Shimla, November 27
In the dock for awarding the 268 MW Reoli Dugli hydroelectric project to the fourth highest bidder Larson and Tubro, the government has decided to cancel the allotment and re-advertise the project.

The project was allotted to the company after the highest bidder Moser Baer, which had quoted 14.4 per cent additional free power, backed out and the second highest bidder, Jindal Steel and Power Limited (12.9 per cent), refused to confirm the bid. Eyebrows were raised as Larson and Tubro agreed to match the second highest bid instead of the first highest. The difference of additional free power quoted between the highest and the second highest was a significant 1.51 per cent.

Moser Baer has not been the only successful bidder to back out, it is the same story with most of the other projects in the tribal Lahaul-Spiti and the highest bidders have not come forward to deposit the upfront premium of Rs 20 lakh per MW despite repeated extensions to confirm the bid.

In one or two cases, the second bidder came forward to match the highest bid to secure the project. The government has been forced to re-advertise other projects.

Fresh tenders are proposed to be invited for 10 projects. Besides Reoli Dugli and 960 MW Jhangi-Thopan-Powari, the allotment of which to the Brakel Corporation was cancelled by the high court, seven other major projects — Dugar (236 MW), Kilhi Bahl (7.5 MW), Mane Nadang (70 MW), Lara (60 MW), Tingret (81 MW), Kuling Lara (40 MW) and Suil (13 MW) — will be re-advertised.

The 6.6 MW Khauli-II project is also proposed to be offered to the private sector as the state electricity board, which executed the Khauli-I project, is not very keen on what is considered an economically unattractive project.

Fresh bids will be invited in accordance with the latest power policy. The projects will be delayed further as entire bidding process will take quite some time. While the government maintains that the economic slowdown had dissuaded investors, uncertainty over transmission network, without which power could not be evacuated from the landlocked area, is a major factor holding them back. In case of the 192 MW Allain Duhangan project, the private company had to construct the transmission line itself as the state electricity board failed to do the job.

Shimla, November 27
The state police has stepped up efforts to stall the auction of the stolen George Cross, awarded posthumously in 1946 to Naik Kirpa Ram (8th Battalion of 13th Frontier Force Rifles) of Papral village in Bilaspur even as the London-based company, Dix Noonan Webb Limited, which has listed it for sale, produced certain documents to show that his wife Brahmi Devi had herself given it to one KP Singh.

The company produced an affidavit before the Scotland police after the state police pursued the matter at the top level. The affidavit, dated February 27, 2000, submitted to the company in this regard by KP Singh of Moga, stated that he was given five medals, including the George Cross, by Brahmi Devi as reward for taking good care her for so many years.

He further gave it to one SL Jain of East Patel Nagar, Delhi, for sale. However, the medal was stolen in 2002 as evident from the FIR lodged by her at the Bharai police station on February 3, 2002.

The police feels that it could be a case of fraud and someone might have tricked illiterate Brahmi Devi to sign some paper. Meanwhile, efforts were being made to ascertain if the sign on the document was genuine.

The Scotland police has made it clear that it will not be able to do much if the local police failed to prove that the documents were not authentic. The police is now trying to ascertain authenticity of the affidavit and trace KP Singh and Jain. If no such persons were found in the addresses mentioned, it will be confirmed that the document was fake.

Shakti Singh Chandel, a retired IAS officer, who brought the matter to the notice of the government, said Brahmi Devi was illiterate and he was convinced that any document indicating that she had herself donated the medal, must be forged. All that she remembered was that in mid 1990s one person, who introduced himself as an Army officer from Chandimandir, gave Rs 1,000 and a box of oranges to her and also got two local persons to sign as witnesses on a paper that she had been given the money. One of the witnesses Harnam is no more and the other Basanta, who works in Ghumarwin, is being contacted to identify the impostor.

Chandel said there was a big racket engaged in theft, smuggling and illegal sale of medals which fetched very high prices in the international market.

Dharamsala, November 27
The winter session of the Himachal Assembly would be held here from December 14 to 21. Instead of 10 sittings announced earlier, there would just be six sittings of the Assembly during the session.

Himachal Vidhan Sabha Secretary and Secretary, General Administration Department (GAD), held a meeting with Kangra Deputy Commissioner RS Gupta here today to make arrangements for the session.

According to sources, the government was trying to curtail expenditure by holding a session at Dharamsala as an austerity drive. As a result, lesser number of officials may have to travel to Dharamsala for the session. However, the officials are still not clear how the session would be managed. There was a speculation that the head of departments might not come and departments might be represented just by the respective secretaries. However, the sources expressed doubt over the move as it would be difficult for ministers to manage queries during the session in the absence of head of departments.

