H I M A C H A L   P R A D E S H

6 parties join hands to fight Cong, BJP
Shimla, February 6
In a significant development, a united front of six parties under the chairmanship of Mr Mohinder Singh, a sitting MLA and a former PWD Minister, was set up in the state today to fight the ruling BJP and the Congress in the coming Assembly elections.

Virbhadra got land record ‘changed’
Shimla, February 6
Mr Karan Singh, Primary Education Minister, and Mr Praveen Sharma, Excise and Taxation Minister, have taken strong exception to the statement of former Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh, accusing the Chief Minister, Prof P.K. Dhumal, of polluting the political environment of the state and alleged that he was making such charges to divert the attention of people from his land-grab cases.

BJP blasts Congress leaders for ‘scams’
Dalhousie, February 6
Ms Renu Chadha, BJP leader from the Banikhet Assembly constituency in this district, has blasted Congress leaders for their alleged involvement in land-grab scams.

Power board to pay for deficiency in service
Shimla, February 6
The Himachal Pradesh State Power Board has become the first board in the country to lay down guaranteed standards of service for the benefit of the consumers, with the order of the State Electricity Regulatory Commission in this regard coming into force from this month.

Fresh spell of snow in Shimla
Shimla, February 6
Intense cold wave sweeping most parts of Himachal Pradesh further tightened its grip as higher reaches and the tribal belt had another spell of heavy snow while the mid and lower hills were lashed by rain and sleet, accompanied by strong velocity icy winds.

Mixed response to construction norms
Kumarhatti, February 6
The state government’s recent decision to allow construction up to five storeys has received a mixed response from the public. A day-long survey from Jabli to Barog on the Kalka-Shimla national highway, the stretch that would benefit most due to the relaxation in construction norms, showed that a majority of the locals termed it as a long-awaited decision mainly to gain political mileage as the Assembly elections in the state were just a year away.

Villagers help regenerate forests
Mandi, February 6
The Jabrat demarcated protected forest spread over 275 hectares and 27-hectare Jassan DPF adjoining the panoramic Chail Chowk valley of Gohar forest division of Mandi circle which had been degraded due to increasing population have been regenerated with lush green growth of broad-leaf oak and other wild fruit trees thanks to the joint efforts of village forest development committees and the Forest Department.

Safety measures on forest fire outlined
Kumarhatti, February 6
The state Forest Department has launched a statewide forest fire safety awareness programme. Under the programme, workshops will be organised in various parts of the state wherein members of the respective forest committees, panchayats, mahila mandals and yuva mandals will participate.

Drive against female foeticide soon
Shimla, February 6
The Health Department will carry out a campaign in collaboration with the Social Welfare Department to create awareness among people, specially women, against female foeticide.

• ITBP man booked for rape

• B.Ed students call off strike

• Monitoring of Acts

6 parties join hands to fight Cong, BJP
Tribune News Service

Shimla, February 6
In a significant development, a united front of six parties under the chairmanship of Mr Mohinder Singh, a sitting MLA and a former PWD Minister, was set up in the state today to fight the ruling BJP and the Congress in the coming Assembly elections.

The Lok Janshakti Party, CPM, CPI, Samajwadi Party, JD (S) and the Theog Vikas Manch have joined the front which has been named as Him Loktantrik Morcha. The Himachal Jan Manch of Mr Ranjit Singh will extend issue-based support to the morcha.

Among the leaders of the parties who participated in the meeting were Mr Mohinder Singh, Mr Ranjit Singh, Mr Rakesh Singha, Mr Romel Singh Badayal, Mr Deepak Sharma, Mr Mohar Singh, Mr Roshan Lal, Mr D. R. Verma and Mr I. C. Gupta.

The next meeting of the morcha will be held on March 8 when its future strategy will be chalked out and a memorandum presented to the Governor to apprise him of the problems being faced by the common people.

Briefing newspersons, Mr Mohinder Singh said the BSP and the HVC were also invited for the meeting but no leader of the BSP could come as they were busy in the elections in Punjab.

