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Cong flouted democratic norms in panchayat,
ZP polls: BJP
HRTC diverts loan to be paid as PF
Advance money for hydel projects reduced
Minister smells rat in ZP chief’s election
Two bridges inaugurated
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BJP recaptures Zila Parishad
Electoral rolls ready for inspection
Lack of quorum prevents poll
for MC chief
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Cong flouted democratic norms in panchayat,
Palampur, January 17 He alleged the ruling Congress party flouted all democratic norms to capture the Zila Parishad and BDC chiefs’ post. Addressing a news conference here this evening, Mr Bhardwaj alleged that the Congress misused government machinery to win these elections and also sought the assistance of the police to influence the elected members of the BJP to vote in favour of the Congress candidates in the Zila Parishad chief’s elections. He said it was most unfortunate that BJP workers all over the state were victimised and false cases were registered against them. He alleged that though the BJP had lodged protest with the state election commission time and again, no action was taken against the erring Congress leaders. Mr Bhardwaj said the way the Congress candidate declared elected as Una Zila Parishad chief by the additional district magistrate, it was nothing but the highhandedness of the ruling party. He alleged that a rejected vote was counted in the favour the Congress candidate by the magistrate. He threatened to move High Court in this regard. Criticising the attitude of Transport Minister G.S. Bali during the elections in Kangra, he said the minister behaved in most autocratic manner and crossed all limits to victimise the BJP members. The BJP leader said the government had created emergency-like situation in the state and the members of the parishad were forced to leave their houses to avoid kidnapping by the Congress leaders. He said it was most unfortunate that the Chief Minister, who was camping at Dharmsala all these days, remained a mute spectator to all actions of his party men. |
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HRTC diverts loan to be paid as PF
Shimla, January 17 The corporation has been reeling under mounting losses, with liabilities crossing the Rs 100- crore mark. With the government grant pegged at Rs 27 crore, the corporation has been using the provident fund of employees to run its affairs. This led to a shortfall of Rs 59 crore in the provident fund. In a bid to bail it out of the financial crisis, the government provided a loan of Rs 59 crore through the Infrastructure Development Corporation to enable it to recoup the provident fund. The annual interest of Rs 5.5 crore was to be borne by the government for the first two years. Besides, the annual grant was enhanced to Rs 48 crore on the condition that it would downsize its set-up by reducing the strength of staff by 500 and that of the bus fleet from 1700 to 1500. However, the corporation has deposited only Rs 52 crore in the provident fund account and diverted the remaining Rs 7 crore to meets its liabilities. Not only that it is also not depositing the provident fund and the shortfall on this account has again swelled to Rs 15 crore. The corporation also owes over Rs 15 crore to the suppliers of spare parts, tyres and other accessories. The decision of the government to reduce the special road tax will provide only marginal relief of about Rs 2.5 crore annually which is suffering a monthly loss of about Rs 7 crore. As such even with the enhanced grant of Rs 48 crore , the revenue gap will be around Rs 30 crore. The only way out is to carry out the reforms in the right earnest and ensure that along with the reduction in fleet ,the corporation should discontinue its services on loss-making routes. |
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Advance money for hydel projects reduced
Shimla, January 17 As per a decision, instead of having advance payment of Rs 5 lakh per MW, the government has split it into three slabs. For projects between one MW to 50 MW, the money has been fixed at Rs one lakh per MW. In the next slab between 50 MW to 100 MW, the money would be Rs 2 lakh per MW. The last category comprising bigger projects above 100 MW this amount shall be Rs 5 lakh per MW. This is to encourage Himachalis and local cooperatives to get into hydel power generation especially micro and mini hydel projects of up to 2 MW. Some of local companies had requested the government to reduce the advance money only big industrial houses were in position to pay such a huge amount they had felt. The government too wanted participation of more companies in the hydel power sector. The government also agreed to the request of foreign firms operating in the hydel power sector to extend the last date for studying tenders and other details of the 28 hydel power projects for which tenders had been floated. “The government wanted fast availability of funds to complete the projects. There has been industrial boom in the state as big houses have set up projects in the Baddi-Barotiwala belt in Solan district and Kala Amb and Paonta Sahib in Sirmaur district. |
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Minister smells rat in ZP chief’s election
Dharamsala, January 17 Addressing a press conference, he said as a minister from Kangra, he took responsibility for the defeat, but at the same time, contrary to the BJP’s claims that 33 members of the parishad were on their side, only 30 votes were cast in their favour, which was an indication of foul play. He further said it was a time for introspection for both parities and the BJP could be in for a tough time due to impending infighting among the newly-elected members of the parishad. He said there was absolutely no pressure on any member and there was no need for BJP leader Ramesh Dhawala to go to Nalarh with two members, where the police booked him last week on the charges of damaging a vehicle. While Mr Des Raj from Shahpur was elected the chairman, defeating Congress-backed Kuldeep Kumar by four votes, Ms Urmil Bhuria trounced Congress-supported Ms Indira Devi by 11 votes. Mr Bali said 16 of the total 21 block development committees had gone in favour of the Congress and three parishad members from the area had also sided with the party, of which one was later lured by the BJP with the false promise of offering chairmanship. |
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Two bridges inaugurated
Nurpur, January 17 He inaugurated a 129 m-long bridge on the Indpur-Tappa road, built at a cost of Rs 1.25 crore. The other bridge was inaugurated on the Charori rivulet on the Gangath-Makroli road, built at a cost of Rs 68.90 lakh, having 85 m length. Mr Virbhadra Singh also laid the foundation stone of two bridges on the Gangath Makroli and Indora-Rey roads, respectively, on Charori and Pariala rivulets. Addressing a public meeting at Indora, the Chief Minister reiterated that the campaign against encroachments on government land in the state would be taken up more vigorously. The Chief Minister on this occasion also announced the proposal to upgrade government middle schools at Paral and Sohara villages, besides upgradation of the primary school at Madolli village. |
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BJP recaptures Zila Parishad
Reckong Peo, January 17 Mrs Chander Mani, a supporter of the BJP, was elected as the chairperson of the Zila Parishad, while another BJP supporter, Mr Chander Kirti, was elected as the vice-chairman. It may be mentioned that six out of the 10 newly elected members supported the BJP candidates. Earlier, the BJP had managed to take control over all the three BDCs in the district. The district president of the BJP, Mr Tejwant Negi, said the BJP had virtually routed the ruling Congress in in the district. |
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Electoral rolls ready for inspection
Shimla, January 17 Mr Prem Kumar, Chief Electoral Officer, here today urged the eligible voters to inspect the electoral rolls to ensure their entry in the list. He said that electoral rolls could be inspected in the offices of the District Election Officers, Returning or Assistant Returning Officers and also the polling stations within a week from the final date of the publication. The electoral rolls were also available on the website, http:/eco.himachal.nic. The voters whose names had not appeared in the electoral rolls could apply to the returning officer concerned on the prescribed form. |
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Lack of quorum prevents poll
for MC chief
Kangra, January 17 Mr
H.S. Pundeer, SDM, Kangra, who administered the oath of office and secrecy to the nine elected members in two groups, said that as four members took the oath in one group and five took oath in another group, the quorum could not be completed and the process of election could not be initiated today. He said the next date for holding of the election to the chairman’s office was decided as January 20. He said that on January 20, the condition of quorum was not applicable, so even if three councillors report, the elections would be held. |
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