Protect resin units, Dhumal urges FM
Tribune News Service

Shimla, May 2
With the domestic resin industry getting crippled and hundreds of people facing threat of unemployment because of its large-scale import under the open general licence (OGL)following a cut in the custom duty, the Chief Minister, Mr P. K. Dhumal, has urged the Union Finance Minister, Mr Yashwant Sinha, to come to the rescue of the resource- starved Himachal Pradesh by substantially increasing the duty on the product so as to discourage its imports.

Mr Dhumal in a letter to Mr Sinha today demanded that anti-dumping duty should also be imposed on resin and rosin to ensure that their large-scale imports did not take place and threaten the survival of the indigenous resin-based industry.

The Chief Minister has pointed out that he had been demanding a hike in import duty of resin since last two years, but contrary to that it has been reduced to 35 per cent by withdrawing the surcharge of 10 per cent resulting in large-scale imports from Indonesia, Vietnam, China and Brazil at a lower price.

The Indian market continued to be flooded with imported resin and rosin since 1997 which has resulted in recession in the market as a result of which the public sector factories had to reduce prices even below the break-even point.

The resin industry forms the mainstay of employment for residents of the lower hills of the state and Himachal contributes to one-third of the total production of 40,000 metric tonnes of resin in the country. Over 11, 000 persons are directly employed in resin tapping.

The Chief Minister has pointed out that the customs duty on selected items like tea, coffee, copra and coconut has been raised to 70 per cent from 35 per cent to protect the domestic producers. However, the resin industry has been adversely hit.

He has said the sickness of the industry was evident from the fact that the number of blazes has come down to 6.89 lakhs during 2000-2001 to yield 2299 metric tonnes of resin against 18.6 lakh blazes during 1996-97 when 6814 metric tonnes of resin was produced. The resin and turpentine factories in the state are on the verge of closure.

Mr Dhumal has pointed out that the custom duty on resin, which was 20 per cent prior to 1997, has now been reduced to 15 per cent. The custom duty during the same period has been reduced to 35 per cent from 40 per cent, on turpentine oil it has been reduced to 30 per cent from the earlier 40 per cent and on alpha-pienene it has been lowered to 10 per cent from 40 per cent.

He has pointed out that resin is extracted from the chil trees in the Himalayas in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal, Uttar Pradesh up to Nepal and Sikkim.

In order to maintain a uniform price in the domestic market, the government factories of the three states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal and Uttar Pradesh in the early 70s formed a consortium of producers to safeguard the domestic resin industry. Resin and its products were included in OGL in 1997 and the custom duty was gradually reduced resulting in the domestic market getting flooded with imported resin.

Fund-starved HP on reform track
Rakesh Lohumi
Tribune News Service

Shimla, May 2
Putting the fiscal reforms on the fast track has become essential for the fund-starved Himachal Government which is seeking assistance from the Centre and the World Bank to find a permanent solution to the financial crisis.

Mr Yashwant Sinha, Union Finance Minister, in a detailed letter to the Chief Minister has made it clear that the Government of India would pose its demand for soft loan to the World Bank only after ascertaining its performance in the implementation of structural reforms to reduce the ever-increasing revenue deficit. He has also expressed concern over the rising debt liability of the state with interest liability already reaching 53 per cent of non-plan revenue receipts.

The state has been asked to give details how far it had succeeded in implementing the short-term MOU signed with Centre in December 1999 besides submitting the medium-term programme for fiscal structuring.

While the state did make steps to downsize the government and cut down unproductive expenditure, it failed to achieve the desired reduction in the revenue deficit as envisaged in MOU.

The government is looking for a soft loan for a period of five to six years to carry out fiscal reforms and bring the economy of the state back on the rails. At present, the state had no option but to raise fresh loans to repay earlier loans.

A one-time grant of soft loan could ease the situation for the next five years or so and there after things will improve as the state will start getting revenue hydel projects. The projects with aggregate capacity of 2100MW, including the Nathpa-Jhakri project, will be commissioned by 2004 bringing an additional revenue of Rs 250 crore to the state.

