H I M A C H A L   P R A D E S H

HP introduces IT in plus two
SHIMLA, June 9 — A major step aimed at downsizing the government, the Himachal Cabinet today approved the merger of three corporations and two other public sector undertakings.

Conspiracy against Virbhadra: Cong
KUMARHATTI, June 9 — The District Congress Committee (DCC) has urged the BJP-HVC combine government to desist from making indiscreet remarks against Mr Virbhadra Singh, CLP leader and former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister.

Sukh Ram ‘axes’ Mandi grant
MANDI, June 9 — Mr Pushp Raj Sharma, President Mandi Nagar Parishad, alleged here today that HVC supremo Sukh Ram and his son Mr Anil Sharma, a Rajya Sabha MP were exercising their influence to withhold grants for the nagar parishad.

11 HAS officers shifted
SHIMLA, June 9 — The Himachal Pradesh Government today ordered the transfer of 11 HAS officers and posted Mr Rakesh Sharma, OSD, Vidhan Sabha, as Joint Excise Commissioner, South Zone at Shimla.

Check lotus growth in Renuka: scientist
NAHAN, June 9 — Dr Subhash C. R. Vishwanathan, scientist incharge, G.B. Pant Institute Of Himalayan Environment And Development, under the Ministry of Environment and Forests, situated at Mohal (Kulu) has warned against the growth of lotus in Renuka Lake.

Four arrested for assault
HAMIRPUR, June 9 — Four persons, including two taxi drivers, were arrested when they allegedly beat up some persons in Gwaroo village of the district yesterday. The SP, Mr N. Venugopal, said those arrested were Vijendra Kumar, Sukhvinder Singh, Santosh Kumar and Manjeet. They have been booked under Sections 147, 149, 323, 353 and 452 of the Indian Penal Code.

HP introduces IT in plus two
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, June 9 — A major step aimed at downsizing the government, the Himachal Cabinet today approved the merger of three corporations and two other public sector undertakings.

The Cabinet which met here under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal, gave its nod for the merger of the state Housing Board and the Shimla Development Authority. The decision to combine the two was taken keeping in view the fact that these were performing similar functions.

It also approved the proposal to integrate the state Minorities Development Corporation, the state Backward Classes Development and Finance Corporation and the state Women Development and Finance Corporations. There will be no retrenchment and the surplus staff will be accommodated elsewhere.

The Cabinet also decided to introduce computer education and information and technology in all senior secondary schools at the plus two level as a compulsory subject from the academic session 2001-2002. Proposals will be invited from private parties to provide the hardware, instructors and instruction material. They could charge fees up to a ceiling of Rs 50 per student per month.

Computer classes will be introduced as an optional subject for students of class XI in schools where the infrastructure is available from this academic session itself.

It was decided that all polytechnics and industrial training institutes in the state should be accredited as vocational institutes of the national open school in a phased manner. Furthermore, vocational courses will be prepared and finalised so that all trades and disciplines being taught in the technical institutions become approved vocational courses of the national open school.

The Cabinet gave approval for an Integrated Cooperative Development Project (ICDP) for Una district with a total outlay of Rs 8.66 crore. This project will be funded by the National Cooperative Development Corporation. This is the ninth project of its kind in the state and eight districts have already been covered.

An increase in the registration allowance of Sub-Registrars in the Revenue Department from Rs 100 per month to Rs 200 per month, was also approved. This fulfils the announcement already made by the Chief Minister.

The Cabinet approved state guarantee for obtaining a loan of Rs 100 crore for lending the same to state government employees for house-building purposes.

The Cabinet also decided to enhance the practical allowance for trained graduate teachers (science) from Rs 30 to Rs 150 with effect from June 1, 2000. This will benefit 5,452 science teachers in the state and involves a financial implication of Rs 8.18 lakh per month.

Two special increments to classical and vernacular teachers were approved and will be granted with effect from June, 1999. This will be over and above the increments reckoned under the Assured Career Progression Scheme. This benefit has also been extended to the categories left out in the earlier decisions. This will benefit 4,369 teachers in the state and will put a financial burden of Rs 2.77 crore annually.

The Cabinet approved the formation of a special area developmental authority for the special areas of Jabli, Barog, Kandaghat, Shogi and Kufri with a view to curbing unplanned and haphazard growth along the National Highway-22.

It also decided to bring Una and Poanta Sahib under the special planning area and approved setting up of the special area development authority thereof.

The Cabinet also repealed press accreditation and recognition rules, 1988, and approved new rules which provide for special recognition to veteran journalists of outstanding merit and also take note of emergence of electronic media.

It also approved state guarantee for Rs 30 crore by way of block approval in favour of Himachal Pradesh State Cooperative Bank under the farm sector schemes for the years 2000-2001 to 2002-2003.

The Cabinet reviewed the situation arising out of cloudbursts in Kinnaur, Spiti and the Chirgaon area of Shimla district.

Conspiracy against Virbhadra: Cong
From Our Correspondent

KUMARHATTI, June 9 — The District Congress Committee (DCC) has urged the BJP-HVC combine government to desist from making indiscreet remarks against Mr Virbhadra Singh, CLP leader and former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister.

