The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Himachal Pradesh Edition

Dept Payment
Inquiry report still awaited
Pratibha Chauhan
Tribune News Service

Shimla, December 26
Even after almost one year since an inquiry was ordered into reasons for payment of about Rs 37 lakh by the Tourism Department instead of promoters of the Jakhu aerial ropeway for diversion of forestland, the report is still awaited.

It was during the Congress regime that in deviation of all norms an amount of about Rs 37 lakh was paid by the department for the forestland deviated for the coming up of the aerial ropeway amidst a thick deodar forest in the heart of the town.

The amount of about Rs 37 lakh was worked out as the value of 32 tress which were to be cut and for which permission was given by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests and for the land to be used for right of way. Besides this, some amount was also borne by the Tourism Department for getting the overhead electricity wires which would obstruct the ropeway to be lain underground.

The government had ordered an inquiry by the Chief Secretary into the matter after it was raised in the assembly thrice by an independent MLA from Nurpur, Rakesh Pathania. Though he had expressed concern over threat to the ecology in the core green area due to the coming up of the ropeway but the issue of payment of money by the Tourism Department instead of the promoter himself was the issue which was being looked into.

Even after one year since the inquiry was ordered the report is still awaited. “I fail to understand the reasons for delay in completion of the inquiry when it is so obvious that there was a clear-cut deviation and favour shown towards the promoters of Jakhu aerial ropeway,” said Pathania.

Officials cite the example of a skiing resort that has come up in the Solang area of Manali, where the value of land deviated for the project was paid to by the promoter, Himalayan Power. Even in the case of the Anandpur Sahib-Naina Devi ropeway project, formalities of which are still being worked out between Punjab and Himachal Pradesh, the promoter will be asked to pay for Right of Way and for deviation of forest land.

The issue of the Jakhu aerial ropeway has been raised on several occasions in the assembly. Now the case of the project for allowing construction of an additional storey besides the 11 already approved is pending with the government. The municipal corporation has sought the views of the forest and Town and Country Planning authorities on it.

“When Shimla and most other parts of the state fall under seismic zone IV and V where the chances of an earthquake are high, why should such humongous concrete structures be allowed to come up and that too amidst a thick deodar forest,” said a forest official.

CM inaugurates waste paper recycling unit
Tribune News Service

Shimla, December 26
Chief Minister PK Dhumal inaugurated a waste paper recycling unit at the Secretariat, here today. He said the unit would recycle about 30 kg of waste paper daily and convert the same into file covers, file boards, official letter pads, visiting cards, conference folders and envelopes in an eco-friendly manner.

He said on successful experimentation of the unit in the Secretariat, similar units would be established in other offices, which had heavy waste paper disposal every day.

Dhumal informed that the unit would be operated by a Delhi-based NGO, TARA, which would maintain it for a period of one year initially on no profit no loss basis and also train officials of the Secretariat in converting waste paper into useful articles for official use.

He said the government was making all out efforts to protect environment and check pollution.

He said that lots of innovations were taking place in protecting the environment in a most eco-friendly manner and the government would be opting to incorporate such machinery for recycling of the waste official stationary material.

He also inspected the pulp making and cardboard manufacturing process.

17 new industrial units cleared
Tribune News Service

Shimla, December 26
The state-level single window clearance and monitoring authority today cleared 17 new industrial proposals with a proposed investment of Rs 419.31 crore and employment generation potential for 1,727 persons.

Chairing the meeting here today Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal said the state had succeeded in attracting 2,320 new industrial units during the past two years with an investment of Rs 11,205 crore and employment potential for 98,741 persons at different levels.

He said that on coming to power on December 30, 2007, a renewed momentum was given to industrial development and personal efforts made to resolve disputes with industrial houses. He said he had personally visited the industrial areas alongwith senior government functionaries to hold meeting with the industrialists and resolve their genuine problems instantly.

Dhumal said among the fresh proposals Nestle India Limited proposed to invest Rs 250 crore and generate employment for 650 persons by setting up its unit at Tahliwal in Una district. He added that the government preferred eco-friendly and high employment generating projects so that there was no ecological damage.

