CID targets bureaucrats
Anonymous letters maligning ministers
From S.P. Sharma
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Jan 20 — There is panic in the officialdom here with the CID taking samples of printouts from computers of officers considered close to the Opposition Congress and anti-Dhumal camp in the BJP to ascertain the origin of the anonymous letters written against various ministers.

It is reliably learnt that the printouts were taken to match the writings on these letters which have rocked the BJP government headed by Mr P. K. Dhumal. The CID men visited the offices of these bureaucrats in the Secretariat and outside recently to take prints from their computers.

There has been a spate of anonymous letters accusing the ministers and their relatives of misusing their official positions.

Mr Dhumal had recently ordered the CID to inquire into the origin of these unsigned letters when the Minister for Excise and Taxation, Mr Parveen Sharma, who is considered the right hand man of Mr Dhumal, resigned following allegations of corruption against him in an anonymous letter. However, his resignation was not accepted and the Chief Minister ordered a CID inquiry into the letter against him and also that against the Irrigation Minister, Mr Ramesh Dhwala.

Thereafter, there has been a spate of such letters. The intention behind these letters appears to be to do mudslinging and maligning leaders of both the Dhumal and the Shanta Kumar factions.

Mr Dhwala belongs to the Shanta Kumar group and was among the six ministers and legislators who had recently withdrawn support to Mr Dhumal.

A letter listing allegations of corruption against a close aide of Mr Shanta Kumar in his Ministry of Consumer Affairs was also received in newspaper offices. Mr Shanta Kumar has been preaching no tolerance against corruption.

The wife of a Cabinet minister who also made a target when a letter accusing her of siphoning off grants of her non-governmental organisation was circulated here.

Interestingly, copies of these letters were also being sent to the Prime Minister and the Home Minister.

Yesterday, a letter was received against a minister of state who has been accused of benefiting a local hotel owner by getting him various concessions. He has also been accused of having minted money ever since he was inducted in the ministry.

However, Mr Dhumal says that he was not taking these letters seriously as these appeared to be an exercise to malign the ministers. Action could be taken only if the authors of these letters identified themselves, he said.

When will HP be ‘power’ state?
Tribune News Service

DHARAMSALA, Jan 20 — Will the dream of the Chief Minister, Mr P. K. Dhumal, of making Himachal a power state of the country, be fulfilled. The construction of micro-hydel projects is going on at a snail’s pace.

Of the 88 micro-hydel projects for which MoUs were signed in the first and second phases a few years back, only 23 have reached the implementation and power purchase agreement stage. The total capacity of these projects is 122 MW.

In Kangra district itself, Subhash Projects, which has five projects with it, has failed to register any progress at all. At a recent meeting held here, senior officials of Himurja, an agency looking after the small hydro-power sector, a decision was taken to issue a one-month notice to the party to begin work, failing which the MoUs signed with them would be cancelled.

Of the 64 micro-hydel projects for which MoUs were signed in 1995, the maximum number is in Shimla district. There are 27 projects in Shimla, 11 in Kangra, nine in Chamba and eight in Kulu. A major hitch is obtaining the techno economic clearance (TEC) and it is for want of this that 30 projects are pending.

The position of the 24 micro-hydel projects, for which MoUs were signed during the second phase in 1998, is even worse. According to sources merely three parties have submitted the detailed project report (DPR) and 19 have yet to even accomplish this preliminary task.

To provide focussed and undivided attention to the small hydro-power sector, the subject was transferred from the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board (HPSEB) to Himurja in 1994. The micro-hydel projects with capacity up to 3 MW, to be executed through the private sectors participation, were to be looked after by Himurja.

Successive governments in the state have harping about the harnessing of the state’s vast hydro-electric potential, approximately 20,000 MW in the waters of the area. In addition to this there is a potential of 750 MW in the micro-hydro-power sector, for which 431 sites with capacities ranging between 100 KW and 3 MW, have been identified.

Despite MoUs for so many projects having been signed, it is only on a handful of them that work has begun.

Mr Dhumal has been lying emphasis on making power generation a virtual movement in the state so that the requirement of an area can be met locally. He has said that even the power that can be generated from the water mills (gharat), present in practically every village, should be put to adequate use.

