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Energy directorate fails to take off
Northern grid trips again
Rain brings cheer to farmers
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Rs 267 crore plan for crop diversification
Govt sanctions funds for repairing patwarkhanas
BJP ignored development, says Congress
Cong flays BJP ministers for making ‘false’ promises
Manhas clarifies stand on Cong allegations
Ministers defend DGP
Levy Sugar
Villagers hold protest
Probe ordered into custodial death
Abdul donates blood 163rd time
Focus on panchayat, civic bodies polls
2 bodies found
Symposium held
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Energy directorate fails to take off
Shimla, January 3 The directorate has been making do with a skeletal staff of 19 persons out which only four are engineers. In absence of a functional directorate the power sector continues to be in a mess. The government is in no position to enforce the hydropower policy, exercise quality control in private sector projects, address important issues pertaining to sale of power, evacuation of power, regulatory matters plan and grant of techno-economic clearance. With the ongoing restructuring of the state electricity board the directorate will has to carry out a host of functions, including floating of tenders, evaluation of bids, scrutiny detailed project reports and all other related matters which require technical expertise. The indifference of the government has led to situation where projects are nearing completion without the required transmission network for evacuation of power in place, techno-economic clearance being granted sans proper evaluation of projects, lack of control over quality and cost of private sector projects and vital issues like future power needs and power purchase agreements with the private sector projects remaining unaddressed. A glaring example of the prevailing messy state of affairs pertains to the 1,000-MW Karcham Wangtu project coming up on the Sutlej in Kinnaur. While the state government is begging for additional power from the Centre to meet the winter shortfall, Jaypee Associates, the company executing the mega project, has signed an MoU with Punjab for supplying power at Rs 3 per unit. The failure to “energise” the directorate of energy is indeed costing dearly to the state as the government has allowed the independent power producers to sell energy outside the state without bothering about its own requirement. In absence of proper supervision and monitoring, the quality of projects being executed in the private sector has been under suspect. Allotted on BOT (build, operate and transfer) basis the projects are to be handed over to the government after 40 years in running condition. However, engineers fear that most of these may not even last for four decades. They maintain that for effectively handling all issues at least 100 experts specialising in engineering, financial, legal and regulatory matters are required to man the directorate. Delay in making the directorate functional could have long-term consequences for the state, which has already turned into a power-deficit state despite a potential of over 20,358 MW due to short-sighted policies of the government. |
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Northern grid trips again
Solan, January 3 This was the second major incident of failure in the Northern Grid which had occurred within 24 hours. It was learnt that a heavy flash over had occurred over Bhawana-based 400kV sub-station which resulted in the outages of all outgoing 400kV feeders from Bhawana (Haryana) leading to cascading tripping of 46 400kV lines in the Northern Grid. This happened due to extreme foggy conditions coupled with high pollution and humidity level. The incident has adversely led to loss of generation of about 7,500 MW along with loss of equivalent load in various sectors of the northern grid, including 275 MW loss of generation and 500-mw loss of load in Himachal Pradesh alone. Sunil Grover, Director, Power Regulation, said the entire state was plunged into darkness at 09:45 pm last night except the Giri area where the power supply was available on 220kV Khodri-Majri line which was feeding the Kala-Amb and Paonta area. Thus this supply was extended to Kunihar-Kangoo-Hamirpur to synchronise Bhaba, Larji and Bassi and Shanan HEP after restricting loads to Baddi, Barotiwala, Poanta, Parwanoo, Nalagarh, and two cement plants -ACC and Ambuja Cements Grover added that they managed to restore the power supply in the entire state by 12:40 am with restricted loads as initially only about 50 MW load was allowed by Haryana for import on Panchkula-Baddi line and also restrictions continued on Khodri-Majri line from the Uttarakhand end. Full load to areas being fed from 220kV Jassore was restored at 1.30 am and all restrictions on Baddi, Barotiwla, Kala-Amb, Giri, Parwanoo, Solan, Nalagarh were lifted around 1:45 am. The power supply was thereafter normalised and the state load dispatch centre asserted that there was no shortage of power in the state as against the requirement of about 210 lakh units per day the availabilities from all resources was about 215 lakh units. |
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Rain brings cheer to farmers
