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Arun Dhumal rakes up CM’s IT returns issue
Dhumals defied law to buy land: Ministers
Sale of common land under govt scanner
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Mumbai institute to design standard apple cartons
No power cuts in winter, despite shortfall
Private engg colleges fail to attract meritorious students
Govt to spend Rs 3,836 cr on education
672 posts in HPSEB to be filled this year: CM
Asks Kailash federation to expand business
HLP will not merge into BJP: Dulo Ram
Party seeks withdrawal of hike in bus fares
Work on two IPH projects to be delayed
Consumer forum penalises Mandi school
After-retirement plan soon: Minister
461 micro insurance branches in Hamirpur
Tanda medical college PTA poll on Nov 9
New norms to delay transport subsidy
Kaul for extension of Swedish health prog
Man killed, 9 hurt in Kangra road mishaps
Krishak Mitras await wages for 3 years
Cong wins ZP bypoll in two wards
‘Extend limits of Palampur’
Raja of Bilaspur dies at 75
Step up work on development projects: DC
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Arun Dhumal rakes up CM’s IT returns issue
Shimla, October 8 Addressing a press conference here today for the second consecutive day, Arun Dhumal once again brought into focus the issue of IT returns of Virbhadra Singh that had been raised by BJP leader Arun Jaitley before the Assembly elections in Himachal last year. Arun gave complete documentary details of the IT returns filed by Virbhadra Singh initially and the revised ones later for three years while he was a
Union minister. "My only submission is that the Chief Minister must share the secret of how he managed a phenomenal increase in his agricultural income so that other apple growers and orchardists too must benefit from it," he said. He also raised questions about the sudden increase in the Chief Minister's agricultural income for three years and then declined to the old level. "The issue is very much in public domain and being the Chief Minister, Virbhadra owes an answer to people so that the position stands clarified," he said. Arun said Virbhadra's agricultural income as per revised IT returns for 2008-09 had gone up from Rs 7.35 lakh to Rs 2.21 crore, from Rs 15 lakh to Rs 2.80 crore in 2009-10 and from Rs 25 lakh to Rs 1.55 crore in 2010-11. He also raised questions as to under which IT law, the returns had been revised after three years and about the role of the officials concerned who dealt with the case and allowed filing of revised returns. "LIC policies worth several crores were made in the name of Virbhadra Singh and his family members during this period, which he needs to explain," he remarked. |
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Dhumals defied law to buy land: Ministers
Shimla, October 8 In a joint statement here today, the ministers said the purchase of land allotted to the landless Premu under Nau Tor was illegal. The land could not be sold within 10 years from the date of possession. The other condition was that the land could not be sold as long as the wife of the allottee was alive. As such he could not sell the land till 2012-13. It was clear that land transaction conducted between Anurag and Premu was illegal. Instead of admitting their wrongdoings, they were trying to project themselves as the victim of political vendetta. They said during the BJP regime, the state was virtually put on sale and a large number of benami deals were transacted. There were many cases of illegal land deals and the present case was just a tip of the iceberg. |
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Sale of common land under govt scanner
Shimla, October 8 Revenue Minister Kaul Singh Thakur today said the DCs of all districts had been directed to collect information. “Such land deals defeat the purpose of the objective of providing five bighas to the landless. So we will collect information to see how many such cases are in the state,” he said. “There was a condition that the beneficiary could not sell the land for 15 years which has now been amended and raised to 20 years,” said Kaul Singh. He said there were several instances where the beneficiary had either sold the entire five bighas of land or a portion of it. In the past too, there had been several instances where some influential people, including politicians and officials, had bought the land. “Though there might not be an illegality in such sales if the stipulated period is over, the issue is that the people who have sold their land should not be given any other land benefits by the government,” pointed out an official. The Revenue Minister, admitting that no action could be taken against these beneficiaries, said once the data of such sales was complete, such people would not be given any land benefits in future. The government even now provides 2 biswas of land for making a shelter to those who are homeless. The issue has come into focus with a case being registered against Anurag Thakur and Arun Dhumal, sons of former Chief Minister PK Dhumal. The allegations against them include purchase of “nautor” land given to an individual in Dharamsala. Arun has already clarified that it is a land deal between two individuals involving no illegality and, moreover, the stipulated period of 15 years was already over. |
