H I M A C H A L   P R A D E S H

Woman candidate’s son murdered
Second phase of panchayat poll today
KANGRA, Dec 14 — A three-and-a-half-year son of a woman candidate, who is contesting for the post of ward panch in Chaddi village was strangulated to death and left in a cow shed in the village near Nagrota Bagwan in this subdivision last evening, Additional Superintendent of Police Ram Lal said here today.

Dhumal lays stone of 10-cr ISBT
SHIMLA, Dec 14 — Prof P.K. Dhumal, Chief Minister, today came down heavily on Mr Virbhadra Singh, Leader of the Opposition, for launching a “misinformation” campaign to belittle the achievements of his government.

Winter surcharge to affect 3 pc only
SHIMLA, Dec 14 — While the imposition of winter surcharge on domestic power consumers from November has attracted much criticism from various sections of society, particularly the political parties, a study carried out by the state electricity board has revealed that only 3 per cent of the consumers have been affected by it.

Medical officers invited for talks
SHIMLA, Dec 14 — The state government has invited the agitating Himachal Pradesh Medical Officers Association for talks to discuss its demands here tomorrow.

Winter surcharge to affect 3 pc only
SHIMLA, Dec 14 — While the imposition of winter surcharge on domestic power consumers from November has attracted much criticism from various sections of society, particularly the political parties, a study carried out by the state electricity board has revealed that only 3 per cent of the consumers have been affected by it.

Chopper flights for tourists
SHIMLA, Dec 14 — The Himachal Tourism Development Corporation will organise special helicopter flights to Kinner Kailash, Shali Tibba, Churdhar and other peaks for tourists on the eve of the new millennium.

Resentment among poll officials
KANGRA, Dec 14 — Resentment prevails among thousands of government officials, police and Home Guard personnel on panchayat poll duty who were deprived of their voting rights due to alleged mismanagement by the state Election Commission.

HP employees, govt hold talks
SHIMLA, Dec 14 — Talks were held between the state government and the Himachal Employees Confederation to discuss various demands of employees here today.

Woman candidate’s son murdered
Second phase of panchayat poll today
From Tribune Reporters

KANGRA, Dec 14 — A three-and-a-half-year son of a woman candidate, who is contesting for the post of ward panch in Chaddi village was strangulated to death and left in a cow shed in the village near Nagrota Bagwan in this subdivision last evening, Additional Superintendent of Police Ram Lal said here today.

Mr Ram Lal, ASP, said the dead child was identified as Akshay Kumar. He said Binta Devi, mother of the victim, had gone for poll campaigning in her village while her husband had gone to collect grass and Akshay was playing with other children. When Binta Devi returned she found her son missing. On searching the child was found dead in a nearby cow shed. According to the police, his body bore marks of strangulation on the neck.

The body was sent for the post-mortem. Additional SP N.D. Sareen was investigating the case. Binta Devi had straight contest with Nirmala Devi for the post. The motive behind the murder was not known, however, political rivalry could not be ruled out, police sources said. The polling is scheduled for December 17, in the third phase in Chaddi panchayat. A case under Section 302, IPC, has been registered.

Meanwhile, a candidate contesting for the post of up pradhan, along with his supporters, allegedly snatched ballot papers from the Trasu counting centre near here last night, the police said here today.

In an FIR lodged by the ARO, Mr Rakesh Kumar Anand, at the Kangra police station, he said the recounting of the votes at the Trasu counting centre for the post of up pradhan was in progress when a candidate contesting for the post, Surender Kumar and his supporters snatched 344 ballot papers. The police recovered 166 ballot papers from the scene.

The Subdivisional Magistrate (SDM), Mr R.L. Rao, in charge of the polls in the subdivision, when contacted said the ARO had not submitted any report to him so far. The SDM said that he had received complaints from the residents of the village that Surender Kumar was first declared elected with a margin of one vote defeating his rival Madan Lal. He said Surender got 175 votes and Madan Lal 174. He said according to the complaints received by him after the results were declared recounting was ordered by the ARO after half an hour. It was alleged that Surender Kumar got 170 votes one was said to be invalid and four votes were missing and Surender snatched the ballot papers and left. Some villagers alleged that counting officials were involved, the SDM said.

The SDM further said the repoll could be ordered only after the ARO submitted his report to him.

Meanwhile, the police registered a case under Section 382, and 171-F, IPC. No arrests have been made as yet.

KUMARHATTI: A former block smiti member Mr Ramesh Chauhan, has been elected president of the local Chewa panchayat. He defeated former president, Vish Ram, by a margin of 290 votes. Mr Sohan Lal has been elected vice-president of the panchayat.

