The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	Education board relaxes NOC norm for pvt schools Vibhor Mohan Tribune News Service Dharamsala, May 3 In a major concession to over 85 per cent of the total private schools in the state, the HP Board of School Education has decided to relax the condition making it compulsory for school managing committees to seek NOC from the Education Department. In an interview with The Tribune here today, Board Chairman B.R. Rahi said the schools that had been granted recognition by the Education Department up to 1997 would now be exempt from the condition of getting an NOC before seeking affiliation from the board. Such private schools will only need to furnish a copy of the permission granted by the Education Department to the board to fulfil this condition. Till 1997, recognition from the Education Department had to be sought to run a private school. This system was later replaced by affiliation from the school board. The private schools set up after 1997 or not recognised by the Education Department will, however, have to furnish an NO C from the Education Department to the board. Mr Rahi further clarified that there was no condition of granting affiliation by the board to new applicants only if the school was set up beyond 2-3 km from the government institutions. “This could, however, be a condition of the Education Department before giving the NOC,” he said. Private school managements have been up in arms on the condition of NOC made mandatory by the board for both existing and new schools to seek affiliation. After a delegation of private school managements met board officials last week, the last date for furnishing the NOC was extended to May 31. Private school managing committees had pointed out that only 5 per cent of the total schools fulfilled the condition of NOC. The condition of NOC is one of the 35 conditions recently circulated by the board for seeking affiliation. Private schools have also been stopped from indulging in any commercial activity on the campus. Mr Rahi said the board had been receiving complaints that parents were being fleeced by certain school management by asking them to buy stationery and uniform from shops in schools.
	Board to sell surplus power Rakesh Lohumi Tribune News Service Shimla, May 3 Following the policy of the government, the State Electricity Board has decided to sell surplus power available with it in market to fetch better returns. Hitherto, the board has been selling power to the northern states through bilateral agreements or banking arrangements. Besides surplus power, it has also been selling free power to which the state was entitled to as royalty. In 2004-05 it sold 1,629 million units of electricity to various state. The bulk of it was free power, which the government made available to the board at a nominal rate of 70 paise per unit. However, from last year the government decided to sell power given to it free of cost through the Power Trading Corporation for better returns. It got more than Rs 3 per unit. This enabled the government to earn additional revenue of about Rs 200 crore more. In the process, the board suffered as it was deprived of a major source of revenue. The board had only 329 MW of installed capacity and as such it had little surplus power. The situation is likely to improve towards the middle of this year when 126 MW Larji and 12 MW Khauli projects will start generation. To get the maximum returns from the sale of surplus power it has decided to sell power in the open market by inviting tenders. The board has invited bids for the sale of power ranging from 50 MW to 150 MW from May 20 to September 30. Last year, it sold power to Delhi under bilateral arrangement at the rate of Rs 2.90 per unit whereas by selling it in open market it is expecting a return of about Rs 5 per unit, in all 300 to 500 million units, depending on the generation level, during the period. This will to an extent help the board offset the loss of revenue due to the decision of the government to sell its share through the Power Trading Corporation. Meanwhile, power generation improved further with the 300 MW Baspa project, which was shut down last month, resuming operation and the Nathpa Jhakri project generating 35 million units. The Baspa project was generating 5 million units yesterday at 200 MW. It was likely achieve its full capacity of 300 MW towards the third week of this month when the discharges into the river would enough to run all three units.
	Leaders condole Mahajan’s death Tribune news Service Shimla, May 3 Political leaders across party lines have condoled the death of BJP leader Pramod Mahajan whom they referred to as a dynamic leader who represented the young era of the leadership. Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh said BJP general secretary Pramod Mahajan was a young energetic leader who was very popular among the youth. “I pray to the Almighty to give peace to the departed soul and strength to the bereaved family to bear the irreparable loss,” he said. Former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal and state BJP chief Suresh Bharadwaj also condoled the death of Mahajan. They said that he was not just an eminent political personality but he excelled in handling organisational matters. “He was probably the most popular leader with party workers and could easily be referred to as the backbone of the party,” they said. Former Union minister Shanta Kumar in his condolence message said the death of Mahajan was not just the loss of the BJP but of the nation. The other BJP leaders, including state general secretary Mahender Pandey, state vice-president Dulo Ram, former MP Kripal Parmar, MLAs, Mr Jai Ram Thakur, Mr Ramesh Dhawala and Dr Rajiv Bindal and other leaders expressed grief at the death of Mahajan. Revenue Minister Sat Mahajan, IPH Minister Kaul Singh, Forest Minister Ram Lal Thakur and state general secretary of the Himachal Vikas Congress Karqam Chand Bhatia also expressed their condolences at the demise of Mahajan. Mr Ravinder Ravi, BJP legislator, and Mr Rajinder Rana, in charge of the BJP media cell, also expressed grief over the death of Mahajan.
