P R A D E S H
Saturday, May 22, 1999
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H I M A C H A L P R A D E S H |
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Saturday, May 22, 1999 |
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ITBP chief visits Chamba CHAMBA, May 21 — The recent visit of the Indo Tibet Border Police D G P, Mr Gautam Kaul, has boosted the morale of jawans deployed along the high altitudes of Chamba district in Himachal Pradesh, adjoining Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir. Expulsion of Tariq, Pawar welcomed KULU, May 21 — Mr Satya Prakash Thakur, a former horticulture Minister, Mr Om Parkash, President Congress committee Banjar, Mr Baldev Singh, chief organiser, Himachal state Sewa Dal, in a joint statement have said that they have submitted their resignations to the AICC in protest against the "misconduct" by Shard Pawar, Tariq Anwar and P. Sangma. |
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Tributes paid to Rajiv Gandhi SHIMLA, May 21 — A pledge for national integration was administered to Congress activists on the eighth death anniversary of Rajiv Gandhi here today. Films
Division to start satellite channel Police
'equipped to check terrorism' Closed-circuit
cameras out of commission Probe
ordered into mishap Company
told to pay 10,000 as damages Himachal
Cong ‘exploiting’ OBCs CITU
gives call for strike Pilgrims
robbed of watches, cash Property
destroyed in fire |
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ITBP chief visits Chamba CHAMBA, May 21 — The recent visit of the Indo Tibet Border Police (ITBP) D G P, Mr Gautam Kaul, has boosted the morale of jawans deployed along the high altitudes of Chamba district in Himachal Pradesh, adjoining Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). Mr H S Goraya, Commandant of the 15th Battalion of the ITBP, disclosed that Mr Kaul, during his visit to the borderline of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir, last week, took stock of the situation. He said that Mr Kaul had directed the ITBP officials and jawans to intensify patrolling and step up surveillance on the border of the district. The DGP also directed the officials to keep check on the infiltration of militants and others. Mr Kaul asked them to meet the challenges posed by militant activity from across the border with courage and determination. The DGP, toured the villages falling alongside the border in the district where the jawans had been deployed and had set up check-points, Mr Goraya added. He said Mr Kaul had observed that the people residing in the areas of Jammu and Kashmir were still living in utter neglect due to the under development of their region. Thus any sort of monetary help from Pakistani agencies lured these unemployed youth to adopt the path of militancy. He said the DGP also
listened to the problems being faced by the Gujjar and
Gaddi tribes residing on the border villages from where
security forces were operating to combat militancy. Mr
Goraya said the DGP hoped that the normalcy would soon be
restored to this region. |
Expulsion of Tariq, Pawar welcomed KULU, May 21 — Mr Satya Prakash Thakur, a former horticulture Minister, Mr Om Parkash, President Congress committee Banjar, Mr Baldev Singh, chief organiser, Himachal state Sewa Dal, in a joint statement have said that they have submitted their resignations to the AICC in protest against the "misconduct" by Shard Pawar, Tariq Anwar and P. Sangma through telegrams yesterday and requested the CWC to accept them If Mr Sonia Gandhi do agree to head the party They appreciated the action taken against the trio by the CWC and congratulated the Congressmen for having an undisputed leader like Mrs Sonia Gandhi. NURPUR: All
office bearers of the Nurpur Block Congress Committee
have submitted their resignation to the PCC chief, Mr Sat
Mahajan they urged Mrs Sonia Gandhi to withdraw her
resignation. |
Australian help for water schemes SHIMLA, May 21 — The feasibility mission of the Australian Agency for International Development Fund has agreed in principle to prepare a detailed project report for the augmentation of the Shimla water supply scheme and the construction of the Bamson-Longwalti water supply project in Hamirpur district. Stating this here yesterday an official spokesman said that a team comprising Australian and Indian experts visited various villages proposed to be covered under the project in Hamirpur district for sorting out sociological and technical issues in areas which were facing a perpetual shortage of drinking water, particularly during the summer. He said the mission members had discussions with the likely beneficiaries in terms of their participation in the project and its maintenance and found their response overwhelming. In all 348 villages of Hamirpur and Mandi districts with a population of 2.50 lakh would benefit from this project after its implementation. Referring to the project pertaining to Shimla town, he said the mission had identified three possible components — preparation of the strategic water supply master plan, evaluation of alternative sources suitable for the augmentation of the water supply and finalisation of a detailed project report for this purpose. He said the mission proposed to strengthen the existing water distribution network. The Himachal Pradesh
