 |
| Monday,
July 16, 2001, Chandigarh, India   
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Chamera disproves
myths Employees
threaten stir Ban on
cutting trees axes revenue Can armed
officers check forest mafia? BJP giving
history ‘communal tinge’ |
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Cong
meeting to sort out differences For
pupils it’s come rain, off class Steps to
safeguard women’s interests Man
beats wife to death, arrested Body of
missing youth found Mother
saves child from leopard Counselling schedule
revised
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Chamera disproves
myths Chamera (Chamba) The execution of Chamera (Stage-II) at an estimated cost of Rs 1700 crore on the Ravi by the NHPC has proved many myths about delays in hydroelectric projects wrong and set a new direction in expeditious construction of such projects. The country’s accelerated hydro-development programme was initiated in 1984 through the execution of the first stage of the Chamera project as an Indo-Canadian joint venture. This project was scheduled for completion within seven years, which was considered to be quite speedy as hydro projects during that time normally took a minimum 10 to 15 years. Though stage I of the project took nine years for completion owing to delay in land acquisition and adverse geological conditions in its underground works such as tunnels, this period was still considered good in the execution of hydroelectric projects through advanced technological and management techniques including deployment of new technology excavation and concrete equipment, many of which were inducted for the first time. Other upcoming projects after Chamera such as Nathpa-Jhakri, Narmada, etc have followed the same trend of deployment of the latest technological equipment. The Chamera project has also been using similar technology for execution. The plain truth is a combination of factors which have shown the way are that NHPC did not have dynamic leaders earlier Mr Yogendra Prasad taking over the reins of the corporation as CMD not only refurbished NHPC’s image but also the whole attitude of working and performance of executives and others changed substantially and fast. Contractors in general realised the need to change their attitude in favour of earning a reputation and name in quality and timely execution. The state government and district authorities also realised that early execution of project earned for them in the form of 12 per cent free power and hence contributed positively towards the overall aim and timely provision of infrastructure facilities to project executors. In fact, Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal has been taking personal interest in thwarting any kind of obstacles and problems relating to the project and visited the project thrice over the past year. Whereas work commenced at the site on October 16 with the initial mobilisation taking place within three months, including completion of access roads, induction of old equipment, creation of initial infrastructure of housing, stores, workshops, air, water and power supply etc. Tunneling has been done in 19 months and this remains a matter of record for hydroelectric projects anywhere. In fact, the maximum progress of 209 metres in a month through drilling and blasting at one face is a feat in itself. As regards dam works, the river was diverted 14 months in advance in January this year, dam concreting commenced in March and grouting along with level-course concrete has already been completed and excavation of basins downstream of the dam is in progress. Plans are afoot to complete the excavation of underground structures by the year-end and complete the dam including basins by June 2002 to ensure the commissioning of the project in 2003, instead of initial deadline of July 2004. According to Mr S.K. Dodeja, Executive Director, Region-II of the NHPC, the progress has not been poor. So far works costing Rs 640 crore have been executed, out of which Rs 329 crore has been spent during last fiscal year. During the current financial year, though a provision of Rs 294 crore was made, the same is being increased to over Rs 350 crore to advance the project’s completion to 2003. |
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Infrastructural
work begins at Chamera Chamba, July 15 Mr Dodeja, said the project was a run-of-the-river scheme on the Ravi upstream of Chamera state-II in Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh. Mr Tulsi Ram, MLA of the Bharmour tribal Assembly constituency, expressed his gratitude to the Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and Himachal Chief Minister Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal for assigning priority to power generation. He said project would prove to be a boon for the development of this area and the prosperity of local
people. |
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Employees
threaten stir Hamirpur, July 15 He said that the government employees would launch an agitation against the state government if it did not stop taking anti employees decisions. He said that if the state government invited Mr Ganga Singh for talks, employees all over the state would oppose this move of the government, as Mr Ganga Singh was not the elected president of the employees. He said that Mr Ganga Singh stood expelled from the federation and had no locus standi to take part in any meeting or represent the employees at any talks with the state government. Mr Verma said that Sundernagar elections of the federation were a farce. No elections were held, as most of the associations were not allowed to take part in the elections. He said that the present government had proved to be worse than previous BJP governments in the state. He said that the Ganga Singh camp had failed to take up any demand of the employees with the state government and had acted as the agent