H I M A C H A L   P R A D E S H

Dhumal lays stone for Neugal project
DHARAMSALA, Jan 25 — The Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal, today laid the foundation stone of the 15-MW Neugal Hydro Electric Project near Palampur. The project on the Neugal Khud, a tributary of the Beas, will be completed within a period of four and a half years, at an estimated cost of Rs 91 crore. The project will be executed by Om Power Corporation Limited.

Tax notice on BBMB
SUNDERNAGAR, Jan 25 —The SDM Sundernagar has issued notice to the Chief Engineer, BBMB asking the board to pay tax on its vehicles and arrears-due. A sum of Rs 2, 27, 915 is due as tax on BBMB vehicles registered at Sundernagar between the years 1978-89. Arrears of Rs 13 lakh have piled up as a result.

Malana residents get OBC status
DHARAMSALA, Jan 25 — Apart from according OBC status to 7670 residents of Malana village in Kulu and Chotta and Bara Bhangal areas of Kangra, the State Cabinet has announced a special package of Rs 3 lakh for the next of kin of those killed after operation Vijay.

Mining poses ecological threat
PALAMPUR: The green hills in Himachal Pradesh have been indiscriminately stripped of its forest cover in the past 10 years, resulting in flash floods, devastating landslides and complete change in the pattern of rain. Besides, the large-scale construction of roads, buildings and other activities combined with indiscriminate mining and quarrying have further disrobed ecological balance in this hill state situated on the foothills of the Himalayas.

Dhumal lays stone for Neugal project
Tribune News Service

DHARAMSALA, Jan 25 — The Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal, today laid the foundation stone of the 15-MW Neugal Hydro Electric Project near Palampur.

The project on the Neugal Khud, a tributary of the Beas, will be completed within a period of four and a half years, at an estimated cost of Rs 91 crore. The project will be executed by Om Power Corporation Limited.

Speaking on the occasion of the state-level statehood day function at Palampur, Mr Dhumal said the power project would not only help in harnessing major streams in Kangra district but will also provide employment to the youth of the area. He said the exploitation of the vast power potential in the State will help Himachal become self reliant.

Mr Dhumal, announced in case a power project was completed one year ahead of the schedule, the royalty would be 11 per cent, in case two years ahead of schedule the royalty will be 10 per cent. "In case of one year delay the royalty will be 30 per cent and in case of two years delay the royalty will be 40 per cent", he said.

Mr Dhumal said work on Vivekanand Medical College, to be set up at Holta near Palampur, would soon be started. The project, to be set up by the Apollo group, had been cleared by the then Chief Minister Shanta Kumar.

While lauding the role played by soldiers from Himachal, during Operation Vijay, the Chief Minister said despite being such a small State, it had played an important role in fighting the Pakistani intruders. He said the matter of providing a package for jawans of the BSF, CRPF and the ITBP, was under active consideration of the State Government.

Mr Dhumal unfurled the national flag and took salute of the marchpast presented by contingents of the police, Home Guards and the NCC. The Union Minister, Mr Shanta Kumar, was also present on the occasion.

Tax notice on BBMB
From Our Correspondent

SUNDERNAGAR, Jan 25 —The SDM Sundernagar has issued notice to the Chief Engineer, BBMB asking the board to pay tax on its vehicles and arrears-due.

A sum of Rs 2, 27, 915 is due as tax on BBMB vehicles registered at Sundernagar between the years 1978-89. Arrears of Rs 13 lakh have piled up as a result. Interestingly more than 90 per cent of the vehicles on which tax is due have already been condemned.

When work on the Beas-Sutlaj link project was started in late sixties a large number of vehicles were registered at Mandi and Sundernagar sub-divisions of Mandi district. As per the provision of Himachal Pradesh Motor Vehicle Taxation Act 1972 every vehicle registered in Himachal has to pay token tax.

The BSL authorities (now BBMB) paid the token tax regularly except for the period between 1978 to 1989.

M.R & L Authorities have been asking the BBMB to clear its arrears and even since sent numerous reminders to BBMB.

