Civic poll: Cong cries foul
From Our Correspondent

SOLAN, Dec 30 — Mr Sunjay Awasthi, newly elected Municipal Councillor and also General Secretary of the H.P. Youth Congress, and Mr Pankaj Sood, in-charge, election campaign of the same outfit, in a joint statement here yesterday criticised the state government for “causing undue delay in the oath-taking ceremony and commencement of the newly elected Municipal Council”.

The election to the local civil body were held on December 20 and the results announced the same day. Neither the Congress nor the BJP-supported candidates could get a clear majority. The District Election Officer, Mr Sunjay Murhti, so far, had not fixed date for the oath-taking ceremony of the newly elected councillors.

The two Youth Congress leaders alleged that the state government which wanted to install a BJP man as the council president, was deliberately delaying the formation of the new council as it wanted to buy time for “possible horse-trading”.

They asserted that the new House should have been ushered in soon after the election on December 20, and urged the state government “to honour democratic norms by bowing before the will of the electorate who had given their mandate against the BJP. That party could win only three seats in a House of 13.”

Mr Awasthi and Mr Sood maintained that as of now the newly elected Congress councillors were facing extreme hardship in dealing with people who came to them for solution of different council-related problems”. They said at many places roads were pockmarket by potholes and deep fissures making the life of road-users miserable. They said a big pit, which was dug out near the district hospital a little before the elections, had been unfilled so far. Two women who fell into this pit on Thursday received injuries. There were many other problems which needed to be addressed immediately by the new council.

The District Election Officer when contacted said he had acted as per the relevant provisions of the Municipal Act which required him to send the election results to the State Election Commissioner. The oath-taking ceremony would be held as and when notified by the Election Commission.

Sonia authorised to choose CWC members
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Dec 30 — Both factions of the Congress in Himachal Pradesh today authorised the party President, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, to choose 12 members of the Congress Working Committee from the state.

A meeting of the newly nominated members of the AICC, which was held here this morning under the chairmanship of the PCC chief, Mrs Vidya Stokes, unanimously authorised Mrs Gandhi to nominate the nine members of the Central Election Committee from the state.

Meanwhile, Mr J.B.L. Khachi — a senior parliamentarian — not getting place in the AICC has taken the political circles by surprise. His nomination to the AICC was so far being considered certain, but his name did not figure in the list which was released here today.

Mr Khachi had recently left the Virbhadra Singh group and joined Mrs Stokes during the organisational elections. This had caused much damage to the Virbhadra Singh faction in these elections.

Observers were equally astonished over Mr Vijay Singh Mankotia also not finding a place in the list. He too was among those who had joined the Stokes group recently.

The list includes the names of Mrs Vidya Stokes, Mr Virbhadra Singh, Mr Anand Sharma, Mrs Anita Verma, Mrs Asha Kumari, Mrs Chandresh Kumari, Mr G.S. Bali, Mr K.D. Sultanpuri, Major Krishna Mohini, Mr N.C. Parashar, Mr Phunchog Rai, Mr Ram Lal Thakur, Mr Sat Mahajan and Thakur Kaul Singh.

The co-opted members are: Mr R.R. Rao, Mr Chander Kumar, Mr G.C. Tutu, Mrs Viplove Thakur, Mr Vikram Katoch, Mr Sukhwinder Singh, Mrs Vijay Luxmi and Natha Singh.

The three special invitees are the chiefs of frontal organisations, including the INTUC, the Seva Dal and the NSUI.

BJP factions move closer
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Dec 30 — Differences between dissidents and Dhumal supporters in the ruling BJP have started narrowing with the process of dialogue having been initiated among them.

Two dissident leaders, Mr Dulo Ram, president of the Kangra unit of the BJP and Mr Khushi Ram Balnatah, vice-chairman of the HRTC, had a long meeting with the Health Minister, Mr J.P. Nadda, today to hammer out the differences between the two factions. The Sports Minister, Mr Parveen Sharma, and Mr Karamveer were also present at the meeting.

Mr Dulo Ram, who is a close associate of Mr Shanta Kumar, was one of the signatories of the controversial letter withdrawing support from the Chief Minister.

Mr Dulo Ram said the trouble had started due to misunderstandings and communication gap between the two sides. He said the talks were progressing satisfactorily.

Mr Nadda admitted that things could have settled before the feud case in the open, but most of the partymen were busy in panchayat elections and the matter got delayed.

The so-called dissidents had a meeting with the state BJP chief, Mr Jai Kishan Sharma, earlier this week to sort out their grievance of poor representation to the Shanta Kumar faction in the state executive of the party. The nominees of Mr Shanta Kumar are now expected to be included in the executive.

Mr Nadda said the party will now put up a united picture in the state to fight the Congress. With a united party, the pace of development would be further accelerated, he added.

Meanwhile, the newly elected BJP presidents, vice-presidents and BDC members from 26 gram panchayats of Kotkehloor constituency, led by Mr K.K. Kaushal, met the Chief Minister.

Of overflowing sewers
From Our Correspondent

PALAMPUR, Dec 30 — Resentment prevails among residents living near the new bus stand here over unhelpful attitude of the public health authorities towards the problems of overflowing of the sewers. The sewers have been overflowing on bypass of the town for the past many days. Heavy vehicles pass through this road daily causing extensive damage to the sewers laid by the Public Health authorities, making life of people living there miserable.

