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Power-Intensive Units
Kangra revenue offices face neglect
The settlement office at Dharamsala. Tribune photo: Amit Sharma
Air India may withdraw Delhi-Kullu flights
Ganesh Dutt appointed HIMUDA vice-chairman
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Kaul Singh distributes party work
CPM for govt medical college at Mandi
Rs 18 cr for beautification of The Mall
Woman, daughter injured in stove blast
4-day Kinnaur Mahotsav begins
No relief to Reliance Infrastructure: HC
Plea to restore pension benefits to PSU staff
Broad-gauge rail project moves at snail’s pace
Retired BMO continued to disburse salaries
Decision on honorarium hike hailed
One gets life term for murder
4 die, two hurt in mishap
CM: Protecting environment a major challenge
MLA reacts sharply to reports
Demolition drive unstuck despite govt commitment
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Power-Intensive Units
Shimla, October 30 The arc and induction furnace-based steel units fall in the category of power-intensive units. Such units are on the negative list of industries. However, the government has cleared the units that will consume 88 MW power. The move was against the government’s own avowed policy of not encouraging such units. The annual energy requirement will range from 370 to 400 million units. Even if only the shortfall during winters, when the state has to purchase costly power from other states, is taken into consideration, the state electricity board will have to pay Rs 50 crore more for the purpose. The state electricity regulatory commission, which had issued a notice to the state electricity board for giving nod to two power-intensive industrial units despite precarious power availability situation, is unhappy with its vague and incomplete response. It has urged the board to spell out the criteria for granting power availability certificates for setting up industrial ventures and also give detailed projections of demand and supply and the plan to meet the shortfall. Sources in the commission said the management of the board had floated the idea of introducing a special tariff or imposing “winter surcharge” to meet the increased cost of supply to such units. However, the commission made it clear that the tariff would be decided strictly in accordance with the Electricity Act, 2003, and the domestic consumers and other categories would have to bear the additional cost of power purchase. The power intensive units were supplied power at Rs 2.50 per unit as against the average sale price of Rs 3.68 per unit. The government will have no option but to increase the tariff for all consumers, unless it reviews the decision to allow power-intensive units. The board informed the commission that during the last two financial years, the single-window authority had cleared projects requiring 80.28 MW power and it released 72.83-MW load. Power availability certificates had been issued for 213.249 MW and the cases yet to be processed involved 594.503 MW power. |
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Kangra revenue offices face neglect
Dharamsala, October 30 Sources said even 20-year-old cases pertaining to small corrections in revenue records were lying pending. The cases coming to these offices pertained to Kangra, Una, Hamirpur and Chamba districts. The settlement office has not been able to complete the record of the said districts since the formation of Himachal. The poor technology available at the settlement office and lack of will on the part of the government have been the reasons behind delay in deciding cases and completion of revenue record. Ever since the present government took over, both these offices have been facing neglect. The present government posted Subhash Ahluwalia, former principal secretary to Virbhadra Singh as the settlement officer at Kangra. Since the vigilance cases were registered against the officer, he remained on leave for about three months before being arrested. Even after his arrest and obvious suspension, the government has not posted a regular settlement officer there. Now, the charge has been given to the ADC, Dharamsala, who is already handling addition charge of assistant registrar (cooperative societies). The ADC is now looking after three offices. The charge of the division commissioner, Kangra, was also given to the MD, Backward Class Corporation, J.R. Gajta. He, despite having additional charge for the post, expedited the decision on cases pending in the divisional commissioner’s office for decades. However, as if the government was not happy at the speedy disposal of cases, he has been stripped of the charge of divisional commissioner. The charge of the post has been given to a Shimla-based officer. Secretary (forests) Sanjay Gupta has been given the additional charge of the post of the divisional commissioner of Kangra. The said move of the government invited criticism from the District Bar Association. In a resolution passed recently, members of the association expressed resentment against the government move. According to the resolution, the court of the divisional commissioner, Kangra, at Dharamsala was being manned properly and the pendency of cases since 1995 had been reduced considerably during the tenure of J.R. Gajta. He had been taking keen interest in disposal of pending cases besides performing his other duties. The aforesaid action would also not be in the interest of the state government as it involved additional financial burden on the exchequer on account of payment of TA/DA to the officer who was supposed to visit Dharamsala from Shimla. Members of the Bar have demanded that either the government should fill the post of the divisional commissioner, Kangra, at Dharamsala by a making a regular posting or continue with the dual charge of J.R. Gajta, in public interest.
