Shimla, February 10
The Opposition BJP today chose to stay away from the debate on Budget proposals for 2014-15.

It is a norm that the debate on the Budget proposals is initiated by the Leader of the Opposition. However, a departure from tradition had to be made today in the absence of Leader of Opposition and former Chief Minister PK Dhumal, who chose to stay away. The debate started with the entire Opposition benches being empty as the BJP Legislature Party chose to continue with its protest.

“It is unfortunate that for the BJP, a rally by one of their leaders is more important than this august House, where the entire development of the state for the year is to be discussed,” Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh said before the initiation of the debate.

He added that the BJP was only making excuses for boycotting the Assembly as the real reason was that it wanted to prepare for the success of Narendra Modi’s rally at Sujanpur on February 16.

In Dhumal's absence, it was left to lone Himachal Lokhit Party (HLP) legislator Maheshwar Singh to initiate the debate. He showered praise on the Chief Minister.

“It is unfortunate that the BJP chose to boycott the Budget debate, but Speaker Sir, some amendment should be made to ensure that the questions listed for the day can be transferred to someone else,” he said.

He sought speeding up of investigations in all these cases, including those pertaining to the HP Cricket Association and phone-tapping.

He also took the BJP to task for launching a personal attack on Virbhadra and dared them to approach the Lokayukta.

“All the Himalayan states must rise above political considerations and seek the setting up of a trans-Himalayan policy so that all hill states can lobby and protect their interests,” he suggested.

Maheshwar also chose the opportunity to hit out at the previous BJP regime for indulging in corruption. “It was not for any vested interest that I left the BJP, but on the issue of corruption as there were scams, be it in the case of the state being on sale, pulses supply, 108 ambulance purchase or granting relaxation to private universities to buy land,” he said.

Participating in the debate, Asha Kumari said this was the best possible Budget in the present financial situation. “It is a Budget which has been welcomed by every section. So it makes no difference whether the BJP participates or not,” she said. She said the BJP could not be pardoned for such irresponsible boycott of the debate and shirking from its role of a responsible Opposition.

She said the BJP had no right to level a slanderous campaign against a highly respected six-time Chief Minister who had won 13 elections.

“They cannot use the protection of the House for mudslinging and character assassination, and the Congress will not allow it,” she said.

She said it was the BJP members who had behaved in departure from the high traditions of the House by disrupting the Governor’s Address, boycotting the Budget and coming to the House wearing aprons. She said all those responsible for irregularities in the Bemloe housing project, Annandale and eco-tourism projects must be taken to task.

Others who spoke at the debate included Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Dhani Ram Shandil and Nand Lal.

Shimla, February 10
The government will make amendments in the Town and Country Planning Act to give relaxation in the minimum plot size so as to enable construction of houses on the small 2 biswa plots, especially in case of economically weaker sections of society.

This was stated by Town and Country Planning (TCP) Minister Sudhir Sharma during the Question Hour in the Assembly today. Replying to a query by Maheshwar Singh, he informed the House that the government was already in the process of making the amendments.

“The government is already seized of the matter that after leaving offset and space, it is not possible to construct a house on such small plots; so relaxation will be given to everyone except in Shimla,” he said. In Shimla, it is mandatory have a 200 sq m plot to construct a house.

Maheshwar had pointed out that in old towns like Kullu and Manali, it was impossible to construct a house on the minimum permissible limit plot size of 60 and 90 sq m if one was to have land on all four sides.

The minister further said a uniform rate of Rs 1,000 per sq m would be charged from all as compounding rate for regularisation of the houses which had been raised in violation of the TCP norms.

In reply to another query on the Timber Distribution Policy framed by the government, Forest Minister Thakur Singh Bharmouri assured the House that there would be room for the possibility of providing wood at subsidised rates for development projects like schools and panchayat bhawans.

Maheshwar cited that earlier, TD wood was given at rates higher than for traditional right holder, but at less than commercial rate.

“The government must make a provision that TD wood is not given at commercial rate, but at less for development works,” he said.

