Shimla, November 11
Efforts are on to ensure equity participation in major hydroelectric projects in order to derive maximum benefits for the state.

This was stated by Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh while inaugurating the four day-long Lavi international fair at Rampur today. “The precedent of equity participation was started with the signing of an MoU for 1500-MW Nathpa Jhakri project in which the state had agreed for 25 per cent equity,” he said.

Mr Virbhadra Singh said the Centre had agreed in principle to execute more such projects in joint venture where the equity participation was negotiable up to the limit of 49 per cent of the project cost. “The government has been able to get 30 per cent equity participation in the 412-MW Rampur project and 12 per cent free power as royalty,” he disclosed.

He said the issue of obtaining 25 per cent equity in 2051-MW Parbati hydroelectric project and 800-MW Kol Dam project had been raised at the highest level, as the state would suffer economically for the long-term use of the national potential. He added that the Prime Minister had assured of a favourable decision in this regard shortly.

The CM said the Satluj had the 9722 MW of identified hydropower potential which was almost half of the total identified potential of the state and would be a major contribution in the power sector on its full exploitation. He said that the entire potential was being exploited to the optimum with environmental safeguards where interests of the local people would be protected on top priority.

He accused the previous BJP regime of failing to protect the interests of the state while allocating the Parbati project and Kol Dam project to the NTPC where no equity participation had been obtained.

Speaking in the occasion, Ms Pratibha Singh, MP, said the first installment of Rs 1,355 crore had been cleared by the Centre for the construction of Rohtang tunnel, which will connect Lahaul Valley with all-weather motorable connectivity.

Dharamsala, November 11
The apprehension of floods in the Beas would be a deciding factor in the selection of a site for the proposed SEZ in Nurpur subdivision of Kangra district.

The infrastructure developer for the project, DC Constructions, would appoint a consultant to get a geo-technical survey done in the area before finalising the site, which is likely to be in the Milwan area of Indora.

Mr Pranab Roy, senior adviser of DC Constructions, said even though the company had selected four-five sites, a final decision would be taken only after the doubts about any possible natural calamity were removed.

"It is a hill state and our team has been told that recently there were floods close to a site shortlisted by us. We have, therefore, decided to get this aspect studied by experts," he said.

The minimum requirement for an SEZ in Himachal is 200 hectares and the company is planning to purchase 250 to 300 hectares which would house a multi-product industry.

"Even though the details are yet to be finalised as no study of the sector has been done, agro-processing, pharmaceuticals and bio-technology could be viable options in this area," he said.

Asked about the amount of investment, he said it was proportionate to the area of land selected.

He said the area was close to the Punjab border and there would be no problem of connectivity.

Meanwhile, an official in the Industries Department said many changes had been made in the original plan for the SEZ and the district administration and the Infrastructure Development Board was looking after the project.

"There is an absolute lack of industry in the area. Unlike the Shimla region, there is no scope for apple farming here. Kangra is the biggest district in the state and the SEZ would go a long way in boosting the economy of the state," said Manoj Kumar, a self-employed youth.

Dharamsala, November 11
The district Health Department has appealed to all parents to take their children to polio booths on November 12.

The details of the intensified pulse polio campaign were chalked out at a meeting held here today as polio eradication drive enters a new phase with the introduction of the powerful “monovalent oral polio vaccine”.

Dr J.S. Chandel, CMO, said 1,050 booths has been setup in addition to special transit and mobile teams. After the polio booth day, 2,100 special teams would visit house to house on November 13 and 14 for verification and ensure that no child was left without polio drops.

Shimla, November 11
The first batch of pass outs from Dr Rajendra Prasad Medical College is bearing the brunt of the delay in recognition to the institute by the Medical Council of India.

They joined the institute in 1997 and will not benefit from the government's decision to regularise the services of 400 doctors. As per the last Cabinet decision, the services of doctors who were appointed on contract before December 31, 2004, would be regularised.

As many as 50 students gave a representation to the Chief Minister yesterday, with a request that they should be considered for the regularisation of service as the delay in grant of recognition was not their fault. The special Cabinet meeting on November 14 may discuss their case.

The 50 pass outs from Tanda Medical College do not fall under this category as their appointments were made in February 2005. A large number of doctors are likely to be absorbed in community health centres under the National Rural Health Mission.

The government had opened the medical college at Tanda in haste without proper planning and infrastructure.

Chamba, November 11
About 4,000 persons have applied for the 29 posts of forest guard.

The applicants included those with postgraduate degrees even as the minimum qualification for the post is matric. Meanwhile, in the case of the anganwari workers' deployment in the district, the situation is worse than as people want government jobs.

Kangra, November 11
Mohd Afzal Guru, who has been awarded death sentence in the Parliament attack case, should be given the “most painful death” and there should be no relaxation in the death sentence in view of his anti-national activities.

This demand was raised by Sadhvi Shiva Sarasati, a member of the national executive of the Vishva Hindu Parishad, while speaking on the occasion of Hindu Maha Sammelan organised in connection with Shri Guru Ji birth centenary celebration at the municipal ground here today. She said those who demanded clemency for Afzal were also traitors.

She said if Afzal was pardoned or his death sentence was changed by the President of India, it would be a defeat of democracy, a victory of terrorism and an encouragement to terrorists.

Nahan, November 10
Police raids on the houses and seven other properties allegedly owned by Head Constable Vinoj Sharma continued today also.

Superintendent of Police D. Yadav was leading the raids. The police teams raided over 12 places in the Kala Amb area and sealed some properties, including the office of a private security agency, according to sources.

When contacted this evening Mr Yadav said over the telephone that after conducting raids on a number of properties, hotels and other places assumed to be benami or nami properties of the head constable or his family members, the police had taken several important documents related to these properties into its possession.

The SP said the police had sealed all the bank accounts and lockers operated by Vinoj Sharma, his wife and his mother in Kala Amb and other areas.

After district police received a complaint from Dr Sunil Kumar, Excise and Taxation Officer (ETO), posted at Kala Amb on October 31, the police registered an FIR against Vinoj Kumar for allegedly misbehaving and threatening the ETO. In his four-page complaint the ETO had alleged that Vinoj Kumar was allegedly owning nami or benami properties and contracts worth crores of rupees.

It is reliably learnt that today the police took into its possession the sale deeds of a recently sold factory and 400 bighas of land in the Kala Amb area.

Baddi, November 11
Workers of the Cheminova Pharmaceuticals here went on strike this morning. At least 200 workers of the company came out of the premises today in protest against the failure of the management to meet their pending demands.

The company management termed the strike wrong and against norms. The workers had gone on strike without giving any notice in this regard, pointed out a spokesman of the company.

The workers accused the company management of not enhancing salary. Though PF and ESI were being deducted from salary, no details of deduction were made available, the workers claimed.

Duty hours were being extended beyond eight hours with no provision of overtime payment, they lamented. Workers of the company were forced to work in unhealthy conditions as there were no toilet facilities for workers, particularly female workers.

The company had done its best to provide facilities to the workers, maintained the company spokesman. There was complete accountability and transparency in company work, he asserted.

Kangra, November 11
A three-day free medical camp concluded at Shri Balaji hospital in this town, the only multi specialty hospital here, today. More than one thousand needy patients having different diseases were treated free. Medicines worth more than Rs 2 lakhs was distributed among them free of cost.

Mr Bal Krishen Sharma, chairman, Hospital Trust, said the camp was organised on the eve of the foundation day celebration of this hospital aimed at helping needy people.