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April 5, 2001, Chandigarh, India   
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Cheers greet rebels in Assembly Hydel projects: Dhumal to meet PM HP not to approve new
building plans Sofat membership restored Auction of liquor vends through tenders fails |
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Mail runners in days of e-governance HC transfers 35 subordinate judges Institute recommends closing 23 quarries Panel formed
to resolve dispute 3 die as jeep falls into nullah
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Cheers greet rebels in Assembly Shimla, April 4 The reinducted ministers, Mr K.K. Kapoor, Mr Ramesh Chand, Mr Rajan Sushant and Mr Harinarayan Singh, were greeted with cheers by the treasury Benches when they entered the House. The Speaker, Thakur Gulab Singh, welcomed them in the House and asked the Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal, to formally introduce them to the members. Initially, Mr Sushant and Mr Harinarayan Singh were in the House when it assembled. Mr Kapoor reached while the Chief Minister was introducing Mr Sushant and Mr Harinarayan Singh as ministers of state. Mr Ramesh Chand arrived later. During the question hour, the Minister of State for Technical Education, Mr Ravinder Singh Ravi, said that 385 daily and casual labourers of the Irrigation and Public Health Engineering Division at Dalhousie have been retrenched since April 1, 1999. Mr Ravi, who was replying to a question of Mrs Asha Kumari (Cong), said that the recruitments were made for implementation of the command area development project which has been completed and these labourers were recruited for a period of 89 days. Replying to a supplementary of Mrs Asha Kumari, the Minister said that 307 of the retrenched labourers had not completed 240 days in the job, while 78 had completed the period. Replying to a question of Mr Chander Kumar (Cong), Mr Ravi said that Himachal Pradesh would formulate its own water policy shortly. At the moment, the state was broadly guided by the national water policy and a draft policy of the state was under consideration. The Congress member, Thakur Kaul Singh, expressed concern over the rising number of bus accidents because of overloading and urged the government to deploy more buses to check the menace. The Transport Minister, Mr Vidya Sagar, said that 347 new bus routes had been identified in the state and the applicants would be given route permits by the authorities after scrutinising the 829 applications. He said that 63 applications had been received for the 52 routes which have been identified in Solan district. The Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal, while replying to a question of Mr Yogendera Chandra (Cong), said that 10 micro and medium hydroelectric projects, including eight of Himurja, were under investigation by the HPSEB in the Chopal area. These projects are: Sainj ( 5.5mw), Shalvi (7 mw), Banah Swol (1.5 mw), Bhalu Katal (425 mw), Kangan (425 mw), Mashran Bharanu (816 mw), Mirgali (1.21 mw), Nati (781 mw), Shantha (152 mw) and Tatu (610 mw). The Agriculture Minister, Mr Vidya Sagar, introduced a Bill seeking to rename Palampur Agriculture University as Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya. |
Hydel projects: Dhumal to meet PM Shimla, April 4 Replying to a debate on budget estimates of the state electricity board he said the government was pursuing the case and wanted an out-of-court settlement. The matter was pending with the Supreme Court. The state had filed a claim of Rs 3,933 crore, including interest on the 7.19 per cent power share under the Act in November last. During the last hearing, the court gave 20 weeks to the state to file affidavits of witnesses listed by it. In all, 44 hearings had taken place so far. Referring to the Nathpa Jhakri power project, he said the government was finding it difficult to contribute its share of Rs 750 crore though it had paid Rs 224 crore over the past three years. He said it was considering other options keeping in view the financial crunch. Prof Dhumal appreciated the effort of a private company which was set to complete the 86 MW project three years ahead of schedule and said the government would encourage similar captive hydel power plants. He said with the availability of modern technology, the gestation period of hydel projects had been reduced considerably. The Chief Minister said for the expeditious exploitation of hydel power potential, it was essential that the MoU route