The Deputy Commissioner, when contacted, said all government rest houses and circuit house had requisitioned for stay arrangement for officers and ministers coming for attending the session.

A meeting with hoteliers has been called and negotiations will be held with them for deciding the rates of rooms to be hired for the session, he added. However, further programme regarding the stay of the CM in lower areas during the session is yet to be decided.

Shimla, November 27
With hardly any company evincing interest in executing the two aerial ropeways between Dharamkot-Triund and Palchang-Solang, the government is likely to re-advertise the projects to invite fresh bids.

According to sources, the matter was placed before the Cabinet where it was decided to re-advertise the Dharamkot-Triund ropeway, near Mcleodganj, as not even a single bid had been received. In case of Palchang-Solang ropeway, where only a single bid from the Power Himalayas company had come in, the Cabinet has given the go-ahead to evaluate the bid and, in case it is found to be appropriate, contract should be awarded.

It is only the Bijli Mahadev ropeway in Kullu where three bids have come in from Damodar, Conveyer and Power Himalayas. The Tourism Department is likely to open the financial bids and process it so that work can be awarded to one of the three companies. The estimated cost of the project is likely to be around Rs 20 crore with the span being over 1.5 km.

The aerial ropeway projects in the state have been hanging fire for one or the other reason and barring the Jakhu ropeway in the state capital, all others have failed to take off. It is reliably learnt that there has been poor response to the Dharamkot-Triund project as a change was made with the take off point being shifted to Guma, which has very poor road connectivity. This ropeway would have a span of over 1 km and the cost would be a little over Rs 15 crore.

As far as the Palchang-Solang ropeway is cocerned, only a single bid has come in because of the high cost of the project. “The estimated project cost could touch Rs 100 crore with the span being more than 5 km so this could have been the main inhibiting factor,” the sources added.

In case of the other two proposed ropeways between Baba Balak Nath-Deod Sidh and at Nangal, fresh surveys would be held by RITES. Though preliminary surveys have been held, it is only after proper details are worked out that bids would be invited.

It is being expected that setting up of ropeways at important tourist destinations of Shimla, Mcleodganj, Kullu and Manali, will help increase stay of tourists, some of which have been reduced to weekend spots.

Dharamsala, November 27
Naxals and Maoists who are carrying out terrorist activities in India are being trained in China. The country that is training people for violence cannot be expected to bring peace to the world.

Countries like China and the USA are not serious about curbing terrorism. These are ‘Baniya’ (trader) countries who are selling their arms and ammunition to terrorists and warring factions in various countries. If these countries want, they can easily stop terrorism they can do so by stopping the supply of arms and ammunition to the warring factions.

The prime minister of Tibetan parliament-in-exile Samdhong Rinpoche stated this while addressing a function organised by the Indian Federation of Working Journalists here today.

When asked to comment about the recent visit of US President Barak Obama to China and his reported statements on Tibet, Samdhong Rinpoche said that the former had taken up the issue of Tibet with Chinese leadership. Obama has done whatever he could do.

The Tibetan PM-in-exile, however, added that the close relations between the USA and China is not going to harm their struggle for Tibet. The Tibetans are following the path of non-violence for their struggle.

The joint statement issued by Obama and Chinese Prime Minister on Kashmir was also not in good taste. The Indian government has rightly reacted to the statement. We also endorse the position of Indian government on the issue, he said.

Samdhong Rinpoche also said China was objecting to Dalai Lama’s visit to Arunachal Pradesh just because of the fact that it was projecting the state as a disputed area. However, the visit of Dalai Lama to the place has strengthened India’s claim over Arunachal Pradesh.

He said instead of projecting on the economy of China the world should focus on the way it is getting the boost. The human rights condition in the country is dismal. 

Dalhousie, November 27
Fifty-eight students from Sri Vidhya Academy International residential school, Chennai, are on a trekking camp here. They today paid homage to the victims of the terrorist attacks in Mumbai on November 26 last year.

Ashish Chadha, member, board of directors, Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation, led the students in paying homage with candles in hand.

While addressing the students, Chadha said, “The forces, that are envious of the fast progress that India is making in various fields, tried to break the very fabric of our country on 26/11 by hitting at various targets in Mumbai. We, as true Indians, have remained united after this incident. I hope you youngsters will always be alert to the threat from such forces and remain bonded. Himachal, under the leadership of Chief Minister PK Dhumal, is the most peaceful state in India and I hope other states also follow this tradition.”

