Pandoh (Mandi) June 13
As the teams involved in search operation could not find any victim today, massive silt and chilling water in the Pandoh dam and the Beas are proving an impediment in the operation.

The dam, spread over 2.5 km, has about 52-ft deep water with massive silt deposits, restricting the search operation.

According to dam officials, “About 7-ft silt deposits in the dam makes it difficult to go down.” Even deep sea divers are unable to search in the bottom of the dam.

Similarly, the stretch of the Beas from Thalot to Pandoh is having muddy and chilling water.

A team member of the search operation said, “Snow melting on the hills makes the waters chilling. The presence of muddy chilling water is making the task of divers difficult as they can’t remain in water for more than 20 minutes” he said.

DC Mandi Devesh Kumar said, “The muddy water and silt deposits in the dam are problems but rescue and search teams are trying their best.”

Meanwhile, Home Minister of Telangana N Narsimha Reddy and two MPs, Vinod Kumar and Jitender Reddy, said, “A delegation of 11 MPs from Telangana have met the Prime Minister, the Home Minister and the Defence Minister and have sought their help for the ongoing search operation and they have assured to provide every help.”

Reddy said, “I will remain here till the victims are not found.” 

Pandoh (Mandi), June 13
The parents of 16 students of VNR Vignana Jyothi College of Engineering and Technology, Hyderabad, washed away in the Beas on Sunday, are firm to go back with the bodies of their children.

The parents and other relatives camping here since Monday, reach the Pandoh dam early morning and wait till late evening for the bodies, looking into the water or wait for personnel involved in search operation.

All of them have lost the hope of seeing their children alive and the only thing they are looking for are the bodies to take these back home for cremation.

Krishna Reddy, father of Rishita Reddy, camping here along with his relatives, said, “I will wait for the body of my daughter to take it back for cremation and that’s the only thing I want.”

“I have not gathered courage to watch the video prepared by a local photographer showing the washing away of 24 students, including my daughter, as I can't bear heart-rending cries of children for help before being swept away, ” he adds.

Satya Narain, brother of Basvaraj Sandeep, wants more resources to be put in for the search operation to recover the bodies.

He said, “I am here to take back the body of my brother. Though agencies involved in the search operation are trying hard, during the last four days, only four bodies were recovered.”

Ajay, father of Srinidhi, said “Our children have gone and we will wait for the bodies but why doesn’t the state government take measures to warn tourists about such dangers?”

The relatives staying back with the parents are more critical of the state government for not putting warning signals along rivers and taking steps to make the state free from such dangers as it is earning a huge revenue from the tourism industry.

They are also blaming the mining mafia for digging link roads in the Beas as many tourists are venturing in the river without knowing the impending danger.

All of them want strict action against the college management and the tour operator for their negligence, resulting in the mishap.

Pandoh (Mandi), June 13
The state government has decided to launch a massive search operation tomorrow to locate the remaining bodies of 16 students and a tour co-coordinator washed away in the Beas on Sunday.

Rural Development Minister Anil Sharma and Telangana Home Minister N Narsimha Reddy talk to mediapersons at Pandoh. Photo Jai Kumar

In this operation, the water level in Parbati II and Larji projects will be lowered to the minimum possible level for an hour for intensive search of victims in a 3-km stretch downstream the river from the point where they were washed away.

Under this operation likely to be undertaken from 7am to 8 am, rescue teams of the Army, the police, the Navy, the National Disaster Response Force and the SSB, besides divers, will participate. Rural Development Minister Anil Sharma said, "About 450 personnel will take up special operation in 3-km stretch towards the Pandoh dam."

He said Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh was concerned about the search and rescue operation to find out the missing victims and this was for the first time such an operation was being undertaken.

The major thrust of this operation will be to locate the victims trapped under huge boulders or deep points into the river.

The minister said the state government was in touch with the Telangana government and was providing every help in rescue and search operation.

Interacting with the media, the Home Minister of Telangana N Narsimha Reddy thanked the state government for providing all possible help to the affected families. He appreciated the efforts being made by the Himachal government for tracing the missing students for which he was thankful to Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh.

