Shimla, September 18
The Cabinet today decided to simplify the Shimla Road Users and Pedestrians (Public Safety and Convenience) Act, 2008, by making certain amendments as regards processing of passes for the general public to ply vehicles on sealed and restricted roads in Shimla. The step aims at making the Act more liberal and public friendly.

The Cabinet that met under the chairmanship of Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal permitted clubbing and rationalisation of routes to make things more practical and convenient. It has been decided to authorise the secretary (home) to issue necessary permits in respect of sealed roads and the DC to issue permits for restricted roads.

The processing fee for issuing permits has been reduced from the existing Rs 500 to Rs 100 only. The route fee has been reduced from Rs 2,500 (for a sealed road) and Rs 2,000 (for a restricted route) to Rs 1,000 in both cases. The road stretch from Chhota Shimla Chowk to the Shimla Club will be a sealed road, while the stretch from Chalet Day School to Jodha Niwas parking will be a restricted route.

The Cabinet also decided to relax allotment norms as regards the public distribution system (PDS) for tribal and difficult areas (Dodra-Kawar and Bara Bhangal) permitting 8 kg rice and 8 kg of wheat/wheat flour per head instead of the maximum limit of 35 kg wheat/wheat flour and rice to every ration card holder for the period from July 1, 2008, to June 30, 2009.

In the fulfilment of its commitment to provide subsidised essential commodities to Antodaya, BPL and APL categories of 15.42 lakh ration card holder families, it sanctioned additional subsidy of Rs 51 crore, which would be in addition to Rs 90 crore already sanctioned to subsidise the listed essential commodities. With this, the total subsidy for the current financial year would go up from Rs 90 crore to Rs 141 crore.

The Cabinet also sanctioned 1,190 posts of different categories in various departments and permitted the Education Department to carry out direct recruitment of 1,135 lecturers (school cadre) and also allowed regularisation of contract teachers in different categories, fulfilling eligibility criteria for the specific posts besides having completed eight years of service up to March 31, 2008.

The Cabinet granted approval for promulgation of an ordinance to replace the Himachal Pradesh Private Universities (Establishment and Regulation) Act, 2006, to open Chitkara University in the private sector. It also approved another ordinance for the establishment of Eternal University in the private sector.

Shimla, September 18
Work on the 240-MW Kashang-Sawra and 111-MW Sawra-Kuddu projects being executed by the Himachal Power Corporation will go on full steam with the Asian Development Bank giving nod for releasing the first tranche of $ 150-million loan.

The bank has sanctioned a total loan of $ 800 million to the corporation for the implementation of four projects. The other two ventures being funded by the bank are the 100-MW Sainj and 402-MW Shongtong-Karcham projects.

The corporation has already awarded a Rs 100-crore contract for the construction of a headrace tunnel for the Sawra-Kuddu project.

A Rs 200-crore package for electro-mechanical works of the project and a Rs 125-crore contract for the construction the powerhouse will be awarded shortly. A Rs 170-crore package for civil works in respect of the Kashang project has also been finalised. The bank will fund only three stages of the Kashang project, which is to be executed in four stages. The fourth stage of 40-MW has not been covered under the loan deal.

The second tranche of the loan to be sanctioned next year will also include the Sainj project. An amount of $ 11 million under the first tranche will be disbursed by December 2008.

The Rs 3,600-crore loan has been routed through the Centre, which will pay 5.5 per cent interest on the amount.

The Centre it will give 90 per cent of it as outright grant to the state. Thus the state will have to payback only about Rs 360 crore.

Paucity of funds has been the main hurdle in the execution of major projects in the state sector. Out of the total 6,310 MW of hydropower potential harnessed so far, only 468 MW has been exploited in the state sector. While the Sawra-Kuddu project will be competed with in the 11th plan, the other three projects will be completed in the next plan. The corporation is also executing the 40-MW Renuka Dam project, the primary purpose of which is to supply drinking water to Delhi.

