|
|
|
|
Annual plan for state hiked to Rs 2,700 crore
Cong failed to corner govt in budget session
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Power Projects
Barrier Auction
Industries Dept forms land bank
Samiti uncovers encroachments
Bali demands action against drug mafia
Plea to ensure supply of life saving drugs
Grading system up to class VII mooted
Lecturers up in arms against school board over exam duties
Rise in accidents a matter of concern
Panchayat pradhan suspended
Literary awards for writers
Another chance for HPU staff
ATM service
Stray dog population
|
|
Annual plan for state hiked to Rs 2,700 crore
Shimla, February 28 The plan size was fixed at a meeting of the Planning Commission Deputy Chairman, Montek Singh Ahluwalia with chief minister P.K. Dhumal at
Delhi today. This year’s plan is 12.50 per cent higher than last year. The
Planning Commission has provided Rs 500 crore as special plan assistance to Himachal in comparison to the special plan assistance of Rs 450 crore given
last year. Dhumal said the social sector had been given top priority by allocating Rs 871.97 crore while the allocation for agriculture and allied services was Rs 299.20 crore, for rural development Rs 143 crore, for irrigation and flood control Rs 270.74 crore and Rs 354.86 crore
for energy. Dhumal requested the Planning Commission to sanction one more IIM and one Indian Institute of Information Technology for Himachal besides one college of excellence in every district of the state. “The enrolment rate in Himachal in higher education is 20 per cent, double the national figure and now the target had been fixed at 50 per cent,”
he said. The chief minister while seeking a special financial package for Himachal lamented that militancy-affected states get liberal assistance of up to Rs 10,000 crore but Himachal being a peaceful state was being denied this help. “Himachal has achieved a growth rate of 7.7 per cent as against a national average of 7.1 per cent during 2008-09 despite the global slowdown,” he said. He said out of this total amount Rs 1732 crore would be spent under general plan, Rs 668 crore under Scheduled Caste sub-plan, Rs 243 crore on tribal sub-plan and Rs 57 crore on backward area sub-plan. He said this year 1700 hectares of additional land would be provided irrigation facilities through four irrigation schemes. “Besides the 25,000 hand pumps that had already been installed in drought prone and acute waster shortage areas, 2500 new hand pumps would be installed this year,”
said Dhumal. |
||
|
Cong failed to corner govt in budget session
Shimla, February 28 Even as CLP leader Vidya Stokes and HPCC chief Kaul Singh Thakur tried to take on the government on various issues, the absence of former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh from the House on most occasions made all difference. Barring a few occasion like the Governor’s address and presentation of the budget his absence was, too, obvious as the Opposition attack lacked the sting to nail the government. Even though the 11-day sittings witnessed heated exchanges between the treasury benches and the Opposition members, but overall the session was held amidst congenial atmosphere. The legislators from the two parties locked horns on several occasions on the issue of taking credit for the several centrally sponsored schemes. Dhumal said the UPA regime had not done a special favour towards Himachal as what the hill state got was its right. “It was the failure of the then Congress regime in effectively pleading the case of the state despite their own party being in power at the Centre that Himachal had to suffer,”
he remarked. Both Stokes and Thakur said how could the BJP regime took credit for getting the central university and IIT when former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram had announced them for Himachal at a public meeting on October 2, 2007. The Congress raised issues like removal of PTA teachers leading to huge vacancies in schools and insufficient reduction in bus fares increased by 25 per cent earlier. Some of BJP legislators, who endlessly showered praises on the Chief Minister with or without reason, had to bear sarcastic remarks from Congress MLAs for vying for a ministerial berth. The Congress staged a walkout on the opening day itself on the issue of the budget session being too brief. The gaffe of printing of the wrong map of India in the government’s official diary showing Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) as not being part of India did cause embarrassment to the government giving an opportunity to the Congress to stage a walkout on the second day. The shortest ever budget session had 11 sittings. A total of 397 questions, including 270 starred and 137 unstarred, were taken up during the session. |
||
|
Power Projects