During the third phase, MoUs for about 100 projects were signed. Out of these, the maximum number fall in Kulu district, numbering 32. There are 29 in Chamba, 13 in Shimla, nine in Mandi, five in Lahaul-Spiti and four in Kangra.

Officials say that since it is a new arena where the private sector is stepping into, it will take some time for things to run smoothly. They point out that there are problems in land transfer, from the Revenue Department and clearance from the Forest Department. However, the government has simplified the procedures to a large extent so that work can be expedited.

Distress sale of cattle in HP
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Jan 20 — The worst ever drought in Himachal Pradesh has led to distress sale of cattle by residents of certain areas of the tribal districts of Lahaul and Spiti.

Official reports reaching here said that many residents of Sumnam village have disposed of their livestock at throwaway prices fearing a severe shortage of fodder because of the drought. Pastures in the district have dried up because of lack of snow and rain.

Elsewhere in the upper areas of the state, including Shimla and Kulu, a spate of forest fires has been reported because of the drought.

At least 20 fires were reported in the Jubbal, Chopal and Rohru forest ranges during the past few days. About a dozen forest fires were reported in the Kulu area and two around Shimla.

Forest fires during the winters, when most of these areas are usually under snow, are not common. This time, there has been only one mild snowfall and most of the areas were dry.

Reports says that more than 38 natural water sources have already dried in Lahaul, affecting nearly 9000 persons, besides the livestock.

Lahaul-Spiti is generally considered the storehouse of snow, but this time even the high passes have had little snowfall. The Deputy Commissioner, Lahaul-Spiti, Mr C.R.B. Lalit, said that against the normal snowfall of about 20 feet on the Rohtang pass, only about 5 feet of snow was recorded this time.

Heavy snow in Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur districts keeps the rivers running. But this time, the mountains are barren without snow.

Official reports said that the Barashigri glacier, which is the second largest in the world, has receded by 10 metres. The process of its melting has been continuing for the past some time.

The bus services of the HRTC in the Lahaul valley, which are suspended during winters, are running these days as the roads are clear of snow. The bus services are suspended in December and restored around April every year.

An official report pointed out that the water sources in the valley of Gahar, Gondla, Pattan and Mayar and started drying. Among those which have already dried are the water sources in the villages of Youche, Darcha, Kwaring, Keylong, Jispa, Gramphoo, Koksar, Yangley, Moorang, Chokking, Shansha, Malang, Salgran, Trilokinath, Tindi, Kukumseri and Chhaling.

Against a snowfall of 60.9 cm last year, Shimla had only 8 cm of snow so far this time which has panicked the farmers. A farmer of the Bader village in Theog, Mr J.R. Jalta, said that never had he seen such a severe drought in the past 70 years.

Reports say that about 200 hectares of forests in the Jubbal area were destroyed due to fires in the past few days. Many fires were reported in the Rohru and Chopal areas also.

The lower areas of the state are also reeling under drought and there is no sign of snow or rain. Sirmaur district was the worst hit where the rainfall this rabi season was only 1 mm against the normal rain of 118 mm during this season. Shimla had only 12 mm of rain against 163 mm of last year. Kangra had 9 mm against the normal of 104 mm and Mandi received only 7 mm rain against the normal of 102 mm. Hamirpur had 1 mm of rain against the normal of 68 mm.

BJP dominates HP local body poll
From Our Correspondent

MANALI, Jan 20 — Mr Parveen Fakey and Mr Tek Chand Thakur of the BJP were elected president and vice-president, respectively, of the seven-member Manali Nagar Panchayat here yesterday in the presence of the SDM , Manali. While Mr Fakey defeated Mr Nihal Chand, Mr Thakur defeated Mr Harbans Awasthi of the Congress.

HAMIRPUR: Mr Tarsem Kapil of the BJP and Mr Santosh Sandhu of the Congress were elected president and vice-president, respectively, of the Nadaun Nagar Panchayat on Thursday. While the election of Mr Kapil was unanimous, Mr Sandhu defeated Mrs Sarita Devi of the BJP by one vote.

