Kangra, December 19
Arun Dhumal, son of former Chief Minister PK Dhumal, alleged today that Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh’s family members -- his wife Pratibha Singh, MP, his son Vikramaditya Singh and daughter Aprajita Kumari -- were shareholders in Tarini Infrastructure, a company owned by Vakamulla Chandershekhar. The details of the assets were not disclosed in the election affidavits.

He was addressing a press conference on the HPCA complex in Dharamsala. He alleged that Pratibha Singh and Aprajita had 3.40 lakh shares each in the company while Vikramaditya Singh had 3 lakh shares.

Arun alleged that Amit Pal Singh, former OSD to Virbhadra Singh, also had 10,000 shares in the company.

He alleged that the substantial holdings in the company were not mentioned in the election affidavits in violation of the law of the land.

He alleged that Vakamulla Chandershekhar, his wife Anu and daughter Vakamulla Tarini, too were shareholders in the company.

He wondered why these assets were not disclosed in poll affidavits. He demanded resignation of the Chief Minister and Pratibha Singh, MP, for violating the law.

He accused the Chief Minister of giving undue favours to the company which were not in the state's interests.

Arun Dhumal circulated the documents, including the list of shareholders in Tarini Infrastructure, in support of his claims among mediapersons.

He was accompanied by Ravinder Singh Ravi, former IPH Minister and close confidant of PK Dhumal, Suresh Bhardwaj, MLA, HPCA spokesman Sanjay Sharma and R Sharma in the press conference.

Virbhadra Singh, when asked by the mediapersons before leaving for Delhi today about the allegations levelled by Arun Dhumal, said it was all a bundle of lies and there was no truth in these allegations.

Dharamsala, December 19
Forest Minister Thakur Singh Bharmouri today told the Vidhan Sabha that the government would soon come out with a plan for harvesting of snow.

Replying to a debate on a private member resolution moved by Rajeev Bindal of the BJP urging the government to formulate a comprehensive plan for cent percent harvesting of water available from rain and snow, he said while a number of watershed schemes were already under implementation, he had directed the department to prepare a plan for harvesting snowmelt.

Another project was being implemented with the German assistance under the plan to combat and mitigate the impact of climate change.

He said all these projects were being implemented to address the problem of low discharge in streams and rivers due to receding snow. A task force had been set up to study various aspects related to the conservation of ground water, surface water and water cycle, he said.

BJP members, who maintained that the Irrigation and Public Health Minister should have replied to the debate, were not impressed by the reply. Bindal said the minister had not replied to the issues raised by him. The motion was rejected with voice vote.

Earlier, initiating the debate, Bindal said out of the total 9,68,345 hectare of cultivable land, only 1,86,624 hectare, about 20 per cent, was irrigated and the rest 80 per cent was rainfed. With an average precipitation of 1,100 mm, the state had abundant rain, but it was not being utilised. He underlined the need for raising water harvesting structures on various streams and rivers and taking other measures to utilise water.

Asha Kumari of the Congress withdrew her private member resolution seeking reservation in government jobs and admission to educational institutions on the basis of economic criteria to members of all castes in addition to the existing quota after Revenue Minister Kaul Singh assured her that steps would be taken to rectify families selected under the BPL.

Moving the resolution, she said the existing vertical quota for various categories worked out to 45.5 per cent and it could be raised to 50 per cent or horizontal provision could be made within the categories to provide quota for the poor.

Dharamsala, December 19
The BJP today targeted Health Minister Kaul Singh Thakur in the Vidhan Sabha over the outsourcing of diagnostic services and staged a walkout, accusing the state government of privatising medical services.

The walkout was preceded by heated argument between the Opposition and treasury benches. The trouble started when Speaker BB Butail disallowed a supplementary of Rajeev Bindal, maintaining that the minister had given a detailed reply and that the entire question hour, which was of a limited duration, could not be devoted to a single question.

When he proceeded to the next question, the BJP members were on their legs pressing the Chair for allowing more supplementary on the issue. Noisy scenes ensued as treasury benches also came out vociferously in response.

The Speaker advised the members to discuss the issue under some other provision if they needed more information as the scope of the question hour was limited. There were several provisions in the rules of business. However, the BJP members refused to budge and walked out.

Kaul Singh condemned the action and said they had no faith in the democratic functioning. “They make charges and raise questions, but are not prepared to listen to answers," he said.

