Shimla, August 26
Union Minister Virbhadra Singh alleged that Himachal Pradesh had been reduced to a “police state” under the Dhumal regime where nobody’s “freedom and honour” was safe and made a specific charge that even his telephones were being illegally tapped.

Addressing a press conference here today, he said sleuths were deputed around his residence to keep a track of his movements and visitors. Under the law, his telephones could not be tapped even if he was not a minister but the state government, which was desperate to pin him down, had crossed all limits. He said if the situation did not improve he would register a complaint with the Union Home Ministry in this regard.

He said the FIR registered against him in the CD case was a part of bigger plot to force him to resign from the ministry, which did not succeeded. The prompt manner in which news channels and newspapers were contacted was a replay of May 2007, when the CD was released during byelection to the Hamirpur constituency for which Dhumal was in fray. Within minutes of its release it was being played through length and breadth of the sprawling constituency. The CD was handed over to the Vigilance Bureau (VB) by former chairman of the state subordinate services selection board SM Katwal who had been convicted in three cases in connection with irregularities in recruitment.

He said he had already initiated criminal defamation proceedings against two television channels, which played the illegal CD. He had also taken notice of the news scrolls in some television channels, which attributed defamatory insinuations to the VB. He was contemplating legal action against the VB.

Chief Minister PK Dhumal had during his earlier term tried his best to decimate him politically by misusing the police by sending a chargesheet against him to the CBI, which gave a clean chit after investigating into the allegations. He than brought an officer on deputation from the Centre to get the “Sagar Katha” case registered against him but he fought a protracted battle and came out unscathed.

As the Chief Minister he did not payback Dhumal in the same coin in the hope to put to an end to the unhealthy tradition of settling political scores started by him. Many cases could have been registered against Dhumal but he refrained from any such moves to ensure that political rivalry in the hill state did not degenerate into vendetta like Punjab. He expected Dhumal that would show maturity this time, but it seems he had not learnt from his past experience.

Shimla, August 26
The state electricity regulatory commission has directed the state electricity board to separate the State Load Dispatch Centre (SLDC) and incorporate it as an independent company within four months in accordance with the recommendations of the Union Power Ministry.

The committee on “Manpower Certification and Incentive for System Operation and Ring Fencing Load Dispatch Centres” set up by the ministry had recommended functional autonomy for the SLDCs for taking decisions without being adversely influenced by extraneous issues originating from the company management or any other market player. This can be achieved by providing independent governance structure, separate accounting, adequate skilled manpower having high ethical standards and driven by altruistic values along with adequate infrastructure.

Accordingly the commission has directed the board to formulate and develop methodology for separation of the SLDC from the state transmission utility to provide ring fencing and functional autonomy, including separation of assets, manpower and accounts. It should also prepare CAPEX (capital expenditure) plan for 2011-14, business plan and strategic plan related and formulation of tariff petition, filing it with the commission within 12 months.

It includes separation of manpower, assets, accounts and financial statement by determining appropriate transfer scheme, within nine months of issuance of this order.

The commission has decided to introduce automatic meter reading (AMR) as a step in the direction of creating Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) in the state. It has asked the board to submit a detailed proposal in this respect considering the fact that a pilot project was already under implementation, successfully under the operation circle, Solan, covering 460 large industrial consumers.

A provision of Rs 6.91 crore has been made in the aggregate revenue requirement (ARR) for the proposal under which all large industrial power supply consumers will be covered by March 31, 2010, in the first phase and for small and medium consumers having connected load above 50 KW by March 31, 2011, in the second phase.

The commission also directed the board to renegotiate or invite tenders from the GSM communication providers, within the state, to minimise the communication costs, considering the economies of scale such bulk connections would provide.

Shimla, August 26
Stating that it was not possible to shift the site of the proposed abattoir near Boileauganj, the government today assured that the abattoir would not pollute water bodies or create unhygienic conditions in the area.

This was stated by Urban Development Minister Mohinder Singh while replying to a query raised by Sohan Lal (Congress) during the question hour. “With Rs 5 crore work having been awarded to the contractor.. It is not possible to shift the site to any other place but I want to assure the House that it will be a modern abattoir where there will be no disposal waste in the open,” he said.

Sohan Lal said the residents were apprehensive that water sources would be polluted and hence the project should be shifted to another site. “A sum of Rs 19.66 crore has already been provided for the project from both Centre and the state and the slaughterhouse will be based on the latest technology with proper treatment plant and rendering machines ensuring scientific disposal of animal waste,” the minister said.

Kaul Singh Thakur (Congress) said keeping in view the strong anti-public sentiment against the project, possibility of shifting it close to the waste management plant in Tara Devi be explored. The minister, however, said it was too late for the site to be shifted.

