H I M A C H A L   P R A D E S H

BJP again stages walkout
Demands VAT abolition on food grains, diesel
Shimla, March 14
The entire BJP group today staged a walkout in the Vidhan Sabha accusing Mr Virbhadra Singh, Chief Minister, of evading major issues while replying to the debate on the general Budget and not accepting the demand for abolishing VAT on food grains and diesel.

Extend deadline for painting roofs: BJP
Shimla, March 14
BJP leader, Mr Ganesh Dutt yesterday urged the Municipal Corporation to approach the high court, seeking more time for the house owners to paint the roofs of their houses by March, 31.

HP to have family planning insurance
Shimla, March 14
The Himachal Government today decided to introduce a family planning insurance scheme in the state based on the central scheme to supplement its existing family planning scheme.

Sentence in rape case upheld
Shimla, March 14
The Himachal High Court today upheld the sentence to accused Karam Chand who had committed rape on a minor girl. Mr Justice Deepak Gupta dismissed the appeal preferred by the accused by observing that the trial court order called for no interference.

BJP again stages walkout
Demands VAT abolition on food grains, diesel
Tribune News Service

Shimla, March 14
The entire BJP group today staged a walkout in the Vidhan Sabha accusing Mr Virbhadra Singh, Chief Minister, of evading major issues while replying to the debate on the general Budget and not accepting the demand for abolishing VAT on food grains and diesel.

Mr P.K. Dhumal, leader of the BJP group, was on his legs as soon as the Chief Minister finished his reply to the debate. He alleged that most of the important issues like corruption, price rise and hike in wages of workers and Home Guards and deteriorating law and order situation had not been touched at all. He said Himachal was a consumer state and his suggestion to reduce VAT on food grains and diesel would have provided some relief from price rise to the poor but it was not accepted.

Thereafter, the entire group led by Mr Dhumal walked out expressing dissatisfaction over the reply of the Chief Minister.

Criticising the walkout, Mr Virbhadra Singh said the BJP was not in a position to face the reality and its action represented “moral cowardice”. He said under the new VAT regime parity had to be maintained in taxes across the country and the state government could not do much on its own.

Earlier replying to the seven-day debate, the Chief Minister rebutted the BJP charge that the state was being pushed into a debt trap and cited comparative figures to put the blame for exorbitant debt liability on the previous Dhumal regime. He said the ratio of debt to gross state domestic product (GSDP) increased from 61 per cent in 1998-99 to 80 per cent in 2003-04 and it was again brought down to 76 per cent by the present government. The debt increased from Rs 4,967 crore to Rs 12,393 crore over the five-year period.

Further, the ratio of interest to GSDP, which increased from 5.63 per cent to 8.15 per cent during the BJP regime, had been improving over the past three years and come down to 7.25 per cent in 2006-07. The government had taken a conscious decision not to go for non-SLR loans and the net borrowings had been contained at less than Rs 1,000 crore per annum for 2005-06 and 2006-07.

He said the BJP criticism that the government was not doing enough to raise its resources was misplaced as the state’s own income had been doubled from Rs 1,050 crore in 2002-03 to Rs 2,039 crore in 2005-06 and further reach Rs 2,189 crore in 2006-07, which was unprecedented. In contrast, during the five years of the BJP rule it increased by a meagre Rs 271 crore. Not only that, the Dhumal government also surrendered the revenue deficit grant of Rs 454 crore.

The government had cleared industrial projects involving an investment of Rs 16,438 crore with a potential to provide employment to 2.34 lakh persons. Besides, 35,000 jobs were being created in the government sector.

Mr Gangu Ram Musafir, Speaker, adjourned the house for a nine-day recess during which standing committees will scrutinise the demands for each department and present their report.

Extend deadline for painting roofs: BJP
Tribune News Service

Shimla, March 14
BJP leader, Mr Ganesh Dutt yesterday urged the Municipal Corporation (MC) to approach the high court, seeking more time for the house owners to paint the roofs of their houses by March, 31.

In a statement issued here yesterday, Mr Dutt said the MC councillors should prepare a detailed proposal and approach the high court seeking more time for house owners to paint the roofs of their houses red or green in view of the inclement weather conditions.

He said that it was not possible to get paint work done in such a weather. The matter should be placed before the high court, on whose direction the roofs of all the houses are to be painted either green or red. He also demanded that the MC should bear a certain percentage of the cost to be incurred on painting the roofs as it charged house tax at the rate of 15.50 percent, he added further.

“Painting the roof will not cost less than Rs 15,000 to 20,000, which is not within the reach of every house owner , so it is the duty of the MC to bear a portion of this expenditure,” he demanded.

He said that MC should immediately chalk out a proposal so that there was no contempt of court and at the same time the house owners would get time to get help from the MC to get the work done.

It is on the directions of the high court that all house owners have been asked to paint the roof of their house red or green so that there was some uniformity which adds to the beauty of the town.

HP to have family planning insurance
Tribune News Service

Shimla, March 14
The Himachal Government today decided to introduce a family planning insurance scheme in the state based on the central scheme to supplement its existing family planning scheme.

The decision was taken at the meeting of the Cabinet which met under the chairmanship of Mr Virbhadra Singh, Chief Minister, here.

The new scheme provides for compensation to the acceptors of sterilisation and indemnity insurance cover for doctors performing sterilisation procedures in both government and accredited private non-government organisations and corporate health facilities.

The scheme provides for a compensation in the event of death due to sterilisation in hospital to the tune of Rs 1 lakh, death due to sterilisation within 30 days of discharge from hospital (Rs 30,000) and expenses for treatment of medical complications due to a sterilisation operation within 60 days of operation (Rs 20,000) to be reimbursed on the basis of actual expenditure incurred.

The Cabinet approved creation of 29 dental mechanics and 29 dental hygienists for various dental clinics established in different community health centres to strengthen the health facilities network in the state.

It approved the development plan for the Nahan planning area with a view to preserving the heritage of the town, its peripheries and carry out future expansions in a planned manner.

The other decisions included upgradation of the post of Deputy Registrar in the Administrative Tribunal to that of Registrar Judicial and re-designation of the post of Registrar as Registrar Administration.

Creation of various posts for judicial lock-up Kalpa to provide foolproof security arrangements to the undertrials and other prisoners and purchase of vehicles for various departments in the tribal areas.

Sentence in rape case upheld
Our Legal Correspondent