The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Himachal Pradesh Edition

Dhumal to present budget on March 7
Tribune News Service

Shimla, March 2
While expressing confidence that he would get full cooperation from the Congress, Speaker Tulsi Ram asserted today that he would strive make the House a level playing field for the Treasury Benches and the Opposition.

He said that he had been a member of the House for two terms earlier and enjoyed a good rapport with most of the Congress members. It was one of the reasons that the party did not put up its candidate for the post of Speaker. He was hopeful that the spirit would be maintained and the Congress members would extend full cooperation to him in conducting the House.

He said 400 policemen would be deployed to provide security for the 39-day session. He had held a meeting with the DGP in this regard.

The budget for 2008-09 would be presented in the Vidhan Sabha on March 7 by Chief Minister P.K.Dhumal, who also holds the Finance portfolio. The supplementary demands would be presented on March 4. There would be 23 sittings in all and the budget would be passed on March 27. While four days had been kept for debate on the budget proposals, three days had been earmarked for private members’ business.

There would be an eight- day recess from March 15 to 23 during which the department-related standing committees of the House would scrutinise the demands for grants and submit their reports.

So far, he had received 307 starred and 52 unstarred questions from the members. Notice for a call-attention motion from the high court regarding mining on shamlat land had also been received.

‘Politics of economics’ to dominate budget session
Rakesh Lohumi
Tribune News Service

Shimla, March 2
“Politics of economics” will dominate the first budget session of the new BJP government commencing on March 4 with focus on the outstanding debt of the state, recent bus fare hike, financial health of the government and various public sector undertakings and other related issues.

As the BJP government is just two months old the Congress does not have any potent issues to attack it. In fact, the party could be at the receiving end as the functioning of the previous Virbhadra Singh government will come under the scanner. The MoU signed by the previous government with the World Bank for raising development policy loans which puts a cap on subsidies, transfers of employees and government guarantees will be at the centre of the debate. Besides, the appointments through the parent-teachers associations during the Congress regime will be in focus. The new government has already ordered an inquiry into these appointments and a report was likely to be submitted shortly.

The financial health of the government has been indeed a matter of concern with outstanding loans of Rs 22,000 crore and about Rs 3000 crore, one-third of the budget, going towards debt servicing. The annual interest liability alone was over Rs 1,800 crore. The large number of institutions opened by the outgoing regime in the election year, particularly the medical college in Mandi district, de-notified by the new government, will certainly generate some heat.

Important issues like subsidy on ration and electricity, which have a direct bearing on the state’s financial health, will be discussed. As per the MoU the power subsidy has been capped at the current level of Rs 134 crore and as such the government will have no option but to increase the power tariff across the board for domestic consumers. Further, as per the MoU the government guarantees could not exceed 40 per cent of the total receipts of the previous year and transfers have to be limited to a maximum of 6 per cent of the total strength. The government could not afford to violate the MoU.

Besides the development policy loan, it has also raised huge amounts for road upgradation projects. The power subsidy will bring into picture the state electricity board the financial health of which has gone from bad to worse on account of a high employee cost. The large-scale financial irregularities and corruption in the execution of the Larji project, the costliest project to date, will also draw attention of the MLAs.

The union and railway budgets will also attract the attention of the members. While the Congress will take credit for the inclusion of Rs 1046-crore Bhanupali-Bilaspur-Beri rail line in the budget and various concessions announced in the Union Budget like the loan-waiver for farmers and raising of the income tax exemption limit , the BJP will draw the attention towards the rejection of the state’s demand for upgrdation of the Pathankot-Jogindernagar rail line and Chandigarh -Baddi track, denial of the promised IIT and other issues concerning the state which had not been addressed in the Budget.

Centre ignoring Himachal: CM
Kuldeep Chauhan
Tribune News Service

Kuklah (Mandi), March 2
Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal today accused the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre of meting out stepmotherly treatment to the state despite the fact it eased out power shortage and contributed to turning deserts of Rajasthan into fertile land and its jawans made supreme sacrifices for the country in fighting terrorism. “The Central Government has backed out from its commitments made on the occasion of the birthday of Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi,” he added.

