Mandi, April 3
After completing the investigation into the Rs 5.83 crore overpayment involving then two top state electricity board engineers and Bangalore-based Satya Shankarayan joint venture (SSJV) company, contractor firm of the 126 MW Larji power project on the Beas river, the state vigilance and anti-corruption bureau will submit the charge-sheet in the court here soon against the engineers and company.

Though the HPSEB that executed the 126 mw Larji project had recovered Rs 3 crore from the company, the board has yet to recover the remaining Rs 2.83 crore from the SJJV in the case, sources revealed.

The audit of the Larji project had detected Rs 5.83 crore overpayment involving the two engineers and the SJJV during 2002. The audit founded that the HPSEB kept the terms and conditions of the agreement signed with the SJJV under wraps and made Rs 5.83 crore payment illegally to the company.

In fact, the SJJV was assigned the work of four descending chambers of the Larji project. The company was to get its payment at the rate of Rs 8,212 per cubic mtr per month only up to 11,600 cubic mtrs, but the board continued to make payment to the company up to 25,747 cubic mtrs.

The audit found that the board was to make payment at the rate of Rs 8,212 only up to 37th running account, but it continued to make payment up to the 50th running account that turned out to be 13 months overpayment at the same rate. The board had fixed Rs 4,242 per cubic mtr per month payment for the work when company reached 11,600 cubic mtr.

After the audit of the Larji detected the overpayment, the vigilance lodged an FIR in the case on June 28, 2007, and started investigation.

Besides, the board also had constituted an inquiry into the case under then chief engineer Hoshiar Singh. The inquiry found the superintending engineer, division II, SP Gautam and chief engineer, Larji, SS Devas, responsible for the overpayment.

The investigation found that the then additional SE, division II, Bhanu Pratap had fixed the recovery of Rs 1.50 crore on the SJJV. But SP Gautam cancelled it and his action was approved by the chief engineer SS Devas, both retired now.

Surprisingly, the board did not take any action after both engineers retired. Devas successor Arun Kumar fixed the recovery on the SJJV and recovered Rs 3 crore from the company, but the board has yet to recover the remaining amount, sources revealed.

SP Vigilance, Mandi, Virender Sharma said the investigation was complete and both engineers would be charge-sheeted in the court under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Shimla, April 3
The state government will take up matter for enhancing the amount of loan provided by with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to state transmission utility for the implementation of the transmission plan during the visit of the bank’s team commencing tomorrow.

The ADB has already agreed in principle to grant $350 million for creating the required infrastructure for evacuation of power from the upcoming hydroelectric projects in the state. However, the government needs at least $ 550 million for implementing the first phase of the Rs 4,500 crore transmission plan which will cover all major projects in the state, except those to come up in the Chenab basin.

The first phase of the plan alone will cost over Rs 2,500 crore.

The team of experts headed by Adrew Geoffrey will not only examine the technical feasibility of the proposed transmission line, but also have a look at the track record of the projects in dealing with environmental and social issues from which power has to be evacuated.

With various projects facing the ire of non-government organisations and local people both World Bank and ADB have been very particular these issues are settled to the satisfaction of one and all.

The team will go into the details of the transmission lines to be set up for the execution for which the first tranche of funds is to be released within the current year. The ADB is also funding power projects being executed by Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited which has a good track record.

Putting in place an evacuation system for these projects is a priority. As such, projects are located in the Pabbar basin in Shimla and the Sutlej basin in Kinnaur will be covered in the first tranche. The bank has agreed to release $125 million for the construction of a substation at Bogtu and a pooling station at Karcham which will be the nodal point for evacuation of power from upstream projects in the Sutlej basin.

A substation will also be built at Hatkoti, the nodal point, for evacuation of power from projects coming up in the Pabbar basin. It will be connected to another substation to be constructed at Pragatinagar, where the power will be injected into the main transmission line of the PowerGrid Corporation for wheeling of power from projects in the Sutlej basin.

Palampur, April 3
Citizens and environment action groups of Palampur have asked the state government to order a probe into the serious damages caused by a 15 MW project in the Neugal river valley.

In a memorandum submitted to the Chief Minister, RK Sood, president, Palampur Welfare Forum, had pointed out the that this project did not deserve any concession from the state government as it had played havoc with the nature.

The Neugal river is a tributary of the Beas river originating from the Dhauladhar hills. Residents of Palampur have dependence on it for drinking water and irrigation.

The unscientific muck disposal and landslides caused by the construction activity of the project, especially the road, had damaged and blocked the main water supply channels. "For the past three years, the Irrigation and Public Health Department have billed Rs 3 crore as penalty, but they have paid only Rs 9 lakh till date.

The citizen groups have raised another concern that is the pollution of water. "The waste from worker colonies near the project is flowing untreated into the Neogal river, contaminating the water. The heavy siltation and muck in the water, especially during monsoons, make the river highly turbid and the water dangerous for drinking despite filtration.

