Shimla, January 25
In a Statehood Day gift to the people, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today announced free travel facility in Himachal Road Transport Buses to students of government institutions and a hike of Rs 50 per month in social security pension.

He also announced that the government would come out with a road policy and a model framework for the construction of new bridges and tunnels along with a special project worth Rs 5,000 crore in association with the Centre.

Presiding over the state-level function at Sunni in Shimla district to mark Statehood Day, he said the free travel facility would be available to students from the next academic session.

He said the beneficiaries of social security pension would now get Rs 500 per month. He also announced that free travel facility from hospital to residence would be provided to newborns and their mothers under the Janani Suraksha Yojna.

Virbhadra Singh unfurled the National Flag and took salute at the march-past presented by contingents of the IRB, the police, the Home Guard, the NCC and schoolchildren.

Stating that roads were the key to development in the hill state, he said 7,500 km of new roads would be constructed in the next five years to connect all villages with a population of more than 100.

He said a road policy would be formulated and the government would work on a model framework for the construction of new bridges and tunnels. He said a project worth Rs 5,000 crore would be introduced in association with the Centre.

He also announced that a sub-tehsil office would be opened at Dhami and the primary health centre at Halog upgraded to a community health centre.

He said a multi-purpose stadium would be opened at Katasani near Shimla and an industrial training institute in the Shimla Rural constituency. He announced Rs 20 lakh for the development of a stadium at the Government Senior Secondary School in Sunni.

Continuing with his stream of announcements, the Chief Minister said science and commerce streams would be started at the Government College in Sunni and the Government Middle School at Dabri upgraded to a high school.

He said the Government Primary School at Hyun would be upgraded to a middle school the Government High Schools at Madukhar and Neen to senior secondary schools.

Listing out the government’s priorities, he said the endeavour was to address unemployment, check corruption at various levels and complete ongoing projects within a stipulated time-frame.

He said safeguarding the interests of small and marginal farmers would be a major concern and efforts would be made to enhance the area of land under irrigation by at least 40 per cent over the next five years to reduce the dependence of farmers on rain.

He said the government would make efforts to promote the dairy industry in order to strengthen the rural economy. He said a modern milk-processing plant would be established in the state and a marketing policy framed for ensuring a remunerative price for milk.

He said all 10,725 left-out habitations of the total of 53,201 would be provided safe drinking water during the next five years. He said the government had fixed a norm to provide 70 litres of drinking water per person per day compared to a national average of 55 litres per person per day.

He said the government would ensure that all ongoing hydroelectricity projects were completed in time and the state generated an additional 5,000 MW of hydro power in the next five years. The state was accorded the status of a full-fledged state in 1971.

Shimla, January 25
Various environment action groups have expressed concern over the report of the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) on the River Valley Projects recommending clearance for the 775-MW Luhri Project. They urged Union Minister for Environment Jayanthi Natrajan to reject it as the panel overlooked major environmental issues.

A Himachal-based non-government organisation Himdhara, along with several other action groups, including the Sutlej Bachao Jan Sangharsh Samiti, have apprised Natrajan of the environmental fallout of the project and other related issues in a detailed representation.

They have asserted that serious implications of the project on the local environment and livelihoods had not been correctly studied. Pointing out several illegalities in the conduct of the public hearings for the project, they alleged that the details of the 78 villages to be affected by the 38-km long twin tunnels of 9 m diameter each were not included in the Environment Impact Assessment report. The tunnels would effectively wipe out a 50-km stretch of the Sutlej, a lifeline of the local people.

The blasts carried out for tunnel construction also caused damage to houses, wipes out water sources and reckless of dumping of debris affected the agriculture land and in turn the farm production. In the series of projects on the Sutlej, this would be the longest tunnel and at this stage the cumulative impact assessment of all 30 small and big projects planned on the Sutlej basin should be considered.

These projects would alter the riverine ecology, the climatic conditions and the landscape of the Valley irreversibly and the Luhri project would be the final nail in the coffin of the river.

The issue of the Forest Rights Act, 2006 had also been raised as more than 60 per cent of the land to be acquired for the project is forest land used by the local people for grazing, collecting fuel wood and other natural resources for subsistence.

