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| Tuesday, December 26, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
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Setback to Cong as BJP wins panchayat polls ‘BJP vote bank up despite rout’ BJP ‘indulging in horse trading’ Mandi development works come to halt Where ONGC once drilled for oil |
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Snowfall eludes
Xmas revellers HP may be linked by local call Govt assurance to Bhakra oustees Suraj Bhan visits Chamunda temple 
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Setback to Cong as BJP wins panchayat polls SHIMLA, Dec 25 — Warning bells have sounded for certain senior leaders of the Congress following the ruling BJP for the first time capturing a good number of seats in the zila parishads and other panchayat institutions of the areas which were so far considered as the bastion of the Congress. The outcome of the recent elections of the panchayats, particularly in Shimla district which was considered the stronghold of the Congress, has alarmed the Congress leadership which is divided. Although the Congress supporters have won a majority of the seats in certain areas, the BJP is hopeful of capturing these institutions with the support of Independents and its allies. The Congress has suffered a major setback in the Theog constituency which is represented by the newly appointed state chief of the Congress, Mrs Vidya Stokes. This is perhaps for the first time that the Congress has done so badly in Theog which is the gateway to the apple-growing areas of Shimla district. Reports say that of the three seats of the zila parishad in Theog, two have been won by BJP men and only one went to the Congress. Of the 41 seats of panchayat pradhans, 20 were bagged by Congress supporters and 19 by those of the BJP. The Congress did very poor in the elections for the block development committees by securing only seven seats against 14 bagged by BJP supporters. The performance of Congress activists was equally poor in the Theog Nagar Parishad in which out of the seven wards, the Congress got only one and the BJP six. The Congress activists, particularly those belonging to the anti-Virbhadra Singh faction, were expecting their men to sweep the panchayat elections in Theog in view of the Congress having nominated the PCC chief from that area. However, their expectations have not been reflected in these results. Although these elections were not held on the party symbol, all major political parties were backing their candidates. Most of the ministers were in their respective constituencies campaigning for their supporters during the elections. However, the Congress leadership was engaged in a group fight over its own organisational elections and found hardly any time to campaign for these grassroot institutions. The excuse that most of the Congress leaders are now giving for their rout is that at the panchayat level, people would always go with the government of the day to ensure development of their respective areas. However, the Congress has secured 11 seats in the Shimla zila parishad, against nine of the BJP and one each by the CPM, HVC and an Independent. Although CLP leader and former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh could manage a majority for his men in his Rohru constituency, the BJP has made inroads there too. Two of the three seats of the zila parishad have been shared by the BJP, while the Congress got only one. Congress supporters managed to win 17 posts of panchayat pradhans in Rohru, whereas the BJP seven, HVC one and Independents three. In the adjoining Chauhara block, Congress activists grabbed 15 posts of panchayat pradhans, while the BJP and HVC got three each. The Congress maintained a lead in the block development committees of Rohru and Chauhara where its 10 and nine members got elected, respectively, against three and four of the BJP. The Jubbal Kotkhai constituency represented by another Congress stalwart, Thakur Ram Lal, has also not remained immune from the infiltration of the BJP although a good number of Congressmen have come in the panchayats and BDCs. Of the three seats of the zila parishad, two have gone to BJP men. Congress supporters got 27 seats of panchayat pradhans and those of BJP 11. In the BDC, 10 Congressmen came as members, while the BJP got only four members. There has been a close fight between the Congress and BJP in the Kumarsein constituency of a Congress stalwart, Mr J.B.L. Khachi, with the Congress and the BJP sharing two seats each for the zila parishad. Twelve Congressmen came as panchayat pradhan in the Narkanda block against 10 of the BJP, while their number was 13 and 10, respectively, in the Basantpur block. Nine Congressmen were elected as members of the BDC of Narkanda against five of the BJP. The BJP members secured seven seats in the Basantpur BDC against six of the Congress and two Independents. The Congress has maintained an impressive lead in the Rampur segment, the erstwhile princely state of Mr Virbhadra Singh, where of the 43 panchayats, it bagged 33 and only five went to the BJP, of the four seats of zila parishad, the Congress has got three and the CPM one. In the BDC, 15 members of the Congress won, while the BJP managed six seats. In the Chopal constituency of Mr Yogendera Chandra, 15 Congressmen won the posts of panchayat pradhan, while the BJP got 14. Interestingly, the highest number of 16 posts of pradhans were won by Independents. The BJP failed to get even a single seat in the zila parishad as two were won by the Congress and one by HVC supporters. In the BDC, the Congress got nine seats, BJP five, HVC two and Independents five. Results indicate that 22 Congress supporters won the posts of panchayat pradhans in the Kaumpti constituency and 12 seats were bagged by those of the BJP, In the BDC, the BJP got a lead over the Congress by securing eight seats, whereas the latter got five seats. The HVC got one, and Independents seven. One seat each has been shared by the BJP, Congress and Independents. |
