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Friday,
March 29, 2002, Chandigarh, India  
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CAG objects to HP Govt action Winter surcharge on power to go: Dhumal Shimla MC poll on April 27 10 hurt during Hola Mohalla |
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Withdraw tax charged from pilgrims: Chandraswami SP office gutted in Dharamsala Rs 50 cr for safai karamcharis’ houses 10 PSUs post
87.20 cr loss
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CAG objects to HP Govt action Shimla, March 28 The report of the CAG, which was presented in the Assembly today by the Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal, has pointed out that the loans amounting to Rs 757 crore raised through the H.P. Road Infrastructure Development Corporation (HPRIDC) and Rs 500.68 through the LIC were kept in the government account as a resource to keep the ways and means position favourable. In order to part finance, the state government equity in Nathpa Jhakri Power Corporation (NJPC) for 1999-2001, the government required resources of about Rs 600 crore. Accordingly, the government raised loans of Rs 757 crore through the HPRIDC during 1999-2001 by securitisation of the receipts of free power from NJPC for about five years from the date of commissioning of the project. The amount of loans was deposited in the government account and no equity payment out of these loans had been made to the NJPC up to March 2001. The annual return of Rs 350 crore from free power sale from the NJPC had already been considered (January and March 1996) sufficient by the government to liquidate SLR-borrowings of Rs 899.93 crore made by the state government earlier through the HPSEB during 1994-2000. Securitisation of the same receipts of free power for raising loans through HPRIDC was thus, not justified. Further, loans of Rs 500.68 crore were raised from the LIC during 1999-2001 by the state government for the payment of equity share to the NJPC. The amount of loans was also kept in government account and no equity payment out of these loans had been made to the NJPC during 1999- 2001. The CAG has said the sustainability of the finances of Himachal Pradesh has been adversely affected with increase in the negative balance from current revenue (BCR) in the last financial year. This was due to increase in the interest ratio and decrease in total tax ratio to the gross state domestic product (GSDP). This adverse position had arisen because of the fact that in the previous year out of the loans raised through non-statutory liquidity ratio bonds by the HPSEB and HPSFC during 1994-2000, Rs 861.50 crore were credited as revenue receipts and Rs 498 crore were accounted for as recovery of loans from the HPSEB. The government stood guarantee and gave budgetary support for liquidating loans along with interest liability accruing thereon. As a fallout there had been significant increase in revenue deficit and fiscal deficit during 2000-2001 which had ultimately added to the vulnerability of the state finances. Consequently this year the interest payments had also considerably increased by Rs 102 crore (34 per cent) and had even exceeded the tax revenues by Rs 69 crore. Similarly the revenue receipts particularly the non-tax revenues had decreased during the year. In view of this financial position the government had to resort to increased borrowings to meet the rising revenue deficit. In fact, loans of Rs 752.68 crore raised through HPRIDC (Rs 567 crore) and the loans raised from the LIC (Rs 185.68 crore) by the state government during the year for payments of equity share to the NJPC, were not utilised for the purpose for which these were raised but used the same for meeting normal revenue expenditure. The CAG has indicated that the total receipts of the government for the year 2000-2001 were Rs 3045.57 crore which were 22 per cent less than the previous year. The revenue receipts of Rs 905.37 crore consisted of Rs 728.41 crore from taxes and Rs 176.96 crore from non-tax revenue. It received Rs 330.34 crore as its share of divisible union taxes against Rs 920.98 crore received during 1999-2000. Receipts under state excise (Rs 209.17 crore), sales tax (Rs 302.05 crore), taxes on goods and passengers (Rs 43.05 crore) and taxes on vehicles (Rs 61.04 crore) accounted for a major portion of tax receipts. Under the non-tax revenue, the main receipts were from forestry and wild life (Rs 16.54 crore). The CAG has pointed out that during 2000-2001, revenue deficit increased by Rs 1177 crore due mainly to decrease in revenue receipts by Rs 669 crore and increase in revenue expenditure by Rs 508 crore. Fiscal deficit also showed significant increase by Rs 1656 crore during the year from Rs 189 crore in 1999-2000 to Rs 1845 crore in 2000-2001. Interest payments increased significantly by Rs 201 crore (34 per cent) and even exceeded the tax revenue (Rs 729 crore) by Rs 69 crore during the year. This was due mainly to increase in interest payments by Rs 151.48 crore on internal debt. During the year, the interest payments constituted 18 per cent of revenue expenditure. The relative share of revenue receipts in funds received by the government decreased from 70 per cent in 1999-2000 to 61 per cent in 2000-2001. The receipts from public debt increased marginally