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Staff shortage hits excise collection
Raising HP’s equity share in SJVN
Water project ready for commissioning
Poor monsoon hits growers, traders
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Notification for gram panchayats
under ZP wards
Rafters fail to recover bodies
ESI workers may not get advance for treatment
Plea to bring Chamba under town planning Act
Anger over hike in water tariff
Woman found dead in hotel
BJP flays transfer of police official
NTPC ignoring labour laws: union
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Staff shortage hits excise collection
Shimla, September 15 The workload of the department has increased further with the imposition of the professional tax. However, no additional manpower has been provided. Worse, the government has not even allowed filling of the existing vacant posts as a result even the most important task of revenue collection is being affected. Of the total 271 sanctioned posts of Excise and Taxation Inspector
(ETI), the most important field functionaries of the department, as many as 56 are vacant. The indifferent attitude of the government towards revenue collections could be judged from the fact that the post of Excise and Taxation Officer, Nalagarh, under which the industrial areas of Parwanoo, Baddi and Barotiwala fall, has been lying vacant for the past over six months. These areas account for over 40 per cent of the state’s total excise revenue. The lack of functional staff is affecting supervision and as a result the fund-starved state is losing the much-needed revenue. With more than 20 per cent of posts lying vacant, revenue collection was bound to be affected, said a senior officer of the department. So far only about Rs 4.45 crore has been collected as professional tax which is about 20 per cent of the target for the year. Besides 22 posts of clerk are also vacant. The redeeming feature is that the tax revenue is likely to go up due to the implementation of VAT. The tax collections up to July has been Rs 257 crore and it indicates that the department will exceed the target of 25 per cent increase set for the year. The department has drawn up a plan for computerisation of tax barriers for which the Centre had sanctioned Rs 4 crore. All the barriers will be online by January 2006. |
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Raising HP’s equity share in SJVN
Shimla, September 15 The state, which has 25 per cent equity participation in the 1500 mw Nathpa Jhakri project, has been pestering the Centre for increasing its equity in the projects to be executed by the SJVN to a minimum 30 per cent. The matter was also taken up by Mr Virbhadra Singh, Chief Minister, with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during his visit to the state in May in connection with the inauguration of the Nathpa Jhakri project. Mr R.V.Sahi, Union Power Secretary, will preside over the meeting to be attended by Mr S.S. Parmar and Mr J.P. Negi, Chief Secretary and Principal Power Secretary, Power, respectively, from the state and directors of the SJVN. According to sources, the simplest way to raise the state’s share is to increase its equity in the SJVN, a joint venture of the Centre and the state, by 5 per cent. But this is not possible as the Centre is not willing to increase the equity share in the Nathpa Jhakri project. The Centre had , however, promised to increase the state’s share in the future projects while signing the agreement for the 434 mw Rampur project. A senior official said the state would agree to sign the agreement for the Luri and Khab projects only if its equity share was raised to 30 per cent. The increase in equity participation to 30 per cent in the Rampur, Khab and Luri projects will result in a marginal increase of about 1 per cent in its overall equity of the state SJVN. The net immediate impact will be that its share in the Nathpa Jhakri will go up from existing 547 MW to 560 MW which in financial terms means a gain of about Rs 14 crore annually. The other irritants are the terms and conditions on which the employees of the state electricity board, who are on deputation with the SJVN, are to be accommodated. While the Centre is against continuing with deputation as two different cadres create problems in the smooth functioning of the Nigam. It wants that 900 odd deputationists to be permanently absorbed. In fact the process of absorption is on and over the past one year, about 150 deputationists from the board mostly at the higher levels have opted for absorption. Cases of 60 more deputationists were in the pipeline. However, the problem was in respect of the lower rung employees, who are senior but lacked the requisite qualification. The employees wants absorption on their own terms and want conditions to be relaxed. Since the SJVN is governed by rules and regulations of the central public undertakings, the qualifications cannot be relaxed. Further, the board has created certain cadres, which did not exist in any organisation in the country. The state is hopeful that these issues will be resolved and agreements for the two projects which have been hanging fire for the past six months will be finalised. |
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Water project ready for commissioning
