Mandi, December 19
In a tearing hurry to meet December 30 deadline to make service records of the state’s over 2.5 lakh babudom online, the “sensitive secret codes of government employees and offices instead have landed in cyber cafes across the state, who are making fast bucks from this windfall”.

Though in many district offices some “babus” know how to make entries, the volume of entries is so large and cumbersome that the “sagging work-shy babus have approached cyber cafes in many parts of the state to generate e-service records”.

Chief Secretary Rajwant Sandhu has directed all the departments to make the service records of each employee online by December 30, the day when the BJP government will incidentally complete four years in the office in the state.

The National Informatics Centre has developed a software and has given a code to each employee and each department to make the e-service records. The name of the project is the Personnel Management and Information System, which started in April this year. “It aims to give complete information of each government employee’s service records,

ranging from his pay scale, place and day of posting at each station to years in service, increments and educational qualifications,” officials said.

But the babus, especially in schools, have no knowledge of computer and many schools and departments even have no computers.

“To save time and energy, several babus collect Rs 200 each from employees and pay cyber cafes the money after giving them the secret codes as they do not know what cyber crime is,” sources said.

As a result, the employees’ service records have reached cyber cafes in different parts of the state from Sirmaur to Bhramaur and Jogindernagar to Shimla, the sources added.

The entries are full of errors and mischievous elements can fiddle with the sensitive service records as “all secret codes are known to certain cyber cafe owners” across the state, warned employees.

Rajwant Sandhu, who was in the town today to preside over the HP Census function, when quizzed on the sidelines, she told The Tribune, “You have brought the matter in my notice and we will initiate action if employees service records were being entered in cyber cafes. We have completed 80 per cent of the works to put the service records online and will meet the deadline.”

Sandhu said each department would verify the service records of each employee before putting it online.

In Mandi district, over 80 per cent of the exercise was complete and they were getting records of all the departments for verification, Mandi DC Devesh Kumar said.

Similarly, in Kullu district administration was verifying the entries and 80 per cent of the work was done, said BM Nanta, DC, Kullu.

Dharamsala, December 19
Two newly elected MLAs, Lakwinder Singh Rana of the Congress from Nalagarh and Hirday Ram of the BJP from Renuka, today took the oath on the first day of the winter session of the Himachal Assembly that began here this afternoon.

Both MLAs took the oath amidst the thumping of desks by other members of the House.

The House also adopted resolutions mourning the death of Prem Singh, MLA Renuka, and three former MLAs, Prem Dass Pakhrolvi, Damodar Dass and Sadhu Ram.

Besides the Chief Minister, Prem Kumar Dhumal, and the CLP leader, Vidya Stokes, many other members read out condolence messages. Though question hour could not be held today, the government tabled in the House written replies to queries raised by various members.

Parveen Kumar, BJP MLA from Palampur, raised a question regarding the much-delayed ITI in his constituency. In reply to his query the minister concerned said the foundation stone of the ITI in Palampur was laid in 2009. The building of the institution would be completed at a cost of Rs 62.5 lakh by December 2012.

Nand Lal, Congress MLA from Rampur, sought information regarding the number of veterinary doctors posted in dispensaries in his constituency. In reply to the question the minister concerned stated that doctors were not posted in veterinary dispensaries and six posts of veterinary pharmacist were vacant in the Rampur constituency.

Kaul Singh, HPCC president, who was not present in the House due to injuries he sustained in an accident, had raised a question regarding the number of persons booked for growing narcotic crops in his constituency, Darang, in Mandi district. In the reply filed to the query the Chief Minister said that in 2011, as many as 15 persons had been booked for growing narcotic crops.

Sohan Lal, Congress MLA from Kasumpti, sought information regarding a government proposal to close civil supplies shops in Shimla district. In the reply, the Minister for Food and Civil Supplies, Ramesh Dhawala, said that there was a proposal to close down 40 civil supplies shops in Shimla that were not doing business of at least Rs 5 lakh per month.