If all projects are completed as planned, another 853 MW of generation capacity will be added in the state sector by 2015.

The corporation has been specifically set up to take up major projects and the state electricity board, which has been in the process of implementing the 100-MW Uhl project, has not been allotted anymore projects.

Shimla, September 18
Stressing the need for reviewing security arrangements at various hydropower projects and in industrial towns, Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal today said the government would consider re-establishing the closed down check posts in view of the increased security threat.

Dhumal chaired a high-level meeting to review the security arrangements in the state in view of the reports that the state could be targeted by militants. “Security will be beefed up all over the state and extra vigil will be maintained at entry points, shrines, fairs and festivals besides market places that remain crowded,” he said.

He directed the police to keep a strict watch on suspicious characters and migrants who had been staying in the state for a long period. “Special vigil will be maintained over foreign nationals overstaying in Kullu-Manali and McLeodganj areas,” he said.

There would be no compromise as regards security of life and property of the people. “There is also a need to maintain strict vigil over guest houses, hotels, resorts, sarais, parking places,” he said.

He directed the authorities to prepare a security plan for the coming ‘navratras’ and make necessary arrangements accordingly. “DCs and DIGs will review the security arrangements at all prominent shrines within their jurisdiction and make additional security arrangements during the holding of any fair or festival,” he said. He said the IG (law and order) would personally oversee the security arrangements during the holding of the Dusshera festival and would be stationed there to monitor the security arrangements.

“Since the regular police forced is required for maintaining law and order, the security of prominent shrines could be entrusted to ex-servicemen, home guard and temple security teams,” he said. He also directed the authorities to implement the inquiry report of the DC, Mandi, in respect of the Naina Devi stampede and ensure that similar arrangements were made at other main temples as well.

He said all necessary steps would be taken to protect the life and property of the people and the peace and communal harmony of the state would not be allowed to be disturbed at any cost.

Shimla, September 18
With high velocity winds and heavy rain predicted in some areas during the next three days, the meteorological department has issued an alert against landslides and uprooting of trees in the sensitive areas.

The director of the local meteorological centre, Manmohan Singh, said heavy to very heavy rainfall, more than 12 cm, would occur at isolated places in Himachal Pradesh between September 18 and 20.

“Wind speed may increase more than 40 km per hour in some areas which could trigger landslides and uprooting of trees in sensitive areas,” he said. He said the situation had been created due to the formation of an upper air cyclonic circulation over South Rajasthan and neighbourhood. He added light snowfall or thunder showers could occur in the higher reaches of the sate during the next three days.

Meanwhile, there are reports of light to heavy rain from many parts of the state. Shimla too was lashed by rains in the afternoon, causing a slight dip in temperature.

Kumarhatti, September 18
Labourers working on contract in various industrial units in the state are a worried lot. The state government’s decision of making it compulsory for the units to prepare identity cards of workers was complete eyewash.

This was stated by Jagdish Bhardwaj, president of the state AITUC, while addressing a union meeting here today. He said the state BJP government was making a mockery of the workers’ class.

As per the Minimum Wage Board norms, an ITI holder fell under the skilled labour category, but here in the state the degree holders were forced to work as semi-skilled labours with wages even lower than what was prescribed under the minimum wages, he said.

Thousands of labourers were employed as daily wagers in various units with no record of employment. The labourers were being forced to work as per the employers’ wishes, he said.

He said the new units set up in the state after the announcement of the industrial package were primary accused of making a mockery of labour laws meant to check the exploitation of workers.

This had annulled the positive impact of the industrial growth in the state, he said.

He said the Labour Department was acting like a mute spectator and entrepreneurs were making maximum benefit of it. Moreover, the wages of hired workers were quite low as compared to the applicable minimum wages.

The workers were fired at employers’ will. Ironically, the workers routed through contractors were unaware of their actual employers, said Bhardwaj.

Disagreeing with government’s claim of over 70 per cent employment to Himachalis in the units, Bhardwaj said the figures were distorted to give a wrong impression. 

