Shimla, November 14
The state’s revenue from the sale of power is set to plunge to a three-digit figure for the first time in five years due to the continuing downswing in the power market.

The first seven months of the current fiscal have generated a revenue of Rs 880 crore (till October 31) and with 3,120 million units of the total 3,700 million units of power available already disposed of in the market, the annual revenue is not likely to touch the Rs 1,000-crore mark. From November 1, government power is being supplied to the state electricity board to meet the winter shortfall. The bulk of the remaining power will be supplied to the board till March 31 at Rs 2.95 per unit. As such, the revenue from the sale of power is not likely to touch Rs 1,000 crore.

The revenue from the power sector rose sharply from Rs 29.60 crore in 2003-04 to a whopping Rs 1,255 crore in 2008-09 as the rates of power hovered between Rs 6 and Rs 7 per unit. However, thereafter the power market started declining and the downswing is continuing. Early this summer, the rates ranged between Rs 2.50 and Rs 3 per unit and as a result the revenue plummeted despite the availability of more power for sale. Last year, the sale of 3,150 million units fetched Rs 1,150 crore.

However, in the current year, with the commissioning of the 1,000 MW Karcham Wangtu project, the 192 MW Allain Duhungan project and some other projects, the quantum of saleable power swelled to over 3,700 million units but the revenue continues to dwindle.

The situation would have been worse if the government had not entered a bilateral agreement with Uttar Pradesh for supplying the bulk of its power from April to September at Rs 4.30 per unit. Over 1,900 million units were sold under the arrangement and it was a much better proposition than selling in the open market as the rates remained low all through. The market looked up for a short while during October when a shortage of coal hit the thermal generation, creating a power crisis across the country.

The poor financial health of the sate power board is mainly responsible for the continuing downswing in the market as it is reluctant to purchase power, even if available at reasonable rates, and is preferring to impose cuts. Consequently, the average rates remain low even during the peak summer when the demand is maximum. The shortfall in revenue will hurt the fund-starved government, which is already facing problems in clearing arrears of pay revision.

Mandi, November 14
Succumbing to the pressure mounted by independent power producers (IPPs), the Himachal Pradesh Multi-Purpose Power (MPP) Department has been dithering on recovering the outstanding amount of Rs 467 crore from 77 power companies, which are or have executed various power projects in the state.

Though the power board has constituted a special cell to recover the outstanding amount from over 77 faltering companies, it got a cold response from the IPPs as these companies enjoy clout with the top echelons of the state government.

So far, only Rs 4 lakh has been recovered from a few companies. The IPPs are putting pressure on the government to wave off this amount and interest that can come in handy for the fund-starved board.

But the fact is that as per the memorandum of understanding (MoU) and the implementation agreement (IA) that the government has signed with each company, each IPP has to pay two per cent as cost charged by the state government-run HP State Electricity Board (HPSEB) for preparing the detailed project report and identification of power potential. Clause 20 of the MoUs and Clause 5.4 of the IA state that each IPP had to pay two per cent cost to the HPSEB that it has incurred while preparing the project reports, studying and investigating each of projects.

As 77 companies have defaulted on this Clause and the amount has shot to Rs 467 crore, including 10 per cent as compound interest, none of them have paid the cost so far, sources revealed.

Member, HPSEB, Anil Dutta when quizzed as to why the board had not recovered money from the IPPs, said: “The board has issued notices to companies, but they have not paid the overdue amount. We have taken up the matter with the government, which has signed the MoUs and the IAs with the IPPs.”

Interestingly, Principal Secretary, MMP, Deepak Sanan defended the IPPs interests and said, “the board’s two per cent cost is not based on reasonable grounds. We have to watch the interest of the power sector”.

When asked that the IA and the MoU signed with each IPP clearly mention this two per cent cost condition and each company has included this two per cent cost in cost of their projects, Sanan was on the defencive saying that the IPPs would have to pay the amount as the government is finding a middle-course to sort out the issue.

Shimla, November 14
Governor Urmila Singh has stressed the need for undertaking energy conservation measures on priority for accelerating the pace of industrial development and ensuring sustainable economic growth of the state.

Presiding over a state-level painting competition and prize distribution function organised by the Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam here today, she said transmission and distribution power losses should be cut down to the minimum to save energy. Steps taken under the national energy conservation campaign had resulted in 15 per cent energy saving in the country. She said judicious exploitation of natural resources should be ensured.