Kuldeep Singh Pathania, Congress MLA from Bhatiyat, and Kaul Singh, HPCC president, had asked if the government had a proposal to bring the wages of PTA teachers on a par with those of contract teachers. In reply to the query the Education Minister said there was no such proposal. The Education Minister said that in the education code there was a proposal to fill vacancies of teachers with permanent teachers. Temporary teachers were recruited as stop-gap arrangement.

Yog Raj,Congress MLA from Pragpur, asked if the government had any policy on the posting and transfer of physically challenged employees with 40 per cent and above disability. The Chief Minister in his reply said that there was no such policy.

Dharamsala, December 19
One of the biggest industrial projects that was coming up in Una district of the state has got embroiled in a controversy over a benami land transaction.

The owners of the about Rs 400 crore unit, M/s Saber Papers Ltd, have been issued notice under Section 118 (3) of the Himachal Land Tenancy Act for allegedly entering into a benami transaction for buying land for the project.

The information was laid on the table of the Himachal Assembly today on a question raised by Congress MLA from Satokhgarh Mukesh Agnihotri. Agnihotri had sought information from the government regarding the inquiry initiated into the allegation of benami transaction against the said unit owners.

In reply to the question the government said the SDM, Una, had conducted an inquiry into the benami land transaction allegation. The SDM in his inquiry report had opined that it seemed to be a benami transaction.

In the SDM’s inquiry report that was also tabled in the House, it has been stated that M/S Saber Papers Ltd through its general manager was given permission to buy about 11 hectares from different land owners for setting up a paper unit in the Haroli area of Una district.

However, it was noticed that out of the total land purchased for the unit about 10 hectares were purchased from one individual, Harbans Lal, a resident of the Nalagarh area of Solan. Harbans Lal had purchased land from local landowners during a period extending from March 2008 to October 2009.

The SDM has stated in his report that Harbans Lal in a statement before him had admitted that he was used as an agent for the land transaction on behalf of Saber Papers Ltd. He had also admitted that he had neither invested any money while purchasing the land from the local residents not received any sale consideration from the company owners.

Harbans Lal also produced an agreement between him and the director of the company for effecting the land sale deed.

The company has deposed before the inquiry officer that it had appointed Harbans Lal as estate officer to purchase land in his name till the change of land use (CLU) certificate was procured from the state government.

The SDM in his report has held that it was clear that the company had procured land from the owners in the name of a person who is an agriculturist of Himachal through a benami transaction before the permission under Section 118 of the Land Tenancy Act was given. He has held that the paper mill owner invested about Rs 15,91,500 to procure a major chunk of land through a benami land deal that was sold at a rate of Rs 7,53,46,000 within six months.

The SDM has held that though stamp duty was not evaded in the case, the company succeeded in procuring land from the original owners at a much lower price and later escalating the price by registering the sale deed in their name. This enabled the company owners to mortgage the same land to raise a loan of Rs 267 crore from the State Bank of Patiala.

The government in reply to a query from Agnihotri maintained that action would be taken in the case after completing the legal formalities.

Dharamsala, December 19
The Congress and the BJP have planned rallies on December 22 and 23, respectively, during the winter session of the state assembly at Dharamsala.

The Congress that had already declared that it would gherao the Assembly on December 22, today announced that it would put up a massive show of strength at the Zorawar Singh Stadium located near the Assembly complex.

While addressing a press conference at the opposition lounge at the Himachal Assembly today, Congress MLA from Nagrota Bagwan GS Bali dispelled notions that party in charge for the state Barinder Singh was not attending the rally.

Bali said the rally being planned by the Congress was just a continuation of the earlier protest launched in the form of march from Solan to Shimla during the monsoon session by the Congress to oust the present government.

When asked if Union Minister Virbhadra Singh would be attending the rally, Bali said that he could not come due to the ongoing session of the Parliament. About the reported statements of certain Virbhadra loyalists that they would not be attending the rally, Bali said there were no differences in the party.

However, sources told The Tribune that reported statements of two Congress MLAs, close to Virbhadra Singh, regarding their participation in the rally generated heat in the CLP meeting held here this morning.

Bali, who is the main organiser for the December 22 show of the party, raised voice against the statements of the Congress MLAs.

