P R A D E S H
Monday, June 28, 1999
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H I M A C H A L P R A D E S H |
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Monday, June 28, 1999 |
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spotlight today's calendar |
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Recce of border areas by
police |
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Body of security man
found Jawans build welcome gate Governor: take good care of war
heroes’ kin HP subsidies for farmers ‘OBC reservation to be poll
plank’ Rehabilitation centre for
Sundernagar Oustees' problems will be solved:
CM Father seeks CBI probe into
son’s death Computer centres for promotion of
Urdu CLP members to donate salaries Former SE's suicide ‘hits
morale’ Delay in declaring results
resented Rain in Himachal |
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Recce of border areas by police SHIMLA, June 27 (UNI) — Senior officers of the Himachal Pradesh police and other security agencies carried out recce of the state's border areas with Jammu and Kashmir and Manali-Leh road yesterday to locate any formations of Pakistan-backed intruders. Stating this to UNI the Himachal Pradesh Director-General of Police, Mr T.R. Mahajan, said it would be a regular exercise in future and carried out at intervals to trace them, if any, hiding in jungles and high mountains. The recce follows sounding of an alert specially in the Chamba, Pangi and Lahaul areas in the state recently in view of the Kargil situation. There are access routes from Zanskar into Lahaul valley and from Doda into Chamba district which are being plugged. Mr Mahajan said security had been beefed up on the Manali-Leh road following trouble on the Srinagar-Leh road in the wake of the Kargil episode. The DGP added that vigilance had been beefed up in Chamba, Pangi and Lahaul with the development of adequate reinforcement and senior officers of police force had been directed to pay more visits to the forward posts. He said he had held a meeting with officers of the state police and central forces at Chamba yesterday to review overall security situation in the border areas of the district. Although no incident of terrorist activity had been reported from Chamba district this year so far, following the killing of about 35 persons by terrorists in the district last year, security had been tightened on its borders with deployment of ITBP, state armed police and India Reserve Battalion. Mr Mahajan said he had reviewed security arrangements against infiltration in common areas like Kangra and Pathankot with the Punjab Director-General of Police in Shimla and exchanged security information with him in this regard. The Punjab DGP returned yesterday. He added communication
within the police force had been strengthened by
providing it with additional wireless sets and iridium
telephones. |
Nitish concedes HP demands KAMLI (Parwanoo), June 27 — Upgradation of the Shimla-Hamirpur-Kangra Bhavan road into the national highway and starting of a Railways computerised reservation and booking office at Hamirpur were among the major demands conceded in principle by the Railway and Surface Transport Minister, Mr Nitish Kumar, on the first day of his two-day Himachal tour today. Earlier, the Railway Minister unveiled the foundation stone of the 5.35 km-long broad gauge rail link between Kalka and Parwanoo. The link to be provided at a cost of Rs 30 crore, including cost of land and electrification of the track, is expected to provide impetus to the all-round economic development of Himachal Pradesh by providing a direct link with the rail system in general and goods system in particular with the rest of the country. Mr Nitish Kumar, accompanied by the Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, arrived more than 90 minutes behind schedule at a government school campus where the function was organised. The Railway terminal in Parwanoo, coming up here, is wholly situated in Himachal Pradesh and is accessible from National Highway 22 by a 2.5 km long newly constructed link road. The demand for this rail link had been pending with the Union Government for more than two decades now. It was revived and approved by the Cabinet committee in September last year. Mr V.P. Agnihotri, Member Engineering of the Railway Board, said the final location survey of the project was in the final stages because of steep topography. Against the original survey report suggesting 1 to 40 ruling gradient, it had been revised to 1 to 100 gradient to make the rail link fuel-efficient and facilitate better rail movement. He wanted that the land for the project should be made available immediately for early start of the actual work. Mr S.P. Mehta, General Manager, Northern Railway, in his welcome address said finances would not be allowed to come in the way of the construction of this broad gauge rail link. Mr Suresh Chandel, former MP, said the Union Government had been discriminating against Himachal Pradesh till the BJP-led government headed by Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee assumed charge at the Centre.After Independence, he said, the only addition to the rail network in the state has been the Una-Nangal link which too had been progressing at a snail's pace after approval was long time back by the then Railways