Shimla, June 27
Treading cautiously on the issue of allotment of power projects to the Brakel Corporation, the Cabinet today deferred a decision on the matter, maintaining that it required further study. It was learnt that forest minister J.P.Nadda and health minister Rajiv Bindal were informally asked to look into various issues of case.

It also hiked the procurement price for mango under the market intervention scheme from the existing Rs 4.08 per kg to Rs 4.58 per kg and for grafted varieties from Rs 4.75 per kg to Rs. 5.25 per kg. The government has been extra-cautious as the Brakel Corporation and Reliance are already fighting a legal battle in the state high court which has asked the government to clarify its stand in the case.

Highlights   Okays creation of 545 posts The procurement price for mango under the market intervention scheme from the existing Rs 4.08 per kg to Rs 4.58 per kg and for grafted varieties from Rs 4.75 per kg to Rs. 5.25 per kg.   A policy for opening medical colleges with private participation approved.

It decided to adopt ‘Van Mahotsava Scheme-2008’ under which the Forest Department through various local agencies make available at least one medicinal plant per family for planting free of cost to make the hill state a herbal garden.

It sanctioned 545 posts in various departments, including 494 posts of different categories for Dr. Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College, Kangra at Tanda, Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla, and State Hospital for Mother and Child (KNH), Shimla, 36 posts of teaching and non-teaching staff for the newly upgraded government senior secondary schools and 25 posts of various categories in the Sainik Welfare Department.

It also approved the ‘Himachal Pradesh Home Stay Scheme-2008’ with a view to involving the entire state in tourism promotion activities and give boost to rural tourism by offering various incentives to entrepreneurs like no charges for change of land use, exemption (up to 3 rooms) from luxury and sales tax and electricity and water charges at domestic tariff in respect of registered home stay units.

A policy for opening medical colleges with private participation was also approved under which the government would give no-objection certificates to such projects for applying to Medical Council of India, which had acquired the requisite land on their own and set up a corpus of Rs 3 crore for the purpose.

For starting medical colleges in districts of Mandi, Una and Hamirpur, the Cabinet approved a proposal for attachment of regional hospitals to private sector medical colleges after a detailed study by consultants.

It accepted the requests for enhancement of capacity of hydroelectric projects allotted to Independent Power Producers (IPPs) by the HIMURJA. All such projects with capacity enhanced beyond 5 MW will pay 12 per cent free power plus 3 per cent additional free power on the total capacity of the project and will be required to sign a fresh Implementation Agreement (IA) with the state government.

It also approved allotment of 19 projects advertised by HIMURJA having capacity of 2 to 5 MW to the sole qualified applicants while all other projects will be re-advertised. The Cabinet decided to establish a state employment guarantee fund. 

Shimla, June 27
The controversy being raised by the opposition Congress over the change in the bidding process notwithstanding, the decision of the BJP government to allot hydroelectric projects on the “free power-based” competitive bidding is economically a much better proposition than the “upfront premium-based” bidding.

However, the government could still go in for a still better option of “tariff-based” bidding, which will not only enable it to earn more by selling its surplus power but also make ample power available at reasonable rates for supply within the state. The government is already under pressure to curtail subsidy on power to domestic consumers on which it is already spending Rs 140 crore annually. The upfront premium-based and free power-based bidding routes will both increase the cost of generation.

The average sale price of power supplied by the state electricity board to varies categories of consumers is Rs 3.68 per unit whereas the domestic consumers in the lowest slab are charged at the rate of Rs 90 per unit after providing subsidy. The increase in the generation cost will leave the government with only two options, either to put the burden on consumers or pay more subsidy.

The board has an installed capacity of only 467 MW of power whereas the peak demand has already crossed the 1000-MW mark. In such a situation the best way out for the government is to allot some projects through tariff-based bidding with a stipulation that the entire power generated will be supplied to the board. This will make sufficient power available to the board at a reasonable cost and it would not be forced to make purchases during lean winter months at exorbitant rates.

