Shimla, January 1
The Rs 2,700 crore Renuka Dam is facing rough weather with the affected families rejecting the compensation being offered for land as “too meagre” and various non-government organisations opposing the project in the present shape.

If constructed as proposed it would be the biggest dam after the Pong Dam in the state in terms of affected families.

As per the “panchayat parivar” registers about 450 families in 32 villages will be affected, but the actual number of families, which have split further may come to around 2,000. In all 1,630 hectare of land will be acquired for the construction of 148-m high and 430-m wide dam to create 24 km long reservoir.

The project-affected families are agitating under the banner of Renuka Bandh Sangharsh Samiti, which alleges that project is being implemented keeping the local people in the dark.

The Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation, which is executing the 40 MW project, has offered Rs 50,000 per bigha for uncultivable waste land, Rs 1.5 lakh per bigha for un-irrigated agriculture land and Rs 2.5 lakh per bigha for irrigated land, but the samiti maintains that it was inadequate as the average market rate was as high as 20 lakh per bigha. The samiti maintains that public hearing for the purpose was conducted without following the norms.

The Himalayan Niti Abhiyan, a forum of NGOs, has questioned the very need for constructing such a “huge” dam to impound the water of Giri Ganga river and asserted that the drinking water needs of the national capital could be met by a smaller structure with a-run-of-the-river type project. It has demanded land compensation on the basis of market price and income in perpetuity by providing a share in 
the project to the affected people.

Tarun Kapoor, managing director of the corporation, says it is basically a water storage project and not a power project. The 40 MW power to be generated is only its residual benefit and as such there is no possibility of a run-of the-river project. The compensation being offered is much higher than the average rate.

The corporation is giving Rs 2.5 lakh for irrigated land as against the average rate of Rs 1.67 lakh per bigha and a premium of Rs 20,000 to Rs 25,000 per bigha is being given in addition on the basis of the distance from the road head.

It will also give assistance for acquiring alternative agriculture land up to Rs 50,000 per bigha and barren land up to Rs 20,000 per bigha up to a maximum of 5 bigha. In all over Rs 250 crore will be spent on land acquisition and rehabilitation measures, which is a big amount considering the fact that only 450 families will be affected.

Solan, January 1
Facing flak for ordering destruction of bulbs worth nearly Rs 7 crore, collected in lieu of CFLs distributed across the state, the electricity board today withdrew the controversial order.

Confirming the news, board’s secretary MP Sood said the bulbs would not be destroyed. These would be stored instead, he added. “Since the board had applied for registration to the United Nations Framework for Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to earn carbon credits in lieu of phasing out bulbs in the state, we have to preserve these bulbs. As the auditors from the UNFCCC would see the bulbs collected in lieu of CFLs, we cannot destroy these till they inspect and accept our claim. We are waiting for a nod from the UNFCCC,” he added.

On December 27, the board had issued directions to all its executive engineers to destroy bulbs at their respective divisions. The issue was prominently highlighted by The Tribune on December 29. The news item, “Board’s decision to destroy bulbs raises hackles” had highlighted the environmental hazard involved in destroying the bulbs, including contamination of soil.

The manner in which two contradictory instructions, one directing destruction of bulbs and another ordering their safe storage, have been issued in a span of less than one week speaks volumes about the lack of coordination among various authorities within the board.

The secretary clarified that the earlier directions were mistaken to be orders while those were the guidelines for the future. After going through them in detail, the board found that those directions were ambiguous and hence were withdrawn today.

Shimla, January 1
The Planning Commission of India has approved the proposed Rs 715 crore water supply scheme for Shimla city for funding under the External Aided Projects (EAP).

The decision has been conveyed by deputy chairman of the commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia in a written communication. Giving details of the project Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal said gravitational water supply scheme would meet the demand of the city for the next over three decades.

He said the government had vigorously pursued the proposal which would not require any lifting and pumping of water like the existing schemes and thus help save energy. The city had witnessed immense increase in population during the past decade and the available water supply was falling well short of the requirement. The huge inflow of tourists put additional pressure on the water supply schemes.

The feeding schemes were augmented periodically yet the supply remained inadequate. He said the government had requisitioned the services of the WAPCOS for undertaking feasibility study of the scheme.

Dhumal said the commission had approved the proposal for external funding and forwarded the same to the Union Ministry of Finance for implementation under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission or any other scheme of the Government of India. He said the proposed scheme would not only feed the capital town, but also the adjoining areas. He said on approval of the project work would be undertaken in a time bound manner to avoid cost escalation.