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Mumbai institute to design standard apple cartons
Shimla, October 8 The institute is designing standard cartons for large, medium and small grades of apple, besides extra-small and pittu (smallest) size fruit. A team of experts from Mumbai visited the state and after collecting the details of size and quantity of the fruit suggested cartons of different sizes for packaging. It asked the Horticulture Department to pack five cartons for each grade apple and sent these to Mumbai, Hyderabad and other distant places for trial. The institute has also specified the quality of paper and its thickness to be used for making corrugated board of 5-ply and 7-ply. It will not be possible to use these cartons like the telescopic ones currently in use to pack large quantities of fruit. Against the standard weight of 20 kg, growers at times pack more than 30 kg of fruit to reduce the marketing cost, which hits the return. The telescopic cartons have a base of 303 mm x 280 mm and the height could be extended up to 504 mm. The standard 20 kg carton being designed will have the same base but the height will be fixed at 310 mm and it will have a capacity to hold 80 large, 100 medium and 150 small apples. The carton for packaging extra small (175 apple) and pittu (200 apple) will also have base of same dimension and height will be slightly more at 330 mm. After conducting the trials, the carton will be approved for use by growers. Director of APEDA Prakash Thakur said the whole objective of standardising the packaging was to ensure that only 20 kg of fruit was packed in a carton of standard size as per the international norms. Adding Quality
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No power cuts in winter, despite shortfall
Shimla, October 8 The state power board has made arrangements to procure adequate power to bridge the gap between requirement and availability. The board will be given the entire free power available with the government as royalty from hydroelectric projects in the state from October 1 to March 31. The shortfall of over 350 million units will bridged by the board through forward banking arrangements with Punjab, Haryana and Delhi. The total shortfall during the winter has been projected at 1,078 million units. But the board started facing a shortfall from mid-September due to an early fall in generation from its own projects. Further, the daily demand, ranging between 245 lakh units and 250 lakh units, has increased by six to seven per cent as compared to the last year. Consequently, the shortfall has increased to 48 lakh units per day by September, forcing the board to arrange power from Punjab and Haryana, besides procuring 10 to 12 lakh units from the market. With the availability of 55 lakh units of government power from October 1, the board will be able do away with the banking and still have about seven to 10 lakh units of surplus power. During the summer, it returned 431 million units of power drawn under forward banking last winter and banked about 850 million units for the ensuing winter. The projected shortage for November to be met through forward banking is projected at 165 million units and the shortfall will be 305 million units during January. The generation from board’s own projects has already come down from 110 lakh units to 73 lakh units and it will further decline to 30 lakh units when the winter reaches peak. Similarly, generation from the Baspa project, already down from 78 to 43 lakh units, will fall to 25 lakh units and from the 60-odd small power projects from the current 41 lakh units to 32 lakh units. The quantum of government power will also decline to 30 lakh units during peak winter. The State Electricity Regulatory Commission has fixed the tariff for government power at Rs 2.90 per unit, which is quite high compared to the fact that its average power procurement price was Rs 2.24 per unit. The arrangement will be more beneficial for the government as the rates of power in the market are hovering between Rs 2 to Rs 2.50 per units. |
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Private engg colleges fail to attract meritorious students