Mr Mohinder Singh accused the BJP-HVC combine government of being “anti-Himachali” and “anti-poor” as it had allegedly failed to watch the interests of the local youth.

He further said the Congress had miserably failed to perform the role of an effective Opposition by not resisting imposition of various levies such as medical fee in hospitals, hike in electricity and water tariff.

He demanded that the cultivation of cannabis be allowed in traditional areas where these crops were being destroyed by the authorities. The government has failed to transfer the shamlat lands to the farmers even after a year has passed after a promise was made, he said.

Outlining the agenda of the morcha, Mr Mohinder Singh said it would provide 27 per cent reservation to the OBCs. He said the morcha would strive to obtain the arrears of the state amounting to Rs 3862 crore from Punjab on account of its share from the Bhakra project and 7.19 per cent share from other power projects as was laid down in the Punjab Reorganisation Act.

He said there was a great need for setting up a Himachal regiment in the Indian Army as a number of people from the state were serving the armed forces. He also demanded that the oustees of the Bhakra, Pong Dam and other projects be resettled without further delay.

Virbhadra got land record ‘changed’
Tribune News Service

Shimla, February 6
Mr Karan Singh, Primary Education Minister, and Mr Praveen Sharma, Excise and Taxation Minister, have taken strong exception to the statement of former Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh, accusing the Chief Minister, Prof P.K. Dhumal, of polluting the political environment of the state and alleged that he was making such charges to divert the attention of people from his land-grab cases.

In a joint statement here today, they reminded him of the incidents of March 1998 when legislatures had to leave the state for days to escape the onslaught of Congress leaders who wanted to instal Mr Virbhadra Singh as the Chief Minister at all costs. They said the Divisional Commissioner probe as well as the judicial inquiry by Mr H.D. Kainthla had indicted the Congress leaders.

The ministers said 1,300 bighas of forest land had been declared as private property of Raja Bushaher in 1949 but it was strange that no follow-up action was taken on the grant for 25 years and suddenly in January 1974, a mutation was attested in violation of the Ceiling Act when Mr Virbhadra Singh was already having surplus land.

They said this land had been classified as jungle deodar in the records. All mutations of these lands were attested as jungle but Mr Virbhadra Singh got the record tampered with and its classification from jungle to “banjar kadim” was changed without adopting a proper procedure regarding a change in the classification of land.

They said as per the white paper in 1948 of the Government of India, the properties which were declared as private property of former rulers of different states, forests were declared as private property of the former ruler only for collecting fuelwood, wood for repair of houses, agricultural equipment and for grazing purposes. It never gave them the right to exploit the forests commercially. Mr Virbhadra Singh, however, gifted the forest land to his daughter who sold deodar trees worth crores of rupees in 1983-84, they alleged.

BJP blasts Congress leaders for ‘scams’
Our Correspondent

Dalhousie, February 6
Ms Renu Chadha, BJP leader from the Banikhet Assembly constituency in this district, has blasted Congress leaders for their alleged involvement in land-grab scams.

Launching a public awareness camp at Sherpur in the Banikhet segment yesterday, she lashed out at the Congress which governed the state for several years but failed to eradicate poverty and unemployment from this interior and background region. She said people of the area had been made aware of a number of schemes undertaken for the speedy development of these areas under the Dhumal government.

Ms Chadha who was accompanied by BJP Mandal president Amar Nath Sharma and zila parishad member Chatro Ram appealed to the public to make these scandals a mass movement.

She said the BJP government had undertaken work on Chamera and Parbati projects and disbursed Rs 65 crore compensation to Ranjit Sagar Dam oustees of Dalhousie tehsil. She welcomes the launching of a Rs 8.27 crore Vanaspati Van project for the preservation and conservation of medicinal herbs with the participation of the locals.

Power board to pay for deficiency in service
Rakesh Lohumi
Tribune News Service

Shimla, February 6
The Himachal Pradesh State Power Board has become the first board in the country to lay down guaranteed standards of service for the benefit of the consumers, with the order of the State Electricity Regulatory Commission in this regard coming into force from this month.

