H I M A C H A L   P R A D E S H

Issue of equity in power projects unsolved
Shimla, May 3
While the Himachal Government has assigned the 434 MW Rampur, 700 MW Luri and 440 MW Khab hydroelectric projects to the Sutlej Jal Vidyut Nigam, the issue of equity share in the three new ventures is yet to be sorted out. The state, which has 25 per cent equity in the nigam, agreed to allot these projects on the condition that it will have an equity share 30 per cent.

Kangra valley rail service in a mess
Nurpur, May 3
The Pathankot-Jogindernagar narrow gauge railway line, which had come into existence during the British regime, is still awaiting expansion and modernisation, thanks to the Railway Ministry’s apathy and that of the state government which has failed to pursue the matter with the Central government.

Tourism project under a cloud
Solan, May 3
The manner in which a non-Himachali builder has floated a tourism project to get better market value for his flats constructed in the Mashobra area of Kasauli has cast a shadow of doubt on the working of the Tourism Department.

Mobile phones sought for fire protection
Shimla, May 3
With forest fires being cyclic in nature, the state Forest Department is keeping its fingers crossed as it has sought 100 mobile phones for the effective monitoring and control of forest fires which rage through the pine ranges during the peak summer months.

Encroachments removed
Bilaspur, May 3
Led by Deputy Commissioner Subhasheesh Panda and Superintendent of Police M. Chander Shekhar, a team of district officials under the supervision of Ilaqa Magistrate-cum-SDM Baldev Thakur and Additional Superintendent of Police Santosh Patial demolished some two dozen “pucca” encroachments on roadside near Gurdwara Chowk in Raura Sector here today.

Rabies institute enters centenary year
Kasauli, May 3
The Central Research Institute entered its centenary year today. Set up in May 3, 1905, by Lieut-Col Sir David Semple, who had discovered the carbolised antirabic vaccine, the institute is also known as the rabies and snake-bite institute.

Investors meet Excise Commissioner
Baddi, May 3
A delegation of pharmaceutical investors led by Dr Shushil Khanna of Vectra Pharmaceuticals today met officials at Shimla to put across their views on the goods tax notified to be imposed by the government.

Villagers resent closure of school
Nahan, May 3
Residents of Bakarla village under Nahan tehsil are agitated over the closure of government primary school in the village. Over 50 residents of Bakarla village today met local MLA Sadanand Chauhan and Dy Director of Primary Education, Sirmaur, and submitted their representation.

• Revenue records to be computerised

• Suicide by young woman

Issue of equity in power projects unsolved
Tribune News Service

Shimla, May 3
While the Himachal Government has assigned the 434 MW Rampur, 700 MW Luri and 440 MW Khab hydroelectric projects to the Sutlej Jal Vidyut Nigam, the issue of equity share in the three new ventures is yet to be sorted out.

The state, which has 25 per cent equity in the nigam, agreed to allot these projects on the condition that it will have an equity share 30 per cent. Even an agreement was signed for the execution of the Rampur project according to which the state could have a share up to 30 percent in the future equity.

The Centre, which holds the remaining 75 per cent equity in the joint venture, maintains that the state’s share could be raised only on incremental equity to be contributed for the implementation of new projects. Since the nigam is earning a profit of about Rs 500 crore annually from the 1500 MW Nathpa Jhakri project, it is in a position to contribute the equity required for new projects from its internal resources. In such an eventuality, it will not be possible to raise the equity share substantially.

However, the state is insisting on a clear-cut 30 per cent share in the new projects. This could be achieved in two ways. Instead of utilising the internal resources, the two partners should take their share of dividend and contribute their respective share of equity from it. Alternatively, the state could acquire 30 per cent equity in the nigam itself. However, this may not be feasible as the Centre may not agree to it as it will also reduce its share in the Nathpa Jhakri project. Moreover, in monetary terms the equity share will have to be raised from the existing Rs 1076 crore to Rs 1275 crore which means that the fund-starved state will have to contribute another about Rs 200 crore.

The Rampur project is likely to cost Rs 2000 crore and thus the nigam will be required to contribute only about Rs 600 crore as equity over a period of four years. It is a small amount keeping in view the fact that the annually profit of the nigam was over Rs 500 crore.

Senior officers in the government maintain that it is not a big issue as the agreement for Rampur project clearly says that the state can have up to 30 per cent share in future projects.

