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| Sunday, December 17, 2000, Chandigarh, India    |
Govt justifies power surcharge HPCC chief: Sonia clears Stokes’
name
Election fever grips Parwanoo HP steps to attract
entrepreneurs Govt to spend 21 lakh on
Roerich Gallery Construction ban irks residents |
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Plea to reinduct Sukh Ram College students continue fast Fresh snowfall in
Himachal areas Shimla suburb in a state
of neglect Three Cong men hurt in clash
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Govt justifies power surcharge SHIMLA, Dec 16 — The Himachal Pradesh Government today justified the imposition of winter surcharge on electricity on the ground that the state had to purchase power from outside to meet the shortfall during winter at very high rates. Official spokesman claimed that even after levying of the surcharge, electricity was cheapest in the state. The state power board had been supplying as many as 657 million units of electricity at highly subsidised rates to consumers and the annual burden on this account came to Rs 106 crore. Moreover, 11.91 lakh out of the total 12.27 lakh domestic consumers had been spared the surcharge. In all, only 36, 871 consumers, would pay the surcharge. Even then they would also continue to get electricity at Rs 2.25 paise per unit as against average electricity supply cost of Rs 2.60 per unit. For the 36, 871 consumers belonging to the upper state of the society and use electricity in excess of 300 units in a month would have to pay a little more for five months in winter. The spokesperson further said 7.97 lakh consumers, who on average consumed up to 45 units, were getting electricity at 70 paise per unit and thus availed themselves a subsidy of Rs 1.90 per unit. Nearly 3.19 lakh consumers, about 26 per cent, who consumed up to 150 units per month were paying Rs 1.05 paise per unit, the quantum of subsidy being Rs 1.55 per unit, 73,000 consumers about 6 per cent, consuming 300 units per month at Rs 1.50 per unit and getting a subsidy of Rs 1.10 per unit. He said out of the Rs 106 crore being subsidised annually to the domestic consumers, Rs 40 crore was going to those consuming up to 45 units, Rs 42 crore to those consuming up to 150 units, Rs 20 crore to those consuming up to 300 units in a month and Rs 4 crore to those consuming more than 300 units in a month. The spokesman said even after the levy of winter surcharge, the top-end tariff of domestic consumers of the state was much less than that prevailing in the adjoining state of Punjab and Haryana where it is being supplied at Rs 2.90 paise per unit and Rs 3.19 paise per unit, respectively. |
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HPCC chief: Sonia clears Stokes’
name SHIMLA, Dec 16 — Mrs Vidya Stokes, senior Congress leader and a former Speaker, is all set to take over as the next Pradesh Congress Committee chief. According to party sources, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, All-India Congress President, had cleared the name of Mrs Stokes. Her election to the top party post would be a mere formality. Mr Hanumant Rao, chairman of the three-member pradesh election authority, had convened a meeting of the PCC delegates for electing the state president here tomorrow. The PCC delegates had, last month, passed a resolution authorising Mrs Gandhi to nominate the state party present, the state executive, disciplinary committee and election committee. The rival Virbhadra Singh camp had alleged largescale irregularities in the organisational poll, but supported the resolution. However, at the same time Mr Virbhadra Singh had expressed hope that Mrs Gandhi would take a decision keeping the caste and regional factors into consideration. In fact Mr Virbhadra Singh had been vigorously pursuing the candidature of Mr Chander Kumar, a leader belonging the Backward Classes from the Kangra region, for the post. His plea was that the Leader of the Congress Legislative Party and the party president should not be from the same region. Since he hailed from the Old Himachal, the party chief should be from the New Himachal, preferably Kangra, biggest and politically most important district. Similarly, the incumbents to these two top party posts should not be from the same caste. Since Mrs Vidya Stokes also hailed from Shimla and belonged to Rajput community, the plea to balance the caste and regional factors was apparently made to prevent here elevation to the top post. In a last ditch effort to edge out Mrs Stokes, the rival camp even favoured a second term for Mr Sat Mahajan, outgoing