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| Friday, June 9, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
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Ministers defend HP role in Kol
Dam HP Cong decries move on
development blocks High court asks Speaker to file
reply HP urged to amend Housing Board
Act Leaking pipes a nuisance Himachal vigilance panel
reconstituted Virbhadra’s name falsely
implicated |
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Anti-inflation drive a
“sham”
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Ministers defend HP role in Kol
Dam SHIMLA, June 8 — Mr J.P. Nadda, Health Minister and Mr Parveen Sharma, Minister of State for Excise and Taxation have ridiculed the statement of Mr Kaul Singh, a former Vidhan Sabha Speaker, alleging that the “BJP government had sold out the state’s interests” while entering into agreements for the execution of Parbati and Kol Dam hydel project. In a joint statement here today they said that successive Congress governments totally failed to exploit the hydel potential of the state and its leaders were now making mischievous and frivolous allegations to divert attention away from the achievements of the Dhumal government. They said that Himachal Pradesh had an identified hydel potential of 21,000 mw and it was unfortunate that only 3830 mw of this could be tapped during the past 50 years for reasons best known to those then in power. The Congress government had also failed to start work on the 2051 MW Parvati hydel project for which MoU was signed in 1992 by the then BJP government. It instead created obstacles delayed execution by eight years. The two ministers expressed surprise over statements of Congress leaders that people of Himachal Pradesh had suffered in Bhakra and BSL projects executed when the Congress was in power. The present government on the other hand had settled long pending issues of Thein dam and decided to construct two new sectors in Bilaspur to rehabilitate the remaining Bhakra Dam oustees. The state would get 12 per cent of free power as a royalty 15 per cent on generation cost besides a 3 to 4 per cent share being part of the region without any investment in these projects. The free power component alone would fetch a revenue of about Rs 700 crores to the state, they added. The contention of the
Congress leaders that Himachal should have a share in
power projects reflected the bankruptcy of their mind as
everybody knew that the state was facing a resource
crunch and could not pay for a share in hydel projects.
Even in 1500 MW Nathpa Jhakri hydel project, the
agreement for which was signed during a Congress regime,
the experience was not good. The project, which was
initially estimated to cost, Rs 1600 crore would now be
constructed at a cost of Rs 10,000 crore and the state
would have to contribute about Rs 2500 crore, a tough
proposition in the present economic scenario. |
HP Cong decries move on
development blocks SHIMLA, June 8 — The state unit of the Congress has urged the government not to go ahead with its proposal to reorganise the development blocks as it would be detrimental to development activities in backward areas like Chamba district. Mrs Asha Kumari, general secretary of the pradesh Congress committee, alleged in a statement here yesterday that the decision to make the development blocks co-terminus with assembly constituencies had been taken in haste without taking into account the problems in difficult hill areas. For instance, there were seven blocks in Chamba district at present out of which Pangi and Bharmour were tribal area blocks and Tissa, Salooni and Mehlam backward area blocks. In case the government implements the proposal, Mehlam block would have to be wound up in the district. Since it was an extremely backward area people would face tremendous problems. They would have to travel long distances for petty works. The worst hit, however, would be the residents of Shimla, Sirmour, Kulu districts, besides Chamba, who were looking forward to the creation of new blocks. There was urgent need for carving out new blocks at Kupvi in Chopal, Kotkhai in Jubbal and Bathri in Bhatiyatt. She urged the government
to either drop the proposal or create sub-blocks wherever
required. The geographical conditions of these districts
warranted a different treatment, she added. |
High court asks Speaker to
file reply SHIMLA, June 8 — The Himachal Pradesh High Court has asked the Speaker to file a reply within four weeks on a petition challenging the decision of the Speaker of the HP Assembly validating the merger of Mansa Ram and Parkash Chaudhary’s Himachal Kranti Party in the Bharatiya Janata Party. These directions were issued by a Division Bench consisting of the Chief Justice, Mr C.K. Thakkar and Mr Justice L.S. Panta on a petition moved by Mr Kashmir Singh, a Congress MLA, challenging the orders of the Speaker passed on July 26, 1999, wherein he held that the merger was in consonance with the protection, provided under Paras 3 and 4 of the 10th Schedule of the Constitution of India and the petitioner failed to establish his case. Counsel for the petitioner, Mr Inder Singh, has contended that the decision of the Speaker does not stand in the eyes of the law as the same suffers with many legal infirmities and is liable to be set aside. Today Mr Rajinder Dogra,
appearing for the Speaker, sought time from the court.