The tariff-based bidding with a fixed upfront premium will be the best option as it will ensure that independent power producers (IPPs) had stakes in the projects from the very outset. It will keep the generation cost around Rs 3 per unit, much less than the average sale price of the board.

At the first instance, the upfront premium mode of bidding appears to be an attractive proposition but an in-depth analysis clearly reveals that the two other modes, tariff-based bidding and free power-based bidding, are economically far more rewarding. The seven projects with an aggregate capacity of 1848 MW awarded through the international bidding route fetched a one-time upfront premium of Rs 862 crore. In comparison, whereas a project like the 1500-MW Nathpa Jhakri project, which generates more than 6400 million units annually, if allotted on tariff-based bidding, will bring much more money at the prevailing rates in a single year after commissioning. Its generation cost is under Rs 3 per unit and these days the average sale price ranges from Rs 5.50 to Rs 6 per unit. As such the state could earn a revenue of Rs 1600 crore by selling power at a profit of Rs 2.50 per unit.

Shimla, June 27
The local Municipal Council today passed a resolution seeking redefining of the green belts in the capital where the government has imposed a complete ban on new construction.

The councillors pointed out that certain areas which did not have any trees or green cover should be excluded from green areas.

It was way back in 2000 that the government had issued a notification, imposing a complete ban on new construction in the green belts. The government had declared 17 areas as green belts in various parts of the capital. Only reconstruction along old lines can be undertaken in these areas.

Through another resolution, the MC urged the government to make an amendment in the HP Municipal Corporation bylaws to enhance the honorarium being given to the Mayor, Deputy Mayor and the daily allowance to the councillors.

They have recommended that against an honorarium of Rs 2,400 and 1,500 being given to the Mayor and Deputy Mayor, respectively, they should be given Rs 3,500 and Rs 2,500. Similarly, the existing daily allowance of Rs 1,500 to the councillors for attending any meeting of the MC should be enhanced to Rs 2,000.

The issue of providing adequate water supply to the residents was also raised at the meeting. Some of the councillors demanded that the MC should give regular supply but the Mayor said that with supply from the Giri scheme not being received it would not be possible to give daily supply.

Shimla, June 27
Public works minister Gulab Singh today gave specific instructions to officers of his department to ensure that all roads constructed in the state under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna, the World Bank project and the rural infrastructure development fund scheme of the Nabard were passed by July 25.

The directions came after former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh raised the issue and alleged that as many as 29 out of the total 30 roads in his Rohru assembly segment which were completed during the Congress regime could not be opened for the past six months as the road fitness committee had not passed them.

The minister asked the officers that all completed road which had not been yet passed by the road fitness committee comprising the concerned sub-divisional magistrate, divisional forest officer and PWD executive engineer be got passed by the stipulated date. The exercise should be initiated immediately in the state, including those covered under the Rohru circle, and completed within next 30 days.

B.S. Rajpal, engineer-in-chief, PWD, assured the minister that all such roads would be got passed on priority and shall be opened to traffic for the convenience of general public.

Mandi, June 27
The state government giving its nod for prosecution of the PWD contractor, Suresh Kumar, brother-in-law of Dharampur BJP MLA, Mohinder Thakur, in an alleged case of diversion of the Mandi-Sandhol-Beed road built under the Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sadak Yojna (PMGSY), has created a stir in the state as the state Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau has put up a challan in the court in February, in a hush-hush manner.

This case had assumed political overtones as the former Congress government had dumped the case on October 26, 2006, as seven officials of the PWD booked in the case were pro-Congress, revealed sources.

The BJP government gave its nod to open the case in February, 2008, and put the challan in the court here keeping the whole issue in wraps as the contractor in the case is the brother-in-law of MLA Mohinder Singh Thakur, revealed sources.

It was found by the Vigilance that the contractor diverted the road which violated the terms and condition of the PMGSY, sources added.