Other groups who endorsed the memorandum include International Rivers Network, South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People and River Research Centre, Kerala.

Nadaun, January 25
Two persons were killed and one injured seriously in an accident at the bus stand here around 7 am today. A private bus (HP67-2270) of Kapila Bus Service was being pushed as the driver could not start the engine due to the cold.

Three persons were crushed under the wheels of the bus when the driver lost control over the vehicle. Sanjeev Kumar (20) of Dagehad village in Kangra district and Manohar Lal (60) of Solan died on the spot.

Tanya Kanti Mukherjee of West Bengal was seriously injured. Dev Raj Ghalaur, an eyewitness, said they were going to the temple in Jwalamukhi for the tonsure ceremony of a child. The police arrested Kashmir Singh, the driver of the bus, and registered a case under Sections 279, 336 and 304 of the Indian Penal Code.

Shimla, January 25
To provide some relief to consumers from the unprecedented price rise, the State Civil Supplies Department will set up ‘aam aadmi’ supermarkets and shops in the state.

With the prices of majority of the products in these shops being almost five to 10 per cent less than the market price, the government plans to gradually extend these to all the urban centres and later in the rural areas as well.

“To begin with the Civil Supplies Corporation will set up about 10 ‘aam aadmi’ supermarkets in the urban centres of the town so that all daily use items and ration can be made available at the lowest possible prices,” said Food and Civil Supplies Minister GS Bali.

He said later the scheme, depending upon its success, would be extended to the entire state.

He stated that the shops, ‘aam aadmi dukaan’, would also be opened near main bus stands in most of the places in the state. It would help the transport department to make some revenue from rents earned from these shops.

“The location of the shops within the bus stand complex will prove convenient for the consumers who after buying the products can board a bus to their respective destinations,” he said.

Bali said the shops would have close circuit cameras to ensure that there should no pilferage of goods. “Our main endeavour is to procure food grains and other daily use items in bulk so that the lowest possible prices can be offered to the consumers,” said Bali.

He said he would be inviting suggestions from the Leader of the Opposition and all legislators so that services to the consumers could be improved. He would incorporate all the good suggestions made by them.

The Food and Civil Supplies Department is already providing subsidised ration, including rice, wheat, pulses and cooking oil, to 16.25 lakh ration cardholders in the state. The process of issuing new ration cards to the consumers is under way as the number of persons is getting subsidised ration is more than the actual population of the state.

The department is verifying duplication and non-usage of ration cards. A few persons have even surrendered their ration cards in order to avoid duplication of cards.

Solan, January 25
A team of quality control officials from the Public Works Department (PWD) took samples to check the quality of material used in the construction of the Dharampur-Sanawar road.

The visit follows the publication of a news item in these columns on January 21, in which the deplorable condition of this road was highlighted.

Chief Engineer (South Zone) DK Nayyer said a team of the Superintending Engineer from the quality control wing of the PWD, two inspectors and a research officer visited the site. They collected samples of the material to assess the extent of damage and reasons for poor condition of the road.

The team would shortly submit a report about the material used in its construction. They would assess various parameters like the impact value of the grit, its gradation and water absorbing capacity.

They would also observe whether the bitumen content was as per the specifications and how the road had worn away within a few days its construction.

Shimla, January 25
While the plan to translocate some of the temples submerged by the Bhakra Dam has not made much headway, a group of intellectuals is pitching for setting up a cultural centre in Bilaspur to help preserve the heritage as a tribute to the last ruler of the erstwhile princely state of Bilaspur, Raja Anand Chand, whose birth centenary is on January 26.

The old Bilaspur town, which was the seat of the ruler, was submerged in the sprawling manmade reservoir, the Gobind Sagar. With it, much of the architectural and cultural heritage was lost.

“The centenary of a man of versatile talents like Anand Chand, considered an intellectual prodigy among Indian princes, is an occasion to take a lasting initiative to preserve the lost heritage. A cultural centre named after him for undertaking multiple activities for the promotion of cultural heritage of the land will be an ideal tribute,” says Shakti Singh Chandel.

