Cong stir against govt from April 7
Tribune News Service

Shimla, April 1
The Himachal unit of the Congress will launch a statewide stir to press for the resignation of the Vajpayee government in the wake of the Tehelka expose from April 7.

Ms Vidya Stokes, Pradesh Congress Committee chief, said the programme to mobilise people for the removal the BJP-led government would commence on April 7 with a block-level rally at Kangra and conclude with a rally at Kinnaur on May 14.

The state-level rally at Kangra, to be held in the last week of April, would be addressed by all senior leaders including herself and Mr Virbhadra Singh, CLP leader.

She said her party wanted the government to register an FIR against all those, including Mr Bangaru Laxman and Ms Jaya Jaitley, whose names had figured in the Tehelka tapes. As the video tapes clearly establish that money was being taken in defence deals, there should be no delay in registering a case.

Referring to the framing of a code of ethics for partymen by Mr K. Jana Krishnamurthi, BJP President she said it was like locking the stables after the horses had bolted.

The fact was that the BJP was embroiled in corruption right from top to the grassroot level. In Himachal, the BJP ministers had levelled serious charges of corruption against the Dhumal Government. Happenings like assigning of 100 hydel projects in one hour and reported payment of huge bribes for the appointment of “vidya upasaks” were just a few instances which pointed towards the sorry state of affairs in Himachal Pradesh.

She alleged that the government was not doing enough to deal effectively with situation arising due to drought. So far no money had been placed at the disposal of the Deputy Commissioners for which the affected people had not received any relief.

Ms Stokes also allocated work to office-bearers. Ms Viplove Thakur, general secretary, would be the in charge of PCC office. She would be assisted by Mr Kuldeep Rathore, secretary. All front organisations would be under the PCC chief.

Sagar wants CM to consider seniority
Our Correspondent

Kangra, April 1
The Himachal Pradesh Agriculture and Transport Minister, Mr Vidiya Sagar, said today that if Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal reshuffled portfolios of ministers following an agreement with the seven MLAs including four former ministers, in order to defuse party crisis, the Chief Minister should keep his “seniority” in view before doing the same.

Mr Sagar was addressing a press conference at the IPH Rest House here today. He said he was the seniormost member of his Cabinet After Mr Kishori Lal, Mr Mansa Ram and Mr Roop Singh Thakur, had supported the Chief Minister in the hour of crisis.

He said the crisis in the BJP was over. He said the four ministers, who had raised certain issues earlier, had accepted the leadership of Professor Dhumal, and he was hopeful that they would join the Cabinet in the near future.

When asked that some sources had indicated that the four rebel ministers might not join the Cabinet as it would be detrimental for their political future, Mr Sagar replied, “As they have accepted Professor Dhumal as their leader, they will not refuse their reinduction in to the Council of Minister.

HPTDC signs MoU with Rajasthan corpn
Tribune News Service

Shimla, April 1
The Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC) will enter agreements with established private parties to promote adventure sports in the hill state.

A spokesman for the corporation said here today that joint tourism packages would be made to improve marketability of the existing tourist complexes of the corporation. It had already entered into an agreement with M/s Travel Corporation of India, besides signing an MoU with the Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation to facilitate the marketing of each other’s properties. Efforts were also being made to enter into similar arrangements with the tourism development corporations of Gujarat and Kerala, he added.

The facility for online bookings in corporation hotels by private persons using the Internet would be provided. As per the proposed arrangement, any person would be able to book a hotel reservation in the name of the units of the corporation.

The corporation had decided to upgrade six of its premium units — Hotel Holiday Home (Shimla), Hotel Palace (Chail), Hotel Bhagsu (Dharamsala), Hotel Kunzam (Manali), Hotel Dhauladhar (Dharamsala) and Ros Common (Kasauli). These units contributed for more than 47 per cent of the total rental income of the corporation during 1999-2000. The competition from private hotels had necessitated the upgradation of these units, he added.

It had been decided to run 16 rooms in Peterhoof Hotel, the state guest house, here on commercial basis and to also open a bar on the premises.

Dhumal flays Cong for opposing amendments
Our Correspondent

Hamirpur, April 1
Prof Prem Kumar Dhumal, the Chief Minister, today blasted the Congress party and its leaders for opposing various amendments to the HP Panchayati Raj Act to give more powers to gram panchayats and gram sabhas.