The minister said the MLA should have filed objections during the one-month period when suggestions had been invited from the public. He said all such old rights would be restored.

Shimla, February 10
The Vigilance and Anti-corruption Bureau of the Himachal police has sent a questionnaire to former Chief Minister PK Dhumal in connection with a probe into cases registered against the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) and sought a reply within a week.

Copies of notings on the files pertaining to the grant of land and other sanctions had also been sent to Dhumal for ready reference so that no time was lost, said sources in the Vigilance Bureau.

The Bureau, it is learnt, has almost completed the probe in the case and will go ahead with the filing of a chargesheet in the next 10-12 days.

It has asked Dhumal why he did not recuse himself from presiding over Cabinet meetings in which matters regarding the HPCA were decided, with he himself being chief patron of the cricket association with voting right and the cricket body being headed by his son Anurag Thakur.

The land leased to the HPCA was given to the Education Department by the Revenue Department, which further transferred it to Youth Services and the Sports Department. It is being stated that in fact the land should have been restored to the Revenue Department. Why the fact that the land belonged to the Revenue Department was concealed wilfully from the Council of Ministers, is sought to be probed.

The Finance Department had objected to the grant of lease on concessional rates and opined that the lease should be given on “usual terms”. The Vigilance Bureau questioned as to why the land was leased for 99 years on token fee of Re 1 per month. Why he went beyond the Finance Department's advice and whether it did not constitute the misuse of office, are points of investigation.

The shamlat land on which Hotel Pavillion has been constructed was sought for infrastructure development and residential accommodation for players, but the Dari Panchayat gave the No Objection Certificate (NOC) for the construction of a motel.

The Cabinet had approved the HPCA's original proposal, but the Revenue Secretary granted lease for the construction of a five-star hotel. How the Revenue Secretary could overrule the Cabinet's decision which could be reviewed only by the Council of Ministers, is another query.

Another poser is how the club house in the HPCA stadium at Dharamsala was allowed to be run on a commercial basis and hefty fee charged from
the members when as per lease conditions, no commercial activity could be undertaken.

The Vigilance queries also cover how lecturers' residences constructed on 720 sq m land in 1986 from UGC funds were demolished without following the due process of inspection and bypassing the procedure of inviting tenders for salvage of demolished building.

Shimla, February 10
The Shimla Municipal Corporation (SMC) and the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Department are on a collision course over the revised city development plan (CDP) of Shimla mandated to the SMC by the Ministry of Urban Development (MUD).

A letter in this regard was issued on August 6, 2013, to the Municipal Commissioner, Shimla, and commissioners of 29 other cities in the country.

According to the MUD letter issued to the Shimla Municipal Commissioner, a copy of which is available with The Tribune, the ministry has selected as many as 30 cities, including Shimla, for revised CDPs.

The ministry in collaboration with the World Bank has appointed a Delhi-based CRISIL, Risk and Infrastructure Solutions Ltd to prepare the revised CDP for capacity building for urban development programme named as the Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission.

The SMC had appointed a multi-departmental body for the purpose, said Municipal Commissioner Amarjeet Singh.

“The TCP Department has come out with seven different retention polices under different governments. But these benefitted big builders while the common public got no benefit as the department failed to address the actual issue. The TCP Act needed an amendment as being proposed now by the present government,” charged councillors.

Shimla Mayor Sanjay Chauhan said the corporation had constituted a multi-departmental committee to prepare the city development plan as mandated by the MUD. “We will seek suggestion and approval of the TCP Departement. It has no reason to feel jittery over the city development plan being prepared by
the CRISIL in six months,” he asserted.

The 30-member House of the SMC knows what amenities had to be added in the city and corporation would have its own master development plan, said Deputy Mayor Tikender Panwar.

The SMC should have its own master plan aiming at decongesting the city, said Sushant Kapret, a councillor from Sanjauli (Engine Ghar). “The city development plan needs to address issues like parking, children parks, pedestrian paths and proper building norms,” he added.