Spokesperson of HPCC Mukesh Agnihotri said the Congress would expose the BJP government on the issues of corruption, unemployment and benami land transactions.

Meanwhile, the BJP has also planned a rally at the same venue (Zorawar Singh Stadium) on December 23, the last day of the winter session.

BJP leaders said the rally was being organised to mark the successful completion of the four years of the present government in office.

The sources said the Independent MLA from Nurpur, Rakesh Pathania, would muster an impressive strength during the rally to raise the issue of giving Nurpur a district status.

The government has, however, already clarified that it has no plans for division of Kangra district.

During the press conference today, Congress leaders found themselves in a maze over formation of new districts in the state. When asked by newspersons to state their position over the division of Kangra district, they said the present government wanted to finish the political identity of Kangra.

When asked specifically if they were in favour of formation of new districts out of Kangra or not, they said they were not against the formation of new districts but were against the timing of the decision, adding that they would decide over the division of Kangra once they come to power. Now, it is for the present government to decide over it.

Hamirpur, December 19
Hamirpur MP and national president of BJYM Anurag Thakur has criticised the Central Government for not taking firm steps to bring back the black money stashed away in foreign banks and not disclosing names of accounts holders available with the government.

Talking to The Tribune, he said: “It was unfortunate that in spite of repeated pressure from the BJP and the Left, the Centre has refused to disclose the names of 18 Indians who have deposited black money in the LGT Bank of Liechtenstein, a popular tax haven for Indian black money holders.”

He said: “Though the German Government had passed on bank account details of many persons holding high position in society, the Centre has failed to take action in this regard.”

The BJP leader said: “The BJP is of firm belief that the Centre has also not taken steps to persuade foreign governments and other agencies to share information regarding tax evasion and it had not gathered complete black money despite the Supreme Court directions.”

“If such information can be gathered by the US why India cannot get the same, he added.

Shimla, December 19
The Congress today demanded a White Paper on the failure of the state BJP regime in fulfilling the promises listed in its election manifesto to the people of the state as it would be completing four years in its office on December 30.

Addressing a press conference here today, state Congress Committee chief Kuldeep Rathore demanded that the BJP must issue a White paper as it had failed to come up to the expectations of the people.

“Rather than fulfilling its promise of setting up a Circuit Bench of the State Administrative Tribunal at Dharamsala, the BJP had wounded the tribunal and had also failed to provide employment to the educated youth,” he said.

Rathore said the BJP regime had failed to provide relief to farmers, employees, youth and other sections of society resulting in people being disenchanted with the four-year BJP rule.

“People had voted for the BJP thinking that a lot of employment opportunities would be created and welfare schemes would be launched, but it is the land mafia that has benefited a lot in the state,” 
he said.

Rathore said the Congress would be observing December 30 as a “protest day” when the state BJP would be completing four years of its rule.

“Though we see no cause for celebration as the BJP has failed to make any achievements or deliver to the people, they are planning a rally at Kullu on December 30,” he said.

The Congress, he said, would be holding demonstrations and protests at the state level and also at all the district headquarters.

“Congress leaders will submit memorandum to Deputy Commissioners at all district headquarters and to the Governor,” he said.

Rathore added that AICC general-secretary and in charge for party affairs Chaudhary Virender Singh would lead the party’s padyatra and protest rally at Dharamsala on December 22 and party workers from across the state would take part in the rally.

Shimla, December 19
A project of the Wildlife Department where migratory birds had been radio collared last winter at Pong Dam seems to have yielded the desired results as one of the birds, a ruddy shelduck, has already returned from wetlands in North-West China while three other birds are on their return journey.

The return of the lone ruddy shelduck that had been collared last year along with six other migratory birds brought cheer to wildlife experts when the bird once again descended on Pong Dam on December 11 after traversing a distance of 2200 km from its summer destination of Yixiao Dui and Kareqi Lan ai Rike wetlands in North-West China.

This time the Wildlife Department will install a satellite telemetry chip on 18 new birds in April-May next year considering the success of its mission. The three bar-headed geese have been tracked about 100 km away from Pong Dam somewhere near Mt Kailash and are expected to arrive shortly at the wetland.

