Shimla, April 20
The Himachal Pradesh Government will soon formulate its power policy aimed at a speedy exploitation of hydroelectric potential with environmental safeguards, creation of employment avenues for local people and a fair competition in development of hydro resources, besides protecting rights of consumers.

This was stated by Mr Virbhadra Singh, Chief Minister, while inaugurating a three-day international conference on “Development of Hydro-Power Projects — A Prospective Challenge” being organised by the State Electricity Board and the Central Board of Irrigation and Power here today. He said the state shared national concern for an expeditious harnessing of the hydroelectric power potential to ensure reliable, regular and quality power on demand and at affordable tariffs and it was committed to reforming the power sector.

The state government would ensure adequate room for development of hydroelectric power at the state and Central level and in the private sector. The government would encourage the latest environment-friendly tunnel boring machines wherever feasible for hydroelectric projects. It would expedite construction of tunnels that fell in critical areas.

The hill state ranked first in the country having achieved cent per cent electrification of all census villages as back as in 1988 besides attaining the distinction of the highest electrified household ratio in the country, the Chief Minister said.

Mr S. S. Parmar, Chief Secretary, said the state had so far harnessed only 6,045 MW out of the identified potential of over 21,000 MW while work on hydroelectric power projects generating 4,225 MW was in progress. The state government had allotted projects aggregating to 1,714 MW capacity to independent power producers while projects up to 100 MW were being awarded through MoUs and those with a capacity of 100 MW through international bids.

Mr Rakesh Nath, Chairman of the Bhakra Beas Management Board and Vice-Chairman of the Central Board of Irrigation and Power, said that hydroelectric power generation was the most cost-effective source of energy. He said the shortcomings experienced in the earlier projects needed to be rectified in the future projects.

Shimla, April 20
The two-member inquiry committee probing the exorbitant cost and huge time overrun in the 126 MW Larji project has detected large-scale deviations and glaring shortcomings in the execution of the project. Underlining the necessity for undertaking non-destructive tests of all completed components of civil works to establish that they were in order, it has advised the state electricity board to consider commissioning of the project only after full satisfaction with evidence that different components of civil works meet the requirements of design to avoid “catastrophical damages” and “disproportional” repair charges post-commissioning.

In its interim report the committee has observed: “Prima facie we are of the opinion that completed components of civil works by different contractors have not been carried out strictly as per the design specification and the standard codes. The contractors lacked adequate infrastructure to accomplish the assigned tasks as per specified designs and the scanty quality control organisation is neither equipped nor authorised to exercise and enforce quality control on all components round the clock. Hence it is essential to undertake non-destructive tests and evaluate deviations and shortcomings to plan take timely corrective action to ensure optimum operational efficiency, stability and durability of the project.

It has come to the conclusion that the project will be delayed further as it will not be possible to complete the electrical works. Given the performance and capacity of contractors, go-slow tactics of the labour suppliers and crisis of cash flow plaguing the contractors, it is impracticable to infer that the project can be commissioned even by September, 2005. There is abject lack of coordination between the civil and electrical wings and the project in charge of the BHEL, main contractor for erection of turbines, has neither displayed bar charts nor the PERT charts at the site office. Instead he was taking shelter of “contract agreement” for any information.

Further, safety standards essential for efficient progress and safety of “vital tailor-made equipment “ were ignored which could result in accidents.

The committee has advised the board to assign the responsibility of quality control to the superintending engineer (planning). He could be re-designated as superintending engineer (quality control). The balance components of civil works should undergo 100 per cent quality control checks at each stage of inspection.

Shimla, April 20
The state government has constituted the Shimla Urban Renewal Task Force for developing infrastructure and expediting the implementation of the Shimla Development Plan, aimed at decongesting the overcrowded areas and regulating growth along planned lines.

A notification in this regard has been issued by the Governor and circulated to the heads of Urban Development, Tourism, Town and Country Planning and Urban Development, the Deputy Commissioner, the Mayor and the Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Shimla.

The task force will make recommendations regarding development of the capital town, covering physical infrastructure and civic amenities. A very important aspect that the task force will look into is exploring the possibility of public-private partnership in building infrastructure and other issues of urban renewal.

With the Shimla Development Plan incorporating the construction of aerial ropeways, tunnels, bypasses and other such features to reduce traffic congestion and haphazard growth, efforts will be made to rope in private firms as the investment involved will be pretty huge. The Shimla Development Plan, which is awaiting the approval of the government, has drawn out an extensive plan for the growth of the town along planned lines till the year 2021.

“With the state government passing through a severe financial crunch, the only way to ensure that all these ambitious plans in the Development Plan see the light of the day is to get entrepreneurs who are willing to enter into joint partnership with the government,” said a senior government functionary.

Keeping in view the paucity of funds with the government and the technical expertise with private entrepreneurs, the government has already given a number of projects like the construction of the Shimla bus stand on build-operate-transfer (BOT) basis. It is being felt that involving private entrepreneurs in the construction of tunnels, by-passes and aerial ropeways besides protecting the precious green cover in the capital town here will be another area which will be dealt with seriously. “Efforts would be made to give no concession as far as undertaking construction in the green area is concerned as too much of damage has already been done,” said an official. The same norms will apply as far as the central area of the town is concerned as there is no scope for further construction here.