Shimla, February 28 In all 22 CAT plans involving an expenditure of Rs 334 crore were under implementation. As against the amount of Rs 152.1 crore, which was to be released by January 1, only Rs 16.32 crore had been received. Further, an amount of Rs 78.12 crore has been deposited with the CAMPA, which was created on the directions of the Supreme Court following complaints of misuse of CAT plan funds by
some states. The state government had last month filed an application in the apex court pleading for a direction to the Government of India for releasing the funds deposited by the state with the CAMPA so that these could be utilised for environmental rehabilitation of degraded hills where a large number of hydroelectric projects were
coming up. The government woke up to the need of speeding up implementation of CAT plans after the World Bank expressed its displeasure over their tardy progress and asked the government to outsource the work if the Forest Department was not in a position to
do the job. It wanted the CAT plans in respect of major projects like 800 MW Kol Dam, 1,500 MW Nathpa Jhakri, 412 MW Rampur and 300 MW Baspa to be completed over the next
three years. The department had spent only about Rs 45 crore over CAT plans in the past 13 years and it now plans to utilise Rs 100 crore within the next three years. Out of this Rs 38.55 crore would be spent during the current financial year. |
||
|
Barrier Auction
Solan, February 28 The auctions had failed to attract a single bidder for the prime Kala Amb barrier while the few that had turned up for the Gobindghat and Behraal barriers could give no appreciable hike thus leading to their
postponement. The department was now keeping the reserve price under wraps and no information was divulged to mediapersons as an added precaution. AETC Rohit Chauhan said it was a policy matter not to reveal the reserve price beforehand though he added that the two units of Parwanoo and Deerowal were auctioned at Rs 10.4 crore and Rs 1.85 crore last year. Sources in the department confirmed that no hike had been affected in the reserve price and the last year’s amount had been pegged as the reserve price for the auctions this year. They also added that this amount had not been revised as the department felt the barriers were already oversubscribed. As a general practice the barriers were auctioned for a higher amount than the previous year’s amount and the quantum of hike depended on the strategy devised by the department vis-à-vis expected hike. Interestingly, the reserve price used to be advertised along with the auction notice in newspapers every year. This practice had fetched a revenue hike of as much as 25 to 30 per cent in the
previous years. The new strategy adopted this year, however, pointed to the fact that the department had given up its efforts to affect any hike and had conveniently kept the reserve price at previous year’s auctioned price. This also proved that the contractor lobby had managed to manipulate the prices. Barrier auctions contribute a prime share to the state exchequer and there are two units-Parwanoo and Deerowal- each of which has smaller barriers clubbed within them. The Parwanoo unit, which encompasses Parwanoo, Baddi and Barotiwala barriers, is pegged as the most prestigious unit contributing maximum to the revenue while the Deerowal unit comprises of Dheerowal, Dhabota, Tikri and Nagaon units under it. |
||
|
Industries Dept forms land bank
Shimla, February 28 An official spokesperson said here today that the land bank comprises of government as well as private land. “The private land comprises of such lands whose owners have consented to sell their land to private entrepreneurs through mutual negotiations,” he said. The Industries Department will provide escort and facilitation service in case the entrepreneurs were wiling to purchase this land. He said a notification to include biotechnology process-based industrial and non-industrial products, processing laboratories and R and D facilities as thrust industries to make them eligible for the incentives available to other units in the industrially backward and tribal areas. The government has also liberalised the process of transfer of industrial plots in the industrial areas from one promoter to other by allowing the transfer of lease hold rights on non-utilised and under-utilised plots and sheds in the industrial areas from one promoter to another by allowing transfer of lease hold rights by charging 50 per cent increase in the cost of land. In case of allottees who had utilised the plots by setting up units and intended to transfer it, only 20 per cent charges will be made for those who have run it for more than five years and 30 per cent for those who have run it for less than five years. He said efforts were on to ensure prompt utilisation of idle plots and sheds and a rebate of 10 to 15 per cent would be provided in case the transfer is done before September 30, 2009. |
