H I M A C H A L   P R A D E S H

A busy day for HP Cabinet
Acts on VAT, power, sanitation
Dharamsala, January 14
The Himachal Pradesh Cabinet, at its meeting here today, approved the implementation of the value-added tax from April 1, 2005. The draft to this effect would now be sent to the Centre for a final nod before its implementation. It was also decided to have a contributory pension scheme for those joining the government service after May 15, 2003.

Probe sought into poster scandal
Chamba, January 14
The Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) has sought a high-level probe into the recent poster scandal in which a gang of anti-social elements, operating in the sensitive border district of Chamba adjoining Jammu and Kashmir, is reportedly involved in pasting anonymous communal and obscene posters. These elements had also pasted some posters around the court complex against a local court a couple of days ago.

A busy day for HP Cabinet
Acts on VAT, power, sanitation
Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, January 14
The Himachal Pradesh Cabinet, at its meeting here today, approved the implementation of the value-added tax (VAT) from April 1, 2005. The draft to this effect would now be sent to the Centre for a final nod before its implementation. It was also decided to have a contributory pension scheme for those joining the government service after May 15, 2003.

There had been a demand for such a scheme as the new entrants to government service were not covered under the regular pension scheme.

This would not apply to those employed on part-time basis prior to this date. The boards and corporations could also adopt this.

The Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh, started the meeting by "emphasising" the importance of Dharamsala, proved by the sheer fact that the Cabinet was meeting here.

The Cabinet put its stamp on the proposal to raise 3rd India Reserve Battalion in the state. Stationed at Junga in Shimla district, it would have a total of 1,007 posts of different ranks.

It was also decided to sell the 12 per cent free power, received from different hydel projects in the private and pubic sector, by inviting competitive bids.

The modalities of the decision would soon be finalised. The losses borne by the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board (HPSEB) on this account would be compensated by the state government and, if need be, subsidies would also be give to the board.

To ensure transparency in the government spending, the Cabinet approved the Bill for Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management, which was expected to be taken up in the Budget session for discussion.

The Cabinet also approved the draft rules of the HP Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995, so that it could be implemented effectively in the state.

The Cabinet put its stamp on the total rural sanitation scheme. The state once used to have a sanitation programme which had failed to achieve the desired objectives.

The scheme, aimed at rewarding those maintaining sanitation at the gram panchayat level to the state level would also carry rewards from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 10 lakh.

It was decided to amend the Recruitment and Promotion Rules for Superintending Engineers in the Public Works Department (PWD) by making it mandatory to serve in a tribal area or difficult area for at least two winters and three summers before promotion.

Due to limited posts in the tribal areas, the tenure in the design wing of the department would be considered equivalent to serving in a tribal area.

The Cabinet decided to waive off the guarantee fee of Rs 72 lakh which the HP State Cooperative Agricultural and Rural Development Bank owed to the state as it had raised loans to the tune of Rs 60 crore from the market. The waiver was made in view of the constructive role being played by the bank.

The Cabinet gave approval for the design of the flag for the chairmen of zila parishads, which could be used atop their official vehicles. The practice to have multi-purpose barriers in the state, like the one at Parwanoo, would be continued.

The Cabinet was of the opinion that though introduced on an experimental basis, these barriers had proved effective.

Keeping in view the various civil problems being faced by people regarding the various developmental plans being made by the Town and Country Planning Department, under the Special Area Development Authority (SADA) notification, it was decided to form a Cabinet sub-committee to look into the issue and give recommendations about possible improvements.

Taking a sympathetic view of orphans and people under extreme indigent circumstances, it was decided to include these two categories in the list of those eligible for relaxation for appointment as part-time water carriers.Those below poverty line and widows were already on the list.

The Cabinet gave approval for enhancing the amount of relief on loss of sheep or goat due to natural calamity from Rs 750 to Rs 1,000 per animal under the HP Emergency Relief Manual.

The VAT would replace the general sales tax (GST). While the GST has single point taxation, VAT would have multiple point taxation.

Nine taxation systems under the GST have been compressed into four under the VAT system.

The Government of India would compensate the state in case of any losses.

The compensation would be 100 per cent in the first year, 75 per cent in the second year and 50 per cent of the losses in the third year.

It was pointed out that meetings with beopar mandals in Shimla, Mandi and Dharamsala, and the CII were held while finalising the VAT draft.

Probe sought into poster scandal

Chamba, January 14
The Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) has sought a high-level probe into the recent poster scandal in which a gang of anti-social elements, operating in the sensitive border district of Chamba adjoining Jammu and Kashmir, is reportedly involved in pasting anonymous communal and obscene posters. These elements had also pasted some posters around the court complex against a local court a couple of days ago.

Dr Ajit Bhardwaj, state president of the Himachal unit of the SAD (Amritsar), suspected that these anti-social elements were also reported to have been involved in a statewide “anonymous poster episode”. They had not even spared the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh. — OC