Addressing a public meeting after inaugurating the 16-MW Patikari power project at Gudah, he said, “Around 1,650 oustees of the Bhakra Dam project and 16,000 oustees of the Pong Dam project uprooted from their homes are fighting for survival even today.”

Soldiers from the state had made sacrifices for the country, farmers contributed their land for various projects so that power shortage in the country could be met and deserts of Rajasthan could be turned into fertile land. “But, what has the Centre given to our people in return. Leave alone other promises made by Congress-ruled UPA government, even the dam oustees have not been rehabilitated so far,” he said.

He said finance minister P. Chidambaram himself had announced the opening of an IIT and a Central university on the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi in Shimla last year, but he did not make any such provision in the recently presented Budget. He had made that statement on behalf of the Prime Minister, he added.

He said the Patikari project authorities had got built a road at a cost of Rs 7 crore that linked the area to the mainstream. “The company has agreed to help construct roads and an animal hospital as per the demands of villagers,” he said.

Responding to the demands of Chachiot MLA and BJP state unit chief Jai Ram Thakur and Nachan MLA Dile Ram, he said the government would construct 215-km road at a cost of Rs 55 crore in the Chachiot segment this year. A sum of Rs 1.33 crore had been allocated for the primary health centre at Gohar, he added. A bridge connecting Nachen and Chachiot will be constructed across the Bakhli khad and road linking Bagla Temple would be widened and tarred to promote religious tourism around Pandoh dam and in Shikari Devi area in Chachiot.

Dhumal announced the upgrading of Kashmli Dhar School to senior secondary level and inaugurated a primary school at Chunali. He also announced to start a veterinary hospital there and assured the people to construct a road to link Bada panchayat.

Earlier, the Patikari power company gave Rs 5 lakh for the Chief Minister’s Fund. Others who made contribution to the fund on the occasion were Shayam Singh (Rs 11,000), Gulab Singh Kandi panchayat (Rs 5,100), mahila morcha (Rs 1,500) and Saroha panchayat (Rs 2,100).

CM’s statement contradicts company’s claims
Our Correspondent

Sundernagar, March 2
The allurements made to the public by representatives of Harish Cement Company with which the government has signed an MoU for setting up a cement plant here seem to be false as the Chief Minister yesterday made statement at Darlaghat that the cost of the plant would be Rs 700 crore and 350 persons would get employment there.

In the past, representatives of the company had got consent of some of the residents for land acquisition on the pretext that they would be paid heavy compensation for the same. These persons were expecting anything between 40 lakh and 60 lakh per bigha, the rate prevalent in the vicinity of the town.

Moreover, representatives of the company were alluring the youth by saying that 5,000 of them would get employment in the plant. Some local politicians had gone even further saying that the number would be around 10,000. However, the CM’s statement has put the number at mere 350.

As per representatives of the company, Rs 150 crore to 200 crore would be paid for the acquisition of land, including 4,300 bighas of private land. Landowner were now convinced that the company would not be in a position to the pay more than Rs 3.5 lakh to 4.5 lakh per bigha.

As per estimates, if Rs 4 lakh is paid for every bigha, the cost of land would be 172 crore. If the rate is Rs 4.5 lakh per bigha, the cost of land would be 193.5 crores. The amount will be Rs 215 crore if the rate is fixed at Rs 5 lakh per bigha. In case the company decides to pay Rs 20 lakh per bigha, the cost of land would be Rs 860 crores, which will be 160 crore more than the project cost as per the project report and the statement made by the Chief Minister.

Residents, on the other hand, have been demanding Rs 40 to 60 lakh per bigha. If the calculation is made accordingly, the project cost would be 1,720 crore to 2,580 crore.

Obviously, residents who were earlier favouring cement industry have started opposing such decisions.

According to secretary of the state unit of the Kisan Sangh Joginder Thakur, the company would not be allowed to acquire agricultural land at throwaway price. Ravinder Ravi, secretary of the Youth Empowerment and Social Welfare Association alleged that the company was trying to cheat innocent farmers, but it would not be allowed.

