Shimla, February 11
Responding to the cancellation notice served by the new BJP government, the Brakel Corporation, a Dutch company, has finally deposited the upfront premium of Rs 173 crore for the two mega hydroelectric projects it had secured in global bidding.

The state government had allotted seven projects by inviting global tenders over the past one year. The Brakel Corporation bagged the Jhangi-Thopan (480 MW) and Thopan-Powari (480 MW) projects in Kinnaur district, offering the highest upfront premium of Rs 36 lakh per megawatt in October, 2006. The companies which bagged various projects deposited 50 per cent of the upfront premium as per the stipulated conditions. However, the Brakel Corporation did not deposit the amount and sought more time on the plea that it required some clearances from the RBI.

It kept on seeking more time for the purpose repeatedly and the previous Congress government obliged it. The action was being seen as a case of “favouritism” as the government had earlier cancelled the 260-MW Kuther project bagged by D.S. Constructions, a leading infrastructure company, at the upfront money of Rs 52 per megawatt for not depositing the amount. The project was subsequently allotted to JSW Energy, the second highest bidder.

D.S. Constructions has moved the high court against the government decision. The government had also allowed the company to merge the Jhangi-Thopan project and Thopan-Powari into a single 960-MW project.

The first thing the BJP government did after assuming power was to serve a notice on the Brakel Corporation that the projects will be cancelled if it failed to deposit the upfront premium by January 31.

The company has deposited Rs 173 crore within the stipulated period and submitted a 350-page reply, explaining reasons for the delay. It had also sought certain clarifications.

Ajay Mittal, principal secretary, power, confirmed that the company had deposited the amount. Further action in the matter would be taken after considering the detailed reply submitted by the company.

As per the conditions laid down by the government the successful bidders are required to deposit 50 per cent of the upfront amount on the allotment of the award letter, 25 per cent at the time of signing the implementation agreement and 25 per cent at the time of financial closure. 

Shimla, February 11
A delegation led by revenue minister Gulab Singh visited Jaipur yesterday and discussed the pending issues pertaining to the resettlement of Pong Dam oustees displaced more three decades ago.

After the secretariat-level meeting, there was a meeting at the ministers’ level between Gulab Singh and his Rajasthan counterpart, Ram Narayan Dudi. Rajasthan PWD minister R.S.Rathore also attended the meeting.

Gulab Singh stressed that all oustees who had secured eligibility certificates should be settled. He also underlined the need for rehabilitation of around 4,369 oustees, including 831 and 1641 cases, which were rejected under section 5(2) and 5(3) of Colonisation Rules, 1972, of the Rajasthan government.

The Rajasthan government maintained that it wanted to settle the oustees but stressed that it should not be forced to allot land to left-out oustees in the 1188 ‘murrabas’ which had been reverted to the state pursuant to the apex court orders.

The Himachal minister asserted that the plea of Rajasthan could not be agreed upon unless the matter was discussed with the Pong Dam oustees who were the affected party to the court case.

He said Rajasthan wanted to sort out all pending issues for rehabilitation in the stage-II area after developing facilities.

Both parties agreed to resolve the issues by continuing talks in future also so that the pending issues are amicably settled.

Gulab Singh also called on the Chief Minister of Rajasthan who assured full cooperation to resolve the pending issues.

He said the next round of meeting had been proposed in March in which the Chief Ministers of both states would take part.

Shimla, February 11
There was some respite from extreme cold as weather remained clear for the third consecutive day today. There was no fresh snow and rain in any part of the state over the past 24 hours.

The sun shone brightly throughout the day, providing some warmth to the people who had been reeling under severe cold for the past several weeks. However, the night continued to be cold with the temperature still hovering around the freeing point.

Keylong, the headquarters of Lahul-Spiti district, was the coldest with a minimum of -15.9°C, followed by Kalpa (-9.4°C) and Manali( -5.2°C). The cold conditions affected water supply in many areas as water in the supply pipelines froze.