of the government only. Mr Verma said that the elections of the state federation would be held in next three months. He was touring various parts of the state and once the tour was completed, the election proceedings would start. He warned the state government of dire consequences if it behaved in a partisan manner. He said that all those persons who had voted for Mr Prem Chand Verma in the Sundernagar elections were being victimised and the Vigilance wing of the Police Department was assessing their properties. He said that this move was un-democratic and uncalled for. He gave a call to the employees all over the state to be united to face such anti-employees moves of the government taken at the instance of Mr Ganga Singh and party. He favoured the formulation of a rational transfer policy for the state government employees. He, however, feared that ministers and MLAs might not allow this policy to come up, as it would be detrimental for their interests. Mr Verma lamented the move of the state government to delink pay and allowances of the state government from Punjab pattern. He said that the government was heading towards its own pay
panel. He said that this panel would be opposed strongly. He claimed that during the previous Congress rule, benefits worth Rs 300 crore had been given to the state government employees. And that time, the then state government had not received a single penny as grant from the central government. He asked the present Chief Minister to clarify why he was not giving any benefits to the employees despite getting grants to the extent of Rs-800 crore from the central government. He said that this showed that this government had no will power to take such decisions. The employees’ leader said that the employees would strongly oppose all those persons in next elections who would work against their interests. He dubbed the present government as anti-people in general and anti-employee in particular. Mr Verma announced on occasion that members of the National federation of state government employees would not take part in the July 25 agitation for which call was given by many trade unions and other employees’ organisations. He said that their federation was not taken into confidence while taking a final decision on the strike. |
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Ban on cutting trees axes revenue Shimla, July 15 The total forest wealth of the state is estimated at Rs 1 lakh crore at present and if the state goes for silviculture fellings, in accordance with the working plans, it could earn this amount annually. However, it has continued with a ban on commercial felling of trees despite financial crunch in the larger national interests of preserving the ecologically fragile Himalayan environment. The state has, however, been allotting trees to right holders under the timber distribution rules at throwaway prices. In all, 1.25 lakh cubic metre of timber worth over Rs 60 crore is given away every year to villagers at a meager Rs 3 lakh for meeting their bona fide requirements. Despite the ban on felling trees, the area under forest is far below the norm of 66 per cent set under the National Forest Policy. As per the legal classification, about 35,427 sq km is classified as forest whereas 37,591 sq km is managed by the Forest Department. Out of this, 17,296 sq km constitutes alpine pastures, including area under permanent snow. Of the remaining 20,297 sq km, forests can be raised on 15,551 sq km. According to the latest state forest report, 12,501 sq km is actually under forest with density ranging from 10 per cent to 40 per cent and above. It includes 9565 sq km of dense forests, having a crown density of 40 per cent and above and 2936 sq km with crown density between 10 per cent to 40 per cent. In addition, 1845 sq km has been classified as scrubs. An area of 8005 sq km has been covered under various afforestation programmes and new plantations are being raised in 2814 sq km. The government has launched the “sanjhi van yojna” to spread the green cover over the hills by involving the local people. The overwhelming participation of rural women had made the scheme a success. Village forest development committees are being constituted throughout the state in villages located around the forests by involving one member of each usufruct sharing family of the village. It is also being ensured that each of these committees has at least 50 per cent women members. So far, 364 such committees have been set up. The main duty of these village forest development committees is to draft micro work plans, forward these to the Forest Department for approval and give wholehearted cooperation in the afforestation programme. The members of the committee also ensure legal use of rights in respect of forest produce and motivate the villagers to participate in the plantation process. It is also the duty of the members to protect the assets created by the committee and equal distribution of benefits among the members. Keeping in view the success of “sanjhi van yojna”, it has been proposed to initiate a new programme “apna van apna dhan”. Under the programme, trees will be grown with active participation of yuvak mandal, mahila mandals, voluntary organisations and groups of ex-servicemen. The groups so constituted will be given the right to select the species of plants as per their requirement. The groups will be given utilisation rights till the trees are fully grown and at the time of last felling, they will be entitled to 75 per cent income whereas the remaining 25 per cent income will go to the local panchayat. The state government is distributing the plants free of cost under the “apna van apna dhan” programme to the interested groups which will be suitably rewarded for digging out pits for plantation. The active participation of the local people, particularly women, has helped the state to increase its green cover. On the one hand, this will bring improvement and on the other, it will become a source of gainful employment, besides helping them to strengthen their
