Dharamsala, September 7
Traffic on the Dharamsala-McLeodganj road was disrupted for more than 20 hours due to the construction of a culvert over a natural drain passing through Forsythganj near McLeodganj by the Public Works Department (PWD) staff.

While smaller vehicles were diverted to an alternative road, heavy vehicles were stuck till the afternoon. Many tourist buses to Delhi could not be plied last night. Many foreign tourists who had booked tickets to Delhi had to stay back.

The matter again brought to the fore the problem of encroachment on main roads to McLeodganj and surrounding areas and the failure of the authorities concerned in taking action.

Residents of Forsythganj alleged that the problem was due to encroachment on the drain. They said the PWD diverted the flow of the drain instead of removing the encroachments. The width of the road at certain places near habitation or commercial areas had been reduced to 10 feet. This led to traffic jams in the area often, especially during the tourist season.

When contacted, Dharamsala PWD Executive Engineer Chauhan said work on laying pipes in the culvert was started yesterday and a truck was stuck in mud, due to which traffic was disrupted.

Asked if the culvert was diverted to prevent the removal of certain encroachments, he said bigger pipes had been laid to replace the smaller pipes laid earlier. He denied that the culvert was diverted.

Over 200 cases of encroachment on reserve forest land on the McLeodganj-Dharamkot road had been registered by the forest department. No concrete action had been taken to remove the encroachments.

A few buildings were coming up every year, leading to further congestion. Officials said the Dharamkot and Bhagsunag roads could be widened if encroachments were removed, but had done nothing except issuing notices to encroachers.

Shimla, September 7
With an eye on the ensuing Assembly elections, the state government has initiated the process for the regularisation of construction carried out in violation of norms.

As much as 99 per cent deviation from approved plan will be compounded despite the High Court being averse to any such policy, which protects lawbreakers.

With the last retention policy allowing 40 per cent deviation, this hike in percentage this time is virtually a mockery of the Town and Country Planning Act.

The Town and Country Planning (TCP) Department has invited suggestions and objections from the public for regularising such structures. The structures to be regularised are in 21 planning areas and 34 special areas in the state.

The much-awaited move will provide an opportunity to owners of structures built in violation of building maps approved to get proper water and electricity connections and get the structures legalised.

Though the number of such constructions within municipal limits in Shimla may be over 15,000, the number can be manifold statewide. Clearly aimed at wooing voters, it remains to be seen whether the final notification will be issued before the model code of conduct comes into effect.

The TCP-fixed rates for compounding deviation are higher in the core area of Shimla and lower for restricted and other areas as one moves out.

The rates for compounding deviation will be enhanced by 25 per cent in commercial areas, 15 per cent in industrial areas and 10 per cent for buildings of public use like schools and hospitals.

The move is being termed as a ploy by the BJP regime to woo voters, especially in the Shimla area, where the number of such construction is high.

If the Election Commission enforces the model code of conduct before the final notification is issued, those who have flouted norms will be left in the lurch. In the past, the HC had taken a serious view of the policy to regularise encroachment or construction raised in violation of norms. Due to this, the last retention policy could not be enforced and cases were still not settled.

Shimla, September 7
Former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and his wife Pratibha Singh, ex-MP, against whom charges were framed by special judge, Shimla, BL Soni, in the CD case, pleaded “not guilty” in court here today.

The charges were formally read out by the judge to the couple, who were not present in the court on June 25 when charges were framed.

While they pleaded for a speedy trial is the case, Virbhadra asserted that being a public man delay could affect his career. Special public prosecutor Jiwan Lal pleaded for cancellation of their bail on the grounds that they were influencing witnesses regarding which there was material evidence.

Counsel for Virbhadra Shrawan Dogra refuted the charge and termed the plea as dilatory tactics.

After hearing both sides, the court fixed September 12 for hearing the application seeking cancellation of bail and also the case. Virbhadra and his wife arrived in the court about half an hour early.

He had last week withdrawn the case filed by him in the high court seeking quashing of the FIR or a CBI probe into the CD case. Accepting the plea, a Division Bench of the High court consisting of Chief Justice Kurian Joseph and Justice DC Chaudhary asked Virbhadra and Pratibha to appear in the court of special judge, which had framed the charges against them.

Virbhadra had resigned from the Union Cabinet on June 26 last after the special judge framed charges against him in the case.

He was appointed president of the HPCC on August 27 and staged a dharna in front of the Vidhan Sabha on August 29 before formally taking over as the HPCC chief.

