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Sale of power to Delhi to be probed
State’s financial position precarious: CAG report
D’sala might host IPL ties
Power Projects |
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‘Exam shock’ for Class V students
TCP, MC disclosure bills passed
Advocates hold protest
Man booked in dowry case
Charred to death
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Sale of power to Delhi to be probed
Shimla, February 27 In his reply to the debate on the annual budget of the HPSEB in the Assembly today, Dhumal said in case substance was found in the charges of sale of power at lower rates when there were better offers available, action would be taken against the guilty. It was Congress legislator GS Bali who had demanded an inquiry into sale of power at lower rates. “What needs to be ascertained is the fact whether the better offers were already there with the HPSEB before the closing of the bids, or these came in later,” he said. In case the government had suffered a loss on account of the deal, the guilty would not be spared, he added. He said efforts were being made to set up more and more hydropower projects to harness the maximum power potential in the state. “Under the 11th Five Year Plan, we have set a target to harness 5,664 MW so that the total harnessed power goes up to 12,386 MW out of a total potential of 20,415 MW,” he said. Dhumal said some changes had been brought about in the power policy to make it more effective. He denied that these changes had led to some doubts in the minds of the entrepreneurs. “A Rs 4.5-crore master plan had been prepared to strengthen the power distribution system and efforts were being made to execute power projects within a fixed time frame,” he said. Participating in the debate, CLP leader Vidya Stokes pleaded that the poor sections of society must be provided subsidy on power. “The frequent changes being made in the power policy are having an adverse impact on the power sector,” she maintained. GS Bali said had the officials of the HPSEB acted more wisely while selling power to Delhi Transco, the state could have been saved from incurring heavy financial loss. Kuldeep Pathania of the Congress said it was a matter of pride for the state that 12,000 MW power would be harnessed by 2012. “However, we need to take safeguards to ensure that there is no damage to the environment due to the coming up of power projects,” he said. |
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State’s financial position precarious: CAG report
Shimla, February 27 The fiscal liabilities of the government have been increasing consistently and stood at 61 per cent of the gross state domestic product (GSDP), which was very high in view of the 12th finance commission’s norm of 31 per cent to be achieved by March, 2009. The total fiscal liabilities shot up from Rs 14,437 crore in 2002-03 to Rs 19,419 crore in 2007-08 which included market loans to the tune of Rs 5,905 crore. These liabilities stood at 2.12 times the revenue receipts and 5.14 times the state’s own resources. However, the decline in debt to GSDP ratio from 71.68 per cent in 2004-05 to 60.93 per cent in 2007-08 indicated that the state was moving towards debt stabilisation. The revenue receipts increased from Rs 7,835 crore in 2006-07 to Rs 9,142 crore in 2007-08, a growth of 16.68 per cent, while overall expenditure increased from Rs 8,780 crore to Rs 9,720 crore during the period. |
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D’sala might host IPL ties
Dharamsala, February 27 On inspection Bindra said that the Dharamsala cricket stadium had all the facilities for hosting the IPL matches but for floodlights. Since all the IPL matches have to be organised from 4 pm to 7 pm, floodlights were necessary. We have told the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) to get floodlights installed at the stadium at the earliest so that the ground was considered for IPL matches. The governing body of IPL has now allowed the franchise holders of teams to organise two matches in catchment areas of their respective grounds. One of the owners of Punjab Kings XI Preity Zinta belongs to Himachal Pradesh and I am hopeful that she would be positive to the idea of holding an IPL match at Dharamsala, Bindra said. Dharamsala falls in the catchment area of Punjab Kings XI team. So the Franchise holders of team can organise two matches here also. He said after the floodlights were installed a request would be forwarded to Franchise holder of Kings XI team to come and inspect the Dharamsala cricket stadium. The president of HPCA Anurag Thakur said the technicians for installing floodlights at the stadium had been summoned. They would be arriving here in the next three days. Every effort would be made for getting floodlights installed at the stadium before the present IPL season. Bindra also said that Dharamsala cricket stadium was suitable for holding international cricket matches. However, the international matches cannot be held here till ICC approved the venue. |
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Power Projects
Shimla, February 27 He said five cases of illegal dumping were detected in respect of the 1,000-MW Karcham Wangtu project on which action was being taken as per law. Replying to a question of Vidya Stokes (Congress) in the Vidhan Sabha, he said an FIR had been lodged against the company concerned by the Forest Department. The company had identified 58 dumping sites out of which 47 sites were approved by the state pollution control board. Till December 2008, 31.73 lakh cu m of generated muck had been utilised in various works while 25.42 lakh cu m had been dumped at designated sites. |
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‘Exam shock’ for Class V students
Kangra, February 27 Project officer of the Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) Dev Raj Sharma confirmed that due to delay in the supply of printing material to schools, continuous comprehensive assessment (CCA) could not be undertaken, thus the programme had been postponed to the next year in consultation with senior officers of the SSA and the Education Department. Block president of the teachers’ association Pawan Sharma said the teachers had taken tests of students on weekly basis, but they could not compile the data on monthly basis for want of the required material. Meanwhile, the little students are a surprised lot, thanks to the sudden decision of the education board. Teachers of the Kangra education block have expressed surprise over the fact that the department had failed to deliver roll numbers and the datesheets to the students so far. The students, who have to take their first paper on March 2, still do not know the examination schedule, they say. Deputy Director of Education Ram Lata could not be contacted for her comments on the issue. |
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TCP, MC disclosure bills passed
Shimla, February 27 They will be able to construct residential buildings up to three storeys besides carrying out other related activities up to the prescribed limits without obtaining permission. In the rest of the 174 villages, having “urbanisable” area of 181 sq km, permission would be essential. The House also passed the state municipality disclosure bill seeking to provide transparency and accountability in the functioning of municipalities.
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Advocates hold protest
Bilaspur, February 27 The association handed over a memorandum to Additional District Magistrate Subhash Chaudhary, demanding immediate suspension and arrest of the accused police officers. The memorandum warned that such incidents could not be tolerated and if action was not taken against them, members of the bar through out the country would be forced to start a regular agitation. |
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Man booked in dowry case
Hamirpur, February 27 Police sources have said Poonam Kumari had lodged a complaint against her husband and father-in-law for harassing her to bring dowry. On the basis of this complaint the police has registered a case against them. |
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Charred to death
Kullu, February 27 The four-storey house in which seven families were living was razed to the ground. The deceased have been identified as Heera Devi (40) and Amar Singh (18). |
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