He alleged that the Congress party was neither for the development of the state nor strengthening of the grassroots panchayati raj system.

The Chief Minister was addressing a rural gathering at his native Samirpur village this afternoon. He was at Samirpur to take part in the meeting of the local gram sabha. Mr Rakesh Kumar, the local gram panchayat pradhan, presided over the meeting. Hundreds of the villagers attended the meeting. The others present included Mrs Anuradha Thakur, Deputy Commissioner, Mr Baldev Sharma, MLA, and Mr Udho Ram Chandel, member, Zila Parishad.

Prof Dhumal said that the state government had made it mandatory on part of all gram panchayats to hold four meetings in their respective areas. He said that the gram sabhas would be responsible for framing micro plans for the respective areas and continuing with the developmental activities.

He announced that Mr Vajpayee would address a rally at Hamirpur on April 7 to mark the completion of three years of BJP rule in the state.

He announced a sum of Rs 1.6 lakh for the development of the local gram panchayat. 

Insignia for CM
Tribune News Service

Shimla, April 1
Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister, was presented with an Indian Navy insignia by Mr Multan Singh Parihar, retired naval officer, and Mr Rajinder Rana, a social worker, on behalf of ex-servicemen of the Indian Navy and social workers of Hamirpur here yesterday.

Crop loss due to drought assessed
Our Correspondent

Shimla, April 1
Mr P.C. Katoch, Deputy Commissioner, Shimla, along with other revenue officers of the Government of India visited certain areas of Shimla district to assess losses due to drought.

Mr Katoch apprised the central team of the losses and put requirement of Rs 29.79 crore to mitigate the loss.

He said loss of Rs 43.63 crore to agriculture and Rs 82.50 crore to horticulture crops had been estimated in Shimla district, besides 30,000 metric tonnes of fodder.

The Deputy Commissioner said in Shimla district, hardly 40 to 45 per cent areas could have been sown due to the continuous drought and there was 75 to 80 per cent loss to the farmers in the district.

Mr Katoch said maximum area under cultivation was rain-fed and due to drought 55 per cent apple crop and 35 per cent of the other temperate fruit crops in the district were lost.

He said at present 70 per cent of the habitants were likely to be affected by scarcity of water and if conditions did not improve in coming days, the problem would increase.

Mules would be made to fulfill the demand for transporting water for which Rs 8 crore had been demanded.

SC makes Forest Dept pull its socks up
Tribune News Service

Shimla, April 1
With the Supreme Court firm on not allowing silvicultural fellings without approved forest working plans, the state Forest Department has decided to use modern techniques like digital cartography and satellite imageries to prepare the working plans expeditiously.

The apex court had last year turned down the state’s proposal to carry out green fellings on silvicultural considerations and made it clear that felling of trees would be allowed only on the basis of working plans duly approved by the Centre. The department, which had been neglecting this important planning aspect of forest management, left with no option but to prepare working plans for all its 39 divisions at the earliest.

So far the department has been taking anything between five to 20 years to prepare plan for a division. In fact in some cases the 15-year period, for which the plan was being prepared, had elapsed before it could be approved.

It has started giving due priority to working plans after the intervention of the apex court and more than 12 plans, which were under preparation for more than a decade, were finalised. In all 31 working plans are to be prepared to cover 38 forest divisions.

Appreciating the state’s concern for working plans, the Centre has sanctioned Rs 1, crore for the modernisation of the required infrastructural facilities. The use of modern computer-based techniques is likely to reduce the time required for the preparation of plans to under two years. The satellite imageries not only make the task of foresters much easier but also enable a correct assessment of the growing stock, success of new plantation and density of forests.

A working plan in a comprehensive document, which provides information about the quantum of growing stock and rate of annual increment, on the basis of which silvicultural fellings to ensure optimum growth are recommended. It takes care of all aspects of forest management, including erection of boundary pillars to demarcate forest areas and fire protection measures, besides raising of new plantation.

While the environmentalists are opposed to green fellings, the foresters are keen on silvicultural fellings as at present the removals from forests are far less than the annual increment, particularly in areas like Chopal. In such a situation the forests are crowded, leaving no room for proper growth of trees which leads to ever decreasing increment.

