The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

BRO planning route from HP to Leh
From S.P. Sharma
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, June 16 — The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) is examining the feasibility of constructing an alternative road to the frontier area of Leh from Himachal Pradesh as the Srinagar-Leh highway has become unsafe by being in the direct firing range of Pakistan.

The Director-General of BRO, Lt-Gen A.K. Puri, who is on a week-long tour of the state, told TNS here today that two alternative routes were being examined. These routes will bypass the Rohtang Pass and Baralacha-La which get covered with snow during winter.

He said that reccee was being done on the Kaza-Kibber-Parangla route, which will open in the Tsomurari area of Ladakh. The other route being considered was Tandi-Udaipur (Sansari Nullah), which will lead to the Padam valley and go straight to Kargil.

These roads will remain open for a longer duration even during winter.

However, what was also being kept in mind was that the route via Parang-La lies at a distance of only about 20 km from the China border.

Lt-Gen Puri accompanied by Brig B.M. Bakshi, Chief Engineer of Project Deepak, toured the entire Hindustan-Tibet highway and also inspected the damage caused to the highway during the recent floods.

He said that the Geological Survey of India has started Geological tests for construction of the Rohtang Pass and environmental survey of the area was also being conducted. The final picture would come within two months.

The Konkan Railway Corporation has prepared a project report for the tunnel which will cost Rs 520 crore. In addition to this, about Rs 100 crore will be spent on construction of approach roads and bridges.

It might take between five to six years to construct the tunnel. Lt-Gen Puri said that the thrust of the BRO now was to diversify and undertake development works and construct hydroelectric projects for which the organisation had expertise and trained manpower. This would help making the BRO financally self-sustaining.

He called on the Governor, Mr Vishnu Kant Shastri, and offered the services of the BRO for such projects which the organisation could construct at a lesser cost.

The BRO had so far confined itself to construction of airports and roads in the border areas for the use of the Army, but now it intended to construct super highways, hydroelectric projects, buildings, major bridges, irrigation dams, etc.

Lt-Gen Puri said that the BRO would accept any major project for the total development of any particular area which would include construction of roads, buildings, schools, places of tourist interest and also power projects so that prosperity was brought there.

Dhumal weakened HVC: Sukh Ram
From Our Correspondent

CHAMBA, June 16 — Mr Sukh Ram, president of the Himachal Vikas Congress (HVC) has warned that Himachal Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal would have to face consequences of his decision retaining Mr Mohinder Singh, Himachal Public Works Minister in his cabinet at the cost of the H.V.C. despite the HVC’s demand to sack him from the Cabinet. He is a defector of the HVC, he said, while addressing reporters at Chamba last night.

Expressing unhappiness with the Himachal Chief Minister, for having forgotten role of the HVC which brought him to power, Mr Sukh Ram alleged that the Chief Minister had contributed to weaken the HVC.

To a question of a correspondent, on his joining the Congress party, Mr Sukh Ram said, “If I had to join the Congress party,I would not have formed the HVC”.

Mr Sukh Ram, however, asserted that he belonged to Congress culture and most of the Congress men were his friends. He added that I had differences with the former Chief Minister Mr Virbhadra Singh on policy matters and there was some ego problem on Mr Singh’s part, but I did not have any grudge against him.

Commenting on Mr Mohinder Singh’s retention in the Cabinet by the Chief Minister, Mr Sukh Ram pointed out, “he has already informed the BJP leaders that if they want Mr Mohinder Singh to join the BJP, I have no objection to the move. But I doubt about it perhaps the BJP could enroll him in their party because the BJP is a disciplined party in itself.

Mr Sukh Ram claimed that his party was the original HVC as out of 58 state executive committee members only 11 members had defected from the HVC and Mr Mohinder Singh was one of them who too had been expelled by the HVC. He said that the Mohinder Singh-led party was not enjoying any public support in the state because of the fact that he was sabotaging the party and maligning the image or the HVC.

Mr Sukh Ram made it clear that his Member of Parliament, Mr Dhani Ram Shandil would continue his support to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and he would not like to create any political uncertainty in the state to hamper development so that Prof Dhumal could not get any chance to blame him for all this.

Mr Sukh Ram regretted that it was unfortunate that the oustees of Chamera project could not be given jobs in the project because of the “negotiated agreement” executed by the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) and the government which was in fact wrong. Opposing this agreement he described it “a sheer injustice” to the oustees.

He urged the NHPC to provide employment to the oustees and threatened to take up constitutional steps if any delay was caused in the decision.

Mr Sukh Ram said that the condition of Provident Fund for the contractors of Himachal Pradesh was not genuine and asked the Union Ministry of Energy to sort out this problem forthwith so that the local youths could get some benefit from the ongoing hydroelectric projects in the state by undertaking infrastructural works adding that other major works could be assigned to multinational companies by inviting global tenders.

Expressing gratitude to the Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee for his dream of bringing hydro-power revolution in Himachal, Mr Sukh Ram suggested that a high-power monitoring committee should be set up to check huge expenditure and inordinate delay in the construction of hydel power projects in Himachal Pradesh.

Mr Ram Lal Markanday, Minister of State for Animal Husbandry, Mr Vijay Joshi, a former Minister, Mr Shiv Lal, Mr P.C. Oberoy, and other HVC leaders also attended the press conference.