Dhumal said the state had succeeded in attracting an investment of Rs 40,130 crore eversince the Special Industrial Package was given to Himachal in 2003 as Special Category state. He added that so far 4.55 lakh people had got jobs in various industrial units since then.

He added that the government had made it mandatory to provide at least 70 per cent employment to the local youth in all units coming up in Himachal and this was being strictly monitored from time to time.

Police to go hi-tech
Tribune News Service

Shimla, December 26
As a part of its ongoing modernisation campaign, the state police will be shedding its traditional arms like the .303 rifles to go hi-tech by acquiring self-loading rifles (SLR) and INSAS rifles.

Disclosing this while addressing a press conference here today, Additional Director-General of Police (ADGP), Armed Police and Training, B. Kamal Kumar said the process would be completed within the next few months. “Though we received a proposal from the Chattisgarh Police to buy these traditional arms, no final decision has been taken on the matter as yet,” he remarked.

He said the redundant rifles were the property of the government and would be brought to use during drills and also in the training institutes.

He added that as a part of preparedness to meet any exigency the police was also in the process of acquiring ultra modern bullet proof jackets and protective head gears. “We are not satisfied with the bullet proof jackets that are with us at present so we have decided to buy the latest and the best,” he said.

Kumar said with the government approving creation of separate units of the HP State Industrial Security Force and Special HP Police Brass and Pipe Brands, the task would be completed within the next year after fulfilling all formalities. “As part of providing anti-insurgency training to our personnel about 100 men received training in full fledged commando course at Bahadurgarh in Punjab,” he informed.

He stated that the strength of the state police would go up to 16,840 after the raising of two police battalion in the state this year. This, he added, was sufficient to meet the various responses and tasks of the police force.

PTI adds: With an aim to tackle challenges like the 26/11 Mumbai terror strike, the state police has constituted Quick Reaction Teams (QRT) in all 12 districts and armed them with the latest weapons.

Besides a QRT in each district, Special Action Groups (SAG) have also been constituted at Shimla and Dharamsala by the state CID for the purpose, the ADGP said.

Oustees seek right to buy agriculture land
Lalit Mohan
Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, December 26
Subhash Sharma is son of a Bhakra Dam oustee. The entire land of their ancestral Bhakra village was acquired for the construction of Bhakra Dam. Some land was allotted to them in Haryana in lieu of their acquired land. However, since in 1960s the land was totally barren the family decided against moving to Haryana. Instead the family settled in Bhakra township located in Punjab on borders of Himachal. They have been staying in the township since then.

Subhash Sharma while talking to The Tribune said whatever land was left with them after acquisition, was given to tillers by the state government since my father was serving in the BBMB. Now we want to go back to our village, and buy some land there. However, the revenue officials are telling us that we cannot buy land since there is no agriculture land in our name.

The government has dealt us a double blow. Initially they forcibly took our land for the construction of the dam and then they also took our right to purchase land again in our home state, he said. Subhash is not alone. Large number of Bhakra and Pong Dam oustees and their legal heirs have similar grievances.

The sources available here said about 250 villages of Bilaspur district went under total acquisition for the construction of Bhakra Dam. The ousted villagers who once owned the most fertile land of the Sutlej Delta at one time were allotted land in Hisar and Sirsa districts of Haryana. However, since at that time there was no source of irrigation in the said area and land was arid many ousted villagers did not move to other states.

Hundreds of villages were also acquired for the construction of Pong Dam, another BBMB project. Many ousted villagers from Pong Dam are stilling fighting cases in courts to get the compensatory land allotted to them in Ganganagar district of Rajasthan. They have not been allotted land in the said Rajasthan district despite Supreme Court orders issued in 1996. Instead, the Rajasthan government is offering barren land in Bikaner district to Pong Dam oustees. The oustees have, however, rejected the land offer. Many oustees of Pong Dam are now also denied the right to buy agriculture land in Himachal, their parent state.