While issuing the power tariff order in October 2001, the commission had not only set guaranteed standards but also provided for token compensation in case of proven violations to ensure efficient service to the consumers. It had also directed the board to put in place a complaint-handling mechanism and a procedure for establishing violations of the guaranteed standards beyond doubt by December 31 so that the standards could be enforced with effect from February 1.

As per the benchmarks and standards approved by the commission, the board will have to respond to complaints of interruption of power supply due to main fuse failure between 9 am and 9 pm in urban areas within six hours and between 9 pm and 9 am within 12 hours. In case of rural areas, it will be 24 hours for complaints received anytime during the day. The supply will have to be restored within the shortest possible time.

Similarly the process of estimating charges for new connections and additional power supply and issuing of demand notice to the consumer has to be completed within three weeks in the urban areas and four weeks in the rural areas. Investigations of complaints regarding low or unstable voltage has to be carried out within four weeks. In case of violation of these standards, the board will have to pay a token compensation of Rs 10 to the consumer.

Besides, for interruption of electricity supply to carry out maintenance works, a 14-hour notice has to be given.

Further, new domestic and commercial power connections will have to be provided within a month after deposit of the charges. In case of small and medium industrial units, connections have to be given within three months. Violation of these standards will entitle the consumer to a token compensation of Rs 20 to Rs 100.

The provision of token compensation has been made to make the functionaries of the board accountable for the lapses but it will have serious implications. Once a consumer gets compensation, he will have a proof of deficiency in service and could easily move a court for claiming damages. The board has already finalised the complaint-handling mechanism and procedure, which will be approved by the commission within a day or two. The complaint could be lodged on telephone and the consumer will be given the complaint number so that he could pursue the matter further in case of violation of standards without any problem.

It took a long-time to evolve the complaint-handling mechanism to help establish violation of standards, as there was no precedent to go by. No other Electricity Regulatory Commission in the country has set the guaranteed standards of service so far.

The board has also submitted the grid code, the distribution code and the supply and service code, which will be approved shortly by the commission. Mr S.S. Gupta, Chairperson of the commission, said once these codes were enforced, there would be a marked improvement in the power supply and the consumer would be the ultimate beneficiary. The board has been asked to submit a material management plan after conducting exhaustive studies and also for simulating competitive conditions within various circles to boost efficiency.

Fresh spell of snow in Shimla

Shimla, February 6
Intense cold wave sweeping most parts of Himachal Pradesh further tightened its grip as higher reaches and the tribal belt had another spell of heavy snow while the mid and lower hills were lashed by rain and sleet, accompanied by strong velocity icy winds.

The minimum temperature stayed between-16°C 16 and 25°C in the valley. PTI

Mixed response to construction norms
Jagmeet Singh

Kumarhatti, February 6
The state government’s recent decision to allow construction up to five storeys has received a mixed response from the public. A day-long survey from Jabli to Barog on the Kalka-Shimla national highway, the stretch that would benefit most due to the relaxation in construction norms, showed that a majority of the locals termed it as a long-awaited decision mainly to gain political mileage as the Assembly elections in the state were just a year away. It would certainly be helpful in boosting commercial activities that had come to a halt after the three storeys restriction, said a highway hotelier.

Due to the restriction and complex procedures under Section 118 of the HP Land, Reforms and Tenancy Act and the Special Area Development Authority (SADA), nobody was keen to invest money here despite the fact that the area had tourism potential on a large scale, he maintained. Whatever the decision, it would help only those who have power and money, opined most of the local residents who have their residential properties along the highway.

The indiscriminate construction activities had gone on unhindered mainly at Barog despite the fact that about two years ago, the government had constituted the Special Area Development Authority (SADA) under which prior permission was required to start any new construction within 100 metres of both sides of the highway. These measures were meant only for the poor, who could not understand and follow the complex procedures to get prior sanction for construction, said a resident.

