Bilaspur, May 26
Prominent social organisations of retired officers and employees here named Elder Citizens Association here has urged the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, to be sympathetic towards the difficulties and demands of the agitating doctors and students of professional colleges of higher learning and demanded that he should not take any hasty and politically motivated decision, which would divide the Indian society further and harm cause of democracy and equality.

In a letter addressed to the Prime Minister, the association has pleaded that institutions of higher learning should be the sole preserve of the meritorious and these should not entertain all and sundry like it has been done in government offices where appointments are made by giving preferences on caste base and not on the base of efficiency.

Meanwhile, District Rajput Sabha of Ghumarwin near here held a largely attended meeting under the chairmanship of Senior Advocate Jeet Ram Thakur and strongly criticised the Central government for its decision to enforce reservation even in institutes of higher learning. Sabha adopted unanimous resolution supporting the cause of agitating doctors and other students of professional colleges and said that such a policy of reservation would only further divide the society.

They demanded that only economic conditions should be the base of reservation and institutions of higher learning should be saved from those who do not deserve to be there on bases of their talent.

On other hand, led by Retd. Brigadier Dr Raghwa Nand Sharma, a meeting of Ex-servicemen and other leaders of various sections of society, including senior citizens. Students and panchayat leaders of Ghumarwin, strongly opposed the Central government policy of reservation on base of caste and said that the reservation should be based on economic condition only.

The meeting supported cause of the agitating doctors and others and extended full support to them as they were peacefully fighting battle for India’s prosperous future.

They formed an ad hoc committee named District Anti-Reservation Committee and elected Major (Retd.) Lekh Ram Sharma as president, Mr Vidya Sagar Sharma has been named vice-president, Mr Sham Lal Sharma general secretary, Mr Anshul Assistant secretary, Sub. Major Shalig Ram Thakur organising secretary and Mustak Singh press secretary.

Chamba, May 26
In view of the apprehension of the outbreak of waterborne epidemic like cholera, gastroenteritis, diarrhea, jaundice and dysentery in Chamba district during the ongoing summer, the District Magistrate, Mr Pushpendra Rajput, has issued orders prohibiting the sale and distribution of over-ripe and under-ripe as also uncovered fruits and vegetables.

In his orders, the further banned the sale of uncovered sweets, meat, fish and other perishable food articles besides locally manufactures ice-candies, ice-cream and aerated drinks. The orders also banned the use of filthy utensils, broken crockery and un-chlorinated water in shops and public eating-places.

To cope with the situation, the District Magistrate by this order, has directed the authorities of health and food supplies departments and the local civic bodies to inspect any market, building, shop, stall and place used for the sale or distribution of any such food articles or drinks and to seize, remove, destroy, dispose of any such article which was unfit for human consumption. The officers were also authorised to initiate legal action against the offenders under due course of law.

Mild quake in HP, J&K areas

Shimla, May 26
An earthquake of low intensity, measuring 4 on the Richter scale, shook several areas of Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh early today, but no loss of life and property was reported from anywhere in the state, the Seismological Department said.

The tremors were felt in Chamba and Bharmaur areas of the district and lasted a minute, forcing people to flee their homes at 6.11 a.m.

The epicentre of today’s earthquake was 260 km to 290 km towards north-west of the Naddi observatory here, an official of the Seismological Department said.

Srinagar: An earthquake of mild intensity rocked the capital of Jammu and Kashmir and its adjoining areas on Friday morning.

The tremors, which were felt at 6.12 a.m., measured 4.7 on the Richter scale.

A spokesman for the Meteorological Department here said the epicentre of the tremors was somewhere in Himachal Pradesh.

Officials said there was no report of any loss of life or damage to the property in the state. — UNI

Shimla, May 26
The dismissal of a petition seeking disqualification of 12 Congress legislators for holding office of profit by the Election Commission has come as a big setback to the BJP, which was more than optimistic about the issue being decided in its favour and had even been talking of a mid-term Assembly poll in the state.

