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Forest corporation decision hits business
HC directive to government on appointments
Withdrawal of tax not to affect social security: Rao
6 die, 7 hurt in accident
Ex-minister charged with not returning official carpets |
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Road connectivity to be provided to Shipkila market
Residents complain of water shortage
DA instalment announced ‘Discrepancies’ in population figures
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Forest corporation decision hits business
Solan, November 7 The fact that the corporation has not given sufficient time for the investors to make alternate arrangements investors are now contemplating to move court against this decision. The Forest Minister, Mr Ram Lal Thakur, however, said the measure was aimed at bringing transparency in their sale. Instead of the open sale, there would be an auction which would enable them to get more returns. About 60 per cent product would be earmarked for the local units. The sale had been temporarily suspended to store these products to enable an auction, informed the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Mr R.A. Singh. While a unit at Baddi had to suspend its work in the absence of raw material for some days, another at Paonta Sahib too was facing the brunt of this sudden decision. In yet another case, the corporation had conditionally accepted the payment of Rs 3.5 lakh from Dev Rosin Private Limited based at Baddi on October 19. Various investors while welcoming the auction decision said they should have been informed well in advance about non-availability of material for 30 days. This would have given them time to make alternate arrangements. They rued that this abrupt decision had made them shut their operations completely. A Mumbai-based Concord Organics, which has been annually providing business of Rs 7 to Rs 8 crores to the state, has been severely affected. Its Managing Director, Mr Pankaj Malik, told The Tribune on telephone that the sudden suspension of the sale had offset their business commitments with leading firms like Microinks, Asian Paints, etc. While microinks, rated fifth globally, had put on hold payments worth Rs 60 lakhs, their other commitments had also been hit, he informed. He said it was after a request from the senior forest officials that had made them to invest in Himachal. A section of investors, while favouring a price hike as per the prevalent international prices, said the rates were always hiked with any international change in the pricing. At least four hikes had been effected in less than a year they added. They quoted figures and maintained that they procured these products at a price higher by Rs 2.50 than prevalent in the international market. |
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HC directive to government on appointments
Shimla, November 7 The court further directed that the case should be investigated by an officer not less than the rank of a Superintendent of Police and all those instrumental got making appointment in violation of rules and procedures should be booked. The court should be informed about the status of the case after six months. The direction was issued on a public interest litigation filed by Mr S.M. Katwal, a former Chairman of the state subordinate services selection board, in which it was alleged that appointments were made during the period on the recommendation of political bosses throwing all norms and rules to winds. He further pleaded that the BJP government subsequently set up two committees to look into such appointments. The Harsh Gupta Committee and the Avay Shukla Committee, which conducted probes into appointments made on the recommendatory chits of the political bosses in various government departments and public sector undertakings, respectively, found that over 3,000 such appointments were made. The previous government had accepted the two reports in July 1999 but no further action was taken on the matter. He maintained that action was not being taken in the matter as influential politicians were involved. |
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Withdrawal of tax not to affect social security: Rao
Shimla, November 7 Addressing mediapersons here, he said: “We had set a target of Rs 15 crore per annum by way of collecting professional tax and this amount was to be used for social security programmes,” he stated. He said the total revenue collection from the professional tax till date was between Rs 5 and Rs 7 crore. Mr Rao informed that the government was already spending almost Rs 52 lakh as pensionary benefits to various categories like widows, aged, handicap and others. “We are already providing pensionary benefits to 2.12 lakh persons and this year another 15,000 persons will be added to this list,” he stated. He said under its new scheme, the Welfare Department would provide free education and vocational training to orphans up to graduation level. He said special institutes providing free board and lodging and education were being run for the blind, handicapped and orphans. Mr Rao said the Centre had approved the opening up of 10,834 new anganwaris in the state. Presently, 7,354 such institutes are working. The official website of the Welfare Department in Hindi was also launched on the occasion. Giving details about the website, the Director, Welfare, Ms Anuradha Thakur, said details about the schemes along with downloadable forms were available on the site. |
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6 die, 7 hurt in accident
Kulu, November 7 The killed were identified as Om Prakash son of Khim Dass of Dhar (Ani, Kulu), Dina Nath son of Hira Singh of Jaogi (Panarsa, Mandi), Panna Lal son of Amar Singh, Tikkam Ram son of Amar Singh residents of Karshala (Ani, Kulu), Sanjay alias Sanju son of Sunder Singh of Kungash (Ani, Kulu). The sixth was not identified. Five of them died on the spot while Sanju succumbed to his injuries in the Banjar civil hospital. The seven injured have been admitted to the Banjar hospital. They were identified as Lal Singh son of Bala Ram of Kashla (Sainj, Kulu), Ram Lal son of Prem Lal of Mithanu, Shiv Ram son of Sangat Ram of Damsehar (Shamshi, Kullu), Chaman Sharma son of Mehar Chand of Chail Chowk (Mandi), Vikram Singh son of Nani Ram of Dhanerha (Sainj, Kulu), Dola Ram son of Bhola Ram of Karshala (Ani, Kulu) and Chinta Devi daughter
of Moti Ram of Bali Chowki (Mandi). |
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Ex-minister charged with not returning official carpets Dharamsala, November 7 This was alleged here today by Mr Sanjay Sharma, former vice-president of the BJP’s Yuva Morcha and Mr Sunil Manocha, former secretary of the BJP’s state unit. They sought expulsion of Mr Kapoor from the party. Mr Sharma said as per a letter issued to Mr Kapoor by the HRTC on December 23, 2003, he had been asked to return two carpets given to him for his official residence in Shimla in 1999 when he was the Transport Minister. The letter added that the audit party had raised an objection for not taking back the carpets and needful should be done at the earliest. However, the carpets in question have not been returned till now, alleged Mr Sharma. Mr Manocha said had Mr Kapoor been so serious about the charges he had made against the BJP government he himself was a part of, he should have resigned from the Cabinet. But he preferred to use the party’s name for his interests, he alleged. “We demand that the BJP high-command should expel Mr Kapoor from the party as a disciplinary action for his remarks,” said Mr Sharma. He added key BJP activists in Dharamsala were shunted out gradually from the party and yes-men were enjoying say in party’s affairs, which led to the loss of the Dharamsala seat in last elections.
