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July 11, 2001, Chandigarh, India   
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Forest
Corpn may soon be in the red IWDP funds
misused, DC warns officials
Setback to power board’s plan Traffic jams spell chaos |
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Former union leaders allege victimisation Three staff unions back HP varsity VC Man accused of wife’s rape acquitted HP lifts ban
on water connections
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Forest
Corpn may soon be in the red Shimla, July 10 The quantum of “forest note” being made available to the corporation has been declining ever since the state imposed a moratorium on green fellings. The unrestricted import of timber, resin and resin products under the OGL (open general licence) over the past two years has made things worse. A spokesman of the corporation said the sharp decline in prices of resin and other forest produce had left the corporation with no option but to reduce procurement rates of resin. This in turn had dissuaded private forest owners from tapping their trees, leading to decreased availability of resin to the corporation. However, he claimed that due to apt efficient management, there had been a significant rise in the production of pale grade resin (which is costlier than other grades) in its turpentine factories. The production of pale grades was 67 per cent during 2000-2001 as against 52 per cent during 1999-2000. This resulted in an appreciable addition in the sale price of resin. Similarly, the rates at which timber had been sold had shown a gradual increase during the past three years from Rs 6067 to Rs 6825 per cubic metre. The rate during 1996-97 was Rs 5747 per cubic metre. The year 1997-98 was an exceptional year for the timber market as the movement of timber from Jammu and Kashmir was stopped by the order of Supreme Court which resulted in short supply of timber in the north Indian market and the rate skyrocketed to Rs 7833 per cubic metre. The corporation had replaced the system of working for private trees by the fixed price system to minimise the role of middlemen, ensure better price to the owner and reduce the scope of malpractice. A new method of resin tapping called the “Bore hole method” had also been introduced which yielded pure resin without causing damage to the trees. The sale price of “N” grade resin, which was Rs 2800 per quintal in June, 2000, had been increased to Rs 3025 this year a price rise of 10 per cent despite tough competition from imported resin. Similarly, the price of turpentine had been increased by 52 per cent from Rs 14 per litre to Rs 21.25 per litre. The management had regularised the services of 1726 daily-wager earners during the past, which had put an additional annual burden of about Rs 5 crore on the forest corporation. The management, he said, could not be blamed for reduction in work as alleged by some employee unions. |
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IWDP funds
misused, DC warns officials Chamba, July 10 It is learnt that a complaint about the irregularities in the execution of the project was received by the Deputy Commissioner of Chamba alleging that works had not been completed on the site of watersheds, despite the funds allocated to officials for various schemes under the project. It was reported that the officials concerned had not formed sub-committees, comprising local residents to ensure people’s participation. The charge was verified by a team of the DRDA. Taking serious note of the irregularities, the District Magistrate of Chamba has ordered an inquiry and warned the officials concerned to execute the works assigned to them under the IWDP within a month, otherwise legal proceedings would be initiated against the defaulters. |
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Setback to power board’s plan Shimla, July 10 The Union Ministry of Power has decided to grant funds on the basis of power consumption and accordingly it has earmarked a meagre 7.5 per cent of the total budgetary allocation for the states belonging to the special category. Consequently, the flow of funds to a state like Himachal Pradesh will be curtailed significantly as the amount will be divided among 11 special category states, including the newly created Uttaranchal. Last year, the Centre had made a provision of Rs 1000 crore for the programme and Himachal Pradesh was able to secure over Rs 25 crore. This year the allocation had been increased to Rs 1,500 crore, but the state may get only around Rs 23 crore, unless the criteria is changed. As 90 per cent of the amount is given as outright grant and the remaining 10 per cent as loan, the state electricity board is keen to secure as much funds as possible. It had submitted system improvement schemes involving an expenditure of Rs 713 crore for funding under the programme. Implementation of these schemes would have enabled the board to achieve various targets set for the next five years as part of the reform process. It is quite clear that if the Centre sticks to the criteria, the state will not be able to get the required funds even over the next few years. The board has submitted system improvement schemes for all its 12 electrical circles in the state. The Union Power Ministry has, however, asked it to select only four circles in view of the paucity of funds. The board has decided to take up the Solan, Nahan, Hamirpur and Shimla circles for launching the programme. The circles include major industrial areas of the state. The total power consumption in the state is only 550 mw, which is less than even that of Jammu and Kashmir. The bulk of it is consumed by industries. In fact a recent survey revealed that 80 per cent of the power is being utilised by the two per cent industrial consumers. The board, which had submitted Rs 102 crore worth, schemes to be implemented over the next two years for these four circles would now have to draw priorities so that maximum improvement works could be taken up with the funds available. Mr Harsh Gupta, Chairman of the board, said the state would plead for more funds on the grounds of good performance. He said due consideration must be given to the fact that how the states were utilising the funds. Those implementing the schemes in a time-bound manner must be allocated more funds compared to those which failed to utilise them. Whether or not the Centre accepts its plea will be known only on July 23 when the sanctioning committee headed by the Union Power Minister is scheduled to meet. The board had already placed orders for the purchase of electronic meters under the schemes worth Rs 25.32 crore sanctioned last year. This would enable electronic metering for all loads in excess of 20 kw and the three-phase connections. In all about 3000 electronic meters would be installed up to March 2002. In the four circles to be taken up from this year 30,000 electronic meters will be installed covering all categories of consumers. |