was followed for assigning projects up to 300 MW. At present, only projects up to a capacity of 100 MW could be allocated through the MoU and competitive bidding had to be adopted for bigger projects. The government had taken up the issue with the Centre. Referring to the Opposition charge that Himachalis were not getting employment in hydel projects, he said there were specific clauses in agreements to protect the interest of the state and people. At present, the projects with an aggregate capacity of 6,400 MW were under execution. The board had submitted schemes worth Rs 319 crore under the accelerated power development programme of the Centre for the current financial year. Under the programme, 90 per cent of the cost of scheme was given as grant and board would have to contribute only 10 per cent. The board suffered a loss of Rs 40 crore due to the disruption of power supply in the wake of the flashflood in sutlej as a result of which the deficit for the preceding year shot up to Rs 92 crore. A deficit of Rs 47.88 crore had been projected in the Rs 1085 crore budget for the current year. |
HP not to approve new
building plans Shimla, April 4 A spokesman of the Town and Country Planning Department said here today that the decision would apply to all urban local bodies and special area development authorities, but not cover rural areas outside their limits. The step has been taken as a follow-up action of the Cabinet meeting of February 13 in which construction of buildings beyond three storeys was banned following the Gujarat earthquake. Most areas of Himachal Pradesh fall in the categories IV and V of the seismic zone, which is highly prone to earthquakes. The spokesman said a review of all such building plans shall be undertaken which had the sanction for more than three storeys but construction had not yet been completed beyond the third storey in Shimla and other urban areas. Structural safety and design shall also be examined. The building bylaws shall be amended suitably by the urban bodies and Special Area Development Authorities, incorporating specifications and measures for quake resistant constructions as laid down in the National Building Code and as per the Bureau of Indian Standards Code. The zoning regulations of the Town and Country Planning Department on land use, coverage and height shall be strictly implemented. The implementation of the retention and compounding policy by the Shimla Municipal Corporation and other urban local bodies and the Town and Country Planning Department had been stayed till the building bylaws and codes were suitably amended. The spokesman said it had been decided that all such buildings and structures with more than four floors shall be scrutinised by two committees of the PWD each for public and private buildings. These committees would submit their reports within three months. Government engineers shall assess and certify the quake-resistant capabilities of private buildings in rural areas. |
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Sofat membership restored Shimla, April 4 The decision is being seen as a prelude to the inclusion of Mr Sofat into the state executive along with some other Shanta loyalists as agreed during the agreement between the rebels and Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal. Besides Mr Sofat, Dr Shiv Kumar and Mr Jagat Singh Negi are to be included in the executive to restore factional balance. The factional fight in the BJP was over the denial of party ticket to Mr Sofat for the Solan byelection. The party came to the brink of a split following a revolt by four ministers and three legislators. A pressnote said the decision to restore active membership had been taken on the basis of the report of the disciplinary committee. The allegation that Mr Sofat worked against the party candidate had not been proved. |
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Auction of liquor vends through tenders fails Palampur, April 4 The new plan to allot liquor vends through sealed tenders in the state has been chalked out by the newly posted Excise and Taxation Commissioner, Mr Sanjiv Gupta, who has been under the impression that most of the contractors in the state pool the excise auctions in connivance with officials of the department and cause huge loss to the state exchequer. The recent excise auctions held in the state have shown an overall 20 per cent hike in excise revenue which is less than the target fixed by the government. In some districts, not even a single tender has been put in. Only