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Monday,
June 17, 2002, Chandigarh, India  
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MoU on
power tariff violated 20 MLAs
support Virbhadra Virbhadra
men attend Stokes’ rally
Saraswati’s
source traced to Haryana |
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Decision
on new districts soon: CM Impersonator
sells dead man’s land HP to
have six more ITIs Palestinians,
Israelis throng peace workshops Reforming
them the yogic way Suraj
Bhan honours 90 blood donors HP
promotes cultivation of medicinal herbs Zonal
hospital cries for water Book
fair draws crowd Army
officers’ wives hold function Officer’s
selection raises eyebrows
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MoU on power tariff violated Shimla, June 16 After prolonged deliberations, the board has finally decided to approach the State Electricity Regulatory Commission for a review of the tariff for domestic consumers in view of the state Cabinet’s decision. The board has also worked out the annual revenue loss due to the reduction in tariff, which will range between Rs 22 crore and Rs 24 crore. The government has already indicated that it will compensate the board for the revenue loss by providing subsidy. A controversy has been created by the decision as under the State Electricity Regulatory Commission Act, determination of tariff is the sole responsibility of the commission. The board cannot charge a tariff other than the one decided by the commission. Moreover, the state government has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Union Power Ministry in which it had committed that the power tariff order of the commission would be implemented in full unless struck down by a court. Thus, its decision violated both the MoU and the provisions of the Act. The government could reduce the tariff for any category of consumers but it will have to compensate the board for the loss revenue on this account by providing subsidy. Further, the subsidy has to be given in a transparent manner, which is again to be decided by the commission. It is the responsibility of the commission to ensure that the board is not put to loss because of such decisions taken by the government. The board has calculated that the reduction in electricity charges from 85 to 70 paise per cent in the 0-45 unit slab from Rs 1.5 to Rs 1.05 per unit (46-150 unit) and from Rs 2.4 to Rs 1.5 per unit (151-300 unit) will cost it Rs 1.75 crore to Rs 2 crore per month. It will be satisfied with government paying the subsidy on a monthly basis. The board has also decided to issue the electricity bills every month in which the amount of subsidy being given by the government will also be indicated. The important point is on what basis the amount of subsidy to be given has to be worked out. The tariff order of the commission was valid only up to March 31. The subsidy for the current financial year could be worked out only on the basis of the actual revenue requirement and income for the year. Instead of the government rolling back the tariff, the board should have filed a fresh application for tariff revision as required under the Act. Much will now depend on the commission which has to scrutinise the proposals of the board to assess the revenue requirement on the basis of which the tariff is worked out. In the last application, the board projected a revenue requirement of Rs 935.01 crore, Rs 271 crore more than that of the preceding year. After scrutiny, the commission scaled down the requirement to just Rs 77 crore in accordance with the provisions of the Electricity Supply Act which stipulated an annual return of 3 per cent on the fixed assets of the board. By projecting a requirement of Rs 271 crore, the board wanted the commission to allow a return of 15.5 per cent on its capital base instead of the 3 per cent. Much will now depend on the board, which will have to undertake a fresh exercise to assess the actual revenue requirement of the board to work out the amount of subsidy. Mr Suresh Prabhu, Union Power Minister, had during his recent visit to the state made it clear that the Centre would not give any funds to the states who violated the MoU on power sector reforms and failed to implement the tariff order of the commission. |