UNA: Ms Sonia and Mr Bhajan Lal of the BJP were elected chairperson and vice-chairperson, respectively, of the Una Block Samiti on Friday. Mr S.S. Chamiayal, SDM, Una, declared the election results. While Ms Sonia defeated Ms Raj Kumari of the Congress, Mr Bhajan Lal overcame Mr Roshan Lal of the Congress.

Meanwhile, the elections for the posts of zila parishad chairperson and vice-chairperson which were schedule for Saturday were postponed due to the absence of a quorum.

Only 10 zila parishad members belonging to the Congress were present at Backat Bhavan where the meeting was fixed, as BJP members did not turn up.

BILASPUR: Mr Vikram Sharma, a rebel BJP leader, was elected chairperson of Ghumarwin Block Development Committee at Ghumarwin on Friday. He defeated BJP candidate Ramlal Sharma.

Ms Savitri Devi of the Himachal Vikas Congress was elected vice-chairperson of the committee. In the nagar panchayat elections at Talai on Friday Mr Prithichand and Ms Shakuntla Devi of the Congress were elected president and vice-president of the panchayat samiti.

JAWALAMUKHI: The president and vice-president of the local nagar panchayat were not elected here on Friday as the three members belonging to the Congress boycotted the elections. In the absence of a quorum, the election was adjourned till January 22.

Meanwhile, BJP candidates Gian Prakash Dhiman and Jagmal Singh were elected chairperson and vice-chairperson, respectively, of the Paragpur Panchayat Samiti on Friday. Mr Gopal Sharma, SDM, Dehra, conducted the elections.

MANDI: The HVC candidate, Ms Susheela Devi, was elected president of the Mandi Nagar Parishad on Saturday. She defeated Ms Shanno Devi, who was supported by the Congress.

Despite a majority, the BJP failed to install its candidate as president when she defected in favour of Ms Shanno Devi. Later, the BJP and the HVC entered into a compromise and the post of president was surrendered to the latter.

Mr Hemant Vaidya was unanimously elected vice-president of the nagar parishad.

Our Nahan Correspondent adds: After the intervention of state BJP President, BJP-supported candidates captured the posts of Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the local Municipal Council today. BJP youth leader Mr Sanjeev Sharma was elected Chairman, while Mr Surinder Saini was elected Vice-Chairman of the council.

A magnet for migratory birds
From Bijender Sharma

JAWALAMUKHI: Nestled in the sylvan surroundings of the Kangra valley, the Pong Dam wetland has emerged as a major habitat for migratory birds. Some 15,000 to 20,000 birds, belonging to as many as 54 species, visit the dam’s lake every year.

This Pong reservoir was created in 1960 along with the dam. It is the only place in India after Bharatpur sanctuary, where the rare red-necked crane has been sighted.

The state government has renamed the reservoir in honour of the great hero, Maharana Pratap (1572-97). The man-made reservoir on the Beas is 42 km in length and 2 km in width. The wetland also supports other kinds of wild life, including the barking deer, wild bear, sambar, foxes and a variety of reptiles.

The lake attracts thousands of birds annually. Before the dam’s construction, the number of species found in the area was much less. The diversity of birds was noted by a British police officer as early as 1920, when he put the number of birds species in the vicinity at 27. The information left by him finally led to the declaration of the region as a protected area.

The water body occupies at least 18 hectares and expands up to 30,000 hectares during floods with a radius of 5 km . The lake contains a major permanent island and several others which are connected to the banks. The surrounding hillsides support some deciduous and pine trees on which migratory birds can be seen.

An 1985 survey recorded about 10,000 ducks near the southern shore of the lake and several thousands others near Gaj Khud, the mouth of the reservoir. Under the state’s social forestry programme, a large number of the eucalyptus trees have been grown.

Wildlife experts have made a number of proposals for the development of the area into a high-class sanctuary. These include the creation of permanent shallow water area where reed beds and other perennial vegetation can be developed to attract additional birds and planting of saplings on the main island for their nestling.

On the wetland, the migratory birds are affected by the villagers using the area for cultivation and the reservoir for the fishing. The reservoir displaced about 95 villages and residents were compensated. Yet most of them still reside on the fringe and cultivate it when the waterline recedes. The proposed 5 km buffer zone area has about 125 villages which comprises a population of more than 50,000 people.

