Controversy over bio-gas lab
DHARAMSALA, Oct 5 — The setting up of a bio-control laboratory at Holta, near Palampur, has become controversial with allegations regarding construction, staff appointment and purchase of expensive and sub-standard equipment.

No move to desert BJP: Sukh Ram
HAMIRPUR, Oct 5 — The HVC chief, Mr Sukh Ram, has denied reports appearing in a section of the Press that he is trying to form the government in the state with the help of the Congress, provided Mr Virbhadra Singh was removed from the leadership of the party.

Swami's appeal to Himachal CM
CHANDIGARH, Oct 5 — Swami Krishnanand, President of the All-India Hindu Mahasangh, today appealed to the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh to provide security to him to enable him to stay at the Naina Devi Gufa Ashram permanently as per the recommendations of the Human Rights Commission.

Incentives for private sector
From Our Correspondent

MANDI, Oct 5 — The Himachal Pradesh Industries Minister, Mr Kishori Lal Vaidya, today announced that the private sector would be given liberal incentives in the state besides uninterrupted power supply for setting up industries, particularly in the interior areas. He invited industrialists to set up modern fruit processing plants in apple belts.

Talking to mediapersons at the local Circuit House, Mr Vaidya said a network of small-scale and cottage industries had been spread in the rural areas of the state to provide rural people with employment at their doorstep.
Replying to a question he said government did not intend to open any industry in the public sector. The units already set up had proved a dismal failure and the government might wind up some of them.

The government had decided to set up three big cement plants — at Chamba, Sundernagar and Alsinhdi — in the private sector. The necessary formalities would be completed by March this year and work would be taken up by June, 1999.

Large-scale leakage of revenue had been detected in the allotment of mines. The decision to auction all mines would yield an additional revenue of Rs 5 crore this year, he claimed. Two more weighing machines were being set up in the Paonta Sahib belt where the state was losing revenue of Rs 1 lakh daily.

Replying to a question the minister ruled out the possibility of closing all slate mines in the state. Only in the vulnerable areas the slate mines could be sealed.

Controversy over bio-gas lab
Tribune News Service

DHARAMSALA, Oct 5 — The setting up of a bio-control laboratory at Holta, near Palampur, has become controversial with allegations regarding construction, staff appointment and purchase of expensive and sub-standard equipment.

The laboratory is being set up with a Rs 50 lakh funding from the central government. Out of this amount, while an amount of Rs 30 lakh was to be spent on construction of the building, the remaining was meant for equipment. Work on this project started in 1996 which is almost nearing completion.

Interestingly, the job of setting up this laboratory was entirely looked after by the Agriculture Directorate in Shimla, despite a number of district officials being present here. Moreover, construction work was undertaken by the department itself instead of getting it done through the PWD. People within the department allege that unnecessary deviation was done in the building plan. Moreover work has still not been completed.

Even though the building is yet to be completed fully, the department posted some officials here almost one and a half year back. The staff posted here at that time included one subject matter specialist, two agriculture development officers and three village extension officers. There was resentment within the department over these postings as it was felt that the staff was posted merely to adjust them.

Sources within the department point out that there have been alleged irregularities in the purchase of equipment. Fingers are being pointed at the manner in which the directorate made the purchase of "Corcyra-rearing cages". There were reportedly bought from a Delhi-based cooperative through an agent in Solan by the directorate. The purchase of 1000 cages was made at the rate of Rs 235 per piece. According to departmental sources, a large number of these cages are allegedly below standard. They disclosed that now pressure was being mounted on the staff in the laboratory to accept these substandard cages also.

One of the senior officers in the department itself pointed out that these cages could have been obtained at a much lower price from a government unit in Faridabad.

When senior officials of the Agriculture Department were contacted they refused to make any comments, saying that the entire work of the laboratory was looked after by the directorate at Shimla. In fact after having received a number of complaints about the purchase of sub-standard equipment, a local-level committee was constituted by the Deputy Director, Agriculture, in Palampur. Dissatisfied with this committee, most of the employees of the department are now demanding that a thorough probe should be held into all allegations.

There is no doubt that a bio-control laboratory would have been immensely useful to farmers of this area, especially those growing vegetables and fruits, but the way it has run into controversy right at the outset, it remains to be seen how useful it turns out to be.

Artrac celebrations conclude
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Oct 5 — The week-long celebrations of the 8th raising day of Army Training Command (Artrac) concluded here today with a colourful sky diving show.

The Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, was the chief guest of the occasion. Sky diving, horse riding, army dog show and band display were the main highlights.

The Chief Minister gave away prizes to the participants of various events. He lauded the participants for their courageous and adventurous show.

Lt-Gen Vijay Oberoi, General Officer Commanding, Artrac and the Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court, Mr Doraiswamy Raju, gave away prizes to the participants of sky diving and army dog show.

