H I M A C H A L   P R A D E S H

CM evasive on 2nd capital issue
Dharamsala, December 7
Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh here today remained evasive on the issue of declaring Dharamsala as the second capital of Himachal Pradesh, saying that having a second capital in the state would put tremendous burden on the state finances. He said any such move would need development of massive infrastructure, which would unduly strain the state exchequer.

Cabinet nod for wineries in private sector
Shimla, December 7
Decks have been cleared for the implementation of the twin-wineries project, which had been virtually grounded, with the state Cabinet giving its nod for its execution in the private sector.

Employees to oppose Cong nominees
Shimla, December 7
The Himachal Pradesh All-Employees Joint Action Committee will oppose Congress-sponsored candidates in the ensuing panchayat and local body poll in the state.

Union leaders vent ire on varsity authorities
Palampur, December 7
The meeting of the Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) of HP Agricultural University was held here today. It expressed serious concern over the indifferent attitude of the university administration who had badly failed to watch the interests of the university in the past six months.

Impersonator held
Solan, December 7
The Barotiwala police arrested a youth, Arvind Thakur, late last night from the main chowk area after he was found impersonating as a CBI sub-inspector. A police party led by ASI Kalyan Singh rounded him up during a routine patrolling near Barotiwala chowk around 12.30 a.m. last night.

Industrial plots lying unused
Parwanoo, December 7
Even as the Himachal Pradesh Urban Development Authority (HIMUDA) has decided to issue notices for the misuse of industrial plots here, no final decision was taken on around 56.45 bigha of prime land of four industrial plots in Sector 2 of the town.

Nutan to write Parmar’s biography
Mandi, December 7
He had a stint as teacher, wandered as a hermit, and wrote against social evils in the hills. With 20 books to his credit, Krishan Kumar Nutan, 79, is still a rebel. Nutan has been requested to write a biography of Himachal Pradesh’s founder Chief Minister Dr Y.S. Parmar, whose centenary celebration is being held next year.

Kokje’s appeal to people on Flag Day
Shimla, December 7
Mr V.S. Kokje, Governor, has urged the people of the state to contribute generously towards the Sainik Welfare Fund on the occasion of Armed Forces Flag Day. The Governor was speaking to the armed force officers who had called on him at Raj Bhavan to pin up the flag on the occasion of Flag Day.

Man crushed to death by crane
Solan, December 7
A youth, Amar Kumar, hailing from Dadva village, near Chandigarh, was crushed to death when a crane (HR-68-3960) accidentally overran him while he had came down from the crane to clear the road of some eucalyptus branches near the Giri project at Gaura village today.

JBT candidates may step up stir
Mandi, December 7
The JBT Selected Candidates Mahasabha yesterday threatened to launch a statewide signatures campaign against the “anti-youth” policies of the state if the latter failed to resolve the JBT issue soon.

• 31 file papers for 9 MC wards
• Five held for youth’s death

CM evasive on 2nd capital issue
Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, December 7
Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh here today remained evasive on the issue of declaring Dharamsala as the second capital of Himachal Pradesh, saying that having a second capital in the state would put tremendous burden on the state finances. He said any such move would need development of massive infrastructure, which would unduly strain the state exchequer.

In a chat with newspersons, the Chief Minister said in any case Dharamsala remained the undeclared second state capital. He said Dharamsala had been the “second most important town in the state”, having the largest concentration of employees and important offices.

He said the government had given top priority to Kangra district and had shifted a large number of offices here with a view to making it administratively the most important town and to facilitate the people of surrounding areas.

He added that the state government was seriously considering the proposal of setting up a university named after Mahatma Gandhi in Kangra district.

He further directed the district authorities to make all necessary arrangements for holding the winter session of the Vidhan Sabha at Dharamsala from December 26. He directed all officials concerned to ensure that the announcements made by him in the winter sojourns materialised in time.

He added that the state government had decided to continue with the tradition of holding winter sessions of the Vidhan Sabha at Dharamsala. He said efforts were on to identify a suitable site for the construction of a multipurpose Vidhan Sabha Bhavan. 

Cabinet nod for wineries in private sector
Rakesh Lohumi
Tribune News Service

Shimla, December 7
Decks have been cleared for the implementation of the twin-wineries project, which had been virtually grounded, with the state Cabinet giving its nod for its execution in the private sector.

A fresh memorandum of understanding (MoU) will be signed with Himachal Indage, the principal promoter, for the project, which was earlier being implemented in the joint sector. The company will return Rs 15 lakh paid as equity share by the government. It will also pay Rs 1.25 crore for 70 bighas provided by the government at Nagwain in Kulu and Pragatinagar in Shimla for setting up the wineries. The payment will be made in instalments and land will be transferred in the name of the company after receiving the full amount.

The HPMC will have no equity but the company will have a tie-up with it for the procurement of fruit and the marketing of products. The state Horticulture Department will distribute planting material to farmers. The company, which has already spent about Rs 1.25 crore, had also sought the views of the government regarding contract farming. The company will have the option to have agreements with farmers for contract.

