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Monday,
March 25, 2002, Chandigarh, India  
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PM leaves Dhumal high and dry on package Dalit Sena: PM betrayed OBCs
RS poll: Dhawan to check cross-voting New excise policy will end price war |
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French team offers help in horticulture Milk coop
societies boon for rural poor 26 lakh on housing for safai karamcharis Teachers’ orientation programme held Bar union flays SDM’s action
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PM leaves Dhumal high and dry on package Shimla, March 24 There was expectation that on the occasion of celebration of completion of four years in office by the
BJP-HVC combine government, Mr Vajpayee might announce handsome package as he had done during his previous visits to the state. The ruling combine had reasons to expect some package as the Assembly elections were approaching and the government had meager resources at its command. Mr Vajpayee made it clear that the country was passing through a financial crisis which indicated that his hands this time were tight. He did not announce anything new and reiterated that work on the Rs 800 crore Rohtang tunnel would be started next month. He also assured that help would be provided to the state to execute drinking water schemes and Rs 300 crore would the provided for rural development. The Prime Minister bypassed the issues raised earlier by Himachal Chief Minister
P.K. Dhumal in his speech for allowing the state government to impose a generation tax of 10 paise per unit to fetch Rs 200 crore annually, central intervention in getting the arrears of Rs 4000 crore realised from the BBMB and extension of tax holiday on the industry till 2007. He had sought that the Centre should allow the state government to impose the generation tax under Article 288(1). What might have come as a relief for the Chief Minister, Mr
P.K. Dhumal, is the assurance of the Prime Minister that the annual plan for the next financial year will not be allowed to remain stagnant at Rs 1720 crore and be increased to Rs 1900 crore. The
BJP-HVC combine government already was being grilled by Opposition parties, including the Congress, for the Planning Commission not making any hike in the annual plan during the current year and a cut in the plan size earlier. However, Mr Dhumal had made it clear earlier this week that he was not expecting any financial package during Mr Vajpayee’s visit as he had been invited here only to bless us on the completion of four years in office by the
BJP-HVC combine government. |
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Dalit Sena: PM betrayed OBCs Kangra, March 24 Mr Mohinder Singh, former PWD minister and state unit chief of the Dalit Sena while addressing the rally criticised the Prime Minister for betraying the community by backing out from his promise to provide 27 per cent reservation to the community, given at a public meeting at Kangra. Those who attended the rally included BSP state unit chief Mr Balwant Singh, Him Lok Tantrik Morcha state unit chief Mr R.S. Badiyal, former state unit chief of the Janata Dal Captain Partap Chaudary and other Dalit and OBC leaders. Protesters later took out a procession from the Tandon Club, the venue of the rally, set ablaze the effigies of the Prime Minister, Chief Minister Prof P.K. Dhumal and Union Minister Shanta Kumar at Tehsil Chowk of the town. |
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Bid to gherao Dhumal; 12 hurt Bilaspur, March 24 Led by about 36 leaders of the Congress and the Himachal Vikas Congress, including district Congress President Hoshiyar Singh Thakur, and former Agriculture Minister Sardar Bachitar Singh, a large number of villagers held a dharna on the road in front of the main gate of the venue of the fair for about two hours and tried to obstruct the Chief Minister’s vehicle while he was returning from the function. The police clashed with the villagers. At least 12 villagers were injured. Earlier, the villagers gathered on the main gate and shouted slogans in favour construction of the Berry Darolan bridge. Village leaders warned the government that they would be forced to launch an agitation on the issue. |
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RS poll: Dhawan to check cross-voting Shimla, March 24 Mr Dhawan will camp here till March 27 and will meet the party legislators to see that all of them voted for the Congress nominee, Mr Natha Singh. It is learnt that the Congress high command has specially deputed Mr Dhawan as observer for uniting the two warring factions of the PCC on the occasion of the Rajya Sabha election as cross-voting by even a single MLA would cause embarrassment for the party. The Congress faced humiliation during the previous two elections for the Rajya Sabha seats as some of their own legislators voted in favour of the ruling BJP-HVC combine candidates. The seat has been vacated by Mrs Chandresh Kumari, president of the All-India Women Congress. In the 68-member Assembly, the BJP has 35 MLAs and is also supported by the two legislators of the HVC. Besides, the unattached member, Mr Mohinder Singh, is bound by the whip of the
HVC. |
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New excise policy will end price war Shimla, March 24 Besides taking steps to reduce wide difference in the price of liquor in the state and the neighbouring Punjab and Haryana, the minimum retail sale price for various brands of liquor, fixed several years ago, have been increased substantially to put an end to the unhealthy competition among contractors. The minimum rate has been increased from, Rs 35 to Rs 50 per bottle for country liquor. In case of Indian made foreign liquor (IMFL) the rates have been revised from Rs 75 to Rs 90 per bottle for cheap brand, Rs 90 to Rs 110 per bottle for regular brand, Rs 125 to Rs 200 per bottle for premium brand and Rs 175 to Rs 300 per bottle for deluxe brand. The high minimum rates will ensure check in price war among liquor contractors, which eventually affected the government revenue. Since licence fee is the main component of liquor cost, minimum rates will ensure reasonable returns to contractor and they will be able to pay the license fee. The government has also reduced excise duty by Re 1 per bottle for country liquor and Re 1 to Rs 3 per bottle for cheap and regular brands of IMFL and Rs 10 per bottle for deluxe brand to reduce the basic cost of liquor. After carrying out detailed cost analysis of liquor production over the past two years the ex factory price per case has been reduced for Rs 120 to Rs 98.50. All these steps have reduced difference in wholesale prices of liquor in Himachal Pradesh and adjoining states leaving little incentive for the smuggling of liquor. For instance the price of country liquor in Haryana is Rs 109 per case as against Rs 136 per case in Himachal. Two years ago the prices in the state were 60 to 80 per cent higher than the adjoining states. The loss on account of reduction in excise duty is more than made up by the additional sales tax, licence fee and bottling fee the state earns. Corrective steps being taken by government have indeed led to an increase in the consumption of country liquor by 18 per cent, Indian made foreign liquor by 24 per cent and beer by 37 per cent during the current year. The excise revenue recorded 23 per cent increase from Rs 148 crore to Rs 181 crore. The trend of auctions of liquor vend already conducted in six districts for the next year indicate that there will be an increase of 15 per cent. This is quite encouraging as the department is apprehensive that after last years exceptional increase, revenue might come down this year. |
