Shimla, December 25
The year 2010 will be crucial for the fiscal health of the fund-starved states like Himachal Pradesh as the report of the 13th finance commission, which will indicate the flow of central funds over the next five years, will be implemented from April next.

Largely dependent on central assistance, the hill state has over the years created huge committed liabilities in the shape of salaries and pension of employees, debts and interest.

A sharp increase in wage bill due to implementation of revised pay scales coupled with the continuing lack of buoyancy in tax collections on account of economic slowdown is bound to widen the revenue gap.

The state is pinning hope on a liberal dispensation from the 13th finance commission to meet the impending challenge on the fiscal front.

The recession has indeed affected VAT collections, which fell short of target by Rs 90 crore in the last financial year.

The VAT collections amounted to Rs 1,246 crore as against the target of Rs 1,336 crore.

This year the stimuli provided to combat economic slowdown by the Centre has affected central transfers and the shortfall is likely to be a significant Rs 175 crore, almost 20 per cent of the target.

The trend is likely to continue for a major part of the next year as the economy is still in the process of recovery.

Further, pay revision will put an additional recurring burden of Rs 650 crore on account of salaries, besides arrears of Rs 2,200 crore for the past three years. The annual expenditure on pensions will go up by Rs 350 crore to reach Rs 1,650 crore.

The total annual liability on account of salary and pension will cross the Rs 6,000 crore mark almost half the state’s total budget. With another Rs 3,000 crore going towards repayment of loans and interest, raising resources to bridge the revenue gap will be a challenge.

Accelerating industrial growth, which has been affected due to economic slowdown as well as uncertainty over the central industrial package, is the most important task.

The state has been way behind Uttarakhand, which has been extended the same package, despite positive factors like industrial peace and availability of power at reasonable rates.

The government seeking restoration of the extension of industrial package up to 2013, now wants it extended till 2020.

Since the grant of the central package in 2003 cleared 12,649 proposals involving an investment of Rs 40,123 crore and potential to generate 4.55 lakh jobs were cleared.

However, till date 6,091 projects with an investment of Rs 6,230 crore have been completed. Investment plans have been put on hold by many promoters and even after completion of ongoing projects the total investment will not cross the Rs 10,000 crore mark.

Obviously, extension package alone will not help; the government will have to take care of negative factors like deficient infrastructure.

Shimla, December 25
Sniffer dogs will be deputed by the police at post offices in Kullu, Manali and Mandi to prevent drugs being sent out through parcels which is a method being resorted to by miscreants to smuggle out narcotics like hashish, marijuana or even opium.

The decision has been taken to prevent any attempt by those into the illegal drug trade to send out drugs from the “valley of gods” and the adjoining district of Mandi. The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) had brought to the notice of the state police that drugs were detected in some of the parcels being sent out from the area which is infamous for cultivation and smuggling of narcotic substances.

The NCB had even directed the police to verify the identity and addresses of the senders whose details were written on the said parcels. However, the state CID could not verify even one name out of the list sent by the NCB as they were obviously fictitious.

“I have directed SP, Kullu, and Mandi to get the parcels at the post offices in Kullu, Manali and Mandi areas sniffed by dogs trained in detecting narcotic substances so that their smuggling can be prevented and more importantly those sending drugs through parcels can be identified,” said Director General Police (DGP) G.S. Gill.

It is only the two districts of Kullu and Mandi who have been given sniffer dogs besides Shimla as huge tracts here are under poppy or cannabis plants which are used to derive opium and hashish which are further treated to get derivatives which are of a much higher potency and quality. The police has mostly trained Labrador and Alsatian breeds to sniff drugs.

The state police has been undertaking sustained campaigns, including destruction of the crop to check its illegal trade. In fact, the NCB has provided satellite images of the drug cultivating areas which have been sent to the SPs of the endemic districts, including Kullu, Mandi, Chamba, Shimla and Sirmour.

The state CID too has prepared a detailed report, complete with the number of villages, their names and the area under cannabis and poppy in the problem areas so that effective measures can be taken to combat the menace jointly.

The total area assessed under cannabis or opium has taken into account crop being cultivated both on private and government land. It is the Sainj valley in Kullu where 1,100 bighas of land spread over 23 villages has illegal cultivation of cannabis. Besides this, about 280 bighas of land in 40 villages of Banjar and Upper valley of Kullu is reported to be under cannabis.

