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| Saturday,
January 13, 2001, Chandigarh, India   
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Transfer powers decentralised Dry spell hits power generation Hope for district
status revived PWD panel concerned
over vacant posts Election to ZP posts
put off till Jan 17 |
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HP annual plan
to focus on higher growth Illegal felling: officials
may be involved 2 tourism schemes completed
in Chamba Company told to
pay 1.60 lakh Poll for ZP chief
deferred BJP wins Bijheri panchayat poll
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Transfer powers decentralised SHIMLA, Jan 12 — In a major step towards decentralisation of the transfer mechanism of its employees, the Himachal Pradesh Government has created a district-wise cadre for Class IV employees and empowered the designated authorities to transfer officials. This was stated to The Tribune here today by the Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal. Mr Dhumal said that the powers of transferring all categories of employees, who were earlier virtually concentrated in the office of the Chief Minister, would now be exercised by the ministers, heads of departments (HoDs) and district-level officers. The Chief Minister would order transfer of all Class I officers and deal with cases where short stay at some particular place was to be condoned. The ministers of respective departments would make transfers of Class II gazetted officers. The heads of departments had been empowered to order transfers of Class III officers. He claimed that for the first time district-level officers had been empowered to order transfers of Class IV employees within their respective districts. All Class IV employees had been put in the district cadre and would be transferred within their districts. Mr Dhumal claimed that in a landmark decision, all primary schools in the state were being transferred to panchayats of the respective areas. The total management of these schools would be done by these panchayats. The ownership of primary school buildings was being transferred to panchayats so that these were properly maintained. The government would continue to provide grants for maintenance and upkeep of these buildings. Construction of new school buildings, panchayat ghars, link roads and community buildings would be done by the local bodies in their respective areas. The Chief Minister said that to introduce transparency in official functioning, the minister and officials of one of the major departments would not exercise discretionary powers for the disposal of applications and other matters, which would be sanctioned purely on the basis of merit. Any application with complete papers would be deemed to have been sanctioned without undergoing the routine official hassles. This would be done in any one department on an experimental basis and be gradually extended to other departments. Mr Dhumal said that a committee of secretaries had been constituted for the purpose and was expected to submit its draft proposals by January 31. |
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Dry spell hits power generation SHIMLA, Jan 12 — Inadequate snow and rain over the past four months has
severely hit power generation in various hydroelectric projects, forcing the state electricity board to impose an eight-hour power cut from yesterday. The project of the board recorded the lowest generation of 10 lakh units, plunging the state into the worst-ever power crisis. The power cut will be effective from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. to 10 a.m. daily. The shortage has been so severe that the cut has been extended to all categories of consumers. So far, the board was managing the situation by resorting to overdrawals from the northern grid. However, after the breakdown of the grid early this month, which plunged the state into darkness, the Union Power Minister, Mr Suresh Prabhu, has cautioned the states against overdrawals and asked them to maintain discipline. The board was thus left with no option but to impose the cut. Although the generation in various hydroelectric projects declines during the lean winter months, this year, the prolonged unusual dry spell has led to a serious crisis. The dry spell, which has created a drought-like situation in the region, was broken by mild snowfall on New Year. However, that did not help much in improving the situation and the discharge in snow-fed rivers continued to decline. Consequently, the total daily generation, which touched 69 lakh units during summer, had declined to about 10 lakh units, the lowest ever. Normally, it hovers around 18 lakh units and during unfavourable weather conditions plunges to 14 lakh units. Thus, as against a requirement of 95 lakh units, the availability has come down to about 80 lakh units. The board was purchasing 15 lakh units from Punjab and 4 lakh units from Haryana, besides a Central share of about 50 lakh units. The generation in the 120 MW Bhabha project has come down to a meagre 5 lakh units for the normal 31.5 lakh units during summer. Similarly, in the 60 MW Bassi project it has declined to 1.23 lakh units from 14.4 lakh units. In the smaller projects, the discharge had come down to a trickle and each of them was generating only a few thousand units. The commissioning of the 22.5 MW Ghanvi project last month has also not helped much as it is generating only 82,000 units. The engineers of the board fear that situation would worsen further if the dry spell continues. More so, because lack of rain has increased the demand for power for irrigation in Punjab and Haryana. These states are finding it hard to spare power for Himachal. Punjab, which had been supplying 15 lakh units till yesterday, spared only 12 lakh units today. |
