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State heading deeper into debt trap
BJP seeks dismissal of Congress government
Chief Minister launches rural employment scheme
Illegal mining in
Chakki rivulet threat to |
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Modern tents to boost tourism in Kinnaur villages
Reckong Peo, March 5 To give boost to tourism activities in this tribal belt, the state government has decided to provide tents with modern facilities of attached toilets and an open kitchen/bar in six villages of Kinnaur namely Kafnu, Nichar, Kalpa, Raksham, Ropa and Batseri.
Tenzin’s parents demand details from school board
Hunt on for Maoist sympathisers
Doctors urge CM to meet demands
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State heading deeper into debt trap
Shimla, March 5 The state’s average daily income is only Rs 18 crore against daily expenditure of Rs 23.80 crore, but Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh has chosen not to impose any fresh taxes. The annual deficit comes to Rs 2,150 crore, which is almost 25 per cent of the total Budget. To bridge this revenue gap through long-term loans instead of raising resources can make the Budget palatable, but it will put the state’s finances under increasing stress. The state has earned the dubious distinction of the second most debt-stressed state after Mizoram. The ever-increasing committed expenditure on salaries, pensions and debt servicing will make matters worse. Last year, the government was forced to withdraw the newly imposed professional tax midway during the year and this could be the reason for the Chief Minister not taking any such measure this time. The revenue deficit grant from the Centre has increased by about Rs 1,500 crore with the implementation of the 12th Finance Commission award, but the state is still raising loans to the tune of Rs 2,000 crore to meet the deficit. The gap is bound to increase from next year as the devolution under the award will come down by about Rs 200 crore in the fourth and fifth year, while the liability on account of salary and pension will jump up from Rs 3,698 crore to Rs 4,800 crore by 2009-10. The outstanding debt will reach Rs 23,000 crore and the interest liability will touch the Rs 2,000-crore mark. Despite buoyancy in tax collections, income of the state is increasing only by about Rs 250 crore annually, which is not enough to offset the impact of increase in salaries. The net impact will be that the revenue gap will increase to over Rs 3,200 crore by 2009-10. The state’s reluctance to carry out reforms is the main reason for this alarming situation. Despite hype about reforms, not much has happened on the ground. There has been no real downsizing of the government and the number of employees has, in fact, increased to 2,92,723, including 49,903 in public undertakings and 11,852 in aided institutions, as on March 31, 2005. There has been no unbundling of the state power board, which is accumulating huge losses every year. Its employee cost of Rs 1.35 per unit is the highest in the country, as a result of which the government is forced to pay Rs 95 crore as subsidy to keep electricity tariff of domestic consumers within reasonable limits. With Assembly elections due in February, 2008, economic reforms will surely take a backseat, which does not augur well for the state’s fiscal health. |
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BJP seeks dismissal of Congress government
Shimla, March 5 The allegations have been made in the charge sheet submitted to the Governor, Mr V.S. Kokje, on the completion of the three years of the Congress government in the state. The party urged Mr Kokje to sack the Congress government, which stood exposed in the eyes of the people. The 31-page document, released by Mr Suresh Bhardwaj, state BJP chief, here today covered most of the departments, boards and corporation. However, the party singled out Mar Kaul Singh, Irrigation and Public Health Minister, Mr Ram Lal Thakur, Forest Minister, Mr Kuldeep Kumar, Industries Minister, and Mr Singhi Ram, Civil Supplies Minister, for an in depth inquiry into their assets, which, it maintained, exceeded their known sources of income. Besides, it reiterated the demand for a probe into the Mumbai musical blast scam, the award of ski village project and other charges against the Transport Minister, Mr G.S. Bali, regarding which it presented a memorandum to the Governor last year. An adviser of the Chief Minister, a senior police officer, Vice-Chancellor of Himachal Pradesh University and the chairperson of the Himachal Board of School Education, the Engineer-in-Chief of the Public Works Department and some other leaders have also been targeted. The focus is on corruption, though the alleged failures of the government in maintaining law and order, improving the financial position of the debt-ridden state, checking price