Chamba Shimla Solan

CITU leaders’ arrest flayed
SHIMLA, Nov 29 — The state committee of the CPM has condemned the arrest of Mr Rakesh Singha, President of the state unit of the CITU, and six other leaders at Kulu and alleged that the Dhumal government was misusing state machinery to crush the democratic rights of workers.

Crying for degree college CHAMBA: The residents of Bharmour revenue subdivision in Chamba district have demanded the opening of a degree college at Bharmour township, the tribal subdivisional headquarters.

HP transfers 8 officers
SHIMLA, Nov 29 — The Himachal Government today shifted eight officers, including three from the IAS.

Rama Devi lauds HP's achievements
SHIMLA, Nov 29 — The Governor, Mrs V.S. Rama Devi, lauded the achievement of Himachal Pradesh on the development front and asserted it could become a model for hill states in the country.

Congress committee member expelled
SHIMLA, Nov 29 — Mr Sat Mahajan, the pradesh Congress committee chief, has expelled Mr Kanhiya Lal Saini, General Secretary of the Mandi district Congress Committee, for six years for indulging in anti-party activities.

Follow Israeli model in farming: minister
From Our Correspondent

SOLAN, Nov 29 — The Himachal Industries Minister, Mr Kishori Lal, today called upon the farming community to emulate great strides made by Israel in the field of agriculture and horticulture despite being handicapped by scarcity of irrigation resources.

The minister, who inaugurated an Embassy of Israel and PHD Chamber of Commerce & Industries-sponsored training programme on deciduous fruits at Parmar University at Nauni, near here said Israel had recorded a 1500 per cent increase in agricultural production since it became independent 52 years ago.
Thanks to the efforts made by its farm scientists, who made pioneering breakthrough in evolving technologies for establishing economically viable agriculture and horticulture farms in arid zones, Israel had been able to increase its area under agriculture from a mere 408,000 acres in 1948 to 1.3 million acre now.

Mr Kishori Lal said the Himachal Government had recognised the vast potential of horticulture and horticulture-based industries for earning foreign exchange generating lucrative employment and bringing about social-economic improvements in the rural areas, it had, accordingly decided to treat this sector as a thrust areas of growth.

"However there was the need for identifying national and international markets as well as of advanced food technologies for the fuller exploitation of Himachal's natural geo-climate assets" he said and lauded efforts made by the PHDCCI in encouraging the agricultural sector in collaboration with Israeli experts.

Vice-Chancellor, Dr R.P. Awasthi said deciduous fruits like apple formed the mainstay of economy of the majority of Himachali farmers. However, there was and urgent for meaningful research in increasing productivity per unit of land, cost-effective use of precious resources like water through great employment of modern technologies like Israel models of drip irrigation and the introduction of cheaper insect, pest and fungus combating techniques could help improve the lot of Himachali farmers.

The Chairman of the PHDCCI, Mr Satish Bagrolia, emphasised the need for augmenting and streamlining the marketing infrastructure for ensuring that the primary agriculture producer got remunerative prices.

Mr Eitan Neubauer, co-ordinator of Israeli Embassy's Centre of International Co-operation gave details of "Mashav", a project under which Israel sponsored courses and workshops in farm technologies for foreign scientists and farmers.

He said Israel under its ‘Mashav’ programme had set up nine hectare model demonstration farm. The Indian Institute of Agricultural Research for the benefit of Indian farming community.

Dr O.P. Sharma, Director Extension, Dr Ms Miram Zilberstain, a resource person for the programme also spoke.

National Law Day Award for Bar Council member
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Nov 29 — Mr B.S. Chandel, a member of the Bar Council of India from Bilaspur in Himachal Pradesh, has been chosen for the prestigious National Law Day Award-1999 for what is described as his unique contribution to promoting standards of legal education in India.

Mr Chandel is the first recipient of this award from the northern part of the country, consisting of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and the Union Territory of Chandigarh.

He is credited with the rare distinction of having inspected more than 200 law colleges and universities in India and getting about 100 law colleges closed down on the ground of providing substandard education.

The other recipients of this award include Mr Justice S.C. Agrawal and Justice Sujata V. Manohar, a former Supreme Court Judge (administration of justice); Mr Rohit Kochhar (corporate law); Mr Fali S. Nariman, M.P. (constitutional law); senior advocates Rajinder Singh of Jabalpur and Sushil Kumar of Delhi (criminal law); Mr Girish Bhatt, Executive Chairman of the Bar Council of India and Mr M.N. Krishnamani (civil law); Mr Shiv Prakash, Additional Secretary to the Union Government, Mr D.P. Sharma (legal affairs), Mr Ram Phal Bansal (election law), and Ms Madhu Tewatia (municipal law).

These awardees had been selected by an eminent jury under the chairmanship of Justice P.N. Bhagwati, former Chief Justice of India. Other members of the jury were Justice S. Ratnavel Pandian and K.N. Saikia, both former Judges of the Supreme Court, Justice K.N. Saikia, former judge of the Delhi High Court, Justice J.D. Jain and senior Central Government counsel, Mr Adish C. Aggarwal.

The award instituted in 1989 by the Indian Council of Jurists, consists of a citation and a plaque and is likely to be presented by the Prime Minister in Delhi.

CITU leaders’ arrest flayed
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Nov 29 — The state committee of the CPM has condemned the arrest of Mr Rakesh Singha, President of the state unit of the CITU, and six other leaders at Kulu and alleged that the Dhumal government was misusing state machinery to crush the democratic rights of workers.