Mohinder refused to comment on the issue, but the state government’s move has created stir in political circles as move has been directed to put the BJP MLA in the dock.

The Vigilance has registered a case against the contractor on December 9, 2003, and chargesheeted seven PWD officials. However, the Congress government dumped the case when it found that they were pro-Congress, said sources.

Shimla, June 27
Director of Elementary Education Sunil Chaudhary informed here today that the department has promoted 450 headmasters in the pay scale of Rs 7,000-10,980 from amongst the trained graduate teachers and promotee lecturers (school cadre) to fill vacant posts.

He further informed that the promoted headmasters had been directed to join duty at their places of posting on or before July16, failing which their promotion orders shall be deemed for withdrawal automatically.

He said as per the commitment of the government the process of filling up of 4,568 posts of TGTs had been started and requisitions had been sent to the state subordinate service-selection board for filling 1,712 posts through direct recruitment. Further, 1,713 posts would be filled batch-wise by the department, 686 posts by promotion from JBTs and 457 posts by promotion from classical and vernacular category teachers. The director further disclosed that the above posts would be filled up purely on contract basis with the fixed remuneration of Rs 8,220 per month.

Official sources said the primary objective was to ensure that studies were not hit owing to the strike by PTA appointees. “We intend posting most of these promoted lecturers in schools that were dependent on PTA teachers, so that they can run smoothly,” an official spokesman said.

On the other hand, the PTA Lecturers and Teachers Union said that in case the promotions had been done against the vacant posts they had no problem but if these were to fill their posts, they would protest. “We are still not aware if the vacant posts have been filled or our posts have been given away,” said Vivek Mehta, president of the union.

He said as per the notification issued by the previous regime for the PTA appointments, no regular appointment was to be made against the posts of PTA teachers and they could not be transferred or promoted. “In case the government has made these promotions to fill the PTA posts it is violative of the notification issued for our appointments,” said Mehta.

He regretted that despite studies being affected in schools, some of which were lying closed due to the strike, there had been no initiative from the government side for holding talks. 

Baijnath (Dharamsala), June 27
A pall of gloom descended the house of Sushma Devi (33) in Sagur village, about 8 km from Baijnath. Poverty and loss of petty job of anganwadi worker drove Sushma to commit suicide yesterday. Sushma consumed poison along with her two daughters Ashu (10) and Anjali (12). While Sushma and Ashu died, the elder daughter has been shifted to Tanda medical college where her condition continues to be critical.

The family of Sushma was living in poverty. Her husband Surinder a labourer was inconsolable today. He was at loss of words and could not figure out the reason for the extreme step taken by his wife. The family had just one kanal land. The irregular daily wage of Surinder was the only source of income for the family.

Eight months ago, a petty anganwadi job brought a ray of hope for the beleaguered family. The small amount that an anganwadi worker gets proved a support for the family. However, with the change of government everything changed. Recently, Sushma was removed from the anganwadi workers job on the complaint of a contender.

Though Sushma appealed against her removal, the loss of petty income she had from job drove her into depression. According to neighbours, she was disturbed at the loss of job that had made living a bit easier from them. Unable to bear the pressure she yesterday committed suicide along with her two daughters while her sons and husband were away.

Many of them demanded compensation for the family. The police is investigating the case.

She was one of the anganwadi workers, who are facing cases of removal on one pretext or another in Kangra district. Interestingly, while anganwadi workers are being removed the officers who allegedly recruited them allegedly at political behest ignoring the basic conditions are being brought to the book. Action should be taken against them as either they were at fault when the workers were appointed or some anomaly going on in their removal.

Meanwhile, local officials today collected data regarding the case from the village. While speaking on the condition of anonymity they told that the government had sought the information regarding the case.

Kullu, June 27
Hiru Devi (16) was buried alive under a massive landslide at Galang village of this district last evening. It was learnt that she was going to fetch water from the nearby nullah when suddenly the debris came down. The body was retrieved and cremated today.