Rs 1.9-cr irrigation scheme soon: Speaker
Our Correspondent

Kullu, March 2
A Rs 3-crore lift drinking water scheme of Phati Diyar near Bhuntar would be dedicated to the people by April 15 and Rs 1.9-crore lift irrigation scheme of the area would be started shortly after the formality of the administrative approval. This was stated by Khimi Ram, Deputy Speaker, Himachal Vidhan Sabha in the public meetings held yesterday at Piplaage and Bashona near Bhuntar.

Later, Khimi Ram, while presiding over the valedictory function of the Kissan Shivir organised under the aegis of Himachal Pradesh Mid-Himalayas Watershed Development Project, Parbati division, said the project was in the 602 panchayats of 10 districts of the state with the help of the World Bank.

He said the panchayats were given administrative and financial powers to enable peoples’ participation in the project. He said the economic condition of the down trodden and have-nots would be improved under the scheme. The project envisages better environment, better quality of food, fodder, cattle stock and improvement and restoration of natural water sources, besides conservation of forests and land.

Jeet Thakur, Himachal Pradesh Mid-Himalayas Watershed Development Project officer cum divisional forest officer revealed that 51 panchayats were earmarked in Kullu district out of which the work was already in progress in 30 panchayats while plans were under process for the remaining 21 panchayats. He further said 10 such workshops; seven agriculture familiarisation tours had already been organised for the farmers of the district.

Rs 10 lakh for each ZP member sought
Our Correspondent

Bilaspur, March 2
The zila parishad here has demanded that each member of the parishad should be provided Rs 10 lakh for implementing development works in their wards on the pattern of the MLA’s development fund, who are provided Rs 25 lakh for development works in their constituencies.

The meeting of the zila parishad was presided over by its chairperson Santosh Dhiman, who also adopted an another resolution by demanding increase in monthly honorarium of all panchayat representatives right from the panchayat level to the zila parishad level.

Meeting laid special emphasis on cleanliness and chlorination of all water sources in the district with view to save people from waterborne diseases in coming months and asked the concerned departments to be particular in this matter. Vice-chairman Hoshiyar Singh Thakur and zila parishad members Bambar Thakur, Bhagat Singh Verma, Jitender Chandel, Vimla Chaudhari and Suman Sharma were also present among others in the meeting.

Loan waiver due to Left pressure, claims Yechuri
Our Correspondent

Kumarhatti, March 2
The UPA government’s 2008-09 pro-farmer Budget was the outcome of Left pressure on the Centre that brought a loan waiver of Rs 60,000 crore to the farming community, said Sitaram Yechuri here this evening on his way back to New Delhi after attending a state unit conference at Rampur Bushahr in Shimla district.

Yechuri said the UPA government had failed to implement many measures chalked out under the common minimum programme. Under pressure from big industrialists the Congress, the major ally in the UPA, had ignored many things related to people welfare.

As the popularity of the UPA government had eroded in past year, the Left was seriously thinking of forming a third front to counter pro-capitalist parties, Yechuri maintained.

In HP too, a strong third front was needed to keep the BJP under check.

Drug Controller’s Arrest
Focus on department’s functioning
Ambika Sharma

Solan, March 2
The manner in which the drug licensing authority catering to the industry having Rs 10,000 crore turnover has been put at the mercy of a lone authority has put a question mark over the working of successive governments. The issue gains significance in the light of the fact that drug controller Sher Singh, who was arrested under the Prevention of Corruption Act recently, possessed assets worth several crores.

Though three drug inspectors were arrested for graft in the past, little was done to bring about appreciable changes in the system. What was even more amazing was the fact that the suspended drug controller Sher Singh was merely a notified authority, who took over in 2001 after suspension of the then senior most drug inspector S.K. Chaudhary.

He was, therefore, only a drug inspector who had been delegated powers to act as drug controller till a regular arrangement was made.

