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Cash bungling put power board in dock
Rs 2.28 cr loss due to delay in projects
CM promoting nepotism: BJP
Lenka threatens action against erring officials
Salt mines can rejuvenate HP tourism |
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Mayawati wants HP to rebuild temple
Weather hits tea industry
MC sets hope on industrial grant
Workshop for teachers
Tour organiser told to refund excess amount
Proclaimed offender nabbed
Probe parking lot contracts, say residents
Surjit Singh sworn in
as HC Judge
Tibetan youth condemn
Wen’s visit
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Cash bungling put power board in dock
Shimla, April 11 The CAG has made critical observations about the manner in which the board paid compensation to contractors on “flimsy” grounds, allowed interest- free advances out of borrowed funds and made over payments of huge sums in contravention of the terms and conditions of the contract. The audit report has more than justified the decision of the state electricity regulatory commission to order an independent probe into the exorbitant costs of the project. Over payments to contractors to the tune of Rs 13.22 crore were made due to incorrect analysis and payment at higher rates for substituted or extra items during the execution of civil works. The board extended undue favour to benefit the contractors by Rs 9.66 crore by way of payment of inadmissible compensation, non-recovery of dumping charges and releasing interest-free advances. Interest amounting to Rs 4.18 crore on advances was not recovered from a contractor in contravention of the contract agreement. Failure of the board to levy compensation for non-achievement of milestones resulted in undue favour to the tune of Rs 18.35 crore to the contractors, besides interest of Rs 3.65 crore. The report had also indicted the board for the inordinate delay in taking up the project in the right earnest. This deprived the state from the potential energy generation of 572 million units per annum for five years. The project was planned in a slipshod manner with huge variations in the estimated cost and the actual cost. It was estimated to cost Rs 168 crore in 1987 and it was later revised and the project was to be completed by April 2005 at a cost of Rs 875 crore. The audit report apart, the project is now likely to cost over Rs 1221 crore, with cost of generation coming to about Rs 10 crore per megawatt against Rs 5.50 crore per megawatt in case of the Nathpa Jhakri project and less than Rs 4 crore per megawatt for the Malana project. The huge cost escalation compelled the regulatory commission to order an independent inquiry into the high cost of the project. The two-member committee is likely to give its report next month. The matter of grave concern for the consumers and the government is that the cost of generation will be over Rs 4.50 per unit as against the average sale price of Rs 2.83 per unit. Obviously the government and the consumers would have to pay for the inefficiency, corruption and nepotism prevailing in the board.
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Rs 2.28 cr loss due to delay in projects
Shimla, April 11 The Himachal Pradesh Energy Development Agency (Himurja), promoting harnessing of micro-hydel projects up to 5 MW through private investors had given contracts for the execution of micro-hydel projects in these four districts to three firms at a revised cost of Rs 24 crore. Delay in the commissioning of these projects resulted in no generation of 91,10,400 units of energy, resulting in a revenue loss of Rs 2.28 crore. Time allowed for completion of the projects was 12 working months from the date of awarding of work. The delay involved in the completion of six projects, ranged from one month to 43 months while work on the Bara Bhangal project, scheduled to be completed in July 2002, was still in progress till last year. “The contention of the Director, Himurja, that work was delayed because of the area being snow-bound, road closure and limited working season is not tenable as all these factors had already been taken into account while awarding work,” are the remarks in the Comptroller and Auditor-General (CAG) report on revenue loss. The CAG report also points out the loss of Rs 1.21 crore due to underutilization of the installed capacity of five projects, which had been running at seven to 56 per cent of their installed capacity. These projects generated 24,19,110 units of power against the expected units of 72,70,800 . Work on only two projects, Chandni and Mannal in Sirmaur district, has been started out of the 178 projects for which Himurja had signed an MoU with private investors. Work on these projects allotted between 1996 and 2002 had not started till last year. The CAG report points out that Himurja had failed to exercise proper control over the private investors to harness the potential to boost the energy sector. To popularise the hydram technology for harnessing the irrigation potential of fast-flowing perennial streams, 600 hydrams were to be bought at a cost of Rs 5.71 crore under two schemes of the Rural Development Department. Of these, 159 hydrams, valued at Rs 1.51 crore, had not been installed resulting in blocking of programme funds of Rs 2.52 crore, including an unutilised amount of Rs 1.01 crore. The CAG report also makes reference to undue favours extended to firms as advance payments aggregating to Rs 41. 22 lakh were made. This resulted in a loss of Rs 3.81 lakh to Himurja on account of interest which could have been earned on the amount extended as advance.