But BBMB put up the plea that its vehicles were exempted from payment of token tax as it was a limb of the central government. The Motor Registration and Licenceing Authorities then sought a clarification from Director, Transport, who in a letter, dated 16-6-99 said BBMB vehicles were not exempt from tax.

While the SDM, Sundernagar, has started proceedings to recover the amount the SDM, Mandi too is likely to issue notice for payment of arrears. BBMB which is facing a financial crisis of late and has been unable to pay the salaries to its employees without help from states will be put in a corner by the order especially if penalties are levied.

A source in the Office of the Chief Engineer, BBMB admitted receiving the notice and said the board was trying to resolve the matter at the government-level.

Malana residents get OBC status
Tribune News Service

DHARAMSALA, Jan 25 — Apart from according OBC status to 7670 residents of Malana village in Kulu and Chotta and Bara Bhangal areas of Kangra, the State Cabinet has announced a special package of Rs 3 lakh for the next of kin of those killed after operation Vijay.

The decision was taken at the meeting of the Cabinet, held at Palampur last night, under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal. The Cabinet also decided to introduce computer education in 100 senior secondary schools from the next session.

Faced with allegations of discriminating between martyrs of operation Vijay in Kargil and those killed in action thereafter, the Cabinet decided to give Rs 3 lakh which would be equally distributed amongst the widows, family and children of the Army personnel killed in action after May 1, 1999.

Mr Dhumal said the government would provide Rs 1 lakh to those soldiers, who became 50 per cent disabled and had been discharged from the Army. In cases of less than 50 per cent disability and dischargeable duty, a sum of Rs 50,000 will be given. Apart from this, the family of soldiers who die in service not necessarily in action would be given a financial assistance of Rs 25,000.

Another major decision approved by the Cabinet was the introducing of computer literacy and education in 100 senior secondary schools of the State. A committee under the chairmanship of commissioner-cum-secretary, Information and Technology, had been constituted to make detailed recommendations. A nominated fee will be charged from students. The general public would also have access to it, for which a fee structure will be fixed. The government already has about 450 computers.

Keeping in view the harsh life conditions in the Malana village of Kulu district and the Chotta Bhangal and Bara Bhangal area of Baijnath in Kangra district the government has decided to accord OBC status to 6670 residents of these places. They shall now be able to avail the benefits meant for OBCs.

The Cabinet has also decided to offer jobs on contract basis for a period of five years in the tribal and hard area sub cadre to the staff of those schools which closed down after the upgradation or opening government schools in the area. Only those who had served for a period of three years or more would be given jobs. A total of 207 persons would benefit from this decision. Along with this 122 ministerial staff on daily-wage basis, will also be offered jobs in the tribal and hard area sub cadre.

The Cabinet also decided to make an amendment in the HP transfer of land regulation Act 1908. To check land alienation cases in the tribal areas approval from the Gram sabha would be essential for granting land to a non-tribal. The power to take up cases where land has already been transferred illegally, would be with the local panchayat. The amendment would come into effect after the Centre grants its approval to it.

The government has also decided to authorise the unemployed civil engineers to make the construction plans and maps of private houses. The Law Department is to okay the decision. The government also proposes to take a similar step in case of unemployed commerce graduates, who will be allowed to do audit work after being given formal training.

With a view to improve bus services and check the accident rate, the Cabinet constituted a committee, under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary. The committee has been asked to submit its report latest by the end of next month, so that it can be discussed in the next Cabinet meeting. The Secretary, Home, Transport and PWD, shall be the other members of this committee.

The government also accepted the request of the family of Subedar Major Dilip Singh Jaryal of Nadoli village in Kangra district that Government Middle School in the village be named after the martyr. The family of the martyr had donated 10 canals and Rs 35000 in cash for the school.

With the increase of work load after formation of standing committees in the Assembly, the Cabinet decided to create six new posts of reporters and one of editor of debates, which would be equivalent to the post of a deputy secretary.

