Dhumal asks ministers to restrain demands
MANDI, Dec 23 — Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal has said the primary task before the government is to make the state not only economically viable but also one of the most prosperous states in the country.

Special aid for HP
NEW DELHI, Dec 23- The Centre has decided to release Rs 242.20 lakh under special central assistance and Rs 19.94 lakh under vocational training programme to the Himachal Pradesh State Government.

2 women buried alive
HAMIRPUR, Dec 23—Two women were buried alive and three others were injured when a big boulder of earth caved in at Jharlog village in the district last evening. The women, were engaged in extracting ‘golu’, (white clay) from a mine when a huge boulder fell on them and both were buried alive.

ST Tribunal chief sworn in
SHIMLA, Dec 23 — Mr Karam Vir Verma was sworn in as presiding officer of the newly constituted H.P. Sales Tax Tribunal at a simple ceremony in the Secretariat complex, here today.

4 shops, godown gutted
SHIMLA, Dec 23 — As many as four shops and a godown were gutted in a fire which broke out in Khalini Bazar, here last night.

Save Environment Day observed
HAMIRPUR, Dec 23—Hundreds of children of various government and private schools here took part in a massive Save Environment organised by the district administration. Ms Urmila Thakur, Himachal Pradesh Parliamentary Secretary, was the chief guest on this occasion.

Tribal areas being ‘ignored’
SHIMLA, Dec 23 — The forum for rural empowerment and social help (FRESH) has alleged that tribal areas of Himachal Pradesh were being provided a "step motherly" treatment in the flow of rural infrastructure development funds (RIDF) of NABARD.

CPM criticises govt decision
SHIMLA, Dec 23 — The district committee of the CPM has criticised the decision of the government to wind up the Jubbal forest and alleged that it was influenced by the forest mafia in the matter.

All PWD deals to be probed: Minister
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Dec 23 — The Himachal Pradesh Government has decided to probe all purchases made by the Public Works Department (PWD) from 1994 onwards to detect "irregular" and "unwarranted" deals. It has also decided to streamline the procedure for making bulk purchases in view of the alleged bitumen scam in the Mandi zone of the department.

Stating this at a press conference, Mr Mohinder Singh, the Minister for Public Works, said that the growing tendency among officers, particularly those on the verge of retirement, to order huge purchases in excess of the requirement had forced the government to take corrective steps.

He said to check "reckless" and "excess" purchases two high-powered committees — one for making bulk purchases and the other for exercising quality control — would be constituted before December 31. Once these committees came up, an individual officer would be able to place purchase orders on his own. He said he would also recommend to the Chief Minister to curtail purchase powers of officers on the verge of retirement.

Referring to the bitumen scam, in which the Chief Engineer of Mandi zone, Mr S. Sikand, has already been suspended, Mr Mohinder Singh said that the officer was authorised to procure bitumen in bulk. However, he purchased certain other items like paints, survey instruments and door fittings worth over Rs 26 lakh without their requirement. As against a demand of 2630 tonnes, Mr Sikand placed order for the purchase of 2400 tonnes and out of this 1750 tonnes had already been received. The supply order was placed with only one firm, which earlier supplied paint to the department and was blacklisted. He said another firm of the state was also on the rate contract but it was totally ignored.

A vigilance inquiry had already been ordered on the basis of the probe conducted by the Divisional Commissioner. Still, the department would look into the case on its own too. It would ascertain whether or not the demand for bitumen emulsion was justified and ensure that the entire quantity was accounted for by making physical verification. Samples of bitumen emulsion had already been sent for testing and it was found substandard. Action would be taken against the officers concerned.

Excess purchase of bitumen was made during the previous Congress regime and drums procured by the Rohru circle were still lying on the roadside at Khara Pathar and along the Luri-Suni road. The department would also find out if bitumen had some fixed life span as an effective binder.

Replying to a question, he said there was no question of his resigning in view of the alleged scam as the inquiry report did not link him with the purchase of bitumen and other items in any way. Moreover, as in charge of the department he had ordered an inquiry as soon as the matter came to the notice of government and taken action against the accused officer as soon as the report was received.

On the contrary, he claimed, the Congress government never ordered any inquiry into such cases and instead tried to hush up matters. He cited the example of the forest scandal of Chhota Bhangal in which over 16,000 sleepers of deodar were reportedly washed away in cloudbursts.

Dhumal asks ministers to restrain demands
From Our Correspondent

MANDI, Dec 23 — Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal has said the primary task before the government is to make the state not only economically viable but also one of the most prosperous states in the country.

The Chief Minister was addressing a public meeting today at Kansa in Balh valley. He said the state at present was reeling under a financial crisis and had the Prime Minister not come to the rescue of the state by granting Rs 700 crore as special aid during the past three years, things could have worsened.

