• Bridges sought over Gobindsagar

• Snow, rain in Himachal

Storm over HVC support blows over
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Nov 8 — The clouds of uncertainty looming over the BJP-HVC alliance, following the threat of Mr Sukh Ram to pull out his ministers from the coalition government if a CBI probe was not ordered into charges against Mr Virbhadra Singh cleared following a meeting between Mr P K Dhumal, the Chief Minister and the HVC leader at Sundernagar last night.

During the meeting which lasted for about an hour, Mr Dhumal is learnt to have apprised Mr Sukh Ram of action being taken by the state government and the Centre on the chargesheet submitted by the HVC against Mr Virbhadra Singh. He reportedly informed him that there was no delay in the matter and it was taking time only because the charges were numerous and required preliminary investigation before registration of a regular case.

Mr Sukh Ram was satisfied with the manner in which the matter was being pursued by the Dhumal government and he assured the support of his party to the government. He said that the threat to pull out the minister was not given with a view to destabilising the coalition but to ensure expeditious action on the chargesheet.

The HVC supremo also discounted reports that he might join the Congress. He told Mr Dhumal that he would work for the success of the BJP candidate in the Baijnath byelection with the same zeal as he would have if he were himself the Chief Minister.

The two leaders also agreed to campaign jointly in the final phase of the election from November 20 onwards.

Meanwhile, Mr Dhumal said that there was no substance in the report that the Enforcement Department had declined to register cases against former Chief Minister, Virbhadra Singh and his family members. He said the fact was that certain cases of irregularities committed by the previous government were being examined and necessary action would follow on as the process was completed.

He said his government would not register any cases under pressure from any quarters.

In some cases, like irregularities in allotment of khair wood to a private factory, the government had given an assurance in the Vidhan Sabha during the monsoon session that it would conduct an indepth probe into the case. The matter had been under process eversince.

Similarly, in some other cases legal implications and documents were to be collected and examined. All this required time.

He said there was no question of Mr Sukh Ram blackmailing the government on the issue as most of the charges mentioned in the chargesheet were itself raised by the BJP when it was in the opposition. The party itself was of the view that some of the cases required a thorough probe. With the sorting out of differences between the two parties the BJP is in an upbeat mood as the support of HVC will help consolidate the position of its candidate, Mr Dulo Ram in the Baijnath byelection.

Solan to have 4 industrial areas
From Our Correspondent

SOLAN, Nov 8 — The Himachal Government would be setting up four new industrial areas and an export promotion park in this district this year.

The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Balram Sharma, told newspersons here yesterday that a total of 3,540 bighas had been acquired for these projects and work on infrastructure development had begun at the proposed industrial areas all of which were located in hitherto zero industry rural locations.

These were being set up at Racchiana and Mamligh, both in Kandaghat tehsil; Banalagi in Kasauli tehsil and Bhatoli Khurd, near Barotiwala.

He said the export park, being set up at Baddi, was almost nearing completion. Buildings for banks, post office, police post, E.S.I. dispensary, water supplies and sewerage installations, were ready. Finishing touches were being given to the buildings for the library, technical back up unit and marketing training centre.

Mr Sharma said Solan district currently enjoyed the number one status in the field of industrialisation. Out of a total capital investment of Rs 2500 crore in the whole of the state, Rs 1787 crore had been invested in this district alone.

He said that presently 2,420 small scale and 109 medium and large scale units were functioning in the various industrial areas of the district. These units had generated an employment to 49,028 persons.

The Deputy Commissioner said other programmes like the Rural Industries Programme, Rural Artisan Programmes and Prime Minister’s Rozgar Yojana had also been doing well here. While 924 persons were benefited under the Prime Minister’s Rozgar Yojana, 231 artisans were given training and modern tool kits last year.

After the completion of the proposed industrial areas and the export park, the total number of such facilities would be increased to 11. The existing units at Solan, Dharampur, Parwanoo, Baddi and Barotiwala had been provided with all basic facilities needed by industrialists. Certain shortcomings related to power supplies and communications were being speedily redressed. Effective steps had also been taken to upgrade man power training facilities at the two industrial training institutes and a women’s polytechnic in the district.