Despite complaints to the local SDM and Public Health authorities no steps were taken to repair overflowing sewers. The treatment plant of the Public Health Department has been out of order for the past few days omitting foul smell. Residents of the locality near the IPH rest house are the worst affected. Sewer lines passing through ITO complex have also been overflowing and emitting foul smell all times. In many areas of the town the foul smelling water comes out of the man-holes and scatters in the street, making the lives of the people more difficult.

The local Municipal Committee has made the matter worse as it has dumped garbage near Gurdwara Road on the main highway. No efforts were made to remove the garbage for months together. The council seems to be sleeping on the issue. The Municipal Council has no proper place to dump the garbage in the town.

This is not a only incident, the sewer system of town is in bad shape. The sewers treatment plant of the town and sewers tanks constructed by the Public Health authorities a few years ago have developed major cracks. The poor quality of construction and wrong designing is attributed one of the major causes for the failure of sewer system in the town.

Cell for environment clearance soon: CM
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Dec 30 — Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal has said a special cell will be set up in the Public Works Department in collaboration with the Forest Department to expedite environment clearance for the construction of roads in the state. He was presiding over a mid-term appraisal of implementation of schemes given by MLAs for 2000-2001 from Chamba, Kangra, Mandi, Kulu and Shimla districts here today.

He said frequent transfers of employees would not be allowed in future as it hampered development of the state and directed the department to submit a complete proposal when the ban on transfers was lifted.

He said the Jharata-Ghanta-Drang-Praur-Chadiar-Kandi-Bandla road in Kangra district and Sheel-Baghi road in Chachiot area of Mandi district had been included under Nabard which would ensure their early completion.

Gupta to head HP electricity commission
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Dec 30 — Mr S.S. Gupta was today appointed chairman of the one-member Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Regulatory Commission. Mr Gupta is at present member (Operation) of the HPSEB. His name was recommended by a three-member selection committee consisting of Justice R.K. Mahajan, Mr A.K. Goswami, Chief Secretary and Mr K.N. Sinha, Member, Central Electricity Authority.

A spokesman of the state electricity board said here today the main functions of the commission would be to determine the tariff for electricity, wholesale, bulk, grid or retail, in the manner provided in Section 29 of the Electricity Regulatory Commission Act, 1998. It will also determine the tariff payable for the use of the transmission facilities.

He said it would also regulate power purchase and procurement process of the transmission utilities and distribution utilities, including the price at which the power shall be procured from the generating companies, generating stations or from other sources for transmission, sale, distribution and supply in the state.

The state government has recently taken a number of initiatives to accelerate the process of power reforms in the state.

300 cops deployed for New Year Eve
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Dec 30 — As many as 300 policemen have been deployed in the six specially created sectors in the town to maintain law and order on the New Year Eve tomorrow.

The Deputy Commissioner, Mr P.C. Katoch, said a magistrate and a police officer will be deployed in each sector.

The authorities are expecting about 30,000 tourists to reach here by tomorrow.

Mr Katoch said tourists would be allowed to park their vehicles at Chaura Maidan near Cecil Hotel. Officers of the Tourism Department and traffic police will be available at the Tourist Information Centre and the Victory Tunnel to guide the tourists.

He said cultural programmes would be organised by the authorities at the Ridge from 4 p.m. onwards. The Hotels Association has organised the celebrations in the Indira Gandhi Indoor Sports Complex on the Mall.

3 killed as Gypsy falls into gorge
From Our Correspondent

MANALI, Dec 30 — Three persons were killed on the spot and one injured seriously when a Gypsy in which they were travelling skidded off the road and rolled down into a deep gorge at Rahni Nallah on Manali-Leh Highway, about 45 km from here today.

According to sources, the ill-fated Gypsy was on its way from Manali to Rohtang. All passengers were going to Lahaul Valley.

Bodies of the deceased have been identified as Amar Singh, Assistant Sub inspector, Prem Singh of Lahaul Valley and Shamsher Singh driver. The injured, Sohan Singh, has been admitted to Community Health Centre, Manali, in a critical condition.

Bail refused to pradhan
From Our Legal Correspondent

SHIMLA, Dec 30 — A single-Judge Bench of the Himachal High Court consisting of Mr Justice M.R. Verma has rejected the bail plea of Mr Kushal Singh alleged to be involved under Sections 147, 149, 382, 482, 353 of the IPC and Section 158 of the Panchayati Raj Act and moreover Section 135 of the Representation of People’s Act and Section 3 of the Damage to Public Property Act.

Millennium award for HP Governor

SHIMLA, Dec 30 (PTI) — Himachal Pradesh Governor Suraj Bhan was honoured with the prestigious “great son of the soil international millennium award” in Mumbai today, an official press note here said. The award conferred by the All India Conference of Intellectuals, an organisation dedicated to promoting humanism, nationalism and peace in the country, was presented to the Governor in recognition of his commendable services to the nation, it said, adding that the former Tamil Nadu Governor Bishma Narain Singh presented the award.

Shopkeepers stir against raids
From Our Correspondent

NURPUR, Dec 30 — On a call given by the Beopar Mandal, Jassur, the local shopkeepers downed shutters today in protest against the raids conducted by the officials of the Excise and Taxation Department Dharamsala, on the premises of four business establishments.

PARWANOO, Dec 30 — The local police arrested six persons on a complaint filed by Mr Tula Ram, a resident of Sangna village under the Chamo panchayat. According to information, Tula Ram in a complaint to the police alleged that Dita Ram Rajput, Varinder, Charan Singh, Hari Kishan, Prem Chand and Harinder insulted and beat him up. They were arrested under Sections 3(X) of the SC, ST Act and under Sections 147, 148, 149 and 506 of the IPC.