Cinema owner told to pay compensation
SOLAN, Nov 11 — The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum President Mrigainder Singh yesterday directed the owner of a local cinema to pay a compensation of Rs 10,000 to two persons who had filed a suit complaining about mismanagement and misconduct of the officials and poor upkeep of the cinema.

Staff federation threatens stir
SHIMLA, Nov 11 — The Himachal Non-Gazetted Services Federation has expressed resentment over the failure of the government to grant allowances to employees in accordance with the revised pay-scales and threatened to launch a statewide stir to press the demand.

Over 15,000 new phones for Kangra
DHARAMSALA, Nov 11 — In order to achieve the target of providing telephone connections on demand by March, 2000, the Telecom Department will be giving 15,092 new telephone connections in Kangra district.

Awards instituted for science teachers
HAMIRPUR, Nov 11 — Three science teachers of Himachal Pradesh excelling in science will be given cash prizes to the tune of Rs 10,000, Rs 7,000, and Rs 5,000 by the Indian Council of Science and Technology.

‘BJP-HVC combine solid as a rock’
DHALIARA (Jawalamukhi), Nov 11 — The BJP chief Mr Suresh Chandel while talking to the mediapersons at local Government Degree College, said reciprocity was must for the success of any alliance.

Pangi students' plea for girls' students
SHIMLA, Nov 11 — The Pangi Students Association has urged the Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal, to construct girls hostels at government colleges in Dharamsala and Chamba for tribal students.

HPTDC earns 18 lakh profit
SHIMLA, Nov 11 — The Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation earned a profit of Rs 18.11 lakh during the last financial year.

Minister's office set up at 'Oakover'
SHIMLA, Nov 11 — In an unprecedented move the office of the Minister of State for Sports and Youth Services, Mr Praveen Sharma, has been set up at "Oakover", the official residence of the Chief Minister.

BJP-HVC alliance to last: Dhumal
From Our Correspondent

MANDI, Nov 11 — Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, today assured the HVC Chief Mr Sukh Ram, that the alliance between the BJP and HVC would continue in the state even if the BJP got majority on its own.

Addressing a big Vijay rally at Seri pavilion, Mr Dhumal said in the last poll of the century the BJP-HVC alliance won all four parliamentary seats in the state. The Congress could get lead in four of the 68 seats only and even these four segments its lead had registered a downward trend.

He claimed that the absence of the anti-incumbency factor was due to the fact that his government did its best to fill the gap between the common man and the government.

Mr Dhumal admitted that the massive support given to the alliance government had placed huge responsibility on all elected representatives to fulfil the aspirations of the people and stressed the need for working hard for the development of the state despite financial limitations.

He ridiculed those who had been predicting the fall of the alliance government and asserted that his government would complete its full term.

The Chief Minister disclosed that a Rs 100-crore project for drinking water supply for Mandi had been drawn up for forwarding to the Centre for approval.

He declared that the BJP government would make allout efforts to improve the lot of the farmers. Help would be given to improve their livestock and for this an ambitious project had been drawn up. The farmers would also be encouraged to follow the concept of mixed farming.

Mr Dhumal announced that Mandi and Sundernagar bus stands would be reconstructed. A sum of Rs 4.46 crore had been sanctioned for the building of Government College at Karsog.

Earlier, the Chief Minister laid the foundation stone of new Suketi bridge and sanctioned Rs 10 crore for it with directions to the PWD that work should be started forthwith.

Mr Sukh Ram, HVC Chief, said the alliance government would leave no stone unturned to make Himachal not only a viable state, but also one of the most prosperous state of the country.

He denied reports that he aspired to become Deputy Chief Minister. "I will not accept any post of minister or deputy Chief Minister even if I am absolved of all charges by the courts", he declared.

Mr Mahinder Singh, PWD and Excise Minister, Mr Rup Singh, Forest Minister, Mr Suresh Chandel, MP and state chief of the BJP, Mr D.R. Shandil, MP, Maheshwar Singh, MP, and Pushap Raj Sharma, president, municipal committee also spoke.

Lavi Fair begins amid gaiety
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Nov 11 — The international Lavi Fair began at Rampur Bushahr, 140 km from Shimla, today amid gaiety and joy. Mrs V.S. Rama Devi, HP Governor, inaugurated the four-day-long fair at the mela ground as folk music was played and gas balloons were released. Fireworks were also part of the show.

