Shimla, December 27
The Supreme Court verdict upholding the state’s claim of 7.19 per cent share in BBMB projects made 2011 a historic year for the hill state which also saw the country’s largest 1,000 MW Karcham Wangtu hydroelectric project going on stream.

The state came into being in January 1971 and it has been fighting for its due share under the Punjab State Reorganisation Act ever since. With Punjab, Haryana and even the Centre opposing the state at every level, neither political campaigning nor agitational approach yielded any results. The state was left with no option but to take legal recourse and it finally moved the apex court in 1996. The protracted legal battle ended on a beneficial note as the fund-starved state started getting 111 MW of additional power from the Bhakra, Dehar and Pong Dam projects from November 1. It will fetch 450 to 500 million units of power annually, which means an additional revenue of Rs 175 crore to Rs 200 crore. The state will have a windfall if the arrears for the past 45 years are paid in accordance with the judgment. The Centre has been given six months to calculate the arrears.

The other notable development in the power sector was the commissioning of the Karcham Wangtu project on the Sutlej, which was allotted to the Jaypee Group way back in 1993 with capacity originally pegged at 900 MW. However, in the implementation agreement singed in 1998, the capacity was enhanced to 1,000 MW but the company has set up a 1,200 MW project. The case for enhancement of capacity is pending with the Central Electricity Authority (CEA).

The diversion dam of the Karchm Wangtu project has provided respite to the downstream Nathpa-Jhakri from the problem of excessive silt that caused frequent shutdowns till last year. This year, the plant was closed due to high silt only for 4.5 days as compared to 22 days last year. The project is well on its way to surpass its record generation of 7,140 million units achieved in 2010-11.

On the flip side, the down swing in power market severely dented the state’s revenue and as against the projected figure of Rs 1,400 crore, the total income will be only around Rs 1,100 crore during 2011-12. This is despite the fact that the quantum of power available for sale has increased from 3,100 million units to 3,600 million units. The government allotted 15 power projects aggregating 1,303.25 MW through international competitive bidding to raise Rs 260 crore by way of upfront premium, 50 per cent of which has already been deposited.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has sanctioned $350 million assistance to the state for creation of transmission infrastructure for projects of 11,000 MW capacity which are in various stages of implementation.

Shimla, December 27
Confronting the BJP on the issue of food security, the Congress today lambasted Chief Minister PK Dhumal for opposing the Bill introduced in Parliament and asserted that there was no merit in his criticism and he was indulging in political posturing.

Chairman of the media department of the party, Mukesh Agnihotri said here today the Centre had the right to frame legislations and formulate development and welfare programmes for the people of the coutnry. It was beyond one’s comprehension how the implementation of the Food Security Act would lead to collapse of the federal structure. Already several central schemes like MNREGA and NRHM, from which special category states like Himachal had benefited the most, were under implementation and they had done no harm to the federal structure.

He said the plea that the state did not have funds for the purpose was untenable as Himachal was getting 90 per cent of the amount as outright grant being a special category state. In fact, MNREGA had proved a boon as the state was availing up to Rs 600 crore annually under it. Similarly, the health services would have collapsed without the NRHM and the much-publicised Atal Swasthya Sewa was funded under the central scheme.

He said Dhumal’s opposition to the proposal of allowing FDI in retail was also misplaced. It only indicated that the BJP was not interested in the welfare of farmers who would gain immensely from the elimination of middlemen in the retail business, he added.

Moreover, in states like Himachal no city qualified for opening of retail stores on the basis of population criteria and as such there would have been no impact on any category of retailers. It was thus a win-win situation with farmers and fruit growers getting real worth of their produce.

He said the long-term interests of the state had been undermined by the policies of the Dhumal government which had used all possible ways to facilitate the sale of land to outsiders and making the Himachalis landless in the process.

He said higher education had been converted into a lucrative wholesale business by opening sub-standard private universities, putting future of the students at stake.