The party has been successful in keeping the government under pressure ever since it filed the petition in the high court, challenging the appointment of Chief Parliamentary Secretaries (CPSs) and Parliamentary Secretaries (PSs). It had been in an upbeat mood after the high court set aside the appointment of 12 CPSs and PSs. It lost no time in filing a petition seeking their disqualification. Simultaneously, it filed another petition before the Speaker, seeking disqualification of the five Independents who became associate members of the Congress under the anti-defection law.

However, with the Election Commission dismissing its petition, the dream of a snap poll turned sour. 

Mandi, May 26
The state Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), a CPM’s youth outfit, yesterday alleged that the private company constructing the Phatikri hydel project in the district was ignoring the demands of the villagers, who have been hit by the project.

The general secretary, Mr Kushal Bhardwaj, who addressed the villagers in the area, stated that oustees of the project were not getting compensation or employment in the project. “The blasting has upset the ecological balance and even threatened the existence of five gharats of the villagers’, he alleged.

The villagers demanded that a part of the water of the Nakhli khud should be released for use of local domestic cattle. The Koklah-Baggi road and the bridge on the Bagli khud also be constructed, he stated.

Shimla, May 26
With an eye on the Shimla Municipal Corporation elections next March, the government is bringing about a retention policy for Shimla and the entire state covering 22 planning areas and 35 special areas.

The matter was discussed at the Cabinet meeting yesterday and now the proposal will be presented before the chief minister for approval. “The various departments have been directed to assess the quantum of encroachments all over the state and most importantly within the Shimla Municipal Corporation and the five Special Area Development Authorities (SADA),” said a senior official.

Even though the quantum of the problem is still being assessed, according to rough estimates the number of encroachments which might be regularised under this policy could touch even 50,000 all over the state. The criteria for the construction to qualify for this new retention policy would more or less be the same as were in the 2004 policy for the five SADAs in the vicinity of the capital town.

The Urban Development minister, Mr Kaul Singh Thakur, today discussed the issue with senior officials of the Town and Country Planning and the Urban Development department and the local Municipal Corporation. “The last time a retention policy was brought for the entire state was in 1997 but the number of encroachments this time would probably be thrice that were compounded at that time,” informed an official.

Being viewed as a populist measure, it is in view of the Assembly elections in less than two years’ time that the Congress government is keen to bring about the retention policy. 

Shimla, May 26
The Himachal Government will consider the creation of a separate cadre for the wild life wing of the Forest Department.

This was stated by Mr Virbhadra Singh, Chief Minister, while addressing a public meeting at Pujarali in Rohru subdivision of Shimla district after dedicating a 22-KV electricity control station constructed at a cost of Rs 65 lakh.

He said creation of a separate cadre for the wildlife wing would enable proper protection of the flora and fauna of the state. The government also proposed to provide a different uniform to the forest staff from the rank of forest guard to forest ranger.

He said the government would also provide arms to the field staff of the Forest Department. As many as 555 posts of forest guard would be filled soon. He urged the people to voluntarily surrender the encroached forest land to save themselves from forcible eviction.

Reckong Peo, May 26
The local police has arrested a forest guard for allegedly helping a person to fell trees from a forest reserve area of Ribba village in Pooh sub-division of the district.

Mr Prem Singh, Deputy Superintendent of Police, said that the arrested forest guard Sunder Sukh, has been remanded in police custody for a day.

However, Vinod Kumar, who was directly involved in the illegal felling of trees ,managed to escape. The Himachal Pradesh High has granted him an interim bail, confirmed the DSP.

The total cost of the trees illegally felled by Vinod Kumar has been estimated at Rs 2.18 lakh. 

HC seeks report on freight structure
Our Correspondent

Shimla, May 26
The HP High Court has directed the Principal Secretary (Transport) to file an affidavit to inform the court about the steps taken by the government to fix freight structure of transporters.

A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice V.K. Gupta and Mr Justice Deepak Gupta directed the government to maintain the rule of law in the state.

Cong has ‘failed’ to check price hike
Tribune News Service

Mandi, May 26
The BJP Yuva Morcha general secretary Mr Ajay Rana yesterday charged the state government with bringing all development works to halt and failing to control the prices of all essential commodities.

In a press release issued here, Mr Rana alleged that the Congress government was promoting favoritism while awarding contracts. The promise to set up an airport in Balh area has turned out to be a hoax, he claimed.