Solan, November 11
Three candidates from the BJP and the Congress filed their nominations for the two seats of Renuka and Nalagarh on the first day of filing of nominations today.

Shimla, November 11
The government will constitute a committee under the chairpersonship of the Chief Secretary to explore possibilities for the implementation of the plan drawn by the Shimla Municipal Corporation in collaboration with the technical consultancy firm, Ramky Enviro Engineers, for the beautification of the town.

Stating this here recently, Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal said possibilities of executing the projects under BOOT (build, operate, own and transfer) and the PPP (public private partnership) modes would also be explored, besides involving the corporate sector in the maintenance of the proposed parks. He said the committee would take all related aspects into consideration in consultation with the related departments and finalise the plan for execution. He was speaking after viewing a detailed presentation on the proposed beautification plan here.

Dhumal said the proposed plan was estimated to cost Rs 70 crore and it envisaged the development of parks, parking slots, landscaping, street-scaping, residential parks, sports stadia and gymnasiums and decongestion of the old town. He said the existing infrastructural facilities would also be upgraded to meet the demand of the increasing number of visitors. Facilities like rain shelters at different points, toilets and shopping area would be created, besides introducing an eco-friendly transportation system. Besides the participation of the local communities, the private sector would also be involved for proper maintainance of the infrastructure.

Chief Secretary Rajwant Sandhu lauded the endeavour of the corporation and the consultancy firm in the preparation of the beautification plan and said possibilities would be explored to rope in the corporate sector to construct and maintain the projects in the town.

Shimla, November 11
Failure to ensure need-based deployment of staff and lack of professionalism are the main factors hampering the performance of the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC) as a commercial entity.

An analysis of the data pertaining to the manpower and overall turnover in various hotels and restaurants of the corporation reveals irrational deployment of staff. While some units, mostly in interior areas, with a good turnover have less staff, those in main towns with relatively low turnover have excess manpower. While the average turnover per employee comes to Rs 5 lakh, for big profit-earning units like Bhagsu (McLeodganj) it is as high as Rs 13.31 lakh. Similarly, for some other profitable units like Srikhand (Sarahan) and Log Huts (Manali) it is more than Rs 7 lakh.

On the other hand, it is as low as Rs 2.29 lakh for loss-incurring units like Chamunda Yatri Niwas. Other such units include Hotel Uhl (Jogindernagar) Rs 2.45 lakh, Hotel Irawati and Café Ravi (combined) in Chamba Rs 2.57 lakh and Hotel Shivalik in Parwanoo Rs 2.81 lakh. Even in some popular tourist destinations like Hotel Deodar in Khajiar and Hotel Pinewood in Barog the figure is Rs 4 lakh, much below the overall average.

Information obtained by RTI activist Dev Ahsish Bhattacharya reveals that the turnover per employee for the 19 loss-incurring units is Rs 3.33 lakh whereas for the profit-earning units it is Rs 5.73 lakh. A notable feature is that units in and around the main town have more staff and comparatively less turnover. For instance, the turnover per employee in Hotel Bilaspur is Rs 3.62 lakh, Hotel Sarvari (Kullu) Rs 3.82 lakh, Hotel Tea Bud (Palampur) Rs 4.14 lakh and Hotel Hamir Rs 4.70 lakh. For units in the interior areas, the figure is more than the average like Rs 5.95 lakh for Hotel Kalpa, Transit Bungalow Keylong Rs 7.36 lakh and Hotel Castle (Naggar) Rs 6.57 lakh.

Solan, November 11
The Congress today attacked the BJP for sheltering various mafia in the state. It said the forest, mining, and land mafia were proliferating under the BJP regime.

Addressing Congress workers at Nahan today after Vinay Kumar, the party’s nominee for the Renuka seat, filed his nomination, PCC president Kaul Singh said the popularity graph of the BJP government had reached its lowest ebb and the government was neck deep in corruption.

He said the allegations of the Congress had been vindicated by the BJP’s own leaders who had constituted the Bhrashtachar Mukti Morcha to expose corruption in the state. He said this spoke volumes about the state of affairs in the party. He said the BJP government had driven the state into a debt trap with a debt of Rs 2,700 crore being faced by the state and the government had failed to give arrears to employees, who were “disheartened” with the policies of the state government.

