H I M A C H A L   P R A D E S H

Minister’s case: HVC meeting on April 25
SHIMLA, April 22 — A meeting of the executive committee of the Himachal Vikas Congress of Mr Sukh Ram has been convened here on April 25 to take a final decision on the crucial issue of further action against the PWD Minister, Mr Mohinder Singh, who has allegedly defied the party leadership by not responding to the charge sheet against him.

End uncertainty on Cabinet: Cong
SHIMLA, April 22 — The Leader of the Opposition, Mr Virbhadra Singh, has said that the resignation by all the ministers of the BJP-HVC combine government reflects the crisis in the ruling BJP and a vertical split within the two alliance partners which has created political instability in Himachal Pradesh.

Mandi’s development on priority: CM
MANDI, April 22 — Speaking at the silver jubilee celebration of the Mandi Nagar Parishad today, the Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, announced that development of the historic town would be given priority.

Three DCs shifted
SHIMLA, April 22 – The Deputy Commissioners of Solan, Chamba and Lahaul-Spiti were today transferred by the Himachal Pradesh Government.

13 HAS officers transferred
SHIMLA, April 22 — The Himachal Pradesh Government today transferred 13 officers of the HAS cadre.

Wind, rain lower temperatures
CHANDIGARH, April 22 — High-velocity dust-raising winds coupled with a drizzle at some places in the plains and light to moderate rains in neighbouring Himachal Pradesh today brought much-needed respite in the north-west after six days of gruelling heat.

Minister’s case: HVC meeting on April 25
From S.P. Sharma
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, April 22 — A meeting of the executive committee of the Himachal Vikas Congress (HVC) of Mr Sukh Ram has been convened here on April 25 to take a final decision on the crucial issue of further action against the PWD Minister, Mr Mohinder Singh, who has allegedly defied the party leadership by not responding to the charge sheet against him.

Mr Mohinder Singh already stands suspended from the HVC for his alleged anti-party activities and has also refused to reply to the charge sheet which was despatched to him on March 1.He was asked to reply to the charges within 30 days.

Efforts of senior party functionaries to patch up differences between Mr Sukh Ram and Mr Mohinder Singh have failed as both were sticking to their ground.

Mr Sukh Ram was reportedly adamant that the minister should seek a written apology from him,but Mr Mohinder Singh has made it clear that the HVC was not a personal property of Mr Sukh Ram and belonged to all partymen.

Mr Mohinder Singh told TNS that there was no question of his seeking apology and he would participate in the meeting of the executive committee on Tuesday as his suspension, which was ordered arbitrarily by Mr Sukh Ram, was revoked by 37 of the 54 members of the committee who met here on March 1. On the other hand, Mr Sukh Ram has already declared the meeting as "unauthorised" and had issued showcause notice to 11 members of the executive committee.

Reports said that last ditch efforts were being made by some senior partymen to persuade Mr Sukh Ram not to take any drastic action against Mr Mohinder Singh and save the party from disintegrating and further humiliation.

A section of the HVC was highly critical of Mr Sukh Ram whom it accused of handling the situation tactlessly. Its ruling alliance partner, BJP has now acquired a majority of its own in the Assembly and was no more surviving on the crutches of the HVC. Mr Dhumal has made his intention clear of not inducting Mr Sukh Ram in his ministry although pressure was being mounted by HVC activists for his inclusion.

It was alleged that Mr Sukh Ram recast the disciplinary committee overnight to take action against Mr Mohinder Singh. They have described the suspension of Mr Mohinder Singh as totally uncalled for, unjust, arbitrary and not in line with the provisions of the party constitution.

This section claims that the Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal, might have sought resignations of his ministerial colleagues just to ease out the HVC from the ministry. Besides, Mr Mohinder Singh, the HVC has only one minister, Mr Ram Lal Markanda, in the ministry. While Mr Mohinder Singh has come close to Mr Dhumal, but Mr Markanda was loyal to Mr Sukh Ram.

The breaking point between Mr Sukh Ram and Mr Mohinder Singh came during the bye-election for the Solan Assembly seat when the latter started campaigning for the BJP nominee, Mr Rajeev Bindal, instead of the HVC candidate, Mr Haminder Thakur. This was embarrassing for Mr Sukh Ram who finally withdrew Mr Thakur from the contest.

However, those close to Mr Mohinder Singh have alleged that Mr Sukh Ram was not sincere to the BJP right from the beginning of the alliance and had allowed the HVC candidate to contest the Kinnaur Assembly seat against the BJP nominee. Instead of taking action against the HVC man, Mr Sukh Ram inducted him in the disciplinary committee of the party.

Moreover, they point out that instead of settling the irritants amicably with Mr Dhumal, the HVC chief went to Delhi to lodge a complaint with the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, against him and reportedly accused the Chief Minister of trying to break the HVC.