The case against the couple was registered on August 3, 2009, on the basis of an audio CD purportedly contained conversation of Virbhadra with some officials regarding some monetary transactions dating back to 1989.

The CD was released by former Congress minister Vijay Singh Mankotia in May 2007 when Virbhadra was the Chief Minister.

Later talking to mediapersons, Virbhadra reiterated that the case against him was politically motivated and he would come out clean after the trial.

Shimla, September 7
The governing board of the World Bank has approved $100 million (Rs 550 crore), the first tranche of the $200 million (Rs 1,100 crore) development policy loan, to support the state government’s green agenda to achieve inclusive and environmentally economic growth.

Stating this here today, Chief Minister PK Dhumal said the loan was approved at a meeting of the board in Washington yesterday. The focus would be on climate-smart development across the key engines of economic growth, energy, industry, watershed management and tourism, he said.

Chief Secretary Sudripta Roy said Himachal Pradesh, a special category state, would get 90 per cent assistance as grant and 10 per cent as loan from the Centre.

Dhumal said the state had three major river basins and served as a watershed that was critical to the livelihood of more than 200 million people in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab.

Charles Cormier, lead environment specialist and task team leader, said the aim was to support the adoption of policies and processes that ensured that hydroelectricity projects were developed in an environmentally sustainable manner.

Mandi/Udaipur, September 7
Protesting against the proposed 400-MW Shelly project, the Shelly Project Sangarsh Samiti (SPSS), Mudgram, Udaipur sub-division, boycotted Chief Minister PK Dhumal’s official tour to Lahaul-Spiti today.

However, the BJP claimed that the people gave him a ‘rousing reception’ at Udaipur after he arrived there today evening.

SPSS convener Sudershan Thakur said, “Though the government claims it has given power to the gram sabha under the Panchayti Raj Act, on the other hand it has invoked Section 17 (urgency clause) of the Land Acquisition Act, acquiring agriculture land of the tribals of Lahaul-Spiti”.

The samiti said the proposed land for the project supported the livelihoods of more than 20 villages of Tindi and Udaipur panchayats.

“The project will submerge agricultural land, grazing areas, forest cover and cause immense damage to the rich alpine biodiversity, which is unique to this area,” he added.

“We have boycotted Chief Minister’s tribal tour as we oppose the project and the forceful acquisition of farmer’s land,” Thakur said.

“The samiti has sent a memorandum to the Chief Minister in November last year, but there is no response so far, hence we have boycotted his visit, as he has come here for the first time in four years,” members of the samiti alleged.

They said the yuva mandals and mahila mandals from Namu, Salpat, Koraki, Aahat, Charu, all villages ‘affected’ by the project, were opposing the project. “If the height of the dam is not decreased, three villages, Koraki, Ratoli and Salpat, will be in the danger zone,” they said.

Shimla, September 7
The Himachal Pradesh High Court (HC) has directed the state government not to regularise para-teachers without obtaining a court order. Justice Rajiv Sharma passed the order during the hearing of a petition filed by Amit Sharma.

The petitioner had challenged the decision to regularise para-teachers on the grounds that the state policy mentioned that they were ad hoc employees and could not be regularised. He had also contended that the state government was making the appointments in violation of rules and without following the selection process prescribed.

Shimla, September 7
The government is seeking legal opinion to decide the course of action on sorting out the mess created due to the Himachal Pradesh Technical University’s decision to allow admission to BTech courses in contravention of the State Private Technical and Vocational Educational Institutions (Regulations of Admission and Fixation of Fee) Act.

It has been clearly laid down in the Act that admission will be carried out on the basis of a national or state-level entrance test, but the newly set up university has allowed private institutions to admit students without their having appeared in the All-India Engineering Entrance Test (AIEEE). The government has taken notice of the matter.

Education Secretary Sanjay Murthy held a meeting, which was attended by university Vice-Chancellor Shashi Dhiman. The latter said admission had been carried out on the basis of the class-XII results earlier as well.

It was mentioned in the university prospectus that seats left vacant after counselling on the basis of the AIEEE would be filled on the basis of class-XII result. Quashing these admissions could lead to legal complications.

Murthy said the opinion of the law department was being sought so that appropriate action could be taken. If required, the government would conduct an entrance test for those admitted on the basis of the class-XII result.

This was not the first instance of dilution in admission norms. The private universities had admitted students after matriculation in the garb of integrated courses.