Minister, Mr L.N. Mishra. The work on this link, he said, picked up pace only last year. Mr Hari Narain Singh and Mr Ramesh Chaudhary, both members of the Council of Ministers of Mr Dhumal, wanted more networks in the state for its overall economic development. The Chief Minister, accused not only the previous central Governments but also the previous state governments of neighbouring Punjab of discriminating against Himachal Pradesh by denying this small state its rightful due. He said Himachal had never lagged behind in making contributions for the national cause, be it Bhakra Dam or the recruitment for the armed forces and paramilitary forces. But in return, Himachal never got its rightful due. He said the state was far ahead of other states in making sacrifices during the ongoing military operations at Kargil-Dras-Batalik sectors. So far, 19 soldiers from Himachal have made the supreme sacrifice, he added. It was in this context he suggested that places like Hamirpur from where a large number of people join the defence forces and paramilitary forces there is no facility for the serving soldiers to get their warrants for rail travel converted into bookings. They had either to travel to Pathankot or Hoshiarpur to get their work done. Since Hamirpur does not have a rail link he suggested a booking and reservation office at Hamirpur to facilitate the large population of serving and ex-servicemen. Mr Nitish Kumar said after consulting senior officials accompanying him it had been decided to start a computerised rail reservation and booking office at Hamirpur for the convenience of serving soldiers. Talking about other demands raised by the Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister and members of his Council of Ministers, Mr Nitish Kumar announced that the Shimla-Hamirpur-Kangra-Bhavan road would be strengthened and upgraded as a national highway as it would act as a major link between National Highways 21,22 and 23. He said the proposal had already been approved by the Planning Commission and was in the final stages of clearance by the Finance Ministry Later, Mr Nitish Kumar and Mr Dhumal inaugurated an ultra modern cable car system between Jabli and Nandoh in Kasauli. The 1200 m-long ropeway has a capacity to carry 200 persons per hour and has been approved by the experts committee on ropeways constituted by the Himachal Pradesh Government. Mr Nitish Kumar will
stay at Shimla tonight and will return to Delhi on Monday
night. |
Irrigation project started SHIMLA, June 27 (PTI) — Himachal Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal today formally launched the Rs 28.37 crore lift irrigation project for irrigating the 2350 hectare Changer (unirrigated) area spread over 25 villages of Bilaspur at Dabat village, 120 km from here today. Laying the foundation stone of the project Mr Dhumal said that water for the project would be lifted from the Anandpur channel and the Punjab Government had agreed to release 25 cusecs of water. Mr Dhumal hoped that the project would bring about a sea change in these areas and thanked Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal for releasing the water. He said the agreement for releasing the water was signed in 1983, but the successive Congress governments failed to get water from the neighbouring state. Reiterating his resolve for uniform and balanced development of the entire state, the Chief Minister said the focus of development had been shifted to underdeveloped and neglected areas to bring them on a par with other areas. Earlier addressing a public meeting at Bilaspur late last night, the Chief Minister accused the previous Congress governments of ignoring the interests of the Bhakra Dam oustees and making them face various problems. He said the BJP-HVC Government took several steps to solve the problems of the oustees and decided to carve out new sectors for the allocation of plots to the leftout oustees. He said the issue of rehabilitation of the oustees had also been taken up with 11th Finance Commission. Meanwhile, Mr Dhumal on Saturday laid the foundation-stone of lift water supply scheme at Tantha in Bilaspur district to be constructed at a cost of Rs 5.29 crore. Speaking on the occasion the Chief Minister said that water would be lifted from Sheer khad to Pir Bhananu for a group of villages. In Ghumarwin tehsil, he said that the scheme would benefit 15 villages having population of 14,000. The Chief Minister announced that Sutlej valley Railway would construct first phase of railway line from Bhanupali to Barmana for which land acquisition officer have been appointed and work would start soon. He said that Rs 366 crore was being spent on the construction and maintenance of roads in the state keeping in view the importance of the road in the state. Mr Dhumal announced Rs 2-lakh for the repair of local school building. Mr J.P. Nadda, Himachal Health Minister said that lift water supply scheme for group of villages and the Ghumarwin area would meet the long standing demand of the people. He assured more funds for development of the Ghumarwin area. Mr Ramesh Chand, Irrigation and Public Health Minister, gave details of the water supply scheme being undertaken in Bilaspur district. Other present on the
occasion included Mr Suresh Chand, former MP, Mr Rakhi
Ram Kaundal, Minister of State for Cooperation, Mr K.D.
