Shimla, May 19
The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau today questioned representatives of the Brakel Corporation, which has been assigned the 960-MW Jangi Thopan and Jangi Powari power projects in Kinnaur district.

Local representative of the company Arun Sharma was today summoned by the the Vigilance Bureau here toady. The allotment of the two power projects to Brakel during the Congress regime had prominently figured in the BJP chargesheet that had been handed over to the Governor, seeking a CBI probe.

Reliable sources said that the local representative had been asked to provide more details and documents with regard to Brakel. While in the opposition the BJP had alleged that the projects had been allotted to Brakel in violation of the prescribed norms.

The Vigilance Bureau has also sent letters to the supportive companies that are part of the Brakel Corporation, seeking details about their association with Brakel. The Vigilance Bureau also sought details about the foreign registration of the company.

“There is no lapse whatsoever on our part and we have got the project through competitive bidding,” said Arun Sharma. He said the Vigilance Bureau would be provided all relevant information and documents.

A rival company, Reliance Energy, has in fact moved the High Court, alleging wrong allotment of these two power projects to Brakel. With the matter being sub judice, the government has put on hold the signing of the preliminary implementation agreement.

It was after much delay that Brakel deposited the upfront amount of Rs 173.42 crore to the government. The Vigilance is trying to ascertain the credentials of those in the company, their headquarters, telephone numbers as it was suspected that false information had been provided.

The Brakel Corporation has been given supportive letters by other companies assuring them financial support in case it was allotted a major project. The Vigilance Bureau wants to ascertain the financial standing of these companies as well. 

Shimla, May 19
The BJP said all that the Congress gave to the people during its rule was corruption and price rise and now it is trying to mislead people by taking credit for the work done by the Dhumal government.

In a statement issued here today, state BJP chief Jai Ram Thakur said former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh was habitual of making baseless allegations and issuing provocative statements. “He has still not been able to get over his party’s defeat in the last Assembly elections and now he is trying to mislead people,” he said.

The BJP chief also took strong exception to the fact that Virbhadra Singh was making baseless accusations even against the Election Commission of India.

Thakur said Virbhadra had always tried to mislead the public, be it the issue of provoking the apple growers and the employees on the ‘no work-no pay’ issue when Shanta Kumar was the Chief Minister. “Later he levelled all kinds of allegations against the Dhumal regime but could not prove even one charge on assuming power,” he said.

The BJP leader said once again Virbhadra was trying to divide the people of the state along the regional lines by raking up the issue of setting up of special economic zone. “People will no longer get misled by the provocative statements of Virbhadra as they saw that during his own tenure he did nothing for them,” he said.

HAMIRPUR: Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal has said that the Congress had always been involved in corruption cases and its leaders had been protecting the corrupt.

In a press note issued through the BJP office here today, he said, “The release of CD by Vijay Singh Mankotia has exposed the honesty of former CM.”

Dhumal also said, “Former Cabinet colleagues of Virbhadra Singh, Singhi Ram and former chairman of education board B.R. Rahi, have been involved in fake certificate case. Even the working of a former Cabinet minister is also under scanner in the CPMT scam, who allegedly helped several of his close family members in getting MBBS degrees. The former CM had issued him a clean chit in the case,” he alleged.

“Raking up non-issues during elections is a old habit of Virbhadra Singh,” he said.

BILASPUR: Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal has claimed that he has got more schemes and projects sanctioned from the Central Government during the past four months than Virbhadra Singh could get during his full tenure. He was addressing a public meeting at Ghumarwin near here.

He said the manner in which Virbhadra Singh was attacking the Election Commission and the BJP, amply proved that the Congress had already accepted defeat in the byelection. In fact, Virbhadra Singh was only preparing a background for putting forward an explanation for his candidate’s sure defeat in the election for the consumption of his party high command, he said.

Dhumal contested the claim of Virbhadra Singh that all announcements made by him up to March 31 were actually budget provisions made by him for 2007-2008. He said if it was so what prevented him from making an increase in daily wage and social security pension?

He said byelections were a normal procedure in a democracy and no leader or party could be held responsible for these. About non-availability of cheap ration at government depots, he said this was only an instance of rumour mongering by so-called responsible Congress leaders from public platforms.

He said increase in bus fare was a painful decision, but it was the only alternative left as the earlier government did not bother to make the corporation run on sound lines.

Hamirpur, May 19
Former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh accused Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal for being a party to alleged ‘jobs selling by Himachal Pradesh State Services Selection Board (HPSSSB)’.