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Air India may withdraw Delhi-Kullu flights
Kullu, October 30 The Air India authorities did not keep their promise and curtailed the flights from thrice-a-week to twice-a-week just after two weeks of the
announcement. Deepak Barara, director (sales and marketing), Air India, had said on the inaugural day that the airline had 5 ATR-320 aircraft of 48-seat capacity and it planned to add nine more
aircraft shortly. He said the flights would bring more reliability, transparency and competitive fares on this tourist sector. He had also confirmed that they would soon start daily flight to Kullu, provided the passenger response was good. Although the airline had good passenger flow, the authorities have now decided to withdraw flights from November 14. The hoteliers association has urged the Chief Minister to intervene and prevent the only national career, Air India, for withdrawing flights to Kullu. Subhash Malhan, general secretary of the association, said Air India should have increased its flight frequency as the
airlines was getting good passenger load and the fares were also on the higher side. If the airline withdrew its flights, it would hit tourism in
the state, he said. Atul Sharma, a leading hotelier, criticised the move of withdrawing the flights. This would give private
careers a free hand to charge exorbitant fares on this sector. Subhash Chander Sharma, president of the Travel Agents Association, said the proposal to withdraw the flights would not only hit tourism but also affect credibility of the airline. Air India sources here expressed ignorance about the move. However, sources in Delhi confirmed that the flights might be discontinued. |
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Ganesh Dutt appointed HIMUDA vice-chairman
Shimla, October 30 Ganesh Dutt, who has been associated with the RSS for the past 30 years, was also the party candidate from Shimla during the last assembly election. He has remained party spokesperson and media in charge for several years. He has been a member of the BJP state working committee for the past 15 years. Dutt, who assumed office today, said efforts would be made for quality control in all constructions being undertaken by HIMUDA. “Completion of construction projects in a time-bound manner is a step which I am keen to implement so that unnecessary expenditure arising out of cost escalation can be saved,” he said. The government also appointed Ashok Kapatia from Shimla, Praveen Sharma of Mandi and Sanjay Sharma of Dharamsala as other members of the Media Advisory Committee. As per the notification, principal secretary to the Chief Minister and the principal secretary, Information and Public Relation Department, will also be members of the Media Advisory Committee. The director, public relation, will be its member secretary. |
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Kaul Singh distributes party work
Shimla, Ocotber 30 The seniormost vice-president G.R.Musafir has been given charge of five constituencies of Hamirpur, the home district of the Chief Minister P.K.Dhumal, and the Scheduled Castes department. Ram Lal will look after Shahpur, Dharamsala, Kangra and Nagrota assembly segments of Kangra and the legel and human rights department. Sujan Singh Pathania - Rohru ,Jubbal-Kotkhai,Theog and Chopal segments of Shimla and Youth Congress. A.N.Vdyarthi - Karsog, Sundernagar, Nachan,Balh and Seraj constituencies of Mandi and the Scheduled Tribes department. Anil Sharma-Palampur, Biajnath, Jasinghpur and Sulah constituencies of Kangra and the NSUI. Kunjana Singh- Shimla(urban), Shimla(rural) and Kusumpati segment of Shimla district and the minorities department. Harbhajan Singh-Drang, Jogindernagar, Dharampur, Sarakaghat and Mandi (sadar) segments of Mandi and the Mahila Congress. Anita Verma- All five segments of Una and the ex-servicemen department. General secretaries: Asha
Kumari-Nurpur, Indora, Fatehpur and Jwali Sukhwinder- All four segments of Kullu along with the Sewa Dal, planning and training. Kukesh Agnohotri- Dehra, Jaswan-Pragpur and
Jwalamukhi segments of Kangra and miscellaneous affairs. Ajay Mahajan- Chamba, Bharmour, Churah and Dalhousie of Chamba district and the traders department. Sudhir Sharma- All four constituencies of Bilaspur district and the teachers department. Kuldeep Singh Rathore- All five segements of Solan district along with protocol and Panchayati Raj department. Satya Prakash Thakur- All five segments of Sirmour and the Kisan Mazdoor Congress. B.D.Chaudhari- Rampur, Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur and the other backward classes department. |
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CPM for govt medical college at Mandi
Shimla, October 30 In a statement issued here today, member state secretariat of the CPM Tikender Singh Panwar extended support to the ongoing agitation of the people of Mandi. “More than 50 organisations, except the BJP, have joined the people of Mandi in their fight for a government medical college,” he said. Panwar said the BJP was wedded to the policies of neo-liberalism. It was hell bent upon opening a private medical college as it ultimately intended to hand over the running of the government hospital to private players. “Under the garb of green field project, the BJP intends attaching three government hospitals to private medical colleges to be opened at Una, Mandi and Hamirpur,” he said. The CPM leader said the agitation by the people had entered the 10th day of chain fast. “The BJP regime, which cancelled the already sanctioned medical college for Mandi, is claiming that it is willing to hold talks with the samiti spearheading the agitation but no official or minister has responded to the request of the samiti for talks so far,” he said. Panwar called upon the people of Mandi to participate in the agitation for the medical college at a mass level so that the government had no option but to accept the public demand. |
