• Board clears unaffiliated school students
• Panchayat residents demand phones
• Plan to develop Bharmaur

World Bank to aid HP power projects
Tribune News Service

DHARAMSALA, Nov 30 — Chief Minister, P.K. Dhumal said here today that contrary to Congress claim, the World Bank had agreed to finance not only the Nathpa Jhakri power project, but a number of other projects also.

Talking to mediapersons at a "Meet the Press" he said the World Bank had agreed to finance the remaining work left in the Nathpa Jhakri project, the 600 MW Rampur-II project, the Kol project and the Parvati project. He disclosed that Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee would lay the foundation stone of the 2051 MW Parvati power project, in December, this year.

Mr Dhumal said in order to provide employment to the maximum number of people in the state, about 300 mini and micro hydel projects had been advertised. He said the agreement signed for the Parvati power project was the most historic one and Himachal would get 30 per cent power without investing a single penny. "Moreover the NHPC had agreed to repay the amount spent by Himachal on the Nathpa Jhakri project during the investigation stage, in 1990," he disclosed. As such Himachal would be getting about Rs 90 crore, at an interest rate of 13 per cent.

Mr Dhumal, said unlike the Congress party, they had ensured that the interests of the state and its people were safeguarded, by the setting up of the Parvati project. About 80 per cent of the lower class jobs would be reserved for Himachalis, and one person from each family would be given a job. Compensation for all private as well as government land would be given at the market rate, as there was not much availability of land in Himachal.

The Chief Minister said during the coming years, tourism and power generation, were the two sectors, where there would be large investment. He informed that some foreign companies and the Taj group has shown interest in investing in Himachal.

Regarding the victory registered by the BJP, in the Baijnath byelections, he said the people of Baijnath had vindicated their claim of bringing about overall development of the state. "In a short tenure of eight months we have a number of achievements to our credit like getting Rs 300 crore aid from the Centre and resolving some of the pending issues with the neighbouring states," he claimed. He added that the popularity of the BJP government in the state, could be gauged from the fact that it had won all the five Assembly elections and one Lok Sabha seat ever since it came to power in Himachal.

In reply to a question about the future of the BJP-HVC coalition continuing, Mr Dhumal said there was no problem, despite the fact that right from the beginning there had been scepticism about the continuation of this arrangement. In an oblique reference to some of the senior Congress leaders, he said some people were in the habit of building castles in the air.

Asked about the Congress Party's allegations that even the election observers for Baijnath had not taken note of the misuse of official machinery. Mr Dhumal said this was not at all surprising as the Congress leaders had earlier levelled similar allegations against the head of the Election Commission of India, Mr M.S. Gill. The Chief Minister said his government had ensured that there would be a completely impartial election in Baijnath.

The Chief Minister, also attended function, in connection with the Raising Day celebrations of the National Cadets Corps (NCC). Later, he attended the closing ceremony of the 38th H.P. Police Sport and Duty Meet.

Virbhadra says CM fabricating cases
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Nov 30 — Mr Virbhadra Singh, former Chief Minister and leader of the Congress Legislature Party, today accused the BJP government of trying to "fabricate and forge" documents to book him in one or the other case in a bid to placate certain tainted leaders.

Mr Virbhadra Singh, talking to TNS, said he was not worried about these manoeuvres as he was sure of his ground.

Mr Virbhadra Singh said it appeared that mounting a personal vendetta against "me" had become the agenda of the BJP-HVC combine headed by Mr P K Dhumal.

He alleged that the BJP-HVC government was functioning under the influence of the people connected with the "telecom and forest mafia". They had turned into the biggest pressure group in the BJP rule.

Mr Dhumal has, for the first time in HP, misused official machinery to harass his political opponents.

He said certain senior officers were transferred because they refused to initiate "false" cases against him.

Mr Virbhadra Singh said it was not surprising at all that Mr Sukh Ram, HVC chief, should seek vengeance against "me" for his personal reasons. However, Mr Dhumal "supporting this conspiracy was surprising and not expected of a Chief Minister".

The former Chief Minister pointed out that the BJP made a lot of fuss about a leased helicopter when the Congress was in power, but now Mr Dhumal had himself floated tenders for acquiring a helicopter.

He said certain appointments made recently bypassed rules and norms.

Mr Virbhadra Singh said development had come to a standstill except in a specific area. No development had taken place particularly in Kangra district after the Congress left office.

Touching on the sensitive issue of Section 118 of the Land Reforms Act, he alleged many "benami" land transactions detected by the previous Congress government had now been regularised.

He stressed the need for strict enforcement of the land reforms law to safeguard the social, cultural, demographic and political interests of the state.

Dale's charms go untapped
By Balkrishan Prashar

SANWAL DALE (Chamba): Looking at its best is a the dale of Sanwal connected by a 22-km-motorable road from Tissa township, a subdivisional headquarter in Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh. Despite being surrounded by the bewitching scenery of woody hillsides, the charming dale of Sanwal has remained untapped.

Located at an altitude ranging from 2100 to 4000 metres and extending across forest-covered ridges with fauna and flora in the cool highland of Sanwal (see photo), the valley is a serene treat for the tourists from home and abroad. It is "a potentially rich valley" for tourism, trekking and wildlife conservation. Here, nature is in all its glory with lofty and woody hills.

