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Tuesday,
August 5, 2003, Chandigarh, India  
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Dhumal in dock on Malana-II project Former MLAs may get more facilities, says Virbhadra Tributes paid to Dr Parmar Parts of Solan go
without water Bail plea in fake certificate
case rejected |
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Body of flood victim recovered
Probe ordered
into harassment of students
Disbanding of selection
board sought Manimahesh pilgrimage from Aug 19
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Dhumal in dock on Malana-II project Shimla, August 4 The outgoing regime took important decisions regarding various hydroelectric power projects before the elections and the allotment of Malana-II was one of them. The MoU (memorandum of understanding) for investigation and execution of the project was signed on May 27, 2002 with M/S Everest Power Company. It was followed by a supplementary MoU to effect change in equity partner signed on October 11, 2002. Normally, it takes 18 months to two years to carry out geological and geophysical surveys, collect hydrological data and other information to prepare the detailed project report. However, in this case even the implementation agreement was signed as early as on January 14, 2003, on the eve of the Assembly poll. Intriguingly, the IA does not specify when the company submitted the DPR the preamble only states that whereas the company has carried out the necessary detailed investigations of the project and submitted a project report and the government and the company have satisfied themselves about the techno-economic feasibility of the project. It is relevant to mention that the pre-feasibility report circulated at the time of inviting bids stated that a number of studies were to carried out before submission of the DPR and full investigations could be completed in 18 months. The DPR could be completed in six months. In no other case the IA has been signed within few months of the signing of the MoU. Malana power company, which executed the 86 MW Malana-I project in record time of 31 months maintains that the upstream Malana-II is a tandem project and it has been allotted to a new company ignoring its superior financial strength, technical competence and advantage of being at the site. Not only that the company had offered to execute the Malana-II by 2006 whereas Everest Power Company has been given time to complete the project by 2012. Malana company had even agreed to put penalties in case of failure to execute the project within the stipulated period. The company has now made a representation before the high-powered committee set up by the Congress government to review the agreements signed by the previous Dhumal government. It has pointed out that the early commissioning of the Malana-II project would have generated 2388 million units of additional energy and brought revenue of Rs 170 crore to the state. |
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Former MLAs may get more facilities, says Virbhadra Shimla, August 4 This was stated by Mr Virbhadra Singh, Chief Minister, while addressing a meeting of former, MLAs here today. He said the government had already made a provision for house building loan of Rs 3 lakh and given other benefits to help the former MLAs lead a respectable life in society. He said it was during the Congress regime that the former MLAs were provided pensionary benefits for the first time, thereby creating history in the country. He said the decision was appreciated and adopted not only by Parliament but also by various states. The Chief Minister further said that pension of the former MLAs was linked with the additional dearness allowance for enhancement so that the pension also increased with the price index. He said his government was committed to safeguard the interests of the former MLAs and provide them with various possible financial benefits from time to time. The benefits provided to the former MLAs during the recent budget session included free travelling facility up to 15,000 km per year in AC 2 tier railway class and state buses along with a companion. Mr Ram Singh, chairman of the former MLAs Parishad, thanked the Chief Minister for providing various financial benefits. He said the interests of the former MLAs were safeguarded only during the Congress regimes — whether it was during the chief ministership of Dr Y.S. Parmar which introduced the pension system or Mr Virbhadra Singh who linked pension with the ADA. He said the forum had been created to safeguard the interests of the former MLAs rising above political considerations. |
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Tributes paid to Dr Parmar Shimla, August 4 Presiding over the state-level function organised on the Vidhan Sabha premises to mark the 97th birth anniversary of Dr Y.S. Parmar, the first Chief Minister of the state, he said it was largely because of the visionary like Dr Parmar that Himachal was considered a model of hill development. The Chief Minister also gave away awards to legislators for making outstanding contribution during the 9th Vidhan Sabha (1998-03). Mr Kaul Singh, Irrigation and Public Health Minister, was awarded the Best Legislator Award for performance in the House. The award carries a cash prize of Rs 51,000, besides a citation. Mr Gangu Ram Musafir, Speaker, was given the award for making outstanding contribution in deliberations of House committees. Mr P.K. Dhumal, a former Chief Minister, ministers, legislators and former legislators were among those present on the occasion. Earlier, Mr Virbhadra Singh and other ministers paid floral tributes to Dr Parmar by garlanding his statue on the Ridge. SOLAN: A local Hindi weekly organised a talk to mark the birth anniversary. Mr Rattan Chand Rojhe, a veteran social worker and associate of Dr Parmar, while addressing the meeting deplored the fact that even as long speeches
