P R A D E S H
Saturday, November 20, 1999
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H I M A C H A L P R A D E S H |
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Saturday, November 20, 1999 |
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HP imposes tax on power Cong blamed for fiscal crisis |
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Support prices for citrus
fruits fixed Tributes paid to Indira Gandhi VHP, RSS differ over temple
takeover Himachal NSUI office-bearers Teaching aspirants resent
'outsiders' HP to have 1,000 irrigation tanks
soon 42 houses gutted |
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HP imposes tax on power SHIMLA, Nov 19 — In a bid to improve the financial health of the municipalities, the Himachal Pradesh Government has imposed a tax of one paise on each unit of electricity consumed by the subscribers within the municipal area. The Himachal Pradesh Government today specified the maximum limits of the taxes to be levied by the municipal councils and nagar panchayats in the state. According to a notification issued in this regard, the maximum limit of tax on dogs kept within the municipal areas will be Rs 50 per dog per annum, for a show tax the maximum limit will be Rs 50 per show and maximum limit of tax on the consumption of electricity will be one paise per unit of power consumed by any person within the limits of the municipal areas. A maximum limit of Rs 300 sq. metres per annum will be levied on advertisements other than advertisements published in newspapers. The maximum limit of tax
on buildings payable along with the application for
sanction of building plans will be Rs 2.50 paise per sq.
metre for residential and government buildings and Rs 5
per sq. metre for commercial and other buildings. The
maximum limit of duty on transfer of immoveable property
will be 2 per cent of the amount. |
Cong blamed for fiscal crisis RENUKA, (Nahan), Nov 19 — Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, has accused Congress and a former Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh, of misleading the people about the economic condition of the state. Talking to newsmen at the inauguration of the state-level Renuka fair here yesterday, Mr Dhumal alleged that Mr Virbhadra Singh pushed the state into a serious economic crisis by haphazardly raising huge loans from the open market. The present government had been forced to pay a huge sum of Rs 770 crore annually as interest on the aforesaid loans, he added. The Chief Minister said that by 2005 the amount of interest payable on these loans would pile up to Rs 2500 crore, making it difficult for the state government even to meet its day-to-day expenses. Ridiculing Mr Virbhadra Singh and the Pradesh Congress Committee President, Mr Sat Mahajan, for demanding a white paper on the condition of Himachal's economy, Mr Dhumal claimed that they did not understand the basic principles of the economy even after ruling the state for so many years. Mr Dhumal said that although the government was trying its best to mobilise its internal resources, the present economic crisis could be resolved only by raising fresh loans and seeking central assistance. Listing the measures being taken to improve the state's economy, he said that top priority would be given to hydroelectric power production, tourism and eco-friendly industries. He said that the 1000 MW Karchham-Vangtoo hydro-electric project would be completed within seven years and Himachal Pradesh would get 12 per cent of the electricity share free of cost. Later, addressing a large public meeting, Mr Dhumal assured the residents of the trans Giri area of the district that every effort would be made to get this area declared as a Scheduled Tribes' area from the central government. Refuting the Opposition charge of ignoring the interests of this district, Mr Dhumal claimed that he initiated 17,900 development works during its one-and-half-year tenure, out of which 2000 works were started in Sirmour district. Regarding the delay in construction of Renuka Dam, he said that since the drinking water from this dam was to be supplied to Delhi, the Delhi Government had to meet the major part of its cost. Earlier, he paid obeissance to Lord Parshuram and Goddess Renuka and also released he Renuka Samarika. He was presented the traditional dress of Sirmour and Sirmouri 'dangra' (pharsa), symbolising the mythological weapon of Lord Parshuram, by the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Rakesh Kaushal. The public meeting was
also addressed by the PWD Minister, Mr Mehender Singh,
newly elected MP from Shimla Lok Sabha seat, Mr Dhani Ram
Shandil, state Planning Board Vice-Chairperson, Ms Shyama
Sharma, Congress MLA's from Shillai and Renuka
constituencies, respectively, Mr Harsh Vardhan Chauhan
and Mr Prem Singh. |
HP signs pact for 1000 MW