Shimla, December 27
The state Cabinet today approved several amendments to hydropower policy to allow more time to independent power producers (IPPs) for execution of small projects. It also cleared the proposal to set up a biotechnology park at Aduwal in Nalagarh and approved the policy for the determination of rates for supply of converted timber to forest right holders.

As per the amended hydropower policy, the time period for submission of Detailed Project Report (DPR) in respect of small hydroelectric projects up to 5 MW has been extended from 24 to 36 months. It will be reckoned from the date of issue of consent letter for the projects in Lahaul and Spiti. Extension up to one year will be permissible subject to payment of extension fee at the rate of Rs 10,000 per MW per month.

In a measure to facilitate Himachalis, who have been allotted projects of 2 to 5 MW capacity, the government allowed them to sell 49 per cent of their equity shares to non-Himachalis at any stage after the allotment of project. However, transfer or dilution of shares by a Himachali allottee to a non-Himachali will be subject to the condition that the original allottee will retain the controlling interest with 51 per cent equity in the new entity up to a period of two years after actual commissioning of the project.

The Cabinet, which met under the chairmanship of Chief Minister PK Dhumal, also allowed change in elevation of 13 small projects of below 5 MW capacity. As per another amendment, the IPPs’ enhancing generation capacity by more than 20 per cent will be liable to provide 3 per cent additional free power as royalty to the state besides upfront premium on pro rata basis which will be Rs 1 lakh for enhancement up to 0.50 MW, Rs 2 lakh for capacity enhancement between 0.50 to 1 MW and Rs 5 lakh per MW for enhancement of over 1 MW capacity. It decided to cancel 1.5 MW Dholera project in Kangra district.

The Cabinet also gave the nod to the Department of Industries for setting up a bio-technology park at Aduwal over an area of 33 acres at a cost of Rs 33.66 crore under PPP (public-private partnership) mode. The Department will provide the basic infrastructural facilities for speedy development of the park, which, in turn, will help provide employment to the educated youth of the state.

As per another decision, rates of converted timber to be supplied to the right holders under the TD (timber distribution) Rules will be fixed on the basis of species-wise weighted average sale rates of converted timber per cubic metre (average gross auction rates) obtained by the State Forest Development Corporation in the open auction during the preceding year. In case weighed average sale rates of some species are not available, the TD rate will be calculated by taking into account the TD rates or weighed average sale rates of species which is nearer in utility and quality to that species.

The BPL families will be provided additional concession so that they could avail of the facilities within their limited resources.

It decided to provide 4,757.77 tonnes of apple procured under Market Intervention Scheme-2011 free of cost to the HPMC for processing and cleared the proposal to take 92 daily wage patwaris on contract basis in the Department of Settlement. It also decided to hand over the Children Library in Children Park, Solan, along with created posts to the Education Department for operation and maintenance and amend the Recruitment and Promotion Rules of Child Development Project Officer in Social Justice and Empowerment Department.

Solan, December 27
With power availability declining due to dip in the production and failure of Haryana to provide its due share, the HP State Electricity Board has imposed power cuts of five hours in the industrial belts.

Since the state is facing a shortage of almost 45 lakh units per day, the industry is forced to bear the brunt of this situation. As against the requirement of about 255 lakh units, only about 210 lakh units are available.

With power requirement having increased due to the peak winter season, Solan and its surrounding areas are forced to bear the power cuts for shorter durations every other day.

It is pertinent to mention that as against the requirement of 90 MW only 63 MW was available in Baddi industrial area while in Parwanoo as against the required load of 62 MW, barely 43 MW was available. Similarly, in Paonta Sahib as against 35 MW, 24 MW was being made available, in Nalagarh as against 150 MW, only 105 MW was available. In Barotiwala-I, only 10 MW was available though the requirement was 15 MW and in Barotiwala-II, 49 MW was available as against 70 requirement of MW.

The scheduled power cuts have brought the production activities to a virtual halt and investors said that besides the power cuts power tripping had also become frequent.

