Nurpur, February 15
In an effort to preserve the productive area for, the state government has decided not to allow setting up of any special economic zone (SEZ) on agricultural land, however, the entrepreneurs willing to invest on the barren land are most welcome.

Rather, the government will facilitate investors, who are willing to invest in barren areas, claimed Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal.

Dhumal was interacting with mediapersons after inaugurating a new OPD complex, at Nurpur Civil Hospital, here today. It has been made at a cost of Rs 119 crore.

With the rise in population, the land under agriculture has been declining rapidly so there is no scope of setting up the SEZs in any part of the state.

He said the government had decided to rope in private medicos, besides the existing doctors in the state for providing best heathcare facilities to the general public.

He also claimed that more private hospitals would be set up in the state for providing more job avenues to the doctors of the state, thus curbing the ‘brain drain’ procedure followed by the doctor community.

Giving opportunities to the investors from the state, the government has been decided to offer hydro power projects up to a capacity of 5 MW for the Himachal residents, the projects beyond 5MW capacity would be allocated to the outside investors through open bid, he claimed.

Talking to the Tribune, Dhumal said the government was making best possible efforts to recover from financial crunches as the previous government has left a credit of Rs 22,000 crore.

He also visited the house of Rakesh Pathania, local MLA, to console him and his family on his mother’s death.

Besides, officials of the district administration, Jai Ram Thakur, state BJP chief, Des Raj, MLA Gangath, Malvika Pathania, senior BJP leader from Nurpur and scores of local BJP leaders were also present on the occasion. 

Shimla, February 15
The government will take effective steps to ensure that the provision for engaging at least 70 per cent manpower in industrial units from within the state was implemented in letter and in spirit.

Presiding over a meeting of senior officers of the Labour and Employment Department here yesterday food and civil supplies minister Ramesh Dhawala said the government was determined to solve the unemployment problem would take the requisite measures, including disincentives, to make the errant units fall in line. In case some industrial units failed to provide 70 per cent employment to the Himachalis these would be deprived of subsidy, grants and other facilities.

About 7.8 lakh youth were registered at various employment exchanges out of which 4.78 lakh were in the 19-30 age group. Dhawala said a central employment cell in the Directorate of Labour Department had been set up to enable the private sector to find the required technical and other manpower. 

Shimla, February 15
The Union Ministry of Petroleum has supplied additional 4,500 LPG cylinders to the state in view of the hardships being faced in extreme cold conditions due to shortage of refills.

An official spokesman said here today that the additional supply had reached various districts, from where the shortage was reported.

Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal had taken up the matter of short supply of cylinders with the concerned minister Murli Deora early this month and urged him to send immediate supply.

He further said the management of the Hindustan Petroleum Corporation had assured that more cylinders would be supplied to the state over the next few days and there would not be any shortage in future.

Solan, February 15
Providing reprieve to those seeking information under the Right to Information Act, the Central Information Commissioner has declared Lawrence School, Sanawar, as a public authority.

The first beneficry would be Rajender Kumar Singla, a former teacher, who had earlier been denied information on the pretext that the school was outside the purview of the RTI Act.

Singla had filed an appeal before the Central Information Commissioner (CIC) in May last year. After hearing both sides the CIC ordered that as the school had been substantially funded through grant of government land, it could not accept the contention of the headmaster and others that the Chairman of the Board of Governors would have absolutely no say in the management of affairs of the school. The CIC said after going through the memorandum of association and regulations of the school issued by the Centre on June 26, 1952, it was found that three secretaries to the Government of India, besides other government officials like the DPI and the DC, were on the Board of Governors. Thus, the commission felt that by no criteria could the school be outside the purview of the RTI Act.

Declaring the school a "public authority", the commission directed the headmaster, CBSE assistant secretary and others to provide information sought by Singla before February 20 or cite the specific provision of the RTI Act if they wish to deny any information.

Shimla, February 15
Even as the February 15 deadline for completion of the inquiry ordered by the Dhumal regime into the teachers’ appointments under the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) ended today, record from only four districts has been received so far.

The BJP government had constituted an inquiry committee, headed by Deepak Sanan, principal secretary, IPH and Urban Development, to look into the matter. The heads of all educational institutions and deputy directors in the Education Department had been asked to provide all information with regard to the appointment of PTA teachers within a week.

The inquiry was to be completed by February 15 but with the government receiving information from only about four districts, the matter would be delayed. Incidentally, the government has to frame its PTA policy as per the High Court direction by March 31.

The inquiry had been ordered by the new regime to look into the irregularities made in appointments. About 15,000 such appointments had been made, which includes lecturers, trained graduate teachers (TGT) and craft teachers.

