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Thursday,
April 10, 2003, Chandigarh, India  
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Shanta’s resignation
unfortunate: Mahajan Charges against Dhumal to be probed Dhumal wants ministry for hill states Chamba has 2,325 mw
hydel power potential Rampur project may go to power board |
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Insurance firm told to pay 4.5 lakh Show-cause notice to Chief Secy Dy Director clarifies HP review panel reconstituted Ayurvedic medicine manufacturers’ plea Lahaul-Spiti bus service resumes Staff seek repatriation Woman delivers baby in toilet
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Shanta’s resignation
unfortunate: Mahajan Bilaspur, April 9 Addressing mediapersons at the Circuit House last evening, Mr Mahajan said everybody knew that he and Shanta Kumar were political opponents and had different views on several issues but after taking over as minister Mr Shanta Kumar had been of great help to the state. Mr Mahajan said few days ago when he had gone to Delhi and met Mr Shanta Kumar, he had urged him to help Himachal Pradesh in faster Rural Development and allocation of adequate funds, the minister had assured to help him in all schemes forwarded to the Centre under various projects of his department. Mr Mahajan said with the resignation of Mr Shanta Kumar the state had lost a “practical sympathiser” at Delhi. Earlier, while addressing a meeting of the Zila Parishad here along with district officers, Mr Mahajan declared that he would ensure that rural development and panchayati raj system in the state was thoroughly overhauled and streamlined. |
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Charges against Dhumal to be probed Palampur, April 9 Mr Virbhadra Singh said the vigilance and enforcement wings of the Police Department were being strengthened to handle corruption cases. All vacant posts in these two wings were being filled up on priority so that investigations could be completed at the earlier. He said the previous government headed by Mr Dhumal registered a number of cases against Congress leaders and resorted to witch-hunting for political consideration with an intention to tarnish their image. His government was against launching a political vendetta against Opposition leaders. He said all investigation officers had been directed to very careful while handling these cases and avoid witch-hunting. Replying to a question, he said the government had also received complaints regarding the allotment of contracts on very high rates to BJP leaders and their relations causing huge losses to the state exchequer. The Chief Minister categorically stated that the appointment of medical officers on contract basis from outside the state through “walk in interview” was a serious matter. He alleged that even vacancies of medical officers were not intimated to the Public Service Commission by the Health Department for calling interviews. |
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Dhumal wants ministry for hill states Hamirpur, April 9 Talking to reporters here this evening, he said Himachal Pradesh had progressed under the dynamic leadership of Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee. He lauded Mr Shanta Kumar’s work as a minister, but refused to comment on his resignation. Mr Dhumal, however, demanded representation to Himachal Pradesh in the Union Cabinet for keeping the interests of the state intact. The former Chief Minister justified the framing of Rules of Business by the HP State Services Selection Board and added that this office was rightly created at Hamirpur. Asked to comment on the registration of a case against the Chairman of the board, Mr Dhumal said “let the matter go to the court and every thing will become crystal clear.” He said people in the State had lost faith within one month in the Congress government led by Mr Virbhadra Singh. The government had taken many unpopular decisions. Mr Dhumal said the people were feeling insecure, dejected and frustrated. The BJP leader blasted the government for imposing a three-year ban on recruitments in the state. He flayed the government for increasing bus fares. He demanded that instead of raising the bus fares, the working of the HRTC should be reviewed and streamlined. He said the doors of the party were open for all those who had opposed it during the elections and wanted to come back. He said many such leaders and workers had already reposed faith in the party. |
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Chamba has 2,325 mw
hydel power potential Chamba There are 16 hydroelectric schemes in the Ravi, basin in Chamba district out of which two schemes — Siul and Sal (stage-1) are on the Siul and Sal nullah, respectively. Six projects fall in the range of 15 to 70 MW and are on the Tundah and Budhal nullah near the origin of the Ravi in the Bada Bhangal mountainous region of Kangra district. Four schemes of 200 to 300 MW, including the Chamera project (stage-II) of 300 MW, which is nearing completion, are upstream of Chamba. One scheme of 231 MW Chamera (stage-III), which has started making some headway in its construction, is also upstream of Chamera (stage-II). Only one scheme of the Chamera project (stage-I) is above 500 MW and has been operational for the past about 10 years with its power house being at Khairi, much downstream of Chamba. According to official sources, the proposed hydroelectric projects identified on the Ravi and its tributaries are — 260 