Member of Parliament of Telangana Jitender Reddy and Vinod Kumar and DC Mandi Devesh Kumar were also present. 

Dharamsala, June 13
Former Chief Minister and the leader of Opposition in the state Assembly Prem Kumar Dhumal alleged that the state lost the National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) battalion project due to the indifferent attitude of the state government. While addressing mediapersons here today, Prem Kumar Dhumal said General NC Vij had shown keen interest in stationing an NDRF battalion in Nurpur area.

"Our government had identified 23 hectares of private and 17 hectares of government land for the NDRF project at Kopra in Nurpur. A notice under Section 4 of the Land Acquisition Act was issued in consultations with the farmers whose land was to be acquired and an award money of Rs 12.34 crore was earmarked for it," Dhumal said.

He further said the NDRF wanted land in Nurpur as it was near Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir and the Pathankot airport.

"However, the Congress government wanted to shift the NDRF project from Kangra. In the process, the state lost the project," the former Chief Minister said.

Dhumal said while the incumbent government was concocting cases against its opponents, the cases against Congress leaders were being withdrawn. "The Congress is trying to withdraw a criminal case against former state minister Singhi Ram and former Chairman of Himachal Pradesh Board of School Education (HPBSE) BR Rahi," Dhumal said.

About the Larji Dam tragedy, Dhumal said the government had remained indifferent towards the tragedy. "The government should have deputed its minister to oversee the rescue operations. It should inquire about the construction of a road near the river as it seems that it was constructed to facilitate illegal mining.

When asked whether a leader of the state BJP would be inducted into the Central government, Dhumal said it was the prerogative of the Prime Minister. He said during the UPA government, Himachal Anand Sharma and Virbhadra Singh got the Cabinet berth at the Centre but the state failed to get any major project. It even lost the industrial package. Dhumal was here to preside over a cricket match between the HP High Court and the HP High Court Bar Association. 

Solan, June 13
With the process of getting permission under Section 118 of the HP Tenancy and Land Reforms Act, 1972, which is required by a non-Himachali to buy land in the state, taking several months, investors were a harried lot.

Though the state government has introduced a single application form which is supposed to provide permission, along with the clearance under the Section, within 90 days to an outside investor, its speedy clearance has yet to come through.

With the major component of the Central industrial package already having lapsed, several industrial plots were being sold off by investors who saw little profitability in continuing in the 
state in the post-package scenario.

They were, however, unable to sell their plots as the buyers, too, had to seek clearance under the Section.

The Himachal chapter of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has written to the Director, Industries, to relax this clearance in case of industrial plots where this permission was already procured by the first buyer.

Arun Rawat, Chairman, CII’s Himachal chapter, said since the first buyer had already sought permission under the Section before setting up his operations, this norm should be relaxed for re-sale of such plots.

He said as per the present system, each time an industrial plot was sold a fresh permission under the Section was required by the buyer.

It not only delayed its sale but also locked up their investment in the plot, which could otherwise be used for other activities.

He said the CII was now demanding the relaxation in this norm so that new investors desirous of buying a plot which was put on re-sale could smoothly initiate their operations.

Director, Industries, Rajinder Chahan, when quizzed, said the state government had initiated a move to simplify this section and its draft notification was issued early this year.

Its final notifications would be issued soon after taking note of the suggestions. He said this would help in speedy clearances.

Dharamsala, June 13
Chairman of the Intellectual Forum of the HPCC and former chairman of the Airports Authority of India NK Singh has blamed arrogance and nepotism in the government for the Congress debacle in Himachal during the Lok Sabha poll.

In a letter to AICC president Sonia Gandhi and HPCC president, Sukhwinder Sukhu, a copy of which was provided to The Tribune, NK Singh said, “I regret to say that the government and its head, the Chief Minister, never cared to consult us or even to acknowledge that there was any intellectual wing. He never met us when he had meetings with all other departments and organisations.”