The Centre, will release additional funds only if the reforms being implemented actually improve the fiscal indicators. The World Bank is even more particular about reforms, particularly in the power sector. In any case, the state will have to first satisfy the Centre that it was serious about carrying out reforms before its case is put up before the World Bank.

Meanwhile, the government has considering to suspense the leave travel concession (LTC) to employees for two years on the pattern of the Central Government. An official notification to this effect may be issued shortly.

Virbhadra govt blamed for crisis
Tribune News Service

Shimla, May 2
Joining issue with the Congress, three BJP ministers have ridiculed the party leaders for their “mischievous” propaganda regarding the financial health of the state and blamed the previous Virbhadra Singh government for the fiscal mismanagement which had derailed the state’s economy.

In a statement here today, Mr J.P. Nadda, Mr I.D. Dhiman and Mr Praveen Sharma, the three ministers, said the state had plunged into a financial crisis as during its tenure, the Congress government failed to get any assistance from the Centre and created liabilities worth hundred of crores of rupees by raising indiscriminate loans to bridge the revenue deficit. The state government had to pay an annual interest of Rs 400 crore on these loans. In contrast, Mr P.K. Dhumal, the present Chief Minister had got assistance of hundreds of crores of rupees during the past three years by maintaining cordial relations with the Central Government. Besides, steps had also been initiated to cut down the wasteful expenditure so that the money could be utilised for accelerating the pace of development.

The ministers said that despite the tight financial position, the strengthening of departments responsible for providing public services had been given priority and doctors had been appointed. Hundreds of posts of para-medical staff had also been filled during the period and 8,000 teachers of different categories appointed.

Home Secy, SP issued notices
Our Correspondent

Shimla, May 2
A Division Bench of the HP High Court comprising Chief Justice C.K. Thakur and Mr Justice K.C. Sood today issued notice to the Secretary (Home), SP, Mandi and SHO, Police Station, Sundernagar and private respondent, Mr Surinder Pal on a petition filed by Mr Tejender Singh. The petitioner had alleged that his wife had been forcibly taken from his house by the father of the girl. The court also directed that the girl be produced in the court on May 9.

The petitioner stated that he and his wife had married on their own and without any coercion. Both were major at the time of marriage and the marriage was solemnised at Rohroo.

He stated the parents of the girl were not happy with their marriage reason being the petitioner belonged to a lower caste whereas the father of the girl was an influential person of the area. The father managed to get a criminal case registered under Sections 363, 366 of the IPC against the petitioner at Police Station, Sundernagar.

After this, the petitioner approached the high court for bail and court granted the bail on March 27 on the grounds of an affidavit which was filed by the girl stating that she had married the petitioner on her own will and was a major at the time of her marriage.

The petitioner contended the father of the girl reached his home along with many other persons equipped with lathis on April 19 and forcibly took her wife away despite protests by the members of his family. His wife was still in illegal custody of her father, he said.

HP reviews progress  of hydel projects
Tribune News Service

Shimla, May 2
The Himachal Pradesh Government has decided to give same incentives to the Central Government agencies executing hydel power projects in the state as are being given to the independent power producers to ensure the early completion of the projects so that these start generating income for the state at the earliest.

This was decided here at a high-level meeting which was presided over by the Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, for reviewing the progress of the execution of various hydel projects in the state.

The Chief Minister directed to submit the report to him daily regarding the generation of electricity by each project in the state.

It was informed at the meeting that 3-MW Holi hydel project was likely to be completed next month and Larji project by the beginning of 2004. The work on 9-MW Khauli hydel project being executed by the state electricity board had been expedited.

He said efforts be intensified to start work on 160-MW Kashang, 140-MW Sawra-Kudu and 70-MW Dhamwari Sunda hydel projects.