Earlier on April 24 the High Court issued notices to the
Speaker and Mr Mansa Ram and Mr Parkash Chaudhary, both
ministers in the present government. |
HP urged to amend Housing
Board Act SHIMLA, June 8 — The Himachal Pradesh Housing Board has urged the state government to amend the Housing Board Act to delegate power to its Field Officers for removing encroachments and unauthorised construction. The decision to seek more powers was taken at a meeting held here today under the presidentship of Mr Ganesh Dutt here today. It would also request Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal to direct all public sector undertakings to get their civil engineering works executed through the board. To ensure transparency in award of tenders it was decided that no change in specifications would be allowed after the finalisation of the tenders. Meanwhile the state
government is taking steps to merge the Nagar Vikas
Pradhikaran and the H.P. Housing Board which are engaged
in construction business. |
Leaking pipes a nuisance KASAULI, June 8 — There is growing concern among residents of the town as number of water pipes in and around are leaking, causing wastage of water. The cantonment and MES authorities are dealing with the problem, though not to the satisfaction of the residents. Last year, one water pipe just below the cantonment office developed a leak. A large amount of water flowed out before the pipe was repaired days later. The main pipe supplying water to the whole area, started leaking at several places in Garkhal town. The large stream of water entered the adjoining houses creating panic among the residents. The MES reportedly started the repair work only after the water supply was hampered owing to this leakage. Another pipe in Garkhal market, which developed a leak about eight months ago, has not received the attention of the authorities. The residents fear that water is seeping into their houses from below. Repeated complaints to the MES have yielded no results. The water-pipes which were installed about 25 years ago gaveway due to rust. They were welded and repaired. However, one after the other all other pipes have started leaking. Meanwhile, the repair
work being undertaken has disrupted the smooth flow of
traffic on the Jagjitnagar road in Garkhal. Frequent
digging of roads on account of repair of pipes has left
potholes in the road. |
Himachal vigilance panel
reconstituted SHIMLA, June 8 — The Himachal Pradesh Government has reconstituted the state vigilance committee under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister. The Chief Secretary, Finance Commissioner-cum-Secretary (Vigilance), the Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, the Secretary (Law) and the Additional Director-General of Police (Vigilance) will be the members of the committee and the Director of Vigilance the Member-Secretary. The functions of the committee will be to review the progress of vigilance and anti-corruption work in the state periodically and this purpose it may hold meeting atleast twice a year or more often, if necessary . The committee may arrange for a study in each department of various forms and modes of corruption and the points and places where it is widely prevalent and make and consider suggestions for changes in the rules and procedure, with a view to plugging loopholes in an effort to eradicate corruption. The committee may also consider and suggest shifting or other action against officers with a bad reputation or shady conduct. The committee will also recommend enquiries or investigations into any specific case coming to its notice containing allegations of corruption. It will suggest steps
for carrying out the work of vigilance and
anti-corruption in the state effectively and efficiently
in the light of the public to the anti-corruption drive
and as a result of the review of vigilance and
anti-corruption work at the meeting. |
Virbhadra’s name falsely
