Shimla, March 9
The decision of the previous BJP regime to allow 26 per cent equity sale of micro hydro power projects by Himachalis to outsiders is likely to be reviewed by the Congress government.

The issue of making amendments to the power policy came up for discussion during the Cabinet meeting held on March 7.

The Power Department has been asked to collect details of micro hydro projects below 5 MW capacity which had been sold further to people from outside the state. Most of these projects had been allotted to individuals as per the condition of preference given to bona fide residents of the state while making allotments.

It was the BJP regime headed by PK Dhumal which made a relaxation in March 2010 in the Hydro Power Policy 2006 by allowing equity sale of projects allotted to Himachalis. As per this policy, in case of a project up to 2 MW capacity, the entire project could be sold to a Himachali while in case of its sale to an outsider, only 26 per cent share could be given. However, all allottees are allowed to freely sell their projects two years after commissioning.

The small independent power producers (IPP) have been seeking enhancement of the equity sale from 26 per cent to 49 per cent as is the case with projects with capacity of more than 2 MW. Their plea is that by roping in outsiders, their financial potential is enhanced.

As per the policy, small hydro projects up to 2 MW capacity are exclusively reserved for Himachalis. For the allotment of projects up to 5 MW, Himachalis are given preference. They are given 30 marks in addition to the tally obtained by them for financial strength.

The process of exploitation of the hydel potential in the small hydro sector through private players began in the state in the mid-90s.

Till the end of 2012, a total of 468 small hydro electric projects upto 5MW capacity were allotted. The total aggregate capacity of these projects is about 1,176 MW. Out of these, 45 projects with an aggregate capacity of 177.55 MW have been commissioned. A goal to harness 500 MW through small hydro projects by the end of 2014 has been fixed.

The state government is keen on engaging private players in the development of small hydro power projects. The main reason for encouraging small projects is that they are more suited for the sensitive mountain ecology and can be exploited wherever sufficient water flows.

Palampur, March 9
Urban Development Minister Sudhir Sharma today said five municipal councils in the state would be upgraded to corporations. He said a notification to this effect would be issued soon so that steps were initiated in this regard.

He was addressing members of the Palampur Press Club during a meet-the-press programme. He said Palampur, Dharamsala, Hamirpur, Solan and Mandi would have corporations soon.

He said the upgrade was necessary because of fast urbanisation in the towns. He said the state government could get Central grants under Jawaharlal Nehru urban mission to which only corporations were entitled.

The minister said most municipal councils were set up between 30 and 50 years ago and limits were never extended since then despite a manifold increase in population.

He said it was a matter of concern that slums were coming up in the absence of proper planning in areas adjoining big towns outside municipal limits.

He said he had given more powers to the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Department and permission for new construction would be granted only after studying all aspects.

He said the government would not allow unplanned and haphazard construction in the state, particularly in tourist centres. He said the number of cases of illegal construction had gone up in the last five years.

He said the TCP Department was scrutinising each case separately, after which action would be taken and the government would not hesitate to raze illegal buildings if the need arose.

Kangra, March 9
Strict vigil is being maintained and continuous steps are being taken to stop illegal mining in this subdivision and nearly Rs 1 lakh has been collected as fine and 20 vehicles challaned in connection in this subdivision.

Stating this here, Kangra Subdivisional Magistrate (SDM) Ajit Kumar Bhardwaj said in the last two months 20 vehicles were challaned and an amount of Rs 96,000 was recovered on the spot as fine from illegal miners.

He said not deterred with this, tractors owners instead changed the timing of illegal mining. They indulged in illegal mining in wee hours and late evenings.

He said the administration had dug the road and blocked it with big boulders near the Gahlian bridge site and riverbed which illegal miners had been frequently visiting.

He said tractor owners during a raid conducted on Wednesday by his team, led by him, left their tractors at the site of illegal mining. He said tyres of the tractors were deflated and their oil tanks made empty so that they could be nabbed for fine and punishment.

The SDM said more such vulnerable points had been identified in this subdivision and it was decided to close the entrance to riverbeds to stop illegal mining and theft of sand, stones and bajri. Local residents lauded the efforts of the administration in curbing the menace of illegal mining.

Dharamsala, March 9
The regional forensic laboratory at Dharamsala has started a pilot project to submit scientific reports in criminal cases within 15 days. Earlier as per norms, the Regional Forensic State Laboratories (RFSL) were submitting scientific reports within a period of three months.

The director of the State Forensic laboratory at Dharamsala, Arun Sharma, said the pilot project had been started from the Dharamsala police station.

“Initially, we are focusing on providing scientific reports in rape, murder, forgery, poisoning and excise cases registered at the Dharamsala police station within 15 days. If we succeed in delivering results on time here, the facility would be extended to other police stations as well,” he said.

Sharma said there had been a spurt in the cases of forgery committed in the state. “We have installed a forensic document work station worth Rs 40 lakh at Dharamsala to speed up the provision of scientific evidence,” he said.

Sharma said speedy scientific evidence could improve conviction rate in police cases. He said earlier the police used to rely on circumstantial evidence and eye witnesses for establishing their cases but scientific evidence was more credible and could help in expediting decisions in criminal cases.

He claimed the project was a first of its kind in the country and was being launched during the Silver Jubilee Year of the State FSL.

The motive of the project is to generate quality and timely reports. The impact of the project will be assessed after a year and based on the result, this scheme will be extended to other districts of the state.

Sharma said the use of science in the investigation of crimes would bring transparency and restore public faith in the working of the police. 

Shimla, March 9
Union Human Resource Development Minister MM Pallam Raju and Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today inaugurated the new buildings of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Mandi.

The Chief Minister inaugurated the Prashar Hostel building at Kamand and Raju inaugurated the Advanced Materials Research Centre.

Virbhadra Singh said the decisions to open the IIT in Mandi and Central University in Kangra district were taken by the earlier Congress government.

He said the IIT was becoming synonymous with the best higher education and would be among excellent technical learning institutions of the country.

He said Himachal Pradesh was thankful to the Centre for providing liberal financial assistance to establish various higher education institutions in the state.

He added that the IIT, the NIFT and the NIT had been established by earlier Congress governments. He announced Rs 10 crore for widening and improving the Mandi-Kamand road.

He further said an Indian institute of information technology would be established in Una. He said the education sector was among the top priorities of the state government.

Bilaspur, March 9
The police at Shah Talai has registered a case under various sections of the IPC against gram panchayat president Meenakshi and her husband Hem Raj of Naghyaar gram panchayat near Talai, 70 km from here. Rattan Chand, secretary of the gram panchayat, has also been named as an accused in this case with this couple.

Reports said the police registered this case after Neelam Kumar of Maruda village under Naghyaar panchayat gave a petition in court 2 at Ghumarwin on this subject and the court ordered the registration of a case under relevant sections of the IPC.

The allegations pertained to the registration of name after marriage and presentation of alleged false documents etc for getting benefits by cheating and forgery.

Neelam, in his petition, has alleged that several irregularities and changes were made in the records of the gram panchayat and sought action under the law.

Solan, March 9
A 28-year-old man attempted to rape a 10-year-old at Karsoli village in the Nalagarh industrial area yesterday afternoon. Jagdev tried to rape her while she was returning from school.

He took her to an isolated place and tried to rape her. She raised an alarm which scared him and he fled. She narrated the incident to her family.

They lodged a complaint at the Jogo police station today. The police registered a case under Sections 376 and 511 of the IPC and arrested the accused.