 |
| Monday,
August 6, 2001, Chandigarh, India   
|
No
infighting in Cong: Stokes Firming up
grassroots bodies Dhumal
squandering Central funds: Cong Handover
Annandale to HP: Chief Secy |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
BJP
berates Cong on hydel projects IRB
deployed at Damtal Tribunal
comes to aid of ex-serviceman Dr Y. S.
Parmar remembered Plea to
implement Land Reform Act Minjar
festival concludes Century-old
gate in neglect Plan to
end fodder scarcity launched Phone
waiting list to be cleared by December Project
to beautify Jawalamukhi Tribal
status sought for Churah areas Fire
staff seek hazard allowance
|
|
No infighting in Cong: Stokes Shimla, August 5 Leading the attack Mrs Vidya Stokes, the Pradesh Congress Committee chief, said corruption and nepotism had become the order of the day and it had percolated from the top to the lowest level in the administration. The government had been under fire on the issue not only from the Opposition but also from minister and ruling party legislators who even revolted against Mr P.K. Dhumal, the Chief Minister, in sheer desperation, she alleged. She said the charge sheet submitted by the Congress had been substantiated with the detection of the Rs 6 crore medical purchase scam in the Health Department. The situation was not better in other department. All the works were being entrusted to contractors to serve the vested interests of BJP leaders and workers. Mrs Stokes reiterated that there was no infighting in the party and it was gearing up to fight the BJP unitedly. Former Chief Minister Ram Lal Thakur, said there was no tussle in the party. The party high command would decide the issue of leadership at the appropriate time and it would be formalised by the Congress Legislature Party as had been done in other states. He said the BJP’s claim that development had been speeded up in the state was misplaced. The main yardstick to assess it was the plan size, which had come down drastically. As per the Five Year Plan, the size of the annual plan for the current year should have been Rs 2100 crore. In reality it slipped to Rs 1380 crore last year and even the size of Rs 1720 crore to be maintained for the current year would be possible only with state resorting to huge borrowings. There had been no resource mobilisation worth the name and the government planned to raise Rs 2300 crore as loans during the year. The only way out to resolve the perennial financial crisis was to seek a one time package of Rs 10,000 crore from the Centre. The North East states had already been given a Rs 30,000 crore package and with Mr Dhumal claiming to be having a good rapport with Prime Minister Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, securing this amount should not be a problem. Mr Rangila Ram Rao, a senior leader and the party spokesperson, said development was the last priority of the BJP government. It had already put an additional burden of Rs 150 crore by hiking the power tariff during the past three years and imposed water and hospital charges. He said the Congress would review all such anti-people decisions on coming to power. Mr Sukhwinder Singh, president of the state Youth Congress and other leaders also addressed the rally. |
|
Firming
up grassroots bodies Shimla, August 5 Meetings of the gram sabhas are held all over the state on the first Sunday of January, April, July and October in which one member of each family participates. Not only that but the Chief Minister, his Cabinet colleagues and officers, right from the Chief Secretary to the block-level functionaries, make it a point to be present at these meetings. This has certainly imparted importance to the gram sabhas and brought in the much needed seriousness in transaction of business. The Panchayati Raj system was established in a statutory form in 1954 and prior to that only 30 gram panchayats existed. Initially, 466 gram panchayats were set up. The number increased to 638 in 1962. With the merger of the hilly areas of Punjab the number of gram panchayats rose to 1695. A two-tiered system comprising gram panchayats and panchayat samitis was prevalent in the state where in the merged areas there was a three-tiered Panchayat Raj system and the state had to enact a law to bring about uniformity in the old and new areas. The 73rd constitutional amendment was carried out in 1993 with a view to restructure, rejuvenate and grant a constitutional status to the Panchayati Raj institutions in the country. Accordingly, the state enacted the Himachal Pradesh Panchayati Raj Act, 1994, and the two-tiered Panchayati Raj system gave way to the establishment of three tiers in the form of gram panchayats, panchayat samitis and zila parishads. It was followed by the setting up of the state Election Commission and the state Finance Commission. At present, there are 3,037 gram panchayats, 75 panchayati samitis and 12 zila parishads. Out of the total 3,037 seats of chairperson of gram panchayats 1,026 seats (33.8 per cent) are being held by women whereas out of 75 panchayat samitis 27 seats (36 per cent) and out of the 12 zila parishad seats four (33.3 per cent) are occupied by women. Out of the total 18,547 gram panchayat members 6,819 (36.7 per cent) are women. Gram sabhas, which are the core of democratic decentralisation, are being given utmost attention by the present government which has been taken several steps to strengthen them. They have been empowered to form vigilance committees from among the members to supervise gram panchayat works, schemes and other activities. Barring the members of gram panchayats a vigilance committee has been formed in each panchayat. Vigilance committees have been empowered to give completion certificate to