Shimla, March 23
The state PWD has been rocked by a major scam in which fake bank guarantees running into crores of rupees have been submitted by contractors awarded works under the Pradhanmantri Gram Sadak Yojna.

Test-checks conducted in some divisions of the department have revealed that almost 50 per cent of the bank guarantees submitted by contractors were either outrightly fake or issued by bank officers who were not competent for the job.

The enormity of the scam points towards a nexus involving contractors, bankers and engineers of the department who have been accepting bank guarantees without ascertaining their genuineness.

The contractors are required to submit bank guarantees amounting to 20 per cent of the value of the contract against performance, mobilisation of advances and machinery.

As many as 23 the 50 bank guarantees for which confirmation was sought from banks during test-checks have been found to be fake. The total amount involved is over Rs 20 crore.

The maximum number of “such bank guarantees” have been issued by State Cooperative Bank and the total amount involved was more than Rs 10 crore. Most of these were issued by branches located at Nankheri and Taklech. Nationalised banks like UCO Bank and Punjab National Bank also figure in some cases.

The maximum amount involved in fake bank guarantees amounting to Rs 1.22 crore has been detected in Karsog division, followed by Dodra Kawar (Rs 1.2 crore), Rohru (Rs 1.02 crore) and Nirmand (Rs 63 lakh).

In one case a Nepali contractor submitted two forged bank guarantee documents of Rs 50 lakh each issued in the name of the Rakkar branch of Kangra Central Cooperative Bank in Karcham division.

It was found that the bank had not issued any such documents and these were forged on a stamp paper. Fake bank guarantees amounting to Rs 63 lakh issued form the Palampur branch of UCO Bank were submitted in Nirmand division.

Test-checks have so far been carried out in only 12 divisions. Sources in the department said that there were 54 divisions in all.

If the test-checks were any indication the number of fake guarantees could exceed 250 and the total amount involved could be around Rs 200 crore.

The department started ascertaining the genuineness of bank guarantees only after it was pointed out in the audit that such documents were being accepted without any confirmation.

Instructions have been issued to ensure full confirmation of such documents not only by the bank officer concerned but also by his next controlling officer.

Shimla, March 23
BJP MP Shatrughan Sinha, who was recently denied party nomination in the Rajya Sabha election from Bihar, remains non-committal on reports that he was joining the Congress.

“Today, I am formally in the BJP, but I do not believe in any kind of political untouchability,” the actor-turned-politician told PTI on phone.

Asked about his recent meeting with Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi, he said, “I do not wish to fan any controversy before the end of April for emotional, personal and political reasons. Silence is golden...time will unfold the entire truth.”

Sinha, who had been BJP’s star campaigner for years, was recently denied nomination to the Rajya Sabha for the third term from Bihar.

Though he neither confirmed nor denied his meeting Rahul Gandhi, he had in the past praised UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Rahul.

Newspaper reports quoting Congress sources had recently said if admitted in the Congress, Sinha might be fielded from a constituency in Mumbai to counter the anti-Bihari campaign of Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena.

Asked if he was feeling sidelined in the BJP after being denied the RS nomination, Sinha, who was the health minister in Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s cabinet, said, “For me, veteran BJP leader L.K. Advani matters the most. I hold him in high esteem for his vision, wisdom and leadership and if he wishes I should not continue beyond the second term in RS.... I will say his wish is like a command for me, as it is for others.” — PTI

Shimla, March 23
The state government has urged the Centre to allow the state electricity board to continue without unbundling for another year. The extension granted to the board earlier will expire on March 31.

The issue was discussed at a high-level meeting in New Delhi earlier this week. Chief secretary Ravi Dhingra and principal secretary (power) Ajay Mittal and senior officers of the Union Ministry of Power participated in the meeting.

According to sources, the state sought more time for unbundling on the plea that a lot of groundwork was required to be carried out. Moreover, the new government had assumed office only 10 weeks ago and it was still in the process of setting down.

The state is hopeful of getting extension for at least a few months, if not a year. The Centre has already granted three-month extension to the PSEB.

Meanwhile, the relay fast by state electricity board employees, who are opposing the unbundling and demanding cancellation of vindictive transfers of its leaders, entered the fifth day today.

The union has threatened to intensify the agitation if its demands were not accepted. It has already announced holding a protest rally at Hamirpur on March 26. It will be followed by demonstrations at all district headquarters on March 31.

He said the BJP government was committed to improving the lot of the poorest of the poor and it did not need any certificate from the Leftists regarding which agenda it was implementing. 

