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HP sitting on aid for power projects
Disease stalks villages around cement plants
Punjabis won’t ride high on HP liquor
Repair road or face stir: Industry
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CAG to conduct AIPIL audit
Key posts to Shandil, Asha
Cong flayed for opposing Finna Singh project
Release of Hostages
Meeting of NGOs’ federation held
Nod to food storage depots
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HP sitting on aid for power projects
Dharamsala, March 6 Under it, registered societies and NGOs could apply for existing or self-identified micro-hydel projects. The organisations were to be given a grant of Rs 80,000 per KW. As per the scheme, 25 per cent grant were to be provided in advance, 65 per cent after 25 per cent completion of the project and 10 per cent after the successful commissioning. Under the scheme, 207 societies and NGOs from Himachal had applied for setting up projects. Mohinder Kapoor, member of a society in Bharmour, talking to The Tribune, said he had applied for self-identified project of 100 KW in 2009. HIMURJA, the nodal agency for micro-hydel projects, had also conducted an inspection of the site he proposed for the project. However, till date nothing had happened. “We have met the secretary, power, and officials of HIMURJA but our projects are not being cleared due to unstated reasons”, Kapoor alleged. Dilbagh Singh Mankotia, another affected person, said the Union government was ready to give him a grant of Rs 80 lakh for a 100 KW project. The scheme was going to end in March 2012. In case, the state government would not give necessary clearance for the micro-hydel projects, the residents would fail to benefit. As many as 207 NGOs and societies that applied for micro-hydel projects have now formed the All-Himachal Micro Hydel (Up to 100 KW) NGOs and Societies Association to fight their case. Members of the association said in case the state government failed to take action, it would be forced to move court. Sources also said micro-hydel projects could help small villages in the tribal areas to generate power for their own consumption. This could also solve the problem of extending power lines from the lower areas to the remote tribal areas that cost the power department in crores. It was also difficult for the power department to maintain these lines. |
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Disease stalks villages around cement plants
The findings were released by the Nalagarh-based NGO Himparivesh and the Community Environmental Monitoring Campaign (CEMC) in Nalagarh today. The air samples were analysed by Chester Labnet, an American laboratory, and these were collected by the NGO in November 2010, using the low volume air sampling technique. One of the samples was collected near JP Cements unit for cement grinding and blending, which is situated near Bagheri village. The other sample was collected near Ambuja Cement’s unit situated near Nayagram village. With the presence of nickel being three times the safe limits as per the Indian and US environment protection agency standards, the risk of acquiring cancer by the residents had become high. Shweta Narayan from the CEMC said had the SPCB performed its duty, the air pollution of such magnitude would have been checked. President of the NGO Jagjit Singh said children, pregnant women, persons already suffering from any disease and old persons were especially susceptible to the ill-effects of
pollution. Other members of the NGO, including its organising secretaries Khaminder Kumar, Surinder Kumar, Lakshmi Singh, general secretary Balkrishen Sharma, emphasised that the studies had shown a significant association between exposure to fine particles and premature mortality. Other significant effects included aggravation of respiratory and cardiovascular disease, lung disease, decreased lung function, asthma attacks and
problems like cardiac arrhythmia. Narayan said the levels of manganese, cadmium, nickel and mercury had exceeded two to 12 times the safe limit as per the Indian and US Environment Protection Agency standards. This could cause an excessive risk to the central nervous system, feelings of weakness and lethargy, tremors and psychological disturbance, lung dysfunction and possible respiratory failure. Exposure to lower concentrations may affect organs like kidney and brain and result in motor defects, irritability, nervousness, poor concentration, short-term memory deficits, tremulous speech and several other ailments. The presence of calcium, which is an ingredient of limestone, was detected one thousand times the normal limit. This clearly proved that the plant of JP Cements was not using air pollution mitigation equipment and hence violated the conditions laid by the Ministry of Environments and Forests and its own measures listed in its Environment Impact Assessment report. However, SPCB member secretary SK Singla was not available for comments. |
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Punjabis won’t ride high on HP liquor
Punjab’s Steps