Mandi, October 8 There are about 7,000 seats in 20 private polytechnic colleges in the state out of which 60 per cent seats are lying vacant this year. Out of 17 private engineering colleges, only a few had managed to fill their seats completely, said official sources. But all 3,000 seats in 15 government-run polytechnics and 320 seats in the two government engineering colleges in the state have been filled this year. "Students prefer government institutes to get jobs, as these have better faculty and infrastructure. Technical institutes have mushroomed to such an extent that each student who passes out of Class XII every year has a seat in any of them. For about 13,000 students who pass Class 12 exam every year in the state, there are 10,000 seats in the polytechnics and 4,300 seats in all engineering colleges," says an education expert. “If you consider the B Tech seats in private universities in the state, the number of seats will add up by another 1,000,” he added. In some cases, students who have scored “negative or zero marks” in the joint engineering entrance (JEE) test or those who have not appeared for it have been enrolled for BTech in private engineering colleges. The government had bowed to the pressure from the private engineering lobby to wave off the JEE test condition. The private technical institutes’ lobby had also pressured the previous government on the plea that they would encourage students in remote areas schools to take up the entrance test. But the motive was to admit all types of students regardless of whether they have caliber and aptitude or not, alleged experts. “The government has relaxed the JEE criteria with a rider that the candidates should secure 65 per cent marks in physics and maths and should have science subjects in the qualifying examinations,” says Vijay Chandan, Director, Technical Education. A survey of the technical education institutes reveals that private technical engineering colleges, polytechnics and private universities have failed to attract students from other states, barring one or two notable exceptions, says an official in the State Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Commission. “They prefer private institutes outside, not in the state,” he added. The relaxation in admission criteria is making the mockery of the norms prescribed by the All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE). “This in the long run will lower the standard of technical education, which will result in sub-standard ‘students’being churned out of the institutes that are no equipped to perform professional duties in organisations,” said experts. |
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Govt to spend Rs 3,836 cr on education
Bilaspur, October 8 This was stated by Ram Lal Thakur, Chairman, State Planning Development and 20-Point Implementation Committee, while addressing a gathering as a chief guest at a concluding function of the state-level annual school boys (under-14) sports tournament at Ghumarwin, near here, last evening. He said the government was spending Rs 24 crore under schemes of the Sports Department and the state Youth Services for developing sports and youth activities. Ram Lal said the state government had sought Central approval for a Rs 16-crore sports project for the development of various facilities at the Luhnu Sports Complex at Bilaspur for hockey, football, kabaddi and allied sports and games. He resented that Rs 5 crore, which he had got sanctioned for developing the 400-metre synthetic athletics track at the Luhnu complex, was diverted by the earlier BJP government to some other place. Ram Lal presented trophies and certificates to the winners. Around 575 students from 11 districts competed in the tournament. In hockey, Sirmaur, Una and Solan districts were adjudged first, second and third, respectively; in football, Una, Shimla and Solan; in basketball, Mandi, Hamirpur and Una; in handball, Solan, Hamirpur and Una; and in korf ball, Mandi, Hamirpur and Solan. Principal Ravi Kant Sharma, Assistant Director, Education, RC Kaushal, former Director, Education, OP Sharma, ADPO Rajesh Thakur, former Nagar Parishad president Sat Pal, District Mahila Congress president Anjana Dhiman, school management committee president Brij Lal and DIET Principal Jogender Rao were also present. |
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672 posts in HPSEB to be filled this year: CM
Shimla, October 8 Virbhadra Singh was speaking at the state-level convention of the HP State Electricity Board Employees Union (HPSEBEU) here. He said the employees had played a significant role in the overall development of the state. He said the Congress government did not believe in discrimination with employees and had maintained cordial relations with them to provide clean, transparent and effective administration. The Chief Minister said 672 posts in the HPSEB would be filled this year and the remaining 650 during the next two years. “Previously, the HPSEB was one entity, but due to a change in norms at the national level, its diversification had to be done as per the changed scenario,” he remarked. He accused the previous BJP regime of giving power projects to private parties without ensuring the share of Himachal Pradesh which had resulted in massive loss to the state. He said he had asked private companies to ensure 70 per cent employment to Himachalis. |
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Asks Kailash federation to expand business
Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today directed Kailash District Co-operative Marketing and Consumer Federation Ltd to prepare a road map for expansion of its business and marketing activities, which would help in maximising its profits.