A former IAS officer, he has started the campaign under the banner of the Himachal Pradesh Progressive Group. The group will organise a function here on January 26 to mark the centenary, during which focus will be on the book ‘Raja Anand Chand- His Life and Time’.

Books fascinated Anand Chand and he not only maintained a huge personal library, but also authored a number of books, including ‘Bilaspur Marches On!’ (a 10-year plan), ‘Bilaspur- Past, Present and Future,’ ‘Twilight Descends on Indian States’ and ‘Bilaspur- A People Betrayed’, says Chandel.

He also pioneered the theatre movement and directed about 10 plays, says Chandel. He opened libraries, reading rooms, clubs and drama societies to promote excellence in art and culture, says Chandel.

He also introduced the election of panchayat members on the basis of adult franchise in 1938, says Chandel, who carried out an in-depth research to produce a voluminous book on the erstwhile state of Bilaspur. A follower of Mahatma Gandhi, Raja Anand Chand implemented a 14-point programme based on Gandhian philosophy, says Chandel.

He imposed prohibition, banned untouchability, made students wear khadi uniform with Gandhi cap, introduced sericulture and launched Gandhi’s Wardha scheme of basic education, focusing on the physical and intellectual growth of students and training them in useful local handicrafts, says Chandel.

He did not allow Praja Mandal workers to agitate on the grounds that he was following every programme of the Congress in letter and spirit, says Chandel, who will take up the matter with Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh. Chandel will pursue the proposal for a centre as a trust, which can also serve as a tourist attraction.

Mandi, January 25
The parking-cum-shopping complex to be built under the public-private partnership mode by a Gurgaon-based builder on Jail Road in the town has hit a major roadblock as the district magistrate has referred the land records of the site to the settlement officer, Dharamsala, for correcting the land entry. The actual land of the site has turned out to be almost half of what was recorded in the revenue land records available with the District Magistrate.

The anomaly in land measurement was found after the project was awarded to the Gurgaon-based Raheja Builders during the previous BJP regime in 2011. The joint team of the revenue-builder measured the land, which turned out to be 4,483 sq m rather than 9,183 sq m as mentioned in the ‘jamvandi’ of the land available with the Revenue Department.

When the builder brought it to the notice, the tehsildar in his inquiry found that the mistake had occurred during the settlement of the land records done in 1960s, said one of the district officials.

DC Mandi Devesh Kumar said they had referred the land records to the settlement officer, Dharamsala, as it was not in their preview to correct the entry in the settlement records. Still there is a provision in the agreement of the complex that they will increase or decrease the terms for the annual charges from the builder as per the actual area on the spot or provide additional land as agreed upon in the agreement, he said.

The DC further said the builder had no problem as the agreement was signed on the PPP mode for 40 years.

The builder will give Rs 65 lakh per annum to the district administration and provide parking facility for 450 vehicles on the build operate and transfer (BoT). The land will be vested with the government and the complex will be transferred to the government after 40 years, but the builder will be free to dispose the shops as the government is not spending a penny in the project, said HP state infrastructure development board (HPSIDB) general manager Anil Kapil.

The agreement for the commercial complex was signed between the HPSIDB and Raheja Builders in 2011 in which the District Magistrate was also the party as the land belonged to the Khadi Board. 

Dharamsala, January 25
The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) has decided not to celebrate Losar this year due to continued self-immolations in Tibet. In a statement here yesterday, elected leader of the Tibetan people Lobsang Sangay said the number of Tibetans, who had set themselves on fire to protest against repression in Tibet, was reaching 100. In 2012, 83 Tibetans self-immolated, and 28 of these occurred in November alone.

In 2013, three Tibetans had set themselves on fire. The most recent self-immolation by Kunchok Kyab (26) occurred just a few days ago. “Given this continuing tragic situation, I request my fellow Tibetans to not celebrate Losar (Tibetan New Year) with our usual festivities. Instead, when this year’s holiday falls on February 11, I ask you to perform only customary religious rituals like visiting temples and making offerings. Do wear our traditional robe (chuba) to display our identity and tradition. Kindly pray for all who have sacrificed their lives and for all who continue to suffer in occupied Tibet,” Sangay said.