Earlier, replying to a question of Suresh Bharadwaj, he said he had given a detailed reply and placed a copy of the MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) with SRL Diagnostics, a private laboratory with an international accreditation, for providing emergency services in 24 government hospitals.

The idea was to give 24-hour laboratory services to patients, who had to go to private laboratories as samples were accepted in government laboratories only from 9 am to 12 noon. An agreement had been signed with the company for five years.

He said two companies had participated in the tenders and the contract was not awarded on a single tender as alleged by the opposition. The patients would be charged at the same rates as at the government labs. No staff would be retrenched and instead, an approval had been granted for filling 99 posts of lab assistants. He said not even a single post was filled during the BJP regime.

Shimla, December 19
Himachal is among the first states in the country to have a Lokayukta. But the three-decade-old institution needs major amendments to make the anti-graft legislation more effective in dealing with corruption.

The Lokayukta was set up in the state in 1983 and to give it more teeth, the Himachal Pradesh Lokayukta Bill was passed by the Assembly on April 4, 2012. However, the Bill which had been sent to the President of India for assent in May has now been recalled as Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh is keen to make some more changes to make the Lokayukta more stronger.

The Himachal Pradesh Lokayukta Act, 1983, in its present form gives little powers to the body to deal with complaints relating to corruption and misuse of power by those in high positions.

A look at the Lokayukta’s 30-year-old existence too is indicative of the fact that it has not been able to be effective in checking corruption as it is dependent on the state government for inquiry against officials and lacks powers under the Contempt of Court Act or taking a suo motu notice.

Sources said about 100 complaints had been received this year out of which 80 had been disposed of. In the last three years, the Lokayukta received 173 complaints out of which 155 had been dealt with, while the remaining 18 were pending. The maximum complaints were against the revenue, police and panchayati raj departments.

Barring a handful of complaints against top politicians, including a former Chief Minister, most of the complaints are against junior officials regarding irregularities in the implementation of government schemes.

The number and the nature of the complaints received by the Lokayukta, having skeletal staff too reflects the fact that people too do not have much faith or so to say expectations from the body. However with the latest outcry over giving more powers to the Lokayukta with the passing of the Lokpal Bill by the Parliament, the body may be given more powers with the consent of the legislature.

The Assembly had passed the HP Lokayukta Bill in the absence of the Opposition Congress MLAs, who had staged a walkout, had proposed many changes, including the powers to initiate an inquiry against the Chief Minister, ministers, chief parliamentary secretaries, MLAs, officers of the rank of secretary and above and heads of departments.

Shimla/Sissu, December 19
As the temperature fell below -5.6°C for the last few days in Lahaul, work on the north portal of the strategic 8.82-km-long Rohtang tunnel has been halted from mid-December.

All 150 workers and staff of the Strabag-Afcons, the contractor firm of the Rohtang tunnel, have moved out from the Lahaul valley ahead of snowfall, when the 13,050-ft-high Rohtang Pass is closed for vehicular traffic.

The work on the south portal had slowed down due to the ensuing chill that had already swept the Dhundi-Rohtang range for the last few days, sources said.

The Rs 1,400-crore Rohtang tunnel project of the Central Government had already run behind schedule, engineers working on the project said.

The contractor has completed the benching work on the 1,800-m tunnel stretch from the south portal and only 600 m from the north portal side so far.

“The Rohtang tunnel aims at providing an all-weather road connectivity to Lahaul valley and a ready access to the sensitive war zone of the Kargil and Drass Sector,” the engineers said.

The engineers are grappling with the problem of loose strata on the 35-m-long stretch that caved-in inside the north portal of the tunnel in September and also faced water ingress on the south portal side.

The project has been moving at a snail’s pace despite the Ministry of Defence declaring it as a project of strategic national importance.

Shimla, December 19
Shimla Mayor Sanjay Chauhan and Deputy Mayor Tikender Panwar today termed the cricket academy being run by the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association illegal.

The academy had no permission for the path and construction of structures and toilets in the green belt as the Municipal Corporation (MC) had rejected the permission even during the BJP regime, they claimed.

Addressing a press conference here today, Sanjay cited the proceedings initiated by the MC and a complaint lodged by a junior engineer, Roads and Buildings, MC, with the police, to support his claims that the academy was illegal. The miscreants had broken the railings and three pipes of the MC and damaged its property, he charged.