Virbhadra Singh presided over a review meeting of the federation here today. He said the federation should engage itself in more income generating activities. “Agriculture and marketing sectors are very important for the economy of the state and the federation can engage in business of vegetables and cash crops as this will help in expanding its base,” he suggested. He asked the federation to restart its old business of marketing of potato seed. The Chief Minister said a loan of Rs 50 lakh would be provided to the federation to complete its building in Bhatta Kufar for marketing and business purposes. He said the possibilities would be explored to construct a marketing yard and shopping complex on the land of federation near Bhatta Kufar. He asked the officials to examine the proposal. |
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50,000 visit Bajjreshwari Temple
Kangra, October 8 Thousands of yellow-clad pilgrims, particularly followers of Dhaynu Baghat, were thronging the town round the clock and seen standing in queues in the temple complex waiting for their turn to have a glimpse of the pindi of the goddess and seek her blessings. Pawan Patial, temple officer, said the Sat Chandi Mahayagya, which started on the first Navratra on October 5, would continue till the culmination of the festival. He said 15 priests were doing the Vedic chanting making offerings round the clock. He said pilgrims from Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, UP, Rajasthan and Jammu-Kashmir visited the Nagarkot dham. The pilgrims visiting the Bajjreshwari temple here during the Navratras remember Dhyanu Baghat, an apostle of devotion and dedication. Dhyanu, who hailed from UP, was a regular visitor of the Bajjreshwari temple and had worn yellow clothes when he visited the temple to behead himself on a stone called "dharam shila". It was in his memory that pilgrims pay obeisance to the goddess. |
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HLP will not merge into BJP: Dulo Ram
Nurpur, October 8 Dulo Ram underlined the need of a special industrial package for the biggest and politically significant Kangra district so that unemployed youth could get employment opportunities. Talking on the failure to rehabilitate Pong Dam oustees, he said, “The state government should regularise the encroachments of these oustees on the pattern of Bhakra Dam oustees.” Terming the Congress and the BJP anti-people and anti-development parties in the state, the HLP leader alleged that when the Congress was voted to power it only gave priority to Shimla and when the BJP was in power it gave priority only to Hamirpur. Both the parties had discriminated against Kangra district. Dulo Ram said the HLP would launch a statewide stir against rising prices. He also submitted a memorandum to the President of India through the local SDM. A large number of HLP supporters were present on the occasion. |
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Party seeks withdrawal of hike in bus fares
Bilaspur, October 8 They raised slogans and protested against the 30 per cent increase in all bus fares in the state. They presented a memorandum to the Chief Minister through the Deputy Commissioner and stressed that a solution to solve the financial crisis of the Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) did not lie in passing on the financial burden to the common man. They suggested the imposition of a strong financial discipline to control wasteful expenditure in the heavily bureaucratised organisation. Jagar Nath Gauttam, Kashmir Jamwaal, Madan Lal Sharma, JK Bhatt, Uttam Chand Sharma, NR Sharma, Kuldip Kaur, Vinod Rana, Jyoti Mahajan and Bal Krishan Sharma were among prominent office-bearers and leaders present on the occasion. |
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Work on two IPH projects to be delayed
Hamirpur, October 8 Though department officials were promising to float the tenders soon, the process is still to start after many months. The modification in norms for eligibility of contractors for undertaking big projects by the department is going to delay the process further. The floating of tenders for the Nadaun-Bhumpal-Jalari medium irrigation scheme at an estimated cost of Rs 97.59 crore and the drinking water supply scheme for Hamirpur at an estimated cost of Rs 64.88 crore were deferred at the last minute before bidding in February. Foundation stones of both projects were laid last year during the tenure of previous BJP government by then Chief Minister PK Dhumal. The irrigation scheme for Nadaun will irrigate about 3,000 hectares of farmland and had been sanctioned under the accelerated irrigation benefit programme by the Centre and 90 per cent cost of the project would be borne by the Central government. The other project is to improve drinking water supply for Hamirpur and had been sanctioned by the Ministry of Urban Development for which the Centre government would bear 75 per cent cost of the project. Both these projects are being considered important for Hamirpur district and people are eagerly awaiting beginning of work on the projects. Superintending Engineer, IPH Department, Hamirpur circle, LR Chaudhary said, "Tenders are likely to be floated by the next month after which work on both the projects would commence." |