Mr Sanjay Kumar has been elected vice-president of Barog panchayat. He defeated Mr Roop Ram by a margin of 74 votes. Mr Sukh Ram has been elected president of the panchayat. He defeated his nearest rival by a margin of 45 votes.

At Dharampur panchayat Mr Prem Chand has been elected president. He defeated Mr Prem Singh by a margin of 550 votes. Mr Nanak Singh Gaini won the seat of vice-president by defeating his nearest rival by a margin of 600 votes.

At Rori panchayat Mr Dayal Singh and Mr Kirpa Ram have been declared elected president and vice-president, respectively. The former defeated Mr Rattan by a margin of 103 votes and the latter defeated Mr Prem Singh by a margin of 464 votes.

At Delgi panchayat Mr Paras Ram and Mr Mohan Singh have been elected president and vice-president, respectively. At Jambal Jamrot panchayat, Mr Amar Singh Kunihar has been elected president and Mr Ishwar vice-president. At Ladli panchayat, Ms Sita Devi has been elected president and Mr Hasham Deen vice-president.

At Kuthar panchayat, Mr Manoj Sharma has been elected president and Mr Deva Nand vice-president. At Kabakalan panchayat Mr Nand Lal has been elected president.

NAHAN: In the second phase of panchayati raj elections, the poll in 82 panchayats in Sirmour district would be conducted on December 15.

Deputy Commissioner and district election officer, Mr Rakesh Kaushal, said here on Thursday that elaborate arrangements had been made for conducting peaceful elections.

He said the election parties had already left for their destinations and extra force had been deployed on some sensitive polling stations.

Mr Kaushal said out off total 219 panchayats in the district in 25 panchayats presidents were elected unanimously, in 49 panchayats vice-presidents were elected without any opposition, while 948 panchayat member out of total 1317 members were elected unanimously.

For second phase of elections 180 polling stations have been established. In the first phase, elections were held in 75 panchayats peacefully, Mr Kaushal added. 

Dhumal lays stone of 10-cr ISBT
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Dec 14 — Prof P.K. Dhumal, Chief Minister, today came down heavily on Mr Virbhadra Singh, Leader of the Opposition, for launching a “misinformation” campaign to belittle the achievements of his government.

Addressing a public meeting after laying the foundation stone of a Rs 10-crore interstate bus terminus (ISBT) here, he said it was common knowledge that the wrong policies of the Congress were responsible for the state’s financial crunch. Instead of raising resources, Mr Virbhadra Singh concealed the actual Budget deficit before the Ninth Finance Commission. As against the deficit of about Rs 200 crore, only Rs 8.73 crore was reflected in the 1988-89 Budget which was taken as the base year for making recommendations by the commission. Consequently, the state received about Rs 1,000 crore less from the Centre during the 1990-95 period.

Worse, instead of seeking special assistance or raising resources, Mr Virbhadra Singh went on a borrowing spree to bridge the revenue gap and landed the state in a deeper mess. Hefty commissions were paid on loans raised at exorbitant rates of interest ranging from 18 to 22 per cent, he alleged.

Talking of the hydel power sector, Professor Dhumal said the first phase of the prestigious 2051 MW Parbati Project would have been completed had Mr Virbhadra Singh not rescinded the agreement signed among five states for its execution in 1991. Similarly, the 126 MW Larji Project was grounded when the entire staff and machinery was shifted to the Ghanvi Project.

He said while a Rs 10-crore bus terminus was being constructed here, a Rs 17 crore sewerage scheme was being executed in Dharamsala with the special grant sanctioned by the 11th Finance Commission. Similarly, a drinking water supply scheme and a sewerage scheme was being provided for Hamirpur and Jawalamukhi towns, respectively.

Referring to the development of Shimla, the Chief Minister said a number of projects were in progress in this direction and parking capacity had been raised from 140 to 250 vehicles during the past two years. Steps were afoot to create parkings at 15-16 more places in the state. He said a tunnel in Shimla had been renovated and several projects were in the pipeline.

Mr Kishan Kapoor, Transport Minister, said this bus stand would be one of its kind in the country, equipped with all modern facilities, including a hotel and a restaurant. In all, six bus stands were under construction in the state which would be completed soon.

Winter surcharge to affect 3 pc only
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Dec 14 — While the imposition of winter surcharge on domestic power consumers from November has attracted much criticism from various sections of society, particularly the political parties, a study carried out by the state electricity board has revealed that only 3 per cent of the consumers have been affected by it.

