Shimla, October 1
The Himachal Cabinet today approved a proposal of increasing the equity shareholding of the state government in Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Ltd (SJVNL) to 26 per cent from 25.5 per cent.

The SJVN has authorised the share capital of Rs 7,000 crore and the equity share of the Centre and the public is 64.2 per cent and 10.3 per cent, respectively.

The Cabinet presided over by Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh also approved a change of domain of Baner-II (6 mw) Hydro Electric Project in accordance with the policy and guidelines to ensure enhancement in the capacity.

The Cabinet gave its nod for establishing a Government Engineering College at Kotla (Jeori) in Shimla district.

To augment the revenue of the government and give fillip to the industries in the state, the Cabinet decided to enhance the rate of entry tax from 3 per cent to 5 per cent in case of goods purchased by all government departments, boards and corporations, locally or from outside.

It also decided to declare Dasehra Mela at Krishangarh (Kuthar) in Solan district as a district-level fair.

The Cabinet gave nod to the HP Forest Corporation to engage 100 unskilled/semi-skilled workers from the open market on contract basis and also decided to transfer land on concessional lease basis to the Food Corporation of India (FCI) for the construction of godowns to provide adequate food and nutritional security to people.

The Cabinet also decided to create four additional posts of assistant professor of chemistry, physics, biology and mathematics in Government Degree College, Beetan, in Una district on contract basis, create one post of computer programmer and 12 posts of assistant programmer in the Himachal High Court and fill 12 posts of different categories in the Fisheries Department by way of direct recruitment.

The Cabinet approved the opening of a new PWD division at Tanda Medical College, along with a requisite staff, and creating a National Highway Division at Chamba for NH-154-A.

It approved the opening of primary health centres at Basadhar in tehsils Theog and Naura in Chopal in Shimla district, besides opening police posts at Chadhiar and Multhan in Baijnath, Nagrota-Bagwan in Kangra district and Sunni in Shimla district.

Key Cabinet decisions Government Engineering College will be set up at Kotla (Jeori) in Shimla district Entry tax rate will be enhanced from 3 to 5% in case of goods purchased by all government dept, boards and corporations, locally or from outside Dasehra Mela in Krishangarh (Kuthar) in Solan district will be declared as district-level fair HP Forest Corporation will engage 100 unskilled/semi-skilled workers from open market on contract basis

Shimla, October 1
The move to give relief to owners of illegal structures by regularising nearly 25,000 illegal constructions and condoning deviations up to 70 per cent is likely to be delayed as the state Cabinet today decided to withdraw the HP Town and Country Planning (Amendment) Ordinance, 2014, in the wake of objections from people.

The ordinance was promulgated on September 6, 2014, as the TCP (Amendment) Bill, 2014, introduced during the Budget session in February this year was referred to the Select Committee, but could not be passed during the monsoon session which was prematurely adjourned sine die due to continuous ruckus in the House.

The recommendations were received and laid on the table of the House but the amended bill could not be passed. After promulgation of the ordinance on September 6 last, there were large-scale objections from people.

After due deliberations, the Cabinet decided to withdraw the ordinance and bring a new amended ordinance.

Urban Development Minister Sudhir Sharma said the objects and concerns of various quarters were taken into consideration.

“Either a new amendment ordinance will be promulgated or an amendment Bill will be brought and all concerns will be addressed,” he said.

The “withdrawn” ordinance provided for regularising deviations in approved building plans up to 70 per cent, including commercial buildings and even cases where the plan had not been approved. Nearly 25,000 illegal structures were to be regularised. Errant builders were to apply for regularisation within 30 days and the time limit to decide cases by the government was six months.

The rates for regularisation of unauthorised constructions and deviations had been fixed for planning and special areas outside municipal bodies and merged areas of SMC as base units and charges would be 50 per cent more in municipal councils and nagar panchayats, while the rate for core, restricted and other areas for SMC would be different.

Base units for deviations for 10 to 20pc is Rs 1,000 per sq m; 20 to 40 pc is Rs 2,000 per sq m; 40 to 60 pc is Rs 3,000 per sq m and 60 to 70pc is Rs 4,000 per sq m.

