Dharamsala, January 29
The proposed two-year increase in industrial package to Himachal is stuck in the Prime Minister’s office (PMO). According to highly placed sources, the proposal to increase the industrial package till 2013 was sent by the Union Ministry for Industries and Commerce headed by Anand Sharma to the Prime Minister in the first week of January.

Just as the proposal was sent politicians, both of the ruling party and the opposition, were quick to stake claim for getting the package extended in the media.

However, according to sources, due to tough resistance from Punjab and Haryana, the Prime Minister had till date not given his nod for increase in the industrial package to the state. Interestingly, during the last stint of the UPA government in power the then finance minister P Chidambaram had maintained that the Union government was loosing Rs 10,000 crore in taxes due to industrial package extended to hill states.

In case it was not extended the industrial package in the state would end by March this year.

Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal who was here today when asked alleged that the UPA government was discriminating against Himachal. He alleged that the industrial package for Jammu and Kashmir was being extended for an indefinite period; the Union government was dithering on increase in industrial package to Himachal.

He alleged that initially the industrial package was given to the state by the NDA for a period of 10 years ranging from 2003 to 2013. However, the UPA government after coming to power diluted the package and tried to reduce it. The lack of continuity in the package discouraged many investors.

The Himachal Vidhan Sabha in the last winter session passed a resolution urging the Union government to extend the industrial package to the state till 2020. The Congress leadership had termed it as a dilution of initial demand for restoration of industrial package till 2013. They termed it as a political move.

Certain news reports also indicated that the state government might move Supreme Court to claim increase in the industrial package in case the Union government fails to extend it till 2013.

However, the sources said the ball was now in the Prime Minister’s court. The Union ministers from Himachal and the Chief Minister would have to lobby hard to get extension in the industrial package.

Dharamsala, January 29
Gaddi’s living outside the tribal areas will be able to draw benefit from funds earmarked for development of tribal areas. The decision to this affect was taken in a meeting of the Gaddi Welfare Board held at Dharamsala today, which was presided over by Chief Minister PK Dhumal.

Dhumal in press conference later revealed that provisions have been made for spending Rs 9.31 crore tribal funds in non-tribal areas during the current financial year. The provisions have been made for benefit of tribal people who have now settled in urban areas.

He said the state government was determined for over all development of weaker section of society in the state, especially those belonging to Gaddi, Gujjar and Other Backward Classes. All efforts were being made for preservation and protection of tradition, custom and culture of these communities.

Ten tribal hostels in the state were being constructed with an estimated cost of Rs 19 crore to facilitate students of the said tribal communities. Children belonging to the Scheduled Tribe community were being given incentives and scholarships under various education schemes.

Referring to the problems being faced by shepherds, the CM said support price had been fixed for boosting up wool production in the state. In addition to this, Rs 50 lakh revolving fund had been made available for the HP Wool Federation so that timely cash payment could be given to shepherds for their produce.

Provision of Rs 72 lakh had also been made for the use of modern techniques by sheep rearers in the state. At present 2,133 veterinary institutions were providing medical aid under animal husbandry in the state. In addition to this, two veterinary hospitals were also opened in Chamba.

The CM directed the Forest, Agriculture and Panchayati Raj departments to formulate time bound schemes for eradication of lantana and congress grass.

He also said a project was being executed for the development of handloom in Kangra district by the HP Handloom and Handicraft Co-Operative Development Association. Rs 17.61 lakh had been given to 800 hand weavers under this project so far. He said Rs 40 lakh were being spent for development of Jot, a beautiful location in Chamba district.

Dhumal said construction of roads, bridges and paths should be taken up on priority basis in Gaddi concentrated villages.

Minister for Industries and Labour Kishan Kapoor was also present at the meeting.

Manali, January 29
The tourist town of Manali and the entire upper region experienced a fresh spell of snow, while the lower parts of the area were lashed with rain today, renewing the cold wave in the region. The snow here was mild till the filling of the report.

The famous ski slopes of the Solang valley have been without snow for most part of the winter, however, ski lovers were taken by surprise today as the entire upper Manali region was covered with a white blanket.

Hundreds of tourists who have converged on the famous tourist hill station from all parts of the country were delighted to see the entire area donning an impeccable white mantle. The thick white layer covering the trees, roofs and the ground transformed the entire landscape virtually into a fairyland.