It was in April and May this year that six birds — three bar-headed geese, one ruddy shelduck and two ducks — had been radio collared with assistance from the Bombay Natural History Society. While the two ducks chose to become locals and never left Pong, the other four birds left for their summer sojourn in cooler climes.

“We now have details of the birds’ stopover, route taken, duration of non-stop flight and their ultimate destination in Russia and China with the help of the global positioning system,” said AK Gulati, Chief Wildlife Warden. He added that the route of three other bar-headed geese was also being tracked and they, too, were likely to reach Pong Dam shortly.

Gulati said this year 18 new birds would be collared before they returned from Pong Dam towards Siberia and other cold areas for the summer. The basic concept of satellite telemetry is to attach a radio transmitter to a bird and track the signal to determine its movement. The cost of each chip is about Rs 2.50 lakh and it will send signals for four years with the batteries getting recharged through solar energy.

More than 1.40 lakh migratory birds of 85 different species descend on Pong Dam every winter after crossing thousands of kilometres from places as far as China, Siberia, Russia and Nepal. The largest influx is of bar-headed geese, coots, common pochards, pintails, cormorants and spot bill ducks. 

Bilaspur, December 19
Over three main temples and 20 other smaller temples of the rare Nagara style of architecture, submerged in the Gobind Sagar reservoir since 1964, have virtually died their natural death due to a protracted blame game between the state government and Centre over their restoration.

The archaeologists have blamed the apathetic state and Centre’s archaeological establishments for the doom of the temples in water.

None showed interest to fund this multi-crore restoration and transplant project in order to save these temples well in time, they lamented.

“It is now too late to be talking about transplanting the temples,” said state renowned archaeologist Dr OC Handa. “It will be now appeasing people for the sake of votes as the temples have been rendered shaky by corrosion and cannot be transplanted,” he asserted.

It took the state government and the Archaelogical Survey of India (ASI) 15 years to make a proposal of restoring these temples, but nothing concrete has emerged on the matter so far, said archaeologists.

The temples have drastically corroded their art forms, art relics etched on them over the years due to the silt menace in the Gobind Sagar. Even a team of marine wing of the Geological Survey of India has found that the temples are in bad shape and transplanting them may be a very difficult exercise, said Dr Handa. “The temples may fall apart during the transplant and nobody now is willing to touch them,” he said.

There are over 12-30 temples submerged in the Gobind Sagar since 1964 when the Bhakhra Beas Management Board (BBMB) constructed this reservoir by linking waters of the Beas and Sutlej. Over a dozen temples resurface when the water level of the Gobind Sagar recedes during summers. The temples are over 300 to 800 years old and are built in the Nagara style of architecture during the reins of the erstwhile kings of the former Bilaspur.

The district administration claimed that a geological wing inspected land one at Lunu ground and another near the Gopal temple, the report is still awaited,” said Sandeep Kadam, SDM-cum-coordinator of the project.

Kadam said former queen of Bilaspur has also expressed her desire to protect the monument. “She is keen to donate land for the temples here but the land has not been transferred so far,” he added.

Solan, December 19
A case of gang rape has come to light in the Baddi industrial area where an 18-year-old girl hailing from Rohru and working in a pharmaceutical unit was allegedly raped by two youths at their rented accommodation in the Housing Board area, Phase II, last night.

The case came to light when the girl informed her friend who resides at Sandholi early this morning who in turn informed her landlord.

The SP, Baddi, Gurdev Chand Sharma, said according to the girl’s statement one of the accused, Praveen Kumar, who was her friend, insisted on her coming to his rented room as his sister-in-law was not well. He along with another friend, Sumit Kumar, came to pick her up from her room on a bike.

The unsuspecting girl accompanied her friend where she was raped by Praveen and Narender Singh in the presence of Sumit Kumar, Manoj Kumar and Ashish Kumar.

The police arrested all five youths who were working in a pharmaceutical unit at Baddi. A case under Section 376, IPC, has been registered.