MW Kuthehar, 200 MW Bajoli Holi, 200 MW Bada Bhangal on the Ravi, 70 MW Budhil, 60 MW Hadsar, 45 MW Kugti, 45 MW Bharmour on the Budhil rivulet, 120 MW on the Sindi rivulet, 30 MW Tundah (stage-I) and 15 MW (stage-II) on the Tundah stream and 7.5 MW Siul on the Siul stream. So far, hydroelectric potential of 738 MW has been developed in the central sector by the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) through the Baira-Siul project and, Chamera (stage-I), which is one third of its total potential. The Chamera project (stage II) of 300 MW is expected to be commissioned by June through the NHPC and the other three schemes of Kuthehar, Budhil and Salwan are ready for execution. The four schemes of Bajoli Holi, Hadsar, Bharmour and Siul are under study by the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board (HPSEB) while five more schemes of Bada Bhangal, Tundah (stage-I) and II and Siul, totalling 410 MW, are to be taken up in the near future. Besides, Chamba district also has hydroelectric potential of 141 MW through mini-micro schemes, identified on the tributary streams, of the Ravi and the Chenab. Though over 700 MW of power is generated in the Ravi basin, Chamba district currently draws power from outside through the HPSEB circuit except for 0.5 MW being generated through the micro schemes of the Garola and Bhuri Singh powerhouse and 2 MW of the Sal (stage-II) project. The construction of these major projects of Baira Siul and Chamera in the central sector by the NHPC has opened a new era of development in Chamba district besides promoting tourism and generating employment for local residents. It is estimated that with the taking up of these schemes of 200 to 300 MW in the next few years, Himachal can earn over Rs 100 crore annually through 12 per cent free power from the projects in Chamba district alone. The NHPC infrastructure available in the Chamba region can help substantially in this direction. |
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Rampur project may go to power board Shimla, April 9 An indication to this effect was given by Mr Virbhadra Singh during his first visit to Rampur after taking over as the Chief Minister. He said the government would consider handing over the project to the board. The statement is quite significant as the Rampur project falls in the Sutlej basin and for harnessing its potential, the Nathpa Jhakri Power Corporation (renamed as Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam) had been set up. In fact, the previous Dhumal government had even finalised an agreement for the execution of the project through the NJPC, but it could not be signed. Mr Virbhadra Singh said his government would give priority to hydel power generation in the state with a view to generating resources and to ensure employment to the local people. He said the government would review the MoUs already signed in this regard, if needed. He said to solve the problem of unemployment, emphasis would be laid on creating self-employment opportunities in the state, besides providing jobs in the government departments. He exhorted the youth to adopt self-employment ventures, as there was not much scope for employment in the government sector. He said the government would take all steps to eradicate corruption at all levels, and provide a transparent, clean and responsive administration to the people. Earlier, the Chief Minister was weighed against coins by the local people. |
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Insurance firm told to pay 4.5 lakh Sundernagar, April 9 The truck (Number HP-31-1735) of the complainant met with an accident on November 17, 1999, at Tikker Dhar in Sarkaghat Subdivision while it was carrying members of a marriage party. As many as six out of 30 persons who were in the truck died in the accident and the others were injured. The truck was completely destroyed in the accident . The complainant lodged claim for total loss of the vehicle with the insurance company but his claim was declined on the ground that there was a breach of policy condition as the truck was carrying passengers, without having any permit in this regard issued by the Transport Authority. After the repudiation of the claim , the complainant filed a complaint in the Consumer Forum thereby claiming the cost of truck along with interest and costs. |
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Show-cause notice to Chief Secy Shimla, April 9 The contempt petition was filed with the allegations that in spite of the time extended by the court to implement the judgement the state government had not done so intentionally. After looking into the records, Justice K.C. Sood issued show-cause notice to the Chief Secretary, Mr Rajinder Bhatacharya, and senior IAS officers Mr Ajay Mittal, and Mr Abhay Shukla demanding why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against them for not implementing the judgement of the High Court within the stipulated period. In another case, the high court has rejected the bail plea of Puran Prabha, Purnesh Gautan and Haresh Gautam, who were allegedly involved in a bride-burning case in the Sanjauli area. The plea was raised on behalf of petitioner that two co-accused had already been released on bail by the High Court. After perusing the records produced by the prosecution, Justice M.R. Verma rejected the bail applications filed by the petitioners and observed that the investigation is in the vital stage and the grant of bail to petitioners would effect the investigation adversely.
