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Investors rue lack of quality power
Hiding of information on panchayat funds alleged
Kangra getting ‘raw deal’ in bank management
18,000 teachers to be recruited
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Quakes point to increasing seismic activity in area
Power generation dips after early snowfall
Cylinder catches fire, 850 students evacuated
CFL Controversy: Fresh tenders invited
Employees’ body holds show of strength
Members of the Himachal Pradesh Non-Gazetted Employees Federation affiliated to the Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh hold a rally in Shimla on Wednesday. A Tribune photo
Hydro engineering courses
Rail track’s heritage status to benefit villagers
CM urged to scrap ski village project
MBD to invest Rs 100 cr on knowledge portal
Nadda: Need to go scientific on waste management
Two liquor smugglers held
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Investors rue lack of quality power
Solan, September 17 Inquires from the industrial area revealed that multiple problems were being faced by investors in getting connections. At times, months get wasted in the process. This compels investors to use diesel-run generators thereby adding to environment pollution. Sailesh Aggrawal, vice-president of the Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh Industries Association (BBNIA) that handles power-related issues said, “The problem of tripping, which lasts from a few minutes to hours together, has become routine in the area. The problem arises primarily because power connections have been given from rural feeders that have lesser carrying capacity. Not only this, the voltage sometimes goes as high as 480 volts. This has an adverse impact on the machinery.” Despite large-scale industrialisation over the past five years, the board had failed to provide matching infrastructure to augment the power availability, he added. Setting up of power-intensive units (PIUs) in these areas would further complicate the situation. Interestingly, the state electricity board has been purchasing a large quantity of power at exorbitantly high rates ranging up to Rs 8.50 per unit, while it is being supplied to PIUs at a rate of Rs 2.50 per unit (EHT) and Rs 2.65 per unit (HT) as against below-the-average sale price of Rs 3.68 per unit. The state electricity regulatory commission has issued a show-cause notice to the state electricity board to covey the total quantum of power approved by the single-window clearance authority for various industries during the past two years and the total load released till date against such approvals. The board has now sought an additional time till September 30 to provide the information. |
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Hiding of information on panchayat funds alleged
Bilaspur, September 17 He was addressing mediapersons at the circuit house here last evening. He said he had been conducting a survey on “real progress” of panchayats in the districts. He started surveying panchayats of Chandpur Balh Hhulana, Kandraur, Bamta, Dhon kothi, Markand Makadi and Panjgaain. As part of the survey, he wanted to know what amounts were sanctioned by the government for various development projects in those panchayats and what amounts were spent on respective projects during the past one year. As he failed to get information through normal channels, he applied to the PIO-cum-sub inspector panchayats for information under the RTI Act on May 2. When he did not get the required information in the stipulated 30-day period, he appealed to the BDO and the district panchayat officer on June 12, but to no avail. Finally, he approached the State Information Commission on August 1. He said the commission fixed September 11 as the date of hearing. He and the officers concerned were asked by the commission to be personally present for the hearing in Shimla along with the relevant records. Although he reported for the hearing, the respondent officers did not bother to reach there. He said he was confident that the commission would take suitable action against the erring officers. Archit also drew attention of the Chief Minister towards the hiding of information by the officers concerned. He said it seemed there had been something irregular and illegal that was being hidden. He said the Chief Minister should order a departmental inquiry into functioning of these panchayats and the officers concerned to ensure that there were no irregularities or misuse of funds. |
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Kangra getting ‘raw deal’ in bank management
Dharamsala, September 17 In the recently held elections, eight out of 16 directors of the bank were elected from Kangra district. Three directors were from Una district, two each from Hamirpur and Kullu and one from Lahaul-Spiti district. However, sources said despite this, the government was planning to appoint a director from Hamirpur district as the bank chairman. The only merit of Hamirpur is that it is the district of present Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal. Data collected by The Tribune has revealed that the previous government had also been ignoring Kangra district in terms of the appointment of the bank chairman. Though the Kangra Central Cooperative Bank was installed in 1920, the system for elections of the chairperson of the bank was started in 1987. Since then, for more than 20 years