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‘BJP vote bank up despite rout’ NURPUR, Dec 25 — Mr Rakesh Pathania, vice chairman, State Tourism Development Corporation and a local MLA, while accepting the verdict of the electorate in the municipal council poll of Nurpur in which his seven out of nine supporters were routed, has claimed that 15 per cent vote bank of the BJP had increased in the urban area. Talking to mediapersons here yesterday, Mr Pathania said BJP had swept block samiti elections at Nurpur in which 19 out of 29 block samiti members supported by the BJP had won. He added that the BJP supported block samiti was being formed on December 26 with the election of its chairman and vice-chairman. He claimed that 35 and 36 supporters of BJP, respectively, had won the post of panchayat pradhans and up-pradhans in 47 gram panchayats and two out of four zila parishad wards were swept by the BJP supporters in the Nurpur Assembly constituency. Mr Pathania pointed out that a panchayat sammelan was being organised in the next few days at Jachh gram panchayat in which BJP supporters who had won the three-tier panchayat elections would be honoured by the Industry Minister, Mr Kishori Lal. The BJP leader claimed that two Congress supported municipal councillors were in his contact and ready to extend their support to the BJP in the installation of the president and vice-president of the Nurpur MC. |
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BJP ‘indulging in horse trading’ DHARAMSALA, Dec 25 — While charging the BJP of misusing government machinery during panchayat elections, the DCC president, Dr M.R. Goma, today accused the party of indulging in “horse trading” of the newly-elected zila parishad members to install its man as chairman of Kangra district. Addressing a press conference here today, Dr Goma, said that despite the misuse of government machinery during the panchayat and zila parishad elections, the Congress had swept the election by winning, over 80 per cent of the seats. “Failing to get a majority, now the party has started luring our men, who have won the election, so that they can capture the prestigious post of the chairman of the Kangra Zila Parishad,” he alleged. Dr Goma, said that the results of the panchayat, zila parishad, municipal council and the NAC elections were a clear mandate against the anti-poor, anti-farmer policies of the government. Dr Goma, alleged that the BJP had made an amendment in the Panchayati Raj Act so that there was a period of 30 to 40 days for the formation of samiti and zila parishad chairman instead of the earlier 10 day time.” This is a clever tactic of the government to buy time so that they can influence the newly-elected members,” he alleged. He cautioned Congress members and their supporters against any such moves by the ruling party. Dr Goma, who earlier addressed the District Congress Committee meeting said the government had failed to fulfil the promises made by it earlier. “The unemployment figure as compared to 5.60 lakh in 1998 has risen to 9.70 lakh this year, while on the other hand it is only those belonging to the RSS or others having influence, who are able to get a job,” he alleged. Dr Goma, said the results of the panchayat elections were a clear indication that the Congress would form the next government. He said people were fed up with the anti-poor, anti-farmer and anti-Dalit policies of the government. He alleged that cases of injustice with the Dalits were not being registered under the SC/ST Atrocities Act, but under the general category. Dr Goma, said that the Congress would not remain a mute spectator to these policies of the government and would launch a state wide agitation. “I will be holding protest rallies in Sulah, Baijnath, Kangra and Jawalamukhi on January 27, 28 and 29,” he stated. |
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Mandi development works come to halt MANDI, Dec 25 — Mr Anil Sharma, HVC leader and Rajya Sabha Member has lamented that various development projects in Mandi district had come to a virtual halt due to scanty allocation of budget. Talking to mediapersons at the local Circuit House today, Mr Sharma said due to this, it had become difficult for him to face the people as his party was a partner of the government. He said the Rs 4-crore regional hospital building was nowhere near completion because only Rs 29 lakh had been provided in the budget during the past three years. As a result, its cost was bound to escalate. Similarly, work on the Rs 2-crore town hall building had been abandoned for three years. The foundation stone of the bus stand had been laid during the Congress regime by Mr Sukh Ram. Its construction had not been taken up since then despite the fact that Mandi is the gateway to Kulu and Manali, he said. He said it was distressing that even the projects for which he provided funds from the MP’s quota were not taken up. He said as a result of discrimination being meted to the district, resentment was brewing among the people. He pleaded that the Chief Minister should look into the matter. Earlier, at a meeting of the newly elected members of the Nagar Parishad, Mr Anil Sharma asked them to work for the beautification of Mandi town transcending party considerations. He said the new Sunken Garden Market Complex had come up due to special financial assistance provided by Mr Sukh Ram when he was a minister at the Centre. However, much remained to be done for the development of the town. |