The rates would be 50pc more for regularisation of deviations in municipal councils and nagar panchayats. The rates in SMC would be 200 pc more in core areas, 150pc more in restricted areas and 100 pc more in other areas.

Dharmasala, October 1
Two Nobel Peace laureates Shirin Ebadi and Jodi Williams pledged support to the Dalai Lama and the people of Tibet.

They also flayed the Chinese and South African governments for violating human rights of the Tibetans.

They said they got the Nobel Peace Laureates’ summit cancelled in South Africa as the government was not giving visa to the Dalai Lama under pressure of the Chinese government.

The Nobel laureates, who were here today, said: “Initially we had planned to go to the summit in South Africa and protest the denial of visa to the Dalai Lama. However, later we decided not to go.”

Both flayed Arch Bishop Desmond Tutu, another Nobel Peace laureate and a resident of South Africa, for not raising his voice against the denial of visa to the Dalai Lama.

Shirin Ebadi, a former Chief Justice of Iran, who has been living in exile since 2009, said she respected the peaceful struggle of the Dalai Lama and the people of Tibet.

“The people of Tibet have been carrying on their struggle against China peacefully for the past 50 years and we have a lot to learn from them,” she said.

Shrin said eight years ago also, the Costa Rican government had organised a summit for Nobel Peace laureates and denied visa to the Dalai Lama. “Even at that time we had rejected the invitations in protest,” she said.

The Iranian Nobel laureate was severely critical of her counterpart Desmond Tutu for observing silence over the denial of visa to the Dalai Lama by the South African government.

She said: “Desmond Tutu is not a part of the South African government, but still is not speaking against the denial of visa to the Dalai Lama, like we are doing.”

She also flayed Tutu for visiting Iran and allowing the government to use his visit to improve their public image.

Shrin also flayed the Chinese government for sending Nobel laureate Lu Xiabo to jail for writing poetry.

Jodie Williams called the Dalai Lama a global leader. She said despite the fact that the Dalai Lama advocated a middle way for resolving the issue of Tibet, the Chinese government portrayed him as a rebel.

They were here to participate in the 25th anniversary of the conferment of the prize on the Dalai Lama.

Earlier, two other Nobel laureates, including Tawakkol Karman from Yemen and Leymah Gbowee from Liberia, were also scheduled to come to Dharamsala.

However, the authorities here said Twakkol Karman failed to come due to the worsening situation in Yemen. Her house was also razed in Yemen two days ago, the authorities said.

Leymah Gbowee failed to turn up as she was busy in resolving problems in Sudan by involving women of warring groups.

Tibetan leader Lobsang Sangay said the Indian Government had done the most for the Tibetan people than any other government.

He said the CTA had decided to observe the 25th anniversary of the conferment of the Nobel Peace prize on the Dalai Lama on October 2 as it was the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi who was a Nobel Peace laureate in true sense.

Dharamsala, October 1
Tibetans in exile have expressed solidarity for students who are holding protests in Hong Kong for democracy.

The Tibetan Youth Congress today organised a rally in McLeodganj in support of Tibetan protesters.

The Tibetan Women Organisation also pledged support for students in Hong Kong.

The Tibetan Youth Congress, the largest pro-independence Tibetan NGO in exile, in a press statement issued here,

said it stood in solidarity with the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong.

“We support the people of Hong Kong in their quest for democracy and demand justice and freedom for all those suffering under the brutal policies of the Chinese communist government. The situation in Hong Kong is a clear example for the Chinese Communist government that they must review their hard-line ways and move towards making positive reforms for their people,” the TYC said.

In 1997, Hong Kong, a former British colony, was handed back to China following a 1984 agreement between the two nations.

According to BBC, China agreed to govern Hong Kong under the principle of one country, two systems, where the city would enjoy a high degree of autonomy, except in foreign and defence affairs for 50 years.

As a result, Hong Kong has its own legal system and rights, including freedom of assembly and free speech are protected. But clearly China has not held their part of the bargain and the one country, two systems is not working, it said.

TYC president Tenzing Jigme said, “The TYC has always maintained that the Chinese government cannot be trusted and today what we see in Hong Kong is that the people are losing trust and revolting because they feel betrayed. We hope that the Communist Chinese government realises that the only way to solve any such issue is not through using teargas and tanks, but through meaningful dialogues.”