The task force will also be responsible for monitoring and reviewing the implementation of projects of urban development and renewal. Creating a network of civic amenities and physical infrastructure will take care of water supply, sewerage, drainage, electrification, traffic and transportation, parking and road network. The task force will also ensure proper urban development in other towns of the state so that these places do not turn into concrete jungles with haphazard constructions.

Palampur, April 20
Hundreds of potato growers, including men women and children, from at least 12 villages of Palampur today staged a dharna in front of the office of the SDM here today.

They were protesting against the failure of the state government to check late blight which had destroyed the entire potato crop in the region.

Farmers from various came in a procession and marched into the main streets of town. They raised anti-government slogans. Later, they sat in dharna in front of the office of the SDM and submitted a memorandum.

They demanded immediate release of a financial package for the growers who had lost their crop.

Mr Kapur Singh, vice-President, Kisan Sabha, addressing the growers, said despite the fact that officers of the Agriculture Department were aware of the fact that late blight was infesting the potato crop, preventive measure was initiated or suggested to save their crop. Farmers personally visited agriculture offices but no technical guidance was provided to them.

He urged the Chief Minister to personally look into the matter and order a high-level probe for the failure of the potato crop in Kangra district and punish the guilty officials.

The SDM, Mr K.C. Chaman, said he had heard the demands of farmers and a memorandum would be forwarded to the higher authorities for appropriate action.

Shimla, April 20
The Himachal Government will explore the possibilities of requisitioning the services of world-renowned tunnel boring company like Robbins of the United States for expeditious completion of hydel power projects.

This was stated by Mr Virbhadra Singh, Chief Minister, during a meeting with a delegation of Robbins headed by its President, Mr Lockhome which called on him, here yesterday.

The Chief Minister said the state accounted for one-fourth of the total national hydel power potential which needed to be exploited with ecological safeguards for the benefit of the people and the state. He said the construction of a number of hydel projects was under progress in the state and expeditious completion of these projects was the need of the hour.

Mr Virbhadra Singh said keeping in view the hilly terrain of the state, the tunneled road construction was under active consideration of the government. The Shimla-Kalka express highway and other such roads were being planned to bring a qualitative improvement in the road network.

By tunnel-boring facilities, the distance between major towns could be reduced considerably and a world-class road network created for travellers. He said tunnel boring in Shimla would also be examined by the experts with a view to ensuring smooth vehicular movement.

Mr Lockhome apprised the Chief Minister of the quality of services offered by his company and said the latest environment-friendly technology of the world was being adopted by the company in boring tunnels all over the world.

Shimla, April 20
Mr Ram Lal Thakur, Forest Minister, and Mr Singhi Ram, Horticulture Minister, have accused Mr J.P. Nadda, a former minister, and other BJP leaders of misleading the people on the issue of appointment of Chief Parliamentary Secretaries and Parliamentary Secretaries in the state, and asserted that the party which itself had a jumbo Cabinet under Mr P.K. Dhumal had no right to criticise the present regime on this count.

They maintained that it was a step towards providing greater representation to all regions and all sections of people and in complete consonance with the democratic aspirations of the people.

In a joint statement here today, they reminded the BJP leaders that their party, which had a strength of only 33 members in the House, made 21 ministers, three Parliamentary Secretaries and more than 30 chairpersons, vice-chairpersons of various boards and corporations. Whereas the Congress with a total strength of 49 members and associate members in the House had only 11 ministers. As such the representation percentage of MLAs in the Congress government was still far below than that of the previous BJP government. The party had no moral right to criticise the government.

The ministers said that there was not much of a difference in the gross salary of MLAs and Parliamentary Secretaries and as such the financial implication of these appointments would only be around Rs 1 lakh per annum per person. They said that the figures given by Mr Nadda were exaggerated and factually incorrect.

Nurpur, April 20
Value Added Tax (VAT), which was enforced in Himachal Pradesh from April 1, has not only led to a spurt in the prices of cement of various brands being produced in the state but also the smuggling of cement in border areas of this subdivision has increased.

Consumers have to pay Rs 14 and Rs 6 per bag more on the ACC and Ambuja brands of cement, respectively. Moreover, there is a scarcity of cement here.

Inquiries revealed that cement of the same brands being produced in the state was being sold for Rs 184 in Himachal Pradesh while it was available at a price of Rs 168 in Punjab.

There is a lot of resentment among local cement dealers as smuggling of cement across border areas of the state from Punjab has increased due to the price difference. They have alleged that with the construction of an inter-state bridge on the Makor-Jammun-Chakki road that leads to Dhar block of Gurdaspur district in Punjab, Nurpur subdivision has become a favourite place with cement smugglers of Punjab as there is no tax barrier on the road.

Around 15 or 20 truckloads of cement are being smuggled into the state through this and other clandestine routes daily, they said.

The cement dealers have demanded that clandestine routes should be plugged to check the smuggling. 

Solan, April 20
A new Act replacing the existing Himachal Pradesh Housing and Urban Development Authority (HIMUDA) Act would soon be introduced in Himachal. While the new Act would enable the entry of private players in the state, it would give boost to the much-needed housing sector.

The proposal for this Act has already been approved by the Law Department and it now awaits a Cabinet approval, informed Mr Harsh Mahajan, Minister for Housing and Urban Development.