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| Tuesday, March 6, 2001, Chandigarh, India   
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Dhumal should quit:
Virbhadra Rebels relent, attend House Entry tax keeps tourists at
bay Subsidised ration from today MC may enhance rent of
shops Patent awareness camp
organised |
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Cong MLAs to hold rallies Industry Minister escapes unhurt
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Dhumal should quit:
Virbhadra Shimla, March 5 Initiating the debate on the Motion of Thanks on the Governor’s Address he said it was not for the first time that the members of the ruling party had made such serious charges against the government. In November last too, threeministers and as many BJP legislators had written a letter in which aspersions were cast on the fairness of the state Subordinate Services Selection Board, besides allegations of corruption, nepotism and discrimination in development on regional basis. The credibility of the government had been severely eroded and it had been put in the dock by its own partymen. Some of these allegations also formed the part of the charge sheet submitted by the Congress to the Governor in August last. The developments in the ruling party had created political instability and the general impression was that the government was on its way out. In this situation “governance” was the first casuality and people of the state were the ultimate sufferer. He accused the government of gross financial mismanagement which not only led to slashing of the annual Plan from Rs 1720 crore to Rs 1382 crore but also leading the state into a debt trap. The financial crunch had not deterred the government from granting unmerited relief to influential persons. An example of this was the manner in which the case of repayment of outstanding loan of a private industrial unit was settled by the state Industrial Development Corporation. As against the dues of Rs 34.82 lakh, the corporation settled for a meagre Rs 1.35 lakh under its one-time settlement scheme. He demanded action against officials responsible for this open loot. Appointments were made in the university in utter disregard of merit to accommodate candidates owing allegiance to the saffron ideology. He lamented that no action was being taken on the FIR lodged by the two women zila parishad members belonging to other backward classes against three ministers and a legislator of Kangra district. He also charged the government with intimidating the minority Muslim community to achieve political ends and cited the instance of a panchayat in Sundernagar where elected functionaries were implicated in false cases merely because they happened to be Muslims. However, the Chief Minister intervened and clarified that there was no communal angle as the complainants were also Muslims and matter was still under investigations. He noted that Governor’s Address dwelt on the earthquake in Gujarat at length but was completely silent on the drought in the state. Earlier, moving the Motion of Thanks Mr Chander Sen said that the fact that the ruling combine had won all elections held over the past three years indicated the people had endorsed the policy and programmes of the coalition and expressed confidence in the leadership of Mr Dhumal. |
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Rebels relent, attend House Shimla, March 5 Mr Krishan Kapoor, Mr Ramesh Dhawala, Mr H.N. Singh and Dr Rajan Sushant, sacked ministers and Mr Dulo Ram, Mr Des Raj and Mrs Nirmala Devi, MLAs, who had boycotted the first two days of the Budget session to press their demand for a change in the leadership, arrived in the Vidhan Sabha early and signed the attendance register. However, they were not seen in the House, except for a brief period. The party had issued a Whip to ensure the presence of rebels during the passing of the supplementary demands for the year 2000-2001. The rebels made it a point not to defy the Whip but stayed away from the proceeding as part of tactics. Earlier, they met Mr Gulab Singh, Speaker in his chamber. They termed the meeting as a courtesy call and refused to divulge any details. All eyes were on the rebels since morning as they had announced that they would give the reasons for demanding a change in the leadership and the replacement of Mr Narinder Modi as in charge of party affairs in Himachal. However, they had emphatically said that they would not bring down the government and ensure it lasts full term. If the conduct of rebels was any indication the rebels have decided to lie low for sometime and not precipitate matters as advised by the central party leaders. Moreover, it is a long session and there will be ample opportunities to embarrass the government if they decide to do so. The most important is the passing of the general Budget for 2001-2002. They can afford to wait and allow time to the high command to redress their grievances. The supplementary demands to the tune of Rs 383.83 crore were passed without any problems. These included Rs 155.37 crore for the non-Plan expenditure. The major items for which enhanced Plan provisions had been sought were Rs 10 crore for house building advance to employees, Rs 24.75 crore for investment in the HP Road Infrastructure Development Corporation and the HP Health System Corporation, a sum of Rs 50.06 crore for the implementation of the award of the Eleventh Finance Commission and Rs 98.56 crore to regulate expenditure under various centrally sponsored schemes. This included Rs 53.18 crore for the accelerated rural and urban water supply programme and Rs 30 crore for central transport subsidy to industries. The demands for Rs 155.37 crore for non-Plan expenditure included Rs 10.95 crore for the payment of pension and Rs 30.96 crore for the repayment of interest of loans raised through
HPRIDC and HUDCO. A sum of Rs 23.94 crore was provided towards relief and restoration of damages due to the unprecedented natural calamities earlier this year. A sum of Rs 26.07 crore had been sought for payment of interest subsidy to the
HPSEB.
