 |
| Saturday, July 22, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
|
HP gives extension to MoUs SHIMLA, July 21 — Virtually rejecting the demand for a ban on the construction of more cement factories in this ecologically fragile state, the government has decided to offer three more sites to the private sector for installing cement plants. 261 power projects offered to
private sector Jaitley defends review of Constitution All set for Minjar Fair Upgraded school fails to start New highway to boost tourism ‘Oust’ Sukh Ram from panel
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Limit on phone bills of
HP officers Car thief gives
police the slip Students gherao centre Director Encroachments on highway removed HP promotes 3 DSPs, shifts 9
|
|
3 more sites for cement
units SHIMLA, July 21 — Virtually rejecting the demand for a ban on the construction of more cement factories in this ecologically fragile state, the government has decided to offer three more sites to the private sector for installing cement plants. The proposed sites are Chopal and Kothi in Shimla district and Bagha in Bilaspur. Sources said it was principally decided to seek offers from the private sector for setting up cement plants at these places where limestone deposits have been partially investigated. The issue was discussed at the meeting of the Cabinet here yesterday. This indicates that the state government has adopted the policy of further exploiting limestone deposits for the manufacture of cement. Sources said the Cabinet also granted one year’s extension to the MoUs which were signed with Larsen and Toubro and Harish Chandra for cement plants at Chamba and Sundernagar, respectively. Cement plants with a one million tonne capacity per year will be set up at these places under the MoU. The MoU for a cement plant at Alsandi signed with Castle and Doglas has already expired. All these MoUs were signed in July, 1995. The proposed cement plant at Sundernagar has already come under a controversy as the Ministry of Environment has rejected the location of mining area of the plant which is just near the Bandli wildlife sanctuary. However, it is learnt that the government is taking up the matter with the Centre again for giving clearance to the project. Sources said it might be a difficult task to obtain environmental clearance for the three new sites at these places also fell within the forest area. The government has already sent a show-cause notice to the National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) for not having initiated steps for mining the high-grade limestone deposits in the Arki area for which lease was granted in 1991. Jai Prakash Industries has been granted lease for mining limestone in the area. Gujarat Ambuja and India Cement were also seeking permission for mining in the area. Sources said fresh parties were being shortlised for setting up a cement plant at Alsindi in Mandi district. However, these parties reportedly wanted that the government should allow them to produce 50 per cent cement and an equal amount of clinker for the purpose of export as the plant location was otherwise not viable. However, what is being taken into account is that the manufacture and export of 100 units of clinker causes a loss of Rs 1625, which comes to Rs 23.75 per tonne, in addition to losses on other counts to the government. The ACC and Ambujas are already producing 2.1 million tonnes and 1.6 million tonnes of cement every year in the state. The Cement Corporation of India with its factory at Rajban near Paonta Sahib is producing 0.2 million tonnes of cement. Besides, there are 16 mini cement plants in Sirmour and Nalagarh. |
|
261 power projects offered to
private sector SHIMLA, July 21 — As many as 261 small hydroelectric projects were offered to the private sector by the Himachal Pradesh Government for execution yesterday. These projects have a total generation potential of 383 MW with a capacity between 150 MW and 3 MW and are located in the districts of Shimla, Sirmour, Chamba, Kangra, Kulu, Lahaul-Spiti and Mandi. About 750 MW of power potential in the state is estimated to be in the small hydro sector on the basis of remote sensing data. The state government has taken several initiatives to encourage the participation of the private sector in small hydropower development. At present work on 88 projects is in various stages of execution after the exploitation of the small hydro sector began during 1995-96 by the private sector. Implementation agreements and power purchase agreements were recently signed for 19 projects. Among the projects now offered,30 are in the tribal district of
Kinnaur.These projects have a total aggregate capacity of 50.50 mw and will be executed on the Baspa, Bhaba, Tidong, Ropa, Spiti and Lingti, which are tributaries of the Sutlej. Fortyone of these sites with a capacity of 39.20 MW have been offered in Shimla district in the Satluj and Yamuna basins. Five projects with a capacity of 5.75 MW have been offered in Sirmour district. As many as 50 projects with a total capacity of 76 MW have been offered in Chamba district on the major tributaries, including Chandra, Bhaga, Miyar, Setun, Budhil and Belij. Seven projects with a capacity of 11.90 MW have been offered to the private sector in Kangra district and 25 sites with assessed capacity of 25.85 MW have been offered in Kulu district. Eightysix projects have been offered in Lahaul-Spiti district and these have an assessed capacity of 160.75 MW and 15 sites with a capacity of 12.65 MW have been offered in Mandi district. Besides the private sector, societies and cooperative societies are also now eligible to apply for the execution of these projects.