He further alleged a committee, headed by Municipal Commissioner, town planner of the Town and Country Planning Department, had rejected the permission to build academy thrice. On May 2, 2013, they received complaints from the MC staff living in the Mayfield colony that the academy visitors had been creating a nuisance and invading their privacy through this path, he claimed.

Responding to allegations, vice-president, HPCA, and president of the District Cricket Association of Shimla Surender Thakur claimed they had permissions from the competent authorities for the academy and had received no notice on path use violation and damage to the retaining wall. “We will reply to the MC notice on December 28”, he added, saying that 35 players resumed training today. 

Sundernagar, December 19
The much-awaited release of water into the reservoir of the 800 MW Kol Dam hydroelectric project took of this afternoon. Chairman-cum-Managing Director Arun Rai Chaudhary closed the gates of diversion tunnel Kush by pushing a button from a control room in presence of officials of NTPC Ltd. The gates of LAV diversion tunnel have already been closed earlier.

The NTPC had earlier started construction of 800 MW Kol Dam Project situated on the border of Mandi and Bilaspur districts without getting forest clearance for 124.054 hectares which were part of Majathal wildlife sanctuary.

The Supreme Court of India last week, while allowing the National Thermal Power Corporation to use 124.054 hectares of forest land (a part of Majathal Wildlife Sanctuary) which will be submerged in the ponding area of 800 MW Kol Dam Hydro electric Project, has directed the NTPC Ltd to deposit 5% of the approved project cost of Rs 4,527 crore (ie Rs 226.35 crore) with the Compensatory Afforestation Fund. It was ordered that this amount would be for undertaking conservation and protection of the protected forest area in the state of Himachal Pradesh as per the condition stipulated by the standing committee of National Board for Wildlife, which has further directed the NTPC to identify 500 hectares of Cheer pheasant habitat and after purchase, hand it over to the state government, which would get it notified as a sanctuary prior to submergence.

It was further directed by the standing committee of the National Board for Wildlife that the state Forest Department of Himachal Pradesh shall identify another 10 sq km wildlife habitat, in consultation with the Wildlife Institute of India and get it notified as a sanctuary prior to submergence.

In compliance with the instructions, the NTPC purchased 685 hectares of land and the government notified it as a wildlife sanctuary. Furthermore, the government added 11 sq km area in Chandertal sanctuary. Afterwards, the case was also recommended by the Central empowered committee on November 14, 2013 and was placed before the Supreme Court of India.

The court, while allowing the IA (intervention application) filed by the NTPC has cleared the project and asked the power corporation to pay an amount of Rs 226.95 crores to be deposited with the Compensatory Afforestation Fund.

Shimla, December 19
In a major relief to employees of the state Public Sector Undertakings (PSU), the HP High Court today directed the state government to give pension to employees, who were members of the pension scheme notified on October 1999.

While passing this judgment, a Division Bench comprising Justice Rajiv Sharma and Justice VK Sharma observed: “The moment petitioners became the members of the scheme, they have acquired a vested right and they were to be heard before they were taken out of the ambit of the scheme.”

It observed: “Pension is not a bounty. It is earned by rendering long satisfaction and efficient service. It is settled by law that the pension is a portion of past service. It is a social security and the same cannot be arbitrarily and unreasonably denied”.

While rejecting the contention of the state that the scheme could not be implemented due to financial crunch, the Bench observed: “The state was aware of the financial crunch and the financial implication at the time of the issuance of the notification. It is the sovereign responsibility of the state to garner revenue to make welfare measures”.

The court directed the Regional Provident Fund Commissioner, Shimla, to transfer the entire amount of the CPF to a corpus fund to be administered and maintained by the state government in the Finance Department.

It directed the Pension Sanctioning Authority to sanction pension /gratuity /commutation of pension after proper scrutiny of cases forwarded by the PSU concerned and issue pension payment order to the pension disbursing authority strictly as per the provision of the pension scheme notified on October 1999 with 9 per cent interest within a period of 12 weeks.

Shimla, December 19
Crucial issues relating to the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and the need for better coordination between the party and the government are crucial issues which could come up for discussion at the first Coordination Committee meeting to be chaired by All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary Ambika Soni, in New Delhi tomorrow.