3-tier set-up for industry permits
From Rakesh Lohumi
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Nov 8 — The Himachal government is formulating a comprehensive industrial policy to not only remove procedural bottlenecks but also envisages a scientific management of the state's resources.

The main objective of the policy will be to create an investor-friendly environment and provide an impetus to growth of industries based on local raw material. Already a number of steps have been taken to ensure expeditious clearances from various departments for setting up units. A three-tier mechanism has been set up under which review and monitoring committees at the state and district level sort out inter-departmental issues. An industrial promotion cell is also being set up to help entrepreneurs obtain clearances.

Entrepreneurs are no longer required to obtain approval of the government for setting up units in the medium and large sector. It has also been decided to simplify rules for transfer of land for industrial purposes.

The state government is also providing land at concessional rates. Other incentives include subsidised power concessions on state taxes and abolition of octroi, transport subsidy and complete exemption from payment of income tax for new projects.

To ensure dispersal of the industries the state has been categorised into three blocks depending upon the level of industrial development and backwardness. The maximum incentives are being provided for the least developed areas.

Industry contributes nearly 10 per cent of the GDP of the state at present with more than 27,000 industrial units employing nearly 1.39 lakh people. Total investments in the medium and large scale sector has touched Rs 2000 crore. Investment in the small scale sector is about Rs 2,500 crore.

Industrial investments are on the increase specially in cement, electronics, spinning and textiles, pharmaceuticals and engineering sectors. Currently about 75 projects with an anticipated outplay of about Rs 50 billion have been approved and many of them are at different stages of implementation.

The state is a leader in textiles with a spindle capacity of about five lakh. Efforts are afoot to strengthen the textile sector further through forward and backward linkage. The state government is also planning to develop the industrial corridor of Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh into a model industrial township.

An export promotion park is being developed at Baddi-Barotiwala at a cost of Rs 20 crore.

Nostalgic session of 'old' students
From Our Correspondent

MANDI, Nov 8 — On the second day of the three-day golden jubilee celebrations of the local Vallabh Maha Vidyalaya, more than 600 former students marched in procession from U-Block to the college campus in the sprawling Padal Ground. It was a historic procession in which prominent politicians, judges, doctors, engineers and Army officers took part, besides others. A human chain of over 1,000 children greeted the ex-students, including Sukh Ram, former Communication Minister, former and present speakers Kaul Singh and Gulab Singh, former High Court Judge A.L. Vaidya and former minister Rangila Ram Rao.

The "nostalgic session of old students" was the most touching event of the celebrations. The students of first five batches, now having crossed 70 years of age became sentimental while recalling the old and colourful days of college. Many of them shared the feeling that they could vividly recall the days they enjoyed half-a-century back.

Everyone referred sentimentally to the peepal tree still standing "young and green" on the college campus and the romantic memories associated with it.

Earlier, yesterday the state Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, inaugurated the joint celebrations of the golden jubilee of the state and college. He announced the grant of Rs 55 lakh for the completion of the new college building. He directed the PWD authorities to complete it by Shivratri. Mr Maheshwar Singh MP, also announced a grant of Rs 5 lakh for the college library from the MP's fund.

The Chief Minister announced that law classes would start functioning in Postgraduate College from the next session. He claimed that pace the of development had increased during the BJP rule and his government would complete the full term with the help of the HVC.

Earlier, Congress workers lead by former Speaker Kaul Singh, demonstrated against the rising prices and made a futile attempt to garland Chief Minister with onion bulbs.

Mortuary for deodar trees?
From S.P. Sharma
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA: A thick green forest in the heart of the town is gradually being converted into a mortuary for deodar trees.

This is the site of the ropeway which is being constructed in the so-far-protected deodar forest within the town.

One by one many trees have been cut to make way for the cable car at its take-off point near the US Club area. The cable car will take tourists to the Jakhoo temple.

