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March 14, 2001, Chandigarh, India   
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Urge Centre to levy generation tax:
HVC Modern bus stand caught in red tape 434-cr Nabard loan for
HP Project on martyr in state of neglect |
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Issues raised by rebels serious:
Shanta Teachers to go on
leave SFI leader for
President’s rule Tour packages for students NSUI seeks probe HVP leaders may
rejoin HVC Dhumal feels
relieved after Sukh Ram’s whip HP to clear arrears
of fruit growers Snow in upper Manali areas HP officers
transferred Himachal appointments
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Urge Centre to levy generation tax:
HVC Shimla, March 13 Participating in the debate on the budgetary proposals, he said the state had a strong case for generation tax and the proposal based on the Rangarajan Committee report was cleared by the Union Finance Ministry and the Planning Commission. However, the Union Power Ministry opposed it on alleged flimsy grounds. The proposal could materialise on the intervention of the Prime Minister. The Chief Minister should lead an all-party delegation to meet him and it should be ensured that the Union Power Ministers and officers concerned were also present at the meeting so that all objections could be cleared in one go. Generation tax could fetch an annual revenue of Rs 200 crore to the state at the existing installed capacity of about 4000 mw, which would increase to Rs 900 crore when the ongoing projects with a capacity to generate 6100 mw were completed. While praising Mr P.K. Dhumal, Chief Minister, for depicting the true picture about the state’s finances, he minced no words in lambasting the government on its “soft” policy towards the highly polluting cement plants. He lamented that the cement industry, which would spell disaster for the state’s environment, was being given all sorts of concessions, including cheap power. The Ambuja cement plant had been allowed to double its capacity without asking it to improve the roads, build parking for trucks and other infrastructural facilities to tackle the heavy burden of traffic. Moreover, even after availing of all these concessions, the industry had increased the price of cement. He suggested that government should impose a tax on cement at the rate of Rs 100 per truck to raise resources instead of burdening the common man. He expressed surprise at the fact that the present government was following the policy of the previous Congress regime in case of cement plants. He cautioned the government against setting up a cement plant in Chamba, where the hills were prone to soil erosion. He also came down heavily on the government for its inability to prepare detailed project reports for various hydroelectric projects. The state electricity board with a huge manpower of 40,000 had not been doing much, he alleged. Consequently, the state did not have any projects to offer to the private sector on the basis of global tenders. Most of the big projects had been assigned to Central agencies like the NHPC and NTPC which was not right as the cost of generation was high and work was slow. In contrast, work on the Malana project, which was being executed by a private company, was progressing ahead of schedule. He suggested that the government should offer some more projects to the private sector on the same pattern. Mr Sukh Ram also expressed concern over the large-scale denudation of hills and opposed the state’s move to go for felling on silvicultural considerations. Mrs Vidya Stokes, the Pradesh Congress Committee chief, criticised the government for raising ‘indiscriminate’ loans. She said the Rs 2,318 crore to be borrowed this year would alone increase the per capita debt burden by a whopping Rs 4,107. In such a situation, it was ridiculous to talk of increase in per capita income of the state. Instead of raising huge loans, the Chief Minister should have pruned his ‘king-size’ ministry and the ‘army’ of chairpersons of various boards and corporations, she maintained. The Budget had failed to address the problem of unemployment which had assumed alarming proportions. The increase of Rs 4 in the daily wage was a ‘cruel joke’ with workers. The budget was also silent on regularisation of workers. The BJP had promised to regularise all those who had completed five years of services but those who had put in more than 10 years of service were still awaiting regularisation. Mr Chander Kumar, a former Forest Minister, expressed surprise over the manner in which poor families were being selected under the Antyodaya Annapurna Yojna. Only 25 per cent of the identified poor families under the Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP) were being covered. |
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Modern bus stand caught in red tape Jawalamukhi Since Jawalamukhi has charmed the Adviser to the Governor, Mr P.P. Srivastva, sufficient funds were earmarked for the project. The foundation stone was laid in 1993 by Ms Manisha Shridhar, the then Deputy Commissioner, Kangra. It was then announced that the bus stand would be completed within two years. As long as President’s rule was in force, special attention was paid to the project. Land was levelled and the old bus stand shifted to the new site without providing any facility for passengers. The old building of the local primary school was dismantled and the school was shifted. The building and site development plan were approved. A retiring room, a cloak-room and a guest house along with a green belt on one side were planned for the bus stand. The Adviser announced that the bus stand would be the biggest and most modern one in the state. As per the blueprint of the project prepared by the government, the multi-storey