H I M A C H A L   P R A D E S H

Law on eco-friendly buildings soon
SHIMLA, Jan 13 — The Himachal Government will soon enact a legislation to encourage eco-friendly constructions in the "queen of hills" and other major towns of the state.

Sukh Ram summons meeting
Decision on Solan Assembly seat
SHIMLA, Jan 13 — A crucial meeting of office-bearers of the Himachal Vikas Congress (HVC) had been summoned at Delhi on January 18 by the party chief, Mr Sukh Ram, to take a decision on the party's claim for contesting the Solan Assembly seat.

BJP avoiding CBI probe: Cong
SHIMLA, Jan 13 — The Congress has alleged that the BJP government was avoiding a CBI inquiry into the multi-crore bitumen emulsion scam which has rocked the PWD Department.

Governor lauds efforts to promote tourism
JAWALAMUKHI, Jan 13 — The Governor of Himachal Pradesh, Mr Vishnu Kant Shastri, today called upon the people to work for the preservation of their cultural heritage. He said the active participation of the people was must for the fulfilment of government aims.

Law on eco-friendly buildings soon
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Jan 13 — The Himachal Government will soon enact a legislation to encourage eco-friendly constructions in the "queen of hills" and other major towns of the state.

This was stated by Mr P.K. Dhumal, the Chief Minister, while inaugurating the Rs 1.64 crore second phase of the Padam Dev Commercial Complex at The Ridge, here today. Haphazard constructions over the years had transformed lush green hills into concrete jungles. The huge concrete monsters, which stand out like ugly scars, were also not suitable for a State like Himachal which was prone to earthquakes.

He said the government would not allow big concrete structures and ensure the main hill stations, which attracted thousands of tourists, did not lose their scenic charm. He urged the people to cooperate with the government in preserving the natural beauty of the tourist places.

Mr Dhumal said effective steps were being taken to solve perennial problem of water scarcity in the State capital. While work to improve and augment the water supply was underway, hand pumps were being installed wherever possible. The government had decided to make rain water harvesting structures mandatory for all buildings.

The Chief Minister said a committee had been constituted under the chairmanship of commissioner, municipal corporation, to conduct a survey for the construction of a bye-pass from Sanjauli to Dhalli and widening of road up to the cremation ground, Sanjauli.

Mr Dhumal directed that steps should be taken for the beautification of The Mall and The Ridge, the main tourist attraction of the town.

The new complex has been provided with an independent power sub-station which will not only regulate its electricity supply and voltage, but also suffice for future power requirements of The Ridge area.

Mr Narinder Brgta, the Horticulture Minister, said Rs 57 lakh had been sanctioned for repair and beautification of the Lower Bazar tunnel.

Mr Roop Dass S. Kashyap, Minister for Urban Development also spoke.

Sukh Ram summons meeting
Decision on Solan Assembly seat
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Jan 13 — A crucial meeting of office-bearers of the Himachal Vikas Congress (HVC) had been summoned at Delhi on January 18 by the party chief, Mr Sukh Ram, to take a decision on the party's claim for contesting the Solan Assembly seat.

Both ruling alliance partners — BJP and HVC — are adamant on contesting seat.

A spokesman of the HVC said here today several presidents of gram panchayats and chiefs of Block Development Committees of Solan had demanded that party ticket for the Solan Assembly seat should be given to Mr Haminder Thakur.

The HVC took exception to the reported remarks of the media incharge and secretary of the BJP against Mr Sukh Ram today.

The party warned that such remarks were uncalled for against a leader of the status of Mr Sukh Ram, a member of the National Democratic Alliance headed by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee.

Clarifying the party stand on the seats so far offered by the BJP to the HVC, the spokesman said the Rajya Sabha seat had been offered to Mr Anil Sharma, son of Mr Sukh Ram, against the Mandi Lok Sabha seat where Mr Sukh Ram had retired in favour of the BJP nominee, Mr Maheswar Singh, during the 1998 elections.

Out of the five Assembly seats for which elections were held after the BJP-HVC combine came into power, only one of Lahaul-Spiti was given to the HVC.

The party spokesman said out of over 12 chairmen and vice-chairmen appointed by the BJP government, only three were from the HVC.