President, who also hailed from the Kangra region. However, Mrs Sonia Gandhi rejecting all arguments, had placed her trust in Mrs Stokes who has been her close confidante. The composition of the electoral college thrown up by the highly controversial organisational poll had made it quite clear that the anti-Virbhadra camp would manage to grab the post. A majority of PCC delegates, district presidents and former party presidents, Mr Gian Chand Tutu, Mr K.D. Sultanpuri, Mrs Sarala Sharma, Mr N.C. Prasher and Mr Sat Mahajan, had favoured the candidature of Mrs Stokes. It had become obvious now that around two dozen complaints of irregularities in conduct of organisational poll lodged by the Virbhadra camp would not have any bearing on the election of the president. Mr Virbhadra Singh, when contacted, said since the party had already authorised Mr Sonia Gandhi to nominate the next PCC chief, “Whatever decision she takes” would be acceptable to him and his supporters. As per the schedule announced by Mr Hanumant Rao nominations would be filed between 9.30 a.m. to 10.00 a.m. and withdrawal would be allowed upto 11.00 a.m. If required election would be held at 11.30 a.m. |
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Election fever grips Parwanoo PARWANOO, Dec 16 — As the date of polling for the municipal committee is drawing nearer, to be held on December 20, election mania for the nine wards hots up, with 17 women and 31 men left in the fray. Posters and banners have come up in each ward and candidates are accusing each other of removing, defacing and damaging their banners and posters. Ward 1, which has 474 votes and has been reserved for women this time, is witnessing a three-cornered contest. Ms Meenakshi Sharma, Ms Nishi Sharma and Ms Sneh Lata are the contestants from this ward. Ms Meenakshi Sharma is the wife of Mr Man Mohan Sharma, a former president of the MC. Ms Sneh Lata has retired from government service. She was president of the State Karamchari Union of the HP Handloom Corporation for 18 years. Ward 2, which has 713 votes and is known as workshop area, was represented by Mr Ram Swaroop a son of Mr Raghu Raj, the sitting MLA of this area. This ward now has four contestants, — Mr Balwinder Singh, Mr Amar Singh, Mr Surider Aggarwal and Mr Ram
Swaroop. Mr Balwinder Singh is sitting municipal councillor from ward 5. Ward 3, known as Eicher ward, has 821 votes. It was represented by Mr Ravinder Parkash Garg. It now has four contestants, Mr Ravinder Garg, Mr Rajinder Kumar, Mr Lalan Prasad and Mr Ramdhian Singh, Mr Ramdhian Singh is sitting MC from ward 4 and has connections with the BJP. Ward 4, known as Gabriel area, has 1223 votes. It was represented by Mr Ramdhian Singh. Now it will have a straight fight between Mr Raja Ram and Mr Joginder Singh. Ward 5, which is now reserved for women, has a triangular fight between Ms Sudesh Mattaroo, Ms Kanta Kapoor, and Ms Manjeet Kaur. Six women had filed their nominations from this ward but later on three women withdrew. The ward has a total of 898 votes. Ward 6, known as shopping centre, Sector 4, has 765 votes of which 50 per cent belong to migrant labour. This ward has the largest number of contestants at 13. This ward was earlier reserved for women. Mr Ashok Kumar, who is fighting from this ward, is the husband of Ms Sheela Rani, sitting MC from this ward. Mr Narender Walia, a former president of the MC, is also trying his luck from this ward. Ward 7, was earlier represented by Mr Asha Gharu and was reserved for women. This ward, now having nine contestants, has 624 votes. The maximum number of votes in this ward are from employees of Eicher factory, HPMC juice factory, HP Road Transport Corporation and the employees of HP Housing Board. Mr Man Mohan Sharma, another former president of the MC, is trying his luck from this ward. Ward 8, has been reserved for women this time and has 679 votes. Six women are in the fray from this ward. Ward 9, which has been carved from Sector 1-A and Uccha Parwanoo, has 366 votes. There is a triangular contest between Mr Chuni Lal
Chohan, Mr Mool Raj Sharma and Mr S.S. Chohan. |
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HP steps to attract