rise and various acts of commission and omission have been mentioned at length in the charge sheet. The charge sheet mentions the names of 13 companies floated by a favoured contractor who had been obliged with lion’s share in contracts by the Irrigation and Public Health Department. Besides, it also points out specific irregularities in sewerage scheme for Jwalamukhi town in which the contract was split into 27 small works to accommodate some contractors. Irregularities were also alleged in the purchase of pipes for the Giri water supply scheme to augment the supply to Shimla. It also points to the emergence of a “van” mafia in Bilaspur, the district of the Forest Minister, where khair trees were being felled on a large scale. Interestingly, the party whose own leaders were in a spot over the allotment of petrol pumps during the NDA regime, has come out with a list of 12 Congress leaders, including ministers, who have managed to secure petrol pumps in the names of their kith and kin. A minister has got a petrol pump for one of his sons and set up an industrial training institute in the name of the other son. Some details of the assets allegedly acquired by Mr Singhi Ram, Mr Kaul Singh and Mr Ram Lal have also been provided. Bungling has been alleged in the award of mini and micro power projects and in all 117 out of 196 projects have been given to outsiders and the maximum number of contracts have gone to Hyderabad based companies on political considerations. Another 30 have been given to benami companies. Other allegations include illegal sale of land belonging to tea estates, irregularities in the purchase of medicines and medical equipment, nepotism in the recruitment of lecturers and other categories of staff and the supply of substandard implements to fruit growers. |
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Chief Minister launches rural employment scheme
Nahan, March 5 Mr Virbhadra Singh said in this district till now 2,161 eligible families had been registered under the scheme and the process was still on. All persons who applied for employment under the scheme would be provided at least 100 days’ employment. He added more districts would be brought under the scheme next year. The CM distributed job guarantee cards among the eligible family members of all six development blocks of the district. The Panchayati Raj and Rural Development Minister, Mr Sat Mahajan, said that within next two years all the panchayats in the state would be computerised and every information regarding panchayats would be online. Mr Mahajan said the government had given vast powers to panchayats and every project would be executed by the panchayats directly. A corpus of Rs 30 crore would be created under the Urban Renewal Scheme for providing best facilities to the local people, Mr Virbhadra Singh, said while addressing a reception organised in his honour by members of the Zila Parishad, panchayat samitis and nagar parishad at Nahan last evening. Mr G.R. Musafir, Speaker, Vidhan Sabha, thanked the Chief Minister for bringing Sirmaur district under various development and special projects.
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Illegal mining in Chakki rivulet threat to 12 villages
Nurpur, March 5 According to Mr Hoshiar Singh, general secretary of the Kangra district’s the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh and pradhan of Khanni gram panchayat farmers of this particular area were the worst sufferers as 4000 acres of their fertile land had become barren. Residents of affected villages alleged 70 to 80 JCB machines (earth excavation machines) had been working day and night in Chakki rivulet for mining purposes. As many as 24 stone crushers are set up in Punjab area bordering Himachal. Their JCB machines descend on Chakki river passing through Himachal daily and quarry stone with impunity courtesy apathy of the state mining authorities. A number of operators of JCB machines engaged in mining in the river bed admitted to the mediapersons that over 70 JCB machines were being used daily for mining to supply quarried material to stone crushers set up in Punjab area. They also admitted that ongoing mining was being done with lease or licence. Villagers of affected gram panchayats, who are up in arms against mining in area lamented that water level in the region had went down and ditches had been dug in the river bed posing a threat to the movement of humans and animals. “We have sent many complaints to state government and authorities concerned but to no avail,” they rued. They suspected illegal activities in the area were going on in connivance with authorities concerned. Villagers of these gram panchayats have threatened stir if the government failed to check illegal mining in Chakki river. Illegal mining has posed a threat not only to the environment and lives of villagers but the state exchequer was also losing revenue of lakhs every year due to the evasion of royalty and local taxes. Sub Divisional Magistrate Nurpur N.K. Lath claimed the administration had raided many times and imposed penalty of Rs 2 lakh on the violators and impounded a number of JCB machines used in illegal mining. He admitted that coordination between the mining authorities and the administration could check the menace. |