building was to have a basement for parking of vehicles. While the upper two storeys would be given out to the HRTC, a bank and a guest house. Another important feature was a shopping complex with 100 shops which were to be rented out to generate income for the bus stand’s maintenance. During 1992-93, when President’s rule was in force over Rs 6 lakh was spent on development of the site, demolition of old school building and levelling of the ground. A sum of Rs 16 lakh was spent by the state government to purchase a portion of the bus stand from the Dehra block samiti. At that time, the land was in the possession of the block samiti. A dispute on its possession was also solved by the state government by purchasing land from the block samiti. But after a change of government, the succeeding BJP Government virtually closed this project and failed to provide the required funds. Even the local MLA, Ramesh Choudhary, who was holding the portfolio of Irrigation and Public Health, could not expedite matters. In 1999, the Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal visited Jawalamukhi and announced that the construction of the bus stand would be geared up. The Public Works Department was authorised to construct the bus stand as soon as possible. Unfortunately, this step failed to yield any fruitful result in the absence of funds. The state government provided only Rs 7 lakh for the multi-crore project. As soon as funds were exhausted, the construction of bus stand was left half done. Even metalling of the bus stand compound could not be completed. At present, the compound is open leading to the accumulation of dust, which keeps visitors away. Even families residing around the bus stand find it difficult to open their doors and windows because of pollution. The Public Works Department, which has been entrusted with the execution of this project, needs more than Rs 4 lakh for levelling and metalling the compound. Besides, another Rs 10 lakh is required for the boundary wall. At present a small portion of the bus stand is being used for parking buses and the bulk of its lies vacant since it has not been levelled. A portion of it is still being used by the local Nagar Panchayat for parking of light vehicles. Thousands of rupees are collected monthly by the authority but nobody has taken steps to improve it. Being a main terminal, thousands of passengers pass through Jawalamukhi to board buses for various destinations in Himachal and beyond every day. In the rainy season, the stand turns into a pool, which makes it difficult for passengers to reach the booking windows. |
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434-cr Nabard loan for
HP Shimla, March 13 Mr A.K. Garg, General Manager, Nabard, Regional Office, Shimla, indicated that Nabard-assisted projects were under implementation at 2,247 locations in HP. The implementation was progressing quite satisfactorily, he added. Mr Garg indicated that Himachal Pradesh was one of the few states which had finalised the sectoral allocation for RIDF-VII commencing from April 1, 2001 and had also submitted the project reports pertaining to roads and bridges, e-governance, primary schools, projects for reduction of transmission and distribution losses and flood control measures. The pro-active approach of the HP Government would accelerate the sanctions under RIDF-VII and would also facilitate timely completion of the projects. |
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Project on martyr in state of neglect Palampur, March 13 The van vihar is being developed in 10 acres of land in Bandala village near here. The state Forest Department, who have been executing the project, have no funds in hand for the early completion of the project. During the past two years the government has spent over Rs 30 lakh on the construction of small paths and development of site. Out of this amount Rs 20 lakh was given by Mr Shanta Kumar, Union Minister for Consumer Affairs and Civil Supplies, from his MP’s constituency development fund, while the remaining amount was allocated by the state government. Except that amount no other funds had been given by the state government in past two years for this project. Mr Shanta Kumar, who had taken keen interest in this project, had written number of letters to state government, MPs and MLAs of Kangra for their active cooperation and financial assistance, but to no avail. This reporter, who visited the site today, saw no construction activity. The project site was covered with congress grass and thick bushes. An official of the Forest Department said roads, reception and entrance of the project were almost ready but department had no funds for the internal development of the vihar, purchase of fountains, construction of a cafe and for the purchase of other equipment which would be of the prime attraction for tourists. Sources said that necessary estimates had been forwarded to the state government and Planning Department time and again but no funds were sanctioned. |
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Issues raised by rebels serious:
Shanta Nurpur, March 13 The Union Minister refused to comment on the reported remarks of the Rajya Sabha MP, Mr Kirpal Parmar, that the present political crisis was the result of a conspiracy hatched 400 km away from the state. He said the FCI had set up procurement centres for foodgrain at Thakatdwara and Paonta Sahib. The antyodaya scheme was launched in the country in a record time of three months after its announcement by the Prime Minister. All states would be covered under this scheme by the end of this month, he said. He said the FCI had released five lakh tonnes of foodgrain and two lakh tonnes of foodgrain free of cost to the drought-hit states. Mr Shanta Kumar said the Union Government had formed a core committee of ministers to review the diversification of crops. Mr Shanta Kumar had inaugurated a telephone exchange at Tyora in Kangra district on Sunday. |