from 23 to 24 per cent. The arrears of revenue pending collection were Rs 261 crore as of March 31, 2001. These arrears increased by 38 per cent as compared to 1999-2000. The CAG has pointed out that the growth of internal debt of the state government during 1996-2001 was 251 per cent, in loans and advances from the Government of India 78 per cent and in other liabilities 129 per cent. The government could not maintain minimum cash balance with the Reserve Bank of India on 277 days and obtained ways and means advances of Rs 848 crore on 82 days, overdraft of Rs 729 crore on 103 days and re-discounted treasury bills of Rs 2,631 crore on 92 days. Expenditure incurred by the government substantially in excess of the amounts sanctioned by the state legislature remained to be regularised in terms of Article 205 of the Constitution. As of July 2001, excess expenditure of Rs 10,166.28 crore incurred during 1996-2001 remained to be regularised. During 2000-2001, there were savings in 37 cases aggregating Rs 435.76 crore. Of these, savings of Rs 50 lakh and more in each case aggregating Rs 434.32 crore occurred in 24 cases involving 19 grants. Supplementary provisions totaling Rs 61.99 crore obtained in nine cases during the year proved unnecessary as the expenditure in these cases was less than the original budget provisions. Persistent savings and excesses, ranging from 6 per cent to 1723 per cent, occurred in 11 cases involving 10 grants and one appropriation during the period 1998-2001. In five cases, the amount surrendered exceeded the overall savings by Rs 4.19 crore. Further, in the cases of eight grants, Rs 49.18 crore were surrendered although expenditure exceeded the grant and no savings were available for surrender.
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Winter surcharge on power to go: Dhumal Shimla, March 28 Replying to the debate on budget estimates of the state electricity board, he said the domestic power tariff in the state was one of the lowest in the country. He said concessions had already been announced for certain categories of consumers like threshers, flour mills in villages and religious places consuming up to 150 units of electricity per month. He said as part of customer relationship management attempt would be made to issue monthly energy bills to urban consumers and bimonthly bills to rural consumers. He said the board was preparing a comprehensive scheme for recruitment of engineers, field technical staff, ministerial and other personal staff on contract basis. Under the scheme priority would be given to fill the vacant posts of the tribal and difficult areas of the state. He also announced the release of the installment of dearness allowance (DA)to all categories of employees which became due from July 1,2001. While the DA from April 1,2002 would be paid in cash and the arrears upto March 31 would be credited to the Provident Fund account of the employees. He said a phased programme had been chalked out to arrest the transmission and distribution (T&D) losses and bring them to a level of 20 per cent within the state. Earlier, initiating debate on the budget Mr Kaul Singh expressed concern over the fact that the board which was one of the few profit earning public sector undertakings had plunged in the red over the past two years. He said the main reason for this was the withdrawal of budgetary support by the government. The board was annually receiving about Rs 70 crore to Rs 80 crore during Congress rule from 1994-98. The government was even charging interest on free power it was taking from the board. The government should allow board to utilise free power as resource for building new power projects. He alleged that a 1000 MW project was assigned to the favoured Jai Prakash industries in violation of rules and the manner in which projects were given to the private sector for execution. He said the revenue receipts for the year 2002-03 were estimated at Rs 875 crore as against the revised estimated receipts of Rs 695 crore for 2001-02. The increase of Rs 180 crore in 2002-2003 would be made possible by increasing power generation by 368 million units in view of expected better monsoon and capacity addition from projects like Bhaha and Holi. The budget proposals provided for an increase of nearly 54.74 per cent in the capital investments proposed for the year 2002-03 over the revised projections for 2001-02. Capital investment (excluding repayment of loans) of Rs 424 crore was proposed for the next financial year as against Rs 274 crore in the current year, he said. The Assembly was adjourned sine die here today by Speaker Gulab Singh Thakur after a 31-day long Budget session. In all, there were 17 sittings during the session which began on February 26. |