He said water was emerging as a most precious commodity, which was becoming scarce due to global warming impact as many of the traditional water resources were drying up fast. Campaigns had been launched to create awareness among the consumers to utilise piped and chlorinated water only for drinking purposes and save rain water through harvesting.

Shimla, January 1
Plans to conserve British time heritage structures and retain the old world charm could finally take shape as the Asian Development Bank (ADB) team will be arriving here on January 6 to finally approve various projects proposed by the Tourism 
Department.

Various governemnt agencies, including the Tourism, the Municipal Corporation, the Forest Department and the Council for Science and Technology had submitted proposals. An ADB team led by Michael Green had visited many sites in the town to assess the feasibility of the projects submitted by various governemnt agencies on October 2 last year.

It is being expected that the final decision on the extent of funding and the proposals to be taken up during he first phase would be decided at this crucial meeting. It is reliably learnt that the Tourism Department had submitted a number of proposals and is hopeful of getting total funding of about Rs 350 crore.

“Our endeavour is to create infrastructure which would help give a fillip to tourism and as such we are keen that certain projects like creating parking facility, wayside amenities, conserving heritage and beautification of the Ridge and The Mall are undertaken with the help of funding from the ADB,” said Manisha Nanda, secretary, Tourism.

Keen to conserve the legacy of the British era, the Municipal Corporation is planning to create cobbled street on The Mall and the Ridge. The MC had prepared a Rs 19.28 crore comprehensive heritage plan for protecting the valuable heritage of the town and having a uniform façade on the Mall. Landscaping of the Ladies Park will also be undertaken as part of beautification plans.

There are plans to restore some heritage buildings also in the town which had been inspected by the ADB team during their visit in October last. A total of 97 British time buildings in the town have been identified as heritage structures, with most of them falling within the designated heritage zone between secretariat and the Viceregal Lodge.

A parking slot for accommodating about 2,000 vehicles is also likely to be approved by the ADB. Some other smaller projects like the construction of a helipad on the Sanjauli- Dhalli bypass. The government is keen that it has a helipad of its own as the two landing sites in the town at Annadale and Kalyani helipad in Mashobra are not with it. 

Shimla, January 1
Seeking redrafting of the timber distribution (TD) policy, members of the Himachal Kisan Sabha (HKS) have said they will enter forests and collect fodder and fuel to force the government to accept demands of the people.

In a statement issued here today, state president of the sabha Tikender Singh Panwar said the TD policy drafted by the government in the wake of the high court intervention was not likely to benefit the common man. “A substantial section of the peasantry will be deprived of the right since farmers having more than five bighas of land have been kept out of the policy,” he said.

Another major point that would create problems for the farmers was that they would be provided wood from the Forest Corporation depot and not that of the Forest Department.

“The biggest cause of concern is the fact that the policy speaks of providing TD rights virtually to only one generation,” he added.

Panwar demanded that the policy must be made rational and in conformity with the needs of the people. “Along with the TD rights are the Wazi Wallar rights and, surprisingly, the policy has put on hold all these, including fuel, fodder, grazing and medicinal collection,” he said.

He said the sabha would continue its agitation. “We will enter forests and will cut wood, grass and fodder for animals. We plan to do this to impress upon the government that the genuine demands and rights of the farmers must be restored,” he said.

Hamirpur, January 1
Raids by higher authorities in few schools, where the National Social Service (NSS) camps were organised a few days back, have not only exposed irregularities in not serving dinner and breakfast to students attending the camp, but also it has raised a finger of suspicion on organisers of these camps.

These raids were conducted on the basis of complaints received in which it was alleged that though organisers were getting money for all three meals for a 10-day boarding camp, but only lunch was being served to the students.

The state government gives Rs 20,000 to 630 schools for holding the NSS camps in which three meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner are served to the students attending the camps since they are supposed to stay in the camp for this entire period.

It had been observed in many schools that organisers were calling the students to the camp during the daytime only and serving them lunch while dinner and breakfast is not being served.

As thousands of students attend these camps each year the large-scale irregularity in this manner cannot be ruled out.

Insiders alleged, “The involvement of few higher ups in the department cannot be ruled out in this irregularity.”

In the raid in two schools at Bhota and Maid by the authorities this practice adopted by the organisers was detected. Interestingly, one of these schools falls under the assembly constituency of Education Minister ID Dhiman.

The NSS state coordinator Daleep Thakur could not be contacted in his office or on his mobile phone after repeated calls for last few days.

However, an official in the department had “confirmed the raids in Bhota and Maid school and said the department would conduct more such raids to pinpoint the organisers adopting this dishonest practice and verify the allegations of misuse of funds.”