On the other hand, the Himachal Pradesh PTA Association has requested the government to regularise them and not discontinue their services. The inquiry committee will look into aspects like whether a roster had been followed in making such appointments, whether merit on the basis of academics and interview was taken into account, whether appointments are as per prescribed cadre, whether a financial grant was given to each PTA by the government and whether the PTA contributed money for the payment of salaries to these teachers.

Rewalsar (Mandi), February 15
Governor Himachal Pradesh V.S Kokje today said Guru Padamsambhava’s contribution to propagation of Buddhism in Bhot Desh (Tibet) and teachings of Lord Buddha to masses should be properly evaluated to understand the actual shape and status of Buddhism in the Himalayan region in the present-day context.

Presiding over a four-day long symposium on Guru Padamsambhava that concluded here today, Kokje said Buddhist scholars drawn from various parts of the country participated in the symposium and exchanged their ideas on him with common participants.

Kokje said the Indian religion and culture had its own identity in the world and the symposiums on religion and culture of the country went a long way in protecting and promoting this identity.

After the governor address, vice-president of the Buddhist Himachal-Bharat Tibet Sahyog Manch Chering Dorje and president Himalayan Buddhist Cultural Association, Tashi Targyus presented a memorandum to the Governor urging him to take up the matter of opening up the alternative Leh-Ladakh- Fofrang-Mansarovar pilgrimage route and cut down on the huge expenditure involved in the yatra with the Indian and Chinese governments.

Giving the account of the expenditure involved in the Mansarovar yatra from Garwal and Kumaon they said no poor devotee could afford the scared pilgrimage as the yatra costs about Rs 70,000 per person, which is the costliest pilgrimage on earth.

The Buddhist leaders also urged the Governor to take up the maintenance of the ‘samadhi’ of General Zoravar Singh of the Dogra regiment at Taklakot in Tibet with the Ministry of External Affairs and China as the ‘samadhi’ was not being maintained as of now. 

Kangra, February 15
A former Himachal Pradesh Transport Minister and member AICC G.S. Bali today reacted to the protest of the Bhatiya Janta Yuva Morcha workers at Dharamsala on the occasion of the Valentine’s Day, where a BJYM worker wearing the mask of Afzal Guru was presenting a rose to another worker wearing mask of AICC president Sonia Gandhi.

Bali was addressing a press conference at his residence here today. Describing the incident as unfortunate and painful, Bali said the BJP was stooping so low as to insult a woman, who was heading the ruling UPA, and whose family had not only contributed in the freedom struggle of India but had struggled against terrorism in the country.

He warned the BJP leadership that they should not judge their silence as their weakness and demanded that Chief Minister and the state BJP chief should condemn the incident and discipline their workers to desist from indulging in such incidents in future.

Meanwhile, Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee chief and Rajya Sabha member Viplove Thakur has also denounced yesterday’s protest at Dharamsala insulting UPA chief Sonia Gandhi and has demanded that the police should register a criminal case against the workers of the BJYM and take action against them.

Thakur issued a statement here this evening that the deplorable action of these workers was an insult to women. She demanded that Dhumal, national vice-president Shanta Kumar and state BJP chief should denounce this action and tender an apology for the activities their workers. 

Shimla, February 15
The Himachal government signed 11 agreements with private companies pertaining to the execution of many hydroelectric projects, including the 180 MW Bajoli-Holi and 108 MW Chhatru mega-ventures, here today.

Pre-implementation agreement was signed for the execution of the Bajoli-Holi project in Chamba district with GMR Energy, which secured the contract by offering the highest upfront premium of Rs 92 lakh per megawatt. The pre-implementation accord for the Chhatru project was singed with DCM Sriram Company.

MoUs were signed with four private companies for six micro-hydel projects which include 4 MW Jari project (Will Power Company), 4 MW Sarvari-I (Wool Ways India Limited), 2 MW Gatour and 2.5 MW Sarvari-II (both assigned to Sri Hydro Power Limited) and 3 MW Kesta and 4 MW Charna (both assigned to Sutlej Construction Company).

Besides, three supplementary implementation agreements were also signed for the 5 MW Sainj, 5 MW Rakchhad and 1.5 MW Siuner projects with East India Petrol, Excel and B.K. Saini Enterprises, respectively.

Nahan, February 15
After a long fight of over eight years, residents of Chamyana village, about 60 km from here, can now hope that they would be able to get their traditional irrigation water kuhal (canal) restored after implementation of court order.

A police force led by Ashok Verma, SHO Renuka, stormed in Panar village along with assistant engineer, Irrigation and Public Health (IPH) Jamta subdivision, officials and large number of labourers of IPH. Over 20 agitated villagers were rounded up by the police and took to Renuka police station. The police officers had not returned from the spot till late this evening as work on laying of pipeline was going on war footing, sources said.