However, successive governments failed to appoint any regular drug controller even after seven years. Earlier, the state had an assistant drug licensing authority who retired in 1998. The post was never filled.

Moreover, the government has shown no interest in implementing recommendations of a task force constituted by the Central Government sometime back.

The task force has appointed additional secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, as its chairman. Among several recommendations, a crucial one pertained to making the number of drug inspectors in the states commensurate with the number of licensed manufacturing and selling premises.

It was suggested that the number should be on the basis of one drug inspector for 25 manufacturing units and one for 100 sales premises. Most of the states have not been able to augment their inspectorate staff as per the recommendation.

The only appreciable change brought about by the previous Congress government was the constitution of a three-member licensing authority that was recently de-notified by the present government granting absolute powers to Sher Singh. His arrest under the Prevention of Corruption Act was made merely a fortnight after the grant of absolute powers to him.

With assets worth several crores being recovered from Thakur, a question mark has been put over the intension of de-notifying this three-member authority.

Though health minister Rajiv Bindal, who is also local MLA and vice-president of the state BJP, has made it clear that a complete restructuring of the department was required, it remains to be seen how this task is accomplished.

Since the government has failed to enhance staff strength despite manifold increase in the number of pharmaceutical units, it has adversely affected the system.

Rot exposed again
Kuldeep Chauhan
Tribune News Service

Mandi, March 2
The recent arrest of the drug controller has exposed chinks in the “corrupt drug inspector raj” which is playing with the lives of innocent people in the state.

The Tribune had carried stories like “Fake drugs playing with lives” and “Drug sampling, big fish still out of the net”, highlighting the unholy nexus between “certain drug manufacturing companies, chemists and drug inspectors”, but the authorities had then almost swept the issue under the carpet.

The department ended the exercise by just collecting a few drug samples from manufactures and chemists and sending these for testing to the Kandaghat testing laboratory. However, nothing concrete came out of that, sources said.

The state vigilance and anti-corruption bureau team has yet to get to the bottom of the “unholy nexus” in the case involving drug controller Sher Singh Thakur, who was suspended by the government after he was booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act recently. He had unaccounted property worth crores registered in the names of his family members.

“The vigilance probe has brought to light that drug inspectors, who are responsible for checking fake drugs, get commission from chemists and drug makers and drug suppliers,” sources said.

IMA president Upender said, “The investigating agencies should reach to bottom of the nexus. Drug inspector’s monopoly should be curtailed by putting in place a more transparent system of drug sampling and checking.” IMA members said the probe in the drug licensing authority brought to public knowledge that “rot was much deeper than what had so far come out in the probe”.

“Unauthorised chemist-cum-clinics and drug supplying agents are proliferating as the Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh (BBN) area has become a hub for pharmaceutical companies in the state. “A transparent system is needed as the inspector raj has bred corruption, instead of stemming the rot,” they pointed out.

BBN Industrial Association general secretary Arun Rawat said, “Drug manufacturers stand for corruption-free industry and support Chief Minister’s assurance of giving a corruption-free administration. Over 98 per cent of drug manufacturers in the belt make genuine drugs though quality may differ from company to company. They adopt good manufacturing practices (GMPs). However, there are black sheep in every industry.”

Health minister Rajiv Bindal said, “Government was aware of the magnitude to the problem. It is restructuring the department and will go to the bottom of the case,” he asserted.

Holland flower to bloom in Kangra
Our Correspondent

Nurpur March 2
The exotic Holland flower Gerbera will bloom after a couple of weeks in the first poly house in Kangra district set up by a progressive farmer, Renu Katoch, at Chhotrolli in this subdivision. He has adopted the Poly House Farming (PHF) by setting up two poly houses by investing Rs 14 lakh. Significantly, this poly house is second in the state as the first house has been set up in Naina Devi by another progressive farmer.

The PHF is being considered most beneficial for cultivation of flowers and vegetables. These poly houses have become an attraction for vegetable and flower growers, who used to visit here to get more information about the PHF.

According to information, the government has earmarked Rs 3.25 lakh as subsidy for setting up poly house on an area of 1,000 square meters under centrally sponsored Horticulture Technology Mission programme.

