Solan, December 27
The industrial areas of Kala Amb and Una are facing maximum exploitation of ground water with consumption being much more than the annual ground water recharge.

While the Kala Amb industrial area has been categorised in the over-exploited category, the Una area falls under the critical category requiring immediate attention.

These findings have emerged in the annual report on ground water which has been assessed by the Central Ground Water Body and the Irrigation and Public Health Department.

The report mentions that six out of the eight assessment units in the state fall in the safe category, while the Una district has been categorised as critical, the Kala Amb area lying in Sirmaur district has been grouped in the over-exploited category.

The situation in other areas of the state was, however, better with the state of ground water development being below 70 per cent.

In Una district, the state of groundwater development is 98 per cent while in Kala Amb, the figure stood at 100 per cent which meant that the annual ground water consumption is more than the annual ground water recharge.

Even the figures of annual water level fluctuation in the wells were not encouraging for the industrial areas with a comparison of the depth to water level recorded in the two successive monsoons (May 2010-May 2011) showing a decline in the water level by 39 per cent in Una district, 14 per cent in Sirmaur, 38 per cent in Kangra and 20 per cent in Mandi.

The figures of period spanning from November 2010-November 2011 showed decline in annual water level fluctuation by 71 per cent in the wells in Kangra and Sirmaur , 67 per cent in Solan, 50 per cent in Una, thus proving how industrial areas faced maximum exploitation of water. Most of the wells have been showing fall in water level in the range of 0-2 m while a fall of more than 2 m was observed in Una and Kangra districts though overall above 71 per cent wells showed rise in water level in the state.

The state has enacted the HP Groundwater (Regulation and Control of Development and Management) Act 2005, to regulate the use of groundwater and an authority, headed by member secretary, grants permissions for the use of groundwater.

Though all existing users are supposed to get registered with this authority, little appears to have been done to check those defaulting on this issue.

Its member secretary Vipin Samkariya, when quizzed about the declining groundwater levels in Una and Kala Amb, said the new cases seeking permission to use groundwater are scrutinised on various parameters as laid down in the act and permissions were granted only after they fulfil the laid conditions.

Shimla, December 27
State Congress president Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu today said that former Chief Minister PK Dhumal should either prove the allegations levelled against him in the BJP chargesheet within a month’s time or quit politics.

Addressing a press conference here, he said he was weighing legal options to proceed in the matter as it was a question of morality and his integrity. “If the BJP can prove the allegations against me by January 27, I will quit politics, but in case they fail, Dhumal should retire from political life,” he said.

Countering BJP allegations that the woman from whom he had purchased land in his wife’s name had been rendered landless, he said even now the woman, Sanku Devi owned land in her name.

“I bought one bigha and six biswas of land from her on September 1, 2011, in the name of my wife, Kamlesh Thakur, for Rs 7.10 lakh,” he said. He said Sanku Devi, who was in possession of more land, had in fact sold 12 biswas of land to another person in February 2013.

“Even now, Sanku Devi has 3.2 bighas of land in her name, which clearly falsifies BJP claim that she had been rendered landless,” he said. He added that if the BJP was so confident of the charges levelled against ministers in the Virbhadra regime, they should have attached a signed affidavit with the chargesheet. Sukhu said on the first day after assuming office, he had made it clear that he was all for transparency, zero tolerance against corruption and ensuring security of women. 

Hamirpur, December 27
The state unit of the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) has decided to hold BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi’s rally at Sujanpur in Hamirpur district on February 16.

The rally will be organised to counter the Congress show of strength in Hamirpur on completion of one year in office of the state government.

BJP leaders are claiming that the rally will be the biggest rally of all times in the state for which over 2 lakh people would be mobilised.

The party has tactically selected Sujanpur as the venue for Narendra Modi’s rally, where a BJP rebel and now associate member of the Congress Legislature Party, Rajender Rana, has won as an independent in the last Assembly elections with a huge margin and with whose support, the Congress is challenging the BJP in the home turf of former Chief Minister PK Dhumal.

Rajender Rana is also one of the Congress probable candidates to contest Hamirpur Parliamentary election against BJP MP Anurag Thakur, son of former Chief Minister PK Dhumal, with the stakes high for the BJP.

With an eye on the coming Parliamentary elections, Rajender Rana has been organising several programmes in the Sujanpur constituency, besides Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh’s visit to the constituency.

Talking to The Tribune, former Chief Minister PK Dhumal said, “Modi’s rally has been finalised for February 16 at Sujanpur and this would be one of the biggest rallies in the state and we would mobilise over 2 lakh people for the rally.”

“We have set a target to mobilise nearly 50,000 ex-servicemen for the rally for which Sujanpur mandal of the BJP is holding an ex-servicemen’s convention on January 4 in which former Lt General HS Kanwar and Major General (retd) BD Bakshi will be special invitees,” said Rakesh Thakur, mandal president.