Out of the total 12,27,271 domestic electricity consumers only about 37,000 (3 per cent), who are consuming more than 300 units per month, will be feeling the pinch of the surcharge. As many as eight lakh consumers are covered in the first slab (0 to 45 units) who are getting power at 70 paise per unit. Another 3.20 lakh, who fell in the second slab (46 to 150 units), are paying Rs 1.05 per unit and 73,600 (covered in 151 to 300 units slab) Rs 1.50 per unit.

Those consuming over 300 units were paying Rs 2.25 per unit even before the imposition of the surcharge. The board instead of adding the surcharge at 20 per cent decided to withdraw the subsidy available to this category up to 300 units.

A spokesman of the board claimed that even now this category was being given a subsidy of 35 paise per unit. The average cost of power came to Rs 2.65 per unit and in all the board was giving a subsidy of Rs 100 crore to the domestic consumers. The winter surcharge would fetch only about Rs 7 crore to the board, he added.

Medical officers invited for talks
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Dec 14 — The state government has invited the agitating Himachal Pradesh Medical Officers Association for talks to discuss its demands here tomorrow.

Members of the association have been observing a two-hour pen-down strike daily since December 11 which has affected the functioning in various health institutions in the state and has caused hardship to patients.

A spokesman of the state government said the association had been insisting that their demands for taking into account the adhoc service and waiving of departmental examination for the purpose of grant of four-tier time scales be accepted immediately whereas they were prepared to discuss other demands at a later date. He said in fact all their demands were already under various stages of examination.

The government had issued revised instructions regarding acceptance of these demands which involved either financial or administrative implications or needed clarification from the Punjab Government.

MANDI: The pen-down strike by medical officers of Himachal Pradesh for the two peak hours daily has paralaysed the working in the local Regional Hospital and other hospitals in the district.

Winter surcharge to affect 3 pc only
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Dec 14 — While the imposition of winter surcharge on domestic power consumers from November has attracted much criticism from various sections of society, particularly the political parties, a study carried out by the state electricity board has revealed that only 3 per cent of the consumers have been affected by it.

Out of the total 12,27,271 domestic electricity consumers only about 37,000 (3 per cent), who are consuming more than 300 units per month, will be feeling the pinch of the surcharge. As many as eight lakh consumers are covered in the first slab (0 to 45 units) who are getting power at 70 paise per unit. Another 3.20 lakh, who fell in the second slab (46 to 150 units), are paying Rs 1.05 per unit and 73,600 (covered in 151 to 300 units slab) Rs 1.50 per unit.

Those consuming over 300 units were paying Rs 2.25 per unit even before the imposition of the surcharge. The board instead of adding the surcharge at 20 per cent decided to withdraw the subsidy available to this category up to 300 units.

A spokesman of the board claimed that even now this category was being given a subsidy of 35 paise per unit. The average cost of power came to Rs 2.65 per unit and in all the board was giving a subsidy of Rs 100 crore to the domestic consumers. The winter surcharge would fetch only about Rs 7 crore to the board, he added.

Chopper flights for tourists
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Dec 14 — The Himachal Tourism Development Corporation will organise special helicopter flights to Kinner Kailash, Shali Tibba, Churdhar and other peaks for tourists on the eve of the new millennium.

The flights will be conducted from December 24 to 31. The corporation has decided to give winter special discount ranging from 25 to 40 per cent in its various hotels up to April 14, 2001. The package under the discount scheme involves stay free of cost for the third day which the customer could avail of any time during the period.

It will also organise short duration skiing courses for beginners from January to March at Narkanda and Manali.

Resentment among poll officials
From Our Correspondent

KANGRA, Dec 14 — Resentment prevails among thousands of government officials, police and Home Guard personnel on panchayat poll duty who were deprived of their voting rights due to alleged mismanagement by the state Election Commission.

According to reports 5352 government officials on duty at 1338 polling stations in the district and 6424 police personnel and 1319 Home Guards were not provided with any facilities to cast votes.

A senior official when inquired about it, said. “This is nothing but mismanagement of the election authorities. Nearly 15000 voters were deprived of their voting rights’.”

HP employees, govt hold talks
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Dec 14 — Talks were held between the state government and the Himachal Employees Confederation to discuss various demands of employees here today.

Leaders of confederation called for immediate implementation of demands like grant of house rent and medical allowance on the Punjab pattern and release of ration money to policemen.

They also underlined the need for framing uniform pension rules for all boards, corporations and autonomous bodies and enhancement in pension of those who retired between January 1 and July 31, 1996. Other demands included finalisation of recruitment and promotion rules, scrapping of work charge system, formation of transfer rules and opening of tourism corporation canteens in all district headquarters on the pattern of the state secretariat.

The leaders of the confederation later met Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal and thanked him for inviting the confederation for talks.