He further said the CTA continued to appeal to Tibetans to not undertake drastic actions. Still, self-immolations persisted in Tibet. The universaldemands of the Tibetans had been the return of the Dalai Lama to Tibet and freedom for Tibetans.

Sangay said they would build on the successful lobbying efforts of 2012 by fully engaging throughout 2013 in the Solidarity With Tibet Campaign. This campaign’s first major event took place in New York on December 10, 2012, and the release of the video on self-immolation, “What’s China doing in Tibet?”

Within India, Tibetan parliamentarians are visiting state capitals to appraise and seek support from many prominent leaders. From January 30 to February 2, 2013, thousands of Tibetans will converge in Delhi for a series of campaign activities. On March 10, 2013, Tibetans from various corners of Europe will gather in Brussels, capital of the EU, to observe the 54th Tibetan National Uprising Day.

“I urge all Tibetan Associations, Tibet Support Groups, international NGOs and people of all faiths throughout the world to intensify efforts to lobby parliaments and governments. Call on the Chinese government to allow international delegation and media access into Tibet. Reach out to your local and national media and urge them to write and broadcast about what is happening in Tibet,” he said.

The CTA remains committed to the Middle-Way Approach and to resolve the issue of Tibet peacefully through dialogue, he further said.

Shimla, January 25
High Court Justice Rajeev Sharma has underlined the need for enrolling the maximum youth in the voter lists so that they could actively participate in the political process of the country.

Presiding over the National Voters Day function here today, he said enrolment would help to instil a responsibility among the youth and they would be empowered through active participation in democracy. It would also inspire them to exercise their newly acquired franchise as and when the occasion arose.

Justice Sharma further said the youth should understand their duty towards nation and they should know the value of character and patriotism. He advised election authorities to sensitise more and more youth and ensure their maximum participation in the election process at all levels. ‘Vote with Smile’ should be adopted as a motto.

Chief Electoral Officer Narender Chauhan said over 46 lakh photo identity cards had been issued to voters in the state. The Election Commission had decided to take up a vigorous exercise to identify all eligible voters who attains the age of 18 years on January 1 every year and motivate them to enrol them in the electoral rolls.

He appreciated the fact that for the first time polling rate reached up to 73.5 per cent in the state.

Video message of Chief Election Commissioner of India VS Sampat was played on the occasion. Justice Rajeev Sharma administered the National Voters Day oath and presented awards to the star ambassador and folk artists. He also awarded 12 officers of different departments for their outstanding services during the recent Vidhan Sabha elections.

Mandi, January 25
Touts striking ‘benami’ property deals, procuring legal documents and compounding challans flourish on the premises of offices of Deputy Commissioners, Subdivisional Magistrates, judicial officers, tehsildars and naib tehsildars.

Reportedly enjoying political patronage, they do brisk business allegedly in nexus with the revenue staff and without the issuance of proper identity cards for legal document writers and the display of charges for various services.

The charges for getting various documents are not displayed at any Deputy Commissioner’s office. Touts take advantage of gaping holes in governance.

Touts allegedly operate in nexus with revenue field staff like patwaris and kanungos as they reportedly have a ready pool of soft targets having land in key locations.

“Document writer rules are not exercised in the state. Property dealers are not registered and list of charges not displayed. Touts flourish because those at the helm have created a market for it. The system needs to be cleansed,” says Des Raj, a Bar Council member.

The registry of ‘benami’ transactions at tehsildar and revenue offices in the evening has become the rule rather than an exception. Owners of the land earn a pittance.

The major part of the amount goes to touts, ‘benami’ dealers and the revenue field staff involved. “There are cases of owners earning just 10 per cent,” claim lawyers.

As per rules, District Magistrates should ensure that document writers and stamp vendors are registered, they carry their identity cards and charges of services are displayed.

“The government has issued a notification and we have issued directions to Subdivisional Magistrates, Regional Transport Officers and tehsildars,” says Mandi Additional District Magistrate Pankaj Rai.

