 |
|
CAG report reveals financial mess in state
CM to attend CII meet
in Mumbai
Hospital apathetic to MCI report
Move to award projects to Himachalis ‘eyewash’
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Panel may go for independent probe into frisking case
Employees resent professional tax
HP hills beckon tourists
CPI supports lawyers' strike
Pension Bill for ex-MLAs passed
Unbundling of HPSEB not to be delayed: Stokes
|
|
CAG report reveals financial mess in state
Shimla, April 8 The ratio of the revenue deficit to fiscal deficit increased from 56.08 per cent to 67.41 per cent, indicating that more than 67 per cent of the borrowed funds were being used for current consumption. The asset base of the stat was continuously shrinking and increasingly a large part of the borrowings was not having an asset backup. As proportion of the state’s Gross Domestic Product the revenue deficit had reached an alarming 8.92 per cent and fiscal deficit 13.23 per cent in 2003-04. While the revenue expenditure showed an increasing trend over the four-year period and accounted for 83 per cent for the ratio total expenditure in 2003-04, the development expenditure to the total expenditure declined significantly. The government could not maintain minimum cash balance with the Reserve Bank of India and obtained ways and means advances of Rs 1,729 crore on 133 days and overdraft of Rs 1,145 crore on 117 days. Interest of Rs 7.13 crore was paid during the year on ways and means advances and overdraft. Failure to sign the memorandum of understanding before the commencement of financial year 2003-04 and also to bring about the required improvement in revenue deficit, deprived the state government of revenue deficit grant of Rs 125.88 crore. Besides, a matching grant of Rs 8.03 crore for the Incentive fund and assistance of Rs 15.22 crore could also not be obtained from the Government of India. The report also revealed several cases of irregular spendings, non-utilisation and administrative failures, which cost the government dear. Investment of Rs 5 crore in the Himachal Pradesh Health System Corporation to improve infrastructure in health institutions could not achieve the intended purpose as no infrastructure was created and with 3,276 vacant posts as of October 2003 under 19 categories remaining vacant, the health care services in the state were affected. Pre-service training courses for nurses and multi purpose health workers were not conducted after 2001-2002 and salary of Rs 78.13 lakh was paid to the training staff for the idle period. Under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna (PMGSY) 229 villages with a population of over 1,000 were to be connected through 215 roads by 2003 but only 41 could be linked through 37 roads by March 2004. Only 149 roads covering 213 villages with a population of over 250 could be completed by March 2004 as against 245 roads covering 359 villages approved for completion by June 2003 under the PMGSY 2001-2002 (phase-II). Further 13 roads costing Rs 5.12 crore were incorrectly reported as having been completed during June 2002-December 2003, though only 11 roads were actually completed by March 2004 and two roads were still incomplete as of April 2004. Incorrect designing of pavements of 13 roads under five divisions resulted in sub-standard execution of works to the extent of Rs 5.18 crore. Adoption of uneconomical specifications for the execution of 90 roads under 15 divisions resulted in extra avoidable expenditure of Rs 1.09 crore and failure to ensure quality control had resulted into the sub-standard execution of a road costing Rs 88 lakh. Under the decentralised planning programme funds ranging between Rs 4.88 crore and Rs 19.60 crore remained unspent with the Deputy Commissioners of Hamirpur, Kangra and Mandi during 1999-2004 and were kept in banks. Further unutilised funds of Rs 5.56 crore were kept by various implementing agencies in commercial banks as of March 2004. As many as 2,169 works valuing Rs 36.27 crore had not been approved by the district planning, development and twenty point programme review committee, as required. |
|
CM to attend CII meet
in Mumbai
Kangra, April 8 Stating this here yesterday, Mr G.S. Bali, Transport, and Tourism Minister, said the Chief Minister would be the chief guest at a CII conference in Mumbai which would be attended by big industrial houses. He said the government was opening doors to investment in tribal areas of the state, with splendid scenic beauty. He said the upper areas of the Dhauladhar, Barmaur, Pangi, Kinnaur and Lahaul and Spiti would also be thrown open to investors. A golf course of international standards would be constructed in the Kulu valley in order to attract more tourists and boost economy. The Chief Minister would be accompanied by the Industries Minister, Mr Kuldeep Kumar, during his three-day tour scheduled to start from April 10. They would attend a road show each at Ahmedabad and Kolkata to attract investors.
|
|
Hospital apathetic to MCI report
Shimla, April 8 As per the directions of the MCI no admissions have been held for the Masters in Surgery and diploma (orthopaedics), which are normally done around this time of the year. It was through a letter dated September 3, 2004, that the Secretary of the MCI, Lieut-Col A.R.N. Setalvad, directed the IGMC authorities to stop admissions to the courses from the ensuing academic session. The inspection report had pointed out that the recognition to the MS (Ortho) and D (Ortho) qualification started by the Himachal Pradesh University in respect of students being trained at the IGMC should be denied. It was noticed that there was no Associate Professor in unit-I, faculty was inadequate in both units, and the promotion of in charge of unit-II was not as per MCI norms. The first batch of students was admitted to the diploma course in orthopaedics at the IGMC in May, 1981, and for the MS course in 1982. Hospital sources admit that it was unfortunate that instead of further strengthening the department, its courses were being derecognised after so many years. “Even though the Orthopaedics Department is overflowing with patients from all over the state, no serious efforts have been made to either strengthen the staff position or infrastructure,” admit faculty members. On an average around 150 patients visit the department daily while the sanctioned strength of beds is around 50. Seeing the huge number of trauma patients injured in road accidents and other mishaps coming to IGMC, the demand for setting up a trauma centre has been gaining ground. But with little government efforts, the very existence of the Orthopaedics Department seems to be in trouble. “As per the MCI directions we did not hold admission for the degree and diploma course in orthopaedics. Efforts are still on to remove the deficiencies pointed out,” said Dr Surender Kashyap, Principal. He said process was being initiated to get faculty on contract and redesignate the other staff by holding a departmental promotion committee. The department is managing with the four posts of registrar sanctioned almost 25 years ago despite the fact that the workload had increased tremendously. Two posts of registrar are still lying vacant forcing the existing staff to work round the clock. It is felt that the department which also has one professor and three assistant professors, requires at least 10 registrars to handle the workload and attend properly to the patients. “The doctors have to be away every now and then for court attendances and moreover during the winter vacation there is even bigger problem,” said staff members.
