Shimla, June 9
Chief Minister P.K.Dhumal today made a strong plea for cooperation among Himalayan states and forming a common front for taking up various developmental issues and problems with the Centre effectively.

Inaugurating a two-day seminar on “Future strategies for the development of the horticulture” organised by the state Horticulture Department he said the Himalayan states right from Jammu and Kashmir to the North-East had similar topography, agro-climatic conditions and problems but being small entities they individually did not have a political clout to get contentious issues settled. It was high time they joined hands to wage a joint battle to get their due.

He said the state government had taken the initiative in this direction and it was organising a “hill states horticulture ministers’ conference” shortly. It would be a beginning and subsequently similar events would be held to discuss issues concerning other spheres of development. The states could benefit from one another’s experience to progress ahead collectively.

Agriculture and horticulture were the two major sectors where regional cooperation was most essential. Himachal Pradesh had done well in fruit production and the neighbouring states, with similar agro-climatic conditions, could benefit from its experience and expertise in the horticulture sector. Almost 92 per cent of the state’s population was dependant upon agriculture and horticulture directly or indirectly for its sustenance while at the national level the percentage was only 72. There was need to diversify and modernise the agriculture sector so that educated youth pursued it rather than running after petty jobs.

He said that there were bright prospects in the farm sector for the enterprising youth who needed to be motivated and technically skilled to obtain the maximum yield from small farm holdings. The only way to cope with the impending food crisis was to make farming a profitable avocation through modernisation, switchover to the high-yielding varieties, extending the irrigation facility and providing quality inputs. The irrigation, marketing and agricultural inputs infrastructure was being strengthened and field functionaries had been directed to motivate farmers to go for diversified and cash crop farming to strengthen their economy and the rural base.

Old rootstock was being replaced with new high-yielding rootstock which was being multiplied at the university level for distribution among orchardists . He said the Centre had sanctioned Rs 30 crore under the horticulture mission and another Rs 80 lakh for purchase of anti-hail guns to help the horticulturists protect their produce from hailstorms.

Horticulture minister Narender Bragta said that efforts were afoot to introduce the anti hail cannons to protect their crops. These were already in use in developed countries like the USA, Canada and various European countries. 

Shimla, June 9
The government today approved a new policy for empanelment of hospitals and diagnostic laboratories within and outside the state for the purpose of medical reimbursement to employees.

As per the policy approved by the Cabinet that met under the chairmanship of Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal here today, the director (health) will be the nodal officer for empanelment of private hospitals. Treatment charges as applicable at the Indira Gandhi Medical College will be reimbursed to the employees. In case of emergency, the employee can get treatment at any government hospital without being referred from the state hospital.

The Cabinet also approved filling of 200 posts of medical officers in the Health and Family Welfare Department on institution-specific contracts through Rogi Kalyan Samitis.

The medical officers posted in Lahaul and Spiti, Pangi subdivision of Chamba and Dodra-Kwar subdivision of Shimla, who have been getting Rs 16,000, will now be paid Rs 29,000, including monthly contractual remuneration of Rs 20,000 and Rs 9,000 as incentive.

Similarly, emoluments of medical specialists have been increased from Rs 25,000 to Rs 45,000, with Rs 30,000 as monthly contractual remuneration and Rs 15,000 as incentive.

Medical officers posted in Kinnaur and Bharmour subdivision of Chamba will get Rs 26,000 with monthly contractual remuneration of Rs 20,000 and an incentive of Rs 6,000. The specialists will get 40,000 (Rs 30,000 as monthly contractual remuneration and Rs 10,000 as incentive). Medical officers joining at rural locations will be entitled to Rs 23,000 (Rs 20,000 as monthly contractual remuneration and Rs 3,000 as incentive), while the specialists will get Rs 33,000 (Rs 30,000 as monthly contractual remuneration and Rs 3,000 as incentive).

At rest of the locations all over the state, the medical officers will get a fixed monthly contractual remuneration of Rs 20,000 while specialists will get Rs 30,000.