Mining poses ecological threat
From Ravinder Sood

PALAMPUR: The green hills in Himachal Pradesh have been indiscriminately stripped of its forest cover in the past 10 years, resulting in flash floods, devastating landslides and complete change in the pattern of rain. Besides, the large-scale construction of roads, buildings and other activities combined with indiscriminate mining and quarrying have further disrobed ecological balance in this hill state situated on the foothills of the Himalayas.

In the absence of political and administrative "will" the deforestation and mining is still going on unchecked in the state. It seems that Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal as well as various agencies of the government are unconcerned with this important subject which would leave an adverse affect in the long run. At present the state government has no policy for the grant of mining lease in the state resulting in large-scale felling of trees, barrenness of hills and heavy pollution. Besides, the government is also losing huge revenue causing loss to the state exchequer. The drastic reshaping of landscape and destruction of forest have occurred here as a result of mining of various types of lime stones, boulders and other natural resources.

Palampur, a famous tourist resort and one of the beautiful towns of the state, has been facing serious environmental threat because of reckless and unscientific mining. One wonders who had issued permits for the illegal mining and what circumstances compelled the officers to do this. Senior officers in the district are tightlipped and none was ready to admit fault and take responsibility. However, reliable sources say that the District Mining Officer at Dharamsala has issued the permit to a private party for the extraction of stone that too without visiting the site and without looking into the damage being caused to the state's forest wealth. Environmentalists are deeply worried over continuing mining. Though the matter had already been reported to the senior forest and administrative officers here they have failed to initiate any action.

The residents of Lohana village situated near the mines told "The Tribune" that extraction of stones had completely disturbed the ecological balance of the hills covered with green trees. If early efforts are made to close the mining, it would result in the large-scale landslides in the coming rain season. Besides, hundreds of chil trees would also come down to the ground.

The residents of the town had seen worst-ever rainy season in 1999 which had claimed three lives. Besides, property worth crores was damaged. The reckless and unscientific mining attributed as one of the reasons for the repeated flash floods in this region.

Pay road tax by Jan 30, HP tells bus operators
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Jan 25 — The Transport Department has asked the bus operators to deposit their special road tax for this month by January 30 failing which their vehicles would be impounded.

The Government-owned HRTC has also been issued notices for depositing the tax. The bus operators have been warned that non-compliance of the notices would lead to the cancellation of route permits.

The Transport Department has also warned that strict action will be taken against the defaulters and those who try to disrupt the movement of buses.

A government spokesman said the Transport Department had collected a sum of Rs 1 crore up to January 22, the extended date for depositing the special road tax for this month.

He claimed that a sizeable section of the private bus operators had welcomed this tax because of its transparency. However, certain private bus operators were misleading transporters and also obstructing smooth movement of private buses.

The Director, Transport, has urged the Secretary (Home), the DGP, Deputy Commissioners and the Superintendents of Police to provide security to the tax-payers and ensure smooth movement of buses.

Bail-out package for HP sought
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Jan 25 — The Congress has accused the BJP Government at the Centre of providing a "stepmotherly" treatment to Himachal in bailing it out of the financial crisis.

PCC general secretary Viplove Thakur, a sitting MLA, said here yesterday that the Centre was not taking any steps to solve the financial crisis in the state.

She said the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, who calls Himachal as his second home, had failed to provide any financial package for the state although such packages had been granted to states in the North-East and Jammu and Kashmir. The package for Himachal comprised grants-in-aid and refundable loan.

Mrs Thakur alleged that the BJP-HVC Government was trying to derive political mileage out of the grants provided by the Centre. Hardly any financial assistance had been provided for meeting militancy in Chamba district adjoining Jammu and Kashmir.

Resident docs plan strike
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Jan 25— The Resident Doctors Association of Indira Gandhi Medical College has threatened to start pen-down strike on February 4 in protest against the bureaucratisation of state health services.

It expressed its anguish over the attitude of the Health Minister, who was appointing bureaucrats to senior positions in various institutions. The other grievances of the association included the non-implementation of the revised pay scales and inadequate house rent and academic allowances.