End uncertainty on Cabinet: Cong
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, April 22 — The Leader of the Opposition, Mr Virbhadra Singh, has said that the resignation by all the ministers of the BJP-HVC combine government reflects the crisis in the ruling BJP and a vertical split within the two alliance partners which has created political instability in Himachal Pradesh.

Mr Virbhadra Singh, who was talking to newsmen here today, said that the resignation by the ministers and chairmen of boards and corporations did not come all of a sudden as Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal was trying to project, but was the outcome of a brewing crisis in the ruling alliance.

Although it was an internal matter of the coalition, Mr Dhumal should not delay recasting of his ministry as the uncertainty was telling upon the functioning of the government.

He said misunderstandings and leg-pulling was on not only between the BJP and HVC, but within the alliance partners too. While the BJP was divided between the Dhumal and Shanta Kumar factions, the HVC was witnessing a fight between the party chief, Mr Sukh Ram and PWD minister Mohinder Singh.

Mr Virbhadra Singh accused Mr Dhumal of trying to split other parties, including his own alliance partner, the HVC.

He demanded a CBI enquiry into regularisation of an illegally constructed hotel at Dalhousie by an influential person for whom the Dhumal Government allegedly reduced the penalty to a mere Rs 40,000 from Rs 1.25 crore imposed by the previous Congress government.

Mr Virbhadra Singh accused the BJP-HVC combine government of succumbing to pressure from various mafias, at whose dictates it was functioning. Liquor, timber, contractors, communication, mining and crusher mafias were ruling the roost.

He claimed the central and the state government were protecting the interests of moneyed people and the poor had been hit by the increase in prices of foodgrains and essential commodities.

He claimed the report of the divisional commissioner about the multi-crore bituman scandal had been put in cold storage by the government and there was no transparency in awarding contracts.

He said signing of certain agreements and memorandums of understanding with private parties for execution of power projects raised serious doubts about the intentions of the government. The employment aspect of Himachalis was also being ignored in these agreements.

Replying to questions, Mr Virbhadra Singh said whatever former chief minister and Congress leader, Thakur Ram Lal, had said in praise of the BJP government was his personal opinion or under some compulsion and the Congress did not share his views.

Mandi’s development on priority: CM
From Our Correspondent

MANDI, April 22 — Speaking at the silver jubilee celebration of the Mandi Nagar Parishad today, the Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, announced that development of the historic town would be given priority.

He assured the Sunken Garden Marketing Complex coming up at an estimated cost of Rs 50 lakh, would be completed at the earliest and handed over to the nagar parishad by next year.

Expressing satisfaction over the achievements of the nagar parishad in the development and cleanliness of the town Mr Dhumal said the government had decided to give more financial aid to those nagar parishads and panchayats which would excel in overall development.

The Chief Minister in response to a demand made by Mr Pushp Raj Sharma, Nagar Parishad President, assured that the government would seriously examine the feasibility of augmenting the drinking water supply to the town by drawing the water of the Uhl river through a 20-km long gravity mainline. He directed the officials of the IPH to technically examine the project. He said with the increase in population people were bound to face drinking water crisis both in urban and rural areas.

Mr Dhumal said the concept of rain-water harvesting had been conceived to cope with the scarcity of drinking water in hilly areas. This water would be utilised for other purposes than drinking, he added.

He regretted that the recent amendment in the Panchyat Raj Act was being criticised for narrow political ends without appreciating the fact that the measure had been adopted to curtail the population growth. He further said the Act applied to the persons who would be having more than two children after one year from now when the Act was passed. Those who had more than two children when the Act was passed would not be disqualified from contesting the panchayat elections.

He promised to examine the possibility of opening a regional centre of the evening college here. All efforts would be made to utilise the college building which remained vacant in the afternoon, he said.

He expressed the need to raise the standard of education in government schools and colleges and sought the cooperation of the people. He regretted that vested interests instigated students for agitations whenever fee was hiked. This process had to be reversed by improving the standard of teaching in government institutions, he added.

Earlier, Mr Sukh Ram, draw the attention of the Chief Minister towards various held-up development works of Mandi district and urged him to provide adequate funds for them.

The Vidhan Sabha Speaker, Mr Gulab Singh, said within a short period work on several hydel projects had been taken up. The work on Shanan stage III had been entrusted to HPSEB after it got delayed for over a decade.

Three DCs shifted
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, April 22 – The Deputy Commissioners of Solan, Chamba and Lahaul-Spiti were today transferred by the Himachal Pradesh Government.

Mr R.D. Dhiman, Deputy Commissioner, Solan, has been shifted to Shimla as Registrar, Cooperatives. Mr Sanjay Murthy, Deputy Commissioner, Chamba, has been appointed Deputy Commissioner, Solan.

Mr T.D. Negi, Deputy Commissioner, Lahaul-Spiti, goes to Chamba as Deputy Commissioner, Mr Bal Ram Sharma, Director, Tourism, has been appointed Director of Information and Public Relations.