works implemented by the gram panchayat valuing less than Rs 50,000. The accounts of gram panchayats are placed before gram sabhas for consideration and approval. Besides, audit notes and replies thereto are also required to be placed in the gram sabhas. In this way a mechanism for social audit has been put in place. The state government has devolved powers, functions and responsibilities relating to 15 departments, including agriculture, animal husbandry, ayurveda, education, fisheries, food and supplies, irrigation, health and family welfare, revenue, rural development and social and women’s welfare to the Panchayati Raj institutions. At least 75 per cent of the funds available under EAS (Employment Assurance Scheme), LDP (Local District Planning), decentralised planning, relief funds and small savings prize money would be earmarked by the Deputy Commissioner for funding the micro-plans in order of priority indicated by the gram panchayats for improving rural connectivity, schooling, health and veterinary care facilities, drinking water and sanitation. The gram panchayats have been empowered to report on physical attendance in their assigned areas of work with regard to grassroots level functionaries such as patwaris, forest guards, schoolteachers, health workers and village-level workers of the Irrigation and Public Health Department, the Social and Women Welfare Department, vaccinators, canal overseers, gram sevaks and panchayat secretary. They will also decide the location of the institution and facilities of public welfare such as schools, anganwaris, health institutions, fair-price shops, handpumps and public water taps. They will collect land revenue and utilise the same for development purposes. The pradhan and up-pradhan have been empowered for issuing fishing licences to anglers for sport fishing. The Chairman and Vice-Chairman of panchayat samitis would issue licence to professional fishermen for general and trout fishing. The money realised as licence fee would be retained by the panchayat concerned as their revenue. Before grant of any lease for mining of any minerals a resolution from the panchayat concerned has been made compulsory. The cess of Re 1 per bottle on liquor is collected and transferred to the gram panchayats. A sum of Rs 5.40 crore has already been transferred to different panchayats in the state during the past two years till March 2001. Besides, gram panchayats have also been authorised to collect the water charges in rural areas at the rate of Rs 10 from private taps. No charge has been imposed on public taps. Panchayats at all three levels have been empowered to raise loans for creation of income generating assets without prior permission to the government if the project is assessed by the financial institutions as economically and financially viable. However, gram panchayats would be required to obtain the prior approval of the gram sabha for raising loans. The gram panchayats have been empowered to protect public property such as signboards, milestones on public roads, paths, irrigation and water supply schemes, public taps, public wells, handpumps, community centres, mahila mandal bhavans, school and health institution buildings. They can also impose penalty up to Rs 250 in case of violation and in case of recurring breach a further penalty of Rs 10 per day with maximum up to Rs 1,000. The ownership of primary school buildings and handpumps has also been transferred to gram panchayats. Gram panchayats have also been delegated judicial powers and can decide applications for maintenance under Section 125 of the CrPC. They can grant maintenance allowance not exceeding Rs 500 per month. Besides, they can prepare a plan for the village and regulate the construction work in the village. On the recommendation of the first state Finance Commission Rs 17.87 crore was given to the panchayats by the government and Rs 13.63 crore is being given as untied grants to the panchayats during the current financial year for the development. To bring about transparency and accountability and ensure responsibility in the day-to-day functioning instructions have already been issued with respect to access to information, publicity, accountability and promptness in dealing with the public. It has also been decided that any voter of the panchayat can inspect the records of the panchayat concerned and can even get a copy of the same after paying a nominal fee. |
|
Dhumal squandering
Central funds: Cong Chamba, August 5 Mr Upmanyu giving an example of Chamba district, alleged here today that the funds allocated under the NABARD (National Bank of Agriculture and Rural Development) and Integrated Wasteland Development Projects (IWDP) were being spent on schemes benefiting only the kin of politicians. Mr Upmanyu opposed the hike in drinking water tariff, which had burdened the common man. He, however, justified the hike in tariff at water used for irrigation or commercial purposes. He also opposed the move of scrapping pension to government employees. He criticised the BJP-led government for falling standards of education and health services adding that even today schools were being run by a single teacher and the government was playing havoc with the careers of children. He suggested that education should be employment-oriented. Mr Upmanyu stated that the Dhumal government had failed to fulfill promises enumerated in its election manifesto. On the claims of the Dhumal-government on development in the state, Mr Upmanyu asserted that the entire development in Himachal was due to the previous Congress governments. Refuting the charges of Himachal Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal that the state had become bankrupt owing to the policies of the Congress, Mr Upmanyu said that on this date most of the states in the country were in bankruptcy. Reacting to the withdrawal of resignation by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, Mr Upmanyu said Mr Vajpayee’s resignation was required much earlier in view of political instability in the country where the allies of the BJP had lost their spirit of nationalism. Speaking about the Congress, Mr Upmanyu called upon the party leaders to shed ego and be united, as the Congress was the only alternative of the weak BJP-led government in state. The Congress would definitely sweep the state polls, Mr Upmanyu added. |