Local MLA Govind Singh Thakur visited the village and expressed grief over the death of the woman. He announced Rs 20,000 as an immediate relief to the family and advised the district administration to release the balance amount as per the government manual.

Ram Krishan Mahant, panchayat pradhan, said the haphazard blasting done for the construction of the road might have caused the landslide.

Sundernagar, June 27
Jeet Ram (29) was killed on the spot while Anil was injured when their scooter collided with an HRTC bus near here last night. Both were residents of Khilra. Anil has been admitted to the Zonal Hospital, Mandi

The accident occurred when the deceased came on the main road after getting petrol filled in the scooter around 11.30 p.m. The bus was on its way to Dharamsala from Rekong Peo.

The body of the deceased was handed over today to his kin after a post-mortem.

In an another incident at Harabagh, near here, last night a Canter dashed against an HRTC bus, which was on its way to Shimla from Palampur.

The Canter driver and conductor Tej Ram and Chinta Mani have been admitted to hospital.The police has registered FIRs in both cases. 

Dharamsala, June 27
The BJP government is diverting funds provided by the Centre under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) to gather people at rallies of BJP leaders. Those coming to rallies of BJP MLAs or ministers are being paid from NREGS funds.

Levelling these allegations during a press conference at Kangra today, HPCC chief Viplove Thakur said the Congress would lodge a complaint with the state Vigilance and the Union Ministry of Rural Development and Panchayats against the alleged misuse of NREGS funds. The funds were approved by the previous government for the construction of footpaths in villages under the NREGS. However, the BJP government was not allowing the construction of footpaths in villages on flimsy grounds. Instead, the funds were being used for promoting the party.

When asked to cite specific cases of misuse of funds, Viplove Thakur said she had definite information regarding such misuse in Dehra block of Kangra district.

Viplove Thakur, who recently completed her tour of Chamba district, said people were complaining against the mass transfers ordered by the BJP government. In Chamba district alone, 76 patwaris had been transferred. Even low-cadre employees had not been spared. The transfers were hitting government work.

Shimla, June 27
The government today signed an agreement with Everonn System India Ltd, Chennai, for imparting IT education in 793 senior secondary schools in the state up to March 31, 2012.

The agreement was signed between the company and the director of Higher Education, here today. As per the agreement, the company will impart IT education to the students of class IX to XII in all 588 senior secondary schools where the course is already being run.

Besides this, 50 new schools where more than 50 students are willing to opt for IT education from this academic session have also been included by the department. Some new schools could be added to the list during the contract period in case more than 50 students in any school are keen to learn IT.

The company will execute the project within 40 days in all 588 schools where IT education was being imparted, while additional 20 days have been given for starting it in 205 schools.

The fee for the academic course will be Rs 125 per month per student which is less than the fee charged from the students prior to this. The company will provide new hardware, software and allied infrastructure and IT teachers in all these schools. The company will also maintain the infrastructure in these schools in working condition during the contract period.

Solan, June 27
Himachal was ranked third at the national-level in successful execution of Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sadak Yojna. While this was a reflection of the working of the PWD in the state, it was a matter of pride for the state.

This was stated by PWD and revenue minister Thakur Gulab Singh at Kunihaar while launching a five-day Bharat Nirman Public Information Campaign (BNPIC) here today.

Addressing a public meeting on this occasion, the minister said the construction of roads was a priority and the government’s endeavourer to connect every village and hamlet with roads in a phased manner. As much as Rs 90 crore were being spent in Solan district on construction of roads and Rs 26 crore were being spent in Arki constituency alone. Earlier, he inaugurated the office of the assistant engineer PWD at Kunihaar constructed at a cost of Rs 26 lakh.

Principal director general Deepak Sandhu disclosed that the BNPIC had been taken to more than 200 places in the country and Kunihaar ranked fourth in the state.

She said the objective of the campaign was to disseminate government schemes and policies among the masses and seek their feedback. The feedback so generated would help improve the system and ensure development of the common man. She disclosed that loan worth Rs 2.35 crore, which was disbursed to 839 farmers, had been waived off in Himachal under the loan waiver scheme of the Central Government.

