Shimla, March 14
The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau today registered a case here against four junior engineers of the IPH Department and three contractors who were engaged in the infamous Drabla road construction during the Congress regime.

While in the opposition the BJP had raised the matter in the Assembly alleging that public money had been swindled in the construction of the 1.5-km road and the expenditure incurred was much more than the actual amount spent.

The Drabla road construction case prominently figured in one of the chargesheets submitted by the BJP against the Congress regime. Now with the government handing over the chargesheet to the Vigilance Bureau, a criminal case has been registered.

As per the details of the case, the IPH Department spent Rs 1.52 crore on the construction of the road to the water supply scheme for Shimla near Basantpur. The bureau during got the actual expenditure on the road assessed which worked out to be Rs 78 lakh. As such it was found that double the amount had been shown when much less money had been spent on this road.

It was on the basis of the hue and cry raised by the BJP during the Virbhadra regime that an inquiry had been ordered. The government had itself admitted that the money spent was much higher and over 10 officials had been chargesheeted and three of them suspended. However, the matter was neither handed over to the vigilance nor a criminal case was registered.

Not satisfied with the findings of the government, the BJP had constituted its own fact-finding committee headed by former IPH minister Ramesh Dhawala. The BJP had alleged that very little expenditure had been made and huge amounts of public money had been swindled. They also promised a probe on assuming power.

The Drabla road construction case prominently figured in all corruption charges that were made by the BJP members against the Congress regime. As such it was being expected that the BJP would get the matter probed by the vigilance on assuming power so as to book the guilty. 

Shimla, March 14
Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal said today that the state was reeling under a severe debt-trap as the total liabilities had touched Rs 22191.95 crore.

In reply to a query by Rikhi Ram Kaundal of the BJP during question hour in the Assembly today, Dhumal said there was nothing wrong in raising loans provided the money was utilised properly. “It is not just the state governments but even the Centre raises loans from various agencies like the World Bank and other organisations to meet its capital investment needs and undertake development works,” he said.

He said it was during the Congress regime only that the total liabilities of the state had crossed Rs 15,000 crore. “This figure is likely to touch Rs 22,930 crore by March 31,” he informed the House.

Former IPH minister Kaul Sungh Thakur said that the Chief Minister should mention the exact loan amount and the guarantee given for raising loans by various public sector undertakings. “Including the figure of Rs 2018.18 crores as a loan is wrong as the money given as guarantee cannot be included under this head,” he contested.

Dhumal said the figure of internal debts had touched Rs 13,888.96 crore, loans from the Centre were 982.54 crore, the GPF and GIS amount was Rs 3613.14 crore while loans from other agencies were to the tune of Rs 1688.50 crore.

In reply to a question by Gangu Ram Musafir of the Congress, the Chief Minister said that Rs 107.12 crore had been spent on providing electricity subsidy to domestic consumers. “Even though as per the agreement signed by the previous Congress regime with the World Bank for raising loans, it has been pointed out that subsidies must be frozen, yet the government had made a provision of Rs 140 crore for subsidy to domestic consumers in the next financial year also,” he said.

As much as Rs 2.73 lakh from the subsidy had so far been spent on temples and other religious places, Rs 105 crore on domestic consumers and Rs 1.43 crore on the agriculture and irrigation sector. He added even the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Regulatory Commission had desired that subsidies should be withdrawn.

In reply to a question by Dr Ram Lal Markandy, the Chief Minister said that mobile telephone services would be provided to the people of Lahaul-Spiti in the coming financial year. “With the completion of work on the Barring mobile tower during 2008-09, cellular phone services will be made available to the people of Lahaul and Spiti,” he said.

Nurpur, March 14
The Indora police in this subdivision booked a forgery case against ex-Congress MLA Bodh Raj from Gangath Assembly (SC) yesterday.

According to the police, the complaint has been lodged by Krishan Kumar, son of local late Congress MLA Dhinu Ram, alleging that the accused had contested election in 2003 Assembly election by preparing bogus scheduled caste certificate.

It is also averred that the accused had been disqualified by the Apex Court following an appeal filed against the state high court judgement by sitting BJP MLA Des Raj in 2005. The latter had unsuccessfully contested Assembly election against the accused in March 2003. The police has registered an FIR against the former MLA.

Significantly, the police case has been booked by a Congress activist Krishan Kumar who had been allocated Congress ticket at an eleventh hour in December last year from Gangath (SC) Assembly constituency as an alternative official party candidate following rejection of nomination papers of then sitting MLA Bodh Raj in the wake of the Apex Court judgement against him. Earlier, he had been given party ticket by the Congress high command. But the nomination papers of Krishan Kumar were also rejected by the returning officer on technical grounds. Owing to rejection of nomination papers of both the Congress candidates the Congress had been ousted from the poll fray during Assembly elections held in December.