Bilaspur, March 23
Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal has declared that one of the three India Reserve Battalions would be located in Bilaspur district.

Addressing a largely attended concluding function of a seven-day state level historical and cultural Nalwari fair at Luhanu maidan here in town today evening, Chief Minister said such fairs and festivals were symbols of our ancient and rich hill culture and we should all try to preserve its piety and originality to keep it lively and vivacious so that coming generations could take pride in their past.

The government has started a special program for helping the state’s farmers and orchardists and at least one lakh “soil health cards” would be issued to farmers in which their soil would be tested free of cost and they would be advised to grow proper crops and fruits in their fields to get maximum produce and financial benefits from them.

Dhumal said milk producers in the state have been benefited as the government has increased milk price by Rs 2 per kg but it would not increase present prices for the consumers, as the government would compensate the state milk federation with this total increased price of Rs 9 crore.

Earlier, addressing a public meeting of Koldam oustees at Harnoda 35 km from here today afternoon, the Chief Minister assured Koldam oustees that the government would solve all their problems at the earliest.

He said his earlier government had signed the best MoU with the NTPC for construction of the 800-MW Rs 5,000 crore Koldam project and there may be some lacuna in implementation of that agreement. But his government would ensure that all pending problems of oustees are settled at the earliest.

Meanwhile, Panminder Dumchari, a renowned wrestler from Ropar and a sub-inspector in Punjab police, was declared as the best wrestler of the four-day famous bouts of Nalwari fair and was awarded “Nalwari Kesari” title when he defeated wrestler Soni of Sohra.

He was given a cash prize of Rs 41,000 and an additional silver mace called “Bhim Gada” as trophy by the Chief Minister. The runner up wrestler Soni was given a cash prize of Rs 31,000.

Title of “Him Kumar” was won by last year’s defending Champion Johany Chaudhary (19) of Sundernagar who downed Vinod Kumar of Arki-Solan.

The Chief Minister presented cash prize of Rs 11,000 and a silver mace called “Abhimanyu Gada” to Johny Chaudhary while Vinod Kumar got cash prize of Rs 9,000.

Nahan, March 23
The first Congress rally held without former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh at Bara Chowk here today was a poor show.

The party has won four out of five Assembly seats in the district, but four MLAs could pull only a few hundred workers to the rally venue.

Perhaps annoyed with the party high command over ignoring him and not even offering him the post of the CLP leader, Virbhadra Singh withdrew from the rally saying he was not consulted by party leaders before finalising these rallies.

Surprisingly, prominent party leaders did not even make any reference to his name in their speeches.

They spent most of the time introducing party leaders to the workers and highlighting the contribution of the families of each other in the politics of the state. They all praised Sonia Gandhi for a pro-farmer Budget.

Heera Lal, a worker from the Renuka area, said he did not know any leader sitting on the stage, except the local MLA. He had come to listen to Virbhadra Singh and was disappointed on not seeing him in the rally.

He said when people of the area came to know that Virbhadra Singh was not coming to address the rally, they refused to board the vehicles sent by party workers to carry them to the rally venue.

Minister of state for external affairs Anand Sharma spoke on the policies of the UPA government. He termed the Union Budget as “historical”. He said the fate of the country was safe in the hands of the Congress only.

In charge of the party affairs in the state R.K. Dhawan, CLP leader Vidya Stokes, state unit chief Viplov Thakur, Dhani Ram Shandil, Gangu Ram Musafir, Harverdhan Chauhan, Kush Parmar and Prem Singh also spoke.

Una, March 23
As if the humiliation of being demoted as school lecturers after serving as college lecturers for more than 20 years in a government-aided college was not enough, five lecturers and a librarian of SVSD College, Bhatoli, are going without salary for the past more than 19 months now.

On their plea, the Himachal Pradesh Administrative Tribunal has summoned the director, higher education, to appear before it in person on April 5.

The woes of these teachers started after the government took it over in 2006. All lecturers, many of whom were nearing retirement, were taken as fresh recruits. Their salaries came down to around half of what they were getting earlier under the 95 per cent grant-in-aid programme.

Five lecturers and a librarian of college had been working in the college for more than 25 years, but did not have MPhil or PhD degrees or cleared the UGC test as per fresh selection criteria. They were designated as school lecturers.

The affected lecturers moved the court and got stay against the orders to designate them as school lecturers. After getting a stay, they continued working in the same college as per directions of the court. However, the government did not pay them salaries.