Oustees while talking to The Tribune alleged that the Himachal government was fighting a case in the Supreme Court to seek 7.5 share in BBMB on account of the merged populations of Una, Kangra, Kullu and Lahaul and Spiti areas. However, it was denying the basic right of buying land in their parent state to the dam oustees.

The oustees cannot buy land in Himachal as per Section 118 of Land Tenancy Act of Himachal. As per the act only agriculturists of Himachal can buy agriculture land in Himachal. However, since many of the oustees do not own any land in Himachal now, they have also lost the right to buy land here.

AIDS awareness campaign ends with candlelight march
Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, December 26
Red Ribbon Clubs throughout the district took out candlelight processions in the evening to mark the conclusion of the 25th day-long campaign regarding AIDS awareness in the district. The campaign was organised from December 1 to 25.

At the district level, the concluding function was organised at Dronacharya College, Rait.

Dr RK Sood, district AIDS project officer, addressed the youth and told them about the importance of open debate regarding the disease.

AIDS is affecting tourism, transport, rural development or any other sector. “We must make people understand that the AIDS crisis is not over. This is a threat to an entire generation and in fact even entire civilizations,” he said.

About 400 youth from RRC Dronacyarya College, NSS GSS, Rait, and residents joined the march.

Pandoh Dam
Oustees to occupy surplus BBMB land
Kuldeep Chauhan
Tribune News Service

Mandi, December 26
Over 2,500 families ousted from their homeland in the 1970s by the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) run 990-MW Beas-Sutlej link project have lost their patience and decided to occupy both “surplus land and deserted flats” of the BBMB after ascertaining the revenue entries of each family hit by the project.

The large number of oustees of the Pandoh Dam of the Beas project who are still not able to cope up with the trauma of displacement gathered at the meeting convened by the Pandoh Dam Visthapith Kalyan Samiti (PDVKS) at Pandoh. They are united on the issue and they have decided to capture the surplus land and flats which are rotting in Pandoh as the BBMB has not been able to come out with a policy as to what to do with the land and flats, the oustees asserted.

PDVKS president Hemraj and secretary Devinder Kumar, who chaired the meeting of the oustees at Pandoh said, “The BBMB and the central and the state governments have failed to rehabilitate oustees of the dam. We have made several pleas to the governments recently, but nothing has been done for the welfare of the oustees.”

They said the oustees felt cheated as the then governments did not pay enough compensation for their land and nor they were rehabilitated properly. The people at that time were not aware about their rights and they just gave their fertile land for the project, the oustees rued.

Hemraj said they have no option other than capturing the BBMB surplus land and vacant flats. “We will occupy the land and flats as per the entitlement as per the revenue records of each oustee. The next meeting will be held in January after getting the revenue records of oustees,” he added.

On the other hand, BBMB superintendent engineer, Pandoh circle-1, RS Dogra claimed that the BBMB had no surplus land as all of the land had been transferred to the state government.

The old flats or houses will be dismantled and new colony is being planned at Pandoh, he added, asserting that no one would be allowed to take law into their hands.

Examiners not doing justice to evaluation
Pratibha Chauhan
Tribune News Service

Shimla, December 26
With the ghost of the infamous CPMT paper leak almost coming back to haunt Himachal Pradesh University (HPU) once again, the casual and callous attitude of evaluators while checking the answer sheets of about nine lakh students invariably results in large number of re-evaluation resulting in a big change in the final marks.

With the evaluators having to check 50 answer sheets in a day, the average time spent in going through one answer sheet is about 7.3 minutes, which due to other factors invariably turns out to be even less. The HPU follows the system of table marking while checking the answer sheets of 5.75 lakh students in the undergraduate classes. As far as the postgraduate classes are concerned the answer sheets of 3.2 lakh students are sent to the evaluators.

“I have personally seen that majority of teachers consider the task of evaluation a burden and are most irresponsible while checking which at times plays havoc with the career of students,” remarked Prof KC Malhotra, former Vice-Chancellor. Citing an example, he says once a student got a relief of 40 marks during re-evaluation and that too in mathematics, which indicated poor and unfair evaluation.