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Hope for district
status revived DHARAMSALA, Jan 12 — The announcement by the Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal, that he is in favour of carving out smaller districts for better administration has once again rekindled the hopes of the people of the Palampur area, who have been demanding district status for the past two decades. Palampur was all set to become a district on January 25, 1987, when the statehood day function was held here. The then Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh, had even directed the officials to hold a survey so that all district-level offices could be accommodated. “It was due to opposition from a senior Congress leader from Nurpur that Mr Virbhadra Singh did not make the announcement for making Palampur a district,” revealed a senior Congress leader from Kangra. Though the leaders from the Palampur and Baijnath areas have always favoured granting of district status on Palampur, a section of senior politicians feared that the significant place held by Kangra in state politics would be diluted after bifurcation of the biggest district of the state, having 16 assembly segments. Interestingly, Hamirpur and Kulu, which were once tehsils of Kangra, attained district status long time ago. Palampur, which too was one of the tehsils, has had to contend with subdivisional status only. Even during the regime of Mr Shanta Kumar, who hails from Palampur, the demand for creation of a district remained unfulfilled. After the formation of the Congress government, headed by Mr Virbhadra Singh, in 1993, the demand for creation of Palampur district gained momentum once again. The proposed Palampur district was to comprise the assembly segments of Palampur, Thural, Sulah, Baijnath and Rajgir. A section of the people were in favour of including a part of Jogindernagar in the proposed Palampur district. However, in 1993, the demand could not be accepted, as the people of Dehra and Nurpur also started demanding according of district status to them. Even Mr Dhumal, during his recent visit to Kangra, stated that it was not only the people of Palampur but also of Nurpur and Dehra who wanted district status. After his statement, there is scepticism in political circles regarding carving out of Palampur district. Political observers feel that he may favour creation of Dehra district, as part of it falls under the Hamirpur parliamentary constituency. On the other hand, some people feel that by making Palampur a district, he might want to confine his political opponent, Mr Shanta Kumar, to a smaller district. Palampur is the home town of Mr Shanta Kumar, though he has contested assembly elections from Sulah constituency. The sitting Congress MLA from Palampur, Mr B.B.L. Butail, while supporting the case of Palampur, said that it was an old and just demand of the people of the area. “Logically speaking, the case of Palampur is justified as it has high population density, work pressure and a vast area,” he contested. He said that the three subdivisions of Palampur, Baijnath and Jaisinghpur comprise over 4.50 lakh persons, making it fit enough for becoming a district. Mr Butail said that this would not only be convenient for the people, but the area would benefit as a lot of funds come from the Centre for district development. |
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PWD panel concerned
over vacant posts SHIMLA, Jan 12 — Resentment prevails among members of the State Public Works Department Mechanical Engineers Association over the failure of the department to follow the roster while effecting promotions. In a representation to the Financial Commissioner-cum-Secretary, the association has expressed concern over the non-filling of vacant posts of Assistant Engineer (Mechanical) even after holding the meeting of the Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC). Besides ordering immediate promotions to fill the vacant posts, it also urged him to convene another meeting of the DPC for the posts which were going to fall vacant due to retirement and promotions shortly. It pointed that Mr O.S. Dutta, a Mechanical Engineer, had to function as an Assistant Engineer even after promotion as Executive Engineer because the vacant post was given to a graduate engineer in violation of the roster points. It also demanded opening of a separate mechanical circle in the Ach zone of the state to ensure proper functioning of the
mechanical wing of the department. It suggested that the post of Superintending Engineer (Mechanical) in the Nahan
Foundry, presently lying vacant, could be gainfully utilised by placing some mechanical divisions under its control. It also called for immediate release of higher pay scales after completion of four, nine and 14 years of service. |
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Election to ZP posts
