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Package extension: State still has not lost hope
SDM produced in court
Renuka lions to shift to warmer climes
No water rationing for now
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Work review meetings on May 6, 7
Villagers protest over water shortage
Panchayat’s irregularities to be probed
Educational Institutions
Panchayat chief suspended
CM releases book
Dhumal rubbishes Virbhadra allegations
Helicopter joyrides popular
SSB volunteers hold protest march
Vets rue pay disparity
‘Charge entertainment tax from IPL organisers’
Climate Change
Oil tanker catches fire
9 school kids hurt in road mishap
Tremors rock Kangra
16-year-old raped
Senior citizens submit memo to DC
Industry told to impose voluntary power cuts
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Package extension: State still has not lost hope
Shimla, May 3 While Chief Minister P.K.Dhumal has been terming the curtailment of package granted by the NDA regime to Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand as an act of discrimination on political grounds, the Pradesh Congress Committee chief Kaul Singh and other party leaders maintain that the state’s case was spoiled by the government by passing a resolution in the Vidhan Sabha for its extension till 2020. The Congress leaders maintain that at a time when neighbouring states were opposing the extension of package tooth and nail, demanding its extension way beyond 2013 was a folly. However, Dhumal defends the decision and asserts that extension of package by anther 10 years was sought to compensate the state for “lack of investment” due to uncertainty created by repeated moves to curtail its duration. In the first such instance it was limited to March, 2007, which came as a huge discouragement for the investors. Thereafter, it was extended only by three years up to March, 2010, which is too short a period for taking up any major projects. All projects involving an investment of over Rs 41,000 crore, with a potential to employ 4.75 lakh persons, were approved since April, 2003, when the package was granted. However, till March 31 only 20 per cent of the projects with an investment of Rs 7700 crore, providing employment to about 86,000 persons, have been commissioned. There are a number of projects which are in various stages of implementation and they will be able to avail the benefit of exemption in excise duty only if the package is extended. While accusing union minister Virbhadra Singh of harming the state interests by indulging in unwarranted criticism of his government, Dhumal is confident that the Leader of the opposition Vidya Stokes and PCC chief Kaul Singh will accompany him to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the issue. He said so far their commitment stood and he only needed an appointment from the Prime Minister’s office. Meanwhile, Dhumal has also requested senior party leader Shanta Kumar to meet the Prime Minister taking along all other MPs on the issue to build pressure on the Centre for the restoration of the package. |
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SDM produced in court
Shimla, May 3 Though the officer at the time of his arrest told the Vigilance team which raided his house that he was educating them as they were from poor families but the police is keen to inquire into the matter. The suspended SDM was today produced in court for getting his remand extended. Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal today said that the government would also take action against those hydro-power companies who indulged in unfair practices to seek favour from government officials. He said cases under the Prevention of Corruption Act would be registered against the companies if the charges were proved. Kamal was arrested by the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 2 lakh from a hydropower company for initiating compulsory land acquisition proceedings. A case has been registered against him under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The Vigilance sleuths are also looking into details of the properties and bank accounts of the HAS officer who came under the scanner after reports of his alleged demand for money were received. |
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Renuka lions to shift to warmer climes
Shimla, May 3 A team of the CZA visited the lion safari at Renuka a week ago and found that the place was too cold and shady for the lions whose natural habitats are mostly located in tropical zones like the Gir forests in Gujarat. It was following these directives that two lions were shifted last week to the Gopalpur Zoo near Palampur, where the climate is warmer and ideally suited. “As per CZA detections, we have written to Chhatbir zoo authorities near Chandigarh to take one lion from us so that they are located in warm areas which can help improve their health,” said KS Thakur, conservator (wildlife). He said after sending one lion to Chhatbir, only three will be left at Renuka. With an inherent problem of inbreeding plaguing the inmates of the lion safari at