|
|
|
|
Question Hour
Low procurement adds to HPMC woes
Centre urged to file additional affidavit in BBMB case
Role of public service panel under lens
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Cong stages another walkout over price rise
Farhan Kanwar is central university VC
MC Polls
3 killed in bus mishap
Murder case solved
Life term for three
HC adjourns Virbhadra case
2 test positive for H1N1
|
|
Medical test charges to be rationalised
Lalit Mohan Tribune News Service
Dharamsala, December 18 The question regarding difference in user charges being charged by respective RKS at Tanda medical college and the IGMC, Shimla, and alleged misuse of funds in the form of payment of salaries to doctors from RKS funds was brought up by Kaul Singh, GS Bali and Yog Raj. The Health Minister, while replying the query, said RKS funds were being used to pay salaries to doctors only during the previous Congress regime. The present government had earmarked separate budget for payment to doctors employed by the RKS. The Congress members, however, alleged that still funds collected by the RKS were being used for payment of salaries that was against the rules. On the issue of difference in rates being charged at Tanda medical college and the IGMC, Chief Minister PK Dhumal intervened and assured the House that the government would rationalise the rates in both hospitals. On a query from Sundernagar MLA Rup Singh, the CM informed the House that there were 45,844 sanctioned posts in various government departments out of which 32,742 posts had been filled. He also said 13,102 sanctioned posts in various government departments were lying vacant. Rup Singh expressed concern over the vacant posts in the health and education departments to which the CM assured that steps were being taken to fill the said posts. On a query from Shimla MLA Suresh Baradwaj, Minister for Food and Civil Supplies Ramesh Dhawala said the central government had reduced the quota of rice, wheat and sugar for Above Poverty Line (APL) beneficiaries drastically. He also said backlog of sugar, being received under the PDS from the Union government, had increased to 1,15,000 metric tonnes. The state had decided to purchase rice and wheat at market rates from the Union government to meet the shortcoming for the APL category, he added. While responding to a query from Santoshgarh MLA Mukesh Agnihotri, IPH Minister Ravinder Ravi said work for bringing up 46 tube wells in Santoshgarh area was on. Mukesh Agnihotri, however, alleged that the work was moving at a very slow pace.
|
||
|
Low procurement adds to HPMC woes
Shimla, December 18 The corporation has accumulated losses to the tune of Rs 46 crore and the meagre processing of apple in the view of low procurement during the current season has added to its financial woes. Only about 500 tonne of fruit was processed as against the capacity of 20,000 tonne at the Parwanoo plant. Thus, only about 40 tonne of juice concentrate will be produced. Last year over 45,000 tonne of fruit was procured, the low procurement has deprived the corporation of the handling charges of about Rs 2.5 crore from the government. The employees have not been paid salaries for the current month so far. The corporation has now decided to exploit the commercial potential - its properties in Chennai (2 acre), Kolkata (3 acre) and Mumbai (11,000 sq m). The value of the land, which has been virtually lying idle, has sky rocketed in the recent years. It has already invited expression of interest from private parties for setting up commercial ventures, which can yield good returns. It has shortlisted three parties, which have come up with proposals to set up controlled atmosphere stores and commercial complex at Chennai. A central public undertaking under the Union Steel Ministry and the Arunachal Pradesh government have shown interest in developing the Kolkata land. They have been asked to submit concrete proposals. Simultaneously, it has decided to revamp and upgrade its processing facilities to bring down cost of production so that it could compete with the Chinese products. While the Chinese apple juice concentrates (AJC) is available in the country at Rs 50 to Rs 55 per kg, the AJC produced by the HPMC costs Rs 70 per kg. The main reason for it is the low recovery (70 per cent) of juice from apple and it takes 10-11 kg of fruit to produce one kg of juice concentrate. It plans to install a modern pressing machine in addition to the existing one to help raise the recovery to 88 per cent with double pressing. A committee set up by the corporation had worked out the revamping of plant will involve an expenditure of about Rs 2.5 crore and help reduce the cost of production to around Rs 40 per kg. |
||
|
Centre urged to file additional affidavit in BBMB case