The contractual medical appointees will be eligible for allotment of departmental accommodation (wherever available), travelling allowance and daily allowance for official duties admissible as per the rates applicable at the initial level, besides 24-day annual casual leave per contract year.

The Cabinet decided to create and fill 1,007 posts of various categories for the proposed fourth India Reserve Battalion with its headquarter at Jangle-Beri in district Hamirpur. It decided to grant approval for the establishment of the Himachal Pradesh Institute of Police Studies instead of the Police Training College at Sakoh, near Dharamsala, in Kangra, while the Police Training College at Daroh, near Palampur, would continue to function as it is. As many as 121 posts were sanctioned for the institute under different categories.

Shimla, June 9
The state Congress has urged the 13th Finance Commission to allow the state to levy a cess on generation and compensate it suitably for the ecological services being rendered by it to northern India by preserving forest cover.

In a memorandum submitted to the commission by Leader of the Opposition Vidya Stokes the Congress pointed out that the Rangarajan Committee had recommended a generation tax to help the special category state to mobilise resources and the state could get a revenue of Rs 250 crore annually by imposing the cess at 10 paise per unit.

Further, the state was losing forest revenue to the tune of Rs 1000 crore annually due to the ban on green felling while it was spending Rs 180 crore annually on plantation and Rs 150 crore on soil conservation. It must be compensated for the environmental benefits it was providing to the entire region.

The memorandum also urged the commission to recommend the state’s case regarding its claim on account of arrears of its share in inter-state projects under the State Reorganisation Act and special dispensation for the development of border areas in view of the strategic location of the state.

It also sought liberal assistance for strengthening the tourism infrastructure and urged it to provide funds to meet the state’s equity share in the Rs 1047-crore Bhanupali-Bilaspur rail line and Rs 700 crore for the construction of an international airport.

The party also drew the attention of the commission to the additional financial burden of Rs 8,700 crore the state would have to bear on account of pay revision.

Shimla, June 9
The government is considering extending the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Act 1977 to the entire state. However, all rural areas will be granted relaxation from seeking required permission under the Act.

At present, the Act is applicable in only 22 towns of the state. In all, 29 urban areas are still out of its ambit. A proposal has been chalked out to extend the TCP Act to the whole state. Once the approval of the Cabinet is sought, strict regulations will come into force in the entire state.

Bringing the entire state under the Act will ease out the situation for the people residing in rural areas. As per the proposal, those residing in rural areas will be saved from following a cumbersome procedures as they will be able to seek permission for construction by way of a simple application along with revenue records to prove their ownership. This is also being done to dispel fears that the extension of the Act to the whole of the state will create problem for rural people.

It is only for commercial ventures in these rural areas that permission will have to be sought from the TCP authorities. At present, the state has 20 planning areas and 34 special areas where all construction activity is regulated under the TCP Act. The regulations of the Act are not applicable in the cantonment townships of Kasauli, Dagshai, Jutog, Yol, Dalhousie, Bakloh and Sabathu.

Once the Act is enforced in the entire state, permission will have to be sought to undertake construction within 150 to 100 m of the national and state highways.

The areas found to be most prone to ribbon development and urban corridors include the valleys of Kangra, Kullu, Poanta, Balh in Mandi and the belts falling in Shimla-Parwanoo, Bhota-Hamirpur, Mehatpur-Una, Barotiwala-Nalagarh and Ghaggas-Barmana.

Shimla, June 9
Even though it will take quite some time before the monsoon hits the state, rain and thundershower will continue for the next two days at isolated places in the state.

Rain lashed the capital and the surrounding areas with over 25.5 mm of rainfall having been recorded during the past 24 hours. According to the local meteorological officer, rain and thundershower will continue for the next two days.

Manmohan Singh, director of the local Meteorological Office, said rain was the result of upper air cyclonic circulation over central Pakistan and adjoining north-west Rajasthan.