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Road connectivity to be provided to Shipkila market
Shimla, November 7 Despite trade between India and China resuming in 1993, its volume has not been substantial and interestingly not even a single trader from the Chinese side has visited the market at Shipkila, though Indian traders have been going to China every year. On the Indian side, the trade market is located at Chuppan, 2 km short of Shipkila in the Pooh tehsil of Kinnaur district. This matter was taken up at a high-level meeting, chaired by Foreign Secretary, Shyam Saran, here last week. It was pointed out that despite the keenness on part of the two countries, trade had failed to pick up and the desired strengthening of the economy on both sides had not been achieved. It was emphasised that all steps which need to be taken to increase the volume of trade must be taken before the Shipkila is opened for trade in June next year. Trade figures indicate that value of exports from India was ranging between Rs 6.50 lakh to Rs 17.20 lakh and value of imports from China was between Rs 5.50 lakh to Rs 24 lakh. Officials point out that that there was concern on both sides as to why trade had failed to flourish. The constraints pointed out include the absence of road connectivity to the market at Chuppan. It has been stressed that the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) be requested to undertake the construction of the 10-km road between Hobsang to Chuppan so that the market becomes accessible. The market remains functional from June 1 to November 30 every year depending on weather and other administrative exigencies. As such strengthening of infrastructure at the trade post in Namgia will be undertaken. “This will include posting staff and constructing shops and godowns, besides creating accommodation for traders,” informed an official. Another important issue discussed at the meeting was the construction of a trade market at Chuppan, for which an estimate of Rs 95.57 lakh had been sent by Deputy Commissioner, Kinnaur, to the Ministry of Commerce April earlier this year. It is learnt that traders from both sides put up their articles for sale at the no man’s land, an area between the boundaries of the two countries. The trade permits are issued by Executive Magistrate (Tehsildar), Pooh, to bonafide Indian traders after police verification. Under the export-import policy, the items which can be exported include pulses, edible oils, cigarettes, cloth, sugar, milk powder, sewing machines, vegetables. The imports which can be brought include wool, sheep, pashmina, butter, cheese, shoes, crockery, jackets and horses. |
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Residents complain of water shortage
Kumarhatti, November 7 The Khareen water lifting scheme which was meant to supply water to the area is not functioning properly. The residents have blamed the IPH for its poor upkeep and faulty management. The main reason behind the affected water supply was laying of faulty water pipes, they point out. The water pipes have not been laid scientifically as a result it did not allow water to flow in a smooth manner. The pipes remained blocked due to presence of air in it. The IPH has been apprised of the problem but to no avail, the residents have alleged. There were occasions when no water was received for days altogether. Meanwhile, as per the Dharampur IPH office, the main reason behind the wrong laying of water pipes was dispute of residents over land. However according to officials the department does it best to restore supply whenever problem surfaced, say out officials. |
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DA instalment announced Shimla, November 7 Announcing the release of instalments Mr Virbhadra Singh, Chief Minister, said the government had allowed merge of 50 per cent dearness allowance into the basic salary early this year which benefited the employees and pensioners to the extent of Rs 110 crore.
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‘Discrepancies’ in population figures Shimla, November 7 Mr Suresh Bhardwaj, state BJP chief, said the population figures in the different documents issued by the Delimitation Commission and the draft working paper did not match. Further, a large number of residents have been left out in the draft proposals. As per the document the population of Shimla district was 7,22,502 whereas in the draft working paper it worked out to 7,18,748. A careful examination of the paper revealed that the population of 3,754 of Theog Nagar Panchayat had been left out. Similarly, the population of Shimla Municipal Corporation was 1,42,255 as per the document but in the draft paper only a population of 92,404 had been accounted for. And the Sunni Nagar panchayat had also been left out. Revenue areas of Solan and Shimla districts had been changed while the delimitation exercise was on in violation of the instructions of the commission.
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