Shimla, September 14
A high-powered committee will be constituted under the leadership of the Chairman, HP Electricity Regulatory Commission, to remove bottlenecks in the execution of small hydroelectric projects (SHPs) in the state so that work on these can be expedited.

This was stated by Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh while speaking at a one-day meeting on ‘Speedy development of small hydroelectric power projects in the state’ organised by the HP Bonafide Hydro Power Developers Association in collaboration with HIMURJA and the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) here today.

He said the committee would look into the issues of small hydro power developers and suggest recommendations to simplify the procedures for granting various clearances.

He said he was aware of issues being faced by independent power producers (IPPs) and to execute small projects speedily, the committee would gave its suggestions within a month after which it would be placed before the Cabinet.

Virbhadra said the government intended to harness hydro power potential speedily not only through small projects, but also through the quick execution of medium and big hydel projects.

He added that the government would facilitate all IPPs so as to harness power potential expeditiously.

The Chief Minister said the committee would recommend a time frame for the grant of various clearances and the officers concerned would be held responsible for any delay and laxity.

He said all sanctions and approvals should be ensured in a stipulated time by the authorities concerned. Panchayats and local residents should also cooperate with power producers as they would also benefit by the projects.

Virbhadra said the power producers too should take care of social responsibilities and be considerate towards the demands of residents.

Power Minister Sujan Singh Pathania said the government was concerned about various issues being faced by the IPPs and would take steps to resolve the same.

He said the state would facilitate the SHPs and unnecessary formalities would be done away with and the procedure of clearances would be simplified.

Rajesh Sharma, president, HP Bonafide Hydro Power Developers Association, detailed the issues being faced by the small power producers in the state.

He said projects up to 5 MW should be allotted exclusively to bona fide Himachalis and priority should be given to those having projects from 5 MW to 25 MW.

He said instead of so many agencies, HIMURJA should be made the sole agency to grant all approvals and clearances.

Dharamsala, September 14
The drive against illegal mining has brought tractor-trailer owners at loggerheads with the administration. The tractor-trailer owners alleged that district and Mining Department officials were imposing a heavy fine on them for carrying sand and gravel that was hitting their livelihood.

A large number of rural youths in Kangra and Una districts have bought tractor-trailers, which are primarily used for carrying sand and gravel from local rivulets to the construction sites. Tractor trailers are a major source of income for local youths.

A majority of the tractor-trailer owners hardly have the mining permits and are allegedly facilitating illegal mining in local rivulets. However, they alleged that owners of stone crushers, which had mushroomed in the state in the past few years, were indulging in massive illegal mining. The material from the stone crushers was being carried in heavy duty trucks outside the state.

The tractor-trailer owners had earlier held protests in Shahpur and Nurpur areas of Kangra district. Sarween Chaudhary, BJP MLA from the Shahpur Assembly constituency, extended support to the tractor-trailer owners and addressed their rally in Shahpur.

She alleged that tractor-trailer owners were local youths who had been carrying out sand and gravel from rivulets to meet the local demand for long. Since they carried very small quantities of sand and gravel, their acts did not damage the ecology. Locals were facing a shortage of sand and gravel due to the ban imposed on the tractor-trailer owners, she alleged.

The state government recently had come out with a new mining policy in which even the use of JCB machines had not been allowed for the mining purpose. However, the mining policy has not clearly defined the rights of local people over the mineral wealth such as sand and gravel in their villages. The rights of local people to use sand and gravel available in their area for construction and other developmental purpose need to be preserved, while checking the illegal mining that causing harm to ecology.

Nurpur, September 14
The indefinite strike of tractor-trailer owners entered the seventh day today in lower Kangra district.

The agitators parked their tractor-trailers in grounds at Nurpur, Jawali, Rehan, Fatehpur and Kotla. They are demanding separate mining policy for tractor-trailers so that they can earn their livelihood by carrying overflowing sand, gravel from small rivulets and seasonal khads, exemption of token tax, removal of the condition of registration of tractors only for commercial purpose and to allow registration for agriculture purpose too like before 2002.

Gulbant Singh, president, Tractor Owners’ Association, said an emergency meeting of tractor owners from Kangra, Chamba and Hamirpur districts had convened at Dharman yesterday and the future strategy was also chalked out.

He said Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh had called a meeting of representatives of the protesting tractor owners at Shimla on September 15.

“If our problems are not redressed, we will intensify the agitation,” he asserted.

