The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Guidelines on levying house tax issued
Tribune News Service

Shimla, August 3
The state government has asked the panchayats not to harass people by imposing inflated house tax.

The Department of Panchayati Raj today issued guidelines regarding levying of house tax by the gram panchayats in the state.

A spokesman for the department clarified that if gram panchayats were imposing house tax beyond the limits fixed by the government or if a wrong assessment was made, then the aggrieved person could complain to the Subdivision Officer (Civil) concerned for the redressal of his grievances.

The spokesman said it had been brought to the notice of the government that the gram panchayats were measuring the houses for assessing the house tax, which was causing harassment to the residents.

He said Section 100 of the Himachal Pradesh Panchayati Raj Act, 1994, provided that subject to such maximum rates as the government might fix and the provisions of the rules made under this Act or any other made by the government in this behalf, a gram panchayat shall impose a house tax payable by the occupier. Or, where a house was vacant, by the owner, provided that if any house remained vacant for a period of one year or more it shall be exempted from payment of the house tax.

The spokesman said under the above provisions, the state government issued notification on November 1, 1999, and allowed the gram panchayats to levy taxes, duties and fees subject to the maximum rates of such taxes, duties and fees as had been fixed by the government therein. The government had fixed maximum rates of taxes to be imposed by the gram panchayats and had also suggested a procedure to assess the house tax, he added.

He said a gram panchayat was free to impose a tax which was less than the maximum prescribed rates and might devise its own method to assess the tax. It was being felt by certain gram panchayats that measuring each house in the village was not possible and therefore the gram panchayats would like to impose tax on the basis of a rough assessment of the building area.

E-governance via Intranet in HP
Rakesh Lohumi
Tribune News Service

Shimla, August 3
In a major initiative to bring efficiency and transparency in the day-to-day functioning of the administration, the Himachal Government has decided to set up statewide Intranet, a dedicated network of computers to be used exclusively by the government agencies.

The Rs 7.25 crore scheme will be implemented in a phased manner, starting from the state secretariat. The National Informatic Centre and the state government will share the cost of scheme, which will link all the branches of the secretariat and directorates of various departments through local area network. In order to provide trouble free connectivity, optical fiber cable will be laid in the secretariat complex and thin client, a window based computer terminal without a central processing unit, installed in each branch. While a regular personal computer costs about Rs 40,000, the “thin client” could be installed at half the cost. About 250 such machines will be installed. It will provide all required facilities like e-mail, video conferencing, besides access to official data. The Intranet will be hooked to Internet to provide global connectivity at the required levels.

According to Mr Ajay Tyagi, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Information and Technology, the government had already tied up with the regional computer centre for providing training to the staff. Once, the network is put in place, the efficiency will increase drastically as communication between different branches will be speeded up. The project, he said, would help develop computer culture, which was so essential to make effective use of information technology. In the next phase computer based local area network will be set up at all the district headquarters, which in turn will be connected to the secretariat Intranet. This, after the completion of the second phase all the district headquarters will be on line with each other and state secretariat. This will ensure speedy transfer of information and thus improve overall efficiency of the administration at all levels. A mix of v-sat (very small aperture satellite link) and telecom network will be used for the Intranet and Internet connectivity.

Dr Ambreesh Kumar, in charge of the National Informatics Centre, which will set up and maintain the Intranet, said that security mechanism to maintain official secrecy, wherever required would be provided in the software being developed by it.

Unlike, the “Lokmitra” scheme, for which information technology had been used to provide an interface between the public and the administration, the statewide Intranet would not be accessible to the general public.

In the long-term, it would pave the way for paperless offices, though doing away with the present file system would not be possible. He said document management software was available to help track the movement of files and thus helping in checking delays.

The secretariat Intranet will start functioning within the next four months.

Malana project boon for Kulu
S.P. Sharma
Tribune News Service

Shimla, August 3
The Malana hydroelectric project in the remote area of the Kulu district is a shining success story of private participation in tapping the hydel potential in Himachal Pradesh.

The entire stretch of about 15 km between Jari and Malana village in Kulu district was a backward, difficult and unapproachable area. But it is now bustling with life with completion of the 86 mws Malana Hydel Power Project, which brought a discernible change in the socio-economic status and destiny of the local populace. Not only this, the project has started generating a revenue of more than Rs 7 lakh per day to the state exchequer.

The Malana Hydel Power Project has been completed in a record period of two-and-half years which otherwise was scheduled to be completed in five years. It has also exploded the existing myths and misconception that hydel power projects take longer gestation period for execution and also incur higher capital cost. It was like a dream come true for the LNJ Bhilwara group when the first unit of 43 mw started generation on July 5 this year, the second unit of equal number of mws was commissioned on July 11.

