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Bhardwaj elected
Himachal BJP chief Newly elected HP State BJP President
Suresh
Bhardwaj with P.K. Dhumal and Shanta Kumar at Shimla on Sunday. Photo by
Anil Dayal Don’t expand
state Cabinet, says BJP Cong accused of
muzzling BJP’s voice |
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Environment
protection must for hydel projects, says CM Power
engineers’ plea to Virbhadra The Himachal Power Engineers Association and the state Electricity Board Employees Union have opposed the move to hand over the Rampur hydro-electric project to the Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVN) for execution and urged Mr Virbhadra Singh, Chief Minister, to assign the project to the state sector. Disinvestment in
PSUs on anvil, says CM Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today said that disinvestment in public sector units would be carried out after taking related factors into consideration, besides safeguarding the interests of employees.
Kishori Lal of Hamirpur who has been confined to bed due to a spinal injury. — Photo by Chander Shekhar Sharma Mandi, December 28 Over 200 trees of oak (quercus) were found to have been felled near Mahamaya temple on the Sundernagar-Maloh road allegedly by Birya Ram. There is ban on the felling of oak trees which were declared an endangered species by the Central government. 9,890-hectare
area to be treated The catchment area treatment plan, with an outlay of Rs 11 crore, sanctioned by the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) for the Chamera hydroelectric project (stage-II) on the Ravi in the district, is being implemented in surrounding areas of the project. Shimla, December 28 The hill state is emerging as a favourite destination for winter sports enthusiasts. Come December and lovers of ice-skating and skiing make a beeline for various winter sports venues in the state.
Baijnath admn
indifferent to lack of basic amenities Doctor arrested
on charge of molesting patient An ENT specialist of the Zonal Hospital here was arrested on Friday night on the complaint of a woman who alleged that the doctor had molested her. Dharamsala, December 28 Despite tall claims by senior district police officials of improved law and order situation in the district, Kangra witnessed an unprecedented rise in murders during 2003. 
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Bhardwaj elected Himachal BJP chief Shimla, December 28 Mr Ram Kripal Sinha, central party observer, declared him elected in the presence of Mr
O.P. Kohli, national returning officer for the organisational poll. Besides Mr Bhardwaj, four delegates were also elected unopposed to the national council. Mr Ram Chand Bhatia was elected from the Kangra parliamentary constituency, Mr Jai Krishan Sharma from Hamirpur, Mr Roop Das Kashyap from Shimla and Mr Roop Singh Thakur from Mandi. Addressing the delegates after the completion of the election, Mr Kohli said the BJP would go to the Lok Sabha polls under a new organisational set-up whether the elections were held early or on schedule. He said organisational elections were over in 19 states and by the time the National Executive met in Hyderabad on January 11 to 12, the process would be completed in 26 states. Only Jharkhand, Orissa and the five states where Assembly poll were held recently would be left out, he said. He said Ram temple was not the only election issue and the BJP had a host of positive factors to enter the electoral arena with confidence, namely the success of the foreign policy, improvement in relations with Pakistan, achievements on national security and defence fronts, economic reforms and accelerated development. The party had worked out a strategy to win 300 seats and secure two-thirds majority for the NDA. Mr Shanta Kumar, a former Union Minister, said Mr Bhardwaj would get full support from senior leaders and expressed confidence that the party would emerge stronger under his leadership. Mr
P.K. Dhumal, a former Chief Minister, said the graph of the Congress was on the decline and the immediate task before partymen was to win all four parliamentary seats to bring the NDA government back to power. Mr Suresh Bhardwaj is the eighth president of the state BJP. Addressing mediapersons, Mr Bhardwaj did not subscribe to the views that the BJP was a divided house. He said the fact that he had been elected by consensus indicated that the party was united and there were no major differences among top leaders. He said he would endeavour to take the entire party along and make it a vibrant outfit to take on the “repressive” regime of Mr Virbhadra Singh. He said the Congress government had adopted a vindictive attitude towards the Opposition and it was misusing the state machinery to crush the latter. Replying to a question, he said the BJP will not shield or support those involved in corruption and other irregularities but it would not allow the government to indulge in political vendetta in the name of a crusade against corruption. He said he would announce his team of office-bearers and constitute the state executive after consultations with the central leadership during the meeting of the National Executive in Hyderabad. Before that he would hold consultations with state leaders. The new team will be in place within a month, he said. |
