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Vote-on-account
passed CM did
it too, Dhumal says of encroachment Government
misleading people on debt, says Dhumal CAG
indicts govt for tardy fiscal reforms |
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Non-levy
of taxes cost exchequer 80 cr BJP
behind state’s development: Shanta 11
administrative officers shifted Contempt
notice issued to Principal Secretary Balak
Nath temple funds under scrutiny Appoint
regular rights panel chief, orders HC Centre
backs out on support price Husband
held, remanded for plotting wife’s murder Three
of family hacked to death
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Vote-on-account passed Shimla, February 27 Presenting the vote-on-account, Mr Virbhadra Singh, Chief Minister, who also holds the finance portfolio, said the government had decided to introduce English from Class I to stop students going from government to private schools and make the education system more equitable. He also announced that uniform would be made compulsory in schools and poor students would be given uniform free of cost by the government. He said the government had to seek an vote-on-account because there was not enough time to hold a full budget session, which required a month due to the Lok Sabha poll. Besides, the Planning Commission had also deferred the finalisation of Annual Plan for the next final year. He said despite the financial crunch and the huge debt of over Rs 15,000 crore inherited from the previous government, the government, by the successful implementation of its socio-economic policies, had been able to achieve a 7.9 per cent growth in the economy in 2003-04 as against the average growth rate of 5.3 per cent in the 2000-2003 period. The per capita income of the state grew by 10 per cent in 2003-04. It was estimated at Rs 24,800 in 2003-04 as against Rs 22,576 in the previous year. The government had increased the social security coverage by sanctioning an additional over 28,000 new cases of widow, handicapped and old age pensions. A marriage grant of Rs 25,000 had been sanctioned to rehabilitate young widows and the grant for destitute girls raised from Rs 2,500 to Rs 5,100. Outright grant for house construction and repair had been doubled to Rs 22,000 and Rs 10,000, for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. Over 700 new middle, high and senior secondary schools had been notified by the government. Contract teachers would be absorbed against regular vacant posts after providing them training and issuing them special JBT certificates. This process would be completed in a phased manner. Over 7,000 new posts of teachers had been sanctioned for new and existing schools. The Chief Minister said that the government’s efforts at tapping hydro-electricity potential were finally bearing fruit and it received the first cheque for Rs 18 crore on account of free power as royalty from Nathpa Jhakri Project recently. The project would be fully functional shortly. A new special purpose vehicle — Jal Vidyut Vikas Nigam—had been set up to expedite the execution of projects. The Rs 80-crore horticulture mission would further strengthen the economy of the state. Outstanding dues of growers whose fruit was procured under the market intervention scheme had been cleared up to March, 2003. As many as 1800 new proposals for setting up industries would help create employment for over 72,000 persons and single-window system would clear industrial investment proposals. Mr Virbhadra Singh said the government would increase the daily wage of Rs 75 in a phased manner, as promised in the election manifesto. Daily wagers regularisation would continue in a phased manner and it had been decided to frame a policy to convert part-time workers into daily wagers. Some departments would be allowed to hire daily wagers to provide employment to the needy and the poor. |
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CM did it too, Dhumal says of encroachment Shimla, February 27 Addressing a press conference here, he said only recently the Financial Commissioner had vested in the government 80 bighas out of the 161 bighas of excess land. He said even this order was subject to appeal. Mr Virbhadra Singh, he alleged, was the first person to indulge in benami land transaction when he gave land to Madhya Pradesh Congress leader Arjun Singh and his son who were not entitled to own land in the state. |
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Government misleading people
on debt, Shimla, February 27 Talking to newspersons, he said the information given in the House by the government made it clear that the debt was less than Rs 12,000 crore but Congress leaders were repeatedly mentioning Rs 15,000 crore in
their speeches and justifying it by including an amount of Rs 3,000 crore, for which the government stood guarantee. He said the figure for outstanding loans as on March 31,1998, was being put at Rs 4,966 crore, excluding the government guarantees which totalled more than Rs 3,000 crore. He said during 1998-2003, the state committed liabilities increased due to the implementation of the Fifth Pay Commission pay scales. The annual burden on account of salaries increased from Rs 961 crore to Rs 2,000 crore, pension from Rs 181 crore to Rs 475 crore and interest liability from Rs 455 crore to Rs 1,200 crore. Further, the government repaid loans to the tune of Rs 882 crore during the period as against Rs 222 crore from 1994 to 1998. Mr Dhumal maintained that the government should have presented a regular Budget and there was no justification for seeking a vote-on-account. |