There were some cases reported in the past when genuine permission seekers for new construction had to wait for months to get the sanction from SADA due to a lengthy process requiring compliance with all necessary formalities. Ironically, those who have power and money seemed to get early sanctions for new constructions. Whatever the decisions, it hardly yielded the desired result unless corruption in the departments concerned was stopped, asserted a nearby highway dhabawala.

Interestingly, at Barog, where a lot of unplanned and hazardous construction activities had taken place in the past 10 years, the locals welcomed the government’s decision as they said it would help revive commercial activities here which had virtually come to a standstill after the implementation of SADA and Section 118.

The Barog market at persons had come into existence due to more than a 100 families who had settled here in the past. “Malicious” reporting by revenue officials about the status of the land led to panic among the settlers that resulted in a sharp decline in the number of people interested in purchasing land from the plains as a record number of benami land transactions were booked in the Barog and Chewa panchayats during a special drive launched by authorities sometime ago. The revenue officials had filed erroneous reports allegedly on a wrong basis and did not try to ascertain the facts which created uncertainty and fear among the settlers as well as the locals, accused a former vice-president of Barog panchayat.

Some genuine settlers have reportedly won their cases and other cases are still in the pipeline. Barog settlers were not available as they came to Barog only in summers. However, the locals said they were responsible for the development of Barog and urged that the state government should be more liberal in permitting genuine construction activities.

Villagers help regenerate forests
Kishori Lal

Mandi, February 6
The Jabrat demarcated protected forest (DPF) spread over 275 hectares and 27-hectare Jassan DPF adjoining the panoramic Chail Chowk valley of Gohar forest division of Mandi circle which had been degraded due to increasing population have been regenerated with lush green growth of broad-leaf oak and other wild fruit trees thanks to the joint efforts of village forest development committees (VFDCs) and the Forest Department.

During a visit to these forests, mediapersons found a large number of women, who were also members of the VFDCs engaged in bush cutting and collecting fodder for their livestock.

Ms Vidya Minhas, president of a village development committee, said about four years ago Jassan had been reduced to a degraded forest with skeleton survival of pine trees. Broad-leaf trees were not visible.

She said in January, 1999, the DFO, Gohar, and his colleagues told us elementary things about forests and stressed that forests were for the benefit of people and provided them fuel and fodder. Forest turned barren due to massive grazing. All were convinced and agreed to protect these forests by circling them with barbed wires.

Astonishing results have followed. The oak and wild fruit trees made their appearance within just one year and villagers harvested a bumper grass crop. “We pruned the sprouted plants of oak from the old stumps in a scientific manner taught to us by forest personnel”, said Ms Mahanti Devi, a member of a VFDC.

After three-and-a-half years a full-grown forest, prominently of the broad-leaf trees, has come up in the wake of the implementation of the concept of the joint forest management. A realisation has been generated that forest belonged to people who are the real beneficiaries and it was their duty to protect them. Over 160 families have been associated with this forest.

Mediapersons also went round Jabrat DPF which had been ravaged during the days of the construction of the BSL project when the fuel requirement of thousands of workers was met by this forest.

The gigantic task of regeneration of this forest actually began in 1998-99 with the help of a network of the village forest development societies. Old trees were protected and saplings planted. Check-dams were also constructed.

The Divisional Forest Officer, Mr Ashok Somal, makes frequent visits to the forest and meets people and tells them how important the forests are for them” said Ms Parvati, president of VFDC.

The thick growth of the forest has given yet another surprise to villagers. Their only source of water — Dari spring — which was drying up has recorded three-times increase in the water level. The dry streams in the forest are flowing with water now. It is an open demonstration to the people that forests play an important role in the conservation of water.

The DFO, Gohar, says as many as 6,500 families have been involved in the management of forests and the number is likely to be doubled in the coming months. Forty VFDCs have been converted into 22 societies and it has been proposed to allocate them Rs 12 lakh directly for carrying on various forest activities and income-generation ventures.

Safety measures on forest fire outlined
Our Correspondent

Kumarhatti, February 6
The state Forest Department has launched a statewide forest fire safety awareness programme. Under the programme, workshops will be organised in various parts of the state wherein members of the respective forest committees, panchayats, mahila mandals and yuva mandals will participate.