Kangra valley rail service in a mess
Rajiv Mahajan

Nurpur, May 3
The Pathankot-Jogindernagar narrow gauge railway line, which had come into existence during the British regime, is still awaiting expansion and modernisation, thanks to the Railway Ministry’s apathy and that of the state government which has failed to pursue the matter with the Central government.

In the absence of adequate bus service, this railway service, known as Kangra valley rail service, serves as a lifeline for commuters in most parts of Kangra district. This rail line had been established by the British in 1890, keeping in view the transportation of machinery of the Shanan hydropower project at Jogindernagar. After that it was thrown open to the public.

At present, seven up and an equivalent number of down passenger trains of Northern Railway run on this narrow track. The trains are being driven by about three-decade-old JDM-locomotive hydraulic diesel engines. According to information gathered from the Pathankot section of Northern Railway, however, the life of these engines was specified only 40 years. Commuters of the Kangra valley railway service are sore over the frequent breakdowns of their aged engines causing delay in the running of trains. During summer, the engine breakdowns are more frequent in this hilly terrain of the rail line.

Informed sources reveal the Indian companies have stopped the production of these outdated locomotive engines and there seems no chance of replacing the existing engines, which have to drive small trains having only seven compartments in the Kangra valley. In this connection, Mr V.K. Chadda, rail mechanical engineer, Pathankot seciton, when contacted, maintained that locomotive hydraulic engines were only suitable in the hilly areas. He admitted new engines of this type could be fabricated by the Indian companies only on demand or order.

It is learnt the local railway authorities have apprised their higher ups of the sorry condition the obsolete engines are in.

This railway service is significant from the point of view of tourism as lakhs of pilgrims from other parts of the country throng the Kangra valley every year to visit Jwalaji, Brijeshwari, Chamunda and Chintpurni temples. Apart from this, the tourists also visit Pong Lake, an emerging tourist spot in Kangra district. There has been a long-standing demand for a broad gauge rail line but the annual Railway Budget has dismayed the residents in the past, notwithstanding persistent pressure of MPs from the Kangra parliamentary constituency. Surveys for the broad gauge line have been proposed more than once. They have proved to be just eyewash.

Tourism project under a cloud
Ambika Sharma

Solan, May 3
The manner in which a non-Himachali builder has floated a tourism project to get better market value for his flats constructed in the Mashobra area of Kasauli has cast a shadow of doubt on the working of the Tourism Department. The project has not only been approved by the department but has also been cleared by the district administration recently.

Investigations conducted by The Tribune revealed that a proposal to construct 36 chalets and 16 studio apartments (Montreaux Resorts (P) Limited) at Mashobra and Chattyan village in the vicinity of Kasauli in February by a Noida-based builder was made.

It was sent to the department for approval and issue of a mandatory essentiality certificate on February 28. A visit to the earmarked area, however, revealed that cottages already existed there while the revenue papers had no mention of any structure. The project further mentioned that the chalets and studio apartments would first be sold and later 50 per cent apartments and 90 per cent chalets would be acquired on lease / rent. Thus Rs 1.80 crore would be generated annually.

The Rs 80-crore proposal was, however, turned down by the department as it appeared to be a commercial venture for selling flats. The proposal was then partially modified into a timeshare project and submitted for approval. Despite the project lacking the mandatory certificates like affidavit from the buyers, agreement to sell, a proper map depicting exiting land use and an affidavit from the buyer for land-use change stating tourism as the purpose, it was granted a conditional essentiality certificate by the department on March 29.

The Commissioner, Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation, Mr Tarun Sridhar, had said the above-mentioned requirements pertained to the Revenue Department and the proposal had only been forwarded and not approved. The earlier proposal, which appeared like a commercial housing project, had been changed into a timeshare project.

Revenue experts, however, opined that the file also lacked the mandatory clearance from the Town and Country Planning Department which was a must.

It was later sent to the Deputy Commissioner for clearance under Section 118 of the Himachal Pradesh Tenancy and Land Reforms Act, 1974. It was duly cleared and forwarded to the state government on April 30.

The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Rajesh Kumar, when quizzed, said since the project had been approved by the Tourism Department and there was no benami transaction involved it had been forwarded. He, however, recalled that some flats did exist on the said piece of land.