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Where ONGC
once drilled for oil JWALAMUKHI: Once bustling with activity in connection with the drilling operations of the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), this township now is confined to the holy shrine of Jwalamukhi. The offices of the ONGC, in and around the town have virtually been locked for the past four years as the corporation has abandoned drilling operations in the Changar Talai area of Deotsidh and Baggi, near Jwalamukhi. The store office of the ONGC has become a junk-yard for condemned equipment and tools scattered around. The administration office of the ONGC on the other side of the town, has been taken over by the state government where the HP Agro-Industries has set up its divisional office. The exploration of hydrocarbons in the Himalayan foothills of Himachal was undertaken by the ONGC from its inception in 1956 due to the presence of oil and gas in the area. Before Independence a survey was conducted in 1835 by Medlicott, the Superintendent of the Geological Survey of India. The area was examined scientifically in 1853 by Macardiew of the GSI. In 1856 a committee was appointed for the purpose by the Punjab government. Macardiew, accompanied by Major Lake, Commissioner of Jalandhar Division, and two civil engineers visited the area. The committee suggested the appointment of a person by the government to collect samples of hydrocarbons present there. These samples were examined in Lahore in 1940. The government expressed willingness to launch exploration operations. Meanwhile, Mahatma Gandhi’s Quit India Movement was launched, and the plan was shelved. After Independence Jawaharlal Nehru asked Indian geological scientists to try and find oil and gas in the area. The operations were conducted with the assistance of Romania, Italy, France and the erstwhile USSR. Besides carrying out geological mapping and seismic surveys, drilling of exploratory wells was undertaken in phases on the basis of surveys carried out by the CGG of France in 1984. The drilling operations of three super-deep wells commenced in 1987 in Changar Talai, Nurpur-Lunj and Jwalamukhi-Baggi. Out of these three wells only the Jwalamukhi-Baggi well has been completed to a depth of 4935 metres. The Nurpur well has not made much headway, while the Changar Talai well has been abandoned prematurely. Now the operations have been shifted by the ONGC to Madhya Pradesh. The ONGC authorities claim that work had to be abandoned because oil was not struck at any of the three sites. But reports said the ONGC had closed down the drilling midway though the chances of gas being there were bright. Even at the Changar Talai well drilling was done up to a depth of 6,720 metres against the target of 7,000 metres. However, oil could not be struck. At Nurpur the drilling was stopped at a depth 4,935 metres against the target depth of 7,000 metres. Millions of rupees and valuable foreign currency were spent by the government through the ONGC on this project without getting any tangible results. People of the area have urged the Centre to set up an inquiry commission to prove why the drilling operations were given up midway. They claimed that oil and gas existed in the area, but the ONGC wound up operations due to political considerations. |
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Snowfall eludes
Xmas revellers SHIMLA, Dec 25 — A clear blue sky disappointed tourists who thronged here today in the hope of celebrating a white Christmas. There was a bright sun with no hope of a snowfall. The atmosphere was festive as hundreds of tourists roamed around The Ridge and the Mall. A large number of people visited the Christ Church where Christmas prayers were held. Almost all restaurants were packed to their capacity throughout the day and there was hardly any place left for parking of vehicles in the parking lots as tourists reached from Chandigarh, Punjab, Haryana and Delhi in large number. Many hotels have offered packages to celebrate Christmas. There was a traffic jam at Kufri which was another destination of tourists. Many of them went to Naldehra. Elaborate security arrangements had been on The Mall and The Ridge. The Mall was crowded. Reports of Christmas celebrations were received from Solan, Kulu,
Dharamsala and Kasauli also. |
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Tourists await snowfall DALHOUSIE, Dec 25 — The tourists coming from different parts of the country to this hill station, to spend Christmas with their families, though disappointed are still waiting for the first snowfall of the season here and at adjoining Pir Panjal hills on the eve of New Year. The hoteliers here have made elaborate arrangements for the New Year. Hotels at Khajjiar and Chamba hill resorts are also
spruced up to accommodate tourists for New Year celebrations. The hotels of the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation in Dalhousie, Khajjiar and Chamba have already been reserved through Internet, e-mail and the tourists have started arriving. |
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HP may be
