Shimla, March 8
The Planning Commission has approved an annual plan of Rs 3,000 crore for the state for the year 2010-11 which is Rs 300 crore more in comparison to the size of the annual plan for the current fiscal.

The plan size was finalised at a meeting between Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal and Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission Dr Montek Singh Ahluwalia at which top officials from both sides were present.

Dhumal said the social sector had been given top priority with an allocation of Rs 1,010.79 crore (33.69 per cent), followed by transport and communications with 588.93 crore (19.63 per cent ) and energy sector for which Rs 354.37 crore (11.81 per cent) had been earmarked. Out of the total annual plan, the general plan, Scheduled Caste-sub plan, tribal sub-plan and backward areas sub-plan had been allocated Rs 1,925.00 crore, Rs 742 crore, Rs 270 crore and Rs 63 crore, respectively.

Agriculture and allied services had been allotted Rs 342.84 crore, rural development Rs 168.66 crore, special area programmes Rs 12.97 crore, irrigations and flood control Rs 310.48 crore, industry and mineral Rs 27.25 crore, science technology and environment Rs 20.00 crore, general economic services Rs 93.45 crore and general services Rs 70.24 crore.

The Chief Minister said the government was meeting burden on account of the NPV (net present value) from its own resources in respect of PMGSY roads involving diversions of forest land due to refusal of the Centre to internalise it in the cost in the project.

Projects of 600 MW capacity would be commissioned in next financial year and an additional 2,600 MW would be added by the end of the 11th plan.

Further, 7500 MW would be harnessed during the 12th plan. The government had allotted 95 per cent of the total hydel potential of which 9,088 MW (39.5 per cent) would be harnessed in the central sector, 10,000 MW ( 43.5 per cent) in private sector and 3,800 MW (17 per cent) in the state sector. The government had decided to provide a loan of Rs 190 crore and equity contribution of Rs 100 crore to the state power corporations for execution of 4 ADB-assisted projects.

The allocation for agriculture and allied sectors was double of the national average of 5-6 per cent. He requested the Planning Commission to exempt the states allocating 10 per cent or more budget to agriculture sector from the eligibility criteria and parameters for allocations of funds under the RKVY.

Dharamsala, March 8
Hunters taking licences for killing wild animals are not depositing their remains with the Department of Forest. Information collected by The Tribune revealed that till date, 58 hunting licences were issued in the Kangra region by respective DFOs. A maximum of these licenses (47) were issued by the Nurpur DFO.

As per instructions issued by the chief wildlife warden of Himachal, licence of killing wild animals can be issued by the respective DFOs to farmers for protecting their crops. The licence is valid for four weeks and farmer, who had killed the animal, has to report the same to the department. He also has to deposit the tail of the killed animal as proof.

However, inquiries revealed that none of the hunters had deposited the animal parts with the department. Forest department officials said since the hunters had not deposited animal parts, they presumed that the animals had not been killed.

Meanwhile, animal activists alleged that animals were being killed for poaching purpose. They found it strange as to why would a simple farmer take the trouble of getting the licence for killing an animal by doing all paper formalities. It is poachers who are taken licences for safe entry into forest for killing animals, they alleged.

The department has declared nine animal varieties as vermin as per the letter issued by the Union government in 1984. The letter was used by the state to declare the said varieties as vermin in 1998. The animal varieties include wild boar, porcupine, sambar, chital, jackal, monkey, black bear, parrot and hare. Another variety---the blue bull---has now been added to the list.

The animals were declared as vermin on the basis that they damaged crops. However, it is strange that how officials are considering jackal as vermin. Moreover, chital is found is very small pockets on the Punjab and Himachal border.

According to the Wildlife Act, wild animals are a state property. Any animal killed in self-defence or for protecting crops has to be deposited with forest department officials who have the right to destroy it.

However, the state government made rules which allowed hunters to keep the dead animal but deposit the tail portion with forest authorities. The way wildlife is being compromised in the state, it might threaten the ecology of state forests.

Shimla, March 8
The move of the state government to deregulate the felling of bamboo plantations, which play a vital role in preventing soil erosion in the hills, has raised the heckles of environmentalists.

The bamboo forests have been depleting at an alarming rate in the hill state due to “excessive and unscientific” felling, and natural degeneration has been poor, even in the area under the control of the Forest Department. In fact, the government had in 2007 formulated a project for the rehabilitation and expansion of the area under bamboos and submitted a Rs 13.34-crore scheme for planting of new forests over 3,000 hectares and cleaning of the existing 6,000 hectares of the existing congested bamboo forests for funding under the National Bamboo Mission.