Meanwhile, the pradesh election committee (PEC) of the Congress will meet here on January 15 to select a candidate for the Solan Assembly seat for which the byelection will be held next month.

It is learnt that 14 applications have so far been received for the ticket.

The District Congress Committee of Solan will meet tomorrow to scrutinise the list before submitting it to the PEC.

The final choice will be made by the Congress high command but there are indications that Ms Krishna Mohini, who was recently unseated by the Supreme Court, may again be fielded.

BJP avoiding CBI probe: Cong
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Jan 13 — The Congress has alleged that the BJP government was avoiding a CBI inquiry into the multi-crore bitumen emulsion scam which has rocked the PWD Department.

The Congress spokesman and a sitting MLA, Mr Yogendra Chandra, in a statement here today alleged that the government was trying to hush up the scandal.

He alleged that Mr Karan Singh, a BJP Minister, was trying to hide the facts by giving misleading statements on the issue.

Mr Yogendra Chandra said the minister had justified an inquiry by the Vigilance Department and had questioned the need for a CBI probe.

He recalled that when the Vigilance Department was carrying out investigations against Congress leaders the HVC-BJP combine, without waiting for or taking into account the outcome of the inquiry, had requested the Centre to register a case with the CBI, which proved that they wanted only political vendetta.

"If Mr Karan Singh has so much faith in the ability of the Vigilance Department with respect to bitumen scam it is to be questioned why he did not think so when the Vigilance Department did not find any evidence against Congress leaders", he said.

He alleged that the state government had given Chamera-II hydel project to the NHPC without even signing an agreement. The NHPC had further allocated the work on turn key basis to a consortium headed by JP Industries and there was no agreement at all about jobs for Himachalis.

Governor lauds efforts to promote tourism
From Our Correspondent

JAWALAMUKHI, Jan 13 — The Governor of Himachal Pradesh, Mr Vishnu Kant Shastri, today called upon the people to work for the preservation of their cultural heritage. He said the active participation of the people was must for the fulfilment of government aims.

While presiding over the traditional Lohri festival at Judges Court at Pragpur near here, he said with Pragpur being declared a heritage village the responsibility of people of the area had increased manifold. He said with this tourism in the surrounding areas would also get a boost.

He said in order to promote tourism industry the Department of Tourism should create a special cell in coordination with local administration to solve the various problems which were likely to crop up. He also applauded the state government for developing Maharana Pratap Sarovar (Pong Dam) as a major tourist destination. He also stressed that there was a need to develop both Jawalamukhi and Chintpurni temple towns to provide facilities to the pilgrims.

Earlier, the president of the organising committee, Mr Vijay Lal, welcomed the Governor and thanked him for attending the function.

The Director of Tourism and Civil Aviation, Mr Balram Sharma, said the state government was trying to promote tourism by opening new vistas and the Tourism Department had extended invitations to tourists from other countries to attend Indian festivals to make them conversant with the rich cultural heritage of India.

Preparations on for CM’s stay
Tribune News Service

DHARAMSALA, Jan 13 — Elaborate preparations are being made by BJP leaders and officials of Kangra district for the winter stay of the Chief Minister which commences on January, 15.

The Transport Minister, Mr Kishan Kapoor, today chaired a meeting of the district administration and officers of various departments. Three days back the Health Minister, Mr J.P. Nadda, held a meeting with the ministers and party workers from the district.

It is learnt that the meeting of the Cabinet will be held here on January 18. Mr Dhumal will be the chief guest at the statehood day function on January 25 at Palampur. The same day he will lay the foundation stone for a 15 mw power project to be set up on the Neugal stream.

Chief Engineer's contradiction
From Our Correspondent

MANDI, Jan 13 — Mr P.D. Sharma, Chief Engineer Irrigation and Public Health, yesterday contradicted a news item appearing in The Tribune from Sundernagar on January 9 at page 15 "that the office of the Executive Engineer, I&PH, Sundernagar, has made the payment of Rs 15 lakh to a contractor without passing the bill...."

He said a contract of Rs 33.88 lakh had been awarded to Mr Sanjay Kumar for laying sewerage line. Under the rules the contractor was entitled to secure an advance of 75 per cent which comes to Rs 25.41 lakh. Of this Rs 15 lakh was given to him vide cheque No. 972867 dated 18.12.99 after duly passing the bill and complying with formalities.