While addressing the mela congregation, Mrs Rama Devi said that fairs and festivals symbolised the rich tradition of friendship, harmony and cultural amity and should be celebrated with a spirit of companionship and cooperation. She said it was the need of the hour to promote harmony, better understanding and peace which would help in strengthening the concept of globalisation.

The Governor said Himachal Pradesh was a peaceful state and asked people to maintain this tradition. She also asked them to concentrate more on small and medium industries based on local agricultural and horticulture products. This would help in solving the problem of unemployment besides ensuring rural development and creating economic activities. She said women had contributed in a big way in the development of the state and economic progress of families and asked men to support women's activities.

Underlining the role being played by the Red Cross in alleviating human suffering and helping the poor, she asked people to draw benefit from the welfare activities carried out by the Red Cross.

Mr Kishori Lal Vaidya, Industries Minister, said fairs should be celebrated with harmony and brotherhood by rising above all narrow considerations. He asked people to lend constructive support in building an ideal society and forging the state on the path of progress. He said the rich must come forward to help the poor and underprivileged.

The Governor inaugurated "Kinner market" and an exhibition on the occasion. She went around the stalls and evinced keen interest in the shawls, carpets, woollen products, dry fruits and other exhibits.

HP Police to recruit sportspersons
From Our Correspondent

HAMIRPUR, Nov 11 — The HP Department of Police has decided to recruit outstanding sportspersons above the age of 18 years in the department with a view to promote sports in the state. Initially these youngsters will be taken as constables, Mr Tilak Raj Mahajan, Director-General of Police, said here last night.

Addressing a press conference, Mr Mahajan said these persons would be recruited in the India Reserved Battalion and kept together at various places to carry out their sports activities. He said the department had already started a practice to scout hidden talent in the state and recruit them in the Department of Police.

He said a meeting of the HP Police Sports Control Board was held under his chairmanship last evening and the latest decision to give maximum place to outstanding sportspersons in the police was taken at the meeting. He was jubilant to point out that Inspector Shiv Ram Chaudhry had won two gold medals at the national boxing championship and all-India police games and duty meet.

He said the police would give boost to sports like athletics, volleyball, kabaddi, basketball and boxing. All outstanding police personnel would be made duty-free to enable them to get proper training and perform well.

Mr Mahajan claimed the ratio of police and public in the state was much better than other states in India. This ratio came to 1:500 as against the national ratio of 1:2000. He said the total police strength in the state right from constables to the DGP was about 13,000.

The DGP said despite the force being sent to manage various power projects and banks, it was doing its best to maintain law and order in the state. He said the state had to guard an international border and also the trouble-ridden four districts of Jammu and Kashmir, namely Doda, Kathua, Leh and Kargil. But despite all odds, the HP forces were guarding the borders and protecting the people from lawbreakers and foreign mercenaries. He claimed the law and order situation on the borders had remained peaceful thanks to timely vigilance by the forces deployed by the state and central governments.

Mr Mahajan said the state government was doing an exercise to bring traffic network under control in all parts of the state, especially Shimla and all other districts headquarter towns of the state. A committee headed by the Chief Secretary had been constituted and was doing a detailed exercise in active cooperation with the Departments of Police, Public Works and Town and Country Planning. He said the law would be amended to give to the law enforcing agencies to regulate the traffic network all over the state.

The DGP said the police had requested the Union Minister of Surface Transport to give them the first instalment of Rs 30 lakh to manage the national highways in the state and do the necessary patrolling work. He said mobile vehicles fitted with all sort of equipment would be purchased and given to police personnel to perform their duties on the highways. He was hopeful that the Union Surface Transport Ministry would release the money shortly to get this scheme implemented at the earliest.

Mr Mahajan said the Department of Police had also decided to purchase a new digital technology equipment to detect and intercept the "drunkard" drivers doing duty in various parts of the state. He said once this equipment was properly tested and police staff given training to operate, the same would become operational. He said with the introduction of this digital-based equipment, the accident rate could be minimised.

Consumer forums to be revamped: Shanta
From Our Correspondent

CHAMBA, Nov 11 — The Essential Commodities Act and the Consumer Protection Act will be tabled for amendments in the winter session of Parliament commencing from November 29 after a thorough review of these Acts in the light of common consumer's welfare and its protection on priority.

Addressing a news conference here today, Mr Shanta Kumar, Union Minister of Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution System said that while reviewing these Acts the Union Government would do its best to provide justice to the consumer and said the consumer forum would be revamped.