The maximum temperature recorded in Shimla today was 21.5°C, Sundernagar- 30.5°C, Bhuntar- 30.6°C and Kalpa - 20.9°C. The minimum temperature recorded at Shimla was 14.3°C, Sundernagar- 20.3°C, Bhuntar- 19.3°C, Kalpa- 10°C.

Most parts of the state have been lashed by a downpour with Dharamsala receiving 37.8 mm of rainfall, Mandi- 35.2 mm and Bhuntar- 24.6 mm.

There will be rain or thundershowers at a few places in Himachal in the next 24 hours.

Mandi, June 9
Three passengers were killed and 29 injured, when the bus (HP-49-1381) they were travelling in plunged into a gorge near the Beunti bridge on the Banjar-Aut road in the Balichoki area here today.

Those killed were Virsingh (51) of Puyadkul, Vikas (31) of Manglore (Banjar) and Omdutt Sagar (56) of Banjar.

The injured were taken to the Banjar civil hospital. The condition of three was stated to be out of dangers, while 26 were referred to the regional hospital, Kullu, for further treatment.

Those injured included Omesh (driver), Kamlesh (Lohardi, Mandi), Ramparkash (Giana), Pritam, Surinder, Surinderpal, Vijay,Yashbanti, Gopal, Mohinder, Kamla, Ghanshyam, Aryan, Het Ram, Anu, Ghabe Ram, Dabe Ram, Ruchi, Bhim Singh, Dineshwari (all from the Banjar area), Mohinder Singh, Megh Singh (both from Balichowki) and Vimla from Dhalpur.

According to eyewitnesses, the accident took place after the driver lost control over the vehicle that was being driven at a high speed.

The police has registered a case of negligence under Sections 279, 337, 338, and 304-A of the IPC. The statement of the driver could not be recorded so far as he was still under treatment.

Solan, June 9
With a view to fixing accountability of officials and employees responsible for selecting ineligible families under the Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP) and Below Poverty Line (BPL) the state government is now mooting a proposal to make such deliberate laxities a punishable offence.

A letter seeking suggestions from all deputy commissioners and district rural development officers had been sent by the joint secretary (Rural Development Department) on May 16. The step revealed that officials had been necessitated after there was an influx of such complaints where ineligible families had been selected while the eligible ones had been bereft of the benefits under the various governments owing to faulty selections.

It was reliably learnt that heaps of such complaints had poured in at the Chief Minister’s office and hence this proposal was mooted to bring about some accountability.

The faulty selection had not only defeated the purpose of various government schemes but genuinely needy people had failed to avail benefits of the government schemes.

The state government after seeking suggestions from all officials would seek legal opinion and finally present a bill in the ensuing session of the Vidhan Sabha. This would ensure that the government could take action against erring officials and employees who are responsible for the selection of ineligible persons.

A section of officials opined that ineligible families managed to get themselves nominated, as few dared to oppose even the ineligible names at the gram sabhas, where such lists were finalised. Ignorance among the poor, who were the genuine beneficiaries, was also stated to be a major factor. Further, officials said instead of gram sabhas finalising the lists a ground survey should be done to corroborate selection lists.

Deputy director Shamsher Singh said officials had been directed to send their suggestions at the earliest and this step would ensure that the survey was undertaken on a realistic basis. The complaints, which were being received in this regard, were checked by fixing accountability of officials.

With nearly 2.82 lakh people having being enlisted under the IRDP and BPL families after the April 6 meeting of gram sabhas, numerous complaints regarding selection of ineligible families had come in from all over the state. This step would help instill some deterrence in the panchayati raj representatives whose role had remained controversial up till now.

Shimla, June 9
Speaker Tulsi Ram has sought Rs 17 crore from the 13th Finance Commission for modernisation of the Vidhan Sabha library, construction of residential accommodation and other facilities.

In a memorandum submitted to chairman of the commission Vijay Kelkar, Tulsi Ram demanded Rs 10.60 crore for residential accommodation for the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker to be constructed after demolishing the Annandale View building (existing Speaker’s residence), 16 residential flats for legislators and residence of the secretary and other staff.

