Shimla, October 31
The “Make in India” bug seems to have bitten the Himachal Chief Minister. The state government will soon freeze the power rates for five years to attract the maximum investment from industrial houses that want quality infrastructure, especially cheap and reliable electricity.

“I will hold investors’ meet all over the country. To woo industrialists, we have decided that there will be no hike in power tariff for five years,” said Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh. He said it was not by way of incentives that any state can attract investment but it is through quality infrastructure and reliable and cheap power. That is the biggest pre-requisite for any industrialist.

The move is also prompted by the fact that despite being a power surplus state, which has a capacity of more than 23,000 mw, the revenue from the power sector has been on the decline because of the grim power market scenario.

“Rather than selling power to all states and then waiting for the payments, we have decided that the entire power produced in Himachal should be consumed within the state, be it by domestic, commercial or industrial consumers,” said Virbhadra.

The Chief Minister said he would make it a point to meet various associations and bodies of industrialists, including the CII, so that their viewpoint could also be heard and, if necessary, changes be made to facilitate more investment.

Senior officials of the Industry Department have already met industrialist associations to get their views before they have an interaction with the Chief Minister.

Virbhadra is scheduled to hold investment meets in Mumabi, Bangalore and Ahmedabad from November 5 to woo the industry and roll out red carpet to business houses so as to attract the maximum investment in the hill state.

This is the first phase of the investment meets and in the second phase, which will be after the Assembly session, the Chief Minister will head for Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Delhi to invite industrialists.

Virbhadra will lead a multi-disciplinary team comprising Industry Minister Mukesh Agnihotri and senior secretary-level officers of the main departments to Mumbai on November 5. The team will head for Bangalore on November 7 and will be in Ahmedabad the next day.

To make the investment meets more successful, a high-level delegation accompanying the Chief Minister will act as a mobile single window where most of the issues concerning entrepreneurs are addressed there and then.

To be able to address all queries that the investors could have, it has been decided to include officials from all departments such as Industry, Power, Tourism, Forest, Revenue, Excise and Taxation and Environment in the team.

Dharamsala, October 31
The Income Tax authorities raided the Dharamshala International Film Festival (DIFF) venue today and questioned organisers for not taking permission for ticket sale and completing other formalities.

The raid went on till half an hour in the presence of film makers and audience at the Club House at McLeodganj.

“We are here as the organisers have not sought permission and are selling the tickets. The festival has been funded by the state government. We will take action against them after scrutinising the facts. Entertainment tax and other things will be worked out,” said Sanjeev Sharma, Excise and Taxation Officer. He was with his team to inspect the commercial activities going on during the festival.

The film festival, being hosted at Dharamsala, lacks even a single theatre. Ironically, the festival has been funded by the Himachal Government. The state government has provided about Rs 4 lakh for the event. The funding by the state government has also come in for criticism from the local artistes who are alleging that they have not been given any place in the festival.

DIFF is being held under the banner of White Crane Arts and Media Trust and tickets were sold in the range of Rs 150 to 800 at the counters, taxation officials told newsmen.

The Tourism Department has sanction Rs 4 lakh for the event but boycotted the local film makers of this hill state.

“I am one of the oldest film makers and had done films on female foeticide and other problems. But no one from DIFF has contacted me or my fellow film makers for this event,” said Surinder Panihari, a famous film maker from the state. Ashu Gupta, another film maker of Kangra, condemned the move stating that boycott of local artistes had brought shame to them.

Prabhat Choudhary, District Tourism Oofficer, said “An amount of Rs 4 lakh has been sanctioned to them. But they are supposed to produce a utility certificate and completion certificate after the event”.

Ritu Sarin, an organiser, said they were hosting this fest as per the rules. “We will obey the authorities and provide them the necessary documents. We are selling passes not tickets”.

Kangra, October 31
A fire broke out at the girls’ hostel of Dr Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College (DRPGMC) in Tanda last night, due to which six girls were rushed to the emergency ward of the hospital, fire officers said here today.

A loss of property worth Rs 2 lakh has been estimated. Rajender Choudary, fire officer, Kangra fire station, said: “The fire broke out at room no 316. The hostel was occupied by nearly 120 students. Students’ belongings in the room were burnt and the fire spread to adjacent rooms as well.

He said Shipra Kumari, an MBBS student, had gone out of her room, minutes after which the room caught fire. Her laptop, books, clothing and bed were reduced to ashes.

He said the fire brigade was informed at 9pm after which two fire tenders were pressed into service. It took one-and-a-half hours to douse the flames.

He said the college authorities evacuated the girls, adding that Principal Anil Chauhan was supervising the rescue operation.

He said the cause of the fire was not known and the police was investigating the case.

There was no fire extinguisher at the hostel building and lack of searchlights made it all the more difficult to carry out rescue operation. Security officials along with employees and students of DRPGMC, Tanda, rescued 120 girls, who were trapped in the hostel.

The hostel was vacated and girls were shifted to the college guest house and other places.

Principal Anil Chauhan said those who were rushed to the emergency were discharged late in the night.

Madhu Choudary, additional director, DRPGMC, Tanda, said Rs 45 lakh were sanctioned for the repair and maintenance work of the hostel buildings. She said: “Since there are no fire extinguishers in the hostels, it has been decided to identify places for installing these besides searchlights in and around the hostels.” 