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CAG indicts govt for tardy fiscal reforms Shimla, February 27 The CAG report for the year ending March 31,2003, pointed out that fiscal deficit and revenue deficit increased alarmingly during the 1998-99 to 2002-03 period as the state government did not sign the MoU regarding fiscal reforms with the Centre. It could not avail 15 per cent of the revenue deficit grants of Rs 150.33 crore for 2001-02 and Rs 141.98 crore for 2002-03. During this period the government raised loans from the open market at an interest rate of 10.35 per cent and 7.8 per cent. Had it availed the revenue deficit grants after complying with the conditions laid down by the 11th Finance Commission, the interest liability of Rs 26.25 crore up to August 2003 on the borrowings could have been avoided. The report rejected the state’s plea that it was endeavouring to build a consensus in negotiating a more realistic MoU with the Centre and maintained that it could have signed in time to avail grants. Further, the reforms were proposed to improve the fiscal performance of the state. It painted a grim picture of the state finances with revenue deficit of the state increasing by a whopping 72 per cent in 2002-03 alone and the fiscal deficit jumping by 93 per cent during the 1998-99 and 2002-03 period. It pulled up the government for concealing an internal debt of Rs 226.23 crore by misclassification of loan raised through the state Infrastructure Development Board during 2002-03. An excess expenditure of Rs 8,320.65 crore incurred during 2002-2004 had not been regularised. It also brings out that the increasing ratio of fiscal liabilities to the gross state domestic product (GSDP) and revenue receipts together with growing revenues receipts were a pointer that the state was falling into a debt trap. There was also a decline in the net availability of funds from borrowings due to a larger portion of these funds being used for debt servicing. The low return on investments indicated an implicit subsidy and use of high-cost borrowing which yielded little. The ratio of the states financial assets to liabilities had also deteriorated, indicating that an increasing part of liabilities were without an asset back-up. The state had to either generate more revenue from out of its existing assets or provide from its current revenues for debt servicing. |
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Non-levy of taxes cost exchequer 80 cr Shimla, February 27 The arrears of revenue as on March 31, 2003, amounted to Rs 301.44 crore of which Rs 98.63 crore pertained to taxes on sales and trade. Test check of records of sales tax, state excise, taxes on vehicles, goods and passengers, forest receipts and other tax conducted by the Comptroller and Auditor General during 2002-2003 , revealed under assessment and short levy loss of revenue amounting of Rs 68.66 crore in 928 cases. During the 2002-2003, the departments concerned accepted under-assessments of Rs 43.15 crore in 392 cases, of which three cases involving Rs 0.15 crore had been pointed out to audit during 2002-2003 and the rest in earlier years. Electricity duty amounting to Rs 58.94 crore for 2002-2003 had not been deposited by the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board and token tax of Rs 55.99 lakh was realised in 4,436 cases. Similarly, non-realisation or short realisation of special road tax amounting to Rs 37.86 lakh was noticed in four offices of the regional transport authorities. One time token tax of Rs 11.68 lakh was short realised in 547 cases. License fee amounting to Rs 2.73 crore was outstanding for the recovery from a licensee of a Shimla unit. The licensee was also liable to pay interest of Rs 1.16 crore thereon. Against the demand of Rs 85.27 lakh on account of license fee, Rs 2.25 lakh only had been paid by the licensees, resulting in short realisation of Rs 83.02 lakh. In 11 forest divisions export permit fee of Rs 4.39 crore had not been levied on intra-state transport of 2,08,629 quintals of khair wood, while in six forest divisions, postponement of the working periods of 29 lots of 8,997 trees resulted in the revenue loss of Rs 1.14 crore due to the reduction in royalty rates in subsequent years. In 15 forest divisions 3,84,126 blazes had not been tapped from 1998 to 2002 without assigning any reasons and without obtaining prior permission of the conservator of forests, which deprived the government of revenue worth Rs 97.23 lakh. The CAG report (commercial) revealed that the total investment in public sector undertakings (PSUs) decreased from Rs 4,726.35 crore as on March 31, 2002, to Rs 3,449.49 crore as on March 31, 2003. The total investment in the non-working PSUs increased from Rs 5.33 crore in 2001-02 to Rs 1,1419.96 crore during 2002-03. Out of the 17 PSUs, the accounts of which has been finalised seven government companies earned aggregate profit of Rs 12.29 crore, while 10 incurred an aggregate loss of Rs 93.54 crore. Of the loss incurring companies, two companies had suffered losses worth Rs 48.73 crore which exceeded their aggregate paid-up capital of Rs 21.86 crore and two other companies earned a profit but their accumulated losses aggregating Rs 29.92 crore exceeded their aggregate paid-up capital of Rs 20.27 crore. All three statutory corporations incurred losses aggregating Rs 87.14 crore and two loss incurring statutory corporations had accumulated loss worth Rs 382.04 crore which exceeded their paid-up capital of Rs 241.68 crore. |
