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No hike in power tariff for domestic consumers
SCs seek reservation in Rajya Sabha
Security arrangements for President’s visit
BJYM leader blasts UPA
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Airstrip project in Mandi hangs fire
Garbage disposal scheme awaits Centre’s nod
Improve conditions in jail: High Court
Virbhadra for all-weather skating rink in Shimla
Prepare trekking
route maps anew: CM
Baba who is standing for two years
Traffic chaos reigns in Nurpur
Tributes paid to 1971 war heroes
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No hike in power tariff for domestic consumers
Shimla, December 16 A hike in charges seemed imminent after the government expressed its inability to open a letter of credit in favour of the board to facilitate the payment of subsidy of Rs 3.26 crore on a monthly basis. The commission had earlier passed an order directing the board to charge the unsubsidised tariff approved by it if the government failed to open a letter of credit. The government had been maintaining that there was no need to open a letter of credit as a higher amount was due from the board to it. However, the board also made a similar claim. The commission in view of the undertaking given by the government provided relief to it by acceding to its request for not insisting on opening a letter of credit in favour of the board. However, it also directed that the board would pay any amount to the government as long as the accounts of the two were reconciled and payables and receivables settled. The board has been claiming that the dues on account of non-payment of subsidy by the government and bills came to Rs 169.18 crore. On the other hand, the payables to the government on account of electricity duty, free power and other charges amounted to only Rs 61.81 crore. The commission took care of the subsidy part to ensure that the tariff order passed by it on July 5,2004 was implemented in letter and in spirit. The total amount payable to the board up to September 2004, including Rs 22 crore on account of the illegal rollback of tariff by the previous Dhumal government, came to Rs 39.04 crore against which only Rs 9 crore was released by the government. In another significant development, the board has filed application for the determination of tariff for the year 2005-06 before the commission. Earlier, it had sought time from the commission for it. The commission had made it clear that there was no provision for granting extension for filing the application. |
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Notices on supplying power without licence
Shimla, December 16 These public sector undertakings have been purchasing power from the state electricity board and supplying to its colonies in contravention of the Electricity Act, 2003. Section 12 of the Act makes it mandatory for public utilities to obtain a licence for distribution of power. The BBMB is supplying power to its colonies in Sundernagar and
Slapper, the NHPC in Kheri and Banikhet and the SJVN in Jhakri and Jeori. |
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SCs seek reservation in Rajya Sabha
Shimla, December 16 The delegation headed by BJP leader Virender Kashyap met Mr Vaghela here and handed over a memorandum, listing various demands and issues concerning the SC and ST. They demanded that the Delimitation Commission should be directed to complete its work before the next assembly elections in March, 2008, so that on the basis of population the number of seats reserved for them could go up from the present 16. They also demanded that at present there was no reservation for the SC in the Rajya Sabha and efforts should be made to get representation for them in the Upper House. “Though a number of legislations have been made for the uplift of the SC, due to lapses in the implementation there are examples of discrimination against them like ban on their entry in some temples and at certain places they also barred from drawing water from water tank or well,” Mr Kashyap pointed out. The delegation sought the intervention of the commission to ensure reservation in jobs being given on contract system in the state and also in the private concerns, where there was the maximum employment opportunity. They brought to the notice of the commission that promotion roaster was not being implemented in government service which had led to a lot of resentment amongst the employees belonging to the SC. The other delegation members included former ministers, Mr I.D. Dhiman, Mr Roop das Kashyap, Mr Tilak Raj, Mr Harnam Singh, Mr Brij Lal, Mr Roshan Lal and Mr Sukh Ram. |
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Security arrangements for President’s visit
Shimla, December 16 The President will land at the Kalyani helipad which is right next to the Retreat, where he will stay on December 22. It is on the next day that he is expected to attend a function at Himachal Pradesh University (HPU). It is being recommended that he should go in a chopper from Kalyani airport to Annadale. “This will save the tourists and locals from inconvenience as we will not have close down roads for public use as he will not touch major part of the town and can cover the small stretch from Annadale to HPU and the Legislative Assembly by car,” informed a police official. It is on December 23 that President Kalam is scheduled to address the legislators of the Assembly. Police officials pointed out that though the first priority would be to make the President travel in a chopper within the town, in case of bad weather the option of travel by road has to be kept open. The large number of garrages and workshops along the road in Dhalli and Sanjauli have been asked to remain closed after December 21. The state police is making elaborate security arrangements as reserve forces from the battalions are being deployed. The task of the security agencies becomes all the more stupendous as the town sees the maximum rush of tourists in the last week of December to celebrate Christmas and New Year. As part of the security arrangements, the police will check all hotels and vehicles entering the town after December 21 as a precautionary measure. |
