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Sunday, November 4, 2001, Chandigarh, India  
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Govt justifies power tariff hike Barnala opens function on Sobha Singh Dalai Lama foresees quake, holds prayers First snowfall at Rohtang Pass OBCs to intensify stir |
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Governor: change mindset for gender equality
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Govt justifies power tariff hike Shimla, November 3 Mr Ganesh Dut, party spokesperson, said the SERC had been set up in Himachal Pradesh under the economic reforms initiated by the Congress regime like in all other states. It was functional in all states and had been fixing power tariff from time to time. He maintained that various political parties had also put their viewpoint before the commission which arrived at the conclusion after taking into consideration the objections and suggestions of different sections of consumers. He said the state electricity board had sought additional revenue to the tune of Rs 271 crore to meet its expenses but the commission allowed an additional revenue of only Rs 77 crore and ensured that there was no steep hike in the tariff. Mr Dutt blamed the Congress for the hike as its successive governments failed to harness the state’s vast potential for hydel generation. Besides, the power board was also not managed on professional lines all these years. There was one employee for every 45 consumers in the board whereas in other states the number of consumers per employee was upto 450. Even now the government was giving Rs 188 crore as subsidy to the board despite the fact that the Centre was insisting on phasing out subsidies. He said the directive issued by the commission to improve the board’s functioning would yield result over the next few years. Besides, the steps taken by the present government would make the state self-sufficient in power and after that it might become possible to cut down the tariff He urged the opposition not to politicise the issue and accept the decision of the independent commission. HAMIRPUR: The Himachal State unit of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM), has opposed the power tariff hike by the power board. The hike would hit the poor, Comrade Mohar Singh, the state secretary of the party said here yesterday. Addressing a press conference, he said that the party would oppose the hike. He urged the government to withdraw the hike and threatened a stir if it was not done. He said prices of various commodities had increased sharply and development come to a near standstill but the government was not moved. Comrade Kashmir Singh Thakur, Member state committee of the party, was also present at the press conference. He said that since the formation of the present government, number of un-employed persons had crossed eight lakh mark. He said that most of the un-employed persons were educated and they would revel if not provided with jobs. He said the central government as well as the BJP-ruled states governments were working under the directions of the foreign powers and the big Indian business. It had sold statet’s interests to the multi-nationals and it was quite evident from the ongoing power projects in the state. Comrade Mohar Singh blasted the government for neglecting health sector. He said, there was a need to equip the hospitals with the doctors; paramedical staff; nurses, Class IV staff, safai karamcharis and medicines. While expenses on higher ups were increasing there was no increase in wages and other facilities for the lower staff, he said. This government had already saffronised educational institutions and all decisions were being taken on political considerations which was harmful for the entire society, he said. He said that the CPM would take up all such issues with the public and thus expose real faces of the BJP governments both at Centre and in the state.
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Barnala opens function on Sobha Singh Dharamsala, November 3 Mr Barnala, addressing artists from the northern region, said Sobha Singh’s devotion to art won him world acclaim. His vast range of works, including portraits of the Gurus, gods, patriots, martyrs and the common man projected him as a divine painter as well as a painter of the people,” Mr Barnala said. He released a souvenir brought out by the Sobha Singh Memorial Art Society and released a book, “Painter Divine” authored by Dr Kulwant Singh
Khokhar, an NRI in the USA. On the opening day of the four-day celebrations, an exhibition on photographs of the artist, rare paintings and reproductions of some of his popular paintings was inaugurated. A workshop for artists from Punjab, Chandigarh and Himachal will be held at Andretta. The villagers of Aneretta requested Mr Barnala to take up the matter of upgrading and renaming the local government high school, as Sir Sobha Singh School and the road from the Palampur Tea Factory to Andretta after the name of the artist.
