MiG 29 pilot’s body found
SHIMLA, Aug 7 — Dismembered parts of body of the Flt Lt Gourav Chhiber, pilot of the ill-fated MiG-29, was found scattered in a large radius at Malan-Panjwar Dhar near Naina Devi area of Bilaspur district in Himachal Pradesh, according to police sources here today.

BJP-HVC will win all seats: Dhumal
HAMIRPUR, Aug 7 — The Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister, Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal, said here today that the BJP would seek positive votes in the ensuing Lok Sabha and win all four seats in the state in active cooperation with the Himachal Vikas Congress (HVC).

Meeting reviews repair of roads
SHIMLA, Aug 7 — A high level meeting was held today under the chairmanship of Mr A.K. Goswami, Chief Secretary, Himachal Pradesh along with senior officers of the state government and the Border Roads Organisation to review steps for the restoration of damages, due to heavy rain during the current monsoon, extensive damages to roads, bridges, irrigation and drinking water schemes and other government and private properties reported particularly from the tribal areas.

HP to raise Rs 275 cr loan
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Aug 7 — While on one hand the cash-strapped BJP-HVC combine government in Himachal has gone out for raising loan of Rs 275 crore from the open market to run its day to day affairs, on the other hand it has approved payment of more than of Rs 2.70 crore for continuing to enjoy the luxury of a hired helicopter.

On both accounts the two-party combine government headed by Mr P.K. Dhumal is following in the footsteps of his predecessor, Mr Virbhadra Singh of the Congress, whom both the BJP and the HVC had been criticising vigorously on these issue, while in opposition.

Although both these parties had made the issue of raising loans from the open market by the previous Congress government an election issue, but now it has asked the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board (HPSEB) to borrow Rs 275 from open market. This money most probably will be transferred to the state government for meeting various expenditures.

The decision has come soon after the BJP government suffered the first financial crisis last month when payment of all treasury bills was stopped as the government had run into an overdraft. However, the Centre soon came to its rescue and is learnt to have bailed out the state government by releasing an advance instalment of Rs 100 crore on account of its share from central taxes.

According to the recent decision, the HPSEB will raise a loan of Rs 250 crore through SLR bonds with an extra collection of Rs 25 crore under the green shoe provision.

The loan will carry an interest of 13.5 per cent and a service charge of .075 per cent will be paid for arranging the loan.

Sources said that the decision to raise the loan and also retain the privately hired helicopter was taken at a meeting of the cabinet a few days ago.

These issue will provide ammunition to the Congress not only in the coming session of the Assembly, but also during Lok Sabha elections to criticise the BJP government.

The BJP government, had always been criticising, Mr Virbhadra Singh for flying in the helicopter while there was financial crisis in the state, but soon after coming into power it itself paid Rs 5.84 crore for the use of helicopter for nine months from March to December 1998.

The financial position of the state government has not been sound and senior officers had been pointing out that the ruling BJP and the HVC, which had been criticising the previous government for squandering resources, would itself have to go for open market borrowings, as there was no escape.

Both these parties had been saying that a white paper on the financial irregularities by the Virbhadra Singh government would be issued by them, however, nothing such has come out so far, even after about 18 months of Mr Dhumal having come to power.

It is pertinent to mention that during the recent visit of the 11th Finance Commission here, the Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal urged the commission to come to the rescue of Himachal with an appropriate debt relief package so that the state was in a position to use the revenue receipts for fruitful developmental purposes.

It is worth mentioning that against the total revenue of Rs 2,469 crore of the state government, the expenditure is of Rs 3,651 crore. The budgetary deficit has also been increasing with the current year's figure expected to touch Rs 1,511 crore.

It is interesting, the salary bill has been increasing every year while the revenue has been almost fixed the salary bill this year would be of the order of Rs 1,378 crore against Rs 988 crore two year back in 1997-98.

Prof A.M. Khusro, Chairman of the 11th Finance Commission, has pointed out that the state government shall have to make concerted efforts to strengthen the revenue base. At the same time, the various items of expenditure need to be examined and monitored to reduce unproductive expenditure without in any way affecting efficiency of the system.

Prof Khusro also expressed concern over the mounting deficits despite the substantial assistance provided by the central government in the form of grants.

2 dead, property damaged in cloudburst
From Our Correspondent

PALAMPUR, Aug 7 — At least two persons were killed and property worth crores was destroyed in a cloudburst in the town last night. Earlier there was heavy rain in the town for six hours which disrupting life. All roads leading to the town were closed following landslides at different points. The power supply was cut last night and the drinking water supply also hit by the flash-floods.

Mr Hans Raj Sharma, Subdivisional Magistrate, Krishan Kumar Sharma, an engineer hailing from Lambloo village of Hamirpur district, was washed away in the flash-floods when he was crossing Bhiral Khud. In another incident a woman lost her life when her house was buried under a landslide near the Civil Hospital here. The SDM said the relief and rescue operation had been launched. He said the body of Krishan Kumar was yet to be recovered. Home guards had been deployed to search for the body. Over 300 houses have been damaged. Besides, in several houses flood water entered and caused heavy damage. The worst affected areas are Aima, Bundla, Sugar, Guggar and Bindravan.