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Don’t expand state Cabinet, says BJP Dalhousie, December 28 In a press note here today, Mrs Renu Chadha, district president of the BJP, said restricting the size of the Cabinet would go a long way in curbing unproductive expenditure. Talking of the previous BJP ministry, she stated that the ministers, had been contributing 10 per cent of their salaries to the state exchequer, besides adopting austere measures. She alleged that Chamba district was being neglected by the Congress government. Medical and educational institutions were devoid of doctors and teachers and other requisite staff. |
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Cong accused of muzzling BJP’s voice Shimla, December 28 The newly-elected council which met here today passed a resolution condemning the vindictive attitude of the government towards the Opposition and said such “deplorable behaviour” had no place in a democratic set up. The government, it said, was preoccupied with vindictive transfers of employees and wreaking vengeance on Opposition leaders and their sympathisers. Party legislators were lathi charged in June and also booked for violating prohibitory orders. The government was afraid of facing the Opposition in the Vidhan Sabha and the ruling party ensured that they were suspended from the House. The Katwal tape “expose” had unnerved the Congress and it was now resorting to crude tactics like burning the effigy of the Leader of Opposition to divert the attention of people from their own misdeeds. The resolution pointed out that the Congress had returned to its old ways of giving jobs on recommendatory chits. Similarly, contracts were being awarded to the favourites in violation of rules and regulations. Only Congress supporters were being given appointments. The party mourned the demise of veteran RSS leader Kushabhau
Thakre. |
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Environment protection must for hydel projects, Shimla, December 28 He said keeping this aspect in view the state government had constituted a high-powered committee to review all MoUs signed with various agencies during the regime of previous government. He said employment to local residents was ensured in the MoUs. The government had made it mandatory to provide at least 60 per cent employment to the people of the state, besides carrying out rehabilitation activities in a time-bound manner for the benefit of the people of the area where such projects would come up. The Chief Minister said the government would also ensure equivalence of benefits, pay and perks, to the staff of the state electricity board and other manpower placed at the disposal of the agencies. He said equivalence formula of staff would henceforth be decided before any project was allotted to any agency. Mr Virbhadra Singh said that the board had been directed to prepare detailed project reports for all identified projects in advance to cut down the execution period of projects. He said the protection of environment had also been made mandatory and the implementing agency would be held responsible for compensating the ecological loss by carrying out eco-friendly measures like afforestation. He said the state had a fragile ecology, which needed to be handled delicately while executing project works. Mr Virbhadra Singh urged the Power Ministry to ensure availability of earmarked free power share to the state uninterruptedly, especially during the lean winter season. Mr R.V. Shahi, Union Power Secretary, said the Sutlej Jal Vidyut Nigam would like to undertake more hydel projects in the state for execution as joint ventures, which included Rampur, Thopan Powari, Shongtong-Karchham, Jhangi-Thopan, Sorang, Tidong-I&II and Khab-I&II. He assured all possible help to the state government for improvement of power availability under different Central Government schemes. He also stressed upon the need to resolve all differences beforehand while executing any project in the state. |
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Power engineers’ plea to Virbhadra Shimla, December 28 In a joint memorandum to the Chief Minister, they asserted that the government should weigh all pros and cons before taking a final decision in the light of the bitter experience of the
Nathpa-Jhakri project. The huge cost overruns had made the project a losing proposition. The SJVN planned to sell the entire 34 per cent share of state to recoup equity as such the state would not get any returns for the next 10 years. The 22 per cent equity share would be available to the state at Central electricity regulatory tariff, which was likely to be Rs 2.80 per unit, on completion of the project as per current norms. The quantum of equity share would be 1530 million units per annum, thereby resulting in an annual loss of Rs 2 per unit at the prevailing sale rate. The total annual liability of the state government would be Rs 151.56 crore. Further, if the Rampur project was handed over to the SJVN its cost might go up three folds as had happened in case of the
Nathpa-Jhakri project. The cost of generation for the Rampur project would be Rs 3.5 crore per megawatt as against Rs 5.5 crore to Rs 7 crore per megawatt for other projects. As such it was in the interest of the state to assign it to the state electricity board. The memorandum express concern that an MoU for assigning the Rampur project to the SJVN was proposed to be signed on December 30 eventhough all contentious issues like equivalence of board engineers and the direct recruits of the
nigam, share and equity participation and operation and maintenance of the
Nathpa-Jhakri project were pending. The best course in the light of impediments would be to handover the project to the board. |
