H I M A C H A L   P R A D E S H

Govt staff seek exemption from professional tax
Shimla, March 12
The Himachal Pradesh Secretariat Services (Class III) Association has sought exemption from the proposed profession tax, claiming that government employees cannot be placed under the category of professionals.

• Workshop on professional ethics held

Concern over slow progress of HP projects
Sundernagar: The Ministry of Environment and Forests has expressed concern about poor and slow pace of implementation of Catchment Area Treatment Plans of various hydro-electric projects in this hill state due to the non-release of funds by the Himachal Government.

World Bank scheme in offing for rural areas
Kumarhatti, March 12
A World Bank-funded Rs 540-crore ‘Mid Himalaya Watershed Development Scheme’ has been proposed for 10 districts of the state. This scheme is very significant for the rural development and the duration of the already launched Kandi Project scheme has been increased for six months.

CPI seeks White Paper on govt loans
Kangra, March 12
The CPI today demanded that the state government should come out with a White Paper on which party raised the loans of Rs 15,000 crore and for what purpose. It also said the Central Government should come forward with a one-time financial package for the state on the pattern of Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir in order to pull it out of financial crunch.

Over 180 run for Red Cross
Mandi, March 12
The maiden Mandi marathon was held here today to raise funds for the poor. Over 180 runners, out of which 60 per cent were from Himachal, participated. “Run for Red Cross” was for the firts-timers. A student from Lucknow and a CRPF girl, won Rs 50,000 and Rs 25,000, respectively.

Dalhousie Youth Hostel in international brochure
Dalhousie, March 12
The Dalhousie Youth Hostel is one among the 10 youth hostels of India, which have been listed in the hostelling international Asia Pacific brochure brought out by the International Youth Hostels Federation.

Dandi March anniversary observed
Shimla, March 12
Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and state party chief Kuldeep Kumar, besides Congressmen from Himachal, will take part in the Dandi March anniversary in Ahmedabad on March 19.

• 1.25 kg of opium seized

Govt staff seek exemption from professional tax
Tribune News Service

Shimla, March 12
The Himachal Pradesh Secretariat Services (Class III) Association has sought exemption from the proposed profession tax, claiming that government employees cannot be placed under the category of professionals.

In a statement issued here today, the general secretary of the association, Mr Daulat Chauhan, said bringing the government employees under the profession tax required an in-depth study and the matter should have been discussed with their representatives.

He said the employees would like to discuss the matter with the Chief Minister so that they could be exempted from this tax, which was for professionals, ranging between Rs 50 to Rs 200 per month.

The association also thanked the Chief Minister for implementing the decision of merging of 50 per cent DA with the basic pay of the employees. “We are grateful that the moment the chief minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh was able to get Rs a special package of Rs 400 crore and Rs 150 crore as pending deficit grant, he fulfilled the promise he had made to the employees,” said Mr Chauhan.

The HP State Pensioners Welfare Association also thanked the Chief Minister for merging 50 per cent of DA with basic pay of all pensioners in the state.

Workshop on professional ethics held
Tribune News Service

Shimla, March 12
The Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Mr Mukesh Agnohotri, today urged journalists to highlight the policies and programmes of the government in the right perspective so that people could benefit from them.

He was presiding over a workshop organised by the Information and Public Relations Department on “Professional Ethics and Relations between Press and Government” here.

He said it was a happy augury that space was being devoted to rural reporting in newspapers as this provided vital information to the government functionaries at the state and district level about the grass root activities. “There is need to give more space for developmental activities as people have faith in media and stand to benefit from it,” he stated.

Speaking on the occasion, veteran journalist and a former Editor Indian Express, Mr Prem Kumar, said journalists and public relations personnel should work in close coordination for the betterment of the society.

The Director, Public Relations, Mr B.D. Sharma, said efforts would be made to make the workshop a regular feature in future. 

Concern over slow progress of HP projects
Mahesh Chander Sharma

Sundernagar: The Ministry of Environment and Forests has expressed concern about poor and slow pace of implementation of Catchment Area Treatment Plans (CAT Plans)of various hydro-electric projects in this hill state due to the non-release of funds by the Himachal Government. Interestingly, various project authorities have deposited an approximate amount of Rs 62.33 crore with the government, but till date the government has released Rs 8.33 crore only out of this amount to the Forest Department. Due to this treatment works of the catchment areas of various projects are suffering.

Recently, the Conservator of Forests (Central) from the Northern Regional Office of the Ministry of Environment and Forest, Chandigarh, wrote a letter to the Chief Secretary, HP, stating that the Ministry of Environment and Forests had accorded environmental clearance to major hydro-electric projects in Himachal, subject to the implementation of various environmental safeguards, including the Catchment Area Treatment. It was observed that various project authorities had released funds to the government, but this amount was not released to forest officials concerned.

Interestingly, for all projects the government has constituted project-level monitoring committees for effective implementation of the CAT Plan but all these committees find it difficult to implement the same as the funds are not released by the Finance Department. In Himachal Pradesh the Chief Minister is looking after the Ministry of Finance. According to officials of the Forest Department, top officials of the Ministry of Finance are responsible for not releasing the funds although a direction to this effect has been passed by the Chief Minister. Till now, it has not yielded results.

At a recent meeting of the project-level monitoring committee, it was passed that some senior official from the Ministry of Finance be also made member of the committee so that he could expedite the release of funds. Earlier, Assistant Inspector-General of Forests, Ministry of Environment and Forests, New Delhi, had written a letter to the Chief Secretary for the release of funds to Forest officials concerned for the implementation of the CAT Plan, but the position remained the same.

