HP denies reports
of advance warning
SHIMLA, Aug 8 — A piquant situation has developed over the Chamba massacres with the Himachal Pradesh Government claiming that no intelligence agency had ever given any prior information about movement of Kashmiri terrorists in the Chamba area.

HP denies reports of advance warning
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Aug 8 — A piquant situation has developed over the Chamba massacres with the Himachal Pradesh Government claiming that no intelligence agency had ever given any prior information about movement of Kashmiri terrorists in the Chamba area.

Presenting a depressing picture of its intelligence set up, the spokesman said no "hard inputs" were provided by any intelligence agency about movement of terrorists or an imminent of terrorists strike in the area.

The spokesman claimed that the news reports suggesting that the state government had been informed of militant activities by certain intelligence agencies were "speculative".

It is not known what provoked the state government to come issue the contradiction especially after terrorists killed four farmers collecting herbs in the region on June 23.

The state government, had also ignored incidents of extortion of money and looting of rations from the houses of Gujjars in the Khundi Mural area on July 20 and again a few days before the strike in the two villages.

There were 'definite' reports that various intelligence agencies, including those of Jammu and Kashmir, had informed Himachal about a possible spillover of terrorist activities to Chamba from Doda district of Jammu.

One possible reason for the state government to point blank deny receipt of any prior warning appears to be groupism within the ruling BJP. A former chief minister and a sitting MP of the BJP, Mr Shanta Kumar, who led the high-level team to Chamba soon after these killings, is reported to have said that the massacre could have been averted had the authorities taken serious note of intelligence reports of militants targetting the Chamba area.

Mr Shanta Kumar, who is considered leader of the anti-Dhumal group, said that had the police been able to break the Gujjar-militant nexus, the tragedy might have been averted.

Observers feel that it is strange that the state government express ignorance about the activities of terrorists as militants had even shot dead two HP constables some weeks ago. This was followed by the gunning down of two militants. Some suspected terrorists were recently arrested in Kangra and Baijnath.

Intelligence reports indicate that terrorists were spreading their area of activities to Himachal Pradesh especially to prevent construction of the road between Kishtwar and Pangi valley, which when completed would provide greater mobility to the security forces in militant-infested Doda district. This may explain the killing of labourers engaged in construction of the road at Kalaban.

Meanwhile, the Governor, Mrs V.S. Rama Devi, reached Banikhet today and was expected to visit Tissa tomorrow to provide relief to the families of the victims of the terrorist attack.

Reports said that an advance party of the CRPF reached Chamba today for deployment in areas bordering Doda district.

Uneconomical routes cost HRTC 55 cr
From S.P. Sharma
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Aug 8 — Plying of passenger buses on uneconomical routes has caused the government owned Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) a loss of Rs 54.70 crore.

This happened because the state government privatised only profit- making routes and left the uneconomical routes for the HRTC.

The loss was suffered in the past three years. The state government has not compensating the HRTC for these losses.

A report of the CAG has pointed out that the loss on account of operating buses on uneconomical routes during 1994-95 was Rs 17.67 crore which increased to Rs 18.75 crore in 1995-96 and Rs 18.28 crore in the subsequent year.

The HRTC has, on its roll, a staff strength of 8917 for operating fleet of 1711 vehicles.

The accumulated losses of the HRTC are also increasing year by year. The accumulated loss was Rs 91.87 crore in 1992-93 which has increased to Rs 142.35 crore in 1996-97.

The CAG has said that the high incidence of operating expenses could have been controlled by the HRTC by taking effective measures.

Inspite of the increase in fare by 25 per cent in October 1994 and again by 15 per cent in July 1996, the HRTC continues to run in a loss.

The CAG has pulled up the HRTC management for not fixing norms for labour hours to be taken in its workshops for fabricating bodies of buses. As many as 35,988 additional hours were taken in three years during 1994 to 1997 for the fabrication of 42 and 52 seater buses in Parwanoo and Mandi workshops.

The performance of major assemblies of buses reconditioned in the Taradevi, Mandi and Jassur workshops was low as compared to the norms. The percentage of premature failure of engines was 33.33 in the Taradevi workshop and 14.72 in Mandi as against 9.52 in the Jassur workshop in Kangra. The percentage of failure of gear boxes was 59.90 in Taradevi, 32.87 in Mandi and 17.29 at Jassur.

The performance of major assemblies reconditioned at Jassur was satisfactory, but those reconditioned at Taradevi and Mandi were not.

The breakdown of HRTC buses was increasing day by day and the percentage of cancelled kilometres increased from seven in May, 1996, to 10.12 within a month in June, 1996. The number of cancelled trips increased from 175 in May to 263 in June.

A serious view has been taken of disposal of obsolete spare parts worth Rs 14.67 lakh for Rs 4.13 lakh without fixing the reserve price.

