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Construction along major rivers to
High power generation cost worries govt
Burglary case solved with help of cellphone
Hotel’s opening faces rough weather
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Nauni varsity produces hybrid tomato
Power board not a social body: Stokes
3 die as jeep falls into gorge
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Construction along major rivers to be banned
Shimla, July 13 Stating this here today, Mr Virbhadra Singh, Chief Minister, said flash floods in the Sutlej, Beas and other rivers had become a regular feature and it had come to notice that houses were being washed away or damaged in the same area repeatedly. The government would not allow houses to come up within the danger zone in future. He said a notification prohibiting construction within the highest flood level would be issued soon. He said that as far as possible, the government would ensure that new roads were also laid above the danger zone, though it might not be possible to do so at some places because of topography or necessity of providing connectivity to valley areas. The old Hindustan-Tibet road would be widened for regular traffic and properly maintained even after the restoration of the National Highway-22 from Wangtu to Sumdoh. Unfortunately the old road, which passes through a higher contour, fell into disuse after the coming up of the national highway and was virtually abandoned. Now both the roads, which provide connectivity to villages in upper hills and valleys, would be in regular use. The Chief Minister said that the unilateral environmental clearance granted by the government for the Parbati-III and Chamera-III hydroelectric projects to the NHPC notwithstanding, the government was keeping a close watch on the functioning of the corporation. He said public-sector undertakings were expected to observe environmental norms more stringently and not to cut corners. Instead of satisfying the state regarding its environmental concerns, the NHPC chose to directly approach the Union Ministry for Environment and Forests, which granted clearance without even referring the matter to the government. He had lodged a strong protest with the Union ministry and written a letter urging for a review of the decision but so far there had been no response. Mr Virbhadra Singh said that the Rs 37.50 crore released by the Centre for relief works in the flood-hit areas was only an immediate measure. A detailed memorandum was being submitted regarding the damage on the basis of which more fund would be given to the state.
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High power generation cost worries govt
Shimla, July 13 The state Cabinet discussed the issue at its recent meeting. What worried the government was that not only the employee cost of Rs 1.34 per unit was the highest but even the generation cost was also on the higher side. The Chief Secretary was asked to look into the functioning of the board and take the required steps in consultation with the officers of the board to bring about the necessary improvement. Out of the 16 projects with aggregate installed capacity of 323.7 MW, which remained operational during the 2004-05, the generation cost was more than Rs 2 per unit in case of nine projects. It was as high as Rs 20.21 for Killar project followed by Rong Tong (Rs 19.95 per unit), Thirot (Rs 16.07
), Gumma (Rs 11.58) , Sal-II (Rs 8.86), Ghanvi (Rs 6.31) , Baner (Rs 3.67) ,Gaj (Rs 3.44) and Andhra (Rs 2.10). For the Rukti project it was Rs 1.90 per unit. The generation cost for all these projects was very high keeping in view the fact that the average cost of power, including wheeling charges, purchased by the board from outside the state came to Rs 1.82 per unit during the year. The capacity utilisation ranged from 11 per cent to 51 per cent, except the 120 MW Bhabha which generated 582 million units at 76 paise per unit. The generation cost was lowest in case of Bassi (19 paise), followed by Giri (48 paise) and Chaba (18 paise) and Binwa (Rs 1.17). The state electricity regulatory commission has also taken a serious note of the high generation cost and advised the board to hire out the high generation cost projects to the Himurja, panchayats, cooperative societies and other local bodies or atleast transfer their operation and maintenance to such local bodies to enhance its economic viability. Alternatively, it should explore the option of obtaining funds from Tribal Development Department for the operation of such projects. It also directed the board to approach the government to meet the difference between the benchmark generation cost of Rs 2.50 per unit for projects upto 5 MW and Rs 2.25 per unit for projects over 5 MW as allowed by the commission in respect of the Independent Power Producers. The commission has also framed a productivity -linked incentive scheme to enhance generation as per which the employees posted in power stations located in hard areas will be paid six advance increments and they would be allowed to retain the accommodation in the station of their choice if not in a position to shift the family. Further, 10 per cent of the additional revenue as a result of every 1 per cent increase above the highest generation achieved in the past five years will be distributed to the staff as incentive at the end of the year in the ratio of their basic pay subject to the maximum of their pay scale per month. Similarly, 25 per cent of the additional revenue as a result of every 1 per cent increase above the designed energy will be given as incentive to the staff. |