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Entry tax keeps tourists at
bay PALAMPUR: The recent decision of the Himachal Pradesh Government to permit nagar panchayats and municipal councils to collect entry tax on vehicles by putting up barriers on national highways and state highways in the state has not only affected the tourism industry but has also resulted in widespread resentment among local residents. In 1998 the state government had issued a gazette notification asking local bodies to generate their own resources of income by imposing entry tax on the vehicles passing through their areas. This “anti-people” decision of the state government had attracted widespread criticism. In many areas the people have come out in the streets lodging protests. At Jogindernagar, Una, Ghumarin, Dehra, Gopipur, Sujanpur and other towns in the region, businessmen observed bandhs to express their resentment. Keeping in view the public opposition, Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal constituted a committee of cabinet members to suggest measures for uniform collection of entry tax in the state and to abolish these tax barriers. But over a year has elapsed and the recommendations of the cabinet committee are yet to see the light of day. On the other hand, during this period the government decided to put up a dozen more such entry tax barriers. Despite stiff public opposition, the Deputy Commissioners and SDMs concerned have allowed these barriers to come up. If a tourist starts from Chandigarh to Dharamsala, he has to stop his vehicle at 11 points — Mehatpur, Una, Amb, Dehara bridge, Dehra Gopipur, Kangra, Nadaun, Jwalamukhi, Palampur, Jogindernagar and Dharamsala — to pay HP entry tax. Some of the towns are within a radius of 10 to 15 km. At Dehra Gopipur, there are two tax barriers — one has been set up by the HP PWD and the second one by the Nagar Panchayat. The same situation prevails in other parts of the state where tourists are being harassed at these barriers which have become centres of corruption. Pilgrims visiting Chintpurni, Jwalamukhi, Kangra and Chamunda temples are the worst hit: they had to pay Rs 150 as entry tax just for a day’s visit. Tourism plays a vital role in the economy of the state. The Himachal Pradesh Government has been making efforts to attract tourists to the state and wanted to make tourism industry a major source of revenue. On the other hand, it has been imposing unwanted taxes on tourists. At tax barriers long queues of the vehicles can be seen waiting for their turn. Many a time the staff sitting on the barriers overcharge tourists and even misbehave with them. There is no agency where tourists can register complaints. It is interesting to note that barriers have been set up on national highways and state highways maintained by the HP Public Works Department. These roads are beyond the purview of nagar panchayats and municipal councils. Neither do these local bodies maintain these roads nor the land. Legal experts are of the opinion that the local bodies have no authority to levy tax on the public, when they neither own the roads nor provide any additional facility to the public. It is a sad state of affairs that both the state government and Chief Minister are conversant with the situation, but in the past two and a half years no efforts have been made to adopt some uniform measures to collect entry tax at one point. If the government is keen to abolish tax barriers it should come out with legislation for the collection of the entry tax only at entry points. It would be in the interest of the state as well as tourists who will have to pay the entry tax only at one point before entering it. The sum collected at these points should be disbursed among the municipal councils and nagar panchayats. |
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Subsidised ration from today Dharamsala, March 5 The ambitious scheme of the government, meant for the poverty stricken people, who do not even get two square meals a day, will be launched by the Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Mr Shanta Kumar, at Chamba, which forms part of the Kangra parliamentary constituency, represented by him. Giving details about the scheme, Mr Shanta Kumar, who has been camping at Palampur, said it was unfortunate, that hunger and democracy co-existed in India, despite the fact that the foodgrain stocks of the country was overflowing. “though there are 36 crore persons who are still below the poverty line in our country, but out of this 5 crore go hungry everyday and the aan antodya scheme will take care of this deprived section,” he stated. The Union Minister said five crore persons will be provided with 25 kg ration per family every month. Wheat would be given at a subsidised rate of Rs 2 per kg and rice at Rs 3 per kg for all 365 days in a year. “Our primary objective is to provide to the poorest of the poor as even after 53 years of Independence benefits of various schemes have failed to reach the needy,” he