Even though the remuneration for checking the undergraduate answer sheets has been enhanced from Rs 3.5 to Rs 8.8 and of postgraduate classes from Rs 6 to Rs 11 recently, with little improvement in the quality of evaluation. “I admit there has to be greater seriousness in the evaluation system but till we adopt the objective question paper format followed by the Union Public Service Commission, there is little scope for improvement,” feels Dr Sunil Kumar Gupta, Vice-Chancellor.

Debarring teachers whose answer sheets showed a great difference in marking has also not helped much. Another change introduced since last year is that the answer sheets are given in two lots of 25 each instead of giving the entire lot of 50 in the morning so that teachers do not hurriedly finish their work and leave early. “Remuneration is not much of an issue but the fact that very often evaluators who are not experts on a specialised subject are given such sheets so how can they be expected to do justice,” said an examiner.

However, it is widely felt that teachers need to do more justice in not only evaluating the answer sheets but also in paper setting. Every year the HPU has to cut a sorry figure when it is dragged to court over wrong key answers, which reflects the callousness and lack of sanctity in a procedure which decides the fate of students.

Another sore point is the delay in declaration of results, which at times cost dear to students who miss out on further admissions or eligibility for entrance examinations. The manner in which the PMT papers were leaked in 2007 had severely hit the credibility of the university, which needs to do a better job of paper setting and evaluation so that students do not suffer.

Federation vows to help govt check corruption
Our Correspondent

Bilaspur, December 26
The Himachal Pradesh State Employees Federation has vowed to make all out efforts to help the government in checking corruption in the state. The state federation also suggested a number of steps which could help the government in reducing this menace and also save a lot of public money, which was presently being wasted.

Led by leader Ram Singh, a deputation of the federation met Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal at Shimla last evening and presented a memorandum based on unanimous resolutions of its state executive committee meeting and demanded that the architect wing of the HP PWD stationed at Shimla should be streamlined. While the chief architect and the senior architect should be shifted to the offices of the chief engineers at Mandi and Dharamsala, all its architects should be shifted to the offices of the superintending engineers in the state so that the present inordinate delay in completion of constructions could be avoided and all works are completed within stipulated time, saving escalation money worth crores of the government and also making these facilities available to the people within time.

The memorandum also stressed that the Letter of Intent (LOC) regarding allotment of funds should be directly sent to the concerned executive engineers as this would also help in timely completion of construction of works and save lot of money of the government.

Other demands included that the mechanical and electrical wings of the HP PWD should be scrapped, special staff should be deputed to deal with the information being asked by people under the Right to Information Act, proper funds should be regularly allocated for the repairs of the government quarters at all places in the state, the Congress government sponsored victimisation of two remaining employees leaders - OP Goyal and Gopal Dass Varma - should be ended, NGO Bhawan at Bilaspur should be taken over by the Deputy Commissioner and rest houses be provided for employees at all district headquarters.

Waste plant to clean used drums
Ambika Sharma

Solan, December 26
With a view to facilitating the industry in providing services for cleaning the chemical-ridden trucks, the Dhabota-based Shiwalik Solid Waste Management Plant has initiated a used drums cleaning project.

The facility is considered crucial as in the absence of such a facility in the state’s industrial hub of Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh the chemical remnants from the hundreds of drums found their way into the river bodies often causing fish mortality.

The State Pollution Control Board has granted its due approval to the plant for treatment, storage and disposal facility. This was an attempt to organise sensitive cleaning process, which hitherto lacked professional handling. Though the board had invited dealers to register for the process, in the absence of crucial facility the approval had not been accorded for it.

In the absence of this facility the cleaning of drums was an unorganised activity with dealers collecting drums and washing them in the river bodies adding to the peril of local residents as well as endangering aquatic flora and fauna.

Plant’s CEO Ashok Sharma said, “We have added the used drums cleaning facility wherein the chemical ridden drums are cleaned in a scientific way by jet system initially and then the same drums are subjected to the cleaning with hot/cold water to ensure that they are thoroughly cleaned. Finally, the cleaned drums are checked by our quality control department, which pastes a sticker ensuring that the drum is cleaned properly before being finally dispatched. The process is repeated in cases where the drum is found lacking in cleaning.”