||
|
Samiti uncovers encroachments
Chamba, February 28 To remove encroachments on the hospital land, the samiti has decided to issue notices to the encroachers to vacate the land within the stipulated period failing which legal action would be initiated against them. The SDM, however, directed revenue officials to conduct demarcation of the hospital land covered under encroachments. The samiti passed a resolution seeking deployment of specialist for the purpose of ultrasound till the regular appointment of radiologist, besides construction of residential accommodation
for doctors. To meet the hospital expenses, charges on various activities of the hospital were amended by the samiti. The samiti passed a resolution with regard to repair of water cooler, dental X-ray machine and purchase of water filter equipment. |
||
|
Bali demands action against drug mafia
Kangra, February 28 He stated this while addressing a press conference here today. He said the drug and the liquor mafia had allegedly spread its tentacles in the schools and colleges of the state thus posing threat to the future generation. He charged that the police was a mute spectator to the entire situation and blamed the government for turning a blind eye to the issue. He demanded action against the drug mafia and against those officials and politicians who were patronising illegal trade to leave the state with cultural bankruptcy. He said resentment was brewing among people of the lower areas of the state for treating them with discrimination. Citing example Bali said patients were charged Rs 1,200 for CT scan at in Dr RP Government Medical College, Tanda, whereas it was Rs 300 at IGMC, Shimla. For x-ray Rs 50 were charged at Dr RPGMC whereas Rs 15 at IGMC. He demanded that the state government should bring the charges of diagnostic tests and other charges at par with both the medical colleges.
|
||
|
Plea to ensure supply of life saving drugs
Kullu, February 28 Dr Jagat Ram, a retired senior medical officer, said the government was responsible for ensuring supplies of the drugs and authorities to maintain the price line. He said both seemed to be indifferent and at times, even the supply of life saving drugs was not maintained. Rishav Kalia, president of the Kullu District Chemists and Druggists Association, confirmed that the supplies of vitamin C and vitamin E were not coming for the past three months. He said the manufacturers in India stopped the production due to the bulk supply by China manufacturers at lower rates. Supplies from China were hit due to the closures of many units there due to the recent Olympics games, while Indian unit had stopped the production. He said the shortage of these drugs were countrywide. He, however, maintained that the responsibility falls on the government to ensure the supplies. Though the government of the state claimed its achievements in the field of health and education, but the ground realities were different of the claims. The government should ensure the availability of the essential drugs and take necessary steps to import the drugs those were not available. |
||
|
Grading system up to class VII mooted
Hamirpur, February 28 At present the system is applicable for the students up to class V in two government schools of each block in the state. The grades to students under this system are awarded on the basis of overall evaluation of the students in studies, co-curricular activities, physical health, performance in preparing projects, creative skills, cleanliness habits, attendance in school and development of other skills etc. The grading to students will be based on comprehensive and consistent growth in every field. After introduction of the new system the students will be relieved from the tension of undertaking exams, but they will have to remain vigilant throughout the session. For awarding grades a progress chart will be prepared by the class teacher concerned, principal or headmaster of the school and block resource person of the SSA. Sources in the Education Department said, “Initially at least one school in every district of the state will be covered under the system of gradation of students up to class VII and for Hamirpur district Government Senior Secondary School, Hamiprur, has been selected.” Director of elementary education Sunil Chaudhary said, “We have sent this proposal to the state government and future action in this regard will be taken after its approval.” |
||
|
Lecturers up in arms against school board over exam duties
