The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Himachal Pradesh Edition

Electricity consumers to be e-powered
Rakesh Lohumi
Tribune News Service

Shimla, September 7
Around 40,000 power consumers of the state capital will be able to get addressed all matters pertaining to electricity supply, billing, payments and other issues at the click of a button with the completion of the first phase of the computerised billing and energy accounting project by the state electricity board by the end of month.

The Rs 30-crore package to computerise the commercial operations of the board is being implemented by the HCL company. It will virtually make the commercial operations of the board paperless, bring transparency in its functioning, save energy losses and ensure accountability of the field staff and fast redressing of grievances.

In the first phase, all five subdivisions under the city electrical division will be covered under the project. The necessary hardware has been installed for the purpose. The first phase will be complete with the commissioning of the state-of-the-art 12-seater call centre at the headquarters of the board by the end of this month.

The integrated application software developed by the company combines customer relationship management (CRM), electrical network management (ENM) and interactive voice response system (IVRS) to take care of pre-billing and post-billing activities, legal and vigilance activities, store management at the subdivision level, energy accounting and auditing.

The consumers will be able to access details of bills, make payments automatically and file complaints by dialling a toll-free number. They will have the advantage of anywhere payment of bill facility though the Internet. The board will benefit by way of increase in operational efficiency, improved revenue realisation and reduction in technical and commercial losses, better customer services and business decision support for strategic issues using the management information system being developed under the project along with a central data centre.

Vijay Aggarwal of the HCL under whose supervision the project is being implemented said in the second phase all 16.85 lakh consumers across the state would be covered under the project. This would be possible by August, 2009, he added.

Incentives pull docs to remote areas
Pratibha Chauhan
Tribune News Service

Shimla, September 7
Although around 300 vacancies of doctors still exist in the state, the monetary incentives offered by the government seem to have produced the desired effect as doctors have joined in the most difficult and remote areas of Pangi, Udaipur and Kaza, where the posts had been lying vacant for a long time.

In response to an advertisement for 200 posts of MBBS doctors, 129 doctors have expressed their willingness to join on contract basis. With open counselling offered by the government allowing candidates to choose their place of posting, the response has been good and around 70 doctors have joined duties so far.

The fact that those who opt for difficult areas in Pangi, Lahaul-Spiti and Dodra Kawar will get Rs 9,000 extra, along with a salary of Rs 20,000, has proved that giving monetary benefit and other incentives works well. Though a decision in this regard is yet to be taken, those who opt to serve in difficult and tribal areas may get preference in post-graduation after two years of service.

Health minister Rajeev Bindal said efforts were being made to woo doctors, both MBBS and specialists, so that all vacancies could be filled and better medical facilities made available to the people, especially in rural and remote areas.

“About 70 doctors have already joined at their places of posting. The expectation is that majority of the 129 selected doctors would join the service,” said Rajeev Sharma, mission director of the National Rural Health Mission. Before these 200 posts were advertised, there were 416 vacancies of MBBS doctors in the state.

The Health department had not advertised any posts of doctor in Solan, Una and Hamirpur districts this time. Those who have opted for rural areas would get Rs 3,000 additional, those opting for tribal areas of Kinnaur and Bharmour would get Rs 6,000 extra while those willing to serve in the remotest and the most difficult areas of Pangi, Lahaul-Spiti and Dodra Kawar will get Rs 9,000 extra.

Since around 300 posts of doctor are still vacant in the state, the Health Department intends to advertise these posts in October when a batch of 100 doctors will complete their internship. The government has also recruited five specialist doctors for Chamba.

NTPC burns fingers over its first hydropower project
Kuldeep Chauhan
Tribune News Service

Kol Dam, September 7
The first-ever hydropower project being executed by the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) has run two years behind schedule. The delay in executing the project, the 800-MW Kol Dam hydropower project on the Sutlej, will cost the state revenue loss of around Rs 108 crore each year on account of its 12 per cent free power share in the project. The corporation will lose around Rs 900 crore annually.

“The losses can be much more if power generation impact on growth and economy is calculated on account of loss in power due to delay in commissioning of the project,” sources said.

The corporation has revised its schedule for the project from July, 2008, to July, 2010. The deadline for the completion of the dam was set for March, 2008, which has now been extended up to December, 2009, pushing the entire project two years behind schedule.