	Coop bank chief, MLA trade allegations Kuldeep Chauhan Tribune News Service Mandi, May 3 Himachal Pradesh State Cooperative Bank (HPSCB) Chairman Natha Singh Thakur and former PWD minister and BJP Dharampur MLA Mohinder Singh Thakur are on a collision course, challenging each other on the issue of “irregularities” in a bank. Talking to mediapersons here today, Mohinder Singh Thakur cited documents in support and alleged that Rs 6 lakh was transferred from the HPSCB’s Nagwani branch to the account of the chairman at Shimla branch on April 13. “It has raised suspicion as the branch in question was in the controversy in connection with a scam in Kangra Central Cooperative Bank, Bhuntar branch, in Kulu district last week. The chairman should explain,” he said. Mohinder Singh Thakur further alleged that the owner of a theatre in Shimla, who was a bank defaulter, was sanctioned a loan for Rs 1 crore against the disputed property, as his brother had written a complaint to the HPSCB Chairman, questioning the deed. “The beneficiary in the case is the relative of a senior Congress leader from Kangra and no NOC was taken from other banks in the case,” he alleged. Mohinder Singh Thakur said Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh should order a CBI probe into the affairs of the bank, the way money was transferred and loans sanctioned to defaulters, and challenged the chairman to file a defamation case against him. Natha Singh Thakur, who is also a Congress leader from Dharampur, when contacted to comment on the allegations, said: “I have sold his orchard for Rs 6 lakh and the draft has been issued by the Nagwani branch. The money has been transferred to my account at Shimla.” On the second allegation, Natha Singh Thakur claimed that the bank had sanctioned the client Rs 1 crore and he had mortgaged the theatre worth Rs 50 crore in Shimla against the loan amount. “He is now a defaulter but the bank money is safe. The bank is initiating recovery of the loan,” he added. He further clarified that the case of 2,200 sq yrd of land in Punjabi Bagh in New Delhi was sub judice with the Delhi High Court. On irregularities in the conduct of bank examinations for class II and IV workers, Natha Singh Thakur said “reports of the SDM Sarkaghat and SDM Nahan, two centres in controversy, have clarified that there are no manipulations in the conduct of examinations”. “His allegations in a section of Press are baseless and politically motivated,” he alleged.
	Operation cover-up in fake permits case alleged Tribune News Service Reckong Peo, May 3 The district police of Kinnaur is seemingly trying to protect the officials of the local administration who are allegedly involved in a case of fake inner-line border permits fraudulently issued to the foreign nationals in large numbers during the past one year. The case came to light last week with the arrest of Bhagwan Singh of Ropa village from whose possession blank inner-line border permits and stamps of the local Subdivisional Magistrate were seized by the police. The police further arrested another person, Tarlochan Singh, running a photo studio in the main market here. The main accused during interrogation had reportedly stated that he had stolen the blank inner-line border permits from the office of the SDM. However, the police has so far not questioned either the local SDM or any of his subordinates in this regard. Instead, a cover-up exercise was being carried out by the investigating team under pressure from the district administration, revealed sources. It was learnt that the District Magistrate has verbally asked the SDM to look into the matter and find out the alleged involvement of any official of the local administration. The Tribune tried to contact Dr Amandeep Singh, District Magistrate of Kinnaur, for his version but he was said to be out of station. Moreover, a case that is related to the security of the nation is being handled “lightly” by the police by merely registering a case of forgery and fraud. Law experts feel that the police should book the culprits under the National Security Act. Mr Vijay Sen, Station Head Officer (SHO) of Reckong Peo police station, under whose supervision the case is being investigated, skipped answer to a question whether the National Security Act was applicable in this particular case or not.