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BJP behind state’s
development: Shanta Dharamsala, February 27 Talking to media persons here today, he said, in fact it was only the BJP-led government at the centre which was contributing for the development of the state as the resources were not enough to pay salaries, pensions and interest on loans. He said such statement might lead to bad centre-state relations. Mr Shanta Kumar said Himachal had a total income of Rs 3712 crore from its resources while payment for salaries, pensions and interest totalled Rs 4,098 crore. He claimed that it was only due to funds made available by the centre and various development schemes and other projects being executed with its help that development was taking place in the state. In the next 15 years, Himachal would get an annual income of Rs 3,000 crore from these hydel projects. Another cement plant at Chamba would be set up soon as all formalities had been completed due to his efforts, he said. |
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11 administrative officers shifted Shimla, February 27 Mr K.R.
Bharati, director, district primary education project, has been posted as additional director, Food and Civil Supplies, vice Mr P.N. Negi, who in retiring on February 29. Mr S.S.
Guleria, member secretary, state women’s commission, goes as additional District Magistrate, Chamba, while Mr
P.L. Negi, joint director, Primary Education, takes over as additional District Magistrate,
Kaza. Mr S.R. Negi, land acquisition officer, state electricity board, Shimla, has been posted as SDO (Civil), Kandaghat and Mr R.K. Sharma, Assistant Commissioner to the Divisional Commissioner, Shimla division, goes as the Joint Director, Primary Education. Mr Raj Krishan Pruthi, SDO (Civil), Gohar, takes over as SDO (Civil), Dodra Kawar, Mr Darshan Lal Kalia, Assistant Commissioner to the Deputy Commissioner, Bilaspur, takes over as the SDO (Civil) Gohar. Mr Roshan Lal Rao, Assistant Commissioner (leave reserve) to the Deputy Commissioner, Bilaspur, has been shifted as the Assistant Commissioner to the Deputy Commissioner, Bilaspur, while Ms Ameeta Mahajan, SDO,
Kandaghat, takes over as member secretary, state Women’s Commission. Mr K.D. Rana, Chief Executive Officer, state Khadi and Village Industries Board under transfer as Assistant Commissioner, Municipal Corporation Shimla, is now posted as the Deputy Director, Industries. Mr Harbans Singh, SDO (Civil), Dodra Kawar, under transfer as SDO (Civil), Arki has been posted as the land acquisition officer, in the state electricity board. |
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Contempt notice issued to Principal
Secretary Shimla, February 27 Hearing a petition filed by the HP Judicial Officers Association, Chief Justice Vinod Kumar Gupta directed the Secretary (Home) to appear in person on March 3 and explain why he should not be punished for contempt of court. The court also directed the Chief Secretary to appear in person on the next date of hearing and file a personal affidavit why the state government should not be appropriately dealt with for flouting the orders of the court. |
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Balak Nath temple funds under scrutiny Hamirpur, February 27 The action has been taken following reports that its money was being directed to non-temple use. Mr B.S. Dehal, SDM, Barsar, is the Chairman of the trust and he is responsible for its management with the help of a temple officer who is a Tehsildar of the Revenue Department. The temple recorded an income of Rs 5.23 crore during 2003, with the number of pilgrims visiting the temple touching a record 45 lakh. With the annual fair of the temple scheduled to start from March 14, the failure of the trust to convene a meeting has caused concern among people of the district as well as trustees of temple. The annual budget of the temple is supposed to be approved by the trustees ahead of the annual fair. However, nothing has been done so far. There are allegations by the general public that the SDM has misused temple money. Among the charges levelled are that he transferred Rs 51,000 to the Chairman of the Divya Jyoti Anathalaya, Dehar (Mandi), and Rs 11,700 to a Mandi-based writer for a book on Mandi district which has no reference to Deotsidh temple. The trust also spent Rs 1.27 lakh on the repair of a newly purchased Qualis which is in use by the SDM. The vehicle had met with an accident recently. However, no FIR has been registered about the accident. All this is said to be in violation of the orders of the trust Commissioner, who had withdrawn the fiscal powers of the Chairman in 1998. When contacted, Mr Dehal admitted that he had transferred Rs 51,000 to the Dehar ashram. He, however, said it was his prerogative to use the temple money for projects that he deemed fit in the interest of public welfare. He denied the charges that temple money was being misused. It is also learnt that Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh has taken serious note of the situation. He has asked the Deputy Commissioner to submit him a detailed report in this regard. The inquiry would be conducted by the ADC, Hamirpur. |