Dharmani, vice-chairman 20-point programme, Major Shiv
Ram, district president, HVC and Ms Raj Kumari, member of
Zila Parishad. |
Nathpa-Jhakri firing incident SHIMLA, June 27 — The recovery of the body of Virender Kumar Mishra, a member of the private Royal Security Force, during combing operations by the police has given a new turn to the Manglar firing incident. He was one of the five members of the private security force engaged by the Nathpa-Jhakri joint venture company who was reported missing since the firing incident on June 25 in which one worker was killed. The body was recovered from a pool near the spot where the security men and agitating workers had clashed. The head bore injuries caused by a sharp-edged weapon. The body had been sent for a post-mortem examination. Three other missing security men returned and told the police that they were held by workers and also beaten up. One person was still missing. The recovery of the body has exposed the Centre of Indian Trade Union (CITU) which had maintained that there was no clash and that the security men of the company had resorted to unprovoked firing. On its complaint, the police had arrested the five security men of the company under Section 302, IPC. The CITU had also demanded a judicial inquiry into the incident. The police today arrested Mr Raghuvanshi, senior manager of the company, who the CITU alleged, had ordered the firing on the workers. On the other hand the company had said the security men had fired in self defence after engineers and officers were attacked by workers in which some state police personnel, including the SHO, Jhakri, had been injured. The company has demanded the registration of a case against CITU workers and demanded the arrest of their leaders who incited the workers to attack the bus carrying the company's staff. Meanwhile, Mr Sher Singh, one of the security men who returned today, told the police that three security men were kept in illegal confinement by the CITU workers. The search for the fifth missing security personnel was hampered by heavy rain during the afternoon. An FIR has been
registered in connection with the incidents at Kotla
where the agitating workers had allegedly damaged some
vehicles and flats of officers of the company. The houses
of foreign experts working with the company were also
stoned. |
Jawans build welcome gate JAWALAMUKHI: In keeping with their devotion and dedication to "deity Jawalamukhi", yet another welcome gate was recently constructed by Dogra Scouts here. This gate was dedicated to Jawalamukhi by these jawans. The welcome gate was inaugurated by Colonel Rajive Nayar of Dogra Scouts. Prominent persons of the city were also present on the occasion. Colonel Nayar traced the history of the Dogra Regiment and lauded the role of jawans towards national security along with social service. Generally armed forces are deployed in border areas and national security is maintained by them but the example of social service rendered by the Dogra Regiment is a rare one. The jawans of this regiment are followers of "deity Jawalamukhi" and they believe that in the Jawalamukhi temple "deity Durga" is present in the form of a celestial flame. The battle cry "Jai Durge" of the Dogra Regiment is evidence of their faith. Every regiment of the Indian armed forces have their own "battle cry", a slogan which is raised by jawans during the war. An idol of deity Durga was dedicated by the 6th Royal Battalion of Sindh in 1942. This idol was inaugurated by the then Maharaja Baldev Singh of Guler state. He was the direct descendent of Maharaja Sansar Chand — II of Katoch dynasty. All the more, he was a renowned and celebrated authority of Sanskrit among his contemporaries. Even scholars of Sanskrit language from Kashi would come to seek his guidance in the knowledge of Sanskrit literature. Many years ago "a marble idol" of the "deity Durga" was presented by Dogra jawans to this temple. It is now placed in the "Shaiyya Bhavan" on the temple premises. Later they offered a "big bell" hung in front of the gate. The doors of the main gate and the gate were constructed by the Dogras a few years ago. The welcome gate behind the bus stand also was constructed by them. Not only that a "he goat" is offered every year by the Dogra Regiment. The jawans of the Dogra Regiment come to pay obeisance to Jawalamukhi throughout the year. The tradition of paying obeisance to the "deity" is very common. The jawans have constructed "yatri niwas" in the vicinity of the temple. Last year, too, the Dogra Scouts added another feather to the cap by constructing yet another majestic gate in the city. Dogra Scouts are posted somewhere in the Himalayan region. In particular, the