Jigme said this was a wakeup call for Tibetans, adding: “We have to realise that we need to work even harder and make sacrifices for our nation’s freedom because we cannot trust and hope the Chinese government to change.”

“The Tibetan people in Tibet are continuously deprived of democratic rights and freedom. We believe it is in the interest of the Chinese government to resolve all situations dealing with their hard-line policies, atrocities, and illegal occupation and genuinely heed the words of people,” it said.

“The message to the Chinese government couldn’t be clearer. Like people of Hong Kong, Tibetans have been demanding freedom and independence. It is time, the Chinese Communist government seriously works towards implementing measures for the democracy of their people and freedom for Tibetans,” the TYC said.

Shimla, October 1
Amid heavy police security and intense checking, students of Himachal Pradesh University and affiliated colleges protesting the fee hike and deferment of Students Central Association (SCA) elections burnt Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh’s effigy near the Deputy Commissioner’s office here today.

The police had made elaborate arrangements to stop the students from burning the effigy and a virtual wall of policemen was created on the approach roads to the DC office. The cops checked the students’ bags near the Coffee House on the Mall Road, Kali Bari temple and other approach roads from Chaura Maidan, Lower Bazaar and Cart Road.

Interestingly, the students who were apprehensive about the police foiling their bid to burn the effigies, did not carry or display the effigies and carried the raw material to prepare two effigies on the spot and burnt them.

Reiterating their demands, the members of the joint action committee of SFI and ABVP, shouted anti-government and anti-university slogans. The students alleged the university was charging heavy fees and claiming it was less than that of Panjab University, but not comparing the campus, staff and facilities of Panjab University and the quantum of grants given to the premier institution.

“The government is comparing HPU with the Panjab University, but what facilities are being provided by the university that could not even build a decent campus in the last 44 years. It is also grappling with a perennial staff and finance crunch,” the student leaders said.

Shimla, October 1
The announcement regarding the withdrawal of monsoon in Himachal has been deferred as scattered rains continue to occur at isolated places.

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) had, however, officially announced the withdrawal of south-west monsoon in the country.

The region received 521.8 mm rain against normal rainfall of 843.5 mm with deficit of 38 per cent. Barring Una, which received normal rainfall of 863.4 mm, Mandi and Shimla districts, which received cumulative rainfall of 1,050.8 mm (-4 per cent) and 555.9 mm (-12 percent) from June 1 to September 30, 2014, the shortfall varied from 18 to 667 per cent in non-tribal districts.

Chamba was the worst affected among non-tribal districts with 469.4 mm rain against normal rainfall of 1,406.4 mm (- 67 per cent) while Sirmaur and Kangra districts received 873.4 mm and 1,058.2 mm rain, which was 34 per cent and 33 per cent deficient.

Bilaspur received 27 per cent deficient rains, followed by Solan (- 23 per cent), Kullu (-21 per cent) and Hamirpur (-18 per cent). The tribal districts of Kinnaur and Lahaul and Spiti received 47.8 mm and 92.2 mm rain against the normal rainfall of 264.2 mm and 458.2 mm recording a huge deficit of 82 and 80 per cent, respectively.

Himachal received 11 per cent excess rains in 2010 and highest 45 per cent deficit rains in 2004.

Mandi, October 1
The Himachal Pradesh High Court has been approached to provide relief and rehabilitation to the Dalit family that was banished from their village by Khumli panchayat in Sirmaur district recently.

In a letter to the Chief Justice, former HAS officer BR Kaundal said there was a state government scheme to provide compensation for the rehabilitation of members of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes, who were victims of atrocities.

“But the relief is granted only if a case is registered under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act,” he said. He said members of the Dalit family were forced to work as bonded labourers for three years, adding that the landlord’s son sexually assaulted their daughter for five months.

He said in several instances of atrocities against Dalits, the police and the district administration, instead of taking immediate action against the accused, behaved as a mediator between victims and offenders.

He urged the Chief Justice to direct the state government to take strict action against offenders and the erring government officials, who failed to take action immediately in such cases and also to provide necessary financial help and security to the Dalit family.