A peep into the success story of Malana would reveal a saga of sustained and well organised efforts of both the state government and MPCL to translate the dream into reality. To begin with, a footbridge was constructed on Parbati river. In September 1998, the Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal, laid the foundation stone of the project. He evinced keen interest in the project and visited the project site at least four times on different occasions to review its progress.

The laying of 10 km-long road from Chowki village to the barrage site as nothing less than a challenge. Extremely difficult mountain topography and terrain kept on posing serious problems. At one point when the construction of the road could not be carried out towards the dam site, project authorities had even decided to airlift machinery and equipment and other material to the barrage site in order to meet the time schedule. However, help of BRO engineers was sought who successed in making a breakthrough. The construction work of the road was completed in a record time of nine months.

As per the agreement, the Himachal Pradesh Government would get 15 per cent free power from the project for 12 years and 20 per cent free power thereafter for the next 28 years. The state government had announced various incentives for early completion of the hydel power projects. The MPCL is the first agency to have become eligible for incentive on wheeling charges. As per the agreement, the Malana project was to be commissioned after September 30, 2003, the MPCL was required to pay 10 paise per unit as wheeling charges or power grid rate whichever would have been higher. In case the project was to be executed after September 30, 2002, the company was required to pay 8 paise per unit. Since the project has been commissioned even before these scheduled, the MPCL is now required to pay only 6 paise per unit as wheeling charges. Thus the company has been given an incentive of 4 paise per unit for early completion of the project.

Another remarkable achievement of this project is that probably Malana is first hydel power project in Himachal Pradesh where not even a single family has been displaced. The ecological disturbance had also been minimal. More than 31,000 trees were planted at the various sites of the project. The company has also given Rs 43 lakh to the Forest Department for undertaking an aforestation drive in the area. With a view to protecting the environment and socio-economic development of the area, a massive sapling plantation drive has been undertaken around the site.

The Himachal Pradesh Electricity Board was entrusted with the task of laying of 25 km long transmission lines from the powerhouse at Chowki village to Bajaura. The success of this project can be attributed primarily to three factors. First, the LNG Bhilwara group managed to arrange a whopping finance of Rs 350 crore much before the start of the project. Second, detailed engineering was done. There were hardly any changes in the original specifications and drawings. Third, the quick decision both at state government and MPCL level made the things easier.

The project has opened up tremendous opportunities for the economic well-being and social development of the state and it has ushered in new work culture for development. The project has emerged as a pioneer and symbol in the whole country by creating history of sorts by completion of the project within a short span of two-and-half years.

It has proved that hydro power projects can be implemented early given good and innovative design, careful selection of contractors along with a highly motovated management team. In future the role model of Malana would certainly result in lower project cost and can generate electricity with reasonable and inflation proof cost.

The LNG Bhilwara group has executed this project in collaboration with the Indo-Canadian Consultancy Services.

The production of power at Malana power house is 86,000 units per hour and the power is being sold to the Delhi Vidyut Board at the rate of Rs 2.45 per unit. Although the installed capacity of the project is 86 mw, yet it can produce even up to 98 mw of power subject to the availability of water during peak rainy season.

During the past three years, the state government has signed a series of MOUs both in private and public sector to harness hydel power. While MOUs for 2019 mw were signed with the private sector, various projects of 3151 mw are being executed by government of India agencies.

Likewise 288 mw of hydel power is being exploited by the state government agencies such as HPSEB and Himurja. Recently tenders for as many as nine new hydel power projects with a capacity of 448.5 mw in private sector have been floated.