Dharamsala, January 1
The increasing establishment expenditure of universities is forcing institutions of higher education to look for avenues to generate additional resources. Palampur Agricultural University has already decided to create a separate division for enterprise development. This information was given by Vice-Chancellor of the university Tej Partap.

The VC said there was a proposal to club some smaller departments and make efforts to enhance domestic income for various development programmes in the university.

There was a plan to start MBA degree programmes and increase seats in different professional courses so as to increase varsity’s own resources. “It also plans to create ultra modern infrastructure, including hostels that can be offered on choice to students to generate additional income. Pooling of resources, including extra land, is also under consideration of the administration. The additional land is likely to be placed at the disposal of division of enterprises proposed to be created for generating extra income,” he added. The irrigation and drinking water sources of the university would also be strengthened, he said.

The VC also said the launching of organic tea had been a major achievement of the university in the last year. Efforts were underway to get Rs 20-crore project sanctioned to revive the dying tea industry in the region by converting all small tea farms into organic tea farms and producing tea in the university factory. He gave credit to the scientific community for preparing district agricultural plans and attaining number one position for getting maximum number of research projects under the National Agricultural Innovation Project of the Indian Council Of Agricultural Research (ICAR).

The ICAR has decided to double the central development assistance to the university up to Rs 11 crore. Efforts were afoot to create state-of-the-art infrastructure to make university a hot destination for conferences and meetings. Salubrious climate, natural beauty and peaceful atmosphere of the campus were already attracting a large number of institutions for the purpose.

The Vice-chancellor said 2009 would be known for major changes in the university. He sought cooperation of the staff to excel in the areas of teaching, research and extension education. All financial benefits had been provided to the staff, but they should assist in achieving zero-deficit budget by the end of the new financial year.

He honoured PK Sharma, dean (postgraduate studies), for composing university song. Henceforth, all university programmes would be commenced with the recital of that song, ha added.

Chamba, January 1
A three-storeyed house in interior Bathli-Gohadi village of Sunara panchayat in this district was burnt to the ground in a fire last night following short-circuit caused due to old electric wiring in the premises.

Two another adjoining houses were also damaged. However, no report of loss of life and livestock is received.

The fire caused a tentative loss of more than Rs 20 lakh, rendering six poor families homeless. All victims belonged to below poverty line section. The local people helped in extinguishing the fire and saved the adjoining houses from engulfing into the fire.

On receiving information about the incident, Chamba Deputy Commissioner Maneesh Garg directed the revenue officials to rush to the incident for carrying out relief and rescue operations and assessing the exact losses caused.

A sum of Rs 65,000 had been distributed to the six fire-affected families as an immediate relief in addition to 20 blankets, four tarpaulins and free ration for a period of one month, the DC stated; adding that all possible assistance would be provided to the victims in view of the winter season.

Meanwhile, a victim, Ravan Ram demanded the state government to provide jobs to one member of each fire-affected family.

The Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha Speaker Tulsi Ram assured more help to the fire-affected families shortly.

Mandi, January 1
Farmers are facing shortage of fertilisers in remote pockets of the apple belt in Mandi, Kullu and Shimla districts as “private depot holders and cooperative societies are not lifting consignments from the government godowns on the plea that they do not get commission from the government”.

What has added to the worry of the farmers is that they have tilled their orchards for applying fertilisers, mainly superphosphate, MPK 15X15 and 12X32X16 (a mixture of nitrogen, phosphorus and potash), but these are not available in depots.

The Bali-Chowki and Janjheli areas in Seraj valley, Banjar and Sainj valley in Kullu district are the worst hit. “We are paying Rs 100 per bag to take fertilisers from the HIMFED godown at Gohar to Janjheli,” rued Jagdish Kumar, a fruit grower from Janjheli. “Private salesmen are not lifting fertilisers from the HIMFED deport at Gohar as they are not getting transport fee from the government,” sources said.

President of the Mandi and Seraj Fruit Growers Association Dabe Ram said farmers were not getting fertilisers. There was no depot in remote areas in the district. Private sales depots were not lifting fertilisers as these were not getting mule and porter charges,” he added.

“Small farmers are badly hit as they cannot afford to lift fertilisers from the town where the government-run HIMFED corporation sales depots are located,” farmers added. One potash bag cost Rs 422 in Janjheli, as they had to pay Rs 100 as transportation cost, farmers said.

Farmers in Banjar-Sainj-Ani subdivision are also faced with the same problem. In the Chopal area in Shimla apple belt, farmers are not getting fertilisers from the panchayat-level cooperative society depots.