Winter migratory bird surveys have been conducted here since 1995. This has helped in the compiling of annual data for water fowl at the reservoir. Most villagers did not know of the existence of a protected area in their vicinity.

The fishermen and those who cultivate, however, know about the bird sanctuary because the wildlife guards have told them not to harm birds. The cultivation disturbs the mud flats and other waterbed habitats during winter. In the past five years, there has been an increase in reports of the severity of crop damage by the water fowl, mainly by the bar-headed geese and brahminy ducks. Secondly, fishing done by nets often causes obstruction to diving ducks. Though poaching is not a severe threat, a few cases have been detected by the sanctuary staff.

Hostel for working women in mess
From Our Correspondent

SHIMLA, Jan 20 — The hostel for working women of the Shimla Municipal Corporation at Sanjauli in the suburb of the town lacks in basic facilities and the inmates are facing many problems.

There are 27 rooms in the hostel and 18 women are staying at present. One room accommodates three to four women. But working women prefer a rented house even though it is more expensive.

The Mayor of the municipal corporation, Mrs Janny Prem, Chairperson of the hostel and the Deputy Mayor, Mr Shashi Shakher, Chairman of the Social Justice Committee, visited the spot yesterday after receiving some complaints.

The electric wires in the hostel are almost damaged. There is no proper system of a mess. “We cook our food in the room”, says an inmate.

The solar system for heating water that was installed in 1990 is out of order now.

According to the Deputy Mayor, the demand for accommodating more working in the hostel would be met soon.

“If the hostel was in a better condition, I would have stayed there”, says a working woman.

Undertrial’s escape: 5 policemen suspended
From Our Correspondent

CHAMBA, Jan 20 — Five police officials were suspended and inquiries instituted against them for their lapses in a case involving an undertrial Kishen Lal, who fled from the police custody when he was being taken to Jammu. The court had granted permission after he had prayed for it.

Giving this information here yesterday, Mr B.M. Sharma, Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) stated that the undertrial accompanied by a Head Constable and four unarmed Constables escaped after a brief scuffle between the police personnel and the accused after reaching his native house.

The ASP said the accused was in judicial custody in a case registered at the Dalhousie police station. He was also wanted by the Jammu and the Punjab police in connection with various crimes.

Autonomous power corporation sought
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Jan 20 — While most employees of the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board (HPSEB) are opposed to the trifurcation of the board, project engineers are demanding the creation of an independent power generation corporation to manage and execute hydel projects.

Mr Vijay Attri, general secretary of the HPSEB Project Engineers Association, underlined the need for a separate corporation to ensure proper accounting, professionalism and functional autonomy.

He said the existing power houses should be transferred to the corporation, which should be responsible for the execution of hydel projects. The power houses would constitute the assets of the corporation, which would have no difficulty in raising funds for new projects, he said.

The association did not approve of the move to set up subsidiary companies of the board for the execution of small projects.

The association also urged the government to have a dialogue with it before initiating reforms in the power sector.

First-ever woman chief of Solan MC
From Our Correspondent

SOLAN, Jan 20 — Ms Shammi Sahni, Congress councillor from Ward No 2 of the local Municipal Council was declared elected council’s chairperson by the Election Officer Rakesh Dhiman here today.

Mr Kulbhushan Gupta, who was elected from Ward No 5, bagged the Vice-Chairperson’s post.

Ms Sahni, who earned the distinction of becoming the firstever woman chairperson of the Municipal Council, defeated the BJP’s candidate, Ms Meera Anand, by a margin of five votes. Mr Gupta was elected unopposed after the BJP-backed Himachal Vikas Congress councillor withdrew his candidature.

Today’s elections brought to a climax a month-long political drama after the electorate returned a fractured mandate. Congress-supported candidates bagged four seats while the BJP, which had released a list of its officially-sponsored candidates before the elections, also managed to win four seats. Two seats were won by BJP rebels.

Catchment area plan for Chamera approved
From Our Correspondent

CHAMBA, Jan 20 — The Union Power Ministry has approved an ambitious catchment area treatment (CAT) plan costing Rs 10.72 crore with a view to mitigating environmental damages during the construction of the 300-mw Chamera hydroelectric project (stage-II) on the Ravi in Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh.