The Governor gave away prizes to the winners of the competition. Sushmita Rai of Dagshai Public School won the first prize of Rs 10,000, while Tamdrima Chakrawarti of Dayanand Public School, Shimla, and Kavya Aggarwal of DAV Public School, New Shimla, bagged the second prize (Rs 8,000) and the third prize (Rs 5,000), respectively. Ten consolation prizes of Rs 1,000 each were given to Sheetal, Shilpa, Ishita, Urvarshi, Abhishek, Bhawna, Hitesh, Yamini, Ashrut and Sonal.

Rajeev Sharma, Director, Elementary Education, said 70,309 schoolchildren of 2,495 schools across the state had participated in the competition, jointly organised by the SJVN and the Education Department. AK Mukherjee, General Manager, SJVN, presented a report on the painting competition.

Shimla, November 14
The police SMS gateway offering assistance to the public not just in criminal offences but also in other services has proved to be a big hit with the elderly and women turning out to be the biggest beneficiaries. A total of 54 FIRs have been registered on the basis of messages flashed on the mobile.

The service, launched almost seven months ago, has proved to be a big success with almost 50 messages being received daily. The messages sent are not just confined to criminal offences but people complain about overloading, reckless driving and use of the mobile phone and stereos by bus drivers.

“The SMS has proved to be a big boon for the elderly and women, who are even using it to point out that subsidised ration is not being made available in their village and we then forward it to the department concerned,” said DGP DS Manhas. Similar messages are sent, especially in rural areas, about the non-availability of gas and kerosene, which are promptly forwarded to the Food and Civil Supplies Department.

He says the effectiveness of the SMS, which is monitored every 24 hours by him to see what action has been taken by the police official concerned, can be gauged from the fact that a total of 54 FIRs have been registered on the basis of the SMSes received by the police,” he said.

The SMSes that the police has been receiving include information about thefts, clashes, rash and negligent driving and other offences. The HRTC, too, has issued a warning to some of its employees based on complaints received through mobile so that people have faith in the service.

The fact that the identity and the number of persons sending SMSes is kept a secret is helping a lot in popularising it. The elderly people and women who are unable to go to a police station or are rather reluctant to do so are using the SMS freely. The service is especially useful in cases of theft where time factor is very important and alerting the police immediately can help in apprehending the culprits.

Dharamsala, November 14
Changes in the Tibetan charter and transfer of power from the Dalai Lama to the elected leadership of Tibetan exiles has started having its impact. A trusted aide of the Dalai Lama, Kasur Lodi G Gyari, has refused an appointment offered to him by the new Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) that has assumed powers from the Dalai Lama. He refused to work directly under the new elected leadership of Tibet and has rather confined himself to representing the Dalai Lama.

Gyari was one of the two envoys who had been holding talks on behalf of the Dalai Lama with the Chinese authorities.

In a communication addressed to the CTA, a copy of which is with The Tribune, Lodi Gyari has stated, “In 1990, the Dalai Lama had appointed me as the special envoy to be based in Washington, DC for broader international relations. Following the enactment of the charter of the Tibetans in exile in 1991 and my retirement from the civil service of the CTA, I continued serving as the special envoy of the Dalai Lama. Since the Dalai Lama was also the head of the CTA until the recent changes, there was no conflict in my assisting in the work of the CTA or other officials and organisations concerned.”

Gyari said with the changes in the CTA’s structure, the Kashag informed him in May 2011 of its intention to appoint him to a position under it.

He said, “I responded to the Kashag proposal by reminding them that I had retired from the CTA civil service long time back and so the charter provision did not apply to my position. It has been an extraordinary privilege to have had the opportunity to serve the Gaden Phodrang until the last moment of the Dalai Lama’s direct political leadership.”

Gyari said following the recent changes in the governance system, he had ceased to have any involvement with issues relating to the CTA, be it at the broader level of taking them up with the US or other governments, or minor issues like issuing letters of introduction.

All such issues are being handled by the office of Tibet in New York.

He, however, clarified that this did not imply that “I do not have any desire to assist in the work of the new administration or that the new Kashag does not have any confidence in me. It goes without saying that I am fully committed to extend whatever support and counsel I can offer to the new Tibetan leadership. I have also had the opportunity to discuss this matter with the new Kalon Tripa, Dr Lobsang Sangay,” he said.