Mr Dhumal said the previous government left a debt burden of Rs 7,200 crore on the present government. The yearly interest on this amount came to Rs 770 crore while the income of the government was a mere Rs 650 crore. He urged the state ministers to keep this grim picture of the state of affairs in mind while making demands.

The Chief Minister, however, said there was no room for disappointment as the government was vigorously implementing its plan to harness the vast hydel power potential in the state on a war-footing.

The Prime Minister had laid the foundation stone of Asia’s biggest Parbati hydel project this month. The Kol dam project was also in the final stage, the Chief Minister said. Besides, work on half a dozen projects was progressing with speed, he added.

Mr Dhumal invited the private sector and the non-resident Indians to liberally invest in eco-friendly industries and open professional colleges in the state which was most suitable for such ventures keeping in view the climate and the peaceful conditions in the hilly state.

He assured the people of Balh valley that funds would be provided for the completion of the left bank Balh valley medium

irrigation project next year on which a sum of Rs 42 crore would be spent. He said the BBMB had already agreed to provide water for irrigation from the open hydel project of the BSL project. The project, when completed, would provide irrigation for 2,780 hectares of land in the sprawling valley.

The Chief Minister said the recent decision of the Central Government to entrust hydle power projects up to 25 MW to the Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy could prove a big boon for the unemployed power engineers of the state. They could join hands and form cooperative societies to take up these mini hydle projects and avail of liberal subsidies.

Earlier the Chief Minister laid the foundation stone of a Rs 25 lakh-building for the training of milk producers at Chakkar near the Indo-German milk plant.

SUNDERNAGAR: Mr Dhumal, while addressing a public gathering at Kansa chowk, about 11 k.m. from here, said the Government was committed to promote environment-friendly industries in the state.

The Chief Minister lashed out at Mr Rup Singh Thakur, Forest Minister, and Mr Parkash Chaudhary, Minister of State for Animal Husbandry, for supporting the demands of JBT nursery teachers and demanding opening of a tehsil office in Balh assembly segment.

Both ministers have raised a demand that nursery teachers should be regularised within three years as JBT teachers. Mr Dhumal said these ministers were behaving as they were not a part of the government.

Sanjhi Van Yojna: a boon for villagers
Tribune News Service

DHARAMSALA, Dec 23 — Playing a pivotal role in the protection of the existing forest wealth the Sanjhi Van Yojna, launched in Kangra and Una districts, last year, has benefited the local people.

Launched in 64 villages of Kangra and Una, the scheme endeavours to empower the people and the communities in accepting a greater role and responsibility in the management of natural resources. It seeks the involvement of all grassroots institutions, including gram panchayats, yuvak mandals, schools, mahila mandals, village forest developmental committees apart from the NGOs.

The Conservator of Forest, Dharamsala, Mr Rakesh Kumar Gupta, stated that after one year of its launch the scheme had started showing discernible change in the socio-economic conditions of the people. "Being a community-based afforestation scheme, the emphasis was on regeneration of degraded forests, creation of social assets, adoption of modern nursery techniques, re-orientation of forest staff and generation of employment opportunities," he stated.

Under the Sanjhi Van Yojna 46 villages in Kangra district and 18 in Una district had been chosen for the plantation work carried out last year. Shouldering the responsibility of plant protection, the villagers showed a good survival rate (90 per cent) for these plants. The selection of villages for the scheme depended upon the willingness of the local community.

Apart from this, villages which have about 40 to 50 houses, having easy accessibility to the forest areas, are chosen.

During 1998-99 a sum of Rs 64 lakh was allocated for the yojana under the Dharamsala forest circle. An outlay of Rs 1.16 crore had been made for the next year. So far plantation work had been completed in 56 villages and 432 hectares brought under the scheme. Apart from the plantation work, maintenance of footpaths, soil conservation and training workshops were also being undertaken.

An additional amount of Rs 12.50 lakh had been utilised on nurseries. These nurseries had been set up at Sehal village in Nurpur division, Sukkar in Dharamsala division, Khaleta in Dehra division, Ghadwal in Una division and Duggi in Palampur division.

"Clean Himachal" campaign
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Dec 23 — Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister, today launched a special "Clean Himachal" campaign to make the hills free of the polythene menace at the dawn of the new millennium.
During the week-long statewide drive, which would cover all the main towns of the state, ministers, officers and other public representatives would lead the public in removing polythene bags scattered all over place.

Mr Dhumal kicked off the campaign by picking up a few bags dumped on the hill slope near Khalini, a suburb of the town. He said the government had banned recycled polythene bags from January 1, 1999 and it opposed to impose a complete ban on all types of polythene bags soon. Since the decision would hit the 23-odd industrial units which were manufacturing polythene bags. The government was working on a Rs 50 lakh scheme to rehabilitate them.

Proper disposal of polythene bags was essential as it did not decompose like biodegradable post and also it was not possible to burn as it caused air pollution of the worst kind.

He underlined the need to involve non-government organisations, panchayat raj institutions and school children to make the campaign a public movement in the real sense.