|
Handover
Annandale to HP: Chief Secy Shimla, August 5 Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, recently in this regard in his letter had suggested to the Defence Minister that a meeting should be convened between representatives of the state government, the Army authorities and the Defence Ministry to settle the issue early. The Chief Secretary informed him there was no large and flat piece of land with the state government in the historic town of Shimla even though it was the state capital and public functions had to be arranged at places like the Ridge, Ladies Park and Peterhoff which were not suitable. He said the Annandale ground complex was hardly being put to any important use by the Army authorities. As a matter of fact, the main official use at the moment was by the state government as a take-off and landing point for its leased helicopter. Otherwise, Annandale ground complex showed signs of very little activity, limited to playing golf on the nine-hole golf course, which had been carved out on its periphery, he added. |
|
BJP berates Cong on hydel projects Shimla, August 5 Mr Ganesh Dutt party spokesperson, said that the Congress was wary of the achievements of the BJP-led government in the hydel power sector in the past three years. It had been able to start work on projects with aggregate generation capacity of 6100 MW and with this the state was set to become the power house of the country. The state had an identified hydel power potential of 20,000 MW which the successive Congress Governments failed to tap. Now when BJP government was exploiting it on a war-footing, the party was making baseless allegations to mislead people. He said instead of taking steps to harness expeditiously the hydel potential, the previous Congress government scrapped the agreement among five states for the execution of the 2051 MW Parbati project signed by the Shanta Kumar regime in 1991. This delayed the work on the prestigious project, which now had been assigned to the National Hydel Power Corporation by the present government. He said in contract, the Dhumal government saw it that the 86 MW Malana project, which failed to take off during the Congress regime, was completed in the shortest possible time. Mr Dutt condemned the statement of the Mrs Stokes threatening to review all the MoU’s signed by the present government for the execution of hydel project. He said that such negative attitude of the Congress had kept
entrepreneurs at bay. By making such statements the party was doing a disservice to the state. However, he said that such assertions were meaningless as the Congress could not come to power in the state for at least the next 15 years. |
|
IRB deployed
at Damtal Nurpur, August 5 Tension sparked off yesterday when Dharmender faction of the union started separate operation. The other faction led by Rashpal Singh who had the alleged patronage of the local MLA, Mr Des Raj, got infuriated when demand for 10 trucks was made to Dharmendar faction by the local traders. The Rash Pal faction alleged that Promod Singh died following a clash between the members of both faction. On the other hand the Dharmender faction claims Promod Singh died a natural death while sitting at a shop but the Rash Pal faction had been trying to implicate them falsely . Mr Dharmender Singh alleged that the direct interference of the MLA, Mr Des Raj into the affairs of truck union had led to the tension. According to Mr Sanjiv Gandhi, the DSP the Rash Pal faction had lodged a complaint against a few members of the Dharmender faction and alleged the murder of Promod Singh. He clarified the police had been investigating the allegation. Meanwhile, Mr Des Raj, MLA said the truck operators of the Rashpal faction would sit on dharna on Monday if the police failed to arrest the accused. |
|
Tribunal
comes to aid of ex-serviceman Shimla, August 5 The disabled soldier served the Army from May 14, 1991 to April 30, 1997 for six years. When he was boarded out medically his name was registered by Ghumarwin sub-office employment exchange and forwarded to special cell for ex-servicemen at Hamirpur, under Director Sainik Welfare, for providing gainful employment by the state government under the 15 per cent quota set apart for ex-servicemen. However, the Director Sainik Welfare informed him that since he was not earning any type of pension from armed forces of the Union of India, the department was helpless to provide job under any reserved post as the Central servicemen. The tribunal relied on orders of the state government which laid down that an ex-serviceman was a person who had served in any rank (whether as a combatant or as non-combatant) in the armed forces of the union and released at his own request after completing five years of service in the armed forces of union and ordered that an appointment letter based on his qualifications be issued. The Sainik Welfare Department wants the chief minister to lay down a time-frame to employ all such ex-servicemen falling in the category of
ex-havildar Shyam Lal and help them secure employment. |
|
Dr Y.