Talking to mediapersons here today he said, “The jobs were being sold by using shield of the HPSSSB during the regime of the previous BJP government and all record pertaining to recruitments was burnt within three months. The court has already convicted the former board chief S.M. Katwal in this case.”

He said the state government had deviated from the people’s issues in only four months and become a government of transfers and victimisation.

Criticising the state government he said in 120 days of his rule Dhumal had ordered 150 inquiries and made 300 announcements.

Denying the BJP statement of criticising BJP candidate Anurag Thakur by him he said, “I do not want to make any comment about Anurag Thakur but the statements he has made against me does not look nice for him and are against education, culture and his ability.”

He also addressed public meetings in support of Congress candidate O.P. Rattan at Sai and Nadaun seeking votes for him.

Hamirpur, May 19
As the polling date is nearing for Hamirpur byelection the election mangers of both the BJP and the Congress seem to be worried due to cold response of common voters till now for the poll.

With the polling for this byelection scheduled on May 22 to fill up the Hamirpur parliament seat for the third time for the present term of Lok Sabha ending early next year is not only reflecting fatigue on faces of party workers but voters also look some what indifferent.

The peak harvesting season and heat wave are cited main reasons for the lack of enthusiasm among the voters by the political parties but common people vary from this assertion.

A senior citizen Deep Kumar on being asked the reason of apathy of common people about the present election said, “The result of the present election is a forgone conclusion and this election is not having much political significance also.”

“With general election due for the parliament after few months the outcome of present election will have no bearing on the political situation in the centre of the state,” says a college teacher.

The political analyst also feel that since this election do have much political significance except personal stakes of Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal since his son is in the fray, but with his strong position in the government and the BJP in this constituency even this factor is not generating much heat in the election.

The Congress party which is still trying to come out of the shock of its defeat in the last Assembly election has also not been able to enthuse the voters with ‘nothing to lose attitude’ in the
present election.

Shimla, May 19
Enraged over the step-motherly treatment handed out to the police ranks and the IPS cadre by the Sixth Pay Commission, former DGPs of Himachal Pradesh and the neighbouring states have come out in their support. They have sought the intervention of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in the matter of urgent importance from the point of view of internal security of the country.

The retired DGPs at a recent meeting held here expressed their anguish over the humiliation heaped on the police cadres across the board right from the top cop to the lowest rank in the constabulary. The constable had been recommended a lower pay scale than a clerk even though the duties of the former were much arduous and also involved risk of life in combating the threats to internal security of the country.

The disparity was most glaring in case of the DIGs pay scale where an irreconcilable difference of Rs 15,960 had been created in comparison with their counterparts in the IAS cadre. In fact, the commission had disturbed the applecart by grossly widening the earlier marginal differences in pay scales. This had caused much heart burning and frustration, which could affect the cordiality and harmony in the two services so essential for jointly fighting the threat to the national security.

A resolution adopted at the meeting urged the government to grant a higher pay scale to constable than clerk and replace the rank of DIG by that of IG and the running pay scale recommended for commissioner and joint secretary in the 14th year be released to them.

They also demanded parity in pay and pensions of secretaries to the Government of India, chief secretaries and director generals of police of states and central police forces.

The copies of the resolution have been sent to the Prime Minister, the Union home minister and the Cabinet secretary for necessary action.

Mandi, May 19
Timber mafias operating in the region have started gearing up local mahila mandals in their defence to scare away the forest staff whenever they raid their premises or saw mills.

The Panarsa forest range, Katsni-Barot areas have become notorious for illicit timber trade. Sawmills and private sale depots here have become nerve-centres of the illicit trade, forest officials said.

The Forest Department had recently issued show-cause notices to some sawmill and depot owners after some irregularities were detected in their bills and accounts. These persons allegedly procure fake bills from outside and do not fulfil the terms and conditions imposed by the department.

The first case of a sawmill owner adopting the new strategy to shoe way the forest staff came to light on May 14 under the Panarsa forest range. The ranger officer, Panarsa, and his team of three persons raided the sawmill owned by Hukam Chand at Raha on the National Highway-21 and seized 60 timber items.

However, when the owner could not procure genuine bill of the “sawed timber”, the forest team tried to put the seized timber in a truck. Hukam Chand and his cousin, Ganga Ram, allegedly provoked local women and a scuffle followed in which they thrashed up forest officials and tore their uniforms.

The range officer sought police help. Hukum Chand and his cousin were arrested under Sections 32, 33 of the Indian Forest Act and Section 341, 353, 332, 379, 201 and 34 of the IPC.