The CITU and other Left organisations have convened an emergent meeting from December 3 to 5 to chalk out the future course of action.

Mr Singha was arrested while he was on way to Malana hydel project to discuss the problems of workers, who were being exploited by the private company executing the project. The workers were being made to work from 12 to 14 hours a day without any overtime and they were also denied various other benefits like tunnel allowance, weekly off and backward area allowance.

The CITU had given a memorandum to the management of the company urging it to grant all benefits to which the workers were entitled under the Labour Act. However, instead of accepting the demand, the company retrenched the office-bearers of the workers union the very next day.

The government had been misusing Section 107 and 151 of the IPC to curtail the rights of trade union leaders.

It lamented that Himachalis were not being given jobs in private hydel projects and urged the government to ensure that local youth were given priority in jobs while signing the agreement for execution of projects in private sector.

The Democratic Youth Federation has also condemned the arrest and demanded immediate release of Mr Singha and other leaders.

Crying for degree college
From Balkrishan Prashar

CHAMBA: The residents of Bharmour revenue subdivision in Chamba district have demanded the opening of a degree college at Bharmour township, the tribal subdivisional headquarters. The opening of a degree college at Bharmour is a long-pending demand of residents of this alpine region, and the Dhumal Government has already assured of considering the demand.

There are six gram panchayats across the Budhil rivulet, a tributary of the Ravi, and are quite backward devoid of even basic amenities. These panchayats are Tundah, Badgran, Pulan, Ghared, Chobia and Kugti.

These areas have been deprived of lifelines so far. There is only one 24 km-long jeepable road from Bharmour to Badgran from where one has to trudge a few kilometres to reach Banni Mata temple dating back to the seventh century. This road often gets blocked due to landslips during the rains. But this does not deter the devout.

According to residents of these panchayats, there is no primary health centre ( PHC) or senior secondary school. As a consequence, the students of plus-one and two have to come to Bharmour. Patients are taken to Bharmour hospital for medical treatment. Inhabitants of these areas earn their livelihood from agriculture, horticulture and rearing of sheep and goats. The residents have urged the state government to construct link roads on priority. Mr K Sanjaymurthy, Resident Commissioner of Bharmour, however, maintains that the state government is spending crores for the betterment of tribal people and areas.

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The Dalhousie Municipal Council plans to forward to the government a proposal for introducing "winter festivals" at Dalhousie with a view to attracting tourists. According to Mrs Renu Chadha, President of the Dalhousie Municipal Council, the proposal relating to "winter festivals" is expected to be brought for discussion in the council. After its approval by the council, the proposal will be submitted to the state government for approval.

Mrs Chadha says the need for introducing "winter festivals" has been felt by local hoteliers, residents and other poor people who are directly or indirectly engaged in the tourism industry and earn their livelihood from tourism. The municipal council has been holding "summer festivals" in June every year.

Mrs Chadha says the council will draw up an ambitious plan to give a new lease of life to the hill town by giving a facelift to dried-up fountains, providing railings and roads at certain points, besides creating a few more parking lots.

HP transfers 8 officers
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Nov 29 — The Himachal Government today shifted eight officers, including three from the IAS.

Mr Bal Ram Sharma, Director, Tourism, has been posted as Director, Ayurveda, vice Mr J.R. Verma who goes as Additional Deputy Commissioner, Mandi. While Mr Sharma will hold additional charge of Director, Tourism, Mr Verma will hold the charge of Director, Technical Education, in addition.

Mr Onkar Sharma, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Mandi, takes over as Additional Deputy Commissioner, Kangra, at Dharamsala.

Mr S.C. Kalsotra, Additional Secretary, Revenue, goes as state Project Director, DPEP, Shimla, on deputation basis. Mr Beer Singh, Additional Magistrate, Chamba, has been posted as Deputy Secretary (Revenue). Mr Rajeev Sharma, state Project Director, DPEP, will be the new Additional District Magistrate, Chamba.

Mr B.S. Attri, Secretary, State Ex-Servicemen Corporation, who was under transfer, goes as Registrar, Regional Engineering College, Hamirpur, relieving Mr Tek Chand of the additional charge.

Mr Arun Kumar Sharma, Regional Transport Officer, Hamirpur, has been posted as Assistant Settlement Officer, Kulu.

Rama Devi lauds HP's achievements
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Nov 29 — The Governor, Mrs V.S. Rama Devi, lauded the achievement of Himachal Pradesh on the development front and asserted it could become a model for hill states in the country.

Speaking at the function organised by the Municipal Corporation to bid farewell to the outgoing Governor said the state had the natural and human resources to bring about a socio-economic transformation. Himachal was like a heaven on earth and women enjoyed much higher status than elsewhere in the country. It was leading in the implementation of national programmes like eradication of illiteracy, national family welfare and health programme, universalisation of education.

Mr R.D. Kashyap, Urban Development Minister, said Mrs Rama Devi gave a new thrust to the achievements of the Red Cross in the state.

Mr Manoj Kumar, Mayor, presented a memento to the Governor.

Congress committee member expelled
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Nov 29 — Mr Sat Mahajan, the pradesh Congress committee chief, has expelled Mr Kanhiya Lal Saini, General Secretary of the Mandi district Congress Committee, for six years for indulging in anti-party activities.

The action was taken after a unanimous resolution was passed by the district Congress committee regarding the anti-party activities of Mr Saini.