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Rs 18 cr for beautification of The Mall
Shimla, October 30 The area falling between the Khadi Ashram and the Ridge will be developed into a park which will be maintained by SJVN. The MC will be approaching some other organisations as well for extending help towards beautification of the town. “We have prepared a Rs 19.28 crore comprehensive heritage plan for which we will be approaching the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for protecting the valuable heritage of the town and having a uniform façade on The Mall,” said Commissioner, MC, Amitabh Awasthi. He said talks had already been held with The Mall Road Businessmen’s Association so that the façade of all the buildings could have some kind of semblance and uniformity. He added as soon as the money was received steps in this direction would be taken. The MC is also keen to conserve some heritage buildings like the Town Hall for which money is being sought from the ADB . He said the ADB had already agreed to finance a Rs 4.50 crore project for creation of parks and beautification of the main areas of the town. “We are keen that instead of undertaking works in bits and pieces a big project covering all aspects like beautification, conserving heritage and protection of The Ridge and the sinking area is done simultaneously,” he said. The MC has already approached the ADB, whose team was here some time back for the money for protecting The Ridge, which has a huge water reservoir under it. With huge faults appearing on one side of The Ridge and a major landslide which killed two persons during the monsoons being triggered, the MC is keen to undertake protection measures at the earliest. |
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Woman, daughter injured in stove blast
Kangra, October 30 Both were rushed to Dr R.P. Government Medical College, Tanda, with serious burn injuries, the police said. Kangra DSP O.P. Jamwal said a stove blasted at Matour this evening when a housewife, Neelam, was preparing tea. She pumped the stove which blasted and left her in flames. Burning Neelam rushed out of her kitchen. Her daughter Joyti who was returning home after attending a Bhaiya Dooj function, tried to douse her flames to save her, but was also engulfed in the flames. Neelam received 60 per cent burn injuries and Joyti 35 per cent. |
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4-day Kinnaur Mahotsav begins
Shimla, October 30 There was riot of colour as tribals attired in their traditional costumes thronged the venue and danced to the beats of folk instruments. Dhumal also opened the exhibitions put up by various departments on the occasion. Addressing the gathering, he lauded the contribution of late Thakur Sen Negi for the development of Kinnaur and announced that the local government degree college would be named after him. The main crossing (chowk) of the town would also be named as Thakur Sen Negi Chowk. Dhumal said about 80 per cent of the election promises made to the public had been fulfilled during the past 10 months. The government had allowed 8 kg subsidised essential commodities per person per month in tribal areas. It had also enhanced the Scheduled Castes’ special component plan from Rs 231 crore to Rs 593 crore. He said a share of 9 per cent of the total plan outlay had been earmarked for carrying out development activities at a rapid pace in the entire tribal belt. He announced upgrading of government high schools located at Yangma, Miru and Leo to senior secondary schools, government middle schools at Chouora and Shalkhar to high schools and primary school at Yarring to middle school from the next academic session. He reiterated that the government would not release any grant to the PTA appointees engaged without following the prescribed procedure for recruitment. Grant would be provided to PTA teachers on the basis of their merit, seniority and high qualification, he added. Earlier, the Chief Minister laid the foundation stones of a Rs 1.13-crore project for beautification of Nako Lake to help boost tourism activities, Rs 76-lakh primary health centre building and a Rs 31-lakh PWD rest house building at Leo. He also dedicated a bridge constructed over the Spiti river at Leo at a cost of Rs 2.1 crore and a civil hospital building at Chango built at a cost of Rs 58 lakh. |
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No relief to Reliance Infrastructure: HC
Shimla, October 30 The Reliance had filed a fresh petition before the court for setting aside the decision taken by the state government whereby it had decided to call for fresh bid in respect to the above said projects. In its petition the company urged the court to direct the state to issue the letter of award of these projects in its favour at the price, which had been quoted by the Brakel Corporation. While disposing of the petition a division bench comprising Chief Justice Jagdish Bhalla and Justice Rajiv Sharma observed that the decision of the reply to the show-cause notice to Brakel Corporation is still pending with the state government. So, at this stage the petition is premature. However, the court has granted liberty to Reliance Infrastructure to challenge any order passed by the state in this connection, including re-advertising of the projects. The court further directed the state government to take a final decision on the reply to the show-cause notice given by the Brakel preferably within eight weeks. It is pertinent to mention here that in its earlier petition Reliance had challenged the decision of the state with regard to allotment of these two power projects to the Brakel on the ground that it had given wrong facts to the state with regard to its financial and technical competence. After the disposal of this petition the state had issued a show-cause to the Brakel that why the allotment of these projects should not be cancelled for misrepresenting and giving wrong facts to the state. While issuing show-cause to the Brakel the state also decided that if the allotment were cancelled then it would re-advertise the projects, against this decision of the state the Reliance had filed this petition. The decision on the reply to the show-cause notice to the Brakel is still pending with the state. |