Government assured the visiting Australian team that it
would initiate policy initiatives for changes necessary
for making the projects viable and sustainable, he added. |
Tributes paid to Rajiv Gandhi SHIMLA, May 21 — A pledge for national integration was administered to Congress activists on the eighth death anniversary of Rajiv Gandhi here today. The pledge was administered by the Congress Legislative Party leader, Mr Virbhadra Singh. A blood donation camp was also organised by the Youth Congress at the headquarters of the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) to mark the occasion. Floral tributes were paid by Mr Virbhadra Singh, Mrs Vidya Stokes, Mr Kaul Singh, Mr Gangu Ram Musaffir, Mr Yogendera Chandra and Ms Asha Kumari (MLAs). The Mayor, Mr Manoj Kumar, and municipal councillors also participated. Mr Om Prakash Sood, President of the DCC (urban) and Mr Pratap Chauhan, President, DCC (rural) organised separate functions on the occasion. DHARAMSALA: Resentment prevailed among some Congressmen here as the district administration failed to observe the Anti-Terrorism Day despite directions of the Chief Secretary. Although earlier arrangements had been made to hold the function here, but later no oath-taking function was held and simply a circular was passed around on which signatures were obtained. The SDMs at Dehra and
Palampur observed Anti-Terrorism Day by giving oath to
employees of various government departments. |
Films Division to start
satellite channel SHIMLA, May 21 — The Films Division of the Government of India proposes to launch a short film satellite television channel to meet the growing challenge from private channels. It has also decided to make documentaries and short films produced by it available on the Internet. Stating this here yesterday, Mr Bankim, chief producer of the Films Division, who is in the town in connection with a short film festival being held here from May 22, the refusal of cinema theatres to screen documentary films had left the division with no option but to start a separate short film channel. A proposal had already been submitted to the government in this regard. He said Doordarshan had not been able to utilise all satellite transponders allotted to it and one of the idle transponders could be used for the proposed channel. He said the division had a rich repertoire of about 8,000 short films and documentaries and over 50 films were being added to it annually. Besides, it also proposed to telecast short films produced abroad and also those made by private producers within the country. Formative documentaries on wild life, art, culture etc would be shown on the channel. He said a web site had already been launched by the division and it would soon start the process of transferring films from celluloid to digital print. The division was facing problems in releasing new productions due to the refusal of cinema theatre owners to screen documentaries since the past four years. The theatre owners were engaged in a legal battle with the government on the issue and a case was pending with the Supreme Court. In order to popularise documentary films, the division had started organising short film festivals in various parts of the country. He said 14 award-winning
documentaries would be screened during the festival. |
Police 'equipped to check terrorism' SHIMLA, May 21 (UNI) — To check spill over of terrorism from Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir into Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh, the state police had gone high-tech and installed iridium phones in the sensitive border area, said the state Director-General of Police (DGP) Mr T.R. Mahajan today. The DGP said that adequate mobility had also been provided to the force deployed in this most difficult terrain. The force had been provided latest weapon to meet any challenge from the ultras. At least 43 police posts had been set up along the border and one post was situated at a height of mean 12000 feet. Each post, was being maintained by at least by one platoon comprising 33 jawans. A force of 2500 was maintaining vigil. To strengthen the border, 152 village defence committees in 33 border panchayats had been set up, he said. These village committees had been given weapon training and comprises 1500 persons. Mr Mahajan said that Rs 1 crore special grant was given by the Union Government to arm the force with latest weapons and vehicles which had been fully utilised. The Union Government had sanctioned one reserve police battalion which will cost Rs 7.50 crore, he said adding that this money will be given by the Centre. This will provide
employment to 1300 locals and the recruitment and
training will start from September, the DGP added. |
Closed-circuit cameras out of