They once again had to move the Himachal Pradesh Administrative Tribunal. In an order delivered on August, 2007, the tribunal directed the government to pay salaries to them as per the nature of work. However, the order did not have any effect on the government officials concerned.

This once again forced them to move the tribunal. Thus came the directive to the director, higher education, to appear in person before it.

Meanwhile, a group of college staff is running from pillar to post to get the college takeover notification by government rescinded.

Manali, March 23
Hundreds of Tibetans from different NGOs of Kullu valley gathered at Manali here today and raised slogans against China’s ongoing brutal crackdown on the unprecedented non-violent demonstrations in Lhasa and other parts of Tibet.

The protesters first gathered at the Mall Road in the morning and later, held a protest march from Manali to Bhuntar.

The protest march will cover about 51 km in three days (Manali-Patlikul-Kullu
and Bhuntar).

The protesters were carrying the Tibetan flag and placards and raised slogans against the Chinese killing peaceful Tibetan demonstrators in Tibet.

In a joint press note issued here by the Tibetan Local Assembly, Regional Tibetan Freedom Movement, Regional Tibetan Youth Congress, Regional Tibetan Women’s Association and National Democratic Party of Tibet of Kullu valley said since March 10 to mark the 49th anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising Day had resulted in 80 confirmed and over 100 unconfirmed deaths for exercising their fundamental right to expression and assembly.

They stated that despite random killings, grievous injuries and arrests of thousands of Tibetans, fresh incidents of people’s movement are still being widely reported which is evidence of deep-rooted resentment of the Tibetans towards China’s repressive policies.

The deteriorating situation in Tibet continues with media blackout and blockage of major means of communication with the outside world. This will result in further isolation of the Tibetans and the world will remain unaware of the ongoing brutal and inhuman suppression, which is expected to worsen in the days to come.

The recent events have caused the Tibetan people much anguish. The Tibetan people in exile were extremely concerned over the safety and security of the Tibetans in their homeland, especially, in the absence of media and third party witnesses.

All Tibetans NGOs of the Kullu valley appealed to the world leaders and International community to call on China to immediately stop repression and violent crackdown on Tibetans in Tibet and to release all those who have been detained.

And immediately send fact-finding delegation to all affected parts in Tibet to prevent further deterioration of the critical situation.

They also urged the Chinese leadership to immediately allow free movement of International media inside Tibet.

Sarsai (Kullu), March 23
Residents of more than 10 panchayats here and the Allian and Duhangan Hydro Company, which is executing the 192-MW Allian-Duhangan project near here, are on a collision course over the issue of installation of a 220-kv transmission line between Prini, project powerhouse and the substation at Nalagarh.

Residents of Prini, Jagatsukh, Karzan, Gozra, Soel, Halaan-1, Naggar, Archandi, Kais, Seobag and Nathan panchayats recently constituted the Kisan-Bagwan Jankalyan Sangharsh Samiti (KBJSS) to oppose the setting up of the transmission line. Their demands include shifting of the power line to lower or upper side and compensation for crop loss to farmers.

Convener of the samiti Lal Chand Thakur said villagers in over 11 panchayats were united on the issue. “The company is intimidating those opposing the line. The lower wire passes very close to trees and houses posing life threat to farmers. We will go village to village and oppose it,” he said. “The villagers are agitated as the company is trying coercive measures forcing its way to install the line. I have opposed the line, but officials of the company manhandled me,” rued Dhayan Singh from Dara Seri.

Samiti activist Ramesh Thakur said the government had turned a blind eye to their grievance. “The farmers were not getting due compensation and now our only demand is to shift the line and we are ready to make any sacrifice for this,” he said. The company had no mandatory clearance from the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MOEF), he alleged.

In charge of the AD transmission line Ditto Panikar said company had stopped work and sought help from the administration in resolving the issue. “We have ensured a ground clearance of 7 m from the lower link as per the provisions of the Telegraph Act that governs installation of transmission lines all over the country,” he said.

He said the high court had cleared the line and the company was giving the highest compensation for the 15 sq m area for raising each tower on private land.

“We have sought permission for raising towers on forestland from the MOEF. The project will be ready by 2009 and we need this transmission line to evacuate power to the substation at Nalagarh,” he added.

Kullu SDO (civil) S.R. Saini said the line would be installed as per rules laid down in the Telegraph Act. It would be ensured that the issue was sorted out and the affected people got compensation for damages to trees, crops or land. “We will convene a meeting with villagers and assess the losses,” he added.