A demand for Rs 4.60 crore was put up for the construction of a community centre with basic facilities like health centre, indoor sports centre, gymnasium and an auditorium. Other demands include Rs 91 lakh for upgradation of the library and heating system, Rs 45 lakh each for computerisation and machinery, equipment and vehicles.

He also urged the commission to sanction funds for the construction of traffic tunnels to connect Pangi with Chamba and Holi with Uttrala.

Shimla, June 9
The 13th Finance Commission will requisition the services of technical experts to have an insight into various environment-related issues and evolve parameters and methodology to help compensate the states for maintaining the green cover.

“Environment protection coupled with the mounting wage bill, pension liability and a high level of subsidies are the areas of prime concern for the hill state, Dr Vijay Kelkar told The Tribune before leaving for New Delhi after a four-day visit. The consequences of global warming phenomenon were already being felt and it was for this reason that environment and sustainable development had been included in the terms of reference of the commission for the first time. After touring various parts of the state over the past three days and interacting with diverse sections of people the commission was convinced that environment was a major issue in the 
ecologically fragile hill state, he stated.

However, the commission would seek expert advice to form a view on the issue for which it had decided to engage TERI (Tata Energy Research Institute) and the National Institute of Forest Management (NIFM), Bhopal, which have carried out extensive work in this field. “During our visit to tribal areas and power project sites we were told by local villagers about the environment-related problems like melting of glaciers, vanishing springs, declining snowfall, water shortage and loss of biodiversity which made it quite evident that environment was an area of concern” Kelkar observed.

On the fiscal front the commission was concerned about the mounting wage bill, pension liability and the high level of subsidies, though the state had by and large achieved the targets set under the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act. The wage bill should not exceed 35 per cent of the revenue expenditure but in the case of Himachal it was much higher. There has been some improvement as far subsidies were concerned but the quantum was still very high which needed corrective measures.

The state has not made any effort to execute major projects through the public-private-partnership (PPP) mode. It was time that the state took it up as it would not only help curtail government expenditure but also enable execution of projects in an efficient and cost-effective manner.

However, the commission was impressed by the achievements of the state on the human development, particularly in health, education and social welfare sector, in which the state had done exceedingly well.

Himachal was the first state the commission has visited and it would have a view regarding the fiscal measures and administrative policies to be put in place for fiscal consolidation and containing revenue deficit after visiting other states.

Shimla, June 9
The Centre for Science and Technology of the Non-Aligned Movement and Other Developing Countries has selected Mekaster, a Parwanoo-based private industrial unit, as its network member for promoting science and technology in its 42 member countries for the first time.

The Mekaster group, headed by V.M. Trehan, has been playing a major role in propagating the cause of science and technology in the country. Trehan was awarded the Presidential Gold Medal by the Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA) recently.

The centre set up in 1989 as an inter-governmental organisation in pursuance of the decisions taken at various summits of the Heads of State of the Non-Aligned countries.

Mekaster was the first to usher in the digital switching technology in the country. It was also instrumental in setting up the National Telematics Forum (NTF), which played a major role in the formulation of the national telecom policy.

Palampur, June 9
The state Rajput Kalyan Sabha has demanded reservation for all upper castes, particularly Rajputs, in the state.

This demand was made by the sabha in its annual general meeting held here yesterday. The sabha also celebrated the birth anniversary of Maharana Partap on the occasion.

Col S.C. Parmar, president state Rajput Kalyan Sabha, urged Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, who was the chief guest, to extend reservations to other castes also. He said weaker sections of all upper castes, including Rajputs, should get the benefits of the reservation, as this benefit was available only to the STs, SCs and the OBCs.

Parmar said the state government should consider this demand in a broader way to check resentment among the upper castes.

He said the children of upper classes, despite high merits, failed to get admission in good educational institutions like IIT and IIM.

Parmar demanded for the setting up of Rajput Kalyan Board in the state so the government was conversant with the problems faced by the Rajputs.

He said no efforts were made in this field and he had high hopes from the Chief Minister. While Dhumal, in his presidential address sidetracked the issue.