H I M A C H A L   P R A D E S H

Rebels’ move to embarrass Virbhadra
SHIMLA, March 30 — The issue of cross voting by three Congress legislators in favour of the ruling BJP-HVC coalition candidate, Mr Kirpal Parmar, for the Rajya Sabha seat, will be raised by the party leadership when the AICC General Secretary, Mr Moti Lal Vora, arrives here on April 4.

HP signs power purchase pacts
SHIMLA, March 30 — The Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, today said that mini and micro hydroelectric projects would be developed as a cottage industry in Himachal Pradesh.

YC men protest against price hike, 160 held
SHIMLA, March 30 — As may as 160 activists of the Youth Congress were arrested here today when they blocked traffic on the Cart Road below the Vidhan Sabha in protest against increase in prices of essential commodities and growing unemployment.

Tibetans now find it tough to flee
DHARAMSALA, March 30 — While the 17th Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorjee, made a successful flight to freedom, his escape has made it difficult for other Tibetans to flee from Tibet as the Chinese police has tightened security along the Tibet-Nepal border.

Himachal to have watershed projects
SHIMLA, March 30 — The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) will launch a watershed development programme in Himachal Pradesh under the watershed development fund.

Rebels’ move to embarrass Virbhadra
Cross-voting by Congress MLAs
From S.P. Sharma
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, March 30 — The issue of cross voting by three Congress legislators in favour of the ruling BJP-HVC coalition candidate, Mr Kirpal Parmar, for the Rajya Sabha seat, will be raised by the party leadership when the AICC General Secretary, Mr Moti Lal Vora, arrives here on April 4.

The first visit of Mr Vora, after being given charge the party affairs in Himachal Pradesh, is expected to witness fireworks between the two factions of the Congress. Mr Vora has convened a meeting of the general house of the PCC to discuss various issues.

The virtual desertion by three MLAs has left the party leadership here guessing, some names are being mentioned in this regard.

However, the desertion has humiliated the party leadership, particularly the CLP leader, Mr Virbhadra Singh.

The Virbhadra Singh loyalists allege that the three legislators had joined hands with the ruling coalition just to embarrass him and create a situation for seeking his removal from leadership of the CLP. His detractors have been making repeated attempts to get him dislodged from the post.

It is being alleged that a section of the legislators who had supported Mr Sukh Ram for chief ministership in 1993 have not yet reconciled with the situation and are out to embarrass Mr Virbhadra Singh.

This is not for the first time that the party legislators have indulged in cross voting. Earlier, two Congress MLAs voted for Mr Anil Sharma, son of Mr Sukh Ram, when he successfully contested the Rajya Sabha seat as a coalition candidate about two years ago. The Congress was still licking its wounds when the second incident of three partymen voting for the ruling alliance came.

Anticipating such a situation, a section of the party leadership was against contesting the Rajya Sabha seat as its numerical strength was not enough for getting its nominee elected. Some leaders of this section are learnt to have pleaded before the party high command not to field any candidate and allow the nominee of the ruling alliance to get elected unopposed as the contest would keep them exposed to cross voting. However, another section is understood to have succeeded in convincing the party leadership that they would manage to secure some votes of the BJP and the HVC for the Congress nominee because of infighting in both these parties. However, that did not happen and the Congress exposed its weakness due to the cross voting.

Mr Virbhadra Singh said the election had revealed that there were three “black sheep” in the party.

He said the legislators who had betrayed the party should come out and own the responsibility if they had any courage.

Mr Virbhadra Singh accused the Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, of engineering these defections.

On the other hand, Mr Dhumal has said the incident showed that even certain legislators of the Congress were convinced with the policies and programmes of the BJP.

A General Secretary of the HVC, Mr O.P. Rattan, who was expelled from the party when he was in the Congress, has demanded that Mr Virbhadra Singh should resign as leader of the Congress Legislature Party.

HP signs power purchase pacts
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, March 30 — The Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, today said that mini and micro hydroelectric projects would be developed as a cottage industry in Himachal Pradesh.

He made the announcement at a ceremony which was organised here for the signing of implementation and power purchase agreements with the private sector for 12 such projects with total a capacity of 26.30 MWs involving an investment of about Rs 147.30 crore.

Mr Dhumal said Himurja would shortly offer to the private sector 300 mini and micro hydel projects worth about 460 MWs.

Himurja has identified over 700 mini and micro hydel projects which will be offered to the private sector for execution in a phased manner.