In reply to another question by Rajesh Dharmani (Congress), Health Minister Rajiv Bindal informed the House that no nursing institute had been closed so far. “It is the Nursing Council of India (NCI), which after inspection decided about the fate of any nursing institute,” he said.

Bindal informed that as per the new policy of 2008, the government was keen to open more nursing institutions under public-private partnership. “Various health institutions are being attached with private nursing schools to expand the availability of nursing education,” he said. He added that out of the six nursing schools, those at Rampur, Bilaspur and Dharamshala had still not been granted recognition by the NCI for want of infrastructure and teaching staff.

In reply a query by Prakash Chaudhary (Congress), Industries Minister Kishan Kapoor said after an amendment in the policy, cement companies could send 50 per cent of the clinker out of state while the remaining had to be converted into cement.

“In 2008-09, all the cement plants out together produced 56.25 lakh tonnes of cement that was 90 per cent of their total capacity, but the demand for cement in the state is 31 per cent only,” he said, adding that the Industries Department had no control over prices of cement, which was higher in Himachal Pradesh than in the neighbouring states.

Shimla, August 26
The government plans to double the country’s steel production capacity with an investment of over Rs 70,000 crore over the next three years.

Stating this here today Union Minister of Steel Virbhadra Singh said total installed capacity for steel production at present was 65 million tonne that was to be increased to 124 million tonne by 2011-12 through new projects and expansion of existing plants in both public and private sectors. The ministry had achieved the targets set under the 100-day action plan and it would strive to achieve its target of capacity enhancement.

Virbhadra said prices of steel were decontrolled but the government had persuaded the industry not to increase rates during slowdown. The prices had since stabilised. He said China was facing problems because it was the largest producer of steel in the world.

Referring to the plans for the state, he said the National Mineral Development Corporation would soon sign MoU’s with end users of high quality steel grade limestone being mined at Arki. Lower grade limestone would be supplied to the nearby Ambuja Cement plant.

The team sent by the Steel Ministry for identifying site for setting up steel processing plant in Sirmour had submitted its report and Virbhadra would soon be writing to the state government for providing land, water and power for it. The minister said he would like the plant to come at the now defunct Nahan foundry as it had sentimental value for the people. The other processing plant was being set up at Kandrori for which construction work of the factory had already been awarded.

Shimla, August 26
Health and Family Welfare Minister Rajiv Bindal said appropriate action would be taken against those responsible for making contractual appointments of dental doctors in 2006 as 40 per cent marks were kept for interview in violation of the laid norms.

The issue was raised by Randhir Sharma (BJP) through a call attention motion in the Assembly today. Citing media reports that merit had been ignored to give undue benefit to its own people, the then Congress regime despite court directives that not more than 15 per cent marks could be kept for the interview.

“As a result of adoption of wrong appointment norms, several meritorious and deserving candidates were left out while those close to the ruling party were selected,” he said. He demanded that appointments must be cancelled and strict action betaken against the guilty.

Bindal admitted that several complaints in this regard had been received and departmental inquiries had confirmed that 40 per cent marks were kept for interview. “The three-member committee under the additional secretary (Health) had made the selections by keeping 40 per cent marks for academics, 20 for experience and 40 for interview,” he said.

He admitted that in case of some candidates who had average academic record, scoring good marks in the interview helped in their selection. “Seeing the seriousness of the matter, I assure the House that appropriate action will be taken,” he said.

Hamirpur, August 26
The Vigilance and Anti Corruption Bureau (VACB) has begun probe against nagar parishad, Hamirpur, to verify the charges of alleged irregularities in various development works.

The office of the Deputy Superintendent (VACB), Hamirpur, has already seized records related to development works from the nagar parishad .

The probe has been initiated after a preliminary inquiry by Hamirpur ADM Vijay Chandan looking into the allegations of irregularities in development works on a complaint received by the Chief Minister’s office.

It is pertinent to mention here that the Chief Minister’s office had received a complaint of a resident, forwarded by an editor of a newspaper, alleging irregularities in the office of the nagar parishad.

The complainant had alleged that the nagar parishad was involved in several irregularities in allotment and payments to contractors for the development works carried by it during the past few years. It was also alleged that the payment for several works was being made by the Nagar Parishad officials on forged bills.

After receiving the complaint, the government had asked ADM Hamirpur to conduct a preliminary probe. Records and cash books of the nagar parishad were checked on random basis for works carried during last one year to verify quality of work, prudence of allotment and other financial aspects.

The Hamirpur nagar parishad has been under public criticism for allotting development works of several crores during the past some time to its “favorites” without proper allotment. Some of the projects had to be cancelled under public pressure .

DSP (VACB) Ajay Rana said: “We have taken the records in our possession and take further action would be taken in this matter.”

