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Friday, November 2, 2001, Chandigarh, India
  
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Only foundation stones, no work Filling of medical posts kicks up a row HP Govt has ‘given in’ to builders’ lobby Remote areas cry for amenities Friends in Kasauli miss B.K. Nehru |
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Save-power drive in progress Kulu Dasehra concludes Selection of Registrars: docs smell rat Dhumal visits fire-hit
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Only foundation stones, no work Mandi, November 1 Addressing a press conference here yesterday, he lamented that the work on Rs 4 crore Regional Hospital building had finally come to a halt as sufficient funds had not been provided by the state government for past three years. While the Congress government had allocated for it a sum of Rs 52 lakh in the first year, the BJP led government had given only Rs 29 lakh for the past three years. Now the work had been stalled as the government had withheld payment of over Rs 40 lakh to the contractor. The work on Rs 2 crore Town Hall building had also been closed for want of funds. A sum of Rs 90 lakh was required to complete it but due to discrimination the government did not provide funds for Mandi district, Mr Thakur Kaul alleged. He regretted that the Chief Minister had laid foundation stones of about six projects in and around Mandi town but no work had been taken up on any of these projects. Mr Thakur Kaul said it was intriguing that the HVC supremo, Mr Sukh Ram, was keeping silent over the neglect of the district and particularly his constituency. The Congress leader warned that the third successive hike in power tariff would prove to be the last nail in the BJP government’s coffin as during its rule the power tariff had been doubled. Mr Thakur Kaul Singh alleged that “outsiders” with BJP connection were being given employment in the state while local unemployed youths were being ignored. On the same analogy development works were being awarded to the “outsiders” who were getting a way with substandard performances, he added. The Congress leader said due to lack of experience the Chief Minister had become a “slave” of bureaucracy, which was ruling the roost and as a result of which the government had lost its credibility. |
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Filling of medical posts kicks up a row Shimla, November 1 The directorate has advertised only 34 posts of registrar for Indira Gandhi Medical College and 26 posts for Dr Rajendra Prasad Medical College, Tanda, which was about 20 posts less than the total number of vacant posts. These posts are to be filled every six months, but the authorities have taken 14 months to initiate the recruitment process this time. Moreover, even now the seats which will fall vacant up to December have not been taken into account. The local unit of the State Medical Officers Association alleged that some posts had purposely not been advertised to extend the tenure of certain favoured doctors. For instance in the IGMC two posts each were vacant in microbiology and orthopaedics departments but none had been advertised. Similarly, in the Anaethesia Department applications for only two out of the five vacant posts had been invited. As a result of such manipulations the fresh post graduates and graduates were being denied job opportunities. The association has threatened start an agitation if all the posts were not advertised within 10 days. The association also alleged that in the Tanda medical college lecturers in the non-clinical disciplines had been appointed in violation of the rules laid down by the Medical Council of India. It has also demanded recall of the senior administrative officer posted as additional director in the health directorate. The posts should be manned by medical officers, it demanded. Moreover, there was also lacunae in the posting as the concerned additional director was also the additional secretary, health, a post even senior to that of the Director of health service. Moreover the principle of one person and one post was not being followed. |
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HP Govt has ‘given in’ to builders’ lobby Shimla, November 1 In a statement here today, Mr Virbhadra Singh urged the government to review the decision. To ensure Shimla’s orderly and planned growth some
adjoining areas were included in the Municipal Corporation area by the previous Congress government. The government assured that the Municipal Corporation would be given financial help for the development of these areas. It was also agreed that these areas would be exempted from municipal taxes for three years. Mr Virbhadra Singh said that the Congress government gave liberal grant to the Municipal Corporation for this purpose, but after the change of government in the state, the BJP had failed to honour this commitment. In fact, apart from the grant given to the Municipal Corporation by the state government in lieu of abolition of octroi duty, no other grant has been given to the Shimla Municipal Corporation by the present government so far. Inspite of this, the Municipal Corporation has spent nearly Rs 600 crore for providing roads, electricity and other civic amenities in the newly merged areas from its own resources. He said this decision was taken in haste and with political motive. |
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Remote areas cry for amenities Shimla Majhewal, Kariyali, Damahar, Himiri and Dhroga lack various amenities. There is no link road in these panchayats even five decades after Independence. Owing to the lack of infrastructure, these areas have remained underdeveloped. There is no modern mode of transportation and people still carry goods on their backs or on mules. During the fruit season, growers have to incur additional expenditure on taking their produce to the main road. Dr Pramod Sharma, convener of the Jan Sangharsh Abhiyan Samiti and former spokesman of the Indian Youth Congress, says in these panchayats most of the school buildings are in bad shape. There are no proper classrooms. The institutions face a shortage of teachers and many posts are lying vacant. Residents complain that when government teachers are transferred from these panchayats, replacements are rarely sent. The middle school building in Pandoa village is in a dilapidated condition. The secondary school in Banuna village has been functioning without a principal for the past two years. Dispensaries are being run without doctors. There is no proper infrastructure at the health centres. The Primary Health Centre at Jalog is suffering due to the lack of staff. The building was constructed four years ago but has not been inaugurated. In many areas poor patients have to go to private clinics for treatment. This entails an additional financial burden. Residents of Suni have been demanding the setting up of a college and an ITI. This demand has been raised several times, but the government has ignored it. There are more than 600 students from Suni who are studying in colleges in Shimla. Residents have already met the Chief Minister twice in connection with the setting up of the college. Besides, residents complain that the functioning of the IPH Department in these areas is not up to the mark. Water pipes leak frequently leading to a shortage of water. They also say the implementation of the Integrated Rural Development Programme and the public distribution system is unsatisfactory. |
