H I M A C H A L   P R A D E S H

(HP hydel projects)
Lack of funds main problem
SHIMLA, April 16 — Lack of funds for investigation of projects is the main hurdle in the speedy exploitation of the state’s vast potential for hydel power generation. Out of the estimated potential of 21,040 MW only 3830 MW has been harnessed so far and projects aggregating about 6000 MW were either under execution or had been assigned to central agencies like the National Hydel Power Corporation, the National Thermal Power Corporation or private companies.

Higher promotion quota demanded
SHIMLA, April 16 — The Himachal Pradesh Revenue Officers Association has urged the government to increase the promotion quota for Tehsildars to the Himachal administrative service (HAS) from 22 to 35 per cent.

Himachali students flay exam criteria
PARWANOO, April 16 — Himachali students who have not passed any two of three classes — middle, matriculation, and senior secondary school — from Himachal Pradesh, because of their parents working outside the state will be affected by the new eligibility criteria for entrance examination to MBBS, BDS and BAMS conducted by Himachal Pradesh University.

Builders violate rules with impunity
KASAULI: The development plan for Kasauli and its surrounding areas, formulated by the Himachal Pradesh Government about three years ago to check haphazard construction, has so far remained only on paper.

Hamirpur HVC crisis deepens
HAMIRPUR, April 16 — The crisis in the Hamirpur district HVC took a new turn today when Mr Dharam Singh Chaudhry, general secretary of the state unit of the party and in charge of the party affairs for Hamirpur district, justified the holding of the April 10 meeting by Mr Deepak Sharma and others. Mr Ranjit Singh Verma, the district HVC chief, had declared this meeting as illegal.

Amendments in coop structure proposed
NURPUR, April 16 — The Union Government has proposed certain amendments in the present cooperative structure in which the Directors of the Cooperative Societies will be allowed to contest elections only for two consecutive terms.

HP hydel projects

Lack of funds main problem
From Rakesh Lohumi
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, April 16 — Lack of funds for investigation of projects is the main hurdle in the speedy exploitation of the state’s vast potential for hydel power generation.

Out of the estimated potential of 21,040 MW only 3830 MW has been harnessed so far and projects aggregating about 6000 MW were either under execution or had been assigned to central agencies like the National Hydel Power Corporation, the National Thermal Power Corporation or private companies.

Projects with estimated generation capacity of over 8000 MW were yet to be investigated. The board requires over Rs 300 crore for the purpose but it hardly has any funds. In fact, it had not been able to meet its financial commitments in the Nathpa-Jhakri project.

The board has now decided to seek soft loans from the Power Finance Corporation (PFC) for investigation of projects.

It has already raised a loan of Rs 398 crore for the 126 MW Larji project and Rs 100 crore for the Ghanvi project from the corporation at interest rates varying from 13 per cent to 14 per cent. However, raising funds at such a high rate of interest for investigation of projects is not feasible, says a senior officer of the board. It takes about three years to investigate a project and another two years are required for preparing detailed project reports and obtaining various clearances. Further, it may take a few years more in assigning the project and work to actually start. A high rate of interest of funds will add to the cost of generation, he adds.

The board wants the PFC to give funds for investigation of projects at an interest rate of less than 10 per cent. The matter will be taken up with the corporation during its meeting to be held here on April 22. The board will seek at least Rs 20 crore from the corporation for the current year.

While the corporation has no dearth of funds, the board is not in a position to give its share. To raise Rs 20 crore it will have to contribute about Rs 8 crore. In the current year’s Budget, only Rs 3.50 crore has been provided for the purpose.

The main projects which are yet to be investigated include 225 MW Shongtong — Karcham, 400 MW Thopan — Powari, 210 MW Baspa -I and Khab — Pooh in the Satluj basin. Besides, the investigation of 439 MW Rampur project is nearing completion. Similarly, in the Yamuna basin, 46 MW Tangnu — Romar and 36 MW Rohru projects are awaiting investigation. While the potential of the Beas basin has been almost fully investigated, a few projects like the 200 MW Holi-Bijoli, Kulehr, Bharmour and Budhil projects in the Ravi basin have not been investigated so far.