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Teachers to go on
leave Shimla, March 13 The decision was taken at an emergency meeting of the association of medical teachers of the IGMC and HP Government Dental College here today. The association urged the government to withdraw its decision without further delay. It was decided that all doctors would wear black badges against the decision of the government. The Himachal Veterinarians Association had also expressed resentment against the decision and said that poor farmers would be sufferers in case the decision was not withdrawn. The Himachal Medical Officers Association had already expressed resentment over the decision of the government. |
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SFI leader for
President’s rule Jaisinghpur (Kangra), March 13 The president of district committee of SFI, Mr Rajesh Kumar, commenting on present political crisis in the state, said such a situation when the state government was being opposed from within by party ministers and MLAs , had never arisen in the history of Himachal Pradesh. The student leader said that the conflict between the Dhumal and Shanta groups had demoralised the common man. The development works had come to a standstill in the state due to this. The SFI leader blamed BJP government of inefficiency and nepotism. He demanded a CBI probe into the charges levelled by expelled ministers and MLAs. He also criticised the government for appointing its own men in various departments of university and ‘saffronising’ the educational institutions. |
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Tour packages for students Nurpur, March 13 Mr Rakesh Pathania, Vice-Chairman of the HPTDC, talking to mediapersons here on Sunday said as many as 100 colleges had been approached. He said under these packages, water sports would be provided at Maharana Pratap Sagar (Pong reservoir) and Manali. Handgliding facility would be provided in Kulu valley. He said Union Government had cleared an airport for Pathankot. A sum of Rs 10 crore had been released for the expansion of the Gaggal airport in Kangra district. |
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NSUI seeks probe Shimla, March 13 The memorandum signed by Mr Kewal Singh Pathania, president of the
NSUI, alleged that in order to accommodate a BJP activist, the post of Professor in the rural management courses, was shifted to the Commerce Department. |
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HVP leaders may
rejoin HVC Shimla, March 13 They had split from the HVC last year and formed a separate HVP under the leadership of Mr Mohinder Singh, who has now joined the Lok Jan Shakti. Prominent among those to re-enter the HVC are Mr Kewal Ram Chauhan and Mr Bhagat Ram Chauhan. Mr Kewal Ram Chauhan said their going to the Congress was out of the question and they had decided to join the HVC. Mr O.P. Rattan, a former Congress MLA, has yet to make up his mind whether he would join the HVC or return to the Congress. |
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Dhumal feels
relieved after Sukh Ram’s whip Shimla, March 13 The whip also covers the Minister of State for Animal Husbandry, Mr Ram Lal Markanda. The whip has come as a relief to Mr Dhumal as it has cleared apprehensions whether the two-member HVC group and Mr Mohinder Singh will vote for the Budget. |
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HP to clear arrears
of fruit growers Shimla, March 13 Mr Bragta was replying to a question of Mr Ishwar Dass (Cong) regarding payment to the growers whose produce was procured by the government agencies. He said that a total support price of Rs 9.13 crore has so far been paid to the growers. Of this, Rs 5.92 crore was in cash and Rs 3.21 crore in kind. Mrs Vidya Stokes (Cong) demanded that steps should be taken to immediately clear the payments to the growers. Mr Bragta said that a provision of Rs 5 crore had been made in the supplementary Budget and Rs 7 crore were being sought from the Centre for the purpose. Mr Ishwar Dass and Mr Singhi Ram took exception to the payment of arrears through kind. |
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Snow in upper Manali areas Manali, March 13 The famous ski slopes of Solang valley, Marhi, Gulaba and Kothi also had fresh snow. Tourists made a beeline for these places. The upper Manali region remained in the grip of severe cold conditions following further decline in temperature. According to a UNI report, Shimla and its surrounding areas were lashed by a hailstorm, accompanied by rain, which brought a sharp fall in the temperature. Upper areas of this district, including Wildflower Hall, Kufri and Naldehra, also had hail and rain. Kangra valley also experienced rain. |
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HP officers
transferred Shimla, March 13 Mr Vineet Chowdhary on his repatriation from the Centre has been posted as Secretary Health in place of Mr P.C. Kapoor who has been posted as state election officer. Ms Upma Chowdhary, on her return from the Centre has been posted as Managing Director (MD), Financial Corporation, relieving Mr B.S. Chuhan of the additional charge. Mr Bhim Sen has been posted as Managing Director, Civil Supplies Corporation, in place of Mr Prem Kumar who has been posted as Secretary to the Governor. PTI |
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Himachal appointments Shimla, march 13 Mrs Upma Choudhary has been appointed Managing Director, State Financial Corporation. Mr Bhim Sein, former Chief Electoral Officer, has been appointed Managing Director, Civil Supplies Corporation. |
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