Shimla, February 2
Funds under the decentralised planning are being allocated on the basis of population and geographical area in the ratio of 60 and 40, respectively.

An official spokesperson today said that there had been no discrimination in the allotment of funds to various districts as alleged by Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, a former Chief Minister.

Local developmental requirements and the implementation of the Central schemes were also taken into consideration under this planning. In pursuance of the fixed norms under decentralised planning during years 2003-04, 2004-05, 2005-06 and 2006-07, Hamirpur district was provided a sum of Rs 1.62 crore, Kangra Rs 5.81 crore and Shimla Rs 3.73 crore under normal budget allotments. Additionally, Rs 1.64 crore was made available to Hamirpur, Rs 4.54 crore to Kangra and Rs 10.98 crore to Shimla, on the basis of local developmental requirements on the demand of local public representatives, priorities identified by the state government for implementation of new schemes and completion of the ongoing schemes in the respective districts. Thus, Hamirpur had been provided a total amount of Rs 3.26 crore, Kangra Rs 10.35 crore and Shimla Rs 14.71 crore.

An allotment of Rs 34.92 lakh had been made for undertaking the flood protection works on the banks of the Sutlej at Nogli, Rs 2.55 crore for the construction of Dodra-Kwar-Larot-Chanshal road, Rs 58 lakhs for completion of ayurvedic hospital, Chhota Shimla, Rs 36 lakh to purchase land for the Excise and Taxation Department building and Rs 1.25 crore for construction of Civil Hospital, Palampur, under the special budgetary allotments made during the period.

During the current financial year, 2006-07, an amount of Rs 25 crore, over and above the budgetary provisions, had been made available for Hamirpur for the speedy execution of the Bamsan-Lagwalti Lift Drinking Water Supply Scheme, which happened to be the most expensive Rural Drinking Water Supply Scheme of the state till date.

Two major irrigation projects, Siddhatha and Shah Nahar in Kangra, had also been allocated an amount of Rs 18.80 crore over the above the normal budget, while Rs 12 crore had been provided to the six newly opened government degree colleges at Nagrota-Bagwan, Shahpur, Baijnath, Thural in Kangra, Barsar in Hamirpur and Sunni in Shimla for building infrastructure. An amount Rs 2.60 crore had been made available through the Department of Education for the construction of Government Degree College, Dharamshala auditorium.

Mandi, February 2
The Himachal Medical Officers Association today urged the state government to scrap the departmental examination for promotion for the medical officers as “it carries no values and this time it has clashed with the pulse polio immunisation days on February 10.

Stating this here today, association district president D.K. Arora said the examination date clashed with that of the pulse polio drive and “if the medical officers have to take up the examination it would hit the pulse polio”.

He stated that doctors had been exempted in the past from this examination and the same should be done this time as well. 

Chamba, February 2
The Additional Sessions Judge (Fast Track Court), Mr Rajan Gupta, today sentenced Sobiya Ram of Bharadui village to nine years rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 90,000 on him. In case of default in payment of the fine, the accused will have to undergo an imprisonment for another two years.

On October 6, 2004, a team of Tissa police station was patrolling the area around the Chanju Nala. The accused, Sobiya Ram, on seeing the police tried to run away. The police got suspicious and stopped him for questioning. On being searched 900 gram of charas was recovered from his possession. A case was registered against him.

After investigation, the Tissa police filed a charge sheet against Sobiya Ram under section 20 of the NDPS Act. He was produced before the fast track court of the Additional Sessions Judge who sentenced him to nine years rigorous imprisonment.

Palampur, February 2
Situated at the height of 4000 ft above the sea level, Palampur, a picturesque tourist resort which is also known as tea town of Himachal Pradesh, is loosing its glory day by day. Thanks to the apathy of the state government that has not initiated any corrective measure.

Unplanned and haphazard construction of shops, houses and roads is going on unchecked here. It seems that there exists no authority to check such illegal activities. Numbers of shops, houses and other buildings have come up without the prior approval of the Town and Country Planning Department. The local Municipal Council also seems unconcerned with the present situation.

The things have gone from bad to worse in the past two years and there is a spate of illegal construction in the town. Number of influential persons and henchmen of the politicians were allowed to go head with illegal construction whereas many other residents of the town are yet to get approval for the construction of their houses.

Not only this, despite the fact that the state government has imposed blanket ban on the construction of multistoreyed buildings, such structures have come up in the town and no body knows with whose approval. In sharp contrast to this, several local applicants have to wait for unreasonably long time to get clearance from the Town and Country Planning Department.

It is surprising that not only private persons but various government and semi-government departments are also involved in the illegal construction here. The construction of administrative block by the Municipal Council in the heart of town remained in the news as it is being constructed without approval. Later, the Himachal Pradesh High Court intervened and stayed the construction of the complex. The public by and large feels that if no suitable measures are adopted by the government this beautiful town will soon become a slum.

Heaps of garbage can be seen every where, emitting foul smell. The lower areas of the town are worst affected.