P R A D E S H
Monday, August 3, 1998
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H I M A C H A L P R A D E S H |
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Monday, August 3, 1998 |
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Paramour of deceased held |
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Lack of planning leads to
hydro-electric SHIMLA, Aug 2 — The failure of the state electricity board to take up hydro-electric projects in a planned manner is leading to huge cost and time overruns at the investigation and execution stages. The state has an identified hydro-electric power potential of over 22,000 MW, out of which 3935 mw has been harnessed so far. However, of this only projects with an installed capacity of 299.37 mw are under the control of the state. The remaining are either under the Government of India or the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB). At present, as many as 12 schemes, some of which were taken up over 30 years ago, with a potential of 2,172 mw, are under investigation. In spite of limited availability of funds, the board did not fix any priority based on viability of the schemes for investigation of the hydro-electric potential. Work on all schemes was started simultaneously. As a result, none of the schemes, which have been under investigation for the past four to 32 years, could be completed. The delay in completion of investigation has led to cost overruns ranging from 29.38 to 1333.97 per cent. The cost overrun in case of six schemes comes to Rs 24.46 crore. The Baspa-I project is the oldest and had been under investigation since 1965, followed by Parbati-I (1967) and Renuka (1971). The latest report of the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India has revealed that actual investigation work with respect to six schemes, including Kuthar, Sarwari, Sawra, Kalath and Patikari, had not been taken up though Rs 3.25 crore had been spent on building of infrastructure and establishment. With a view to ensuring early execution of projects, the government signed MoUs with private parties for eight schemes and also identified four major projects with an aggregate capacity of 4,477 mw for execution in the joint sector. While most of the projects assigned to the private sector failed to make headway, only one big scheme — the 1500 mw Nathpa-Jhakri project — was taken up. The three other major schemes — Larji, Koldam and Parbati-II, with a power potential of 1726 mw — were cleared by the central electricity authority between 1987 and 1996, but work has not been started on any of them. The government had initially decided to execute the Koldam and Larji Dam in the joint sector and an agreement was signed among five states for the Parbati project. However, subsequently, the Larji project was assigned to the board. The new government has now approached the Centre to get the Koldam and Parbati-II projects executed through the National Hydel Power Corporation. There have been numerous cases of infructuous expenditure on investigation works. The Geological Survey of India (GSI) had declared the dam site for the Gyspa project as unstable in 1984-85. It pointed out that the reservoir fell in a rain shadow zone and extensive glacial debris covered hill slopes and its stability was doubtful. This report was not put up for consideration of the board of any technical committee and a further expenditure of Rs 126 lakh was incurred on investigations which continued. Work was abandoned only in June, 1991, when the GSI again gave an adverse report. The CAG has recommended that the schemes under investigation be reviewed with a view to identifying feasible schemes and the non-viable ones be discontinued. Besides, viable schemes be
taken up on a priority basis, either through the board by
arranging funds from financial institutions or other
agencies. The manpower of the board engaged on non-viable
schemes should be redeployed. |
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Drive to educate school children
on forgery SHIMLA, Aug 2 — The Government Examiner of Question Document Laboratory, here, has launched a campaign to create awareness among senior school children about crimes committed through forgery and fake documents. The campaign has been planned on the directions of the Bureau of Police Research and Development. Mr Subhashish Dey, a renowned forensic expert and in charge of the laboratory, said there had been a sharp rise in white collared crime in the country in recent year and an estimated Rs 1000 crore was being swindled annually through fake documents and forgery. The youths, unaware of the fact that such a science existed, were frequently resorting to forgery. The best way to prevent this tendency was to catch them during their formative years and educate them about modern forensic science and drive home the point that forgery could be detected. The students of plus two classes are invited to the laboratory in batches and shown how forged signatures and documents could be detected using the modern sophisticated equipment. The specimen of their signatures and hand writing are also taken to prepare a national data bank to conduct research chronological studies. Mr Dey explains the signatures change with age and as such chronological studies are