The Chief Minister said to involve cooperative societies in the construction and maintenance of such projects, the government had proposed an amendment in the Electricity Supply Act.

The agreements were signed by Mr Ajay Tyagi, Secretary (Power) on behalf of the government and by Mr M.L. Gupta, Chief Engineer, on behalf of the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board (HPSEB), in the presence of Mr Dhumal, and Mr A.K. Goswami, Chief Secretary.

These projects are likely to be commissioned in the next two to three years.

The projects for which agreements have been signed are 2.50 MW Manuni in Kangra district being executed by the M/s Winsome Textile Ind Ltd, Chandigarh, 3 MW each Timbi, Chandni and Manal in Sirmour district being executed by M/s Himalayan Crest Power Pvt Ltd, New Delhi, 1 MW Shirir and 3 MW Baragran in Kulu district being executed by M/s K.K. Hydro Power Ltd, Faridabad, 3 MW Machhad-1 and 2 MW Machhad-II in Shimla district being executed by M/s Himalaya Power Projects Pvt Ltd, New Delhi, 1 MW Jiwa Kothiari in Kulu district being executed by M/s Chevron Hydel Pvt Ltd, New Delhi, 1 MW Manjhal and 3 MW Dehar in Chamba district being executed by M/s Varinder Dogra Power Projects Pvt Ltd, Pathankot and M/s Astha Projects (1) Pvt Ltd, New Delhi, respectively, and 0.80 MW Raskat in Kulu district being executed by M/s Industree Power Pvt Ltd, New Delhi.

The implementation agreement is initially for a period of 40 years from the date of commissioning of the project, which can be extended for a further period of 20 years by the state government. The agreement has provisions for providing employment to locals, subject to the availability and suitability, all unskilled, skilled staff and other non-executives as may be required for the execution, operation and maintenance of the project, shall be recruited through the local employment exchanges failing which through central employment cell at Shimla.

The power purchase agreement provides the private investors the option of either selling power to the HPSEB or for wheeling it for captive use within the state or outside for which a separate agreement, wheeling and banking agreement, is to be signed. The PPA includes sale to HPSEB at the rate of Rs 2.50 per unit which is fixed for the duration of the agreement without any escalation. In case of captive use, the wheeling will be at the rate of 2 per cent of the total energy wheeled and banking of power on yearly basis is also allowed.

To ensure timely payments to the private investors, for the energy sold to the board, a revolving letter of credit shall be opened, which can be operated by the company to get timely payments. The payment is also protected by a state government guarantee. The PPA also provides for deemed generation to be given in case of the non-availability of the board’s power evacuation system beyond the inter-connection point.

The Speaker, Thakur Gulab Singh and the Leader of Opposition, Mr Virbhadra Singh, were among those present at the ceremony.

YC men protest against price hike, 160 held
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, March 30 — As may as 160 activists of the Youth Congress were arrested here today when they blocked traffic on the Cart Road below the Vidhan Sabha in protest against increase in prices of essential commodities and growing unemployment.

The state president of the Youth Congress, Mr Sukhwinder Singh, was also taken in custody.

They staged a dharna outside the Vidhan Sabha earlier and blocked the entrance of vehicles for about an hour. They shouted slogans against the central and the state governments.

Some legislators, including, Mr J.B.L. Khachi, Mrs Vidya Stokes, Mr Kaul Singh, Mr Chander Kumar and Mr B.B. Butail, addressed the protesters.

Mr Sukhwinder Singh said their protest was against the increase in the prices of cooking gas, kerosene and other ration items which had badly hit the poorer sections.

They were also protesting against the increase in sales tax on diesel and petrol by the state government.

Tibetans now find it tough to flee
Tribune News Service

DHARAMSALA, March 30 — While the 17th Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorjee, made a successful flight to freedom, his escape has made it difficult for other Tibetans to flee from Tibet as the Chinese police has tightened security along the Tibet-Nepal border.

The few Tibetans who have still escaped say that ever since the fleeing of the Karmapa from Tibet, it has become difficult to cross into Nepal.

In contrast to the high influx of Tibetan refugees to McLeodganj during the previous winters, the number has gone down considerably, this year. “During the winter months of January, February and March, on an average about 300 refugees would arrive here every month, but this year, the number of arrivals has not crossed 200 during any of these three months”, revealed Mr Tashi Norbu, the Director of the Tibetan Reception Centre at McLeodganj. He said that during January, February and March, the number of fresh arrivals was 200, 180, and 193, respectively.