He said, “I will continue in my present capacity as the special envoy of the Dalai Lama for some time for the dialogue process.”

The spokesperson for the CTA refused to comment on the communication from Lodi Gyari. 

Kangra, November 14
Students of the Our Own Bal Bhawan at Shahpur today celebrated Children's Day on the campus coinciding with the 122nd birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru today.

Dr Neena Awasthi, chairperson, threw light on the life and teachings of Pandit Nehru.

She said Nehru was a great statesman who had impressed upon raising the living standards of the people of this country so that all that was removed which was coming in the way of the economic growth of the nation.

She said the footprints laid by Nehru were everlasting as he was a great statesman, humanist, reformist and visionary.

Various cultural programmes and a drawing competition were also organised on the occasion.

Children of Our Bal Bhawan collected clothing and sent three bundles of the same to Rishikesh for poor and orphan children.

Shimla, November 14
Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal led the “symbolic walk” from his official residence Oakover to the Ridge Maidan, accompanied by hundreds of youth and prominent people of the town, to mark the World Diabetes Day here today.

He also released a book on diabetes compiled by Dr Rajesh Kashyap of the Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) on the occasion.

The general public, along with diabetic patients, was subjected to a medical checkup to make them aware about the disease. Eye checkup was also carried out to sensitise people about the serious implications of diabetes for the vital sense organ. The participants formed a Blue Ring, a symbol of awareness for the general masses. An exhibition and a film show were also organised.

Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister said as the World Diabetes Day was being observed to draw attention of people towards the fast spread of the lifestyle ailment, which if not treated could lead to severe complications. It could directly affect the kidney, heart, eyes and cause micro and macro vascular complications in the body.

However, the disease could be managed by adopting a healthy lifestyle. Walking for 30 to 45 minutes every day or 150 to 200 minutes every week helped in preventing diabetes.

Dhumal exhorted people to walk to health and protect themselves against diabetes and other diseases. Hill people habitually undertook regular walks, but urbanisation and modern lifestyle were affecting them.

Suresh Bhardwaj, MLA, Ali Raza Rizvi, Secretary, Health, Dr DD Chandel, Director, Health, Dr Jaishree Sharma, Director, Medical Education, and Dr KK Kaushal, Principal, and teachers of the IGMC, participated in the walk. 

Shimla, November 14
Unhappy with the formation of an anti-corruption front by some of its senior leaders, the state BJP has sought action against all such leaders as it has written to the party high command to rein in the party men who are trying to harm the party.

Addressing a press conference here today, state BJP spokesperson and vice-chairman of the Himachal Urban Development Authority (HIMUDA) Ganesh Dutt said there was no place for an organisation like the Himachal Bhrashtachar Mukti Morcha within the BJP. “The state BJP has brought the activities of the morcha which are against the constitution of the party to the notice of the central leadership in writing, seeking action against the leaders who are part of it,” he said.

He hoped that the party high command would take action against all those who had formed the morcha. “We have no plans to stop the morcha leaders from participating in the Jan Chetna Yatra being led by senior leader Lal Krishan Advani in Mandi,” he said in reply to a query.

Asked about the action that had been taken against Kangra Lok Sabha MP Rajan Sushant for speaking against his own government, Dutt said the matter had been brought to the notice of the high command and now it was for it to take action.

The BJP leader said all arrangements had been made to welcome Advani’s yatra at Mandi and Nahan. “The yatra is receiving unprecedented support from the public as the UPA rule has been full of scams like 2G Spectrum and Commonwealth Games while the Prime Minister has failed to take action against some of its ministers like P Chidambram,” he said.

Dutt said the BJP was receiving support from the public and would win both the Renuka and Nalagarh byelections. “Development if the biggest issue and considering the achievements of the Dhumal regime, the BJP is bound to win,” he said. He refuted Congress allegations regarding misuse of official machinery by the ruling BJP.

Mandi, November 14
The CPM today asserted that they would take up local issues like wildlife menace, hike in the prices of seeds and fertilisers and crimes against women and problems being faced in the MNREGA works to their logical end as a part of the party’s strategy to increase its mass base in the district.

CPM district general secretary Bhupender Singh, who was re-elected for the post for the second term at the district body meeting at Jogindernagar, said the party was concerned about these issues at the two-day meeting of the committee.

He said the MNREGA was giving 45-day employment in the district rather than 100 days as stipulated in the Act.

