Shimla December 19
The hour-long meeting of Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal with Governor Prabha Rau here today has once again given rise to speculation that the two vacancies in the cabinet could finally be filled in the near future.

Even though officials termed it as a courtesy call that had been due for quite some time but the fact that two rooms in the state secretariat have been done up in the past two days has given credence to speculation that the much- awaited cabinet expansion could finally take place.

The chief minister has already indicated on several earlier occasions that representation will be given to Una and Mandi districts while filling the two vacancies. Even though the government will be completing one year on December 30 yet the two vacancies in the cabinet have remained unfilled.

Sources said that the meeting between Rau and Dhumal lasted for almost an hour and many important issues were discussed, including the recent assembly session that concluded at Dharamshala. Political and official circles were rife with rumours of expansion in the near future.

The contenders for the two ministerial berths have been approaching the BJP high command in the recent past to ask the chief minister to fill the two posts. Even though filling the two vacancies in the cabinet could lead to discontentment among the MLAs who are considered strong contenders but it is felt that Dhumal was likely to do it before December 30.

The names of Virender Kanwar and Satpal Satti, legislators from Una, are doing the rounds for being inducted into the cabinet. With both belonging to the Rajput community, it is the proximity to Dhumal, which will be the main criteria.

On the other hand the number of contenders from Mandi district is much higher. The aspirants for the lone post which could come Mandi’s way include state BJP chief, Jai Ram Thakur, Dile Ram and Roop Singh Thakur. With the chief minister along with three other ministers Gulab Singh Thakur, Narender Bragta and Ravinder Singh Ravi being Rajputs, the scales could tilt in favour of Dile Ram, who is from the reserved category.

Moreover, so far the reserved category is under represented in the cabinet. The cabinet already has two ministers from the OBC category, including Ramesh Dhawala and Sarveen Chaudhary. Now it remains to be seen as to who would be preferred over others and how soon.

Mandi, December 19
The Right to Information (RTI) Act has exposed a “vague and fake agreement” signed between a Chamba-based agent on behalf of singer Mika, who “did not give a live performance” but played a pre-recorded CD of his songs in Kullu on October 10, 2008, during the international Kullu Dussehra cultural night.

As a result, the Mandi-based Indian People’s Theatre Association (IPTA) has decided to move court against the singer, his agent and the Kullu deputy commissioner-cum-Kullu Dussehra committee vice-president as the latter was “squandering public money on outside artistes during these melas and was hiding exact information”.

According to information received by IPTA convener and RTI activist Lawan Thakur, the copies of the agreement supplied to the IPTA did not contain the “date and name of the issuing authority as all columns on the agreement were blank, raising questions about its authenticity”.

Lawan Thakur charged that the documents showed that “there was no specific agreement signed by the artiste but just a receipt of the agreement that speaks volumes how lakhs have been spent on the artistes and agents, who get hefty commission in the bargain.”

In response a letter dated November 28, 2008, the superintendent of police (Kullu) investigated the ‘Mika CD Kullu Dussehra row’ and stated in his report dated December 1, 2008: “The agreement was vague as there was no specific terms and conditions whether or not the CD could be played during the show,” the RTI inform ation revealed.

The RTI information revealed that the mela committee had paid “Rs 7.25 lakh for a night performance of three to three-and-a half hours to Mika” for the Dusshera night celebrations on October 10, 2008. “The agent is one Satnam Singh from event management, Chamba, and an agreement was signed on September 25, 2008, between the Kullu deputy commissioner and Satnam Singh on behalf of Mika,” the information revealed.

DC M. Sudha Devi claimed the “date and name of the issuing authority were mentioned on back of the agreement papers perhaps not supplied in RTI copies. The agreement is made by the second party and it has been a trend over the years here.”

She said a three member-committee appointed to look into case has not submitted its report to her. “But Mika, like other artists, have to give live performance and not play CDs. Terms and conditions are mentioned in the agreement,” she claimed, denying IPTA charges.

Though Mika could not be contacted, sources close to him have denied the charges claiming that he performed live wherever he was invited.

Manali, December 19
Higher reaches in the upper Manali region experienced a fresh spell of snowfall while the lower parts of the areas received widespread rain, providing the much needed relief to the farmers and orchardists from drought like conditions.

The Rohtang pass, gateway to Lahaul-Spiti district, including Pir Panjal ranges, Bhrighu ski slopes, Marhi meadows, Gulaba, Dundhi, Hamta ski slopes and Chanderkhani Pass also received fresh snowfall.

The Manali-Rohtang road had become accessible by vehicles till Gulaba, about 19 km from here. Hundreds of tourists, who have converged on the famous tourist hill station of Manali from the nearby plains, were delighted to visit the snow point at Gulaba to see the fresh snowfall.