Mr Norbu said that reports from Tibet indicated that the escape of the Karmapa had led to increased vigil across the Tibet-Nepal border, making it difficult for other Tibetans to flee.

Monks and school children are the ones who constitute the majority of the refugees, at McLeodganj. “Due to increased religious repression, which includes ban on keeping the photograph of the Dalai Lama, monks are grabbing the first opportunity they get to flee to India, to be able to pursue their religious studies”, pointed out Mr Norbu. He added that monks were being compelled to denounce the Panchen Lama, chosen by the Dalai Lama, so that there was acceptance for the one recognised by the Chinese.

Another area of concern was the field of education, as there was discrimination with the Tibetan children in Tibetan schools. While there are hardly any schools in the rural areas, the ones in the towns teach Chinese and are unaffordable for the common Tibetans.

These children are sent to the various Tibetan Children Village (TCV) Schools and Tibetan Home Foundation at the various Tibetan settlements all over India.

The fresh arrivals here say that the situations in Tibet was deteriorating day by day as human rights violations were on the rise. “With the transfer of the Chinese population to Tibet, all fertile lands are being grabbed by them, while the Tibetans are being burdened by taxes, making life difficult for the common Tibetan”, said a middle-aged refugee who has come here to seek the blessings of the Dalai Lama.

Himachal to have watershed projects
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, March 30 — The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) will launch a watershed development programme in Himachal Pradesh under the watershed development fund.

Mr A.K. Garg, General Manger, said the programme would be launched in the districts with low irrigation development and preponderance of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe population. The programme envisages to spread the message of participatory watershed development involving governmental agencies, non-governmental organisations, agricultural research institutions, banks and village watershed development committees.

Watershed development projects under the programme would have one-thirds promotional and two-thirds loan components. NGOs, self-help groups, panchayats and government organisations would be given grant for promotional works at village level for capacity building of the villagers. The projects would be implemented by the village communities though village watershed committees, which will be assisted by NGOs. Technical support would be provided by government departments.

After the capacity building phase, the state government would be provided soft loans to help it undertake watershed projects on a large scale.

Maruti carnival tomorrow
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, March 30 — Maruti Udyog will hold a two-day carnival at the local skating rink beginning April 1 to provide a glimpse into the Indian automobile industry.

According to Mr Shashi Kapoor, Regional Manager of Maruti Udyog, the concept behind the Maruti carnival was to have the entire range of Maruti vehicles available in India on display under one roof. Vehicles from the international Suzuki range would also be on display.

The carnival, he said, had been inspired by the successful showing at the Auto Expo — 2000 in Delhi in January this year.

The carnival would also feature a cultural programme and a painting competition for children. Along with showcasing new products, such carnivals received instantaneous customer feedback, Mr Kapoor explained.

Congress stages walkout
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, March 30 — The debate on the RSS provided an opportunity to the ruling BJP to put up a spirited defence of the organisation, leading to a walkout by the Congress in protest.

The ruling party leaders spoke in glowing terms about the organisation one after the other much to the discomfiture of the Congress which brought the motion under Rule 130 to discuss the failure of the government to prevent government servants from participating in the RSS activities despite a ban. They complained to the Chair that the speakers were deviating from main issue. The BJP members, however, maintained that they were within their right to defend the organisation and speak on its various aspects as the Congress members had also touched several issues which did not exactly conform to the spirit of resolution.

The Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal while replying to debate demolished the opposition’s criticism of the RSS and categorically stated that his government had neither lifted nor imposed any ban on the organisation. The situation had been continuing as it was before the coalition assumed office.

Mr Dhumal referred to the conduct rules for the government servants under which employees would not actively associate with political parties but they were free to attend public meetings organised by them..

As soon as Mr Dhumal finished his speech Mr Virbhadra Singh, the Leader of the Opposition, was on his legs express his dissatisfaction over the reply. He said instead of giving an assurance to implement the ban strictly and effectively, the Chief Minister, had come out openly in defence of the banned organisation. This was not only against the spirit of the resolution but also the conduct rules for government employees.

Thereafter he along with other Congress members walked out of the House raising slogans against the RSS.

Earlier, initiating the debate, Mr Virbhadra Singh expressed shock that government officers were openly participating in the RSS activities in defiance of the ban imposed under the central service conduct rules applicable to the state. The Chief Minister had himself been quoted in the newspapers saying that employees were free to participate in RSS activities.

He even gave the names of about a dozen officers, including a few from the IAS, and state-administrative service, who participated in the “guru dakshina” function of the RSS, in Shimla last year.