“We have 45 registered document writers and will ensure that the list of charges for services is displayed for the common man. We take action under the law when cases of touts come to light,” he adds.

The Benami Commission had observed that 95 per cent of the allottees of flats built by private builders and HIMUDA were outsiders, making a mockery of the Section 118 of the Tenancy and Land Reforms Act, barring outsiders from buying agricultural land.

The Congress had rejected the single-man commission appointed by the previous regime, terming it as as a ploy to divert public attention from ‘benami’ land deals struck during the Bharatiya Janata Party regime.

The commission had examined 2,518 ‘benami’ deal files and received 282 ‘benami’ complaints over eight years, speaking volumes on how touts and the ‘benami’ business were flourishing.

Shimla, January 25
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the state government to pass an order for diversion of forest land for non-forestry use in accordance with the Forest Conservation Act (FCA) and status quo be maintained by all parties on the 180 MW Holi Bajoli project on the Ravi till that time.

Disposing of the application filed by Karam Chand of Deol, a village affected by the project, the NGT observed that GMR Hydro Power Limited was converting forest land for non-forest activities bereft of a formal order passed by the state government. “It was an admitted fact that Himachal Pradesh had not issued a formal order after stage-II clearance was granted by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests on October 26, 2012, it is a fit case where the state should be directed to do so.”

“We direct the state government to apply their mind and pass orders under Section 2 of the FCA at an early date. Status quo as on date shall be maintained by all the parties till then.”

Citing the order of the NGT passed in November, the counsel for the applicant Ritwick Dutta had submitted that in the absence of a formal order by the state government in accordance with the provisions of the FCA, no person should be permitted to convert or use the forest land for non-forest purpose.

Counsel for respondents ADN Rao and Naresh K Sharma maintained that the stage-II forest clearance in the case was already granted and as such the rest of the paraphernalia were only ministerial in nature in as much as the permission having already been granted, the project proponent had a right to proceed with the preliminary work.

Sharma also admitted that the state was not issuing formal orders under the FCA earlier but after pronouncement of the judgment by the Tribunal it had started doing so. The Bench observed “The question as to whether the judgment of the Tribunal has retrospective effect or not need not to be considered at this stage. It is well settled that a law framed by the legislature has to be followed in letter and spirit and a judgment only interprets the law”. 

Bilaspur, January 25
Teachers owe a responsibility to society to prepare their students to face all challenges of life and ensure that they excel in every way in future competitions. This was stated by Chief Parliamentary Secretary Rajesh Dharmani while addressing as chief guest the annual prize distribution function of Government Boys Senior Secondary School at Ghumarwin, near here, recently.

Dharmani said teachers should set an example to students by their own behaviour and conduct. “We cannot preach one thing and practise another, and if we do it, nobody will ever believe us,” he said.

The Chief Parliamentary Secretary exhorted students to obey their teachers, parents and elders and see that they did not fall into bad ways and remained ever alert against so-called friends who tried to entice them into bad habits.

Dharmani said student life was very precious and they should devote their time not only to studies, but also to extra-curricular activities like sports, cultural programmes and social service. He said this was very essential to develop an all-round personality.

Dharmani distributed prizes to students excelling in academic and extra-curricular activities of the school. Earlier, Principal Ravi Kant Sharma presented the annual report. Present on the occasion were SDM Vivek Bhatia (retd), Director of Education OP Sharma, Nagar Parishad president Rita Sehgal and former Principal Shyam Lal.

Mandi, January 25
The Mandi Nagrik Adhikar Manch (MNAM) has threatened to intensify its stir if this temple town does not get rid of problems of stray pigs, donkeys, cattle, monkeys, clogged drains, stinking waste bin sites, non-functional streetlights and littering the roof of the Indira Market.

After launching the manch, its convener Ajay Vaidya and members Dharampal Kapur and Bhupender Singh accused the Mandi Municipal Council and the district administration of not solving the problems of the town. Stray animals have turned the town into hell. Streetlights at the new bridge across the Suketi river are non-functional that pose security risk to pedestrians during odd hours. These lights are out of order for the last six months, they resented.

