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BJP in dock over sale of power outside HP
Cabinet okays land for BSF battalion at Shahpur
Chief Minister Prof Prem Kumar Dhumal presides over the Cabinet meeting at the mini secretariat in Dharamsala on Tuesday. Photo: Kamaljeet |
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Cement Plant
BJP govt defensive over encroachments
HPSSB modernising recruitment process
Classes in Mandi IIT from next session
11th Five-Year Plan
Plan to set up residential schools for Gujjar kids
Manali winter carnival from Feb 15
Wildlife Census
Nursing Institutes
Power men stage dharna
Social worker dies at 98
Rain, snow expected
BJP opens door to rebels
Tata Indicom expands network
Classes boycotted
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BJP in dock over sale of power outside HP
Shimla, February 3 The clause of “first right of refusal” has been diluted in the implementation agreements (IA) signed with nine companies as a result of which they would be able to sell 75 per cent of the power generated bypassing the regulatory regime, which cannot be allowed for projects allotted through the MoU (memorandum of understanding) route. Under the national hydropower policy even for the projects allotted through competitive bidding only 40 per cent mercantile power is allowed and the rest 60 per cent has to be sold at tariff determined by the concerned electricity regulatory commission. If the project is not completed within four years the quantum of mercantile power is reduced by 5 per cent for delay of every six months. No mercantile power is allowed for a project completed in 8 years or more. While the IPPs will supply entire 15 per cent free power during winter from November 1 to March 31, the “first right of refusal” by the state electricity board has also been restricted to winter months in the IAs. They will be free to sell power through bilateral arrangement to anyone for the remaining seven months when 75 per cent of the total power is generated. Such an agreement appears to be scandalous as the Centre gives subsidy ranging from Rs 7 crore to Rs 17 crore depending on the capacity. The objective was to encourage states to exploit these for the benefit of the local people and provide power at reasonable rates. Further, the government will be at a loss, as it has to supply free power to the board at the rate of Rs 3.04 paise per unit fixed by the regulator during winter when the state faces shortage. Whereas during summer it sells power at Rs 7.01 paise per unit. With all power supplied during winter it will have no power to sell during summer and IPPs will get the benefit. There is no point in restricting the “first right to refusal” to winter as the board could always refuse it anytime if power is not required. Engineers of the board point out that the only objective behind the dilution of the clause is to allow the benefit of mercantile power bypassing not only the regulatory regime, but also the competitive bidding route. In similar projects offered through competitive bidding route the IPPs had quoted up to 38 per cent free power whereas the government allowed the favoured companies to enhance capacity up to 25 MW from 5 MW by taking just 15 per cent free power. |
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Cabinet okays land for BSF battalion at Shahpur
Dharamsala, February 3 The Cabinet also granted approval to regularise the services of 248 daily wagers fulfilling the eligibility criteria for respective posts in the Department of Ayurveda. The persons who had completed 8 years of service on March 31, 2008, would be absorbed in the government service as per the regularisation policy of the government. The Cabinet decided to make 131 part-time workers daily wagers provided they had completed 10 years in service. It also decided to issue a no-objection certificate (NOC) to the Shivalik Education Welfare Society, Shimla, for admitting 100 students to the BSc nursing course and another 100 students to the general nursing midwife course. The Vardhman Education Society, Nalagarh, was also permitted to admit 40 students to the BSc nursing course. The decision aimed at creating more workforce for various health institutions in the state. The Cabinet also accepted the compliance report of the Centre for Advanced Studies in Engineering, New Delhi, paving the way to establish an engineering university in the private sector in the state. It approved transfer of land in the Fati Burua Mohal area of Kullu district in favour of Baba Prakash Puri Anjni Mahadev Temple and Sarai Bhavan on annual lease basis. Appointment of two drivers in the office of the Deputy Commissioner, Chamba, on contract basis and one post of reader-cum-ahlamad and two clerks for the Information Commission were also approved.