economy. |
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Can armed officers check forest
mafia? Shimla, July 15 It is an indication that the government has at last recognised the need to arm the forest officials but while doing so it should have given careful thought regarding the kind of weapons to be provided and at what level. It is common knowledge that senior officers like DFOs and forest rangers seldom venture deep into forests, go on night patrolling or conduct raids and as such the chances of their confronting the dangerous mafia are minimal. The revolvers being provided to them will be essentially used by them for self-protection and will not serve the purpose for which these are being provided. It is mostly the lower-rung field officials like guards and foresters who frequently encounter the mafia. They need weapons much more than the senior officers who do not play any direct role in combating the mafia. Moreover, arms should be given to only young, agile and physically fit persons who could instantly react in case of confrontation and use the arms effectively. Similarly, the choice of arms is also important if the idea is to deter the mafia. Bigger weapon like self-loading rifles, which are more visible, should be given. Besides, specialised training would have to be provided to the officials in handling the arms. The Forest Department has identified 35 sensitive points in the state used by the mafia for smuggling forest produce. The DFOs and rangers under whose jurisdiction these points fall will be provided revolvers, besides those associated with the three flying squads. The manner in which postings are frequently changed under political considerations may create quite a few problems in the implementation of the decision. A better course, senior officers feel, will be to raise specialised groups which are fully trained in handling sophisticated arms to take on the mafia. Armed personnels from these groups should accompany the flying squads during night patrolling and for conducting raids. They should be trained not to kill but to injure the mafiosi during encounters so that the objective of protecting the forest wealth could be achieved without any loss of life. The government has already taken a significant decision to replace the economic system with the royalty system while working the private forest lots. This will go a long way in discouraging illicit felling as the forest mafia will not be able to mix illicit timber with private lots. However, it could make the mafiosi desperate and they could adopt more daring means of smuggling. Hence, the need to have a “fighting fit” machinery to face the challenge. Illicit felling has been going on unabated despite the steps being taken by the government from time to time. On an average, a truck of high quality but illicit timber lands in Yamunanagar daily, where deodar, which grows in high hills, is readily available at much cheaper rates than in the state. It is largely the illicit supplies from upper Shimla, Rajgarh and the Haripur Dhar area which sustains the timer-based units in the neighbouring state. Similarly, illicit timber from Chamba and Dalhousie finds its way to
Pathankot. It remains to be seen if the arming of forest officials will be able to check or even contain the large-scale illicit felling and smuggling of timber from the state. The officials feel that to begin with the government should turn the heat on areas like upper Shimla and Haripur Dhar which have become notorious for illegal felling. Taking on the entire state would dilute the effort and may not produce the desired results. |
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BJP giving history
‘communal tinge’ Dharmsala, July 15 Addressing reporters here today, he said that the BJP was carrying on a campaign where attempts were being made to change the history in a subtle manner. He said the National Students Union of India (NSUI) had launched a national-level campaign against this communalisation of education. “While during the Congress regime the committee, which made recommendations about the curriculum of the NCERT, was constituted by experts from various fields, the BJP has unfortunately put people having RSS background,” he regretted. He added that the chairmen of the UGC and the NCERT were also people with sangh background. He said the BJP was carrying out saffronisation of education by appointing people from the RSS as Governors of states, as it is they who are the Chancellors of the universities. After this is done, men who are from the RSS and party cadres are made vice-chancellors of the universities, he said. Mr Tagore said that while it was difficult to tamper with other subjects, the aim of the BJP was to distort history and present facts which are far from reality. The state NSUI president, Mr Kewal Pathania, said that the issue of affiliation to seven B.Ed colleges in the state still remained uncertain. He also demanded that if students, having compartment are not allowed to attend classes, the system of compartments should be abandoned. |
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Cong meeting to sort out differences Shimla, July 15 The district office-bearers held an emergency meeting here today under the chairmanship of Mr Ashwini
Sood, vice-president, and took a serious notice of the statements being issued to the media by party councillors against each other and attempts to project their differences as a factional tussle between Ms Vidya Stokes, the PCC chief, and Mr Virbhadra Singh, the CLP leader. The meeting warned the councillors against washing their dirty linen in the media. Mr Nand Kishore
Mehta, general secretary, said the meeting would also focus on the problems being faced by residents of Shimla. |