Principal of the academy S Muthukrishnan explained to the students the importance of this day.

Nanjil Kennedy, chairman, and VM Muthulakshmi, administrator of the academy, also participated in the event.

Students from more than 12 countries took part in paying homage to the persons who fell to the bullets of terrorists. They included Yuki from Japan, Nora Helen from Korea, Akshai Kumar from Canada, Megna from the UK, Vyas from Bhutan, Priyanka from Germany, Atulya from South Africa, Mansa from Nigeria, Aravind from Dubai, Aiswarya from Singapore, Jayapraveen from Sri Lanka and Preethi from Malaysia.

Solan, November 27
Chief Justice of Himachal Pradesh Justice RB Mishra inaugurated a new judicial complex here today. While addressing the legal fraternity and other guests he said the judiciary should ensure that common masses, poor farmers, the poverty struck and those having no means were provided immediate and cheap legal remedy. He said judiciary should ensure that the poor and deprived sections of society got speedy legal remedies.

Justice VK Ahuja, who was also present on the occasion, said the building of an organisation was like a mirror which reflected its actual state. This new complex would help facilitate the people who came from far and wide to seek justice and this would make all services available under one roof.

Earlier the district and sessions judge CB Barowalia said that the new complex would help facilitate the people as various courts, including fast track courts besides rooms for other facilities, had all been made available under one roof.

President of HP Bar Council Shashi Pandit highlighted how the council had been making efforts to make available facilities in the district courts here. 

Shimla, November 27
While the state government has almost forgotten great freedom fighter Col Sher Jung, a local organisation, the Himachal Pradesh People’s Progressive Group (HPPG), organised a function to celebrate his birth anniversary here today.

The participants remembered the services rendered by the great patriot and paid rich tributes to him. President of the group Shakti Singh Chandel gave a presentation based on the documents he had collected for the book he is writing on Jung, who passed away on December 15,1996.

They rued the fact that neither the state government nor the Government of India ever thought of creating a suitable memorial in recognition of the services rendered by this great son of India. Chandel said the group had decided to approach the state government with a request to set up a suitable memorial befitting Sher Jung’s contribution with his statue in Shimla.

Born at Nahan on November 27, 1906, Sher Jung was an eternal rebel and self-taught scholar, mastered many languages, including Urdu, Persian, Hindi, English, German, and authored many books. He joined the Jaito Movement launched by the Akalis in 1923. At the age of 17 he underwent three month’s imprisonment. He worked out a plan to free Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt from the Lahore Central Jail by force and even carried out the assigned task to raid the train carrying cash near Ahmedgarh in Ludhiana to raise funds for the purpose. It was a country-wide sensation and after trial he was sentenced to death but later it was commuted to life imprisonment. He spent about 16 years in jail and confinement.

After Independence Sher Jung took the responsibility of organising refugee camps in Delhi for which he was praised by Jawajarlal Nehru.

He spent rest of his life in writing books and in the pursuit of conservation of wildlife. Being a great naturalist and skilled in jungle craft, he would spend much of his time in his crusade to save tigers and other wildlife.

Nurpur, November 27
The Jawali police arrested three rape accused last evening at Dharamsala. They were wanted in a case registered on October 7. According to Jawali DSP Badri Singh, the trio---Alamdeen, alias Alu, Mosoom and Attardeen, alias Khanu, all residents of Hazipur in Punjab, allegedly stopped a 21-year-old married woman from Kohnallah village under the Jawali police jurisdiction, took her to nearby bushes and raped her. The victim was returning to her home after meeting her relative admitted at the Jawali community health centre.

They fled after committing the crime. The DSP said Alamdeen allegedly raped her and his two accomplices assisted him to commit the crime. A case had been lodged against them. The accused were produced before the judicial court at Jawali this evening and were remanded in the police custody for five days for further investigations.

Shimla, November 27
For fear of being ostracised for their inter-caste liaison, a girl and a boy committed suicide as their decomposed bodies were found from the Pabo forest near Ghannahti this morning.

According to additional SP the bodies of 24-year-old Devender of Gharog village and Rekha (23) of Chaili near Summer Hill were recovered from the forest area. “The bodies were found in a decomposed form and must be at least five-six days old,” he said.

With the two hailing from different castes, the families were opposed to their liaison. Separate missing reports about the two had been lodged in the Dhami and Summer Hill police stations by their families on November 22. The police was informed about the bodies when a villager spotted them this morning.