Palampur, October 1
The heli taxi service at the Himani Chamunda temple in the Dhauladhars at an elevation of 12,000 ft, has failed to attract tourists.

It was inaugurated last week by Urban Development Minister Sudheer Sharma, but has not caught the fancy of tourists who said the fair was too much.

At present, the two-way fare costs over Rs 6,500 per person. This has been termed as excessive by tourists visiting Kangra and as a result only a few people opt for it.

It is learnt that in the past one week only eight persons have availed the service and most of the time, the helicopter failed to land at the temple complex because of inclement weather.

Tourists said in case the aviation company agreed to bring the fare between Rs 3,000 and 4,000 per person, only then could one opt for this service.

Shimla, October 1
Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited (SJVNL) and the Government of Bhutan have signed an agreement on the 600-MW Kholongchu hydroelectric project in Bhutan.

According to an SJVNL note, SJVNL Chief Managing Director RP Singh and Dasho Chhewang Rinzin, Managing Director, Druk Green Power Corporation, Bhutan, signed the agreement in the presence of Lympo Norbu Wangchuk, Minister for Economic Affairs, and Gautam Bambawale, Indian Ambassador to Bhutan, and Mukesh Jain, Joint Secretary (Hydro), Ministry of Power, Government of India.

This is the first power project being developed jointly by the Indian and Bhutan governments on the build, own, operate and transfer (BOOT) model.

RP Singh said the project was a run-of-the-river scheme located on the Kholongchu river in Bhutan. It would generate 2,568.52 million units of energy. The project would cost around Rs 3,868.87 crore which would be shared in the ratio of 50:50.

The project would provide 12 per cent of the saleable energy to the Government of Bhutan free of cost as royalty during the first 12 years of commercial operations and 18 per cent, thereafter, for the remaining concession period, RP Singh said. The DPR prepared by SJVNL has already been approved by the Central Electricity Authority, Government of India, and the Government of Bhutan.

RP Singh said the foundation stone of the project was laid on June 16, 2014, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the presence of Dasho Tshering Tobgay, PM of Bhutan.

Dharamsala, October 1
The 3rd edition of the Dharamsala International Film Festival (DIFF) today announced the names of five young filmmakers, who have been selected for the DIFF Film Fellows — a programme launched this year to nurture upcoming film-making talent in the Himalayan region.

The winners include Akee Sorokhaibam from Manipur, Khanjan Kishore Nath from Assam, Kombong Darang from Arunachal Pradesh, Munmun Dhalaria from Himachal Pradesh and Smanla Dorje Nurboo from Ladakh.

The five DIFF film fellows were selected by a jury of eminent film personalities, including Bina Paul, Hansal Mehta, Anupama Srinivasan and Bina Paul from 28 applicants through a rigorous process.

Bina Paul is an alumnus of the FTII and has been working as a film editor for the past 20 years and has won several state and national awards. Bina has been the artistic director of the International Film Festival of Kerala for the past 10 years.

Hansal Mehta is a film director and screenwriter, best known for “Shahid” for which he won the 2013 National Film Award for best direction. His film “Citylights” will be screened at the DIFF 2014.

Anupama Srinivasan is a freelance filmmaker based in Delhi and an alumnus of the FTII, Pune, and Harvard University. She has also been a mentor to many short-film makers and frequently conducts documentary-making workshops.

The five winners will have the opportunity to be a part of the DIFF-2014 and to engage in special mentorship sessions with the jury and attending film-makers.

They come from varied backgrounds, brought together by a shared passion for film-making.

Akee Sorokhaibam, winner of the fellowship, is an independent filmmaker from Imphal, Manipur. After working for three years with a leading news channel in Mumbai, he moved back to Imphal where he works with independent artistes.

Khanjan Kishore Nath studied film-making at the Zee Institute of Media Arts. While in college he made several short films which were selected for various film festivals and awards.

Kombong Darang works at the Centre for Cultural Research and Documentation as a media programme coordinator. His film “Walking in the City” was screened at the Arunachal Film Festival 2014.

Smanla Dorje Nurboo graduated from the School of Planning & Architecture, Delhi, where he initiated an international student film festival.

Smanla worked briefly at INTACH before choosing to pursue a career in films.