Mr Hans Raj Sharma assured the local residents that power and drinking water supply would be restored soon.

Mr S.C. Dhiman, Executive Engineer, Himachal Pradesh PWD, said that vehicular traffic on all routes had come to a standstill following extensive damage to roads and bridges. He said all efforts were being made to restore the vehicular traffic. PWD labourers had been working round-the-clock to clear debris. He said a number of bridges had been washed away. He estimated the loss in crores.

Meanwhile, the district administration has sanctioned an immediate relief of Rs 20,000 each to the next of kin of the deceased. Earlier the SDM visited the aggrieved families. Mr Ravinder Thakur, Himachal Pradesh Minister for Power and Technical Education, has expressed shock over the tragedy. He also visited the flood-affected areas.

Sushant to resign as minister if...
Tribune News Service

DHARAMSALA, Aug 7 — Factionalism within the BJP will become bitter with the Himachal Revenue Minister, Mr Rajan Sushant, having decided to quit the ministry, if he is asked to forgo Chairmanship of the Kangra District Grievances Committee.

During the past few days, Mr Sushant, a confident of the Chief Minister, has been moving away from him for several reasons. Mr Sushant had been made the Chairman of the Grievances Committee by the Chief Minister, despite being a minister of state. Being a confident and a supporter of Mr Dhumal in Kangra district, he was made the chairman, though as per tradition the seniormost minister from the district is given the post. This appointment, had in fact angered the Shanta loyalists and senior ministers, as they felt slighted by this move.

What has annoyed Mr Sushant is the assurance given by the Chief Minister to senior ministers and the Shanta loyalists in Kangra district that the issue of Mr Sushant being the Chairman of the District Grievances Committee would be settled soon. Mr Sushant and his supporters feel that the Chief Minister was giving in to the pressure tactics of the Shanta loyalists, without giving a thought to the fact how slighted the Revenue Minister would feel.

Reliable sources revealed that Mr Sushant had made up his mind to give up the ministry. In case he was asked to resign or removed from the post of the Chairman of the District Grievances Committee. "there is no way that Mr Sushant will accept such a big humiliation, and for this he is even prepared to sacrifice his ministership," commented one of his supporters. They argued that either the Chief Minister should not have made him the Chairman in the first place, or should have taken up the stand to let him continue, despite pressure.

It is not only the Chairmanship of the District Grievances Committee, which has become the bone of contention. But the importance being given to a junior MLA from Kangra, has also annoyed Mr Sushant. It is learnt that Mr Sushant has taken strong exception to this and feels that how can the Chief Minister give undue importance to a person, whose loyality, he cannot be sure about.

It is in this regard that the Revenue Minister, Mr Sushant, had a crucial meeting, with the former Chief Minister, Mr Shanta Kumar, and his loyalists from Kangra district at the Circuit House, here last evening. It is the second round of talks with Mr Shanta Kumar, as the two had met earlier at Nurpur. Others, who were present at the meeting include the Transport Minister, Mr Krishna Kapoor and the Agriculture Minister, Mr Vidyasagar. Mr Sushant, also accompanied, the former Chief Minister to a meeting in the Shahpur constituency, today morning.

Mr Sushant, has remained one of the most bitter critic of Mr Shanta Kumar, and had even contested a Lok Sabha election against him after being expelled from the party. As such the coming close of the two leaders, is being considered a significant development, especially in Kangra district. The Shanta group, is trying to give an impression that Mr Sushant, after sinking his differences with the former Chief Minister, had joined him.

Great political significance is being attached to these developments, as it will strength the hands of Mr Shanta Kumar, in his home district. While the Chief Minister will hardly be left with any staunch supporters in Kangra. Instead of making his base stronger in the biggest district of the state, the latest developments, have weakened the position of the Chief Minister.

NJPC ills
Errant officers go scotfree
From Rakesh Lohumi
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Aug 7 — The failure of the management to take action against errant officers has been mainly responsible for the largescale irregularities in the Nathpa Jhakri Power Corporation (NJPC).

Inquiries reveal that the management has been reluctant in acting against the officers indicted by inquiry committees for various irregularities in the award of contracts. In some cases such officers have been rewarded with plum postings.

Most glaring is the case of Mr V.K. Sharma, General Manager (Projects), against whom the state Vigilance Department has registered cases in connection with the Rs 1.82 crore scam.

According to sources in the corporation, the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) had recommended disciplinary action against him after he was indicted for certain irregularities in the award and execution of contract for electrical installations in Type C Quarters at Jhakri. Mr Sharma, as Deputy Manager, wrongly assessed the reasonable cost for awarding the contract by including certain items like electric fans and geysers which were not included in the tender as a result of which the cost of work increased by over Rs 6.5 lakh.