Kullu district is followed by Mandi where about 700 bighas in the Aut area and 220 bighas in Bali Chowki has drug cultivation. In Chamba though the area is not specified but the problem is more in the remote areas of Kehar, Tissa and Bharmour. In Shimla district too the problem, according to the state police, is confined to Thoeg and Chopal area. 

Shimla, December 25
Even as there is little hope of snow in the next few days with the temperatures rising further, Christmas revellers thronged the “Queen of Hills” in large numbers. Occupancy in most hotels, including the ones owned by the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC), was almost cent per cent.

However, with the maximum temperature being recorded at 12.7 degrees Celsius and minimum at 2.6 degrees Celsius, an increase of almost one degree in both day as well as night temperatures shows there are practically no chances of snow.

Much to the dismay of those associated with tourism industry, the local Meteorological Centre has forecast dry weather and clear sky till December 29.

This might rule out snow even on the New Year. Minimum temperatures in other towns of the state were lower than Shimla, thus reducing chances of snow.

Despite big crowds the hoteliers were still not happy as they were expecting even bigger crowds due to the long weekend on account of holidays.

With little checking from the Tourism Department, hoteliers, taxi owners, porters were seen overcharging visitors.

The police has, however, made elaborate security arrangements to ensure that there was no problem.

People enjoyed the cultural performances being held on the Ridge for the enjoyment of tourists. Christmas carols were sung at all prominent churches of the town well past midnight.

Shimla, December 25
Accusing the BJP regime of going back on its promise of running the carton factory at Pragatinagar in Kotkhai, the H.P. Fruit and Vegetable Growers Federation has threatened to launch an agitation in case the unit is closed down.

“The decision to close down the factory is against the interests of apple and other fruit growers as they will have to buy expensive and poor quality cartons to transport their produce in case the factory is closed down,” said Ravinder Chauhan, president of the association here today. He also termed as totally baseless and false government claim that the unit is being sold on the advice of the growers.

He reminded the BJP that in its election manifesto it had promised that the unit would be run in the interests of the growers. “There is no question of playing politics on the issue as the growers could be from any party or ideology but their interests would be to get good quality cheap cartons,” he opined.

He lamented that the claims of the government that the factory was not being closed and sold were false as the decision had already been taken in the Cabinet meeting held on September 18 this year. “Not only this the BJP after assuming power had announced that the factory would be closed down and that they intend going ahead with the decision,” he regretted.

Justifying the running of the factory he said even if one believed that the unit was running in losses it was the responsibility of the government to provide for lakhs of people who were dependent on apple economy. “Has the government closed down all loss-making corporations if not, then why is the carton factory being singled out,” he quipped.

Citing figures he said the mere announcement by the government that it was closing down the unit raised the prices of cartons by almost Rs 10 to 15 per box. He added that at this pace the prices would increase by Rs 25 per box, which would burden the growers greatly.

“ In case the government decides to go ahead with its decision of closing down the factory, the growers will be left with no option but to launch a massive agitation,” said Chauhan. He further urged the government to release the money due to the growers under the market intervention scheme (MIS) for 2008.

Mandi, December 25
Pensioners have demanded a hike of 5-20 per cent for all pensioners above 75 years of age on the pattern of Punjab and central governments considering that the Punjab Government has implemented the 5-10 per cent hike from 2003 onwards.

They also demanded a hike of 20 per cent for pensioners crossing the 80 years age bar and Rs 500 as fixed monthly medical reimbursement or on the basis of the running medical reimbursement.

Addressing its state-level function here, state president of the Pensioners Welfare Association JN Jivan said the Punjab Government had hiked the pension for the 75 years age group by 5-10 per cent and the Centre had increased it by 20 per cent for its pensioners crossing the 80 years age bar. But the state government has yet to implement this hike considering that Himachal follows Punjab in this matter, he added.

Secretary general of the association DR Barowalia said a few pensioners cross the 75 years age bar and they need extra care and assistance. The pensioners should get options either they get the fixed Rs 500 per month or they be allowed to get the running medical reimbursement, said association press secretary HC Gupta.

They urged the Chief Minister to look into their demands.

Chairman of the meeting PWD Minister Gulab Singh Thakur and special guest on the occasion Rural Development Minister Jai Ram Thakur assured the pensioners that they would take up the matter with the CM soon.