The city recorded a minimum of -0.3°C but the maximum temperature rose to 10.2°C much to the comfort of the residents. Una, with a minimum of 0.9°C, was the coldest in lower hills, followed by Solan (1.2°C), Bhuntar (1.4°C) and Sundernagar (2.1°C).

According to the local Met office, the weather will remain dry over the next 24 hours but the cold spell will continue.

Hamirpur, February 11
Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal’s directive to top forest officers of the state to pursue the case with centrally empowered committee (CEC) set up by the Supreme Court for restarting 318 sawmills in Hamirpur district has created a new hope among saw millers and workers.

It is learnt that after a delegation of saw millers and workers union met the Chief Minister recently he gave clear directions to top forest officers to take personal interest in the case and provide all information required by the CEC so that the process of opening sawmills in Hamirpur district gets cleared.

As many as 318 sawmills in the district were closed on direction of the Supreme Court of India in February 2005, as these were not registered with the Forest Department. The Supreme Court had formed a centrally empowered committee of environment and other experts to study the matter carefully before restarting these again.

Since then the saw millers and workers union affiliated to the CITU had been taking up this issue.

This issue had acquired a political overtone during the Parliament by election for Hamirpur constituency and again in the last Assembly election also as the BJP had been accusing the previous Congress government for failing to provide relevant information to the CEC through the Forest Department.

This matter has been lying pending before the CEC which has been asking for detailed information from the state government justifying opening of sawmills and also sought some fresh information recently.

While the Forest Department is preparing relevant data to present the same in the next meeting of the CEC but it is likely that the principal chief conservation of forest (PCCF) would personally pursue the matter there.

Talking about the fresh development in this case PCCF Pankaj Khullar said, “We would present all information in the next CEC meeting like capacity of sawmills etc. and the Chief Minister has asked to expedite the case but there are limitations too since the matter is in the Supreme Court and I would most probably attend the next CEC meeting.”

Shimla, February 11
The state government has urged the Centre to take up the Pathankot-Jogindernagar rail line project and extend it up to Leh in Ladakh, so that it can be used as an alternative route for defence supplies keeping in view its strategic relevance.

Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal said here today that after the defeat of China in the 1962 war, it had difficulty in sending it supplies to the border areas.

So, it extended its rail line network right up to Lhasa in Tibet, keeping in view its importance from the defence point of view.

“The Centre must also realise this and take up the project so that India too has an alternate route for making Army supplies to the border areas via Pathankot-Jogindernagar-Barmana-Manali-Leh,” he stressed.

Dhumal said the Centre was reluctant to take up the project as it involves an expenditure of Rs 1,000 crore but the fact was that this would not only help complete a full circuit within Himachal but will also emerge as an important defence link.

The Chief Minister said he had already requested the Prime Minister, railways minister and finance minister to take up budgetary provision for some of the railway projects in Himachal, so that work could be started immediately.

Kullu, February 11
The state targets additional power generation of 12,000 MW by 2012 by exploiting the available hydel potential taking environmental safeguards. This was stated by Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal while addressing a public meeting at Khalara Nallah in Lug valley yesterday after dedicating a motorable bridge and 4-km road stretch (completed at a cost of Rs 1.51 crore) to the people. 

He also laid the foundation stone of a 2.5-MW mini hydroelectric project being executed under the private sector at a cost of Rs 13.5 crore.

He said besides big, medium and other hydroelectric projects, the state had mini and micro hydroelectric projects, most of which were below 5-MW capacity, that had the capacity to produce 750 MW power. Out of 750 MW capacity, MoUs had already been signed for the execution of 247-MW mini and micro projects. Implementation agreement in respect of 112 such projects had also been signed out of which 11 had started generating 31.65 MW power. Work on 54 projects (aggregating 180.75 MW) was in progress and likely to be completed in near future.