In a joint statement issued here yesterday, Mr Ramesh Chauhan, general secretary of the DCC and Mr Paras Bhardwaj, president of the Kasauli Congress Committee, alleged that implicating Mr Virbhadra Singh in the khair scandal was a conspiratorial move by the government to tarnish his image.

The two claimed that no section of society was satisfied with Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal’s rule as the development activities started during the Congress rule had virtually been “halted”.

Sukh Ram ‘axes’ Mandi grant
From Our Correspondent

MANDI, June 9 — Mr Pushp Raj Sharma, President Mandi Nagar Parishad, alleged here today that HVC supremo Sukh Ram and his son Mr Anil Sharma, a Rajya Sabha MP were exercising their influence to withhold grants for the nagar parishad.

Addressing mediapersons at the Conference Hall of the Parishad, Mr Sharma released photocopies of a demand draft No. 029422 dated 21.03.1999 of Rs 51,15,715 which was supposed to be sent to Mandi Nagar Parishad but was held back at the eleventh hour at the intervention of Mr Sukh Ram.

He said rental income from the Sunken Garden of around Rs 24 lakh annually and Rs 2,80,800 in rent from the State Bank of India was not being handed over to the nagar parishad. The amount was being collected by the Deputy Commissioner in the capacity of chairman Sunken Garden Development Committee and was allegedly being spent at the behest of Mr Sukh Ram. He said one instance of its misuse was the colourful fountain installed in front of Anil Sharma’s hotel at a cost of Rs 15 lakh.

He said despite the fact that Mandi was Mr Sukh Ram’s constituency not a single paisa had been given for the development of Mandi town by either father or son from their MP’s or MLA’s fund in the past five years.

Ironically Mr Maheshwar Singh, MP, who hails from the royal family of Kulu has been contributing from his MP’s fund for the development of Mandi town from time to time, he said.

11 HAS officers shifted
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, June 9 — The Himachal Pradesh Government today ordered the transfer of 11 HAS officers and posted Mr Rakesh Sharma, OSD, Vidhan Sabha, as Joint Excise Commissioner, South Zone at Shimla.

Mr Bharat Bhushan, Managing Director, HP Cooperative Bank, has been appointed Additional Secretary, PWD.

Mrs Anita Tegta, Additional Secretary, Education, has been shifted as Additional Secretary, Welfare relieving Mr C.R.B. Lalit of the additional charge.

Mr Padam Singh Chauhan, Additional Director, Secondary Education, has been made Additional Secretary, Education and Adult Education.

Mr Shekhar Gupta, Additional Excise Commissioner, South Zone, has been appointed Managing Director of HP Cooperative Bank.

Mr B.R. Jamwal, Additional District Magistrate, Kangra, has been appointed Secretary, H.P. Board of School Education, Dharamsala, in place of Dr Sunil Chaudhary, who has been appointed Additional Director, Secondary Education.

Mr J.R. Katwal, Additional District Magistrate (Protocol), Shimla, has been shifted to Kangra as ADM.

Mr H.S. Guleria, Assistant Commissioner to Divisional Commissioner, Mandi, has been appointed Deputy Director of Revenue Training Institute, Jogindernagar.

Mr Piar Singh Verma, AC to Divisional Commissioner, Kangra, has been appointed Regional Transport Officer, Mandi, in place of Mr Ramesh Thakur, who has been appointed AC to Deputy Commissioner, Una.

Check lotus growth in Renuka: scientist
From Our Correspondent

NAHAN, June 9 — Dr Subhash C. R. Vishwanathan, scientist incharge, G.B. Pant Institute Of Himalayan Environment And Development, under the Ministry of Environment and Forests, situated at Mohal (Kulu) has warned against the growth of lotus in Renuka Lake.

He said if the speedy growth of lotus in Renuka Lake was not checked effectively, it would cause damage to the lake and in future it would poise a threat to the existence of the lake.

Dr Vishwanathan was speaking at a district-level Shri Renuka Ji Wet Land Coordination Committee meet organised here yesterday by the Renuka Development Board. The Deputy Commissioner, Sirmour, Mr Rakesh Kaushal, was also present.

Dr Prem Singh, MLA from Renuka constituency and Mr Sannu Ram, Chairman, Zila Parishad, Sirmour were among those who actively participated in the meeting.

The course of action on the lines as suggested by the Technical Committee was decided to be taken up with the department concerned like PWD and Wild Life etc.

Mr Kaushal, also said the proposal prepared by the technical members would be sent to the Department of Science and Technology HP for providing funds.

Four arrested for assault
From Our Correspondent

HAMIRPUR, June 9 — Four persons, including two taxi drivers, were arrested when they allegedly beat up some persons in Gwaroo village of the district yesterday. The SP, Mr N. Venugopal, said those arrested were Vijendra Kumar, Sukhvinder Singh, Santosh Kumar and Manjeet. They have been booked under Sections 147, 149, 323, 353 and 452 of the Indian Penal Code.

He told reporters here today that there was some dispute over the dumping of waste soil which led to the incident.