Torrential rain claims 2 lives
From Our Correspondent

MANDI, June 16 — The torrential rain which lashed Mandi and its suburbs last night for about nine hours left two persons dead and caused widespread damage to property in and around the town. Heavy rain also disrupted the traffic, telecommunication lines, power and water supply.

One person near the ITI hostel was buried alive when a landslide pounded his house. The police has recovered the body from a nullah near the Ganpati road. The National Highway between Mandi and Kulu remained closed for several hours due to the landslides. Later, traffic was restored giving relief to hundreds of stranded tourists. The rural areas of the district are still out off due to heavy rain and landslides.

Water entered into several houses located in Magwain, Jail Road Purani Mandi and Ganpati Road localities. The lower storeys of the HP Battalion of the NCC were also flooded, according to Lt Col B.M. Mehta.

Church stoned, provided with security
From Our Correspondent

KULU, June16 — Mr Anurag Garg, Superintendent of Police, said here today, that some mischievous persons threw stones on the roof of a local church, situated at Dhalpur, last night.

Mr Garg further said that about 20 suspects had been interrogated, however, no one had been arrested.

The SP said that the police would shortly arrest the suspects. The security guards have been posted at the church.

Mr Garg disclosed that an alert had been sounded in the district and all police stations and posts had been directed to keep a watch and provide security to the minorities and their places of worship.

Mr Garg further said that the Director General of the police had also sounded an alert in the other districts of the state.

The priest A.S. Aiyan had reported the matter to the police and a case under Section 295 of the IPC had been registered.

Shastri’s tip on global competition
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, June 16 — The Himachal Governor, Mr Vishnu Kant Shastri, has said that the country could stand up to global competition only by making rapid advances in the technological front.

Inaugurating the two-day regional conference on “Profession of company secretary — vision.com”, organised by the Institute of Company Secretaries of India’ here today, Mr Shastri said while the Indian philosophy treated the world as one big family, the western countries saw it only as a global market where they could sell off their goods. Thus, in the globalised trade regime only state-of-the-art technology could provide the competitive edge. The country must strive to remain one step ahead of other on the technological front.

In the age of information and technology computer literacy had become essential, particularly the company secretaries who have to guide companies in the cybernated business environment.

The prolonged licence, permit and quota regime deprived the youth of entrepreneurial opportunities and it was also responsible for industrial backwardness of the country. Indians who established themselves well in the countries like the USA and UK were capable of facing international competition.

In his keynote address Dr P.L. Sanjeev Reddy, Secretary, Law and Company Affairs, Government of India, said the facility of external connectivity through Internet would be beneficial if only the companies had the internal strength to survive the global competition.

Mr J. Sridhar, president of the Institute of Company Secretaries of India, said in an emerging competitive global market good corporate governance was an essential requirement for ensuring transparency in the working of companies. In a digital economy the switch-over to e-governance could require transformation at all levels in which company secretaries would have a greater role to play.

Himachal shifts police officers
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, June 16 — In a reshuffle of the Police Department the Superintendent of Police, Mr K.C. Sadyal and Mr S.R. Mardi were today promoted as DIG. Besides, three other senior IPS officers were also transferred.

The DIGs of northern range (Kangra) and the DIG of southern range (Shimla) have been shifted. Mr I.D. Bhandari, DIG, northern range, has been appointed DIG southern range at Shimla in place of Mr K.S. Rana who has been appointed DIG, Wireless.

Mr S.R. Mardi, SP, Vigilance, Shimla, has been posted as DIG, Vigilance. Mr K.C. Sadyal, SP, Kangra, on promotion has been posted as DIG, northern range, Dharamsala.

Mr Pritvi Raj, AIG, Railways and Traffic, Shimla, has been posted as SP, Kangra.

Allowances of police personnel increased
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, June 16 — The Himachal Pradesh Government has accepted the long standing demand of police personnel to enhance their uniform and other allowances and increased the initial uniform grant to Rs 6,500 from the existing Rs 3,200.

These orders were issued by the state government today.

The renewal uniform grant of Rs 1,500 has been doubled to Rs 3,000. The kit maintenance allowance of Rs 80 has been increased to Rs 150 for IPS officers with effect from August 1, 1997.

The arrears will be credited to the GPF accounts.

Criticism rejected
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, June 16 — The state unit of the BJP has rejected Congress Legislature Party leader Virbhadra Singh’s criticism of the State Subordinate Services Selection Board as misplaced and said it only reflected his “lack of faith” in constitutional bodies.

Mr Ganesh Dutt, the media charge of the party, said the former Chief Minister, during whose tenure rules and regulation were thrown to winds and recruitment was made on chits, was trying to pressurise the board by making wild and malicious allegations.

Pharmacists’ posts filled
From Our Correspondent

CHAMBA, June 16 — The Himachal Pradesh Government appointed 424 pharmacists to fill the vacant posts in the Department of Animal Husbandry in the state early this month. This was stated by Mr Ram Lal Markanday, Minister of State for Animal Husbandry, who was speaking at an official press meet at the Circuit House here today.

The minister said 200 livestock dispensaries were opened in the state last year, which were being supplied medicines and other needed equipment. He said that to provide doorstep service to the livestock, vehicles were being put at the disposal of the existing hospitals of the department.

Replying to a question, the minister pointed out that the menace of stray cattle had been due to the negligence of the department. The owners were also responsible to the extent that they left their cattle in the open.