now, only Daulat Chaudhary, an MLA from Kangra, remained as the bank chairman for than two years from February 1994 to December 1995. Generally, the successive governments have appointed political leaders from Una or Hamirpur as chairpersons of the bank. Varinder Gautam, a close confidant of former Congress CM Virbhadra Singh from Una district, has remained the chairperson of the bank during the entire stint of the Congress governments in the last 20 years. He has remained bank chairman for about 10 years. The present government, after taking over, had appointed Pirthi Singh from Hamirpur as bank chairman. The government has also nominated three directors to the Kangra Central Cooperative Bank board of directors. They include BJP MLA from Gangath from Kangra Des Raj, BJP leader and former district president of party from Una Subhash Sahore and Rakesh Thakur, pradhan of Samirpur village, the native village of the Chief Minister. The discrimination of Kangra district had been the main poll plank of the BJP during the Assembly elections. The BJP won 12 out of 16 Assembly seats in the district. However, if Kangra once again gets a raw deal in management of its own bank, it would give something to the Congress for rebuking the BJP leadership. |
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18,000 teachers to be recruited
Mandi, September 17 Addressing a meeting after laying the foundation stone for the building of a Senior Secondary School at Randhara in Balh, Thakur said the teachers would be recruited soon in all schools so that quality-education was provided to children in the state. Thakur said the government had also started the process to start a medical college in Mandi soon. |
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Quakes point to increasing seismic activity in area
Dharamsala, September 17 Last earth quake with epicenter in the Holi region was recorded on September 15 this month. As per the data collected from experts of the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Dehradun, on September 15 at 2.41 am earthquake of 3.4 Richter scale magnitude was recorded. Though the earthquake was of smaller magnitude, its shallowness is of major concern. Dr Naresh Sharma of the Wadia institute while talking to The Tribune said that the quake originated just 15 to 25 kilometres below the earth surface. Such shallow earthquakes can cause great damage even on moderate intensity. The Holi region of Chamba has been seismically active for past many years. The earthquake that rocked the Muzaffarabad area of Pakistan in the recent had originated just 15 to 20 kilometres below the earth surface. The earth quake that destroyed the Bhuj area of Gujrat had also originated just 25 kilometres below the earth surface. Dr Naresh Sharma said in the zoning map for earthquake sensitivity produced by the institute, the northern Himalayas has been observed as most sensitive region. The Kangra district has been already been kept under zone 5 category for earthquake probability. Though with the present technology it is not possible to predict seismic activity, precautionary measures can be taken by training people to tackle emergency situations and enforcing earth quake resistant building norms in the region. On September 6 also earthquake of 5.8 Richter scale magnitude was experienced in the region. Its epicenter was on Pakistan-Afghanistan border. However, it originated 160 kilometres below the earth surface due to which no damage was observed in the region. The earthquake of low intensity in the region should act as harbinger for authorities and people to make earthquake resistant technology mandatory in the buildings coming up in the region so that damage due to quake can be kept at minimum. |
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Power generation dips after early snowfall
Shimla, September 17 The generation in the country’s largest Nathpa-Jhakri project has over the past two weeks declined by about 15 million units. Normally, the discharge starts dwindling from September 15 onwards, but this year an early spell of snowfall caused the temperature to plummet, slowing down the melting of snow. The project that normally generated 28 to 30 million units at this period of time is producing only around 20 to 22 million units. A good monsoon and low level of silt had ensured good generation during the rainy season. The project had exceeded the target up to August 31 by 50
million units. However, it has fallen behind the target due to decline in discharge during the month and by September 14 only 4,502 million units have been generated as against the target of 4,546 million units. The gap between generation and target is likely to increase during the month. As such, the total generation during the month is expected to be around 170 million units less than the target. The project may not be able to achieve the target of 6,600 million units for the year fixed by the Union Ministry of Power. The decline in generation in case of other projects is around 15 to 20 per cent. |
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Cylinder catches fire, 850 students evacuated
Kangra, September 17 School principal Satish Dhiman said the cylinder caught fire when a woman worker was preparing the mid-day meal for the students. The panic gripped the school and 850 students were evacuated from the school to safer place, he added. The teachers also ran away from the premises. He said the police and fire brigade personals were called for help immediately. The Kangra SDPO said a major tragedy was averted when the burning cylinder was dragged out of the building by the police and fire brigade personals to an isolated place. |
