|
|
|
|
|
BHAKRA-BEAS POWER PROJECTS
Assam violence toll 73, state govt seeks CBI probe
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Oz announces Rs 57 lakh reward for info on fugitive from Chandigarh
CBI busts human trafficking ring
Deshmukh critical after multiple organ failure
|
|
HP wants Punjab, Haryana to pay Rs 4,200-cr compensation
Burden will be Rs 2,550 crore on Punjab, Rs 1,700 crore on Haryana R Sedhuraman Legal Correspondent
New Delhi, August 7 A Bench comprising Justices AK Patnaik and SJ Mukhopadhaya today granted eight weeks’ time to the Centre for deciding the compensation amount in the light of Himachal’s claim and the averments of Punjab, Haryana and the Bhakra-Beas Management Board (BBMB). Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Mohan Jain, appearing for the Centre, pleaded for 12 weeks’ time to calculate the compensation amount to be paid to Himachal. Initially, the Bench was reluctant to grant time and wanted to know as to why the Centre was taking “so much of time.” Senior counsel JS Attri, arguing for Himachal, also took exception to the delay on the part of the Centre in working out the compensation amount under the September 27, 2011 SC judgment. The apex court had directed the Centre to calculate the amount due to Himachal Pradesh within six months which was over on March 27, 2012, he said. “We can’t give 12 weeks. As a last chance, we are giving eight weeks,” the Bench said and asked the ASG to expedite the process. Interestingly, Himachal has submitted to the Union Power Ministry its “revised claim” for Rs 4,249.45 crore under the SC verdict only on July 7, 2012, much after the six-month deadline. Himachal has claimed Rs 2,724 crore on account of the Bhakra Complex, Rs 1,033.54 crore in respect of Dehar Power House and Rs 491.89 crore with regard to the Pong Power House. HP said its claim was based on average purchase rates of the quantum of power which would have been available as its actual share from BBMB projects during 1990-2011, the period for which data was available. For the period 1966-90, the claim was based on annual global rates (BTPS rates) adopted by Northern Regional Electricity Boards for all inter-state exchange of energy. In the September 2011 verdict delivered on a suit filed by Himachal in 1966, the SC had declared that the hilly state “is entitled to 7.19 per cent of the power of the composite state of Punjab from the Bhakra-Nangal Project with effect from November 1, 1966,” up from 2.5 per cent till then. The SC had also raised Himachal’s share in the Beas I project from 15 MW to 5.752 per cent from the date of commissioning. From Beas II, HP would get 2.984 per cent against ‘nil’ share all these years. The apex court asked Punjab and Haryana to pay the compensation, sharing it in the ratio of 60-40 per cent, for enjoying a greater share of electricity from these hydro-power projects at the cost of Himachal. Feeling aggrieved, both Punjab and Haryana had sought a review of the SC verdict which was rejected on March 29. The Centre has informed the SC that it had already sought the relevant figures from the BBMB, Punjab and Haryana. A three-member committee comprising the Joint Secretary (Hydro, Ministry of Power), the Chairman of BBMP and the Member (Hydro) of the Central Electricity Authority was busy finalizing the compensation on the claims and counter-claims. Decreeing the suit partly in favour of Himahcal in September 2011, the SC had dismissed the pleas against the Centre, Rajasthan and Chandigarh and HP’s demand for 12 per cent of free power claimed on the basis of the projects being located within its territory.