The authorities are tight-lipped over the entire ongoings because the Panchkula-based promoting company of the ropeway is reported to have high connections.

A number of trees have collapsed due to the landslide which was caused due to haphazard cutting of the hill sides.

The entire route of the ropeway is situated in the "heritage zone" where any type of construction has been prohibited in the interim development plan of the Shimla planning area. It is anticipated that many more trees will either be cut or collapse at the places where the earth will be dug for the gigantic pillars of the ropeway in between take-off point and the terminal near the Jakhoo temple at 8,049 ft which is the highest spot in the town.

The adjoining buildings were threatened due to a landslide recently when the approach path to some of them was also washed away. However, the promoters have now built a retaining wall on that side.

A couple of trees appear to be on their way down as their roots have got fully exposed due to soil erosion.

The authorities fear that the preparation of the ground for the take-off point was threatening the two roads around as the debris was blocking the flow of the nullah which has been damaged in the process. Sand-filled bags are being put to prevent further landslides.

The promoters had sometimes ago claimed that only about 12 to 16 trees will be cut. However, contrary to their claim many more appear to have collapsed due to the landslide.

The project is being constructed on the forest land of the Shimla Municipal Corporation which has signed an agreement with the promoters. The land has been made available to the promoters for a period of 45 years.

The stretch of adjoining land right from Jakhoo to the Cart Road has already come up as an ugly concrete spot within the green which is visible even from the Kalka-Shimla highway. It is a row of concrete buildings right from top to bottom of the hill.

HVC for probe into khair allotment
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Nov 8 — Mr Khushi Ram Balnatah, general secretary of the state unit of the BJP, has urged Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, the Chief Minister to order an inquiry into irregularities in the allotment of khair to a private factory by the Congress government and other important issues which the BJP had been raising while in the opposition.

Supporting HVC supremo, Mr Sukh Ram's demand for a CBI probe into various charges against Mr Virbhadra Singh, a former Chief Minister, Mr Balnatah said an in-depth inquiry was required into payment of commission in raising loans for the Wild Flower Tourism Complex deal allotment of government accommodation and sale of valuable land to the Nahan foundry at throwaway prices to expose the misdeeds of the Congress government.

He said seasoned leaders like Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal and Mr Sukh Ram were capable of sorting out minor irritants plaguing the alliance and the two parties would contest the Baijnath seat jointly to ensure the defeat of the Congress.

He ridiculed the statement of pradesh Congress chief Mr Sat Mahajan that his party would form the government after the ensuing byelection. He said the BJP-HVC alliance would wrest the seat held from former PCC chief, Mr Sant Ram, to further consolidate its position in the Vidhan Sabha.

Snow, rain in Himachal

SHIMLA, Nov 8 (UNI) — High- altitude areas in Himachal Pradesh had another spell of snowfall while mid-hills had rain today.

The higher reaches in the tribal districts of Lahaul Spiti and Kinnaur had fresh snowfall, resulting in a considerable fall in the temperature. The Rohtang Pass and the Dhauladhars also had snowfall.

Shimla and the adjoining areas had rain, accompanied with thunder, bringing the day temperature down to 7°C. Icy-cold winds swept across the town during the day forcing tourists to stay indoors.

Upper areas of Shimla district, including Wild Flower Hall, Kufri, Naldehra and Narkanda, and Manali in Kulu district also had rain.

Bridges sought over Gobindsagar
From Our Correspondent

BILASPUR, Nov 8 — Mr Suresh Chandel, BJP state President and Member of Parliament from this area, has taken up the issue of construction of at least four bridges over the Gobindsagar in this district with Central Energy Minister PR Kumara- mangalam.

In a memorandum presented to the minister, Mr Chandel has said that from Bhakra to Auhar, a distance of 52 km, there is not a single bridge on Gobindsagar and this has made the life of lakhs of people very difficult. Most of their time is spent in meeting challenges presented by either the rising or receding waters of the Gobindsagar every year. He pointed out that Bhakra Dam oustees have been clamouring for these bridges for the past 40 years.