In another case, the police seized 40 deodar sleepers worth Rs 86,700 being smuggled out in a pickup jeep (HP-31B-0298) from Barot. Owner of the jeep Rop Lal was arrested at Magru Nala on the Katasni-Mandi road on May 11 while his accomplice managed to run away taking advantage of the darkness.

Conservator of forests, Mandi, B.D. Suyal confirmed that the department had issued show-cause notices to sawmill and depot owners, who were not complying with terms and conditions of the department.

Shimla, May 19
Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal and Governor V.S. Kokje felicitated people of the state on the occasion of Buddha Purnima. Kokje said the teachings and principles of Lord Buddha held good even in the present modern world. He said the philosophy of Lord Buddha could provide solutions to problems of modern society.

Dhumal said the teachings of Lord Buddha were solely to liberate human beings from the misery and sufferings of life. They were more relevant in the modern world.

Nurpur, May 19
Paritosh Vishwas, a spiritual healer, who hails from Shamgarh in Mansor district of Madhya Pradesh, is in the state these days to treat different ailments through spiritual healing therapy, a new concept based on hard meditation.

A four-day free spiritual healing camp was launched here on the premises of the municipal council with efforts of the council president R.K. Mahajan.

Talking to mediapersons Vishwas, renown as Guruji, revealed that the spiritual healing therapy was totally Indian and prevailed in the Ramayana period also. “I have revived this therapy with my own inspiration and this is possible only by hard meditation,” he claimed.

He said in scientific terms this therapy was to generate bioplasmic energy and to transfer the same to the other person.

He claimed that he had so far organised numerous camps in eight states of the country and was in favour to expand this therapy so that maximum people could get benefit and also get rid of their diseases.

He also offered to pass this unique technique of treating patients by spiritual healing to those who are interested to learn it through hard meditation.

Shimla, May 19
The state government will seek funds from the World Bank for implementing major tunnel projects planned to improve road connectivity in the state.

Presiding over a meeting of senior officers PWD minister Gulab Singh said here today that the state electricity board had been asked to prepare a detailed and consolidated pre- feasibility report for execution of three tunnel projects at the earliest. The construction of a 3-km-long tunnel under the Bhubu pass in the Lag Valley wildlife sanctuary was proposed to connect Jogindernagar subdivision with the Kulu valley through the Ghatasani-Barot- Sidhwani road. The proposed road, estimated to cost Rs 70 crore, would shorten the distance between Jogindernagar and Kulu by 55 km . The road would provide easy access to Kulu, besides accelerating the pace of development in the Lag valley by bringing it on the international tourism map.

The minister said the second tunnel was proposed on the Dhaneta-Bangana road which would go a long way in ensuring smooth flow of traffic. The third tunnel was proposed under the Uttrala-Sarsi- Holi Pass in Chamba district.

Gulab Singh asserted that the environment and ecological balance would not be allowed to be disturbed due to the construction of tunnels and categorically stated that no project would be implemented at the cost of fragile environment. The PWD horticulture wing would be revamped so that flowering and ornamental plants could be planted along the national and state highways, besides other roads.

He said pre-feasibility reports for construction of four tunnels in Shimla city to ease traffic congestion had been prepared. These included a 690-metre tunnel from Lift to Lakkar Bazar at an estimated cost of Rs. 45 crore, a Rs 70-crore 1140-metre tunnel from Lift to the HIMFED petrol pump, a Rs 59-crore 860-metre-long-tunnel from the HIMFED petrol pump to the IGMC and a 150-metre tunnel from Sanjauli to Dhalli to be constructed alongside the existing single-lane tunnel. Widening of the 72-metre-long Auckland tunnel would be completed by December at a cost of Rs 5.38 crore.

Shimla, May 19
Hydro-geologist Ritesh Arya, who earned a place in the Guinness Book of Records for striking groundwater at the highest elevation in the cold deserts of Ladakh, maintains that fluctuations in the level and chemical composition of ground water resources could be used for predicting earthquakes in the Himalayan region.

Having studied the “little-understood” mountain hydrogeology in depth and gained rare experience while carrying out ground water explorations in the high-altitude areas of the Himalayas for the past almost two decades, he had gathered enough knowledge about the Paleo-channels in the mountains in various hydrostratigraphic zones which could be used for the purpose, he told The Tribune here. Changes in ground water are an important scientific indicator for understanding plate movements and as a precursor to earthquakes in the Himalayan region.