Dharamsala, February 28 President of state lecturers union Ashwani said earlier the school lecturers used to be in charge of the flying squads in the board examinations. However, the board has now decided to include trained graduate teachers (TGTs), shastri and drawing teachers in flying squads. The change is unjustified, he said. The lecturers also alleged that generally they were asked to give three options for duty at examination centres. Each of them was then posted as the superintendent of one of the three opted examination centres. “However, the practice is not being followed this year and many of them have been posted at examination centres for which they have not opted for,” they alleged. Ashwani said the lecturers had decided to boycott flying squad and examination centre duties for the time being. However, if the board did not yield to their demands, they could also boycott the evaluation duties, he said. Chairman of the education board CL Gupta, however, said the changes in the earlier policy had been affected to curb the menace of copying. “Now the board has decided that the flying squads would comprise the SDM of the respective area, the deputy director of education department of the district, a principal of the government school and senior lecturers of schools. The officials of various departments are being included in the flying squads so that copying could be curbed,” he added. Meanwhile, the Himachal Government Teachers Union has also come out in support of the board. These teachers have flayed the decision of lecturers to boycott duties. They said opposition of school lecturers to the inclusion of TGT teachers in flying squads was unjustified. |
||
|
Rise in accidents a matter of concern
Palampur, February 28 According to official figures, over 140 innocent persons had lost their lives in different road mishaps in the state in the past nine months. In the past three days, 15 persons had lost their lives in two bus mishaps. The situation is quite alarming. Tall claims made by the state government to check motor accidents in the state were only confined to files and nothing worthwhile has been done to ensure passenger safety. Though the state government is well conversant with the situation that 95 per cent of the total population of the state was dependant on the road transport, the passenger safety has completely
been neglected. In most of the mishaps, private buses and maxi cabs were involved. The state government had granted route permits without looking into the conditions of those roads where the vehicles were to be plied. According to official figures in the past 10 years, over 5,705 persons in the state had lost their lives in different road accidents while over 33,227 were injured. The state has a high rate of accident because of its difficult topography and narrow roads. |
||
|
Panchayat pradhan suspended
Nurpur, February 28 Confirming this, Kangra district panchayat officer (DPO) Chain Singh Punia said action had been taken against him under Section 145 of the Panchayati Raj Act, 1994, and he was directed to handover all property of the panchayat to the panchayati secretary. According to information, a panchayat member of the gram panchayat had complaint to the DPO about six months back alleging that the pradhan had spent government funds with his own whim and failed to carry out those development works for which the funds had
been earmarked. The DPO had forwarded the complaint to the Nurpur block development officer (BDO) to inquire into the allegations. The pradhan was chargesheeted and served show-cause notice by the DPO and finally suspended after conducting thorough inquiry. Meanwhile, the pradhan denied allegations and claimed that he had replied to the show-cause notice with actual facts. |
||
|
Literary awards for writers
Shimla, February 28 The Academy Award in the category of Hindi poetry will be given to Sudarshan Vashishtha (Shimla) for his book “Jo Dekh Raha Hoon” and in the Hindi story, novel and drama category to Sadhu Ram Darshak (Una) for his book “Fauji Tatha Anya Kahaniyan”. Roop Sharma will be awarded for his storybook titled “Himachal Pradesh- Andhkar Se Prakashj
Ki Ore”. Ravi Singh Mandhotra will be awarded for his Pahari novel “Jondha”. Besides this, Krishan Kumar Toor will be honoured for his Urdu poetry “Rafta Ramaz”. Secretary Language and Culture BK Aggarwal informed that the awards would be presented at an award ceremony to be held by the Academy in the near future. Each award carries a cash prize of Rs 31,000, a memento, citation and
a shawl. |
||
|
Another chance for HPU staff
Shimla, February 28 The decision was taken at the meeting of the EC chaired by vice-chancellor Prof Sunil Kumar Gupta, here today. The EC also decided to make admission to MBA (ICDEOL) through distance learning on the basis of merit in academics rather than through an entrance test from the 2009-10 session. |
||
|
ATM service
Shimla, February 28 |
||
|
Stray dog population
Shimla, February 28 |
||
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