However, the road after Gulaba was slippery because of fresh snow on the road. Due to fresh snowfall on the higher reaches of the Kullu-Manali region the entire upper Manali region remained in the grip of severe cold wave.

Icy winds, which lashed the region throughout the day, further, intensified the cold wave. The severe cold forced the local residents to remain indoors.

Kullu: Higher reaches in Kullu had snowfall and the lower region had rains today after a dry spell of almost one month. Peaks of Mattikochhar, Mout Nag, Phungni Devi and Bijli Mahadev experienced snow today. The minimum temperature recorded at Bhuntar remained 2.7°C. Medical experts believe that snow and rain would bring relief to the widespread viral diseases.

Reports from Manali confirmed that the Rohtang Pass had heavy snowfall since morning and the Manali-Leh road would be closed for vehicular traffic. Though the road was officially closed from November 15, the deputy commissioner, Lahaul-Spiti, had advised the HRTC authorities to continue bus services till the weather remained clear. Two rescue posts have been established at Khokhsar and Madee, the DC added.

Skiing slopes at Solang Nallah also had snow, making way to ski lovers and trainees. The Atal Bihari Mountaineering Institute, Manali, would start ski courses next month, sources added.

Kangra: The Kangra valley today shivered with overcast sky and the Dhauladhar ranges experienced snowfall. The valley also witnessed mild showers.

The residents experienced cold wave conditions and most of the people preferred to stay indoors. The schoolchildren were the worst sufferers.

Much awaited rains for the agriculture, however, did not lash the valley as the rain fed area was suffering a draught like situation.

Hamirpur, December 19
A three-day national conference on “Advances in Mathematics and its Applications (AMA 2008)” organised by the Department of Applied Sciences and Humanities began today at the National Institute of Technology (NIT) at Hamirpur. It was inaugurated by eminent mathematician and Bhatnagar award winner Prof M.B. Banerjee from the Institute of Engineering, Lucknow.

In his inaugural address Dr Banerjee underlined the role of mathematics in the advancements of engineering sciences, besides its own sphere.

He said: “Science in general and mathematics in particular is progressing well in Himachal Pradesh in general and NIT, Hamirpur, in particular and researchers like Prof J.N. Sharma, Dr Sunil, Dr Y.D. Sharma and Dr Pawan have undertaken quality research in several fields of mathematics.”

He also called upon budding researchers among the engineering students to make better use of mathematical tools to accelerate the research in engineering and technology sector for the benefit of society.

Officiating director of the institute Prof R.L. Sharma detailed out various achievements and activities of the NIT. He also asked the technocrats to make full use of the research done by mathematicians to optimise their engineering tools.

In his opening lecture renowned mathematician and chairman of the conference Prof J. N. Sharma pointed out that though technological advancements is moving with a great pace, these are based on researches made in basic sciences decades back and one cannot expect these to go long way unless core research in basic sciences is updated.

Earlier, organising secretary of this conference Dr Pawan Kumar Sharma welcomed the dignitaries and the participants and appraised them about various activities being undertaken during the conference proceedings.

Fifty scholars from different institutions of the country would be presenting their research papers in this conference.

Kullu, December 19
Former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, while addressing a media conference at Shobla Hotel here today, said the state government “anti-employees” and “anti-Himachalis”. He said Section 118A rules dilution and quashing of the employees’ tribunal were the steps taken to benefit the BJP leaders. He warned the present government that if the rules were amended or twisted, the Congress would launch a statewide agitation against it.

The former Chief Minister also lashed upon the Prem Kumar Dhumal government for adopting vindictive attitude against the employees. He said if the Congress returned to power, it would re-establish the tribunal within a week. He also stated that the BJP had not done even a single development work during the past one year. It in fact was claiming the works already initiated by his government to be the achievements of the present government, he alleged.

Virbhadra agreed that the inaugurations were the prerogative of the government in power but stated that the works done by the previous government as theirs was disappointing.

The former Chief Minister also claimed that his government had constituted the Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation and allocated six power projects to it. He said that Rs 3,700 crore was sanctioned for the power sector from the Asia Development Bank. He further said about 90 per cent of the amount would be granted to the state and the remaining 10 per cent would be payable. Similarly, he claimed that Rs 1,300 crore was sanctioned from the World Bank for construction of eight roads in the state.

With regards to the medical colleges in the state, Virbhadra claimed that his government had approved the Government Medical College in Mandi and accordingly, the infrastructure was developed. He said the present government had planned to have the college in the private sector for which he demanded that the government hospital should not be used.

Shimla, December 19
Despite declining trend in tax collections under the impact of economic slowdown, the hill state is set to improve targets set under the fiscal responsibility and budget management act. Thanks to a hydrologically favourable year which has more than made up for the shortfall in tax revenue due to increase in returns from the power sector by way of higher generation.