Leader of the Opposition Vidya Stokes appealed to the people to vote for Vinay Kumar who, she said, would carry forward the developmental works of his late father and former MLA of Renuka, Dr Prem Singh.

District president of the Congress Harshwardhan Chauhan, while addressing the workers, urged them to work in unison to ensure the victory of their candidate. He said the anti-people policies of the BJP had disheartened the masses in the state.

Vinay Kumar, MLAs GR Musafir and Kush Parmar also addressed the workers on the occasion.

Shimla, November 11
A hotbed of student violence, Himachal Pradesh University campus will be the venue of a unique event, a colloquium, where representatives of student bodies, trade unions, political parties and concerned government agencies will discuss ways to prevent violence and the consequent damage to public property.

The initiative for bringing various sections of society on a common platform to discuss an issue of utmost social importance has been taken by Chief Justice of the High Court Justice Kurian Joseph, who will also preside over the colloquium to be held on November 13.

It is indeed recognition of the ground reality that enacting laws and other administrative measures are not enough to prevent violence. There is an urgent need to create awareness that they were the real stakeholders as public assets were created by taxes paid by them. The causes of unrest and the grievance redressal mechanism also need to be discussed and addressed.

Member Secretary, State Legal Services Authority, JS Mahantan, said the deliberations would help obtain a holistic and larger picture of the “violent agitations” and enable the concerned authorities to put in place an effective mechanism to prevent violence.

Prominent political leaders, including state Congress chief Kaul Singh Thakur, former state BJP chief Suresh Bhardwaj, member, state secretariat of the CPM, Tikender Panwar, and state president of BSP Vijay Nayyar will express their views on the occasion. Representatives of student wings — Sanjeev Walia, spokesperson of the NSUI, Naveen Sharma, state organising secretary of the ABVP and Vikram, state secretary of the SFI — will also participate in the colloquium. It is being organised by the SLSA in association with the Department of Language and Culture, Public Relations Society of India, Shimla Chapter and the SEWA Trust.

Shimla, November 11
The HPSEB Project Engineers Association has demanded the immediate filling of the vacant post of Chief Engineer, Planning and Monitoring (P and M), in the HPSEB and allotment of hydroelectric projects to the state public sector undertaking.

The association pointed out that the post of Chief Engineer (P and M) had been lying vacant for long, while project engineers with more than 28 years’ experience were waiting for promotion. The association made several representations to the HPSEB management but no action had been taken in the matter. The Planning and Monitoring Department had always been headed by a project engineer and the association was at a loss to understand the reasons for keeping the post vacant.

It also demanded that the post of Director (Civil) in the Himachal Power Transmission Corporation (HPTC) be filled immediately.

At present, there is no Director (Civil) or Chief Engineer (Civil) in the corporation to handle civil engineering works, which account for almost 80 per cent of the workload.

The government had in September 2009 decided to reserve 10 hydropower projects with an aggregate capacity of 175 MW for HPSEB Limited but now three of these projects were being advertised for allotment to the private sector. 

Shimla, November 11
Inordinate delay in the reduction of prices of rosin and turpentine oil to match the international market trends have cost the State Forest Corporation dearly.

The corporation has slashed the price of rosin from Rs 137 per kg (fixed in April) to Rs 92 per kg on October 19 and further to Rs 85 on November 2, after the auctions conducted by it did not fetch a good price.

There was little response from buyers after the first downward revision and buyers started lifting the stocks only after the second cut. Over the past few days, 17 truck loads have been sold for Rs 1.45 crore. The corporation still has 9,300 tonnes of rosin, now worth only around Rs 8 crore.

If the prices had been cut marginally in July as suggested by some regular buyers, the existing stock of about 600 tonnes would have been disposed of at much higher rates ranging from Rs 120 to Rs 125 per kg.

The delay may have cost the corporation anything between Rs 2 crore to Rs 2.5 crore. As the corporation kept dilly-dallying over price revision, unsold stocks piled up to 1,100 tonnes by September.

Worse, the corporation is in for double trouble as the resin procurement rate of Rs 7,000 per quintal has not been reduced. Farmers, who sold their resin to processing units outside states during the boom period to earn windfall profits, now want to supply their produce to the corporation as the market rates have plunged to Rs 4,200 per quintal. Unless the corporation reduces 
the rate, procurement of private resin will be a loss-making proposition.