Giving details of the study being carried out in collaboration with Dr D.K. Chaddha under the banner of “Global Groundwater Solutions”, he said that four piezometre-based Paleo-seismic stations had been set up at Parwanoo, Darlaghat, Sabathu and Dharamsala to monitor changes in ground water levels for the purpose. The site of the first three stations was important as the next tectonic event was expected in the Shivaliks along the path of the old Saraswati river and the present Ghaggar river . The foothill areas like Parwanoo, Pinjore and Panchkula fell into the danger zone. It was important to ensure that structures constructed in the region were earthquake-resistant. The project had been funded by the Union Ministry of Science and Technology.

He said data collected from the borewells was being seriously studied and reinterpreted for predicting earthquakes and to understand the global warming phenomenon. During the earthquake at Latur there was a surge in the level of ground water several hours before the event occurred. It had been observed that the water level either increases or decreases sharply before a tremor hits an area. Further, its chemical composition is also altered due to an increase in Radon gases because of excessive of radioactivity before and after the event. These along with the natural springs and geysers (hot springs) like the ones at Manikaran and Tattapani are important precursors of geothermic activity which precedes an earthquake.

Arya underlined the need for extensive Paleo-tectonic studies not only for the exploration of ground water but also understating the complex phenomenon like global warming and the increasing incidence of flash floods in the region.

Solan, May 19
Illicit liquor worth Rs 2.04 lakh was seized from a truck (HR-38-B-6969) on the Bakonta-Ramshehar road around 9 pm yesterday. Driver Gurjinder Singh and cleaner Vikram Singh, both from the Derabassi area of Mohali district in Punjab, were arrested.

The seized liquor comprised 200 crates of country liquor and 70 crates of English liquor. A case has been registered under the Excise Act.

The police also arrested one Rajesh Chauhan, driver of an Indica car (CH 04 B 2379) that was providing pilot support to the truck. Another occupant of the car, Pravin Kumar, a Hamirpur resident, was also arrested.

SDPO, Nalagarh, Sanjeev Lakhanpal said the preliminary investigations had revealed that the liquor was being smuggled to Bilaspur from Chandigarh.

The Ramshehar police also impounded a Swaraj Mazda truck (HP-32-7170) near Bakonta last evening. The truck was being used to transport 68 logs of poplar wood. Driver Tek Chand and cleaner Bhim Singh, both from the Sarkaghat area of Mandi district, were arrested.

The vehicle was on its way to Yamunanagar in Haryana from Sundernagar. The driver of the vehicle could produce no permit. A case has been registered under the Forest Act.

Shimla, May 19
The committee specially constituted to look into the cases of victimisation of employees in the Himachal Pradesh University (HPU) is likely to place its report before the next executive committee (EC) meeting, paving the way for their reinstatement.

It was reliably learnt that three aggrieved teachers Ajay Srivastava, Mamta Sharma, Kuldeep Agnihotri and security officer were given an opportunity for personal hearing by the committee headed by Kripal Parmar, a former Rajya Sabha MP and member of the EC on May 13.

They have been asked to provide documents supporting their case by May 26, after which the committee would finalise its report and place it before the EC. “We have given time to the aggrieved persons to provide their documents till May 26, after which we would submit our report before the EC,” Parmar said.

It is reliably learnt that the committee, which had Dr Amar Dev, principal and member EC, and Prof V.P. Sharma, Dean of Studies, as its other members studied at length the Kaul Committee report, on the basis of which these four employees were terminated. The four employees of the HPU were terminated during the Congress regime, mainly on the ground that they did not fulfil the qualification and eligibility criteria.

The only hitch which could come in the way of their reinstatement is the fact that their cases are pending before the State Administrative Tribunal. “In case the four employees withdraw their cases from the tribunal, the EC could give its verdict in their favour, recommending their reinstatement,” said a senior officer.

It was on April 26 during the EC meeting, chaired by vice-chancellor Prof Sunil Gupta, which took a decision to constitute the committee, which would look into the cases of political victimisation of employees during the Congress regime.

Kumarhatti, May 19
The election to the Dagshai Cantonment Board witnessed a record polling yesterday. Over 80 per cent polling was recorded in six wards of the board. From ward No. 1, Naresh Goyal defeated Dhani Ram by 69 votes. While Goyal secured 112 votes, the loser could only manage only 43 votes.

From ward No. 2, Rakesh (120 votes) defeated Tripta Dogra (65) by a margin of 55 votes. The narrowest winning margins were recorded in the ward Nos 3 and 4 where Shiv Charan and Om Prakash Sood were declared winners by slender margins of 7 and 4 votes, respectively.

From ward Nos 5 and 6, Joyce Lazar and Sobha Kishore recorded thumping wins. While Lazar won by 41 votes, Sobha won by 61 votes.