in Mandi and Kangra districts, there has been a 30 per cent hike in revenue but in other districts, the revenue hike remained between 11 to 20 per cent as compared to the previous year. The Excise and Taxation Department has badly failed in meeting its targets in three largest districts of Shimla, Solan and Sirmaur where there has been a very little hike in revenue. The department suffered a major set back in Sirmaur where the excise revenue registered only 11 per cent increase . Similar has been the situation in Shimla and Solan districts with a revenue hike of only 14 per cent. According to official sources, in these three districts large-scale smuggling of liquor from adjoining states Punjab and Haryana has been going on unchecked. In the past one year, over 35 cases of liquor smuggling have been registered in various police stations of these districts and truckloads of liquor seized. Sources said various gangs of liquor mafia had established its links with anti-social elements
particularly in Shimla, Solan and Nahan towns where smuggled liquor was easily available on cheaper rates. It may be recalled that the state gets over 200 crore revenue every year from the sale of liquor vends and its excise duty. In the previous year, the state had received a revenue of Rs 211 crore and in the current financial year, it would go to Rs 253 crore registering an increase of 20 per cent. With an intention to check smuggling of liquor from the adjoining states, the government had made
radical changes in its excise policy this year. The departmental stores in the state had been allowed to sell beer after obtaining licence from the government. Likewise, the excise duty had also been slashed on various brands of liquor. |
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Mail runners in days of e-governance Shimla Himachal is perhaps the only state that is largely running its mail through “ harkaras” even after over half a century of independence. These “ harkaras” carry the daily mail across snow-covered peaks and high passes for which they are paid a pittance. There are 1, 688 foot mail routes on which the dak is carried by 1, 723 “harkaras” year round without any consideration of even bad weather. Access to certain interior areas of the tribal districts of Kinnaur, Lahaul-Spiti and Pangi (Chamba), where track routes are long, is only through these mail runners. Of these, only 65 are departmental mail runners while others are not on the permanent staff. Only 302 mail lines are served through HRTC buses. The Chief Post Master General, Mr Vijay Bhushan, says the mail runners’ duty becomes extremely difficult when the Rohtang Pass gets closed due to heavy snowfall and they have to carry mail on foot on at least 17 routes in the Lahaul valley. These difficult treks include the Gondhle-Sisoo-Koksar, Jahlma-Mooring-Thirote, Lote-Jahlma, Udaipur-Thirote, Gemoor-Samdoh and Salgram-Tandi routes. Mail from the district headquarters of Chamba is carried to the landlocked Pangi valley by nine “harkaras” who change duty en route while crossing the inhospitable Kugti (4,850 metres) and Chobia (4,960 metres) passes. The “harkaras” risk their lives when the Udaipur-Killar (Pangi) route gets blocked due to snow in the winter and they have to go through the Paddar area of the terrorist-infested Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir. The departmental mail runners are paid between Rs 2,550 and Rs 3,200 per month while the others get between Rs 1,220 and Rs 1,600 for the arduous job. Mr Vijay Bhushan says the length of the foot routes on which the mail is carried by “harkaras” in the state is 14, 619 km. The Mandi postal division has the largest number of 324 “harkaras” followed by 203 in Hamirpur division and 192 in Shimla division. |
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HC transfers 35 subordinate judges Shimla, April 4 Mr A.C. Thalwal, Senior Sub Judge-cum-CJM, Lahaul Spiti has been transferred to Kinnaur. Mr S.C. Kainthal, Sub Judge-cum-Additional, chief Judicial Magistrate, Jogindernagar, has been shifted to Chamba. Mr Bhim Chand, Sub Judge-cum-Addl CJM, Rohru (I), has been shifted to Kangra (I), while Mr L.R. Sharma, Sub Judge-cum-Addl CJM, Kangra (I) has been transferred to Rohru (I). Mr D.S. Khenal, Sub Judge-cum-Addl CJM Sundernagar, has been shifted to Amb (I). Mr A.K. Sharma, Sub Judge-cum-Addl CJM Paonta Sahib (II), has been transferred to Sarkaghat. Mr Rattan Singh, Sub Judge-cum-Addl CJM, Sarkaghat, has been shifted to Palampur (I). Mr Rajeev Bhardwaj, Sub