After the fresh snow a festive atmosphere again prevailed at different places between Manali and Solang valley, as revellers were seen throwing snowballs at each other.

The snow on the famous ski slopes also brought cheers on the faces of winter sports lovers.

President of the Himachal Pradesh Winter Games Association RC Negi said the National Senior Alpine Skiing Championship would be held at Solang ski slopes from February 7 to 11.

Negi said the championship was being organised in the state after 10 years. As many as 18 teams from all over India, including the Army, Air Force, Navy, BSF, ITBP and HAWS, were expected to participate in the skiing championship.

Chamba: Heavy snowfall in the high peaks in Chamba district and widespread rain in the lower areas has brought cheers to orchardists and farmers of the region today after a long dry spell for the past over a month.

The Manimahesh ranges in Bharmour region, Saach Pass and Padhri Pass that adjoins Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh with Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir have also received fresh snowfall.

Agro-horticulture expert RL Chauhan said the snowfall on the mountains was a ‘deposit’ to the snow-fed rivers thereby meeting the water supply and irrigation requirements of the plains during summer.

Mandi, January 29
Even as the postponement of BJP state chief elections billed for January 30 and 31 has exposed cracks, party leaders and workers are out to scout for a “wider choice” representing the hitherto unrepresented sections like Dalits and other backward castes for key BJP posts, including the state president.

This mindset is doing rounds as the “BJP core group” differed on an “unanimous choice for the top post as both names, including the third choice, are from the Brahmin community, according to sources.

The party sources today told The Tribune that the “meeting of the state BJP core group”, including state top leaders Chief Minister PK Dhumal and national vice-president Shanta Kumar held at Chandigarh yesterday remained inconclusive over the new state chief.

Though the Shanta Kumar faction advocated BJP general secretary Khushi Ram Balnatah as the third choice, those who advocated broadening the choice were pleading to scout for candidate among the SC category.

However, those who advocate a strong young generation of leadership supports Nadda on the ground that he has demonstrated his leadership quality and organisational skills when he headed the ABVP in the state.

The postponement of the BJP elections are also being viewed as the acceptance of the feeling of neglect being nursed by Dalits and other backward sections, including women in the state.

Two names--- Forest Minister JP Nadda and present party in charge Khimi Ram, both from the Brahmin community--- have been tipped as the choice for the new BJP chief. Nadda enjoys the blessings of Shanta camp while Khimi has support of Dhumal.

The issue of wider representation to the ignored sections has reached the party high command including Nitin Gadkari following reports in the media. Moreover, the state leadership has been pushed on the defensive on the triple CD issue, giving much teeth to the Congress and anti-Dhumal faction of the state BJP.

The state BJP returning officer for the elections Vikram Thakur told The Tribune that he had received official confirmation that election for the time being stood postponed and the president would be elected unanimously by the BJP electoral comprising one delegate from each mandal and 10 MLAs nominated for the elections.

Meanwhile, both Nadda and Khimi Ram have stated that they would go by the decision of the party high command.

Shimla, January 29
Alarmed over the decision of the Centre to declare the three main industrial hubs of the state as “critically polluted”, the state government has started an exercise to take remedial measures for “greening” of the existing industrial units.

Directions have been issued to polluting units to switch over to green technology and put in place the systems required for controlling pollution. It has decided to enforce the latest national ambient air quality standards, notified last month, at the earliest. The industrial townships of Baddi, Kala Amb and Parwanoo are among the 32 hubs declared as “critically polluted” on the basis of the Comprehensive Environment Pollution Index (CEPI) worked out after carrying out a field survey by the Central Pollution Control Board in association with the IIT, Delhi. The three industrial townships of the state with an index of 69.07 (Baddi), 68.77 (Kala Amb) and 63.77(Parwanoo) are on the threshold of reaching critical level.

Sarojini Thakur, Additional Chief Secretary, science technology and environment, said it was indeed a matter of concern but the situation was not out of control and very much manageable.

The CEPI, on the basis of which the areas were declared severely polluted, provided only a snapshot and there was no baseline data to infer that quality of environment was deteriorating. The government was already alive to the need for controlling pollution and it had been pursuing a plan for greening of industries in these areas in a phased manner.