Meanwhile, the PFC has agreed to fund the 66 MW Keshang project in Kinnaur district which the board plans to execute itself. It is one of the cheapest projects with an estimated cost of Rs 245 crore. The PFC will provide 60 per cent loan and the rest of the amount will have to be raised by the board.

The chairpersons of various state electricity boards will attend the meeting convened by the PFC to be presided over by Mr P.R. Kumarmangalam, Union Energy Minister. Mrs Jaywanti Mehta, Union Minister of State for Energy, will also be present. The two ministers will also visit the Nathpa-Jhakri project.

Higher promotion quota demanded
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, April 16 — The Himachal Pradesh Revenue Officers Association has urged the government to increase the promotion quota for Tehsildars to the Himachal administrative service (HAS) from 22 to 35 per cent.

Mr K.K. Sharma, president of the association, said that two decades ago Tehsildars had 100 per cent quota which has curtailed following the inclusion of more cadres as feeder service. He said a higher quota would not only end stagnation but also improve revenue administration.

He also expressed concern over the delay in allotment of vehicles to Tehsildars in a phased manner as agreed to by the government. Only 10 of the 70 tehsils had been provided with the facility. He urged the government to immediately provide 36 more vehicles.

The association wanted immediate discontinuation of the policy of promoting superintendents as Class B Tehsildars and Naib Tehsildars which was not in the interest of effective and efficient revenue administration. It was also demanding the filling of posts of District Revenue Officer and Tehsildar. At present, all 13 posts of District Revenue Officer in the state were vacant.

Himachali students flay exam criteria
From Our Correspondent

PARWANOO, April 16 — Himachali students who have not passed any two of three classes — middle, matriculation, and senior secondary school — from Himachal Pradesh, because of their parents working outside the state will be affected by the new eligibility criteria for entrance examination to MBBS, BDS and BAMS conducted by Himachal Pradesh University.

The parents of students working in banks, the private sector or doing business outside Himachal said that due to their jobs being transferable their children could not study in Himachal Pradesh although they were not domiciles of any other state. They said if their children were barred from the entrance test in their home state they would literally have nowhere to go.

They said the government had allowed the wards of defence employees and central government employees who had not passed any exam from Himachal Pradesh to take the exam but non-government employees were not given this option.

They urged to the government and University to waive the condition in the interest of Himachali students living outside the state.

Builders violate rules with impunity
From Ambika Sharma

KASAULI: The development plan for Kasauli and its surrounding areas, formulated by the Himachal Pradesh Government about three years ago to check haphazard construction, has so far remained only on paper.

The plan, formulated in 1997 after a thorough survey to check unplanned construction, was aimed to maintain the pristine aura of the region. Despite highlighting the significant problems and suggesting worthwhile solutions, the Town and Country Planning Department and its allied departments are sitting pretty over its implementation.

The plan had proposed a ban on linear constructions along the main road. This has not deterred builders. An additional width of the carriageway was proposed on the curves to ensure smooth flow of traffic. But encroachments have crept up on the main roads, increasing the probability of accidents.

As per the plan, no building should be constructed or raised above the road level on the valley in the entire Kasauli developmental area. Flagrant violations of this rule are visible on the Kasauli-Jangeshu, Kasauli-Dharampur and Kasauli-Jagjitnagar roads.

The TCP Department has failed to take stock of such constructions, even the ones which have recently sprung up. The PWD which is supposed to check such irregularities has little or no coordination with the TCP department, complains the TCP head, Mr Tarun Kapoor. A two-room illegal structure has crept up on the Kasauli-Dharampur main road, already shrinking owing to the heavy influx of traffic. The PWD has failed to even initiate action against the encroacher. The department goes on further then issuing notices which has no effect on the offender.

The traffic bottleneck emanating due to five roads converging at Garkhal town is another cause of concern. But no measure as suggested in the plan has found a berth on the roads. The unmanageable traffic influx causes a lot of inconvenience to commuters daily. Mr Kapoor stated paucity of funds was stalling implementation of the plan.