BJP will not ditch HVC: Chandel
From S.P. Sharma
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Oct 5 — The state BJP chief, Mr Suresh Chandel, has assured the HVC leadership that the BJP will not snap ties with the HVC even after gaining majority of its own in the assembly by winning the election to the Baijnath seat.

Mr Chandel’s assurance comes amidst speculations that the BJP might terminate its alliance with the HVC once the Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, gets majority in the assembly.

The two alliance partners, the BJP and the HVC are at loggerheads for contesting the seat as the outcome of the byelection will mould the future political scene in Himachal Pradesh.

While the HVC is strongly staking its claim to the seat with the view to keeping the BJP government at its mercy, the BJP leadership apparently visualises this as the only opportunity to liberate itself from the clutches of the HVC chief, Mr Sukh Ram.

The BJP might no more require the support of the HVC after winning the Baijnath seat which will increase the party’s strength to 35 in the 68 member assembly. This includes an Independent, Mr Ramesh Chaudhary, who has won the Jawalamukhi seat as a rebel of the BJP, but is supporting the government after being inducted as a minister.

So far the Dhumal government is surviving with the support of the HVC which has three members in the assembly.

Mr Chandel has urged the HVC not to stake its claim to the Baijnath seat and allow the BJP to field its candidate.

Mr Chandel’s appeal at this juncture has confirmed reports that the relations between the BJP and HVC have soured over the issue of the Baijnath seat.

Certain HVC leaders have gone to the extent of saying that the BJP should return their two legislators, Mr Mansa Ram and Mr Prakash Chand, both ministers, if the BJP leaders can not spare the Baijnath seat for their party. Both these HVC legislators were made to join the BJP on "technical ground" shortly before the installation of the Dhumal government in March.

It is already being pointed out in political circles that the clout of Mr Sukh Ram is vanishing as the BJP strength in the assembly is increasing.

Many of the HVC loyalists have not relished acceptance of the post of chairman of a committee by Mr Sukh Ram after having remained one of the most powerful ministers at the centre.

Things are not smooth even within the BJP where the Dhumal and the Shanta Kumar factions are trying to grab candidature for the Baijnath seat.

While the former Chief Minister and a BJP MP, Mr Shanta Kumar, has already launched the election campaign for his nominee Mr Dulo Ram, the Dhumal supporters are seeking ticket for Ms Indu Goswami, who has never before been the party’s candidate. Mr Dulo Ram had earlier represented the constituency.

However, the Dhumal supporters are trying to dump him by claiming that he had lost many elections to Mr Sant Ram of the Congress.

The HVC leaders fear that even if their alliance with the ruling BJP continued after the byelection, the ministers belonging to their party might not be allowed to handle important portfolios which they are looking after at the moment.

Irritants had appeared between the two parties even during the elections to the Kinnaur Assembly seat when nominees of both contested the election. The HVC nominee refused to withdraw from the fray although the seat was given to BJP in the share.

No move to desert BJP: Sukh Ram
From Our Correspondent

HAMIRPUR, Oct 5 — The HVC chief, Mr Sukh Ram, has denied reports appearing in a section of the Press that he is trying to form the government in the state with the help of the Congress, provided Mr Virbhadra Singh was removed from the leadership of the party.

Talking to this reporter on the telephone from Delhi today, he said reports circulated in the Press quoting him were false.

He said there was no question of his deserting the HVC-BJP combine government. The government had the backing of the people of the state and would complete its five-year term, he added.

Mr Sukh Ram said he would not tolerate the formation of a Congress government in the state as the party was being run by feudal and unscrupulous elements.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, today said that there was no threat to the stability of the BJP-HVC combine government in the state.

Mr Dhumal told this correspondent on the telephone that he had contacted Mr Sukh Ram who had assured him that he would continue to be the part and parcel of the government.

Mr Dhumal flayed the Congress MLA, Mr Harsh Mahajan, about his recent statement that Mr Dhumal was managing more funds for Hamirpur district.

The Chief Minister said that Mr Mahajan was again trying to play the regional card in the state. He said that he was for the allround development of the state and it was wrong to say that funds were being diverted towards Hamirpur district alone.

He appealed to the people of the state not to be misled by the false statements of Congress leaders.

Swami's appeal to Himachal CM
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Oct 5 — Swami Krishnanand, President of the All-India Hindu Mahasangh, today appealed to the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, Mr P.K. Dhumal, to provide security to him to enable him to stay at the Naina Devi Gufa Ashram permanently as per the recommendations of the Human Rights Commission.

The Swami said in spite of his repeated requests no arrangements had been made at the Naina Devi and Bilaspur temples to contain the rowdy elements, including certain pandas.

Also, he said the arrangements for power supply and sanitary conditions were very poor. There was no supply of power at the Naina Devi temple, he said, from September 21 to 26 which resulted in immense inconvenience to the pilgrims.