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Burglary case solved with help of cellphone
Baddi, July 13 Mr Verma is employed with Dabur India Limited here. The lock of the house was found broken when the family returned home around 8.30 pm. The door was open and lights inside the house were on. The almirah inside was also open and goods were found scattered on the bed. Mr Verma and other family members found a wristwatch and pair of silver gauntlets missing. The family took a light view of the incident and did not report the incident to police. Heavy rain also discouraged them from reporting to the police. Next morning, Mr Verma went to the PGI for a check-up of his wife. In evening when they returned home, they heard a cellphone ringing. During search, they found a Nokia 2300 handset lying under the bed on which a call was coming. They reported the matter to the police last evening. The police traced the cell owner to be Sandeep David, a 19-year boy. He was arrested today from his house at Maranwala in Pinjore. He hails from the Jalandhar area and was residing at Maranwala for the past seven months along with his parents. During interrogation, he confessed to his involvement in the case and disclosed the identities of his two accomplices, the police said. Sandeep was earlier employed at a factory at Baddi. Further investigations are on. The two other suspects are yet to be arrested. A case under Sections 457 and 380 of IPC has been registered. |
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Hotel’s opening faces rough weather
Shimla, July 13 The management has already announced the programme for to declare the opening of the hotel here tomorrow. While the hotel authorities had obtained the consent to establish , it had not secured the consent to operate which is granted by the board after inspection of the effluent treatment and solid waste management plants and other such facilities. In case of projects involving an investment of over Rs 5 crore the consent to operate had also to be obtained for the government of India. The board could disconnect power and water supply and if required even order closure of the hotel if put into operation without the mandatory approvals. |
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Nauni varsity produces hybrid tomato
Solan, July 13 The Vice Chancellor, Dr Jagmohan Singh, while describing it as an outstanding achievement of the university, said efforts were afoot to develop breeding lines for its seed production. This would enable them to distribute the seed to the farmers in large numbers. This variety has also been recently released by the state variety list. It is an achievement which will give the private sector hybrid tomato varieties some competition. The market was hitherto dominated only by private sector hybrids whose lack of availability throughout the year disappointed the growers. The scientist whose pioneering efforts earned the university this rare distinction, Dr Arun Joshi, while giving details of this new variety said the prolonged shelf life of this variety which is 15 days after the ripening stage is what makes it different from the other varieties. Being a highly perishable commodity a normal tomato barely remains firm for 3-5 days. To offset this impact the enzymatic activity, which hastens ripening, was reduced by carrying out a series of trials. The Garima hybrid is also resistant to attack of foliar diseases like Septoria left spot and Alternaria left blight under field conditions. These diseases cause 100 per cent damage to the crop during rains and the entire crop suffers colossal damage within 30 days. It is also resistant to Buckeye rot which affects as much as 70 per cent salability as it strikes ripe fruit. Dr Joshi said this variety was suited to the mid-hills comprising the districts of Solan, Sirmaur, Bilaspur and Kulu. |
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Power board not a social body: Stokes
Mandi, July 13 “The board will take projects that are financially viable,” she said. Talking to officials and engineers of the board while inspecting the 100 mw Uh1 Jal Vidyut Nigam (HPJVN), a subsidiary of the HPSEB, in Jogindernagar today, she said the board would not face losses. “There should be inspection of the projects ensuring that the money allocated for the rehabilitation and development of the catchments is utilised properly”, she said. The Uhl project would be completed within stipulated cost of Rs 431.56 crore, she added. She ensured local residents that she would dispose of their complaints about negative impacts of the project on environment on the spot.
— TNS |
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3 die as jeep falls into gorge
Shimla, July 13 According to the police the mishap took place due to dense fog and it appeared that the driver could not see the road due to poor visibility and lost control. The ill-fated vehicle was on its way from Rogi to Choling on the old the Hindustan-Tibet road. The deceased have been identified as Ashok, driver, Inder Dev of Pangi village and Deewan Chand of Kothi village. |
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Justice Goel to head consumer panel
Shimla, July 13 As per the notification issued by the state government Mr Justice Goel will hold the office of the President for the period of five years or up to the age of
67 years. |
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Shyama Sharma bereaved
Shimla, July 13 She was 78. She is survived by two sons and three daughters, including Ms Sharma and was a minister in the Shanta Kumar government.
— UNI |
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