Shimla, January 3 The snow started from higher reaches of Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti in the wee hours today and extended to middle hill ranges by the afternoon. According to reports reaching here, Chitkul and Rakchham in the Sangla valley were already under 30 to 40 cm of snowfall and Kalpa overlooking the district headquarters of Kinnaur received 25 cm. The higher reaches were buried under a thick white blanket. Reckong Peo also received 10 cm of snowfall by the evening. The roads leading to villages in upper areas have been blocked. Narkanda received 10 cm of snowfall, while the Hatu peak, Churdhar and Solang nullah had recorded 20 cm till the time of filing the report. The nearby tourist resort of Kufri and Dalhousie also had a spell of mild snow. Shimla and surrounding areas were having incessant rain since afternoon. Strong icy winds brought down the mercury sharply. Manali and the entire Kullu valley was also having rain. Reports of widespread rains were received from lower hill areas in Solan, Sirmaur, Hamirpur, Kangra and Mandi districts. The farmers heaved a sigh of relief as rain has come in the nick of time. Continuation of dry spell could have ruined successive third crop. The snow in upper apple belt has raised hopes of good crop. Apple growers, who had a poor harvest last season, have been anxiously awaiting snow, considered as white manure for the orchards. They are desperately hoping for the current spell to continue for the next two or three days so that the region receives adequate snow and the white cover extends to lower ranges too. KULLU: Rain in the lower region and snow on the higher reaches broke the dry spell on Sunday. The chilly winds lashed lower belt of Kullu in the morning and thereafter started the long awaited rain by the noon. The mountain tops of lower ranges Bijli Mahadev, Maouti Nag, Matti Kochhar, Fungni Dhar, Kais Dhar, Larji top and mountains around Manikaran witnessed snow after remaining barren for more than two months. The rains and snow would not only bring respite to the farmers but also bring relief to the long unannounced power cuts by the HPSEB. The power cuts for more than two hours at one stretch and total of more than five hours in the areas of Bhuntar, Shamshi, Industrial Area, Mohal, Gadauri had hit the industries and the people in the biting cold conditions. Meanwhile, the Banjar-Ani state highway passing through the 10,000-ft high Jalori Pass has been temporarily blocked due to snow and the traffic has been diverted via Shimla from Kullu. |
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Fresh snowfall in Manali region
Manali, January 3 Hundreds of tourists who have come to Manali from plains to celebrate the new year, were in for a surprise today to see the entire upper Manali region covered with a white blanket of fresh snow. Meanwhile, tourists rushed to Solang valley, Kothi and Gulaba to see the fresh snowfall. On the beginning of the New Year a festive atmosphere again prevailed at Solang valley, Kothi and Gulaba, as tourists were seen enjoying snow-skiing, riding on Yak, making snowmen and throwing snowball on each other. The vehicles could go up to Gulaba, about 18 km from here, on the Manali- Rohtang Pass road. The popularly known “snowpoint” Kothi and Gulaba also experienced fresh snowfall. The fresh spell of the snow in the region brought smile on the faces of hoteliers and taxi operators, who felt that it would boost winter tourism in the region. The higher reaches in the Kullu valley, including 13,050 ft high Rohtang Pass, Pir Panjal ranges, Hamta Ski slopes, Bhrighu slopes, Chanderkhani pass, Marhi meadows, Dhundi also experienced fresh spell of snow. Due to fresh snowfall in the higher reaches, the upper Manali region was in the grip of severe cold wave leading to further decline in the day temperature as cold winds continued to lash the areas all through the day. |
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Life out of gear in Kangra valley
Kangra, January 3 The rains started this morning breaking a long dry spell and dropping down the mercury considerably which created cold wave like conditions in the valley. Most of the people remained indoor due to Sunday and shivering cold but the remaining people braved the chill and the rains. The vehicles moved with the headlights on due to poor visibility. The reports of rain were received from Dharamsala and McLeodganj. Rains lashed this temple town, besides, Palampur, Jawalamukhi, Shahpur, Gaggal, Kotla, Dehra and Ranital. Most of the rivers in the valley were swollen following the rains. The school going children were lucky enough today as it was a holiday and they enjoyed the coldest day of this winter at their homes. The foreigners enjoyed the cold and rainy season in the hilly area. Some of the foreigners even visited the town despite cold wave like conditions in the valley and incessant rains. They claim to have enjoyed every moment of this cold day in the valley. |
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Trekkers thrilled
Dalhousie, January 3 The trekkers had come to the popular hill station to see the snowfall and were going back disappointed. However, the trekkers from Hyderabad were thrilled to see the snowfall and were dancing in the open. They claimed it to be a once in a lifetime experience. The high peaks of Chamba district, including Bharmour and Pangi mountainous tribal regions and the adjacent ranges of Pir Panjal Mountains have been experiencing heavy snowfall, according to reports pouring into the district headquarters in Chamba. The lower areas had been experiencing widespread rain, the reports said, adding that the people in the hilly terrains had been confined to their homes due to cold weather. PALAMPUR: Upper reaches of the Dhauladhar ranges and Bara Bhangal valley witnessed heavy snowfall on Sunday afternoon, while the lower reaches were lashed by intermittent rain. The entire Kangra valley is in the grip of cold wave. There has been considerable fall in temperature. Snow and rain had disrupted normal life. A number of parts of the valley had been without electricity since last evening. Vehicular traffic to snow-bound areas had been suspended. The HRTC had discontinued its buses to Kothi Kohar and Luhardi. Kothi Kohar Billing and Rajgundha recoded 30 cm of snowfall. A spokesman of state agriculture department said the timely rain in Kangra valley had averted the drought conditions. He said rain would be very beneficial to wheat and fruit crops. |
