Shimla, May 6
Making the state power board pay through the nose for its abject failure to execute hydroelectric projects efficiently and in a cost-effective manner, the State Electricity Regulatory Commission (SERC) has drastically slashed the exorbitant cost filed by it for determination of tariff for the 126-MW Larji and 12-MW Khauli projects.

Coming down heavily on the board for the slipshod implementation of these projects, the commission has made it clear that consumers cannot be penalised for the inefficiency and incompetence of the board. The unjustifiably high costs cannot be passed on to the consumers and the tariff has to be determined on the basis of reasonable cost.

The board had mentioned Rs 1,293 crore as cost for the Larji project, but the commission approved only Rs 960 crore on the basis of the cost worked out by the two-member expert panel constituted by it to inquire into the exorbitantly high cost of the project.

As a result, the board will get only Rs 3.98 per unit as against its generation cost of Rs 5.43 per unit. The cost is still very high when compared to the Nathpa-Jhakri project (Rs 2.38 per unit) and the private sector Baspa project (Rs 2.82 per unit). More importantly, the average power sale price of the board is Rs 3.67 per unit.

In case of the Khauli project, the commission has approved a cost of Rs 78 crore, following the norms for small hydroelectric projects. The board had filed a cost of Rs 126 crore on the basis of which the generation cost came to Rs 6.24 per unit. However, as the commission has approved a much lower cost, the board will get only Rs 3.52 per unit.

Interestingly, the board has opposed the tariff of Rs 2.87 per unit for small hydro projects executed in the private sector as uneconomical. It had been maintaining that the cost of Rs 6.5 crore per megawatt was too high, conveniently ignoring the fact that its own cost has been over Rs 10.5 crore per megawatt. In case of 16-MW Patikari project, it has signed a power-purchase agreement for buying electricity at Rs 2.25 per unit.

The two projects together generate 592 million units annually (Larji 540 MU and Khauli 52 MU). As such, the annual loss to the board due to huge difference in actual and approved costs works out to Rs 92 crore. Obviously, it will have to divert revenue from other areas to repay the loans raised for these projects. As the board has not been unbundled, the distribution and transmission wings will have to pay for the follies of the generation wing.

Given the abject lack of competency in the hydel generation sector, there is a strong case for taking a policy decision not to assign any more projects to it, says a senior bureaucrat. It makes sense to purchase power from private projects at Rs 2.50 to Rs 2.80 per unit rather than asking the board to generate power at Rs 6 per unit.

Mandi, May 6
Officials of various departments still use the now almost “irrelevant” provisions of the Official Secrets Act as “lame excuses” to hide exact information from applicants seeking information under the Right to Information (RTI) Act in the state.

This came to light after the state’s “core faculty”, HIPA today reviewed the progress of the Rs 30-lakh UNDP-funded capacity-building programme launched under the RTI Act in Mandi and Hamirpur districts last year.

Considering the lack of awareness among both officials and the common man, the programme is being extended to all other 10 districts of the state. “The purpose of the programme is to make people aware about the Act,” officials said.

Applicants rued that they did not get proper information under the RTI Act as officials of various departments make excuses citing the Official Secrets Act.

On the other hand, certain RTI activists have become notorious as they sought “irrelevant information”. “In a case or two, they tried to use the RTI information to blackmail or intimidate officials”, sources said.

State nodal officer, core factuality, HIPA, K.K. Handa said, “The Official Secrets Act has been overruled by the RTI Act. The thrust of the programme is to change the mindset of the “babus” and officials in the various departments.”

Over 94 applicants sought information under the RTI Act in Mandi district in 2007. Twenty applications were received in 2006 from May onwards when the Act came into force. Over 54 applications have been received this year so far, out of which almost all replies have been filed. “In some cases, the applicants do not come forward to receive replies,” officials said.

RTI’s district nodal officer-cum-ADM, Mandi, B.S. Dehal said, “We have disposed off all applications under the RTI Act and trained over 18 master trainers under the programme. These master trainers will impart training to panchayati raj officials in the district. The response to the RTI Act is good, but it will take time to come over the old mindset”.

Shimla, May 6
The Forest Department will soon finalise the mechanism for making payments to farmers under the carbon credit scheme for raising forests on private and community land as part of the World Bank-funded Mid-Himalayan Watershed Development Project.

Himachal last year became the first state in Asia and only second in the world to introduce a scheme for selling carbon credits to the World Bank directly to enable the villagers to earn Rs 3,000 to Rs 5,000 per hectare annually from the plantations for 30 years. A team headed by the additional chief secretary, forests, recently visited Costa Rica to study various modes of payment being followed in the implementation of bio-carbon projects. In Himachal, 95 per cent of the forests are on government land and private forests were negligible.

The minimum area for raising plantation is 500 sq m and the species planted must attain a height of 5 m. The money will go to the individual in case of private plantation and in the case of community land, a part of it will go to the panchayat concerned and the major portion will be divided among the group of people who protect the plantation. The Forest Department has identified 25 species, including fruit and medicinal plants like mango, fig and aonla, which not only have a good capacity of carbon sequestration but also help regulate the hydrological cycle.