CN Dhar, senior vice-president, Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh Industries Association, said since lack of power had become a routine affair in the industrial areas, they had kept alternate arrangements like diesel-run generator sets for use in such situations.

Chamba, December 27
Because of a long delay in rain this winter, some stray instances of forest fires in Ulansa, Rajuhkothi, Ghared and Droonidhar of Chobia forests in Bharmour tribal subdivision as well as Bannu forest in the suburbs of the town have been reported during the past 24 hours, according to reports pouring into the district headquarters town of Chamba today. The fire in the Bannu forest broke out today.

These forest fires are playing havoc with the undergrowth, fauna and avifauna. The reports said the forest fires were caused either accidentally or intentionally as there was an old belief among people that smoke could bring about rain.

“The forest fires not only destroy the ground flora, but also cause irreparable loss to the wildlife of the region. Apart from it, the damage caused to the forest is immense,” the reports said.

Despite the Forest Department making efforts to control the forest fires, what is required is a sustained effort in this direction. Every individual in the vicinity of the forest is responsible for controlling the forest fires, as they too are timber right-holders in the same forests. “The gram panchayats should extend whole-hearted cooperation and assistance to people responsible for controlling the forest fires and also coordinate with the Forest Department in this noble effort,” forest officials said.

Shimla, December 27
The Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC) will set up eco-tourism-cum-nature camp in the picturesque Sangla valley in the tribal Kinnaur district.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the Board of Directors of the corporation held here under the Chairmanship of Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal here today. The eco-tourism units will use pre-fabricated huts for lodging the visitors to give boost to nature tourism in the remote valley.

The Chief Minister said the endeavour was to explore unexplored areas by promoting eco-tourism in a big way so that visitors could have a retreat in the lap of nature, away from the hustle and bustle of cities. The Sangla area is emerging as a preferred destination attracting an ever-increasing number of nature lovers.

He said upgradation of the passenger lifts connecting Cart Road with the Mall Road in Shimla was a long-felt need and keeping in view the increasing number of users these would be modernised. Besides, one additional lift with a capacity of 13 persons would also be constructed adjacent to the existing lift to facilitate smooth service to the tourists. He said possibilities would also be explored to construct elevators in the town so that people could conveniently reach the Mall Road. Possibility to connect the new ISBT with the old Bus Stand for the convenience of commuters was also being explored.

Besides this, the corporation will purchase five Volvo buses to transport tourists between Manali and Rohtang. Two more Volvo buses and two mini AC buses would also be purchased by the corporation. Feasibility of plying a Volvo bus to connect Dalhousie will also be examined.

An effective strategy would be evolved to market the lesser known destinations in the state where the corporation had created infrastructural facilities.

The Chief Minister advised the corporation to offer attractive off-season and off-beat destination packages to generate income by involving travel agents. He also advised the management to explore possibilities of having tie-up with private hoteliers meeting the standards of the Corporation hotels at tourist destinations where it had no unit operational.

He appreciated the performance of the corporation in earning a net profit of Rs 7 crore from April to November in the current year and asked it to diversify its income generating activities and minimise the expenditure by adopting a professional approach.

Chamera (Bharmour), December 27
The 231-MW Chamera hydroelectric project stage-III (under construction) on the Ravi in Chamba district, which is gearing up for its final stage of commissioning, has constructed over 17 km of tunnel, which is remarkable in any of the projects of the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) across the country.

A 16-km long tunnel of 6.5-metre diameter has been linked by aqua duct above and across the Vales rivulet, a tributary of the Ravi. The dam is 68-metre high and 75-metre long.

The project would cost approximately Rs 1,405 crore, project general manager AK Malhotra said.

Solan, December 27
Many heads are expected to roll as the Chief Minister has directed the Deputy Commissioner of Solan to file a reply in a case involving violation of Section 118 of the HP Tenancy and Land Reforms Act.

