The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Himachal Pradesh Edition

Encroachment Issue
Govt files affidavit to seek relief
Pratibha Chauhan
Tribune News Service

Shimla, February 7
Finding itself in a quandary over registration of FIRs in over 1.5 lakh cases of land encroachment, the government has finally filed an affidavit before the high court seeking reprieve on an issue which could have serious political ramification.

The affidavit has been filed in the high court on February 2, by the Secretary, Home, seeking relief on the issue. “We have stated that routine cases of encroachments whether on forest or revenue land can be dealt with under the existing statutes like the Land Premises Act and the Public Premises Eviction Act and as such there was no need to file police cases,” informed sources.

It was through its order on January 6 that the high court had directed the DGP to register FIRs in each and every case of encroachment on government land. The court had given six weeks time to the government to act. “In our affidavit we have explained that it is only in cases of encroachment involving some kind of criminality be it forgery of documents or corruption, that there should be the need to register FIRs,” he said.

In its affidavit the government had also expressed the inability of the police force to deal with the huge number of cases of encroachment. Now it remains to be seen whether the government would get relief from the court or not as and when the matter is taken up.

Sources in the Revenue Department said under the regularisation of encroachments scheme launched in 2003, the number of cases already pending with them was about 1.5 lakh.

“With 1.5 lakh cases already pending and a huge number of cases to be filed for forest encroachment, it is not humanly possible for the police stations to deal with them,” said a senior police officer.

Interestingly, some of the cases of encroachment are as old as 20 years and till now no action had been taken by the concerned authorities. Even as the final outcome of the case is still awaited the police had decided to adopt a policy of wait and watch. “Though some forest officers have approached our police stations to register FIRs, for the time being we have put the matter on hold till we get directions from the top level,” admitted a police officer.

The police is of the opinion that since the DFO, SDM and tehsildars are empowered under the Public Premises Eviction Act, 1971, to issue eviction, the cases should be dealt by them rather than registering police cases. Similarly under the Road Side Development Act, the executive engineers can exercise eviction powers.

Poll Time: Kangra deluged with projects
Lalit Mohan
Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, February 7
With the Lok Sabha elections around the corner the BJP government has gone all out in Kangra district.

In the past two weeks plethora of projects have been announced. Inaugurations and foundation stones have rained with Chief Minster PK Dhumal touring the district. Kangra has got the lion’s share in development if the announcements get implemented.

In the recent past the CM inaugurated the National Institute for Fashion Technology (NIFT). It is the 13th NIFT institute of the country that would start functioning in the Cheb area, near Kangra town, in the building of local polytechnic institute.

NIFT officials said the classes for the first session of the institute would start by July. It would be the first NIFT of the country that would have a PhD programme in fashion design.

The CM also laid the foundation stone of food and craft institute in Khaniara village. A proposal has also been mooted through the former Chief Minister and Rajya Sabha member Shanta Kumar to set up a private university for technical education at Palampur. Sources said the proposal had been mooted by a Pathankot-based group of educational institutes.

The government had already entered into an agreement with a private company to bring up Vivekanand medical college at Palampur. A central university had also been cleared by the Union Government in Kangra district. Its location, however, is a rallying point for the Congress and the BJP.

While Congress leaders want to set it up at Dharamsala, the BJP government had offered land at Dehra for the central university. After the said project get started, Kangra district would have super-speciality hospitals, including one at Tanda and other at Palampur. Besides, there would be prestigious institutes like the central university, NIFT, the FCI, a private technical university located in Kangra district.

The CM had also announced major industrial projects, including a steel plant being set by SAIL, an aluminium plant and organic fertiliser plants that are likely to come up in Kangra district.

A BSF battalion is also proposed to be set up in the Shahpur area of Kangra district. The said projects announced illustrate that the BJP is going all out to try and win the Kangra parliamentary constituency. Kangra district is also considered to be the BJP strong hold. In the last assembly elections the BJP won 12 out of 16 assembly constituencies in the district. However, it lost the last parliamentary election from Kangra to the Congress.

Sitting Congress MP Chander Kumar had defeated the BJP strong man Shanta Kumar in the last parliamentary elections. The Congress is considering itself strong at Mandi and Shimla and the BJP in the Hamirpur parliamentary constituency.

RTI activist awaits info on docs’ deployment
Tribune News Service

Shimla, February 7
Despite switchover to e-governance, key government organisations like the Health Department are not in a position to provide basic information like deployment of doctors in various medical institutions in the state for months together.

This has been the experience of RTI activist Dev Ashish Bhattacharya, who had sought district-wise position regarding total number of posts of MBBS doctors and medical specialists in different hospitals (both in rural and urban areas) of the state and the number of the vacant posts. He had also asked the details of doctors deployed, with break-up of regular appointees and those engaged on contract basis. An application was filed by him on November 5, 2008, which was forwarded by the Principal Secretary (Health) to Director of Health Services on December 4.

The director sent the application to chief medical officers (CMOs) asking them to send information within a week. The applicant was informed that information was being collected from districts and it would be supplied to him in due course.

