Shimla, February 17
The implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) has suffered due to the strict adherence to norms, especially the one on the 60 per cent labour component in works, in the wake of observations made by the Comptroller and Auditor-General (CAG).

During the last financial year, the state spent Rs 616 crore. This year the figure was expected to go up further. However, so far only Rs 400 crore has been spent and with just two months to go for the financial year to end, the total spending may be around Rs 550 crore. In all 10.89 lakh job cards were issued, but 4,70,713 persons have actually availed of employment so far. The objection raised by the CAG that panchayats were mostly constructing cemented footpaths, which was a low-priority work, and were not focusing on the creation of quality assets prompted the Rural Development Department to strictly enforce the norm on the material and labour components. As a result, the panchayats could not take up building works with a high-cement component.

The prolonged spell of bad weather during January also affected the implementation of the scheme as January to March is the peak period. The focus of the scheme has been shifted to the high-priority water conservation works from footpaths.

The state government had sought a relaxation in the norm and had urged the Centre to increase the material and labour component to 50:50. However, its plea has been rejected and it had been asked to adhere to the prescribed norm.

With strict norms making it impossible to increase the scope of the scheme in the hill state, the Rural Development Department has urged the government to provide 10 per cent share from its own funds so that building works, which involved 50 per cent material component, could be taken up. It could help increase spending under the scheme by another Rs 100 to Rs 150 crore and generate more employment, sources said.

In 2009-10, the state had set a target of Rs 910 crore under MNREGA, but it could achieve only Rs 515 crore. Now, with strict adherence to the norms, the scheme seems to have reached a point of saturation.

Kakkadyar (Hamirpur), February 17
Chief Minister PK Dhumal today said the Assembly elections in the state could be held earlier keeping in view the weather situation and other factors.

Interacting with mediapersons after presiding over the prize distribution function at Government Senior Secondary School, Kakkadyar, today, he said, “The present term of the state Assembly will come to an end on January 11, 2013, and the elections for the new Assembly in the state will be held before that.”

To a question whether the Assembly elections in the state could be held early if the election results in the neighbouring states were favourable for the BJP and its allies, the Chief Minister said, “The timing of the Assembly elections in the state will not be influenced by the election results in the other states since the situation in these states is different.”

Refuting the allegations of Congress leaders regarding an increase in the debt burden of the state during the present regime, Dhumal said, “The debt burden of the state, which was Rs 2,200 crore has just risen to Rs 2,700 crore, which is not unusual and within the limit fixed by the Central Government. The state government will present a report in this regard in the next Assembly session.”

Earlier, addressing a gathering at the prize distribution function at the Kakkadyar school, the Chief Minister asked the teachers and others present on the occasion to ponder why the strength of students in government schools was decreasing despite these schools having qualified teachers and a good infrastructure.

He said, “Human effort is very important for the success of any institution, and schoolteachers should act as motivators and work with dedication to attract more students to these schools.”

The Chief Minister announced to set up science laboratories in Government Senior Secondary School, Kakkadyar, and the one at Boohni. He also announced Rs 10 lakh for the construction of an examination hall in the Kakkadyar school.

He gave away prizes to meritorious students and those excelling in extracurricular activities. 

Shimla, February 17
The state government will propose construction of Kalka-Baddi-Nalagarh-Bilaspur-Beri broad gauge railway line instead of the already sanctioned Bhanupalli-Bilaspur-Beri broad gauge line.

Stating this here today while presiding over a high-level meeting to review the status of railway projects in the state, Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal said the new proposal would be more beneficial as the majority of industrial expansion had taken place along the Kalka-Nalagarh belt. The rail track would make it convenient for the industrial units to transport raw material and finished products across the country and reduce the pressure on road transportation in the area.

He said the work on the approved 63-km Bhanupalli-Bilaspur line had not been started wherein the state had agreed to share 25 per cent project cost while the remaining had been agreed by the Government of India to share. The project cost had escalated from about Rs 1,000 crore to Rs 3,000 crore and the state was committed to honour its commitment of sharing project cost as decided earlier. He said the state would also take up the matter with the cement industry for sharing the project cost as it would be economical for them as compared to transportation by road. It would be more convenient if a railway tunnel was constructed at Kiratpur as had been proposed for vehicular traffic.

He said the government had also proposed extension of the Bhanupalli-Bilaspur railway line to Leh through Mandi-Manali-Keylong, which not only had a strategic importance from the defence point of view but also give a boost to tourism.

He lamented that ongoing railway projects were moving at a snail’s pace and since Independence only 44 km of rail track had been constructed in the Nangal-Talwara section. The line had been opened to traffic up to Amb-Andaura and land acquisition work had been started on the Andaura-Daulatpur section. 

Dharamsala, February 17
Though it is a lean tourist season, Dharamsala and its surrounding areas are buzzing with activity these days. Most hotels in the region are booked and the district administration is busy handling the VIPs.

The occasion is marriage of Raghubir Singh Bali, son of Congress heavyweight from Kangra GS Bali, who is known for his flamboyance.

The marriage is turning into a festival season, especially for the Nagrota Bagwan assembly constituency, which is represented by Bali. Sources said there have been parties since February 15, and that these would go on till February 21.

Thousands of residents of this constituency are enjoying the feast, ‘Kangra Dham’, and the traditional food served on the occasion of marriages in Kangra district in afternoons. In the evenings, cocktail parties are being held for youth workers who are supporters of Raghubir Bali. A local musical band, the Hijackers, was also arranged for his supporters on February 15.

