H I M A C H A L   P R A D E S H

Goods tax collection put on hold
Solan, April 30
Following stiff opposition by pharmaceutical investors against the imposition of goods tax on pharmaceuticals and mineral water in Himachal, the Excise and Taxation Department today put on hold collection of this tax from all its barriers. The tax, which was notified to be collected with effect from April 25, would now be reviewed, officials of the department said.

Protest against tax on pharmaceuticals
Shimla, April 30
The imposition of tax on the transportation of pharmaceutical products and packaged water has raised a storm of protests from the industries with the affected companies threatening to close down their units if the decision was not kept in abeyance.

Prices not to go up due to VAT: minister
Shimla, April 30
Excise and Taxation Minister, Rangila Ram Rao, said yesterday that VAT adopted in the state was in the larger interest of both traders and consumer and would not lead to price hike.

Wintry conditions threaten apple crop
Shimla, April 30
Shimla and its surrounding areas had mild rain yesterday while other mid and higher hills were swept by strong velocity winds causing minor variation in the minimum temperature. Shimla recorded minimum temperature at 10.6° while Sundernagar and Bhuntar (Kulu) recorded 9.8° and 7.4° minimum temperature.

All set for entry of pvt colonisers
Solan, April 30
With the state Cabinet giving its approval to the HP Apartments and Property Ordinance, the entry of private colonisers in Himachal will now be possible. The demand for housing colonies in various industrial areas, including Baddi, Barotiwala, Nalagarh, Kala Amb and Paonta Sahib, was raised by investors after the new industrial package drew investment worth crores to the state.

Kisan union stages dharna
Sundernagar, April 30
The Mandi district unit of Himachal Kisan Union today staged a dharna in front of the Deputy Commissioner office. The representatives of various mahila mandals and yuvak mandals also gathered in front of the DC office and raised slogans against the state police and the district Administration accusing the Mandi police for not solving the case of a missing ex-serviceman Prem Singh resident of Kipper village.

Army honours martyrs’ kin
Solan, April 30
The Army today honoured family members of 10 martyrs at a specially organised ceremony at 14 Gorkha Training Centre, Subathu. Brig S.S. Sambyal, Commandant, presented badges of sacrifice and commemoration cards to them on behalf of the Chief of the Army Staff.

Goods tax collection put on hold
Our Correspondent

Solan, April 30
Following stiff opposition by pharmaceutical investors against the imposition of goods tax on pharmaceuticals and mineral water in Himachal, the Excise and Taxation Department today put on hold collection of this tax from all its barriers.

The tax, which was notified to be collected with effect from April 25, would now be reviewed, officials of the department said.

The move had come in for severe criticism by manufacturers. A delegation of industrialists from Baddi met the Principal Secretary, Industrial and Public Relations, Mr T.G. Negi, yesterday in Shimla and voiced their resentment against this new tax.

A tax of Rs 5 per kg on medicines and Rs 10 per kg on mineral water transported from Himachal has been notified. There has been a rush of pharmaceutical investors in Himachal with as many as 74 units having initiated their operations.

The Excise and Taxation Department justifies the move on the plea that more than 95 per cent of the manufacturers indulged in branch transfers of their goods. While this practice caused a loss of revenue worth crores to the government, the manufacturers managed to save tax.

The officials said the pharmaceutical manufacturers were already getting 16 per cent central excise tax benefits and income tax benefits, but they barely paid 1 per cent of central sales tax to the state. This was reduced from the earlier 4 per cent to 1 per cent.

The manufacturers have threatened to oppose the move tooth and nail.

The president of Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh Industries Association, Mr Rajinder Guleria, while opposing this move, said it would be detrimental to the health of the growing industry. Other manufacturers also echoed similar sentiments and said small manufacturers would have to reconsider their investment plans if the tax was not rolled back.

Protest against tax on pharmaceuticals
Tribune News Service

Shimla, April 30
The imposition of tax on the transportation of pharmaceutical products and packaged water has raised a storm of protests from the industries with the affected companies threatening to close down their units if the decision was not kept in abeyance.

The pharmaceutical units were taken aback when the government issued a notification yesterday imposing a tax at the rate of Rs 5 per kg on the incoming raw material and outgoing finished pharma products under the tax on goods carried by road transport Act. It will strike a deathblow to the pharmaceutical industry, which has just starting to pick up in the state.

Mr Arun Rawat, general secretary of the Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh Industries Association, said the industry was taken by surprise as there were no discussions on the issue. With big players making a beeline to the hill state for setting up units to take advantage of the package of incentives granted by the Centre, it was on way to becoming the pharmaceutical hub of the country. As many as 750 new pharmaceutical units were at various stages of completion. However, the latest tax would undo the benefits of the package and lead to the flight of industry from the state.

He said a deputation of pharma industry met senior officers and explained them the implications of the new tax.

Mr Sunil Khanna, chief executive officer of Vetra Pharmaceuticals, said there was no logic in imposing a tax on the basis of weight on products which were sold by number.

Prices not to go up due to VAT: minister
Tribune News Service

Shimla, April 30
Excise and Taxation Minister, Rangila Ram Rao, said yesterday that VAT adopted in the state was in the larger interest of both traders and consumer and would not lead to price hike.