On the other hand, state Town Planner AN Gautam has reacted sharply to the SMC’s city development plan, claiming that it is the TCP Department which prepares the development plan, not the SMC.

“The Municipal Act does not allow them to do so as they have to get an approval from the district planning committee,” he added.

TCP and Urban Development Special Secretary Subhashish Panda said they had sought public objections for the development plan before they prepared the Shimla development plan. The corporation could have its own TCP and urban development for amnesties and other planning, but then it needed an approval as per the Act.

The amendment in the Act was proposed, but nothing had been finalised so far, he added.

New Delhi, February 10
Taking up the cudgels on behalf of Himachal Pradesh, Congress MP from the state Pratibha Singh has urged the Central Government to relax the rules to enable the completion of a plant of Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL), which is located on a notified land around an ordinance depot of the armed forces in Kandori, Kangra.

She has sought intervention of Defence Minister AK Antony to resolve the issue. The state had allotted 16 acres to SAIL in Kandori on lease basis for 95 years for setting up a steel processing unit. The work on the project started in mid-2010. The erection work had been completed.

The construction work, however, had to be suspended following a notice to SAIL by the local defence authorities in February 2012 against the construction. The proposed plant is in a prohibited area.

The state had also taken up the issue with the Defence Ministry. However, the matter has not been resolved yet.

The Congress leader, in a letter to Antony, has pointed out that the project would give a significant boost to the industrial growth and development in the state. It would provide employment opportunities to the unemployed youth.

She added that SAIL had already invested a substantial amount in the project that was in an advance stage of commissioning.

Hamirpur, February 10
Former Chief Minister PK Dhumal has accused the state government of adopting double standards.

Former Chief Minister PK Dhumal talks to mediapersons in Hamirpur on Monday

Addressing a press conference here today, Dhumal said, “When the BJP government had given land on lease for opening private universities in the state, the Congress had termed it as 'Himachal on sale', and the Chief Minister is now offering lands to industrialists from outside through the single-window system.”

He said, “By doing this, the Congress government is openly flouting Section 118, Land Reforms and Tenancy Act, but moralising the BJP on this issue."

Dhumal said, “During the Congress regime, much more land was given on lease to outsiders in comparison to the BJP government; while it has made a big issue out of land being given on lease to the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association, the state government has announced lease of land to private institutions for Re 1."

He alleged, “The Congress government has ignored development works in the state, adopting a dictatorial attitude.”

Commenting on the Budget presented in the state Assembly by the Congress government, he said, “The Budget is nothing but jugglery of figures. While the BJP government in its last two budgets had increased the proposal by Rs 17,328 crore in 2011-12 and Rs 2,016 crore in 2013-14, the increase in the current Budget is approximately Rs 1,913 crore.”

“The public debt, which was about Rs 3,371 crore during the BJP government, has increased to Rs 3,771 crore under the Congress government,” he added.

Dhumal also ridiculed the increase of Rs 30 in ration allowance of police personnel and increase of Rs 20 in daily wage.

Dharamsala, February 10
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will not enter into a pre-poll alliance with any political party in Himachal. National observers of the party, Sandeep Bisht and Anup Singh, who were in Dharamsala on Friday, said AAP would not enter into an alliance with any party, including the Himachal Lokhit Party (HLP).

Bisht said the HLP and AAP leadership had discussed the possibility of an alliance. However, the HLP had not given any response.

The observers put at rest the speculations of a possible alliance between AAP and HLP in Himachal during the forthcoming parliamentary elections. The speculations were also rife that Maheshwar Singh would be fielded as a joint candidate of AAP and the HLP from the Mandi parliamentary constituency.

AAP leaders also ruled out the possibility of fielding BJP MP from Kangra Rajan Sushant.

They claimed that the party had enrolled 80,000 members in Himachal Pradesh so far. “Besides, several people have joined the party online,” Anup Singh said.

“We have received 418 applications and 18 names have been finalised,” Bisht said.

From the Kangra parliamentary seat, the party proposed three names, which included Prem Sagar, SS Guleria and Brig NS Rana. Sagar is currently a zila parishad member from Dharamsala.