The Chief Minister said private entrepreneurs who had been allotted hydel projects in the state be also asked to start the work on the projects allotted to them at the earliest and those who were not interested, the project allotted to them be given to new ones as the government could not wait for a long time.

Watershed projects to harness rain water
Tribune News Service

Shimla, May 2
The Rural Centre for Human Interest (RUCHI), a non-governmental organisation, has shown the way to the hill people how to combat drought and deluge by successfully implementing integrated watershed development projects in the Rajgarh block of Sirmour district.

Farmers from other states have been making a beeline to the area to see the projects which have become a model for watershed management. The water harvesting structures constructed by the RUCHI have been providing life-sustaining irrigation to crops during the current drought.

According to Mr Nagendra, one of the seven members of the RUCHI as many as 17 check dams and 17 storage tanks have been constructed to harness the rain water. One of Rs 1.25 lakh has a capacity to store 3 lakh litres of water. It is proving to be beneficial for water. It has 22 families. Another tank at Chakhal village receives water from a waterfall located 4 km away through a galvanised iron pipe laid at a cost of Rs 4 lakh.

While five members, who work for the RUCHI in honorary capacity, play advisory role, two members including the Director are paid workers. The organisation spends 10 per cent of the total cost of the project on establishment.

At present it has three big projects in hand involving an expenditure of Rs 32 lakh. The project are being executed in Pervi Jagreh and Shileni khads. All the works are being executed with the cooperation of the villagers. For every project a watershed committee has been constituted. Mr Nagendra said in addition to the government funding, the local people also contribute for the project. Their money was deposited in banks to ensure complete transparency. The RUCHI not only motivates people but also takes care of their needs and the maintenance of the project.

Glass house needs repair
Ranjna Sharma

Shimla
The viceregal lodge here is not only a repository of valuable books, but also a home of rare species of colourful flowers. The viceregal lodge now houses the Indian Institute of Advanced Study ( IIAS).

In the Institute flowers bloom both in the summer and the winter, adding to beauty of this historic place. But the century-old glass house here, looked after by the Archaeological Survey of India ( ASI), needs maintenance.

There are around 250 plant varieties in the institute. The institute also had rare flowers and plants during the British era. Liriodendorn-Tulifera, commonly called tulip, has been grown here for the past 100 years. Gardeners of the institute claim that their attempts to multiply the plant had failed. Calealari (known as lady purse) is only grown in the institute in India. It has been brought here from Holland, claims a gardener.

The main purpose of the nursery is to grow flowers in pots. The flowerpots are kept inside and outside the building and changed at regular intervals.

The glass house is a century-old. The gardeners claim that the glass house is one of the biggest in the state. Its walls have developed cracks. Windowpanes have broken. There is a sever water shortage in the nursery. There used to be five water tankers for the nursery. The gardeners find it difficult to keep flowers alive with just one tanker. The institute also have five underground water tanks. But most of them are empty because of poor water supply. The gardeners say that these tanks used to be full during the British period. From 60 the number of gardeners has shrunk to 22. Two posts, sanctioned for past four years, have not been filled.

Lowering of retirement age criticised
Tribune News Service

Shimla, May 2
Mr Chander Singh Mandayal, general secretary of the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Employees Union, has said the state government has hit the lowest section of employees by lowering the retirement age of the Class IV staff to 58 years from the existing 60 years.

In a statement here today, Mr Mandayal said the yesterday’s decisions of the Cabinet were against the employees.

He decried the introduction of the Contributory Pension Scheme for all sections of employees recruited after May 1. Terming the decision as a major departure and deviation from the central pensionary rules, he expressed surprise and anguish and stated it legally unsustainable as there could not be two sets of principles for the employees working under the same roof.

Mr Mandayal said the Chief Secretary and other bureaucrates who were heading the committee would retire at the age of 60 years and get all benefits under the central pensionary rules, whereas the government had adopted repressive attitude against the employees.