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More perks for Himachal MLAs Shimla, March 28 The Bill was introduced by the Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal, and was passed following arguments on its application. While the enhanced perks were proposed to be introduced with effect from August 1, members particularly on the Opposition Benches insisted that it should be made effective from April 1 when the new financial year begins. Mr Dhumal accepted this and the Bill was passed in the amended form. With the passing of the Bill, the compensatory allowance of the MLAs has increased to Rs 1250 per month from the existing Rs 750, the halting allowance has been increased to Rs 400 from the existing Rs 300 and the telephone allowance has been enhanced to Rs 5000 per month from the existing Rs 4000. The telephone allowance of the ministers and the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Assembly has also been increased to Rs 5000 per month from the existing Rs 4000 for the telephone installed at any place in their respective constituencies. Prior to the passing of the Bill, there were heated exchanges between the Treasury and Opposition Benches as the latter insisted that they would better forego the enhancement in case it was made applicable from August. The members on the Treasury Benches took objection to the Opposition members trying to stall the Bill even before its introduction. The CLP leader, Mr Virbhadra Singh and Mr Kaul Singh (Cong) said it was the right of the Opposition to stall any Bill. Mr J.B.L. Khachi (Cong) said the members should have the patience to listen to each others viewpoint. Mr Dhumal made it clear that he was not rushing through the Bill and the members were free to express their viewpoint. |
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jailed for contempt of HP Assembly Shimla, March 28 Mr Ram Rattan Sharma, Mr Bamber Thakur, Mr Pratap Thakur and Mr Balwant Chandel, all office-bearers of the action committee, stood on their seats and started shouting slogans against Superintendent of Police, Bilaspur, even as Mr Gulab Singh, Speaker was making announcement for adjourning the house for lunch. They also rained pamphlets on the house before the marshals could take them away. The four protestors were sentenced to imprisonment up to March 31 for the breach of privilege of the House. A resolution in this regard was moved by Mr J.P. Nadda, the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs. The Congress members Mr Virbhadra Singh and Mr Ram Lal Thakur said that the house should take a lenient view in the matter. Later, they told newsmen that they were fully aware of the sanctity of the House but they had no option but to take this extreme step to draw the attention of government and the people to the excesses being committed on the members of action committee by the police at the behest of Mr J.P. Nadda, Health Minister, Mr Bamber who is the general secretary of the committee, said the police entered his house on the night March 22 and beat up his family members. The activists of the samiti were also being handed out the same treatment. |
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Fiscal reforms draft sent to House Shimla, March 28 The Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, asserted that fiscal reforms was a vital policy matter which have far-reaching implications for the state and would continue to have an impact over a long time. The ruling party’s change but the government functions in continuity and as such, he thought it fit to put up the issue before the House. He said whatever decision the House takes would be final. |
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Shimla MC poll on April 27 Shimla, March 28 The corporation is presently controlled by the Congress and the BJP has never had a majority in it. The five-year term of the present SMC will expire on June 2. According to the notification, the counting of votes and declaration of results will be done on April 29. The nominations can be filed from April 5 to 8, while the withdrawals will be on April 11. The Deputy Commissioner, Shimla, has been nominated as the returning officer for conducting these elections. |
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10 hurt during Hola Mohalla Una, March 28 According to information, the injured were taken to the Primary Health Centre at Amb, 10 km from the dera. They were discharged after a first-aid. The injured, however, refused to lodge an FIR. HAMIRPUR: Holi was celebrated in the district today with fervour and gaiety. Men, women and children and especially, the youth, took active part in the celebrations. A near total holiday was observed in various parts of the town today following a call for holiday given by the Hamirpur Beopar Mandal. There was much enthusiasm among the traders to play Holi. Reports of Holi celebrations have also come from other parts of the district. KANGRA: Holi was celebrated here with traditional gaiety and enthusiasm and people were seen playing with colours all over valley. Despite financial crunch, the festival of colours was celebrated by the people of all sections of the society with fervour. At Purana Kangra members of the Jain community gathered to celebrate the festival. Reports of Holi celebrations were received from Dharamsala, Palampur, Maranda, Jawalamukhi, Nurpur, Dehra, Baijnath, Paprola and other parts of the district. The Union Minister for Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution System, Mr Shant Kumar, today celebrated Holi at his residence at Palampur by playing with colours with some visitors. PAONTA SAHIB: The Hola Mohalla festival started here yesterday. Thousands of devotees participated in a colourful procession of Nagar Kirtan yesterday. The devotees had come from Punjab, Haryana, Uttaranchal and Uttar Pradesh to the historic Gurdwara Paonta Sahib here. The local administration had laid Act 144 to maintain law and order in the Paonta town. |
