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Cabinet Decisions
Govt may relax norms for ropeways
Manali, Chamba experience early snow
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Economic Health
Resolutions for new panchayats moved
BSNL 3G services now in Mandi, Kullu
Project for revival of weaving industry submitted
Medical conference ends
Prakash appointed member
Free coaching camp for SBI test ends
CPM opposes privatisation of education
Membership drive
BJP leader dead
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Cabinet Decisions
Shimla, November 9 The decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister PK Dhumal here today. The Cabinet accepted the recommendations of the Himachal Pradesh Infrastructure Development Board with regard to claiming of free power royalty from the independent power producers of projects up to 5 MW as per the revised policy in cases where implementation agreements are yet to be made. It also gave nod for the revised health insurance scheme for handloom weavers. In all, 16,000 weavers will be covered under the scheme during the current year. The beneficiaries will be eligible to spend up to Rs 7,500 per annum for outdoor treatment in enlisted hospitals and up to Rs 15,000 for indoor treatment by paying a premium of Rs 95.20. The Cabinet also recommended convening of the Winter Session of the Vidhan Sabha to be held at Dharamsala from December 14-21 and approved guidelines for setting up of universities in the private sector. Concerned over the increasing road accidents, it decided to make licensing regime more stringent and stringently enforce provisions of the Motors Vehicle Act. To curb reckless driving, violation and non-adherence of timetable by stage carriage operators, offences will be compounded under Section 192-A of the Act under which penalty ranging between Rs 2,000 and Rs 10,000 could be imposed. It granted permission for Common Entrance Test for admission to JBT Course and decided to invite Expression of Interests for the construction of ropeways from Neugal to (Kandi) Palampur and Shah Talai to Deoth
Siddh. |
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Govt may relax norms for ropeways
Shimla, November 9 Only one company has sent in its bid in response to the advertisement issued by the Department of Tourism for setting up the two projects. As such the department is likely to urge the government to grant relaxation in the laid down norms so that other companies could qualify and fresh bids could be invited after they are re-advertised. However, sources in the department said even if the government made some relaxations in the norms, the possibility of other companies seeking the contract were bleak as the two ropeways were not very lucrative. “Since the possibility of other companies showing keen interest in executing the project is poor so there is also a possibility that the government by placing it before the Cabinet could grant it to the company even though only a single bid has been received,” said a senior officer. Sources said as per the economic viability report prepared by RITES, the two ventures are not financially viable as a result of which there are not too many takes for the ropeways. As such it is likely that the entire process would get delayed. So far work on only the Jakhu aerial ropeway has taken off and all other ropeways, including the ones at Palchang-Rohtang, Kullu-Bijli Mahadev and Dharamkot-Triund in the districts of Kullu and Kangra, have yet to take off. The companies interested in executing the projects during the pre-bid conference had sought modification in conditions from the government to make the project viable. Besides seeking extension in the completion period of the project they want that the government should acquire the land for executing the project. On the other hand the government has made it very clear that it would act as a facilitator and provide the necessary relaxation under Section 118 of the Tenancy and Land Reform Act but the land will have to be acquired by the company from private land owners. Considering the importance of the Naina Devi-Anandpur Sahib aerial ropeway, the government has taken up the issue with its Punjab counterparts but even now certain issues need to be thrashed before a MOU can be signed and work can begin. |
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Manali, Chamba experience early snow