entrepreneurs SHIMLA, Dec 16 — The Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board and Himurja will prepare detailed project reports and obtain clearance, including environment and technoeconomic approval, required for execution of mini and micro hydel projects in the state for the convenience of entrepreneurs. This was decided at a meeting of the electricity board and Himurja presided over by Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal to review the progress of micro hydel projects. The entire expenditure incurred on the preparation of the reports will be recovered from entrepreneurs to whom the projects are assigned for execution. The Chief Minister underlined the need to enhance the ambit of mini and micro hydel projects from 3 mw to 5 mw so that facilities being given for smaller projects were available for projects up to 5 mw. This would help attract more entrepreneurs to the state. Mr Dhumal also called for simplification of procedure to avoid inconvenience to the entrepreneurs. He said setting up of mini and micro hydel projects in the state would go a long way in providing quality power to consumers in far-flung areas, besides providing employment to the local youth. Reviewing the progress of the electricity board, the Chief Minister called for replacement of defective meters and intensifing checking to plug leakage and power theft. Stern action should be taken against habitual offenders. The Chief Minister underlined the need for frequent monitoring of the progress of projects awarded to private parties in the state. |
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Govt to spend 21 lakh on
Roerich Gallery SHIMLA, Dec 16 — A sum of Rs 21 lakh will be spent on improvement of the Roerich Art Gallery and museum in Kulu. The plan for renovation of the gallery and art studio were discussed at the 10th meeting of the International Roerich Art Memorial Trust held under the chairmanship of Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, here today. Mr Alexander M.
Kadakin, a Russian Ambassador, also attended the meeting while the government sanctioned Rs 12 lakh, a Russian bank gave Rs 9 lakh for the improvement of the gallery. It was decided that the executive committee set up early under the chairmanship of the secretary, art, culture and language, the Himachal Pradesh Government would submit a plan soon for taking up renovation work of the Roerich’s studio and the art gallery building at Nagar in Kulu district. The Chief Minister asked the Deputy Commissioner, Kulu, to deploy round-the-clock security at Nagar for protection of the Roerich’s complex. He also directed that road to the Art Gallery be improved, besides beautification of the complex. Ms Hemra Ahmed, director culture, detailed the action taken on the decision taken in the meeting of board of trustee. The board approved induction of Mr S.S.
Chandel, IAS (retd), as a life trustee of the trust. |
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Construction ban irks residents KUMARHATTI: Residents of this area, particularly those who own land along the Kalka-Shimla national highway, are worried over the government’s decision to ban any construction up to 100 metres on both sides of the road under Section 16 of the Himachal Pradesh Town and Country Planning Act, 1977. Many residents are not even aware of the notification issued by the Town and Country Planning Department in August about the formation of the Special Area Development Authority ( SADA), Barog, to check illegal construction along the highway and undertake other works. Confusion prevails among them with regard to the functions and powers of SADA.The residents say adequate publicity needs to be given to this as well the rules framed by it. “We got information about SADA from unofficial sources,” says Satya Prakash Sharma, a youth from Kalol village under the Barog panchayat. “We fear the government is going to grab our land,”he says. In order to check haphazard construction along the highway, the Governor, in exercise of the powers conferred under sub-section I of Section 67 of the HP Town and Country Planning Act, 1977, had constituted SADA for the Barog area. Villagers living along the highway say the guidelines of SADA are a direct attack on their right to use the land along this road. It is learnt that under the new rules, no service connections will be released by the IPH Department and the HPSEB to residents in the area falling under SADA without the prior sanction of the authorities concerned. Besides, no registration of hotels will be done by the HP Tourism Department unless an NOC has been issued by SADA. “We have to toil hard to make both ends meet. Securing an NOC in case we want to construct anything on our own land will lead to a lot of inconvenience. It will be an ordeal getting prior sanction,” says Sanjay Sharma of Kalor. Mr Sanjay Murti, Deputy Commissioner, Solan, says news regarding SADA has appeared in certain newspapers. Pamphlets giving detailed information about the functions and activities of SADA will also be distributed. |
