Resentment among apple growers
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Dec 27 — Resentment is brewing among apple growers in Himachal Pradesh over the failure of the government to release payments for their produce which was procured by the HPMC and Himfed during the recent fruit season.

The growers say their budget has been upset due to the delay in the payments for their produce which was lifted by these agencies under the market intervention scheme.

They are also annoyed that in certain cases they are being paid in kind and not in cash. They alleged that substandard fertilisers and insecticides were being given to them in lieu of the payments.

The Himachal Pradesh Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association and the All-India Kisan Sabha have expressed their displeasure over the delay in the payments.

A former Chief Minister, Thakur Ram Lal, had recently written to the Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal, saying that the growers should be paid in cash.

The district president of the Himachal Vikas Congress, Mr Bhagat Ram Chauhan, has criticised the government for delaying the payments.

Dr S.P. Katyal, general secretary of the Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association, today demanded that the government should release the payments without further delay.

The HPMC had procured apples worth about Rs 16.91 crore and Himfed worth about Rs 11.3 crore.

Mr Sanjay Chauhan, member, Stage Committee of the all-India Kisan Sabha, said the growers suffered financial loss because the processable grade apples procured by the two agencies were sold in the open market. This defeated the very purpose of the market intervention scheme.

Mr Chauhan said the growers should not be forced to accept payments in kind. This was unjustified because no such agreement was made when the HPMC and Himfed procured processable grade apples.

He alleged that the HPMC was charging high rates for spray oil and other inputs. The spray oil being sold to the growers for Rs 42 per litre was being purchased by the agency on a rate contract of Rs 34.50 per litre.

Meanwhile, a spokesman for the BJP has said that the Chief Minister will address a public meeting on Tuesday at Kotkhai, the main apple-growing area of the state. Growers were satisfied with the marketing arrangements made by the government during the recent season, he claimed.

Year roundup

Snap poll, militant strikes dominate
From S.P.Sharma
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Dec 27 — Was it a politically wise decision of Mr Virbhadra Singh to get the Congress majority Assembly dissolved prematurely to seek-snap poll in February and lose power? This is what is being discussed as the year rings out with the BJP-HVC combine Government in the saddle in Himachal Pradesh.

The issue is being viewed significantly following the defeat of the BJP in Delhi and Rajasthan. In normal circumstances, Himachal Pradesh was also scheduled to have Assembly elections alongwith these states. However, the then Congress government headed by Mr Virbhadra Singh decided to have early elections.

The year also witnessed major strikes by Kashmiri terrorists in Chamba district, claiming 45 lives.

Political uncertainty continued to haunt the State throughout the year due to the emergence of a hung Assembly in the elections which were held in February.This was followed by a high pitch drama, with the Congress claiming to form the government on the basis of being the single largest party and the BJP-HVC alliance also staking its claim.

The Congress Government headed by Mr Virbhadra Singh was reinstalled but with the condition to seek a vote of strength on the floor of the House. However, Mr Virbhadra Singh resigned on March 12 even before going in for a trial of strength and recommended imposition of President’s rule.

A couple of days after the Vajpayee Government came into power at the Centre, the BJP-HVC combine government headed by Mr P.K. Dhumal was installed here by the Governor, Mrs V.S. Rama Devi.

The HVC leader, Mr Sukh Ram, with his four MLAs played a crucial role in the installation of the BJP Government by extending his support.

The strength of the Congress was reduced to 29 in the Assembly with Thakur Gulab Singh becoming the Speaker and the subsequent death of Mr Sant Ram. All this went in favour of the BJP which later won not only the Baijnath seat of Mr Sant Ram in the byelection, but also bagged three other seats and thereby secured a majority of its own in the Assembly of 68.

For the first time, the Kashmir terrorists struck in a big way, killing 35 innocent labourers in Kalaban and Satrundi villages of Chamba on August 3 taking the authorities in Himachal Pradesh unawares. This created a controversy in which fingers were raised on the Dhumal Government for allegedly having ignored the warnings of intelligence agencies. They again shot dead three Gaddis in the jungles where they were grazing their cattle.