Shimla, April 3
Justice Kuldip Singh and Justice Rajiv Sharma were today sworn-in as additional judges of the Himachal Pradesh High Court at a simple ceremony here. Chief Justice Kurian Joseph administered the oath of office to both judges.

Initially, both were appointed as additional judges of this court on April 3, 2007. Now they will continue as additional judges for another two years.

Judges of the HP High Court Justice RB Misra, Deepak Gupta, Surjit Singh, DD Sud, VK Ahuja, Surinder Singh and VK Sharma and registrars DC Chaudhary, DK Sharma and SC Kainthla, advocate-general RK Bawa along with a large number of dignitaries, including retired judges, members of the Bar Council and Bar Association, were present on the occasion. Apart from this, the Leader of the Opposition Vidya Stokes, principal secretary of the Chief Minister Ajay Mittal and DGP DS Minhas were also present.

Shimla, April 3
Hopes of Renuka Storage Dam Project getting forest and environment clearance have been raised with Union Minister for Environment Jai Ram Ramesh deciding to visit the project site to explore the possibility for availability of water for Delhi.

The Rs 3,600-crore project had been declined clearance by the ministry on the plea that it involved axing of a very large number of trees. The Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation, the executing agency, had subsequently come up with an alternative proposal to bring down the number of trees to be axed to pave the way for the construction of the project. It decided not to fell trees standing on the land to be submerged for a short period during the year.

The purpose of the dam is to fulfil the water needs of Delhi by supplying 275 million gallons per day and with the Centre keen on cleansing the Yamuna the storage project may get the nod.

Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal, while confirming that the Union minister would visit Renuka, said all possibilities would be explored to provide safe drinking water to Delhi after completion of all codal formalities the construction work of Renuka project would be undertaken. All efforts would be made to cleanse the Yamuna water at own level and supported the campaign to keep the water uncontaminated. The maximum height of the dam is 148 m (778 m from sea level) and the total land being acquired is 1,684 hectares. However, the maximum reservoir level is 775.85 m, while the normal storage level is 766 m at which the water spread will be 1,210 hectares. The height of the dam cannot be reduced as it will affect the live storage of 49,800 ha.m (hectare metre) required to meet the demand.

As per the revised proposal, trees falling in the submergence area between the normal reservoir level and 762 m (4 m less than the normal level), which will come under water temporarily, will not be axed. It will help save 25 per cent of the 1.83 lakh trees, including 1,51,439 on the forest land.

Shimla, April 3
Education Minister I.D. Dhiman and Irrigation and Public Health Minister Ravinder Singh Ravi have ridiculed the statement of Union Minister Virbhadra Singh that he would wage a war to overthrow the BJP regime and said his outbursts only reflected his frustration and alienation in the Congress.

In a joint statement here today, they said a democratic government was elected by the people and only they had the power to dislodge it. They advised Virbhadra Singh to desist from making such misleading and frivolous statements and stop “day dreaming”. Instead, he should pursue the agenda for the welfare of the people of the state at the Centre for which the people had elected him.

Taking exception to Virbhadra Singh’s remarks that Himachal Pradesh was on sale and those interested could contact at Oakover, the two ministers asked him whether such deals were materialised at his Holy Lodge residence when he was the Chief Minister of the state. Having held the high office he should know how the government functions.

They also lambasted him for holding out threats to officers and said it would have a demoralising effect on the services and, thereby, hamper development.

They said it was during the Congress regime headed by Virbhadra Singh that the Section 118 of the HP Land Act was amended five times to benefit the favourites, the present government had not carried out a single amendment. They reminded the Union Minister of rampant corruption that persisted during the Congress rule. They smelled something fishy in apprehensions expressed by him that the heritage Bentony building might be burnt. Otherwise, a leader of his stature should not have made such an irresponsible statement.

Dhiman and Ravi asserted that the BJP government did not need any certificate from Virbhadra Singh about its functioning and its spectacular achievements over the last three years said it all. Himachal had been adjudged the top state in various spheres of development in nation-wide surveys. They asked him to stop making unnecessary hue and cry regarding the functioning of the state government as it was neither in his interest nor in the interest of the Congress as a whole.

Solan, April 3
With no defined time frame for making annual passes for investors who daily commute to the Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh (BBN) industrial area from Chandigarh and its periphery, they have been forced to face the face harassment at the barriers.

Though this was a reoccurring problem which occurred every year when a new contractor initiated collection of toll tax at the Baddi barrier in April, no efforts have been made to streamline the process.

This has created a chaotic situation at the busy Baddi barrier where one can see a long queue of vehicles throughout the day waiting to pass after paying the barrier fee.

Though various investor associations have taken up the matter with officials of the Excise and Taxation Department, relief was far away. It was the routine practice of any new contractor to delay making of annual passes as each vehicle would fetch more money than an annual individual pass.

Ruing the delay, president of the Nalagarh Industries’ Association Prem Sharma said, “We have taken up the matter with the assistant excise and taxation officer and he has assured us that passes will be made soon. We have requested our association members to furnish a list of their vehicles so that we can procure the passes on Monday and in case it is further delayed we will take up the issue with the higher officers.”