Renuka, breeding has been stopped for the past few years. Being from the same bloodline, the animals have been suffering from a number of medical ailments, resulting in their early death. It was barely 10 days back that a female lion too died though after attaining the age of 21. Thakur said the CZA team was of the opinion that besides the cold weather conditions at Renuka, keeping the animals segregated too could be deteriorating their condition and making them feel lonely. “The CZA is of the opinion that the number of lions at Renuka must be restricted and only for display purpose,” he said. Wildlife officials are also considering starting breeding of the animal at Gopalpur in case their health improves and they are medically fit. In case the experiment succeeds, efforts would be made to bring a lion from any other zoo from a different gene pool so that there is no problem on inbreeding. The number of lions at Renuka has come down from almost 20 to just six, out of which two have already been shifted to Gopalpur. Problem of inbreeding leads to birth of cubs with weak hind limbs and very low immunity levels, resulting in early death of the young ones. Efforts are now being directed towards providing the lions with ideal conditions so that they are healthy in warmer places. |
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No water rationing for now
Shimla, May 3 The MC is getting about 35 MLD of water from the Irrigation and Public Health Department from various water supply schemes. The daily water requirement of the town has escalated to over 42 MLD, leading to reduced supply in certain areas. In the previous years, the MC was forced to start rationing in May when supply was given alternatively to areas to meet the additional requirement. AN Sharma, Commissioner, (MC), while admitting that the daily requirement of the town had gone up to almost 42 MLD, said the position was comfortable and within manageable limits. “Since the situation is comfortable, the MC has no plans to start rationing of water to ensure that all residents get regular supply,” he said. The MC has already stopped supply for construction work in the town in view of the summer season when the demand of the town scales up. |
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Work review meetings on May 6, 7
Shimla, May 3 The high-level team will hold meetings with officials at Killar (Pangi) on May 6 in the forenoon and Keylong (Lahaul), at Kaza on May 7. The team will include Additional Secretary (Forest), Additional Chief Secretary-cum-FC (Revenue), chairman, Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board, Principal Secretary (Tribal Development), Principal Secretary (Power), Principal Secretary (Public Works), Principal Secretary (I&PH), Principal Secretary (Health), Principal Secretary (Education), Principal Secretary (Agriculture/Horticulture), Director-cum-Special Secretary (Rural Development), Director, Energy, engineer-in-chief, PWD and engineer-in-chief, Irrigation and Public Health Departments. |
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Villagers protest over water shortage
Mandi, May 3 The villagers, including women blocked the road for an hour disrupting traffic movement on the Taliar-Mandi road. Shouting anti-IPH and anti-government slogans, they demanded regular supply of water. The police and the SDM Mandi rushed to the spot as the villagers kept sitting on the dharna. They called off the protest only after the SDM and IPH engineers assured them that they would restore water supply from tomorrow. |
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Panchayat’s irregularities to be probed
Hamirpur, May 3 The engineering cell of the Hamirpur BDO office is starting this probe tomorrow on the spot in the presence of complainants and elected representatives of the panchayat. This inquiry is being conducted when villagers, after procuring information under the RTI Act, had approached the Hamirpur Deputy Commissioner to order probe in this matter. The development works by the gram panchayat had come under scanner when the villagers had substantiated their claims through the information furnished by a few ward members of the panchayat. “Several works were not undertaken at all by the gram panchayat and even certain ward members had no knowledge about these works,” they said. Though Rs 1.6 lakh were shown spent on four works, things were different on the ground, the RTI information stated. BDO Sanjeev Dhiman said, “We have started a probe in the complaints of irregularities in development works carried by the gram panchayat and in the first phase, 17 works would be probed by block engineers. If need be, other works would also be probed.” |
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Educational Institutions
