‘Involve’ people in forest schemes
SHIMLA, Nov 27 — The Forest Department in Himachal Pradesh is being restructured to tone it up for effectively protecting the green wealth.

Shashtri's swearing in on Dec 2
SHIMLA, Nov 27 — The new Himachal Governor, Mr Vishnu Kant Shashtri, would be sworn in on December 2 next, replacing the present Governor, Mrs V.S. Rama Devi, who has been transferred to Karnataka.

Cong leaders demand austerity measures
HAMIRPUR, Nov 27 — The Congress will oppose and expose the BJP-HVC combine government in state for its anti-people policies. This was stated by Mr Virbhadra Singh, former Chief Minister and Mr Sat Mahajan, HP Congress Chief, here last night.

Capt Sailesh cremated
DHARAMSALA, Nov 27 — Capt Sailesh Rialch, (23) who died fighting Pakistani infiltrators in Jammu and Kashmir, was cremated with full military and state honours at Chamunda today.
Thousands of people assembled at the cremation ground to pay their homage.

Two hurt in mishap
MANDI, Nov 27 — Two persons were seriously injured when their scooter coming from Pandoh towards Mandi collided head-on with a mini-truck near the new Beas bridge here today.

BJP appeal to HVC on Solan seat
SOLAN, Nov 27— Former minister and vice-president of the Himachal Pradesh BJP has appealed to the Himachal Vikas Congress and its leaders Mr Sukh Ram and Mr Mohinder Singh to drop their claim over the allocation of the Solan Vidhan Sabha seat which had fallen vacant following the unseating of Congress MLA, Ms Krishan Mohini last month.

Highways set-up to be merged with PWD
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Nov 27 — The State Cabinet has decided to merge the national highways set-up with the Public Works Department.

The decision was taken at the meeting of the Cabinet, which was held here today, under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal.

Briefing newsmen about the Cabinet decisions, Mr Mohinder Singh, PWD Minister and Mr J.P. Nadda, Health Minister, said the formalities for the merger will be completed within a month.

Besides the Chief Engineer, National Highways, two circles, one each at Narkanda and Shahpur and four divisions at Solan, Rampur, Pandoh and Jogindernagar will be merged with the PWD.

The ministers said that with four new highways coming up in the state the workload has increased and now the territorial PWD circles will look after the national highways in their respective jurisdictions.

The Cabinet decided to fill all functional posts of para-medical staff in the Health Department on contract basis to improve the health services.

Mr Nadda said about 800 posts of para-medical staff were lying vacant as the training process had been stopped by the previous government in 1994.

He said for these posts preference will be given to ex-servicemen and retired Health Department personnel.

The Cabinet also decided to give 3 per cent reservation in class-1 and class-11 posts in certain identified cadres for the blind, deaf and orthopaedically handicapped persons. The posts so far identified are: assistant engineers in PWD (IPH) and the HPSEB, doctors in Health and Ayurveda departments, lecturers in college and school cadres and district welfare officers. The Cabinet further decided that the exercise for identifying similar posts in other departments would continue.

The cabinet granted approval for opening hydel generation for cooperative societies. Such societies will be eligible for constructing mini and micro hydel projects for Himurja. The societies under the societies Registration Act and cooperative societies under the H.P. Cooperative Societies Act have been declared as "generating companies" under the Electricity Supply Act to give a boost to mini and micro hydel project development.

The Cabinet decided to clear all pending cases of house building advance to government employees by raising a loan of Rs 30 crore form the Housing Development and Finance corporation for the purpose.

It also approved the relaxation of rules for providing employment to 10 more dependants of martyrs of Operation Vijay.

The Cabinet decided that the procedure for transfer of land to non-tribals in tribal areas be made stringent. For this the consultation of panchayats concerned has been made mandatory. Panchayats concerned has been made mandatory. Panchayats have been authorised to take action against the wrong transfer of land in tribal areas to non-tribal areas.

The Cabinet unanimously decided that all ministers and parliamentary secretaries will donate one month salary towards the victims of the Orissa cyclone relief fund.

Dhumal writes to Union ministers
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Nov 27 — The Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal, has urged the Union Cabinet ministers to support the move of the Ministry of Power for levying a power development cess for faster tapping of the hydro-electric potentials of states.