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Disinvestment in PSUs on anvil, says CM Shimla, December 28 Presiding over a meeting of the board of directors of the state Tourism Development Corporation here, he urged the management to come out with a proposal to make the corporation a profit-making unit, besides negotiating with the private sector for handing over some of its unviable units for operation. Underlying, the need to bring in high standards of professionalism in the services of hotels run by the corporation, he said in the age of competition, efficiency and excellence in the hospitality industry was paramount to ensure survival. He said the state government’s endeavour was to make Pong Dam a tourist destination for water sports lovers and bird watchers. Mr Virbhadra Singh said the Naldehra Golf Club centenary would be celebrated in 2005 for which necessary preparations would be made by a committee to be constituted under the chairmanship of Tourism Minister Vijay Singh
Mankotia. Major Vijay Singh Mankotia apprised the board of various activities of tourism promotion and targets to be achieved during the current financial year. It was decided at the meeting to construct a
multi-storeyed car parking in Shimla for the convenience of tourists for which the necessary survey had been carried out by
NIIT, Hamirpur. |
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Confined to bed for 12 yrs HAMIRPUR: After an injury in his spinal cord nearly 12 years ago at Mithapur village of Gujarat, Kishori Lal (30) of Dudhana village in Hamirpur district has been confined to bed at his local residence. He needs Rs 15 lakh for his recovery. However, he has so far failed to get this much amount either from his company or from any other voluntary organisation or the local people to meet his medical expenses. He is the eldest of three brothers and one of them is still studying. The third one is helping the entire family, including Kishori Lal, while working with various jagrata parties. Talking to The Tribune here, he said that he was on tour in his truck and was taking tea at a roadside shop when a speeding truck hit and injured him badly. He was taken to the nearby hospital where he was told that he had injured his spinal cord. He lamented that the insurance company gave him a paltry amount of Rs 30,000 which was consumed while getting treatment in Gujarat. Kishori Lal said his family brought him to Hamirpur after a year and since then he had been confined to bed with the same problem. He said that the wheelchair provided to him had also been damaged and there was none to provide him a new chair or to get the old one repaired. He said that Chief Minister, Virbhadra Singh during his last tenure had sanctioned him a monthly pension of Rs 200 and an 11-marla plot for a house. However, the revenue authorities had not provided any land to him as yet. Kishori lal says that he needs Rs 15 lakh for his treatment. He said, “Doctors have told me that if I could manage Rs 15 lakh, I would be fully fit”. He has appealed to the local people and voluntary organisations to help him so that he may be able to lead a peaceful life. Will any one come to help Kishori Lal who has been facing a bleak future for want of finances? |
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200 oak trees cut Mandi, December 28 Mr Chander Shekhar Singh, Conservator, Forests, Mandi Circle, said yesterday that a damage report had been prepared and the accused was being brought to his office by officials of the Sundernagar Forest
Division. According to the forest law, trees grown even on private land cannot be cut without the permission of the Forest Department. In case of oak trees, even the Forest Department is not competent to grant permission to cut trees. The accused had been cutting oak trees for over a couple of days and carrying the timber to his sew mill at Sundernagar. Forest officials of Sundernagar could not know it. |
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9,890-hectare area to be treated Chamba, December 28 Giving this information here today, Mr Parminder Singh, Executive Director, NHPC, said an area of around 9,890 hectares had been identified for treatment under the plan based on the delineation of the critically degraded area through satellite remote sensing data and ground factual position. The Executive Director said the plan envisaged treatment through biological as well as engineering methods. He said it would be completed within five years. The execution work has been entrusted to the state Forest Department. He said the NHPC had released Rs 3.6 crore to the Forest Department and the development work of soil conservation and forestry had been taken up on a war footing. Besides this, the compensatory afforestation scheme for
plantation over an area of 173 hectares of degraded foretland has also been undertaken by the Forest Department at a cost of Rs 45 lakh provided by the NHPC, he added. |
