Shimla, May 20
Taking a different stand from Union Minister Virbhadra Singh’s on the government’s move to institute a judicial inquiry into essentiality certificates, PCC chief Kaul Singh today demanded that the scope of probe should be widened by including the terms of reference of all permissions granted under Section 118 to outsiders for purchase of land, particularly private universities, and making the exercise time-bound.

In what appears to be a move to land the Dhumal government in its own trap, he welcomed the probe and asserted that all land deals, benami or otherwise, and related issues and allegations should be brought within the ambit of the proposed probe. He also demanded that the inquiry should also go into the very fact whether or not so many private universities were required in a small state.

He said there was no need for setting up private universities as they would not be able to utilise the huge chunk of land for the purpose they got the permission.

Unlike Virbhadra Singh, who termed the move to institute an inquiry by a sitting judge of the High Court a dilatory tactic, Kaul Singh said the judge should be given only two or three months to complete the inquiry.

Moreover, the Chief Minister had announced in the House that the State Apartment and Properties (Regulation) Act would be scrapped and as such there was no need to include this in the inquiry, unless the government wanted to take time to oblige some more realtors.

He also said under the State Land Reforms and Tenancy Act, there was a provision that the land acquired after seeking permission under Section 118 would be vested in the government if it was not utilised for the purpose within two years.

He declared that on coming to power, the Congress review all permissions granted under Section 118 and cancel all wrong and unjustified permissions.

Jangalu (Hamirpur), May 20
While the State Pollution Control Board has asked the SDM, Nadaun, to close down an illegal hot mix plant, being run by an influential contractor for the last three months, the administration has failed to take any action in the matter, leaving the complainants helpless.

The hot mix plant located near Jangalu village under Man panchayat of Nadaun subdivision was running as usual billowing black smoke in the area when this journalist visited the spot today.

The owner of this hot mix plant Sandeep Chauhan has not obtained mandatory NOCs from the Pollution Control Board, the PWD and local panchayat and villagers said no measures had been taken to check the pollution.

The peeved villagers met the SDM Nadaun several times but no action was taken in this matter.

Later, on their complaint the XEN, the Pollution Control Board, Una, Brij Bhushan, under whose jurisdiction this area falls, had made an on-the-spot inspection on May 10 and asked the SDM to close down this plant through a letter dated May 11 (copy of which is with the Tribune).

Shiama Devi, president of Man panchayat, told The Tribune, “This plant has become a nuisance in the area and is being run without the NOC from the panchayat.”

Another villager told, “Our fruit orchards and vegetables grown near the plant are getting damaged due to black smoke and dust.”

Interestingly, the PWD authorities despite knowing the fact that this plant is being run illegally, are still buying the material from this plant.

SDM RR Verma said, “It is not in my notice.” DC Hamirpur Rajinder Singh Thakur said, “I will look into the matter and ask the SDM to take necessary action.”.

Shimla, May 20
It is Dr ADN Bajpai, Professor of Economics at Rani Durgavati University, Jabalpur, who has emerged as the final choice of the state government for being appointed as Vice-Chancellor of Himachal Pradesh University (HPU) while Dr KR Dhiman has been given a second term as VC of Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni.

Ending the long wait, Governor Urmila Singh, who is also the Chancellor of the university, today appointed Dr Bajpai as the new VC of HPU for three years. He will succeed Prof Sunil Kumar Gupta, who was also in the race for securing a second term and was holding the charge till the new appointment was made. The tenure of both Gupta and Dhiman had come to an end in the first week of April.

This brings to an end the hectic lobbying being indulged in by the aspirants, 59 of whom had sent in their applications for being made VC at HPU.

Even as there was speculation that some outsider with political clout could make it to the chair of VC, several professors from within the HPU campus were hopeful of getting a chance.

The select committee, headed by Chief Secretary Rajwant Sandhu, had met twice on May 6 and May 18 to screen the list of 59 contenders and forward a panel to the Governor, who is the Chancellor of the HPU.

They had forwarded a panel of four academicians, including Dr Bajpai, to the Governor on May 18. The other members of the committee included the Vice-Chancellor of the Central University and the Secretary to the Governor.

Born in Hardoi in 1956, Dr Bajpai headed the Department of Economics at Rani Durgavati University, Jabalpur. He has authored two books, including “Emerging Trends in Indian Economy”, and has been on the panel of several national and state level-bodies, including expert member of the Scientific and Technical Terminology Commission.

