Congress walkout in HP House
SHIMLA, Dec 7 — The entire Congress group today staged a walkout in the state assembly on the issue of price rise.Members of the Opposition led by Virbhadra Singh, Leader of the Congress Legislative Party, were on their feet as soon as the Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal, finished his reply to the discussion raised by Mr Kaul Singh on the issue.

Resolution on non-Plan deficit
SHIMLA, Dec 7 — The Himachal Assembly today unanimously adopted a government resolution urging the 11th Finance Commission to restore the pre 1988-89 position regarding reimbursement of non-Plan deficit of special category states.

Of fire hydrant connections
SHIMLA, Dec 7 — Domestic water connections have been given out of the fire fighting hydrant supply lines in Chamba town where a number of houses and shops were reduced to ashes recently.

Academy for JCOs to be set up at Bareilly
SHIMLA, Dec 7 — The Shimla-based Army Training Command (Artrac) will set up a full-fledged junior leaders' academy at Bareilly next year to conduct six courses for the junior commissioned officers.

Shortages, apathy plague Civil Hospital
DEHRA GOPIPUR: The local Civil Hospital, which caters to more than three lakh patients every year, is in bad shape because of apathy on the part of the state government.

Governor's appeal to help poor, old
MANDI, Dec 7 — Ms V.S. Rama Devi, Governor, made an appeal to the people here last evening to contribute their mite towards helping the old, ailing, handicapped and the poor through the Red Cross, which has a global network.

1 killed, 5 hurt in road mishap
BILASPUR, Dec 7 — Suresh Kumar of Kothwan village was killed on the spot and five others were injured seriously when the taxi in which they were travelling met with an accident near Jukhala, about 25 km from here, today.

Congress walkout in HP House
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Dec 7 — The entire Congress group today staged a walkout in the state assembly on the issue of price rise.

Members of the Opposition led by Virbhadra Singh, Leader of the Congress Legislative Party, were on their feet as soon as the Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal, finished his reply to the discussion raised by Mr Kaul Singh on the issue. Raising slogans against the government they walked out saying that they were not satisfied with the reply.

Later talking to newsmen Mr Virbhadra Singh said the government had failed to explain the reasons for the unprecedented price rise and his party's charge was that it was hand in glove with hoarders and blackmarketeers.

Mr Dhumal condemned the action of the Opposition which came after a threadbare discussion on the issue and alleged that the Congress was not interested about controlling prices, it only waited to exploit it to gain political mileage.

Mr J.P. Nadda, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, moved a resolution condemning the walkout and the behaviour of the Leader of the Opposition in particular.

Earlier in his reply Mr Dhumal said his government had been alive to the problem and had taken several steps to check it. He said from March to November as many as 37,393 inspections of shops were carried out under the price control order and the Margin of Profit Act. This helped check the price rise as was evident from the fact that the rise was minimum in the state in northern India.

Of fire hydrant connections
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Dec 7 — Domestic water connections have been given out of the fire fighting hydrant supply lines in Chamba town where a number of houses and shops were reduced to ashes recently.

The Chief Minister, Mr P K Dhumal, told the Vidhan Sabha today that there were reports that domestic water connections had been given from the fire hydrant supply lines.

The Chief Minister laid on the table of the House copies of inquiry reports of these fire incidents while replying to a question tabled by Mr Harsh Mahajan (Congress).

The reports relating to three major fire incidents on October 11 and October 26 this year and one on April 28, 1994, reveal that there was no pressure in the hydrants at the time of fire and the engines had to fetch water from sources around the town.

In his magisterial report for the two fire incidents of October 11 and October 26, Mr B S Thakur, Additional District Magistrate, has ruled out the possibility of sabotage.

The report said there was no pressure in the hydrants when the fire broke out in the Kashmiri Mohalla and Chowgan Bazar on the night of October 11. Fire engines were rushed to fetch water from Sarotha nullah and Tatwani at a distance and they returned at 12.45 a.m. when the fire had gone out of control. Pressure in the hydrants was built around 1.45 a.m. two hours after the fire broke out at 11.40 p.m.

Had there been full pressure in the hydrants, the fire could have been avoided, the report said.

The report pertaining to the fire incident of October 26 pointed out low water pressure in the hydrants. It took over one hour to control the fire which broke out around 3.30 p.m.

The report regarding the fire on April 28, 1994, said after the fire engines had exhausted the water, it was noticed that there was no pressure in the hydrants. The engines were rushed to Sultanpur khud, about 7 km from the town, to fetch water.

The report pointed out that the hydrants were not being regularly checked. No hydrant had been installed in the Julakhari and Hardaspura areas.

The Chief Minister said the fire station at Chamba had been strengthened by providing modern fire fighting equipment. Eight Home Guards having training in fire fighting had been attached to the Chamba fire station. The HPSEB had been ordered to check the electric service lines and also the internal wiring.

Replying to another question of Mr Harsh Mahajan, Mr Dhumal said most of the 25 government-owned boards and corporations were running at a loss.

The PWD Minister, Mr Mohinder Singh, piloted a Bill seeking to levy 1 per cent tax on those who delayed payment of passengers and goods tax. An amount of over Rs 20 crore was due from the assesses. The Bill seeks to amend the Himachal Pradesh Passengers and Goods Taxation Act.

Revenue records' forgery: 6 booked
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Dec 7 — An FIR has been registered against six persons, including a retired SDM, a kanungo and a patwari for allegedly forging revenue records to enable a non-Himachali to purchase land in the state, circumventing the provisions of the state Tenancy and Land Reforms Act.

Under the Act, non-agriculturists are barred from purchasing land without the prior permission of the government.

The six persons who have been booked are Mr Bali Ram, the then patwari of the Purag circle, Mr Bhajan Das, Kanungo, Mr K.C. Dutta, a retired SDM, Mr Amar Bhardwaj, revenue expert, Mr Subhash Bhalla, the beneficiary, and Mr Rajinder Thapa, a resident of Kotkhai.

As per the FIR, the six persons hatched a conspiracy to change certain entries in the revenue records pertaining to the ownership of Khasra numbers 407 and 408 in Manewal village under the Purag patwar circle.

In the jamabandis for 1969-70, 1974-75, 1979-80, 1984-85 and 1989-90 the cultivation column had been forged. A new entry had been made either by erasing the old entry or replacing the corresponding pages in the records. A new entry had also been interpolated in column nine of these jamabandis.

The forgery had not only been committed in the revenue records of the patwar circle but also in the records kept in the revenue record room at Theog.

While departmental action was taken against the errant patwari and kanungo, the others involved were allowed to go scot-free.

Mr Subhash Bhalla required agricultural land in his name to be eligible for purchasing land and he was facing proceedings under the Section 118 of the state Tenancy and Land Reforms Act in Solan district.

Academy for JCOs to be set up at Bareilly
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Dec 7 — The Shimla-based Army Training Command (Artrac) will set up a full-fledged junior leaders' academy at Bareilly next year to conduct six courses for the junior commissioned officers (JCOs).

An Army spokesman said the aim was to groom as many as 4,000 junior leaders every year.

The Indian Army launched its interim Junior Leaders Academy (JLA) at Goa today. Maj-Gen Manjeet Singh of Artrac inaugurated the academy and launched its first course.

The Army has recently launched a concerted drive for its junior leaders. While the Army has been regularly conducting training at various levels to enhance professional knowledge and tactical skills of its officers and all ranks, no institutional training has been imparted so far in terms of improving "attitudinal training or grooming" of its junior leaders (JCOs and NCOs) who constitute nearly 10 per cent of its strength. Leadership and motivational training of junior leaders is now being addressed at the highest level.

The project is being undertaken in a phased manner. A pilot project was run at the junior leaders' wing of Infantry School, Belgaum (Karnataka), from June to August. Encouraged by its success, the Army has now decided to run regular courses at an interim JLA at 2 Signal Training Centre (2 STC, Goa) from December 1998 to June 1999.

The courses will be conducted under the aegis of the Army Training Command headed by Lt-Gen Vijay Oberoi, GOC-in-C (Artrac). At junior leaders' level-1 courses will be conducted for newly promoted JCOs and senior NCOs, who are the cutting edge in independently led missions in conventional and counter-insurgency operations. It will be six weeks' course for approximately 275 students. At junior leaders' level-II, a four weeks' course for potential subedar majors will be conducted for an equal number of candidates. The Army hopes to train at least 1,600 junior leaders at the interim JLA in the current training year.