An official spokesman said here today that the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) had been assigned the execution and the implementation of the CAT plan with the help of state Forest Department. He said the CAT plan envisaged the treatment of the catchment area of the project by afforestation and soil conservation works.

The spokesman stated that in order to conserve and protect the environmental and ecological aspects in the NHPC had already surveyed the catchment basin.

The spokesman further said initially Rs 2.50 crore were required to be spent within this year on the CAT plan. He asserted that adequate preventive measures had been taken to ensure the protection of dumping of mud and debris being dug out.

The spokesman informed that 44 micro-watersheds had been identified in the catchment of the project for its treatment and for the purpose a special unit had been created, which included afforestation, soil conservation and pasture-improvement works.

The spokesman pointed out that the whole programme of the CAT plan was being implemented and monitored with the cooperation of the village forest development societies.

The spokesman emphasised that the development of the hills and raising a herbal park were being undertaken speedily under the CAT plan.

In addition to this other measures being planned out were environment management plan, provision for development of fisheries, green belt plan and landscape planning, he added.

9 head of cattle perish in fire
From Our Correspondent

CHAMBA, Jan 20 — Nine head of cattle perished and a house was razed to the ground in a devastating fire which broke out at Mandroti village, about 50 km from here, yesterday.

Mr T.D. Negi, Deputy Commissioner of Chamba, told this correspondent here today that the livestock which was burnt alive included two bullocks, two buffaloes, four rams and one lamb.

The D.C. said a team of revenue officials had been sent to the site to assess the losses. Meanwhile, Rs 5,000 have been distributed as immediate relief among the two fire victims Des Raj and Kamal, he added.

A case in this connection has been registered. In another incident Rs 43,500 were stolen from the sub-post office at Bhanjraru, about 65 km form here, day before yesterday.

The SHO said the thieves broke open the chest and decamped with Rs 43,500.

Surprisingly, the sub-post office is located in the middle of Bhanjraru township and the Sub-Postmaster was sleeping upstairs.

Anti-social elements’ entry to be checked
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Jan 20 — To prevent the entry of anti-social elements here, the District Magistrate, Mr P.C. Katoch, has banned the employment of migrant labour by anyone in the district without furnishing their antecedents to the police.

The District Magistrate has also ordered the vendors and other such traders not to undertake their business without the prior approval of the police station concerned.

These orders have come into force from today and will remain effective for 60 days.

Those violating the orders will be prosecuted under Section 188, IPC.

8 houses, shops destroyed in fire
From Our Correspondent

MANALI, Jan 20 — Eight houses and shops were reduced to ashes while four head of cattle perished in a fire that broke out at Dhuara village, 25 km from here, on the Manali-Kulu road last night.

According to police sources, the loss of property is estimated at about Rs 60 lakh.

Four fire tenders, including two from Kulu, were rushed to the spot. The cause of the fire is not yet known.

HPSEB to retain meter-reading work
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Jan 20 — The Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board (HPSEB) has no plans to assign the task of meter-reading and distribution of electricity bills to private agencies.

A spokesman of the Board said here yesterday that it was considering the utilisation of its existing staff to take on the additional burden of monthly billing in urban areas which were the main source of revenue. So far, the bills were being distributed bimonthly.

New dists when HP ‘has more’ funds
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Jan 20 — Mr Ganesh Dutt, spokesman for the BJP, today said that new districts would be created in the state only when the government had enough funds for this purpose.

He said the Chief Minister had stated that Himachal Pradesh did not have sufficient funds which was a hindrance, but as soon as its position improved, new districts could be created.

2 killed as car falls into khud

SHIMLA, Jan 20 (UNI) — Two persons were killed and two injured when their car fell into a khud near Gumma in the district today, the police said.

The deceased were identified as Sanjiv Kumar and Sunny. The injured were admitted to a primary health centre at Kotkhai.

The victims were coming to Shimla from Rohru.

Ashwani Kumar is CBI Jt Director
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Jan 20 — Mr Ashwani Kumar, IGP, Himachal Pradesh, has been appointed Joint Director of the CBI, sources said here today.

Mr Kumar, an IPS officer of 1973 batch is likely to take up the new assignment next week.