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Officials not allowed to inspect site
Tribune News Service
Mandi, February 3 According to the protesters, the joint inspection team was not allowed to inspect the Khatarvari site today as the farmers have been opposing the setting up of the plant in the area on the ground that it would spell doom for the lush green ecology of the Chambi-Khatarvari-Keran belt located near the Bandli Wildlife Sanctuary. Col BS Raghava, president of the environment committee, Sundernagar, which is spearheading the anti-cement plant movement in the area asserted that they would not allow this plant near Sundernagar as it would kill the peaceful and beautiful town here which had emerged as an education hub in the central region. President of the Joint Action Committee DS Parashar said Harish Chandra Cement Ltd which is setting up the plant and the district administration was offering them peanuts as land compensation as the rates were decided by the company at its own terms without consulting the affected farmers. We have decided not give an inch of land to the plant and the government should cancel the MoU signed with the company, he added. The company has pleaded that the company was seeking cooperation of the farmers and the district administration in setting up of the plant. The company is giving best rates in the market, it added. On the other district officials said they would not force land acquisition on farmers. In many cases farmers have come forward to give their land to the plant. The team would conduct fresh inspection of the area, they added. The Mandi DC said they would take up the matter with the company to give them the best rates.
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BJP govt defensive over encroachments
Mandi, February 3 According to the farmers, they had submitted the “affidavits in the hope that encroachments on the government land would be regularised. The then BJP-HVC combine state government in 1998-2003 led by Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal had issued a notification, promising to regularise encroachments, they revealed There are old cases much before the Forest Conservation Act came into effect in 1980s. The farmers in the state rued that population has increased more than 10 times since the 1980s, but their land holding have shrunk further to division of land and all government land has been declared as forest land under the Forest conservation Act. Though the successive state governments have been evading the issue of encroachments in the face of the state assembly and now the Lok Sabha elections, but the high court ordered in early January this year to register the FIRs in encroachment cases in the state. In Mandi district 17 728 farmers had submitted their affidavits in the hope that their land would be regularised. “We would not have submitted the affidavits, had the then state government not promised to regularise the encroachments”, resented the farmers in Mandi districts where over 10,000 such cases are still pending the DFO or revenue courts. In 6955 cases the forest department has issued eviction order so far, sources revealed. In Kullu district in over 3000 cases the farmers had sought regularisation submitting their affidavits. Largest number of such cases are pending in the forest department in Kangra, Shimla and Chamba districts, sources added. The police and forests officials are tightlipped over the issue stating that they would obey the high court order, but the state BJP president Jai Ram Thakar said that the party would take up the matter with the government. Forest minister JP Nadda evaded the query on the issue.
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HPSSB modernising recruitment process
Hamirpur, February 3 To make proper use of these techniques, the board has also decided to simplify applications forms and include fee in the price of the forms. From now onwards, simplified single-sheet computerised forms will be supplied to applicants. These forms will be processed through computers. To save applicants from the hassle of attaching bank drafts or postal orders, the application fee will be included in the price of the application forms. The general category application forms will cost Rs 120 each, while the rate will be Rs 45 each in case of forms for the reserved category candidates. The applicants will also not be supposed to enclose any certificate regarding their qualifications at the time of submission of application forms. All such certificates will have to be produced at the time of interviews only. The board is also thinking of introducing the system of personal evaluation by supplying duplicate answer sheet, which will enable applicants to evaluate their answer sheets themselves too with the help of question paper and the key to questions. This system is already in practice in service selection boards of Kerala and Andhra Pradesh. Confirming the move to bring changes in the recruitment process, secretary of the board PC Akela said, “We have sent revised application forms for printing and old application forms will not be accepted for any post.” |
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Classes in Mandi IIT from next session
Dharamsala, February 3 Chief Minister said that IIT, Mandi, would be a premier vocational educational centre of international standard drawing students from all over the country. Permanent infrastructural facilities for the IIT, Mandi, were being created at the approved site of Kamand, near Mandi town. The Government of India team which visited the district recently to finalise the location for starting classes, has also approved temporary accommodation recommended by the State Government for starting the first batch of students at Government Ballabh Degree College. The academic block of the college would be utilised for IIT classes and 120 students would be admitted in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering and computer science and engineering. Forty students would be admitted in each of the said streams of engineering. Besides degree college, the institute, the HPTDC Hotel Mandav, Irrigation and Public Health rest house will be placed at the disposal of the Management of the IIT till they shift to the permanent location. Additional accommodation, if any, required for starting the classes and other assistance required from the State Government, would be made available to the institute for its smooth functioning. The IIT, Mandi, would be getting functional under Prof S.C. Saxena
