H I M A C H A L   P R A D E S H

HP’s expenditure outruns means
SHIMLA, May 11 — Though, administratively, one of the best governed state in the country, Himachal Pradesh is passing through what appears to be an irretrievable financial crisis.

Removal of red lights irks bigwigs
SHIMLA, May 11 — Many bigwigs are annoyed over the drive of the authorities remove to forcibly red lights and designation plates from the vehicles carrying these in violation of the Motor Vehicle Act.

HP to review staff’s assets
SHIMLA, May 11 — Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister in series of meetings reviewed the progress of Health, Home, Vigilance, Enforcement, Tourism, Forests, Language and Culture, Youth Services and Sports, Horticulture, Animal Husbandry, Forest and Science and Technology Departments.

Poor facilities ‘hit Parwanoo industrial growth’
PARWANOO May 11 — Due to lack of amenities like roads, sanitation, sewerage and streetlights, the condition of Sector 5 here has become pitiable and the industrialists and residents feel neglected as far as the services of the local Nagar Palika are concerned.

Mahajan submits report on cross voting
DHARAMSALA, May 11 — The HPCC chief, Mr Sat Mahajan, has submitted the report to the party high command on the issue of cross voting by three party legislatures, during the Rajya Sabha elections.

Contract teachers threaten stir
SHIMLA, May 11 — The Himachal Pradesh Government Primary Contract Teachers Union has threatened to intensify its agitation if its demands were not accepted by the government by May 13.

HP’s expenditure outruns means
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, May 11 — Though, administratively, one of the best governed state in the country, Himachal Pradesh is passing through what appears to be an irretrievable financial crisis.

With an average outflow of Rs 400 crore per month against revenue receipts of just Rs 200 crore, including Rs 130 crore from the Centre, the government had been over the past six years resorting to market borrowings to make the both ends meet. After salaries, interest payment had been the biggest component of the Budget. the interest’s annual liability of the state increased from Rs 210 crore in 1993-94 to Rs 850 crore in 1999-2000. It was set to cross the Rs 2700 crore mark by 2004-2005, an increase of more than three times, to overtake salaries.

A paper prepared by the Finance Department presents a grim scenario where the state will no more be in a position to borrow. The financial indicators bring out the true dimensions of fiscal stress the state had been subjected to.

The revenue deficit of Rs 1382.52 crore in 1999-2000 was as high as 13.57 per cent of the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) as against the national average of 3 per cent. It was projected to reach Rs 3711 crore by 2004-05, over 22 per cent of the GSDP. The outstanding debt will increase from Rs 9807 crore to a whopping Rs 27,130 crore over the five year period, 165.44 per cent of the GSDP. Even at present it was as high as 96.31 per cent as against the average of 40 per cent for all states.

The main reason for the dismal state of governments finances was the ever increasing burden on account of payment of salaries. With successive regime using government employment as the sole vehicle to satisfy the aspirations of the people the level of employment has been the highest in the country in proportion of the total population.

Consequently, the staff-related expenditure of the Himachal government was the highest in the country. The revenue expenditure, came to 38.2 per cent of the GSDP as against the average 16.5 per cent for 14 states. Similarly expenditure on salaries was 20 per cent of the GSDP as more than double the average of nine per cent for other states. The burden of pension was 4.1 per cent of the GSDP, about three times the average of 1.4 per cent for other states.

The states committed expenditure on salaries, wages, pensions, interest and repayment of loans was about Rs 350 crore per month, almost 80 per cent of the Budget as against the receipt of Rs 200 crore.

There was no scope for economy as the items on which expenditure could be curtailed like motor vehicles and office expenses, accounted for 0.28 per cent and 0.91 per cent, respectively, of the Budget. There was no scope for economy as the items on which expenditure could be curtailed like motor vehicles and office expenses, accounted for 0.28 per cent and 0.91 per cent, respectively, of the Budget.

