Shimla, September 9
In a spot over the allotment of hydroelectric projects up to 100 MW through the MoU route the government is considering to adopt the policy of competitive bidding for projects above 5 MW, more so because the neighbouring state of Uttarakhand has been following the competitive bidding route for all projects.

The MoU route has not only denied the fund-starved state of upfront premium running into hundreds of crores but also led to arbitrary allotments with some private companies bagging several projects. The seven projects awarded through competitive bidding have fetched Rs 862 crore as upfront premium. However, the government got nothing from the projects with a total capacity of over 2,500 MW allotted through the MoU route and as such it was deprived of upfront premium to the tune of over Rs 1,000 crore.

Besides, there has been lack of transparency in the MoU route often leading to arbitrary allotment of projects. The applicant companies for each project are ranked on the basis of marks obtained after evaluation of their financial and technical capabilities and project experience. Out of the total 100 marks, 65 marks are for financial status, 30 for technical capability and five for project experience. However, the projects are not always awarded to the company securing the highest marks.

The latest such instance is of the 60-MW Tedong-II which was awarded to the Gammon-Torrent joint venture company, ranked second after financial and technical evaluation of interested parties. The front-runner Neezu Veedi Limited was ignored. It has now made a representation to the government questioning the decision and demanding a review. Apart from securing the highest marks, the company has pointed out that as it had already been allotted the 100-MW Tedong-I project, it would be in the interest of smooth operations that Tedong-II was allotted to it.

Besides arbitrary allotments, the MoU route leaves scope for awarding projects through the back door. Neezu Veedi Limited was allotted the 44-MW Tangnu Romai project. While preparing the detailed project report it also included the 6-MW Supin project and upgraded the project to 50 MW. After the state electricity board raised an objection, the company submitted two separate project reports. The government also allotted the Supin project to the company for which no offers were invited. In all the company has managed to get four projects.

Principal secretary, power, J.P. Negi said the government was seriously considering to review the policy of allotment through the MoU route. The Centre did not have any hydel power policy but it had issued administrative instructions that projects over 100 MW be allotted through competitive bidding. The provision was incorporated in the state hydropower policy framed early this year. He said the government would have a fresh look at the policy to pave the way for allotment of projects through competitive bidding instead of the MoU route.

Nahan, September 9
A truck loaded with deodar sleepers was caught by the Renuka police at Gajrot curve on the Renuka Sangrah road today. The police arrested five persons, including two smugglers.

Sirmaur SP J.P. Singh said 181 deodar sleepers which were being smuggled illegally were recovered from a truck (HR 38 G-0492). He said these were hidden under 70 boxes of apples.

He said the market value of the recovered wood was estimated around Rs 6 lakh.

The SP said the police had been receiving information for the past few months that wood smugglers were active on the border area in the district.

The SP said the police has arrested five persons. He said two smugglers, one a resident of Kupvi in Shimla district and another a resident of Shakoli village (Rohnat) tehsil in Shillai district of Sirmaur had allegedly purchased the illegal wood from Trahan village in Kupvi tehsil. They were arrested along with a white colour Marshal Jeep (HP 18- 3222) and its driver who were piloting the truck. The truck driver and the conductor were also nabbed on the spot.

The police said the wood was being smuggled towards Paonta Sahib. A case has been registered in this regard.

Police sources said it was the biggest catch of illegal wood in the past three years. 

Shimla, September 9
The problem of water scarcity in Shimla is likely to come to an end soon with the municipal corporation deciding to supply drinking water every day from the coming week.

The corporation has decided to stop rationing of water in the next five days and ensure regular drinking water supply to all parts of the town.

The water supply in the Shimla and its peripheral areas remained disrupted for over four months, causing inconvenience not only to local people, but also to the tourists. The reason being water scarcity in summers and then logging of water pumps due to silt during the monsoon season.

The water pumps at Ashwani Khad and Gumma, the two main water supply sources of the capital, are now working properly and the water pipeline from Churut has also been repaired. With these machines back in order and adequate water in the sources, the supply is sure to be normalised in the coming days, officials say.