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Modern tents to boost tourism in Kinnaur villages
Reckong Peo, March 5 This was revealed by Dr Amandeep Garg, District Magistrate, Kinnaur, while reviewing the developmental works at a meeting of the Block Development Officers (BDOs) held here early this week. Dr Garg said there is a great scope of attracting tourists from metro cities by providing them quality food and beverages in tents in open areas amid natural beauty. It may be mentioned that Banjara Camp — a tourism promotion company from New Delhi — is successfully attracting tourists from cities and also abroad. Banjara Camp is situated on the outskirts of Batseri village on the banks of the Baspa rivulet in the Sangla Valley. In the meeting it was decided to construct 20 modern toilets under the Total Sanitation Campaign (TSC) in Anganwari centres with the funds provided by the Union Government during the current financial year. The work is already in progress in the villages of Telangi and Ralli. In the next financial year, a target of constructing 80 more modern toilets had been fixed, said Dr Garg. Dr Garg said a model sanitation park would be established at Reckong Peo, district headquarters of Kinnaur, to inspire tribal people to help the administration in constructing modern toilets in the far-flung villages of the district. This would help in improving the living standards of the tribal people, Dr Garg said. Mr S.D. Negi, Project Officer of the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA), who attended the meeting, told The Tribune that the district administration would organise round-the-year training programmes for the rural folk related to agriculture, horticulture, dairy development, art and craft, etc in the Grameen Bhandar Hall at Reckong Peo from the next financial year. A district-level designers workshop would be organised under the Ambedkar Hastshilpa Yojana in March to improve the skills of rural artisans and guide them to compete with the production of modern industries. |
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Plan to save Renuka wetlands
Renuka: Concerned over the decline of the Renuka wetlands, near Nahan, the State Council for Science, Technology and Environment, Shimla, has prepared an action plan to save these from
siltation, pollution and growth of weeds.
Over the years the total area covered by water has reduced by over 25 per cent. The eastern side of the lake has been transformed into a marshy area. Last year the Switzerland-based Ramsar Convention Bureau had included the wetlands in the list of
Ramsar sites. Named after Goddess Renuka, mother of Lord Parashurama, the Renuka Lake is one of the largest natural water bodies in Himachal Pradesh. Its depth varies from 1m to 13m. Geologists believe that the lake had a tectonic origin and was formed in the abandoned course of the Giri river following a tectonic uplift. Mr Prabodh Saxena, member-secretary of the council, says the action plan, involving Rs 18 lakh, was submitted to the Ministry of Environment and Forests for approval. Under the plan, the council proposed to undertake more mechanical and vegetative measures in the catchment to slow down its “ageing” process. He says every year when the lake dries manual desilting operations begin. So far, 19,290 sq m of the 20,640 sq m silted area has been
desilted. The wetlands receive water mainly from 21 seasonal streams. Internal springs also feed the lake. The council proposed to construct 20 check dams and five check walls to arrest the flow of silt. Prof B.K. Das, Research Scientist, Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, says: “Rapid urbanisation and development activities have put tremendous pressure on the water body. The siltation rate is an alarming 3.3 millimetres per year.” Professor Das, a former professor of Panjab University, Chandigarh, says the water is getting toxic due to various reasons, including religious festivities on the banks of the lake and pesticides that run off from fields. Limestone mining upstream also contributes to the toxicity of the water. Studies show the water of the Parashurama
Tal, located near the lake, is much more toxic than that of the Renuka Lake. He attributes this to the inflow of sewage into the channel that feeds the Parashurama
Tal. Dr R.M. Sharma, scientist, Zoological Survey of India, Solan, says the lake supports a rich fauna. The department has recorded limnocnida medusa, commonly known as jellyfish, in the lake. In Himachal, this fish is found only in this lake. |