The university Act and University Grants Commission norms laid down that students could be admitted only after clearing the class-XII examination conducted by a recognised board, but their degrees could not be recognised.

The government seemed keen to protect financial interests of private institutions and was not bothered about the future of students, who paid hefty fees for securing degrees.

The state did not require so many institutions, which was evident from the fact that more than 40 per cent of the seats in the 17 engineering colleges affiliated to the university were vacant.

The dilution of admission norms was hurting the students as they were not performing well. The pass percentage of the first-semester examination was a dismal 11 per cent.

Solan, September 7
The Himachal Medical Officers’ Association has demanded lowering of the minimum period for regularising the services of doctors in the state to three years.

The association while asserting the need to address the issue at the earliest said since hundreds of doctors had been regularised in the recent past without appearing in the HP Public Service Commission (HPPSC) examinations, why some contractual doctors, who have put in many years of service, should be denied the benefit. With a view to bringing about uniformity, the association felt all medical officers should be appointed through the HPPSC in the future.

Dr Ashok Handa, general secretary of the association, also demanded an immediate halt on the seepage of bureaucracy into the Health Department and averred that all posts in the Health Department should remain with professionals from the department itself. This would facilitate smooth implementation of policies and speedy redressal of issues.

A request to provide mobile allowance to medical officers (dental) and contractual doctors on a par with other medical officers was also put forth.

The other key demands made by the association included immediate release of the arrears for 4-9-14 pay scale retrospectively from 2009 as this benefit had already been passed on to a vast majority of the cadre while only a few had been left out. A hike in the pay ceiling from Rs 79,000 to Rs 85,000 on the Punjab pattern was also demanded.

The association expressed surprise that an incentive of Rs 3,000, which was being given to contractual and RKS doctors serving in rural areas, has been withdrawn.

Bilaspur, September 7
Krishan Kumar Kaushal, former MLA and now Himachal Kisan Sabha state general secretary, has criticised filling up of widespread potholes on the National Highway No. 21 in this district with soil by the PWD, thus making life of villagers living on both sides of this road miserable due to the dust being blown into the air by thousands of trucks of three cement factories and other vehicles.

Talking to mediapersons at the Circuit House here yesterday, Kaushal, accompanied by a number of Kisan Sabha leaders, including Pravesh Chandel, said this action was taken by the state government which took pride in being the “first in the country in preserving and protecting environment”.

Kaushal said if the government had no funds to repair this road, it should have taken loan for the purpose.

Kaushal, who was also critical of ministers running from one constituency to another to inaugurate incomplete projects, said this showed “how panicky and frightened” the government had become as it knew that the model code of conduct for poll could be enforced any day.

He expressed resentment that the government had not provided any relief to lakhs of farmers facing threat from wild animals and it had not given any relief to farmers of lower hills of eight districts by declaring khair trees as agriculture produce to remove all taxes from it. Kaushal said the BJP had assured during the previous elections that it would shift gram panchayats of the Naina Devi area from the Wildlife Sanctuary, but it had failed to fulfil its promises.

Solan, September 7
Employees of Baddi-based Birla Textiles today held a protest against the management of the firm after a woman employee, who was injured in an accident on August 26 while working in the unit, succumbed to her injuries at the PGI, Chandigarh, today.

Since the woman was still under training, the management was initially reluctant to pay compensation to her. This agitated the employees who after placing the body of the woman in front of the gate of the unit protested against the management.

Demanding adequate compensation for the woman, Karamjeet (35), hailing from Khidrabad near Kharar, the employees said the company should not only provide adequate compensation but also offer job to a family member of the victim.

Gurdev Sharma, SP, Baddi, said a case under Sections 387 and 304-A of the IPC had been registered against the unit management on the complaint made by the husband of the victim. Police officials were deployed in strength around the unit to avert any untoward incident. Later, the management agreed to give Rs 6.75 lakh as compensation to the victim’s family.

The mishap had occurred when the dupatta was caught in a rolling machine, leading to injuries in her spinal cord and neck.

Nurpur, September 7
Following a tip off, the Indora police, led by additional SHO Chaman Bhatia, conducted a raid at a house at Damtal this morning and seized 44 kg of poppy husk from there.

According to DSP Rajinder Jaswal, a gunny bag filled with poppy husk was recovered from a house at Damtal. He said the accused, Nathu Ram, tried to escape, but was nabbed by the police.

A case under the NDPS Act has been registered and the accused will be produced in the court tomorrow.