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20 MLAs support Virbhadra Shimla, June 16 These legislators have killed two birds with one stone by issuing the statement which has not only grilled the Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal, for continuing his efforts to “trap” Mr Virbhadra Singh ever since the BJP-led government came to power about four-and-a-half years ago, but also displayed the strength which the latter was enjoying in the CLP despite the efforts of a section to weaken him. Observers point out that the statement also indicates that Mr Virbhadra Singh has not only kept his flock of supporters together, but two MLAs, Mr Rangila Ram Rao and Mr Harsh Mahjan, who were considered to be loyal to the PCC chief, Mrs Vidya Stokes, have also signed the statement. However, no official statement in support of the CLP leader has so far come from the PCC. Significance is being attached to the signatures of 20 MLAs as this indicates that the pro-Virbhadra Singh camp has a strength of 21 (including himself). Signatures of only six legislators are not on the statement. One of them, Mr G.S. Bali, is hospitalised in Delhi because of serious burns. On the other hand, a section within the ruling BJP points out that the government has given an opportunity to the Congress to claim that Mr Virbhadra Singh was being victimised by Mr Dhumal as the move was ill-timed. They stress that the action should have been taken much earlier to make the desired impact and not at a time when the Assembly elections were knocking at the door as motives were bound to be attached to the whole affair under these circumstances. However, the dominant faction was satisfied to see a divided Congress which it expects would be a plus point for them in the coming elections. |
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Virbhadra
men attend Stokes’ rally Hamirpur, June 16 Addressing a party sammelan organised by the Mewa unit of the party with the active support of party workers of Kangra, Una, Bilaspur and Mandi, she derided the Dhumal government. Supporters of Mr Virbhadra Singh were also present. They included Mrs Anita Verma vice president, HPCC, Mr Kuldip Singh Pathania, Mr Prem Kaushal, president, Mewa Congress unit and Mrs Arbinder Kaur Dogra. Ms Stokes was earlier accorded a rousing reception on her arrival at Bhareri. Welcome arches were erected between Jahao and Bhareri and the people greeted her with flowers and sweets. She said such sammelans would also be organised in all 68 Assembly segments of the state. The rally was also addressed by prominent Congress leaders, including Mr Vijay Singh Mankotia and Mr Rangila Ram Rao, former ministers, Ms Anita Verma, a former parliamentary secretary, Mr Kuldip Singh Pathania, a former MLA, and Mr O.P. Rattan, state party spokesman. Talking to reporters after the sammelan, Ms Stokes clarified that the party would give tickets to new faces in the coming elections. She said priority would be given to youths and women. Replying to a question, Ms Stokes said she had no differences with Mr Virbhadra Singh and both would tour all district headquarters of the state to address party rallies. She said the Bhareri rally, in which leaders and workers of the party were present irrespective of their affiliations, had given the message that the Congress was united. Ms Stokes announced that Ms Sonia Gandhi would tour Mandi town in September. |
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Saraswati’s source traced to Haryana Shimla, June 16 Dr Kalyanaraman was delivering a lecture at a function organised here by the Institute of Integrated Himalayan Studies which is run by the UGC Centre for Excellence in Himachal Pradesh University. He said the revival of the Saraswati began in Haryana, with the water-harvesting project from Adh-Badri through Bilaspur and Kapal Mochan up to
Pehowa, a distance of about 150 km, with check dams, clearing of waterways, elimination of pollutants and restoration and renewal of Saraswati
“ghats”. It is proud moment in the history of India that engineers and scientists have established the feasibility of reviving the
Saraswati, with the use of surface and sub-surface drainage systems. The work of feasibility studies is being carried out for the past 19 years by the National Water Development Agency and is still going on. The project to harness glacier water and send it to all parts of the country provides a major project for the Trans-Himalayan Development Authority. The Rajasthan canal is now functional up to Danan in Jaisalmer district and a project to extend the canal up to Gedra Road, Barmer district, is being implemented. The waters of the
Sutlej, which was the anchorage river of the Saraswati, flowing from
Harike, through this canal can reach the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat. Of the nearly 2,600 archaeological sites of varying sizes, over 1500 archaeological settlements were found on the Saraswati river basin. There are also major settlements which are larger than the settlements of Harappa and Mohenjodaro (100 hectares each), Lakhmirwala (Bathinda) (225 hectares), Rakhigari (Hisar) (224 hectares), Gurnikalan One (Bathinda) (144 hectares), Hasanpur (Bathinda) (100 hectares), Ganweriwala
(Bahawalpur (81.5 hectares), Kotala (Jamnagar) (72 hectares), Nogoor (Sukkur) (50 hectares), Nindowari
(Jhawalan) (50 hectares), Tharo Waro Daro (Sukkur) (50 hectares) and Mangli Nichi (Ludhiana) (40 hectares). Prof S.D. Sharma, Vice-Chancellor of the university, in his presidential remarks, said the Himalayas were rich in resources and water was one of the precious resources which could be utilised for improving the quality of life of the Himalayan people and also those in other parts of the country. He disclosed that under the Institute of Himalayan Studies an elaborate research would be conducted for identification as well as harnessing of resources, particularly water. Prof Yoginder