The purchase of carbon credits will be in addition to the Rs 365 crore which the World Bank is providing for the project. In all new plantations will be raised over 12,000 hectares of degraded and fallow land under the scheme in a phased manner. Only the land lying fallow since 1990 can be taken up for plantation.

Kangra, May 6
Chief Minister Prof. P.K.Dhumal today lambasted the Congress for carrying a tirade against the BJP government that it was making announcements without budgetary provisions.

Addressing public meetings at Ghati, Patti, Jalera and Lagh in the Jaswan assembly segment which is part of the Lok Sabha constituency of Hamirpur, he said that it was during the Congress regime that the schemes were announced without budgetary provision which included the subsidised ration scheme which carried the liability of Rs 70 crore for the previous year but was cleared by the BJP on coming to power.

Dhumal said the decisions taken by his government during the first 100 days had benefited 7.5 lakh families.

Dhumal assured the people that the government would take all steps to maintain the price level and flying squads were keeping a vigil on the prices in the market.

He appealed to the electorate to vote for the party nominee Anurag Thakur for speedy, uniform and balanced development of the area.

Dhumal also addressed public meetings at Khairian, Bhatoh, Guler and Sakati.

Dalhousie, May 6
Union minister of power Sushil Kumar Shinde is scheduled to visit Chamba district and inspect the ongoing activities of the hydroelectric projects being executed and operated by the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) on May 7 and 8 according to an official communiqué issued here today.

During his two-day trip, the power minister would inspect 540-MW Chamera power station-I and under-construction powerhouse of 120-MW Sewa hydroelectric project, stage-II, the communiqué said.

The power minister would also lay the foundation stone of the 231-MW Chamera-III residential township at Karian; look over of the powerhouse of Chamera hydroelectric project stage-III, inaugurate the commencement of erection of Chamera-III concrete dam.

Later, the minister would inspect the powerhouse of 300-MW Chamera power station-II, the communiqué added. It is pertinent to mention here that all these hydropower projects fall within the jurisdiction of the NHPC’s Region-II.

Shimla, May 6
The state government has decided to honour World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) wrestler Daleep Singh Rana, alias Khali. “The state will honour Khali, a native of Sirmaur district,” Chief Minister Dhumal’s office said today.

Since Dhumal is busy in campaigning for the May 22 Hamirpur Lok Sabha byelection, we are making efforts to find a suitable date for the function, they added.

The sources said the decision to honour Khali was taken as he had acted as a kind of international brand ambassador for the state.

An official of the state government had presented a bouquet to Khali on behalf of the Chief Minister on his arrival to Delhi from the US recently. Meanwhile, people of his native village are eagerly waiting for the arrival of ‘Daleep bhai’. His family had built a new house and put eight-foot-long doors in it. — PTI

Shimla, May 6
The Tourism Department will shortly hire a helicopter on lease for starting helli-taxi service so that high-end tourists can visit the unexplored areas.

The issue of hiring a helicopter for the purpose will shortly be placed before the Cabinet for approval. It is only after the Cabinet approval that the bids will be invited from aviation companies.

Rather than depending on the GAD helicopter used by the government, the Tourism Department is keen to have a separate chopper. “With the GAD helicopter required on and off for VVIP duty and exigencies, it is being felt that a separate helicopter is a must for helli-taxi service or else there will be occasions when the tourists will be left high and dry and the Tourism Department will get a bad name,” said a senior officer.

“Our endeavour is to rope in an aviation company that can also help in marketing the helli-taxi service in the state,” said Ram Subhag Singh, commissioner, Tourism and Civil Aviation. He said this would be done once the Cabinet gave approval.

To ensure economic viability of the scheme, aviation companies would seek an assured business of at least 40 to 50 hours per month. The charges for the helli-taxi trip would be somewhere between Rs 1.5 to Rs 1.75 lakh.

The department has even held talks with top hotels like Oberoi group to get feedback about the destinations that will appeal more to the high-end tourists.

The department is already in the process of identifying the routes where helli-taxi service would be started. Sarahan, Sangla and Kaza are among the probable destinations on the list. Tented accommodation in alpine pastures on the higher reaches above Kullu and Manali can be another attraction.

Bilaspur, May 6
Led by village women of Him Vikas Mahila Mandal Hardi Kothi near here, large number of village leaders met the district health officer here and presented a detailed memorandum to him. They demanded immediate enquiry and suitable remedial and punitive measures to ensure clean water of Ali Khad. It flows along side their villages and also feeds some 40 drinking water and irrigation schemes of 11 panchayats of the area.

Kamlesh Sharma, president mahila mandal, told mediapersons after this deputation that JP Industries, which is setting up a cement plant in this area and had also setup its camp office at Malothi, was responsible for polluting of Kholi Nallah which is a tributary of Ali Khad. Village leaders urged that the health authorities should immediately visit the spot and take samples of this water and also take effective steps to ensure that no action of this industry results in polluting of water of Ali Khad and people are served pure and healthy drinking water.

