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Six MoUs on hydel
projects cancelled Release water
into Beas, says council 11 hurt as ABVP
workers, nomads clash BJP leader
alleges rules violation in promotions Revenue report
submitted |
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Chamba to get
Central aid 2-yr stir by the
blind and no hope still Scientist
indicted, report sent to govt Three depts
merged to create new one
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Six MoUs on hydel projects cancelled Shimla, November 5 It also decided to initiate action against Mr Harsh Gupta, the then Chief Secretary, and other officers who arbitrarily changed the parameters of evaluation criteria on “extraneous consideration”, reducing the entire exercise for the selection of independent powers producers (IPPs) for awarding projects. The decision was taken by the state cabinet which accepted the report of the high-powered committee set up to review the MoUs and the report of its subcommittee which was asked to recommend action to be taken on each MoU. Briefing mediapersons about the decisions, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, said there was lack of transparency and the evaluation criteria for awarding the projects to private companies was changed arbitrarily. In order to favour certain companies, an “ingenious” method was adopted under which the names of the IPPs were arranged in alphabetical order instead of merit for awarding projects. In all, 17 big projects were assigned during the BJP rule. Out of the eight projects awarded in 1999, the MoU for the Fozal project, which was allotted to M/s Cosmos Consulting, ignoring the claims of 13 more deserving IPPs, would be cancelled. The Budhil and Kugti projects, which were assigned to M/s Tiwag of Austria, ignoring even the geographical realities of the sites, were cancelled by the previous regime itself. Similarly, the Harsar and Bharmour projects, allotted to M/s Soffimat of France were also cancelled and the IPP had challenged the action in the high court. The allotment of these projects and subsequent cancellation caused a loss of revenue to the tune of crores by way of non-generation. It was decided that the Budhil and Kugti projects be advertised again and the case in the high court concerning the other two projects should be expedited. In case of the Sainj project the committee found that merit had been ignored by allotting it to M/s East India Petroleum, that was placed at the fifth place. However, in the interest of continuity of government decisions, it was decided not to take any harsh action. However, the progress of the Sainj and Patikari projects, allotted to the same IPP, would be monitored strictly. The MoU of the Sal project was terminated by the previous government and amended to the state sector. The Dhaula Sidh, Tangnu Romai and Baragaon projects were found to be liable for cancellation as they failed to submit the essential documents. It was decided that their cases would be put up before the Cabinet. In case of the Sarkothi project, the allottee M/s Venture Energy Technologies violated the clauses of MoU and misrepresented the facts by tampering with the consortium equity position in the documents submitted to the government of India. The implementation agreements for the Dhamwari-Sunda and Negoal projects were cancelled due to lack of seriousness on the part of the IPPs concerned. In case of the Karcham-Wangtu project it was found that the agreement was signed in undue haste. The agreement was finalised by the board on November 15, 1999, and approved by the high-powered committee on the same day and a Cabinet memorandum was placed before the government on that day. The agreement was approved by the Cabinet through circulation November 18 and signed the same day. This was done immediately after the government revised the free power policy and reduced its quantum from 15 to 12 percent for the first 12 years and 20 to 18 per cent for the next 28 years. The validity of the MoU was extended retrospectively on June 28, 2001. |
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Release water into Beas, says council Mandi, November 5 The memorandum says that water of Beas has been diverted to the Sutlej through a 35-km-long water conductor system by constructing a dam at Pandoh. With the diversion of the Beas, which had been flowing since centuries through Mandi, ghats of the town wear a deserted look. It says that the BBMB has done nothing to restore the loss caused by the diversion. The council has demanded that the BBMB should release water into the Beas. |
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11 hurt as ABVP workers, nomads clash Mandi, November 5 Twelve persons have been arrested from both factions and a case or rioting has been registered. Mr Ali Raza
Rizvi, Deputy Commissioner, said the altercation was over a petty matter. |
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BJP leader alleges
rules violation in promotions Shimla, November 5 Mr Sharma alleged that the government had promoted as many as 12 IAS officers in violation of rules. He said officers became eligible for super time scale only after completion of 16 years of service but the government had promoted four officers who were yet to complete the stipulated period. Six other officers were promoted as Principal Secretaries even though they had not completed the minimum required period of 25 years of service. The Centre had not approved of the state's action, he said. |
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Revenue report submitted Shimla, November 5 The report covered 6402-sq km of the district out of which 13,363 hectares new revenue land was added to the record. An area of 6,26,959 hectares has been kept out of the revenue record. The district encompasses areas with altitude of 1200 m to snow-covered peaks rising up to 6771 m. |
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Chamba to get Central aid Shimla, November 5 Giving details of the scheme, Mrs Asha Kumari, Education Minister, said Sirmaur also figured among the selected districts. However, the scheme would be implemented in Sirmaur in the second phase. She said under the scheme, the district would receive a grant of Rs 45 crore over a three-year period for undertaking economic activities to increase the income of people and infrastructure development. |
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2-yr stir by the blind and no hope still
Shimla, November 5 Their demands include 1 per cent reservation in government jobs, free travel facility in the roadways buses and implementation of the Disabilities Act, besides setting up of a school for the blind. The police forcibly removes an agitator from outside the HP Secretariat
in Shimla on
Wednesday. — Photo by Anil Dayal |
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Scientist indicted, report sent to govt Solan, November 5 The matter was first reported by The Tribune in April. The report had pointed out the political links of all four candidates. The enforcement report has established that Mr Kumar had produced a false experience certificate procured from a Faridabad-based pharmaceuticals company. He had proceeded on long leave following the inquiry and had also procured an anticipatory bail after a case of fraud was registered against him in August. The department has yet to submit an administrative inquiry report regarding the experience certificates of the other three appointees, including the daughter of the Chairman of the State Public Service Commission. |
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Three depts merged to create new one Shimla, November 5 Mr Arvind Kaul, Chief Secretary, said that the new department would comprise science and technology, biotechnology and information technology. He said at present these three disciplines were handled by different ministers and secretaries, which created problems in their smooth functioning. The proposal was approved by the Cabinet today. The new department would function directly under the control of the Chief Minister. As per another decision the Cabinet allowed the Baddi Nagar Panchayat to impose house tax. He said Baddi was growing township and it required funds for proper development. |
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