A full-fledged and modern junior leaders' academy is planned to be set up at Bareilly in July 1999. It is planned to conduct six courses each for level I and II junior leaders every year.

With the launching of this JLA project, the Army hopes to enrich and empower its junior leaders in organisational and human behaviour training and administration at platoon and company and equivalent level in the Army and also improve their communication skills and general awareness. It will help in producing more confident junior leaders to work independently without excessive supervision. This will also make them more efficient and effective junior leaders. This is considered essential for the operational readiness of the Army as a whole and enable them to successfully take up modern challenges for the future.

Shortages, apathy plague Civil Hospital
From Bijender Sharma

DEHRA GOPIPUR: The local Civil Hospital, which caters to more than three lakh patients every year, is in bad shape because of apathy on the part of the state government.

The new complex of the hospital was constructed three years ago. It started with 25 beds, now the number of beds has gone upto 100. Likewise, the strength of doctors have also been increased from three to eight, which includes four specialists. Nowadays over 300 patients visit the hospital daily. Patients come here from Jaswan, Pragpur and Guler.

There is always a shortage of medicine at the hospital. Whatever medicine is given to patients is of inferior quality. In most cases patients are asked to bring their own medicine. Even life-saving drugs are not available. Oxygen and glucose are also not available easily. There are cases when a patient dies for not being given medicine at times when chemists' shop are closed.

There is also a shortage of bedsheets and blankets in the hospital. The blankets are not washed regularly.

The hospital lacks cleanliness and patients live in unhygienic conditions. Bathrooms and latrines stink. Most latrines have not been cleaned for weeks, if not months. No one bothers to get these repaired. Heaps of garbage lie in the hospital backyard. Garbage is not cleared for weeks together. There is an acute shortage of drinking water in the hospital.

The Public Works Department, which looks after drinking water supply, remains unconcerned and patients continue to suffer in the absence of water. Many a time doctors have to cancel operations in the absence of adequate water at the operation theatre. The hospital is short of paramedical staff. It needs more nurses, compounders and pharmacists. It is said the paramedical staff at the hospital behaves arrogantly with patients who at times have to face humiliation.

The strength of doctors is also not good.

In the rainy season the hospital's newly built complex leaks and water enters the wards.

Serious cases are referred to Chandigarh or Ludhiana as the hospital lacks modern facilities. The X-ray and E.C.G. equipment of the hospital seldom works. As the post of technician is vacant, patients are advised to get X-ray and E.C.G. done privately.

It is matter of surprise that in the multi-storeyed building there is no provision for lift. There is need of a mortuary in the hospital. With the transfer of a few doctors from this hospital, things have gone from bad to worse.

Mr Ramesh Chaudhary, local MLA, says the government would soon look into the matter and take adequate steps to improve things.

Resolution on non-Plan deficit
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Dec 7 — The Himachal Assembly today unanimously adopted a government resolution urging the 11th Finance Commission to restore the pre 1988-89 position regarding reimbursement of non-Plan deficit of special category states.

Moving the resolution, Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal said until 1989 the central budgetary support made available to the special category states, including Himachal Pradesh, not only covered the Plan resource gap but also the non-Plan deficit. However, the 9th Finance Commission discontinued the practice of providing additional central assistance to meet the deficits in the non-Plan account. The faulty recommendation of the commission plunged the state into a perennial financial crisis. The state had been agitating against this change in the grant of central assistance as the actual growth in non-Plan expenditure and revenue deficits had been far beyond the 9th and 10th Finance Commission's projections.

Himachal was conferred statehood not on account of its ability to exist as a viable fiscal and economic unit but in recognition of special needs and aspirations of the people of the state. Quoting figures, he said the non-Plan expenditure for the state for the current year was estimated at Rs 2387.96 crore against the revenue receipts from the state's own resources of just Rs 590 crore. Thus, the state's financial position was critically dependent upon a realistic assessment by the Finance Commission of the expenditures and the capacity to generate revenues. However, the dispensation for 1989-90 onwards had not been sufficient to cover the balance from current revenue gaps.