He said 71 mini and micro hydro electric projects were identified in Kullu district alone having generation capacity of 171.95 MW for which implementation agreement MoU had already been signed. With the exploitation of hydel potential available in the streams and rivulets of the state, the local power requirement would be fulfilled up to some level besides supplementing power supply to rural areas. He hoped that the 2.5-MW Sarwari Mini Hydro Electric Project would also be completed in record time.

Dhumal said that state government would encourage private participation in exploitation of identified hydel potential in the State. He said the government had already decided to allot all projects above 5-MW capacity by open competition.

He assured construction of a three-room “sarai” on the temple premises of Bhaga Sidh where he offered obeisance.

Shimla, February 11
It is only after taking into account various environmental and defence clearance issues that the state government is likely to take a final decision as far as the fate of Rs 3,500 crore Himalayan Ski Village project, an MoU for which was signed during the Congress regime, is concerned.

An indication to this effect was given by Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal while interacting with mediapersons here today. “The project is just not acceptable to us in the present form and we will take a final decision after taking into account all related issues,” he said.

It was during the Congress regime that the Cabinet had approved the detailed project report of the biggest foreign direct investment project, which was to come up in the Kullu-Manali area.

Dhumal added that there was complete lack of transparency as the previous Congress regime did not go in for international competitive bidding, which is the normal procedure while taking up such mega projects,” he opined.

He said the clearance from the defence ministry had not been obtained despite the fact that the Manali-Leh road along which the project is to come up is an important route for defence supplies for the troupes on the border.

“Though a PIL with regard to the Himalayan Ski Village is pending in the High Court but the government will take a final decision keeping all these factors in mind,” he remarked. He added that even the environment impact assessment report of the project had not been prepared.

It may be recalled that the BJP had taken a strong exception to the coming up of the Himalayan Ski Village project on the plea that it would cause environmental damage and vitiate the divine culture of the valley of gods.

Infact a ‘dharam sansad’ had been convened where the matter was placed before the local deities. In its verdict the chief deity too had said that the project should not be allowed to come up.

So far 40 hectares of private land has been acquired by the company, which requires a total of 100 hectares of land for the project. The company has sought permission from the union ministry of forest and environment for use of 16.3 hectares of government forest land.

The company has claimed that 3,500 people would get direct employment while those who would indirectly benefit from it would be would be close to 14,000.

Manali, February 11
Even as the police has arrested a Mexican-Japanese couple staying here without documents for the past 20 days and a Sri Lankan, who had no valid visa, it has been shielding hoteliers who have not been filling C-from in respect of these tourists as required under Section 14 of the Foreigners Act. Most of them also do not report to the police about the arrival of foreigners within 24 hours.

The so-called foreigner couple has been identified as Steven John, 30, a Mexican, and Koma Tujaki Tumoni, 20. They were arrested from Vashishat village yesterday and 70 gm charas was seized from their possession. Hasan Zafarat, a Sri Lankan, was also arrested a few days ago. He did not have a valid visa.

The couple has been remanded in judicial remand till February 23.

Five Uzbek women were arrested after they checked out from Ambassador Resorts, near Vashishat village, on January 28. There are doubts that any action has been initiated against erring hoteliers so far.

Old Manali, Vashishat and other surrounding villages uphill from Manali have emerged as skid row for drug addicts travelling without documents. They find easy homes in these private resorts, hotels and guesthouses for days or months together as they make no entry in registers there.

Police inaction against faltering hoteliers has raised security concern among residents.

Sources said Hasan Zafarat had been staying in Manali since December in different guesthouses and a local mosque, but the police had not taken any action against hoteliers. Under the Foreigners Act, it is mandatory for each hotelier to fill C-form when a foreigner enters the reception of the hotel and report the matter to the police within 24 hours whether or not foreigners possessed documents.

President of the Manali Hoteliers Association Gautam Thakur said, “Certain guesthouse owners in surrounding villages are not our members and certain foreigners do stay their. But we will convene a meeting with them and request them to maintain register and fill C-form. We cooperate with police on the issue as hotel industry will benefit from the transparent system.”