Manali, November 9 Snow covered roofs and trees, presenting a picturesque view to the tourists as well as the residents. The 13,050-foot high Rohtang Pass - gateway to the Lahaul-Spiti valley - also experienced a heavy snowfall, and snapping road link between Manali and the valley. Traffic on the Manali-Rohtang Pass road was disrupted at several points beyond Nehru Kund, about 5 km from here. Tourists made a beeline to see fresh snowfall near Nehru Kund where a festive atmosphere prevailed as winter revellers threw snow balls at each other and had a gala time. Besides bringing joy, snow brought its share of miseries too. The Pass road after Nehru Kund became slippery and tourist vehicles were forced to return. The snowfall brought smiles on the faces of hoteliers, taxi operators and luxury bus operators. They felt that it would boost tourism in the Kullu valley. The famous ski slopes along the Solang valley also experienced snowfall. Due to fresh snow in the higher reaches of the Kullu valley, including the Pir Panjal rages, Brighu slopes, Chanderkhani Pass, Hamta slopes, Marhi meadows, Gulaba, Kothi and Dhundi, the upper Manali region was in the grip of a severe cold wave leading to further decline in temperature. Horticulturists and agriculturists consider it beneficial for crops in the coming season. CHAMBA: The district too received the season’s first snow on Monday. There was a sharp dip in temperature and intense cold waves gripped the entire alpine region of Chamba, compelling the inhabitants to wear warm clothes. The low-lying parts of the district had moderate widespread rain. Meanwhile, the Himalayan ranges, including tribal Pangi valley in Chamba, and the adjoining massifs of Pir Panjal hills in Jammu and Kashmir also experienced snowfall today, official reports from the district headquarters stated. KANGRA: Temperatures dipped in the Kangra valley too following heavy snowfall on the Dhauladhar range on Monday. Reports of rains were received from Dharamsala, Yol, Mallan, Nagrota Bagwan, Shahpur, Gaggal, Palampur and Jawalamukhi. After a long dry spell, the rains have come as a boon for the farmers, who had been waiting for a change in weather as it would help in the sowing of wheat. |
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Economic Health
Shimla, November 9 There has been a growth of 20.3 per cent in tax collections from April to September as against the 14 per cent overall growth last year. The total tax collections amounted to Rs 1,095 crore compared to last year’s amount of Rs 910 crore over the same period. The amount collected on account of VAT was Rs 726 crore as against last year’s Rs 605 crore, an increase of 20 per cent. The buoyancy has been on account of improvement in sales of cars and fast moving consumer goods. Similarly, the amount collected as excise duty shot up by 21.6 per cent from Rs 187 crore to Rs 227 crore. The upward trend in pharmaceutical industry, which uses narcotic substances, has been mainly responsible for the increase. The special scheme implemented by the government for recovering outstanding dues proved helpful and the amount collected in the first six months was Rs 46.56 crore as against Rs 33.27 crore, an increase of 40 per cent. In other states there has been only a marginal improvement. It is a clear indication that things have started looking up in the state which was severely impacted by slowdown with tax revenue registering a growth of just 14 per cent against the target of 20 per cent. The main reason for achieving a turnaround early was that the hill state was a consumer state and industrial sector contributes minimal tax revenue. Most of the other states were still struggling, as the industrial sector, a major source of revenue, had not recovered from the impact of the slowdown. The government increased the target of tax collections for the current year by a substantial 22 per cent despite a shortfall of over 4 per cent last year. If the buoyancy continues the state would not miss the target by a huge margin as feared, though it still might not be able to achieve it. The overall tax collections, including central sales tax, excise duty, goods tax and other taxes amounted to Rs 1,908 crore against the target of Rs 1,976 crore. The overall increase came to around 14 per cent as against the expected 18 per cent. The government raised the target of tax collections to Rs 2,327 crore, which is Rs 419 crore more compared to last year’s actual realisation. The target for VAT has been increased to Rs 1,604 from last year’s actual collection of Rs 1,246 crore. So far Rs 726 crore had been collected and even if Rs 800 were collected in the second half of the year the target would be missed by around Rs 75 crore. |