jawans of the 12th Battalion of the Dogra Regiment have
contributed a lot. The pilgrims who come from every nook
and corner of the country to pay obeisance to Bhagwati
Durga throughout the year have, no doubt, all the
appreciation for this commendable work done by our
valiant Dogra jawans. |
Governor: take good care of war
heroes’ kin SHIMLA, June 27 — Mrs V.S. Rama Devi, Governor, has called upon the people to extend all possible help and support to the families of the war heroes who had made the supreme sacrifice for the country. Speaking at the closing ceremony of the annual Red Cross fair here last evening, she said merely recognising the war heroes was not enough. Society must take good care of the families of those who laid down their lives while defending the country. A two-minute silence was observed in memory of the brave soldiers who had sacrificed their lives in the Kargil sector. The Army and the Special Security Bureau participated for the first time in the fair. The fair was inaugurated by Mr Vidya Sagar, Agriculture Minister, in the morning. The function was presided over by Mrs Sheela, Dhumal, wife of the Chief Minister. Earlier, various competitions were held. Government High School, Krishna Nagar, emerged the winner in both the junior and senior groups in the fancy dress competition. The first prize for the
best stall went to the Public Works Department, the
second to the SSB and the Home Guards jointly and the
third prize to the Health Department. |
HP subsidies for farmers SHIMLA, June 27 (PTI) — The Himachal Pradesh Government has announced various incentives for the agriculture sector, the main occupation of the people in the state. These include providing improved technology and ensuring adequate and timely supply of agricultural implements. Improved seeds, plant protection chemicals, equipment and improved agriculture implements were being supplied at 50 per cent of cost to the SC/ST, IRDP farmers and farmers of identified backward areas and 30 per cent subsidy to other farmers, besides reimbursing 100 per cent of transportation costs. Cost subsidy on urea and ammonium sulphate fertiliser at the rate of Rs 405 per m.t. and on super sulphate at the rate of Rs 245 per m.t. was being provided. Transport subsidy on all kinds of decontrolled fertilisers from factory to retail sale points is being provided besides transport subsidy on urea from block headquarter to retail sale point on actual basis. The work of fertiliser procurement and distribution has been entrusted to cooperatives at the village level throughout the state. Some areas of district Mandi, Chamba, Kangra suitable for growing tea will get 50 per cent subsidy on chemical fertilisers, plant protection and other equipments. Under the integrated foodgrain development programme a subsidy of Rs 200 and Rs 400 per quintal is being provided for paddy and maize respectively. The government was also providing 50 per cent subsidy upto Rs 1,500 for hand operated and animal operated agriculture equipments. For electric equipment like shellers for maize etc provision of a 25 per cent subsidy had been made with a maximum limit of Rs 5000. A target of distributing
30,000 improved implements on 50 per cent subsidy to
farmers belonging to SC/ST, IRDP has been fixed and Rs
66.8 lakh has been provided for this. The government is
also providing financial assistance of Rs 5000 for the
construction of water collection tanks. During 1999-2000,
1000 such tanks would be constructed. |
‘OBC reservation to be poll
plank’ DHARAMSALA, June 27 — The Pradesh Congress Committee chief, Mr Sat Mahajan, has said the failure of the BJP government in providing 27 per cent reservation to OBCs will be the main election plank during the Lok Sabha elections. Talking to newspersons here today, Mr Mahajan, who is likely to be the Congress nominee from the Kangra parliamentary constituency, said the BJP had always been making "false" promises to the backward classes, who constituted a major chunk of the electorate in Kangra district. "People should not expect much from Mr Shanta Kumar, as it was during his regime that the state government had approached the Supreme Court against the implementation of the recommendations of the "Mandal Commission," he