H I M A C H A L   P R A D E S H

Truckers call off stir
Solan, February 13
Succumbing to the demands of four truck unions, Gujarat Ambuja Cement Limited today conceded the demand for a 4.8 per cent freight hike with retrospective effect from July 2005 bringing the two-week stalemate to an end.

Chamba’s development hangs fire
Chamba: Although the Congress government is now going to complete three years of rule, the prestigious hydroelectric projects on the Ravi, such as 231 MW Chamera stage-III, 260 MW Hibra, 200 MW Holi-Bajoli and 200 MW Bada Bhangal, besides other projects of below 100 MW capacity on the tributaries of the river have not been undertaken so far. Even the work on the Chamera-III is held up.

HIMUDA land with MC likely to spark row
Parwanoo, February 13
A war of words was on cards between the local Municipal Council (MC) and HIMUDA over the lease issue of a 7300 square metre of ground land here. The ground located on prime land was leased out to the MC by HIMUDA, the development agency of town. The lease would end this year. However, the MC was in no mood to hand over the ground to lessor.

Water scheme for 16 panchayats
Mandi, February 13
The Irrigation and Public Health Minister, Mr Kaul Singh Thakur, has said that his department has sanctioned a Rs 13.60-crore drinking water scheme covering 16 panchayats in the Paddar and Dhundha areas.

Truckers call off stir
Our Correspondent

Solan, February 13
Succumbing to the demands of four truck unions, Gujarat Ambuja Cement Limited (GACL) today conceded the demand for a 4.8 per cent freight hike with retrospective effect from July 2005 bringing the two-week stalemate to an end.

The decision was arrived at a day-long meeting chaired by Deputy Commissioner Rajesh Kumar where the truck unions and the GACL management arrived at a consensus to end the 14-day old strike. While the largest truck union, the SDTO, had earlier agreed to end the strike after the GACL management agreed to effect a freight hike equivalent to the ACC, Barmana, the other three truck unions finally agreed to the decision this evening.

While agreeing to this immediate solution, the four unions have also given a written undertaking to abide by the Avay Shukla committee recommendations for freight hike as directed by the court. The committee will present its report in the high court in April.

Transport Minister G.S. Bali said the government would ensure that a cordial atmosphere was provided to the industry, but the interests of the truckers would not be allowed to suffer. The government, he asserted, would, however, not bow to the diktats of the unions and ensure that the law of the land was followed.

The 44 truckers arrested yesterday for violating Section 144 were let off on bail while another 22 were arrested at Chamakhri Mor late last evening when they tried to burn two trucks which were hired by the GACL. A case has been registered against them under Sections 107 and 151 of the IPC.

Agitated by the hiring of trucks from outside, truckers had tried to burn these trucks. The truckers also threw stones on policemen patrolling the area. The area has been converted into a cantonment with more than 500 policemen being stationed there. Police officials said the situation was peaceful and under control.

Chamba’s development hangs fire
Balkrishan Prashar

Chamba: Although the Congress government is now going to complete three years of rule, the prestigious hydroelectric projects on the Ravi, such as 231 MW Chamera stage-III, 260 MW Hibra, 200 MW Holi-Bajoli and 200 MW Bada Bhangal, besides other projects of below 100 MW capacity on the tributaries of the river have not been undertaken so far. Even the work on the Chamera-III is held up.

The announcement for the construction of a tunnel beneath Jot Pass to shorten the distance of Chamba with the state capital Shimla still appears to be a ‘gimmick’. There is nothing worth mentioning in the name of employment-oriented projects.

The Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh is endowed with vast hydropower and tourism potential. Therefore, there is a wide scope for the development and promotion of these two major industries which can generate employment opportunities, directly and indirectly, for the uplift of the poor living on high-altitude areas. But who will take the lead in harnessing these free potentials? Consequently the development of Chamba is hanging fire.

The grouse of various organisations and trade unions of this region is that the Congress and the BJP, which ruled the state earlier, have so far failed to rise to the expectations of the people.