The paper clearly points out that with the Centre not in a position to bail the state out owing to its own financial constraints, the state had no option but to approach international funding agencies like the World Bank to seek funds, which meant that it would have to carry out economic reforms. Himachal has been identified as one of the three reforming states for possible assistance. The reforms expected by the World Bank include reduction in deficits, debt burden and wage bill, disinvestment in public sector undertakings, particularly power boards, raising the level of revenue mobilisation up to potential, redefining priorities, improving productivity through civil service reform and reform of audit and accounts procedures.

In nutshell the tax receipts will have to be raised to at least 2.5 per cent of the GSDP which at current level and addition of Rs 250 crore over the present base of Rs 700 crore, increasing user charges to 10 per cent of the cost in case of health and higher education and to recover the cost in case of irrigation, water supply, power and other areas over two to three years.

The paper has been presented before the Cabinet to enable it to make up its mind on taking a final decision on the issue and work out a reform programme to pull the state out from the present financial mess.

Removal of red lights irks bigwigs
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, May 11 — Many bigwigs are annoyed over the drive of the authorities remove to forcibly red lights and designation plates from the vehicles carrying these in violation of the Motor Vehicle Act.

The drive was launched by the district administration here on Tuesday when the designation plates were removed from at least 46 vehicles.

It is learnt that the issue was also raised at the party meeting by a BJP Minister whose escort vehicle’s flag rod and red light were removed. Another senior ruling BJP leader is learnt to have made much noise when the cops tried to remove the red light from his vehicle which was without a registration number.

The Mayor, Mrs Janni Prem, was also a victim of the drive when the designation plate was removed from her official vehicle. The Councillors belonging to the Congress party have taken a serious view of the alleged harassment of the first citizen of the town.

A Municipal Councillor belonging to the BJP was, however, continuing to drive his personal vehicle with his designation plate of being vice-president of H.P. Red Cross, they alleged. Most of the chairmen of various boards and corporations have also not removed the designation plates and were continuing to use red lights atop their vehicles.

Some plates were also removed from the vehicles of the university.

Putting up of designation plates is violative of the Motor Vehicle Act, an official pointed out.

Many influential persons had, so far, ignored the warnings of the authorities to remove the red lights, flag rods and designation plates which they had put up on their vehicles as a status symbol.

The government recently had allowed all legislators and former Speakers to put red lights atop their vehicles.

Although the government has ordered the Deputy Commissioners and district Superintendents of Police not to put flags on their vehicles outside their jurisdictions, but this was being observed in defiance.

Many Deputy Commissioners and other senior officers have put up designation plates on their vehicles and were moving around unchecked.

HP to review staff’s assets
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, May 11 — Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister in series of meetings reviewed the progress of Health, Home, Vigilance, Enforcement, Tourism, Forests, Language and Culture, Youth Services and Sports, Horticulture, Animal Husbandry, Forest and Science and Technology Departments.

Reviewing the progress of Indira Gandhi Medical College Shimla he directed that equipment purchased for the institute some years ago be put to proper use and said if in future equipment was found lying idle the lapse would be viewed seriously and responsibility fixed.

Reviewing the progress of various foreign-aided projects, it was decided at the meeting to order a special audit into purchases made under these projects.

Reviewing the progress of the Tourism Department he directed it to come up with a new tourism policy at the earliest to ensure integrated development of tourism in the state. The progress of various tourism projects under construction was also reviewed.

It was decided at the meeting to reconstitute the state vigilance committee and review the vigilance manual which was years old.

He directed that vigilance officers in each department submit reports after examining the returns of property submitted by officers and employees by June 30, 2000. Senior officials of the department will conduct random checks on such returns and will be responsible that the returns conform to reality.

Reviewing the progress of the Horticulture Department, he stressed on preparing a file projects for foreign funding.

He directed that steps be taken to set up a modern dairy farm in the state in the private sector to raise the milk production. He said this would help in generating gainful employment.

On forests he was regulating the traditional rights of the people to ensure that these were not misused.

It was decided to set up an aero club to regulate the safety standards in adventure sports.

Poor facilities ‘hit Parwanoo industrial growth’
From Our Correspondent

PARWANOO May 11 — Due to lack of amenities like roads, sanitation, sewerage and streetlights, the condition of Sector 5 here has become pitiable and the industrialists and residents feel neglected as far as the services of the local Nagar Palika are concerned.