Munmun Dhalaria, currently a student of Media and Cultural Studies at TISS, has a special interest in documentaries and wildlife film-making. Her film “Padmini Meri Jaan”, was selected for the International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala, 2014.

Chamba, October 1
Chamba district is all set for the launch of a grand cleanliness drive under the Swachh Bharat Mission that begins tomorrow.

Briefing mediapersons on the eve of the launch, Deputy Commissioner M Sudha Devi said cleanliness would help curb the tangible or intangible effects of communicable diseases.

To give the much-needed fillip to the cleanliness initiatives of government departments and NGOs, the public had also been involved to make the district clean by March 2015, the DC stated.

The DC said as many as 15,000 toilets would be constructed across the district besides the construction of toilets in the remaining 20 girls’ schools.

Under the cleanliness drive, Rs 83 crore has been earmarked to make the district clean.

The DC urged the public to devote themselves towards ‘swachchhata’. The DC said the cleanliness drive was being implemented in a big way with the involvement of every gram panchayat, panchayat samiti and zila parishad in the distinct.

So far, 91 gram panchayats of the district had been declared clean, the DC said, claiming constant efforts would also be made to keep up the upkeep of toilets and other conditions across the region.

Una, October 1
On World Senior Citizens Day today, the district administration and a number of social organisations organised functions in the district.

At Bachat Bhawan, Deputy Commissioner Abhishek Jain presided over a function organised by the District Welfare Department and the District Red Cross Society.

Jain said 9,730 senior citizens were provided with social security pension in the district, adding that beneficiaries over 80 years were being given a pension of Rs 1,000 per month.

On the occasion, Chairperson of the District Hospital Welfare Society, Dr Arushi Jain honoured nine senior citizens hailing from rural areas.

At the Senior Citizens building near the Municipal Park, Himotkarsh Parishad and Kanwar Hospital organised a health check-up camp for the elderly. Lt Gen HS Kanwar (retd) was the chief guest, while former Chief Medical Officer Shiv Paul Kanwar provided free orthopaedic prescriptions and medicines.

Eleven senior citizens, including freedom fighter Satya Mitra Bakshi were honoured, said Parishad president Kanwar Hari Singh.

The Inner Wheel Club of Una organised a similar function in a private hotel, where they honoured eminent senior citizens of the district. Club President Jyoti Chaudhary also spoke on the occasion. 

Chamba, October 1
Deputy Commissioner (DC) M Sudha Devi has said priority will be accorded to resolving the problems of senior citizens. Taking into account the difficulties being faced by senior citizens, officials of all departments will be directed accordingly.

This was stated by the Deputy Commissioner while speaking at a function organised on the occasion of International Senior Citizens Day. It was held by the district unit of the All-India Senior Citizens Forum here today.

The DC honoured senior citizens above 80 years, who included Radha Raina, Shamo, IC Tyagi, Lal Chand Sharma, Shekho Ram and Dev Raj Mahajan.

Welcoming the DC, PC Oberoi, district president of the forum, demanded the opening of a day-care centre at Chamba for senior citizens.

Shimla, October 1
The Shimla Municipal Corporation (SMC) neither has an actual local self-government nor any e-complaint tracking redressal system and social audit in place for citizens in the capital city, which is bursting with problems at the seams.

This came to light during the first-ever interactive session of Shimla councillors, including Mayor Sanjay Chauhan, Deputy Mayor Tikender Panwar and SMC officials with Justice Kurian Joseph, former Chief Justice of the HP High Court and now a Supreme Court Judge in the Town Hall here.

Justice Joseph, while speaking on the topic “Civic response to the challenges faced by society” in the 30-member municipal House, the oldest municipality in the country, posed questions to councillors, the mayor and the deputy mayor on whether the civic body had a real local self-government, system to register complaint and social audit to mitigate complaints and deliver quality services to residents. But the answer turned out to be “No”.

Justice Joseph drew a parallel between how local self-government functioned in Kerala and how it did in Shimla. The elected representatives such as councillors and legislators were elected servants, while judicial and civil officials were appointed public servants to deliver the goods to the public, master of civic society, he said.