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Resolutions for new panchayats moved
Hamirpur, November 9 If these resolution are accepted, it would increase the number of panchayats in the district from existing 229 to 279. The resolutions, passed by the gram sabhas, have been submitted to the district panchayat officer, Hamirpur. While for some areas the demand for a new panchayat is because of increase in population, for others it is the vested interests as general panchayat elections are due in 2010. According to sources, “after analysing political correlation in a panchayat, few people are keen for the creation of new panchayats so that they can move in to a new panchayat.” “Through this move while more people would be accommodated in the newly created panchayats, new political combinations may also emerge,” they add. However, people supporting new panchayats argue that population of some of the areas has increased substantially and due to geographical reasons too there is a need for this exercise. District Panchayat Officer (DPO) Satish Sharma said: “New panchayats are created by the state government through a notification before the general election. There is a set procedure for it.” “For the creation of a new panchayat, a notional map is prepared, population growth is taken in to consideration, recommendation of an MLA and MP of that area is required and recommendation of gram sabha is also required,” Sharma adds. “We have received 50 resolutions for the creation of new panchayats in Hamirpur district but many of these have been submitted without completing formalities and we have sent these back for completion of the formalities,” the DPO stated. If the resolution is accepted by the government, then it would issue a draft proposal inviting objections from the residents. it is only after that a notification for a new panchayat is issued. |
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ABVP strike hits classes
Mandi, November 9 According to information received from different parts of the state, the bandh had mixed response as many students attended classes. “But they were forcibly made to quit classes by ABVP volunteers to make the bandh appear complete,” NSUI activists alleged. In Mandi, ABVP activists took out a procession shouting anti-DC and anti-government slogans. They also forced ITI students out of classes and join the rally, charged NSUI leaders. But ABVP national secretary Umesh Dutt alleged that the Dhumal government was promoting education and land mafias by opening 19 universities in a short span of two years and was protecting mandi DC, who had misbehaved with ABVP students. “The ABVP oppose commercialisation of education. We will continue protest till the DC is shifted and is not given any post with public dealings,” he said. On the other hand, NSUI state president Yudhpati Thakur said they had opposed the opening of private universities, but the ABVP forced its bandh on the students. The DC-ABVP episode and ABVP protest at HPU youth festival was was the result of the mutual bickering that would harm the interests of the students, Thakur charged. SFI state president Vijender Mehra did not comment on the bandh, but condemned the lathicharge on the students. “The ABVP has a right to protest. SFI neither supports nor opposes it,” he added. Director (Technical Education) SS Guleria said: “Though the students were not willing to join the bandh, but they must have been forced out of classes by ABVP cadets. Classes in polytechnic and engineering colleges, however, went on in a normal fashion.” Director (Education) OP Sharma said classes in most of the colleges were disturbed, but overall the bandh was peaceful. “Reports from college principals are awaited,” he added. |
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BSNL 3G services now in Mandi, Kullu
Mandi, November 9 Addressing press conference here today, GM BSNL VK Sharma said the BSNL was
the only mobile service provider in the country to launch 3G services to its subscribers in the country and
in Mandi town. The users can made video calls and get the data transfer at a much faster and cheaper rate under the inaugural
offer of Rs 179. The subscribers with 2G plans can migrate to 3G plans in which they will get 50 minutes local video calls and 25 MB data usage for free,
he added. Sharma said 3G services were launched in Shimla and Dharamsala initially. “Mandi, Kullu, Solan, Hamirpur have been included today and it will be extended to cover the other towns as well,” he added.