Kullu, August 26
The area around Mohal village comprising Jauli, Gadauri and Jarad villages and Jari in the Parbati valley had reported about a dozen cases of gastroenteritis during the past three days and more than two dozen cases of acute diarrhoea. Thirteen cases were admitted to Government Regional Hospital here and seven to a private hospital.

District Health Officer Mohan Lal confirmed that a few cases were reported from these areas but there was no fear of any epidemic. He said the Irrigation and Public Health (IPH) authorities and block medical officers of the affected areas have been advised to take precautions.

District Surveillance Officer Dr Sushil Chander Sharma said gastroenteritis and viral fever were common during this period of the year due to change in weather. Necessary measures have been taken and the situation was under control, he added.

The CMO said reports of more than a hundred cases of viral fever in Tinder village in Banjar subdivision of this district were a bit exaggeration of facts; however, a team of doctors visited the village and confirmed 14 cases. “There is no outbreak of epidemic as feared and things are under control,” he added.

The teams of the IPH department also reached the villages today. Sources confirmed that they had added chlorine to the drinking water tanks and advised people to avoid drinking spring water.

Chamba, August 26
Parents of students studying in Government Senior Secondary and Government Primary School at Chanju have informed media about the disruption in water supply scheme for the past one-week.

Owing to the water problem, the school administration is also facing difficulty to cook mid-day meals and serve it to students. The water problem is also causing inconvenience to meet the needs of these schools.

Officials of the Irrigation and Public Health Department have categorically stated that they are not aware of the grouse with regard to the water problem in these schools.

Dharamsala, August 26
The cricket stadium here would now have the distinction of hosting three one-day matches in the Sahara-BCCI Corporate Cup. Dharamsala is one of the four venues chosen by the BCCI for holding matches starting from September 1.

A spokesperson of the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Board (HPCB) Sanjay Sharma while talking to The Tribune said it was a great honour for this stadium that it had been chosen for a national-level tournament. Besides Dharamsala, the other three destinations for the tournament are Mohali, Vishakhapatnam and Bangalore.

Starting from September 1, the Dharamsala stadium would host matches between All-India Public Services Sports Promotion Board (AIPSSPB) and Tata, Tata versus Indian Oil on September 2 and AIPSSPB versus Indian Oil on September 3.

He further said 12 teams were participating in the tournament. The other corporate teams include MRF, Air India (Red), Air India (Blue), Indian Revenue Services, Indian Cements, ONGC and BSNL.

The semi-finals would be played at Mohali and the finals at Bangalore.

The HPCB authorities led by its president Anurag Thakur who is also the MP from Hamirpur are expecting that the successful organisation of the Corporate Cup would make the Dharamsala stadium a viable option for organising a few matches in the next IPL season.

Earlier this year, three IPL matches were scheduled to be hosted at Dharamsala. To meet the mandatory conditions for holding the IPL matches the HPCB authorities got installed floodlights at the stadium in a record time. However, the IPL tournament was later transferred to South Africa due to security reasons.

To compensate for that the HPCB organised the state level 20-20 tournament finals which was played under floodlights.

A team of the ICC is also expected to visit the Dharamsala stadium for inspecting it for holding international cricket matches. The stadium fulfils all mandatory conditions except a five-star hotel.

Shimla, August 26
Thousands of anganwari workers today staged a demonstration outside the Assembly demanding regularisation of services, enhancement in remuneration, pension, gratuity and all other facilities being extended to government employees.

Workers from 12 districts converged near the state Assembly to demand a fair deal from the government. “We are tired of the hollow assurances given to us by the government. Till date neither has our remuneration been increased nor any other facilities given,” said Saroj Sharma, general secretary of the state committee of the Anganwari Workers and Helpers’ Union.

She said the anganwari workers should be given Rs 4,000 while the helpers must get Rs 3,000. “The 36,000 women working in the anganwaris are victims of exploitation as they are under paid,’’ she said.

Sharma demanded that the workers should be given pension, gratuity and reimbursement of medical bills. “As per the directions of the central government, a welfare fund for the anganwari workers must be set up and the state must make its contribution in that,” she said.

They also criticised the government for making changes in the norms for recruitment of supervisors. “Since this will directly affect us, we warn the government to change the norms as these are being framed to benefit its own men,” they said.

Chamba, August 26
Head constable Rajiv Kumar drowned in the waters of the Ravi last night, while he was performing traffic duty for the ongoing Manimahesh pilgrimage at Luna, about 35 km from Chamba.

The head constable belonged to Una district.

According to Chamba ASP DK Choudhary, the feet of the head constable suddenly slipped from the edge of the road and he fell into the waters of the Ravi.

To trace the body, jawans of the police, Home Guards and crew of the fire brigade had been pressed into service, the ASP said; adding that a case had also been registered in this connection.