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Plea to restore pension benefits to PSU staff
Shimla, October 30 General secretary of the committee said the scheme was partially implemented and it covered employees who retired between April, 1999, and November, 2003. Thereafter the scheme was withdrawn, although the Government of India had granted approval. He drew attention of the Chief Minister to the BJP manifesto in which the party had promised to give pension to the corporate-sector employees besides restoring the notification. He urged the government to withdraw the condition of financial position imposed for the grant of interim relief to the employees of public-sector undertakings. He said the condition would create two categories of employees in the corporate sector, which would be unfair to undertakings like the state road transport corporation that operate buses even on uneconomical routes as part of their social obligation. He appealed to the Chief Minister to clear all cases of providing employment on compassionate grounds, give representation to workers in the management and maintain status quo in respect of qualification for promotion from Class IV to Class III category. |
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Broad-gauge rail project moves at snail’s pace
Dharamsala, October 30 The said the railway project was conceived by the Railways 36 years ago. In the past 36 years, only 36 km railway line has been laid under the project. The progress on the railway line project is just 1 km per year. The sources in the Railways said that the project was conceived, as after the formation of Himachal no railway line was added to the state. As per initial agreement the Himachal government was to provide land for laying the railway line after acquiring it from the residents of the state. However, later the Himachal government backed out and railway had to buy land directly from the owners. This was one of the factors that attributed to the delay in project besides the limited budget sanctioned by the union government for project. The railway officials alleged initially much of budget they received for the project went into paying for acquisition of land. Presently they have acquired land up to Amb, a town in Una district. However, about 400 cases of increase in compensation are still pending in courts. The project up to Amb is likely to be completed in 2009, they said. However, the land acquisition project from Amb to Talwara that stretches to about 40 km is still going on. The slow progress in land acquisition is hampering the project and nobody knows how much more time project would take to complete.The Nangal-Una-Talwara railway can provide a major boost to the economy of lower areas of Himachal. The board-gauge railway line can provide a boost to the industry that is coming up in the state due to special economic package. Besides, the railway track from Talwara can further be linked with Mukerian and some railway traffic from Jammu can be routed through the state that would bring the area on major railway route map. The railway officials when contacted said that presently the project has just been cleared till Talwara. The further Talwara-Mukerian railway links is not on railway agenda. The railway officials also told The Tribune that the Bhanoopli-Bilaspur railway line was another broad-gauge project cleared in the state. The project would be brought up by the state government, the Railways and private players as a joint venture. The major cement companies located in Bilaspur have lobbied hard for the project, the sources in the Railways revealed. |
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Retired BMO continued to disburse salaries
Solan, October 30 Posted as a BMO at Nalagarh Dr Bhardwaj’s plea for retirement was accepted by the government and the Chief Medical Officer, Solan, was duly informed about this through a letter in May. The then CMO Dr S.N. Sharma allegedly in connivance with Dr Bhardwaj did not forward this letter to the block for necessary action and Dr Bhardwaj continued to serve as BMO despite being officially retired. Dr Bhardwaj was, however, most lax in his official duty and was often found absent from the First Referral Unit (FRU), Nalagarh, where he was posted. It was a surprise visit by the Nalagarh MLA H.N.Saini that his absence was detected on September 24. Saini then informed the secretary, health, about the latter’s oft-repeated habit of neglecting FRU and pressed for his suspension. However, it was later learnt that the BMO concerned had already retired in papers in May this year. This revelation then led the Health Department to immediately send a fax to the CMO office, Solan, to relieve Dr Bhardwaj on October 13. He was later relived in absentia, informed the officiating BMO Dr Bhag Singh Dhiman after receipt of a fax message from the Director, Health Services. Interestingly, Dr Bhardwaj as a BMO had been disbursing salary bills amounting to Rs 21 lakh per month in his capacity as a DDO for four months after his retirement. Interestingly, Dr Bhardwaj had proceeded on medical leave since October 3 and had extended it through a fax message on 13 October. However, he did perform a day’s family planning camp when asked to do so by the CMO in October. Health Minister Dr Rajiv Bindal when contacted said that it was a serious matter and he would institute an inquiry into it. |