Shimla, May 3 The nine-point code, released by Chief Minister PK Dhumal here today, enlists dos and don’ts and makes it mandatory for teachers and students to undertake the “Environment Protection Pledge” during the morning prayers and make future citizens environment conscious. In an appeal made to the teaching fraternity of the state, the Chief Minister said as environment and ecology of the hills was extremely fragile and sensitive, the government had endeavoured to formulate a code to inculcate environment discipline among the masses and schoolchildren would act as environment ambassadors. He said teachers would be required to administer pledge to their students, motivating them to respect all living beings, conserve and protect trees and conserve paper by doing rough work on slate or blackboard, not to use plastic carry bags, avoid use of non-biodegradable disposable items like disposable cups, plates and spoons. Students would be motivated to conserve water by ensuring that no one in the house should keep taps running during brushing, washing, shaving and bathing, conserve energy by switching off the lights and other electric appliances when not in use. He said eco-clubs were also being created in educational institutions and plantation campaigns launched from time to time by associating schoolchildren to make them part and parcel of every move the state made on environment front. |
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Panchayat chief suspended
Hamirpur, May 3 After a probe conducted by the Hamirpur BDO, Sharma was found employing a Nepalese woman for the development works carried under MNREGA in the panchayat. The panchayat president has also been found guilty of issuing two different ration cards under below poverty line (BPL) category of the same number. DPO Satish Sharma said, “After a probe by the BDO, both these charges were proved and Sharma has been suspended as both these charges are in serious violation under the panchayat rules.” |
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CM releases book
Shimla, May 3 Appreciating the effort of the author in bringing out a book for children, Dhumal said it was different from the literature available in the market. He said there were very few publications for children and good books could help in instilling values of life in them. |
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Dhumal rubbishes Virbhadra allegations
Shimla, May 3 Stating this here today Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal said the sports department would organise the event in collaboration with the Atal Behari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports, Manali. The decision had been taken in view of the fact that paragliding required expertise in adventure sports and rescue operations and these two institutions were better placed than the tourism department in this regard. He expressed surprise over the statement of Union Steel Minister Virbhadra Singh alleging that the state government did not want him to be the chief guest at the World Cup Paragliding event to be held at Bir-Billing later this year. He said the union minister should have got the facts verified before making such a statement. He said it was the Congress government which politicised sports by enacting the State Sports Act which had been repealed by his government. His government had kept sports away from politics. He said it does not behove a leader of Virbhadra Singh’s stature who had a long stint as Chief Minister to indulge in such gimmicks. He also ridiculed the statement of the minister daring the government to arrest him in the CD case and said if Virbhadra Singh had done no wrong he should rest in peace. The law would take its own course, there was no need for him to panic and make such statements in media. Dhumal said Virbhadra Singh’s steel ministry had only added to inflation with the public sector Steel Authority of India enhancing the price of steel by Rs 2500 per tonne. The other steel producers had also followed suit. He said that the government would welcome steel processing units in different districts of the state but Virbhadra Singh had been announcing setting up of plants unit in every district he visited. |
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Helicopter joyrides popular
Manali, May 3 Kothi village, about 13 km from Manali, on the Manali-Leh highway, has become the biggest tourists attraction nowadays for visitors as they can fly in a helicopter to the lush green upper Manali region. The Simm Samm Airways in collaboration with the Himalayan Journeys, Manali, is organising a Heli-Manali, to promote helicopter joyrides in Kullu valley. Himanshu Sharms, director, Himalayan Journeys, said the joyrides are aimed at giving visitors the thrill of flying in a helicopter at an affordable price. He further said a five-minutes joyride up to 10,000 ft-high would cost Rs 2,000 per person and Rs 4,000 respectively. However, a special flight of Rohtang Pass, taking the visitors directly above the pass and the surrounding mountains would cost about Rs 6,000, he added. |
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SSB volunteers hold protest march