Work on the project, which was to be completed by 2003, has been at a standstill since the past three years. The joint venture ran into rough weather as the government and the HPMC failed to contribute their equity share for the Rs 40-crore venture. Uncertainty continued even after the company agreed to execute the project in the private sector instead of joint sector.

The cost of the project has now escalated to about Rs 60 crore. The first phase alone during which an apple-based winery is to be set up at Pragatinagar will cost about Rs 40 crore. In the second phase a grape-based winery was to be established at Nagwain in Kulu. The two units were to have a capacity to process about 15,000 tonnes of fruit annually.

It is major step towards diversification from apple to grapes. The imported varieties of grapes introduced under the project for trial have been successful even in the lower hill areas of Bilaspur, Mandi and Solan. The project would be beneficial not only to the apple belt comprising Shimla, Kulu and Kinnaur, but also lower hills. 

Employees to oppose Cong nominees
Tribune News Service

Shimla, December 7
The Himachal Pradesh All-Employees Joint Action Committee will oppose Congress-sponsored candidates in the ensuing panchayat and local body poll in the state.

Mr Gopal Das Verma, Chairman of the committee, said the decision had been taken in view of the anti-employee” policies being pursued by the Virbhadra government. He said the government had victimised employee leaders and also failed to release the instalments of the dearness allowance in time.

The major demands included refund of the professional tax deducted from the salaries of the employees and grant of interest on instalments of the dearness allowance which were released after 17 months.

The government also failed to order an inquiry into the employees accident insurance scheme in which commission was paid to some employees leaders. He said the scheme had been discontinued subsequently but the premium charged from the employees had not been refunded.

Union leaders vent ire on varsity authorities
Our Correspondent

Palampur, December 7
The meeting of the Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) of HP Agricultural University was held here today. It expressed serious concern over the indifferent attitude of the university administration who had badly failed to watch the interests of the university in the past six months.

Briefing mediapersons, Mr Vimal Shekhri and Dr B.C. Sood, Presidents, Non-teaching Employees Union and HPUTA, respectively, said the HPAU was among the first five universities of the country and as a hill university it was at the first position but because of the non-serious attitude of Vice-Chancellor and Registrar towards the institution, it was feared that it might lose its position.

He said the high status of the university had been achieved because of hard work and unending efforts of employees, teaching staff and students, but today the very existence of this institution was at stake.

All the members of the JCC were of the view that indifferent and non-serious attitude of senior officers of the university had not only affected functioning of the university but it had also creating general feeling of uncertainty, resentment in all sections of employees, including teaching and non teaching.

The members, in a resolution, alleged that Vice-Chancellor, Registrar and Comptroller were neither serious towards the progress of the university nor showing any interest in solving the problems of the teaching and non-teaching staff of the university.

They also alleged that for most of the time, the senior functionaries, including Vice-Chancellor and Registrar, remained on tour or on leave without making any alternative arrangements.

The JCC said the irresponsible attitude of the administration had adversely affected the pace of development and situation was taking an alarming turn.

All members of the JCC urged the Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh, to immediately interfere in the affairs of the institution and save it from further deterioration.

They said if no efforts were made the situation would go from bad to worse.

Impersonator held
Our Correspondent

Solan, December 7
The Barotiwala police arrested a youth, Arvind Thakur, late last night from the main chowk area after he was found impersonating as a CBI sub-inspector. A police party led by ASI Kalyan Singh rounded him up during a routine patrolling near Barotiwala chowk around 12.30 a.m. last night.

He claimed to be a CBI sub-inspector when questioned about his identity by the policemen on duty. He further produced a fake identity card of Himachal Police to substantiate his claim. The alert policemen were quick to note that the card bore the signatures of IG, Shimla, while if he were a CBI sleuth he should have carried a CBI identity card issued by the authority concerned. The card had no stamp or signature of any CBI official. His further questioning proved that he had been duping people by using this false identity for the past one year.

The SHO, Barotiwala, Mr Bhisham Thakur, said they had earlier received complaints from a couple of shopkeepers who had been befooled by him to shell out thousands. Hailing from Thattak village in Nurpur tehsil of Kangra district Arvind had earlier worked in an industrial unit for some time. He was presently residing at Gullerwala village for the past one year.

He would be produced in a local court tomorrow.

Industrial plots lying unused
Our Correspondent

Parwanoo, December 7
Even as the Himachal Pradesh Urban Development Authority (HIMUDA) has decided to issue notices for the misuse of industrial plots here, no final decision was taken on around 56.45 bigha of prime land of four industrial plots in Sector 2 of the town.

The land was lying unused for the past several years. Inquires revealed that HIMUDA was helpless on the matter for the want of assistance from the state government.

The four plots have not seen any activity for long time despite every inch of land in town now counted precious after the announcement of the Central Government package in 2003. On one side, new units were finding it hard to accommodate itself in the town to start it function and on other side, this major chunk of prime land has left unforgotten.