observed. Even during the last elections, Mr Shanta Kumar had promised that 27 per cent reservation would be given to OBCs. Mr Mahajan claimed that it was the Congress which had always been protecting the interests of the OBCs. "It is the OBC community which got the maximum benefit due to agrarian land reforms brought about by the Congress, apart from giving them 18 per cent reservation and free education for girls till the postgraduation level", said. Mr Mahajan accused the Dhumal government of trying to erode the panchayati raj system, which the Congress had tried to strengthen so that benefits reached people at the grassroots level. He alleged that the government was trying to give benefits to non-elected parallel committees so as to benefit BJP men. "Mr Shanta Kumar has gone even a step further as, in violation of the rules, he has allotted money from the MP Development Fund to individuals, bypassing the channel of the PWD, the village panchayat or the municipal committee," he alleged. Mr Mahajan said there
were certain decisions of the government which had
adversely affected the people. Citing an example he said
87 families of the Basa panchayat, in the Nurpur area,
had been excluded from the IRDP category because they had
fans in their homes. Electric fans, he said, were a basic
necessity. |
Rehabilitation centre for Sundernagar SHIMLA, June 27 — The Himachal Government will set up a vocational training and rehabilitation centre at a cost of Rs 3 crore at Sundernagar. This was announced by HP Governor V.S. Rama Devi, while inaugurating a function organised by the state Association for the Blind in connection with the birth Anniversary of Helen Keller here today. She said the Centre, which would be managed by the state Welfare Department, would go a long way in making the blink, deaf dumb and other handicapped persons economically self-reliant. A sum of Rs 95 lakh had already been sanctioned for the project. She said the government would explore the possibility of establishing an eye bank in the state and expressed the hope that the blind would be provided 1 per cent quota in government jobs. She lauded the contribution of Ms Keller who despite being blind, deaf and dumb, did commendable work to help the disabled. The Governor disclosed that a Coimbatore-based charitable institution was keen to set up a modern school for the blind. The project, to be built at cost of Rs 5 crore, would also have facilities for eye transplants and an eye bank. Dr Data Ram, the first blind person in the state to acquire a Ph.D degree, presented a paper on the life and work of Helen Keller. Disabled children of the Deaf and Dumb School, Dalli, presented a cultural programme on the occasion. Mr Deva Negi, president
of the state Association for the Blind, drew the
attention of the Governor towards the problems being
faced by the blind in the state. |
Oustees' problems will be solved:
CM BILASPUR, June 27 — The Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal has said that Bhakra Dam oustees in the district were being neglected till now, but the coalition government of the BJP and the HVC was determined to solve their problems at the earliest. Addressing a largely attended public meeting at the main market here yesterday after laying the foundation stones and inaugurating six development projects, including the building of the Sainik Welfare Board and a multipurpose commercial complex. The Chief Minister said that government had decided to reduce land and population pressures on Shimla which had resulted in all types of scarcities. Some government offices would be shifted from Shimla to other districts. The Chief Minister
flayed the former Congress government which he said had
dissolved the state-level oustees rehabilitation
committee 15 years ago. The committee had been
reconstituted on May 20 at Shimla. The next meeting would
be held soon as officers had been asked to submit their
reports regarding the oustees' demands by that time. |
Computer centres for promotion of
Urdu SHIMLA, June 27 — The National Council for the Promotion of Urdu will establish two multilingual computer centres in Himachal Pradesh for the development of Urdu. It will also set up 10 computer-aided Urdu teaching centres in the state. This was announced by Dr Hamidullah Bhat while presiding over a conference on the promotion of Urdu here yesterday. He said the State Academy for Language, Art and Culture would function as a nodal agency to ensure the smooth functioning of these centres. The council would provide funds for appointing Urdu teachers. He said the Centre was also providing funds under a scheme for regular Urdu teachers and states like Himachal should take advantage of it. Mr I.D. Dhiman,