Mandi, May 3 Raising anti-central government slogans in support of their demands, the SSB protestors said the MoHA was sleeping over the implementation of the high court orders in Himachal. Narrating their tale of woes to The Tribune, MR Bhardwaj, state president, Kalyan Sangathan, said the Home Minister had announced jobs for trained SSB volunteers in Manipur. The Gauahati High Court, on October 8, 2000, had asked the MoHA to provide them jobs and other benefits, he added. Bhardwaj said more than 16,000 SSB jawans had been trained since 2000 in various SSB circles in the state. “We have been discharging odd duties and doing social work in the state. However, we are getting no monetary and other benefits,” they rued. They also cited orders of the Himachal High Court, passed on October 25, that upheld the decision of the Gauhati High Court in their favour. They rued that they had sought intervention of Chief Minister PK Dhumal, Union Steel Minister Virbhadra Singh and Industry Minister Anand Sharma to take up their case with the MoHA in vain. |
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Vets rue pay disparity
Hamirpur, May 3 In the information sought from the Finance Department of the state government, veterinary doctors claimed, “In reply to information sought about NPA, the Finance Department has given contradictory replies though Principal Secretary, health, had said while all other contractuals were getting basic pay plus dearness pay prior to December 1, 2009, contract medicos were getting 25 per cent more on basic plus DP as NPA and getting emoluments of Rs 26,250, enhanced from Rs 16,000.” “However, in its earlier orders of August 5, 2006, it was mentioned that emoluments of Rs 16,000 per month, granted to contract medicos, was a consolidated amount and there was no mention of 25 per cent NPA to contractual medicos as stated by Principal Secretary (Health),” they added.
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‘Charge entertainment tax from IPL organisers’
Mandi, May 3 Interacting with mediapersons, Virbhadra said the state should charge entertainment tax on the IPL matches played at Dharamsala as the IPL was just an entertainment and gambling game to make money. He said he was the first to give a statement that the IPL was a big moneymaking gambling match and was still firm on that. The sources of funds of the HPCA and its members should be probed, he added. On Chief Minister’s charge that Virbhadra’s supporter, the then HPCA president Raghuvir Singh, allegedly paid Rs 12 lakh to Modi for the top post, he refuted the charge, stating that Dhumal was trying to divert attention of the public. He said he would take up the issue of setting up of the Salt Mining Solution
Plant proposed at Megal by Hindustan Salt Mines Ltd with the relevant ministry. On the Steel Processing Industry at Mandi and other parts, Virbhadra said the ministry would support private party interested in setting up of the plant. On the Congress organisational polls, he said he favoured an impartial poll, regardless whoever was elected the next president, be it Kaul Singh or other.
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Climate Change
Dharamsala, May 3 The views were expressed by
prominent scientists at a state-level agricultural officials’ workshop on kharif crops that was held at Palampur Agriculture University (PAU) here today. While addressing around 200 officials from the state department of agriculture, scientists of the university and progressive farmers, chief guest Tej Partap, Vice-Chancellor, exhorted them to change methods of farm planning and research for better results in the fields. He said due to climate change it was imperative to formulate need-based research keeping in view the requirements of each district. For this, officials of the state department of agriculture and scientists of the university must have perfect coordination at district level. The Vice-Chancellor admitted that the poly house technology would revolutionise farming in this hill state but the university needed to strengthen its research for this technology. JC Rana, Director of Agriculture, HP, elaborated on the preparations of the government for the ensuing kharif season. He said climate change had brought huge crop losses to the farming community of the state and it was very important to keep farmers engaged in farming. The farming
community was facing many problems and they needed new technology and guidance to increase their production and income. He urged the university to come out with solutions to face new challenges. SP Sharma, Director of Research of the university, focused on the research achievements and programmes. He said the university had done work on crop improvement, crop protection, organic agriculture, farm
mechanisation and protected cultivation. The university has decided to orient future research around seed to market approach. He presented two new recommendations for kharif crops which include control of brown leaf spot of rice and pea-based cropping sequence under high hill dry temperate conditions. BC Sood, Director of Extension of the university said a mobile diagnostic lab-cum-exhibition unit worth Rs 50 lakh had been sanctioned by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) which would enable the university to provide better services to the farmers on their doorsteps.