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Dy Director clarifies Una, April 9 The Deputy Director further said after receiving the complaint that wrong seeds had been distributed by the society the department had written a letter to the Director, Agriculture, and Managing Director of the society to depute a person for the inspection of the seed. He further said the price was Rs 765 per 80 kg and not Rs 675 as mentioned in the news item. Our Correspondent adds: The Agriculture Department used to buy the seeds from its own sources and never used to collect advance money and the earning from the sale of seeds used to go into the government account. But this time the Deputy Director collected Rs 10 lakh from farmers and the cooperative society, Una, contributed only Rs 5 lakh. Moreover the cost of an 80-kg bag worked out to be Rs 740 and the department used to allow Rs 25 per bag as handling charges. But against the investment of Rs 5 lakh the society was now charging Rs 25 per bag for the entire amount of Rs 15 lakh, he added. The mixing of seeds has been admitted by the Deputy Director, Dr BK Sharma, Scientist, and Plant Pathologist, Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishva Vidyalaya Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Una, dated April 5, in his report stated that blight disease had hit the Kufri Chandermukhi variety. However, the Kufri Jyoti variety in the adjoining field was found unaffected. Meanwhile, potato growers of Una district are not satisfied with the report and submission of the Deputy Director and have sought an enquiry into it. |
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HP review panel reconstituted Shimla, April 9 The Chief Minister will be its chairman. All MPs and the Chief Parliamentary Secretary will be its members. Besides, MLAs and non-official members will also be nominated to the committee. The Chief Secretary and all administrative secretaries to the government will also be its members and the Principal Adviser-cum-Secretary, Planning, will be its member-secretary. |
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Ayurvedic medicine manufacturers’ plea Nurpur, April 9 The association held a meeting here yesterday. Its president, Mr Ashok Sharma, claimed that
ayurvedic medicines’ units set up in Himachal Pradesh had been producing quality drugs. |
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Lahaul-Spiti bus service resumes Shimla, April 9 A spokesman for the HRTC said the district bus service had been started from Keylong to Darcha, Tholong and Mooling. The bus service to Koksar will soon be started from Keylong, headquarters of Lahaul-Spiti district.
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Staff seek repatriation Hamirpur, April 9 There was an uneasy calm in the office and employees and other officers were busy scrutinising the applications received by them against 1,200 posts of Class III employees to be filled up by way of written tests and interviews. Most of its employees were taken on deputation from various government departments, including offices of the Divisional Commissioners and Settlement. Now, these employees have opted to go back to their parent departments fearing onslaught by the Enforcement Department. Mr Katwal preferred to remain in the office and not to speak to any outsider. He refused to speak to reporters regarding the registration of a case against him. Boss is busy, came reply from one of his aides. There are reports that he had already discussed the matter with his Shimla and Dharamsala-based lawyers. |
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Woman delivers baby in toilet Chamba, April 9 Poonam Devi of Sirna village, about 20 km from here, came here for some work. When she went to answer the call of nature she developed labour pains. Seeing the woman in pain, the safai karamcharis immediately called a midwife. The woman was later taken to the zonal hospital along with the new-born baby. Both were doing well.
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