As such the announcement of Forest Minister JP Nadda that the government had proposed to take bamboo and two other species from the purview of the Land Preservation Act had come as a surprise. Out of the total 10,640 hectare natural bamboo forests managed by the Forest Department, 6,000 hectare was congested and needs immediate tending and cleaning of the clumps.

The bamboo forests both on government and private lands have fallen victim to indifferent management. In the absence of proper cleaning of clumps, adequate space was not available for new shoots. Worse, bamboo stands were felled without bothering about regeneration and growth. Apart from congestion, reckless felling, destruction of rhizomes due to fires and compaction of soil have also been responsible for the shrinking of bamboo forests.

In 2000, the management of bamboo forests was transferred to the state forest corporation but there was no improvement and the decision was reversed.

“The felling cycle of bamboo is only three years and as such there is no need to deregulate as one-third of the stands can be felled every year,” says Kulbhushan Upmanyu, chairman of the Himalaya Niti Abhiyan, apex forum of non-government organisations. The need was to provide training to farmers on scientific management of plantations in the absence of which stands had become congested and rhizomes were damaged during felling.

Bamboo has been mostly planted along the nullahs, kuhls and on the edges of fields to check soil erosion. As such deregulating it would further aggravate the problem silt in rivers.

Shimla, March 8
The Assembly today witnessed heated exchanges between the treasury benches and opposition members as Kuldeep Singh Pathania, Congress MLA from Bahttiyat in Chamba, levelled serious charges against a senior BJP office-bearer of Chamba district.

Participating in the debate on the motion of thanks to the Governor’s Address, Pathnia raised the issue while talking about corruption. Having laid the related documents in the House, he said he had already brought the matter to the notice of the Chief Minister, demanding an inquiry.

Taking serious note of the charges levelled by Pathania, the treasury benches objected to allegations being levelled by the Congress MLA who was supported by his party members as the House witnessed heated exchanges.

Parliamentary Affairs and Forest Minister JP Nadda said allegations must not be levelled against anyone who was not in the house to defend himself. As such Speaker Tulsi Ram assured the Congress MLA that since he had provided the documents, the matter would be looked into.

Pathania said he did not wish to accuse the government of playing the card of regionalism but the facts clearly pointed towards certain areas getting preferential treatment.

“If you see the data, it appears that development works are confined to four or five districts only and Chamba district, which is the most backward in many respects, has been practically ignored,” he said.

The issue of the hill state getting several national awards once again resonated in the House as Pathania said the picture looked very rosy but on the ground, things were totally different as facilities, be it in health or education, were lacking. “Services of doctors, teachers and other staff appointed during the Congress regime were being terminated,” he alleged.

Responding to allegations levelled by Pathania, Health Minister Rajiv Bindal said it was during the BJP regime that the number of seats had been enhanced from 65 to 100 and PG seats from 62 to 70. “Similarly, it was the previous BJP regime which ensured that Tanda medical college comes up as a premiere institute,” he said.

Dharamsala, March 8
The Himachal Vidhan Sabha has reconstituted HP Vidhan Sabha legislatures for Tibet forum to continue their support for the Tibetan cause.

In a statement issued here today, Tibetan authorities told The Tribune that a Tibetan parliamentary-in-exile delegation, led by deputy speaker Gyari Dolma, MP Geshe Ghasi Tseringpo and Tibetan settlement officer, called on Chief Minister PK Dhumal and Leader of the Opposition Vidya Stokes.

A lunch for them was hosted by Minister for Industries and Dharamsala MLA Kishan Kapoor.

Later, in the day, a circular was issued by Minister for Parliamentary Affairs JP Nadda which stated that a meeting was held to reconstitute the HP Vidhan Sabha Legislatures for the Tibet Forum.

New members of the forum include PK Dhumal, president, Vidya Stokes, senior vice-president, JP Nadda, vice-president, Kaul Singh, general secretary, Suresh Bhardwaj, general secretary and all members of the HP Vidhan Sabha as ex-officio members from 2008 to 2012.

The circular further added that the forum supported non-violent approach of the Dalai Lama for peaceful solution of the Tibetan issue. The forum shall extend support for preservation and promotion of the rich cultural and religious relations between the two countries. It also stood committed to the protection of environment and the security of the Himalayan region, it said.

Shimla, March 8
The HP High Court today granted six-week time to the state government to file its reply to the application filed by Union Steel Minister Virbhadra Singh to implead Chief Minister PK Dhumal and DGP (Vigilance) DS Minhas as party in his petition for quashing of FIR registered against him and his wife Partibha Singh by the state Vigilance in the CD case.