Under the Act, information has to be supplied within a month. As the director failed to furnish the information even after a lapse of two months, Dev Ashish filed an appeal with the appellate authority in which he questioned the intentions of the department in unnecessarily transferring the application to CMOs when the information sought by him was supposed to be available with the director. He also wanted to know why his application was not transferred to the medial colleges and attached hospitals for providing complete information.

Acting on the appeal, the director, on January 20, sent another letter asking the officers concerned to supply point-wise information directly to the applicant within three days. However, two weeks have passed since then but the information has not been provided.

Bhattacharya maintains such basic information should have been readily available with the Principal Secretary (Health) and the Director of Health Services. These two officers were involved in the day-to-day posting and appointment doctors. If they were dependent on CMOs for information, which was to be maintained in their respective offices, how they were managing the affairs of the department?

It reflected callous attitude of senior officers, he added.

Project to promote pashmina production
Lalit Mohan
Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, February 7
The Palampur Agricultural University has bagged a new research project worth Rs 1.39 crore under the National Agricultural Innovations Project (NAIP) of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).

The project would aim at conducting research and developmental activities for promoting pashmina production and its efficient utilisation in the state. It would be executed in traditional pashmina goats in Lahaul and Spiti and Kinnaur districts. The scientists would also explore the possibility of introducing pashmina goat to adjoining the non-traditional areas.

The spokesperson of the university said the wide objectives of the project were to augment the productivity of pashmina in this region and to ensure its better utilisation so that the traditional goat farmers opted for this activity as an alternate vocation.

In the far-flung climatically harsh areas the livestock based farming systems are the major source of livelihood for local population. The project is to be executed over a period of three years by a team of scientists of different departments with YP Thakur, professor, Department of Livestock Production and Management and GC Negi, principal, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences.

The total pashmina production in India is hardly about 40 tonnes per annum constituting less than 0.5% of the total world pashmina production of approximately 10,000 tonnes per annum.

VC Tej Partap has appreciated efforts of the university scientists for getting this project sanctioned.

Bids invited for heli-taxi service
Tribune News Service

Shimla, February 7
With the objective of opening easy access to the remote tribal areas and to woo the high-end travellers, the Tourism Department has finally invited the expression of interest (EOI) for the launch of its much awaited heli-taxi service.

The department has invited EOI not just for operating helicopter service to the unexplored pristine areas of the hill state but also to provide a good aerial link between Delhi-Chandigarh-Shimla. With the air connectivity to the state being very erratic and unreliable, the state invariably loses out on the high-end globe trotting tourists who have paucity of time.

The department has finally completed the formalities for inviting EOI as Cabinet had some time back approved the heli-taxi service. In its EOI, the department has invited bids from operators for optimum utilisation of 57 operational helipads and 12 upcoming helipads in the state. The last date for sending the offers has been fixed for March 20.

The government is keen that besides providing good connectivity to the tribal and remote areas, the heli-taxi service can provide services to pilgrims for linking certain shrines. The experience of the department in running chopper services for the Manimahesh yatra in Chamba district had been very successful.

So far the state has only three airports at Shimla, Kullu and Kangra. With limited rail and air connectivity, tourists have to spend long hours travelling by road, making the journey very exhausting. The department will be making circuits to link the various destinations, which can be covered under the heli-taxi service.

Policy on climate change soon: CM
Tribune News Service

Shimla, February 7
The state will soon come out with its own “Policy and Action Plan for Climate Change” and launch a mission for achieving environment protection and carbon neutrality.

This was stated by Chief Minister PK Dhumal while speaking at the Delhi Sustainable Development Summit-2009 organised by The Energy and Resource Institute (TERI) at Delhi today.

“In Himachal, environment is not a matter of discussion in closed chambers, it is a living heritage and for us its degradation is a sacrilege,” he said.

He said the state would shortly organise a national-level seminar on “Status of Glaciers” with other Himalayan states to study climate changes in the the Himalayan region.

Dhumal said all departments have been asked to carry out their energy and environment audits and introspect on actions and policies for mitigation and adaptation measures.

He said an Environment Master Plan was being prepared to record Green House Gas emissions for assessing carbon footprints and also lead sectoral guidelines for environmental protection. “The carbon footprint per capita of Himachal has been assessed at 0.4 tonne per capita in comparison to the national-level of 1.05 tonne per capita,” he stated.

“We will soon be launching a community led assessment, awareness, advocacy, active and action programmes for environment protection and carbon neutrality,” he sated.

Notice served on panchayat pradhan
Our Correspondent

Chamba, February 7
District panchayat officer (DPO) Prem Tanta has issued a show-cause notice to the pradhan of Lech gram panchayat falling in the Mehla development block here for alleged irregularities in construction works, registration and fake attendance of labourers in the schemes launched under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA).

The show-cause notice was served on the panchayat pradhan consequent upon the complaint lodged by residents of Lech panchayat with Chamba DC Maneesh Garg and accordingly the DC had directed the DPO to initiate action in the matter, the DPO revealed.

The complaint also alleged putting resolution in the gram sabha for issuing no objection certificate to a private hydropower enterprise for installing a stone crusher in the panchayat area without taking the opinion of general public.