Till June, buyers were depositing payment in advance and the corporation was supplying rosin and turpentine oil selectively. However, it continued in the same vein even after the international market started declining and prices plummeted.

In July, regular buyers urged the corporation to reduce the rates by Rs 7 to Rs 10 per kg, but it refused to do so. As the prices kept declining, a representative of one of the major buyers, Mahindra Rosin and Turpentine Limited, even wrote a letter to the Chief Minister, who is also the chairman of the corporation, in August underlining the need to fix realistic prices of rosin.

He pointed out that Chinese rosin was available at Rs 107 per kg in Mumbai, while that of the corporation was being at Rs 140.50.

He suggested that the price be slashed to Rs 95 per kg immediately as experts were apprehending further decline in international prices, which had come down from $3,400 per tonne to $2,150 per tonne in August.

The prices have indeed come down to $1,600 per tonne and the corporation will have issues in disposing of its stocks even after reduction of rates.

Shimla, November 11
The HP High Court today sought an explanation from the Secretary (Education) of the state government with regard to delay in disbursing grant-in aid to GAV Senior Secondary School, Kangra.

The court also directed the Secretary (Education) to be present in the court on November 17 along with the entire records of release of grant-in-aid to the school and to give the names of officers responsible for the delay, also furnish the names and particulars of all the dealing hands up to the level of Secretary through an affidavit.

The Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Kurian Joseph and Justice Rajiv Sharma passed these orders on a contempt petition filed by teachers of the school alleging that despite the directions of the high court and the apex court with respect to the payment of 95 per cent grant-in-aid to the school, the government did not release the due and admissible benefits in time.

The court had earlier ordered in the writ petition filed by the teachers that the grant-in-aid shall be disbursed before June 30 of each academic year and in event of any delay, interest at the rate of 18 per cent p.a. shall be liable to be paid by the officers responsible for the delay.

In the reply, the Secretary (Education) had stated that the government had already sanctioned grant-in-aid to the tune of Rs 5.50 crore and it had already moved the court for three months’ extension for implementation of the earlier judgment of the high court. However, the court noted that the application for extension of time was filed on June 23 and three months had already expired on September 22, yet the judgment has not been implemented.

Mandi, November 11
Even as national vice-president and senior BJP leader Shanta Kumar has asked the state BJP leadership and Chief Minister PK Dhumal to resolve the differences among party men, party dissidents owing allegiance to him have upped their ante against the “powerful Dhumal group” under the banner of the Bhrashtachar Mukti Morcha (BMM) ahead of LK Advani’s Jan Chetna Yatra rally scheduled for November 16 here.

This internal tussle in the BJP is set to “dilute” LK Advani’s yatra on corruption in the state. It has given the Congress a shot in the arm as the BJP dissidents have been “baying for the blood” of the Dhumal group publicly that has given the Congress something to cheer about, especially in light of the coming Renuka and Nalagarh byelections.

The BJP dissidents have already held meetings in Kullu-Manali, Shimla, Solan and Mandi, causing a big embarrassment to the party.

Shanta Kumar told The Tribune on the phone today that he had urged all concerned to sit together and resolve their differences amicably. “The party should respect the opinions and aspirations of every party man and I do not want to say anything more,” he said, adding that he would participate in the rally.

The BJP dissidents are fighting a “do-or-die” battle within the party as they have been shrewdly cornered by Dhumal even in the eyes of the high command.

The BMM has alleged that the ruling leadership has compromised on corruption in several cases. These included the “cash-on-camera” case allegedly involving Shimla BJP MP Virender Kashayap and an alleged corruption case related to Health Minister Rajiv Bindal.

BMM president Maheshwar Singh said they would not point an accusing finger against any particular individual before they gathered enough documentary evidence regarding corruption. “We will participate in Advani’s rally,” he said.

BJP state president Khimi Ram, a Dhumal loyalist, claimed that the party and the government were one on the issue of corruption.

Hamirpur, November 11
A Union Government team from the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) today started evaluation of different programmes run by the mission in the state from Hamirpur district, including implementation of the mid-day meal scheme in the schools.

A seven-member team named the Central Review Management Committee (CRMC) started the evaluation work from the Regional Hospital, Hamirpur, and later visited health sub centres at Chabootra and Benal and hospital at Bhoranj.

The CRMC would be evaluating 17 programmes being run in the country by the NRHM, including Hamirpur and Kinnaur districts in the state for this purpose. The evaluation work has been undertaken simultaneously throughout the country.