Thereafter, a joint action plan was chalked out by Himachal and J and K to fight terrorism in the area.

During the year, Mr Sukh Ram kept Mr Dhumal on tenterhooks by hurling repeated ultimatums for ordering a CBI probe against Mr Virbhadra Singh, failing which he would withdraw his party’s support to the Government.

Mr Dhumal had to do a bit of exercise for survival of his Government by seeking the intervention of the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, in getting the "charge sheet" of the HVC moved in the CBI.

Interestingly, the Dhumal Government, which had announced to produce a "white paper"against Mr Virbhadra Singh failed to do so even nine months after coming into power.

It is almost a U-turn now with the BJP-HVC Government facing the same charges which it used to make against Mr Virbhadra Singh when not in power. These include the luxury of a helicopter and wasteful expenditure.

Although Mr Dhumal always accused Mr Virbhadra Singh of having made a jumbo sized ministry in this small state, what he produced after himself coming to power was a bigger ministry than that of the Congress.

With Mr Virbhadra Singh going out of power, a section of the Congress party has renewed its efforts to elbow him out of the post of Leader of the legislature party. Some of those claiming proximity to the AICC chief, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, are said to be instrumental in this exercise.

The Congress set-up witnessed a drastic change with reappointment of Mr Sat Mahajan as the PCC chief.

The Congress lost its three seats in the Lok Sabha elections and retained only one.The BJP won 3.

The BJP-HVC combine government continued to face a financial crunch, although the Prime Minister during his visit to the state announced an assistance of Rs 300 crore. The State Government has again started raising loans from the open market.

Many lives were lost in bus accidents: 28 persons died in a truck accident at Karsog.

The State lost yet another historical building — "Walker Hospital" — at Shimla which was gutted in a fire towards the close of the year.

Mr Dhumal has a few points to his credit for having got settled certain issues which were pending for the past many years. These include the Thein Dam, Anandpur Hydel Channel and Shah Nehar. Disputes on these issues were mutually settled with Punjab.

He also managed to persuade the Centre for construction of the Parbati hydroelectric project by the NHPC.

The Human Rights Commission ordered the authorities to properly probe into vanishing of 15 foreign tourists in Kulu district.

Youth Cong chief to prefer NSUI men
From Our Correspondent

KANGRA, Dec 27 — The HP Youth Congress chief, Mr Sukvinder Sukhu, has criticised the BJP-HVC Government for its failure on the fronts of law and order and price rise.

Talking to the mediapersons here yesterday, he said that both the HVC and BJP were involved in internal fights.

Regarding the Youth Congress election , Mr Sukhu said NSUI workers would be preferred for the district- and state-level cadres. He said youth with a criminal background will have no place in the organisation.

Earlier, Mr Sukhu was accorded a warm reception by the youth.

A procession was taken out through the main streets of the town. It later handed over a memorandum to the Governor through the Deputy Commissioner, demanding the dissolution of the Government.

He addressed a well-attended rally outside the DC's office and expressed concern over the increase in the spate of terrorism in this peaceful state.

Infighting in HP Cong intensifies: minister
From Our Correspondent

KANGRA, Dec 27 — The Himachal Agriculture Minister, Mr Vidiya Sagar, has ridiculed the Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) chief, Mr Sat Mahajan, dream of toppling the BJP-HVC government in the state.

Talking to mediapersons here today Mr Sagar said that the chief was trying to divert the attention of the people from the infighting which was at the peak in the Congress. He said there was frustration in the Congress following its defeat in the Baijnath Assembly poll.

He alleged that the infighting in the Congress had intensified.

The minister said sufficient quantity of potato seeds, fertilisers and pesticides were available with block committees, the Agriculture Department and with societies as sowing season had started.

He said 50 per cent subsidy on onion seeds was being given to the scheduled caste, the scheduled Tribe and backward panchayats in the state.

Mr Sagar said, from the first week of January he would visit farmers in their fields along with scientists from Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vidalya and experts from the Agriculture Department to provide them latest know-how.