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Dalai Lama foresees quake, holds prayers Dharamsala, November 3 With a similar prediction, made before January 26, Gujarat earthquake, coming true, several revered gururs and lamas from Nepal and South India, had converged here to hold prayers. The Dalai Lama was present during the prayers. With the Kangra region falling under Zone-V of the earthquake prone area of India, which was virtually reduced to ruins by earthquake in 1905, the Dalai Lama, had asked the heads of the five sects to see if there was any threat to this area. The religious heads, indicated that an earthquake could hit Mcleodganj and Dharamsala, and other parts of the country, in the immediate future. With the “oracle” further confirming the possibility, the Tibetan spiritual heads decided to hold prayers to avert the calamity. The Tibetans, including the Dalai Lama, generally consult the “oracle”, on important matter and have great faith in the predictions made at this religious ceremony. The heads of the Sakya Kagyu, Nyingpa, Gelugpa and Bongo sects had made the prediction. Gandentripa, throne holder of the Gelugpa sects, to the which the Dalai Lama belongs, came from South India to attend the prayers being held at the main temple, outside the palace of the Dalai Lama at Mcleodganj. Sakya Dungse, the second highest ranking lama of the Sakya sect, took part in the prayer service, for which he came from Nepal. Another lama of the Nyingpa sect, Trulshik, Ringpoche, also came from Nepal to take part in the prayers. Prior to the January 26, Gujarat earthquake, Tibetan all over India, had held similar prayers. Even at that time the Tibetan oracle had reportedly predicted a major earthquake. The Secretary in the Department of Religion and Culture, Karma Gelek, also confirmed the holding of prayers. |
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First snowfall at Rohtang Pass Manali, November 3 The 475 km-long Manali-Leh highway, was closed to vehicular traffic in the wake of heavy snowfall at Baralacha Pass (4883 metre), Lachalangla (5,605 metre) and Tanglangla (5,328 metre). High reaches in the Kulu valley, including Pir Panjal Ranges, Bhrigu Slopes, Chanderkhani Pass, Hamta Pass, Marhi, Gulaba Slopes, also had fresh snow. The upper Manali region remained in the grip of severe cold following further decline in the temperature. Due to fresh snow at the Kunzum Pass (4551 metre) the Manali-Kaza road in Spiti valley also remained closed. According to Himachal Pradesh Transport Corporation sources, all buses plying to Keylong Udaipur, Trilokinath, Jahlma and Darcha from here had to stop at Rahni Nullah and Marhi, 35 km from here, this morning and later had to return to Manali. The Manali-Rohtang Pass road was motorable uptill Marhi and Beas Nullah. Due to heavy snow at the Rohtang Pass, Rahni Nullah, Marhi and Beas Nullah, all taxis and tourist buses had to stop near Beas Nullah and Rahla waterfall, 27 km from here, and later return. SHIMLA: The Lahaul valley experienced first snowfall of the season on Friday. According to reports reaching here, about 35 cm, fresh snowfall was recorded at the Rohtang Pass, 10 cm at Keylong and 20 cm at Koksar. Vehicular traffic from Manali to Keylong and Manali to Kaza was also disrupted due to snowfall. The entire Lahaul valley is in the grip of cold wave and the lowest temperature recorded at Keylong this morning was minus 4 degree celsius. People have been advised not to move at the Rohtang Pass. SRINAGAR: The Ladakh region remained cut off from the rest of the country following the closure of the 434-km-long Srinagar-Leh National Highway due to heavy snowfall for the past two days. The Srinagar-Leh highway remained closed for the second consecutive day on Saturday because of heavy snowfall at Gomri, Sonamarg and the Zojila Pass, sources said. They said if snowfall continued for the next few days, the highway might be closed for six months. The authorities had recently announced that the highway would be closed after November 15. Meanwhile, roads to border areas of Karnach and Gurez were also closed on Saturday as upper reaches of the valley had snowfall while the plains had rains resulting in considerable drop in the temperature. About one feet of fresh snowfall was also recorded at world famous skill resort of Gulmarg and Khilanmarg while tourist spots of Yusmarg, Pahalgam, Deksum and Ahrabal also experienced fresh snowfall. |
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OBCs to intensify stir Dharamsala, November 3 In a statement issued here yesterday, the state president of the organisation, Mr Pawan Kumar, said a four-pronged strategy had been worked out so that the OBCs could get 27 per cent reservation as per the Supreme Court directions. He said in the first week of December, signatures of five lakh people would be taken on a demand charter, enlisting the atrocities being committed against the OBCs and the Scheduled Castes. During the second phase, resolutions would be passed at the general house meetings of all panchayats in support of giving 27 per cent reservation to the OBCs. As part of the next step relay fast would be observed at all district headquarters in support of their demands. Mr Pawan Kumar said March 24, which would mark the completion of the four years of the BJP-HVC government, would be observed as black day, in protest against the failure of the government in giving the OBCs their due. |
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Governor: change mindset for gender equality Shimla, November 3 Dr Suraj Bhan was inaugurating a seminar on “Crime against women, children, SCs and STs in remote and far-flung areas” here today. The seminar was organised by the state Human Rights Commission in collaboration with the National Human Rights commission. The Governor emphasised on bringing about an attitudinal change in the thinking of people on the weaker sections of society. Justice Om Parkash Verma, Chairman, State Human Rights Commission, in his keynote address, stressed on promoting humanism as a measure to eliminate discrimination.
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Mithi
seeks more funds for hill states Hamirpur, November 3 Addressing the concluding day function on yug yugeen Himalayas and challenges before it, at Chakmoh village, the Arunachal Chief Minister said the present NDA government was not giving adequate assistance to the non-NDA governments as a result development activity were suffering badly. |
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74 SFI, ABVP activists held
Shimla, November 3 The activists of two groups raised slogans against each other in the morning. Even some leaders of the Students Central Association (SCA) were taken into custody. Search of the boys hostels was made by the police. Pro vice-Chancellor N.K. Sharda, wardens and chief wardens of the hostels also visited the hostels. Meanwhile, the NSUI held a rally on the campus and urged the university authorities to maintain peace in the university and hostels.
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Villagers’ protest over bus service Chamba, November 3 Residents of this area said the bus service had been introduced by the minister for the people of Baror and adjoining panchayats, but surprisingly it was suspended without assigning any reason. The authorities of the HRTC, Chamba, were not available for comment. |
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Fire wipes out village Kulu, November 3
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