Out of the four plots, three were allotted on leasehold basis to public undertakings. As per norms HIMUDA cannot sue public undertaking to cancel the lease deed.

A plot measuring over 16,500 sq m (21.94 bighas) allotted to Him Process, a public sector undertaking, has not shown any industrial activity since 1976, the year when the plot was leased out.

Similarly, a 16,150 sq m (21.50 bighas) plot, allotted to the Small Scale Industries Corporation (SSIC) in 1976, is also lying unused for the past 15 years.

The fourth plot measuring over 5,603 sq m was allotted to Banta Engineering in 1979. But this plot rather to witness industrial activities has seen mushrooming of slum on it.

As per the Department of Industries the Him Process plot was leased out by HIMUDA and it was latter's responsibility to recommend the cancellation of lease deed. Regarding the allotment of land to the State Small Scale Industries and Export Corporation, the department says that the corporation has already decided to surrender the surplus land measuring 9,283 sq m and the department is considering to allot the land to the prospective entrepreneurs. But as per latest inquiries the matter was still hanging fire.

Senior officials of HIMUDA admit that it is the state government that can issue order to cancel the present lease deed and invite fresh deed. It would fetch crores to the government by allotting the plots to new units, pointed officials.

Nutan to write Parmar’s biography
Tribune News Service

Mandi, December 7
He had a stint as teacher, wandered as a hermit, and wrote against social evils in the hills. With 20 books to his credit, Krishan Kumar Nutan, 79, is still a rebel. Nutan has been requested to write a biography of Himachal Pradesh’s founder Chief Minister Dr Y.S. Parmar, whose centenary celebration is being held next year.

Nutan was honoured with Dr Parmar State Award-1999 for his book, “Itihaas Sakshi Hai”. This book highlighted the plight of state’s freedom fighters and forced the government to honour them subsequently. A film on mandi’s heritage, based on Nutan’s documentation is being prepared.

Nutan, a son of freedom fighter, worked in Mumbai from 1949 to 1957, with Balraj Sahni, Gulzar, Ramanand Sagar and Ananda Bakshi.

Mother’s cancer and father’s death in the eighties forced Nutan to take up a job of a teacher for a year, and then of a clerk.

In 1995 Ramanand Sagar filmed his script “Manwali” on Manali, a tourist town of the 
sage Manu.

Kokje’s appeal to people on Flag Day
Tribune News Service

Shimla, December 7
Mr V.S. Kokje, Governor, has urged the people of the state to contribute generously towards the Sainik Welfare Fund on the occasion of Armed Forces Flag Day. The Governor was speaking to the armed force officers who had called on him at Raj Bhavan to pin up the flag on the occasion of Flag Day.

He said the soldiers were rendering great service by protecting our frontiers and it was the moral duty of the countrymen to ensure welfare of their families.

He said that thousand of soldiers of the state were serving in the Indian armed forces and it was a matter of pride.

Man crushed to death by crane
Our Correspondent

Solan, December 7
A youth, Amar Kumar, hailing from Dadva village, near Chandigarh, was crushed to death when a crane (HR-68-3960) accidentally overran him while he had came down from the crane to clear the road of some eucalyptus branches near the Giri project at Gaura village today.

Amar Kumar had driven the crane from Mani Majra this morning. He had come down from the crane to clear the road when the vehicle suddenly speeded up and it overturned near a parapet, crushing Amar under it. Though people gathered to pull him out but he could not be rescued.

The police registered a case under Sections 279 and 304 of the IPC for rash and negligent driving causing death.

JBT candidates may step up stir
Tribune News Service

Mandi, December 7
The JBT Selected Candidates Mahasabha yesterday threatened to launch a statewide signatures campaign against the “anti-youth” policies of the state if the latter failed to resolve the JBT issue soon.

The JBT candidates held a protest rally here as their indefinite fast entered the 16th day here yesterday.

“The JBT candidates were selected for training in 2003, but they were never given training.

The future of over 1691 candidates is hanging in the balance”, stated Mr Amrit Lal, president, of the Mahasabha. He said candidates in Chamba, Mandi and other towns were on a relay last since a fortnight, but the state government had remained unmoved.

31 file papers for 9 MC wards

Parwanoo, December 7
As many as 31 candidates have filed their papers for elections to 9 wards of the local Municipal Council. Seven candidates filed their nominations on the concluding day yesterday. Out of the total 31 candidates, 10 candidates are women. Most of the nominations have been filed from ward No 4. Migrant population dominates this ward. All those filing their papers from this ward are migrant labourers.

The nominations can be withdrawn till tomorrow. The election symbols will be allotted tomorrow evening. Elections will take place on December 24. — OC

Five held for youth’s death
Tribune News Service

Mandi, December 7
The police has arrested five youths and recovered the weapon, which was used in a scuffle at a wedding at Seo village resulting in the death of a youth at Dharampur hospital on December 2. A case has been registered.