Kulu bans use of polythene bags
From Our Correspondent

KULU, Dec 27 — The Deputy Commissioner, Mr R.D. Dhiman, has announced that the use of polythene bags will be treated as a punishable crime in the district from January 1, 1999.

He was presiding over a joint meeting of the representatives of nagar panchayats, nagar prishad, beopar mandals, educational institutions, mahila mandals, voluntary organisations and district-level officers. Mr Dhiman pointed out that those found using polypacks would be penalised with a fine of Rs 5,000 or one-month imprisonment or both.

The Deputy Commissioner said that the ban on polythene bags was being imposed because of their adverse effects on health and environment.

He revealed that the anti-polythene drive would be given a shape of mass movement in public interest and would be spread to remote villages through publicity measures such as posters, hand bills and banners.

Inquiry sought into maid servant’s death
From Our Correspondent

JWALAMUKHI, Dec 27 — A senior Congress leader, Mr Kishan Parmar, today sought a high-level inquiry into the tragic death of a young maid servant of the Himachal Vikas Congress leader, Ms Veena Sharma.

While talking to mediapersons at the local Rest House, Mr Parmar said the maid servant received burns and her son, who was also present, also got injured. He was being treated at the Military Hospital, Pune, Mr Parmar added.

According to Mr Parmar the case is being termed as an accident caused by stove bursting in order to hush up the case. He further added that the FIR was not lodged at the Jwalamukhi police station and the victim was not given proper medical treatment at a nearby hospital. Instead, she was sent to Ludhiana.

Mr K.C. Sadyal, SSP, Kangra, sent a police party to Ludhiana to get the maid servant's statement recorded before her death. But the police action under Section 174 seemed to be a routine exercise, he added.

HP to get 2 rigs, spare parts from Japan
From Our Correspondent

JWALAMUKHI, Dec 27 — The Irrigation and Public Health Minister, Mr Ramesh Dhuawala, said today that the state would soon get two rigs from Japan along with the spare parts without any cost. A Japanese company, Sankyo Kogyo, would provide these rigs on grant basis.

While talking to mediapersons, the Minister said the material had been inspected by a state government team recently in Japan. He stated that the department had submitted an application for an assistance of 500 million yen in June, 1997. The agreement for the procurement of rigs, tools and supporting equipment, including spare parts, was signed by the state government in April, 1998.

The company had already dispatched the rigs and these were expected to reach Una by January end next year, he added.

The technical and drilling engineer will be provided by this firm to impart training to Irrigation and Personal Health technical personnel. The Minister said the rigs would be deployed in various parts of the state to meet the immediate need of drinking water and for irrigation purposes.

The rigs based on "open-hole drilling methodology" have a rated capacity to drill holes, varying from 450 mm to over 750 mm diameter. These machines could drill up to a depth of 400 metres, he added.

Work on Chamera stepped up
From Our Correspondent

CHAMBA, Dec 27 — Work on the 300 MW Chamera Hydroelectric Project (Stage-II) on the Ravi in the district has been stepped up.

Reviewing the work on the infrastructure of the project at a meeting of the officials of the PWD and of the project here yesterday, Mr S.K. Dodeja, General Manager, Chamera Hydroelectric Project disclosed that the Chamba-Pathankot highway up to Bathri would be widened according to the specifications laid down for national highways. Mr Dodeja said a new bridge would be constructed replacing the old suspension bridge across the Ravi. He said the vintage bridge would be installed somewhere near Chamba town as a historical monument.

He said the authorities of the PWD had been asked to take up the construction work on the widening of a bypass via TB Hospital so that a bridge could be constructed at Sitla.

Constable recruitment from Jan 6
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Dec 27 — Recruitment of 113 police constables will begin on January 6 for the districts of Kinnaur, Shimla, Solan and Sirmour.

According to the SP, Mr A.N. Sharma, the recruitment will be done at Kinnaur from January 6 to 8, Shimla from January 15 to 19, Solan from January 27 to 30 and Sirmour from February 2 to 5.