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Consumer forum penalises Mandi school
Sundernagar, October 8 As per order, the forum directed Chandan Bhatia, Managing Director/In charge of Indus World School, Mandi, and Managing Director, Indus World School, Knowledge Park, Greater Noida, UP, to refund Rs 14,250 admission charges, along with Rs 5,000 (cost of books and uniform) totalling to Rs 19,250, along with interest @ 9 per cent per annum. The forum further directed the opposite parties to pay Rs 3,000 as the cost of litigation, along with Rs 6,000 as compensation towards harassment caused to complainant Neeraj Sharma of Bhangrotu, Mandi district. As per the facts, the complainant admitted his son Anay Sharma to KG class at Indus World School in April 2012 and deposited Rs 14,250 as admission fee and Rs 5,000 for books and uniform. At the time of admission, it was promised to provide hassle-free transportation facility. But when the classes started, proper transportation was not provided by the opposite parties as the bus driver used to ask them to get the boy ready two hours prior and drop him long after the school was over. The complainant many times brought this to the notice of opposite party No. 1, but when the situation remained the same, he withdrew his son and admitted him to another school. So the complainant filed the complaint for refund of the amount he had spent and also sought compensation. On the other hand, the opposite parties denied the allegation and declined to refund the amount. The forum held that the act of the opposite parties amounted to deficiency in service and imposed the penalty.
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After-retirement plan soon: Minister
Hamirpur, October 8 Shandil said the department was running 18,756 anganwadi centres which were doing good work by taking care of the health of women and children. He said, "The state government is aware of important contribution being made by such workers and we are taking several measures for their welfare and soon the state government will start an after-retirement scheme through which they will be paid one-time financial benefit after their retirement." He said, "The state government is also simplifying norms and enhancing annual family income limit to bring more beneficiaries under oldage and social security pension scheme." Shandil said, "The government has increased the quota of women recruitment in the police to 20 per cent and expectant mothers are being supplied nutrition, good literature, besides giving them other benefits." There is a plan to open three industrial training institutes in every Assembly constituency in the state to develop skills of unemployed youth. Talking about welfare measures for Army personnel, he said the state government was pursuing opening of bulk CSD canteens for which four sites had been identified in Una district.
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461 micro insurance branches in Hamirpur
Hamirpur, October 8 He said the main thrust of the company at present was to provide insurance cover to motor vehicle owners and health insurance to people. Talking about the last year, he said the company did a total business of Rs 12,500 crore, out of which the business of Rs 10,000 crore was done in India and an overseas business of Rs 2,500 crore was also undertaken. He said the company was undertaking business of Rs 324 crore in the state during this period, in which the Hamirpur branch contributed to a business of Rs 62 crore. Regional Manager Darshan Lal and Administrative Officer of the Hamirpur branch Arun Kapil were present on the occasion.
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Tanda medical college PTA poll on Nov 9
Kangra, October 8 Following the directions of the apex court after the Aman Kachroo ragging incident, a PTA was elected. Despite an attempt two years ago, only 14 parents attended the meeting instead of 200, followed by another meeting where only one parent was present. The ARC taking a serious note of the parents' attitude had decided to hold PTA elections on November 9. The committee was informed by Dr Bharti that all the first-year students for want of hostel accommodation on the college premises were putting up in private accommodations, but were kept under vigil. DSP Ashok Verma said the police was visiting the Sadarpur area where students were occupying private accommodation.
