Dharamsala, March 27
The recent visit of the Union Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Virbhadra Singh to Kangra district has once again brought to the fore the fissures in the state Congress. The rally addressed by Virbhadra Singh in the Jawali Assembly constituency on Sunday was not attended by leaders of the rival faction.

Many Congress leaders from Kangra, including GS Bali, Brij Behari Butail, Ajay Mahajan, Viplove Thakur and MLA from Jaswan Nikhil Rajour, who owe allegiance to the Kaul Singh faction, did not attend the rally.

However, supporters of Virbhadra Singh even came from other districts and made their presence felt during the rally. Though Kaul Singh, HPCC president, was campaigning and holding rallies in Una district, many leaders from the area, including Mukesh Agnihotri and HPCC in charge of Una district Ram Lal Thakur, were present at Virbhadra Singh’s rally.

An interesting development during Virbhadra Singh’s rally was that Arun Mehra Kuka, who has been openly challenging three-time Congress MLA from Nagrota Bagwan GS Bali, was given a rousing welcome and “great importance” at the function. Though Kuka has been ousted from the Congress, he made his presence felt at the rally.

Bali refused to comment on the development. However, sources said Kuka’s presence had ruffled many feathers.

Another surprise presence at Virbhadra Singh’s rally was Chandresh Kumari, former MLA from Dharamsala and now Congress MP from Jodhpur. Chandresh Kumari had recently started her political activities in Dharamsala. The sources said she might be interested in contesting the Assembly elections from the Dharamsala constituency or field one of her family members from the seat. However, her increased political activities in Dharamsala were resisted by local Congress leaders. This probably brought her close to Virbhadra Singh.

The sources said certain supporters were trying to bring together Virbhadra Singh and his bete noire and former Congress minister Vijay Singh Mankotia. They were trying to bring together both the leaders on “caste lines to strengthen the Rajput politics” in the state Congress.

Virbhadra Singh’s supporters have been claiming that he has been given the go-ahead by the party high command for campaigning for the party.

However, the discord between the factions led by Virbhadra Singh and Kaul Singh is not likely to help the Congress in the coming Assembly elections in the state.

Shimla, March 27
Dismissing the Congress criticism of the Budget for 2012-13 as misplaced, Chief Minister PK Dhumal quoted the observations of the Planning Commission to pat himself for “excellent performance” of the government.

Replying to the debate on the Budget in the Vidhan Sabha, he said while Congress members were unnecessarily trying to find faults in the programmes, policies and functioning of the government, the Planning Commission was all praise for Himachal for its achievements, particularly in the field health, education and irrigation, and cited it as an example for other states to emulate. He said all seven members of the commission, during a meeting for the finalisation of the Annual Plan, took notice of the higher growth rate and healthy increase in the per capita income of the state. One of the members, Swamitra Banerji, made a special mention of a new water supply scheme through which the water supply to 28 panchayats could be started and stopped by a single switch.

He said the state had maintained a higher growth rate than the national level and managed the finances of the state within the parameters laid down under the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act by limiting the deficit to 2.88 per cent of the GSDP. The charge that the government was pushing the state into a debt trap was false as the limit for raising loans was now fixed by the Planning Commission and the amount for 2012-13 was pegged at Rs 2,019 crore. In fact, the fiscal indicators had improved remarkably with the debt to GSDP ratio, which stood at 63 per cent in 2007-08, coming down to 46 per cent in 2011-12 and debt servicing (loan repayments and interest payments) to the GSDP ratio coming down from 8 per cent to 5 per cent.

The government proposed to spend Rs 3,500 crore, Rs 200 crore more than the approved Annual Plan, to ensure that there was no shortfall in the 11th Plan. In the past, the Congress regime faltered in the implementation of the Plan as a result of which there was a shortfall of Rs 1,806 crore in spending in the 10th Plan. The state maintained a growth rate of 8.1 per cent for the 11th Plan period which was higher than the national growth rate of 7.9 per cent.