During a visit to the first poly house in the district, entrepreneur Renu Katoch revealed today that these houses had been built by an Israel Company Classic Agricon which was fully protected from natural calamity like frost and menace of stray cattle and monkeys. The company also supplied Gerbera nursery plants by importing tissue culture from Holland and developing plant nursery at Bangalore. He informed that he had set up two poly houses on 1,000 sq m land by raising loan from a bank.

He revealed that Gerbera flower crop took as many as 90 days for harvesting and in the poly houses flowers were grown about a month back and would take another 55 to 60 days for the full blooming of flowers. He claimed that he had started receiving inquiries from flower traders from neighbouring states about marketing of the produce.

He has estimated that his maiden flower crop which is being cultivated through the PHF technique would likely fetch Rs 12 lakh from its sale. “The main feature of the PHF is dip irrigation and fogger equipment which assist in reducing temperature in summer,” he asserted. He informed that each Gerbera flower plant grew flower for 30 months and each plant produced about 100 flower sticks.

Police apprehends 37 under Excise Act
Our Correspondent

Chamba, March 2
To deal stringently with the anti-social elements in the wake of special campaign launched by the Police Department, the district police has arrested 37 persons and registered cases against them under the Excise Act during February.

Disclosing this here yesterday, R.S. Negi, superintendent of police Chamba said three charas smugglers had been arrested under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substance Act and 2.55 kg charas had been recovered from their possession.

Negi said four persons had been arrested under the Gambling Act while five persons had been arrested under the Disfigurement Act and cases against them had also been registered. 26 persons had been arrested under Section 114 of the HP Police Act while 10 cases had been registered under Sections 107/151 of the CrPC, adding that 56 suspicious persons had also been arrested.

Apart from it, four meetings had been conducted under the community-policing scheme at different places in the district during which various suggestions had come up from the public, the SP informed.

In the light of ensuing tourist season, the Police Department had taken up the matter of setting up of ‘multipurpose check post’ at Tunnuhatti on the Chamba-Pathankot highway to keep a strict watch on the strangers and suspects entering into the Dalhousie-Chamba tourist circuit from outside the state so that any infiltration could be averted, the SP added.

Jobless youth fails to win bride
Our Correspondent

Nurpur, March 2
A Dalit youth of Horri Devi in Jawali subdivision had to return with barat without marriage after the girl to whom he was engaged a few months ago refused to marry him due to his unemployment. The girl, a resident of Ladorri village who is employed as a primary assistant teacher, refused to get married to an unemployed when the barat reached her home on Friday.

The police was informed about the incident. However, before the police could take any action, some mediators and villagers intervened into the issue and resolved it. After discussion, both parties accepted the plea of the bride and the marriage party returned without solemnising the wedding ceremony.

IT survey in Una, Gagret
Our Correspondent

Palampur, March 2
Officials led by the additional commissioner, income tax, Palampur range, conducted a survey in two premises at Una and Gagret. They inspected the books of accounts and verified the stocks. The operation continued for more than 48 hours. Over 30 IT officials from Palampur, Dharamsala, Nurpur and Una participated in the survey.

Official sources told The Tribune in one of the cases the dealer was asked to pay an advance tax on unaccounted stock worth Rs 34 lakh while in the other case the IT Department was scrutinising the documents seized during the survey. The decision on the levying of tax in this case was likely to be taken soon.

The Income Tax Department would continue inspection of business houses for another 15 days as the department had reliable information that unaccounted stocks worth crores of rupees were lying with many traders in Kangra, Una and Chamba districts.

Most of the defaulters included hardware, cloth, karyana and general goods traders. The IT authorities are also in touch with other revenue agencies and sharing secret information. Besides, the department was also examining the source of money spent on a number of buildings, nursing homes and public schools constructed in the past five years, particularly in Kangra and Una districts.

Plan to start law classes in govt college: MLA
Our Correspondent

Chamba, March 2
Efforts will be made to introduce law classes in the local Government Postgraduate Degree College so that students of this region aspiring to pursue law studies do not face any problem of leaving their homeland.

