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CPM threatens agitation if MoU not scrapped
Cong infighting affecting development:
Virbhadra seeks incentives for industry
Chief Parliamentary Secy not a minister: HC
Serious financial bungling in Larji project: CAG
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Decision on pension anti-employee: Dhumal
Shortage of staff at HP varsity regional centre
Mandi farmers take to medicinal plants
VHP activists protest against seer’s arrest
Solan councillors move HC
Signature campaign on
in NIT to retain Director
No-trust motion against MC chief defeated
Superintendent of Nahan central jail suspended
Tributes paid to Swami Gita Nand
6-yr-old killed in road mishap
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CPM threatens agitation if MoU not scrapped
Shimla, December 8 The conference would be addressed by Politbureau member, Mr Sita Ram Yechury. He would also address a public meeting on December 10, here. “The three-day state conference of the CPM will be held here from December 10 and all major issues concerning the state would be discussed threadbare,” informed Mr Pawar. He said the so called MoU on fiscal reforms was nothing more than a recipe of the IMF and World Bank, the brunt of which was being borne by the employees, youth, farmers and labourers. He informed that during the three-day conference, a number of resolutions on the rising unemployment, atrocities against dalits and women, demands of tribesmen and other issues concerning the common man and working class would be discussed. The new state committee, which is elected at the conference, would be entrusted the job of implementing the political resolution, which would be the main guiding force for the next three years. “As per our estimate, the figure of 16 lakh unemployed in Himachal is a very disturbing figure and while discussing this at the conference we will suggest alternatives but ultimately it is the government which has to frame a policy,” he said. Mr Pawar said the 2 per cent reduction in work force as per the MoU will further aggravate the unemployment scenario, especially at a stage when agriculture and horticulture sector was gradually becoming non-remunerative and putting more burden. “Though our party has a coordination programme and broad acceptance of the common minimum programme with the UPA government but we will not hesitate to launch an agitation for the withdrawal of the MoU in the interest of the common man,” said Mr Chauhan. |
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Cong infighting affecting development: ex-minister
Kangra, December 8 Mr Vidya Sagar was addressing a press conference here. He said infighting between two factions of the Congress, led by Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and Power Minister Vidiya Stokes, had divided the Congress at the grass-root level and development in the state had been effected. He described it as ‘most unfortunate’ that Transport Minister G.S. Bali and MLA Surender Kaku forced government officials and teachers to attend their meetings and even people from other areas were brought to the meetings to show their strength. He alleged that the government employees were threatened with transfers if they didn’t attend the meetings. He alleged that the Congress leaders were busy showing down each other and the development works in the state had come to a grinding halt. He said new schools were opened and some rooms in schools were constructed under ‘Sarvshiksha Abhyan’, a centrally sponsored scheme, and this couldn’t be adjudged as development of the area. He challenged the Congress leadership for an open debate in Kangra over the development works. Meanwhile, Mr Surender Kaku said there was no confrontation within the Congress. He said the pace of development was beyond satisfaction. He asked Mr Vidya Sagar to list achievements of the first five years of his tenure as MLA and compare it with the development at present. |
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Virbhadra seeks incentives for industry
Shimla, December 8 He apprised the Prime Minister of the vast scope for industrial development in the state, especially for environment-friendly and agriculture-based industries, for which the state government had prepared a plan that could fructify only with the grant of incentives on the pattern of North Eastern states. He said at present, these incentives had been allowed only up to 2007 in Himachal Pradesh, which needed to be extended up to 2010 like North Eastern states and Jammu and Kashmir. The Chief Minister requested the Centre to release the withheld revenue deficit grant for 2002-03 and 2003-04 amounting to Rs 267.86 crore, especially keeping in view the fact that Himachal Pradesh was a special category state. He said the recommendations of 11th Finance Commission were not in the larger interest of small special category states like Himachal Pradesh. While it was essential to observe financial discipline and cut down unproductive expenditure, there was also a need to compensate the state for its developmental needs which were much higher than plains. He said the state should be compensated from consolidated fund for relief and rehabilitation work. The 11th Finance Commission had not appreciated the developmental needs of the state and decided to curtail the expenditure on account of pay and wages and payment of interest which was not practical, as these were state government’s committed liabilities and could not be brought down in a short time. |
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Chief Parliamentary Secy not a minister: HC