very important for the further development of this science. The laboratory will remain in touch with those whose signatures were being stored and take fresh specimens every few years to study the change. In the long run it would enable the laboratory to study whether handwriting could provide an indication about the inherent criminal tendencies among people. Mr Dey said there was also an urgent need to educate the society about the high possibility to frauds in credit cards. The advent of plastic money had posed new challenges for forensic experts. Credit cards worth over $ 9 trillion were in circulation all over the world and an estimated $ 2 billion were lost on account of fake transactions. In India, so far plastic money worth Rs 1,500 crore was in circulation but amount lost through fraudulent transactions was as high as Rs 100 crore. He said the national data bank would initially cover northern India and finally the entire country. A special programme was
organised for police officers of the state today to mark
Forensic Science Day. |
Farm notes Mashobra (Shimla): The wrong use of chemicals and mixing of more than two pesticides and other chemicals in a single spray are reported to have led to the appearance of new pests and diseases in different apple growing areas of Himachal Pradesh. The scientists at the Regional Horticultural Research Station of Dr Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry here have observed that frequent use of insecticides in each fungicidal spray recommended for the control of scab too led to the appearance of new pests and diseases in apple orchards, particularly in Shimla, Kulu and Mandi districts. The scientists have also reported that an overdose of colouring agent frequently used by apple orchardists for enhancing the colour of apples has been responsible for aggravating the premature leaf-fall problem. They have pointed out that ethephone, the chemical used as a colouring agent, induces ethylene production which is responsible for premature dropping of leaves. According to Dr R.D. Sharma, scientist in charge of the research station, this problem has done a lot of damage to apple plants in the past three years. Last year the disease was widespread in almost all orchards of the state. The university has been organising training camps in various apple-growing areas of the state, and has recommended detailed spray to deal with the problems caused by over and under use of chemicals and premature leaf fall so that this area retains the status of the apple bowl in the country. The university has worked out future priorities in apple research and development which include introduction of apple cultivars for better quality and higher yields, selection of superior cultivars and clones, and development of disease and pest-resistant varieties. The university has also
decided to give priority to studies on organic manures
and slow release fertilisers, studies on the causes and
control of premature leaf-fall in apple, screening of
virus-free materials and raising of bud wood bank for
further multiplication of material, studies of
unfruitfulness problem in apple, studies on replant
problem and rejuvenation of orchards, and studies on the
biology and management of European red mite in apple. |
Paramour of deceased held DARLAGHAT, Aug 2 — The suicide note left by Lata Devi, who committed suicide here on the night of July 25, has given a new twist to this case. The deceased, who was an employee of an agroforestry company, had a marital dispute with her husband Devinder Kumar of Batal village. She was also allegedly having an affair with Rem Chand of Darlaghat who was also married. Lata Devi had also applied for legal separation from her husband. On July 26, the Darlaghat police, after receiving a complaint from Shanti Devi, landlady of Lata Devi, recovered Lata's dead body from her room. The case was registered under Section 174 of the IPC. The recovery of the suicide note from her room gave a new twist to the case. According to the suicide note, Rem Chand had promised to marry Lata Devi but did not keep his word. He had also snatched her ornaments. Lata's last wish, according to the suicide note, was that her pyre should be lit by her paramour instead of her husband. The police after
registering a case under Section 306 of the IPC has
arrested Rem Chand. |
Students boycott registration SOLAN, Aug 2 — Students of undergraduate classes of the College of Forestry, Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, near here, yesterday boycotted the registration process for their next semesters, slated to start from August 5, in protest against the non-acceptance of their main demand relating to suitable job avenues after graduation. The boycott decision was taken at a meeting of the Himachal Pradesh Forestry Students Association held on the main campus. The association president, Mr Sandeep Kumar, told newspersons here today that the first batch of forestry graduates passed out of the university in 1988. Since then 250 students had graduated in forestry. However not even a single person amongst them had so far been absorbed in the state government's Forestry Department. Mr Sandeep Kumar said a rosy picture was painted before students at the start of the course. However, after passing out the graduates realised that job opportunities were monopolised by the Indian Forest Service (IFS) cadres trained by the state forest training colleges. The association released to the Press a copy of the charter of demands which it had forwarded to the university's Chancellor. The demands include