He explained that a tender notice had been published in several English and Hindi newspapers on May 4, 1999. Of the 11 contractors the rate quoted by Mr Sanjay Kumar were the lowest and he was awarded the contract. Mr Pravin Kumar was the legal representative of the contractor Mr Sanjay Kumar.

Kashmiri labourers being questioned
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Jan 13 — The police has started questioning certain Kashmiri labourers, following the detection of a fake currency racket in the Kasuali area of Solan district.

According to the police, the fake currency notes of Rs 500 denomination were detected by a cashier of the State Bank of Patiala, which a Kashmiri labourer, Habibullah, had come to deposit in his account.

Of the 40 notes of Rs 500 denomination presented by the labourer, as many as 13 were fake.

The police was immediately informed when the case came to light on Monday last.

The police said during interrogation, Habibullah claimed that he had received the payment from a contractor who has now been summoned from Ambala.

Meanwhile, the houses of the contractor and certain Kashmiri labourers were searched by the police.

Unions for policy on land compensation
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Jan 13 — The trade unions have urged the Himachal Pradesh Government to formulate a policy for the payment of compensation for the land being acquired for the construction of hydro-electric projects.

The suggestion was made at a meeting of the trade unions which was convened here today by the Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal, to take steps to create a peaceful atmosphere in the project and industrial areas. Leaders of the AITUC, CITU and the BMS participated in the meeting.

The labour leaders demanded that the government should strictly implement the Minimum Wages Act, Contract Labour Act and various other labour laws.

The INTUC leaders suggested that all cultivable land acquired for hydel projects should be compensated at the rate of Rs 1.50 lakhs per bigha. The grass lands should be compensated at the rate of Rs 75,000 per bigha.

They pointed out that the oustees of the Bhakra and Pong Dam projects were facing hardships as they had not been adequately compensated.

They demanded that one member of each oustee family should be provided a permanent job by the Government.

The trade union leaders suggested that the employment clause for Himachalis should be made statutory.

Mr Kameshwar Pandit, General Secretary of the AITUC, demanded that the Labour Department should be strengthened and the child labour should be completely abolished.

The Chief Minister said the state government was taking several steps for the welfare of the labour.

Chamera project work speeded up
From Our Correspondent

CHAMBA, Jan 13 — Work on the 300 MW Chamera hydroelectric project (stage-II) has been undertaken on a war-footing.

So far, 600 metres of excavation of underground power house tunnel, tailrace tunnel and adit-I and II tunnel has been accomplished within four months.

Giving this information here today, Mr Parminder Singh, Chief Engineer of the Chamera hydroelectric project, stage-II, said the project was being executed on the Ravi in Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh with an outlay of Rs 1682 crore.

He stated efforts were on to speed up construction work to complete the project on schedule.

"Id Milad" function organised
From Our Correspondent

NAHAN, Jan 13 — An 'Id Milad' function was organised in Municipal Hall here last night. It was presided over by Miss Shyama Sharma, vice-chairperson of the HP Planning Board.

Miss Sharma called upon the people to work together for the betterment of nation. Religion, she said, was being misinterpreted for selfish motives in the present time so it was the right time to understand each other and give a message of brotherhood to the whole world.

Heads of different religious organisations offered prayers for peace and harmony and said that every religion taught the lesson of equality, peace and brotherhood to its followers.

Dhumal to visit Kangra from Jan 15
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Jan 13 — The Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal, will begin his 11-day annual tour of the Kangra district from January 15.

An official spokesman said here today that during that during his stay at Dharamsala, the Chief Minister would review the progress of various development works in the district.

The Chief Minister will review the progress of Sarswati Bal Vidya Sankalp Yojna, Vikas Main Jan Sahyog scheme, local development plan and the 20-point programme on January 15. The meetings on the degree college, Jawalamukhi, and with forest officers to review the working of Kandi Project and Indo-German project will be held on January 16.

Mr Dhumal will preside over the meetings of Gaddi Malayan Board, Gorkha Kalyan Board and Tanda Medical College on January 17, while on January 18, he will meet the public and preside over a Cabinet meeting.