Acting on court orders the police officers earlier spent over three hours to persuade the residents of Panar village not to obstruct the laying of pipeline to the Chamiyana village. Officers of the IPH Department explained villagers that only wastewater flowing in Panar Ka Nullah is being taped for irrigation purpose for Chamiyana residents and it does not affect irrigation facilities or other water requirements of residents of the village.

Imminent persons of the area told The Tribune over telephone that Chamyana was one of the four villages gifted about a century back to the Brahmin purohits by the then ruler of Sirmaur Estate. Land of Chamyana, which is around 132 bighas was totally irrigated, a traditional kuhal made from Panar Ka Nullah was fulfilling their irrigation requirements for the past century.

In 2000, a major part of this kuhal was damaged due to construction of Salana Ghat-Bhalta Macher road and irrigation facility of the villagers was disrupted.

On request of the villagers the HPIPH Department sanctioned a flow irrigation scheme costing around Rs 6 lakh to lay four-inch pipeline to Chamyana village but due to objections raised by the villagers of Panar village the department had to move court. The court upheld the government version and ordered to restore traditional irrigation facility of Chamiyana residents.

Hamirpur, February 15
Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal has said the new IR Battalion sanctioned by the central government would be based at Jangal Beri in the district from where the IR Battalion was shifted during the rule of the previous government. 

Talking to media persons at Nadaun today Dhumal said “Since the Congress government had shifted the IR Battalion from Jangal Beri without any justification, it would be brought back again.” “Rs-800 crore will be given by the central government for establishing this battalion and 1,000 new police personnel will be recruited and 250 policemen will be given specialised training to combat terrorism,” he said. “The police recruitment carried during the Congress regime will be reviewed.”

Thanking Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and chairman of the Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia for increasing the annual plan outlay of the state, Dhumal said “Despite the Congress being in power in the state, its leaders could not get such a substantial increase in the plan outlay, which is a big achievement of the present government.”

Shimla, February 15
The BJP government will give top priority to making the hill state self-reliant and ensuring uniform development with focus on the socio-economic uplift of the underprivileged sections.

An official spokesperson said social welfare was at the top of government agenda as evident from the fact that this sector had been allocated the highest amount of Rs 818 crore in the Rs 2400-crore Annual Plan.

The government was also paying special attention to the welfare of SCs, STs and other backward classes and had provided an outlay of Rs 594 crore under the special component plan for SCs as against Rs 231 crore in 2007-08. The Annual Plan for 2008-09 was formulated keeping in view the welfare of every section of society and regions and priority was on providing roads, education, drinking water supply, social welfare and health facilities.

The government had allocated Rs. 329 crore for the hydel sector in the Annual Plan as against Rs. 159 crore last year.

Sapri (Kangra), February 15
Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal has commended the services being rendered by the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) on the frontiers of Bhutan and Nepal.

Dhumal took the salute at the passing-out parade of the SSB here today. As many as 566 recruits passed out from this training centre. He gave away prizes and mementoes to the outstanding contingents.

He announced all cooperation to the SSB training centre. Dhumal said his government was committed to the welfare, relief and rehabilitation of the serving and ex-servicemen. He laid the foundation stone of an interactive fire training centre for the SSB trainees.

Earlier, RS Pathania, DIG of the SSB, said the centre had so far imparted training to 9,624 persons from different forces.

Mandi, February 15
Small-time charas smugglers are on the run as the district police has ceased over 9.5kg of charas and consignments of capsules and smack from five persons arrested under the NDPS Act in the past 24 hours in different parts of the district. But the police is yet to catch the “big fish” and the sources of smack and charas.

The five persons arrested in four different cases under the NDPS Act have exposed the chinks in the police patrol in other districts. Smack and capsules used by drug addicts and impressionable youngsters in different towns in the state are being supplied through drug couriers or through big drug suppliers, who are yet to be nabbed by the police.

The police investigation revealed that the small-time drug couriers walk on foot for some distance to hoodwink the police and then they board buses or travel on two wheelers carrying consignments in bags from the sources or contact persons for the desired destinations in or outside the state. 

Nurpur, February 15
The Kandwal police today conducted a raid in the Chakki rivulet in Himachal Pradesh jurisdiction and intercepted a JCB and tipper of Punjab while quarrying on the riverbed.

The police has seized both and a case under Section 21 of the Mine and Mineral Act has been registered against their drivers Sher Singh and Prem Kumar. The JCB machines and tippers of stone crusher units set up in Punjab are used for illegal mining in the Chakki rivulet in Himachal Pradesh jurisdiction posing threat to the environment but the state mining authorities have failed to curb this menace.