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CFL Controversy: Fresh tenders invited
Shimla, September 17 The decision was taken in view of the fact that the CFL of a lower power factor will not be manufactured in the country from next year and as such the suppliers will not be able to fulfil the warranty of 18 months for 72 lakh CFLs to be purchased by the board. The energy efficient lamps are to be given free of cost to domestic consumers by the board. The power factor was likely to be raised to 0.9 subsequently on 10 pattern of Australia and some other countries which have already raised it to 0.93. The board has, however, lowered the condition pertaining to minimum mandatory quantity the companies were required to quote and the annual turnover. As against the condition of 50 per cent of the tendered quantity, the companies were now required quote only for 35 per cent and the minimum turnover has been reduced from Rs 100 crore to Rs 75 crore, which will enable some more companies to participate in the tender. Further, besides BIS, the ISI and ISO, the companies having certification by the International Electro-Technical Commission (IEC) will also be eligible to participate in the tender. It will help multinational companies to qualify for the tender. The last date for submission of bids is September 29. In the cancelled tenders reputed company like Philips was rejected at qualifying stage for not complying with the tender conditions and HPL Socomec was rejected as it had quoted the rate of a lower power factor. The company which quoted a pooled rate to secure supply orders included Pheonix , Surya Bulbs, Asian Electronics and Havell’s. The companies, whose bids were rejected, have complained to the government over the specifications and criteria adopted for qualification of vendors. The bidding process was reviewed on the directions of the Chief Secretary after which the board decided to cancel the tenders. |
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Employees’ body holds show of strength
Shimla, September 17 Thousands of employees from all over the state participated in the rally demanding that the government should convene the joint consultative committee (JCC) meeting. National president of the federation Mahender Jain announced that a nationwide agitation would be launched to remove anomalies in the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission as it had taken care of the demands of only senior government functionaries. The employees who participated in the rally claimed their federation had the support of the maximum number of employees and the government should invite it for holding the JCC meeting. They said the government should immediately take a decision in this regard as a section of employees was taking undue benefit of the situation. State president of the federation Surender Thakur urged various factions of employees to show unity so that interests of employees could be protected. “Even if I have to give up my position for the sake of employees’ unity, I am more than willing to do that,” he said. He urged the Chief Minister to consider the strength of the employees federation while convening the JCC meeting. |
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Hydro engineering courses
Palampur, September 17 He said technical qualification was very important for finding jobs in the present scenario. Such persons could also set up self-employment ventures. The government was considering to introduce hydropower generation in the syllabus of all state-owned engineering colleges, polytechnics and ITIs. Dhumal said interests of the people would be protected while outsourcing vocational education to private players. |
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Rail track’s heritage status to benefit villagers
Shimla, September 17 The modalities to ensure that ample economic benefits accrue to those living in villages along the track will be disclosed at a mega event being organised on the Ridge in the presence of railway minister Lalu Prasad Yadav. The celebrations with regard to granting of world heritage status and handing over of the UNESCO inscription will be held at Kalka on October 8 and in Shimla on October 9. With huge flow of funds from UNESCO, it is being ensured that the local people get the maximum benefit. Plans are being worked out to this effect and the train could stop at all 20 stations en route, where local people could not just provide refreshments but also showcase local art, craft, culture, cuisine and traditions. “It is being ensured that no skilled jobs are created so that each and every family in the villages is involved at some level,” said B.S. Malhans, convener, Himachal state chapter, INTACH. While a museum, which will be named after Baba Bhalku, who played a major role in the creation of the track in 1903, will be set up at the goods station in Shimla. As a tribute to his amateur engineering skill, a monument would also be created in his village Jhajja, 5 km from Chail. There are suggestions that instead of selling bottled mineral water, treated spring water is sold at the station along with local delicacies. This will give passengers a glimpse of the life of these villagers. |