	Ex-servicemen rap health authorities Our Correspondent Dalhousie, May 3 The Himachal Pradesh Ex-Servicemen League has registered its protest with the Central and state governments against the district health authorities for refusing the non-government organisation (NGO), Sri Sathya Sai Seva Sangathan for not holding eye camps in Chamba district. In a handout issued here today, Gp Capt Bhupendra Singh Chauhan (retd), senior vice-president of the league, rapped the local health authorities for its lacklustre and vindictive approach. Group Capt Chauhan said Sri Sathya Sai Seva Sangathan had been holding regular free eye camps and so far thousands of eye patients had been examined and given free medicines. The sangathan had also carried out free cataract operations with free-intra-ocular lens (IOC), besides providing free board and lodging to the patients during the camps, he added. Group Capt Chauhan alleged that step-motherly treatment was meted out to the sangathan by the district health authorities and it was denied permission for holding free eye camps on flimsy grounds despite clear-cut directives of the Central and state governments from time to time. “Politicking at the cost of patients suffering from the eye diseases and those who are facing the problem of eyesight would curse the mean and shallow brains,” Group Capt Chauhan lamented. On the other hand, the Himachal Pradesh Health Department has taken strong exception to the laxity of the health authorities in Chamba district for not achieving the targets of curing eye-diseases and treating the eye patients.
	2 holiday special trains to Shimla Our Correspondent Parwanoo, May 3 The two holiday special trains started chugging on the Kalka- Shimla narrow gauge rail section from yesterday. These special trains are beside other five regular trains and a rail car. Every year from May onwards the Railways introduces two special trains to cope with the tourist rush to Shimla and its surrounding hill resorts. The new trains depart from Kalka at 6.30 am and 12.45 pm, respectively. The tourists rush to hills has witnessed noted increase in past few days after mercury touched 40 degree plus in the plains. All five Up trains and a rail car are already running jam packed from Kalka to Shimla. As per data available the daily passenger list in five trains is between 1300 and 1500. With addition of special trains the number of daily passengers could reach over 2000. The luxury rail car is also making daily round to Shimla nowadays. The Railways are expecting more tourist rush in coming days. Keeping in view the tourist rush it has been decided to attach a special couple coach on the already plying train to Shimla.
	Centre to be approached for relief Tribune News Service Dharamsala, May 3 The Revenue and Panchayati Raj Minister, Mr Sat Mahajan, said here today that Himachal Pradesh was on the brink of becoming a drought-hit state. Addressing a press conference, he said the situation was being studied and if need be the matter would be taken up with the Centre for a relief package. “Things would soon be clear and I would brief the Chief Minister on the matte so that he could write the Prime Minister to seek a relief package,” he said. As the first step in this direction, he said the government had decided to give 100 per cent subsidy on transportation of cattle feed. Mr Mahajan was here to chair a district-level meeting of the grievances committee. The issues of illegal mining in the district and non-availability of flour at the fair price shops were raised during the meeting. Mr Mahajan said he had given directions to the Deputy Commissioner to monitor the steps being taken against illegal mining by the SDMS and the DSPs concerned. “During the meeting, it was also pointed out that a few names were being regularly given the licence for mining by overlooking other applications. That would also be looked into,” he said. The issue of fixing a support price for beekeepers was also raised at the meeting and the minister assured to take up the matter with the Chief Minister. He further said patwaris would soon be given laptops for speedy disposal of public grievances and it had also been made mandatory for members to attend all meetings of the gram sabha. Any absenteeism would first be brought to the notice of the BDO and then the DC.
	Water project for Simla, Mandi Tribune News Service Shimla, May 3 Demand-based self-selected water supply and minor irrigation pilot schemes will be planned and implemented in a participatory manner by involving Panchayati Raj institutions under the WASH (water availability through self help) project. This was stated by Ms Rajwant Sandhu, Principal Secretary, Irrigation and Public Health, while presiding over the third meeting of the project steering committee German-aided project held here yesterday. The project is being implemented with the technical support of German Federal Government in Shimla, Mandi and Kangra district. She said the bilateral project was an effort towards community participation in management of rural drinking water supply in the state. The project would further supplement the endeavours of the state government in ensuring safe drinking water facilities to the left-out hamlets. It would also help in reviving the traditional water sources. She underlined the need to involve schoolchildren and teachers in propagation of water sector reforms undertaken by the state through the WASH project and Swajaldhara programme. She said the main objective of the project was to enable and empower the Panchayati Raj institutions, water users associations and other stakeholder to plan, implement and manage safe drinking water and minor irrigation system in a sustainable manner.