The irate industrialists complain that no efforts have been made to improve the civic and infrastructural facilities of this sector.

Industrialists say that the condition of roads is so bad that even the trucks find it difficult to ply. They add that the situation is very grim and something immediately needs to be done before the rainy season.

In 1997, local industrialists contributed to the “vikas mein sehyog” programme of the government and some roads were metalled, for which half the cost was paid by industrialists. In spite of the commitment made by the Nagar Palika to look after the drains and make them operative wherever blocked, the condition of drains along the roads is very bad. Because the drains have not been cleared even till date, the roads have been damaged by rain.

Industrialists say that sewerage in some areas of Sector 5 gets choked again and again and it is a health hazard. They add that at some places sewerage lines are not connected with the tanks and being thrown in the nearby nullah. Industrialists say that streetlights have not been provided in some of the areas and where these are provided, they are not operative.

Entrepreneurs say that they as well as the residents of Sector 5 are being charged for cleaning of roads on yearly basis, but hardly any safai karamchari is provided in the area. They add that the residents of Sector 5 contribute a large amount towards property tax and safai kar to the Nagar Palika but no services are provided. The poor civic and infrastructural facilities in Sector 5 were affecting the industrial growth.

Moreover, the sector is surrounded by slums and entrepreneurs wonder as to how any foreign investor could be inspired to come to this industrial sector.

Mahajan submits report on cross voting
Tribune News Service

DHARAMSALA, May 11 — The HPCC chief, Mr Sat Mahajan, has submitted the report to the party high command on the issue of cross voting by three party legislatures, during the Rajya Sabha elections.

Addressing a press conference here today, Mr Mahajan however, refused to divulge the details of the report. “It is a highly sensitive matter as it is the BJP which is trying to divide the Congress”, he stated. He said he had personally met the party President, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, and the party chief for Himachal Pradesh, Mr Moti Lal Vora, to apprise them of the political situation in the state.

Mr Mahajan also announced the schedule for the organisational elections in the state, whereby the state president would be elected on November 1. When asked if he was in the race for the post of the party president, Mr Mahajan, refused to comment, saying that it was too premature to say anything in this regard.

He stated that the elections for the block Congress presidents would be held on September 16 followed by election of the district Congress committee presidents on September 29. He added that his main concern was to ensure that the party elections were fair.

When asked about the possibility of the HVC chief Mr Sukh Ram joining the Congress, Mr Mahajan said though no talks were being held with him at the moment but still all options were open. “Mr Sukh Ram has shown goodwill on his part by stating that the Congress was not an untouchable and he had no personal enmity with Mr Virbhadra Singh, but we will do what is in the larger interest of the party”, he stated.

Accusing the BJP government of trying to create a split in the Congress, he said when they had not spared their own alliance partners, the HVC, anything could be expected from them. He added that the Congress would return to power only with the mandate of the people and the downfall of the BJP government seemed imminent.

Labelling the BJP government as anti-poor and anti-farmer, Mr Mahajan said the increase in the price of PDS items had made them beyond the reach of the common people.

The Congress chief stated that the AICC President, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, would be addressing a rally in the state and the venue would be either Kulu or Mandi. He said all party office-bearers who were in charge of various districts had been directed to hold meetings with the party workers.

Contract teachers threaten stir
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, May 11 — The Himachal Pradesh Government Primary Contract Teachers Union has threatened to intensify its agitation if its demands were not accepted by the government by May 13.

Addressing a press conference here today, Mr Mukesh Sharma, president of the union, said the 24-hour chain hunger strike would be converted into 48-hour relay fast from Sunday and if no action was taken to settle the demands, the activists of the union would resort to an indefinite fast.

The main demand of the union is regularisation of all the 3940 trained graduate and classical and vernacular teachers, who had been working against the posts of JBT teachers on a contract basis since the past four years.