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CM urged to scrap ski village project
Shimla, September 17 “The ill-conceived project has to be shelved to ensue that India does not make the same mistake which the West has made and is now paying for. A considerable area under consideration for construction falls under temperate forests of cedar, fir, rhododendron, birch and alpine grasslands. Construction on these slopes will not only lead to ecological disturbance, but can also initiate landslides. These alpine meadows are home to many medicinal plants and wildlife species like goral, musk deer and even the snow leopard”, the petition pointed out while highlighting the eco-sensitivity of the region involved. “Ski tourism is increasingly coming under regulatory scanner in Europe and the US with increasing evidence of the extremely disturbing trends of winter tourism. Debate is on about the harmful impacts of the ski resorts on glaciers, water sources and forests in respect of Swiss Alps and the US,” the petition added. The petition drew the attention of the Chief Minister to the state-level committee headed by the Tourism Department to review the feasibility of the project set up by the High Court four months ago. Local groups like the Jan Jagran Evan Vikas Samiti and the environmental activists had submitted petitions raising concerns to the committee, but not much had happened. This petition was just another addition to the voices of dissent against real estate business in the name of tourism and development in the eco-fragile region of Himachal Pradesh, it said while seeking prompt action in the matter. In a crowded-tourist destination like Manali, already overburdened by demand for water, land and electricity, a project involving construction of apartments, hotels, entertainment infrastructure and shopping complexes over 166 acres could not be executed without large-scale deforestation. To top it all, it was feared that acrylics would be used to create artificial snow that is known for polluting water sources. The impact would not be confined only to local people, but also people of downstream areas of Mandi, Kangra, Hamirpur, Punjab, Rajasthan and even Pakistan. Signatories to the petition, which had also been sent to the tourism minister and the forest minister, come from a wide range of countries like Portugal, Israel, Italy, Germany, France, Switzerland, Belgium, Britain, Canada, Australia, the US and various parts of the country. |
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MBD to invest Rs 100 cr on knowledge portal
Shimla, September 17 It has already invested Rs 50 crore in MBD Alchemie, a pioneer e-learning project, to emerge as India’s leading mass education portal with a registered membership of over 65,000 students. A release of the company said new courses on IIT-JEE, state CETs, state education boards (classes X and XII) were in the pipeline and would be launched very soon. It was already offering online courses for students of class X and plus two of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and for AIEEE and AIPMT preparation. MBD Alchemie had recently entered a strategic partnership with the IBM to launch its definitive knowledge portal. The focus would be on offering something to anybody seeking knowledge, be it formal education or informal learning. The aim was to create a definitive knowledge portal that not only had world-class content, but also stood out for ease of functionality in terms of user interface, navigation, high-level of interactivity. |
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Nadda: Need to go scientific on waste management
Shimla, September 17 Addressing a meeting of councillors of the local municipal corporation, officers of the departments of environment and scientific technology, state environment protection, the state pollution control board and the state council for science and technology, he called for collective approach to make the fragile hill environment pollution-free, clean, green and more beautiful. He said the protection of environment was vital for preservation of ecology and it was essential to draw a road map to manage waste in a scientific way. It was also required to mitigate the obvious risk of exposure to pathogens and harmful organisms that caused infection and diseases. He urged the councillors to create mass awareness about the importance of protecting the environment and the natural wealth and play a pro-active role. Nadda said it was time to take remedial steps to stop activities that degraded the environment and carry out plantation and dispose of urban waste in a scientific manner. Earlier, mayor Narender Kataria spoke about the garbage collection system in the town. Principal secretary, environment and scientific technology, Harinder Hira said the government was working seriously on schemes for protecting environment. |
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Two liquor smugglers held
Mandi, September 17 In the first case, a police patrol stopped a Tata Safari car and found 35 boxes (420 bottles of branded liquor) loaded in it on Monday. The police arrested Harish Kumar of Ropa Colony, Sarkaghat, under the Excise Act and Motor Vehicles Act. In another case, the police has arrested Thona Panchayat pardhan Rangila Ram and seized 105 boxes of country-made liquor from his possession. |
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Shimla, September 17