linked by local call HAMIRPUR, Dec 25 — Bharatiya Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) will do most of the work of laying optical fibre cables in the state from the next fiscal year. At present, it has been getting 50 per cent of the work done through the project wing of the department. Mr Nirmal Singh Gill, Chief General Manager of the HP Telecom Circle, said this at Chamba recently. He was presiding over a meeting of the HP Circle Telephone Advisory Committee meeting. Mr Maheshwara Singh, Mr Suresh Chandel and Mr Kripal Parmar, all MPs, were also present. Mr Gill informed the members that the BSNL has set up a committee for adopting a uniform policy for carrying out optical fibre cable and UG cable laying throughout country. The report of the committee was awaited. He said that the BSNL was also examining a proposal to expand the limit of 50 km aerial distance to 100 km in respect of group dialling scheme in the state. Once it was implemented, most of the areas of the state would be connected at the cost of a local call. The CGM informed the members that the work for releasing 60,000 new phone connections in the state was in progress. Sixty per cent of the connections had already been released and the target would be achieved by March 31, 2001. He said that there was no shortage of electronic push button telephones with the department. He said that 30 per cent of the target under the village phone telephones had been completed and the remaining phones would be installed by the end of the current fiscal year. The CGM said that the new Internet rates had been finalised and users would get these on new rates from the BSNL. He said that the BSNL had set up own gateway in New Delhi and in future, the entire Internet work would be routed through BSNL’s own network. He said that the waiting list of the state stood at 41,351 and Kangra SSA topped the list with 14,189 applicants, followed by Hamirpur at 12,819, Shimla 5,248, Mandi 4,328, Solan 3,310 and Kulu 1,457. The work for the installation of 75 new telephone exchanges with media was in progress and would also be completed in a stipulated period. Twenty three exchanges had already been set up in the state since April, 2000. He said that the 22 new centres were also provided with STD facilities in the state, thus raising the number of such stations of 678. In all, there were 733 telephone exchanges in the state at present. The CGM claimed that the capacity of the telephone exchanges in the state since April, 2000, was increased by 24,122 and new connections released were 22,111. Mr Gill also told the members that the department was following the policy of rotating its officers from one post to another as per the directive of the Chief Vigilance Commissioner of India. All SSA heads had been asked to follow this policy. However, there might be some exceptions keeping in view the shortage of experienced staff for the maintenance of the telecom system in the difficult terrain of the state. Regarding new phone connections, he said that the new simpler forms being prepared by the BSNL were awaited. |
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Govt assurance to Bhakra oustees BILASPUR, Dec 25 — State Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda has said the Dhumal government is committed to solving the problems of lakhs of Bhakra Dam oustees of the district, in a phased manner at the earliest. Addressing a general house meeting of the Bhakra Oustees Rights Protection Committee here last evening, Mr Nadda said the Dhumal government had revived and reconstituted the state-level Oustees’ Rehabilitation and Advisory Committee which had solved at least 15 problems of the oustees. Earlier, committee general secretary Jaikumar presented a charter of 42 demands and urged the Himachal Government to give concessions and relief to oustees. The Health Minister said steps were afoot to create two sectors in the new Bilaspur township for the rehabilitation of
oustees. |
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Suraj Bhan visits
Chamunda temple KANGRA, Dec 25 — The Himachal Pradesh Governor, Dr Suraj Bhan, today visited the temple of Chamunda and Chinmayanand Mission Centre at Tapovan near here during his visit to the district. The Governor performed pooja at the temple and paid obeisance before the diety. On way back here from Chamunda, Dr Suraj Bhan visited Chinmayanand Mission Centre in the Sandeepni Himalayas, at Tapovan Sibahari today. Governor was received at the ashram by Swami Sumitra Chaitanya, Acharya Sandeepany, Dr Chakra Trustee, and Mr K.R. Pai. He was briefed about the activities of the mission in the field of Vedanta, village upliftment and the rural development. The Governor was told that a bhajan sandhya would be organised at Tapovan on January 1, 2001 on the first day of the 50th year of Chinmayanand Movement. |
Khampa organisation
office-bearers SHIMLA, Dec 25 — The following have been elected office-bearers of the All-Himachal Khampa Welfare Organisation: chairman — Mr Tulsi Ram Khampa; president — Ms Shanti Devi; vice-presidents — Mr Rabten Shastri and Mr Om Parkash; and general secretary — Mr Daya Ram. |
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Four shops
gutted KANGRA, Dec 25 — Property worth Rs 2 lakh was destroyed in a devastating fire which broke out at Masrade village, 8 km from here, last night, Fire Brigade sources said here today. According to the sources four shops were gutted which included a stationery shop, when fire broke out at Masrade due to a short circuit. No loss of life was reported. Fire tenders from here were rushed to the spot. |
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