commission SHIMLA, May 21 — The closed-circuit television cameras, which were installed here by the police, have not been functioning for the past two years because of some major snag. The cameras were installed at three strategic points, which were the hub of activity in the town, with their monitors in the police control room on the Mall and in the office of the DGP. They were installed on the Christ Church, over Grindlays Bank and outside the office of the DGP. This was perhaps one of the first experiments in the country when such cameras were installed in 1983. However, these have not been functioning. According to official records, the snag occurred as the control panels got dislocated from their original position, resulting in the jumbling of cables and defects in monitor consols and cameras which required major repairs. The closed-circuit television system was being maintained by the wireless set-up of the police. The Comptroller and Auditor-General of India (CAG) has also pointed out in his report that costly equipment was lying unused. Equipment worth Rs 11.43 lakh procured in 1992 by the Forensic Science Laboratory to aid investigation was lying unutilised. The two important
divisions of the laboratory — ballistics and physics
and documents and photography have been non-functional
since 1993. Work of these divisions was being referred by
investigating officers to other laboratories. |
Probe ordered into mishap NURPUR, May 21 — The state government has ordered a Magisterial probe into the truck accident which resulted in the death of five persons and injured four others on Wednesday near Damtal. The Subdivisional Magistrate, has been directed to hold the inquiry the government has also announced an ex gratia of Rs 25,000 each for the next of kin of the deceased and Rs 10,000 for the injured. The bodies of those killed were handed over to their families after a post-mortem examination and Rs 5000 of the announced relief was released on the spot to the of next kin of each victim. The dead included labourers working at a stone crusher. They are Bishan Dass, Suresh, Piara, Hoshiara and Shiv Charan. According to reports, a truck loaded with grit had a head-on collision with a private bus and over turned, killing five labourers on the spot. In another incident,
Jagannath (70) died on the spot yesterday when he was hit
by a speeding car at Bharmar in Jawali subdivision. The
police has registered a case. |
Company told to pay 10,000 as
damages NAHAN, May 21 — The District Consumer Forum Nahan has directed a Delhi-based company to pay Rs 10,000 as damages within 15 days to Mr Trilochan Singh for supplying a defective pay-phone machine. Mr Trilochan Singh had
filed a complaint before the forum saying he was
handicapped and was given a licence to operate
PCO/STD/ISD phone by the Telecom Department. In 1992, he
purchased a pay-phone machine from M/S Usha GEC Plessey,
New Delhi, for Rs 20,000. However, after its
installation, the machine developed some defects. he
requested the company to rectify the defects but nothing
was done. |
Himachal Cong
‘exploiting’ OBCs KANGRA, May 21 — Himachal Pradesh Agriculture Minister Vidiya Sagar today described the Himachal Congress leadership as opportunistic as it was exploiting the sentiments of members of the OBCs in the state. Addressing a press conference here today, he said that the Congress was not sincere to the OBCs. Mr Sagar, who belongs to the OBC, said a Congress leader who did not even belong to the OBC was arousing the sentiments of this community. He said the Congress had ignored the Mandal Commission report for more than a decade. He said Prof P.K. Dhumal was eager to implement the report and 27 per cent reservation would be implemented in letter and in spirit. The Agriculture Minister
later inaugurated Government Middle School building at
Kulthi village near here. |
CITU gives call for strike SHIMLA, May 21 — The state unit of CITU has given a call for a one-day strike on May 23 to press the demand for proper investigation into the death of Ashok, leader of the union, at the Nathpa Jhakri Project dam site. The union alleged that the deceased was murdered. It demanded that a case of murder be registered. It also demanded the registration of case against the policemen who allegedly tried to rape a woman activist of the union. The union is also
protesting against the retrenchment of 140 workers by the
Nathpa Jhakri joint venture company in violation of
labour laws. |
Pilgrims robbed of watches, cash UNA, May 21 (PTI) — Eight persons hailing from Punjab were admitted to the district hospital today. These persons came to Peernigha to pay their obeisance. When they were about to sleep in Ludhiana Sarai last night a boy came to distribute "parsad' to them, police sources said. They became unconscious and after recovering in the hospital, they found that their gold jewellery, wrist watches and cash were missing. It is suspected that
they were looted after being drugged with
intoxicant-laced parsad. The police had registered a
case. |
Property destroyed in fire SHIMLA, May 21 (PTI) — Property worth Rs 17-lakh was destroyed yesterday near Badhu Kotkhai village in the interior of the district when a devastating fire broke, according to an official report reaching here today. Seven families were rendered homeless. Mr Narinder Bragta, Minister of State for Horticulture, visited the affected families. The subdivisional
office, Theog distributed relief of Rs 1.15 lakh as
ex-gratia to those rendered homeless. |
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