The court also granted time to the state government and director, Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL), Chandigarh, to file reply on other application of Virbhadra wherein he has urged the court to send the recently released CDs for forensic test of voices of Dhumal and Minhas.

Justice VK Ahuja directed the state and other respondents to file reply within six weeks and listed the case for April 26.

Virbhadra had filed two applications in the HC. In one of his application, he has stated that he reasonably believes that the voices in recently received CDs are of Dhumal and Minhas. He has urged the HC to direct the secretary (home) and DGP (vigilance) to send these two CDs attached with the application to the CFSL, Chandigarh, for giving opinion about the voices of Dhumal and Minhas.

In another application, he had urged the court to implead Dhumal and Minhas in a case filed by him for quashing of FIR against him and his wife Pratibha Singh in the CD case by the state vigilance.

He further alleged that in these CDs the reference to the CD circulated by Vijay Singh Mankotia against him had been made. He added that the transcripts of these CDs revealed that certain directions were given by Dhumal to Minhas which directly related to the CD in question in the present case.

Virbhadra further alleged that in his application from the perusal of the transcript it would be evident that there was involvement of Dhumal and Minhas in one form or the other. Both persons were relevant party to the present proceedings in view of the contents of recently released CDs.

Shimla, March 8
The state gyan vigyan samiti has decided to carry out a year-long campaign focusing on issues concerning women as part of 100 years of International Women’s Day.

The samiti chalked out the programme at a meeting organised to mark Women’s Day here today in which it decided to observe 2010 as the “samta” year to intensify the campaign for ensuring equal rights to women in all spheres of life. It also decided to launch an intensive campaign against female foeticide so that the impact of efforts of various organisations and government in this regard could be judged from the data of 2011 census.

It was of the view that merely enhancing the quota in panchayati raj institutions and urban local bodies would not help. It was more important to provide training so that they were in a position to carry out the responsibility effectively. There were problems in maintenance of accounts and taking proper decision with regard to development schemes due to lack of technical support.

Secretary of the samiti Satyawan Pundir said the main thrust would be on the “beti bachao” and it would collect data at the grassroot to bring the true picture regarding the sex ratio and factors involved.

HAMIRPUR: Various programmes were held in the district to celebrate 100 years of International Women’s Day on Monday.

District unit of the Janwadi Mahila Samiti organised a rally at Gandhi Chowk and also submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister through the district administration highlighting several issues concerning women.

Addressing the rally, state president of the organisation Satya Galoda highlighted various instances of discrimination prevalent against women in society and appealed women to fight against social evils.

The organisation also supported 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament and state assemblies, besides demanding declaration of pubic holiday and free travel for women on the day, including divorced women in the BPL list.

The District Women Empowerment and Social Justice Department also organised a programme which was presided over by local MLA Urmil Thakur.

Addressing the gathering on the occasion, Thakur talked about various steps taken by the state government for the welfare of women.

Speaking during the concluding function, DC Abhishek Jain talked about the importance of their role in upliftment of society. A cultural programme was organised on the occasion. A legal literacy camp was also organised at Sashan panchayat.

BILASPUR: The Congress has been championing cause of women since the past more than 30 years and it will be a great achievement in the favour of women empowerment when the Women Reservation Bill for 33 per cent reservation in all assemblies and Parliament will be passed.

This was said by mahila Congress national general secretary Manorama Sharma as chief guest at the state-level International Women’s Day celebrated by the party at the Markandeya, 30 km from here today.

State Congress president Kaul Singh Thakur, while addressing a large congregation of women as special guest of honour, said the Bill, when enacted, would usher in a new era of progress and prosperity in the country, as it would ensure direct participation of women in all spheres of life, including politics.

KULLU: International Women’s Day was celebrated at the Lal Chand Prarthi Kala Kendra here on Monday. All speakers, on the occasion, called upon women to fight against social evils like female foeticide, dowry, child marriages and domestic violence.

Officiating Deputy Commissioner RK Pruthi presided over the function.

NURPUR: The district-level International Women’s Day was celebrated here in which anganwadi workers, helpers and members of mahila mandals of the Nurpur development block participated.

The function was presided over by Vandana Pathania, wife of local MLA. A programme was also organised at Divya Jyoti Jagriti Sansthan’s local ashram.

Mandi, March 8
The police has busted another Nigerian e-mail fraud racket by arresting mastermind Desmond Igbingie, a resident of Binin City, Nigeria, in connection with a case of online cheating involving a Mandi-based retired deputy director of agriculture.