S. Parmar remembered Solan, August 5 The Chairman of the State Marketing Board, Prof Virendra Kashyap, while speaking on the occasion said Dr Parmar was a man of the masses whom he served with a missionary zeal reinforced with a clearly defined vision about the development priorities of the state. Endorsing Mr Kashyap’s views, Leftist leaders Prof Hargopal Singh and Mr Jagdish Bhardwaj added that Dr Parmar used his earlier experience as a Sessions Judge to provide a pragmatic, efficient and just administration. The president of the Solan District Journalists Association, Mr Sant Ram Sharma, who was closely associated with Dr Parmar said the late leader was a true democrat who was never unduly worried about dissidence. Despite facing repeated onslaughts by his detractors, Dr Parmar emerged
unscratched on the sheer strength of the courage of his conviction. “He used to say that as long as he was motivated by public good nobody could succeed in harming him,” Mr Sharma revealed. Mr Sharma said another remarkable feature of Dr Parmar’s personality was his relaxed style of functioning. Unlike today’s politicians who seemed to be perpetually occupied with small things like transfers of class III and even of class IV staff, Dr Parmar seldom allowed himself to be burdened with such tasks. After detailing his administration about the policies and programmes to be persued by his government, Dr Parmar expected his junior associates and staff members would handle small details like the transfer of officials at their own level. The Editor of Himalaya Dawn, Mr Baldev Chauhan, recalled Dr Parmar’s contribution in constructing roads in the interior areas which later became the backbone of the state’s development, now hailed as a model for hill states. Earlier, Mr Kashyap and the president of the municipal council, Ms Shammi Sahni, paid floral tributes before a portrait of Dr
Parmar. |
|
Plea to implement Land Reform Act Una, August 5 Mr Chander Kumar talking to mediapersons here today alleged that the state government had failed to implement the HP Land Reforms and Land Tenancy Act and declare tenants as owners of the land even though the law was enacted in 1972. A large number of tenants in Palampur and Baijnath of Kangra district had not been declared owners of land they were tilling. He said the present government and the previous Congress governments failed to implement land reforms and land laws. This, he said was causing resentment among the SC the ST and the backward classes. Prof Chander Kumar said large number of landless people were given 10 kanals of land each under these Acts but in large number of cases either the Revenue Department had not demarcated the land. The allottees of the land though had been given the patta was not possessing the land in many cases. Many land allottees were facing court cases. He urged the government to provide them the actual possession of land to the allottees. Prof Chander Kumar said hundred of posts in various state universities reserved for SC, ST and other backward classes had been lying vacant. During the last Vidhan Sabha session the Chief Minister had promised to fill these posts within six months but nothing has been done so far, he said. Mr Chander Kumar visited Takarla village and addressed meeting of backward classes people. |
|
Minjar festival
concludes Chamba, August 5 Nearly one lakh persons including people from the neighbouring states, participated in the fair, which is one of the major tribal fairs of the northern Himalayas. The festival ended with the immersion of golden minjars (top blossoms of maize plant) with coconuts into the Ravi by the Himachal Pradesh Industries Minister, Mr Kishori Lal. The festival symbolises the blossoms of maize which is the main crop and the staple diet of the local people. At the festival the people adorn themselves with the sacred golden tassels of minjars and pray to the rain God for timely rain and a good crop. Earlier, a procession was taken out from the Akhand Chandi Place and it passed through the main markets of the town before culminating at the bank of the Ravi for the immersion of golden tassels of the
minjars. The idol of town’s deity, Lord Raghuvira, was carried in a palanquin accompanied by the idols of the other local deities. The state Forest Minister, Mr Roop Singh Thakur, also participated in the procession. Besides, the Minister of State for Ayurveda, Mr Mohan Lal, Mr Tulsi Ram, Bharmour MLA Mr Harsh Mahajan, local MLA Mr S.C. Mehta, Deputy Commissioner, Mr Sanjay
Kundu, SP district officers and other celebrities of the region also accompanied the procession. |
|