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Friends in Kasauli miss B.K. Nehru Kasauli, November 1 Persons associated with him described his death as a personal loss, besides being a great loss to the town. He was associated with the civil and Defence activities of the town and took keen interest in the happenings of here despite his poor health. Mr S.C. Prashar, former Chief Commissioner, Income Tax, an associate of Mr Nehru for a past decade, described him as a man of principles who had a commitment for the protection of environment. He was the founder president of the Society for Protection of Kasauli and its environs which was formed in 1992. Maj-General (retd) Virender Singh, another associate for over five decades, described him as an outstanding civil servant and a man of many qualifications. Deputy Commissioner K. Sanjay Murthy, the Station Commander, Brig V.S. Tonk, tehsildar and naib tehsildar, a number of Army officers and other distinguished people residing in the town also mourned Mr Nehru’s death. SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah in a message, described Mr Nehru a stalwart of Indian diplomacy and a very kind-hearted man. “With his passing away a great void has been created which is difficult to fill in these turbulent times of our nation,” Dr Abdullah said. The Chief Minister said the late leader had a very close association with the state and its development. He greatly contributed to the well-being of all regions of Jammu and Kashmir, he said. “We have lost a friend and a builder of modern India,” he said. Dr Abdullah conveyed his sympathies to the bereaved family. |
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Save-power drive in progress Kulu, November 1 Under the plan, efforts would be made to increase awareness among consumers of electricity regarding power conservation. Mr Sharma said the government had given the responsibility of conducting the campaign to power-generating organisation like the NHPC, the NTPC and state electricity boards. These organisations would organise road shows for the purpose. Mr Sharma said the NHPC has been organising road shows in the districts of Solan, Shimla, Nahan, Kulu, Mandi, Bilaspur and Kinnaur. He said the Central Government had framed a power policy under the Power Bill, 2001, which would be implemented in a phased manner. He said the APDP programme has been started in 60 districts of the country, including three districts of Himachal Pradesh. Under this programme, consumers would be provided with electronic meters and strict action would be taken against those involved in power thefts, he added. Mr Sharma said in the next year, 350 more districts would be included in the APDP programme. |
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Kulu Dasehra concludes Kulu, November 1 It is believed that on the concluding day Goddess Hidimba takes away the sacrificed animals and leads the “rath yatra” back to the starting point of the festival at the Dhalpur Ground. The idol of Lord Raghunath was taken back to His sanctum at Raghunathpur Temple here to mark the culmination of the rituals of the Dasehra festival. Earlier, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister, presided over the valedictory function of the International Folk Dance Festival at the Lal Chand Prarthi Dasehra Kala Kendra at Dhalpur. Mr Dhumal announced a grant of Rs 2 crore for the additional block of the zonal hospital here. He disclosed that the Centre had allocated Rs 4.78 lakh for the watershed scheme in the district. He announced a grant of Rs 10 lakh each for the Neoli-Sambha bridge and the Shalang-Smalang road in the district and Rs 5 lakh for the Kulu-Pooj road. Congratulating the people on a peaceful and successful Dasehra, Mr Dhumal announced an increase of 10 per cent in the “nazrana” (amount given to the local deities who participate in the festival) and said that this year Rs 8.80 lakh would be disbursed as against Rs 6.91 last year. Mr Dhumal thanked the governments of Russia, Mauritius, Sri Lanka and Ethopia for sending their cultural troupes to participate in the festival. He also thanked various states for their participation. Mr Karan Singh, Minister of State for Primary Education, Mr Maheshwar Singh, member of Parliament and chairman, Kulu Dasehra Committee, and Mr Chander Sen Thakur, MLA and Vice-Chairman of the HPMC, also spoke on the occasion. |
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Selection of Registrars: docs smell rat Shimla, November 1 The Directorate has advertised only 34 posts of Registrar for Indira Gandhi Medical College and 26 posts for Dr Rajendra Prasad Medical College, Tanda, which is about 20 posts less than the total number of vacant posts. The local unit of the state Medical Officers Association alleged that some posts had purposely not been advertised to extend the tenure of certain favoured doctors. For instance in the IGMC two posts each were vacant in the Department of Microbiology and Orthopaedics but none had been advertised. Similarly, in the Anaesthesia Department applications for only two out of the five vacant posts had been invited. |
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Dhumal visits fire-hit Mandi, November 1 He directed the Chief Engineer, accompanying him, to construct a link road to the village to enable the fire victims to carry building material. The PWD engineers have also been told to clear the debris. Each family of the fire victims was given a cash relief of Rs 25000. He also announced an additional relief of Rs 10,000 for each house burnt and Rs 5000 each for the destroyed cowshed out of the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. He also announced an additional 50 per cent additional subsidy on seed to the farmers. The Chief Minister said that he would request the two cement plants in Himachal to help the fire victims and donate them cement. He also called upon NGOs to help the fire-hit. The local MLA, Jai Ram Thakur, who is also vice-chairman of the Civil Supply Corporation and Mr Suresh Chandel, MP, public representatives and district officials also accompanied the Chief Minister. |
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Phone exchange upgraded Kasauli, November 1 |
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