The charge that the government was not mobilising additional resources was false as the tax revenue had increased by 25.78 per cent due to better administration and switchover to e-governance. Despite an inadequate revenue-deficit grant recommended by the 13th Finance Commission, the government had given benefits amounting to Rs 6,485 crore to employees and enhanced the minimum daily wage and emoluments of various other categories.

Leader of the Opposition Vidya Stokes said her party was not satisfied by the reply as Dhumal did not address the main issues like growing corruption, shady land deals and unemployment.

Shimla, March 27
The government today granted approval for filling 200 posts of doctor, including 125 specialists with a postgraduate degree, to strengthen the health services in the state.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the Cabinet chaired by CM PK Dhumal here.

The Cabinet also approved a major hike of 40 per cent in the contractual pay of paramedical staff being appointed in the Health Department through the rogi kalyan samitis. The 200 posts of doctor would include 125 specialists and 75 medical officers with MBBS degrees.

It was also decided to provide three per cent annual increment to contractual employees in the Panchayati Raj Institutions. The Cabinet also gave its nod for recruiting 142 drivers in the Himachal Pradesh Road Transport Corporation (HRTC).

It also gave the go-ahead to lease out land at Nurpur in favour of the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) for 30 years for construction of a cricket stadium.

It also enhanced the pay of doctors doing postgraduation (PG) with first year students to get Rs 25,000 instead of Rs 15,000, second year Rs 27,000 instead of Rs 16,000 and third year Rs 30,000 instead of Rs 17,000 per month.

Similarly, Senior Resident (post PG) in the first, second and third year will now be getting Rs 40,000, Rs 42,500 and Rs 45,000, respectively, per month instead of Rs 35,000 they were getting earlier.

Interns of Government Medical and Dental College will now be getting a monthly scholarship of Rs 8,000 per month instead of Rs 5,000 that they were getting earlier.

It was also decided to fill 18 posts of operation theatre attendant and one neurologist in the IGMC, Shimla.

Shimla, March 27
Accusing successive governments of showering favours on the Jaypee Group, senior Congress leader GS Bali today demanded a CBI probe into all changes effected in the terms and conditions of the Karcham Wangtu Hydroelectric Project, right from allotment in 1993 to its commissioning in 2011 by the company, to fix responsibility for the loss caused to the state exchequer as a result.

Raising the issue during question hour, he demanded to know the reasons for repeatedly changing the terms and conditions for the project allotted in 1993 for exploration.

Replying to his queries, Chief Minister PK Dhumal said the 900 MW project was allotted in 1993 and its capacity was increased to 1,000 MW in the implementation agreement signed in 1999. The state electricity board’s first option to purchase power was withdrawn and the company was allowed to dispose of power in any manner. He said an extension of 12 months to start work was allowed but the scheduled commercial operation date of November 2009 was kept unchanged. However, the previous Congress government just before relinquishing office extended it to 2011. The company was now demanding incentive for the early completion of the project.

It was the BJP government which started the process of allotting hydroelectric projects of more than 5 MW through international competitive bidding. He said all the facts were on record and there was no need for a CBI probe but the government would consider it if the member gave it in writing.

Kangra, March 27
Members of the Beopar Mandal of Kangra district were up in arms today against the state government for making the process for obtaining food security licence by members of the business community more cumbersome and draconian with 20 times fee hike and demanded that the decision should be revoked.

Ved Prakash Sharma and Bushan Lal Sharma, president and general secretary, Kangra District Beopar Association, respectively, said this while addressing a press conference here today. They alleged that the state government had earlier been charging Rs 100 as fee for issuing a food security licence which had been increased twenty-fold to Rs 2,000.

The duo said earlier the BMO was medically examining the person and issuing the licence, but now the CMO had been authorised for this purpose, which they said was illogical.

They alleged that new draconian law said every employee of the owner needed to get medically examined and if one left the job, the new employee needed a fresh medical examination. They said there were lot many loopholes in the new decision of the government, and should be revoked.