Managing director, HIMFED, Dhruv Vashsisht said, “Fertilisers are being supplied as per demand in every area in the state. We have already got over 7,000 tonne of fertilisers and will be getting 5,000 tonne of mixture in January. The government has not withdrawn transportation charges. Private depots or cooperative societies can get these reimbursed from the government.”

Kangra, January 1
The Kangra district police chief has been ordered by the Himachal Pradesh Police headquarters to inquire personally into the role of the police in the murder case of HPSEB lineman Ram Krishen at Nagrota Bagwan last week.

Inspector General of Police SR Maradi today issued directions to Kangra SSP Atul Fulzele to inquire into the role of police in this murder case personally. Fulzele confirmed it here this evening in the SDPO office and said he had initiated the inquiry.

He was on leave for a week and was updating himself over the developments in the case. He said that earlier the Kangra SDPO was inquiring in the matter. He said his effort would be to bring truth to the limelight.

When asked what happened to the inquiry report made by Kangra SDPO OP Jamwal, the SSP said he had not received any report as yet. He said the investigation in this murder case had been transferred to Kangra SDPO OP Jamwal. He said earlier an ASI of the Nagrota Bagwan police station was carrying investigation in this murder case.

He said he himself had examined the file of this murder case and allegations of destroying of the evidence by the police would be looked into and the SDPO would investigate the case on scientific basis.

Bilaspur, January 1
After protest from the villagers of the area, the Forest Department said here that it had taken suitable action in this matter according to the law and now the police had been asked to register a case against the management of the JP Industries which is setting up a cement factory at Baga-Balag on borders of Bilaspur and Solan districts near here.

Divisional forest officer (DFO) Pushpender Rana said here this evening that a deputy ranger of the department posted in the area Hari Om have been served with a show-cause notice while two forest guards- Suram Singh (Dhar-Tatoh) and Susheel Kumar (Chamyon) have been placed under suspension with immediate effect as they have been found failing in their departmental duties.

Rana said the factory management had been warned and had also been served with another show-cause notice asking it to stop forthwith all its unauthorised and illegal activities on forest land, failing which strict action would be taken by the government.

The DFO said since the violation may be spread in districts of Solan and Bilaspur, only four to five trees have been found axed by the management and earlier the Forest Department had charged damage worth Rs 3.59 lakh from the management.

Shimla, January 1
Employees of the Department of Environment, Science and Technology led by Forest and Environment Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda presented a draft for Rs 21,000 to Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal as their contribution towards the Himachal Pradesh Environment Fund today.

Principal Secretary of the department Sarojini G. Thakur, Director Nagin Nanda, president and general secretary of the employees association Bhanu and Suresh Attri, respectively, accompanied the minister. Chairman of the Kangra Central Cooperative Bank Rasil Singh Mankotia and the president of the employees union presented a draft for Rs 12,96,009 as contribution towards the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.

Shimla, January 1
Governor Prabha Rau will preside over the state-level Republic Day function to be held at the Ridge.

An official spokesperson said here today that chief minister P.K. Dhumal would be present at the function.

Assembly Speaker Tulsi Ram would unfurl the national flag at Kangra while PWD minister Gulab Singh would preside over the function at Solan. Education minister I.D. Dhiman would preside over the function in Sirmour district, IPH minister Ravinder Singh Ravi at Bilaspur, transport minister Kishan Kapoor at Keylong, hoerticulture minister Narinder Bragta at Mandi.

Food and civil supplies minister Ramesh Dhawala will preside over the Republic day functions at Kullu, health minister Rajiv Bindal at Rekong Peo, social justice and empowerment minister Sarveen Chadhary at Hamirpur and deputy speaker Khimi 
Ram at Chamba.

Shimla, January 1
Lieut-Gen BS Jaswal took over as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the ARTRAC here today.

He replaces Lieut-Gen JK Mohanti, who has moved to Lucknow as GOC-in-Chief of the Central Command.

Lieut-Gen Jaswal, an alumni of the NDA, Khadkvasla, was commissioned in the Third Battalion of the Jammu and Kashmir Rifles in December 1970. He also commanded an infantry brigade, infantry division in the northern sector and a corps in the eastern sector.

Prior to taking over at ARTRAC here, he served in Arunachal Pradesh and Assam.

He has also been an instructor at the IMTRAT, Bhutan, the IMA and the Infantry School. He has been awarded the “Ati Vishisht Seva Medal” and the “Vishisht Seva Medal” for his distinguished services in Jammu and 
Kashmir.