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HP draws winter sports lovers Shimla, December 28 About, 35,000 tourists visit Manali every month during the winter. Of the total tourist inflow in the valley, 21,000 enjoy winter sports at Solang nullah and Rohtang pass. The special feature of the Solang valley is the variety of ski slopes available from mid-December to June. There are eight private skiing clubs about 180 skiers are conducting commercial skiing for tourists at Solang nullah and Rohtang Pass. This has also helped generate self-employment, besides promoting winter tourism in the state. The ice-skating rink at Shimla, which came into existence in 1920, caters to a large number of adventure sports lovers as it holds the distinction of being only one of its kind in South Asia. The club possesses latest equipment, which has resulted in improving the standard of ice-skating in the club in general and ice hockey in particular. The International Ice Hockey Federation has donated 42 pairs of ice hockey skates, 30 ice hockey sticks and a video player to the club. Winter sports activities in the state were restricted to a select group during the British rule. With the formation of the Western Himalayan Mountaineering Institute in Manali in 1961, skiing has been promoted throughout the state by conducting regular skiing courses at Manali, Narkanda and Dalhousie. For greater development of winter sports, the institute is exploring the possibility of introducing skiing in places like Chansil
(Rohroo), Soja (Kulu), Dalhousie and Bharmour (Chamba), Sangla (Kinnaur), Korea and Jispa
(Lahaul & Spiti) and Prashar (Mandi). The Winter Carnival, an annual feature associated with winter games, is also an awaited event of tourist interest. Various cultural activities and events draw the attention of a large number of spectators, mainly youths. This year the carnival is being organised at Manali from January 2 to 6. The Kulu valley is perhaps the only place in the country where skiing is possible up to June. The state government, realising the potential of winter tourism, is making efforts to make provisions for quality equipment, training and other skiing facilities like ski lifts. It would go a long way in attracting domestic tourists, mainly adventurous youths, as well as foreigners, which would in turn help in earning foreign exchange as well as generating employment for local people. |
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State of Industrial Focal Points-II Baddi, December 28 Since its growth as an industrial centre over the past 15 years, the township, which includes Nalagarh, has witnessed the growth of over 400 big and small units, but the facilities have not increased correspondingly. Even as the township provides employment to more than 30,000 workmen, it lacks provision of adequate medical facilities despite the fact that the industrialists and their employees pay about Rs 20 lakh to the ESI every month by way of their contributions. The industrial area in Baddi had only one ESI dispensary to cater to the needs of the workmen and their families. The nearest ESI dispensary at Parwanoo also does not have the required facilities to treat emergency cases, says Mr R.S. Guleria, president of the Baddi, Barotiwala, Nalagarh Industries Association (BBNIA), adding that patients have to be rushed to hospitals in Chandigarh for treatment. Keeping in view the coming up of a large number of chemical and pharmaceutical units, Mr Guleria voiced the need for setting up of an ESI hospital in Baddi, besides improving the facilities at the existing dispensaries. Workers point out the difficulties faced by them in getting their medical bills settled when they are forced to buy medicines prescribed by ESI doctors from outside. Contributing about Rs 40 crore to the state exchequer by way of taxes, the township needs proper housing facilities for its working class. At present most people commute from Chandigarh, Panchkula and other neighbouring areas. The association has been pressing for setting up a common effluent-treatment plant and also a treatment, storage and disposal facility plant in the area to check the industrial units violating pollution control norms. The land for the same stands identified and the government is focusing on it. Employees also highlight the need to improve the general sanitation facilities. Mr Ashwani Sharma, chief manager, Industrial Relations, Vardhman group of industries, maintains that the Himachal Pradesh Town and Country Planning Department and the Municipal Council, Baddi, have done little for the proper development of the area. There are no planned roads and some of the internal roads need urgent resurfacing since the flow of transport is likely to double up in the near future. The encroachments along the road leading to the industrial area need to be checked. To maintain the law and order situation, Mr Sharma voices the need for upgrading the police post to a police station at Baddi. The nearest police station is about 5 km away at Barotiwala and is not enough to handle the load of work which is likely to come in with the growth of industry. Another industrialist points out that the township did not have any bus stand. Though local buses ply between Baddi and Pinjore, there are no rain shelters for the facility of the travelling public. Frequency of public transport should be stepped up at least in the morning and evening hours. The rail line should also be extended to the township to sustain the growth of development. Industrialists have been pressing for the proposed road linking Baddi with Chandigarh, which will not only shorten the distance to 18 km but will also see it develop as a satellite town of Chandigarh. While Haryana has completed its part of work, the delay is on account of Punjab completing its part of the road, says Mr Guleria. The government should develop some parks and community centres for holding public activities, says one of the employees. It does not have a proper shopping complex or restaurants. Dr Rajinder Chauhan, Industrial Adviser, Himachal Government, admits the need for creating more infrastructure in view of a sudden rush of industrial units due to the recent incentive package offered by the government. While the major problems relating to power and telephones have been solved keeping in view the significance of the area as a corridor for industrial development, maintenance and upkeep of civic amenities is a continuous process. |