He said the state was now pursuing the matter with the 11th Finance Commission which had so far convened two meetings with the states. He had requested the commission to convene a separate meeting of the special category states to discuss their financial problems to which it acceded. A separate meeting was indeed held on November 11.

The important issues taken up in these two meetings included the restoration of pre 1988-89 practice for meeting the revenue deficits through the mechanism of central plan assistance, full provision for the committed liability on account of salaries and pensions on actual basis, suggestions about the tax sharing scheme, issues relating to debt relief and debt restructuring, assumption of zero returns on all investments in PSUs and liberal upgradation grants, including those for the police in view of the recent terrorist activities in Chamba district.

He said as the result of a grievous mistake on the part of the 9th Finance Commission the actual revenue deficits proved to be much more than the Finance Commission's projections. During 1990-1995 the actual revenue deficit in the state was Rs 2236.15 crore against the projection of Rs 1792.52 crore made by it. Thus, the actual deficit for this period was higher by an amount of Rs 443.63 crore.

The issue was also brought to the notice of the 10th Finance Commission but it did not accede to the state's request for the restoration of pre 1988-89 practice. Even during the 10th Finance Commission period, the actual revenue deficit far outstripped the projections. The actual and projected figures for revenue deficit for 1995-96 to 1997-98 were Rs 3001.24 crore and Rs 2552.60 crore, respectively, leaving a gap of Rs 448.64 crore for the three-year period.

He said the nine special category states had now made common cause and decided to bring similar resolutions in their respective Assemblies. This would definitely help them in fortifying their claim in this regard.

Cutting across party lines, Congress members also supported the motion. Mr Virbhadra Singh, Leader of the Opposition, said the 9th Finance Commission adopted a normative approach because of which it underassessed the state's expenditure and overassessed its income. In fact, the situation became so grim that there was a negative flow fund under the miscellaneous receipts head. The state was paying more towards the repayment of central loans than it was receiving as assistance.

The commission also did not make any provision for the payment of salaries on the Punjab pattern which the state was committed to follow and also did not take the additional financial burden or enhanced daily wages into account.

He said the Congress would extend full support on this issue and it would also plead the state's case before the 11th Finance Commission.

Mr Kishori Lal, Industries Minister, said apart from getting its due from the Centre measures had to be taken to make the state self-reliant. He said the situation would not have come to such a pass had the then Congress government not underplayed the Budget deficit before the 9th Finance Commission.

Mr J.P. Nadda, Health Minister, said special dispensation for fund-starved special category states was essential to maintain the pace of development.

Replying to the debate on the resolution, Mr Dhumal clarified the Centre had given Rs 100 crore each as ways and means advance, untied grant and for implementation of schemes to strengthen basic infrastructure. Besides, it had also succeeded in persuading the Centre to bring a legislation for the imposition of generation tax on hydel power projects which would go a long way in augmenting the state's income.

Governor's appeal to help poor, old
From Our Correspondent

MANDI, Dec 7 — Ms V.S. Rama Devi, Governor, made an appeal to the people here last evening to contribute their mite towards helping the old, ailing, handicapped and the poor through the Red Cross, which has a global network.

She was speaking at a public meeting on the occasion of the district Red Cross fair.

She said the Red Cross was rendering useful service in the state by providing medicines and X-ray films to the poor. A state illness fund had been set up under which a sum of Rs 7.5 lakh had been allocated for the district.

The handicapped were being provided wheel-chairs and artificial limbs. Sewing machines were being given to poor women, she said.

The Governor said that Rs 117.39 lakh would be spent on various welfare programmes, launched by the Red Cross during the current financial year.

The Governor distributed wheel-chairs and artificial limbs to 26 handicapped persons. She also gave away mementoes and certificates to patrons, contributors and frequent blood donors on the occasion.

1 killed, 5 hurt in road mishap
From Our Correspondent

BILASPUR, Dec 7 — Suresh Kumar of Kothwan village was killed on the spot and five others were injured seriously when the taxi in which they were travelling met with an accident near Jukhala, about 25 km from here, today.

All five injured were rushed to the District Hospital here.

The deceased was president of Dharampur unit of the BJP and his family has been given financial aid of Rs 50,000 by district administration. The injured persons have been paid Rs 15,000 each.