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| Friday,
August 3, 2001, Chandigarh, India   
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HP told to cut borrowings Dhumal to preside over I-Day function at Shillai Two die as jeep falls into nullah
VHP
submits memorandum to Suraj Bhan |
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Remove
rehris, HC
tells administration HPUTA for action against VC Civic body staff
sans wages ABVP rally in Mandi Lok Janshakti men block traffic
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HP told to cut borrowings Shimla, August 2 The indiscriminate raising of loans over the past seven years has virtually plunged the state into a debt trap and it has reached such a pass from where it has no options but to borrow from the market to repay the outstanding loans. The annual interest burden has shot up from Rs 210 crore in 1993-1994 to Rs 1368 crore in the current financial year. The state will have to raise a loan of Rs 2318 crore during the year to meet the budget proposals of Rs 5500 crore. The Centre, while promising to protect the plan size of Rs 1720 crore, expressed its displeasure over the state going for huge market borrowings to fulfil its plan commitment. Out of Rs 2318 crore, Rs 1325 crore was to be raised through non-SLR borrowings, which the Centre feels further worsen the financial position. With the Centre adopting a tough posture, the state agreed to contain its non-SLR up to Rs 1000 crore by curtailing expenditure and raising resources. In fact, it has already realised Rs 40 crore by providing land to the National Thermal Power Corporation, which is executing the 800 MW Kol Dam Project. However, the Centre is still not satisfied and feels that even a borrowing of Rs 1000 crore would be too high for the state in the present precarious financial position. It wants it to further tighten the belt and mobilise resources to contain borrowings. The state, however, seems to be in no position to do so, with assembly elections just 18 months away the government does not want to take any harsh measures. In fact, it rolled back a number of such decisions over the past one year to avoid public criticism. It has now asked for a special assistance of Rs 1000 crore from the Centre to bridge the Budget deficit. While the state may not be able to secure the amount it has sought, it is hopeful that the Prime Minister Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, will certainly oblige the hill state, which he considers his second home, by doling out a substantial amount to the fund-starved state. Officials of the Finance Department are busy finding ways and means to make the maximum out of the assurance held out by Mr Vajpayee that the Centre would help, protect the plan size. They are making proposals which could help the state get the maximum possible financial assistance from the Centre. The excellent rapport the Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, has with Mr Vajpayee, they are confident, will enable the government manage the tight financial situation for the next 18 months without having to resort to any unpopular measures. In fact, the Centre has been obliging the state by clearing the overdraft every month. However, if the situation is allowed to take its own course, the budget deficit is slated to increase by Rs 500 crore annually and double from the present Rs 2489 crore by 2004-05. |
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Dhumal to preside over I-Day function at Shillai Nahan, August 2 The Chief Minister has silenced his opponents with this announcement as they were alleging that he was avoiding visits to the Shillai area. According to political observers, the main BJP faction of the Shillai area belongs to the Shanta Kumar group and has practically no link with the state leadership due to which the base of the BJP has weakened in the area. The Congress is benefiting from the situation. There are indications that the Congress is also preparing to show its strength at the function. Congress sources are of the view that as Mr Chauhan is considered to be one of the closest Congress MLAs to the Chief Minister, the Congress will automatically benefit. Sources close to the government hinted that there were chances of an announcement of a package for ginger growers and the development of this district. The Chief Minister may declare the Transgiri area of the district is scheduled tribe. Although in the last panchayati raj elections, the BJP had captured zila parishad and five block development committee seats, all five Assembly constituencies are being represented by Congress MLAs. |
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Two die as jeep falls into nullah Kulu, August 2 The dead were identified as Dilu Devi (70), wife of Chhape Ram, and Khimi Ram. The seriously injured were Daulat Ram, Kishan Chand and Roop Chand. The others were Ram Saran, Kuldip, Lot Ram, Reshami Devi, Elu Ram, Bhag Chand, Hem Raj, Virender and Khushi Ram. Those with minor injuries were admitted to the Primary Health Centre, Gadsa. Mr Karan Singh, Minister of State for Environment and Primary Education, along with the Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police, reached the site and supervised the rescue operations. He expressed grief over the accident. |