Emphasising the need for maintaining ecological balance, Mr Dhumal expressed concern over construction of big concrete buildings in the hills which did not go well with the hill architecture and were unsuitable for areas like Himachal Pradesh, which were prone to earthquakes.

Mr Roop Dass Kashyap, Minister of state for Urban Development, said that the statewide campaign to clean polythene bags would be made a success by seeking the cooperation of non-government organisations and educational institutions.

Mr Kishori Lal, Mr Roop Singh Thakur, Mr Narinder Bragta and Mr Ravinder Ravi, all ministers, also participated in the campaign by removing polythene bags from the slopes.

Special aid for HP
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, Dec 23- The Centre has decided to release Rs 242.20 lakh under special central assistance and Rs 19.94 lakh under vocational training programme to the Himachal Pradesh State Government.

Himachal Pradesh Minister for Transport and Tribal Development, Mr Krishan Kapoor, who met the Union Minister for Tribal Affairs, Mr Jual Oram, in a statement here said that the Centre had also agreed to provide total special central assistance to the tribal areas in two instalments in April and July every year instead of four instalments being provided at present for proper and effective utilisation of funds.

The minister said a provision of Rs 500 lakh has been made under special central assistance for tribal areas in the state.

2 women buried alive
From Our Correspondent

HAMIRPUR, Dec 23—Two women were buried alive and three others were injured when a big boulder of earth caved in at Jharlog village in the district last evening. The women, were engaged in extracting ‘golu’, (white clay) from a mine when a huge boulder fell on them and both were buried alive.

Three others, Asha,Ratni and Urmila, were, however, saved by local people and have been admitted to the Zonal Hospital here.

Mr Nirmal Singh Suman, ADM, visited the spot and announced relief to next of kin of the deceased.

ST Tribunal chief sworn in
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Dec 23 — Mr Karam Vir Verma was sworn in as presiding officer of the newly constituted H.P. Sales Tax Tribunal at a simple ceremony in the Secretariat complex, here today.

Mr A.K. Goswami, Chief Secretary, administered the oath of office and secrecy to Mr Karam Vir Verma.

Mr Ajay Mittal, Principal Secretay to the Chief Minister, who is also Secretary of Excise and Taxation, conducted the proceeding.

The tribunal, to be located at Dharamsala, will help expeditious disposal of pending tax cases.

4 shops, godown gutted
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Dec 23 — As many as four shops and a godown were gutted in a fire which broke out in Khalini Bazar, here last night.

A dhaba, a furniture shop, cooperative society outlet was among those destroyed.

In another incident Shankar Dass, a mate in the state electricity board, was electrocuted while fixing a switch on the high tension line near Jakhoo.

Save Environment Day observed
From Our Correspondent

HAMIRPUR, Dec 23—Hundreds of children of various government and private schools here took part in a massive Save Environment organised by the district administration. Ms Urmila Thakur, Himachal Pradesh Parliamentary Secretary, was the chief guest on this occasion.

Carrying placards, the children raised slogans against the use of polythene bags to save environment. Senior district-level officers and members of the Hamirpur Nagar Palika also took part in the rally.

At Gandhi Chowk, Mr Thakur exhorted the people to take part in cleaning their surroundings and to shun the use of polythenes, which she said, was harming environment. She added that the state government would extend full cooperation to the people in preserving the environment and keeping it neat and clean.

Reports of celebration of the Save Environment Day were also received from other parts of the district, where school children organised processions and took active part in the cleaning up operations.

Tribal areas being ‘ignored’
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Dec 23 — The forum for rural empowerment and social help (FRESH) has alleged that tribal areas of Himachal Pradesh were being provided a "step motherly" treatment in the flow of rural infrastructure development funds (RIDF) of NABARD.

In a statement here yesterday Mrs Harjeet Kaur, Managing Director of FRESH, has told the Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal, that all districts of the state except Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti were being provided RIDF projects financed by NABARD.

The infrastructure building in the tribal areas of Kinnaur, Lahaul-Spiti and Pangi was going on at a snail's pace, the flow of tribal sub-plan funds notwithstanding.

CPM criticises govt decision
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Dec 23 — The district committee of the CPM has criticised the decision of the government to wind up the Jubbal forest and alleged that it was influenced by the forest mafia in the matter.

The decision, it said, taking in the name of economy measures, was against the basic principle of decentralisation and would cause inconvenience to villagers who would have to travel long distances for petty works. The poorest of the poor, who could not afford costly travel, would be virtually denied their timber distribution, grazing and other forest rights.

The Jubbal area, it pointed out had good forest cover comprising deodar, chil, fir, tosh and other valuable species, and it could not be effectively protected from Rohru division which already has a long area to take care of.

It lamented that the government had not taken any action on the glaring irregularities pointed out by the Divisional Forest Officer had not been looked and instead the division had been wound up.