This is for the first time that the Coordination Committee will be holding the meeting with Soni as its chairperson. The other members of the committee include Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, state Congress president Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu, former Rajya Sabha MP Viplove Thakur and former ministers Kuldeep Kumar and Rangila Ram Rao.

Issues relating to preparedness for the Lok Sabha polls are likely to dominate the meeting. “The committee may hold discussions on the candidates to be fielded by the party and seek the opinion of the senior leaders present at the meeting,” said a party functionary.

The resentment brewing in a section of the party over appointments in the government including that of Chairman and Vice Chairman of Boards and Corporations could also be raised at the meeting.

"There is a growing feeling among party men that there is regional imbalance and people from lower parts of the state were not getting their due share in these appointments," said a leader.

The issue of better coordination between the party organisation and the government is likely to be discussed at the crucial meeting.

Una, December 19
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has launched a massive membership drive and is constituting booth-level committees in Una district.

Disclosing this to mediapersons here yesterday, party district convener PC Sharma said the AAP would give a third option to the people of the state in the coming years.

Sharma said local issues at the panchayat level and other major issues that concern the district as a whole, were being identified, adding that after the organisation was strengthened with sufficient number of committed activists, the party would take up these issues at the appropriate level.

He alleged that the Congress and the BJP had been coming to power alternatively in the state, quipping that while the plight of the people and the burning issues of the state have remained unchanged, the only change every five years is the colour of the caps for the people in power.

The national council member of the AAP, Sandeep Sandal, informed that former District and Sessions Judge OP Sharma from Una had been nominated by the AAP as the party’s Lokpal for Una district and that any person having objections to any membership could file their complaints with the Lokpal.

Sandal said the AAP would never give portfolios to tainted persons. He informed that the decision by the AAP Lokpal concerned about the membership of a tainted member would be final. He said the party would give 50 per cent reservation to women in its organisational posts.

The APP activist informed that between December 8 and 12, more than 3 lakh people had joined their party. He said while the ordinary membership could be obtained at a nominal fee of Rs 10, one can become an active member by paying a fee of Rs 100. He informed that online membership was also available on the AAP website.

On the occasion, former district convener of the Bharat Swabhiman Party, Dr CS Chauhan, Kutlehar Congress leader Gulshan Rai and former BSP contestant from Una seat, Dr SD Bharwal also joined the party. 

Dharamsala, December 19
Pursuing women empowerment agenda, the government today amended the Indian Stamp Himachal Pradesh (Amendment) Bill to reduce the stamp duty from 5 per cent to 4 per cent for women on instruments of conveyance, gift and mortgage.

The Bill was passed by the House which also provides for raising the stamp duty from 5 to 6 per cent for deeds registered in favour of men. Revenue Minister Kaul Singh Thakur said the objective of reducing the stamp duty for women and increasing it for men was to encourage more deeds to be registered in favour of women.

Kangra, December 19
The Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Dehra, Vinay Kumar, has completed his inquiry regarding the temple official, who was allegedly caught stealing Rs 2,500 from the Jwalamukhi temple offerings during the process of counting of the cash offered by devotees at the temple, here yesterday.

DC, Kangra, C Palurasu, had ordered an inquiry into the incident. The SDM was assigned the job, who submitted the inquiry report to the Deputy Commissioner today.

Reports said the tehsildar, who is the temple official, was caught stealing the money by a ‘Baridar’ and the incident was recorded in a CCTV camera. The SDM recorded the statement of Baridar Rajan Sharma.

The CCTV footage was also being viewed in presence of the temple official. It is reported that the member of the Trust, Sanjeev Sood, was also summoned by the SDM. The DC said since he was busy at the Vidhan Sabha, he did not received the inquiry report as yet.

Sources said after verifying the CCTV footage, it was confirmed that the money was reportedly being picked up. The DC's decision is still awaited in this regard.

Kullu, December 19
The Himachal Pradesh State Social Welfare Board (HPSSWB) will spend Rs 5 crore during the financial year on empowerment and welfare of women and children.

This was stated by Satya Parmar, Chairperson, HPSSWB at the Dev Sadan. She was here yesterday to preside over the orientation training programme organised by HPSSWB for aided and unaided voluntary organisations.She urged the women folk to fight against social evil in society. — OC

Shimla, December 19
HP University students central association today staged a protest against the Controller of Examinations and Vice-Chancellor as they had not reduced the fee for detailed mark-sheets (DMCs) and forms from Rs 270 to Rs 150. The university had neither issued detailed mark-sheets to the students, nor did it correct the mistakes in the DMCs issued to them, they alleged.