Since this is likely to be Narendra Modi’s only public meeting in the state before or during the Parliamentary elections, the Bhartiya Janata Party leaders will try to turn the rally as the biggest show of strength for the next Parliamentary elections. 

Solan, December 27
The transfer of a scientist to the main campus of the Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, has exposed favouritism by the university management.

The scientist was appointed for the Regional Horticulture Research Station (RHRS), Kinnaur, for a period of five years, but barely within three years, he has superseded seven other scientists.

It is worth mentioning that these scientists were appointed on a mandatory condition that they would serve the tribal area for a period of five years and this clause was a part of the advertisement issued by the university in August 2007.

The post of Associate Director (Research and Extension) and seven posts of Assistant Scientists, Assistant Professors, Assistant Extension Specialists were among the 46 posts advertised in August 2007 with a pre-condition.

Dr Satish Sharma was likewise appointed as the Assistant Director, Research, RHRS, Kinnaur, to serve for at least five years in the tribal areas under the tribal area sub-plan, but he has been transferred to the main campus, Nauni, just after three years of service on November 5.

No request was made by Dr Sharma, sources said, adding that other scientists appointed under the same terms and conditions had been denied the transfer by the Vice Chancellor on the pretext of non-completion of five years, despite repeated requests.

A transfer is usually considered if a person makes a request due to some unavoidable circumstances.

It was, however, known that when the issue was brought to the notice of the Chief Minister by the university staff, directions were issued to cancel the unconstitutional transfer. An action was, however, awaited on these directions.

Though the Vice Chancellor claimed that there was a dire shortage of scientists in each research station and department, Dr Sharma has joined in the Directorate of Research on the main campus at a time when it was already overstaffed with three joint directors.

Kullu, December 27
Nothing has been done to set up a fire station in Banjar subdivision of this district, even though Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, in his recent visit, assured residents to talk with the NHPC management for a fire station in the region after local MLA Karan Singh made him aware of incidents of fire within the region.

Property worth crores had been destroyed in fire incidents in Mohni, Sidhwa, Bashir, Sanga, Channaun, Chaddiyar, Chipani, Pharyari, Shrikot, Garuli, Gehra, Goshala, Jamad and other villages in the subdivision.

The nearest fire station being in Kullu, it takes a minimum an hour for fire tenders to reach Banjar town and even two hours to some remote villages. Most houses of the region are made with pine and deodar wood and even minor incidents of fire turn into a disaster due to lack of fire fighting services. The dilapidated condition of roads and tough hilly terrain hinder the prompt approach to the spot.

Residents of Banjar demanding a fire station for many years now are not content with the attitude of the government to overlook such demand and have raised objections with the CM during his recent visit to Sidhwa village. 

Bilaspur, December 27
Chief Parliamentary Secretary Rajesh Dharmani has given a call to teachers in government schools and parents to ensure they send their children to government schools and not to run after costly private schools as government schools have trained staff and full equipment and other essentials and facilities including playgrounds which are largely not available with private schools.

Addressing a gathering as a chief guest at the annual prize distribution function of Government Boys Senior Secondary School Ghumarwin near here yesterday afternoon, Dharmani said education is complete only when it helps our children to develop all-round personality. There are some essential facilities which must exist in an educational institute to help its wards learn all that is required for him to make himself a responsible citizen of tomorrow.

He said both teachers and parents should see they do not leave their students and wards on their own in school or at home, but keep full knowledge of their activities and ensure they do not fall into bad company and remain stuck to the primary objective of studies and play.

He said teachers have a greater responsibility in tapping the latent potential of a student and they have to strive hard to ensure full personality development of students so that they can face the future with fortitude and courage.

Dharmani announced a grant of Rs 20,000 for cultural development in the school.

Earlier, principal Lal Singh Chauhan read the school progress report. The chief guest gave away prizes to the best students in various fields.

Present on the occasion were School Management Committee president Brij Lal Sharma, panchayat president Jagir Mehta, former Nagar Parishad president Sat Pal and freedom fighters Ganga Ram and Ranjit Singh Guleria among others.

Chamba, December 27
Following recent snowfall on the highlands of Chamba district, several roads are still covered deep in snow.

These roads included Jot, Sanghni-Langera in Dalhousie sub-division, Sanwal, Jassourgarh in Churah sub-division, Nayagran and Hadsar-Kugti roads in Bharmour tribal sub-division.

Life here continues to remain paralysed and inhabitants in the snow-capped highlands have been facing hardship in bringing ration and other things for their daily needs. Forest Minister Thakur Singh Bharmouri has directed road authorities to speed up the restoration work on priority so that these roads could be connected to transportation services. He has asked officials to assess damages caused to private and public property owing to the snow blizzard in the district.

