The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Himachal Pradesh Edition

Inquiry ordered into PMT paper leak
Pratibha Chauhan
Tribune News Service

Shimla, June 9
With the infamous paper leak in 2006 still haunting Himachal Pradesh University (HPU), the government today ordered an inquiry into allegations of leakage of this year’s pre-medical test (PMT) entrance paper, results of which were declared on May 31.

Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal today ordered an inquiry into the allegations of paper leak levelled by some parents of children who could not qualify. It is on the request of Prof Sunil Kumar Gupta, Vice-Chancellor of HPU, that the probe has been entrusted to the ADGP (Vigilance).

It is on the basis of a complaint received from parent Roop Upadhyaye last evening that the Vice-Chancellor decided to seek an inquiry into the matter.

ADGP (CID) I.D. Bhandari said the complainant would be summoned to find out how much substance was there in the allegations levelled by him and it was on that basis that the inquiry would be conducted.

Interestingly, even though the merit list is yet to be prepared by HPU, the main allegation levelled is that 20 children from a coaching institute in Lakkar Bazaar have bagged all top 20 positions. “The merit list is yet to be prepared as we have only indicated the marks of the students who have qualified,” said the VC.

Another reason cited in the complaint is that many children who were already studying in Dental Colleges have qualified with good marks. Data collected from HPU of the past PMT results revealed that 15 dental college students had qualified in 2008, 10 in 2007 and nine in 2007, so it was not something that was very unusual.

Sources in HPU said another reason for apprehension on the part of parents was due to the fact that some candidates had very high scores in biology paper having 400 marks. “There is a candidate who has scored barely 410 marks but his score in biology is 325 which gives ample reason for doubt,” said a parent not willing to be identified.

Coaching centre raided
Tribune News Service

Shimla, June 9
A special team constituted by the CID wing of the police to probe into the allegations of leakage of the PMT paper today raided the premises of a local coaching centre.

The CID has constituted a five-member team headed by SP (Crime) Rajinder Bhatia and DSP Brajesh Sood along with three other police personnel to investigate into the allegations of leakage of paper.

In the complaint given to the Vice-Chancellor of Himachal Pradesh University (HPU), it has been alleged that around 24 candidates who took coaching at a local institute have scored handsomely and 22 of them have been selected. It is following this complaint that the police raided the office of the said institute.

The police personnel from the CID wing also visited the HPU to collect information and documents from there also.

Ghanauli-Baddi Rail Link
Inland container depot may become reality
Our Correspondent

Solan, June 9
The extension of the railway line from Ghanauli to Baddi would benefit the units operating in the Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh industrial belt as the proposal of setting up an inland container depot (ICD) may finally become a reality.

The Container Corporation of India (CONCOR) is already setting up a container freight station (CFS) at Shitalpur village after an MoU was signed for the same in October last. It had to curtail its plan of opening an ICD due to the non-availability of rail link. The facility would largely benefit big industrial units, especially those dealing in exports.

The work was progressing at a fast pace for setting up a CFS, which was slated to be completed in 15 months. The state government has already leased out an area of 87 bighas at Shitalpur to CONCOR where the related facilities would be set up.

The corporation has now invited tenders for setting up a warehouse and an administration block. A sum of Rs 1.43 crore has already being sanctioned for the purpose. Committed to facilitate the corporation, the state government is assisting it in acquiring about 17 bighas of private land.

Deputy Commissioner Amandeep Garg, who visited the site today, said as part of the negotiation committee, they were ensuring smooth acquisition of 17 bighas of land that would be used for widening the existing road. He said talks were being held with local residents as notification under Section 4 of the HP Land Acquisition Act had already being issued (in January).

Equipped with facilities like warehousing, booking, handling and delivery of goods as well as transportation, the CFS would give a boost to export-oriented units. An independent consultant has already assessed the traffic potential of the area.

The opening of the depot would put on hold the domination of the local truck unions, who have not only monopolised the market, but often disrupt work for days.

Power men outline road map for restructuring board
Tribune News Service

Shimla, June 9
In a last-ditch effort to save the state power utility from unbundling, the employees have come out with their own model for restructuring that will help meet the legal obligations under the Electricity Act, 2003, without unbundling.