Mr Rao said here that it was the mischievous propaganda by some vested interest, which had created the impression that implementation of VAT, would lead to a price hike. “Traders having income up to Rs 6 lakh have been exempted from VAT and Self-Assessment Return up to Rs 20 lakh of the traders will be acceptable,” he stated.

Mr Rao urged the traders to cooperate with the government to implement VAT and assured their that there would be no increase in prices due to VAT. “However, those found guilty will not be spared as the government cannot remain a silent spectator,” he said.

Wintry conditions threaten apple crop

Shimla, April 30
Shimla and its surrounding areas had mild rain yesterday while other mid and higher hills were swept by strong velocity winds causing minor variation in the minimum temperature.

Shimla recorded minimum temperature at 10.6° while Sundernagar and Bhuntar (Kulu) recorded 9.8° and 7.4° minimum temperature.

The higher reaches in the tribal areas and other high mountain passes had mild snowfall causing marginal fall in day temperature.

The rain and stormy conditions were stated to be harmful for standing wheat crops while excessive moisture was not beneficial for apple crop.

The renewed spell of rain, snow and hail has turned summer into winters.The high hills, including the Rohtang Pass, continue to receive fresh snow. Thirty cms of snowfall recorded today in Rohtang which is known as gateway to the Lahaul valley.

The Dhauladhar ranges in Kangra district and Dodra Kawar in Shimla also experienced fresh snow. Mid-hills and the lower areas were lashed by dusty storms followed by rain and hail.

Apple growers and other orchardists were worrying lot today. If the prevailing weather conditions continue further, the fruit crop may be heavily damaged. The growers were expecting bumper crop this season. — PTI, UNI

All set for entry of pvt colonisers
Ambika Sharma

Solan, April 30
With the state Cabinet giving its approval to the HP Apartments and Property Ordinance, the entry of private colonisers in Himachal will now be possible.

The demand for housing colonies in various industrial areas, including Baddi, Barotiwala, Nalagarh, Kala Amb and Paonta Sahib, was raised by investors after the new industrial package drew investment worth crores to the state.

The new Act would facilitate regulation of private players. A number of proposals by private colonisers had been received by the Himachal Pradesh Housing and Urban Development Authority (HIMUDA).

It would help check the entry of unscrupulous parties, stated Mr Y.R. Sharma, CEO-cum-secretary, HIMUDA.@@The Act is slated to come into force within the next two months. At least two major proposals, including one from Gujarat Ambuja another from Delhi-based Shrishti Private Limited, have been received.

HIMUDA had earlier thought of amending rules in the existing Act, but since it provided no deterrent to wrongdoers, a new Act was framed.

Baddi, Barotiwala and Nalagarh areas have emerged as major industrial areas where the workforce is expected to cross 1.5 lakh in the near future and hence the need for housing facilities.

Kisan union stages dharna
Our Correspondent

Sundernagar, April 30
The Mandi district unit of Himachal Kisan Union today staged a dharna in front of the Deputy Commissioner office. The representatives of various mahila mandals and yuvak mandals also gathered in front of the DC office and raised slogans against the state police and the district Administration accusing the Mandi police for not solving the case of a missing ex-serviceman Prem Singh resident of Kipper village.

They demanded that the investigation of the case be handed over to the CBI.

Prem Singh, disappeared on March 21 from Batheri village under mysterious circumstances. The Mandi police registered a case under Section 364 of the Indian Penal Code but till now Prem Singh can not be traced. Earlier also the union staged demonstration and demanded action. The police made arrests in the case but the accused got bail.

According to residents of the area the police is not investigating the case properly and they have been demanding that the case be handed over to the CBI.

Mr Kaul Singh, Irrigation and Public Health Minister. talked with the residents in front of the DC office and declared that the investigation of the case would be handed over to the Shimla police and even if the public was not satisfied it would be given to the CBI.

On the other hand the demonstrators were not satisfied even by the assurance given by the minister and said they had sent representations to the Chief Minister twice earlier but no action was taken by the district administration.

Mr Hari Singh Saini, president of the union said they would wait till May 9 and if no result came out they would start hunger strike in front of the DC office.

The DC and SP of Mandi were also present when Mr Kaul Singh was listening to the grievances of the public.

Army honours martyrs’ kin
Our Correspondent

Solan, April 30
The Army today honoured family members of 10 martyrs at a specially organised ceremony at 14 Gorkha Training Centre, Subathu. Brig S.S. Sambyal, Commandant, presented badges of sacrifice and commemoration cards to them on behalf of the Chief of the Army Staff.

Addressing the gathering Brigadier Sambyal said the supreme sacrifices of these martyrs could never be forgotten. He reiterated that though the loss to these families was irreparable yet the Army would try to do the best for their families.

Among the martyrs honoured on the occasion were Naik Munsi Ram (21 Punjab), Naik Karam Chand (3 Grenadiers), Sepoy Amin Chand, Sepoy Mast Ram Sharma (9 Punjab), Sepoy Jeet (13 Punjab), Sepoy Dharam Singh (16 Punjab), Sepoy Joginder Singh, Sepoy Prithi Singh (19 Punjab), Sepoy Dialu (22 Punjab) and Sepoy Deep Chand (6 Dogra).