Dharamsala, June 27
Vehicle owners going to petrol stations in the area for getting their vehicles refuelled are being forced to buy premium varieties of petrol and diesel. These varieties of petrol and diesel are Rs 4 and Rs 2, respectively, costlier than the ordinary varieties. This is leading to resentment among the people.

Dealers said the companies were forcing them to sell premium varieties as it was profitable for them. The companies were forcing them to lift quota (around 20 to 40 per cent) of premium varieties, they alleged.

President of the dealers’ association Sukumar Singh Chandel said premium fuels were introduced by companies to cater to high-end customers. However, now companies were finding the premium fuel as a handy tool to make profits at the cost of customers.

He said fuel came under the Essential Commodities Act. “We have been seeking meeting with the Department of Food and Civil Supplies to inform them about the costly fuel being forced on consumers. However, they have not been allowed any time for the meeting.”

Minister for food and civil supplies Ramesh Dawala said the matter had come to his notice. “I am going to direct food and civil supplies officials to look into the matter,” 
he said.

Officials of oil companies, however, denied that they were forcing premium fuel on consumers. Indian Oil Company’s assistant manager (retail sales) at Dharamsala Negi said the company was just asking dealers to keep premium fuel also. “The companies have invested heavily on creating infrastructure for storing premium fuel at gas stations. Now, we cannot allow dealers to keep the facilities dry and deny premium fuel to customers demanding it,” he said.

He said 573 kl ordinary and 123 kl premium fuel was sold in the Dharamsala region till June 20. “So, the quantity of premium fuel comes to around 20 per cent of the total sales,” he added.

He also attributed the recent problem to dealers’ tendency of hoarding fuel before the price rise to make profits.

Solan, June 27
Flaying the anti-people policies of the state government the district Congress committee today submitted a memorandum to the Governor through the Solan SDM demanding an immediate reduction in the sales tax of petroleum products.

The committee while holding the state government responsible for the soaring prices of essential commodities said the public distribution system had completely crashed. The committee also took note of the deteriorating law and order situation in the district.

Unable to muster much strength a handful of party workers, including former Doon MLA Lajja Ram, under the leadership of party’s state general secretary Kuldeep Rathore took out a procession and submitted a memorandum to the Governor through the SDM.

Earlier, in a meeting held at the local Congress Bhawan the Congress workers drew the attention of the leaders towards the abject neglect of workers by MP D.R. Shandil while distributing MPLADS funds and said they were not taken into confidence. The workers said the situation would not augur well for the impending parliamentary polls where they would be forced to cut a sorry figure before the masses. The workers also brought it to the notice of the leaders that they had no knowledge about the tour programmes of the MP and this made them look poor before the voters.

The party later resolved to educate the masses about the anti-people policies of the state government, which had failed to reduce VAT on the prices of petroleum products.

With deteriorating law and order situation the meeting demanded fixing of accountability of the administration so as to ensure better law and order in the district. While loyalists of former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh chose to remain away the much-acclaimed claims of unity came to the forefront. Even those present in the meeting complained of not being informed in time about today’s meeting.

Sundernagar, June 27
Prosecutors of the state have submitted a memorandum of the chairman, 5th Punjab Pay Commission, requesting better pay scales and other facilities to them keeping in view of their specialised services.

Vinod Chadhary, president of the Himachal Pradesh Attorney (Prosecutors) Association, said the memorandum listed various problems suffered by the prosecutors due to anomalies in their pay scales.

Besides dealing with more than 50,000 civil and criminal cases, they offered legal opinion to various government departments in as many cases. It was alleged in the memorandum that the Prosecution Department used to be an important wing of judiciary before Independence and the prosecutors used to get pay and perks at par with judicial and police officers. After 1974 when all wings of judiciary got separated from executive police and judicial officers got better pay scales and facilities than prosecutors.