Shimla, September 18
Finding itself in a dilemma over the decision to be taken for the disposal of over 3,000 cases received under the retention policy floated by the Congress regime, the state government has sought opinion of the Law Department.

The main issue that is being deliberated upon is that while Section 39 (C) of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1977, provides for 10 per cent compounding, the sixth retention policy floated during the previous Congress regime provides for compounding of 50 per cent deviation in construction than the permissible limit.

Even as the fate of 3,235 applications received from all over the state for compounding of the construction undertaken by them in violation of the norms hangs in uncertainty, the government wants to take a decision only after the legal position has been ascertained.

Another issue that the authorities are confronted with is that the amendments in the compounding rules have so far not been placed in the Assembly, which is mandatory for people to get relief. “Maybe this was not done as the matter had been pending in the high court and till the court verdict did not come, the government could not have acted,” said an official.

In case the government goes ahead with the retention policy in its present form, the amendments will have to be passed by the Assembly. In case the government strictly goes by merit, barely 25 per cent of 3,235 cases received under the fifth retention policy can be given approval for regularisation by the government.

With the public interest litigation (PIL) filed in the high court being dismissed, now the ball is in the court of the government, which is yet to take a decision on the stand to be adopted for disposal of the pending applications for regularisation.

Sources said although a final decision in the matter was yet to be taken, initial scrutiny of the cases had indicated that only 761 of the 3,235 cases qualified for approval under retention policy. Town and country planning minister Kishan Kapoor has already stated in the Assembly that cases will be decided strictly on merit.

The maximum number of cases (2,100) are from Shimla.

The floating of the retention policy by the previous Congress regime just before the elections had come in for a lot of criticism as on the one hand the government spoke about regulating construction and imposing complete ban on new constructions in Shimla, on the other hand it announced the retention policy.

Solan, September 18
The master plan for the Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh (BBN) industrial area proposes to strictly regulate the area falling under 83 villages while suggesting relaxations for the remaining 144 rural habitations.

The plan for the area, which is proposed be inhabited by around 9 lakh persons by 2035, dwells on regulating planning of the 87 per cent virgin area as the scope of regulating such activities in the remaining 13 per cent area has dwindled due to unregulated growth that had already taken place there.

Allaying fears of the rural population, CEO Amandeep Garg said, “We are endeavouring to minimise slums in the area. Such areas would become fully urbanised by 2035. The target can be achieved by allowing housing facilities for labourers within the industrial zones itself.”

“While a mixed land use has been proposed, an attempt has been made to ensure that any industrial or residential area doesn’t allow activities other than those broadly defined. While activities like cottage industry can be pursued even in residential areas by local people, hard-core industrial activities will not be allowed in such earmarked zones.”

The proposal envisages simpler regulations for habitations and scheme for self-certification for town and country planning clearances. Relaxations have been proposed for the rural people for pursuing day-to-day commercial activities and they are exempted from seeking any permission under the TCP Act or paying the processing fee.

This exemption has only been made in case of land falling within 100 m width on either side of the national highways, state highways or 50 m of other major roads that would be notified by the authority. Thus, no change in land use would be required for the villagers for pursuing routine activities like construction of a house, shop, etc.

The plan has provisions for effluent treatment plants, disposal of sewage, expressway connecting Baddi-Lalru and railway expansion so that the burgeoning needs of the industrial township can be taken care of.

Garg clarified that there was no proposal to either abolish any municipal or panchayati raj body or to take over any of their statutory powers. In fact, a coordinated approach between the BBN Development Authority and the existing bodies would help solve the basic problems of the area, he added.

Kangra, September 18
Over 10 women lecturers of GGDSD Girls College, Nagrota Bagwan, which was closed down last month, have been running from pillar to post for getting themselves adjusted at some other educational institution as per their qualification and experience so that they can make both ends meet.