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Rs 267 crore plan for crop diversification
Shimla, January 3 The diversification project will be funded by the Japanese International Cooperation Agency. Besides various incentives, technical know-how will be provided to enable farmers to switchover from wheat, rice and maize to off-season vegetable cultivation and other high value cash crops in a big way. The government has singed an MoU (memorandum of understanding) with the Japanese government for carrying out a study to enhance farm income through diversified agriculture on the basis of which a master plan for the next 15 years is being prepared. The project is likely to be cleared next year. The two projects will also help extend irrigation facilities so that farmers can diversify to cash crops and seed production. At present, only about 22 per cent of the total cultivable area is irrigated and rest is
rainfed. The farmers across the state are largely dependent on the weather god for good crop. The plan is to increase the area under vegetables from the existing already 55,000 hectares to 65,000 hectares and the vegetable production from 9 lakh tonne to 13 lakh tonne by the end of 11th plan. If the Japanese project gets underway as planned even 30,000 hectares can be diverted from traditional crops to off-season vegetables over the next five years. However, the foodgrain production will not be allowed to fall on this account as more crops will be brought under high-yielding varieties. Crop diversification is the only way to overcome inherent constraints like small land holdings, lack of irrigation and the hilly terrain which makes cultivation of traditional agricultural crops uneconomical. The growth rate of agriculture has been a dismal 2 per cent and farm productivity has been below the national average. While returns from traditional crops range from Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000 per hectare, cultivation of off-season vegetables yield around Rs 80,000 per hectare and a protected area of 250 sq m can give returns in excess of Rs 3
lakh. With about 70 per cent people directly dependent on it, agriculture remains the mainstay of the state’s economy accounting for 20 per cent of the state’s domestic product along with allied sectors. In a bid to protect farmers from vagaries of weather, crop insurance scheme has been implemented for ginger in Sirmaur district, tomato in Solan and potato in Kangra and Una districts on a pilot basis. |
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Govt sanctions funds for repairing patwarkhanas
Hamirpur, January 3 The state government has now sanctioned funds to the Revenue Department for carrying out the repairs of the patwarkhanas and Rs 44.77 lakh has been given to the department. It is notable that the condition of some of the patwarkhanas and kanungo offices was in a bad state and in dire need of urgent renovation and repairs. The patwarkhanas are most frequently visited offices by people in connection with of revenue work and important revenue records are also maintained in these offices. Though lower level revenue officials have been raising the issue of carrying out the repairs, they were delayed due to paucity of funds. Some time back Hamirpur Deputy Commissioner Abhishek Jain had undertaken surprise visit of many patwarkhanas to make on the spot inspection of revenue work in the villages. During these inspections, while revenue officials had complaints regarding poor condition of patwarkhanas and kanungo offices, even the DC himself found some of these offices in a pathetic condition. After this, the DC had sent a report to the state government seeking funds for carrying out repairs and renovating these offices. Now, the state government has sanctioned Rs 44.77 lakh for carrying out repairs of about 200 patwarkhanas and kanungo offices in Hamirpur district District Revenue Officer at Hamirpur Prabhat Chaudhary said, “The amount of Rs 44.77 lakh has already been sanctioned for carrying repairs of about 200 patwarkhanas and kanungo offices of the district and work for which will start in this month only.” |
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BJP ignored development, says Congress