hydel project SHIMLA, Nov 19 — Himachal Pradesh achieved an important milestone in privatisation of hydel power generation by assigning the 1000 MW Karcham-Wangtoo project to the Jaiprakash Industries Limited for execution. It is the largest hydro-electric project to be handed over to the private sector in the country so far. An agreement for the execution of the project was signed here yesterday between the state government and the company in the presence of Mr P.K. Dhumal, Chief Minister, Mr Kaushal Bhai Patel, Gujarat Energy Minister and Mr Ravinder Ravi, Minister of State for Energy. Mr Ajay Tyagi, Secretary, Power and Mr Jaiprakash Gaur, Chairman of the JIL signed the agreement on behalf of the state government and the company. The government has introduced efficiency-linked incentives and disincentives to ensure expeditious completion of the project for the first time. The company has been given a maximum of three years for obtaining various statutory clearances from the state government and the Centre and a maximum of seven years for completion of the project. The state will get 12 per cent free power for the first 12 years and 18 per cent over the next 28 years. In case the company executes the project before the scheduled date of commissioning, the quantum of free power to the state government will be reduced by one per cent for every year saved in the completion of project. The state will get reduced power up to the scheduled date of commercial operation. Similarly, if the project is delayed, the company will have to give one per cent additional free power to the state for each year by which the completion is delayed beyond the scheduled date of commercial operation. Essentially a run-of-the-river scheme the project envisages construction of a 40-metre high diversion dam downstream the confluence of Baspa and Satluj river in the Kinnaur district. A 170km tunnel will carry the river water to the power house site at Wangtoo, where four generating units of 250 MW each will be installed. It is likely to cost about Rs 7000 crore. It will generate 4651
million units in a 50 per cent dependable year. The
government has opted for free power as royalty instead of
purchasing power from the project. The project will fetch
an annual revenue of Rs 225 crore to the state in the
first 12 years and Rs 335 crore over the next 28 years. |
Support prices for citrus fruits
fixed SHIMLA, Nov 19 — The Himachal Government has fixed the procurement prices for citrus fruits under which orange and kinnow of "B" grade will be procured at Rs 4.35 per kg. According to a spokesman of the Horticulture Department the "C" grade fruit will be procured at Rs 3.75 per kg. The price for galgal has been fixed at Rs 2.60 per kg. The procurement centres
have been functioning in the state since November 15 at
47 places. As many as 17 centres have been opened in
Kangra district, 10 in Mandi district, five each in
Himarpur, Bilaspur and Una districts, two each in Sirmour
and Solan districts and one in Kulu district. |
Tributes paid to Indira Gandhi HAMIRPUR, Nov 19 — Rich tributes were paid to Mrs Indira Gandhi, a former Prime Minister at a meeting of the Hamirpur block Congress headed by Mrs Anita Verma, a former HP Parliamentary Secretary. Congressmen described Mrs Gandhi a builder of modern India. They pledged at the meeting to follow her footsteps. The party also expressed
grief over the deaths of innocent persons in Orissa. |
VHP, RSS differ over temple
takeover KANGRA, Nov 19 — The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has come out in the open against its mother organisation, the RSS, in this temple town on the taking over of the Laxmi Narayan Temple near Gupta Ganga by the government. It has alleged that it was the outcome of a conspiracy between local RSS leaders and the RSS lobby in the government. In a statement issued here yesterday, the Kangra Mandal president of the VHP, Capt Santosh Kumar, said the parishad was against any move to take over temples in the state. He said it was the 21st temple in the state to have been taken over by the government. He said the government had acquired 30 kanals attached to this temple which was the property of Mr Subhash Sharma. A part of this land had been given on lease to the RSS for 60 years for carrying out its organisational activities in 1947 and the term was to end in 2006, he said. The RSS lobby in the government, he alleged had forcibly taken over the entire property on the pretext of taking over the temple. He urged the Chief
Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal, to intervene and withdraw the
notification issued by the Art, Languages and Culture
Department in this regard. Officials of the RSS, however,
denied the allegation saying that the government had
taken over the temple "under the law". |
Himachal NSUI office-bearers SHIMLA, Nov 19 — The National Students Union of India (NSUI) has recast its unit in Himachal Pradesh and appointed new office-bearers. The state President, Mr Kewal Singh Pathania, said the list of office-bearers had been approved by Miss Meenakshi Natrajan, NSUI chief. The office-bearers are: Vice-Presidents: Mr