He expressed surprise over the attitude of the government which was appointing simple matriculates as “vidya upasaks” in primary schools and refusing to regularise highly qualified contract teachers. He said since the scheme for regularisation of vidya upasaks had already been approved and the voluntary teachers appointed in 1991 had also been regularised after five-year service, there was no point in denying this benefit to contract teachers. Most of the contract teachers has crossed the age of 40 years and if they were not regularised, they would not be able to get government job again.

In search of missing wife
From Ravinder Sood

PALAMPUR: Puran Chand, a resident of village Chanjehar, near here, has been moving from pillar to post for the past three months in search of his wife Urmila, who went missing on February 16.

Even his complaints to Deputy Inspector-General of Police, (NZ), Dharamsala and Superintendent of Police, Kangra, have not yielded results.

Puran Chand alleged that a gang of criminals which reportedly runs prostitution centres in Punjab and Chandigarh, had kidnapped his wife.

Puran Chand said another woman who had been residing near his house was a link between his wife and the kidnappers. He disclosed that the woman was a regular to the house and had lured his wife. His wife had told him that the woman had promised her a house in Gurdaspur or Amritsar. Puran Chand said Urmila had told him about this, but he had not taken it seriously.

Later, two persons, reportedly from Gurdaspur, came to the village in a Maruti van and took his wife with them. In the evening when he returned to his house Urmila was missing and the children were huddled in one corner, he added.

Puran Chand said he immediately reported the matter at the Bhawarna police post and Palampur police station. On March 18, Puran Chand called on Mr V.K. Aggarwal, Deputy Commissioner, Kangra. In a letter addressed to the Deputy Commissioner, he urged that efforts be made to trace his wife. Though Mr Aggarwal directed the police for detailed investigation into the case, but no efforts were made to trace Urmila.

Another woman of the village, Shukantla, was kidnapped. Later, she was found from a hotel near Palampur.

A senior police officer told this reporter that earlier a ringleader of this gang C.B. Lamba was arrested. On the basis of information provided by him during the interrogation, three girls were recovered from prostitution centre at Bombay. Lamba fled from police custody. There are apprehensions that Lamba is active in the state. After kidnapping women he allegedly sells them in Bombay.

It may be recalled that in past six months over a dozen women were reportedly kidnapped from different parts of this district. In most of the cases FIRs were registered. Reliable sources said that these women were sold in the rural areas of Punjab for sums ranging from Rs 40,000 to Rs 70,000.

Youth alleges torture by police
From Our Correspondent

BILASPUR, May 11 — Led by Jhandutta Panchayat Samiti vice-president Shayam Lal Thakur and accompanied by several village leaders of that area, Jaggan Nath of Dhani village 80 km from here, who works as contractor, has alleged that he was tortured by head constable Pradep Kumar at Talai police station when earlier he himself went to the police station to enquire as some body informed him that Talai police had registered a false case against him.

Showing swollen parts of the body with number of “blue injury marks” to reporters here yesterday Jaggan Nath said that as he reached the police station he was arrested and next morning he was tortured as the police demanded from him that he must retrace his earlier statement and own the crime registered against him.

Jaggan Nath said that he was also threatened with “dire consequences” if he reported the matter to the judge in court or any-body else that he was tortured at the police station.

Jaggan Nath, who later was freed on bail by the court, did not disclose the fact to the judge but he informed his advocate about this torture who immediately rushed him to civil hospital Ghumarwin where he was examined by a doctor and he recorded all his injuries.

Jaggan Nath has sent a petition to state Human Rights Commission to order immediate high-level probe into this high-handed police action, which he said was violative of Article 21 of Indian Constitution and he has demanded compensation of Rs one lakh for his physical and mental torture and humiliation and also scrapping of false FIR registered against him by the police.

NGOs must raise resources: Shastri
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, May 11 — Mr Vishnu Kant Shastri, Governor, has said that voluntary organisations should raise their own resources and urged them to reduce their dependence on the government. He said that non-governmental organisations should do self-less social service and the role of the government should only be that of encouragement only.

The Governor was presiding over the annual meeting of Himachal Pradesh Child Welfare Council here yesterday. The Governor, who is also chairman of the council, said that the institution, engaged in the welfare of children, should work with a sense of service and hard work.