Experts have raised “questions over the quality of the work as the 163-m-high dam has developed seepage”. Similar was the case with diversion tunnels. The NTPC is considered as one of the ‘navratna’ companies of the country.

A team from the Union Ministry of Power inspected the Kol Dam project a few days ago and “pulled up the management for neither sticking to the schedule nor maintaining the quality of work. The team was led by the secretary (power).

The project cost would not escalate from the original cost of Rs 4,500 crore despite the delay, the project management maintained.

Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal had also recently reviewed the progress of the project and asked the management to expedite the work.

“Geological surprises and seepage have pushed the project behind schedule,” said a senior NTPC official.

General manager (Kol Dam) S.C. Gupta said, “The team inspected the project and reviewed the progress. The schedule has been revised as the deadline for the completion of the dam has been extended to December, 2009. The project will be commissioned in July, 2010.”

Gupta said the seepage in the dam had been plugged. “The corporation is assessing the reasons as to why the project has been delayed and will come out with a statement soon,” he added.

Apple prices plummet
Tribune News Service

Shimla, September 7
Harvesting of apple has picked up with the weakening of monsoon, getting respite from incessant rain, and resumption of normal traffic on roads in the interior areas which were blocked due to landslips. There is a shortage of trucks as the demand has suddenly gone up as growers who had to delay plucking of fruit due to rains and blockade of roads are anxious to send their produce to market at the earliest. The prices of various varieties in the Delhi market, where bulk of the produce is disposed of, has come down by Rs 50 to Rs 125 per box.

On an average about 3.5 lakh boxes of apple are being exported out of the state to various markets daily. As many as 747 fruit-laden trucks left the state over the past 24 hours. In all 1.10 crore boxes of apple have been sent to markets outside the state so far. Besides 9,500 tonnes of fruit have been procured under the market intervention scheme.

President of the state fruit and vegetable growers association Lekh Raj Chauhan said that growers were being overcharged by transporters as enough vehicles were not available. He said that the growers, who could not wait anymore, had no option but to pay higher transportation charges. On an average they were paying Rs 7 to Rs 8 per box more than the approved freight, which came to Rs 4,000 to Rs 5,000 more per truck.

The heavy arrivals in the Delhi market, particularly after the end of Amarnath Shrine Board land stir in Jammu and Kashmir, has brought down the prices over the past two days. The rates of superior grade of royal delicious variety has declined from Rs 850 to Rs 800 per standard box and that of rich-a-red variety from Rs 775 to RS 700 per box. The maximum impact in on golden delicious which was selling at Rs 360 per box as against Rs 420 per box last year.

The prolonged spell of rain has affected the quality of fruit and there have been heavy premature droppings.

Residents rue LPG shortage
Tribune News Service

Mubarakpur, September 7
Residents of Mubarakpur and the surrounding areas are ruing the shortage of domestic LPG. In a press release issued here the residents have alleged that the frequent change in LPG dealers by the BP company was affecting the supplies in their area.

Initially, the gas agency allotted to the area was cancelled on orders of the Supreme Court. Instead of allotting a new agency in the area the company allotted the area to Jawali-based gas agency. The agency had recently streamlined its supplies to the area. However, now once again the area has been detached from the Jawali gas agency and allotted to Jawalamukhi-based gas agency.

In this change of agencies the people of area are facing acute shortage of LPG supply. The matter has also been taken with the officials of the BP company, however, it has not given any satisfactory reply, the residents alleged.

The officials of Jawalamukhi-based gas agency when contacted denied that they were short supplying LPG in the Mubarakpur area. They said that they were receiving eight trucks every month for supply to Daulatpur circle under which the area falls. All the supply is being distributed.

Tourism course gets raw deal in government colleges
Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, September 7
Tourism and travel course in the government colleges is getting a raw deal.

The tourism and travel course is being taught in three government colleges located at Dharamsala, Kullu and Kotshera.

In Dharamsala government college, there are 90 students, who have opted for the subject in graduation.

Sources here said equal number of students were also available in other colleges where the subject was introduced. However, there are just three teachers in the state to teach the subject. These teachers are even serving on contract basis for the past 10 years.