The issue pertains to 17 sale deeds in Barog area and information in this regard was obtained under the RTI Act. The RTI activist had sought copies of 17 sale deeds from the Tehsildar of Solan but she was denied copies of the two sale deeds - No 351 and 671 - which, according to the RTI reply, were not found in the office. The activist then made a written complaint to Chief Minister PK Dhumal alleging that the issue pertained to violation of Section 118 and two sale deeds were not found in the tehsil office though as per her information the sale of land had been executed.

The CM has directed the DC Solan to inquire into the matter and register an FIR as it involved violation of Section 118 of the HP Tenancy and Land Reforms Act, 1972. The DC, however, got an inquiry conducted through the SDM and submitted its reply to the CM which stated that no sale deeds were missing. Though the sale deeds No 351 and 671 were not found on record, the missing sale deeds pertained to sale deeds No 551 and 673. The applicant had mentioned sale deeds No 351 and 671, which, in fact, did not exist.

While the DC’s reply clearly mentions that all these sale deeds pertained to violation to Section 118, he adds that proceedings were initiated against these sale deeds in the court in 1993 but they were dropped in 2007 after a decree was obtained by the owner from a civil court in Shimla.

The DC has, however, been directed to inquire into the violations of Section 118 and submit a report by January 2.

Sources said the said decree obtained by the violator could not be used to drop proceedings under Section 118. As the case involves property worth several crores, many heads are expected to roll, including those who had served the district in the preceding years, once the inquiry is completed and due action initiated. The action may include wresting back the land with the state government.

Deputy Commissioner C Palrasu said he was conducting an inquiry to ascertain the violations and a report would be submitted to the CM.

Shimla, December 27
Taking notice of the unscientific development in the Kullu-Manali valley, the Himachal High Court has declined the request of the state government to modify the order passed by it banning construction activities in Special Area Rohtang and directed the Chief Secretary to convene a meeting of all concerned to know the need of the area.

However, the court said social welfare projects covered under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) would be permitted.

A Division Bench comprising Justice Deepak Gupta and Justice Sanjay Karol observed that the benefit of the notification issued under Section 30-A and the letter dated July 2, 2009, would only be available to residents and original inhabitants of the areas, who owned the property at the time of the commencement of the Act and their natural heirs only. The benefit of such exemption would not be given to people who had purchased land in that area after the commencement of the Act and all these persons would have to obtain permission under the Town and Country Planning Act.

The court added, “We further direct that the benefit of Section 30-A will only be available to original owners/residents only in respect of farm houses being built for personal use of such residents and not in case of farmhouses being built for sale to others or farmhouses which are to be used for commercial purposes”.

The court has, however, directed the government to permit the construction in Nehru Kund and Kothi and Palchan falling on the left bank of the Beas strictly in accordance with Section 30-A of the Town and Country Planning Act. The court observed that “we are issuing these orders because we are well aware of the fact that a number of cottages are being built to be sold on commercial basis to people who are not even residents of Himachal Pradesh”. The court added that “we hold the Director, Town and Country Planning, and the State Town Planner responsible for adherence to our orders, who shall ensure that no construction, except by the inhabitants, is permitted even as per the exempted notification”.

The court clarified that even with regard to ongoing projects being constructed by person(s) who have purchased land after the commencement of the Act, these people will have to apply for permission and permission shall be granted to them strictly in accordance with the Act, bylaws, development plans, planning guidelines and the orders of this court. The court has directed the Chief Secretary to convene a meeting of Principal Secretary (Town and Country Planning) and Principal Secretaries of all departments concerned so that by the next date
there should be some understanding as to what is the requirement of each of these different sectors.

Shimla, December 27
In a major relief to the government employees, the state high court has held that no transfer on request be made unless it is routed through proper channel.

A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Kurian Joseph and Justice VK Ahuja observed that in several cases allegations were made that transfer was effected without having any request from the employee.

