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Lottery scheme for consumers started
Cabinet nod to 1,921 jobs
Tourists welcome at forest rest houses
Shivratri fair concludes
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MoUs for hydel projects: Entrepreneurs disappointed
Hydel project opposed
100 Tibetans held for defying ban
2653 HIV positive cases identified
Drug controller appointed
Shanta to file nomination today
Power division at Salooni demanded
Help sought to bring body from Lebanon
‘Breed’ western tragopan in Chamba
Proposal to transfer secretariat staff hailed
PNB staff stage dharna
Seminar organised
Forgery Case
Engine breaks down yet again
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Lottery scheme for consumers started
Shimla, March 13 Replying to the debate on the general budget in the Vidhan Sabha he rejected criticism that the government was depending on borrowings and no effort was being made to raise additional resources. He said the strategy was to mobilise resources by better revenue realisation instead of imposing more taxes. Cash memos collected from consumers would be used for taking out lotteries to reward them. He said a detailed scheme was being worked out. Earlier, he had announced in the budget that the departments that exceeded the target of tax collections would be given 1 per cent of the amount as an incentive to be used for infrastructural requirements. He said the budget figures clearly indicated that the state’s own revenue receipts would go up from Rs 2754 crore to Rs 3532 crore, an increase of 30 per cent, while the central assistance would be also be enhanced by 100 per cent. The revenue receipts were estimated at Rs 9397.73 crore, about 30 per cent more than that in the previous year. The loans were being raised with the approval of the Planning Commission and the entire amount would be utilised for capital investment. Dhumal said that successive governments had been forced to raise loans because of the folly of the Congress government which concealed the deficit of Rs 200 crore before the 9th Finance Commission. As a result the commission did not recommend any grant to cover the revenue deficit plunging the state into a perennial financial crisis. He said the government would urge the 13th Finance Commission to compensate the state to the tune of Rs 1,000 crore for preserving the fragile environment by not exploiting its forest resources. The state’s forest wealth was estimated at over Rs 1.5 lakh crore and with the introduction of a carbon credits system it was worth much more. However, the state was preserving it in the larger national interests and losing huge forest revenue for which the Centre must compensate it. The state was also framing a scheme to take advantage of the carbon credits system. Blaming the wrong policies of the UPA government for the rise in prices he said the state could not do much as there was neither nay hoarding nor scope for increasing production. However, the government could help improve the purchasing power of the people which it did by raising pension and the daily wage and granting interim relief to the employees. The government had taken a major step to curb corruption by taking a policy decision assign hydroelectric projects with a capacity of 5 MW or more through international competitive bidding instead of the MoU route followed by the previous Congress regime. He said the Congress government did little for exploiting the state’s hydroelectric potential over the past five years as evident from the fact that it did not allocate adequate funds for Larji, Uhal, Khauli ,Ghanvi and other projects and shockingly during 2005-06 and 2006-07 not a single penny was allotted. It was his government which provided Rs 40 crore for the Larji project in the supplementary budget for the current year. In the next year’s budget Rs 329 crore had been allocated for the sector. Dhumal also gave a lie to the false claims of the Congress on the Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission. He said that the Centre had made it clear in a letter dated June 26, 2007, that only Rs 51.95 crore would be given for Shimla during 2005-12 but the Congress misled the people by preparing a plan of Rs 3898 crore. Worse, in reality it submitted a detailed project report for projects worth only Rs 123 crore. |
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Cabinet nod to 1,921 jobs
Shimla, March 13 A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of the Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister, P.K. Dhumal here today. Out of the 1,921 persons to be employed, there will be 1,081 posts of gram rozgar sewaks, 750 takniki sahayaks and 40 junior engineers. The powers of takniki sahayaks will be enhanced through decentralisation of powers and effective functioning of the programme. The cabinet also approved export of khair heartwood chips outside the state, subject to the lifting of the ban imposed by the high court. The Cabinet also decided that professional restructuring of the departments of education, forest, health, public works and irrigation and public health would be undertaken by requisitioning services of experts and consultants. The Cabinet also decided to start DNA fingerprinting and NDPS testing facilities at the Junga state forensic science laboratory, along with the creation of two regional laboratories at Dharamsala and Mandi with required staff of 53 in different categories. It was also decided to change the administrative control of the Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh Development Authority from the General Administration Department (GAD) to the Industries Department. It was also decided to reorganise the state criminals investigation department and to bring about changes in the recruitment procedure of police constables. |