Dharamsala, December 18 The Vidhan Sabha requested the Centre to review its stand in civil suit no. 2 of 1996 in the matter of state of Himachal Pradesh versus Union of India. It has been stated that with the coming of the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1996, 7.19 per cent population, which was earlier part of Punjab (including areas of Kangra, Kullu, Lahaul-Spiti and Una), became a part of union territory of Himachal Pradesh. Thus, Himachal was entitled to 7.19 per cent share of assets, liabilities and rights of composite Punjab. Since the projects of BBMB are located in Himachal Pradesh, the state is entitled to 12 per cent free royalty power. The said civil suit came up for discussion before the Supreme Court (SC) on October 20, 2009, The SC, in the course of argument, had asked the government of India to clarify whether there was any agreement between various states on sharing of power from BBMB projects and whether in the absence of such an agreement, the Centre had taken a final decision in terms of the Punjab Reorganisation Act. In response,the Centre had cited the proceeding of a meeting held under the chairmanship of secretary, Union Ministry of Power, on April 17, 1967, and taken the position that Himachal had agreed to share 2.5 per cent in the power generation of BBMB projects. With regard to 7.19 per cent claim of Himachal in the BBMB projects, the Union government had cited an order of March 30, 1978, allocating 15 MW power on ad-hoc basis. On free power from BBMB, the union government affidavit stated that 12 per cent free power was applicable only to the centre sector projects commissioned in Himachal after September 7, 1990, and, as such, BBMB-managed projects, that were multi-state projects, were not covered by this order. The Vidhan Sabha held that the stand taken by the government of India was factually incorrect. In support of its claim, the CM quoted summary records, letters and reports according to which it had been stated that 2.5 per cent share given to the state in BBMB project was an ad-hoc decision and the state’s claims of 7.19 per cent share was still pending. On the 12 per cent royalty from BBMB projects, the Himachal Assembly has held that the government of India conceded 12 per cent free power in the Biara-Siul project which was commissioned before September 7, 1990. The Congress members, in the House, also supported the resolution but only with a rider that it was the Virbhadra government that had moved the SC in the case. |
||
|
Role of public service panel under lens
Mandi, December 18 The RTI documents, supplied to the applicant Vijay Kumar Verma, which are also in the possession of The Tribune, has raised questions over the appointment of Dr Aparna Sharma as the assistant director (DNA analysis). The documents showed no evidence of “essential lab experience of seven years in DNA analysis and profiling for the job”, the RTI revealed. Even insiders in the SFSL raised serious questions over the said appointment. “The essential qualifications and work experience in the DNA analysis as per its advertisement published on October 16, 2008, has been overlooked,” they charged. The candidate joined as an assistant director (DNA analysis) in May, 2009, and failed to do even a single case of DNA analysis at the SFSL till October, the RTI further revealed. It also revealed that the candidate has worked as the DBT-postdoctoral fellow at the Department of Bio-chemistry, PU, Chandigarh, sponsored by the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. Dr Sharma then joined as research associate under the ICMR-sponsored project at the Indian Microbiological Institute, Chandigarh for three years. “The appointment reveals manipulation at a high-level as experts from the same institutes were invited,” the sources added. Meanwhile, Dr Sharma, said, “I have been selected by the commission where experts sit and take interview.” PS Draik, secretary, HPPSC, said the selection was done by the commission with a panel of experts and documents were scrutinised. JR Gaur, director, SFSL, said the RTI information supplied to the applicant must be correct but complete records was with the state government. |
||
|
Cong stages another walkout over price rise
Dharamsala, December 18 He accused the government of failing to protect state residents from price rise. Soon, all Congress MLAs got up and walked out of the House, raising slogans against the state government. Yesterday also Congress MLAs had staged a walkout on alleged breach of privilege against party MLA Neeraj Bharti. The Chief Minister, however, said the issue of price rise was affecting the common man in the entire country and it was unfortunate that Congress MLAs were evading the issue. While filing his reply to the debate, the CM said it was surprising that there had been a record production in the country, still there was an unprecedented price rise of essential commodities in the state. He also condemned Union ministers for issuing statements that the government could not control price rise. Such statements were encouraging hoarders and leading to exploitation of the common man, he added. CLP leader Vidya Stokes, later while talking to The Tribune, said failure of the state government to streamline the PDS system in the state was the reason behind price rise. Earlier, the Speaker clubbed two proposed discussion on the PDS in the state and price rise. The proposal for discussion on PDS was brought by Kaul Singh and price by Suresh Baradwaj. Kaul Singh condemned the decision of the state government to replace pulses with black gram in the state. He also alleged that the poor quality material was being supplied through the PDS in the state. Suresh Bharadwaj alleged that inflation of food items in the country had increased to over 19 per cent. “There is ample stock of foodgrains in the country. Despite that, prices are increasing at an alarming rate. It is because the union government is encouraging hoarding of essential items,” he said.