Since they were on the threshold of reaching the critical levels, the switchover to green tech and upgrade of pollution control systems would be pursued in a more focused manner with an active cooperation of the industries, she said.

She has already held a meeting with representatives of the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) in this regard and chalked out a programme under which major polluters would be taken care of on priority. For instance, in the Kala Amb area, focus would be on the arc and induction furnace-based steel units, while in Baddi-Barotiwala, the textile, pharmaceutical and fast moving consumer goods industry would be given top priority.

Kangra, January 29
Controversy has cropped up due to different yardsticks adopted by the state government for appointments of lecturers for the school cadre for which written test is scheduled for February 7, being conducted by the Himachal Pradesh State Subordinate Services Selection Board.

Sanjeev Kumar, one of the aggrieved aspirants, told The Tribune that applications for the post of school cadre lecturers were invited by the board in which exemption was granted to those science postgraduates from possessing BEd degree who were serving in government schools on contract or other category lecturers. He said, however, those science postgraduates working as lecturers in private senior secondary schools and colleges were deprived of exemption of possessing BEd degree.

The aggrieved aspirants said it was shocking that the government was using different yardsticks for equally qualified people despite the fact that both the categories of private and government school lecturers working on contractual basis were teaching students for the same HP Board of School Education.

They alleged that the government was trying to give benefit to all those lecturers working in government schools on contractual basis or under some other category because those appointments were made allegedly on political criteria.

HR Sharma, secretary, State Subordinate Service Selection Board, told The Tribune that the board was implementing recruitment rules applied by the Education Department. He said the board had no other role to play. He confirmed that those lecturers working in government schools on contractual or other basis had been exempted from possessing the BEd degree.

According to sources, the government should lay down same rules for all categories of lecturers.

Dr RD Sharma, former deputy director, Education, today said there should not be double standards for the appointment of lecturers.

It will affect the quality of education in schools, he added.

Meanwhile, Education Minister ID Dhiman told The Tribune that BEd was compulsory for both graduates and postgraduates for the posts of TGT and lecturers, respectively, and whatever had appeared in the notification would be looked into. He further said if exemption was granted it should be either for all or for none.

Hamirpur, January 29
A two-day national conference on the Right to Information Act began here today which was inaugurated by Chief Information Commissioner PS Rana.

In his inaugural address Rana gave detailed information about this act and said the RTI was an act to provide access to government record under the control of public authorities in order to promote transparency and accountability in the working of every public authority.

He said a citizen could seek any information from any department except in matters concerning defence and security of the country which made this act unique. Moreover, the information sought is to be supplied within a stipulated time and also reasons are also to be cited for denying any information, he added.

Stressing on the need of awareness about the act, he said the number of applications received by various offices under the RTI Act had risen from 2654 in 2006 to 17,000 in 2009.

Prof SL Goel, professor emeritus, Indian Institute of Public Administration, New Delhi, presented the keynote address at this conference. Papers by experts were also presented.

Welcoming the participants deputy commissioner Abhishek Jain pointed out the aims and objectives of the conference.

Kangra, January 29
A 72-year-old man committed suicide by hanging himself from the roof of the veranda of his house in Chowki Salihar village falling under the Jawalamukhi police station in Dehra subdivision last night.

According to the police, some locals found Fandhi Ram hanging. The body had been sent for a post-mortem examination and investigation under Section 174 CrPC was in progress.

The cause of committing the crime by the old man could not be established as yet, the police said.

The victim lived alone and was reeling under some mental tension which might had led him to commit suicide, the police added.

In another incident, a 29-year-old youth allegedly committed suicide by consuming poison in Kawari village, near Nagrota Bagwan, on Wednesday evening following failure in a love affair, the police said here yesterday.

In charge of the Nagrota Bagwan police station Mool Raj Kapoor said an unemployed youth identified as Rajesh Kumar, a resident of Sakoh village, was found dead on the Nagrota Bagwan-Kawari road. He said the body carried a suicide note, which indicated that the youth had failed in love affair and consumed poison.

He said post-mortem was performed and the body was handed over to his relatives. The body bore no marks of injury and circumstantial evidences also attribute that it was a suicide, he added.