They further demanded that the last day for these licences should be extended from March 31 till the new order was revoked.

Meanwhile, Beopar Mandal gave a bandh call in Kangra district for Thursday from morning 9 to 12 noon in support of their demand and that of goldsmiths and jewellers who were on strike against the proposed hike of the Central Excise duty on gold from 2 to 4 per cent and increase in taxes from 4 to 10 per cent on non-branded jewellery.

They said the entire business establishment, including rehri and other small shops, should remain closed till noon to register the protest of the business community.

Solan, March 27
Protesting against the imposition of central excise duty of 0.30 per cent and increase on the customs duty on gold from 1 to 4 per cent, various associations of jewellery shops today took out a car rally from Shimla to Solan.

Dr Suful Sood, president, Himachal Pradesh Jewellers Association, and Akshay Verma, governing board of directors of the Gem n Jewellery, said, “this move will kill jewellers by levying these three taxes that were impractical and put an additional strain on the trade.”

Though according to the Finance Minister, valuable foreign exchange was used to import gold, its consumption had reduced by 25 per cent in the past 12 months. Therefore, the imports were actually being used by ETFs and other speculative sectors where institutions park funds in crores.

They added that expecting this, the handicraft sector to maintain records was difficult.

Solan, March 27
The bubble of private universities appears to have been burst with Baddi-based ICFAI University failing to begin the current session and students having been shifted to the university’s Dehradun campus.

The university, which began its first session in July last year, had admitted around 18 students to BTech while it failed to make admissions to other approved courses, including BBA, MBA, BBA and LLB.

With barely 18 students on its rolls, the university authorities could not see its financial viability.

Secretary, HP Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Commission, Dr Manoj Chauhan, said they had received a communication from the university which stated that the university was not admitting students for the current semester.

This communication was received in response to the commission’s query regarding fee and courses approval for the current session. Since these approvals are given on an annual basis, the commission was seeking this information from all the universities.

This was also important as the commission receives 1 per cent share of the fee of each university.

Interestingly, the university had even failed to furnish information about its faculty and infrastructure on its website though as per the commission’s directions details of entire faculty, including contract, part-time along with pictures, qualification and bio-data is supposed to be displayed on the website.

The universities are also supposed to fill deficiency a month before starting any new course failing which an action can be taken as per the laid norms.

Chief administrative officer of the university Sudhir Diwan said they had not applied for fee and course approval before the commission for the current session as they had not received any instruction from their Hyderabad-based head office.

He said the students who had been admitted last year for BTech course had now opted for the Dehradun-campus.

This sudden move had put a question mark over the future of students who had to shift to the Dehradun campus of ICFAI now, thus proving how private universities operated at will.

Sources in the commission said the working of some other universities too was doubtful as they had been shifting students to their campuses in other states after failing to see viability in the state.

Kangra, March 27
Fissures came to fore in the Congress in the state when Kangra District Congress Committee today approached the party high command in writing that Congress workers who were expelled from the party’s primary membership for their anti-party activities were present on the dais during the “Parivartan Rally” at Jawali on Sunday which was addressed by Union Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Virbhadra Singh.

Suman Verma and Manoj Mehta, Kangra DCC president and general secretary, respectively, in a joint press conference here today, accused the organisers of the Jawali rally of patronising those who were expelled from the Congress for their anti-party activities.

The two Congress leaders expressed shock that the rally was organised in Kangra district without intimation to the DCC. Suman Verma alleged that she was neither invited nor intimated about the rally.

The two leaders said since the DCC and the HPCC were not informed about the rally, it could not be called a Congress rally.

They alleged that genuine party workers were being ignored whereas people working against the Congress were being patronised.

Among those present at the press conference were Roshan Lal Khanna, senior vice-president, DCC, Nishu Mongra and Madan Choudary, secretaries, DCC, Raj Kumar Jaswal, president, Kangra BCC, Sanjeev Gupta, Congress city president, and Ajay Verma, HPCC member.