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Tourists welcome at forest rest houses
Shimla, March 13 The Forest Department will tie up with the HPTDC to renovate 400 of its forest houses located in the most idyllic and vantage locations so that eco-tourism could be given a boost. The HPTDC will be entrusted the task of renovating the rest houses so that they can be thrown open to tourists who at times find it difficult to find accommodation in remote areas. Forest minister J.P. Nadda said that there would be a tie-up with the HPTDC to put information about these 400 forest rest houses on its website. “The forest authorities will prepare details of all major trekking routes which will be put on the HPTDC website along with available accommodation,” he informed. He said trekkers and nature lovers faced great difficulty in finding accommodation in the remote areas so it had been decided to throw open the forest rest houses for everyone. This would not only generate income for the department but also help give a major boost to tourism. The HPTDC would renovate 400 rest houses and provide all facilities required by travellers from the hospitality point of view. The income generated from the rest houses would go to the Forest Department while the HPTDC would be paid the cost for undertaking renovation. Another innovative scheme being prepared is to lease out 300 camping sites for putting up tented accommodation along the national highways, main roads and arterial roads to cooperative societies formed by the educated unemployed youth. This will again give a boost to tourism and provide employment to the youth, especially in the rural areas. It is the Forest Corporation which will undertake the task of identifying the camping sites. Each of these 300 sites will be developed as a camping site having provision for putting up about six tents for travellers. The income so generated will remain with the Forest Corporation. “These sites will only be reserved for the cooperatives formed by educated unemployed youth as unemployment is a major issue,” said Nadda. Though there is immense potential for wildlife and eco-tourism in Himachal but the state has failed to promote it like Uttarakhand and Madhya Pradesh. The state has 32 wildlife sanctuaries and two national parks, but in the absence of proper accommodation and other infrastructure, tourists find it difficult to visit these areas. |
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Shivratri fair concludes
Mandi, March 13 Addressing the gathering at Paddal Maidan, he said, “Fairs go a long way in exhibiting Himachali culture and showcasing local products.” He offered prayers at the Raj Madhav Rai temple. Various deities, local people, home guards, police personnel, NCC cadets and schoolchildren participated in the jaleb procession. Earlier, over 190 deities that participated in the week-long fair converged on Chobata Bazaar and bid “divine adieu” to each other at the grand “Visarjan” ceremony. Thousands of devotees thronged the chariots of deities and paid obeisance, seeking blessing for peace and prosperity. Another highlight of the Shivaratri fair this year was Bithu Dev Narayan devta from Seraj valley that participated in the fair after 45 years. After the “Visarjan” ceremony, the last “jaleb” of devtas took a round of the town. The procession started from the temple of Rajmadhav and concluded at Paddal Maidan. Although the audience did not like many singers who performed during cultural nights, sufiyana singer Hans Raj Hans was a hit. Chandan Prabhakar and Kuldip Dube of laughter show also won praise. Krishan Lila presented by artistes from the North Zone Cultural Centre, Patiala, was well received. President of the mela committee-cum-DC (Mandi) Onkar Sharma welcomed the chief guest. Lady Governor Leena Kokje, MLA Inder Singh, DC Ashwani Kapur and many known personalities of the town were present on the occasion. |
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MoUs for hydel projects: Entrepreneurs disappointed
Nurpur, March 13 They have been waiting for early disposal of 1,600 applications pending with HIMURJA for mini hydel projects. Over 700 applications pertained to self-identified projects. Before 2007, there was reportedly no proper policy for awarding mini micro hydropower projects to local entrepreneurs and a number of Andhra Pradesh and Delhi-based private entrepreneurs managed to get these projects under different names. The entrepreneurs used to submit application between June 30 to December 31 during every calendar year and after scrutiny of technical and financial strength, the projects were awarded and MoUs signed with most of the non-Himachali entrepreneurs. It was only with the consistent pressure mounted by native entrepreneurs that the Virbhadra Singh government framed a new power policy a year ago in which 0 to 2-MW hydel projects were kept reserved for native entrepreneurs. Himachalis were also given preference in the allotment of 2 to 5-MW projects. In order to implement new power policy, HIMURJA floated advertisements in February 2007 for 168 identified sites for hydel projects and also invited offers for self-identified projects. The agency