According to the SCA president Rajan Harta and secretary Piyush Sewal, the university authorities were not taking responsibility for the exorbitant fees charged from them for the DMS and forms.

They had blamed a former COE who had signed the agreement with Gurgaon company, they alleged.

They further stated that they had taken up the matter with the VC and the Registrar to reduce the charges from Rs 270 to Rs 150 but nothing has happened even after four weeks.

The SCA and the SFI would launch a statewide protest if the DMCs were not given and the fee was not reduced, they warned.

Chamba, December 19
Chamba district has excelled in the National Family Welfare Programme by achieving top position in the non-scalpel vasectomy (NSV) of male family planning operations in the state.

Chamba topped with the figure of 998 last year. This year, the district has been allotted the target of 2,600 male and female family planning operations and the health department is putting all-out endeavours to exceed the target.

Talking to mediapersons here yesterday, the Deputy Commissioner (DC), Chamba, Kadam Sandeep Vasant said the 108 National Ambulance Service had been proving a succour to the patients during emergency.

A total of 16 ambulances were providing emergency medical and transport services. Out of this, three ambulances were meant for inter-facility transport services so that serious patients could be taken to major hospitals for treatment, the DC informed, adding that 243 deliveries had been performed in 108 ambulances so far.

The DC said multi-specialty camps were being organised at Killar in the Pangi tribal valley, Tissa, Bharmour and Samot.

The DC said under the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram, 314 clusters had been formed in the district for 1,08,941 students. As many as 84,553 students had been medically examined, the DC informed.

Among others present on the occasion were officiating Chief Medical Officer Dr YD Sharma, Medical Superintendent Dr Vinod Sharma, district programme officers Dr Ramkamal and Dr Devinder Rana.

Palampur, December 19
Deepak Sanan, Additional Chief Secretary, Agriculture, reviewed the working of HP Agriculture University, Palampur, here on Tuesday. He also visited some departments and interacted with statutory officers and some scientists.

Sanan said there should be a regular review of each and every research station, KVK, department, unit and other components of the university for improvement in the system, functioning and delivery.

He said obsolete courses should be replaced with need-based courses having employability. The rates of improved seeds needed to be increased based on demand and supply. Similarly, there should be an optimum utilisation of each facility and every human resource.

He also discussed issues related to veterinary and animal sciences and asked scientists to conduct precise studies about genesis of the stray cattle problem in different districts of the state.

He asked the university to come out with a specific proposal on reducing strength of those extra employees, who were working against the fixed strength.

Kangra, December 19
Doctors should be more humane and accept all challenges despite being overburdened.

Dr Kiran Katoch, former Director, Japanese Leprosy Mission for Asia (JALMA), said this here yesterday. She said there was no dearth of talent in the country, but they required the right direction.

Kiran, a postgraduate in general medicines through the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), had focused on research in the medical science and dedicated her life in the service of lepers through JALMA at Agra, besides worked in the Chambal valley. She said the key to treat leprosy patients was that the doctors should be more compassionate.

She said leprosy was a big stigma, but people such as Dr Miazaki, who with missionary zeal served lepers, inspired her to work among lepers with the same zeal. She said the research work on leprosy was a good journey and satisfying one at the end. She said malnutrition coupled with environmental degradation was responsible for the increase in the number of leprosy and TB patients and malnutrition was not only among poor families, but among rich families too because food habbits had changed. — OC

Bilaspur, December 19
Led by Nagar Parishad president Reeta Sehgal and other senior citizens of Ghumarwin, a deputation of people met tehsildar KS Patial and presented him a memorandum. They were demanding a Fire Brigade station at Ghumarwin.

They said by the time a fire tender arrived from Bilaspur, almost entire property was gutted. The Bilaspur fire station was of little use for Ghumarwin areas.

They said if this proposal was not possible immediately, then a fire tender should be located at Ghumarwin.

Others, who accompanied the deputation, included former Nagar Parishad president Sat Pal and residents Harish Uppal, Amandeep, Rattan Lal Seth, Ashwini Gauttam, Dharam Pal, Madan Lal, Rishu Kumar, Ramzan, Sukhu and Sanjay Kumar. — OC