The period of plan was kept at 15 years, keeping in view the high cost and long time required for this preparation. Now with modern technology the period could be reduced to make working plans a more effective instrument of forest management. Once a plan has been prepared using digital cartography and satellite imageries, the periodic revision will be very easy and require much less time.

Continuity in working plans is absolutely essential in management of forests in hill areas, where slow growing tree species have a life span of 100-120 years. Many generations of foresters would pass over this period. Hence the need for well-documented working plans to guide the foresters over this long period.

It remains to be seen whether or not the Supreme Court gives the go ahead for silvicultural fellings after the preparation of the working plans. As per the national forest policy two-third areas of the hills should have an effective forest cover. In Himachal Pradesh the forest cover is only 23 per cent and it is largely for this reason that environmentalists are totally opposed to green felling.

Uttaranchal impounds 3 HP buses
Our Correspondent

Kangra, April 1
Three Himachal Road Transport buses plying from different destinations of the state to Dhera Dun in Uttaranchal were impounded by the Uttaranchal Government for violating tax rules of the state.

The HRTC was making efforts to get the buses released. Transport Minister Vidiaya Sagar told mediapersons here today.

He said the Regional Manager of the HRTC had gone to Dehra Dun under his direction to get the buses released.

The Transport Minister said, “By now, I hope, the buses must have been released.”

He denied the reports that 11 HRTC buses were impounded by Uttaranchal and added that only three buses were impounded.

He said all steps would be taken to avoid any such situation in future.

One dead, 20 hurt as truck hits bus
Tribune News Service

Palampur, April 1
One person was killed and 20 were injured, six of them seriously, when a private bus carrying 30 passengers met with an accident at Panchrukhi, near here, last night. The ill-fated bus was on its way from Palampur to Rakkar.

Mr Tek Chand Thakur, SDM, Palampur, said here today that the accident took place when a truck hit the bus at a railway crossing. He said the truck fell into a ditch. Mr Sirikant Bhardwaj, who was on his scooter and waiting for the gate at the railway crossing to be opened was crushed to death.

All injured were admitted to the Local Civil Hospital, where the condition of three was serious. He said the driver of the truck had been arrested and a case under Section 304, IPC, had been registered against the driver. An ex gratia had been sanctioned to the next of kin of the deceased.

HP ignoring aerosports
Pratibha Chauhan

Dharamsala, April 1
Despite the increasing popularity of aerosports and best sites for paragliding in Himachal, the state government has failed to promote the sport, which could give an immense fillip to tourism.

Despite having been introduced in the state way back in 1985, the sport remains in its infancy as the basic infrastructure is lacking. After organising the national paragliding meets in 1994 and 1995, the government has not done much to promote the sport.

A few enterprising youths are trying to keep the sport alive in Himachal with individual efforts.

Though paragliding events, cross-country and training camps have been organised at Bir-Billing near Baijnath and the slang Nullah in Manali, tourists now can have the pleasure of joy rides in air at Narwana village near Yol.

With thousands of tourists, especially foreigners, visiting Dharamsala every year, the beginning of commercial paragliding with joy rides to people at Narwana can prove to be a big attraction.

Mr Atul Gupta, a flier and technical adviser to the group starting this venture at Narwana, says the site here is excellent as it provides a height of 1200 as well as 700 feet for paragliding. Due to thermal soaring and a cloud wall, one can cover the entire Dhauladhar range, right up to Kulu and Jogindernagar, he says.

This group of 20 youths intend offering the joy of paragliding to tourists. One can frequently spot foreign pilots paragliding in the McLeodganj and Billing area on their own. With a shift towards adventure tourism, the sport could have gained prominence.

The few paragliders in the state complain that the government’s contribution towards promoting the sport has been nil. It is on their own that these youths have undergone training and set up their own institutes. It is the effort put in by people like Roshan Thakur of Manali that the youth have been able to get training in the sport. He has set up his institute at Manali.

The government says it is the safety guidelines laid down by the Centre for aerosports which makes it difficult to hold the events. The fact that the government has not been able to meet these safety guidelines reflects the disinterest of the government in promoting the sport.