Mr Shanta Kumar said the onus of providing commodities and other goods of better quality to the consumer would be on the government.

The Union Minister said the Centre had decided to maintain a storage capacity of foodgrains and foodstuffs for three months in advance in every state. He said that Himachal Pradesh was already having a storage of 22,000 tonnes of edible commodities which would soon be increased to 75,000 tonnes.

Mr Shanta Kumar informed that he would try to get the Chamba cement plant cleared from the Centre so that work on the plant could be taken up and the local residents could get employment opportunities.

He said that the Union Minister of State for Energy would be visiting Chamera project stage-II shortly to monitor the on-going construction activities. The Union Ministry of Energy had decided to construct 20 primary school buildings in the ambients of Chamera hydro-electric project (stage II) and the local administration had been asked to identify such primary schools.

This was stated by Mr Shanta Kumar while presiding over a meeting of officials and public representatives he asked Doordarshan and the Department of Communications authorities to redress the grievances of people.

He expressed confidence that the authorities of departments concerned would improve telecom and Doordarshan services in the area.

Meanwhile, responding to the problems of telecom services in the Chamba region, Mr O.P. Sikka, General Manager, Telecom district, Dharamsala, informed that Chamba, Palampur and Dharamsala would have separate billing centres within a year. He said steps had been taken to get these centres connected through computers.

Mr Sikka further stated that a telephone exchange at Garola in Chamba district would be linked through a reliable media. He said that with the objective of extending reliable telecom facilities to tough and remote areas, 15 gram panchayats of Tissa on the border of Jammu and Kashmir had been proposed to be covered under this facility.

Cinema owner told to pay compensation
From Our Correspondent

SOLAN, Nov 11 — The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum President Mrigainder Singh yesterday directed the owner of a local cinema to pay a compensation of Rs 10,000 to two persons who had filed a suit complaining about mismanagement and misconduct of the officials and poor upkeep of the cinema.

Mr Manoj Bhakru and Mr Ajay Chauhan, in their complaint to the forum had alleged that they had purchased four tickets worth Rs 12 each in order to watch a movie. But when they entered the hall, they found that there was utter chaos there. The management had neither appointed ushers to guide the movie watchers to their seats nor had provided any footlights to enable the moviegoers to locate their seats in the darkness. The complainants alleged that when one of them tried to occupy a vacant seat, he fell as hinges of the seat came loose.

The complainants also maintained that the general atmosphere in the hall was "foul and suffocating". The number of fans and exhaust fans was inadequate, and the floor was also broken at several places. The complainants were allegedly also 'insulted' by a drunken employee of the cinema when they tried to register their complaints.

Mr Mrigainder Singh, in his order directed the cinema owner to pay Rs 5,000 as compensation and damages for deficiency in services to each of the complainants within 15 days. He also directed the management to carry out necessary repairs in the cinema and to overhaul the entire theatre including the floors, walls, windows, ventilators and doors within 30 days.

Other directions issued to the management include appointment of ushers, fixing of footlights, proper numbering of seats and rows, provision of adequate number of toilets for men and women in proportion to the seating capacity of the cinema.

Staff federation threatens stir
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Nov 11 — The Himachal Non-Gazetted Services Federation has expressed resentment over the failure of the government to grant allowances to employees in accordance with the revised pay-scales and threatened to launch a statewide stir to press the demand.

The federation has convened the meeting of the federal committee, the highest decision making body, to decide the failure course of action at Mandi on November 20.

Mr Ganga Singh Thakur and Mr Prem Singh Bharmouria, President and General Secretary of the Federation, respectively, said in a statement here today that the employees were on average drawing about Rs 1,000 per month less salary due to the inordinate delay in revision of allowances and release of the instalment of additional dearness allowance which became due in July last.

Besides, the decisions taken during the meeting of the joint consultative committee held in May had also not been implemented so far. The federation's request for convening the next meeting of the committee before November 15 had also not evoked any response from the government so far, they pointed out.

In the prevailing situation the federation had no option but to adopt the course of agitation, the employees leaders said.

Meanwhile, Mr Gopal Das Verma, Chairman of the State Non-Gazetted Employees Federation Action Committee, has alleged that the federation headed by Mr Ganga Singh had been reduced to a mouth piece of the government. He had urged the government to withdraw its recognition and demanded fresh election of the federation.