Even leaders became inaccessible after the Assembly elections and their cellphones were found switched off. All tickets in the constituency were allotted to favourites with clear policy of creating a party within the party. The government ruled with arrogance and nepotism."We cannot take shelter behind the Central leadership as all over, the performance was bad, but we have the government in power that won elections a year back. But the leaders failed to notice the Modi wave and could not counter it with good governance rather than indulging in nepotism and favouritism, leading to public discontent," NK Singh said.

He further said the Intellectual Forum started a website that was launched by HPCC president. "We had 10 meetings in Dharmsala, Mandi, Jogindernagar, Nahan, Solan and Shimla. We constituted the organisation in all districts. We planned to hold seminars on roads, health and education and also started a survey of blocks and working of grassroot organisations. This was to counter the good governess blitzkrieg from Modi that had to be met with equal good governance in which we failed," he said.

He said his personal loyalty to former ministers and respect for the Gandhi-Nehru tradition only kept a weak link as there was the one-man rule in Himachal.

NK Singh said, "I had personal experience in the Central Government during the prime ministership of Rajiv Gandhi and with the UN as expert. I was available to the state to render badly needed help for aviation and airport development but no one bothered, except Vidya Stokes who once asked me to help the state but later could not proceed further. We tried to stress that grassroot was not functioning and we need to pay attention. But the CM never bothered except to enhance his own tribe’s interests. It functioned as personal party of the CM and not the Congress. Our survey reveals that 50-60 per cent opinion leaders believe that block and booth is getting weaker and the groupism is gaining ground," he said. 

Shimla, June 13
The State Electricity Regulatory Commission (SERC) has issued a new tariff order declaring tariff reduction up to 30 paise per unit for all categories of consumers. It underscored no need for increase in tariff for the next four years till 2018-19 as per its new five-year tariff period adopted in the state.

The tariff of 2013 would be applicable till July 31, 2014 and the revised tariff will come into force from August 1, 2014- 2015, said the order.

The order stated that the small consumers, mainly the BPL people and those living in remote areas, who consumed 60 units per month, would pay Rs 10 per month less on service charges and 65 paise per unit less for consuming additional 20 units per month. The 251-300 slab domestic consumers will pay 30 paise less per unit on additional 50 units, ie Rs 1.25 less on subsidised electricity, the order stated.

For the non-domestic consumers, including all government offices, panchayati raj institutions, sarais and dharamshalas, the SERC reduced the energy charges by 20- 30 paise per unit and abolished the Rs 140 service for consumers consuming 20 KVA.

The SERC also reduced tariff charges from 30 paise to 15 paise per unit for commercial supply such as to shops, business houses, cinemas, clubs, banks, private offices, private hospitals, hotels, restaurants, private rest houses, guest houses and boarding and lodging houses.

The consumers connected with 100 kV, who demand less than 100 kVA, have been shifted to the lower slab and demand charges have been reduced by Rs 10 per month. Also, service charge with contract demand above 20 KVA has been abolished.

The commission has abolished the service charge for “two part tariff consumers” and removed the peak load restrictions, reducing the peak hours usage charges. The night time concession during summer months- June to August- has been increased.

For the industrial demand above 100 KVA, the commission has abolished the higher energy charges for all categories consuming 300 kVA to propel the manufacturing sector in the state.

The peak load restrictions have been abolished, giving night concession and decreasing the peak hour charges.

For water and irrigation, green houses, poly houses, fisheries and mushroom growing units, the commission reduced the tariff by 30 paise per unit. The demand charge has been reduced from Rs 80 to Rs 40 per kVA per month and abolished the peak load charges and restrictions during peak hours. This will benefit the farmers who can use water pumps to use the runoff water for agricultural purposes. 

The SERC order

* HP will procure green energy from within the state.

* Assured supply, peak load restrictions abolished.

* Connected load increased by more than 50 per cent.

* To facilitate open access, T and D losses will be counted on voltage basis.

* Tariff of all categories reduced by 30 paise per unit.

* No tariff increase during the remaining four years.

Nahan, June 13
Former Chief Minister PK Dhumal backed Nahan MLA Dr Rajiv Bindal’s three-day hunger strike, which entered its second day today. He said the state BJP would join him if required.

