Shimla, March 25
The water charges for both urban and rural water supply will be increased by 10 per cent from April 1 in accordance with the tariff policy of annual revision introduced to raise resources for the fund-starved Irrigation and Public Health Department to meet part of the rising cost of supply. However, despite periodical revision the recovery level continues to be very low and the quantum of hidden subsidy is swelling.

The charges for domestic rural water supply will go up from Rs 13.31 to Rs 14.64 per connection and for commercial connection the new rate will be Rs 11.7 per kilolitre. The rates for all nagar panchayats and municipal committees where the water is supplied directly by the department will be Rs 5.85 per kilolitre for domestic connection and Rs 11.7 per kilolitre for commercial connection.

In case of bulk supply the Shimla Municipal Corporation and the Solan Municipal Council will be charged at the rate of Rs 11.7 per kilolitre and the Palampur Municipal Council at Rs 6.85 per kilolitre.

The charges are being revised annually from 2005 onwards but the recovery level is still very low and the mounting arrears of municipalities, which are supplied water in bulk also causing financial problems to the department. The department spent Rs 138 crore on rural supply but the income was only Rs 4.96 crore during the year 2006-07. In case of urban supply the situation was slightly better with an expenditure of Rs 59.75 crore and income of Rs 5.8 crore. The amount of subsidy came to Rs 154.44 crore, including Rs 133.53 crore for the rural supply.

In the following year the total subsidy increased to Rs 175.03 crore even as the subsidy for rural supply came down by about Rs 12.5 crore to Rs 121 crore. The cost of water supply in case of lift irrigation schemes is Rs 18 per kilolitre and in case of gravity flow schemes it is Rs 5 per kilolitre.

In the case of Shimla Municipal Corporation the cost of bulk water supply is Rs 36 per kilolitre but the corporation charges less than one-third of the cost. Similar is the case of Solan and Palampur municipalities.

While charging very low rates form the consumers these municipalities had not been paying the charges of bulk supply to the department in full. The arrears are increasing with each year and crossed the Rs 60 crore mark. As against the due amount of Rs 69.49 crore only Rs 9.94 crore was recovered and the arrears amounted to Rs 59.55 crore as on December 31, 2008. The Shimla Municipal Corporation alone accounted for Rs 49.53 crore, followed by Solan (Rs 5.99 crore) and Palampur (Rs 88.62 lakh).

Shimla, March 25
Himachal Pradesh University (HPU) will put in place a system where there is no place for ragging in governemnt as well as private educational institutes affiliated to it.

The issue of ragging came up for discussion at a meeting of the academic council of HPU, held here today under the chairmanship of Vice-Chancellor Prof Sunil Kumar Gupta. A two-minute silence was observed to pay homage to Aman Kachroo, who became a victim to ragging at Dr Rajendra Prasad Medical College, Tanda, in Kangra.

The council decided to implement the rules to curb ragging in letter and spirit. It will be for the first time that the anti-ragging instructions will find mention in the prospectus itself so that there is no scope for the menace which is causing mental and physical harassment to students, especially in professional colleges.

The council approved the change in the syllabus of IT and computers so as to adapt and keep in tune with times and the new emerging market needs. It was also decided to implement internal assessment system in al the postgraduate classes at the campus from the 2009-10 session.

The council also approved revision in syllabus of MCA, BCA and mathematics (PG) and approved the academic and vacation schedule for the next session.

It was also decided to introduce M.Phil in mathematics and education through ICDEOL from the next academic session.

Shimla, March 25
Taking a serious view of inordinate delay in the transfer of case files pertaining to the scrapped H.P. Administrative Tribunal, the high court directed the Registrar General of the court to ensure that all cases pending before the erstwhile tribunal are transferred to the Registry of this court within eight weeks.

Justice Rajiv Sharma passed this order on an application filed by some litigant for summoning the record of his case from the erstwhile tribunal. The court observed that as per Section 3 of the H.P.Administrative Tribunal (transfer of decided and pending cases and application) Act, 2008 ‘the records of cases or proceedings were pending required to be forwarded to the High court or the civil court concerned. ” The court further observed that in normal circumstances the records were required to be transferred by the Registry of the tribunal within a reasonable period of six months to the registry of this court. However, the cases are not transferred expeditiously in letter and spirit of the enactment. Due to this reason the litigants are forced to move applications for summoning of the cases.