These organisations have suggested ways of bringing about revolutionary developments in the hydro and tourism sectors. Merely opening schools and dispensaries, that too without staff, is not development, they boldly state. The revenue subdivisions of Churah, Bhattiyat, Bharmour and Pangi are devoid of sub-judge courts. There is no division of the Public Works Department (PWD), Irrigation and Public Health (IPH) and Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board (HPSEB) in Churah and Bhattiyat areas.

They allege that none of the public representatives sitting in the Himachal Vidhan sabha has so far stood for the development of Chamba. Cottage and small-scale industries are possible if a little attention is given by the elected representatives.

According to their point of view, Chamba district is the most neglected as compared to other parts in the spheres of education, health, communication etc. Chamba figures in the list of 51 backward districts of the country.

Chamba at one time was known for its hospitability, rich culture and was a good trade centre, especially of medicinal herbs, forest produce and products such as honey, desi ghee, chukh and pickles. But now it has lost its importance.

There are nine non-tribal panchayats in the Bharmour tribal Assembly constituency, which have been waiting for a ‘tribal status’ for the past several years. Even the entire district Chamba is the most backward. Local residents are not getting timber on right-holder rates. There are more than six crematoriums in the town which need adequate stock of funeral wood. Sometimes four or five bodies reach the crematorium site and fuel wood falls short.

Meanwhile, the local populace in general has demanded that the date for the payment of bills, such as electricity, water and phone bills, should be in the first week instead of the last week of the month when the month’s salary is fully exhausted.

An official spokesman, however, maintains that over Rs 100 crore is being spent annually on the development of Chamba district under various state and Centrally-sponsored schemes.

HIMUDA land with MC likely to spark row
Jagmeet Y. Ghuman

Parwanoo, February 13
A war of words was on cards between the local Municipal Council (MC) and HIMUDA over the lease issue of a 7300 square metre of ground land here. The ground located on prime land was leased out to the MC by HIMUDA, the development agency of town. The lease would end this year. However, the MC was in no mood to hand over the ground to lessor.

We want this ground land get transferred in the name of the MC, said a senior MC functionary.

The most of area of town falls under the jurisdiction of the MC as far as development work was concerned, he maintained. To meet expenses the transfer of the land to the MC was must to start revenue generated project on it, he asserted.

The MC had made a written request to the HIMUDA authorities based in Shimla to transfer the land to it about one and a half year back. Interestingly, HIMUDA had not even bothered to reply. This was an irony that all land in town belongs to HIMUDA, while responsibility to bear development expenses falls on the MC, said the official.

With limited resources and a meager annual grant from the state government the MC at present was not in position to meet ever growing expenses. To raise internal revenue sources, the MC has planned to construct parking places, commercial complexes and shopping complexes on the land. All these were planned under the Central Government funded Rs 2 crore Industrial Development of Small and Medium Town project. The annual income from this project was estimated at around Rs 1.50 crore.

“In order to get the land we have planned to rope in political leaders to help our cause,” pointed official. The six small pieces of land allotted by HIMUDA to carry out revenue-oriented development work were virtually of no use due to their location and small size, the official remarked. The land could not be transferred, pointed a senior official of HIMUDA in Shimla. It could only be leased further, he maintained. As per norms the earlier leased out land could only be leased further, but not transferred, official clarified.

Water scheme for 16 panchayats
Tribune News Service

Mandi, February 13
The Irrigation and Public Health Minister, Mr Kaul Singh Thakur, has said that his department has sanctioned a Rs 13.60-crore drinking water scheme covering 16 panchayats in the Paddar and Dhundha areas.

Inaugurating the building of Government Middle School, Chunku, in Drang here, Mr Thakur said water would be lifted from the Panjot nullah and a storage tank having a capacity of 26 lakh litres would be constructed at Ghoghardhar for distribution among villages in 16 panchayats.

Mr Thakur said the Chunki civil dispensary would be upgraded to a primary health centre. He announced a grant of Rs 12 lakh for its building. The primary school, Chunku, would be upgraded to a high school from the next session, he added.

The minister also inaugurated a government primary school building at Nagni.