Shimla, March 27
The entire arrears of employees and pensioners on account of pay revision will be cleared by the government in April itself.

This was announced by Chief Minister PK Dhumal in the Vidhan Sabha today. The maximum arrears of 30 per cent pertained to Class I officers, followed by Class II and Class III (25 per cent each). Along with the 25 per cent arrears of the pensioners, the total liability came to around Rs 650 crore.

The Chief Minister said the accident insurance scheme announced in the Budget for small dealers having a turnover of less than Rs 20 lakh would be extended to all 50,508 registered dealers, irrespective of the turnover. He said it had been done in view of the apprehension that dealers might be encouraged to show a lower turnover to avail of the insurance cover.

Dhumal also announced an increase in the stipend of MBBS interns from Rs 5,000 to Rs 8,000 per month.

Sundernagar, March 27
Twentyseven forest guards who were undergoing training at the Forest Training Institute, Karnodi (Sundernagar), were also imparted training in karate by trainers of the Jun Do Kan Go Ju Ryu Karate Federation of India.

Director, Forest Training Institute, SK Guleria said it was for the first time that training in karate was introduced in the forestry training course. He said karate would help trainees to save the forest wealth from forest mafia.

Spokesman of the federation said three trainers had successfully imparted training during the course which concluded yesterday. It consisted of traditional skill of karate, such as attacks of fists, kicks, knee elbow, blocks, chocking and locking, along with the conditioning of body.

All the trainee guards, including four women, four ex-servicemen and others liked the karate training and said it would prove useful to them.

Bilaspur, March 27
The spate of thefts one after another here is not going to abate as thieves have once again struck in a big way at crowded Shashtri Colony of Ghumarwin town near here last night, escaping with cash and jewellery worth lakhs of rupees.

Reports said thieves carried away cash and jewellery from three houses, including houses of two police officials, Sanjay Kataria, an office reader at the SP office at Bilaspur town, and Suresh Shukla. Residents of these houses were not present during the incident.

Dharam Pal and Brahm Dass, proprietors at a printing press, are said to have lost cash worth Rs 1.60 lakh from a locker which was found broken. They were also not present in the house when the theft took place.

Thieves have reportedly decamped with gold bangles and Rs 90,000 kept in the house of Reader Sanjay Kataria while Suresh Shukla lost Rs 3,500 in cash. A case has been registered.

Thefts involving more than Rs 8 lakh have also been reported at the Housing Board Colony in Lakhanpur ward here last night. Thieves broke into the house of Jagdish Ram Sharma, a retired coach from an ITI, and carried away Rs 40,000 cash and jewellery worth Rs 3 lakh. Similarly, Nand Lal, a teacher in a village school, lost Rs 25,000 cash and gold and silver jewellery worth Rs 5 lakh. The police has registered a case.

Palampur, March 27
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has sanctioned three projects on experiential learning with an outlay of Rs 2.62 crore for the CSK Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University.

One proposal on “Veterinary critical care unit-cum-skill development and training centre” worth Rs 99.50 lakh has been sanctioned in favour of the Dr GC Negi College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences. This unit will be imparting comprehensive hands on training and entrepreneurship development skills in the field of critical care to undergraduate and postgraduate students in the discipline of veterinary sciences.

Under this project, a modern veterinary hospital shall be established for critically ill animals, which will fulfil the long-awaited demand of livestock owners.

Another project sanctioned for this college includes “a model demonstration unit for processing of milk and preparation of value- added dairy products” worth Rs 99.80 lakh.

Another project on experiential learning with an outlay of Rs 63 lakh has been sanctioned by ICAR for the College of Home Science of the university. The financial support is meant for the upgrade of laboratory facilities in the form of a model unit to help students gain the latest information for self-employment through the establishment of garment industries.

Dr SK Sharma, Vice-Chancellor of the university, has appreciated the efforts of scientists concerned for getting these projects sanctioned for the university.