|
|
Jaitley defends review of Constitution SHIMLA, July 21 — Mr Arun Jaitley, the Information and Broadcasting Minister, today said a thorough review of the Constitution was called for to clearly demarcate the jurisdictions of the legislature, the judiciary and the executive, and to strengthen the areas where constitutional provisions had failed to deliver. Speaking at a seminar on “Constitutional review — the need of the hour” organised by the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad at Himachal Pradesh University, here, he said during the past 50 years many grey years in the Constitution had been revealed which came in way of the smooth functioning of the government. There had been occasions when one organ had stepped into the jurisdiction of the other leading to unsavoury situations. Thus the separation of powers of the three arms was essential to prevent confrontation. He said several important issues like accountability of the judiciary, appointment of judges, devolution of powers to the States, the anti-defection law, electoral reforms and Centre-State relations, particularly the use and abuse of Article 256, which had generated much debate among the political parties over the years without any corrective action, could be effectively addressed to only during a constitutional review. Besides, there were areas where law enacted by the legislature had been replaced by those laid down by the judges, powers of the Election Commission, and creation of the institution of Lok Pal to check corruption, could be taken care during the constitutional review. Mr Jaitley questioned the credentials of the Congress, which destroyed the basic structure of the Constitution during Emergency, in opposing the NDA Government’s decision to set up a committee to review the Constitution. It committed a colossal constitutional fraud by carrying out the 42nd amendment. Constitutional review was very much a part of the NDA’s agenda and the issues being taken up by the review committee had also been raised by major political parties from time to time. There was no rationale in opposing the committee as the direction of review had already made it clear that the basic structure would not be altered, as was done on the recommendations of the Swaran Singh Committee during Emergency. Moreover, the NDA did not have the two-thirds majority in either House of Parliament to carry out any major changes in the Constitution. Nothing could be done without a general consensus among the political parties. The parties should rise above narrow political considerations. Instead of opposing the review, parties should come forward with their suggestions to strengthen the weak areas. Referring to the demand for autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir raised by the National Conference, he said, the basic problem of the State was insurgency which could not be solved by taking the State out from the purview of the Comptroller and Auditor General, Election Commission and the Supreme Court. Earlier, Mr Justice Om Prakash, Chairman, State Human Rights Commission, who was the chief guest, also underlined the need to review the Constitution to remove the chinks that had come to fore during the past 50 years. |
|
All set for Minjar Fair CHAMBA: The week-long Minjar Fair, held to appease Varuna, the rain God, gets off to a colourful start on July 23. On the final day, people immerse silken minjars into the Ravi. On the opening day, minjars ( top blossoms of the maize plant) will be offered at the local Lakshmi Narayan and Raghuvira Temples. The town, particularly its ancient temples, bazars and the verdant Chowgan, will be illuminated. A procession on the concluding day will begin from the Akhand Chandi Palace. It will go through the main bazaar to the holy banks of the Ravi, where the minjars along with coconuts will be immersed. According to legend, the fair is celebrated to mark King Sahil Verman’s victory over the King of Kangra (Verman founded the erstwhile Chamba State). The defeated Kangra ruler presented Verman with sprouts of maize and paddy. The emergence of maize and paddy sprouts coincides with the fair during which farmers pray to Varuna for rain to ensure a bumper crop. Another legend has it that at one time the Ravi used to flow through the place where the Chowgan is situated. On the right bank of the river was Champavati Temple and on the left Hari Rai Temple. A saint used to go daily to Hari Rai Temple by crossing the river. King Sahil Verman and others requested him to make it possible for all to visit that temple. The saint performed a week-long yajna and also prepared a multicoloured cord called minjar. The river changed its course on the completion of the yajna. According to Mr T.D. Negi, Deputy Commissioner of Chamba, who is also the chairman of the Minjar Fair Celebration Committee, the fair is celebrated to keep local traditions alive and also to promote tourism in the picturesque hilly region. He says the fair is an inseparable part of the cultural heritage of Chamba. To manage various activities connected with the fair, subcommittees have been constituted headed by government officials. Well-known artistes, including ghazal and folk singers, have been invited to take part in the fair. The necessary arrangements have been made for illumination, cultural and sports events and exhibitions. Security has also been tightened as Chamba district adjoins Jammu and Kashmir.