Priced at Rs 23 lakh each, the owner had endeavoured to sell those to some people from Punjab. But the mandatory permission under Section 118 had not been granted for it.

Inquires made from revenue officials revealed that the project involved 37.12 bighas of land at Mashobra village and another 22.2 bighas at Chhattyan village.

A perusal of the records verified the fact that houses existed in an area of 19 biswas that fell in Mashobra village while another one bigha was converted into a road.

This land, which initially belonged to Rajinder Pal of Kulu district, was later sold to Nikhil Kumar of Jaswa of Kangra district on July 13, 2000. However, no mutation of 2.10 bigha could be done as no one turned up for the purpose.

The land was shown to be bought by Gurdev Singh of Paonta Sahib on March 20, 2004. The other land was depicted as grassland.

Mobile phones sought for fire protection
Tribune News Service

Shimla, May 3
With forest fires being cyclic in nature, the state Forest Department is keeping its fingers crossed as it has sought 100 mobile phones for the effective monitoring and control of forest fires which rage through the pine ranges during the peak summer months.

With mercury still not soaring the forest officials are relieved as they had been apprehending a difficult year due to the tendency of forest fires repeating every fourth-fifth year. “We have sent a proposal to the state government to allow the use of mobile phones instead of just relying on wireless sets as it will help in enhancing the efficiency of the staff engaged in fire control,” said officials.

Though the Central Government is willing to pay for the 100 handsets but the reluctance on the part of the state government to pay the mobile bills is proving to be a hindrance.

The Union Ministry of Forest and Environment had last year provided Rs 1.30 crore under the Integrated Forest Protection Scheme (IFPS), for strengthening of forest infrastructure. This year a proposal of Rs 5 crore has already been sent to the Centre apart from the Rs 50 lakh which is given by the state specifically for undertaking fire protection measures.

Seeing the positive and encouraging results of involving village panchayats by promising them a reward of Rs 8,000 each, there is a proposal to increase the number of panchayats who will get this reward. As compared to 40 panchayats which had been rewarded for cooperating in undertaking the fire protection measures and helping in controlling fires last year, this year the department is keen to have reward for atleast 100 panchayats.

Chief Conservater of Forests, Mr V.K. Kapoor, when contacted said contrary to the expectations, so far only about 15 hectares of forests had been affected by fires in Nahan and Mandi circles. He said they had been apprehending that atleast 2,000 hectares of forest area would have come under the grip of fires by now.

Mr Kapoor, said the department had set a target of undertaking controlled burning in 20,000 hectares of forest land as compared to 10,000 hectares covered last year. It was in 1999-2000 that there were 1,900 fires affecting 36,887 hectares and resulting in a loss of Rs 3.29 crore. In 2002-03 831 fires, affecting 16,198 hectares were reported, causing a loss of Rs 1.24 crore.

HC transfers 11 officers
Legal Correspondent

Shimla, May 3
The Himachal High Court has transferred 11 officers of the higher judicial services. According to the notification issued by the high court in this regard, the District and Session Judge, Mr V.K. Ahuja, has been placed at the disposal of the state government for his posting as member secretary, HP State Legal Services Authority, whereas Mr V.K. Sharma, member secretary, Legal Services Authority, has been posted as District and Session Judge, Chamba.

Mr J.L. Gupa, District and Session Judge, Mandi, has been transferred as president of the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum at Shimla whereas Mr Suresh Chaudhary, president of the Consumer Forum, Shimla, has been transferred as District and Session Judge, Bilaspur.

Mr P.C. Sharma, Registrar (Inspection) of the high court will be the new District and Session Judge of Solan against the vacant post. Mr P.D. Goel, District and Session Judge, Chamba, has been posted as Registrar (Inspection) of the high court of HP.

Mr A.C. Dogra, District and Session Judge, Una, has been posted as District and Session Judge, Mandi, whereas Mr T.N. Vaidya, District and Session Judge, Hamirpur, has been posted as District and Session Judge, Shimla, against the vacancy arising on June 1, 2005, on superannuation of Mr Rameshwar Sharma on May 31, 2005 as District and Session Judge, Shimla.

Mr Shamsher Singh, District and Session Judge, Kinnaur, at Rampur has been posted as District and Session Judge, Hamirpur, whereas Mr Sher Singh Sen, Additional District and Session Judge, Shimla, has been promoted and posted as District and Session Judge, Una.