The court observed that in view of this, it summoned the record and found that there was no request made by the petitioner. It was found that request on her behalf was made by an MLA to the competent authority for her transfer from Parwanoo to Shimla. It also came to the notice that another MLA had made request for cancellation of her transfer.

The court observed that an MLA or representative of people or any other person had no business to request for transfer. It further observed that transfer was incident of service and routine matter of administration and it should be left only with the administrative departments. The court also directed that “there shall be no transfer on request of any person other than the employee concerned, including in case of mutual transfers”.

In exigencies of administration, the transfer shall be effected by keeping in view longer stay, shorter stay, special circumstances, couple cases and doubtful integrity as well as general guidelines.

The order came on a petition filed by Sheela Chauhan working in the pollution control board. She was transferred from Parwanoo to Shimla. The petitioner alleged that she had never made any request for her transfer.

Kangra, December 27
The centenary celebration of "Jana Gana Mana”, India’s national anthem, was held at Dhanvanti Industrial Training Institute, Rait, today. Students and Congress workers remembered Dr Rabindra Nath Tagore, writer of the anthem on the occasion.

Kewal Singh Pathania, spokesman, Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee and chief guest on the occasion, said “Jana Gana Mana” was written in highly Sanakritised (Tatsama) Bengali and the first of five stanzas of the Brahmo hymn composed and scored by Nobel laureate Tagore.

He said it was first sung at the Indian National Congress in Calcutta on this day in 1911. It was officially adopted by the Constituent Assembly as the national anthem on January 24, 1950.

He said Tagore wrote down the English translation of the song and along with Margaret Cousins, an expert in European music and wife of Irish poet James Cousins, set down the notation which was followed till this day.

He expressed resentment that this day was not remembered at the official and administrative level.

The function was attended by students and workers of the Congress Block Committee of Shahpur.

Shimla, December 27
Himachal has heaved a sigh of relief with the enforcement of the model code of conduct for elections in the neighbouring state of Punjab as it has put an end to sops being doled out to employees by the Badal government.

However, the restriction has been imposed too late and the hike in salaries and other benefits announced by him over the past few days are enough to ruin Himachal’s finances.

The salaries of 92 categories of employees covering almost 70 per cent of the total employees have been increased beyond the recommendations of the pay commission.

The additional burden on the state exchequer will range from Rs 850 crore to Rs 900 crore. It will spell doom for the debt-ridden hill state which will have no funds left for development activities.

The impact of the increasing wage burden can be judged from the fact that in the current financial year out of total Rs 16,700 crore only about Rs 2,200 crore i.e. 14 per cent will be spent on development activities. As per norms, the plan and non-plan expenditure has to be in the ratio of 65:35.

This is despite the fact that the government is yet to pay the arrears of pay revision amounting to Rs 850 crore and instalment of dearness allowance which became due from July last, which will put a recurring burden of Rs 350 crore.

The total liability taking the latest hike announced by Punjab will be over Rs 2,000 crore and with the assembly elections in the state less than a year away, the government will have no option but to clear the arrears and implement the enhanced pay scales on the Punjab pattern.

Thus, the ratio of plan and non-plan expenditure will get further skewed with less than 10 per cent funds left for development. The government has around 2.25 lakh employees on whom over 80 per cent of the budget is being spent. Along with families, the employees account for just 15 per cent of the state’s population and only 20 per cent of the budget goes to the remaining 85 per cent the state’s population. The 12th Finance Commission had pegged the expenditure on salaries and pensions at 35 per cent but in case of Himachal it is more than double.

The government is already in the election mode and raising resources to bridge the widening gap will be the last thing expected of it in the election year.

The budgetary deficit for the year projected to be 2.7 per cent of the Gross State Domestic Product will go up sharply.

Bilaspur, December 27
Shri Ram (64), son of Kanshi Ram, was injured seriously when his brother Brij Lal (67) took out his licensed gun and shot at him in a fit of rage after a serious clash between their families at Amarsinghpura village in Rohin gram panchayat, 35 km from here, today.