Dev Bala and Roop Lekha, president and secretary of the recently formed action committee of these lecturers, said the college was set up in 1971 after some philanthropists of the town contributed land and money for it.

In 2004, two senior secondary schools came into existence in the area and classes XI and XII were discontinued in the college. In 2006, the state government headed by Virbhadra Singh announced the setting up of a degree college in the town.

GGDSD Girls College, Nagrota Bagwan, was under the control of the GGDSD (EDN) Society, Baijnath, which was also controlling GGDSD College, Baijnath. The Baijnath college was taken over by the government, but nothing was done for the college at Nagrota Bagwan.

Last month, the college management declared the college closed, leaving the staff in the lurch. The building has been locked. Girl students and lecturers spend most of their time in the open.

Former Chief Minister Shanta Kumar has urged education minister I.D. Dhiman and Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal in two separate communications to adjust these lecturers in the government sector, but to no avail. The managing committee of the college has also passed a resolution stressing the need to adjust the college staff elsewhere, but nothing has moved beyond that so far.

Mandi, September 18
The PTA teachers today held a candlelight protest march outside the DC office. They were demanding that the new norms that would deprive them of their postings should be rolled back.

Addressing the gathering of PTA protesters here today, PTA leaders said the state government’s decision to remove the less qualified teachers was unfair, as they were appointed by the previous government adopting proper yardsticks. “But the new government has changed those yardsticks, which we would not tolerate at any cost,” they warned.

They urged Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal and education minister I.D. Dhiman that PTA teachers were serving in the hard areas where no regular teachers would go. “We are being punished for no fault of ours,” they claimed.

Shimla, September 18
The first-ever national conference on the controversial policy of promoting “special economic zones”(SEZs) began at the local Indian Institute of Advanced Study here today. Eminent scholars, academicians, policy planners and social scientists attending the conference viewed it as a part of the capitalistic agenda being pursued in the name of economic reforms 
and globalisation. They drew attention to issues pertaining to the acquisition of land for such projects.

Randhir Singh said the term economic reforms was only a euphemism for capitalist development that was leading to a paradigm shift from the Nehruvian economic model of self-reliance to reliance on foreign direct investment (FDI) and multinationals. The tragedy was that the two main political parties, the Congress and the BJP, had been the votaries of the policy that had little to offer to the people.

Former union finance secretary S.P. Shukla said decades of land reforms resulted in equitable distribution of just 2 million hectares of land whereas under the current policy even if 200 SEZs (each spread over 5,000 hectare) actually come up, one million hectare rural land would be lost. Thus, 50 per cent of what the country achieved through land reforms would be undone. Further, the national sample survey data revealed that over 10 million hectares of rural land had been lost between 1992 and 2003. He said there was an urgent need to focus on land and water issues. The country must have a comprehensive land use policy and a strategy for conservation of water resources.

The secretary of the Indian Academy of Social Sciences, Allahabad, which organised the conference, said the present policy was promoting economic growth by dispossessing peasants of their land, which would have long-term economic and social consequences.

About 40 participants, including secretary, Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council Alok Sheel and former Secretary to the Government of India K.C. Sivaramakrishnan, are attending the conference.

Mandi, September 18
Around 3.5 kg narcotics were found kept in an unclaimed baggage in a private bus (HP-56-1665) that was stopped for a security check at a naka on the National Highway No. 21 at Aut today. The bus was on its way from Gara Gushaini to Kullu.

The incident has once again highlighted the security threat for passengers and the use of buses for smuggling narcotics between Mandi and Kullu districts. Though the police has sounded an alert asking the public to be vigilant about unclaimed items in buses or at public places, smugglers continue to use buses to ferry consignments of drugs, exposing chinks in the security.

According to sources, both private and HRTC buses are being used to transport drugs. Even drivers and conductors are involved in these activities as they get commission once these consignments reach safely at the desired destinations in or outside the state, sources maintain.

Mandi SP M. Chandra Sekhar said the police was questioning driver and conductor of the bus to get clues and the culprits would be arrested soon.