received 1,609 applications, including those for self-identified projects. These applications were processed and even spot inspection to verify feasibility of project sites was undertaken. However, no MoU has been signed so far. The Kangra District Hydropower Developers Association has appealed to the Chief Minister to either expedite the process of awarding mini-micro hydro projects for which the previous government had invited applications by floating advertisements or review the existing policy keeping in view the interests of the native entrepreneurs who were ready to work on self-identified project sites. Tarsem Kaistha, president of the association, demanded that the MoUs (signed during 1996 to 2006) with outsider companies that had failed to start work so far should be annulled. Claiming that most of the entrepreneurs in Kangra district were unemployed engineers, Kaistha said by giving nod to the self-identified power projects the state exchequer would get revenue to the tune of Rs 65 to 70 crore by means of cess to be recovered by fisheries, environment and forest departments. Kaistha rued that the state government signed 11 MoUs on February 16 and 11 implementation agreements on March 1 on the basis of the old policy by overlooking the existing power policy in which local entrepreneurs had to be awarded these projects. HIMURJA director R.K. Dhiman admitted that 12 MoUs had been signed with entrepreneurs who had submitted their applications until June 2005 on the basis of existing power project policy. On the issue of pending 1,609 applications, he said the processing of the applications was still on. |
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Hydel project opposed
Shimla, March 13 The chinks in the report were exposed during a public hearing conducted by the Himachal Power Corporation, which is executing the project, at Hatkoti yesterday. The participants maintained that an environment management plan (EMP) formulated on the basis of a faulty EIA will not be worthwhile. Dr Rajender Jogta of Thana village pointed out that the EIA had completely overlooked many important resources, which would be affected due to the construction of the project, and it was quite obvious that the EMP would not be able to take care of these. There was no mention of the two tributaries of Pabbar, Chauri and Jarala khads, and wrong information had been given about the fishermen downstream. Further, only 10 per cent discharge would be maintained downstream the barrage as against the mandatory 15 per cent. President of the Ranvi Vikas Sabha Govind Chatranta expressed dissatisafaction over the manner the public hearing was being conducted. The local people had not been informed about the destructive impact of the project and they were not being duly consulted. The area had seen massive landslides in 1978 and 1988 and the same fragile hills were being blasted to bore tunnels. In the past tunnelling through such hills had led to drying up of water sources and loss of soil moisture which, in turn, lowered farm productivity. V.P.Baltu of Ghunsa village lamented that no action had been on the issues raised during the public hearing conducted in June 15, 2006, and as such there was no use holding the present hearing. The important issue of misuse of CAT (catchment area treatment) plan had not been addressed. |
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A wife’s SOS to CM
Una, March 13 Subhash has been transferred from Una to Hamirpur despite the fact that the couple has to visit the PGI for renal check-up and treatment almost every week. The appeals made to the authorities on medical grounds have fallen on deaf ears. Sharda alleged all this was being done as an MLA from the district wanted his man to be posted at Una. Her husband suffered total renal failure. She donated one of her kidneys to save his life. However, even after successful transplant at the PGI, both of them have to visit there regularly for post surgery treatment, she said. The doctors have advised them to take extra care so as to avoid infection. “After the present government took over, certain politically influential people tried to get my husband transferred. We met the local MLA and appealed to the director, agriculture, on medical grounds. However, our appeals were rejected,” she alleged. She has now appealed to the Chief Minister to cancel her husband’s transfer so that they can continue with the treatment at the PGI. “Our hope now rests with the Chief Minister,” she added. |
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100 Tibetans held for defying ban
Dharamsala, March 13 “According to instructions from the central government, we have arrested 100 Tibetans, including six women,” Himachal Pradesh’s deputy inspector-general of police J.R. Thakur said. Witnesses said the police stopped the protestors, including 70 Buddhist monks, near Dehra in Kangra district, about 250 km from here. None of them offered any resistance while being arrested. The arrested Tibetans are currently housed in Jwalamukhi and are likely to be presented before a magistrate in the next few hours. A spokesperson of the Tibetan refugees said all protestors are on fast after their arrest. The Tibetan refugees had begun their march from Dharamsala, the seat of the Tibetan government-in-exile on Monday, on the anniversary of the 49th Tibetan uprising against the Chinese communist regime. The 100 protestors were from top five Tibetan NGOs based in India. They were wearing traditional Buddhist attire.