Shimla, December 8 Disposing of a public interest litigation (PIL) challenging the constitutional validity of the Virbhadra Singh’s Cabinet on the ground that it violated the limit imposed on the size of the ministry, a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Vinod Kumar Gupta and Mr Justice Deepak Gupta today rejected the contention of the petitioner that the Chief Parliamentary Secretary was a minister and held that there had been no violation of the constitutional provision limiting the size of the ministry. It pointed out that under the Article 166(3) of the Constitution the government business had to be allocated only amongst ministers and it could not be assigned to any person who was not a minister. The Chief Parliamentary Secretary was not a minister and as such he could not discharge the obligations of a minister or assume any responsibility of that office. The state already had the maximum number of 12 ministers allowed under the law. Thus the Chief Parliamentary Secretary was not entitled to function as a minister in any capacity and in any manner. The court further observed that “whatever be the functions of the Chief Parliamentary Secretary, they cannot be identical, similar or akin to a minister. Viewed either from the touchstone of Article 164 or from the standpoint or Article 166, particularly Clause (3), responsibilities cannot be assigned to the Chief Parliamentary Secretary which are in the nature of responsibilities to be discharged by a minister. Even though he may record a note on behalf of a minister, he does not have any power of approving the action proposed by a secretary or any other subordinate functionary of the government”. “The power exclusively vests with the minister and it cannot be usurped by the Chief Parliamentary Secretary. He cannot assume to himself the trappings of the office of a minister. If that happens, it will be a clear violation of the mandate contained in the Article 164 of the Constitution and may actually amount to perpetrating a fraud on the Constitution. This court surely would not be expected to remain a mute spectator to the violation of the mandatory and binding constitutional provisions”. In his petition, Mr Desh Bandhu Sood of the Citizen’s Forum had pleaded that the Chief Parliamentary Secretary had been practically functioning as a minister and as such the total strength of the ministers was 13, one more than the maximum number allowed for the hill state. He had also placed certain letters and copy of the rules of business of the government in supports of his plea. |
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Serious financial bungling in Larji project: CAG
Shimla, December 8 According to sources, the CAG has pointed out about a dozen instances of overpayment, inadmissible and irregular payments to contractors. The excess amount paid to contractors detected so far was over Rs 20 crore and given the scale of irregularities, it may even cross the Rs 50-crore mark. An excess payment of over Rs 4 crore was made on account of damage to the coffer dam. The contractor was required to repair the dam at its own costs but the board paid for it. The audit report has termed the payment as inadmissible. Another major financial irregularity has been detected in the lining work of the tunnel. The board had while approving the rates included the cost of special type of gantry to be used for carrying out 1160 cubic metre of lining. However, subsequently the quantum of work almost doubled to 2300 cubic metre and the payment to contractor was made at the same rate. The cost of gantry came to about Rs 4,000 per cubic metre and it should not have been paid for the 1140 cubic metre of lining carried out in addition to the quantity of work originally approved. This led to an excess payment of over Rs 6 crore to the contractor. The audit has revealed several other such irregularities. The findings of the audit report assume much significance as the board is already under fire for the unusual increase in the cost of project. The cost of the 126 mw project has increased from Rs 667 crore to over Rs 1200 crore, making it the costliest hydroelectric venture. The cost of construction is touching Rs 10 crore per megawatt and accordingly the cost of generation will come to around Rs 4.80 per unit, more than double of the normal cost. The extent of cost overrun could be judged from the fact that the 1500 mw Nathpa Jhakri project, which has also been executed in the public sector during the same period, has cost only about Rs 5.50 crore per mw. In case of the private sector Malana project, the cost of construction has been a meagre Rs 4 crore per mw. The extraordinary escalation in cost has also drawn the attention of the State Electricity Regulatory Commission, which asked the board to conduct an inquiry into the matter. The commission also made it clear that it will conduct its own investigations if the board failed to do so to its satisfaction. Subsequently, the board shifted the Chief Engineer of the project. It is learnt that the new Chief Engineer has sought the transfer of some officers who have been holding key positions in the project but the top management of the board has not obliged him. The attitude of the management raises doubts whether it was seriously concerned about checking irregularities and completing the project, which has already been delayed by over two years. |
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Decision on pension anti-employee: Dhumal