In a letter addressed to all Union Cabinet ministers, the Chief Minister has said that by supporting this case, it will not only accelerate the development of the hydro-power sector in the country but also help in correcting the existing mix of power generation towards a more optimal use.

Mr Dhumal said in Himachal Pradesh only 4000 MW potential has so far been harnessed out of the total identified potential of 21,000 MW. He said projects of about 4000 MW are in various stages of execution. A lot of power potential is still awaiting to the harnessed. He said levying of power development cess as envisaged by the Ministry of Power would give a major fillip to the development of hydro-power sector in the state. This would further help in intensifying the much needed survey and investigation of the projects, he added.

He said the Ministry of Power proposed the creation of a power development fund for carrying out survey and investigation, preparing shelf of projects and construction of hydro power at a rate of 5 paise per unit of electricity generated. He said as per the proposed formulation, 60 per cent of the total amount collected on account of the cess would be retained by the state concerned while the remaining 40 per cent would go to the Centre. He said the Centre also intends to bring a legislation in this regard.

Mr Dhumal said the thermal power generation and hydro power generation constitute about 75 per cent and 25 per cent, respectively, of the total generating capacity in the country and added that it is against the envisaged optimal mix of 60 per cent thermal power generation and 40 per cent hydro power generation. He said optimal mix of thermal and hydro power has been envisaged to take care of peak load requirements and also to encourage hydro power being a renewable energy source. Inadequate survey and investigation and sizeable up front investment, he said, are some of the reasons impeding investments in the hydro power sector.

HP draws flak over NH wing disbanding
From Ravinder Sood

PALAMPUR: The recent move of the Himachal Pradesh Government to disband the national highway wing in Himachal Pradesh Public Works Department and merge it with the territorial circles of the department has attracted widespread criticism. The number of political and non-political organisations here have termed this step of "most unwise". Technocrats and senior civil engineers feel that if the decision is implemented it would adversely affect the execution and construction of the highways in the state, which have already been delayed by 10 years. They say the government must learn a lesson from the previous experiences before 1996, when national highways were the part of territorial circles in the PWD, and its construction had virtually come to a standstill.

An independent wing of the national highways headed by a Chief Engineer was set up in the PWD about three years ago when the Ministry of Surface Transport threatened to stop funds after receiving reports of misuse of funds by the state government. Thereafter, the Virbhadra Singh government was compelled to create this wing. All sections of society had welcomed this decision since this step had speeded up construction of these important roads, called the lifelines of this hill state as there were no other modes of transportation. After 1996, the construction of these highways has being going on full swing. Additional funds have also been given to the state government by the central government. Earlier, these highways were being looked after by three different Chief Engineers who had failed to devote time towards these roads which resulted in financial loss to the government and abnormal delay in its completion.

At present the state government was getting over Rs 100 crore from the central government for the execution, maintenance and resurfacing of four national highways of the state every year. After 1997, the two important national highways — Pathankot-Manali-Leh and Hindustan-Tibet roads — have undergone sea change. These roads are not only used by civilians but by the Army as well to move supplies. Defence equipment is also carried through these roads to Leh and Kargil. During the Kargil conflict, the Pathankot-Manali-Leh highway proved a boon for the Army authorities. Army experts consider this highway as one of the safest routes for carrying arms and ammunition and other artillery equipment to Ladakh and other border areas. They say state politics should not hinder such matters and the state government should not forget the Kargil episode when the nation was caught unawares and the country came to know about the significance of these roads passing through Himachal Pradesh.

However, insiders in the state government say that this decision was politically motivated with an intention to fill the coffers of the PWD which has been facing the worst-ever financial crisis.

On the other hand, the Union Minister for Surface Transport, Mr Nitish Kumar, has asked the all state governments set up separate construction circles and divisions for the execution of national highways in their respective states and maintain separate accounts of national highway funds. In a letter addressed to state governments, he says that he will not allow the misuse of national highway funds by state governments. The central government has already received serious reports in this respect from some states. He has also hinted at cutting off funds for ongoing projects if states fail to rectify matters.