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CM promoting nepotism: BJP
Mandi, April 11 Addressing a press conference here today, Mr Thakur said both NHPC and NTPC were executing the Parbati and Kol Dam projects in Kulu and Bilaspur-Mandi districts, respectively. NTPC had taken a house owned by a relative of Mr Virbhadra Singh in Shimla on rent, while the NHPC office was running from the house owned by the IPH minister, Mr Kaul Singh Thakur, in Shimla. These companies were paying Rs 44, 970 and Rs 50,000 per month, respectively, to the owners”, he alleged. Mr Mohinder Singh said Mr Thakur had constructed the house after getting a loan from the Vidhan Sabha fund meant for MLAs. Meanwhile, a former Health Minister and BJP leader, Mr J.P. Nadda, today alleged that Mr Virbahdra Singh should have created basic infrastructure at Baddi industrial town before inviting investors to Himachal Pradesh. Talking to reporters here today on the occasion of the Jan Jagran Abhiyan against the wrong policies of the Congress government Mr Nadda said Baddi had been tuned into a slum as it lacks housing and schools for workers and entrepreneurs. “”Parwanoo and Baddi industrial townships were getting more benefits than Panchkula because a large number of working people were staying there”, he claimed. He said the ongoing visit of the Chief Minister with Tourism minister G.S. Bali to Gujarat and Kolkata would lead to the wastage of Rs 36 lakh. “Mr Virbhadra’s visit to Ahamadabad only proves that the BJP-ruled state is a model state to invite investors in Himachal Pradesh”, he claimed.
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Lenka threatens action against erring officials
Shimla, April 11 Addressing a press conference, here today, Mr Lenka said he had taken a serious notice of complaints that some returning officers were holding elections of the block Congress committees without completing the poll process for primary and panchayat committees. In some cases lists of elected members had been prepared which sitting in the house of some local leader or a secret place without even going to respective panchayats, he alleged. Mr Lenka said action had already been taken against Mr Tek Chand, Block Returning Officer, Mandi. He had been replaced by Mr Ramesh Thakur. In case of Paonta Mr Harsh Wardhan, general secretary and member of the state Election Authority, had been asked to look into the matter. |
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Salt mines can rejuvenate HP tourism Mandi, April 11 Talking to The Tribune here yesterday Mr K.Ponnusamy, Chairman-cum-Managing Director, Hindustan Salts Ltd (HSL), a government-run public undertaking, which runs the Drang rock salt mines, said the company was exploring the possibility of starting the health resort in the country’s only rock salt mine. “We are seeking approval from the government to run such a health resort here”, he said. Though the Drang and Guma rock salt mines have supplied salt for animals on an ad hoc basis for almost 50 years, yet these have remained more or less useless as nobody has ever thought about utilising the mines as a health resort, revealed salt mines engineers. The idea came up recently when a team of scientists from Switzerland visited Drang Rock salt mines and found that the salt mines had the potential to be developed as a health resort, something that was available only in Switzerland so far, the officials revealed. The team told HSL officials that Switzerland had tapped the potential of its oldest and abandoned salt mines to run a world class health resort that attracts high-spending elite tourists from the USA, Europe and other countries all round the year. “The stay in the Swiss salt resort costs more than that in a five star hotel”, said Mr Virender Kumar, Mines Manager, HSL, Mandi, quoting the Swiss officials. What sets Drang Rock salt mines apart is the fact that not even a housefly can dare to enter the mines, leave alone other viruses and bacteria, said M. Ponnysamy. “It is the safest place on earth as far as health is concerned. You feel light and cool in the salt mines and this has a therapeutic effect on your mind and body”, he observed. Mining has created tunnels about 300 metres in length in Drang salt mines and these can be dressed up for the health resort. “We can go 500 metres further inside, and salt mines can last for thousands of years”, said Mr Kumar. “The capacity of the mine is 10,000 tonnes, but the company gets 3,000 tonnes of rock salt for animals every year and that also remains unsold as there is not much demand for it”, he added. When told about the tourism potential of the mines the Tourism Commissioner, Mr Tarun Shridhar, who has joined recently, said it was a brilliant idea and the department would get in touch with the HSL. “But we have not received any such proposal so far”, he added.