|
||
|
Farhan Kanwar is central university VC
Dharamsala, December 18 In reply to a query by Paragpur MLA Yog Raj, Education Minister ID Dhiman said the Union government had not yet decided on the location of the university. The state government had, on October 15, 2008, shown various land spots to the site-selection committee of the Union Ministry of HRD, including 697 acre land in Dehra area of Kangra district. The committee found the Dehra land more suitable for the institution. The CM also wrote to the Union government, offering a campus in Jawalaji area, for starting the classes till a permanent campus came up. However, former Dharamsala MLA and now MP from Jodhpur Chandresh Kumari wrote a letter to the Union Minister for HRD that 476 acres was available near Dharamsala and the university should be brought up on that piece of land. The letter of the Congress MP has been referred to the Kangra DC to verify the status of land proposed for the university. After that, the decision on location of the university was again kept pending. The Chief Secretary has now written a letter to the ministry to again constitute a site-selection committee so that the process of bringing up the central university could be expedited, the minister informed the house. The CM, while speaking on the issue, said the government had no preference over land for the central university. |
||
|
BJP to take action against rebels
Tribune News Service
Shimla, December 18 Addressing a press conference here today, in charge of BJP affairs in Himachal, Satya Pal Jain said the party was concerned over the matter and an inquiry was already on into the incident. “Being a secret ballot, it is very difficult to ascertain as to who cross votes but even then the matter is being probed into,” he said. In reply to a query if any action was initiated with regard to the Jawali debacle, he said no complaint had been received by the party so far. “Allegations of anti-party activities against Rakesh Pathania cannot be looked into as he is an Independent MLA even though he has been supporting the BJP,” he said. Jain said the process of organisational elections in the state was on and this time the membership had gone up from 3.20 lakh to 3.70 lakh. He dismissed reports that any names for the post of state party chief had been discussed. “The issue will be decided through consensus once the elections to the district bodies are complete,” he said. Jain said this year, on the occasion of completion of two years by the BJP regime in the state, instead of holding one big rally, functions will be held at all district headquarters and later at the mandal level.
|
||
|
3 killed in bus mishap
Bilaspur, December 18 The bus carried 26 passengers and all others received injuries while eight of them received serious injuries, including a boy named Sahil, son of Inder Singh Thakur of Chandpur village, who was rushed to the PGI due to the seriousness of his injuries. Those killed include Lajja Devi of Tadaun village of this district, Gur Devi of Baldwada and Nirmala Devi of Havani of Sarkaghat, both in Mandi district. The seven injured who were admitted to the regional hospital here include Anita, Premi Devi, Shiv Ram, Usha Devi, Kala Devi, Garja Ram and Indira Devi, all of Bilaspur district. The bus had left Bilaspur main bus stand only a few minutes ago and was bound for Ghumarwin. Fourteen other passengers injured with minor injuries were relieved after first aid. The district administration declared a grant of Rs 10,000 to the kin of those killed and Rs 2,000 each to the injured. Former Congress MLA Babu Ram Gauttam rushed to the spot and later visited the hospital and expressed condolences.
|
||
|
Murder case solved
Nurpur, December 18 According to DSP Badri Singh, following a tip-off, the police arrested Surinder Singh (32), son of Tilak Raj of Bakaswal village from Ludhiana, where he was working in a private company. In a preliminary investigation, the accused confessed that he had murdered the mother of four with whom he had illicit relations. He took this extreme step as she had been blackmailing him after his got married a few months ago. He confessed that after killing the woman, he tied her legs and arms and threw in the well.
|
||
|
Life term for three
Una, December 18 The case related to the murder of Rajneesh of Mawa Kaholan on the night of October 10, 2009. His body was found on the highway leading to Gagret from
Daulatpur. The convicts were also fined Rs 5,000 each under Section 302 of the
IPC.
|
||
|
HC adjourns Virbhadra case
Shimla, December 18 The government mentioned that petitioners were threatening the investigating agency and added that the petitioner was a highly placed person and not cooperating.
|
||
|
2 test positive for H1N1
Shimla, December 18 With this, the total number of persons from Himachal who have tested positive for swine flu has gone up to 27, including eight deaths. Out of a total of 10 samples which were tested for H1N1 infection at the IGMC today, only two tested positive.
|
||
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