It is also revealed that in various states where national highways funds were reportedly misused by the states, the central government has handed over the financial and administrative controls of highways to the Border Road Organisation (BRO) or some other centrally sponsored agencies. In the North-East and UP hills, the BRO has been entrusted with this important job and now funds have directly been released to the BRO. Under such circumstances, the Himachal Pradesh Government may lose the control of national highways if it did not reverse its decision.

Mayor's extension opposed
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Nov 27 — Women councillors of the Congress and BJP in the Shimla Municipal Corporation have joined hands to protest against any move of the government to grant extension in the term of office to Mayor, Manoj Kumar, who belongs to the Congress.

The issue is expected to be discussed by the Cabinet here tomorrow.

Interestingly, the corporation is controlled by the Congress with 23 of the 25 seats, but the eight women councillors belonging to the party are against any extension in the term of office of the Mayor which at present has been fixed at 30 months. They are demanding that a woman should be made the Mayor after the term of Mr Manoj Kumar expires next month.

The issue has got politicised as the ruling party in the state, the BJP has been trying to destabilise the Congress-controlled civic body. Two women councillors of the BJP are also demanding that the mayorship should now rotate to a woman as was provided in the Act.

It is being claimed that at least seven male councillors are also against Mr Manoj Kumar being allowed to continue in office.

The All-India Mayors Council had recently demanded that the mayors should be allowed to be in office for their full term of five years. However, the Municipal Corporation Act, which initially provided that the term should rotate after each year, was amended by the previous congress government to enable the mayor to be in office for two and a half years.

There has been resentment against Mr Manoj Kumar among his own, party’s councillors. For the past sometime speculations have been rife that the councillors might split on the issue of extension. However, CLP leader, Virbhadra Singh and the PCC chief, Sat Mahajan had recently summoned the party councillors and tried to settle the differences.

‘Involve’ people in forest schemes
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Nov 27 — The Forest Department in Himachal Pradesh is being restructured to tone it up for effectively protecting the green wealth.

A high-level meeting was held here yesterday under the chairmanship of Forests Minister, Roop Singh to discuss the issue. Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, S. K. Pandey and Managing Director of the HP Forest Corporation, Gurmeet Singh were also present.

The minister said the devaluation of powers to the communities through the village forest development committees was necessary. The joint forest management scheme should be implemented effectively with participation of the local people.

He said the Forest Department and the corporation should not confine their activities to plantation, resin tapping and constructing check dams, but should adopt latest techniques. Officers should tour their areas. The forest guards should have frequent interaction with the local people of their respective areas.

Shashtri's swearing in on Dec 2

SHIMLA, Nov 27 (PTI) — The new Himachal Governor, Mr Vishnu Kant Shashtri, would be sworn in on December 2 next, replacing the present Governor, Mrs V.S. Rama Devi, who has been transferred to Karnataka.

Shashtri would be the 13th regular Governor of the State since 1971 when statehood was granted to Himachal, besides regular Governors, former Punjab Governor Surendra Nath, who died in a plane crash, the Haryana Governor, Mr Mahabir Prasad, and two High Court Chief Justices also functioned as Governors of Himachal.

Of the regular Governors, the first Governor S. Chakravarty was the only one to complete the full term. All other Governors either resigned in the mid-term or were transferred to some other state.

The second Governor, Mr A.A. Khan, was transferred to Punjab, Mr Asok Nath Banerjee was shifted to Karnataka, Hoksie Sema resigned to contest the Rajya Sabha poll, Mr R.K.S. Gandhi resigned after change in government at the Centre two months before completion of his term and Mr B. Rachhiah was transferred to Kerala.

Mr Varinder Verma also resigned after the imposition of President's rule in the wake of Babri Mosque demolition Mr B.R. Bhagat was shifted to Rajasthan and Mr Gulsher Ahmed had to quit during the election of his son in October 1993.

Mr Sudhakar Naik also resigned to join active politics, Shiela Kaul had an unceremonious exit following the filed a case against her and Mrs V.S. Rama Devi was the last to be transferred to Karnataka.

The late Surendra Nath and Mr Mahabir Prasad held additional charge of Himachal in two stints.