Kullu SP G.D. Bhargava was on leave and he expressed his inability to comment on the issue. Manali DSP K.C. Rana, however, said, “The police will take action against erring hoteliers, if found guilty. But they do fill C-form and report to the matter to police”.

Kangra, February 11
Hundreds of the passengers remained stranded on the National Highway No. 20 near Trilokpur for more than two hours this afternoon due to damage of the highway. The highway connects Panthankot with Mandi.

The traffic was diverted via Kotla-Solda village road. Travellers on the highway had been suffering since February 3, when its retaining wall got damaged.

Today, a truck was stuck in a muddy stretch of the village link road, resulting in a traffic jam.

Superintending engineer (national highways) D.R. Choudary said the traffic would be restored on the highway after the Bailey bridge was completed in two days.

Choudary said six bridges on the highway from Kotla to Kangra were unsafe for vehicles carrying weight in excess of 18 tonnes.

He said these included 80 to 100-year-old bridges of Kotla, one bridge each at Trilokpur, Chambi bridge and Matour, besides two bridges on the Manji river near Rajol.

He said the 80-year-old bridge at Jassure was also declared unsafe for heavy vehicles. However, despite repeated requests, the authorities concerned did not stop or challan the vehicle violating the weight norms while crossing the Chakki bridge connecting Himachal with Punjab.

He said the PWD would install caution board on all these bridges as it was for the law-enforcing agencies to stop movement of vehicles having more than 18 tonne of laden weight on these bridges.

He said the department had no powers to check the movement of vehicles on these bridges. He, however, said as the buses have only 9 tonne weight, so the movement of the buses on these bridges was safe. 

Shimla, February 11
In a minor administrative reshuffle in Himachal Pradesh, the state government today ordered the transfer of four IAS officers and two police officers with immediate effect, official sources said.

C. Palrasu (IAS) sub-divisional officer (civil) Kangra has been named additional deputy commissioner (ADC) Mandi, the sources told UNI here.

Mamta (IAS) sub-divisional officer (Dehra) has been transferred as new ADC Kangra. While Priyanka Basu Ingty (IAS) sub-divisonal officer (Theog) has been named new ADC Shimla. Manoj Kumar (IAS), who was on central deputation, has been transferred as new Kangra divisional commissioner to be stationed at Dharamsala, reliving Nisha Singh of her additional charge.

A.N. Sharma, DIG Police Training Command (PTC) Droh, and S.R. Sharma, DIG (CID) Shimla, exchange their respective government positions, the sources added. — UNI

Nurpur, February 11
The mahoorat for the shooting of third video album ‘Yadaan’ of Ridham Thrill Production, Amritsar, was held here yesterday at Spain-Spa Resort.

Producer of the album Rakesh Kumar on this occasion told that eight songs of famous Sufi singer Nusrat Ali Khan were being converted into video album in which Gulshan Kumar and Jassi would be the main actors.

He said the shooting would take place at McLeodganj, Dalhousie, Manali and Kullu and complete within 45 days.

Nurpur, February 11
The local police today arrested seven more persons on the suspected death of Baljeet Singh an ex-serviceman of the BSF and resident of Bassa Farqunda village of Ondh gram panchayat along with five guns.

The body of the deceased had been recovered from bushes covered with leaves in a nearby forest on February 8 in mysterious circumstances. BSF sub-inspector Baljeet Singh who had retired on health grounds in 1992 had been missing since February 4.

The police has already arrested three accused in this connection who are in police remand till Tuesday along with two single barrel guns.

The seven persons arrested today are Baldev Singh and Sher Singh of Ondh village and Mangal, Jaimal, Baljinder, OmParkash, Kishan Chand and Pritam Singh of Simbli village.

According to police information the postmortem examination was conducted at medical college, Tanda, has confirmed the death of the deceased on February 4 with gunshot which pierced into the chest and bruises were also found on the shoulder, back and chest.