Dr Bindal is protesting the tardy pace of various developmental projects in his constituency. Sukhram Chawdhary, district president of the BJP, in a press note issued here today stated that BJP MLAs Suresh Kashyap, Baldev Tomar and senior leaders like Chander Mohan Thakur and Baldev Bhandari would join the agitating tomorrow.

Several social organisations as well as people from nearby rural areas have already come out in the support of the agitation.

Representatives of various local social organisations like the Rotary Club, Paryavaran Society, Nagrik Sudhar Sabha, District Cricket Association, district ABVP unit, Mahila Mandal, joined the hunger strike at Bara Chownk today and urged the state government to expedite work on the development projects. Rekha Tomar, district president, Mahila Mandal, and the president of the Paryavaran Society, Dr Suresh Joshi, also backed Dr Bindal.

Dr Bindal alleged that despite a the requirement of 13 bridges in Nahan, no bridge had been constructed. At least 100 villages are bereft of roads while irrigation and potable water schemes had not been extended to the 80 per cent of the area, he added. 

Una, June 13
SN Shukla, president of the Kangra Central Cooperative Bank Pensioners Association, today said retired employees of the bank were facing financial hardships as their pensions were stopped after April 21, 2010.

In a written statement, he held the Board of Directors and the bank management responsible for causing them hardships.

Shukla said there were 198 retirees who had received pensions till April 2010, while there were many more who had retired since. He said the pension burden on the bank was about Rs 1.4 crore annually, while the bank already had about Rs 8.8 crore in the pension funds and another Rs 25 crore in the welfare and pension funds. As per the cooperative department rules, 3 per cent of the profit was allowed to be disbursed as pensions.

He said a retiree was unable to bear the cost of his cancer treatment, while there were others who were forced to work as daily wagers under the MGNREGA scheme. He demanded the immediate payment of pensions to the retirees, most of whom were living in penury. 

Solan, June 13
Various industry associations have hailed the new tariff order by the HP State Electricity Commission. As per the order, no new levy has been introduced and the power tariff reduced.

The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has termed it a progressive and revolutionary order. Arun Rawat, Chairman, CII’s Himachal Council, said the five-year tariff period chosen by the commission would pave way for a stable regulatory environment and long-term perspective planning.

He said the availability of power on competitive rates for a longer period with emphasis on green energy, removal of peak load restrictions, open access and reduction in cross subsidisation were welcome steps.

Rajiv Aggarwal, vice-chairman, CII, said it reflected better planning and administration on the part of HP State Electricity Board Limited.

YS Guleria, general secretary, Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh (BBN) Industries Association, said apart from tariff stability, the commission had taken many reformative steps towards simplification, rationalisation, transparency and capacity utilisation.

He said the regulator had also waived off even peak-load restrictions for the industry.

He said the small-scale industry would be benefited by rationalising the supply voltage on a KVA basis, which meant lower capital investment in electrical infrastructure. 

Una, June 13
Industry Minister Mukesh Agnihotri today ordered deployment of water tankers in the areas of Haroli Assembly segment facing acute shortage of drinking water. He was presiding over a meeting of Irrigation and Public Health (IPH) officers at the Tahliwal rest house.

Agnihotri directed immediate flushing of hand pumps which had adequate underground aquifers and decommissioning of those which were beyond restoration. He said Rs 40 lakh would be spent during the present financial year on the maintenance and drilling of new hand pumps in Haroli segment. 

Shimla, June 13
The Forest Department will plant 5,000 saplings of deodars, oak, chinar and rhododendrons in the urban planning area and suburbs with the assistance of corporate houses under the Green Shimla project.

The department has made all preparations for the project to be carried out in the monsoon season. Saplings have already been prepared in nurseries of the department.

“We want to make the town greener. We will plant 5,000 saplings initially,” said Sanjay Sood, Conservator of Forest, Shimla. He added that the department was trying to rope in various companies for the project. "Some corporate houses have agreed to provide tree guards, which will help in the survival and growth of trees like deodar and chinar," Sood said .

Studies by various agencies, including the Himalayan Forest Research Institute, have indicated that a large number of deodar trees were drying up. “While some of the deodar trees have attained their full age and developed flat tops, others have dried up due to the dumping of garbage in the forests,” said forest officials.