	Annuity relating to awards doubled Tribune News Service Shimla, May 3 Mr Virbhadra Singh, Himachal Chief Minister, said today annuity payable to all gallantry award winners had been doubled and the state would provide a one-time lump sum grant instead of the present system of cash awards, annuity and grant-in-lieu of land for new awardees from the current year. Speaking at the Civil-Military Liaison conference here he said the government had increased the annuity payable to gallantry award winners to the highest level in northern India. Annuity to the existing Param Vir Chakra had been raised from Rs 4500 to Rs 1,25,000, Ashok Chakra from Rs 4000 to Rs 1,00,000, Mahavir Chkara from Rs 3600 to Rs 1,00,000, Kirti Chakra from Rs 3300 to Rs 1,00,000, Vir Chakra from Rs 2700 to Rs 50,000, Shaurya Chakra from Rs 2400 to Rs 50,000. He said amount of one-time lumpsum grants for Param Vir Chakra and Ashok Chakra would be Rs 25 lakh. Similarly, one time grant for Mahavir Chakra awardees and Kirti Chakra awardees would be Rs 15 lakh and for Vir Chakra and Shaurya Chakra awardees Rs 10 lakh, he added.
	Rectify factual errors in textbooks: Dhumal Tribune News Service Shimla, May 3 BJP leader and former Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal yesterday demanded that the factual errors in the school textbooks published by the Himachal Pradesh Board of School Education should be rectified, failing which intellectuals and eminent educationists would launch a campaign against these blunders. In a statement issued here, he said despite educationalists and media highlighting these errors in school syllabus books, the board has not bothered to correct them. “It is surprising that the government has virtually turned a blind eye to the irregularities and controversies surrounding the board which has broken all laid-down norms and practices,” he remarked. He said when the children were being taught wrong facts right from the beginning, how could one expect them to do well academically. “In the past also a chapter with wrong facts was removed from the books after the opposition members raised the issue in the House and a committee was formed,” he stated.
	MC starts water rationing in Shimla Tribune News Service Shimla, May 3 Water scarcity has already hit the capital town as the Municipal Corporation (MC) has started rationing of water and many localities will not get the supply on alternate days. As against an increased demand of 35 million litres per day (mld) the MC is able to provide 27 mld. The water demand of the town goes up during the summer months due to the additional floating population of tourists which on any given day is more than 10,000.
	Operators demand hike in bus fares Tribune News Service Shimla, May 3 The Himachal Pradesh Private Bus Operators Association has urged the government to either increase the bus fares or provide subsidy to private bus operators who were finding plying of passenger bus services an uneconomical proposition because of rise in prices of diesel and spare parts. The association, which met here today under the chairmanship of its president, Mr Dev Raj Sharma, also made public the various parameters on the basis of which bus fares were determined. It demanded that the penalty imposed on the bus operators for failure to remit road tax in time should be waived and the arrears should be recovered in easy instalments.
	CM’s directive to cement firms Tribune News Service Shimla, May 3 Concerned over the varying rates being charged by the cement manufacturers, Mr Virbhadra Singh, Chief Minister, today directed the cement companies to print maximum retail price on the cement bags supplied in the market and to the government. He also directed them to clear the backlog of government cement supply within the next fortnight. Presiding over a high level meeting of the state government and cement manufacturers here, he said there should be uniformity in the rates of cement and these should be printed on the cement bags like other commodities sold in the market. He said it was also necessary for the protection of the rights of consumers. The companies needed to introduce the new system for marketing cement as the prices were subject to negotiation, he added.
	Toll-barrier row resolved Our Correspondent Nurpur, May 3 Tension gripped the border area near Kandwal on Monday night when local residents ransacked and removed the toll tax barrier set up by a private contractor for collection of toll tax from vehicles entering Himachal Pradesh from other states. The police team, headed by the DSP, reached the spot and pacified the irate residents who had been agitating against shifting the barrier from Kandwal to near the edge of the inter-state Chakki bridge, causing frequent traffic jams on the Pathankot-Mandi National Highway.