Not only this, drains are clogged and roads are in a bad shape as the Public Works Department (PWD) has paid no heed to look into the matter over the years. Even as the Municipal Act forbids breeding of domestic animals and pets in municipal areas, but pigs and donkeys are mushrooming in the town posing health hazards to residents. Pigs and stray dogs roam freely poking through heaps of dirt and clogged drains in the town.

Squatters selling rags litter the roof of the Indira Market. The market stinks mainly at the two corners where there is no proper sewerage outlet from public toilets. The council should find out a permanent solution to this problem, they said.

The Gandhi Chowk and the Kargil Park in front of a hotel of the Mandi MLA need urgent attention. The chowk needs beautification and the park needs benches for elderly citizens as there is no effort to give them a pleasant look, residents said.

Vice-president, Mandi Municipal Council, Gagan Kashyap said the council got a raw deal from the former regime and all they could do was serve notices on violators. “We cannot trap and keep stray animals as there is no cow shed. The pond has been handed over to a primary school, while the cow shed has been turned into a sterilisation centre for stray dogs being brought from Mandi and Sarkaghat-Baldwara,” he added.

Kashyap said the MNAM was raising demands about toilets and space for squatters, but nobody had come out with an alternative or solution. “The roads are maintained by the PWD. The streetlights are repaired as and when we receive a complaint,” he claimed. But members maintained that they would intensify the stir if these problems were not redressed at the earliest. 

Nurpur, January 25
A gang of thieves stole around 1,000-m copper electricity cable laid in the four-storey building of the mini-secretariat being built here recently.

Electricity contractor Sanjiv Kalia reported the theft to the police. The loss was estimated to be of Rs 1 lakh.

The construction work is in the final stage and around 2,000-m electricity copper cable has been laid in the building.

According to information, the building watchman raised an alarm when the thieves were running away with stolen copper cable bundles.

DSP Rajinder Jaswal said a case would be registered after investigations.

Kullu, January 25
Hari Babu, a project controller of the private company engaged in the construction of the micro hydro power project on the Khalada Nullah in the district, has accused two employees of decamping with Rs 2 lakh from the chest in the office at Gandhi Nagar.

Acting on the complaint, the Kullu police has lodged an FIR under Sections 408 and 120-B, IPC, at Kullu police station and started inquest proceedings in the case.

Hari Babu said he had gone to Shimla to attend a meeting on January 15 and when he came back to Kalehali, his native village in Kullu, he was told telephonically by Vishal Mital, a company accountant, that Rs 2 lakh had gone missing from the office. During an official inquiry he found that Disha Sharma and Vishal Mital were allegedly guilty of committing the theft, he told the police.

Bilaspur, January 25
Conservator of Forests Anil Thakur has confirmed that the leopard killed in the Bharadi area a few days ago was the man-eater which had killed a child in the area.

He said there should not be any doubt as the pug-marks matched. He was reacting to reports that the man-eater was still was roaming in the area.

He said the department had set up three traps in a 10-km area and no leopard had been caught. He said if someone had seen a leopard, it was another one. He said the control room landline number 273595 and mobile number 9418084700 could be contacted if any leopard was sighted in any area. He said leopards should not be feared and the people required to be vigilant as there were at least 80 leopards in the jungles of Bilaspur district. — OC

Hamirpur, January 25
A Hamirpur court has sentenced a toffee manufacturer to three-year jail and fined him Rs 5,000 for adulteration.

The sentence was awarded by Judicial Magistrate (Ist Class) Abhira Basu under the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954.

District Food Safety Officer Atul Kayastha said the case was registered against Sanjay Kumar of New Delhi by the Health Department in 2003 after taking samples from a shop at Patlandar.

The shopkeeper had purchased the stuff from the Delhi manufacturer.

Bilaspur, January 25
A total of 101 free eye operations were performed at a two-day free eye operation camp organised by the Sri Satya Sai Sewa Samiti at Government Community Health Centre at Jhandutta, 45 km from here, recently.

Camp convener Narender Chandel said 99 operated cases were provided with free eye lens also, while all patients were provided with other free arrangements, including food and stay etc, by samiti members.