put off till Jan 17 SOLAN, Jan 12 — District Election Officer K. Sanjay Murthy postponed elections to the posts of chairperson and vice-chairperson of the Zila Parishad, Solan, scheduled for today, to January 17. He told mediapersons that he had fixed the time for elections at 11 a.m. today. He waited till 12.15 p.m. by which time only 10 parishad members had turned up. This number was three short of the required number for the completion of the quorum. Under the circumstances he had to postpone today’s elections. It had been learnt that seven out of a total eight Congress men who had been elected as members of the parishad had deliberately stayed away to put the BJP in an embarrassing position. They claimed that they had allowed one of their men to be present for getting first hand information about the goings on at today’s scheduled election meeting. Today’s postponement, while sending the Congress stakes up had shown the BJP-HVC combine in poor light. Both these parties conducted daylong, hectic parleys to arrive at consensus candidates for the two parishad posts, at the local PWD Rest House yesterday. According to party sources the parleys only served to highlight the sharp differences between the Shanta Kumar and P.K. Dhumal factions. While the election in charge and Town and Country Planning Minister H.N. Saini backed Ms Chand Rani, his close aide from Doon constituency, the district BJP president Lakhwinder Rana was all for Ms Santosh, wife of district BJP vice-president Mr Rajinder Singh. The former is a known Shanta loyalist while the latter owes allegiance to Mr P.K. Dhumal. Ms Kiran Bala, wife of the HVC secretary-general staked her own claims as the representative of the Scheduled Castes. She also maintained that her constituency was located almost in the middle part of the district and as such she would be acceptable to people of both the upper and lower belts. |
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HP annual plan
to focus on higher growth SHIMLA, Jan 12 — The Himachal government held discussions for the finalisation of next year’s annual plan 2001-2002 and reviewed progress of current year’s annual plan with a high-level team of the Planning Commission, headed by Mr R.P. Sinha, Principal Adviser, Planning Commission, here today. He said that since the next annual plan would cover the last year of ninth five-year plan, it would have a bearing on 10th five-year-plan and efforts should be made to utilise the funds allocated for this period fully. He also indicated that 10th five-year plan would be radically different as compared to previous ones the emphasis would be on achieving high growth rate. Mr Sinha, appreciating the state government for taking effective steps for exploitation of hydel potential, added that this would go a long way in raising the revenue of the state. He also stressed the need to explore new areas for generating employment opportunities to the people. He said that there was a vast scope of employment in information and technology sector and the Government of India could also supplement state’s efforts in this direction. Mr A.K. Goswami, Chief Secretary, Himachal, called for relaxation of norms for providing funds for the construction of roads under Prime Minister Gram Sarak Yojna for Himachal Pradesh being hilly terrain so that every village could be connected by roads to benefit the people. Mr Goswami also highlighted various innovative schemes introduced in the state in the field of education, health and transport, besides horticulture and agriculture. Mr D.K. Sharma, Principal Adviser-cum-Secretary, Planning apprised that the state government besides utilising the funds under plan fully had also taken some revolutionary steps to implement economic reforms in the state. |
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Illegal felling: officials
may be involved CHAMBA, Jan 12 — The possibility of involvement of forest officials in the illegal felling of 1,283 trees of various species, mostly of deodars, in different forest areas falling under the Forest Division, Chamba, recently in the district could not be ruled out, said an official spokesman here today. He said the value of trees felled illegally detected by the Forest Department was more than Rs 2 crore, adding that the campaign started by the department against the illegal felling was continuing without any hindrance. He said illegal felling of trees had continued unabated for the past six years. He warned the nefarious designs of the forest mafia would be foiled. He informed that all investigation reports were being submitted to the authorities for further action, and the involvement of any forest official would strictly be dealt with. |
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2 tourism schemes completed
in Chamba CHAMBA, Jan 12 — The Himachal Pradesh Department of Tourism (DoT) has completed its two schemes launched to beautify the town. Giving this information here today, Mr Kishori Lal Mastana, Assistant Tourism Development Officer, said that Rs 33-lakh Anarkali railing scheme around the historic Chowgan of Chamba had been completed. He said another scheme called ‘Manjari Garden’ costing Rs 22 lakh had also been completed on the right bank of Ravi within the precincts of hill town displaying Chamba’s traditional musical instruments well carved on the rocks. He stated that Manjari Garden was a point where the historic Minjar carnival concluded with the immersion of traditional minjars made of silk in the Ravi. He said that both the schemes had become the points of tourist interest. He said that the Tourism Department had proposed to organise ‘tourist guide training courses’ for Scheduled Caste candidates for a period of 10 days in the district so as to help them in earning their livelihood. |
