falls within one of the globally important endemic bird areas, identified by the International Council for Bird Preservation Biodiversity Project and recently became one of the first parks in the country to receive international development assistance for eco-development. These organisations have complained that the opinion of scientists has not been sought before denotifying areas of the park. They have made it clear that their concern for environment should not be looked upon as some sort of anti-development propaganda. "We are interested and concerned about development of the state, but this should not be compromised with biodiversity or the loss of ecological security on which depends the well being of all". They have also pointed out to the Prime Minister that there are reports from various other parts of the state that various sanctuaries and areas of great ecological and wildlife importance, too, are proposed for complete or partial denotification. The happenings in the GHNP will only set an unhealthy and dangerous precedent for others. Himachal Pradesh is in
ideal position to undertake small and micro-hydel
projects as these cause little damage to the environment. |
Strike hits HPTDC working SHIMLA, June 3 — Functioning of most of the 85 complexes of the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation was severely hit as 2,000 odd Class III and Class IV employees of the corporation went on an indefinite strike in support of their demands from today. The impact of the strike was the maximum in Shimla, Dharamsala, Manali, Chail and Barog where some of the big complexes of the corporation are located. While the canteen at the Government Secretariat here virtually remained closed, the corporation was providing skeletal services at Peter Hof, the state guest house with hired workers. Mr Malkeet Pathania an Mr O.P. Goel, chairman and general secretary, respectively, of the employees' action committee, claimed that 90 per cent of the employees were on strike and most of the hotel and restaurants of the corporation had been closed. Mr P.C. Kapoor, Managing Director of the corporation, however, claimed that only about 50 per cent of the employees were on strike and the units were being run by officers with the help of daily wage workers and hired staff. He said most of the demands pertained to the government and these were already under consideration of the service committee. The main demands included the upgradation of various categories of skilled Class III and Class IV posts, higher scales for those with higher academic qualifications and regularisation of the services of daily paid and ad hoc staff. The striking employees held a rally at the headquarters here in which the leaders blamed the "indifferent attitude" of the management for the strike. Similar rallies were held in the Dharamsala, Manali and other complexes. Later a deputation of the action committee headed by Mr Pathania held talks with Mr P.K. Dhumal, Chief Minister, who gave an assurance that the government would favourably consider their demands if they called off the strike immediately. Mr Pathania said the
action committee would take a decision after ascertaining
the views of employees. The decision would be conveyed to
the government by tomorrow. |
CHAMBA: The Himachal Vikas Congress (HVC) has put forth a proposal for the construction of a narrow gauge rail line from Pathankot to Chamba to bring the charming Chamba region on rail map of the country with a view to promoting tourism in the Chamba-Dalhousie region of Himachal Pradesh. According to Mr P.C. Oberoy, district president, and Mr Shadi Lal Sharma, general secretary of the Chamba district unit of the HVC, a proposal of a narrow gauge railway to link Chamba with Pathankot has already been mooted by the HVC before the BJP-HVC coalition government in the state requesting a survey on the proposal and prepare a project report so that it could be submitted to the Centre for approval. They say a narrow-gauge rail line would be a milestone in the history of Chamba's development as the Chamba-Dalhousie region is famous for its seductive landscapes and rich fauna and flora. As Chamba is replete with perennial tourism potential and tourism is the thriving industry for the locals in the days to come, a narrow-gauge railway line would provide the much-needed fillip to tourism in the region. Both leaders have pleaded with the Himachal Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, for taking it up with the authorities concerned. They have requested the introduction of luxury coach services from the famous hill resorts of Chamba and Dalhousie to link Delhi, Chandigarh, Shimla and other important cities of the neighbouring states. This would popularise the Chamba-Dalhousie region which is full of beauty spots like Bharmour, Devikothi, Salooni, Kihar, Bhandal, Sahoo, Jhumar and Khajjiar. The HVC leaders have also demanded that permission should be granted for the installation of filling stations at Kharamukh in Bharmaur tribal subdivision, Salooni and Tissa tehsil headquarters townships bordering Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir. * * * The thriving tourism industry in the famous hill station of Dalhousie has