“We will start regular supply of drinking water in the next four to five days. At present, we are supplying water on alternate days. However, any particular date for commencing regular supply of water has not been decided,” MC engineer Devash Bhardwaj said. — UNI

Mandi, September 9
Infant mortality rate seems to be increasing in the state with a high of 48 per 1,000 live births. However, the figure is still quite less than the national average of 58.

The state remains in the third place far behind Kerala with its infant mortality rate at 16 per 1,000 live births, the lowest in the country.

In an exclusive interview with The Tribune on the sidelines of the 9th conference of paediatricians held here today, professor and head of department of paediatrics, Dr Rajinder Prasad Medical college, Tanda, Dr R.K. Kaushal, said “About 2/3 of newborn babies die within 28 days after their birth, which accounts for over 66 per cent of infant mortality rate in the state. If we control the mortality among neonates, we can reduce the mortality significantly close to Kerala”.

Dr Kaushal said four major causes were responsible for high rate of mortality among newborns. “These include birth asphyxia, inability of newborns to breathe at the time of birth, septicemia, acquired and preventable infection due to poor handling of babies, low birth weight less than 2.5 kg at the time of birth and hypothermia, inability of newborn babies to maintain body temperature due to his or her large body surface”, he revealed.

Dr Kaushal said low weight babies were more prone to infections, which resulted from poor handling of newborns. “About one-third of low birth babies acquire infection and this is a major factor of neonates’ mortality,” he added.

Incidences of infection increase as about 52 per cent of deliveries take place at homes and are done by untrained ‘dais,’ he said.

He said hypoglycemia, a condition of low blood sugar in newborns had emerged as one of the major risk factors. He said babies born with low blood sugar are at a high risk as they can develop mental retardation and brain deficit in later years.

Even bronchial asthma is on the rise among babies born in pollution-prone environment. “Children exposed to pollens, microbes under carpets, dust and smoke and other pollutants have become more prone to asthma,” he said.

Dr Kaushal said kangaroo mother care method was being promoted in which newborns were kept in direct skin contact with their mother to preserve the baby's body heat like the way a kangaroo kept its babies in its pouch. This would reduce hypoglycemia in newborns.

He said kangaroo mother care had been started at the IGMC, Shimla and would soon be started at the Tanda medical college.

Shimla, September 9
The state government will give awards to gram panchayats for the highest female birth rate, cleanliness and rainwater-harvesting modes.

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh announced this here while addressing the state-level convention of zila parishad, panchayat samiti and gram panchayat representatives organised by the Panchayati Raj department. "A special mahila gram sabha would be convened on September 23 to deliberate extensively on the problems of women representatives and the problems being faced by them."

The government would give a Rs 5 lakh award to the gram panchayat having the highest female birth rate, Rs 101 crore for 22 panchayats under total sanitation programme and Nirmal Puraskar awards at the state, district and block levels. Besides, Rs 1-crore award will be given to a panchayat for total development. The award money would be over and above the regular grants being provided for development, poverty alleviation and social welfare activities.

"As per the recommendations of the Central and State Finance Commission, a grant of Rs 56 crore was being given to panchayats so that need-based speedy development can taken place," he said.

He expressed concern over the receding underground water level and said that top priority should be accorded to take remedial steps. He said the watershed development programme had been started in all water-scarce areas to increase the groundwater level and awards had been introduced to encourage gram panchayats to adopt water-harvesting activities.

Virbhadra Singh said against a reservation of 33 per cent for women there were 24, 532 elected women representatives in Himachal, which was 39 per cent of the total. As many as 27 per cent and 5.3 per cent of the elected representatives were from the SC and ST categories, respectively.

He informed that all gram panchayats would be computerised in a phased manner and the process had already started in 1,185 gram panchayats. A number of steps were being taken to strengthen the panchayats financially and income-generating avenues were being created there to generate additional income.