Mr Anil Khachi, Commissioner, Excise and Taxation, has been appointed Director, Tourism. Mr Ajay Tyagi, Secretary, has been appointed Excise and Taxation Commissioner.

Mr S.S. Parmar, Financial Commissioner, Animal Husbandry, has been given the charge of Health and Horticulture.

13 HAS officers transferred
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, April 22 — The Himachal Pradesh Government today transferred 13 officers of the HAS cadre.

Mr P.S. Draik, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Kaza, has been transferred and posted as Additional Director, Panchayati Raj-cum-ex-officio Additional Secretary (Panchayati Raj).

Mr Sardari Lal Sharma, Deputy Commissioner, Relief and Rehabilitation, Talwara, goes as Additional Deputy Commissioner, Bilaspur.

Mr S.C. Kalsotra, Registrar, Dr Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, has been posted as Additional District Magistrate, Solan.

The services of Mr G.S. Kaith, Additional District Magistrate, Pooh have been placed at the disposal of Dr Y.S. Parmar, University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, for his appointment as registrar.

Mr L.R. Chauhan, Additional District Magistrate, Solan, has been posted as Additional Deputy Commissioner, Kaza.

Mr M.L. Sharma, Assistant Commissioner to Deputy Commissioner, Sirmour at Nahan goes as Sub-Divisional Officer (Civil) Jawali, in Kangra.

Mr Rakesh Sharma, Sub-Divisional Officer (Civil) Nichar, has been posted as Assistant Commissioner to Deputy Commissioner, Sirmour.

Mr B.D. Chaudhary, Sub-Divisional Officer (Civil), Jawali, has been posted as Deputy Commissioner, Relief and Rehabilitation, Raja-ka-Talab, tehsil Nurpur.

Mr D.K. Gupta, Sub Divisional Officer (Civil) Pangi, has been transferred and posted as Assistant Commissioner to Deputy Commissioner, Una.

Mr D.K. Rattan, Sub Divisional Officer (Civil) Tissa, goes as Sub-Divisional Officer, Chamba.

Mr K.D. Kashyap, Deputy Director, Panchayati Raj, has been shifted as Deputy Director, Rural Development.

Mr R.K. Sharma, SDO, Rekong-Peo, goes an AC to DC, Kinnaur, in place of Mr Manmohan Sharma who has been posted as project officer, Integrated Tribal Development Programme, Kinnaur.

Wind, rain lower temperatures

CHANDIGARH, April 22 (UNI) — High-velocity dust-raising winds coupled with a drizzle at some places in the plains and light to moderate rains in neighbouring Himachal Pradesh today brought much-needed respite in the north-west after six days of gruelling heat.

Weathermen here held out hope of some more respite forecasting light to moderate rains at some places in Himachal Pradesh and dust and hailstorms, accompanied by light to moderate rain at isolated places in Haryana and Punjab over the next 48 hours.

They have also forecast hail storms and squalls of velocity exceeding 40 km per hour at isolated places in Punjab and Haryana during the next two days. All this is under the influence of westerly disturbances moving over Jammu and Kashmir and adjoining Himachal Pradesh and upper air cyclonic circulation over the north and west Rajasthan.

Chandigarh and adjoining areas were lashed by dust winds, at times touching a speed of 35 km per hour throughout the day proceeded by a light drizzle in the morning. The day temperature dipped to 37 celsius, against 40 degrees recorded yesterday.

Shimla, the state capital of Himachal Pradesh and its adjoining areas, had light showers overnight and today. Two mm of rain had fallen till 8.30 this morning bringing down day temperatures to a normal 19.6 celsius, against 25.5 degrees recorded yesterday.

Reports of intermittent rains since last night have also come in from Kangra valley and Sundarnagar. The day temperature in Sundarnagar after one mm of rainfall dipped to 24.9 c from 35.8 degrees yesterday.

The rains provided much needed relief in various parts of Himachal Pradesh.

Ambala in Haryana and Patiala and Ludhiana in Punjab reported duststorms today and day temperatures hovered around 38 celsius, still one to two degrees above normal.

However, the entire national capital region including Delhi, Palam, Gurgaon, Faridabad and Ghaziabad, reported day temperatures two to three degrees above normal.

Bomb scare: HRTC buses searched
From Our Correspondent

HAMIRPUR, April 22 — A bomb scare put the entire law and order machinery on alert in the district last night. It was following a rumour that a bomb has been planted in an HRTC bus coming to Himachal Pradesh or in a Delhi-bound bus.

Police personnel took no time in searching the outgoing and incoming buses but failed to find any bomb or bomb-like object in any Delhi bus, according to an official spokesman.

The spokesman, however, said today that round-the-clock vigil was being maintained in the district. He appealed to the people travelling in the buses not to touch any unidentified object or the bag and report the matter to the bus driver, conductor of nearby police station, if they have any doubts.