extolling the political legacy left behind by the departed leader were made on this day every year, little was done to maintain Dr Parmar’s ancestral house at Chalanag, near Bagthan in Sirmour district. He demanded that steps should be initiated to construct a suitable memorial at the site. The Sirmaur Kalyan Parishad also organised a function here. The chief guest, Gangu Ram Musafir, lauded the vision of Dr Parmar. A former MLA of Sirmaur and Dr Parmar’s son, Mr Kush Parmar, assured the people of extending whole-hearted support in keeping alive the rich traditions set by his father. The chief guest honoured Dr Jagat Ram, an eye specialist, and Mr Lakshmi Chand, a farmer of Rajgarh. |
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Parts of Solan go
without water Solan, August 4 The worst affected areas included Kleen, Housing Board colony, parts of Saproon, Kathed, Police Lines, Circular Road, Sunny Side, Jaunaji Road, Solan Brewery, Salogra locations of the town where most consumers complained either of insufficient or of total suspension of potable supplies in the past five days. The Executive Officer of the Municipal Council maintained that the scarcity was caused by the failure of the Irrigation and Public Health authorities in making adequate supplies of water. He said that against the daily requirement of 10 lakh gallons of the town, the authorities had supplied far less quantities in the past five days. He said that the total storage of water, including the mandatory reserves for emergencies stood at 14 lakh gallons on August 1. This figure came down to eight lakh gallons on August 2 and further went down to six lakh gallons on August 3. It stood at a mere three lakh gallons today. |
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Bail plea in fake certificate
case rejected Shimla, August 4 The prosecution had alleged that on the basis of the forged certificate, Meena had secured a job in the Electricity Department as a clerk. It further alleged that the certificate had been prepared by four accused namely Sumer
Nath, Rajeev Mahajan, Nek Ram and Het Ram. An FIR was registered against all four accused on September 24, 2002, under Sections 419, 420, 467, 468, 471, 120-B of the IPC and Section 13 (1) and (2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act. |
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Body of flood victim recovered Dharamsala, August 4 Giving details, the Kangra Additional Deputy Commissioner Dr Amandeep Garg said the body was reported buried under sand near Binwa bridge below Baijnath town by a person extracting sand. The police recovered the body of Sunita Devi who had come to visit her uncle Des Raj who is still missing along with two other members of the family. Dr Garg said 2 JCBs and 150 volunteers from the police, the PWD, the NCC and locals had been deployed at Lulhani village to dig out the bodies. He said another team of rescue workers had been deputed to search the area near Binwa bridge for other bodies. He said the BDOs of lower areas had been asked to seek local help to trace if the bodies had been washed towards Pong Dam. Dr Garg said Rs 66,000 had been distributed as immediate relief and balance amount of about Rs 2,30,000 would be distributed within two or three days. He said the administration had extended help to the families as per the relief manual. |
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Dharna by anganwari workers Shimla, August 4 The workers assembled near the Panchayat Bhavan and marched to the secretariat in procession. Mr Kashmir Singh, general secretary of the CITU, said the government had cheated the workers by not releasing enhanced remuneration notified by the Centre. While the Centre increased the honorium by Rs 500 per month the state government hiked it by Rs 300 only taking the total monthly remuneration to Rs 1000. Worse, honorium of those who were already getting Rs 1200 per month was reduced by Rs 200. The representative of the agitating workers met the Secretary Welfare, Mr C.P. Pandey, and submitted a memorandum to him. He said the demands would be put up before the government. |
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Probe ordered
into harassment of students Solan, August 4 The chairperson of the State Women’s Commission, Mrs Malvika Pathania, today visited the school and inquired into the matter from the principal. She said since the matter pertained to a complaint by a large number of girl students, it had been taken seriously. |
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Leopards’ death
causes concern Dharamsala, August 4 The zoo authorities have not taken Dr
R.S. Kishtwaria into confidence about the death of the two leopards. Dr
Kishtwaria, a veterinary specialist with Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar H.P. Agriculture University,
Palampur, is on the panel of doctors approved by the Central Zoo Authority
(CZA) for animal care in zoos. Dr Kishtwaria said he was not aware of the deaths as he neither treated the animals nor conducted the post-mortems. He said the norms laid down by the CZA for taking care of wild animals were not being followed at Gopalpur which led to the death of the leopards. |
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Disbanding of selection
board sought Shimla, August 4 Mr Bhoop Ram Verma, president of the association, said the board was a drain on the state exchequer and there was no need for two recruitment agencies in a small state like Himachal Pradesh. The work of the board could be entrusted to the commission. He said recruitment of staff of boards, corporations, universities and other semi-government bodies could also be assigned to the commission. The association hailed the appointment of Mr V.K. Malik as member of the commission. |
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Manimahesh pilgrimage from Aug 19 Chamba, August 4 According to Mr Rahul Anand, Deputy Commissioner of Chamba, the holy Chhari of Manimahesh will commence from Chamba a week before the holy dip. The district administration is all set to providing security to the pilgrims, especially those coming from the Bhadarwah area of Jammu and Kashmir in view of the disturbed conditions in J&K. The DC said the district authorities had been directed to make arrangements for regulation of traffic, parking lots, medicines, fuel, water and electricity for the devotees. He said temporary toilets would be constructed for the pilgrimage. |
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