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BJYM leader blasts UPA
Hamirpur, December 16 Talking with reporters here last night, he said that the BJYM was committed to helping the youth and would adopt a tough posture all over India regarding the problems and difficulties being faced by them. He alleged that while the previous NDA government led by Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee had created 80 lakh jobs in India, the UPA government had abolished all those schemes under which these jobs had been created. It was a sheer injustice with the Indian youth. Mr Soharu blasted the state government for signing of MoU with the Central Government on fiscal reforms and dubbed the same as anti-people. He said that nearly 1,000 activists of the BJYM would stage a dharna in front of the state Assembly against the MoU in the Budget session of the Vidhan Sabha next year. Similarly, the morcha would also take out a procession at Hamirpur on December 20. |
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Airstrip project in Mandi hangs fire
Mandi, December 16 The team comprising officials from the district administration and the Airport Authority of India (AAI) today surveyed the two sites at Mahadev Chambi in Sundernagar and the Dhanghu near Ner Chowk in Mandi Sadar. The series of surveys have been going on for a decade as the team had already surveyed nearly half a dozensites in the district, including one each at Rairhdhar, Nagnidhar and one near Paddar in the Drang constituency, but the authorities are yet to finalise the site. The Deputy Commissioner, Mandi, Mr Ali Raza Rizvi, said Dangu site in Mandi Sadar among three others in the valley have been shortlisted for the purpose. “They would submit the report to the ministry for approval. There is no dispute over the site as the whole area is contiguous land”, he added. Mr Rizvi said fog is not much of problem. “The airstrip would require more than 15,000 bighas of land for the purpose. But it all depends which site is selected”. The sources disclosed that the airstrip project was initiated by the then Defence Minister, Mr Sukh Ram, and he had surveyed sites near Paddar in the Drang tehsil. The then BJP MLA from Balh, late Piru Ram, had proposed to set up the airstrip at Balh, but residents of Sundernagar while pleading their case said Balh remained foggy most of the times, blurring visibility and that could hinder the landing and taking off of aircraft, besides posing hazard to the passengers and the residents. The sources said the airstrip in Sundernagar would shoot up the cost of the project by several crore as the airport authorities would have to pay compensation to the farmers as it involved over 2,000 bighas of prime cultivable land in Sundernagar for the project. |
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Garbage disposal scheme awaits Centre’s nod
Chamba, December 16 Giving this information here today, Mr S.P. Dhall, President of the Municipal Council, said that the scheme was in the pipeline and expected to be cleared soon. He said that it was specially designed for the upkeep and beautification of the historic town of Chamba. Likewise, another exceptional scheme costing Rs 1 crore under the Integrated Development of Small and Medium Towns (IDSMT) had also been prepared and sent to the Central Government for sanction, which was also likely to be cleared in the near future, said Mr Dhall. He said that this scheme was a joint venture of the state government and the Municipal Council and envisaged the construction of a shopping complex, development of parking lots and landscaping of the western slopes of the legendary Chowgan in the hill town. Besides, Mr Dhall said that Rs 26 lakh had been earmarked for various development activities in the town. Mr Dhall informed that during the current fiscal year the local Municipal Council had decided to generate an income of nearly Rs 1.44 crore from various sources, including expected government’s grant of Rs 1.05 crore in lieu of octroi. This amount also included fetching revenue from the monthly rent of concrete shops, wooden stalls (khokhas), tehbazari and rest house, besides house tax in the town. The council had also proposed to revise the monthly rent of concrete shops and wooden stalls, which could not be increased for a long time, as the business income of traders had increased manifold, Mr Dhall added. |
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Improve conditions in jail: High Court Shimla, December 16 Mr Justice K.C. Sood passed this order during the hearing of a bail application moved by Tara Chand, an employee of Una sub-jail, who was allegedly involved in helping an accused in committing a murder on the premises of the sub-jail, Una. Earlier the court had summoned the Additional Director-General of Police (Prisons) in court to explain about the deteriorating condition of the Una sub-jail and directed him to initiate a high-level inquiry into the incident, which took place on August 24, 2004 in which a person, who had entered the jail without signing the jail visitors register, was murdered inside the jail and his body was smuggled out during the night. In compliance with the directions of the court, the inquiry was entrusted by the Additional Director General of Police (Prisons) to the Additional SP who had submitted his report before the court. After perusal of the inquiry report, the court observed that it was a matter of great concern and anguish that no administrative and departmental action was initiated against any of the jail officials after the murder took place. Keeping in view the gravity of the situation the court directed the Chief Secretary to transfer the entire staff posted at the Una sub-jail.