The court further observed that the litigants couldn’t be forced to approach this court again for summoning of the records in view of the express phraseology employed in Section 3 of the Act.

It is pertinent to mention here that the tribunal was abolished on July 8, 2008 on the recommendation of the state government and later on it enacted the above said Act for transfer of all the records pertaining to the scrapped tribunal to the high court or concerned civil court. 

Solan, March 25
The frequent power tripping in the industrial areas of Parwanoo and Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh (BBN) have increased the losses of the continuous process industries. The magnitude of the problem can be gauged from the fact that the industrialists feared incurring heavy losses in this crucial month of the current financial year.

The problem was particularly acute in the Parwanoo industrial belt where the industrialists running continuous processes said their workshifts were going waste as two-three power tripping in a single shift led to the entire process coming to a standstill. “One has to restart the process once a trip occurred and this usually takes half-an-hour. This led to lot of material going waste as processes like cutting of metals, joining of wires, etc, if halted in between made the entire process redundant,” opined an investor.

Since all industries invariably have some quantum of continuous processes all industrial units have been forced to bear the burnt of this sudden problem. The problem was particularly grave for those units where the continuous processes comprised of major part of the industrial operations.

The concerned executive engineer said the power tripping were on account of the inclement weather marred by lightening where they could do little. He said there was some problem earlier in the CRI feeder, which catered to the Kasauli and its surrounding areas, but it had been rectified.

The industrialists, however, said this adverse affect of the inclement weather had greatly enhanced their losses and their manpower was going waste as little progress could be brought about once there was a trip in the supply. Majority of the power tripping occurred in the morning shifts and since this comprised of major industrial activity investors were a worried lot.

Shimla, March 25
Terming Madan Lal, the Congress candidate from Hamirpur Lok Sabha seat as a ‘tourist’, the BJP today said that the people of the area would reject him, as despite being an international cricketer his contribution towards promoting the sport in Himachal was nil.

Addressing a press conference here today, a sitting MLA and state BJP spokesperson, Randhir Sharma said Madan Lal was a parachute candidate against whom his own party men had raised the banner of revolt. ‘After his grandfather moved away from Hamirpur, neither he nor his family has bothered about Himachal, a fact which people of the hill state know very well,’ said Sharma.

‘He cannot take the people of Hamirpur for a ride as they can see through his new found love for his home state, with which he has hardly maintained any ties till he desired to contest the election recently,’ said the BJP leader. He said if asked, the cricketer could not probably even tell the districts leave aside areas falling under the Hamirpur Lok Sabha seat.

Madan Lal lambasted the Congress for politicising the issue of the alleged rape of six deaf and dumb girls at an institute in Totu. ‘The fact that the party chose to even get political mileage out of such an unfortunate incident indicates that the party is not just issueless but also leaderless,’ he said. He added that on the contrary some of the Congress ministers had given money out of their discretionary funds to Prerna.

Sharma alleged that in fact it was the Congress party which in order to benefit the Prerna Welfare Association run by a Congress leader did not pursue the matter for the setting up of a rehabilitation centre for disabled children in Hiranagar despite the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment giving 10 bighas of land for the institute way back in 1989. He added due to the delay in starting the project the revenue department took back some of the land in 2007.

He also regretted the fact that the Congress was trying to give political colour to the ragging issue.

Hamirpur, March 25
The dissension among Hamirpur district Congress leaders against the Congress high command’s decision to field former cricketer Madan Lal from here has grown further with the resignation of veteran party leader and vice-chairman of the district unit of the Rajiv Gandhi Panchayati Raj Organisation Munshi Ram Dhiman from the post.

In a fax message sent to AICC chief Sonia Gandhi, copies of which were released to mediapersons, octogenarian Dhiman, who is also elected president of the Swahal gram panchayat, has said “for quite some time, a conspiracy is going on to sell Congress into the hands of the BJP as a result of which mass base of the party has been shrinking and the BJP won the last parliamentary election from here with a huge margin of 1,74,666 votes”.

He has alleged that party leaders like Vidya Stokes, GS Bali and Sukhvinder Singh “Sukhu” have misled the Congress high command to help the BJP and damaged the Congress prospects from here.