Bilaspur, May 6
The first phase of rehearsals and training to the presiding and polling officers being posted for holding parliamentary byelection in this district on May 22, was completed here in town for Bilaspur Sadar and Kot-Kehloor Assembly segments and at Ghumarwin near here for Ghumarwin and Gehadwin reserved constituencies.

Assistant election officer-cum-SDM P.C. Akela urged them to remain totally impartial and perform their duties and responsibilities according to the rules and law. He said a total of 999 officers and employees have been detailed for this election duty in these two constituencies.

Meanwhile, assistant election officer-cum-SDM Sumit Khimta presided over this election duty rehearsal cum training at Ghumarwin near here today. He said second phase of this rehearsal would be held on May 11.

Hamirpur, May 6
The Election Commission has appointed three election observers for the Hamirpur byelection. Giving this information, retuning officer Nandita Gupta said the observers were staying in the NIT guesthouse, Hamirpur. They could be contacted by any person regarding complaint related to violation of the model code of conduct.

P. Vaifai can be contacted in room no 6 of the NIT guesthouse. He can also be contacted on phone numbers 01972-222801 and 09430621774. B.K. Kharel will be available in room no 7. His phone numbers are 01972-203539 and 09733159460. Milind Gawai will sit in room no 8. His phone numbers are 01972 -203538 and 09427574587.

Hamirpur, May 6
Four candidates have been left in the fray for the Hamirpur seat after the scrutiny of nomination papers today. The nomination of covering candidates Praveen Sharma and Ranjeet Singh Verma were rejected after the acceptance of nomination papers of principal candidates Anurag Thakur (BJP) and O.P. Rattan (Congress).

Those left in the fray now are: Anurag Thakur, O.P. Rattan, Rattan Chand Kaundal (Bahujan Shakati) and Amin Chand (Independent).

Meanwhile, BJP candidate Anurag Thakur has claimed that the Congress is in total disarray in this election. The BJP would win the seat on the basis of good work done by the state government in its 120-day rule, he claimed.

Talking to mediapersons here last evening, he said, “While people are criticising the Congress for inflation, the BJP government has several achievements to its credit like increase in old-age pension, creation of three IRBs, promise of creating 28,000 jobs and crop insurance etc.”

On the other hand, president of the Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) Viplove Thakur has accused the BJP-led state government for allegedly victimising every section of the society during its 120-day rule in the state.

Kangra, May 6
The Himachal Pradesh Private School Management Association, Dehra, today demanded that the Board of School Education should allow only regular candidates to take the board examination for the first time on the pattern of other education boards.

P.S.Chouhan, general secretary of the association, said there were nearly 400 private schools in the state which were not affiliated with the HP board but the managements of these schools make the students appear in Class V, VIII, X, XI and XII exams as private candidates. This was depriving students of 15 per cent assessment marks as private candidates appearing from an unaffiliated school.

Chouhan said there were schools affiliated up to Class V only with the HP board but make the students to appear in board examinations up to Class XII. It was affecting the quality of education and future of students. The association sought intervention of education minister I.D.Dhiman and the board secretary in this contest. However, board secretary Rajesh Sharma told The Tribune that it was not possible to limit educational activities. It was now time for open universities like IGNOU and we could not go against the trend and restrict the students to appear as regular candidate only. He, however, said private unaffiliated schools had no right to admit students to classes for which they did not have affiliation with the board.

Shimla, May 6
Data entry work of all villages in the state would be completed during the current financial year, facilitating landholders in accessing their ownership records.

This was stated by revenue minister Thakur Gulab Singh while presiding over a meeting of the department officials.

“Computerisation of land records has gained much significance in view of the developmental activities and to avoid multiplicity of litigations which the people have to face,” he said.

He would shortly review the progress made in the implementation of various revenue schemes, including the housing schemes.

Sundernagar, May 6
Two persons died and seven were injured in an accident when a Tempo Trax rolled down into 150 feet deep gorge at Rohanda on Sundernagar-Karsog road about 8.30 pm yesterday.

The deceased were identified as Ram Lal Sharma (69), an advocate from Karsog, and Hima Devi (34), a resident from Kot village of Karsog. Those injured in the accident were Bhagat Ram, Nikka Ram, Puneet, Dev Raj, Sant Ram Goyal and Dinesh Kumar (driver of the vehicle) all residents of Karsog. They were admitted at CHC Rohanda and later were referred to Zonal Hospital, Mandi. Out of these seven, condition of two was sated to be serious.

According to information, the Tempo Trax (HP-63-1797) was on way to Karsog from Sundernagar. When it reached near Rohanda the driver could not negotiate the curve and the vehicle rolled down into the gorge. Nearby villagers assembled on the spot and took them of the vehicle. Two persons died on the spot on account of head injuries.

The bodies were handed over to their relatives after the post-mortem examination today.