Nurpur, February 10
BJP candidate for Kangra Lok Sabha seat Shanta Kumar today asked people to work aggressively for the next two months as strong political management would ensure victory for the BJP in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.

While addressing party workers of all four Assembly segments here, he said the need of the hour was to convert Narendra Modi’s wave into votes.

Shanta asserted that notwithstanding a strong pro-BJP wave across the country, the neglect and apathy towards the electorate might bring adverse election results.

He said he had decided not to contest elections during the last Lok Sabha elections, but due to the aspiration of the party high command and constant persuasion by Baba Ram Dev, he was all set to contest the forthcoming elections.

Shanta Kumar called upon the party activists to strengthen, activate and make the party vigilant at the booth level. He advised the party’s mandal units to persuade those party workers who were annoyed with the functioning of the party.

Nahan, February 10
The district administration has unearthed scores of fake institutes lacking both manpower and infrastructure to impart skills to youth for making them eligible to avail skill development allowance.

Several such institutes were unearthed by teams of the district administration, including officials of the Skill Development Allowance Committee, in various parts of the district where irregularities came to the fore.

Sources in the district administration revealed that out of 26 institutes imparting this allowance in Sangrah division, none was found eligible while in Nahan division, out of 65, only eight institutes were found eligible.

While this spoke volumes about the haphazard manner in which the scheme had been implemented in the district, allegations of the institutes usurping 50 per cent of the Rs 1,000 allowance granted to the youth had surfaced.

Deputy Commissioner Vikas Labroo said he was awaiting reports from subdivisions, while some of these had already been received. He said they would shortlist eligible institutes for imparting skills under the Skill Development Scheme based on the report though he said since there was no mandate to take action against the fake institutes, little action could be taken against those having little or no infrastructure to impart the required skills.

It was found that certain institutes imparting skills of sewing clothes to women had barely one machine for as many as 20 candidates, while a beauty parlour looked like a shabby barber shop. Major irregularities were found in scores of computer centres where infrastructure and staff were inadequate. The scheme was initiated in May last year.

The district had disbursed Rs 1.62 crore till January for providing skill development allowances to youth of the district -- the figure was the highest in the state. Each eligible youth gets Rs 1,000 as per this allowance. Given the state of affairs of the institutes that were imparting these skills, it is clear that there is a rat race to grab this allowance while according little significance to the infrastructure available in these institutes.

Though it is claimed the state government is now trying to streamline this process by notifying the eligible institutes after inspecting their premises, crores have already been lost in providing sub-standard skills to the youth in this otherwise backward district.

Shimla, February 10
The nationwide two-day public sector banks’ (PSB) strike observed by unions of 25 banks hit the banking services in the city and state today. All banking transactions came to a halt, hitting the industry, corporate houses, including government sector undertakings, and the public.

The unions gathered under a banner putting pressure on the government ahead of the coming Lok Sabha elections. While protesting, they raised slogans across the state, demanding the implementation of the new pay scales pending since 2012.

The bankers up to Scale-3 observed a complete strike and will continue the protest tomorrow as the Central Government has failed to implement the new pay scales pending since 2012, said the spokesperson for the All-India Bankers’ Unions.

Though private banks continued to function smoothly, transactions came to a halt in all banks as the strike was observed by the 25 PSBs.

Only senior managers above Scale 3 were present in the office, but no transactions took place.

They claimed that they had stocked enough cash in ATMs to meet the two-day demand of customers.

However, some customers said several ATMs went out of cash later in the evening across the state.

Chamba, February 10
A control room will be set up at Chamba to garner information and facilitate activities for the prevention and preparedness of disasters. This was stated by Chamba Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Bachan Singh while presiding over a meeting of the sub-divisional-level Disaster Management Committee here on Thursday.

The SDM said efforts would be made to equip the control room with modern apparatus required to carry out rescue and relief operations during natural or other disasters. He said to combat disasters, community awareness and involvement was a must. Coordination between departments and agencies concerned for mitigating such hazards was also indispensable, he added.