of IIT, Roorkee, as director till a regular director was appointed. The Chief Minister said that IIT, Mandi, would emerge as an important milestone in technical education in the state. He hoped that it would be a bright opportunity to outstanding students of the state to compete for the courses being undertaken by the IIT which were likely to increase with addition of new courses in coming years. |
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Rs 1,260 cr for tribal areas
Tribune News Service
Dharamsala, February 3 This was revealed by Chief Minister PK Dhumal while addressing the 39th meeting of the HP Tribal Advisory Council held at Dharamsala today. The CM appealed to the tribal community members of the state to extend their full cooperation to the Forest Act Committees constituted at the district, subdivision and village-level to implement the Scheduled Tribes and other Traditional Forest and Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, in the tribal areas of the state. He advised people to present their cases before the village-level committees. The DCs of Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti and Resident Commissioner of Pangi would ensure allotment of plots to applicants within one week after obtaining all required clearances at the state and Central Government level. The state government had earmarked 9 per cent of its budgetary provisions of annual plan and created tribal subplan. Priority was being given to road connectivity in tribal areas for which Rs 48.4 crore were being spent over the same during the current financial year. Another Rs 48 crore had been earmarked for educational and health-related activities and Rs 34 crore for agriculture, irrigation and horticulture. The Chief Minister said a number of hydroelectric projects were under execution in the tribal areas where vast potential was available for harnessing. The project implementation authorities need to ensure relief and rehabilitation measures well before the initiation of the project by taking local people into their confidence. Dhumal also revealed that the Ministry of Surface Road Transport had been requested to reimburse an amount of Rs 12 crore for upkeep and maintenance of the Tandi-Therot-Killar road, which had been taken under the state control recently. Funds would be made available for restoration of historically important temples in the Lahaul valley.
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Plan to set up residential schools for Gujjar kids
Dharamsala, February 3 Chief Minister PK Dhumal gave this information while addressing the 15th meeting of the Gujjar Welfare Board held at Dharamsala today. He said literacy of nomadic tribes was being accorded top priority to bring community to the mainstream. Education is the basic requirement for development of any community. Keeping in view the special circumstances of nomadic Gujjar the state government had opened 19 mobile schools where 500 children were being imparted elementary
education. Dhumal said the state government is considering allotment of land to the nomadic Gujjar community families to help them settle permanently. With the permanent rehabilitation the community would be benefited with various community-related developmental activities. |
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Manali winter carnival from Feb 15
Manali, February 3 The carnival has gained popularity among local people and tourists over the years. A website (www.wintercarnival.com) has been launched to make information about the carnival easily available. SDM, who is also chairman of the winter carnival committee, Rajeshwar Goel said over 20 teams would take part in the winter carnival this year. He said a singing competition, Voice of Himalayas, would also be organised during the carnival. Himachali food festival, craft bazaar, folk dance performances, film and folk songs, mehandi and rangoli contest, fashion shows and Winter Queen contest would be other attractions of the carnival. President Himachal Pradesh Winter Games Association RC Negi said the Himachal Winter Games Championship would be organised at Solang ski slopes. Several veteran skiers would also take part in the event, he added.
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Help sought from Dehradun institute
Pratibha Chauhan Tribune News Service
Shimla, February 3 Although the wildlife authorities have been undertaking census of various animals like leopards, monkeys, langurs and other species, its is not very authentic as modern scientific methods are not adopted. The model that is adopted by the experts from the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, will then be used to count carnivores, herbivores and pheasants in the 33 wildlife sanctuaries and two national parks in the state. “It is for the first time that we have approached experts from the institute to undertake a scientific census for us,” said KS Thakur, Conservator (Wildlife). He said since the Simbalwara Wildlife Sanctuary near Poanta Sahib was close to Dehradun, the exercise will be started from here and later replicated in other areas. The wildlife wing will give training to its own staff to undertake census in a similar manner.
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Cong opposes CM’s decision
Our Correspondent
Bilaspur, February 3 Addressing mediapersons here this afternoon at the Circuit House, Thakur accompanied by some Congress leaders warned the government that Congress would be forced to start a statewide agitation if the government does not immediately reverse this decision and abandon this ill-advised proposal in pure public interest. He said at present hundreds of talented girls, mostly drawn from poor families, have been getting totally free training in these government-run nursing institutes. When this job would be assigned to private parties they would be minting money by charging heavy fees and thus the poor families would not be able to afford these institutes.