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Mayawati wants HP to rebuild temple
Una, April 11 Ms Mayawati claimed that 80 per cent of the Himachal population was Bahujan Samaj and only 15 per cent was Manuvadi. If the Bahujan Samaj joined hands with the BSP, the latter would form a government in the state. She called upon the Congress government of Himachal Pradesh to construct a Guru Ravi Dass temple at the same place in Santokhgarh where it was demolished at its own cost, take action against the police officials responsible for torturing Dalits and withdraw all criminal cases against Dalits of Santokhgarh by August 15, 2005, failing which the BSP would launch a statewide agitation in Himachal. |
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Weather hits tea industry
Palampur, April 11 Official sources told The Tribune today that the production of green leaf has come down to 30 to 50 per cent in the valley. Small tea growers are the worst hit where the fall in the production has been recorded up to 60 per cent. The total loss so far has been estimated at 50 lakh. However, experts and scientists working in the CSIR and HPAU say that the total loss can touch Rs 1 crore if the weather conditions do not improve in April. The dust storm in the region for the past one week has further aggravated the situation as tea bushes are covered with a thick coat of dust making it difficult for the growers to pluck the leaves. It has also spoiled the tea leaves in many gardens. Official sources revealed that in the first week of April last year, the total production of green leaves was 1,20,000 kg whereas this year it had come down to 75,000 kg. Likewise, the production in the first week of April last year was 30,000 kg which has come down to 18,500 kg this year. The Palampur Cooperative Tea Factory has been adversely affected because of poor inflow of green leaves this year. Its production has come down by 30 per cent this year. So far this unit has suffered a total loss of Rs 20 lakh and it can go up if the production of green tea leaves does not improve.
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Concrete jungle replaces tea gardens in Kangra
Palampur, April 11 In the past two years a number of big tea growers have managed to get permission from the government to sell their land under tea cultivation. Section 7-A of the H.P. State Land Revenue Act. prohibits the sale of tea gardens in the state. It may be recalled that lush green tea gardens of Palampur attract lakhs of tourists every year and therefore this town is also known as “Tea Town” of Himachal Pradesh . In most cases, the owners of tea gardens had availed the benefits of the HP Land Sealing Act and retained excess land, therefore, they cannot sell their holdings. It is a matter of surprise that they have managed the sale of their tea gardens by tampering the revenue records in gross violation of the law. Under the provisions of the law, permission for the sale of tea gardens could be only granted in special cases of utmost importance like setting up of defence units, cantonment and other government establishments. But in the past three years the government has virtually misused these provisions and a number of persons with political backing have managed permission overnight for the sale of tea gardens. Many outsiders, including Tibetans, have also succeeded in buying tea gardens and other landed property in the region. Residents of Palampur and Dharamsala are seriously worried over these recent developments. This has also posed a serious threat to the environment of this hill region as most of the tea gardens of this town are being converted into concrete jungles. The Union Government has also taken serious note of the large-scale sale of tea gardens in the Kangra valley. In its recent communication to the state Chief Secretary, it asked the initiation of effective measures to check the illegal sale of tea gardens in the Kangra valley. Prior to 2000 the government never granted permission for the sale of such big holdings of tea gardens in the valley and that too to outsiders. It is on record that most of the tea gardens sold in the valley have been converted into housing colonies and other multi storied buildings. No tea bushes are seen there. Various social organisations, including the Palampur Citizen Council, the Palampur Welfare and Environment Protection Forum, the Palampur Bachao Samiti and Save Palampur Front, have condemned the government decision. In separate resolutions passed, these organisations have asked the Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh, to enforce the law strictly and cancel the sale deeds executed in the past three years, otherwise they would be forced to launch an agitation.