The Sanwal dale is apparently nature's abode — a fascinating living picture of beauty. The charms and glories of the dale of Sanwal are unadulterated by man. It can be enjoyed by the adventurous seeker of nature's bounty if popularised by the state government.

So far, the Sanwal dale has gone unnoticed by the government and the vast tourism potential it has, has remained untapped. In the absence of link roads, hotels and cafeterias, the valley could not be developed to attract tourists to improve the local economy.

Regrettably, the Himachal Pradesh Government has not been according tourism national-level importance or priority that it deserved. Perhaps, tourism for long has been put on the back burner and it is sliding in the back alleys and the state is not deriving the advantages that could have followed in the wake of its full and optimal exploitation. Or perhaps the government has more pressing priorities and thinks that other spheres need to be addressed first and that tourism can wait!

Though Sanwal valley, nestling in nature's grandeur, does not yet figure on the map of Himachal Pradesh tourism, yet a spokesman of the state Department of Tourism maintains that it has plans to explore the possibilities of tourism in the innermost hills like this valley and to tap its vast potential paving the way for a thriving tourism industry.

Land owners resent tax
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Nov 30 — There is resentment among land owners here against notices sent to them by the Shimla Municipal Corporation for the payment of tax even for vacant land.

They have strongly protested against the action of the Municipal Corporation.

The Mayor, Mr Manoj Kumar, when contacted, said that he had sought permission of the government to amend the rules and discontinue the practice of charging tax for the uncovered area.

He said the rule was faulty as the government had exempted house tax from owners whose built-up area was up to 100 sq metres. Exemption of tax was being allowed for an additional 50 sq metres.

The Mayor said that the municipal councillors were also not in favour of the tax on vacant land.

He clarified that the tax was being assessed according to the provisions of Sections 88(C) of the Municipal Act.

Chamera project exceeds target
From Our Correspondent

DALHOUSIE, Nov 30 — The 540-megawatt (MW) Chamera Hydroelectric Project (Stage-one) on the river Ravi in Chamba district has set a new record in hydroelectricity generation.

Giving this information here today, Mr S.K. Dodeja, General Manager of Chamera Project, said the project had generated over 2033 million units (MU) of power until November against a target of 1700 million units fixed by the Centre for the current financial year.

This achievement was possible on account of efficient maintenance management and reservoir control by the project's experts. Mr Dodeja said the Baira Siul Hydroelectric project of the NHPC had also exceeded its target for the current fiscal year.

LIC policy holders oppose govt move
From Our Correspondent

HAMIRPUR, Nov 30 — Policy holders of the LIC and employees of the insurance sector decided to jointly protect their rights and to oppose the attempts of the central government for bringing foreign insurance companies to India.

About 170 policy holders met here on Sunday under the chairmanship of Mr Devi Dass, divisional secretary of the Shimla insurance mandal. Speakers at the conference opposed the government's proposed decision and termed it as anti-people, in general, and anti-employees, in particular.

Mr Amin Chand Chauhan, regional secretary of the insurance mandal claimed that the present system of the insurance was most effective. He said if foreign companies were allowed to enter into the Indian market, the insurance sector would be doomed.

Besides the employees have adopted the family of Mr Shakti Chand of Baroha village, who was killed in an accident one-and-a-half years ago. Mr R.S. Chauhan, branch manager of the LIC, Hamirpur, gave a shawl and six cheques of Rs 500 each to Ms Roma Devi, widow of Mr Shakti Chand.

Panel to redress grievances
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Nov 30 — The Himachal Pradesh Government has constituted a 36-member district-level grievances redressal committee for Lahaul-Spiti district under the chairmanship of Mr Ram Lal Markande, Minister of State for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj.

The Deputy Commissioner, Lahaul-Spiti, and all district officers will be its official members, while the Subdivisional Officer, Lahaul, will be its Member-Secretary.

The government has also constituted a district-level grievances redressal committee for Kinnaur under the chairmanship of Mr Chet Ram Negi, Parliamentary Secretary.

The Deputy Commissioner, Kinnaur, and all district officers will be official members of this committee and there will be 35 non-official members.

Board clears unaffiliated school students
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Nov 30 — Students of schools which are neither affiliated to the Himachal Pradesh Board of School Education nor recognised by the Education Department have been allowed to appear in the annual class V examinations, starting on December 1.

The decision was taken by the department to safeguard the interest of students.

The students of such institutions had been advised to deposit the prescribed fee at the nearest centres to appear in the examinations.

Plan to develop Bharmaur
From Our Correspondent

BHARMAUR (Chamba), Nov 30 — The Himachal Pradesh Government has started developing the tribal subdivision of Bharmaur for which a Rs 17.48 crore tribal sub plan under the integrated tribal development project has been approved.

Stating this here today, Mr K. Sanjaymurti, Resident Commissioner, of Bharmaur disclosed that so far about Rs 6 crore had been spent on the development of different schemes launched under the ITDP.

The Resident Commissioner said the thrust would be on the construction of roads and bridges for the welfare and uplift of tribesmen.

Panchayat residents demand phones
From Our Correspondent

CHOPAL, Nov 30 — Residents of Lana Cheta, a backward panchayat of Sirmaur district, in a statement demanded tele-communication facilities for the area.

Around 60 applicants from the area had given money at least four years ago for the purpose but the Telecom Department has failed to take any action so far. The department had promised phones in two months time in 1994-95.

But these were diverted to other areas according to the statement.

The villagers demanded immediate action.