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Oil tanker catches fire
Bilaspur, May 3 The petrol pump was saved by the effort of the driver of the tanker, who immediately carried away the burning tanker from the petrol pump and parked it away on the NH-88. A police team led by DSP Yogesh Guleria arrived on the scene immediately and supervised the fire control operations. The entire oil in the tanker, some 12,000 l, was burnt. The police had to block traffic on the highway from both sides. The fire is said to have erupted from sudden sparking, which ignited when the tanker was being connected to the tank of the petrol pump. The police has registered a case.
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9 school kids hurt in road mishap
Dalhousie, May 3 The Chamba Superintendent of Police said here today that the vehicle was on its way from Government Middle School Aaso, Khairi, to Chamba and Khajjiar hill stations on a picnic tour. The injured children were rushed to a nearby hospital and were reported to be out of danger, the SP said, adding that a case of rash and negligent driving against the driver of the vehicle, Mohd Azad, had been registered.
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Tremors rock Kangra
Kangra, May 3 Dr RS Negi, in charge, Wadlaia Seismological Centre, Nadi, said the earthquake was of 2.8 magnitude and lasted for 4 seconds. He said the epicentre of the earthquake was somewhere in the northwest. However, no loss of life or property was reported from any part of the valley.
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16-year-old raped
Nurpur, May 3 According to the police, the victim alleged that she was kidnapped and taken in a Tata Sumo by the accused on Saturday. The accused took her to Jammu. However, yesterday he received a message of his father’s demise and returned back, leaving the victim near her house. The victim’s medical examination was conducted, report of which is being awaited. However, the accused is absconding.
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Senior citizens submit memo to DC
Bilaspur, May 3 The memorandum, among other demands, stressed that pensioners be given all benefits on Punjab pattern like medical allowance, increase in pension after attaining age of 65 and 75 years, full pension after retirement after service of 20 years and also provision of medical treatment in government hospitals. It also demanded immediate payment of all pending medical reimbursement bills and payment of all their pension enhancement arrears. The association also demanded that a central school and hydro-engineering college be started here at the earliest, Ali khud drinking water augmentation scheme be implemented, new sewerage system be constructed, a sewage treatment plant be set up and slaughter house be shifted away from the town. Other demands said parking places be constructed, khokhas and rehries be removed from near the main bus stand, faulty construction of jetty on the Luhnu bank be corrected and proper railings be set up at the Ali khud and Kandraur bridges to prevent suicides on these spots. Earlier, an executive committee of the association also staged a dharna outside the office of the Deputy Commissioner.
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Industry told to impose voluntary power cuts
Solan, May 3 The notifications issued by the board in the industrial areas also specified that in case a unit failed to adhere to the instructions, it would be liable for penalty, including disconnection of
power supply. While the board officials plead that such directions were given to ensure that domestic consumers, which were housed along with industrial consumers in some industrial areas, did not suffer, the investors were not happy
with the directions. Though there was no such provision in the Act which could authorise the board to impose penalty such as disconnection of supply, such notifications had been issued today by the board officials. It is worth mentioning that Baddi, Barotiwala, Nalagarh, etc.,were composite industrial areas where industrial and domestic consumers existed side by side and imposition of power cuts every fifth day would upset the decision of the board to impose cuts in residential areas. Convener of Power Reforms Panel, CII, and general secretary of Parwanoo Industries Association Rakesh Bansal said the
board should now file a fresh petition for tariff revision before the state electricity commission as its annual revenue rating, based on the growth from
industrial consumers, would decline in lieu of such situations which appeared to prevail for long now. He added that given the adverse power scenario which the state was facing since the past two months, Himachal had no longer remained a power surplus state and it was time the industry
got used to the shortage of power here too.
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Manali, May 3