Beside educating the grassroots-level about the effects of fire and preventive measures, the workshops will urge villagers to help the department in curbing the menace of forest fires. This was stated here today by Mr O.P. Solanki, DFO from Chail Forest Training School, who was here to attend first such workshop of Solan Forest Division at the local forest rest house. Inadequate awareness among the villagers has been causing frequent forest fires which has resulted in considerable destruction of fauna and flora, according to Mr Solanki.

According to Dr R.C. Dhiman, Assistant Conservator of Forests from Chail Training School, 10 per cent of the forest fire is caused due to natural reasons whereas 90 per cent of it is caused due to negligence and ignorance of villagers.

The three main reasons for forest fire, as cited by Dr Dhiman, are the falling of pine needles by the end of winter, which on being dried up in summer, is an open invitation to fire. This is despite the efforts of the Forest Department to burn the needles separately at a safe place. Secondly, setting ghasins on fire by the villagers in the hope of growing new grass and lastly, burning bushes like lantana and congress grass often leads to major fire, he said. He urged the villagers to refrain from doing so as the fire reduces the amount of nitrogen in the soil which decreases its fertility.

As many as 60 persons comprising panchayat presidents, vice-presidents and members of mahila mandals, yuva mandals and forest committees falling under Solan Forest Division participated in the workshop.

Mr Sanjay Kumar, vice-president of Barog panchayat, demanded that such workshops be organised in panchayat gram sabha meetings where most of the villagers took part.

Drive against female foeticide soon
Tribune News Service

Shimla, February 6
The Health Department will carry out a campaign in collaboration with the Social Welfare Department to create awareness among people, specially women, against female foeticide.

At a meeting of the committee set up to monitor the implementation of the Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Regulation and Prevention of Misuse) Act held here yesterday under the chairmanship of

Financial Commissioner-cum-Secretary (Welfare), reviewed the action taken by different departments in this respect. The Commissioner-cum-Secretary (Health) said Chief Medical Officers in the state had been declared competent authorities to issue licences to genetic clinics and keep check on their activities. So far, 93 such clinics had been registered in the state.

It was further informed that advisory committees had already been constituted for all districts, which would be notified very shortly to

oversee the implementation of the provisions of the Act. It was decided at the meeting that stern action would be taken against those running diagnostic clinics without a proper licence. It was also decided that the campaign against female foeticide would be intensified, for which awareness camps would be organised by the Health and Social Welfare Departments. Special campaign would be launched in 14 “Kishori Shakti blocks” and eight “Swayamsidha blocks” under the Welfare Department. 

ITBP man booked for rape
Our Correspondent

Paonta Sahib, February 6
A nine-year girl from Matralion was allegedly raped by an ITBP personnel from Rampur Ghat. The police has registered a case under Sections 376, 451, 363 and 506, IPC. The victim’s mother told mediapersons that the incident took place on January 14 but the police registered a case only two days ago.

The incident came to light with the help of the All-India Crime Prevention Society. 

B.Ed students call off strike
Our Correspondent

Nalagarh, February 6
The five-day-old strike being observed by students of the local B.Ed College came to an end yesterday evening with the Principal giving a written undertaking to accede to the demands of the agitating students.

The breakthrough in resolving this issue was achieved with the intervention of the tehsildar, Mr Suresh Bhardwaj. Following this assurance the students have also withdrawn the relay fast being observed by them.

The Principal has accepted the students’ demand of not charging 10 per cent fee which they had already deposited at the time of counselling with the university. The Principal has also been directed by the tehsildar to amicably settle the dispute regarding the building fund between the students and the college management. The students returned to classes today following this assurance and hoped for an early settlement of the remaining issues.

Monitoring of Acts
Tribune News Service

Shimla, February 6
The state government has entrusted the work of monitoring the Child Marriage Restraint Act, 1929, the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1955, the HP Registration of Marriage Act, 1996, the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961, and the women and child welfare schemes to all district programme officers and child development project officers within their jurisdiction. Earlier, this work was being done by the district welfare officers only.