World Bank scheme in offing for rural areas
Our Correspondent

Kumarhatti, March 12
A World Bank-funded Rs 540-crore ‘Mid Himalaya Watershed Development Scheme’ has been proposed for 10 districts of the state. This scheme is very significant for the rural development and the duration of the already launched Kandi Project scheme has been increased for six months. This was stated by Mr Ram Lal Thakur, Forest Minister, here today.

He was presiding over a two-day workshop organised at Pine Wood Hotel, Barog.

The scheme would be made operational in 800 to 1600 mt-high area of the state. The initial proposed duration of the scheme was seven years and to implement the scheme effectively, it has been planned to involve yuva mandal, mahila mandal, panchayats, block development samitis and zila parishads in the executive committee of scheme, he asserted.

Explaining the achievements of the Kandi project,” he said the project schemes had been launched in Sirmour, Solan, Chamba, Kangra and Una districts.

The 32 per cent increase had been recorded in the income of people where the project schemes had been implemented besides 55 cm increase in ground water-level and near double increase in the cattle wealth of people of that area, he said.

This was in addition to the 39 per cent increase in agriculture produce and 18 to 21 per cent increase in the irrigation facilities in the area where the schemes had been launched, he stressed.

The schemes had induced farmers towards increased production of off-season vegetable cash crops, he said adding that the proposed scheme would be effectively implemented in backward areas plagued with the problem of water scarcity or land erosion during the rainy season.

Mr Ashok Thakur, Principal Secretary, Forests, Himachal Pradesh, and Mr Daniel M. Selen, Task Manager of the World Bank, also spoke during the occasion. Mr Dharampal Thakur, Deputy Speaker of the HP Vidhan Sabha, was also present.

CPI seeks White Paper on govt loans
Our Correspondent

Kangra, March 12
The CPI today demanded that the state government should come out with a White Paper on which party raised the loans of Rs 15,000 crore and for what purpose. It also said the Central Government should come forward with a one-time financial package for the state on the pattern of Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir in order to pull it out of financial crunch.

Mr Himal Chand, member of the CPI National Council and general secretary of the local CPI unit district said the demand was raised at a meeting. He said the BJP and the Congress were levelling charges and counter-charges about the loans.

He said 35,000 posts in different government departments and corporations in the state should be filled.

He said youths of Himachal should be recruited in the Army as was done 30 years ago.

The party criticised the government decision to increase the court fee six times, saying that it would deprive the poor of getting justice.

Over 180 run for Red Cross
Kuldeep Chauhan
Tribune News Service

Mandi, March 12
The maiden Mandi marathon was held here today to raise funds for the poor. Over 180 runners, out of which 60 per cent were from Himachal, participated.

“Run for Red Cross” was for the firts-timers. A student from Lucknow and a CRPF girl, won Rs 50,000 and Rs 25,000, respectively.

The marathon was flagged off by the IPH Minister, Thakur Kaul Singh. Deputy Commissioner Ali Raza Rizvi, DIG (Central Range) O.C. Thakur, SP Ajay Yadav, Suman Rawat, Arjuna awardee, among others, took part.

Harun Ali, a student from Lucknow, said: “I had come here to enjoy the Shivratri fair but Suman Rawat encouraged me to take part. It was a pleasant run as everything is perfect here — the climate, track and people. The marathon should be a regular feature.”

“It gives a good feeling because money raised by the Red Cross run will go to the needy,” said Savita Devi of the CRPF who became the marathon champion.

“It was my 25th marathon but my first run in Himachal. People here are very hospitable,” said Bhagvati from Delhi, who came fourth.

“More people could have come here but many went to the Kolkata marathon which will be held tomorrow,” said Neelima from Delhi, who came third.

Poonam and Asha Kumari of Himachal, who figured among the first 10 runners, said: “It should continue next year as it encourages local talent. Suman Rawat is the guiding figure. We can excel at national and international events also.” Mr T.L. Vaidya, former Director, Youth Services and Sports, Himachal, also participated.

Dalhousie Youth Hostel in international brochure
Our Correspondent

Dalhousie, March 12
The Dalhousie Youth Hostel is one among the 10 youth hostels of India, which have been listed in the hostelling international Asia Pacific brochure brought out by the International Youth Hostels Federation (IYHF).

In a communique issued here today, Dr Harish K. Saxena, President of the IYHF, said in India there were 62 youth hostels being run by the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and 24 licensee hostel.

“These youth hostels are being connected to the international booking network (IBN)” he said.

The Dalhousie Youth Hostel was meeting the minimum international standards and the Himachal Government had requested that the hostel be linked to the IBN facility.

Dandi March anniversary observed
Tribune News Service

Shimla, March 12
Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and state party chief Kuldeep Kumar, besides Congressmen from Himachal, will take part in the Dandi March anniversary in Ahmedabad on March 19.

On the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Dandi March today, Mr Virbhadra Singh, Mr Kuldeep Kumar, ministers, MLAs and other Congress leaders and workers took out a procession from the statue of Mahatma Gandhi on the Ridge till the telegraph office.

1.25 kg of opium seized
Our Correspondent

Nalagarh, March 12
The police seized 1.25 kg of opium and 9 kg of poppy husk from the house of Gurcharan Singh, alias Kala, at Maganpura village here on Friday. He was arrested in this connection. A case under the NDPS Act has been registered.