— IANS |
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2653 HIV positive cases identified
Shimla, March 13 Giving this information to Kaul Singh (Cong) during question hour health and family welfare minister Rajiv Bindal said the maximum number of 630 HIV cases were in Kangra, followed by Hamripur (622), Shimla (351), Bilaspur (301), Una (244) and Mandi (237). The government was aware of the problem and keen to make the state free of the dreaded disease at the earliest. It proposed to take a number of steps during the coming year to contain its spread. Besides providing an HIV testing mobile van facility and establishing eight new integrated counselling and testing centres, it also planned to set up two anti-retroviral treatment centres at Hamirpur and the Medical College at Tanda. It would also establish two drop-in centres at Hamirpur and Baddi by networking the people infected with the disease and 24 blood storage centres at the first referral units. The people would be motivated to match the AIDS-free report like the “janampatris” before marriage. Special campaigns would be launched to encourage people to opt for voluntary HIV testing. So far the government had spent Rs 28.49 crore since 1999 on the AIDS control programme. Replying to a question pertaining to the national rural health mission Bindal said that new first referral units would be opened only after conducting a proper survey taking into consideration factors like population and the number of patients. He said the state had received Rs 48.77 crore from the Centre so far out of which only Rs 11.99 crore had been spent. As per norms Rs 10,000 was provided for health subcentre , Rs 75,000 for primary health centre and Rs 40 lakh for the first referral unit(FRU). The government had opened 36 FRUs but the staff could not be posted as per norms because of a shortage of medical specialists, technicians and other para-medical employees. Transport minister Krishan Kapoor told Sukhwinder Singh (Cong) that there was no proposal to bring a retention policy to regularise unauthorised structures in various nagar panchayats and planning areas. |
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Drug controller appointed
Solan, March 13 Since the former drug controller Sher Singh Thakur was suspended after being caught allegedly collecting cash worth lakhs from the investors in Baddi on February 22, the key post was vacant till now. The pharmaceutical investors had brought this matter to the notice of the Chief Minister P. K. Dhumal during his visit to the Baddi industrial area on February 8. Health minister Dr Rajiv Bindal had assured the industry of notifying the new official by Monday. The delayed notification had put on hold various permissions, including certificate of pharmaceutical production, which was pre-requisite for export-oriented units. According to a conservative estimate nearly 10 to 15 per cent of the units cater to exports in the state. Further permissions like new manufacturing licenses, product approvals, renewal of retail and wholesale licenses too had been put on hold. |
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Shanta to file nomination today
Shimla, March 13 All senior BJP leaders, including Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal, state party chief Jai Ram Thakur and in charge of BJP affairs in Himachal Satya Pal Jain, are likely to be present when Shanta Kumar files his papers. With the Congress already stating that it had decided not to put up a candidate for the Rajya Sabha election, Shanta Kumar is likely to be declared elected on March 19, after the time for withdrawal is over. The election, if required would be held on March 26. The seat has fallen vacant after Suresh Bhardwaj was elected to the state assembly from Shimla. Having remained an MLA and Lok Sabha MP it will for the first time that Santa Kumar will make an entry in the Rajya Sabha. |
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Power division at Salooni demanded
Dalhousie, March 13 If the proposal of new electrical division is cleared by the state government, it would accelerate the pace of electrification schemes and lessen the burden of the other two electrical divisions functioning in the state. According to official sources, the electrical division based at Chamba is also covering three assembly constituencies -Chamba, Bharmour and Rajnagar besides a part of the Bhattiyat assembly constituency having four development blocks - Chamba, Mehla, Bharmour and Tissa. |