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Appoint regular rights panel chief, orders HC Shimla, February 27 The order came on a petition wherein the petitioner had challenged the appointment of Justice Vaidya and said without the appointment of a regular chairperson, a commission could not be said to be properly constituted. |
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Centre backs out on support price Shimla, February 27 Giving this information in the Vidhan Sabha during the question hour, Mr Virbhadra Singh, Chief Minister, said the Centre had discontinued the scheme without assigning any reason. Its share in the losses came to Rs 4.37 crore in 2002-03 and Rs 2.47 crore the following year. He said he had taken up the matter with the Union Agriculture Minister, Mr Rajnath Singh, and also sought the intervention of the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee, but to no avail. Mr Virbhadra Singh said the government inherited a liability of Rs 14 crore from the Dhumal regime in the shape of arrears of fruit procurement and subsidy on cartons. The dues of growers had been cleared up to March 31, 2003, and the outstanding amount for the 2003-04 season would be paid next year. Replying to a question of Mr Mohinder Singh, the Chief Minister said 1858 surplus daily-wager workers had been retrenched from Dharampur division of the PWD. They had been engaged and retained without work in violation of rules. The Public Accounts Committee and the Nadda Committee were both of the view that they should be retrenched, he said. The retrenched workers had been paid a compensation of Rs 80 lakh. |
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Husband held, remanded for plotting wife’s murder Solan, February 27 Police officials said Desraj was unable to give convincing replies during his investigation. It pointed a finger of suspicion towards him. The police had earlier conducted a truth serum test on him this Monday and sent his hair and blood samples to the forensic science laboratory at Junga for further investigation. The police officials revealed that contradictory statements were made by Desraj during investigation. Investigations revealed that Desraj who worked in a hotel, had not visited his home since February 4. Occupancy during that period had remained nil in the hotel there was no reason for him to stay there for all the time, said the police officials. This lent credence to the fact that he was a party to the crime and had deliberately kept away from his residence. His interrogation also revealed that the couple had strained relations. Though he said his wife had no enemies, yet he admitted the fact that the murder was executed by someone who had tremendous hatred for her. They had also fought on February 4. It was learnt that she was desperately tracing the number of the hotel owner who resided at Patiala. Desraj had cleverly managed to keep this number out of her reach. The police officials said it could be either to complain about Desraj or to learn about some relationships which could have been the cause of her murder. |
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Three of family hacked to death Hamirpur, February 27 The police said today that the dacoits barged into the house of Ram Asre Gupta (70) and hacked him, his wife, Leelawati (60) and his son Santosh Gupta (45), with an axe. The dacoits looted gold and silver jewellery and cash. Later, the police recovered silver rods weighing 12 kg from the house. Angry residents blocked the Hamirpur-Urai road today in protest against the murders. Meanwhile, the SP, Mr Satyendra Veer Singh, the ASP, Mr S. V, Pathak. along with other policemen, had reached the scene of the crime.
— UNI |
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JE arrested for
using govt cement Dharamsala, February 27 According to SP, Vigilance, G. D. Bhargava, the police raided the house of Mr Ramesh Kumar in Akhan Khola village, near here, and recovered 23 bags of cement meant for use by government departments. The Junior Engineer’s house is under construction. A case has been registered. |
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LIC told to pay over Rs 50,000 Sundernagar, February 27 |
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‘Chhinj’, a day of wrestling Hamirpur, February 27 Wrestlers from various parts of the district and adjoining areas participated in the competitions. Winners were given cash prizes by the organisers. This event is an annual feature organised in memory of Lakh Data Peer, considered “gram devta” of the people of this town. Puja was held at the temple of Lakh Data Peer.
— OC |
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