The DPO divulged that the probe into the complaint was got conducted through the Mehla block development officer and the facts revealed that the panchayat pradhan got the fake resolution passed for the installation of stone crusher by a private hydropower enterprise passed in the gram sabha without taking members of the panchayat into confidence.

The DPO observed that in view of the findings in the inquiry report which included irregularities in job cards, engagement of labourers and their untimely payments, fake resolution, the panchayat pradhan had no right to hold this post in the public interest.

Govt committed to provide potable water
Our Correspondent

Nurpur, February 7
The state government is committed to provide clean potable water in all rural habitats in the state and Rs 155 crore are being spent in the current fiscal year. This was stated by Irrigation and Public Health (IPH) Minister Ravinder Ravi while laying foundation stone of the Lift Water Supply Scheme of Rs 23.40 lakh at Ghar Jarot in Jawali subdivision yesterday. He said the government had aimed to provide potable water in 5,000 rural habitats and irrigation facility for 2,500-hectare land in the current year. He claimed the IPH Department had also simplify procedure for applying new water connection and started online redressal of water supply complaints by linking the department with e-governance. “The consumer can now lodge his complaint through internet,” he added.

Lashing out at the previous Congress governments in the state and center failure to rehabilitate thousands of people of lower Kangra district who had been displaced in the wake of construction of Pong Dam.

“The Congress had politically presented wrong report of Pong Dam forcing thousands of people to become oustes,” he alleged. He rued that the Pong Dam was built on the land of the state, but people here were getting no benefit of power generation or its water usage even after displacing its thousands of people.

CM urged to reconsider bridge construction
Our Correspondent

Bilaspur, February 7
Gobind Sagar Ghat’s Sudhar Sabha, an organisation of village leaders of gram panchayats across Gobind Sagar near here, has urged Chief Minister PK Dhumal to reconsider linking of their areas with district headquarters of Bilaspur town through a direct link of a bridge between Berry Darollan and Khairiyan instead of linking Berry Darollan with Talwaad, for which a stone has been laid by the former government.

Sabha president Ram Singh and general secretary Vijender Chandel said they had been demanding bridge that link directly to Bilaspur town. And it would happen when the village got connected with Khairiyan. They said if this bridge was linked with Talwaad, it would have only its limited utility and would be of no use.

Over 1 lakh migratory birds sighted at Pong
Tribune News Service

Shimla, February 7
Over one lakh migratory birds of 95 species from places as far as Siberia, Europe and Central Asia visited the Pong Dam wetland area, during the last one week.

Forest Minister JP Nada said today this winter four new species of migratory birds, including pied avocot, greater scaup, jacana and nordmans green shank had visited the Pong dam area. “The estimation of the migratory birds was undertaken by the staff of the Forest Department at the Pong wetland area between January 30 to February 1,” he stated.

He confirmed that the sighting of a ringed bird in the area had conformed the fact that some species from Siberia were also arriving here during the winters. “The gigantic task of bird estimation was undertaken by 23 teams comprising almost 130 persons from the wild life wing, WWF, and the Himalayan Environment Preservation Society and the Pong Birding Society,” he said.

“Rs 7.70 lakh have been sanctioned for Renuka wetland, Rs 10.84 for Rewalsar and Rs 5.20 lakh for Khajjiar,” he said.

Disposal of CFL bulbs to be looked into
Tribune News Service

Shimla, February 7
Even as the task of distribution of 64 lakh power saver CFL bulbs in Himachal is nearing completion, the aspect of its safe disposal will now be taken care of as the vital question still remains unanswered.

Addressing a press conference here today Managing Director of HPL India Limited, Lalit Seth said that the task of providing 40 lakh CFL bulbs to the consumers by his company in Himachal had almost been completed. “Our own Research and Development wing is looking into the aspect of safe disposal of CFL bulbs and we will seek inputs from our European counterparts,” he said.

With mercury content of 3 mg in CFL bulbs, questions are being raised about their safe disposal. When asked about the cheaper bulbs being supplied by China he said there was no question of any threat as there will be no dearth for buyers of quality products, which they were producing.

Seth while detailing the expansion plans of his company said that despite recession it was expected to touch a turnover of Rs 1,000 crore from the present Rs 630 crore in the next two years. “Fortunately, we have not been much affected by recession as even now we have a pendency of almost Rs 100 crore orders for our factory at Jabli in Solan,” he remarked.

Rs 3 lakh for school building
Tribune News Service

Hamirpur, February 7
Education Minister ID Dhiman said the state government was contemplating giving right to involve the elected representatives to the Block Development Committees chairman in creating an ideal environment in government schools. He said this today while presiding over the annual prize distribution function at Government High School, Dheerwien.

Dhiman said, “The state government is making every effort in making ideal schools by improving overall standards of these schools and through quality education mental and physical level of students would be raised.”

Dhiman also announced to give Rs 3 lakh for the construction of primary school building at Dheerwien, Rs 5 lakh for the construction of new rooms in the high school, Rs 3 lakh for repairs and another Rs 3 lakh for the building of primary school at Jakhyol.