It was the lack of clarity which had delayed the issuance of passes this year. The Excise and Taxation Department had earlier given directions that no passes would be issued to vehicles of other states. But since majority of the investors reside in Chandigarh and its surrounding areas they approached the department and demanded relaxation. Though the department later issued directions to the contractors to issue passes to the vehicles of other states, this was used as a ploy by the contractors to delay grant of passes.

The investors are now awaiting early grant of passes so that they can be saved from daily harassment and traffic jams at the barriers.

Chamba, April 3
Rs 6.5 crore will be spent on the far-flung Chamba district under the Sakshar Bharat Mission of the Government of India.

The mission is to impart functional education to illiterate in the age group of 15 and above with a primary focus on women. The project is likely to be completed by March 31 next year.

The State Literacy Mission Authority (SLMA) has fixed a target of covering 54,075 persons in the district under the project, official sources revealed here recently.

The sources said the primary aim of this mission was to enable the neo-literates to continue their learning beyond basic literacy and be on a par with formal education system, including vocational education, and providing them opportunities for lifelong education.

The state government had made concerted efforts to ensure quality education to the students in the state. Himachal Pradesh had already been ranked number one in the education sector in the survey conducted by various national magazines and electronic channels throughout the country, the sources said.

The SLMA had been constituted to evaluate the performance of learners twice a year. The authority would conduct examination on March 6 and August 20 every year, and the successful candidates would be provided with certificates. The learners would be assessed by the National Institute of Open Learning.

The state government had directed the authorities to implement the Right to Education in a right perspective and asked the officers to implement this programme with corrective measures by giving it a practical shape, the sources said.

Besides, adult education centres had also been set up in the district to cover every panchayat and the learners would be made literate through “each one, teach one” literacy classes. There would be facilities for library, reading, group discussions, sports and cultural activities.

It is hoped that the Chamba district, which has less literacy rate, will surpass all districts in the state on the completion of the project.

Shimla, April 3
The Rampur Hydroelectric Project authorities have released Rs 22.75 lakh under the Resettlement and Rehabilitation Plan for strengthening the physical infrastructure in 49 government schools located in the eight project-affected panchayats.

The amount was 50 per cent of the second instalment and the remaining amount will be released after the committee constituted for the monitoring of the scheme receives utilisation certificates from the respective schools. In all, two senior secondary schools, five high schools, five middle schools and 37 primary schools have been given assistance. The grant was given in presence of principals of the schools.

Earlier in 2006, Rs 2.65 lakh was given as the first instalment under the programme to these schools for raising plantations. Funds provided under the first instalment were used for creating environment awareness among school students by encouraging them the task of planting five trees each.

The second instalment is to be used for basic infrastructural facilities like desks and chairs for students, blackboards, computer hardware, laboratory equipments, library books, sports gear, musical instruments and teaching aids.

Depending upon the performance and funds utilisation of the two instalments, the project authorities propose to release third instalment to these schools.

Kangra, April 3
All is set for the nine-day Navratras which is scheduled to start from tomorrow amid tight security. However, thousands of the pilgrims had been visiting the Bajjreshwari temple here well before the beginning of the Navratras to avoid rush and inconvenience.

Kangra Deputy Commissioner R.S. Gupta said all arrangements for security and law and order, besides other facilities for the visiting pilgrims had been completed.

He said five armed reserves had been deployed in three temples and 300 Home Guards too were deployed to regulate pilgrim traffic and maintain law and order situation. He said the police personnel in civil too had been deployed to keep vigil on the anti-social elements.

He said under Section 144 of the CrPC ban had been imposed in the three temple towns of Kangra, Jawalamukhi and Chamunda to carry fire arms, sharp edged weapons and explosive material from April 3 to 14. He said each temple town had been divided into four sectors with a sector magistrate in each sector.

Gupta said to maintain proper sanitation in the temple towns 300 workers had been put on duty in each town.

The pilgrims visiting the temples would be frisked and have to pass through metal detectors before entering the temples. Coconut as prasada would not be allowed to be taken in the temple during Navratras.

Bilaspur, April 3
The Himachal Pradesh State School Lecturers’ Association has urged the state government to reconsider its decision to re-employ retiring principals and heads of schools and ensure that promotional opportunities of other senior teachers on the verge of retirement are not blocked, thus, doing sheer injustice to this class of senior teachers.

In a statement issued to the media here today, association state and district office-bearers Kuldip Dogra, Arun Gauttam, Satish Sharma, Ashwini Rana, Sunil Dutt, Rajender Sharma, Onkar Verma, Rajiv Bhardwaj, Dr Arvind Kumar, Dr Ramesh Manhas and Bhupender Thakur etc said the decision was against the interests of serving senior teachers and required serious re-consideration by the government.

The association has pleaded that the heads of educational institutions only hold administrative posts and they do not have anything to do with studies of the students and their retirement in no way will adversely affect the interests of students as this work is totally done by other teachers of the schools.