Judge-cum-Addl, CJM, Theog, has been transferred to Una (II). Mr Purender Vaidya, Sub Judge-cum-Addl, CJM, Palampur (I) has been shifted to Ghumarwin. Mr R.K. Sharma, Sub Judge-cum-Addl CJM Nurpur (I), has been transferred to Shimla (I). Mr K.K. Sharma, Sub Judge-cum-Addl CJM Amb (I), has been transferred to Jogindernagar. Mr Varinder Sharma, Sub Judge-cum-Addl-CJM, Kangra (II), has been shifted to Sundernagar. Mr R.K. Sharma, Sub Judge-cum-Addl CJM, Ghumarwin, has been transferred to Hamirpur (I). Mr J.K. Sharma, Sub Judge-cum-Addl CJM, Shimla (I),has been transferred to Nurpur (I). Dr Baldev Singh, Sub Judge-cum-Judicial Magistrate, Shimla (II), has been shifted to Mandi (I), Mr Mukesh Bansal, Sub Judge-cum CJM, Chopal, has been transferred to Mandi (II). Mr Bhupesh Sharma, Sub Judge-cum-JM, Mandi (I), has been transferred to Shimla (II). Mr Rajeev Sood, Sub Judge-cum-JM, Jubbal, has been shifted to Manali. Mr Pradeep Samyal, Sub Judge-cum-JM, Manali, has been transferred to Theog, Mr Ajay Mehta, Sub Judge-cum-JM, Mandi (II), has been transferred to Amb (II). Mr Krishan Kumar, Sub Judge-cum-JM, Dharamsala (I), has been shifted to Paonta Sahib (II). Mr Pune Ram, Sub Judge-cum-JM, Bilaspur, has been transferred to Shimla (III). While Mr Aman Sood, Sub Judge-cum-JM Shimla (III), has been shifted to Shimla (IV). Mr Rajeev Bali, Sub Judge-cum-JM, Una (II), has ben transferred to Kangra (II). Mr Pawanjit Singh, Sub Judge-cum-JM, Dharamsala (II), shifted to Dharamsala (I), Mr Jaswant Singh, Sub Judge-cum-JM, Amb (II), has been transferred to Dharamsala (II). Ms Jyotsna Dadhwal, Sub Judge-cum-JM Shimla (IV), has been shifted to Bilaspur (II), Mr Hans Raj, Sub Judge-cum-JM, Hamirpur (I), has been transferred to Chopal. While Mr Barender Thakur, Sub Judge-cum-JM, Chamba, has been transferred to Chachiot at Gohar against a vacant post. |
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Institute recommends closing 23 quarries Shimla, April 4 Stating this during the question hour, Mr Kishori Lal, Industries Minister, told Mr Yogendra Chand of the Congress that notices had been issued to the owners for closure of mines and they had raised certain objections. The CMRI only studied 374 sq km of mining area in which limestone quarries were only in 162 sq km. As per the reports 5.46 per cent of the area was highly suitable for mining 12.51 per cent suitable and 80.95 per cent was unsuitable. He said before taking a final decision he would himself visit the area to have a first-hand assessment. The government wanted to encourage scientific mining to provide employment to the local people. Replying to a volley of supplementaries regarding leasing of mines to those blacklisted by the Uttranchal Government, the minister expressed his helpless saying that nothing could be done as local people had given power of attorney to outsiders. Replying to another question he said there were 133 stone crushers owned by 79 parties in the Damtal area out of which only 40 parties were paying royalty to the government. In all Rs 9.69 lakh was paid to them and process to recover the outstanding arrears was in progress. He said there was no provision to disconnect power supply to defaulter units. The House also passed the Punjab Excise (Amendment) Act Bill. Replying to the debate, Mr Praveen Sharma, Excise Minister, said that the state would enact its own legislation at on appropriate time. A committee set up for the purpose had already prepared a draft Bill.  |
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Panel formed
to resolve dispute Nahan, April 4 The Subdivisional Magistrate and the DSP had a tough time controlling the agitated Hindus who removed the drainage pipe. A 14-member committee was constituted to resolve the matter. The protesters also marched up to the SDM’s office. According to the gurdwara sources, the pipe was temporarily diverted as the gurdwara had undertaken construction of a ‘sarai’ near the temple site. They said they were already planning to divert the waste water drainage towards some other place. |
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3 die as jeep falls into nullah Shimla, April 4 Informing UNI on the telephone, Kaza Additional Deputy Commissioner L.R. Chauhan said the deceased were identified as Lal Chand (50), his wife, and Rakesh Kumar Prasher (28). The injured, one of them seriously, were admitted to a hospital at Kaza. One of them was later discharged from the hospital. The jeep was going from Kaza to Peo in Kinnaur district.
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