The impact of slowdown has started reflecting in declining tax growth. Against the target of sales tax collection Rs 1336 crore for the year, the amount collected up to October was 2 per cent less than the projected figure. Further, in November the decline was steep and the growth declined to 4 per cent as against the targeted 15 per cent.

A survey of dealers conducted by the excise department to ascertain the impact on business revealed that the average turnover decreased by 8 to 9 per cent. The decline of around 20 per cent was most significant in case of those dealing in electronics goods. The lowering of rates of products by companies to increase sales also affected the turnover. The tax remittance of surveyed dealers also dropped by a significant 20 per cent. The production of cement has also been significantly lower than projections.

However, hydrologically favourable conditions have resulted in higher generation from various projects ranging from 10 to 15 per cent. As a result the revenue from sale of power despite lower rates has increased by about Rs 200 crore. The 1500 MW Nathpa Jhakri project has also generated 586 crore units of electricity, over 28 crore units more than the target till yesterday.

Principal secretary, finance, Arvind Mehta said that the increased revenue from power sector along with the steps being taken by the government to compress expenditure would not only ensure that the targets of reducing deficit were met but even improve those. Further, the upfront premium of over Rs 330 crore from the projects offered to independent power producers through competitive bidding would also come in handy in the situation.

The government raised a Rs 850 crore development policy loan from the World Bank to help improve its fiscal health and signed a MoU for the purpose with the bank under which various steps will be taken to bring contain expenditure.

Bilaspur, December 19
The government is committed to develop the state into an “education hub”. To fulfil that dream, the Chief Minister is on an inauguration spree. He has inaugurated a number of medical, engineering, technical and ayurveda colleges and education budget of the state has increased by 157 per cent in a year.

This was stated by Gehadwin MLA and former co -operatives minister Rikhi Ram Kaundal. He was presiding over annual prize distribution function at the Government Senior Secondary School, Kalol, about 90 km from here today.

Kaundal said teachers have a huge responsibility to make every student a proud citizen of the country and the teachers who were not performing their duty properly were betraying the nation.

Gehadwin MLA said a total of Rs 27.33 crore was being spent on construction of roads and buildings in the constituency while an amount of Rs 17.74 crore was sanctioned for drinking water and irrigation facilities. An amount of additional Rs 45 lakh was being spent on setting up of hand pumps in the area.

He announced a grant of Rs 4.85 lakh for construction of school examination hall, Rs 2 lakh for levelling of playground and another Rs 2 lakh for construction and completion of link road to Bakain village of Kargil war hero and recipient of the Param Vir Chakra Havildar Sanjay Kumar who belongs to the area.

Principal Ramesh Chand Patial read the school progress report while a large number of village leaders were also present on the occasion.

Shimla, December 19
As many as 7,24,712 children aged up to five years will be administered pulse polio drops all over the state on December 21.

The Health Department has set up 5,855 polio booths for the purpose and in addition 93 mobile parties would also be used for administering the polio drops to migratory and other children. In all 24,461 employees would be deployed out of which 18,469 employees of different departments had been trained to assist the health authorities in carrying out the polio campaign.

Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal while appealing people to make the campaign a success said no case of polio had come to notice from 1995 to 2005 while in the 2006 a case of type-III wild virus was detected in Kulu district. Again no case was reported from 2006 to 2008.

He said polio-affliction was a global problem, which needed to be checked forthwith. He said out of the total 1,532 wild polio virus cases all over the world 524 cases were detected in the country initially.

In 2000 there were 265 cases in India as against 719 cases the world over and in 2005 the number of such cases in India came down to 66. He said most of the polio-affected Asian countries had emerged polio-free and the neighbouring countries like Indonesia and Sri Lanka had also achieved the objective.

Dhumal appealed to the people to create mass awareness about the dreaded consequences of the polio and motivate them to get their children immunised.

Poanta Sahib, December 19
The Poanta Sahib police today managed to nab Pramod Kumar, a resident of Chandigarh, one of the nine accused in Wednesday’s bank robbery at Shillai Cooperative Bank. All the other accused had been apprehended yesterday. The police also recovered Rs 1.19 lakh from Pramod taking the total amount to Rs 7.3 lakh. A sum of Rs 13.6 lakh had been robbed from the bank.

SP (Sirmaur) J.P. Singh said Pramod was arrested near Vikas Nagar area of Uttarakhand. Help was also sought from the Uttarakhand police in nabbing Pramod and it was learnt that the accused had opened fire on the police in a bid to escape.

A country-made pistol has been recovered from him and a separate case under Section 307 of the IPC for attempt to murder has been registered against him by the Uttrakhand police, sources said.

The SP also conveyed that since the residents of Shillai had demanded action against the local SHO for inept handling of the case, their complaints were being examined.

He added that a suitable action would be taken if the veracity of the complaints were established.