An inquiry into the bungling indicted him in 1997 and the case was subsequently referred to the CVC which recommended penalty proceedings against the officer.

Instead of initiating penal action, the Executive Director (Vigilance), whose name also figures in the FIR registered by the state Vigilance Department, referred the case back to the CVC for reconsideration and advice. Not only that he was, in the meantime, made in charge of the project despite serious objection by the Manager (Vigilance) who pointed out in writing in December last that an officer against whom there was a live vigilance case should not be given a sensitive post. He had also referred to the government's instructions in this regard. Rather than acting on the instructions, the Executive Director bypassed the Manager, who was proving inconvenient, and handed over the file to Senior Vigilance Officer, who has also been booked in vigilance cases.

The Manager objected to the handling of the corporate vigilance cases by the Junior Field Officer specially deputed for project vigilance, but to no avail. The fate of the case, which was sent to the CVC for reconsideration is still not known. While all efforts to contact the Chairman of the corporation proved futile, other officers did not have any information about it.

The manner in which the vigilance wing of the project has been functioning has raised many eyebrows. The Executive Director has been directly dealing with the Field Officer. Payment had been made to contractors on the recommendation of the Senior Vigilance Officer who has no role in such matters. The Nathpa Jhakri Officers Association has also demanded a review of the vigilance setup to clearly demarcate the duties of various officers and bring transparency in its working.

MiG 29 pilot’s body found

SHIMLA, Aug 7 (UNI) — Dismembered parts of body of the Flt Lt Gourav Chhiber, pilot of the ill-fated MiG-29, was found scattered in a large radius at Malan-Panjwar Dhar near Naina Devi area of Bilaspur district in Himachal Pradesh, according to police sources here today.

The fighter plane had crashed yesterday.

The police sources said the MiG left at 11.30 am on a routine sortie from Adampur (Punjab) and lost contact with the control tower at about 1.30 pm, and was believed to have crashed within minutes after loosing contact with the tower.

Air Force personnel already reached the site of crash yesterday.

Some parts of the body of the Flt Lt hung from parts of flying machine, the source said.

The black box could not be retrieved till today and the search was going on till last reports came in.

BJP-HVC will win all seats: Dhumal
From Our Correspondent

HAMIRPUR, Aug 7 — The Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister, Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal, said here today that the BJP would seek positive votes in the ensuing Lok Sabha and win all four seats in the state in active cooperation with the Himachal Vikas Congress (HVC).

He said the main plank of the elections would be the charismatic personality of Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee. The party would also raise the issues of the spectacular achievements of the central and state government during the past 15 months.

Asked about what had been the major achievements of his government during the past 15 months, Mr Dhumal said the bogey of regionalism had been buried by ensuing equal development of the state and opening more public dealing offices in various parts of the state.

He flayed the former Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh, for his assertions that if Congress came to power it would scrap the HP Subordinate Selection Board opened here recently.

The Chief Minister stressed on the need for making hepatitis-B immunisation programme a mass programme so as to save the lives of thousands of children every year from this disease. He said this while inaugurating a free hepatitis-B immunisation programme organised by the local Rotary Club. A sum of $20,000 has been given by the Rotary Foundation of the Rotary International under the programme for the district.

Children up to the age group of five years were immunised on the occasion by officials of the Department of Health and Family Welfare.

He said the government would reward efficient officers and officials but would not tolerate indiscipline and laxity in discharging the official duties. He asked officers to ensure smooth and peaceful Lok Sabha elections which would be held on September 25.

Meeting reviews repair of roads
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Aug 7 — A high level meeting was held today under the chairmanship of Mr A.K. Goswami, Chief Secretary, Himachal Pradesh along with senior officers of the state government and the Border Roads Organisation to review steps for the restoration of damages, due to heavy rain during the current monsoon, extensive damages to roads, bridges, irrigation and drinking water schemes and other government and private properties reported particularly from the tribal areas.

It was decided that the Border Roads Organisation would expedite the steps being taken for the restoration of road between Udaipur and Tindi so that vehicular traffic for Pangi was resumed immediately. Similarly, the Border Roads Organisation has assured that it will deploy additional resources for the restoration of damaged portion between Maling and Samdo in Kinnaur district. State Public Works Department will also restore vehicular communication in Mayar valley and Chokhang village in Lahaul so that there is no disruption in transportation of peas from this area to the market.

It was also decided that the Civil Supplies Corporation would make transhipment arrangement for the supply of essential commodities and diesel etc. for Pangi valley. It was further decided that daily progress will also be reviewed of the restoration work and supply of essential commodities. State government also released Rs 2.95 crore for the restoration of roads and bridges. Irrigation schemes and water supply schemes in Lahaul Spiti, Kinnaur and Chamba districts.

The Chief Secretary said that more funds will be released soon so that restoration work did not suffer on account of shortage of funds.