The previous government had approved 15 posts of lecturers in tourism and travel course in various government colleges. The posts were also advertised by the Himachal Pradesh Public Service Commission on November 24, 2007.

However, due to Assembly elections the posts could not be filled. The present government after taking over scrapped the posts advertised during the stint of the previous government.

Now, the posts of lecturers in government colleges have again been advertised by the States Public Service Commission. But, the posts for lecturers in tourism and travel are missing from the list.

The interested candidates are alleging that the posts of lecturers in tourism and travel were deleted from the list to increase the posts of other general subjects.

The Himachal government is preferring general courses to professional courses. While in other states the general courses are hardly finding any students. In the state, no teacher is being recruited to teach students in the field of tourism and travel.

The frustrated lecturers in tourism and travel, who are serving in government colleges on contract basis for the past 10 years with the hope of getting regularised, are losing hope.

They allege that if the government fails to advertise the posts, they will have to move to private institutions. However, this will leave students of government colleges, who have opted for the subject, in the lurch.

New tourism policy soon: Dhumal
Our Correspondent

Palampur, September 7
Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal said the state government would soon come out with a new tourism policy to attract more tourists to the state.

He said the state had the potential for providing the best tourism facilities to the tourists.

A press statement issued on behalf of the Chief Minister said the government was planning to introduce ‘panchkarma’ under the public-private partnership in the state.

He said panchkarma system had the capacity to cure numerous ailments without any side effects and added that the health tourism would further strengthen the tourism sector, besides generating employment avenues.

Dhumal said tourism was the basic income and employment generating industry in the state and the state government was making efforts to boost this vital sector.

He said basic infrastructure was being upgraded to meet the emerging requirements of the tourists.

The Chief Minister said the government had launched the Home Stay Scheme to acquaint the tourists with the local cuisine and life style of the people of the state.

Dhumal said the state had prominent religious shrines and efforts were on to promote religious tourism. He said the government was creating quality infrastructure to cater to the needs of the devotees.

He said the state government was taking effective steps to boost adventure tourism.

Three silt observatory posts set up
Our Correspondent

Solan, September 7
With a view to generate reliable database to reduce degradation of the project area owing to silting the Mid-Himalayan Watershed Development Project has set up three silt observatory posts (SOPs).

These posts have been set up in three different ecological zones of the project area to gather varied data.

Project CEO R.K. Kapoor said, “A high-tech SOP has been established at Loharkha village. It is an ideal small village situated on the Nurpur-Chamba state highway. This SOP was commissioned this year ideally before the onset of the monsoon.

Having a total catchment area of 37 hectares, the share of arable land is about 2.30 hectares, while the non-arable land comprises 26.70 hectares and the pastureland is around 8.50 hectares. The slope of the area is about 21 per cent with moderate erosion intensity.

This sophisticated electronic observatory post has the capability to record automatic and four digit accurate measurements. This will enable the project to find timely solution in its interventions. The World Bank Mission that visited this site recently also appreciated the efforts.

Kapoor said being a natural resource management project soil conservation is of prime concern. This stems around reduction of degradation and the project interventions are centred around checking the flow of water and silt load. Since reliable data is required to study its impact in order to take corrective measures, these SOPs have been set up in the project areas.

FIR against Virbhadra, Cong leaders

Shimla, September 7
An FIR has been filed against over 10 Congress leaders, including former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, for violating prohibitory orders by addressing a protest rally of temporary teachers appointed through the Parent Teachers Association in the state.

Besides Virbhadra Singh, the FIR also names leader of Opposition Vidya Stokes, state Congress president Kaul Singh Thakur and some other leaders. They have been accused of violating Section 144 of the IPC on Friday, the last day of Monsoon session, Shimla SP R.M. Sharma said.

The FIR has been lodged at the Boileauganj police station.

Congress MLAs staged a walkout from the Assembly on Friday after the Speaker disallowed an adjournment motion on the alleged lathicharge on teachers agitating near the Assembly building a day earlier.

After the walkout, the MLAs participated in a protest meeting organised by PTA teachers demanding the withdrawal of inquiry |into their appointment.

Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal had criticised the Congress for supporting the agitation of PTA teachers who were not government employees. He had alleged that unqualified PTA teachers, appointed by the Congress, were agitating to put pressure on the government to continue in job, which the administration would not allow. — PTI

Olympic panel to ‘continue’ functioning
Tribune News Service

Shimla, September 7
President of the State Olympic Association Ram Lal Thakur has asserted that the body headed by him will continue to function even if the election of officer-bearers held on August 10 at Bilaspur ran into problems.

The term of the previous body was up to April, 2009, and if the dispute over the recent election led to any controversy, he would continue as the president till the expiry of the previous term, he said while addressing a press conference here today.

He said the registrar of cooperative societies was initiating action under the State Sports Act, but the association was not covered under it. The election was duly held as evident from the fact that forest minister J.P. Nadda, MP Anurag Thakur and Ramesh Chauhan, who had filed a complaint to stall the election, had participated in the process.

He said the association met here today to chalk out the further programme in view of the national games to be held in Jharkhand later in the year. It decided to hold a sports festival to select and prepare players for the event, he added.

Snow in higher reaches

Shimla, September 7
Higher reaches of tribal districts of Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti and Pangi and Bhamorur in Chamba experienced mild snowfall, while lower parts of the state received light to moderate rain that brought down the temperatures.

The high peaks of Kinner-Kailash of Kinnaur experienced mild snowfall. Rohtang Pass, too, received snow.

The high peaks of Dhaladhar ranges of Kangra districts also reported snowfall.

Rain followed by a windstorm and lightning disrupted telecommunication services, power supply and traffic in many parts of the state. Mandi, Shimla, Dharamshala, Bilaspur and Solan, Nahan, Una recieved moderate rain this evening.

Shimla and its surrounding areas had rain accompanied by hail storm in the evening.

The met office recorded 0.5 mm rain in Sundernagar, 3.5 mm in Solan, 0.7 mm in Nahan, 2,4 mm in Shimla, 6.1 mm in Bhuntar and 1.6 mm in Kalpa.

The met office has forecast, rain and thundershowers at many places in the state in the next 24 hours. — UNI

Another Manimahesh pilgrim dies
Our Correspondent

Chamba, September 7
A Manimahesh pilgrim died after he slipped from the track and fell into a ditch at Gauri Kund, one km from Manimahesh Lake, last evening. He was killed on the spot. With this, the death toll during the pilgrimage has gone up to two.

The deceased was later identified as Vijay Kumar of Gurdaspur (Punjab). The body has been sent to his native place by the local administration.

Earlier, a pilgrim from Meerthal (Punjab) had died at Dhanchho en route Manimahesh Lake on September 3.

120 cr for Tanda college
Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, September 7
The government has sanctioned Rs 120 crore for Tanda medical college. The funds will be used for improving facilities at the college.

Minister for health Rajeev Bindal gave this information while talking to newsmen at Nagrota Bagwan today. He was here to inaugurate ‘Smile Train’, a plastic surgery camp organised by a non-governmental organisation. Around 110 patients were operated upon for lip cuts and other facial ailments at the camp.

He offered operation theatre services at Tanda medical college and the IGMC, Shimla, free of cost for such camps in future.

Karan Singh’s plea on schools
Tribune News Service

Shimla, September 7
Former primary education minister Karan Singh has criticised the move of the BJP government to close down the schools having a strength of 25 students or less.

He said these schools were opened after a proper survey and the funds for the purpose were provided by the Centre. The enrolment was bound to increase with the passage of time. Instead of closing down the schools, the government should keep these functional by providing at least one teacher, he said.

He said in case the government went ahead with the move to close down these schools, he would start a stir and stage dharna in protest.

‘Floor test’ for ITI aspirants
Subhash Sharma

Kullu, September 7
The candidates appearing for the entrance test at ITI Shamshi centre were made to sit on floor, causing great inconvenience to them.

Vinender, a candidate, said it was inconvenient to sit on the floor for two hours.

Two candidates on the condition of anonymity said the candidates of this centre should be given grace marks, as they were not able to attempt the questions due to the uncomfortable seating plan.

Rajeev, another candidate, said the examination hall was filthy.

The authorities in the centre said, “As many as 600 candidates were allocated to this centre and the capacity of the hall is for 150 candidates.”

They said the belongings of the candidates, including mobile phones, were kept outside the examination hall, as per the directions of the Service Commission.