Hamirpur, December 8 He said the decision of the government proved that it was anti-people in general and anti-employees in particular. In a statement here today, Mr Dhumal claimed that it was the BJP government that had given that benefit to the employees of the boards and corporations in year 1999. Mr Dhumal alleged that the Congress Party, which had returned to power by befooling the people, including the employees, had started taking anti-people decisions since the day one. He said by signing of a MoU on fiscal reforms with the Central Government, the state government had broken the backbone of the people of the state. The BJP leader warned the farmers and orchard owners that if they didn’t unite, the Congress government would also cut their throat and end the subsidies for them on their crops and other implements. He said this clause had been agreed upon by the state government in the MoU on fiscal reforms, which was anti-people. Mr Dhumal appealed to the people all over the state to launch a stir against the government for its anti- people stance. SHIMLA: State BJP spokesperson Randhir Sharma today threatened that in case the government did not restore pension benefits to employees of boards and corporation, his party would launch a statewide agitation. In a statement issued here today, he said the BJP-HVC combine provided this benefit to the employees of boards and corporations in 1999 and its withdrawal had only unmasked the anti-employee face of the Congress regime. “This is not the first anti-employee decision taken by the Congress regime as the MoU on fiscal reforms signed in May, 2004, by the state government is against the interests of practically all sections of society,” he remarked. SOLAN: Asserting that the recommendations suggested by the Finance Department were inimical to the interest of the teaching community, the district unit of the Himachal Government Teachers Union has demanded the state government to rescind its decision. In a press note issued here, union president Man Singh Chandel stated that the procedure of withdrawing GPF should be made simpler. Further, the restrictions imposed on withdrawing non-refundable GPF by teachers, who had not put in at least 10 years of service, should be relaxed. The union has taken serious note of the recommendations of the Finance Department wherein the pension and superannuation payments would be made tedious. It has particularly objected to the recommendations to curtail the earned leaves from 300 to 180 and bringing down the commutation amount from the existing 40 to 20 per cent. |
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Shortage of staff at HP varsity regional centre
Dharamsala, December 8 Since the centre does not have a building of its own, it is housed in Government Degree College. The classrooms turn into virtual pool of water whenever it rains. “There is also no proper lighting arrangements and it is very difficult to study in classes, which are not more than poorly constructed sheds,” said a student of economics. The centre offers postgraduate courses in eight disciplines, including English, Hindi, Mathematics, Economics, Public Administration, Geology, Commerce and Political Science, but there are no regular teachers to teach these subjects. “It is an irony that although there are regular teachers in the college for undergraduate classes, the postgraduate students are being taught by part-timers. The centre also badly needs a building of its own,” another student said. Mr Satish Sharma, principal, Government Degree College, who is also officiating as director of the centre, admitted that as per the UGC norms there should be one regular professor, two readers and four lecturers in every department. “We have, however, requested the university to appoint at least one regular professor in each department,” he added. “There is presently one regular professor of Public Administration and teachers from the college are working as part-timers in the centre,” he said. Although the LL.B is also taught in the regional centre, a separate director has recently been appointed for the department. When contacted, the Education Minister, Ms Asha Kumari, said the government had already acquired land in Khaniara for setting up a Regional Law Centre and the other eight departments would eventually be shifted there. Regarding the shortage of staff, she said it was for Himachal Pradesh University to appoint regular faculty. “We are doing our best by lending teachers from government college so that the centre does not have to make do with less qualified |
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Mandi farmers take to medicinal plants
Mandi, December 8 The Kheel Dharmorh Farmers’ Club and the Farmers’ Club Chamanpur and Mahu Nag have joined hands to set up a herbal garden to be funded by Himachal Gramin Bank, Churag branch, and assisted by the herbal garden, Jogindernagar. This decision followed after farmers from Karsog block got tips on how to cultivate herbal and medicinal plants at a workshop organised by Himachal Gramin Bank and sponsored by NABARD at Churag, about 80 km from here. The farmers would get plants from the Jogindernagar herbal garden, Dr D.R. Nag, project director, herbal garden, Jogindernagar, said, “Herbs like atish, nahini, descoria, banaksha, brahmi, tej patra and aromatic plants like geranium lavender can be grown in Churag and other parts of Karsog tehsil as its 6,000-6,500 ft altitude is ideal for these plants”. Mr Nand Lal Chauhan, chief volunteer, Farmers’ Club, Chamanpur, said apple and floriculture were not that lucrative in the valley which had a lower altitude. “We transport flowers in buses to the Delhi market, but the agents there do not pay profitable prices as flowers do not reach fresh. We have now decided to diversify into herbs, added Mr Bir Singh, a volunteer and progressive farmer from Mahu Nag. Progressive farmers said they need green-houses and assured markets for herbal cultivation.” About the financial assistance to farmers through the bank’s Him Credit Card (HCC), Mr Maninder Jishtu, branch manager, Himachal Gramin Bank, Churag, said that the bank had given HCC to over 72 farmers. “This year alone the bank has given credit cards worth Rs 65 lakh in the valley. Now we are financing the farmers to set up a herbal garden here,” he added. Mr S.K. Dogra, Deputy Director, Horticulture, said the department was assisting the farmers in setting up water tanks, herbal garden, green houses, packaging and grading houses, which are subsidised in the district under the ‘horticulture mission’ programme. “Farmers in Karsog block need irrigation tanks as they face a shortage of water,” he added. |