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Power men stage dharna
Shimla, February 3 President of the union Dev Raj Sharma warned the government that the employees would launch a statewide stir if their long-pending demands were not accepted. The union had submitted a 33-point demand charter to the management, but it had not taken any action in the matter. He alleged the orders of the Chief Minister were not being carried out by bureaucrats and even the demands accepted by the management had not been implemented. The union deferred its agitation twice following assurances from the management in the past, but it had been left with no option but to take up the course of direct action now. The union opposed unbundling of the board . Later, representatives of the union held talks with the management that assured that some of the demands like grant of tool and plant allowance and uniform allowance would be considered favourably. A final decision would be taken at the next meeting of the WTM (whole time members). Regarding removal of stagnation by upgrading certain posts, the management sought some more time to take into consideration various legal and other aspects. |
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Social worker dies at 98
Bilaspur, February 3 Saraf was given a state funeral and a contingent of police reversed arms and fired five volleys of bullets. He was completely hale and hearty till he fell down in his bathroom and broke his hipbone few days ago, which virtually crippled him. He died of a sudden cardiac arrest at Fortis Hospital, Mohali, yesterday. He was a prominent social worker also founder of the Arya Samaj here in the district. Former Health and Forests Minister Ram Lal Thakur, Congress state secretary Hoshiar Singh Thakur, former MLA Dr Babu Ram Gauttam, veteran freedom fighter KL Dabra and large number of Arya Samaj leaders paid homage to the departed soul. District Congress president Rajesh Dharmani and Forests Minister JP Nadda also condoled his death. |
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Rain, snow expected
Shimla, February 3 The local meteorological centre today said that with the western disturbance (WD) placed over north Pakistan and Jammu and Kashmir, there could be rain or snow at isolated places during the next 24 hours. There was 1 cm of snowfall at Keylong till 8.30 a.m this morning. The lowest temperature was recorded at Keylong at minus 6.2 degrees Celsius. Shimla recorded a maximum of 14.6 and minimum of 7.1. Kalpa recorded a minimum of minus two, Sundernagar- 7.7, Bhuntar- 7.5, Dharamshala- 5.3, Una- 3.2, Mandi- 9, Nahan- 11, Palampur- 9, Solan- 1.5 and Manali- 5. The continued dry spell with practically no snow, especially in and around Shimla, could pose a major water crisis in the summers. Even though there have been times when there has been heavy snowfall during March but the apple growers are already worried about the adverse impact of the dry spell on their crop. |
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BJP opens door to rebels
Shimla, February 3 State party chief Jai Ram Thakur held a meeting with Independent MLA from Karsog Hira Lal and his supporters at Karsog today. Hundreds of supporters of Hira Lal, including former BJP mandal chief Kesar Singh, were taken back into the party. Convener of the state BJP media cell Ashok Kapatia said Hira Lal had assured that he would work whole-heartedly for BJP candidate Maheshwar Singh. Similarly, Kashyap, who was expelled from the party after he contested the Assembly election from Kasumpti as a rebel candidate, formally applied for being re-inducted into the BJP. “He applied for his re-induction to Mahender Pandey, organisation secretary, and is likely to be taken back soon,” said Kapatia. |
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Tata Indicom expands network
Shimla, February 3 The towns covered include Palampur, Rohru, Amb, Kangra, Nurpur ,Nalagarh, Poanta Sahib and Panjera. Chief Operating Officer, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh, TPS Walia, said that the launch of these new cell sites would ensure that subscribers across the state enjoyed hassle-free and seamless network. At present the network had 140 sites covering 92 towns and has plans to add another 37 sites by the end of current financial year. He said the company had kept the promise made to our subscribers of extending the mobile telephony to inner reaches of Himachal Pradesh. More sites would be launched shortly to strengthen the quality of network, improve coverage and reduced call drops. |
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Classes boycotted
Chamba, February 3 The JBT Trainees’ Association president Yoj Raj warned the government that they would continue their protest till any decision for signing the service bond was taken forthwith. |
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The Cabinet today approved transfer of 4 acres of land in the Mohal Bhoi area of Shahpur tehsil (Kangra district) to raise a Border Security Force.