The facility will help the plant meet its desired output as its other venture of disposing hazardous waste failed to meet the desired level. This site was established with the capacity of 50,000 MT per annum as an estimated 4,166 MT per month from 1,600 industries of hazardous waste from across the state was supposed to be generated. The plant, however, receives an average of 900 MT waste per month with only 667 industries availing membership and 611 industries signing the agreement whereas only 400 industries actually send their waste for disposal to the plant which was set up after directions from the apex court.

Though the board has been trying to rope in the support of more industries, despite a year of its establishment the success was limited.

Member secretary of the board Dr Nagin Nanda, however, was optimistic about the project and said the support of the urban development department would also be roped in to help the plant attract more units.

Swine flu preparedness reviewed
Tribune News Service

Shimla, December 26
To keep spread of swine flu under check, the health department has decided to sensitise members of Panchayati Raj institutions during the gram sabha meeting to be held on January 3 next year.

The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by P.C. Dhiman, Principal Secretary, Health, to review swine flu preparedness in the state. He also held a video conference to interact and get feedback from various parts of the state.

Swine flu preparedness in all districts and two medical colleges was reviewed. Information, education and sensitisation activities are already being undertaken in all districts regarding community awareness.

Sensitisation workshops are also being organised for private practitioners and Ayurvedic doctors in the districts.

Ventilators have been installed in all district hospitals except Una and Kullu, where they would be in place within a week's time.

Director, Health Services, state surveillance officer, chief medical officers of all districts and Rapid Response Teams of all the districts, IGMC, Shimla and Dr Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College, Tanda (RPGMC) were also part of the video conference.

With Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) being the main testing centre for swine flu, head of department of paediatrics, microbiology and the Medical Superintendent of IGMC were involved in the exercise. Head of department of medicine and Medical Superintendent, RPGMC, Tanda, were also included.

Talk on free legal aid
Our Correspondent

Bilaspur, December 26
All citizens, howsoever poor or without any resources, are entitled to get justice from a court of law. Anyone who has his annual income up to Rs 50,000 can get required financial help by giving an application on a simple paper to the District Legal Services Authority or the Sub Divisional Legal Services Authority. Under such circumstances he would be provided free legal aid by the government.

Presiding over the one-day legal services awakening camp at one of the most backward areas of Kot Dhar at Balh Seena, about 85 km from here, yesterday, Ghumarwin Judicial Magistrate Rajesh Chauhan said this free legal service was also available to other such categories like women, the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes, handicapped persons and backward classes.

He urged all gram punchayat representatives, leaders and members of mahila mandals, yuvak mandals, other NGOs and social workers to apprise the people in their areas regarding this facility provided to them so that no body feels helpless in the matter of getting justice just because he or she has no money or resources.

Charas seized
Our Correspondents

Kullu, December 26
The district police today seized 2 kg of charas at a naka near Fozal from the possession of one Hari Singh, a resident of Ruzag village. Superintendent of Police KK Indoria said the naka was organised on a tip-off, as the alleged accused was to deliver the contraband at Manali.

A case under the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act has been registered.

CHAMBA: The police has arrested a person for possessing 62 gm of charas and registered a case against him under Section 20 of the NDPS (Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substance) Act. According to Superintendent of Police, Chamba, Madhu Sudan, a police party stopped a person, Kishan Dass, on suspicion; adding that the police personnel also carried out a search of his luggage and seized charas weighting only 62 gm.

Minister bereaved
Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, December 26
Haria Ram (88), father of minister for industries Kishan Kapoor, died today early in the morning in Tanda medical college. He was also cremated here today. Ravinder Ravi, IPH minister, Ramesh Dhawala, minister for food and civil supplies, and other local MLAs attended the cremation ceremony.

Haria Ram despite being father of the local BJP minister was known in the area for his simplicity and social work.

Cabinet decides to fill various posts
Tribune News Service

Shimla, December 26
The Cabinet today decided to establish a “Centre of Excellence” by shifting the Government Nurses Training Centre, Dharamsala, to Dr Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College and Hospital, Kangra, at Tanda, keeping in view the latest educational and training facilities available on campus.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the Cabinet chaired here today by Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal. It was also decided to upgrade the Nurses Training Centre to a Centre of Excellence.