Nurpur, January 3 Addressing a press conference here yesterday, he alleged that the government which remained a non-performer during the past two years had failed to lay foundation stone of single development project, and had even stalled the ongoing development works, with its ulterior motive. He rued that only hollow announcements and false promises were made to fool the people. He said, “The government had started its present tenure with revocation of notification of up gradation of local civil hospital to 100 bedded capacity, de-notifying sanctioned posts of the Arya Government College and stalling the ongoing construction of Rs 2 crore stadium in the town”. He said a number of development projects, like civil dispensary, blood storage centre, science block in government college, completed during the previous regime, were waiting for inauguration. The government had failed to kick start the work of Rs 15.63 crore sewerage scheme sanctioned by the previous government. He ridiculed the government for taking false credit for the approval of Finna Singh Irrigation Project and added that it was sanctioned by the World Bank with concerted efforts of former minister Sat Mahajan. He also criticised the local municipal council for its failure to purchase mortuary van for which the former minister had sanctioned Rs 4 lakh from the MLAs discretion fund. He criticised the local MLA Rakesh Pathania for his announcement to shift veterinary hospital and Arya Government College from Nurpur and warned to launch a stir if any step was taken in this regard. He also opposed shifting of the TB centre to Gangath and the IPH division to
Hamirpur. |
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Cong flays BJP ministers for making ‘false’ promises
Bilaspur, January 3 Addressing mediapersons on Friday at the Circuit House here, Ram Lal Thakur said these leaders must tell the people of the state whether reduction in rations of the people and increase in prices of the supplied commodities at government depots, increase in electricity rates, enhancement in bus fares by more than 33 per cent, retrenchments of thousands of PTA teachers, and refusal to take action to check price rise of essential commodities in the open market were all its election promises with which the people of the state were suffering. Thakur charged that the Rs 365-crore World Bank-financed Mid-Himalayan Watershed Development Project, which he had brought to the state with great efforts during his earlier forest ministership, as it is the only project of its kind in the country and Asia, which has now become a hot bed of “corruption” and all complaints of misuse of its funds must be investigated and the truth be unveiled. |
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Manhas clarifies stand on Cong allegations
Shimla, January 3 Manhas said he had only held a press conference to share details of the achievements of the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau. “It was in response to a specific query by a scribe about the case pertaining to the Congress leader that the factual details and progress in the case were
shared,” he said. He added that even the press release issued on the occasion had only details of the crime review of the vigilance bureau and there was no mention of any particular case or any individual. Manhas’s reaction comes in wake of strong reaction by 15 Congress MLAs and other senior leaders to the reference made to Virbhadra Singh with regard to the CD case. The vigilance has registered a case against the Congress leader and is investigating the matter.
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Ministers defend DGP
Shimla, January 3 In a joint statement issued here today, they said the allegation made by some of the Congress leaders only showed their ignorance about the functioning of the government. Every department worked according to fixed norms, rules and established procedures and as such there was no room for making such charges. They pointed out that the case of Union Minister for Steel Virbhadra Singh was not the only one for which the senior police officer had convened a press conference. His remarks were of general nature and made in response to the queries of mediapersons. The minister said the law was equal for all and anybody found guilty, howsoever influential, would not be allowed to go scot-free. There was no need for the Congress leaders to cry foul and make an issue out of a non-issue. |
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Levy Sugar
Kangra, January 3 The depot holders complain that they had not been receiving the levy sugar from the district Public Distribution System authorities for the last four months thus facing the fury of the people. Even the regular supply of other items of the PDS was being received late and thus the distribution was getting delayed. When contacted Ramesh Dhawala Minister for Public Distribution System told The Tribune that there was a serious problem in the supply and distribution of the levy sugar for the last six months in the state and there was a shortfall of 1,50,000 quintal of sugar. He said recently 63,000 quintal of sugar was received from Maharashtra which would help the government to supply sugar of the November month to the consumers in the entire state. He said 50,000 quintal of sugar was required every month for distribution through PDS in the state so the supply was trailing behind for December and January. He said levy sugar was costing Rs 13.50 per kg through the PDS system and the sugar mill owners in Uttar Pradesh were adamant to increase the cost of the levy sugar to Rs 22 and controversy on the issue was continuing between the sugar mill owners and the GOI. He said the state government had paid the money in advance to mill owners for supply of levy sugar which they refused to entertain and denied supply of the sugar. He said the mill owners had even approached the court and the government was forced to approach the Maharashtra Sugar Mill Owners for sugar supply. |
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Villagers hold protest