He has tendered his resignation from the post “to oppose the decision”, which, according to him, was tantamount to playing with the sentiments of party workers.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Ram Chand Pathania has welcomed the decision of the party high command to field Madan Lal from Hamirpur and thanked the party leaders for the decision. He said the Congress was united in the district and would work for the victory of Madan Lal.

Shimla, March 25
The government will explore the possibility of raising a memorial to the heroes of the “First War of Independence” at Rani Jhansi Park as a tribute to the freedom fighters from the hill state. It will also take up the matter of restoration of ancient temples of archaeological importance with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

Stating this during a meeting to review the functioning of the language and culture department and the state academy of language, art and culture here today, Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal said the names of freedom fighters of the state, who made a significant contribution during the 1857 national uprising, would be engraved on the memorial. A statue of martyr General Zorabar Singh was being installed at Nadaun and that of martyr Captain Mridul Sharma at Hamirpur. The statue of renowned writer late Yash Pal was also being installed at his native place Nadaun.

The Chief Minister said the government would prepare detailed project reports of all ancient temples and undertake their restoration through the ASI. He said there were dozens of important religious shrines and heritage buildings under the Archaeological Survey of India for restoration and maintenance, but it was being observed that most of such monuments were in a dilapidated condition. One such temple of Mrikula Devi in Lahaul was on the verge of collapse and required immediate repair and maintenance. He directed the authorities to requisition services of experts to get detailed project reports prepared for restoration.

Dhumal emphasised the need for concerted efforts to restore the renowned Masroor Temple in Kangra district, besides creating basic infrastructure to give boost to heritage and devotional tourism in the area. He said prominent shrines of Sri Mata Naina Devi, Mata Chintpurni, Mata Jawalaji and Baba Balak Nath needed to be linked with ‘Gau Sadan’ management activities in their respective areas and the deputy commissioners should explore the possibility of setting up of such ‘sadans’ within their jurisdiction, besides helping other NGOs engaged in such activities.

He said the Gaiety Theatre, which had been restored at a cost of Rs 12 crore, would be reopened shortly. He directed the authorities to explore the possibility of setting up an institution in the state capital for training budding artists on the pattern of the Roerich Art College.

Chief Secretary Asha Swaroop underlined the need for setting up a city museum in the heart of the town and documentation of folk music.

Mandi, March 25
Former Chief Minister and Lok Sabha candidate of the Congress from Mandi Virbhadra Singh has said that the people in regions like Mandi, Kangra, Bilaspur and Sirmaur have been nursing a feeling of discrimination under the 15-month rule of the BJP.

He got rousing reception at Nagwani, Panarsa, Aut, Thalot, Hanogi and Pandoh before embarking on poll campaign in the rain-drenched temple town here today. He, however, did not name his BJP rival Maheshwar Singh even once during his speech. He went on to raise the ante against the 15-month-old Dhumal government
in the state.

“People in major regions like Mandi, Kangra, Bilaspur and Sirmaur are nursing a feeling of discrimination and negligence under the present regime,” he alleged.

Virbhadra Singh appeared as a humble Congress worker with folded hands and stood up before the cheering party workers asking for their support. “I have been an MP twice from Mandi before late Indira Gandhi made me the Chief Minister in 1983. Once again, the Congress high command has asked me to contest,” he said.

He recounted the “saga of development” in Himachal Pradesh ushered in by various Congress governments and the telecom revolution under Sukh Ram.

Virbhadra Singh branded the present BJP rule as “anti-Mandi and anti-other major regions like Kangra, Sirmaur and Bilaspur”. He said there was no substitute for government medical college in the central Mandi zone. The present BJP regime had also ignored Mandi politically, and there was just one minister from this area, he said.

Kaul Singh Thakur said the BJP was a “communal party that divided people on the basis of region, religion and caste”.

“The party has done nothing for Himachal. It has been targeting Congressmen by framing them in false cases. All big projects in the state have come from the UPA government, which will form the next government and Virbhadra Singh will be a senior minister at the Centre,” he added.