Shimla, March 6 Punjab has not only increased the availability of liquor by increasing the quota of Indian Made Foraging Liquor (IMFL) from 55 lakh cases to 75 lakh cases but also raised import fee to Rs 12 per proof litre in the excise policy for 2011-12. Not only that the liquor costing up to Rs 2,800 per case (ex-distillery price) will have to be procured from manufacturers within the state. This will hurt the indigenous industry most as it produces cheap brands of liquor. The state has 14 bottling plants which operate at less than 20 per cent of their installed capacity. Out of five distilleries, only three are operational and they along with two breweries are able to utilise only 50 per cent of the capacity. They are going to suffer further unless the state government takes counter measures like increasing in import fee to levels comparable with Punjab. It will have no option but to make procurement of cheap liquor from units within the state mandatory like Punjab. At present, over 60 per cent of the liquor is imported from other states and as such suitable steps should be taken to boost the indigenous industry to ensure that at least 80 per cent of the local demand is met by units within the state. It will not only ensure the better capacity utilisation but also create employment and generate additional revenue. Excise revenue has been a major source of the state’s income and in 2009-10, the total collections amounted to Rs 501 crore against a target of Rs 480 crore, registering a growth of 18 per cent. However, to sustain the existing level of growth, steps to boost the indigenous industry will have to be taken as increasing rates will not help because it encourages large-scale smuggling form the Union Territory of Chandigarh which has been maintaining very low levies. |
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Repair road or face stir: Industry
Solan, March 6 Prem Sharma, president, Nalagarh Industries Association (NIA), said it was pitiable that on the one hand the government was demanding extension of the Central industrial package for availing incentives and on the other hand, it had levied an entry tax to burden the investors. NIA members, including Anil Sharma, Vinod Khurana, Hitender Chawla, Rajesh Aggarwal and others, said despite generating revenue of Rs 520 crore annually, the poor condition of the link and main roads showed the neglect on the part of the government in improving the infrastructure. However, the members rued the deplorable condition of the Nalagarh-Swarghat road, where the lack of repair work and frequent rain had reduced the roads into potholes. Prem Sharma said no work had begun on the Chikni bridge despite its foundation stone being laid by the Chief Minister, PK Dhumal, in October last year. “The slow pace of work will again cause inconvenience to the commuters during the rainy season,” he added. However, the investors demanded a rollback of the entry tax as it had unduly burdened the industry. Sharma said if their demands were not met soon, they would begin an indefinite strike. |
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CAG to conduct AIPIL audit
Shimla, March 6 The CAG in an affidavit filed in the high court in connection with the petition filed by the sabha on the issue stated, “There is no occasion for conducting a special audit as no request has been received from the state government. However, the irregularities pointed out by the petitioner shall be taken into consideration at the time of conducting the audit for the years 2009-10 and 2010-11, during the year 2011-12.” Tikender Panwar, vice-president of the sabha, and Sanjay Chauhan, general secretary of the Shimla district unit, said here today that the special audit would bring out the facts regarding illegal sale of the factory worth over Rs 28 crore for just Rs 1.08 crore. The government had failed to justify the necessity of selling the plant to a scrap dealer. The arguments advocated by the government that the value of the plant had depreciated stood demolished as it was never run to its optimum capacity and worked only to 3 per cent of its optimum amplitude in the last so many years. Further, the land was made available to the AIPIL plant by the growers solely for the reason that the carton manufacturing unit benefited them both in direct and indirect form. |
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Key posts to
Shandil, Asha
Shimla, March 6 The inclusion of two-time MP Shandil is a surprise as he was not associated with any group. In fact, he was brought into politics by former Union Telecom Minister Sukh Ram to contest the Lok Sabha poll from Shimla (reserved) constituency on the ticket of his newly floated Himachal Vikas Congress in 1999. His Army background and caste factor might have helped him earn a place in the important party outfit. He has been given the charge of Arunachal, Meghalaya and Mizoram. Party sources revealed that Union Commerce Minister Anand Sharma pushed the case of Shandil who also enjoys the confidence of Kaul Singh. On the other hand, Asha Kumari has been active in politics right from her student days and has had a long stint as minister and also remained general secretary of the state party unit. A relative and once a close confidante of Virbhadra Singh, Asha Kumari has of late parted ways from his mentor. She has been siding with Kaul Singh on important party matters. Her proximity to some senior party leaders like