Shimla, December 27
With the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests granting powers to Himachal government to approve mining leases up to 25 hectares, the complete ban on river mining will finally be lifted, paving the way for easy availability of building material in the state.

The communication by the Union Ministry of Forest and Environment has come as a major breather for Himachal government as due to a blanket ban on mining, an acute shortage of sand and gravel had arisen in the state.

This had led to a spurt in illegal mining, especially in the border areas of the state in Kangra and Solan districts.

“The state can now grant environmental clearances for mining leases up to 25 hectares while no environmental clearance will henceforth be required for leases below five hectares,” confirmed Industries minister Mukesh Agnihotri.

He said 119 requests for being granted mining leases up to 25 hectares in Himachal had been pending with the Centre, which now can now be processed by the state.

He said leases below five hectares would not be allowed to operate. He added that the ban on sending sand and gravel outside Himachal will continue till the process does not stabilise.

At present, finished material like crushed stones can be sent outside the state but raw material like sand or gravel cannot be.

Following court directives imposing a ban on river-bed mining, acute shortage of construction material was being faced, both by individuals and government agencies implementing various development works under various schemes for house, road and other works. In fact, the blanket ban on river-bed mining had led to a spurt in illegal mining.

The Industries department, in its bid to check illegal mining, has also been able to collect Rs 84.59 crore as compounding fee for illegal mining by the 80 stone-crushers in the state as per the court directives, for the last five years. The highest number of 39 stone crushers are located in district Kangra, followed by 24 in Solan and six in Mandi.

Shimla, December 27
Even as investigation in the ongoing phone-tapping case in Himachal is nearing completion, the Centre's decision to set up a commission to inquire into cases of "snooping" has triggered a political debate, with various parties having conflicting views.

The allegations of illegal phone-tapping had warmed the political climes of the state when Virbhadra assumed office as Chief Minister on December 25 last year and the hard disk of the computers of the technical wing of the CID were seized.

This had been done on the apprehension that phones of Congress leaders, bureaucrats and journalists had been illegally intercepted by the previous regime headed by PK Dhumal.

While the ruling Congress today welcomed the move of the Centre to set up a commission to probe snooping, the BJP was cautious in its reaction as it said the move was aimed at targeting their Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi.

A case was registered by the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau on charges of alleged phone tapping on June 26 earlier this year and the investigations are in the final stages. Virbhadra Singh, while in the Opposition, had alleged that the BJP regime had fixed bugging devices in his room.

The government is awaiting formal orders from the Centre on the issue. "I too have heard about the commission from media reports as we too are awaiting the notification or some formal orders," said Officiating Chief Secretary, P Mitra, who is holding the charge of Home Department.

HPCC chief Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu today welcomed the decision of the Centre and added that this would put an end to intrusion into an individual's privacy. "The Congress in Himachal has faced the heat as during the BJP regime, phones of politicians, not just from the Congress, but also from the BJP, were intercepted illegally in violation of the Indian Telegraph Act, so the setting up of the commission will put an end to such illegal acts," he said. He said the inquiry into the case was nearing completion and the guilty would not be spared.

The BJP state president Satpal Singh Satti said when the respective state governments are competent to deal with the issue, setting up of a commission would be treated as undue interference. "The BJP could even go to court to challenge the move as it has been done with the sole objective of targeting our leader Narendra Modi," he said.

When asked about the pending case in Himachal, Satti said the BJP regime had done no wrong so his party had nothing to fear. "As stated earlier by former Chief minister PK Dhumal and our party, we have nothing to fear and the Congress regime is free to get the matter inquired into by a sitting judge or any other independent agency," he remarked.

Quizzing various cellular service providers did not yield much results as they had destroyed the record of numbers and names of subscribers, as per the rule.

The Vigilance has recorded the statement of the former Home Secretary and Inspector General rank IPS officers who happened to be posted in the CID during the BJP tenure. 

Nurpur, December 27
Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Indora, Pankaj Gupta convicted Ram Singh of Chanor village last evening for trespassing into his neighbour’s house and outraging her modesty. The magistrate awarded him a three-year imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on him under various Sections of the IPC.

As per Indora Assistant District Attorney Vijay Rihalia, the convict had trespassed into the victim’s house on the night of May 4, 2009, and committed the crime. The police had registered a case under Sections 452,354 and 506 of the IPC against him and produced challan against him in the court on May 18. As many as nine witnesses were produced in the court by the prosecution.

Bilaspur, December 27
Thieves reportedly stole Rs 2,500 and gold and silver jewellery worth lakhs from Vidya Sagar’s house at Ropa village in Ghumarwin town here last night.

Sagar is a Forest Guard posted at Jejwin in the district.

The theft was detected in the morning and the police was informed of the incident. The police have registered a case and are investigating.