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VHP activists protest against seer’s arrest
Shimla, December 8 Large number of VHP activists and sadhus from all over the state assembled near Naaz and raised anti-Jayalalitha slogans. They later courted arrest. They also handed over a memorandum addressed to the HP Governor, in which they threatened that, if need be, they will intensify their agitation and hold dharnas till the seer is released. They demanded that in order to ensure transparency and a fair trial, the investigation in the matter should be handed over to the CBI. They also demanded that a high-level committee comprising of spiritual heads from different religions be constituted so that in such matters they can give their opinion before police action is taken. The agitated sadhus said the arrest of the seer had hurt the sentiments of the Hindu community, who held the Shankaracharya in high esteem. “The arrest of the seer is a result of the inflated ego of Jayalalitha, whom the Shankaracharya had refused to help in certain matters,” they alleged. They lamented that the instead of extending all those facilities which are given to political prisoners, the seer was being treated like a criminal. |
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Solan councillors move HC
Solan, December 8 The councillors said as the Deputy Commissioner had not paid any heed to their letter of no-confidence despite more than a month had elapsed we had sought the court’s intervention into the matter. Nine councillors in a House of 13 had submitted a letter to the Deputy Commissioner on November 2 expressing no confidence in the chairperson. One councillor had backed out and despite their repeated requests to the Deputy Commissioner they could not get a date for moving the no-confidence motion. The Director Urban Development had sought cancellation of the membership of two of the eight councillors who had allegedly encroached upon the committee’s land. |
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Signature campaign on
in NIT to retain Director
Hamirpur, December 8 Highly placed sources in the NIT told The Tribune here this evening that Prof Nirjhar had spoken to Prof S.K. Bhowmick and Prof R.L. Sharma on this issue. However, their reply is still awaited. It is worth mentioning that the HRD Ministry had accepted the resignation of Prof Chander Shekhar with effect from December 31, 2004. Prof Chander Shekhar, who is in New Delhi presently, has been apprised by the Chairman of the BoG about this decision of the Central government. The students of the NIT are upset over the state of affairs in the institution as their exams are approaching and these events are affecting their preparations. Scores of students said they were compelled to sign the letter in favour of the present Director. One of them said that though he was in favour of the Director for his pro-students attitude yet the way in which a section of the teachers and students launched the signature campaign was shocking. |
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No-trust motion against MC chief defeated
Mandi, December 8 The defeat of the motion came as a big jolt for the Congress as it was moved by the pro-Congress group, led by Mr Pushp Raj, former President of the MMC, who was supported by the IPH Minister Mr Kaul Singh Thakur, and the local MP, Ms Pratibha Singh. Talking to The Tribune Subdivisional Magistrate, Mandi Sadar, Mr Arun Sharma, who chaired the proceedings as per the Municipal Act here today, said that the no-confidence motion was defeated as only six councillors attended the meeting. MMC insiders said the councillors who abstained were led by the pro-BJP group, including Mr Gagan Kashyap. |
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Superintendent of Nahan central jail suspended
Nahan, December 8 Reddy was sentenced to death in Shimla Hotel dubble-murder case. Three jail employees, including the Assistant Jail Superintendent, and four Home Guards jawans are already on bail. The department had initiated action against its employees after conducting an inquiry into the incident and had placed under suspension four employees, including Mr Arvind Sharma, who was on leave those days when Reddy broke the jail. |
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Tributes paid to Swami Gita Nand
Kulu December 8 Representatives of many temples and ashrams participated and spoke on the occasion, lauding the contribution of the saint to the society. Numerous devotees chanted mantras and movie of the “smadhi samaroh” held at Haridwar was also shown. Swami Gita Nand spent his early days in the valley, who later established many ashrams in the country. He had bridha ashrams at many places including Ludhiana and Delhi. His ‘gaushalas’ at Kurukshetra and Hardwar were beyond comparison as told by many saints on the occasion of his remembrance day. Sushri Aradhana said she had taken pledge to run Gita Kutir here as per the directions of the swami and all functions and festivals would be organised as these were being organised earlier. |
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6-yr-old killed in road mishap
Hamirpur, December 8 An official spokesman said here this afternoon that the boy fell down while he was alighting from the bus. He died instantly. The Barsar police has registered a case and the driver of the bus was arrested. The body has been brought to Hamirpur for post mortem. The victim was the only son of her mother, who had already lost her husband. |
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