An interactive session was also held in which it was suggested that volunteers and voluntary organisations having expertise in combating natural disasters should also be involved along with rescue teams. Emphasis was also laid on organising disaster awareness workshops at the village and school levels. Techniques of prevention and preparedness should be inculcated in minds of villagers and students, said experts.

Officials from the Home Guards and Fire and Health Departments impressed upon the need for educating the coming generation in schools about how to curb the occurrence of disasters.

Kangra, February 10
Resentment prevailed among residents here after a doctor was transferred from the Kangra Civil Hospital to the Chamba District Hospital, where a physician is already posted.

What irked them more was that no substitute was deputed at the hospital after the doctor’s transfer. Ramesh Saini, senior vice-president, state Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) and a social activist, on Friday criticised the government’s decision of transferring Dr Arvind Sharma, MD, PGI, who was yet to complete one-and-a-half years at the hospital.

He said it was unfortunate that the said doctor was transferred quietly and that too without any substitute. Saini said the Kangra Civil Hospital had 1,43,910 OPDs last year and nearly 20,000 indoor patients with only 10 doctors against the required strength of 15. The Civil Hospital, Palampur, had 15 doctors, whereas the Kangra Civil Hospital had only nine doctors, indicating a step-motherly treatment meted to the hospital, he added. He demanded Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh's intervention in the matter. — OC

Shimla, February 10
Concerned over the slow selection rate of candidates belonging to the Muslim community in government services in the state, All-Himachal Muslim Community chairman Naseem Diddan on Thursday said: “Since Independence no Muslim candidate has made it to the state cadre services.”

“Our people clear the HAS, HPS, HFS and allied services written examination, but fail to get through the interview. Moreover, the community has no representation in the legislative Assembly of the state,” he rued.

Diddan said genuine problems related to the community had remained unattended for years. “A total of 64 reports/ recommendations prepared and submitted by the Himachal Pradesh State Commission for Backward Classes to the state government are pending for the past three-and-a-half years,” he said.

Kullu, February 10
The annual prize distribution function of Girls Senior Secondary School, Sultanpur, was organised on the school premises here yesterday.

Principal Poonam Sharma welcomed chief guest Maheshwar Singh, MLA, Kullu. Maheshwar said he did his primary education in the same school and it was his dream to develop it and strengthen the education system.

He announced a grant of Rs 2 lakh from the MLA fund for the construction of rooms at the school and another Rs 10,000 for uniforms for children.

The MLA further announced that a pedestrian flyover would be built from Sarwari to Bhutti Chowk and a budget had been sanctioned for the construction of a road in Akhara Bazar. A sum of Rs 1 crore had been earmarked for building the road through the Bhuntar main market, he added.

Maheshwar called upon students to participate in co-curricular activities and presented Rs 5,000 to the students who participated in the cultural presentations. Later, he gave away prizes to the students who had distinctions in academic examinations, sports and other activities.

Solan, February 10
A case of daily collection agents embezzling cash deposited by account holders of the Barotiwala and Parwanoo branches of the Jogindra Central Co-operative Bank has come to light. An inquiry was initiated into this case on Friday.

An embezzlement complaint came to the fore when some account holders whose accounts had matured found discrepancies in the amount deposited in the bank and the receipts available with them. There are 80 customers attached to the Barotiwala branch and 50 with the Parwanoo branch and the embezzlement could run into several lakhs. But bank officials have desisted from revealing the amount embezzled. — TNS

Una, February 10
The two-day ninth All-India Judo Championship began at the Indira Gandhi Indoor stadium here today. Teams from 38 states, union territories, besides paramilitary forces, are participating in the event.

Sujanpur MLA Rajinder Rana, who was the chief guest at the opening ceremony, said such national events not only instilled a sense of national integration, but also gave an opportunity to exchange diverse cultures of people of the country.

State Judo Association president and Chaupal MLA Balbir Verma, Judo Federation of India general secretary MM Jaswal and district sports officer Ishwar Chaudhary were also present. — OC