Virbhadra Singh was accompanied by his wife and sitting MP Pratibha Singh besides state president Kaul Singh, ex-excise and taxation minister Rangila Ram Rao, Mandi (Sadar) MLA Anil Sharma etc.

Chamba, March 25
In the wake of directives from the Government of India, the security arrangements have been reinforced in and around varios hydropower projects in the border regions of te state adjoining Jammu and Kashmir, revealed SK Agarawal, Executive Director, NHPC Region-II, while talking to mediapersons at Dharwala, about 30 km from here, today.

He said the major water sports activities in the project reservoir along its dams had been prohibited for providing security cover to the colossal hydropower projects of national importance.

Answering a query of a reporter that some people claiming to be oustees of the Chamera-II project were organising demonstrations and protests in support of their demands as reported in the media, the executive directed categorically stated that since the 300-MW Chamera-II hydroelectric project had been completed and commissioned five years ago in February 2004, the question of any oustees’ job and land compensation does not arise.

“All matters relating to the compensation of land and jobs to oustees stand settled by the NHPC in communion with the Himachal Pradesh Government,” he disclosed.

On the other hand, the ousted families said they had neither been paid the compensation nor given job in the project so far.

Manali, March 25
The upper Manali region experienced a fresh spell of snowfall, while the lower parts of the areas were lashed by rain on today. This brought the temperature substantially down in the region.

The higher reaches in the Kullu area, including Rohtang Pass, Pir Panjal ranges, Chanderkhani Pass, Hamata ski slopes, Bhrighu slopes, Beas Kund, Dhundi, Solang valley, Marhi, Gulaba and Kothi experienced fresh snowfall today.

The Rohtang pass had about two-foot of snowfall, while it was around one foot at Marhi.

Vehicles can go up to Gulaba, about 24 km from here, on the Manali-Rohtang road. The popularly known ‘snow point’, Gulaba, also recorded 8 inches of fresh snowfall. Mean while, hundreds of tourists rushed to Gulaba to have a glimpse of the fresh snowfall.

Commander 38, BRTF, SK Doon said the snow-clearing operation on the Manali-Rohtang road was disrupted today due to fresh snowfall. He said the snow-clearing team working from the Manali side was just short of Rohtang Pass. A 150-m stretch of the road that had about 40 to 45 feet snow at Rahni nallah had also been cleared. The snow-clearing operation would be restarted after improvement in weather conditions, he added.

CHAMBA: Higher peaks of Chamba district and the adjoining Pir Panjal range in Jammu and Kashmir have received heavy snowfall since Tuesday night. As a result, there has been a sharp decline in the temperature in the area. The low-laying areas of the region had received widespread rain, the reports said.

Chamera (Chamba), March 25
The National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) today set another milestone by day-lighting the 16-km headrace tunnel (HRT) at the prestigious Chamera hydroelectric project (stage-III). The day-lighting ceremony was formally completed by NHPC’s Executive Director (Region-II SK Agarawal. He was accompanied by project general manger KK Joshi.

This happens to be the longest-ever headrace tunnel in the country. The project, located on the Ravi, is a run-of-the-river hydroelectric scheme. The target is to complete and commission the project by August, 2010.

KK Joshi said lining and concrete work on the headrace tunnel was in progress. The concreting work of around 2-km stretch of the tunnel had been completed so far. The project would also have a 125-m-long tailrace tunnel (TRT) for discharging the water into the river.

The construction of 68-m-high gravity concrete dam at Churaid Bagda site was also in progress and the work of lining and concreting the de-silting chambers of the dam was being executed, Joshi said.

The water of the Ravi had already been diverted through a 366-m-long diversion tunnel at Churaid Bagda dam site in the rocky cliffs in Bharmour tribal region ahead of scheduled. The work on main access tunnel, ventilation tunnel and six adit tunnels had already been completed.

The concreting and lining work of the underground powerhouse cavern (100 x 18.6 x 40 m) up to the turbines opposite Dharwala village was also nearing completion. Three generating units of 77-MW each would be installed there, Joshi said.

The project, which was targeted to be completed by August next year, would cost Rs 1405.63 crore. The power generated here would be fed to the northern grid for further distribution to the beneficiary states of Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Chandigarh, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Rajasthan.

The areas adjoining the project site were immensely benefiting due to the construction of bridges and widening 
of roads.