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Help sought to bring body from Lebanon
Shimla, March 13 Kanshi Ram, in his 20s, died in a road accident in the Lebanese town of Zoni March 3. His wife Rukmani Devi said another Indian called Rawat informed her over the phone about the death of her husband on the day he died. She was assured that the body would be sent in a couple of days to India but that did not happen. According to the latest information from Rukmani Devi, the body would only be released and flown to India after some Rs 300,000 was deposited with the Lebanese government. “It isn’t clear as to why the company isn’t paying to release the body”, she said. Kanshi Ram, who hails from Tanda village in Mandi district, 180 km from here, was working for a private company in Lebanon for the past four years. Now the family has approached minister of state for external affairs Anand Sharma for help. Sharma hails from Himachal . “We have also requested the state government for help,” M. Chandershekar, Mandi district police chief, said on Thursday. — IANS
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‘Breed’ western tragopan in Chamba
Chamba, March 13 Western tragopan is a timid pheasant with rich black and red colour with white dots all over its body. Despite Chamba being the home to western tragopan, nothing has been done for the revival of tragopan species. If the Forest Department opens pheasant breeding centres at Gararo, Kalatop, Bakani, Kugti, Harchu and Talli, the population of these species could be multiplied. |
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Proposal to transfer secretariat staff hailed
Hamirpur, March 13 In a press note issued here today state president of the federation Sanjeev Jaswal said the rules in this regard should be amended which would benefit lakhs of other employees. He said the policy should be also framed to transfer the DC office employees to other departments. The union would soon meet Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal and apprise him about their long-pending demands he said. |
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PNB staff stage dharna
Shimla, March 13 The dharna is being observed since March 1, to protest against the vindictive and anti-employees decisions being taken by the higher authorities. The employees are protesting against shortage of staff, shrinkage of career opportunities, unilateral restructuring of the bank against the interest of the employees. General secretary of the PNB Staff Union, Prem Verma said the dharnas would continue till the demands of both associations were met. |
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Seminar organised
Nurpur, March 13 The girl students of local Arya Government College, BTC Girls’ Senior Secondary School and women took part in the seminar. On this occasion, the committee chairman apprised participants of the provision of the free-legal aid and a number of acts enacted to protect rights of the women in India.
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Forgery Case
Shimla, March 13 Vigilance Bureau sleuths have already left for Delhi to collect the certificates on the basis of which Upma Kashyap sought admission into Jesus and Mary Convent in second year after she withdrew from Lady Sri Ram (LSR) College in 2006. A case has been registered by the police for obtaining a forged plus two certificate by the former minister’s daughter. The Vigilance Bureau is likely to summon soon Singhi Ram and his daughter for questioning. The role of officials of the Himachal Pradesh Board of School Education is also being probed. |
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Engine breaks down yet again
Nurpur, March 13 The train which left Pathankot railway station at 12.50 pm stopped at Kandwal due to some technical snag in the engine. According to information, traffic remained suspended for a few hours on the Pathankot-Jogindernagar narrow gauge rail line. The railway authorities at Pathankot sent alternative engine for the stranded train. The rail commuters have demanded replacement of old engines to ensure smooth and trouble -free travelling. |
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