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Who will bring light to streets of Shimla? Shimla, July 10 Streetlights on the medical college hostel road, upper cemetery road, Raj Bhavan road are non-functional. Even the approach roads from Lakkar Bazaar to Sanjauli, Chaura Maidan to Summer Hill, Boileagunj to Chakkar has very few streetlights functioning. Those near the bus stand have been out of order for the past few months. The maintenance of the streetlights is being looked after by the Electricity Department. The department claims that payments are still pending with the municipal corporation. Sources say that Rs 3 lakh have been given to the Electricity Department in April for the maintenance of the streetlights but still in some areas these have not been installed. There are two divisions — city division and new merged division, comprising 4,600 connections and 1,500 connections respectively. Shimla has more than 6,000 streetlights of which 40-50 per cent are non-functional. Even the Ridge goes without lights as all 25 points installed here are non-functional. There are 375 sodium lamps of which 150 are non-functional. No government aid has come for the corporation since 1998. When contacted, Mr Sudhir Chander, Executive Engineer, Electricity (city wing), refused to give details. |
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Traffic jams spell chaos Shimla Traffic jams on Cart Road, which is the main artery of the town, have become the order of the day with the traffic police acting as mere spectators. Most of the problem is being caused by mini-bus operators who violate all traffic rules. Victory Tunnel, general bus stand, Sanjauli Chowk, local bus stop near the gurdwara, Chhota Shimla, the lift and Dhalli areas are the most unruly traffic points. It is easy to reach any particular point in the town walking rather than driving down in a vehicle because of traffic holdups. Traffic on the main road outside the general bus stand has become chaotic as the mini-bus drivers park their vehicles in the middle of the road without bothering about the inconvenience they cause to other motorists. It appears as if things have gone out of the hand as the traffic police helplessly watch the mess on the roads. The police swings into action only when the Governor, Chief Minister or some other VIP has to drive through the congested points. The bypass and the stretch between Sanjauli and the Secretariat on Cart Road has become a parking place for buses and trucks. Entry to the bypass on both sides has also become a virtual transport yard. Trucks are allowed to enter the town for unloading even during peak hours when they block the roads around Sabzi Mandi. Although there is no possibility of widening roads in the town, successive governments had been issuing permits for adding more private buses to the fleet. Shopkeepers in the Sanjauli area have been agitating in support of their demand for banning entry of long-route buses in the bazar as these have become dangerous for pedestrians. There is need for proper regulation of traffic outside the St Edward’s and Tara Hall schools, where a number of accidents have taken place. The problem multiplies during the tourist season when the flow of traffic is more than doubled and the roads were not fit for taking that much load. Tourists have to face inconvenience because of traffic jams towards Dhalli where a number of workshops have sprung up right on the roadside. The Superintendent of Police, Mr A.N. Sharma, said against the requirement of 200 traffic police personnel, the strength sanctioned was just 120. The post of DSP (Traffic) had been abolished recently. |
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Former union leaders allege victimisation Shimla, July 10 Mr Puri, who is chairman of the corporate sector wing of the Himachal Pradesh Employees and a former member of the executive council and Mr Bains, who is general secretary of INTUC, were yesterday issued a show-cause notice by the Registrar, of HPU, for allegedly issuing statements which had “damaged” the prestige of the university. They have been accused of issuing “irresponsible” statements which were violative of various ordinances. Mr Puri is Assistant Registrar (Accounts) in HPU. Mr Puri and Mr Bains said they complained to the Governor (Chancellor) that the recent appointment of a retired teacher as secretary to the Vice-Chancellor was violative of the norms which prohibited re-employment of retired persons. This has further burdened HPU which was reeling under a severe financial crisis. They claimed that the post was previously held by non-teaching employees and his was for the first time that a retired teacher had been appointed. They said they would meet the Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, on July 13 to apprise him of the affairs of HPU. Mr Bains said he was suddenly transferred yesterday from the GA branch to the cash section allegedly to victimise him. Meanwhile, the HPU Non-Teaching Employees Union has taken a “serious note” of the statements of Mr Bains and has decided to issue a show-cause notice to him in the matter. |
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Three staff unions back HP varsity VC Shimla, July 10 The Class IV and Technical Workers Union, the Administrative Officer Union and the Non-Teaching Employees Union of the university have taken an exception to the charges being levelled by some leaders. The working committee of the Non-Teaching Employees Union has taken a serious view of the statement of Mr W.S. Bains, one of its members, against Doctor Gupta and decided to issue a show cause notice to him. |
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Man accused of wife’s rape acquitted Shimla, July 10 The prosecution alleged that the prosecutrix was married to Prem Singh on January 20, 1993,. It was alleged that Prem Singh started beating her, therefore, she left her matrimonial house without informing anybody. While she was on the way to her parent’s house, the accused met her and persuaded her to accompany him to his house. It was further alleged that the accused kept detained the prosecutrix at his residence for about 10 months and forcibly had sex with her. She could only escape from the house on June 15, 1994. While acquitting the accused, the High Court held that keeping in view the material on record, a case of rape had not been established against the accused. Therefore he was acquitted. |
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HP lifts ban
on water connections Shimla, July 10 The orders lifting the ban throughout the state were issued today by the Financial Commissioner (IPH). The ban was imposed on the sanctioning of new water connections and construction of houses in February last when the state was in the grip of severe drought. The Financial Commissioner, in his letter lifting the ban, has said with the onset of monsoon the drought situation has considerably improved and there was no justification for continuing the ban. For the past few years, most parts of the state have been witnessing acute shortage of water and the government had sought and assistance of about Rs 30 crore for supplying drinking water to the affected villages during the recent drought. |
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