Verma, Director of Himalayan Studies, said the research project undertaken by the Saraswati Nadi Shodh Prakalap would bring about an all-round development of the nation. He said the project taken up by the Prakalap aimed at making the Saraswati flow again in north-west India from Mansarovar to Gujarat, to interlink Himalayan and peninsular rivers and to create at 40,000-km long national waterway in the country together with the long coastal line to improve the infrastructure facilities in the country and to complement the Railways and national highways. |
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Decision
on new districts soon: CM Nurpur, June 16 The rally was organised by the local MLA and Chairman of the HPTDC, Mr Rakesh Pathania, to thank the Chief Minister for opening a government degree college here and to demand district status for Nurpur. The Chief Minister, who was accompanied by six Cabinet colleagues, also attended a function at Arya Girls College where it was officially announced that the government had taken over the college. Mr Dhumal said more facilities would be provided in the college in a phased manner. Mr Dhumal also laid the foundation stone for a Rs 3.29-crore drinking water scheme in the town. |
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Impersonator
sells dead man’s land Nurpur, June 16 The bogus transaction came to light a few days ago the office of the Sub-Registrar, Indora, where the sale deed had been executed on March 18 by producing two fake witnesses. Panchayat pradhan Fakkar Deen and Jagdev Singh of Bhan village were recorded as witnesses in the executed sale deed. The bogus transaction was allegedly struck by Faqir Hussain, a name-sake of the deceased, who had impersonated himself as the real owner of the land. The real owner had died on April 3, 1995. The bogus transaction was unearthed following a tip-off. The Sub-Registrar-cum-Tehsildar, Indora, investigated the land sale deed executed in his office and found the complaint of impersonation true. A complaint in this connection was also lodged with the Indora police. |
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HP to have six more ITIs Una, June 16 He said the government had issued a notification for opening ITIs at Bangana in Una district, Shilai in Sirmaur district, Sainj in Kulu district, Kumarsain in Shimla district, Bani in Hamirpur district and Dhameta in Kangra district. Mr Ravi said the number of ITIs in the state had risen from 32 in 1998 to 58 new. Referring to the Polytechnic College, Gagret, Mr Ravi said the construction of the girls hostel and the teaching block would be completed by the end of September. He said the state government had planned projects for Rs 13.43 crore for this college, of which Rs 3 crore has been spent. He said Rs 45 lakh had been sanctioned for the construction of the administrative block of the local ITI. The first instalment of Rs 24 lakh has been released, he added. The Deputy Speaker of the Himachal Vidhan Sabha, Mr Ram Dass Mlangar, thanked Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal for opening an ITI at Bangana. |
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Palestinians,
Israelis throng peace workshops Dharamsala, June 16 In her endeavour to bring peace, Rumi, a self-taught artist based at Bagora village near Palampur in Kangra district, conducted six workshops for both Israelis and Palestinians. “Wherever I went, people said they were craving for peace and I feel genuine satisfaction that through my art they found a genuine expression of this,” she remarked. Rumi been invited to conduct colour therapy workshops. “The response to my peace programme was overwhelming as the Israeli Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Shimon Peres, appreciated my effort to bring peace to the nation during such troubled times,” she said. Ever since, she held her first exhibition at Mumbai in 1998, she has received a good response to her paintings from critics, collectors, media and art lovers. The Indian Ambassador in Israel, Mr R.S. Jassal, along with his wife participated in the
workshops. Rumi, who switched over from business journalism to corporate marketing, says her illustrations give her maximum satisfaction. |
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Reforming
them the yogic way Nahan The gradual transformation is the result of the efforts of Mr Sharad Katara, who is a yoga teacher at the District Institute of Education and Training here. Although Mr Katara has not been deputed for this purpose in the jail, he is voluntarily helping the inmates bring about a change for the better in their lives. According to the inmates, they wake up early in the morning and gather on the jail