Bilaspur, January 3 Led by panchayat president Himmat Singh, a large number of villagers gathered today and protested against such a campaign. They also raised slogans against these elements, whom they identified as persons from the Punjab police who were in a habit of actually giving shelter to the drug traffickers of their areas like Dher and Ghamirpur villages but were now baffled as their complicity had been exposed due to the strict vigil by the police. The village elders, including some retired government officers, retired police officers, industrialists and transporters from the village, said this attempt to tarnish the image of the village by the vested interests shall not be tolerated and if required legal action would be initiated against such elements. Later, Himmat Singh said, “Gone are the days when this village used to be notorious, when accused persons from one of these villages could find a refuge in other adjoining villages and escape from the clutches of the police of one or the other.” He said this was possible due to fast spread of education and efforts of a number of respectable IAS officers, IPS officers and transporters along with the efforts of the police. Himmat Singh said in the years 2004 and 2005 there were three cases each caught by the police under the NDPS Act and total recovery of opium was 1.1 kg and 3.98 kg but no such case had been registered during the years 2007, 2008 and 2009. The leaders alleged that the residents of Majari village were being harassed by the Punjab police and were being framed in false and concocted cases when ever they visit their relatives in Punjab. They further added that this was nothing but a ploy and alibi to hide the complicity of its elements with the drug traffickers. |
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Probe ordered into custodial death
Chamba, January 3 According to sources, on Saturday morning, the body of the accused was found hanging from the
walls of the lockup room. Though the police was taking this death as a case of suicide. Chamba Superintendent of Police Madhu Sudan said Bishan Bahadur was arrested while carrying 4 kg of charas at Gunnu nullah in the district. He was produced before the court on Friday and was remanded in the police custody till January 4. The SP further said the body of the deceased was handed over to his kin after carrying out an autopsy. The kin alleged that Bishan Bahadur was enmeshed into the charas case and was tortured by the police which resulted into his death. Chamba Sub-Divisional Magistrate Sandeep Negi had been assigned to hold an inquest into the custodial death of Bishan Bahadur as early as possible, the SP said. Meanwhile, District and
Sessions Judge SC Kainthla has ordered a judicial inquiry into the custodial death.
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Abdul donates blood 163rd time
Chamba, January 3 Ghani, 55, who is also a well-known social worker of the region, has so far set a record of donating blood measuring more than 50,000 ml in a stint of 33 years of his life. Ghani has resolved to be reckoned amongst the top blood donors of the country who have donated their blood for the wellbeing of suffering mankind for the highest number of times. Abdul
Ghani, hailing from Chamba, has already been honoured for his splendid services for the welfare of human race by various state and national-level NGO on several occasions as well as by former Governor of Himachal Pradesh Vishnu Kant
Verma. |
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Focus on panchayat, civic bodies polls
Chamba, January 3 With this hope, the contenders have started sprucing up their political background to enter into the fray in the forthcoming elections to the PRIs and civic bodies. The candidates have also started wooing their ‘vote banks’ with New Year’s greetings. According to official sources, the elections to PRIs and civic bodies in the state are scheduled to be held in November and December this year, respectively. Taking into account the scheduled time for elections, the preparations with regard to reviewing the electoral rolls has also commenced in the state on a speedy pace and, therefore, it is being presumed that the elections to the PRIs and civic bodies may be conducted before the scheduled dates this year, the official sources divulged.
— OC |
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2 bodies found
Hamirpur, January 3 The body recovered in the forest near Tropka village on Friday still remained unidentified. While the police was investigating the case, another body of a man in his late thirties was recovered on Saturday, near Dhangota village under Badsar police station. The deceased was identified as Joginder Singh (38), son of Roshan Lal of Lahda (Samtana). According to information, he worked in a dhaba and had left his work place at night. His body was recovered about 250 metres from his work place, by few villagers, who later reported the matter to the police. As per the preliminary findings, a foul play is suspected in the death of Joginder Singh. Badsar DSP Anjani Kumar Jaswal said the police was trying to identify the deceased and had contacted the police in Punjab and other neighbouring areas as well. |
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Symposium held
Bilaspur, January 3 Prominent poets like Anoop Singh Mastana, Sushil Pundir, Jagdish Kapoor, Ramesh Chand, Jeet Ram Suman, KL Dabra, Rooma Khan, Ravi Sankhyayan, Ram Lal Pathak, Kishan Chand Mahadevia, Suresh Bhardwaj and VK Shukla were present on the occasion. The sabha decided to publish a book of Hindi poems by Sushil Pundir as its first ever publication and invited manuscripts from literary figures
from the state. |
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