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Withdraw tax charged from pilgrims:
Chandraswami Kangra, March 28 Chandraswami was addressing members of the Jain community at the Jain temple here last evening in connection with the annual function of the Jains. He said the government should stop taxation on darshan of Adinath Mahavir. He said he would take up matter with authorities in New Delhi and seek their help in setting up a Jain temple in the Kangra Fort. Members of the Jain community from all over the globe thronged this temple town to participate in the annual function yesterday. Meanwhile, Mr K.K. Deghi, a Congress leader from Ludhiana who was accompanying Chandra- swami, has threatened to resort to an indefinite fast outside the fort and launch an agitation of the Jain community if the practice of charging entry tax from pilgrims visiting the fort is not stopped. |
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SP office gutted in Dharamsala Kangra, March 28 Kangra district police chief Sanjay Kundu told this correspondent that the fire was detected at 2.05 p.m. in the orderly sub-inspectors’ room of the building which spread to other parts of the building. He said the building was housing his office, office of the Additional Superintendent of Police, record room, character role branch, vernacular branch and English branch. However, the accounts branch and the office of the ASP were saved. The record room, which was completely gutted, had the police record of more than 150 years, Mr N.D. Sareen, additional district police chief said. The S.P. office which was earlier at Kangra was shifted to Dharamsala and housed in this building just after 1905 earthquake. The fire brigade of Dharamsala, according to eyewitnesses, reached the site after half an hour. It had leaking pipes because of which it could not control the fire. Fire brigades from Kangra, Yol and Palampur were summoned which controlled fire after three hours. The police chief said the cause of the fire was suspected to be electric short circuit. Meanwhile, the District Magistrate has ordered a magistrial enquiry into the accident. |
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Rs 50 cr for safai karamcharis’ houses Chamba, March 28 Addressing officers at a district-level meeting here yesterday, Mr Ganga Ram Teja, member of the commission, said under the scheme which would be launched from April 1 houses would be constructed for those safai karamcharis who were homeless. He said most of these families were living in houses constructed illegally on the government land for the past several years. He said there were nearly 6.50 lakh safai karamcharis in the country. He asked the government officials working in the related departments to help solve the housing problem of safai karamcharis by implementing this scheme in letter and spirit. He said the Union Minister of Social Justice had also earmarked Rs 300 crore for the benefit of the very poor, including the people engaged in menial vocation. |
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10 PSUs post
87.20 cr loss Shimla, March 28 The report of the CAG presented in the assembly today by Chief Minister, P.K. Dhumal, revealed it. The report said that according to latest finalised accounts of 19 working PSUs (16 government companies and three statutory corporations), seven government companies earned aggregate profit of Rs 93 lakh. 10 working PSUs (seven government companies and three statutory corporations) incurred aggregate loss of Rs 87.20 crore as per the latest finalised accounts. |
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SP issued notice in harassment case Kasauli, March 28 The commission has sought an inquiry report of the incident from the police. Following this, the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Parwanoo, visited the school today to inquire into the incident. |
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More chopper flights sought Chamba, March 28 In a statement issued here today, the residents of tribal areas alleged that the chopper flights were quite irregular, as a result of which several passengers, particularly the tribals, had been strandard at Chamba, Killar, Lahaul and Bhuntar for the past several days. |
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Nalwar fair concludes Sundernagar, March 28 The closing procession started from the PWD Rest House and marched up to Nagon Khud where wrestling bouts were going on. Later on the chief guest distributed the prizes. The Nalwar fair is biggest cattle fair in northern India. |
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IT offices open on March 30, 31 Mandi, March 28 He said those who had not filed returns so far should avail of the opportunity to avoid penalty and prosecution. |
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Bus service to Lahaul resumed Shimla, March 28 |
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Loomba deputed Director (Education) Shimla, March 28 Mr Loomba had recently come here as Accountant-General from the BBMB where he was chief of finance. Dr A.K. Banerjee, Director-General, National Academy of Audit and Accounts, will hold the charge of Accountant-General here. |
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