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Company told to
pay 1.60 lakh SHIMLA, Jan 12 — Mr P.D. Goyal, president of the District Consumer Forum directed the New India Assurance Company to pay Rs 1.60 lakh with interest at the rate of 15 per cent with effect from June 1, 1996, till the final payment is made and these payments be made by the company to the complainant, Mr Ashwani Kumar Sood, resident of Shimla in 45 days. In his complaint, he had stated that he owned a Maruti car, which was insured with the New India Assurance Company. He said that the car met with an accident on April 1, 1996 near Durgapur. He added that the driver employed by him took the said vehicle to his native village Suni, district Shimla without his consent or knowledge and on way back he said vehicle met with an accident. The matter was reported to the police and to the company. The complainant lodged a claim of Rs 1,60,000 with the company. The company repudiated the claim by invoking clause No IC of the Insurance policy which says “that the company shall not be liable to make any payment in respect of any accident, loss or damage suffered whilst the insured or any person driving with the knowledge and consent or the insured is under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs. |
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Poll for ZP chief
deferred SHIMLA, Jan 12 — Elections to the posts of Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the prestigious Shimla Zila Parishad could not be held today as none of the 23 elected members turned up at the venue. The Deputy Commissioner, Mr P.C. Katoch, deferred the election to January 18. The BJP and the Congress had for the past one week been trying to woo members to capture the posts. However, none managed to muster the necessary support of 12 members to clinch the posts. Mrs Vidya Stokes, PCC chief, claimed that her party had succeeded in securing the support of 12 members but one of the member came late. Moreover, a quorum of 16 is required and as the BJP supporters also did not turn up, the election would not have been held in any case. |
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BJP wins Bijheri panchayat poll HAMIRPUR, Jan 12 — Ms Promila Devi of the BJP won the election to the post of the Chairperson of the Bijheri panchayat samiti in Hamirpur district. She defeated Ms Sheela Sharma of the Congress by 11 votes. For the post of the vice-chairman, the BJP candidate, Mr Kartar Singh, won the election by defeating Mr Shiv Kumar of the Congress by 13 votes. Mr Kartar Singh got 19 votes as against six secured by Mr Shiv Kumar. |
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BJP candidates
elected MANDI, Jan 12 — The Chuantra Block Development Committee has unanimously elected its chairman and vice-chairman. Mr Harnam Singh and Mr Surender Singh of the BJP were elected the Chairman and the vice-chairman, respectively, of the committee. Meanwhile, the BJP, the HVC and the Congress are trying hard to get its candidates elected as president and vice-president of the Nagar Parishad, Mandi, the election for which will be held on January 17. House gutted KULU, Jan 12 —The house of Ms Jiya Mani was gutted in a fire that broke out this morning at Bharotal village on the Raison-Shirar road, 25 km from here. According to sources, the building was being used as a hotel-cum-dhaba by a Gorkha named Mani Ram, alias Kancha. The Station Fire Officer here said it took 30 minutes for them to reach the site. |
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Parents’
plea to education board CHAMBA, Jan 12 — Parents of students of class X of the Himachal Pradesh Board of School Education have urged the board authorities to start plus one classes in the next session from May before the declaration of results. Parents feel it has become necessary to commence plus one classes immediately after the matriculation examination is over so that the lengthy syllabus of plus one can be finished well in time. |
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Police recruitment from Feb 19 HAMIRPUR, Jan 12 — Recruitment of 57 jawans in the second battalion of the India Reserve Police from the district would take place from February 19 to 23. Some posts were kept reserved for the drivers also, Mr Rajendra Mohan Sharma, SP, Hamirpur, stated this, here last evening. He said that the persons interested in joining the police should be registered with the employment exchanges and they should also show the said letter to the recruitment authorities that time. New sewerage for
Shimla mooted SHIMLA, Jan 12 — The Irrigation and Public Health Department has decided to provide a proper sewerage here to replace the one which was laid about 120 years ago during the British regime. The department has initiated work on Rs 54.80 crore sewerage project in the town. The project is being aided by Oil Producing Exporting Countries (OPEC). Six new sewerage-treatment plants are being constructed as the earlier ones were non-functional. |
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