The masonry work of the ongoing construction of private buildings and rural development activities under the MNREGA in the area have badly hit due to strike which also interrupted the supply of sand, stone and gravel.

Dharamsala, September 14
The 20-member team of the National Disaster Rescue Force (NDRF) of the ITBP has failed to trace the two French trekkers who went missing in the Dhauladhar ranges on August 23.

The team, along with local guides and police officials, had left Dharamsala to trace the missing persons on September 7.

However, even after intense combing operations for about six days the team has failed in its mission.

Local sources said the team was returning to Dharamsala today.

With this, the hope of rescuing them has almost being finished as the district administration is likely to end the searching operation.

The families of the two missing French trekkers - Xabier (20) and Valintin (21) - had also announced an award of Rs 1 lakh for those providing any information regarding them.

A communication in this regard was received by the district administration from the French Embassy a few days ago.

Helicopters of the Army and the state government had also failed to trace them.

Xabier and Valintin had come to Dharamsala on a trekking expedition with an NGO, Field Service Intercultural Learning, along with 30 other trekkers.

Mandi, September 14
A large number of mid-day meal workers today staged a protest rally from the Paddal Maidan to Seri Munch against the alleged anti-worker policies of the ruling Congress and the previous BJP governments.

Addressing the rally of the workers who were gathered under the banner of the left wing CITU here, its general secretary Kashmir Thakur alleged that the ruling Congress and the previous BJP governments represented the same set of anti-workers and pro-rich economic polices.

The state and the UPA governments were not serious about the demands of the mid-day meal workers in the country, he said.

He said these workers worked full day at school, but got a meagre sum of Rs 1,000 per month.

The liberal policies of the government were benefiting big corporates, but subsides for the poor had been cut, he said and warned the government that the workers would stage a state-level protest in Shimla in November.

CITU state president Jagat Ram said they should get an honorarium of minimum Rs 4,500 per month and be treated as government servants, getting all benefits.

Mandi CITU leaders Kushal Bhardwaj and Bhupender Singh said mid-day meal workers and other workers were struggling with the meagre Rs 1,000 income.

On the other hand, salaries and allowances of MLAs and ministers had been enhanced to the tune of Rs 1.25 lakh per month in a seven-minute resolution, they alleged.

Chamba, September 14
An employee of the state electricity department was found dead in mysterious circumstances in a brook near his native Thanoli village in the Bhattiyat sub-division of Chamba district on Thursday, according to a delayed police report received here today.

The report revealed that the deceased identified as Charan Singh was posted at Chowari in the electricity department.

Solan, September 14
The Solan police today arrested Harish Kumar, alias Harry, who was accused of raping a minor girl in a local hotel on Tuesday night, from Kalka.

The case had come to light on Wednesday when the victim’s father, who hails from Kullu, reported that his daughter had been kidnapped and taken to a local hotel by a youth and his accomplice and that she had later been raped.

Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Padam Chand said the police was regularly tracking the mobile phone location of Harish and it was found that he was in possession of at least 3 SIM cards and four to five mobile phones.

He had also bought a new cellphone from Kalka fearing being arrested on the basis of the IMEI numbers of the cell phones which he was already using.

The preliminary interrogation revealed that he belonged to Deothi village in the Rampur area of Shimla district where he had a wife and two children. He reportedly had married thrice and used to indulge in swindling.

A case of kidnapping is registered against him in Kinnaur and a case under the Arms Act in Rampur.

The most shocking revelation was his association with at least 15 girls, most of who are students from other places studying in the town. He was not only regularly calling these girls, but it appears they were closely associated with him as per the preliminary investigations. He used to extend them small favours like getting their mobile phone numbers recharged.

The police had already arrested his accomplice Pradeep Kumar, who had picked up the victim from her room near Kotla Nullah and dropped her at a hotel near Mohan Meakins Brewery near Chambaghat where the crime had been committed.

A case of kidnapping and criminal conspiracy has been registered against Pradeep, while Harish has been booked for kidnapping and rape.

Nurpur, September 14
The police arrested Ashwani Kumar of Jasalata last evening for allegedly killing Bakil Singh (60) of Bhaloon village. The deceased was a tea vendor from Jachh near here.

DSP Rajiv Atre said the accused was in an inebriated condition when he attacked the victim last evening.

He allegedly quarrelled with the deceased over the payment of tea and snacks and in a fit of rage attacked him on his forehead. The deceased fell and died on the spot.

The DSP said a case under Section 302, IPC, had been registered against Ashwani and he was produced in the court today and remanded in police custody till Monday.