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Baijnath admn indifferent to
lack of basic amenities BAIJNATH (Palampur): Baijnath, an ancient religious town of Himachal Pradesh needs immediate attention of the authorities concerned as the residents are living in hellish conditions. This town, which was accorded the status of subdivisional headquarters in 1995 with the efforts of the then Forest Minister late Pt Sant Ram, is still devoid of basic amenities. Potholed roads and streets, overflowing drains, contaminated drinking water describe the woes of the town, which is fast turning into a huge slum. Almost all interior streets of the town are in bad shape. Due to overflowing drains , the water collects on these streets causing a permanent stink, making it difficult for the residents to move. Some of the paved streets have been damaged because of regular over flowing drains and leakage in drinking water pipes. Garbage can be seen all over the town. The entrance to famous Shiva Temple is in worst condition, from where garbage has not been removed for the past one month. There is no sewerage system in the town, which has caused insanitary and unhygienic conditions in the town creating a number of health problems. The condition of internal localities of this town is the worst. These localities have been virtually reduced to slums. To get rid of grievances of the residents of this town, a proper sewerage system must be laid on a top priority as the prevailing conditions are alarming. Apart from this there is also shortage of potable water in the town. There is a general complaint that drinking water being supplied to the residents carry mud and other waste material which is not fit for human consumption. Besides, the narrow Pathankot-Mandi national highway which passes through this town, has become a major problem for the residents of this town because of frequent traffic jams. Despite repeated requests the state government has not cleared the project for the construction of a bypass to this town. During a visit to this town in November, though Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal had announced a number of plans but these were yet to be implemented. At present this town is being governed by a
panchyat, which has no funds to keep the town clean. There has been manifold increase in the population in this town in past five years and the panchyat is finding it difficult to maintain the town with meager funds allotted to it every year. The residents of the town want that since with the passage of time this small town is expanding very fast, therefore plans should be drawn up to provide basic amenities to them at par with other towns of the state. Liberal funds should also be sanctioned to panchyat for the installation of streets lights in all localities of the town. The panchyat should also be permitted to charge toll tax from the vehicles and tax on the sale of liquor so that it could raise its own resources for the development of the town. The ancient Shiva Temple situated on the left bank of the Binwa river in the heart of the town is also facing a serious threat because of reckless mining in adjoining rive
Binwa. One of the retaining walls on the northern side of the temple has already developed major cracks because of mining in the river. In the past ten years the water level in the river has gone down by five to seven feet, posing a serious threat to the existence of this historical monument. Though the
HP High Court has already stayed all mining activities in the river but still the mining is going on unchecked. The administration has also failed to implement the orders of the state High Court. |
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Doctor arrested on charge of molesting patient Mandi, December 28 The woman from Bagsiad in Chachiot Valley had come to the hospital to get throat examined. The doctor admitted her in the five-bed ENT ward where she was the only patient admitted. He sent her father to fetch medicines from the market and molested her. She told everything to her father who reported the matter to the police. The doctor was arrested and a case registered under Section 354, IPC. Later the doctor was released by the police a on personal bond. |
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Murder cases up in 2003 Dharamsala, December 28 According to figures, there were 38 murders during the current year while last year the number stood at 27. This increase was causing alarm and the common man was feeling that there was something wrong with agencies entrusted with maintaining law and order. The saving grace was a fall in reported rape cases, which had come down to seven from 14 last year. The total crimes reported during the year showed an increase of 168 cases. During 2002, 2596 cases were registered at 13 police stations in the district while this year, the number had gone up to 2764, with four days to go. Though the Kangra police had solved most murder cases, the common man felt that the failure to check criminals at the outset was leading to a rise in heinous crimes. Despite a continuous drive against illegal liquor business, the police had failed to dent the trade, which was flourishing in the district. The alarming crime rate had given an opportunity to the Opposition to blame the government for the poor law and order situation. |
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