Digvijay Singh also helped her cause. Her induction in the AICC will change political equations in the state. From all indications, a third camp seems to be emerging in the party with the blessings of the high command, which has been for long vertically divided between rival camps headed by Leader of the Opposition Vidya Stokes and Virbhadra Singh. Earlier, ignoring the factional considerations, the high command had appointed Kaul Singh as president of the PCC sending a clear message that it was keen to prop up the second line leadership. Now, with two more leaders inducted at the national level, the process has been taken further. The replacement of veteran leader Mohsina Kidwai by Virender Singh, a senior leader from the neighbouring Haryana, as in charge of the party affairs will also make a significant difference. Unlike Kidwai, who seldom visited the state, he is expected to be much more active and take more interest in the party affairs. |
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Shobha yatra marks Mahashivratri fair
Mandi, March 6 The chief guest of the yatra was PWD Minister Gulab Singh Thakur accompanied by Congress president Kaul Singh Thakur and Mandi Sadar MLA Anil Sharma took part in the procession, keeping their party politics off in this traditional festival. They were accompanied by the DC-cum-Shivratri Mela committee president Dr Amandeep Garg, other officials and citizens of the town wearing their traditional “pugris”. A baby show and magic show was also held at Paddal Maidan. The bajantris played tunes resounding the town while escorting the devis and devtas to Paddal. The rural folks enjoyed the sports meet of basketball and volleyball at Paddal Maidan. Gurdas Mann, Punjabi singer, had youngsters dancing on their toes during the cultural night show in which Rural Development Minister Jai Ram Thakur was the chief guest. The devis and devtas had a divine get-together at their traditional camping site at Paddal Maidan. A drama competition is being held for the second time in the festival. |
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Cong flayed for opposing Finna Singh project
Nurpur, March 6 Addressing public meetings at Sadwan and Bhaleta under “Aapka Vidhayak Aapke Dwar” programme today Pathania said he would give a befitting reply to the Congress leaders in the assembly. He said the dream project was becoming a reality with the concerted efforts of Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal and IPH Minister Ravinder Ravi. He announced that the Chief Minister would lay the foundation stone of this project within the next two months and all administrative offices and residential colonies meant for this project would be built at Sadwan gram panchayat. He said about 4,025 hectare of agricultural land would be provided irrigation facility in Nurpur area after the commissioning of this project bringing green revolution in the region. On this occasion he
also heard the grievances of villagers. |
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Release of Hostages
Shimla, March 6 In a letter to the Chief Minister, Vasan said his ministry was working overtime to get the hostages including Prashant, a resident of Shimla, released at the earliest.
As soon as the Chief Minister had come to know that Prashant was among the hostages, he contacted the union ministries and also wrote letters to External Affairs Minster SM Krishna and the Shipping Minister. BJP MP Anurag Thakur had also taken up the issue with the Centre for early release of all Indian hostages held by the pirates. Dhumal assured the family members of Prashant that no effort would be spared to get the youth’s release from the pirates. |
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Meeting of NGOs’ federation held
Shimla, March 6 Prem Singh Bharmouri, president, NGO Federation, NR
Thakur, senior vice-president, Purshotam Guleria, general secretary of the Federation, Surender Thakur and other office- bearers of the Federation participated in the meeting. While discussing various demands of the Federation, the Chief Secretary said the government would consider their demands sympathetically at an appropriate time and that too on merit. The main demands include grant of 4-9-14 special increments and grant of arrears on account of revision of pay scales. Sandhu directed all Principal Secretaries, Secretaries and Heads of Departments to hold pending departmental promotion committee meetings at the earliest and ACRs be completed on priority. She also directed officials to hold meeting with the departmental association periodically and directed that the next meeting should be held before April 30, 2011, positively. |
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Nod to food storage depots
Nurpur, March 6 This was stated by Karanam Maleshwari, general manager, FCI, while talking to mediapersons here after laying the foundation stone of an additional depot at Gujjar Ka Talab. Maleshwari said the depot, with a storage capacity of 5,000 MT, would cost Rs 1.75 crore, adding that it would be ready in nine months. “With the construction of the depot, there will be a total of 10,000 MT storage capacity of foodgrain at Gujjar Ka
Talab. |
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Solan, March 6