Shimla, September 5
The government proposes to set up a technical training institute in the state to help raise the required trained manpower for hydroelectric projects.

This was stated by Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal while replying to a debate on hydropower policy of the state in the Vidhan Sabha. The debate was initiated by Mohinder Singh (BJP). Dhumal said major public-sector undertakings like the Sutlej Jal Vidyut Nigam would be associated with the institute. He said a private industrial training institute set up by the Jaypee Industries had been upgraded as a polytechnic institute as vast manpower was required for the hydropower sector. The state had drawn up plans to exploit 12,000 MW of hydroelectric potential by 2012 and 21,000 MW by 2020.

He said the BJP government had, on the very first day after assuming power, decided to allot all projects having a generation capacity of 5 MW or more through competitive bidding to bring transparency in the system. It had also introduced free-power-based bidding in place of upfront premium-based bidding to safeguard long-term economic interests of the state.

The government had also decided to set up the directorate of energy and a committee under the chief secretary to monitor the progress of projects allotted to independent power producers IPPs. Notices had been issued for the cancellation of allotment to 30 IPPs that failed to start work on projects assigned  to them.

Hydropower development would get a major boost with the setting up of the Himachal Power Corporation, which had been assigned eight projects, he said. The Asian Development Bank had already approved a loan of $ 800 million to the corporation. The loan would be routed through the Centre. The state would have to pay back only 10 per cent of the amount and the remaining 90 per cent would given by the Centre as outright grant.

Earlier, Mohinder Singh underlined the need for big storage projects, particularly in the Sutlej basin, to solve the problem of excessive silt. He also underlined the need for proper disposal of debris generated as a result of large-scale construction activity undertaken at various hydroelectric projects.

The House also passed the State Private Technical and Vocational Educational Institutions (Regulation of Admission and Fixation of Fee) Bill, which would replace the ordinance issued in May.

Solan, September 5
A team of officials from Ambala, comprising a senior drug inspector and some policemen, raided a pharmaceutical unit at Nankpur on the Baddi-Pinjore road this afternoon.

The team had reportedly come to inspect the unit after a packaging unit operating from some residential area was found packing some of the drugs allegedly manufactured here. The team, however, failed to find anything substantial.

There has been a rise in the number of case in which spurious drugs have been traced to Baddi. Spurious drugs worth Rs 1.5 crore, reportedly manufactured at Baddi, were confiscated in Andhra Pradesh a few days ago. While the Andhra Pradesh Government has withdrawn the spurious antibiotics from the market, the name of the erring unit, Galpha Laboratories, has been removed from the suppliers’ list.

Lamenting the shortage of clerical staff, drug licensing authority Ravinder Chawdhary said almost 300 units were operational in the area and licences were being procured by many more. While the staff was barely able to complete the paper formalities for these units, there was little that was being done to monitor the production of spurious drugs. It was learnt that such nefarious activities were done during the night as there was no system of late evening raids.

Around a year ago, the Karnataka Government had banned the injections manufactured by a Baddi-based unit. The injections were reportedly “mislabelled”. The company is also facing prosecution after some more of its drug samples were found to be spurious at Gurgaon. Officials from Gurgaon, who raided the unit after some drug samples failed the test, have now filed a case against the company.

Shimla, September 5
Governor Prabha Rau today said teachers had a major responsibility of shaping young minds who are the future of the country.

Speaking at the state-level Teacher’s Day function here today she said teachers must introspect on their role and the quality of education being imparted to the students. She underlined the importance of education in character-building and said that it went a long way in shaping the future of the youth.

Rau said women could play a significant role in the field of education which would help in nation building. She asked women to join the teaching profession in greater numbers.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister P.K.Dhumal said teachers played a major influencing role in the lives of students. “We need to appreciate and recognise the contribution being made by teachers in guiding the youth during their formative years,” he said.

He said the government was committed to strengthen the educational institutions in the state and private players were also being encouraged to play a key role in setting up centres of excellence.

The Governor conferred state awards -2008 on Dr Shyam Singh (Shimla), Mast Ram Sharma (Solan), Sohan Lal Dogra (Kangra) and Bhim Dutt (Sirmour). She awarded the teachers with a cash prize of Rs 25,000 besides citation, a medal, a shawl and a cap.

The National Award winners of 2006 were Prem Chand Aggarwal (Sirmour), Yudhistra Mehta (Solan) and Roshan Lal Sharma (Una). They were given a cash award of Rs 50,000. 

Shimla, September 5
Pandemonium prevailed in the state assembly for about an hour on the concluding day of the monsoon session here today as the entire Congress group trooped near the well of the house to protest against the police action against the agitating PTA teachers yesterday.

The trouble started after question hour when the leader of the opposition Vidya Stokes urged Speaker Tulsi Ram to take up the adjournment motion for which notice had been given by five party members to discuss brutal police action against PTA teachers. However, the Speaker said that the notice was under consideration and asked the members to proceed with the listed business. At this enraged Virbhadra Singh , Kaul Singh and other members joined Stokes and asserted that the adjournment motion be taken up immediately as today was the last day of session.

As the Speaker stuck to his decision the Congress members started raising slogans. They were enraged when he proceeded ahead with the business and trooped towards the well of the house. The protesting members raised slogans against the Dhumal government.

In the meantime, two bills were passed and the CM also made a statement regarding an increase of Rs 300 per month in the pension to the ex-servicemen who participated in the Second World War.

Mandi, September 5
The finance secretary (revenue) today suspended district revenue officer (DRO) B.S. Negi in connection with the multi-crore benami royal property deal with immediate effect.

The suspension order came after a call-attention motion was initiated in the Assembly on the benami deal issue demanding stern action in the case so that the “real faces behind the deal” could be exposed.

The special investigation team (SIT) of the police has charged Negi under Section 420 of the IPC and various provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act for misusing his official position, conspiring with benami dealers and causing a revenue loss of Rs 33 lakh to the exchequer. The benami property was got registered in his office on April 24, sourced said.

Though Negi was granted bail last week by the judge here, the state government has suspended him with immediate effect. The order was served on him here today.

Negi refused to comment on his suspension saying he had nothing to speak on the issue.

DC Onkar Sharma said Negi had been put under suspension with immediate effect.

Meanwhile, the SIT constituted by the SP, Mandi, for investigating into the benami deal and murder of money-lender-cum contractor Tek Chand may question an MLA, who had allegedly given Rs 97 lakh to Sanjay Kumar, the main suspect arrested in the Tek Chand’s case. 

Kangra, September 5
Heavy rain and hailstorm in Kangra valley left life out of gear forcing shopkeepers to close their shops at 5 pm. Some houses were left roofless.

The power supply was disrupted and trees were uprooted. The communication links were also interrupted.

Roads were flooded and traffic on different roads was disrupted.

A big tree uprooted at Soura, 4 km from here. It fell on the office of a local patwari. People were rescued from the office and there was no loss of life.

The property was damaged, Kangra SDM Pardeep Kumar said.

The SDM said details of the damage to the property would be available by tomorrow morning. He said there was no loss of life. 

Mandi, September 5
Nepalese Ganesh Dut, an accused arrested on August 31 under the NDPS Act, today escaped from the policy custody while four policemen were taking him to Malana village in Kullu district in a bid to crack down on the original source of the charas consignment.

Though the policemen have launched a manhunt to nab the accused, but till the filing of the report there was yet no trace.

The Nepalese was arrested by the police after he was caught redhanded carrying 700 gm of charas. During interrogation he told the police that he got the consignment from Malana village.

The police is contemplating action against the erring cops.