Claim break-up
|
|
Assam violence toll 73, state govt seeks CBI probe
Guwahati, August 7 The police said three persons were killed and two others injured when some persons opened fire on a group of people at Ranighuli village late on Monday night. A body was recovered from a field in Rajapara area in the district. With these deaths, the violence toll has mounted to 73. Expressing grave concern over the fresh incident of shooting, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said he had issued stern instructions to the police and the district administration to confiscate all the illegal weapons available in the violence-affected Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) districts and adjoining areas. Gogoi further said: “We have decided to hand over all the cases related to violence, including those in Bodoland Territorial Council to the CBI. I have already signed the official documents for the purpose.”
|
|
|
Navy looking to buy more nuke subs
New Delhi, August 7 In a way, the Navy Chief, who retires on August 31, made it clear that the original plan of having three nuclear-powered submarines carrying nuclear-tipped missiles needs to be fast-tracked. The 6,000-tonne Arihant is being built at Vishakhapatnam. “We are confident that in next few months we will be able to put the submarine out at sea,” said Admiral Verma. A nuclear-powered submarine is a strategic vessel as unlike the diesel-powered ones, it can lie submerged underwater for several days avoiding the enemy. Recently, the Russians leased a nuclear-powered submarine, INS Chakra, but international rules prevent India from deploying nuclear weapons on board the Russian vessel. On being asked about the progress of the nuclear triad — nuclear weapon delivery capacity from land, sea and air — the Admiral said, “As far as completing the triad of nuclear submarines is concerned, they are progressing. See the Arihant will get commissioned and this will be first time that under-water element (of nuclear weapons) is being added. But one is not adequate. You eventually need to have something more than that.” He refrained from detailing the weapons on board the Arihant, saying, “DRDO has issued press releases after each test.” Just last week, the DRDO had honoured its scientist who is part of the K-15 missile project and said, “The submarine launched ballistic missile (SLBM) was ready for induction.”
|
|
|
Oz announces Rs 57 lakh reward for info on fugitive from Chandigarh
New Delhi, August 7 Puneet, a learner driver, was charged with culpable driving and negligently causing serious injury following a collision in Melbourne, which resulted in the death of Dean Hofstee, a 19-year-old student. His friend Clancy Coker suffered multiple injuries in the accident. The two were walking when they were struck by the vehicle being driven by Puneet. Puneet was said to be driving at 148 km/h in a 60km/h zone. His blood alcohol reading was 0.165: more than three times the legal limit for a fully licensed driver and as a learner driver it should have been zero. Puneet was granted bail on strict conditions, including the surrender of his Indian passport, but he failed to attend his August 2009 court hearing in Melbourne. The authorities later discovered Puneet left Australia on June 12, 2009 using the passport of another Indian student, Sukhcharanjit Singh. In March 2011, Singh pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice. Singh was convicted and sentenced to 2.5 years imprisonment. Hofstee’s parents have now made an appeal for information about Puneet, who is believed to be living in India although his exact whereabouts are unknown. Australian High Commissioner to India Peter Verghese welcomed the announcement by the Victorian Government of reward leading to Puneet’s arrest. The Australian Federal police based in New Delhi have been working with the CBI in relation to the case.
2008 accident case
|
|
|
CBI busts human trafficking ring
New Delhi, August 7 While some documents and fake Nepalese passports have been seized, no arrests could be made with offenders fleeing the spot where a rescue team comprising 10 officials of CBI and four from NGO Shakti Vahini was believed to be on the job. CBI had kept the operation under wraps to the extent of not involving the local Delhi police, not taking any chances, thus clearly pointing out how organised the trafficking business has become in recent years. What is more worrying is that the issue of fake passports has been a major challenge for the Indian security agencies, especially as regards Nepal, which remains generally ignored by the Indian government owing to cordial relations it shares with it. (With inputs from Shaurya Karanbir
Gurung)
|
|
|
Deshmukh critical after multiple organ failure
Mumbai, August 7 Deshmukh, 67, suffered kidney failure following cirrhosis of the liver. His family chose to shift him to the hospital in Chennai which is known for liver transplants. Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi has been given additional charge of Deshmukh's portfolio.
|
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | E-mail | |
Himachal Pradesh has demanded a compensation of Rs 4,249.45 crore from Punjab and Haryana under the Supreme Court verdict on the Bhakra Nangal and Beas projects.