Amarnath fight not yet over: RSS
Our Correspondent

Kullu, September 7
The relocation of land to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board was a result of the two-month long agitation by Hindu organisations but the fight was not yet over until the people of Jammu were given their rights. This was stated by Pandit Jagan Nath, sangh sanchalak, Himachal Pradesh RSS, here recently while addressing a rally at Dhalpur Maidan.

He blamed that the dilly-dally policy of the UPA government had forced violence and deaths of many people in Jammu region. He pointed out that the “doubtful integrity” of many leaders was exposed during the agitation. He expressed concern over the lenient view of the government against the people who unfurled the Pakistani flag and burnt Indian tricolour. He said: “Cases have been registered against the ‘Shiv bhagats’ in Kullu as just two windowpanes of the factory of Omar Abdulla, National Conference chief, were broken in a mass agitation whereas the government has bowed down before the traitors and separatist party leaders in Jammu and Kashmir.” He demanded that the Article 370 should immediately be withdrawn.

Cannabis destroyed
Tribune News Service

Shimla, September 7
The police has destroyed cannabis plantation spread over almost 3,000 acres in the districts of Shimla, Kinnaur, Kullu and Mandi during the recent past. The special drive launched to check illegal cultivation of cannabis plants, both on private as well as government land was launched during the last three months.

Besides, destroying cannabis plants, poppy cultivation on 16 bighas was also destroyed. The police has registered 14 cases under the NDPS Act against the guilty. The police will launch a drive in September to check the illegal cultivation of cannabis and poppy.

Maximum cannabis has been destroyed in Mandi district. This was followed by Kullu where cannabis cultivation spread over 722 bighas was destroyed. In Shimla district cannabis planted over 249 bighas and 205 bighas in Kinnuar district was destroyed.

Cong flayed on PTA issue
Tribune News Service

Shimla, September 7
Lambasting the Congress on the PTA appointees’ issue, state BJP spokesperson Randhir Sharma today said the party had not learnt any lesson even after being ousted from power and its was still supporting the wrong cause and ignoring state’s vital interests.

Addressing a press conference, he said while in power the Congress made back door appointments through the PTA mode and now it was trying to make an issue to ensure those appointed illegally and without following the due process continued in service at the cost of deserving meritorious candidates. The government would abide by the directions of the high court on the issue, he said.

He ridiculed the statement of PCC chief Kaul Singh that the popularity graph of the BJP government was declining and said it was for the people to judge the popularity of parities.

He also criticised the Congress leaders for creating a controversy over the location of the Central University to be set up in Kangra district. He said since requisite land for the university was not available near Dharamsala, a suitable piece of land had been identified in Dehra subdivision but the Congress leaders were opposing it to gain political mileage.

Community building
Our Correspondent

Kullu, September 7
The Mandav Kalyan Sabha, Kullu, has proposed to construct a community building near Bhuntar. The building would have a medicine bank and free tutor facility for the poor students.

The president of the sabha, said the sabha was a non-political organisation, but this time it had decided to support the political party that would provide them the land to construct the community bhawan.

Vets’ team to combat cattle disease
Our Correspondent

Chamba, September 7
Following a report in these columns about the death of livestock due to foot-and-mouth disease at Jhajjakothi, Sanwal, Makkan and Chachul in Churah subdivision of Chamba district, the Himachal Pradesh Animal Husbandry Department has deputed a team of experts accompanied with other veterinary staff.

Dr D.K. Soni, deputy director, animal husbandry, said the contagious foot-and-mouth disease might have affected other domestic animals of the area. The team would analyse the situation and submit its report to the department shortly, which would reveal the details of the disease in-depth.

Ensure sanitation, says chief secy
Our Correspondent

Chamba, September 7
The ‘heritage status’ of Chamba should be maintained to preserve its rich cultural heritage, said Asha Swaroop, state’s chief secretary. She stated this while interacting with officials of various departments here yesterday. The chief secretary said there was a need to popularise door-to-door garbage collection scheme.

She said ‘sulabh shauchalayas’ should be constructed and proper sanitation should be ensured in the town. She said at least four dumping sites should be notified for garbage disposal. She said the state government was committed to provide specialised health services to the people by coping with the problem of shortage of specialists, doctors and other paramedical staff.