The Cabinet also approved the filling of 50 vacancies of clerical cadre in the HP Secretariat through direct recruitment, 14 posts of driver in various Deputy Commissioner’s offices in the state on contract basis, creation of two posts of junior scale stenographer and two posts of peon in the Himachal Pradesh Subordinate Services Selection Board.

The Cabinet also approved amendment in the H.P. Allotment of Government Residences (General Pool) Rules, 1994.

On the occasion the Cabinet also unanimously adopted a resolution to mourn the death of late Hari Ram Kapoor, father of Kishan Kapoor, Industries Minister, who breathed his last at Dr Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College and Hospital, Kangra, at Tanda, at the age of 88 years this morning.

The Cabinet observed two-minute silence to pay tributes to the departed soul and prayed to the Almighty to grant him peace and give strength to the bereaved family to bear the loss.

2 New Zealand nationals held

Kullu, December 26
Two New Zealand nationals, including a woman, have been arrested for possessing charas, the police said yesterday. Allan Bruce Mills and his girlfriend Peta Sim Clair were arrested from Bhuntar, near here, on Thursday and 96 gm of charas was recovered from their possession, Superintendent of Police KK Indoria said.

He said the couple was also carrying foreign currency worth Rs 22 lakh. They have been booked under the NDPS Act.

“The New Zealand Embassy in New Delhi has been informed about their arrest,” the police official added.

In recent years, the Kullu valley has gained notoriety as a drug haven.

According to the police, the foreigners are providing high-yield variety cannabis seeds imported from Holland and Russia to farmers for planting in various high-altitude areas like Malana, Bhelang, Melandar, Magic and Kutlah in the Kullu valley as well as the Chauhar and Seraj valleys in Mandi district. — IANS

Carton factory not viable: Bragta
Tribune News Service

Shimla, December 26
Taking strong exception to the blame being put on the government for closing down of the carton factory at Pragatinagar in Kotkhai, Horticulture Minister Narender Bragta said there was little hope for revival of the unit, which had incurred losses to the tune of Rs 75 crore.

Addressing a press conference here today, Bragta said the government had no plans to revive the unit set up by Agro India Packaging Limited (AIPL) as the unit was not economically viable and the old plant and machinery would be sold. He added that the employees had not been paid salaries for past several months and they were being adjusted elsewhere.

Shifting the blame on the Congress, he said it was the Virbhadra regime, which was to be blamed for the present situation as it had decided to lease out the unit in 2004. “Even the MLAs from the fruit growing area are of the opinion that the unit be closed or leased out as the losses had increased,” he added.

To name a few, he said CLP leader Vidya Stokes had suggested its leasing out while Theog MLA Rakesh Verma had said there was no point producing cartons which were very expensive and unaffordable and Chamba legislator BK Chauhan had termed it as a “white elephant”.

Bragta said he held a meeting with prominent growers in which 800 growers participated and later held another round of talk with MLAs from the apple belt and not a single representative was in favour of running the loss-making unit.

The growers’ representatives even pointed out that the cost of the carton was Rs 38 while good quality cartons supplied by private manufacturers were available between Rs 20 to Rs 25 per carton and growers were no longer dependent on this carton factory.

Cold wave loosens grip

Shimla, December 26
The cold wave eased its grip on Himachal Pradesh on Saturday, with no fresh snowfall or rain, the Met office here said. The minimum temperature in Shimla was recorded at 4.2°C, a rise from Friday’s 2.6°C. The town witnessed a sunny day.

Keylong in Lahaul and Spiti district recorded a minimum of minus 11.4°C, up by 1.8°C, said the department in an official release.

Similarly, lower areas of Bhuntar, Mandi, Dharamsala and Una also recorded a slight rise in temperatures. These towns recorded minimum of 1.2°C, 2.5°C, 3.5°C and 1.4°C, respectively.

The Met department predicted sunny weather across the state for the next few days.— IANS