This was stated by B.K. Chauhan, a local MLA, while presiding over an annual prize distribution function of the college here yesterday. Chauhan said the classes of MA (Hindi) would be started in near future; adding that he would take up these issues with the state Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal so that the dream of local students could be fulfilled.

Speaking about the shortage of staff, Chauhan assured that the problem would be sorted out within a period of three months so that the studies do not suffer. Earlier, Chauhan gave away prizes to students who had excelled in their streams. A cultural programme was also presented on the occasion.

NHPC spends 1.28 cr on social schemes
Our Correspondent

Dalhousie, March 2
In order to abide by its social responsibility, the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) has utilised Rs 1.28 crore on various development schemes in and around the projects under operation in Chamba district during the current fiscal year.

Stating this here yesterday, Nain Singh, executive director region-II of the NHPC, said these funds were being spent under an ambitious scheme, Corporate Social Responsibility and Community Development (CSR & CD) launched by the corporation for all-round development of surrounding areas of the projects and for the well being of the local people.

The corporation was spending more than Rs 100 crore on various development activities, including roads, bridges and environment management plan in the ambient of the projects functioning in Chamba district, the executive director claimed; adding that the NHPC had kept a provision of Rs 30 crore on the catchment area treatment plan of the Chamera hydroelectric project (stage-III) which was under construction.

Union to probe fund collection
Tribune News Service

Hamirpur, March 2
The state unit of the Multi Purpose Health Workers (MPHW) Union has decided to convene an inquiry in the collection of huge funds by a few union leaders from the union members about a year back. General secretary of the union Satish Shukla said today few leaders had collected funds from the members for organising a programme at Shimla, which were allegedly misappropriated and needs probe.

He said the union would also meet Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal soon and submit him a demand charter about the problems of the MPHW. The MPHW union unit Hamirpur district also had its election today in which Suresh Kumar Sharma was elected as the district president and Jag Mohan Singh as general secretary, besides other office-bearers.

Kullu police chief transferred
Tribune News Service

Shimla, March 2
Jagat Ram, commandant, 1st Battalion, Junga, will be the new SP of Kulu. He replaces G.D.Bhargav, who takes over as SP, Police Training College, Daroh, against a vacant post.

CID Inspector-General of Police B.N.S. Negi has been posted as I-G, Headquarters.

DSP Sanjiv Gandhi, who was under transfer as DSP, 2nd India Reserve Battalion, has now been posted as DSP, Headquarters, Bilaspur, against a vacant post.

DSP Basher Singh, who was awaiting posting, goes as DSP, State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau.

One dies in road accident
Our Correspondent

Bilaspur, March 2
Kuldeep Chand (32), a junior assistant employed in the Agriculture Department here, was found grievously hurt in a hit-and-run accident near the Animal Husbandry Department office earlier in the day.

Reports said Kuldip Chand was immediately rushed to the local regional hospital here but he was declared brought dead. He is said to have been crushed by a vehicle on his way to office from his house in the Dholra agriculture colony. Kuldip Chand belonged to the Sarkaghat area of Mandi district and was living here with his family. He leaves behind a three-year- old son and other family members.

A case has been registered.

PO arrested after 32 yrs
Tribune News Service

Hamirpur, March 2
The police has arrested an accused 32 years after being declared a proclaimed offender by a local court for possessing two bottles of illicit liquor.

Ratan Chand, resident of Chamned, was booked in 1976, in excise case and after his failure to attend the court he was declared a proclaimed offender in 1982.

The arrest of the accused was helped by his ex-wife who informed the police about his whereabouts when she came to know that he was living in Shimla and had married again.

Ramakant is Bar chief again
Tribune News Service

Shimla, March 2
Ramakant Sharma, a leading advocate of the high court, was unanimously re-elected chairman of the state bar council.

He is the first incumbent to get a second consecutive term as the chairman of the council.

Ajay Singh Sepahiya, an advocate from Dharamsala, was unanimously elected vice-chairman of the council.