|
|
Move to award projects to Himachalis ‘eyewash’
Mandi, April 8 Local entrepreneurs told The Tribune most of the sites had been blocked by companies from Rajasthan, Hyderabad and other places. “They have neither started the work nor the government is showing any keen interest in the micro projects”, they disclosed. Even the officials in the government-run HIMURJA, which is responsible for the task of taping these micro projects worth 750 MW, were tight-lipped as they appeared to be hand in glove with the companies, which have just blocked the sites for the past six to seven years, local entrepreneurs charged. They claimed that most of the 261 viable micro projects worth 500 MW capacity had already been awarded to companies from Rajasthan, Hyderabad and other areas over the years, while the recent decision was an eyewash for Himachalis. “Most of the outside companies have grabbed the sites and are not doing any work”, they charged. They disclosed that the government had neither cancelled the MoUs signed with them nor expedited work on the projects. “There is no viable site left for the Himachalis now. The government should probe the MOUs and make the viable projects available to Himachalis”, said an entrepreneur, requesting anonymity. “These micro projects have been hanging fire over the past five to seven years”, he revealed. HIMURJA officials are tight-lipped, saying that they have yet to get the copy of the recent notification. “The individual will have to identify the site, prepare its detailed project report (DPR) and then submit the same for approval themselves in HIMURJA”, said an official, requesting anonymity. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO), HIMURJA, Mr Sushil Srivastva, said these projects were in the process of completing formalities. “But there are many projects and sites available which we have put up on the website. Companies are doing their work as formalities to get clearance take time”, he claimed. On the governments’ recent decision to award the 1 -2 MW micro projects to Himachalis only, Mr Srivastva said they had not received the copy of the notification so far. “The individuals have to identify the project and then submit the DPRs to the department before getting all clearance”, he added.
|
|
Panel may go for independent probe into frisking case
Dharamsala, April 8 Commission Chairperson, Ms Viplove Thakur, told The Tribune today that the commission had taken suo motu note of the case and would step in if the girls felt justice had not been done to them. Asked if the possibility for the inquiry depended on the possibility of the previous inquiry giving a clean chit to the squad, she said it all depended on whether or not the girl students were satisfied with the outcome. The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Bharat Khera, has already conducted an inquiry into the incident and submitted his report to the government. “We have also taken the version of the girls into account during the inquiry,” he said. The incident has sparked off a major controversy last month after the board officials claimed that the allegations were false and were being made by students who feared registration of cases of unfair means against them.
|
|
Employees resent professional tax
Shimla, April 8 A meeting of the association held here today decided to meet the Chief Minister once again. He said the imposition of the tax had been done in a very undemocratic manner. “A majority of the lower level employees will have to pay the major chunk of the benefit derived from merger of 50 per cent DA with basic salary as professional tax, while the bureaucrats will have to pay a maximum of only Rs 200 despite getting a benefit of over Rs 1,000,” he lamented. The association demanded that a thorough investigation must be held into the deduction of Rs 90 as insurance premium on compulsory basis for an insured sum of Rs 2 lakh with United Insurance Company. They said that instead of giving business to private companies, the rates of group insurance scheme should have been revised. |
|
HP hills beckon tourists Parwanoo, April 8 According to information collected from hotels at Kasauli, Barog and
Chail, a large number of bookings have been made. A few big hotels have already been booked till the end of June. Going by the past records, hoteliers are hopeful of a fruitful season. Hotels are gearing themselves up to attract tourists by offering various plans. The domestic tourist inflow in the state has recorded a 22 per cent increase in the past five years, while the foreign tourist inflow figure has gone up by around 30 per cent in the past five years. According to the HP Tourism and Development Corporation office, 63,45,069 domestic tourists visited the state in 2004 compared to 55,44,414 in 2003.
|
|
|
CPI supports lawyers' strike
Kangra, April 8 Mr Himal Chand, member, state secretariat, CPI, Himachal Pradesh, today in a statement said here that it was unfortunate that the state government has decided to enhance the court fee by six to seven times and impose professional tax on lawyers and other professional people. He said that it would be a huge burden on the common man. |
|
Pension Bill for ex-MLAs passed
Shimla, April 8 The raise will benefit all ex-members of the Assembly who have served for any period up to five years. The additional pension for every year, exceeding the period of the first term,
has also been increased from Rs 150 to Rs 200 per month. |
|
|
Unbundling of HPSEB not to be delayed: Stokes
Shimla, April 8 Replying to the debate on the Budget estimates of the board, she said though the government had sought extension for the continuation of the board for one more year beyond June 10,2004, it was fully prepared to fulfil the requirement of the Act if no further extension was granted. She said the new Act had to be enforced and the board could even lose its licence if there was any lapse on this account. |
|
|
HP House adjourned sine die
Shimla, April 8 During the session important business, including Motion of Thanks on the Governor’s Address, passing of the Budget for 2005-06 and supplementary Budget for 2004-05, several bills including the
Profession Tax Bill and Value-Added Tax Bill (VAT) and Urban Development Tax Bill were passed.
— PTI |
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Mailbag | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