|
|
Upgraded school fails to start NURPUR, July 21 — Residents of Rit Gram panchayat in the Gangath Assembly segment of this sub-division are sore at the Education Department as it has not taken steps to start the upgraded high school for which a notification was issued in December, 1999. In July last year, the Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, visited martyr Lakhbir Singh’s family and announced that Government Middle School, Rit, would be upgraded in the memory of the martyr Lakhbir Singh. The martyr belonged to Sudhar village. The gram panchayat built seven classrooms for the upgraded school. The Education Department has not issued necessary orders to start the upgraded school. The panchayat has also submitted a resolution in this connection to the Chief Minister, the Education Minister and Director, Education Department, demanding steps to start the high school. |
|
New highway to boost tourism DALHOUSIE, July 21 — The Dalhousie-Chamba highway via Kohladi, which is under construction, will open new areas to tourists and be instrumental in improving the socio-economic condition of residents. According to the layout, the road passes through thick forests. Travellers on it will have a panoramic view of the Jammu and Kashmir hills adjacent to Chamba district. It will be the shortest route to Chamba town from Dalhousie. The proposed highway was originally the main mule track to the erstwhile Chamba State from the famous hill station of Dalhousie. The total length of the highway will be 35 km. It will bifurcate from the Dalhousie-Khajjiar road at the GPO, Dalhousie, and join the Chamba-Pathankot highway at Parel. The road has been made motorable up to 14 km ( 9 km from the Parel side and 5 km from the GPO side). On the remaining portion of the road, improvements are needed. Tarring has been completed up to 2 km from the GPO side and soling up to 10 km. According to Mr P.S. Dogra, Superintending Engineer, PWD, Dalhousie Circle, Rs 5.5 crore is required to complete work on the road. When the entire highway is made motorable, tourism is likely to get a boost. More than a dozen villages with a population of about 15,000 will benefit after the project is completed. |
|
‘Oust’ Sukh Ram from panel SHIMLA, July 21 — The Himachal Vikas Congress (I) has urged Chief Minister, P.K. Dhumal to remove Mr Sukh Ram from the chairmanship of the employment generation committee wherein he enjoyed the status of Cabinet minister and yet continued to “conspire” against the BJP government. This demand was made in a resolution which was adopted here today at the first meeting of the state executive of the HVC floated by the PWD Minister, Mr Mohinder Singh. Briefing the media on the deliberations of the meeting, the working president, Mr O.P. Rattan, said the party had taken serious note of Mr Sukh Ram publicly making utterances to “weaken” the BJP-HVC combine government in the state. He said supporters of Mr Mohinder Singh would meet the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, to put forth their viewpoint on the demand by Mr Sukh Ram that Mr Mohinder Singh be dropped from the Cabinet as he had been declared “unattached” in the Assembly by the Speaker. Mr Rattan said a resolution had been adopted to seek disciplinary action against the Minister of State for Animal Husbandry, Mr Ram Lal Markanda, who had tried to “sabotage” functions of the PWD Minister near Keylong in Lahaul-Spiti. Another resolution urging the government to get the CBI inquiry instituted against Congress leader, Virbhadra Singh expedited had been adopted by the executive. Mr Mohinder Singh, who was also present at the press conference, lambasted Mr Sukh Ram and the Congress for blaming the government for the damage caused to some bridges and roads in the current rains. “This is a natural calamity and no one can be blamed”, he said. A resolution urging the government to seek a special grant from the Centre as compensation for the loss suffered in the rains was also adopted. Mr Mohinder Singh said the decision of the Speaker to declare him as an “unattached” MLA was being legally examined.