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Virbhadra for all-weather skating rink in Shimla
Shimla, December 16 Reviewing the functioning of the department at a meeting here today, he said the existing natural ice skating rink was operational only during winter. With the construction of an all-weather ice skating rink, tourists and local persons would be able enjoy the sport round the year. He said experts should be consulted for designing the rink which should conform to international standards. Referring to emerging techniques in sports all over the world, he said coaches of the department should keep abreast of the latest developments in their respective fields so that they could prepare youth for competing at national and international levels. Infrastructure being created for boosting sports activities at the village level also needed to be standardised. |
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Prepare trekking
route maps anew: CM Shimla, December 16 Mr Virbhadra Singh said this while presiding over the second Annual General House meeting of the Manali based Western Himalayan Mountaineering and Adventure Sports Institute here today. “The institute must prepare complete details of the routes with distances, wayside amenities and climatic conditions for the convenience of the trekkers,” he said.
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Baba who is standing for two years
Dharamsala, December 16 Popularly known as baba, Ram Dayal Shanichar Muni, says he took this rather weird vow in December 2002 to stand for 41 days. “However, God gave me the will to extend it further and I’m still continuing with it,” he says proudly. No wonder, this saffron-clad Baba, who has been staying in the temple since 1985, suddenly came into limelight with his resolve not to sit. “From my daily chores to sleeping at night, I do everything standing on my feet and I never sit down,” he says. Most devotees coming to the temple make it a point to take his ‘ashirwad’. Mr Rajinder Bhatia, a local LIC agent says the popularity of the baba had travelled by word of mouth and local population had developed faith in him. At the core of baba’s heart is the pledge to get three temples constructed. “I have already built a Shani temple with the money donated to me by visitors. I still have to construct temples of Hanumanji and Lord Ganesha,” he says. The baba has got a special swing made in the temple, with which he can rest his arms and back. But the feet remain on the job even when he has to sleep by leaning against this swing. “Now I have got used to it and would continue till God wants me to. I also go out but never sit anywhere. I stay in a hut close to the temple and a devotee cooks food for me,” says Baba. Mr Om Prakash, pujari of the temple, says initially it was physically very challenging for the baba to do the act and he had developed swelling on his feet, but now he makes it look so easy. |
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Traffic chaos reigns in Nurpur
Nurpur, December 16 The one way traffic rule had allegedly flopped due to the indifferent attitude of the police as no traffic policeman had been deputed to check violation of the rule. As a result, the markets in the town had started witnessing traffic chaos and jams. |
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Tributes paid to 1971 war heroes
Dharamsala, December 16 The chief guest on the occasion, former Tourism Minister Major Vijai Singh Mankotia said that it was on this day in 1971 that the Pakistani forces suffered defeat at the hands of the India Army. Artistes of the Public Relations Departments and students from local schools sang patriotic songs. |
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Skelton found in Hamirpur village
Hamirpur, December 16 Mr Pathania said that the skelton was first noticed by a group of women who had gone to the area for collecting firewood. They became panicky and informed the local gram panchayat pradhan who, in turn, reported the matter to the Nadaun police. |
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Class XII exam from March 5
Dharamsala, December 16 A spokesman of the board said that the date sheet for the examination had been notified. |
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