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For pupils it’s come rain, off class Shimla The school, in the vicinity of Himachal Pradesh University, has classrooms only for Classes VIII, IX and X, but none for Classes VI and VII. As soon as it starts raining, the students of the last two classes have to be sent home, adversely affecting their studies. The classrooms are also overcrowded and the absence of electricity adds to the problems. There is no proper staff-room for the teachers and they have to share a small room. The roof of the school office leaks when it rains, damaging the furniture. The library and the laboratory are in the main office part of the building. Science books, numbering around 325, are kept under lock and key. There is no space to keep the laboratory
apparatus. Science books and laboratory items are taken out once a year during practical examinations in December. “Owing to the shortage of accommodation the first terminal examinations have to be postponed to August when there is likely to be no rain,” said teachers. New admissions have been stopped. “How can we admit more students when we do not have enough space to sit?” said a teacher. The school, situated on the main road, has no boundary wall. “When we teach, students often get distracted by traffic on the road,”said a teacher. The total student strength is 215. Teachers said they had urged the higher authorities several times to provide more accommodation but to no
avail. |
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Steps to safeguard women’s
interests Nurpur, July 15 Ms Malvika
Pathania, new Chairperson of the commission, here last night told reporters that with the registration of marriage, the first wife could prove her marriage legally and the commission would ensure her maintenance if a person had the second wife illegally. She added that the commission was studying legal aspects of the Hindu Marriage Act in this connection. Ms Pathania who visited her constituency yesterday first time, after taking over the new assignment was given a warm reception in which women from Nurpur and Jawali subdivisions participated. She said the main objective of the commission was to provide instant justice to women and she would work for the strengthening of the commission so that women in the state could repose faith in it. She pointed out that she would tour tribal areas of the state in the next four months to study problems of women. The commission would have coordination between political representatives, government machinery and public to make it a powerful institution in the state. Ms Pathania said she had called for reports from the Deputy Commissioners and Superintendents of Police relating to atrocities on women. Such reports from six districts of the state had been received by the commission. The commission would formulate a policy to curb immoral activities and women trafficking in the state. The commission would setup a helpline in its office in Shimla and recognise one non-government organisation (NGO) in each district which would also function as instant district helpline of the commission, she asserted. Expressing concern over the rise in the incidence of atrocities against women and suicides, she called upon married women to approach the commission before taking any step of suicide. She said the commission would give priority to settle marriage disputes. She said the commission would also work for the socio-economic development of village mahila mandals in the state. |
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Man beats wife to death, arrested Nahan, July 15 Mr
S.P. Singh, SP, Sirmour, stated this today. Body of the deceased has been found from her house and sent for a postmortem to the Civil Hospital,
Paonta. The body bore multiple injuries, he said. The SP said Udey Ram admitted to murdering his wife as he suspected her of having liasion with a person of Rudrapur village near Vikas
Nagar. Udey Singh stated he along with his wife was returning from Vikas Nagar after purchasing some household goods on July 13. In the Paraliwala forest near Ram Nagar village he started inquiring about her relations with the other man. She repeatedly denied the charge which provoked Udey Singh. He hit her with a stone in a fit of anger. When she became unconscious he left her in the forest and took her home with the help of his two younger brothers. The woman succumbed to injuries at her home. A case under Sections 302 and 201, IPC has been registered. |
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Body of missing youth
found Kulu, July 15 Meanwhile, the Gorkha, who has been living in the area for the past 30 years and his daughter had gone missing. Though the police do not suspect the involvement of the Gorkha in the murder but has launched a hunt to trace him. A case under Sections 302 and 201, IPC, has been registered. |
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Mother
saves child from leopard Mandi, July 15 According to the uncle of the girl, Mr Brij Lal, the big cat had been hiding near their courtyard. As the girl came out of the house, the beast pounced upon her and took her away towards the fields. Her mother raised the alarm and chased the leopard. The leopard abandoned the girl in a field with multiple injuries. The girl has been admitted to the regional hospital here and is stated to be out of danger. |
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Counselling schedule revised Shimla, July 15 The counselling will be held at the Department of Education for medical group for Shimla on July 20, for non-medical group for both Shimla and Dharamsala on July 27 and for arts group for Dharamsala on July 25. The schedule for counselling for private B.Ed colleges in the state will be announced after the receipt of recognition letter from NCTE and affiliation by the university. |
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