|
|
Limit on phone bills of
HP officers SHIMLA, July 21 — The fund-starved Himachal Pradesh Government has imposed a further cut on the ceiling of telephone bills of officers, but has allowed the ministers to continue to enjoy the facility of unlimited calls for their residential phones. The fresh cut on bills of telephones installed at the residences of officers will be applicable with effect from this month. Those who have been excluded from the purview of the cut include all ministers, Parliamentary Secretaries, Chief Secretary, Additional Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister and the Director-General of Police. A restriction of bi-monthly ceiling of Rs 2800 has been imposed for the residential phones of Secretaries and Head of Departments in similar pay scales. The Additional Directors-General of Police, DI (Range), Deputy Commissioners, Superintendents of Police (in charge of districts), Managing Directors, Heads of Departments and Chief Engineers will be entitled for a bi-monthly fixed telephone allowance of Rs 2,200. Special Secretaries, Additional Secretaries, Joint Secretaries, Conservator of Forests, Superintending Engineers, Executive Engineers and Divisional Forest Officers (in charge of territorial areas) will be entitled for Rs 1,400 bi-monthly. For other officers the ceiling has been fixed at Rs 800. |
|
Car thief
gives police the slip SOLAN, July 21 — Kalyan Singh, an alleged car thief and registered with the police as a bad character, reportedly escaped from Chail police post today. He along with two others had been nabbed by a group of citizens who grew suspicious after seeing the trio driving a Maruti van without any number plate in early hours today. They grew suspicious when they found the car being driven aimlessly. They set up a naka and informed the police after nabbing the three. A dagger and two cans containing 25 litres each of petrol and diesel were found in the vehicle. The vehicle appeared to be stolen. The three were taken to the police post. One of the three suspects came out of the police post at about 12.50 a.m. and quietly got into the numberless vehicle and made good his escape. The car was found abandoned near Kanori village on the Chail-Gaura road. The interrogation of the two other detainees has revealed that the person who had managed to give the police the slip was none other than Kalyan Singh, a confirmed bad character wanted by police in many cases of car thefts for the past several years. The Superintendent of Police, Mr Rakesh Aggarwal, admitting Kalyan Singh had fled, but denied that he escaped from police custody. He, however, added that he would order an inquiry into the case. |
|
Students gherao
centre Director DHARAMSALA, July 21 — Students of the Regional Centre of the university today gheraoed its Director in protest against the inadequate infrastructure and teaching staff. The students who gheraoed the Director for almost two hours, were protesting against the shortage of teaching staff
ever since postgraduate classes were started here. They demanded that the centre should have proper infrastructure rather than depending upon Government Degree College for practically everything. They complained that despite taking contribution for the PTA fund from them there was no proper record of this money. They demanded that the SCA elections should be held at the regional centre
also. |
|
Encroachments on
highway removed NURPUR, July 21 — To check encroachment on the
Pathankot-Mandi National Highway at Chogan, near here, the local administration removed over 12 kiosks yesterday. The prime land around a proposed stadium and public utility places have also been encroached upon. |
|
Man washed away DHARAMSALA, July 21 — Pratap Chand (33) was washed away in the Baijnath area yesterday. According to the police, the body of Pratap Chand, who belonged to Mahakal Ladoh village close to Baijnath, has still not been
recovered. |
|
HP promotes 3
DSPs, shifts 9 SHIMLA, July 21 — The Himachal Government today promoted three Deputy Superintendent of Police and shifted nine others. Mr Prem Thakur, DSP, Nalagarh, has been promoted and posted as Commandant Home Guards, Mr Jagdish Thakur, DSP, Hamirpur, has been promoted and posted as Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP), Hamirpur. Mr N.S. Pal, DSP (Vigilance), Nahan, has been promoted and posted as ASP, Shimla vice Mr Daljit Thakur who has been shifted to Home Guards. Mr R.S. Negi, ASP, Shimla and Mr V.K. Dhawan ASP, Mandi, have also been shifted to Home Guards. Mr Jog Raj under transfer as sub-divisional police officer (SDPO), Paonta, goes as SDPO, Ghumarvin, vice Mr Prem Chand, who takes over as SDPO, Sundernagar. Mr Mohinder Singh DSP, leave reserve, Chamba, has been posted as SDPO, Nalagarh, while Mr Randhir Singh DSP (Headquarters), Mandi goes as SDPO, Palampur. Mr Hira Singh, DSP (CID), Mandi takes over as DSP (Headquarters), Mandi. Mr Chander Shekhar, DSP (Traffic), Shimla, who was under transfer as SDPO, Sundernagar, has now been posted as DSP (Headquarters), Shimla. |
 |
| Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir | Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs | Nation | Editorial | | Business | Sport | World | Mailbag | In Spotlight | Chandigarh Tribune | Ludhiana Tribune 50 years of Independence | Tercentenary Celebrations | | 120 Years of Trust | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