While being granted the last extension to the board to continue in unbundled form in February, 2009, it was made clear that it would cease to be a legal entity after June 15, 2009, if it was not reorganised to segregate the functions of generation, transmission and distribution.

With the deadline drawing near, employees of the board have submitted their own proposal for the reorganisation of the board. Convener of the joint front of employees and engineers Suneel Grover, along with other members, submitted an 80-page document to Chief Minister PK Dhumal today. The document outlines the road map for reorganisation on the basis of which the government should seek six-month time for the exercise.

The document is being examined by the government at the highest level. It proposes creation of strategic business units to carry out the functions of generation ,transmission and distribution under the overall control of the board, which will be incorporated as a government company as required under Section 131(1) of the Act. The state power transmission corporation should be merged into the board.

The organisational structure for human resource management and financial accounts management will continue to functions as it is with a few changes. Since the transmission utility could not engage in trading under the Act, the entire trading activity will be carried out by the government. It can be entrusted to the newly created directorate of power.

Grover said the government should examine the plan and make changes, if required, and seek extension for six months to carry out restructuring.

Another incentive for farmers opting for poly-houses
Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, June 9
Kangra Deputy Commissioner RS Gupta has offered another incentive to farmers who want to opt for construction of poly-houses. As per the present scheme the government is giving a subsidy of 80 per cent to any farmer who wants to opt for poly-houses. The farmer would have to invest 20 per cent of the project cost from their own pocket.

The DC while talking to The Tribune said in some cases it had been found that farmers are not in a position to invest even 20 per cent of the amount. In such cases they are being offered to invest in the form of labour for constructing the poly-houses. The 20 per cent amount that they had to invest earlier in cash could now be contributed in the form of labour.

He said in the current financial year a target of bringing 1,76,700 sq m area under poly-houses had been set. We are planning to set up 2,190 poly-houses in the said area. The government had cleared a budget of Rs 5.87 crore for setting up poly-houses in Kangra district this year.

The farmers could grow 8-10 times more crops in poly-houses as compared to open fields. Besides, off-season vegetables could be grown that could fetch extra price in the market.

However, agriculture experts are apprehensive about the scheme. Like many other schemes the present scheme might face hurdles due to marketing. The government should also build up infrastructure for marketing the produce being planned through poly-houses, pending which the farmer might end up making losses.

BPCL pumps run dry
Ambika Sharma

Solan, June 9
With the Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) failing to supply adequate fuel to its petrol stations in the state, a majority of these go dry for days together.

The situation is so alarming that in the industrial pockets like Darlaghat-Barmana, which houses three cement plants, BPCL petrol stations functioned for only 10 days over the past one month.

This has created panic among the dealers whose customer base has started shrinking as truckers have started getting their vehicles refuelled at petrol stations in the adjoining Punjab areas. This particular area has around 6,000 trucks that operate for ACC and Ambuja Cement plants.

Around 25 per cent petrol stations in the state get supply from BPCL and the shortage of fuel is causing direct revenue loss to the exchequer. Petrol stations contribute around Rs 160 crore as revenue annually. “With the present crisis getting prolonged, around 70 per cent of the BPCL pumps remained dry for around 20 days in a month,” said Sukumar Singh, president of the HP Petroleum Dealers Association.

Moreover, BPCL officials were unable to give any concrete reason for the lack of fuel supply in the state. A dealer operating in the Darlaghat area said, “I could operate my petrol station for merely five days in the last fortnight. My credit base is fast slipping to other petrol pumps. Moreover, I also have to pay interest on loan taken from bank for operating the pump. If the situation does not change, I will surely go bankrupt.”

BPCL officials refused comment on the issue taking the plea that they could not communicate with the media. As a measure to curtail unhealthy competition, the dealers have requested the state government not to issue more NOCs for new petrol stations. They said the Food and Civil Supplies Department should apprise the government of the adverse scenario and request the Petroleum Ministry to intervene.

Crisis management group formed
Tribune News Service

Shimla, June 9
The government has constituted a state crisis management group (SCMG) for dealing with emergencies within the overall framework provided by the Crisis Management Plan. The group had been set up in pursuance of directions of the union home ministry.

Headed by the chief secretary, the group will have financial commissioner, revenue-cum-relief commissioner, director general of police, additional director general of police, CID and intelligence, commandant general of Home Guards, civil defence and fire services, joint director, intelligence bureau, Shimla, DIG, ITBP, and director of information and public relations as members. Principal secretary, home, will be its convener-member.