More than 100 pensioners were honoured on the occasion. Most prominent among them were 107-year-old Bhagirath from Kangra, Tulsi Ram Chauhan, father-in-law of the CM, from Hamirpur, who could not make it to the function.

Many eminent pensioners, including retired judges and bureaucrats, were also present on the occasion.

Chamba, December 25
The BJP is gearing up for bringing to light the achievements made during the past two years of its regime in the state under the able and leadership of its Chief Minister PK Dhumal. The celebration of December 30 would be a grand occasion to mark two thriving years of the BJP rule in Himachal Pradesh.

To begin with this significant campaign, the BJP has decided to hold a mammoth rally at the district headquarters town of Chamba on December 30 followed by a public meeting to be addressed by various prominent party leaders.

Disclosing this here, BJP district president Mohan Lal disclosed that leaders, activists and the rank and file of the party would go to the doorstep of the masses and apprise them of the two years’ achievements of the government.

He said the programme for highlighting the two years’ achievements of the BJP government had been worked out and accordingly leaders and workers of the party had been assigned their tasks to be accomplished with sincerity. 

Bilaspur, December 25
All consumers have a right to get quality products, goods and services according to their choice and the government has ensured this through the Consumer Right Act, 1996. The consumers can approach the court to get their grievances redressed or to ensure that they get full value of the price they have paid or get compensation for a faulty service or defective or less quality goods have been provided.

Additional District Magistrate BR Kaundal stated this while presiding over National Consumer Day organised by the District Food Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department at Vyas Sadan here yesterday. Kaundal said the consumers should always get a receipt for their purchased goods for any service rendered to them so that they could claim compensation and the receipt would be the proof for the same.

He said all court claims up to Rs 20 lakh could be made at the District Consumer Forum and those above it up to Rs 1 crore would be submitted at the State Consumer Forum and those above it at the National Consumer Forum. Large number of concerned officers and citizens were also present at the function.

Mandi, December 25
Writers, intellectuals and NGOs active here today joined hands to make a strong plea urging the state government to come out with a practical policy to protect the fast vanishing heritage buildings in this town which cry for immediate attention.

At a meeting presided over by the convener of the Gyan Vigyan Samiti, Sunder Lohia, expressed his concern over the dilapidating condition of the three heritage buildings- the Raj Madhava Rao building, the Darbar Hall and the old building of Bijay High School. There is a need to educate the common man about the archectural and cultural significance of these buildings in this town, he added.

Lohia said that the government should understand the cultural significance of the Raj Madho building, which was in controversy due to a bemami deal. This building houses the ancient temple of the Madho Rao which is the presiding deity of the Shivratri fair that starts from this time in this building, he added.

President of the RTI Bureau, Mandi, Lawan Thakur said the building should have been declared as a public property as sentiments of people of the district are associated with this due to the Shivratri fair. The benami deal of this property shows how certain greedy people are ready to grab it, he charged.

Lohi and Thakur pleaded that the Darbar Hall which houses the post office should be made a cultural place as there is no performing arts centre in this town.

Some writers also made similar pleas, asserting that they need to educate the public about the importance of heritage.

Shimla, December 25
To ensure optimum utilisation of plastic waste in metalling of roads within the state one mixing shredder would be provided in each zone so that environmental degradation can be prevented.

This was disclosed by Public Works Minister Thakur Gulab Singh here today while presiding over the meeting of the officers of the PWD Department after inspecting 1 km long stretch of the Tutu-Jubbarhatti road which had been metalled on pilot basis by using waste plastic.

He said using polythene in road metalling would not only help in conservation of environment but also save about 15 per cent bitumen. He said one lakh plastic bags would be used for metalling 1 km road. “Himachal Pradesh has become the pioneer state in North India to introduce use of plastic bags in metalling of roads which will save Rs 2 lakh per km,” he said.

The minister said that the Tutu-Jubbarhatti road would be taken up as a model road for the use of this new technology. He said 1.3 km link road leading to Jubbarhatti Airport would be maintained for the convenience of both the tourists as well as locals.

While expressing satisfaction over the condition of 1 km stretch metalled by using plastic waste he said more spot mixing plants would be provided to the department so that the new technique became familiar with executing agencies. He appealed to the people to contribute in making Himachal a polythene-free state of the country.