“Shimla has a glorious past and the elected and appointed servants and citizens need to answer how they have failed to protect and safeguard the city,” he said citing himself as a friend of Shimla rather than a Supreme Court judge saying he spent three years and two months in the city.

“It is only patch-wise repair works going on in the city and it has no proper planning for its protection and promotion to take care of the needs of the future of its residents,” he said.

He cited the 73 and 74th amendments to the Constitution of India, saying that the local self-government should be responsive to needs of citizens and deliver service to them. The civic body needed e-complaint tracking and redressal system, not just complaint disposal response to deliver justice in the city, he said.

“The citizens have also a collective responsibility to the civic society. But they have the right to know their servants as the Constitution ensures that each citizen deserves a responsive, transparent and service delivery system of local self-government,” he said.

He cited example of Kerala where the elected servants get training at a local self-government training institute to make the city a better place to live in. They can invoke Section 85 that defines self-government and tax citizens when they provide civic amenities to them rather than taxing or burdening them when these are not in place, he added.

Kangra, October 1
Forty students, mainly of the MBBS (second year) course, donated blood on the occasion of National Voluntary Blood Donation Day here today.

On the eve of the birth anniversaries of Mahatma Gandhi and the late Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, students of the Dr Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College (DRPGMC) at Tanda started a month-long blood donation campaign.

College Principal Anil Chauhan said the recent induction of a fully equipped mobile van was proving to be a great help in organising more blood donation camps and raising awareness about such camps. He said it was a matter of great pride that future doctors were leading by example.

Dr Bal Chander, in charge of the Blood Bank, said efforts were being made to serve a maximum number of patients.

Mandi, October 1
The government will set up three more medical colleges in the state. Health Minister Kaul Singh Thakur said this after inaugurating a Primary Health Centre (PHC) at Pandoh in the district yesterday.

He said the new medical colleges would be established in Chamba, Hamirpur and Nahan in Sirmaur district at a cost of Rs 567 crore.

He said to provide better health services to residents in state, a provision of Rs 1,165 crore had been made in the current financial year.

He said doctors, paramedical staff and medicines would be made available at the PHC soon.

Una, October 1
The district unit of the Joint Patwar Kanungo Sangh organised a gate meeting in front of the tehsil office here today. They were protesting against the apathetic attitude of the state government in fulfilling long-pending demands of village-level revenue officers.

Solan, October 1
The Darlaghat police registered a case of cheating and criminal breach of trust against two persons after a local resident complained that the duo had connived to illegally use his sanctioned loan for some other purpose here today. One of the accused was the manager of the Darlaghat branch of Jogindra Central Cooperative Bank Limited.

Darlaghat DSP Narveer Rathore said a case under Sections 409 and 420, IPC, had been registered and further investigation was underway.

As per complainant Om Prakash, hailing from a village in Arki, he had been granted a loan of Rs 3 lakh by the bank some months ago. But the money was illegally transferred into the account of Ravinder without his knowledge. Parminder had facilitated the grant of this loan and a blank cheque had been taken by the bank in lieu of this loan.

When Om Prakash protested against the sanctioning of the loan without his knowledge, he was told by the bank manager that the money would be deposited in his account which he should check the next day.

Parminder and the bank manager, however, connived and a blank cheque for Rs 5 lakh was issued in the former’s name, which bounced due to insufficient balance.

Preliminary investigations revealed that an account was specially opened in the bank to facilitate the return of the amount to Om Prakash. The money was transferred into this account by Parminder before its closure.

Una, October 1
Sukhdev Singh, a resident of Singan panchayat in Haroli Assembly segment, died due to a head injury sustained after allegedly being pushed by his friend Chander Kant last evening.

Superintendent of Police Anupam Sharma said the victim’s brother Des Raj in his complaint said Sukhdev, along with accused Chander Kant, regularly played cards near the village crematorium. The duo consumed liquor there and entered into an altercation, which ended in a scuffle. On being pushed, Sukhdev allegedly fell on a paved path, suffering a head injury.

Two others, namely Ranbir and Jagmohan, took Sukhdev to a local doctor, who declared him brought dead.

The SP said a case under Section 304, IPC, for culpable homicide not amounting to murder had been registered against the accused, who had been arrested.