H I M A C H A L   P R A D E S H

HP sore with Power Ministry
Shimla, June 12
The Himachal Pradesh Government and the Union Ministry of Power appear to be heading for a confrontation on the issue of generation tax with Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal asserting that the matter would be raised at the appropriate forum with the Centre.

Kanshi not in fray for Vice-President’s post
Dharamsala, June 12
BSP supremo Kanshi Ram, while talking to mediapersons today, said it was due to the unity of Dalits and formation of the BSP that the Congress had been decimated in Uttar Pradesh and all 85 candidates of the party had lost their deposits in the last elections.

Dalai Lama in Shimla
Shimla, June 12
Hundreds of Tibetan men, women and children greeted the Dalai Lama, their spiritual and temporal leader, as he arrived here this morning from Dharamsala. 

Residents observe bandh against entry tax
Parwanoo, June 12
Residents, traders, industrialists and employees of this industrial town observed a two-hour bandh here today in protest against the levy of entry tax at the Parwanoo barrier by the Himachal Pradesh Government and enhancement of water rates by the Himachal Pradesh Housing Board.

Himachal transfers 3 IAS officers
Shimla, June 12
The Himachal Government today transferred seven officers, including three of the IAS. Mr Pushpinder Rajput, Assistant Commissioner, (Development)-cum-BDO, Nahan, has been posted as Subdivisional Magistrate Shimla, (rural). 

Villagers help catch fugitives
Una, June 12
With the cooperation of residents, the three undertrial fugitives, who had managed to escape from the sub-jail here on Sunday, were apprehended at Raipur village under the Gagret police station yesterday.

Girl run over by truck, killed
Nurpur, June 12
Two children sleeping on the roadside near Barikhud were run over by a truck on Monday. Vishno Devi was killed on the spot while Ram Krishan (5) was seriously injured.

HP sore with Power Ministry
Rakesh Lohumi
Tribune News Service

Shimla, June 12
The Himachal Pradesh Government and the Union Ministry of Power appear to be heading for a confrontation on the issue of generation tax with Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal asserting that the matter would be raised at the appropriate forum with the Centre.

Upset over the outright rejection of the state’s case for the imposition of the generation tax on hydel power by Mr Suresh Prabhu, the Union Power Minister, Mr Dhumal did some plain speaking to him during their meeting here on Monday. He said the state would make every effort to get this constitutional demand accepted.

The issue has been hanging fire for the past several years but it was seriously pursued by the present regime after the BJP-led government came to power at the Centre. The issue was taken at the highest level and even Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee had justified the state’s demand. He had even promised to plead the state’s case.

However, Mr Suresh Prabhu, who took over as the Union Power Minister following the demise of Mr P. Kumarmanglam, has different views on the issue. He has given a number of arguments against the demand. He clearly said his ministry did not see any justification for the demand as the state was already setting additional financial resource in the shape “free power” as royalty.

Mr Dhumal, however, maintains that the state had the right to impose hydel generation tax under Article 288 of the Constitution. He said had the tax been paid on the projects already commissioned, the economy of the state would have been strengthened.

He said the Bhakra Beas Management Board had constructed 1490 MW Bhakra Project, 990 MW Beas Sutlej Link Project and 300 MW Pong Dam project but the state was getting only 2.12 per cent share as against 7.19 per cent to which it was entitled under the Punjab State Reorganisation Act. It was drawing about 30 MW from the Bhakra project, 15 MW from BSL project and nothing from Pong Dam project.

The Chief Minister said the state had meagre cultivable land and most of it had been submerged due to hydel projects. He said this had reduced the fertile area and displaced a number of families, which were yet to be rehabilitated.

He urged the Union Power Ministry to extend its support in getting the state its legitimate and rightful claim in various power projects commissioned in the state. Mr Prabhu assured that he would take up the issue of state’s share in BBMB projects with the authorities concerned. He also directed the officers of the Power Ministry and the NJPC to resolve the pending issues with the Chief Secretary and Chairman, HPSEB within a month.

Kanshi not in fray for Vice-President’s post
Our Correspondent

Dharamsala, June 12
BSP supremo Kanshi Ram, while talking to mediapersons today, said it was due to the unity of Dalits and formation of the BSP that the Congress had been decimated in Uttar Pradesh and all 85 candidates of the party had lost their deposits in the last elections.

He said his next aim was to make the BSP the leading party of the country and snatch power from the BJP. All political parties, except the BSP were ‘‘manuwadi’’ and alliance with any of these was for the benefit of the BSP, he said.

Mr Kanshi Ram was here in connection with a two-day tour of the state.

The BSP leader said that due to absence of strong leadership, there was a gap of almost four decades after Dr B.R. Ambedkar in the struggle for empowerment of Dalits.

