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Earthquake measuring 4.3 rocks Delhi, NCR

New Delhi, Nov 26: Monday morning came as a rude awakening for the residents of the National Capital Region as an earthquake measuring 4.3 on the Richter scale rattled the region. As per the Indian Meteorological Department, the nodal body in the country that monitors earthquakes, the “light intensity” quake struck at about 4:43 am, forcing terrified residents to flee to open spaces. However, there were no immediate reports of injuries or damage.

The epicentre of the tremor was at the Delhi-Haryana border at 28.6 N latitude and 77.9 E longitude. Precisely it was centred around 10 kms from Bahadurgarh in Haryana. Today’s quake was due to the re-alignment of the Sohana tectonic plate fault line that has been in the past lead to mild tremors in the region Read More

Senior Congress leaders out of HP poll race

Monday, 26 November , 2007, 14:53
Last Updated: Monday, 26 November , 2007, 14:54  

Shimla: While Himachal Pradesh Housing Minister Harsh Mahajan has decided not to contest the forthcoming assembly elections, state Civil Supplies and Horticulture Minister Singhi Ram has been left out of the race with the ruling Congress party deciding not to give him a ticket.

The list of 65 Congress candidates who will fight the December 19 assembly polls was announced by the party high command late Sunday and does not include either Mahajan or Singhi Ram.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi last week summoned five-time legislator Mahajan, who has cited personal for not contesting the election, and asked him to change his mind. However, she finally accepted his decision.

The decision is seen as a setback to the Congress as Mahajan is believed to be a strong and shrewd politician who has never lost an assembly election. He has been elected five times from the Chamba seat.

Mahajan, 53, is seen as one of the most important second-generation Congress leaders in the State.

Full coverage: Himachal assembly polls

IIT and central university for Himachal

By: Hema D

Shimla: Himachal Pradesh (HP) has finally landed itself the best gift in this election year, an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), a Central University and construction of Bhannupali-Bilaspur broad-guage railway line. Finance Minister P Chidambaram announced this in Shimla yesterday, while launching the Aam Admi Bima Yojana.

Chidambaram said that the Central University announced for HP would be completely funded by the centre. Later Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh said that the state would make an effort to complete the broad-gauge rail line within two years. A few families belonging to nearby areas of Shimla were allotted the certificates of this scheme, which would ensure death and disability cover for the poor and landless people. According to government’s projections there are about 38000 beneficiaries of the Bima Yojana in Himachal.

Launching the scheme on the historic Ridge ground, as Chidambaram lauded the state’s administrative abilities the crowd of over 9,000 broke into cheers for Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh. “The UPA government has spent the last three years in building its economic muscles and now the country is in a position to launch such welfare schemes for the poor population”, said Chidambaram while addressing the huge gathering.

He said some parties ridicule the party for its financial management but they must know that now every section of the society is shining, “Economic growth and social security now are going to go hand in hand”. Elaborating on the fiscal prudence and economic discipline adopted by the UPA during its present regime, he said, “Before we came to power, in the year 2003-04, Rs 7000 crore were being spent on health programmes and now we are spending Rs 14,300 crore on the same. Similarly Rs 7,000 crore were being spent on education and now we are spending Rs 28, 600 crores on this sector.”