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Project for revival of weaving industry submitted
Shimla, November 9 The Integrated Designed and Technical Development Project will take care of all aspects - from training of craftsmen, designing to the marketing of products. Managing director of the corporation Lalit Mohan said a Rs 56-lakh project for the development of Kinnauri shawls was already under implementation. The corporation was promoting weavers under various cluster development schemes and as many as 5,000 weavers were covered under it in Kullu and about 500 in Gohar, Mandi. The organisation has also been organising bunker melas to facilitate direct sales of products by weavers. Last year, as many as 12 melas were held and this year 28 were planned out of which four would be organised outside the state at Chandigarh, Lucknow, Varanasi and Patna. The exhibition-cum-sale organised at Manali, Chamba, Kolkota, Ahmedabad and Mysore had fetched Rs 17.15 lakh to 406 weavers. At present, sales were on at Palampur, Reckong Peo, Mandi, Renuka and Sanjuauli (Shimla). The handloom and handicrafts items included pure woollen and Pashmina shawls from Kinnaur and Kullu caps, socks, jackets and coats and hand-knitted sweaters. |
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Medical conference ends
Hamirpur, November 9 Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal inaugurated the conference on Saturday. Dr Prem Thakur, chairman of the organising committee of this conference, welcomed the chief guest. Dr Atul Mahajan, honorary secretary of the state branch, presented the report of activities of the IMA in the conference. State president Dr K Nanda also addressed the conference. Padamshree Dr DS Rana, chief patron of Him Medicon-2009, while addressing the conference, stressed the need of change in medical education to train doctors in such a way so that they could cater to the health requirements of rural people. The IMA also honoured Trisha Education Society for doing good work in implementing anaemia free programme of the IMA. Dr NK Glodha also presented a report on Continuing Medical Education (CME). A talk on anaemia and disaster management by Dr Vinod Sharma was also delivered in the conference. The conference also elected a new state body with Dr Prem Thakur as president and Dr Atul Mahajan as honorary secretary. |
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Prakash appointed member
Shimla, November 9 A progressive farmer Thakur has been on the forefront of farmers’ movement in the state since 1977 and has been playing a vital role in the development of scientific farming practices in the region for long. He has earlier remained a member of the Support Price Committee for Fruit and Vegetables as well as the State Spray Schedule Committee. Leader of the opposition Vidya Stokes has hailed his appointment and various farming bodies have termed it as an important step towards development of farming practices in the hill state. |
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Free coaching camp for SBI test ends
Bilaspur, November 9 Presiding over the concluding function of the coaching course here last evening, principal Subhash Gupta was all praise for lecturers who contributed their time and effort to ensure that students of the college were made to acquire sufficient knowledge and self-confidence to get selected for the career they were seeking for themselves. Dr Gupta said this was for the first time that such a practical and meaningful coaching course had been organised in the college free of cost which was initiated by Sharma who was assisted by lecturers - Dr Suresh Soni, Ajay Khurana, Vinod Sharma, Surjit Chandel, Gulshan Nadda, Dilip Wali and Abhiyudita. Course organiser Dr PL Sharma said the college principal encouraged this effort and also taught students and guided them how to be successful in this test. |
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CPM opposes privatisation of education
Shimla, November 9 In a statement issued here today, member, State Secretariat of the CPM, Tikender Singh Panwar, said it was surprising to see the manner in which private universities were being allowed and that too with concentration being in Solan district. “Majority of these proposed universities need to have a multifaculty and not just one trade but in Himachal there is no mechanism to regulate the mushrooming of universities,” he said. Seeking a complete halt to the privatisation of education by allowing private universities, he said the condition of 70 per cent jobs to Himachalis was also not being fulfilled. He said a private university at Kumharhatti near Solan had been approved within 15 days without properly scanning their record. “The entire deal smacks of heavy kickbacks to certain ministers and officials and we demand that a inquiry should be ordered into it,” he said. He said the CPM would hold a month-long campaign on the issue of privatisation of education as well as price rise from November 15 to December 11. A massive rally would be held at Shimla on December 11 and at Mandi on January 11, he informed. |
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Membership drive
Shimla, November 9 Mukesh Agnihotri has been allotted Bilaspur, Ajay Mahajan (Chamba), Harbhajan Singh (Mandi), Sudhir Sharma (Una), Ram Lal Thakur and Asha KUmari (Kangra), Anil Sharma (Kullu), B.D. Chaudhary (Kinnaur), Satya Prakash (Lahaul-Spiti), Kuldeep Pathania (Solan), Anita Varma (Sirmour), A.N. Vidyarthi (Hamirpur) and Kunjan Singh
(Shimla). |
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BJP leader dead
Shimla, November 9 Chief Minister PK Dhumal, state BJP chief Khimi Ram and other BJP leaders have expressed grief at the sudden demise of Kanwar. Other BJP leaders, including state organisation secretary Mahender Pandey, state BJP spokesperson Ashok Kapatia, district BJP chief Ganesh Dutt and Shimla block chief Madan Sharma, too expressed grief at the demise of Kanwar. |
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