The development plan further envisaged a total ban on urban activity involving felling of trees indiscriminately even in private land holdings. Contrary to this, a number of hotels are coming up all over the Kasauli planning area. Though felling of trees is restricted under the land preservation Act, for domestic use, constructions that go on enjoy the privilege each year, asserts the Divisional Forest Officer, Mr S.K. Sharma.

Interestingly, on one hand the developmental plan prepared by the TCP Department proposes development of additional forest pockets near Chabal Ki Dhar, Sanawar School and Manaun. Whereas no such plan is under way in the Forest Department say, the DFO, Mr S.K. Sharma. “The TCP has not bothered to coordinate with our department. Implementation of the plan remains a far-fetched idea”, he points out.

Water, which remains the biggest hurdle in pursuing major housing schemes is barely meeting the requirements at present. Ongoing scheme provide just 50 per cent of the required water according to Mr M.L. Kaushal, Assistant Engineer of the Irrigation and Public Health Department. Besides, ongoing constructions pose an additional burden of 15 per cent on the total water supply. To check further growth of haphazard constructions, the TCP Department has made it mandatory to obtain a water availability certificate from the IPH Department before embarking on the construction. This initial constraint is suppose to check odd constructions. Nonetheless new plans forge ahead as the ambitious builders manage to exploit natural sources of water.

The TCP head when contacted, declared that the rules did not permit anyone to even start constructions unless a water availability certificate is obtained from the IPH. But lack of staff to man the area led to construction cropping up despite water scarcity.

The TCP Department has been unable to pursue even the most elementary directives of the plan. Lack of coordination between the allied departments is the major drawback towards the implementation of the plan.

The department head stated that the district planning committee was proposed to be set to involve active participation of all departments. Cooperation at the grass root level by involving panchayats is also proposed to sort out problems. But in the absence of cooperation from all departments, the very purpose of the plan is defeated.

Hamirpur HVC crisis deepens
From Our Correspondent

HAMIRPUR, April 16 — The crisis in the Hamirpur district HVC took a new turn today when Mr Dharam Singh Chaudhry, general secretary of the state unit of the party and in charge of the party affairs for Hamirpur district, justified the holding of the April 10 meeting by Mr Deepak Sharma and others. Mr Ranjit Singh Verma, the district HVC chief, had declared this meeting as illegal.

In a statement here, Mr Chaudhry clarified that all those who had attended the April 10 meeting were office-bearers of the party and had done nothing wrong by holding the meeting. He, however, blamed Mr Verma for trying to weaken the party. He said not a single meeting had been held in Hamirpur district during the past two years as Mr Verma remained busy in hobnobbing with the BJP.

He said he would submit a detailed report in this connection to party chief Sukh Ram so that action was taken against those trying to weaken the party for their selfish ends.

Amendments in coop structure proposed
From Our Correspondent

NURPUR, April 16 — The Union Government has proposed certain amendments in the present cooperative structure in which the Directors of the Cooperative Societies will be allowed to contest elections only for two consecutive terms.

The HP Cooperative Minister, Mr Rikhi Ram Kaundal, while talking to mediapersons at Chuwari yesterday said that the term of the Director of a Cooperative Society would also be increased from two to five years.

He said the state Cooperative Department had also proposed to set up a carpet weaving industry with the Central Government’s assistance. As many as 2,500 women would be imparted nine months training for this. The government would provide raw material and also market the produce.

Mr Kaundal said the government would boost on the cultivation of the Kangra tea an additional 150 hectares in Kangra district. The Cooperative Department would also explore the possibilities of starting floriculture in Bhatiyat subdivision. The state government had also mooted an ambitious scheme to promote floriculture in Kangra District.

Plea to accept PCMSA demands
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 16 — The Himachal Pradesh Medical Officers’ Association has urged the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, to implement the accepted demands of the Punjab Civil Medical Services Association.

Dr Harmohinder Singh, General Secretary of the Himachal Medical Officers’ Association said that the HP Government was awaiting the implementation of such demands as it would follow the Punjab pattern. Dr Harmohinder Singh said that the HP Government had not implemented time-bound promotions, conveyance allowance, academic allowance, higher qualification allowance and rural health allowance so far.