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2 found drinking during CM’s raid Shimla, August 2 As a follow up, strict instructions banning smoking, consumption of liquor and chewing tobacco in the secretariat and other government buildings have been issued. The CID is learnt to have been asked to keep a vigil on erring government officials throughout the state and report to the Chief Minister. The two officials, Mr Hira Lal, Superintendent and Mr Nav Katoch, senior clerk, in the Home Department, were allegedly consuming liquor in their office room of “Armsdale Building” of the secretariat last evening when Mr Dhumal was informed about this. He went there about 7.20 p.m. and caught both of them. They were handed over to the police. The police got them medically examined and registered a case against them. Disciplinary proceedings have been ordered against the two. Mr Dhumal discussed the issue with the Chief Secretary, Mr Harsh Gupta, today and asked him to strictly enforce discipline in government offices. The yesterday’s surprise raid at the HPSEB headquarters and the arrest of the two liquor consuming officials has sent the right signals among the government employees throughout the state. During a surprise check in the secretariat here this morning, as many as 104 employees were found absent. Although smoking in public places has been banned in the state, yet some senior officers in the secretariat and other offices can be seen defying the ban. |
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Remove
rehris, HC
tells administration Shimla, August 2 The petition was disposed of in view of the reply affidavit filed by the Deputy Commissioner, Una. The petitioner had, in his petition, alleged that rehriwalas and vegetable seller had encroached upon land in front of his shop. It was alleged that the encroachment disrupted vehicular traffic and caused chaos in the market. It was further alleged that he had made several representations to the district authority but to no avail. The Deputy Commissioner, Una, apprised the court that the district administration has convened a meeting prior to filing the writ petition wherein it was resolved to constitute a sub-committee which was ordered to remove the obstruction being created by the rehriwalas. It was decided that appropriate place should be made available to the rehriwalas, including vegetable sellers. It is further mentioned in the reply that another meeting was conducted on March 13, 2000, which was attended by the pradhan and up-pradhan of the rehriwala union, wherein it was resolved that the sub committee would visit the area once a week and the action would be taken against the unauthorised rehriwalas. Interestingly, during the pendency of the petition it was found that the petitioner had himself encroached upon the government land. The high court on the last date of hearing directed the petitioner to remove the goods from the road. |
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HPUTA for action against VC Shimla, August 2 The HPUTA today submitted a memorandum to Dr Suraj Bhan, demanding appropriate action against the Vice-Chancellor in order to restore the confidence of the teaching community in the institution. The memorandum alleged that the Vice-Chancellor had misbehaved with several teachers. He had misbehaved with office-bearers of the teachers’ association who met him on June 15 regarding their demands. They pointed out that he had also misbehaved with Dr Sunil Gupta, a former president of the teachers’ association, and Dr (Mrs) Usha Pathania, Director, Chandian Studies. The memorandum regretted that no action had been taken on the earlier memorandum submitted to the Chancellor by the teachers on May 26. It alleged that for the first time, a junior professor has been appointed Dean of Studies. Disturbing developments had taken place in the university ever since submission of the May 26 memorandum, the teachers said. The memorandum said financial burden had been put on the university by appointing a retired professor, Dr K.C. Sharma, as Secretary to the Vice-Chancellor. The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) also submitted a memorandum to the Chancellor today, in which it accused the university authorities of not giving due attention to student activities and lack of funds for research work. Meanwhile, two former non-teaching employee leaders, Mr Subhash Puri and Mr Waryam Singh Bains, have sought intervention of the Chancellor for convening a meeting of the court of the university. They have said that the meetings of the Executive Council, the Academic Council and the Finance Committee had not been held regularly. |
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VHP
submits memorandum to Suraj Bhan Shimla, August 2 Activists of the VHP took out a procession and raised slogans against Pakistan. The memorandum said terrorist strikes had increased following the talks between Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee and Gen Pervez Musharraf at Agra. The memorandum demanded that the Centre and states should crush terrorism and it was unfortunate that the government was unable to protect its citizens from a handful of terrorists. |
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Civic body staff
sans wages Solan, August 2 Sources said the main cause for non-payment of salaries was non-release of government grant in lieu of octroi which was abolished during the early eighties. This grant, paid quarterly, was last received in April and the second quarterly instalment was due in the first week of July. As many as 270 employees of the Municipal Council, Solan, 35 of the Nagar Panchayat, Parwanoo and 12 of the Arki Nagar Panchayat have been affected. The president of the local Municipal Council, Ms Shammi Sahni, has accused the sitting BJP M.L.A. of blocking the payment of grant. The M.L.A., Mr Rajiv Bindal, has denied the allegation. |
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ABVP rally in Mandi Mandi, August 2 Parishad members took out procession which started from the premises of Government College and terminated in Chauhata Bazar. The national working committee member, Mr Ravi Mehta, said the Prime Minister should abstain from going to Pakistan. |
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Lok Janshakti men block traffic Solan, August 2 They were protesting against the indifferent attitude of the Deputy Commissioner and other senior officers of the district administration in connection with a memorandum they wanted to submit for onward transmission to the government. |
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