Dalhousie, September 15 According to official sources, the scheme, which was conceived in 1995, envisages lifting of water from Bathri Nala near Chamera Dam having 1600 metres vertically, about 10 km away from Dalhousie. The scheme also envisages providing sufficient water to the hill town. It would mitigate the water problem till the year 2029 by supplying 36 lakh litres water per day against the present requirement of 24 lakh litres per day. Dalhousie is first hill town in Himachal Pradesh to have such a big water supply scheme. It may be recalled that the water supply scheme for Dalhousie was constructed in 1875 about 130 years ago. All the available five sources around Dalhousie stand tapped, the cumulative discharge of which has drastically reduced to 74 per cent. During summers, the floating tourist population outnumbers the local inhabitants of the town and it used to be rather impossible to arrange water supply to the whole population, including military cantonment. Moreover, hotels, restaurants and other tourism-allied establishments have mushroomed during the past few years. The number of hotels registered with tourism department has increased to 150 with the bed capacity mush more than the projected. Therefore, taking into account constant pressure of population as well as the tourism industry in the hill station of Dalhousie, the new prestigious water supply scheme would be a boon to the people of hill town. |
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Poor monsoon hits growers, traders
Parwanoo, September 15 A 100-mm deficit in rainfall was recorded in this rainy season as compared to the
corresponding period last year, said Ms Parminder Kaur Babeja, a scientist in the Soil and Science Department, of Dr
Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni. Till date the Solan vegetable market had managed to receive a total tomato inflow of 80,000 quintal. However, in the past season the market had recorded total tomato arrival of 1.45 lakh quintal. The total arrival of tomato would not be more than one lakh quintal in this season, said Mr Des Raj Sharma, secretary of the Solan market. The local terminal vegetable markets that normally flooded with arrival of the pahari cucumber by this time was getting a meager flow of crop this year. Over 60 per cent of the maize crop have been damaged due to drought like condition, said a senior official in Solan Agriculture Office. The low produce of vegetables and maize had also affected the business of small time vendors who set up their makeshift vends, along Kalka-Shimla national highway to sell pahari produce to motorists.
— OC |
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Notification for gram panchayats
under ZP wards
Bilaspur, September 15 The notification includes the following gram panchayats in total 14 Zila Parishad Wards of the District here in the following manner. Pantehara Ward: Kot, Hatwad, Baman, Pantehara, Ghandalwin, Marhana, Bhapraal, Salahon Uparli and Hambote gram panchayats. Lehari Sarel ward: Leharisaarel, Barota, Dangaar, Padyalas, Gatwaar, Gaahar, Dadhole, Saoo, Tadun, Kasaru and Bharadi panchayats. Uthera ward: Mehriathla, Ladda, Talwara, Pater, Kuthera, Morsing Dabhla, Kothi, Bhalswai and Talyana panchayats. Patta ward: Hawan, Kuhmajhwad, Saruin Khass (Chalehli), Nanwan, Malyawar, Robin, Harleg, Luharwin, Ghumarwin and Patta panchayats. Barthin ward: Barthin, Paplah, Karleti, Kapahada, Chhatt, Kotlu Brahmana, Sunhani, Badgaon and Baleh panchayats. Ghandir ward: Dhad, Rohal, Galiyan, Behna Brahmana, Jhanduta, Balward, Malagan, Ghadir, Balhseena. Daslehra and Jabhola, Kalol ward: Naghyaar, Badgon (Galu), Kosariyan, Gharan, Saneehra, Bharolikalan, Kuljyaar, Kalol, Dudiyan, Malraon, Jejwin, Paploa, Salwaad and Dhanni panchayats. Samoh ward: Samoh, Gehrwin, Jangla, Nakhlehra, Damli, Badole, Behna Jattan, Hirapur, Auhar, Berry-Miyan and Daribhadi panchayats. Chandpur ward: Amarpur, Bakroa, Fateh, Kandraur, Nichli Bhated, Chandpur, Balhbhalwana, Kuddi and Bamta panchayats. Barmana ward: Barmana, Panjgain, Harnoda, Dhaunkothi, DhartatohDeoli, Banola, Berry Rajdyan and Seehdha panchayats. Suin Surhaad ward: Suin Surhaad, Debha, Ranikotla, Saikharsi, Soldha, Chhakoh, Sikroha, Panjail Khurd, Namhole and Ghayal panchayats. Jukhala ward: Kotla, Jukhala, Makari (Markand), Bandla, Raghunathpura, Kothipura, Rajpura, Deoth, Mehathi, Kallar, Sayola and Nauni panchayats. Behal ward: Kachauli, Chhadole, Tanbol, Tahlli, Kutehlla, Reeh, Swahan Behal, Kulawala, Tarwaad, Nakrana, and Mandhyali panchayats. Kotkhas ward: Dharota, Kothkas, Ghwandal, Saloa, Makari, Bhakra, Rodjaman, Tarsooh, Lahadi, Dabhat, Majari, Toba, Sangwana, Bassi and Khrkari panchayats. |
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Rafters fail to recover bodies
Reckong Peo, September 15 Only body of Havaldar Ravi Selvan has been recovered by the Army with the help of British rafters. Disturbed over this setback, District Magistrate (DM) of Kinnaur Amandeep Garg today called an emergency meeting of officials of the local police, Home Guards, the Army and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force
(ITBPF). It was unanimously decided at the meeting to continue with the search operations for another few days, said a spokesman of the district administration. Meanwhile, Army officials were dismayed over media reports published/broadcast after the incident of bridge collapse, highlighting the alleged failure of the Army. This was discussed at the meeting of Army officials with the DM and officials of the district administration. |