Mandi SP SM Agnihotri said Desmond was arrested on March 3 from Mumbai by a police team after tracking him down using high-tech gadgets. He was produced before the judge here who sent him to five days police remand.

The police said Desmond was wanted in the case lodged on October 1, 2009, under Sections 420 of the IPC and 14 of the Foreigners’ Act at the Mandi Sadar police station. Desmond was on transit remand up to March 7 before he was brought here before the judge who further sent to five days police remand.

The police investigation revealed that the complainant fell into the e-mail fraud trap after he got an SMS on his mobile phone that he had won an online lottery and needed to deposit processing fee worth Rs 31,200.

But when he contacted the email address after he deposited the amount in the account number, he was asked to deposit more money, which made him suspicious over the allurement and he lodged the FIR.

After investigating the account number of e-mail-cheaters the police found that Desmond and his accomplice had already made transaction worth Rs 80 lakh, the SP said.

He said the police was trying to track down other suspects, a British national and other foreigners involved in the e-mail racket. “The people working online must not be lured by the online offers as they trap their victims through some lottery or other fraudulent offers,” the police cautioned.

Kangra, March 8
The state government had ordered 203 JBT teachers to be shifted under the rationalisation programme from different schools of the district, teachers with shortest stay in the school figured in the list whereas those with longest stay were left untouched.

The criteria fixed for the transfer was that three teachers against 61 students and additional teacher with longest stay in the school would be shifted.

Block president of the JBT federation Kamal Jeet said seven teachers in Kangra block figured in the list and five of them were with shortest stay in their respective schools.

District president of the primary teachers federation GS Bedi said those with shortest stay would not be harassed and the federation would take up issue with the deputy director to sort out the matter. He blamed the BEO for submitting wrong names to the deputy director’s office, which created the mess.

Mandi, March 8
After the exit of Mandi Municipal Council’s (MMC) vice-president Tosh Kumar from the post, seven councillors of the council today moved a no-confidence motion against president HR Vaidya and presented it to the DC. They demanded his removal from the post on the ground that “Vaidya was not available in the office and was often seen in government functions”.

Regardless of their political affiliation, seven councillors joined hands and moved the no-confidence motion against Vaidya. The councillors who signed the motion included Push Raj Sharma, Sushsila Sonkhla, Gagan Kashyap, Mahender Singh, Sarita Handa, Anil Kapur and Yog Raj. The rest of the six councillors, including Vaidya, were conspicuous by their absence in the meeting.

The councillors also charged that Vaidya was not available in the office as he was spending more time in government functions. As a result of that the councillors were not getting enough time to get their work done, they charged.

It was in fact for the third time that Vaidya faced the no-confidence motion. He was removed as the vice-president and then as president in the past. He was re-elected as president in December 2008.

DC Amandeep Garg said he had received the resolution against the president. “He will be served a notice giving minimum of 15 days as per the Act. After this the MMC will convene the meeting of the house to test the no-confidence motion on the floor of the house,” he added.

Hamirpur, March 8
While the process of evaluation of offers from companies for bringing all branches of Kangra Central Cooperative Bank (KCCB) under core banking solution (CBS) system is on, eyebrows are being raised on the bank management for allegedly choosing a very expensive offer, after rejecting a much lower offer, on technical grounds.

Consultants of the KCCB at National Institute of Technology (NIT), Hamirpur, are now evaluating financial bids for this work after which this job would be assigned to the bidder.

Interestingly, the lowest bidder for completing this job, HCL Infosystems Ltd, which had reportedly offered to do this job for Rs 6,17,23286, is already out of financial bids as this offer was dropped at the pre-qualification stage.

Now, two companies with much higher offers---Flexel with offer of Rs 15,92,45 670 and TCS with offer of Rs 23,06,24884---are competing for the final financial bids.

Since there is a huge gap of about Rs 11 crore, the HCL company has questioned the prudence of rejection of their offer on technical grounds.

In a representation made to KCCB authorities, it has alleged, their offer was rejected though is was the lowest saying they did not have experience of undertaking CBS system in 200 branches despite the fact the company already had successfully established CBS system in 60 branches of the State Cooperative Bank.

The company has also questioned accepting offer with very high cost for a bank like the KCCB, which, according to them, has limited requirement keeping in view its needs.

KCCB managing director GS Pathania said, “The eligibility criteria was set by our consultants and HCL could not compete in pre-qualification bids. However, their offer for installing ATM and ATM switches is being evaluated by consultants.”