Century-old gate in neglect Chamba Earlier known as Delhi Gate, it was built in 1900 to welcome Lord Curzon, the British Viceroy. Situated adjacent to Hari Rai Temple in the north-western corner of the historic Chowgan, the structure has now been coated with brick red colour. The big gate, which leads to a famous landmark, Akhandchandi Palace, is protected neither by the Archaeological Survey of India nor by the state Archaeological Department. The gate area presents an ugly look with an unauthorised parking lot, khokhas and overhanging electric and telephone wires. There are also encroachments by the local telephone exchange located close to the gate. Sadly, maintenance of the gate seems to have ignored by the local administration. It has remained unattended for years
together. Wild growth and creepers can be seen on top of the gate, causing damage to the structure. The gate is a part of the national heritage and the authorities need to take urgent steps to save it. It learnt that the local Municipal Council had a plan to set up a market complex in the town to accommodate the khokha owners in the gate area. However, the plan appears to have been shelved due to hurdles created by residents or a shortage of
funds. |
|
Plan to end fodder scarcity launched Chamba, August 5 Scientists of the KVK advised the farmers to plant improved grass and fodder tree species on the marginal land, village pastures and sides of their fields to achieve better productivity. |
|
Phone waiting list to be cleared by December Shimla, August 5 Mr N.S. Gill, Chief General Manager of the circle, said all 17,000 villages of the state would have telephones by March 2002. So far, 14,500 villages had been provided public telephones. The latest technology such as wireless in local loop (WLL), time division multiplexing access point-to-point system and satellite terminal would be used to provide telephones to the remaining villages. A massive optical fibre cable programme was being implemented to provide reliable media of connectivity to all exchanges in the state. He said the tendering process for mobile telecom equipment was in the final stages and orders would be placed for providing the equipment within the year soon. A public grievances cell was in operation under his direct supervision and subscribers could dial 1094 within Shimla and 95-177-1094 from other parts of the state to register their complaints. The service was free of charge. |
|
Project
to beautify Jawalamukhi Shimla, August 5 According to the IPH Minister, Mr Ramesh Dhawala, Rs 61 lakh is being spent for the construction of a shopping complex at the bus stand and Rs 17.64 lakh will be spent for constructing a parking
area. The improvement of roads in the town is being done at a cost of Rs 12.26 lakh. A road has been proposed from Hotel Mata Shree upto Jwalaji Temple. This 1.5 km link road will be motorable and pilgrims not in a position to walk can reach the holy shrine in vehicles. To tackle the menace of the solid waste of the town, the Norad authorities are being requested to sanction a project of solid waste management under the phase-II of the Norad scheme. |
|
Tribal
status sought for Churah areas Chamba, August 5 In a memorandum submitted to the government, Mr Ashok Thakur and Mr Shakti Prasad, district president and senior vice-president of the party, respectively, have demanded the withdrawal of increased water tariff. The leaders urged the government to grant tribal status to 11 panchayats, located in the Bharmour Assembly constituency in the district as the residents living in these areas were being deprived of the benefits admissible in the tribal areas. The leaders requested the government to provide jobs to the local educated youths in the Chamera Hydroelectric Project (stage-III) in the district on a
priority. |
|
Fire staff seek hazard allowance Bilaspur, August 5 Mr Dogra said there was resentment among the fire brigade employees as a large number of posts were lying vacant and were not being filled through departmental promotions. There was a proposal to abolish some of these posts even as a large number of senior employees had been waiting for promotions for the past 22 years. Mr Dogra demanded that all vacant posts should be filled by promoting these employees and the move to abolish these posts should be abandoned. He said a “danger or hazard allowance” of a minimum of Rs 500 per month should be given to the fire brigade employees. |
|
Charas
seized Mandi, August 5 |
 |
| Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir | Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs | Nation | Editorial | | Business | Sport | World | Mailbag | In Spotlight | Chandigarh Tribune | Ludhiana Tribune 50 years of Independence | Tercentenary Celebrations | | 121 Years of Trust | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