Mr Kanshi Ram said the struggle, which started in 1902, will complete 100 years in July, this year. The party would start another movement from Kolhapur to ensure an equal share in governance and power for the bahujan samaj, he said.

The BSP president said he was touring Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh to finalise details and organise party cadre for the next elections.

He said he was not in race for the post of the Vice-President of the country and was actively involved with the BSP.

Earlier, addressing a meeting of women party members at Palampur, the BSP chief asked all Dalits to unite. Giving the example of Uttar Pradesh, Mr Kanshi Ram said that till Dalits were divided in small communities based on castes, they were politically insignificant, but with unity they had managed to capture power in the largest state of the country.

He said women could ensure the bahujan samaj got its share in governance of the country. Emphasising on the need for education, he said knowledge could uplift the downtrodden.

Mr Kanshi Ram lamented that though untouchability was a crime, some states, including Himachal Pradesh, were still not implementing the law.

Dalai Lama in Shimla
Tribune News Service

Shimla, June 12
Hundreds of Tibetan men, women and children greeted the Dalai Lama, their spiritual and temporal leader, as he arrived here this morning from Dharamsala.

The Dalai Lama went straight to the Jonang tradation monastery at Sanjauli where he was received by the head lama, Khaka Rinpoche.

He first of all visited the Tibetan old people home and enquired about their welfare. Thereafter, the Dalai Lama delivered preachings in the monastery. The preachings will continue for three days.

The Tibetan market near the Ridge remained closed as all Tibetans went to the monastery to have a glimpse of the Dalai Lama.

This is after 11 years that he has come here. Welcome arches were erected by the Tibetans enroute the monastery.

Residents observe bandh against entry tax
Our Correspondent

Parwanoo, June 12
Residents, traders, industrialists and employees of this industrial town observed a two-hour bandh here today in protest against the levy of entry tax at the Parwanoo barrier by the Himachal Pradesh Government and enhancement of water rates by the Himachal Pradesh Housing Board. The bandh call had given by the Parwanoo Welfare Society.

The protesters took out a procession in the town and raised slogans against the levy of the tax and enhancement of water rates. Later, a meeting was held to chalk out the further course of action.

A memorandum addressed to the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh was also handed over to the office of the local Assistant Commissioner.

Mr B.N. Kataria, of the Parwanoo Industries Association said that the imposition of entry tax was not justified and was against the fundamental rights of the residents of the town as they have to visit the adjacent towns like Kalka, Pinjore, Chandigarh for their daily routine work. It is ridiculous to pay Rs 30 for their private cars for coming back home. He also condemned the privatisation of toll tax, which has resulted in rowdyism at the entry points and said that the collection of tax results in long hours of traffic jams, causing inconvenience to the general public.

Himachal transfers 3 IAS officers
Tribune News Service

Shimla, June 12
The Himachal Government today transferred seven officers, including three of the IAS.

Mr Pushpinder Rajput, Assistant Commissioner, (Development)-cum-BDO, Nahan, has been posted as Subdivisional Magistrate Shimla, (rural). Mr Amandeep Garg, Assistant Commissioner-cum-BDO, Mehla, goes to Dalhousie as Subdivisional Magistrate.

Mr S.L. Mehta, Special Secretary, Forests and Cooperation, has been posted as Special Secretary, Public Works Department.

Mr Rajesh Kumar, SDM, Shimla (rural) takes over as Deputy Director, Consolidation of Holdings. Mr P.S. Bhardwaj, SDM, Mandi will take over as Land Acquisition Officer, PWD Kangra in the place of Mr Mr S.S. Chambial who goes to Mandi as ADM.

Mr L.R. Chauhan, Chief Executive Officer, state Khadi Board, has been posted as Joint Secretary, Forests.

Villagers help catch fugitives
Our Correspondent

Una, June 12
With the cooperation of residents, the three undertrial fugitives, who had managed to escape from the sub-jail here on Sunday, were apprehended at Raipur village under the Gagret police station yesterday.

SP Abhishek Trivedi told The Tribune today that when some residents of the village saw three persons sleeping in an abandoned hut, they got suspicious and informed the police.

The police, with the help of the villagers, surrounded the hut and apprehended the trio. Identifying the three undertrials as Balwinder Singh alias Punjabi, Raj Kumar and Sukhwinder, the SP said they had been taken to the police station at Gagret.

He said an FIR had been registered against the four guards who were on duty on Sunday. 

Girl run over by truck, killed
Our Correspondent

Nurpur, June 12
Two children sleeping on the roadside near Barikhud were run over by a truck on Monday. Vishno Devi was killed on the spot while Ram Krishan (5) was seriously injured.

The police has impounded the truck and registered a case. The driver has been absconding.

The injured has been admitted to the Civil Hospital.