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Decision on honorarium hike hailed
Hamirpur, October 30 In a release, general secretary of the CITU Kashmir Singh has claimed that this increase had been affected under the pressure of agitation launched by their organisation. He has also criticised the state government for reportedly taking credit for this enhancement in honorarium and had demanded that this may be increased to Rs 4,000 and Rs 2,000 per month for the anganwari workers and helpers. |
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One gets life term for murder
Dharamsala, October 30 Deputy district attorney K.K. Sharma said Gaino Devi had allegedly levelled charges of stealing her jewels on accused Om Prakash. He nursed a grudge against her. On July 18, 2007, when Gaino Devi was returning from field, Om Prakash stopped her and hit her on head with a brick. Gaino Devi was taken to hospital where she later died. A case of murder was registered against Om Prakash by Gaino Devi’s daughter. In the court 14 witnesses disposed off against Om Prakash. |
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4 die, two hurt in mishap
Chamba, October 30 The report said here today that the bodies had been extricated and identified as Sanjay, Rakesh and Lakshman, who died on the spot while Vijay succumbed to his injuries in the regional hospital, Chamba. The injured include Pawan, a resident of Sungari village, and Devender, a resident of Khatiyaar village in Kangra district. They were undergoing treatment in the regional hospital, the report said; adding that the police has registered a case to investigate into the accident |
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CM: Protecting environment a major challenge
Shimla, October 30 He thanked the people for making generous contributions towards the State Environment Protection Fund. “People have now become aware of the importance of protecting environment and it is through the joint efforts of all that we can take concrete steps in protecting it,” he said. He said with contributions pouring in from various quarters, the money from the newly created State Environment Protection Fund would be utilised for undertaking various works towards protecting the environment. |
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MLA reacts sharply to reports
Bilaspur, October 30 Addressing mediapersons here today, Dharmani said there was nothing objectionable or unwarranted in his attending this function, as it was a government function and not a party function. He said since the Chief Minister was the chief guest in this function it was his duty to welcome him and also to appreciate his gesture of starting more such public welfare schemes in this constituency. He said he represented views of the people of the constituency and specifically pointed out to the CM that Ghumarwin constituency, which is represented by an opposition MLA, should get the same treatment in the matter of development and schemes as other constituencies. |
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Demolition drive unstuck despite govt commitment
Dalhousie, October 30 Though the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Department had recently issued notices to the concerned departments for disconnecting public utility services such as water and electricity supply under Section-83 of the TCP Act, these notices are yet to be put into effect. The law-abiding citizens are hoping for improvement in the present affairs of haphazard housing in Dalhousie. The helms of state, prior to this, made several attempts to remove such structures identifying these as ‘benami deals, illegal and unauthorised constructions’ during the past more than a decade, but the entire exercise proved futile. So far a few structures were partially touched by the functionaries of the local Municipal Council, but no action had yet been taken against the skyscrapers, which have already been declared ‘unauthorised and illegal’ and served notices by the competent authority. Moreover, these structures were availing the facility of water and electricity supply in contravention of the directives of the state government. Amazingly, most of the unauthorised buildings running hotel business and other trade have been registered by the departments of labour, industries, food supplies, excise and taxation, weights and measures, and the pollution control board under various Acts and bylaws, even knowing that these are unwarranted and unruly. Certain public sector financial institutions have too financed the construction of some of these structures. Moreover, these hotel managements are taxpayers too. However, residents of this hill town fail to understand why and how these structures have been declared “unauthorised and illegal”? The residents here feel that they are being befooled for fun by adopting a ‘double standard’ by the government. The demolition drive of the government has proved ‘a mockery’ and has become a farce in the public and the people are now sure that the government could not succeed in its mission. The defaulters describe it as a ‘political stunt’ to harass and victimise the people from time to time to mould them in favour of politicians of different shades by blackmailing them under the fear of demolishing their structures. |
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Dharamsala, October 30