Over 15,000 new phones for Kangra
Tribune News Service

DHARAMSALA, Nov 11 — In order to achieve the target of providing telephone connections on demand by March, 2000, the Telecom Department will be giving 15,092 new telephone connections in Kangra district.

This was stated at a meeting of the Telephone Advisory Committee, chaired by the Union Minister for Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution System, Mr Shanta Kumar, here yesterday. Within the same period, a total of 2,150 new connections would be given in Chamba district. It was also disclosed that during this year 92 telephone exchanges would be opened under the expansion programme.

The nine places where the department intends to open telephone exchanges, include McLeodganj, Jassur, Paprola, Bari, Gagruhi, Nehlian, Sale Sanuh and Sidhpur, in Kangra district. The new telephone exchange in Chamba district would be stationed at Garolla.

It was also announced that satellite terminals would be installed in remote areas of the state in order to provide reliable telecom facilities. The proposed sites for this project include Kothi Kohar, Baragran and Bara Bhangal and 15 other panchayats of the Tissa area of Chamba district.

Telecom buildings would also be constructed with state government’s help at Baijnath, Jwalamukhi, Dharamsala and Shahpur.

The telecom officials including the General Manager, Mr Sikka, assured that customer care should be given top priority, by upgrading the single window customer service centres at Dharmasala, Chamba and Palampur. Most of the members of the Telephone Advisory Committee attended the meeting.

Awards instituted for science teachers
From Our Correspondent

HAMIRPUR, Nov 11 — Three science teachers of Himachal Pradesh excelling in science will be given cash prizes to the tune of Rs 10,000, Rs 7,000, and Rs 5,000 by the Indian Council of Science and Technology. This was stated here last evening by the Education Minister, Mr Ishwar Dass Dhiman. He also inaugurated a four-day-long state-level school science fair.

Nearly 300 students and 150 science teachers drawn from various parts of the state are taking part in this annual science fair aimed at searching science talent in the state.

The government had also decided to grant a monthly stipend of Rs 500 to those students who will secure first three places in class X and plus two examinations of the HP Education Board in the science group. For toppers in class X, this stipend would continue till plus two and for topper in plus two the stipend will be given till his first three years of college studies.

‘BJP-HVC combine solid as a rock’
From Our Correspondent

DHALIARA (Jawalamukhi), Nov 11 — The BJP chief Mr Suresh Chandel while talking to the mediapersons at local Government Degree College, said reciprocity was must for the success of any alliance. Earlier, he presided over youth festival of HP University. He said the BJP-HVC alliance in the state was very strong in spite of a difference in their ideologies.

Mr Chandel said the BJP had played a positive role by giving important berths to HVC MLAs in the Cabinet and the BJP expected a reciprocal gesture on part of the HVC also.

While answering question regarding confusion about Solan Assembly seat, he made it clear that BJP leadership was not worried over the HVC claim in view of the forthcoming byelection. He, however, claimed that as for as Solan, byelection was concerned the present BJP-HVC alliance would register a victory like previous occasions.

Pangi students' plea for girls' students
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Nov 11 — The Pangi Students Association has urged the Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal, to construct girls hostels at government colleges in Dharamsala and Chamba for tribal students.

A deputation of the association met Mr Dhumal here yesterday and drew his attention towards the problems faced by tribal students in pursuing higher education. It demanded immediate starting of work on the tribal bhawan sanctioned long back.

It also demanded immediate filling of the vacant posts of principals in Government Senior Secondary Schools at Killar and Sach, besides setting up science laboratories.

HPTDC earns 18 lakh profit
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Nov 11 — The Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation earned a profit of Rs 18.11 lakh during the last financial year.

Stating this here yesterday, Mr Rakesh Pathania, Vice-Chairman of the Corporation, said efforts had been made to improve efficiency and profitability during the last one year by making optimum use of the manpower.

He said the Corporation had decided to contribute Rs 5.11 lakh towards the Chief Minister's Relief Fund.

Minister's office set up at 'Oakover'
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Nov 11 — In an unprecedented move the office of the Minister of State for Sports and Youth Services, Mr Praveen Sharma, has been set up at "Oakover", the official residence of the Chief Minister.

Mr Sharma, who was recently attached to the Chief Minister for the General Administration Department, will assist the Chief Minister in attending to people and handling their applications and complaints. The office is adjacent to the office of the Chief Minister.