The HRTC purchased 14 Canter buses in 1991 and 10 Swaraj Mazda buses in 1989 at a cost of Rs 85.55 lakh without assessing their operational viability and technical appraisal. However, these were put off the road between 1993 and 1995 because of frequent breakdowns and finally disposes at a very low price of Rs 17.34 lakh.

Dhumal warns erring traders
From Our Correspondent

SOLAN, Aug 8 — The Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, has warned of stringent action under the HP Profiteering and Hoarding Act against all those responsible for the recent spurt in the prices of essential commodities in the state, asserting that the interests of the consumers, particularly the poor, will be safeguarded at all costs.

The Chief Minister, addressing a press conference at Barog, near here, today appealed to the trading community to voluntarily expose "the black sheep amongst them who were trying to exploit the situation of seasonal shortage of supplies of essential commodities by indulging in anti-social activities like hoarding".

The Deputy Commissioners had already been instructed to strictly implement of the price display order and to conduct surprise raids.

Mr Dhumal regretted that the previous Congress Government had issued instructions to all district administrations not to insist on the display of prices by the traders, and remarked that it had always been dubbing the BJP as the party of traders.

Answering a question Mr Dhumal said in addition to measures jointly decided by the HP and Jammu and Kashmir Governments to deal with the problem of terrorism, at a meeting at Chandigarh yesterday, the Himachal Government had decided to set up village defence committees in sensitive areas along the J&K border. Ex-servicemen would be extensively involved on such committees. The response from the youth of the area had been most encouraging.

The Chief Minister said the question of quantum and incidence of royalties to be fixed on mining industry in the state would be reviewed soon after taking into consideration the input costs of the industry and final sale price of its products.

Earlier, Mr Dhumal inaugurated a Rs 71 lakh extension block consisting of 12 deluxe and two super deluxe suites at Hotel Pinewood, Barog, a state public sector unit.

Mr Dhumal aid a special thrust would be made to exploit the commercial potential of middle class and pilgrimage-related tourism, the needs of the people wanting to travel by air would be met by the introduction of a comprehensive network of air services, including a helicopter taxi service to areas like Lahaul, Spiti and the Pangi valleys; facilities like wayside toilets and snack bars would be set up at all important halts on the highways, and all 38 HPTDC-run hotels and huts would be renovated and expanded as per current industry trends.

A scheme to boost cultural tourism, enabling tourists to savour the Himachali culture by living in selected villages, would be launched soon. Adventure and water sports infrastructure would be expanded.

A golf course would be set up in the Garhi Gosain valley in Mandi district. A special tourism package was being worked in collaboration with the Railways.

Action against driver sought
From Our Correspondent

KASAULI, Aug 8 — Residents of Barog panchayat have demanded action against the driver of Sultanpur-Kalka bus belonging to Nalagarh depot for not plying the bus on the sanctioned route.

The residents said the driver, a resident of the Garkhal area, instead of parking the bus at Sultanpur parked it at Dharampur thereby causing inconvenience to them.

The residents said the bus was the only source to transport farm produce to Kalka and other vegetable markets. The activities of this official were also brought to the notice of the Transport Department, but nothing had been done. The urged the government to restore the bus service to the sanctioned route up to Sultanpur.

Afforestation plan for HP areas
From Our Correspondent

KANGRA, Aug 9 — Himachal recently launched a new and innovative afforestation campaign part of its silver jubilee celebrations.

The basic concept behind the new project the Swarn Jayanti Kunj Yojna is to restore the green cover by involving villagers.

The Swaran Jayanti Kunj Project in fact aims at augmenting the green covet throughout the country through peoples participation. In the Dharamshala forest circle which includes the districts of Kangra and Una atleast 50 seedlings are to be planted by the villagers in each of the 4172 villages.

An amount of Rs 4.17 lakh has been allocated for the project. In Kangra District the project is being launched in Nurpur Dehra Palampur and Dharamshala forest divisions.

As many as 3620 villages are to be covered in Kangra district and in Una. Saplings will be planted on panchayat or shamlat land. The project is to be completed before August 15.

Plea for repair of link road
From Our Correspondent

PARWANOO, Aug 8 — Residents of Patta village have urged the state government to renovate Patta-Parwanoo link road which is without tarring cover, retaining walls and adequate culverts.

The road has been badly damaged in the recent rains. The fast HRTC bus, the main source of transportation, is not regular. The Parwanoo-Goela bus at times is parked at Patta which makes it difficult for the residents to transport farm produce to Parwanoo and other markets.

Jawan cremated with military honours
From Our Correspondent

BILASPUR, Aug 8 — Lance Naik Kalyanchand (25) of 24 Rajput Regiment laid down his life while fighting terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir.

His body was brought to his native village, Khal Saloa, 85 km from here, last evening and was cremated with full military honours.

He is survived by his wife, a two-and-a-half-year-old daughter and a seven-month-old son.

The panchayat has urged the government to provide financial aid to his family.