The studies have also shown that the natural regeneration of deodar trees in the town was almost negligible. “This is happening because of insufficient soil cover due to construction activities,” say officials. They admitted that trees had become a victim to construction activities as people deliberately inject acid into the roots of tress to dry them up so that they could get permission to cut them.

Though there is a complete ban on the felling of green trees in the state, people find ways to circumvent the law to undertake construction activities. “All possible means are being employed to get permission for the chopping of tress as these create an obstruction in construction activities,” real estate agents said.

The Deodar Rejuvenation Project, undertaken sometime ago, also failed. Though thousands of trees were planted, their survival rate was poor in the absence of proper care. 

Sundernagar, June 13
Mining Mafia in the Balh valley is nowadays working overtime to mint money as all officials of the district administration are busy in the search operation, which was going on in the Beas after the tragedy which occurred at Thalot.

After the Larji project incident in which 24 students, along with a tour operator, were washed away in the Beas, the Chief Minister had ordered that all approaches made by mining mafia to the rivers and khuds would be closed. But the Balh valley is an exception as in many places vehicles of mining mafia can be seen indulging in illegal mining activities in the Suketi khud without any interruption or fear of the Mining Department or police officials.

The mining mafia has created many approach roads in the Balh valley along the Suketi khud and hundreds of vehicles were involved in mining, which has increased since that tragedy as nowadays there was no one to stop this illegal practice.

A visit to the Balh valley revealed that mining was going on at a large scale near Chakker Bridge, Dadaour Bridge, lower Nagchala and in numerous places along the Suketi khud.

At many places, mining activities have even damaged water channels, water supply schemes and endangered bridges. Local residents have been complaining that mining operations have damaged their fields, but their grievances are never redressed.

When the matter was brought to officials of the Mining Department, it was revealed that since it was a holiday there was none to stop this practice. 

Shimla, June 13
The Umang Foundation has urged the state government to provide free education to all differently-abled students at colleges and universities. In a letter to Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, Ajai Srivastava, chairman of the foundation, stated that the government was yet to provide free education to the differently-abled in the state despite making a commitment. Addressing a press conference here today, he said the State Policy for Persons with Disabilities was had not been implemented.

"Our Foundation, despite meagre funds, has decided to sponsor the education of 12 visually-impaired students at Rajkiya Kanya Majavidyalaya (RKM) and Government College Sanjouli, Shimla, with the support of the society," he said. The students, including seven meritorious girl students from poor families of Dodra-Kwar, Chirgaon and Chowari in Chamba, would study at RKMV, he added.

"Besides, five visually-impaired boys will study at local Government College, Sanjouli. It is for the first time that visually-impaired girls will study and reside in the college hostel," he said.

Following a PIL filed by the foundation, Portmore School, Shimla, and three government schools in Jogindernagar, Nagrota Bagwan and Nahan were declared inclusive residential schools where disabled students can avail of free education, including boarding and lodging.

In Portmore School, 25 visually and hearing-impaired girls are studying and the foundation is providing all necessary items to them. Srivastava urged the Chief Minister to declare RKMV and Government College, Sanjouli, Shimla, as inclusive colleges. 

Dalhousie, June 13
A person was killed and three others were seriously injured when the Bolero camper they were travelling in swerved off the road and rolled down a hillside near a petrol pump at Banikhet on the Pathankot-Chamba highway last night. The vehicle was going towards Chamba.

SP DK Chaudhary today said the deceased had been identified as Karam Singh. Those injured were identified as Pal Singh, Subhash Chand and Shonki Ram, driver of the vehicle, who were rushed to hospital. 

Kangra, June 13
The police raided a shop dealing in shuttering business last evening and arrested Kaku, a resident of Old Matour, with 190 gm charas. Manmohan Singh, ASP, said following a tip off, the officials laid a trap in Old Matour locality and found Kaku indulging in charas trade.

He said it was learnt that he was supplying charas to youths and particularly school students and 190 gms charas was found on him.

He was arrested under the NDPS Act and investigation was in progress, Singh added. — OC