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Final phase of poll today SHIMLA, Dec 16 (PTI) — The elections to three-tier panchayati raj system in Himachal Pradesh would conclude tomorrow with polling for the remaining 913 panchayats in the third and final phase. About 11.30 lakh voters would exercise their franchise to elect president, vice-president and members of gram panchayat and members of panchayat samiti and zila parishad. About 22,600 panchayat functionaries would be elected by direct vote while presidents of panchayat samitis and zila parishads would be elected through indirect elections. Heavy polling between 70 and 80 per cent was reported for 2,052 panchayats in first two phases on December 13 and December 15 and all the parties were concentrating for the final phase of polls. The elections were not being contested on party symbols but the major political parties namely the BJP, Congress and HVC had been supporting candidates of their respective parties. The panchayat elections would be followed by polling for 20 municipal councils and 28 nagar panchayats on December 20. |
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Plea to reinduct Sukh Ram SHIMLA, Dec 16 — The youth wing of the Himachal Vikas Congress has ruged Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister, to reinduct Mr Sukh Ram, the party supremo, in the ministry in place of Mr Mohinder Singh. Mr Devinder Chauhan, state president of the youth wing of the party, said Mr Mohinder Singh was taken into the ministry on the HVC quota and to restore balance in the coalition. Mr Sukh Ram be made the Public Works Minister. Alternatively, this important portfolio of public works could be allotted to Dr Ram Lal Markandey, the sole representative of the party in the government, he added. |
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College students continue fast HAMIRPUR, Dec 16 — The indefinite fast by members of the local Government College Students Central Association entered its third day today. The students are protesting against the change in the winter holiday schedule by the HP University authorities. Students raised slogans and continued their agitation inside the college campus, according to Mr Rajesh Thakur, general secretary of the SCA. He asked the state government to intervene and accept their demands failing which they would intensify the agitation.
Fresh snowfall in Himachal areas SHIMLA, Dec 16 (PTI) — Most parts of Himachal Pradesh reeled under severe cold wave today following fresh snowfall in tribal areas and other higher reaches.
The Pir Panjal peaks adjoining Jammu and Kashmir experienced intermittent heavy snowfall since this morning while lower areas in the foothills had scattered rains, reports received here said. Higher reaches in the tribal areas of Lahaul and Spiti, Kinnaur and Pangi and high mountain passes of Rohtang, Kunzam and Saach also experienced fresh snowfall,they said.
The snowfall created intense cold wave in Chamba, Kangra and Kulu valleys, while the twin tribal valleys of Lahaul and Spiti experienced sub-zero temperatures ranging between -13° to -10°C.
Shimla and its surrounding areas were swept by icy winds and sky remained heavily overcast, causing sharp fall in day temperature. |
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Shimla suburb in a state
of neglect SHIMLA, Dec 16 — The Totu locality in the suburb of the state capital is a picture of neglect due to the reported indifference of the authorities. The town is expanding in an unplanned manner and has become a virtual slum. Although the locality has now become a part of the main town, yet the basic civic amenities are lacking. There is no sewerage system, no streetlighting and no systematic growth of the area. “There is a sewage tank here which keeps overflowing and pollutes the environment with its unbearable stink”, complained one of the residents. During the mansoon season, the situation becomes worse making life miserable. The water supply in the area is irregular and inadequate.
No action has taken so far in spite of repeated complaints. |
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Three Cong men hurt in clash PALAMPUR, Dec 16 — At least three persons were injured, one of them seriously, when supporters of the Congress and the BJP clashed in Darang village during the panchayat election last night. According to reports all injured persons are the supporters of the Congress and belong to the Dalit community. The clash took place soon after the declaration of the poll result which went in favour of the BJP. |
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