implicated SHIMLA, June 8 — Mr Vineet Gautam,, spokesperson of the Pradesh Congress Committee, has ridiculed the statement of Mr Praveen Sharma, Excise and Taxation Minister, asking Mr Virbhadra Singh to face inquiry into so-called khair wood allotment scam, saying that the name of the former Chief Minister was being unnecessarily dragged into the case to mislead the people. In a strongly worded rejoinder to Mr Sharma’s statement here yesterday, Mr Gautam said an attempt was being made by BJP leaders to create a false impression that an inquiry had been instituted against Mr Virbhadra Singh. The fact was that the Vigilance Department had registered cases against some government officials in connection with the allotment of khair wood quota to a Kala Amb-based katha factory. He said it was the previous BJP government which had allotted a 50 per cent quota of khair wood to Mahesh Udyog whereas the Congress Government granted a 25 per cent quota to the Kala Amb unit on the recommendation of Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and the Director of Industries as per the government policy. He asked Mr Sharma to
withdraw his ‘false and frivolous’ allegations
and tender an apology. |
Anti-inflation drive a
“sham” SHIMLA, June 8 — The state unit of the BJP has termed the anti-price rise campaign of the Congress as a “sham” and alleged that the wrong policies of the successive Congress governments were responsible for the increase in prices in the country. Mr Ganesh Dut, the media incharge of the party, said the BJP-led government had contained prices by ending the system of quota and improving the public distribution system. He said Rajiv Gandhi had
once admitted that out of every one rupee spent by the
government only 15 paise were actually utilised for
development. Only the Congress which remained in power
for over 45 years could explain what happened to the
remaining 85 paise. Had the Congress provided an honest
and transparent government and followed the right
policies, the people would not have to face the present
situation. Rafting competition from June 22 KULU, June 8 — The Department of Tourism and Civil Aviation with the Directorate of Mountaineering Institute under the aegis of the Indian Kayaking and Caneoing Association, Delhi, will organise the 2nd National Invitational River Rafting Competition from June 22 to 24, 2000. The department is planning to make white water rafting in the Beas a regular feature. Training camps in water sports are organised from time to time by the department and the Regional Water Sports Centre, Pong Dam. Mr Shashi Thakur, District Tourism Officer, said this year 10 teams are expected to participate in this event. It is being held in the Beas from Shamshi in Kulu to Jhiri in Mandi. The sport will consist of rafting-kayaking slalom, rafting marathon, rafting sprint. Last year the department
had organised 1st river rafting competition/festival at
Pirdi here in October. |
Insurance for potato crop SHIMLA, June 8 — Potato will also be covered under national crop insurance plan besides maize and paddy in Himachal Pradesh during the current kharif season. This was stated here today by Dr J.C. Rana, Director of Agriculture, who said that the main objective of the scheme is to provide insurance cover and financial support to farmers in the event of failure of crops as a result of natural calamities like floods, drought, damages due to attack of pests and disease besides encouraging farmers to adopt progressive farming techniques. The scheme will help stablize farm incomes, particularly in disaster years and also stimulate production of food crops. Dr Rana said that all
farmers who have taken loans from financial institutions,
other farmers, share croppers and tenant farmers would be
covered under the scheme. He said the insurance cover
would be of value of the threshold yield of the crop,
with an option to cover up to 150 per cent of average
yield. 50 per cent subsidy in premium will be allowed to
small and marginal farmers. |
18 hurt as bus rolls into khud SHIMLA, June 8 (UNI) — Eighteen persons were injured when a Himachal Road Transport Corporation bus, in which they were travelling, rolled down into 200-foot deep gorge near Bakhelti in Shimla district today. The injured were
admitted to a hospital at Theog. The bus was going from
Jagtan, near Jubbal, to Shimla. |
Body identified KUMARHATTI, June 8 — The police has identified the charred body of a man found at Koti, 15 km from here, on May 21. Mr Jagan Nath, SHO, said the deceased had been identified as Mr Rajinder Nagpal of Karnal who might have been murdered at Karnal before being dumped here. Mr Nath said following
the recovery of the body by a constable, the police sent
photographs of the body to Chandigarh, Ropar, Panchkula
and other surrounding police stations. The body was sent
for a post-mortem examination and belongings of the
deceased were sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory at
Junga, near Shimla. |
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