The group can also opt any other member whom it considers necessary. An alternative member will be designated for each member of the state group which will normally handle all crisis situations and advise and guide District Crisis Management Groups.

The state group will keep the Crisis Management Group in the union ministry of home affairs informed of the evolving situations and the steps being taken.

Fire damages building
Tribune News Service

Shimla, June 9
Fire broke out in a paint shop in Theog Bazaar this morning causing damage to a four-storeyed building housing a shopping and residential complex.

The police said the fire broke out in the paint shop on the ground floor due to short-circuit. Damage was caused to other portions of the building also owned by Sunita, Ravinder and Ramlok. The locals helped in dousing the fire and preventing it from spreading to other parts of the building.

Deputy Commissioner JS Rana on hearing about the fire immediately rushed to the spot and personally monitored the relief and rescue operations.

Theog SDM Arun Bhardwaj said the nine affected families had been provided an immediate relief of Rs 5,000 each while further assistance would be given as per the relief manual.

Trucker vanishes with consignment
Our Correspondent

Solan, June 9
A truck driver allegedly sold off goods worth Rs 11.70 lakh loaded in his vehicle for transportation and fled the area.

According to the SDPO, Parwanoo, Sector 3-based unit Reckitt Benckiser had a transportation contract with a local transport company, M/S Associates. The company has its office in Parwanoo and is owned by Sanjeev Mittal.

The company asked the transporter to transport about 650 boxes of Dettol soap to its Zirakpur-based godown. Mittal hired a truck (HR-37-2788) from the local truck union at Parwanoo and the consignment was sent on May 26. It, however, did not reach the destination. Truck driver, Tinku, who hailed from Tripura, sold off the entire lot to Rajesh Kumar, who ran a grocery shop at Panchkula and had a godown at Tikoli village, near Zirakpur.

The company came to know about the incident when it contacted its godown in charge on June 6. A case was got registered at Parwanoo under Sections 407 and 120-B of the IPC against the truck driver. The police picked up a local youth, Vijay Kumar, who had allegedly assisted Tinku in selling off the consignment. However, the police could recover only 18 boxes of soap from the Tikoli-based godown of Rajesh Kumar. He could not be arrested so far.

Vijay Kumar was produced in a local court that remanded him in police custody till June 12. Efforts were on to trace the truck driver and his another accomplice, Naresh.

Six arrested
Our Correspondent

Solan, June 9
A team of Kandaghat police has arrested three men and an equal number of women from a private hotel located on the NH-22, near Kandaghat, late last night after they were found concealing their identity in a surprise raid.

According to the Solan SP, a team of police officials led by the DSP (headquarters) and the Kandaghat SHO raided this hotel late last night and these youngsters were found tapping their feet to the tunes of film music. All of them had got themselves registered under fake addresses in the hotel register and hence tried to conceal their identity.

The police later arrested them under Sections 41(2) and 109 of the IPC and they were later produced before the Kandaghat SDM. All arrested were residents of Delhi and included Shushil Kumar, Brij Lal, Girish, Priyanka, Shallu and Muskan.

Woman murdered
Our Correspondent

Bilaspur, June 9
The police here is hunting for a Nepalese, Dhan Bahadur (45), who has fled from his rented quarter in Luhnu village after murdering his wife Kamla (35), an employee of the Horticulture Department.

Earlier in the morning, house owner Prem Lal Gauttam was left virtually dumb when Dhan Bahadur’s children informed him that their mother was lying in a pool of blood and was not awaking, despite repeated shaking and calls. He immediately informed the police.

Reports said Vishal (11) and Munish (7) told the police that their father was at home during the night when they went to sleep in another room, but was nowhere to be found in the morning.

The police suspected that Dhan Bahadur fled after committing the crime during the night and was not traceable now.

Applications invited
Tribune News Service

Shimla, June 9
The government has invited applications from eligible teachers for the grant of state and national awards to the Directorate of Elementary Education by July 10.

An official spokesperson said here today that applications should be sent on the prescribed pro forma by eligible teachers who had put in 20 years of service in government schools. He added that teachers whose names were recommended previously would be considered if eligible.