adequate reservation for forestry graduates in the IFS
and appointment of an IFS officer as Dean, College of
Forestry. |
Phone subscribers resent change
of exchange NURPUR, Aug 2 — As many as 1000 telephone numbers of Damtal, Hagwal telephone exchange, of this subdivision have been shifted from Pathankot telephone exchange to Nurpur exchange with effect from July 30. The subscribers of Damtal, the biggest wholesale grain market of Himachal, would be able to dial Nurpur numbers directly without any code with three minutes metering rate. Meanwhile, the STD facility at Nurpur allegedly not satisfactory due to the apathy of the microwave project maintenance wing of the Telecommunication Department, Dharamsala. The automatic telephone exchange at Nurpur had already 5,000 lines with 27 outgoing and 23 incoming channels. But after the shifting of Damtal and Hagwal telephone numbers this exchange has over 6,000 lines with the same number of STD channels. The STD facility remained
paralysed on the first day of shifting of telephone
numbers from Damtal to Nurpur on July 31 which caused
resentment among the subscribers. There is a need for at
least 60 more incoming and outgoing channels in Nurpur
telephone exchange to render satisfactory STD, facility. |
Cong MLAs oppose HVC demand SHIMLA, Aug 2 — Five Congress legislators have opposed the demand of the Himachal Vikas Congress (HVC) for a CBI probe into charges against Mr Virbhadra Singh and termed the move as a 'conspiracy' to malign the former chief minister. In a statement issued here today, Mr Tek Chand, Mr Singhi Ram, Mr Chander Kumar, Mr Gangu Ram Musafir and Mr G.S. Bali, all MLAs, said disgruntled politicians, who had a nexus with the 'van' mafia and 'sanchar' mafia, were trying to tarnish the image of the Congress leader. These people were making 'wild charges' against Mr Virbhadra Singh to cover their own acts of commission and omission. Any attempt to malign him
would be viewed seriously and the rank and file of the
Congress would oppose such moves, they added. |
Rs 41-lakh art garden for
Chamba CHAMBA, Aug 2 — The Himachal Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, today laid the foundation stone of Rs 41 lakh art garden known as 'Manjri udhyan'. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Dhumal said at the art garden, depicting works of local craftsmen would be the first-ever in Himachal Pradesh and would attract tourists to Chamba. He said the garden would be a fine specimen of Chamba's rich cultural heritage which could be a major tourist attraction. The work on the embossed rock sculpture of a Minjar procession and Chamba's musical instruments had already been completed, besides three parks having ornamental plants. Mr Kishori Lal, Industries
Minister, Mohan Lal, Harsh Mahajan, Tulsi Ram all MLAs
besides senior officers of the state government were
present. |
HP asked to concede demands
of SHIMLA, Aug 2 – The State Committee of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions has expressed resentment over the failure of the government to accept the demands of anganwari workers. It said no step had been taken to fill 200 posts of supervisor which had been lying vacant for more than 10 years. Anganwari workers and helpers were also not being paid the enhanced honorarium. The committee said the services of anganwari workers and helpers should be regularised on the Tamil Nadu pattern and, until then, their wages should be increased to Rs 2,000 and Rs 1,000 per month, respectively. It decided to organise a
mass fast at district headquarters in September and a
state-level rally in Shimla in November to press the
government to concede the demands. |
Minjar fair concludes CHAMBA, Aug 2 — The week-long historic Minjar carnival concluded at Chamba town today amidst traditional and religious rituals. Over one lakh persons, including tourists from the neighbouring states, attended the fair. The immersion of golden minjars (blossoms of the maize plant) and coconuts in the Ravi by the Himachal Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, marked the end of the carnival. Earlier, a procession,
starting from Akhandchandi Palace, passed through the
main markets of the town and converged on the right bank
of the Ravi. The town's deity, God Raghuvira, was carried
in a palanquin accompanied by other local deities. |
Dispensary sans doctor, staff NAHAN, August 2 — Resentment prevails among residents of Bagthan in Sirmour district, the native place of Dr Y.S. Parmar, and the adjoining areas over the non-deployment of a doctor and other auxiliary staff for the past over four months. Mr Jagat Singh, former pradhan of Bagthan, said here today the dispensary was functioning only with one class IV employee as the other staff had either retired or got transferred. Mr Jagat Singh has
demanded immediate filling of all vacant posts in
Bagthan, including that of doctor, and requested the
Chief Minister for his immediate intervention. |
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