premises, patiently waiting for their teacher to come and begin classes. Most of them regularly attend the yoga classes. It is reported that the inmates have shown signs of improvement in their behaviour and attitude. They told this correspondent that after attending the yoga classes many of their chronic ailments had also been cured. They also felt less tense and depressed. Mr Katara said 30 inmates were attending the classes. He was hopeful of considerable transformation in their lives in the near future. He said yoga was being used all over the world to tackle disease. It had brought hope to lakhs of people suffering from various diseases, including asthma, arthritis, diabetes, hypertension and chronic abdominal disorders. |
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Suraj Bhan honours 90 blood donors Shimla, June 16 Presiding over a function organised by Asha Deep, a voluntary organisation, to honour women blood donors and negative group blood donors here last evening, he said the involvement of women would provide the necessary impetus to the movement. He presented commendation certificates and mementos to 90 blood donors. Emphasizing the importance of voluntary blood donation, Dr Bhan said, it was a medium of national unity. He called upon voluntary organisations to dispel misconceptions and myths about blood donation. The Governor suggested the collection of unutilised medicines from people for providing them to needy patients. He urged voluntary organisations to collect such medicines, especially from colonies of employees, and deposit these with the Red Cross or hospitals for distribution among the needy. He praised the women blood donors and said their involvement in the movement was a good signal for voluntary blood donation. Dr Bhan also announced a grant of Rs 11,000 from his discretionary fund for Aasha Deep. Mr Ajay Srivastava, convener of Asha Deep, underlined the need for improving the blood banking system in Indira Gandhi Medical College Hospital. He suggested that the blood bank should be run on the pattern of the PGI, Chandigarh, where collection and distribution of blood had been entrusted to an NGO. A colourful cultural programme was also presented on the occasion by students of local schools, including the school for the blind, deaf and dumb, Dhalli. |
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HP promotes cultivation of medicinal herbs Chamba, June 16 This was stated by Ayurveda Minister, Mr Mohal
Lal, while addressing a gathering at Saichu in the tribal Pangi valley of the district yesterday. He said herbal gardens had so far been raised in Kulu and Mani areas of the district. The minister announced that a herbal garden would soon be raised at Tiaso in the Sural belt of
Pangi. He said the climate of this belt was well-suited to the cultivation of herbal medicines and aromatic plants. The minister said since medicinal herbs and aromatic plants were found in plenty in the mountainous Pangi valley, residents should undertake their cultivation for self-employment. Mr Mohan Lal announced that a bus service would be introduced from Bairagarh to Satrundi by the end of this month. It would connect the Alwas-killar road, thereby facilitating people living in the tough terrains of the tribal areas, he said. |
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Zonal hospital cries for water Chamba, June 16 According to hospital doctors, the Chief Medical Officer (CMO), has already written to the IPH Department for restoring the water supply to the operation theatres and emergency wards in particular and the hospital as a whole. The IPH authorities, however, maintain that they are supplying water to the hospital and are not responsible for any technical snag in the internal sanitary fittings of the hospital. The CMO was not available for comment. |
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Book fair draws crowd Shimla, June 16 Apart from books, CD-ROMs, which enable students to learn subjects like physics and mathematics through interactive mode, are also available at the fair being jointly organised by the Delhi Book Fair Committee and the State Education Department. About 40 publishers from all over the country are participating. The National Book Trust has the maximum titles for sale. Children books of all kinds are available in plenty alongwith educative audio cassettes. Latest books on computer science, medical science and other subjects are also available. A painting exhibition has also been organised and works of Manoj Pandit of Delhi have been displayed. |
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Army officers’ wives hold function Kasauli, June 16 Information on the safe disposal of garbage was given to the participants and a workshop for the children was also held. Painted cards made on the occasion were sent to the Army personnel serving on the forward posts. A crazy fashion show was also held. Mrs Manju Tonk gave away the prizes to the winners of various events. |
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Officer’s
selection raises eyebrows Bilaspur, June 16 |
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