Nurpur, March 23
The blanket ban imposed by the state high court on felling throughout the hill state last year has started pinching people as they are facing a lot of hardships in getting firewood for their domestic use.

They are also not being allowed to fell trees on their private land. The people are not even getting timber under the timber distribution (TD) rights.

Moreover, the people are facing a lot of hardship in performing cremations as they are not being allowed to fell even dry trees meant for use as firewood to cremate bodies.

In the wake of abrogation of TD rights the farmers are now dependent on neighbouring states to meet their requirement of timber for construction of houses.

Earlier, the people were allowed to fell khair trees in their private land under the government’s 10-year plan of felling on private land but in the wake of the ban on fellin they cannot sell these trees to private contractors.

It is pertinent to mention that farmers had been growing khair trees on their private land as it supplemented their income.

Even Nurpur DFO P.C.Kaushal said people were now reluctant to grow trees like eucalyptus, poplar, kachnar etc. on their land as these cannot be felled under the 10-year felling cycle.

He admitted that people were really facing hardship in getting firewood even for performing cremations.

In view of persistent public demands the government should allow felling of trees in private land and restore the TD rights.

Nurpur, March 23
The outgoing president of the Kangra district Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Amar Singh Kaundal, has fired a salvo against the state convener of the BSP, Vijay Singh Mankotia, by alleging that he was anti-Dalit and anti-OBCs.

In a signed statement here today, Kaundal alleged that earlier Mankotia had ignored OBCs in the allocation of party tickets during the Assembly elections and now has sidelined this community in the party organisation. He rued that the BSP had become a party of party deserters in which party loyalists and hardworking cadre was being sidelined.

Demanding resignation from Mankotia from the post of convener of the state BSP, Kaundal claimed that the former had frustrated following his demand raised before BSP supremo Mayawati that she should project any OBC leader as the next chief ministerial candidate. “A leader who was not elected as an MLA can how be a chief ministerial candidate of a state,” he questioned.

Meanwhile, as many as 50 BSP workers from Gangath, Guler, Nurpur and Jawali Assembly constituencies in a joint statement had asked the party leadership to return organisational posts to the party leaders who remained stranded with the party in its bad time otherwise the BSP would split in Kangra district.

Mandi, March 23?
Terming the government’s move to keep monkeys in parks after sterilisation as an impractical proposition, scientists, farmers and NGOs have urged the government to “declare monkey as a harmful pest whose only solution lies in its elimination”.

Mandi-based horticultural scientist Charanjit Singh Parmar said, “The most practical solution to arrest the monkey menace is their studied elimination as it happened to be the practice in 1950s.

The government should provide free or subsidised cartridges and guns to farmers to kill monkeys. There is no other solution to the problem.”

“Some vested interests have come forward in the defence of monkeys just because they want cheap publicity and funds to do so. They have no concerns for the farmers, the real sufferers. Many of them are starving as they have stopped cultivating crops in many parts as the swelling armies of monkeys, langurs and wild boars eat up seeds and destroy standing crops,” he said.

Orchardists, Nakul Khullar from Naggar (Kullu), Chaman Lal from Churag (Mandi) and Pradip Banchta from Chopal (Shimla) and progressive farmer Bhupinder Singh from Balh valley in Mandi said the problem had acquired alarming proportions.

Around 2,300 panchayats are faced with the problem. Around 80 per cent farmers in over 800 hard-hit panchayats have discarded cultivation as their labour is wasted by monkeys, wild boars and langurs every year.

“The farmers have already started nursing suicidal tendencies in many cases as monkey menace is worsening with every passing year,” they said.

Spokesperson of the Kheti-Bachao Sangharsh Samiti Om Parkash Bhureta said, “We welcome government step of bringing farmers protecting their crops from animals under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme (NREGP).

Parks and sterilisation are long-term solutions. These will just shift the problem from one area to another.”

Bhureta said the samiti had suggested that the government should lift ban on monkey export, declare monkey and other harmful animals as vermin as per the provisions under the Wildlife Protection Act for scientific culling.

The long-terms solution must be combined with an immediate relief to the hard-hit farmers in the state, he added.

Conservator of forests B.D. Suyal said the government was trying to arrest monkey menace through a long-term strategy of keeping them in parks and by sterilisation.

Monkeys would be caught and sterilised at animal clinics being started at Sundernagar, Titukandi and Kufri, near Shimla.