“The payment is done after three to six months and we will ensure that the government obeys the MNREGA Act and make the payment on time,” the CPM leader said.

He said the party would intensify its struggle against these issues in the days to come.

The meeting was led by state CPM secretariat secretary Dr Onkar Shad in which district leaders Gautam, Kushal Bhardwaj were present among others.

The 19-member district committee was also constituted and 60 delegates were elected on the occasion, the party stated.

Solan, November 14
Rekha Kumari, daughter of Dr Prem Singh, the late MLA from Renuka Ji, today sought a probe into the death of her father, who reportedly died of a heart attack on September 23 at his native village, Maina-Bag. This follows allegations by Transport Minister Mahinder Singh that he had a letter written by the late MLA which had the details of the circumstances leading to his death.

She has stated that since the issue pertains to the death of a public figure and allegations have been levelled by a minister of the ruling BJP government after a period of two months, it was important to get it examined. More so as the sentiments of the family have been hurt as a doubt has been created by the minister who, despite having some evidence, had till now not handed it over to the police. She has also asked for suitable action against the minister stating that hiding evidence was also a crime.

In a letter to the SP, Sirmaur, she has requested the police to re-examine the issue pertaining to his death. Rekha Kumari has stated that though her father had died of a heart attack and he was taken to the Dadahu Civil Hospital by his brother Vinay Kumar where doctors had declared him dead, the allegations levelled by Mahinder Singh had created a doubt among the family and the people of the state. Therefore, she wanted the police to re-examine the case and the circumstances which had led to his death and also whether it was a natural death or some other happening which had caused the death.

She has also requested the SP to get the case investigated by a senior police officer who should record the statement of Mahinder Singh and also take the letter or any other evidence from his possession after registering an FIR. She has refuted the minister’s claim that he and Dr Prem Singh were friends who shared everything and stated that her father had neither met the minister nor had he spoken to him on his cell phone. This was evident from the fact that the minister had not even mourned her father’s death.

Mandi, November 14
One person was killed and 28 others were injured, 12 of them seriously, when an overloaded a private temp trax jeep went off the Jogindernagar-Mandi national highway near Bhalana village in Paddar subdivision today.

The victim has been identified as Tolu Ram of Chalgain village. Twelve patients who sustained some injuries were referred to the Mandi Zonal Hospital in the evening.

According to the police, the jeep was overloaded with a marriage party on its way back to Urla and nearby villages after attending a marriage at Bhalana. Sixteen passengers were given first aid at Paddar and reported to be safe, the police said.

There was chaos at the hospital when 12 patients were referred there. There was only one doctor on duty. Another doctor was called as more patients were rushed in, charged relatives of the patients.

The doctors said they attended the patients in time. All the patients were stable and under observation, they added.

Shimla, November 14
Dr Mallika Nadda, founder president of an NGO, Chetna, was today presented with the Rajiv Gandhi Manav Sewa Award - 2010 by Union Minister of Women and Child Development Krishna Tirth at a function in New Delhi for services rendered by her to differently-abled children in Bilaspur district of Himachal Pradesh.

She has been conferred the award for introducing social integration of differently abled children through sports.

Dr Nadda started community-based rehabilitation programmes initially in 10 panchayats of Bilaspur and gradually extended it to all 151 panchayats in the district. Chetna at present caters to 448 disabled persons in the district and organises medical and health awareness camps in rural areas.

Shimla, November 14
“The rules which are in existence when the selection process starts like the issuance of the advertisement are applicable and the appointments have to be governed by these rules”.

This observation was made by Justice Deepak Gupta on a petition involving the issue whether the recruitment and promotion rules relating to the posts in question existing on the date of the advertisement are applicable while filling the posts or the employer has the right to change the rules after the advertisement.

According to the petitioner, on October 10, 2002, the HP Subordinate Services Selection Board, Hamirpur, issued an advertisement inviting applications for various posts, including those of steno-typists. The petitioner applied for the said post. Though the process started in 2002, the screening test was held in 2007 and thereafter a skill test was conducted in August 2008 and the petitioner was found eligible for appointment. A letter was issued to him in September 2008 offering him appointment as a steno-typist in the Irrigation and Public Health Department. The appointment was, however, offered on a contract basis.

While allowing the petition, the court observed that the petitioner would be deemed to be a regular employee of the state government from the date of his appointment and “the state is directed to grant all financial benefits to the petitioner”.