regretted. Mr Shanta Kumar, said in Himachal itself a total of 78,000 families would benefit from the scheme. These families had already been given antodaya cards and would start getting subsidised ration from tomorrow. He disclosed that even in 1978, this scheme had been started, which helped 10 per cent people rise above the poverty line. Mr Shanra Kumar, said a new food policy would be framed within three months, after the expert committee submitted its report. “Under the changed circumstances when we have moved from having scarce stocks to surplus, there is a need to change our policies accordingly,” he said. He said the committee headed by Dr Abhijit Sen, would submit its report within three months. The issue of the import of gambier (synthetic katha), used for colouring leather, he said had been brought to his notice, but under the WTO, the only solution was to impose heavy duty on it. |
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MC may enhance rent of
shops Chamba, March 5 A campaign will also be launched to recover the rents of the shops of the council, besides proposing animal, professional and business taxes. Giving this information here today, Mr Surinder Pal Dhall, President of the council, said the council was considering to raise the budgetary provisions of all development schemes by the next financial year. He said the council would request the state government to increase the grant-in-aid for accelerating various schemes. The MC chief said the council was aware of the glory of the historic Chowgan and other landmarks, adding that efforts would be made to formulate a plan for their conservation and preservation. He said funds would be made available to stabilise and beautify the western slopes of the Chowgan. To give a facelift to the town, Mr Dhall emphasised the need to protect ancient temples and monuments. Roads would be recarpeted and drains constructed. Also lanes and alleys would be renovated, Mr Dhall said. He said to improve the insanitary conditions in the town, the sewerage scheme which was nearing completion needed to be implemented soon. To get sewer connections, residents must come forward, he said. Work on the ongoing project of integrated development of small and medium town approved by the Centre with an outlay of Rs 1.62 crore, had been expedited. The project envisaged the construction of a market complex, and parking lots. |
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Patent awareness camp
organised Solan, March 5 Prof Awasthi, who inaugurated the Department of Science and Technology also organised patents awareness camp at the main campus of the university at Nauni, near here. He said numerous herbs and plants that had been used in Indian systems of medicine, agriculture and horticultue for centuries, had either been patented or sought to be patented abroad as per references available in international patent records. He said Indian intellectual property had come under increased threats of being usurped after the establishment of World Trade Organisation in India. The Principal Scientific Officer of Himachal Pradesh Department of Science and Technology Dr S.S. Chandel, said there were many things which needed to be patented. He said Kulu shawls, which were being imitated widely by the powerloom units of some other states, were the best example of being patented under the patent laws geographical indicators. He said the department had set up a Patent Information Centre at Shimla which was fully equipped to provide information concerning procedural requirements to the intellectual property owners who wish to file applications for obtaining patent rights. Mr Suresh Kumar, Scientific Officer, Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, Mr H. Karar, examiner of patents and designs, Government of India and Mr Sharad Vadhera patent Attorney also addressed the gathering. |
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Cong MLAs to hold rallies Nahan, March 5 He said no development activities were undertaken in the district for the past three years. Only announcements were made by various ministers, who visited the district. Dr Prem Singh said the state government had failed to give any relief to the people of the state and instead had burdened the people with many taxes. He said the people of the state were totally fed up with the Dhumal government because of its ‘anti-people’ policies. Even its ministers were not satisfied with the performance of the government, he added. |
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Industry Minister escapes unhurt Nurpur, March 5 The minister was travelling with Mr Tulsi Ram, MLA from
Bharmour, when the accident occurred. Both of them reportedly escaped unhurt. The bus was on its way from Palampur to Chamba. |
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Governor felicitates
Muslims on Id Shimla, March 5 Notices to govt
on medical purchases Shimla, March 5
Mandi, March 5 |
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