A large number of VIPs, including Union ministers, corporate honchos and bureaucrats, would be coming to Kangra tomorrow for the marriage. The sources said nine chartered planes are scheduled to land at the Gaggal airport tomorrow for the mega wedding.

Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises has already sent his programme to the district administration. He would be arriving here tomorrow by a chartered flight. Besides, many senior Congress leaders, including party general secretaries Moti Lal Vora, Janardhan Dwivedi, Mohsina Kidwai and a few officials from the personal staff of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, are also expected to arrive.

It is learnt that famous Punjabi pop singer Mika would also perform at the marriage ceremony or at the reception.

PWD and Revenue Minister Ghulab Singh would also be attending the wedding.

HPCC president Kaul Singh has also fixed his programmes in the district keeping in view the marriage. Vidya Stokes would arrive tomorrow. Hamirpur MP Anurag Thakur is also expected to attend the wedding. Tibetan Prime Minister in-exile Lobsang Sangay has already visited at the Bali’s residence.

Shimla, February 17
Prompt action by the fire brigade to put out a fire which broke out in the crowded Lower Bazar saved the town from a major disaster.

Fire tenders arrived in time and quickly brought the leaping flames under control. Firemen managed to confine the damage to three small shops of cigarette and “paan” vendors.

A large number of shops and residential houses would have been destroyed if the blaze had not been contained.

The loss has been estimated between Rs 5 and Rs 7 lakh. The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained.

Hamirpur, February 17
The CPM has taken exception to the statement of SP Hamirpur in respect to Students Federation of India (SFI) leaders Anil Mankotia and Jasbir Kumar.

Addressing a press conference here today, CPM leaders Dr Kashmir Singh Thakur, Joginder Kumar and AC Chauhan, said, “Terming the SFI leaders as history sheeters is not only offending but also baseless. We have asked the SP to withdraw this statement immediately”.

They said, “Both leaders have been in the forefront of the student movements launched in the district by the SFI, besides helping in winning the SCA elections in the local college consecutively for the past five years. That is why they have been targeted by the BJP government and dozens of false cases have been registered against them.”

The CPM leaders said, “The party has decided to field Anil Mankotia from Hamirpur Assembly constituency in the next elections and the party would oppose any move to tarnish the image of its leaders and expose every conspiracy in this regard. 

Solan, February 17
Taking a strict note of the manner in which a high-pitched musical party was held on the premises of the ESIC hospital at Katha, near Baddi, on Wednesday evening, Director-General, ESIC, Dr CS Kedar has ordered an inquiry into the matter.

Kedar told The Tribune that the hospital premises were supposed to maintain silence as patients need a peaceful ambience.

He added that the matter would be probed by vigilance officials of the ESIC. A team of vigilance officers (medical), comprising joint director AK Sharma, assistant director RK Bhargava and a doctor, have left for Baddi from Delhi this evening after receiving directions to investigate the matter. They have been directed to submit a report within a week.

Shimla, February 17
Himachal Pradesh has been declared the best state in the country for “adoption of integrated approach in the field of horticulture”, by the Union Ministry of Agriculture.

Union Minister for Agriculture Sharad Pawar presented the award to the state at a function held in New Delhi yesterday. The Chief Minister dedicated the award to horticulturists of the state who took initiative for adopting modern technology in managing orchards.

He said they had been putting in hard labour to maintain orchards and produce quality fruit that was in a great demand not only in the country but also abroad.

Himachal was known as the “Apple State of India” and the horticulture sector was contributing about Rs 2,200 crore annually which was 5.5 per cent to the State Gross Domestic Product.

The state had launched the Apple Rejuvenation Scheme to change the root stock of old orchards with the fast-growing and high-yield varieties of apple. The root stock was being multiplied at research centres and the University of Horticulture and Forestry.

Solan, February 17
The Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya will inquire into the illegal axing of 18 bottlebrush trees at their Kunihar-based campus where the Forest Department had detected this irregularity on Wednesday.

A penalty of Rs 10,728 has already been imposed on the school principal by the Forest officials on the basis of calculated value of wood from the axed trees. The Forest officials are also inquiring into the matter.

Suresh Sharma, Deputy Commissioner, Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti, Chandigarh Region, told The Tribune that they would inquire into the matter and an appropriate action as per the rules would be initiated against the erring official.

The incident has become a major embarrassment for the school as the authorities had expressed ignorance about the procedures of seeking permission before axing any tree. It is surprising that the authorities of an educational institute, which are supposed to educate the children about environment conservation by planting trees, had indulged in such an act.

DFO Prem Mahajan said they were writing to the senior officials for initiating an appropriate action against the erring principal.

Shimla, February 17
The BJP has refuted the allegations levelled by the Himachal Lokhit Party (HLP) against the two-member team deputed by BJP president Nitin Gadkari to review the functioning and asserted that they had carried out an objective exercise during their three-day sojourn in Shimla.

Terming the charges made by Mohinder Sofat, spokesperson of the HLP as baseless, Chander Mohan Thakur, general secretary, BJP, and Dr Ashok Kapahtia, vice-chairman, Media Advisory Committee, in a joint statement here today said the national leaders Shyam Jajju and JP Nadda met about 400 BJP leaders, office-bearers and workers and listened to their views, suggestions and grievances regarding the working of the party and the government. They said Sofat was unable to digest the large participation of BJP cadres, including those who were once close to him, whom he had betrayed by floating a new party.