Cong leaders demand austerity measures
From Our Correspondent

HAMIRPUR, Nov 27 — The Congress will oppose and expose the BJP-HVC combine government in state for its anti-people policies. This was stated by Mr Virbhadra Singh, former Chief Minister and Mr Sat Mahajan, HP Congress Chief, here last night.

Talking to mediapersons, the Congress leaders said democracy had ceased to function in state and it looked as if everything belonged to the BJP men only. They alleged that opposition activists were being harassed, intimidated and terrorised and in many cases water taps of Congressmen and their relatives were being disconnected on political considerations.

They charged the state government of playing with the career of youth. They said 10 persons were given employment within a radius of 1 km around Samirpur, the native village of Chief Minister, Prem Kumar Dhumal in Kangra Central Cooperative Bank. This showed how the government was discriminating with the people of other areas.

They said the bank recruitment was a big scam and a CBI inquiry should be ordered into it.

They said all appointments made through HP Subordinate Selection Board at Hamirpur were being made at the behest of the Chief Minister and most of the selected candidates belonged to the BJP.

They said all types of developmental works had come to a halt due to lack of funds and misuse of funds by the BJP. They advised the state government to stop unnecessary expenditure and adopt austerity measures to meet the financial crisis.

Mr Virbhadra Singh stressed the need for introspection by the Congress to bring an improvement in its functioning and to activate it. He supported the demand in this respect made by senior party functionary V.N. Gadgil who had suggested that some changes should be brought in the party to make it broadbased and people-oriented.

Capt Sailesh cremated
Tribune News Service

DHARAMSALA, Nov 27 — Capt Sailesh Rialch, (23) who died fighting Pakistani infiltrators in Jammu and Kashmir, was cremated with full military and state honours at Chamunda today.
Thousands of people assembled at the cremation ground to pay their homage.

Capt Sailesh of 606 EME was part of the "commanders quick reaction team" when he was killed.

People from the surrounding areas lined up along the 4-km stretch from his native village Ambari to Chamunda. His younger brother, Rajat, lit the pyre.

A wreath was placed on the Captain's body on behalf of the President by senior Army officials. The Deputy Commissioner, Mr B.K. Aggarwal, paid floral tributes on behalf of the Governor, Mrs Rama Devi. Others present on the occasion included Mrs Vijay Kalia, mother of Lieut Saurabh Kalia, who was also killed in Kargil and Mr G.S. Bali, MLA.

Two hurt in mishap
From Our Correspondent

MANDI, Nov 27 — Two persons were seriously injured when their scooter coming from Pandoh towards Mandi collided head-on with a mini-truck near the new Beas bridge here today.

The scooter was crushed under the left wheel of the truck while the two persons on it received serious head injuries. They were admitted to the local regional hospital where both were lying in an unconscious state.

They have been identified as Jai Singh and Amin Chand of Mandi town.

The driver of the truck, Taj Mohammad has absconded. The truck was reportedly on the wrong side.

A case has been registered.

BJP appeal to HVC on Solan seat
From Our Correspondent

SOLAN, Nov 27— Former minister and vice-president of the Himachal Pradesh BJP has appealed to the Himachal Vikas Congress and its leaders Mr Sukh Ram and Mr Mohinder Singh to drop their claim over the allocation of the Solan Vidhan Sabha seat which had fallen vacant following the unseating of Congress MLA, Ms Krishan Mohini last month.

The bye-election to the Solan seat is likely to be held early next year.

Mr Sofat said he had been declared having lost by a margin of 26 votes in the second recount after having been declared elected by one vote in the first count. "As he had detected certain irregularities in the declaration of the elections of Ms Mohini, he subsequently waged a long, legal battle to secure justice".

Mr Sofat, who addressed a press conference here yesterday said his efforts which resulted in the unseating of Ms Mohini, were made on behalf of his party and as such the Solan seat should not be viewed in the context of an ordinary bye-election. He said the logical end of the whole struggle would be the reallocation of the Solan seat to his party.

He appealed to the HVC to view the whole issue in proper perspective and leave the seat to the BJP.

Replying to a question he said through he would apply for the allocation of the BJP ticket to him, he would abide by the party's decision in this regard.