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New norms to delay transport subsidy
Solan, October 8 These directions were issued to the Principal Secretary (Industries) and Commissioner Industries by the DIPP, Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Earlier, the claims were accepted at the end of every quarter and this system had been adopted in the state ever since this subsidy was made available to investors. The new system will delay grant of subsidy to those investors whose claims had been filed before the state government but were yet to be forwarded to the DIPP. This subsidy is available for raw material and finished goods. The claim is to be submitted to the District Industries Centre within one year of incurring the expenditure. The state government has failed to hold meetings of the state-level committee this year though it was directed to hold such meetings so that pendency at various levels could be checked. The DIPP is also contemplating to sign a memorandum of understanding with the state government as this would cut down on delays. Investors rued that the frequent change in directions from the ministry had made the procedures cumbersome and availing this subsidy was a marathon exercise involving filling of dozens of forms. Transport subsidy worth Rs 229 crore is in the pipeline which includes subsidy worth Rs 129 crore involving old cases where investors have to submit documents as per the revised guidelines and subsidy worth Rs 100 crore for which papers have been submitted to the government and are in various stages of processing. Mohan Chauhan, Commissioner Industries, said they would soon hold a meeting to discuss the status of various claims after which they would request the ministry officials to finalise a date for holding the meeting. |
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Kaul for extension of Swedish health prog
Shimla, October 8 Kaul Singh has returned after a visit to Sweden on the invitation of the University of Lund, which is providing technical cooperation in many Indian states in various fields. “The ongoing project for improving health facilities and awareness among adolescents and youth in the three districts will be complete by December this year, but we have requested them to extend it to the remaining nine districts,” he said. Kaul Singh said an analysis of good practices
in Sweden would be made to implement these in the state. During the visit, the delegation interacted with Swedish public officials both at the national and provincial levels. The delegation also visited a number of health facilities, including the Swedish Institute of Public
Health, Institute of Communicable Disease, Primary Health facilities and a Youth Clinic. |
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Man killed, 9 hurt in Kangra road mishaps
Kangra, October 8 ASP Chawala said there were three persons travelling on the motorcycle when the accident took place. Injured Mukesh of Mahad and Rishu of Soura were being treated at the Tanda Medical College. The police had registered a case under Sections 304-A and 279, IPC, and handed over Ankit's body, after post-mortem, to his relatives. Two other persons, Arvind Dutt and Dimple, were injured when their motorcycle (HP 29A-4987) was hit by a van (HP 29A-3563) at the Awahi Nag temple on National Highway No. 154 today. In yet another accident a school bus (PB-06-Q 9541) hit an Alto car (HP 38 B-8896) at the Baroh mod leaving five persons travelling in the Alto car injured. The police registered a case against school bus driver Ganesh Sharma of Saarti under Sections 279 and 337, IPC. |
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Krishak Mitras await wages for 3 years
Chamba, October 8 The association said one Krishak Mitra had been deployed in each panchayat during the regime of the BJP government in the state in 2010. Their job was to extend additional help for the smooth functioning of the development schemes. In view of the injustice meted out to them, the association had drawn a strategy to meet Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and apprise him of their woes. They would also submit their demand charter to the CM so that they could get their genuine wages pending for the past three years.
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Cong wins ZP bypoll in two wards
Chamba, October 8 The Congress-supported candidates Bhag Singh from the Bounderi Zila Parishad ward and Tilak Raj from the Tundi Zila Parishad ward were declared elected yesterday. The strength of the Congress-supported members has now risen to 10. |
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‘Extend limits of Palampur’
Palampur, October 8 Later briefing mediapersons, Daleep Sharma, spokesman of the forum, said Palampur was one of the fast-expanding towns of the state, therefore, extension of the municipal limit had become necessary. He said large-scale urbanisation had taken place in the past 10 years, but the state government had not extended the MC limits. |
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Raja of Bilaspur dies at 75
Bilaspur, October 8 Kirti Chand was cremated on the banks of the Gobind Sagar in the presence of a large number of the elite of the town today. Kirti Chand has left behind his wife Rani Karuna, son Shubhendu and daughter Shefali. |
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Step up work on development projects: DC
Bilaspur, October 8 The DC said this while presiding over a district-level meeting of officers here on Sunday. The progress of development works and schemes was reviewed at the meeting, besides discussing ways to increase efficiency in all offices. Additional District Magistrate Pradeep Thakur, SDMs ML Mehta and Rajiv Kumar and Assistant Commissioner Prabha Rajiv were present.
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