suffered a major setback as the Central Government turned down recently the proposal of constructing an airport at Banikhet, 5 km from Dalhousie. According to official sources, a Rs 37 crore ambitious Dalhousie airport project was part of the policy to attract tourists from home and abroad thereby providing a job opportunity to local residents. The airport project was cleared by the 10th Finance Commission but with the rejection of the proposal the tourism industry's expansion looks rather bleak. Consequently, resentment prevails among people of the area over the issue of airport proposal. They have urged the government to reconsider the proposal. * * * The Himachal Government has sanctioned a Rs 25 crore backward area sub plan for the development of Chamba district in the current fiscal year. According to Mr K. Sanjaymurthy, Deputy Commissioner of Chamba, the backward area plan is being implemented by various government departments in far-flung areas of the district identified as "backward" in accordance with financial outlay and the policy of the government. * * * The Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Chamba, has been fast harnessing the vast potential of oil seeds in the district by introducing and laying out demonstration trials in farmers' fields from time to time under the frontline demonstrations (FLD) scheme. According to Dr Kishore Khosla, a scientist of the local KVK, the schemes' aim is to bring out potentialities of the newly developed knowhow of cereals, pulses and oilseeds. The KVK is also continuing with the pursuit of oilseeds popularisation. The KVK organised an
oilseed day at Sahoo village in the district last month
which was attended by nearly 150 farmers, including 62
farm women from different belts of the region. |
7 killed in Himachal mishap UNA, June 3 — Seven persons died in an accident involving a bus (HP-20-1445) and a tractor-trailer which was without number and carrying pilgrims to Pirnigah from Dabkehara village under Nangal police station, 5 km from here near Badahala village, last night. Fourteen persons were injured out of which three seriously injured were admitted to the PGI, Chandigarh. According to the Additional Superintendent of Police , the bus which was going from here to Mehatpur hit the tractor which turned turtle. Three persons died on spot and four succumbed to their injuries at the district hospital. The deceased are : Kuldeep Singh (30), son of Balak Ram, Dabat village, Kotkehloor police station Bilaspur, Santosh Kumari (25), wife of Kuldeep Singh of Dabat village in Bilaspur, Lakhvir Singh (14) son of Gurdas Singh of Thalluh village under Anandpur police station, Ram Kumar, (16) son of Parkash Chand of Dabkehara village Nangal, police station Sapna (13) daughter of Paramjit Singh of Dabkehara, Amritlal (25) son of Paramjit Singh of Chiriawala village, Nalagarh police station. The seriously injured persons are Harjit Kaur, wife of Tarsemlal of Dabkehara village, Shamlal, son of Tarsemlal, of the same village and Satna of Thalluh. Police officers and fire
brigade personnel reached the spot and shifted the
injured to the district hospital here. The district
administration gave Rs 5,000 each to the injured who were
sent to the PGI, Chandigarh and provided Rs 5,000 each as
immediate relief to next of kin of those who died in the
accident. A sum of Rs 9,000 was provided to those injured
who were discharged from hospital yesterday. The Deputy
Commissioner, Mr K.S. Narang has ordered an inquiry into
the accident by the Subdivisional Officer (Civil) Arvind
Shukla. |
Shanta Kumar making ‘false
promises’ DHARAMSALA, June 3 — The PCC president, Mr Sat Mahajan, today accused a former Chief Minister, Mr Shanta Kumar, of "subverting" the democratic process by making "false" promises to the people of Kangra in view of the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections. Addressing a Press conference here today he said though Mr Shanta Kumar had ceased to be an MP, he was still making announcements that he would give money to the people from his development fund. He said making such announcements amounted to a fraud as he had ceased to be an MP from April 18. He said the BJP was in
the habit of making "false" promises to the
people at the time of elections which were never
fulfilled. Instead of fulfilling the promises made to the
people, Mr Shanta Kumar as Chief Minister terminated the
services of 35,000 daily wage workers and imposed
hospital charges on poor people in the state, he said. |
Hang gliding likely at Jot CHAMBA, June 3 — The Himachal Pradesh Government is exploring the possibility of providing gliding facilities at Jot, about 25 km from here, to popularise this relatively unknown tourist spot. Mr Kishori Lal, the Industry Minister, said Jot was located in the midst of dense deodar forests at an altitude of about 2150 metres. With its sharp narrow ridges and deep gorges, Jot could become a hang gliders' paradise and could be developed for international hang gliding events. The state government was
keen to promote tourism by introducing aero sports and
water sports in the reservoirs created by various
hydroelectric projects in this region. |
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