Reports said the clash was a consequence of a long-pending dispute over a piece of land and ownership of khair trees growing on it. Earlier, the two sides had a quarrel and then they started beating each other with some women also joining in.

Seriously injured Shri Ram was first rushed to the Regional Hospital here and then immediately referred to the IGMC, Shimla.

The police, headed by DSP Sanjay Sharma, arrived on the scene on being informed by villagers. However, assailants Brij Lal and Dev Raj had fled from the scene. The police arrested Indra Devi, Phoolan Devi and Kanta Devi and later assailant Brij Lal who surrendered at the police station with his gun.

The police has registered a case under Sections 147, 148 and 307, IPC, and the Arms Act and is searching for Dev Raj.

Kullu, December 27
All villages having a population of 500 have been connected with road facility under the Prime Minister Gramin Sadak Yojana (PMSY), while villages with a population of 250 will have road connectivity by the end of next year.

This was stated by Chief Parliamentary Secretary Verinder Kanwar while addressing the second day function of the three-day Bharat Nirman Public Information campaign being held at the historic Dhalpur ground here today.

Kanwar said the Rs 60,000 crore PMSY had brought about speedy progress in rural areas with road connectivity.

Referring to the implementation of the Right to Information (RTI) Act as historic to make the administration transparent and answerable to people, Kanwar said this Act had helped in exposing many cases of corruption.

Local MLA Gobind Singh Thakur, who was chief guest at the function, said Rs 23,000-crore Bhanupali-Bilaspur, Sundernagar, Manali and Leh rail line had been proposed to be constructed. He hoped that the Union Government would allocate the funds in the next Rail budget for this.

Today’s function began with the flagging off the Sarvasiksha Abhiyan schoolchildren’s rally by Superintendent of Police Abhisekh Dullar.

Kangra, December 27
Former Transport Minister and sitting MLA from Nagrota Bagwan, GS Bali has charged the state BJP government of working under frustration following its failure on all fronts and rampant corruption in the state.

He was addressing mediapersons at his residence here yesterday. He alleged that the Brashtachar Mukti Morcha comprising BJP leaders was speaking volumes of the corruption the BJP government was involved in. He said BJP president Nitin Gadkari should come out with a clear stand regarding the corruption prevailing in the state.

He said the state government had misused the government machinery in organising the BJP rally at Tapovan to counter the massive Congress rally held at the same venue on Sunday. He alleged that people were being misled that the Chief Minister would announce carving out of new districts out of Kangra district.

He denied that there was any leadership controversy in the Congress and it was for AICC chief Sonia Gandhi to decide on the leadership of this state at an appropriate time.

He charged the government of having an understanding with the cement industry in the state and said claims of the Industry Minister were simply an eyewash. He asked the government to bring down transportation charges so that the cement prices could come down.

Chamba, December 27
Pictures of the tourism village of Sahoo in Chamba district clicked by rural children were published in a renowned publication of Idaho University in Moscow recently.

It was an outcome of the International Photography Partnership Programme when Prof Tom Grant of Idaho University and a journalist, along with photographer Bhaskar Krishnamurthy and Geetanjali Tiwari, organised a photography camp for teenagers belonging to outlying villages of Sahoo in July this year.

Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Chamba, Rohit Rathour, who is also the Divisional Tourism Development Officer (DTDO), said the children were imparted the skills of photography and they clicked pictures depicting rural life of the Sahoo countryside.

Canon Company donated cameras to the budding photographers, the DTDO further said.

The DTDO revealed that the university’s website had added a link named “Shutter Speed” on its home page in which various pictures of upcoming photographers like Aman, Bhutto Khan, Rishika, Abdul Rajjak, Shailja and Himanshu were posted.

The villages in the Sahoo area having tourism potential had been earmarked as “tourism village” under the Har Gaon Ki Kahani scheme by the Himachal Pradesh Government.