Ex- MLA Bodh Raj alleged that the criminal case booked against him was politically motivated only to defame him and added that he had been issued SC certificate in 1990 by the tehsildar.

Mandi, March 14
The government has issued directions to all deputy commissioners, panchayati raj and block development officers (BDOs), empowering up-pardhans of panchayats to issue all types of certificates as per the available panchayat records.

A notification to this effect was issued by secretary (panchayati raj) Srikant Baldi on March 10.

The notification came after up-pardhans’ demand that they should be given power as enjoyed by pardhans of the panchyats to issue certificates.

Baldi said, “It will make things easier for the public at the gram panchayat level. At tehsil level, applicants can get certificates from tehsildars and naib-tehsildars. Now villagers can get certificates issued from pardhan or up-pradhan.”

Baldi said directions had been issued to all DCs, PROs, BDOs to implement the order with immediate effect. “The stamps for the same have been issued to all pardhans and can be used by the up-pradhans as well,” Baldi added.

There were complaints from the public that they did not get death, birth certificates in time as pardhans were sometimes not readily available.

Bilaspur, March 14
The police succeeded in arresting a proclaimed offender and forced two others to join the process of law during the past few days of its concerted campaign against criminals.

District police chief K.K. Indoria said here today that proclaimed offender Narender Kumar of Churiyan-Majra village in Ropar district of Punjab had been absconding for the past eight years. He was arrested on March 9. He was wanted in a case registered under Section 279 of the IPC.

Another proclaimed offender, Gulabu Ram of Chuadi village in Bilaspur, surrendered in the court on March 8. He was wanted in case with a case registered under Sections 363, 366 and 120-B of the IPC and had been evading arrest for the past nine months.

The SP said the third proclaimed offender, Tilak Raj of Auhar village in Bilaspur, was wanted in connection with a case registered under Sections 376, 506 of the IPC and had been absconding for the past more than six years. He surrendered in a fast-track court at Ghumarwin yesterday.

The SP said the police had arrested nine persons and registered cases against them under the HP Excise Act. 

Nurpur, March 14
An unidentified Sikh in his 50s, who had met with an accident with a speeding train on Talwara railway track on Pathankot-Jogindernagar railway line yesterday has been battling for his life.

The victim wearing sky kurta pyjama had been admitted in the local civil hospital by the railway police yesterday.

According to Dr Suman Saxena, doctor on duty said the patient is very serious. She said he had been referred to Tanda Medical College (TMC). But as the victim is still to be identified so he could not be shifted to the TMC. No one is ready to take the patient to the TMC.

According to information, no identification sign could be found in the pockets of the victim. No NGO or social organisation has so far come forward for the succour required to the hapless accident victim.

Solan, March 14
Nepali youth Vishal Kumar yogi (25) committed suicide by hanging himself with a dupatta from a kikar tree near Kunjhal village this afternoon. The Barotiwala police found his body hanging from the tree. He was declared brought dead by doctors.

The body was noticed by passersby who informed the police. The police recovered a diary from the spot containing a suicide note. The deceased has written in the suicide note that none should be held responsible for his suicide. 

Hamirpur, March 14
With the beginning of month-long Chaitra Fair at the Baba Balak Nath temple, Deoth-Sidh, today, the demand to allow women to worship at the temple is getting louder.

While the conservative section among temple priests and trustees does not feel it prudent to allow worship by women citing tradition, there are many who think the things should change now.

The votaries of worship by women in the temple say the practice is discriminatory. The issue was recently raised by Punjab health minister Laxmi Kanta Chawla during her visit to the place who demanded this practice to go.

People who oppose worship by women in the temple say, “Since Baba Balak Nath was an incarnation of Hindu god Kartikeya, who was averse to women, they are not allowed to worship here.”

Former BJP MLA and vice- president of the state Hindu Math-Mandir and Dharmik Pratishthan Ram Ratan Sharma says, “Since the shrine could only be reached by clinging to a hanging branch of a tree in olden times, it was physically difficult for females to reach there. But, time has came when a separate entrance should be created to allow worship by women in the temple.”

Hamirpur DC and commissioner of the Baba Balak Nath Temple Trust Nandita Gupta said, “There should not be any discrimination in allowing worship. However, it takes time to change a tradition. We will organise debates and seminars on the issue and try to create public opinion against gender discrimination at the temple.”

Bilaspur, March 14
DC-cum-district magistrate Devesh Kumar has issued notifications banning carrying of arms and ammunition in areas where fairs are being held.

One notification will remain effective from March 13 to April 14 in the Shah-Talai police station area. Sidh Baba Balak Nath fair is being held at Talai. Another notification will be effective from March 17 to March 23 in Bilaspur town due to the state-level Nalwari fair.

The third notification banned carrying of arms in the Kot police station areas from March 17 to March 22 due to “Hola-Mohalla” fair.