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French team offers help in horticulture Shimla, March 24 Mr Bragta outlined four major areas where the French Government could assist the Himachal Pradesh Government for the development and promotion of horticultural activities in the state. These include improvement in the varieties of fruit by importing best root stocks suitable for the
agro-climatic conditions of the state, upgradation and strengthening of existing processing infrastructure by introduction of latest technologies, improved packaging systems and standards, development of post-harvest infrastructures consisting of controlled atmosphere cold storages and pre-cold chain so as to enhance the shelf-life of the fruit to get better returns for the growers. He also urged for French assistance in diversification in the horticulture industry and extension services. Mr Evette appreciated the state government’s viewpoint and assured bilateral assistance by the French Government. He insisted on building bridges between the two governments creating coordinating links and entering into dialogue at regular intervals. In this regard, visit by a delegation of officers and growers of the state to France was of paramount importance, because that will expose them not only to the latest technologies available in France but also help identify the sources of assistance and mutual cooperation. He suggested that a blend of
agri-pole of France and Food Park concept of India could go a long way in creating a focal point of infrastructural facilities for attracting food processing industries in the area. The team will also visit the Carton Factory at Pragatinagar
(Gumma) and pre-cooling and cold storage facilities at Oddi, besides visit to a few orchards, in orders to have direct interaction with the fruit growers in the area. On their return to Delhi, the team will submit a report to the Ministry of Food Processing Industries on March 28. |
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Milk
coop societies boon for rural poor Mandi, March 24 According to figures obtained from Senior Manager, Chakkar Milk Plant, Mr Anil Sanyal, Rs 30 lakh was being paid monthly to the milk producers. The concept of selling milk was unknown to the villagers earlier. With the setting up of the milk plant at Chakkar in collaboration with the West German Government during the operation of the Indo-German Agriculture Project in September, 1972, a concept of “mixed farming” was introduced for the first time in Himachal Pradesh whereby the farmers were advised to adopt animal husbandry, poultry, piggery, horticulture etc in addition to growing foodgrains and pulses. The idea of milk production has come as a boon particularly for women as it greatly helped them attain economic freedom. As many as 2,900 women are directly engaged in milk production and they have constituted 25 societies comprising women only. The entire milk is lifted by the vans of the milk plant from all collection centres spread over the far-flung areas of the district. Mr Sanyal says regular training is being imparted to farmers in the modern methods of rearing high-yielding milch cattle. A training complex has recently been set up near the milk plant at Chakkar. As many as 2,112 managing committee members of societies have been imparted training so far. The milk federation has installed 10 bulk coolers at Gohar, Luhara, Thunag, Bagga, Ghanyari, Rogli, Talari etc where the milk collection is heavy. This has served as an incentive for the societies and to ensure that the quality of milk is preserved. The bulk cooler project has been sponsored by the central government. The Chakkar Milk Plant is presently collecting around 10,000 litres of milk daily through 120 milk producers societies. The plant is also lifting milk from 29 other milk producers societies who have set up their own collection centres. |
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26 lakh on housing for safai karamcharis Shimla, March 24 He said out of 973 scavenger families in the district, 670 families had been rehabilitated, besides 1,588 members of these families had been provided training in different professions to create employment opportunities. He said out of 8,237 dry latrines, 8,228 had been converted into flush latrines while nine cases were pending being sub judice in the court. Mr Teja advised the district administration and the municipal corporation authorities to regularise houses constructed by the scavengers under the UAMBA scheme and provide basic facilities to them. Mr H.N. Kashyap, Commissioner, Municipal corporation, Shimla, said an amount of Rs 12 lakh was spent for the repair and construction of scavengers houses in Shimla town during the current year and added that 20 houses were being constructed in the Dhalli area of the town. He further said a provision of Rs 75 lakh had been made for the purpose for the next fiscal year. |
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Teachers’ orientation programme held Shimla, March 24 Prof Yoginder Verma, Director, Academic Staff College, said the teachers must shed off the cynicism and indifference towards the consequences of change. Prof A.S. Sethi, coordinator of the programme said a variety of interactional techniques were utilised during the programme. As many as 40 teachers of colleges and universities in Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Uttaranchal, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Assam participated in the programme. |
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Bar union flays SDM’s action Shimla, March 24 He further said it was resolved that the copies of the resolution be forwarded to the Chief Minister, Secretary, Home, with a request that remedial measures be initiated immediately to rectify the wrong done and suitable action be taken against the officials concerned. |
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