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MC sets hope on industrial grant Parwanoo, April 11 The grant was claimed through the Industries Department. In total grant amount the 25 per cent share would be pooled by the Housing Board now known as HIMUDA as the MC has expressed its inability to generate the 25 per cent share due to lack of funds. The local Industries Association has prepared the grant proposal under which the whole sewerage system of town be revamped. There was also provision to improve the internal roads condition and few other basic amenities from grant funds. The fund starved MC is presently not in a condition to improve the basic infrastructure condition for want of desired funds. The situation of sewerage in the town has gone from bad to worse as overflowing of the sewage on road is a common scene in town. During rain, the town roads turn out to be a cesspool of water for lack of proper drainage. The accumulation of sewage on roads has emerged as a major problem for residents whom have to face continue foul smell. The condition of roads in town is pitiable and lack of timely repair is largely responsible for that. The public toilets in town are no more use of public due to their bad condition. The revenue source of the MC is not enough to meet the funds required for improvement in sewerage and roads, asserted Mr Sushil Kumar Mittal, Executive Officer, MC. As against the requirement of annual grant of Rs 1 crore, the MC has only got one fourth of total demand, he maintained. The town was planned for population of 5,000, however, now the population has risen to four times since it was 27 years ago, he pointed. The infrastructure will be made up to mark after receiving of grant, he remarked. |
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Workshop for teachers
Shimla, April 11 “Globe — an international hands on environment education and learning programme is aimed at generating awareness on science and other environmental issues amongst the teachers, students and the community,” informed Mr Eric Stone Braker, Regional Director, Asia and Pacific, Globe. He informed that the endeavour of the programme was to develop local or regional projects to increase collaboration between scientists and students so as to enable project-based research. “A student sitting in Himachal can mail his queries to Globe on any subject, which will be forwarded to an expert, who will satisfy the student,” informed Mr Braker. At present 100 schools in Himachal Pradesh are being covered under the Globe programme. Under the science education programme focus is on hands on activity so that there can be awareness and sensitivity on wide ranging environmental topics like hydrology, changing character of soils, cloud formation and global warming. The president of the Indian Environmental Society, Dr Desh Bandhu, said as per the Supreme Court directions efforts were on in all the states to incorporate environment education in school curriculum along with formation of eco clubs.
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Tour organiser told to refund excess amount
Sundernagar, April 11 As per the complainant of the couple, they were retirees and had been lured by the tour organiser to undertake the tour. Both of them paid Rs 30,000 while the pamphlet said an amount of Rs 12,000 would be charged per person. It was further alleged that during the tour services mentioned in the pamphlet were not provided and the excess amount had not been refunded. The opposite party alleged that the complainants had not paid any amount and that they had to pay an amount of Rs 30,000 as Rs 15,000 was charged from each passenger. The complainants, however, furnished affidavits of other passengers stating that they had paid Rs 12,000 per head. The forum in its order directed the tour organiser to refund the excess amount charged by him along with Rs 1000 as compensation for deficiency in service.
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Proclaimed offender nabbed Parwanoo, April 11 Vinod had been on the run since 1998 when he suddenly disappeared from Parwanoo after duping people to the tune of several lakhs. Police officials revealed that he had been operating a finance company in the name of A.V. Advance and Deposits Private Limited at Gole Market here. He used to accept deposits with the promise of doubling the amount within three years. With a view to instill confidence, he first honestly transacted money. Having collected lakhs he fled one day leaving depositors in the lurch. His Sector-1 house here was later sealed. Reports of Vinod operating a similar finance business at Panchkula continued to pour in, but he was untraceable. |
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Probe parking lot contracts, say residents
Dalhousie, April 11 The parking lots in the town are given on contract every year by the local municipal council. However, the contractors’ syndicate quotes lower amounts and officials tend to help this lobby because it enjoys political patronage. While the Dalhousie Municipal Council does not have enough funds to maintain its roads. Street lights and to pay salary to its staff on time, it suffers further loss by helping contractors take parking lots at lower rates than previous years. The parking lot opposite the local Tourism Information Office was given on contract last year at almost 50 per cent of the amount as compared to the previous year. The contracts for parking lots for this year were to be decided on April 8 at a minimum of Rs 1.75 lakh fixed by the municipal council and for the parking space opposite the Tourism Information Office the highest bid was Rs 7,000 as compared to Rs 20,000 last year and Rs 35,000/- the year before that. Now the awarding of the contract has been postponed till tomorrow. |
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Surjit Singh sworn in
as HC Judge
Shimla, April 11 The Chief Justice, Mr V.K. Gupta, administered the oath of office to Mr Justice Surjit Singh. The Irrigation and Public Health Minister, Mr Kaul Singh Thakur, judges of the High Court, senior officers and lawyers were present on the occasion. Mr Justice Surjit Singh joined the HP Judicial Services in 1974. In June, 1984, he was promoted to the HP Higher Judicial Services and posted as Special Judge (Forests). He held various positions, including the post of Registrar General of the High Court, from 2001 to 2004. Born on December 18, 1949, at Shahzadpur in Ambala district, he obtained a degree in law from Panjab University, Chandigarh. |
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Tibetan youth condemn
Wen’s visit
Dharamsala, April 11 Even though the visit has been, as always, touted as a major vehicle to resolve bilateral issues and enforce economic relations between the two countries, it is another futile attempt of wishful thinking, said TYC leaders here today. China’s plan to divert Branhmaputra and other rivers of the Himalayas would make India’s mammoth river-linking project redundant, drying up the low-lying Indian farmlands that would severely affect the lives of several hundred millions of Indians. |
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