The basic infrastructure to promote aerosports in the state is absent. The youths who hold an interest in the sport have got little help and support from the government in starting their own ventures. By Setting up aerosports training centres, the youth cannot only get self employment, but help promote tourism in their areas.

HVC to oppose installation of cement plants
Our Correspondent

Sundernagar, April 1
Mr Sukh Ram, founder of the Himachal Vikas Congress, addressing mediapersons said here today that the HVC would launch a statewide agitation to oppose the decision of installation of cement plants in the state.

This would hit the tourism industry in the state, which was already facing traffic problem.

These factories had polluted the environment in the state and “we will not tolerate more cement industries in the state”, he added.

He blamed the BJP for increasing the non-plan budget as it had regularised the daily wage worker within eight years.

Mr Virbhadra Singh, former Chief Minister, was responsible for it as he had sanctioned many institutions prior to election and it was a political compulsion of the present government to continue with these institutions.

Prasad made NJPC chief
Tribune News Service

Shimla, April 1
Mr Yogendra Prasad, Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC), has been given the additional charge of the post of Chairman and Managing Director, Nathpa Jhakri Power Corporation, with effect from Sunday. He replaces Mr Arun Gupta who superannuated on March 31.

Mr Yogender Prasad has over 30 years of experience in the power sector. He joined the NHPC in 1978 as Assistant Manager and rose to the position of CMD of the corporation in October 1997. Presently he is also the chairman of the Narmada Hydro Development Corporation (NHDC), a joint venture of the Government of Madhya Pradesh and the NHPC.

More doctors for hospital demanded
Our Correspondent

Nahan, April 1
The Nagrik Sabha, Nahan, has demanded improvement in the conditions of the zonal hospital, Nahan, and urged the state government to fill vacancies of specialist doctors in the hospital.

In a resolution passed by the sabha, the state government has been requested to ply Homeguard-controlled ambulances in the town so that misuse of ambulances by officials and influential people could be stopped.

The sabha has asked the Himachal Chief Minister, to direct the HRTC to restart Nahan-Delhi bus service which was cancelled by the HRTC a few months back.

DCC appointments 
Our Correspondent

Kulu, April 1
Mr Iswar Dass, President, District Congress Committee (DCC), told the press here yesterday that the following had been appointed the general secretaries of the district unit of the party. Mr Dolat Ram Thakur of Balihani, would look after the administration. Mr Jai Karan Sharma, had been made in-charge of the Mahila Congress, INTUC and Seva Dal. Mr Dola Singh Mahant of Kotli Banjar, was given the charge of the Youth Congress and the NSUI and Mr Jai Chand of Anni was attached to the President for looking after the district affairs.

The district president added that Mr Sukh Dass of Badah village, had been appointed permanent organising secretary and would also look after the office work of the district Congress party.

Rs 4.99 cr for wasteland project
Tribune News Service

Shimla, April 1
The Union Ministry for Rural Development has sanctioned a Rs 4.99-crore integrated wasteland development project for Bhattiyat block of Chamba district.

Stating this here today, Mr Kishori Lal, Industries Minister, said the project would be implemented over a period of five years. Under the scheme, 12482 hactares in the block would be brought under forests.

Nahan MC opposes house tax
Our Correspondent

Nahan, April 1
The local municipal council has opposed the imposition of house tax in Nahan municipal area. At its meeting held yesterday, the council passed a resolution requesting the state government to withdraw notification of house tax immediately.

Mr Sanjeev Sharma, Chairman of the municipal council, told this correspondent that council felt that people of the town were not economically sound and there was hardly any business activity in the town. Hence the people should not be burdened with house tax.

Shimla, April 1
Students, teachers and the management committee of Maharaja Lakshaman Sen Memorial College, Sundernagar, has made a contribution of Rs 1,50,000 towards the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. A cheque of this amount was presented to Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal today on the occasion of the silver jubilee function.

Nagar Parishad budget passed
Our Correspondent

Parwanoo, April 1
Members of the Parwanoo Nagar Parishad has passed the budget for 2001-2002 at a meeting held in the office of the parishad here.

Out of the Rs 92 lakh, Rs 10 lakh has been earmarked for emergency work and Rs 48 lakh for construction of road and retaining walls. It was also decided to take strict action against all illegal constructions. Members also decided to merge the new areas in the local parishad.