Solan, May 20
With the state government granting second term to Dr KR Dhiman, Vice-Chancellor of Dr YS Parmar university of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, the uncertainty prevailing over this key post for the last almost one-and-a-half month has been put to rest.

Dr Dhiman would, however, fail to complete the second term of three years as he would attain the retirement age of 65 in September, 2013, and as per the university statute he would fail to continue any further.

This was the second time in the university’s 26-year-old history that the state government had granted a second term to a VC and he would fail to continue for the entire term. It was earlier in 1997 that the then VC Dr LR Verma had been granted a second term by the then Congress government, but he had to face an unsavoury exit soon after the BJP government took over the reins of the state in 1998. Though Dr Verma was granted a second term almost six months before the completion of his first term, he failed to continue for even two months and had to quit after the BJP government came to power.

While the personal staff association and the Director Extension have welcomed the grant of second term in separate press notes released here, a section of employees have termed it as a retrograde step, especially in the light of the number of court cases pending against irregularities and favourtism in appointments, abolition of 624 non-teaching posts, issuance of non-bailable warrants from the high court, etc.

Mandi, May 20
Taking the Congress tirade against private universities head-on, Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal today asserted that the government would not allow any private university to affiliate any college with it in the state.

Addressing a silver jubilee celebration function of DAV School in this town, he said the government was only trying to make Himachal as an knowledge hub in the country and the private universities and institutions opened by the DAV management committee were contributing to achieve that objective.

Dhumal justified his government efforts to allow private universities, most of the them in Solan, in the state.

He honoured two social workers from Kullu, Dhani Ram Thakur and Devi Chand and gave awards to alumni of the school and released coffee table book, school calendar and magazine on the occasion and laid the foundation stone of the proposed school building.

Dharamsala, May 20
The Tibetan National General Meeting, which will decide the retirement of the Dalai Lama, will start tomorrow morning. About 418 participants from various sections of the Tibetan community-in-exile will take part at the meeting that will be held in upper Tibetan Children Village.

Tibetan Prime Minister elect Lobsang Sangay will also participate at the meeting. The participants will discuss the draft proposals prepared by three-member committee under present Tibetan Prime Minister-in-exile Samdhong Rinpoche to amend the Tibetan charter. All participants will deliberate the proposals for the next three days till May 23.

Sources here told The Tribune that in the draft proposals, the committee had proposed to retain the Dalai Lama as ceremonial head of the Tibetan government-in-exile.

Dharamsala, May 20
It is not less then a festival season for all the cricket lovers here. Excitement is at its peak for the season’s last IPL match to be played here tomorrow. Kings XI Punjab is the favourite team of the locals.

Fans could be seen near the stadium and hotel just to catch a glimpse of their favourite cricket heroes. Yesterday, a huge crowd followed the Kings XI team when they were visiting Bhagsu village, Dharamkot, etc.

According to a group of youngsters, people were seen taking pictures with Adam Gilchrist and other players as well.

Tourists and locals were surprised to see the players shopping and strolling in McLeodganj market. They left no chance of clicking pictures and taking autographs. The players also tasted the authentic Tibetan food during their dayout in McLeodganj and around.

As per the authorities, players were amazed with the scenic beauty of the town and impressed by the simplicity and hospitality of locals. Also a huge rush of cricket fans gathered at the airport to welcome the Deccan Chargers team yesterday.

Shimla, May 20
Stepping up the attack on the Shimla Municipal Commissioner AN Sharma, the Congress today demanded immediate registration of an FIR over the “no-objection certificate” to Bamloe Developers for raising apartments in the thick forest area and to uncover the real persons behind the fake letter on the basis of which road was constructed overnight by felling trees to oblige the builder.

The party demanded an immediate recall of Sharma and wanted some senior IAS officer be posted in his place.

PCC chief Kaul Singh, who made the demand after holding a meeting with Congress councillors, indicated that the party could even start direct action to stall the project work.

Intriguingly, the DC, Shimla, sanctioned Rs 33 lakh for the road on the direction of the Chief Minister. It would not be surprising if those at the helm of affairs turn out to be among the beneficiaries.

Further, what happened to the land acquired by the DLF, which was behind Bamloe Builders, at Waknaghat and if it had been sold out, why the government allowed the deal in violation of the Section 118.

The special favours to the builder was apparent from the fact that applications of the local residents for construction of small houses had been pending for years, whereas private builders got NOC overnight.

Kaul Singh alleged that the government was starving the Shimla MC of funds and the Municipal Commissioner had centralised all powers to undermine the authority of the councillors. As a result the corporation had failed to take advantage of the Jawahar Lal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission.