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| Wednesday, May 31, 2000, Chandigarh, India  
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HP amends Sales Tax Act Land case: HC notice to minister
Pashi-Bhoj area ‘being
neglected’ Protest against dowry death MoU on Neugal ropeway signed |
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Two killed, 47 hurt in
accidents 1 killed, 17 hurt in bus mishap Two killed by lightening Shoghi launches Rs 12 cr project
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Sharma installed HP BJP chief SHIMLA, May 30 — Mr Jaikrishan Sharma, was today installed as president of the state unit of the BJP at Deep Kamal, the state headquarters of the party. Mr J.P. Mathur, all-India vice president of the party and central observer for the organisational poll, declared him elected for the post. As only one nomination was filed for the post yesterday the announcement of result was a mere formality. Talking to newsmen after taking over as president, Mr Sharma said factionalism and infighting was a thing of the past and the party stood united. The very fact that he was the unanimous choice showed that there was no groupism in the party. Regarding the resignation of Mr Des Raj, a Shanta loyalist, from the chairmanship of the State Finance Commission, he said he would try for a patch up. Mr Sharma said that he would ensure that old party workers were not neglected and given due respect. The party would extend all support to government to make the state economically self reliant and prosperous. Mr P.K. Dhumal, Chief Minister, said he hoped that the party would be further strengthened under the leadership of Mr Sharma. He lauded the services
of the outgoing president, Mr Suresh Chandel and said the
construction of a well-equipped party office at the state
headquarters was his major contribution. |
HP amends Sales Tax Act SHIMLA, May 30 — The Himachal Government today notified amendments in the General Sales Tax Act, 1968, to simplify the tax procedures. These amendments have already been approved by the assembly. According to the notification the existing limit of taxable turnover in respect of the dealers running hotels, restaurants, bakery or similar other establishment, where food, preparations, including tea are served has been enhanced from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 2 lakh. To ensure the periodic elimination of defunct dealership, the provision for the renewal of registration certificate has been made. To bring transparency in the existing provisions relating to penalty for non-filing of returns and to reduce discretion of the assessing authorities while imposing penalty, a compounded penalty for delay in furnishing the returns has been introduced. The rate of penalty will be Rs 25 per day for delay up to 10 days in furnishing the returns, whereafter the penalty shall be Rs 50 per day till the default continues. The deduction of tax on sales made to the Government of India or to any state government shall now be made by the disbursing officer, who discharges the payment of price in respect of the goods and shall be credited into government treasury by such officer. There will be no deduction of tax from the invoices of those work contractors who are dealing exclusively in non-taxable goods. A special provision relating to casual dealers (those who do occasional business) has been made, besides providing for voluntary payment of tax in advance by such casual dealers at the check-post of barrier etc. Further, to make procedure simpler for casual dealers, the requirement of compulsory registration has been waived on payment of Rs 50. For widening the base for self-assessment, the existing eligibility turnover limit of Rs 25 lakh has been modified to Rs 50 lakh so that greater number of dealers are covered. The government is separately notifying the Himachal Pradesh Self-assessment Scheme, 2000, ‘vishvas-2000’ covering dealers up to a turnover of Rs 50 lakh, both under the Himachal Pradesh General Sales Tax Act, 1968, and the Central Sales Tax Act, 1956. The existing minimum limit for issuance of cash memos in respect of goods sold by a dealer to any person in one transaction and the penalty for non-issuance of cash memos have been enhanced from Rs 25 to Rs 200 and from Rs 500 to Rs 5000. However, this only means that cash memos for transactions below Rs 200 will not be insisted upon although the day-to-day accounts have to be maintained by the dealers. A separate consumer awareness campaign is being launched in collaboration with the Food and Supplies Department with a view to educating the consumer about the need for cash memos for purchases less than Rs 200. For dispensing with unnecessary paper work relating to non-taxable goods, the requirement of furnishing declarations in form S.T.XXVI-A in respect of such goods has been done away with. To rationalise the sales
tax laws, the HP Motor Spirit Act, 1968, has been
repealed and taxation of motor spirit, including licensing of motor spirit dealers shall now be made under
the new provisions introduced in the Act. |
Land case: HC notice to
minister SHIMLA, May 30 — The Himachal Pradesh High Court today issued notices to the Industries Minister, Mr Kishori Lal and his son Mr Rakesh Kumar, on a petition challenging the conversion of a forest land into a barren piece of land which was allotted to the later for setting up a stone crusher in Chamba district. These notices were issued by a Division Bench comprising the Chief Justice C.K. Thakkar and Mr Justice L.S. Panta. The counsel for the petitioner, Mr Rajiv Sharma argued that the revenue authorities had changed the mutation entries changing the classification of land without seeking the permission of the Central Government and in violation of law, after changing the nature of land leased it to Mr Rakesh for setting up a stone crusher. The lease for quarrying of stones is also granted by the Industries Department of which his father was a minister. The sanction as per arguements had been granted in utter violation of various laws. According to the
petitioner Mr Puran Singh, the setting up of the stone
crusher in the vicinity of village would also affect the
environment and ecology of the area and the sanction had
been granted in haste and at the behest of Industries
Minister who should uphold the majesty of law instead of
favouring his son in setting up the stone crusher. In his
relief the petitioner has sought the cancellation of the
sanction letter. |
Reviving Kangra art form DHARAMSALA: Training students in the best traditions of the "Guru Shishya Parampara", the government is trying to revive the dying art form of Kangra miniatures. The Department of Art and Culture, in collaboration with the District Administration, has started classes in this distinct style of painting. "In order to enable the school-going students to attend the classes, we have two shifts, being attended by 25 pupils," stated Mr Ramesh Chander, Curator at the Kangra Art Museum, where the classes are being run. Four teachers, who have trained under, Chandu Lal Raina, the descendant of the greatest family of Kangra painters, give lessons. "We are teaching these students all the techniques that we have learnt from our guruji, including making paper and vegetable colours," says Joginder Singh, who has been employed by the Jwalamukhi Temple Trust and given a shop in the temple complex. The other person, Pritam Chand, who took lessons from Chandu Lal Raina, comes from the Kangra temple to take classes. There is no time limit set for these classes, as it could even take years for the students to learn the nuances of this distinct style, said Mr Ram Chander. He said that despite financial constraints his endeavour would be to continue the classes. "The first time I set my eyes on these marvellous paintings at the temple in Jwalamukhi, I was keen to learn this art form but unable to find a teacher, I could not fulfill this wish," remarked Renuka Gupta. Her fascination for these paintings has specially brought her here from Jammu to learn the intricacies of the Kangra miniatures. School going Chandrika, who does not miss single class despite hectic school schedule, said that she was fascinated by these paintings ever since her childhood. Many students and house wives, travel every day from Palampur, Kangra, Gaggal and the adjoining areas to attend the classes being run at the museum. An English woman, who ahs adopted an Indian name, Mamta, comes here regularly to learn the Kangra style of painting. She is a teacher at Sahej International Public School. Displaying their works, the students point out that they have learnt a lot during the past four months since the course started. They bear all the cost for the paints, brushes, paper and other materials required to learn the art. They say that in case
the government is really serious about its claims to
revive the Kangra style of painting, they should be given
a stipend to trainees. |
Pashi-Bhoj area ‘being
neglected’ NAHAN, May 30 – Mr Jeet S Kathware, general secretary of the Hatti Samiti, Sirmour, in a press statement here yesterday complained the Kathware area of Pashi-Bhoj in trans-Giri had been neglected by the state government since long. Residents of the area have sent many representations to the government regarding the suspension of developmental activities in the district by various development agencies. The Kathware gram panchayat had only one high school being run by one teacher. More than 45 students had already left the school. No qualified doctor had been sent to run the ayurvedic dispensary and veterinary clinic in the area. The position of other government institutions in the area was no better. Mr kathware has appealed
to the Chief Minister to take up with the Centre the
Hatti demand for declaring trans-Giri area as a Scheduled
Tribe area. |