Rakesh Daulta, Mr Vinay Sharma and Mr Sanjay Bhardwaj;
general secretaries: Mr Anup Kumar Rattan, Mr Rakesh
Chauhan and Miss Anita Kachchi; secretaries: Miss
Sharmila Patyal, Mr Puran Chand, Mr Lokesh Nandan, Mr
Anurag Sharma, Mr Sri Ram Thakur, Mr Rakesh Garg and Mr
Onkar Kapila; organising secretaries: Mr Manav Abrol, Mr
Vikas Shukla and Mr Sunil Balouria; treasurer: Mr Sanjay
Guleria; and spokesman: Mr Rajeev Khimta. |
Teaching aspirants resent
'outsiders' CHAMBA, Nov 19 — The Chamba District Unemployed Teachers Union is up in arms over the state government's apathy towards the transgression of their rights by the alleged registration of candidates from outside the district in the employment exchanges functioning in the district the subsequent appointment of such candidates as teachers in the district. In a press note issued here today, Mr Sapan Mahajan, President of the district unit of the union expressed resentment against the government's practice of alleged registration of "outsiders" in the employment exchanges. He said because of this the persons having domicile of Chamba were being sidelined for teachers' posts in the district. He urged the state government to order a probe into the alleged registration of "outsiders" and to delete the names of such aspirants. He also urged the government to impose a ban on such practices and safeguard the interests of those having domiciles in their respective districts. He threatened to launch
an agitation if their demand was not met. |
HP to have 1,000 irrigation
tanks soon SHIMLA, Nov 19 — The Agriculture Department will construct 1,000 irrigation tanks in all districts of Himachal Pradesh during the current financial year for which NABARD had prepared a model scheme for refinance. This was disclosed here yesterday by Dr R.S. Ratan, Additional Director of Agriculture, while speaking at a day's workshop on Institutional Financing for Minor Irrigation in Himachal Pradesh. Dr Ratan said a subsidy of Rs 5,000 would be given for construction of each irrigation tank by the state government and rest of the amount if required by any farmer would be refinanced by NABARD. He said farm irrigation tank could be constructed to store irrigation water by collecting run-off water during rainy season or from perennial source. The water thus collected would then be used for supplemental or stress irrigation for raising off-season crops, including vegetables and fruit plants near the farm tanks. He said irrigation water
users' association would be created for each irrigation
scheme being implemented by the department through these
associations so that the farmers derive maximum benefits
from the schemes and owe operation and maintenance
responsibilities. The water users' association should be
known as the Krishak Vikas Sangh (KVS), he added. |
Eight arrested, timber
recovered MANDI, Nov 19 — In a crackdown on timber smugglers, the police and the Forest Department arrested eight persons and recovered 64 sleepers, valuing Rs 1 lakh, from three Maruti vans on the Balu-Nagwain road yesterday. Mr Vineet Kumar, DFO, said the vans carrying timber were going from Balu to Nagwain when the officials chased and caught them. However, two escaped. A case has been
registered against them. |
42 houses gutted SHIMLA, Nov 19 — Entire village of Bachari in the Rohru tehsil was gutted in a devastating fire last night. Reports said that 42 of the 46 houses in the village were reduced to ashes. No loss of life has been reported. Officials said that the loss was estimated around Rs 1 crore. The Deputy Commissioner, Mr P.C. Katoch, rushed to the spot and disbursed relief to the victims. Free ration for one week has been provided to them. As many as 19 of the affected families belong to the IRDP section who will be provided houses under the Gandhi Kuteer Yojna. The Congress leader, Mr
Virbhadra Singh, who represents the area in the Assembly,
has expressed grief over the loss suffered by residents
of the village. |
Sardana HPRTC GM (Admn) SHIMLA, Nov 19 — Mr V.K. Sardana, Divisional Manager, Himachal Pradesh Road Transport Corporation (HPRTC) has been promoted as General Manager, Administration. Mr B.R. Sharma, Divisional Manager, Traffic, has been posted as the Divisional Manager, Mandi, Mr Praful Mahajan goes as Divisional Manager to Shimla. Mr R.N. Nagi, Deputy
General Manager, Dharamsala, has been promoted and posted
as Divisional Manager, Hamirpur. |
Holiday in HP on Nov 30 SHIMLA, Nov 19 — The Himachal Pradesh has declared a gazetted holiday on November 30 on account of panchayat byelections to enable employees to exercise their franchise. This will be a paid
holiday for daily-wage employees and under the Negotiable
Instruments Act, 1881, for employees working in areas
where the byelections are scheduled. |
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