CM’s bid to create disunity in Cong: Tiria
Tribune News Service

Shimla, May 2
Ms Sushila Tiria,AICC Secretary, has accused the Chief Minister, Prof P.K. Dhumal, of trying to create disunity in the Congress and has alleged that there was every possibility that the ruling BJP was involved in creating the disturbance in the Congress rally held at Nagrota in Kangra district on April 30.

Ms Tiria, who was talking to newsmen here today, condemned the incident and said no activist of the Youth Congress or the NSUI was involved in hooliganism.

She said an inquiry was being held by the PCC into the incident.

She said massive public participation in the rally indicated that the common people were against the ruling BJP and were now looking towards the Congress.

The Congress would organise a signature campaign against the Tehelka exposure and submit to the President of India.

Private B.Ed. colleges face NCTE wrath
Our Correspondent

Shimla, May 2
All eight privately run B.Ed. colleges in Himachal Pradesh are in for trouble with the National Council of Teachers Education (NCTE) taking a serious note of poor infrastructure and lack of trained teachers. According to sources these colleges are facing various difficulties. The libraries are in a bad shape and students do not have access to many books. In some colleges retired teachers are teaching and some teachers are simply postgraduate.

It is learnt that the NCTE have demanded the details regarding the infrastructure. If the details are not provided to the NCTE, it will cancel the affiliation in the next coming session. The issue came to the fore last year, but the NCTE gave extention of one year. Sources say even the government B.Ed. colleges in Dharamsala is facing the same situation.

For the next session, students have already filled their forms for seats in these private colleges. If NCTE cancels the affiliation of these colleges, career of many students will be at stake. The eight private colleges are in Solan, Nalagarh, Hamirpur, Sundernagar, Nurpur, Poanta Sahib, Tarakbari and Batoli.

Mysterious fever grips villagers
Our Correspondent

Nahan, May 2
Over 100 residents of Kamrou village have been reported to be suffering from Typhoid-like fever with vomiting symptoms.

The residents of the village, which falls in the Paonta subdivision, are afraid of spreading of an epidemic, the possibility of which has been ruled out by the authorities.

According to a report by Dr K.K. Parashar, In Charge, Public Health Centre, Kamrou, for the last 15 days nearly 100 such cases with the symptoms of fever, vomiting and headache have been reported. Four cases, which were referred by him to Subdivisional Hospital, Paonta, have been detected to be the cases of Typhoid. He said this may be due to the use of unsafe water or consumption of unhygienic food. 

Govt may downsize khadi board
Tribune News Service

Shimla, May 2
Employees of the state Khadi and Village Industries Board have not been getting salaries in the past several months.

A spokesman of the state Khadi and Village Industries Board Employees’ Union alleged that the financial position of the board had worsened due to the failure of the state government to provide requisite funds. The government was bound to meet 100 per cent administrative expenditure but it had not been doing so. As against a requirement of Rs 2.50 crore the government had allocated only Rs 87 lakh to the board.

Instead of providing grants-in-aid the government proposed to downsize the board by reducing the strength of employees from 234 to 110. He said the board had been playing an important role in employment generation. It had provided Rs 34 crore as loan and Rs 4.5 crore as grant to about 24,000 rural entrepreneurs and artisans in the state. In all it had provided employment to 67,000 persons. The board had plans to advance Rs 30 crore as loan and Rs 8 crore as grant to about 300 entrepreneurs every year.

Sukhu demands action
Tribune News Service

Shimla, May 2
Mr Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu, president of the Himachal Youth Congress, has demanded disciplinary action against those leaders who brought activists of the Yuva Vichar Manch and HIMSU at the state-level rally of the Congress at Nagrota on Monday to create hooliganism.

PWD staff threat

Shimla, May 2
The Himachal Pradesh Public Works Department Engineers Association has condemned the move of the government to abolish the post of the Chief Engineer (Design), which will affect the quality of work. It has threatened to launch a statewide stir if its demands were not accepted. TNS