Protest against dowry death UNA, May 30 — More than 400 persons yesterday raised slogans in front of the mini secretariat in protest against the death of Sharmila, who was married to Ranjodh Singh at Malahat village. Mr Parkash Chand, father of Sharmila, told mediapersons yesterday that after her marriage she was not allowed by her in-laws to visit her parents at Kothatbeet village. He also alleged that Sharmila told her mother during one of her visit to her parents’ house that her in-laws used to torture her for not bringing dowry. He said on May 26 she ran away from her in-laws’ house and boarded the bus for her Kothatbeet, but her husband and her brother-in-law reached there and dragged her out of the bus and beat her up in public. On inquiry some shopkeepers said the two had told them that she was a mentally upset. They took her back to their house and allegedly beat her up again. Later she was taken to the district hospital where she died. A deputation of women met Mrs Punita Bhardwaj, Additional SP and Ms Rani Bindu Sachdeva, Deputy SP, who assured them that justice would be done. Meanwhile, the husband
and mother-in-law of Sharmila have been arrested and
remanded in police custody till June 3. |
MoU on Neugal ropeway signed SHIMLA, May 30 — A memorandum of understanding on the Rs 1.50 crore ropeway at Neugal (Palampur) in Kangra district was signed today between the Himachal Pradesh Government and M/s Conveyor and Ropeways Services (Pvt) Ltd, Calcutta. Mr Anil Kumar Khachi, Director, Tourism and Civil Aviation, signed the MoU on behalf of the state government, whereas Mr S. Chakravarty, Managing Director of M/s Conveyor and Ropeway Services (Pvt) Ltd represented the company. The ropeway will be built by the company on "build and operate basis". The land for the project will be provided by the state government on lease basis initially for a period of 21 years in accordance with the Himachal Pradesh Lease Rules, 1993. As per the MoU, there will be an initial moratorium period of two years from the date of commencement of commercial operation of the project. Subsequently, from the third year to the sixth year the company will pay 5 per cent of the total sale proceeds as the share of the government. The share will rise to 15 per cent from the seventh year onwards. The company is expected
to submit a detailed project report within 90 days of the
signing of the MoU, wherein the company will specify a
timeframe for the completion of the various stages of the
project. |
Two killed, 47 hurt in
accidents NAHAN, May 30 — Two persons died on the spot and 47 were injured in two separate accidents on Biala-Dhaulan Kuan road, about 30 km from here, today. A PWD truck carrying labourers from Giri Nagar could not negotiate a curve and fell into a 70-feet khud near Kotri Ka Mod pump house. About 40 persons were travelling in the truck of which 36 (29 persons according to an official press note) persons were injured, three of them seriously. Man Singh of Kansar village and Pritam Singh of Bagrath died on the spot. Another truck of the state electricity board carrying labourers, line men and a junior engineer fell into 150 feet khud near the same spot, just two curves away from the site of the previous accident. Fourteen persons were travelling in the truck, of which 11 were injured. The SDM, Paonta Sahib, Mr M.P. Sood along with the DSP, and, medical team went to the site. Mr Vikas Labroo, ADM, stated that a post-mortem examination was conducted on the spot and were handed over to their relatives. As immediate relief Rs 10,000 has been given to the next of kin of those killed and Rs 5,000 to the injured. Rupees 13,500 were given to other injured persons as relief by the district administration. Mr Labroo added that in the preliminary inquiry it had been established that the PWD truck was being driven by a supervisor instead of a regular driver. Cases have been registered. Mr J.C. Chauhan,
Superintending Engineer, Nahan, PWD circle, said he had
asked the Executive Engineer, Paonta Sahib, to inquire
into the matter and submit the report within a week. |
1 killed, 17 hurt in bus
mishap SHIMLA, May 30 — One person was killed and 17 injured, two of them seriously, when an HRTC bus from Shimla to Shaurantha met with an accident near Kotkhai in Shimla district today. The seriously injured were admitted to the IGMC, here while those with minor injuries where getting treatment at the Community Health Centre, Kotkhai. Mr Vishnu Kant Shastri, Governor, has expressed grief over the accident. He was expressed sympathy with the bereaved family. Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal,
Chief Minister, and Mr Kishan Kapoor, Transport Minister,
have also expressed grief. |
Two killed by lightening MANDI, May 30 — Two persons were killed and a four-year-child was seriously burnt when a lightening struck their house at Khadrar village in Chachiot valley last night. The victims have been identified as Ganga Ram and his wife Ganeshu Devi. The seriously injured child is battling against life. In another incident one
person was drowned in Rewalsar lake while he was taking
bath. He has been idenfied as Devinder Kumar. |
Shoghi launches Rs 12 cr
project SHIMLA, May 30 — Shoghi Communications Ltd has launched a Rs 12 crore project to develop high graded encryption technologies to cater to the requirements of secure communications of users, including the defence forces and financial institutions. The Managing Director of
the company, Mr Harish Gupta, told newsmen here today
that most advanced communication security, hardware and
software products were being developed by them. |
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