The committee is evaluating these programmes by visiting hospitals, health centres and schools; talking to the beneficiaries; and carrying video recording and photographs of the spots visited.

This team includes Dr Bagai Rizwi, OSD in Directorate of Health Services, OSD Sheela Kono, Dr S Pachauri, and Director from MoHRD Dr Preeti Kumari and associate professor in Food Department Dr Umesh, Dr Abhishek and Aman Kumar Ram.

The implementation of the NRHM programmes like the Matri Shishu Janshakti Yojna, TB Control programme, Rashtriya Swasthya Bima yojna and Chhatra Swasthya programmes and functioning of the Rogi Kalyan Samitis are being evaluated by this team.

The government is keen to study the actual benefits of these programmes in improving health facilities in the rural areas. The evaluation reports gathered by the CRMC would be compiled at the national level to draw conclusions about expenditure made on various programmes and improvements if required. Since a few foreign agencies are providing funds for these programmes, report would also be provided to them. 

Shimla, November 11
Governor Urmila Singh inaugurated the four-day international Lavi fair, once a trade fair between India and China, at Rampur today.

She said the Lavi fair had its own historical importance and was famous for the barter trade system of earlier times. The fair, in the present form, was contributing towards preservation of the rich cultural heritage of the region, besides providing opportunities for business. She lauded the efforts being made to preserve the old traditions, which had offered a platform for cultural exchange.

Fairs and festivals were the symbols of cultural heritage and played an important role in furthering the traditions. She said every effort should be made to restore the old glory of traditional fairs which also helped in promoting national integration and communal harmony.

The Governor also inaugurated the Kinnauri market and exhibition organised as part of the fair by various government departments and other organisations.

Onkar Sharma, Deputy Commissioner and chairman of the Lavi Fair Organising Committee, welcomed the Governor and dwelt on the history of the fair.

A colourful cultural programme was also presented on the occasion.

Dharamsala, November 11
The ex-servicemen league of the state would invite social activist Anna Hazare to Dharamsala and confer the Shan-e-Hind award on him.

President of the league Vijay Singh Mankotia gave this information while talking to the newsmen here today. He said Hazare has done ex-servicemen proud by launching a crusade against corruption in the entire country.

It is shameful that the politicians of the country, instead of honouring Hazare, are targeting him and his team on flimsy charges. So the members have decided to boost his team’s morale by conferring an award on him.

A high-level delegation of the league would soon travel to Maharashtra for inviting him for the award ceremony at Dharamsala, Mankotia said.

He further said the league, in a resolution passed recently, has urged the state government to install statues of Major Somnath Sharma, the first recipient of Param Vir Chakra in independent India, who hailed from Palampur; and two other Gorkha martyrs from the state -- Capt Dal Bahadur Thapa and Major Durga Mal, who were deployed in the Azad Hind Army constituted by Netaji Subhash Chander Bose and were hanged to death by the British.

He said Chief Minister PK Dhumal has assured the league that the government would consider the request.

Mankotia further said the league has flayed the UPA government for going back on its promise of giving “one rank one pension” scheme to ex-servicemen.

The matter would now be taken up in meeting of the All India Ex-servicemen League scheduled on November 25-26. He said the state ex-servicemen would urge all members to vote against the political parties that are opposing the scheme. The bureaucrats are projecting wrong figures to spell the notion that this scheme would increase the financial burden of the government enormously, he said.

Chamba, November 11
The state government recently sanctioned a grant of Rs 1.50 crore to the Municipal Council, Chamba, to cope with the problems coming in the way of development activities in the town.

Disclosing this here, council president Anita Thakur said this funding would help the council take up various proposed activities for the town’s development and 
its beautification.

To promote tourism in the historic hill town, the council had drawn a flagship project with an outlay of around Rs 2.50 crore to develop tourist locations thereby attracting heavy influxes of tourists to the legendary town, the president revealed.

The project had recently been submitted to the government, the president said, adding once the project was approved, it would give the much-needed fillip to the promotion of tourist activities in a big way. She said it would simultaneously fetch revenue and strengthen the fiscal health of the council.

Speaking about the house tax, which is the main source of income to the council, the president said residents of the town were sincerely depositing the house tax. However, there were about 392 house tax defaulters who had been issued notices to deposit their house tax, she added.