Education Minister, said the government would provide all
possible help to promote Urdu. |
CLP members to donate salaries SHIMLA, June 27 (PTI) — The Congress Legislature Party (CLP) had decided that every member will donate one month’s salary toward the AICC President’s Kargil relief fund. This was stated by Mr
Gangu Ram, General Secretary of the PCC and the treasurer
of the CLP here yesterday. |
Former SE's suicide ‘hits
morale’ SHIMLA, June 27 — The Himachal Irrigation and Public Health Engineers Association has expressed deep anguish over the death of Mr R.S. Verma, a former Superintending Engineer, who allegedly committed suicide due to harassment. The deceased, it said was suspended a day before his retirement and all his service benefits like gratuity, pension and provident fund were stopped. The highly disgusted officer took the extreme step and committed suicide. The incident would
affect the morale of the engineers of the department, it
observed. |
Father seeks CBI probe into
son’s death JAWALAMUKHI, June 27 — Mr Gorkhu Ram of Niharu village near Jawalamukhi has sought a CBI inquiry into the death of his 17-year-old son Sunil, a student of X class. The deceased, who was a student of Tihri High School, is survived by his three brothers and two sisters, was killed on August 25, 1998. Mr Gorkhu Ram alleged that his son was murdered as a result of a conspiracy. Certain persons had threatened Sunil, he alleged. The police has closed the file relating to his death, considering it to be a case of accident death. Mr Gorkhu Ram alleged that the culprits destroyed the evidence to make it appear a case of accident. "The sequence of events and the evidence clearly indicate that it was not an accident death, as made out by the police," he lamented. He said his son was found murdered in adjoining forest field of his native village and this was not a normal route taken by son to reach home. Moreover, he alleged that blood stains were found at a distant place from the site, where the body found. He further said that his son, "on the day of his death" had gone from home for study but he died in mysterious circumstances on the same day. He admitted that his family had an altercation with a family of upper caste of the village. A matter of love affair of his son with a girl of upper caste already brought to his notice by some villagers. Anyway a compromise was reached over the so-called love affair. Mr Gorkhu Ram regretted
that despite his request to the Chief Minister, the
police was not investigating all aspects of the case. He
wanted that the case should be handed over to the CBI. He
alleged that the police was not probing the case due to
some political pressure. |
Delay in declaring results
resented SHIMLA, June 27 — Himachal Pradesh University unit of the Students Federation of India has expressed resentment over the delay in the declaration of the result of BA final year. The problem, according to the federation, was compounded by the fact that the last date for admission to postgraduate classes was July 5. It urged the university
either to declare the result immediately or extend the
last date for the submission of application forms for
postgraduate classes by 10 days. |
Rain in Himachal SHIMLA, June 27 (UNI) — The monsoon remained active in Himachal Pradesh today as several areas had moderate to heavy rain dipping the temperature considerably in the region. Shimla and the adjoining areas had intermittent heavy rain, accompanied with thunder and lightning. The rain was preceded and followed by fog. Upper areas of Shimla district, including Wildflower Hall, Kufri, Naldehra and Narkanda, also had rain. Reports of rainfall were also received from Kulu, Manali, Mandi, Sundernagar, Dharamsala, Solan and Sirmaur. HAMIRPUR (FOC): Heavy rain accompanied with sharp winds lashed various parts of the district on Sunday afternoon, affecting life. Most areas remained without power for hours. The supply was restored only when the rain stopped. Reports received here from the interior of the district said winds played havoc with trees. Many huge trees fell and road traffic was hit. This rain is, however,
considered beneficial for crops. |
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