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Tenzin’s parents demand details from school board
Kangra, March 5 Mr Earnest Albert and his wife Harjeet told The Tribune today that their son Tenzin had passed the Class X examination through the National Open School, under the Ministry of Human Resource Development, at the age of 12 years last year. They added that he had sought the permission of the board to appear in the Class XI examination, adding that he had secured 81 per cent marks in the French language paper. They said the board authorities called him for an intelligence quotient test on December 27 and rejected his candidature, saying he was an average student. The couple demanded that the minutes of the meeting be provided to them and board Chairman B.R. Rahi give them details of the procedure employed. They alleged that Tenzin was called for interview and sent back after 30 minutes, claiming that fundamental rights of their son were being violated by board authorities. Mr Rahi told The Tribune that Tenzin was not fulfilling the conditions of eligibility and that was the reason he was not allowed to appear in the examination. Asked about the demand of Tenzin’s parents, Mr Rahi said the board had not received it yet, adding that appropriate action would be taken after receiving it. |
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Kokje urges people to protect cultural heritage
Mandi, March 5 Addressing a large gathering after leading the Madavarai yatra on the occasion Mahashivratri that concluded here at Paddal stadium today, Mr Kokje said the rich tradition of fairs and festivals were losing their ancient appeal and flavour. The people should come forward to protect them and promote them in their ancient grandeur. Mr Kokje led the Madhavrai Shivratri yatra in which several devtas participated. He was accompanied by the chairman of the mela committee and Deputy Commissioner, Mandi, Mr Subhasish Panda, the present princely scion of the erstwhile Mandi state, Mr Someshawar Sen, and his other family members, the ADC, Mr R.S. Gupta, the Mandi Municipal Council president, Mr H.R. Vaidya. Mr Kokje praised the district administration for the successful organisation of the weeklong Mahashivratri mela in the town. He also watched a colourful cultural programme presented by the cultural troupes from Karnataka, students of Senior Secondary Girls School, Mandi, and others. Over 185 devtas, which participated in the Mahashivratri procession today, started the journey back to their respective temple treasuries from different parts of Mandi district. Meanwhile, the audience gave a mixed response to the cultural night shows. The cine singers KK and Madhushri and Punjabi heartthrob Jasbir Jassi stole the limelight and were well-received by the audience. |
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Hunt on for Maoist sympathisers
Shimla, March 5 According to rough estimates available with the police, over 35,000 Nepalese are working in different parts of Himachal.
Although it is not for the first time that murmurs in support of the Maoist movement have caused concern to the state police. Some time back also reports had revealed that the Nepalese working in the state were being forced to shell out money. The police has launched a hunt for those who have put up these posters at Rampur and Solan. The posters, in English, are basically in support of the Maoist movement and have the name of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist). “We suspect that this is the handiwork of the sympathisers of the Maoists who have been working under the banner of the Nepali Mool Pravah in certain states of India,” informed a police official. |
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Doctors urge CM to meet demands
Nurpur, March 5 They alleged the government had been keeping the doctors in the dark by not issuing the list of promotional posts of 75 block medical officer. The association urged the state government to regularise the services of the doctors who had been appointed on contract through the HP Public Service Commission. It also demanded to increase the posts of registrar. |
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Dental doctors seek hike in salary
Shimla, March 5 The deputation pointed out that the government had increased the monthly salary of all the contract doctors from Rs 12,000 to Rs 16,000 per month with effect from August 1, 2005. However, the dental doctors had been deprived of this benefit. |
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Foreigner’s body found
Kangra, March 5 The Kangra district police chief, Mr S.P. Singh, said today the highly decomposed body of a foreign woman was detected in the Dharamkot forests. He said during the post-mortem examination it was found that the body did not bear signs of any injury. |
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