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ESI workers may not get advance for treatment
Parwanoo, September 15 To provide timely financial help in emergency cases the corporation had formed a revolving fund by deducting Rs 50 from each worker’s contribution to the ESI fund. At present the state has around 50,000 industrial workers covered under the ESI. From this fiscal year the corporation has decided to enhance ceiling of reimbursement from Rs 750 to Rs 900 annually per insured worker. This amount was being paid by the corporation to the state government to provide medical care to insured workers in state. Out of Rs 900, Rs 540 was meant for administrative expenses while Rs 360 was earmarked for expenses like super specialty, drugs and dressing and repair and maintenance of equipments. Under the revolving fund scheme the corporation would hold back payment of Rs 360 in order to the pool it to fund scheme. However, now when the state government seemed indifferent to the scheme the corporation would have no other option but to pay the held back amount to the state government. This would create problem for workers to get timely funds for their treatment, pointed out Mr P.K.N. Namboodiri, Regional Director, Parwanoo Regional ESI Office. |
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Plea to bring Chamba under town planning Act
Chamba, September 15 Interestingly, these unplanned and unauthorised buildings, running hotel business and other trades have been granted registration by the state government’s departments of labour, industries, food supplies, excise and taxation, weights and measures, and the Pollution Control Board under various Acts and bylaws despite the fact that these have been unruly and unwarranted by the municipal council. Certain public sector financial institutions too have financed the constructions of some of these structures. Moreover, these structures are openly availing the facility of water and electricity supply. In order to save the grandeur of the “heritage town” from ruthless deterioration, environmentalists here have requested Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh to bring Chamba town under the direct control of the Himachal Pradesh Town and Country Planning Act soon.
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Anger over hike in water tariff
Chamba, September 15 Fifty-time increase in the installation charges of sewerage and at least 10 time increase in the monthly rentals of sewerage have broken the spine of the common man and has caused great worry, frustration and ire among the people of the state, members of the three leading organisations of this area regretted while talking to this correspondent here yesterday. They lamented that there was a time when the pious Queen made sacrifices for bringing drinking water to its people. But contrary to it, the government is harassing and victimising its people by excessive taxation, which is very painful. These organisations would offer their ‘prayers’ as a memorandum to the saintly Mata Suhi with the appeal to the government to help withdrawing the recent hike in water tariff forthwith. |
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Woman found dead in hotel
Una, September 15 According to Amb DSP Virender Tomar, the couple checked in a hotel, about 3 km from Chintpurni temple yesterday and identified themselves as husband and wife. The two reportedly offered prayers at the temple in the evening and returned back to the hotel room at around 2100 hrs. Mr Tomar said the man, known by Ram Umar, left the hotel premises on the pretext of buying a toothpaste and never returned. The suspicious hotel staff informed the police, who opened the room with a duplicate key today and found the woman strangulated with her dupatta. A hand bag was also recovered from the room. This is a third incident of the kind in the state where the police has failed to arrest the culprit. The body has been sent for a post-mortem examination at the Zonal Hospital.
— UNI |
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BJP flays transfer of police official
Shimla, September 15 In a joint statement, Mr Suresh Bhardwaj, state party chief, and Mr P.K. Dhumal, a former Chief Minister, said the officer had been penalised only because some Congress leaders were caught in the drive launched by her. It is the second such incident over the past one month. Only a few days ago the station house officer, Dharamsala, who busted a call girl racket, was suspended. They maintained that the present government was patronising the corrupt officers and penalising those who showed guts to act against the anti-social elements. Officers like Meenakshi Bhardwaj deserved to be honoured and rewarded and penalising them would only demoralise the force. |
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NTPC ignoring labour laws: union
Mandi, September 15 In a press note, president, KDWU, which is affiliated to the CITU, said the NTPC had ignored their long-pending demands of paying the workers the project perk of 80 per cent of their basic pay, danger perk, TA and other demands. The KDWU charged that the NTPC’s contractor, a Thai company, was violating the labour laws and exploiting the workers.
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