Mr Sureshwar Thakur, Additional District and Session Judge, Mandi, has been posted as District and Session Judge, Kinnaur, at Rampur.

According to the notification, the transfer of Mr T.N. Vaidya, Mr Sher Singh Sen and Mr Sureshwar Thakur would come into effect from June 1, 2005.

Encroachments removed
Our Correspondent

Bilaspur, May 3
Led by Deputy Commissioner Subhasheesh Panda and Superintendent of Police M. Chander Shekhar, a team of district officials under the supervision of Ilaqa Magistrate-cum-SDM Baldev Thakur and Additional Superintendent of Police Santosh Patial demolished some two dozen “pucca” encroachments on roadside near Gurdwara Chowk in Raura Sector here today.

Earlier Mr J.P. Nadda, former Health Minister and BJP leader, accompanied by about two dozen party activists, tried to resist the action and had heated arguments with the Deputy Commissioner.

The police took the BJP activists to the police station alongwith Mr Nadda where they were held till late in the evening.

The Distt. Magistrate had enforced Section 144 CrPC, and had banned collection of four or more persons around the demolition area and the police prevented any vehicle or person from approaching the spot.

Earlier all the encroachers had been served six hour notices by the administration to vacate their encroached premises and to remove their belongings before 6 in the morning.

Some encroachers themselves removed their encroachments.

Rabies institute enters centenary year
Our Correspondent

Kasauli, May 3
The Central Research Institute (CRI) entered its centenary year today. Set up in May 3, 1905, by Lieut-Col Sir David Semple, who had discovered the carbolised antirabic vaccine, the institute is also known as the rabies and snake-bite institute. It is also credited with the manufacture of yellow fever vaccine and is a referral centre for dog and snake-bite cases in North India.

The institute, which plans to celebrate the centenary year in October, made only token celebrations today. President of India A. P. J Abdul Kalam has given his consent to attend the centenary celebrations in October.

Controlled by the armed forced and the Ministry of Defence before Independence, the institute made anti-rabic, cholera and typhoid vaccines for Army personnel. However, the institute was taken over by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare after Independence.

It is looked after by Dr R. Sehgal, who has been specially posted here from the PGI, Chandigarh. Tropical countries particularly look upon the institute for extending them knowledge about several viral and bacterial diseases.

Investors meet Excise Commissioner
Our Correspondent

Baddi, May 3
A delegation of pharmaceutical investors led by Dr Shushil Khanna of Vectra Pharmaceuticals today met officials at Shimla to put across their views on the goods tax notified to be imposed by the government. He told Chandigarh Tribune that investors have proposed to the government that a tax of Rs 25 on every tonne of goods could be imposed if the existing tax could not be rolled out completely.

He said the officials, including Mr T.G Negi, Secretary, Industry, Director, Industries Mr B.S Nainta, Commissioner Excise and Taxation, Mr Narender Chauhan were receptive to them. The officials had assured them of a considerate view to their proposal. He said since the medicines were sold in volumes and not per kg, it was not logical charge goods tax per kg. Officials of the Excise and Taxation Department when contacted said fresh tax would soon be notified after considering views of the industry and the government.

Villagers resent closure of school
Our Correspondent

Nahan, May 3
Residents of Bakarla village under Nahan tehsil are agitated over the closure of government primary school in the village. Over 50 residents of Bakarla village today met local MLA Sadanand Chauhan and Dy Director of Primary Education, Sirmaur, and submitted their representation. They also sent a representation to the Chief Minister.

In their representation, they have alleged that the Primary Education Department had misguided the state government regarding the distance between Bakarla primary school and Surla primary school. In fact Bakarla is 4 km from Surla which had been shown 1.5 km in the survey record prepared by the department on the basis of a report sent by the Block Education Officer, Surla.

Revenue records to be computerised
Tribune News Service

Shimla, May 3
The chief minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh ,today said the entire revenue records in the state would be computerized within the next one year.

This was stated by the Chief Minister after inaugurating a road constructed at a cost of Rs 12 lakh in the Rohru area here.

Suicide by young woman
Our correspondent

Baddi, May 3
A young married woman committed suicide by hanging herself from roof here yesterday. Demand for dowry has been said to be the reason which forced her to take such extreme step. The deceased was residing in housing board colony here. Her husband is a businessman. The deceased who hailed from Jatogh has a 3-month-old baby boy.