	Tight security for pilgrimage Pratibha Chauhan Tribune News Service Dharamsala, August 3 Not willing to take chances with the security of over 600 Manimahesh pilgrims coming from Jammu and Kashmir the Himachal police has made elaborate security arrangements to avert any untoward incident during the yatra. A total of 631 pilgrims started from Bhaderwah in Jammu and Kashmir and were escorted by the Rashtriya Rifles, the CRPF and the Jammu and Kashmir police uptill Khundi Mural in the Kehar sector of Chamba. The first batch of pilgrims today started their yatra from Salooni towards Manimahesh. The Himachal police and the ITBP are now accompanying the pilgrims, who will take the first holy dip at Manimahesh on August 12, on the eve of Janamashtami. In view of the militant attack on the Amarnath pilgrims in Jammu and Kashmir, the Himachal police has made elaborate security arrangements. “The yatris are being accompanied by snifer dogs, police vans, and over 100 security personnel, to check explosives and attack by militants,” revealed Mr Sanjay Kundu, SP, Chamba. He said keeping in mind the fact that the Manimahesh pilgrims were fired upon by militants last year, the security forces had been put on the alert. The police and security forces have this time, discouraged the pilgrims from taking the Gandoh route, via Bharari Gulli, as it is considered unsafe. It was during the inter-state police coordination meeting, that a decision was taken to discourage the pilgrims from taking this route. Though, the yatra has so far been safe, the police still has to take care of the safety of about 200 pilgrims, who will be coming from Bhaderwah for the main dip on August 27, on the eve of Radhaashtami. These pilgrims will constitute the second batch of yatris coming from Bhaderwah. In view of the attack on Amarnath pilgrims, the threat was definitely there, and elaborate security arrangement were made for safety of those coming for the Manimahesh yatra stated Mr K.C. Sadyal, DIG (North). Mr Sadyal, said it was the initial journey of the pilgrims, from the point where they entered Himachal from Jammu and Kashmir, where the threat perception was more. “Since the pilgrims cross through almost 30 km of uninhibited and sensitive area in Padri Gulli and Khundi Mural in Kehar, the chances of a militants strike are more than while they are far inside the Himachal territory,” said Mr Sadyal. The vast uninhibited area between the Chamba and Jammu and Kashmir boundary has been frequently used by the militants from the valley as a safe haven. Eversince the militants gunned down 35 innocent persons in the Kalaban and Satrundi area in the Tisa sector on the night of August 2, 1998, the state government has constituted village defence committees (VDCs) and appointed special police officers and provided them with arms for maintaining vigilance along the border.
	Rs 16 lakh for new Sanskrit dept Tribune News Service Shimla, August 3 The University Grants Commission has sanctioned Rs 16 lakh to Himachal Pradesh University for setting up a department of astrology and Sanskrit speaking centre. This was stated by Dr S.K. Gupta, vice-Chancellor, while inaugurating a two-day National Symposium on Sanskrit today. He said our literary heritage Sanskrit was not only but also a tool to unearth the treasures of scientific achievements and researches that were carried out by the Indians in the ancient part. It was emerging as an instrument to meet the needs of many other disciplines which could be enriched with the knowledge of Sanskrit. Pandit Diwakar Dutt Sharma president over the function. Prof B.B. Chaube from Hoshiarpur was the guest of honour. Prof Radhy Vallabh Tripathi from Sagar University, Dr S. Ranganath from Bangalore and Prof Om Prakash Pande from Lucknow University are attending the symposium.
	New presidents installed Our Correspondent Kasauli, August 3 Mr and Mrs Pankaj Jain were installed as the new presidents of the Rotary and Inner Wheel Club for the year 2001-2002 in an impressive ceremony here last evening. Other new members were also installed. The clubs have been forerunners in the field of social work in the region. The efforts of their members, which comprise doctors, businessmen and teachers, were lauded by the chief guest, Mr Virender Sehgal, director of the board of Food and Civil Supplies, Parwanoo, and the guest of honour, Mr Virender Kashyap, chairman, HP marketing board. The efforts of the clubs in polio eradication were also praised. The members highlighted various activities carried out in the last year. It included distribution of free uniforms to needy school students, organising health camps, donating money for natural calamities, providing furniture and mats to school students, opening sewing school for women, providing water taps, distributing shoes, clothes and a washing machine to a leprosy hospital and besides other works. Various other activities were proposed for the year, which included awareness for eradication of German measles, generating employment for the needy and creating awareness for vocational courses amongst students.
	I-cards for panches Tribune News Service Shimla, August 3 The Himachal Pradesh Government has decided to issue identity cards to all elected representatives of Panchayati Raj institutions in the state. A spokesman of the Panchayati Raj Department said here yesterday that representatives had demanded from time to time to provide them with identity cards which would be of much help during their visits to government offices in connection with discharge of duties. The Department of Panchayati Raj had prepared the identity cards for all elected representatives of gram panchayats, panchayat samitis and zila parishads and had delivered these to district panchayat officers of the districts concerned. The spokesman said that identity cards for chairmen, vice-chairmen and members of zila parishads would be issued by the Deputy Commissioners. The identity cards for chairmen, vice-chairmen and members of panchayat samitis, pradhans, up-pradhans and members of gram panchayats would be issued by Block Development Officers.
	Govt ‘misleading’ Dalits Tribune News Service Shimla, August 3 Mr Dev Raj, president of the Dalit Varg, talking to mediapersons here yesterday said the Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal, and his two ministers, Mr Narendera Bragta and Mr R.D. Kashyap, were trying to mislead the Dalits on the issue of regularisation of encroachments with an eye on elections. “Had they been sympathisers of Dalits, the first thing they would have done after coming to power in 1998 would have been to regularise the encroachments,” he said. He demanded that the safai karamcharis working on contract should be paid a minimum of Rs 55 per day.
	Results of 28 students revised Our Correspondent Solan, August 3 The Himachal Pradesh School Education Board last week revised the results of 28 of the 287 students of the local government senior secondary girls school who had appeared in the plus one examination this year. Twentyseven of the 28 students were declared passed by the board on May 30 while one was placed under compartment. However, as per the revised results only 12 students had actually cleared the examination and 14 had been placed under compartment. Two had been declared having failed. The board in a communication addressed to the school had cited a clerical error as the reason for the revision of the results.