Kangra, October 31
The Central University of Himachal Pradesh (CUHP) today celebrated National Unity Day with fervour and patriotic zest at its Shahpur campus. Vice-Chancellor Prof YS Verma and faculty members paid floral tributes to Iron Man Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

The VC administered oath of national integration and sovereignty to the faculty members, non-teaching staff and students.

He talked of the contribution of Sardar Patel to unify different princely states into the present India.

“The young generation can play a pro-active role in strengthening the bond of national unity by following in his footsteps”. Sardar Patel unified the country by adopting the method of ‘secularism and non-violence’ which was a milestone, he added.

Prof HR Sharma, coordinator for the programme, said the Department of Economics and Public Policy and Department of Travel and Tourism had organised symposium on ‘National Unity, Safety and Security’.

A documentary, ‘Sardar’, directed by Ketan Mehta and a movie picturing the struggle and contribution of the Iron Man to make India united was screened, followed by a panel discussion.

Hindi and English poems were recited and an essay competition was also held. Students staged a play focusing on the secular and leadership qualities of Sardar Patel, besides painting him in different hues.

BJP leaders and workers take part in the ‘Run for Unity’ at Mandi; and (below) Students of DAV Centenary Public school, Una, participate in the unity run

BJP leaders ‘Run for Unity’

Mandi: Mandi MP Ramswaroop Sharma today flagged off ‘Run for Unity’ to commemorate the birth anniversary of freedom fighter and first Home Minister Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel.

The race started from Seri Manch and concluded at the statue of the leader at Vallabh Government College.

Seraj MLA Jairam Thakur, Sarkaghat MLA Col Inder Singh, district party chief Jawahar Thakur, members of Mahila Morcha and Yuva Manch, other office-bearers and workers took part in the race.

Meanwhile, students of DAV Centenary Public School, ITI and District Institute of Education and Training (DIET), Indus World School and other schools took out a rally to observe the day.

Shimla, October 31
Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today paid tributes to former Prime Minister late Indira Gandhi on her death anniversary, which was observed as Sankalp Divas on the Ridge.

He also administered a pledge of national integration to all assembled, including schoolchildren. Virbhadra Singh also visited the exhibition, where the pictures of old memories of the former Prime Minister during her visits in Himachal Pradesh were displayed.

Her said Indira Gandhi was a great visionary leader who sacrificed her life for the nation.

Hamirpur, October 31
Former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal today said the state government was adopting anti-public polices and depriving people of the state of ‘Acche Din’ ushered by the BJP.

While addressing a press conference, he said within six months of the formation of the BJP government at the Centre, the cost of petrol and diesel were reduced six times. But, the state government deprived people of this benefit by increasing the Value Added Tax (VAT) on the two.

He demanded that the state government should roll back hike in VAT on petroleum products.

“To ensure benefits accruing from the reduction in price of petrol and diesel reach the common man, the state government should reduce bus fare and rate of goods carriage in the state,” he said.

Dhumal said the Chief Minister was misleading people on delay of allowances to employees.

He said the dues and allowances were paid to employees during the BJP rule and nothing was outstanding then.

He said during its five-year term, the BJP had secured Rs 6,672 crore loan, whereas the present government had already taken over Rs 4,000 crore. The government had failed to pay dearness allowance (DA) to employees, pensions and uniforms to students, he added.

He said Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh could not protect the interests of the state during his stint as the union minister and failed as the Chief Minister too.

Dhumal said he was trying to get a nod for two railway line projects from the Central government.

He said talks were on with Union Ministries and the PMO office to start work on the Bhanupali to Bilaspur railway line and conversion of the Pathankot to Joginder Nagar railway line.

Shimla, October 31
As many as five independent power producers (IPPs), out of eight bidders, turned up for the pre-bid meeting here today for the controversial 960-mw Jangi Thopan Powari hydropower project on the Sutlej river in Kinnaur district.

Tribals here are already up in arms against the damage caused by power projects in the tribal belt.

The government has fixed November 29 as the deadline for the opening of technical bids for the project and the IPPs present in the pre-bid meeting sought extension in the deadline.

As many as eight big companies have thrown their hats in the ring for the Jhanghi Thopan-Powari project, despite the case still pending in the Supreme Court.

Out of the eight bidders, only five companies attended the pre-bid meeting chaired by Principal Secretary, Power, SKBS Negi and attended by Director of Energy Dr Amandeep Garg among other officials.

The five companies that turned up for the meeting included Tata power, Adani power, Duplex, JCW and MBCC.

Three other bidders — Reliance, SJVNL and Jayprakash — remained conspicuous by their absence, though the pre-bid meeting was held to clear the doubts regarding the terms and conditions laid by the state government for the project, top officials said.

Power producers sought clarification on the terms and conditions such as 12 per cent free power and 1 per cent power under the local area development authority (LADA).

Though the case on a previous allotment of project to Brakel company is still pending in the Supreme Court, the state government has gone forward with the fresh-bidding process after the apex court gave its nod to go ahead with it, officials said.

The project remains mired in legal hassles as the government has slapped “anticipating damages” worth over ~2,500 crore on Brakel on the plea that the state has suffered huge losses due to the delay in execution of project.

“We have not decided on whether to open the technical bid on November 29 or not,” an official said. The government was considering the IPP’s demand for extension of the deadline, he said.

Shimla, October 31
Cyber cafés mainly in the “hashish hubs” of Kasol, Tosh, Old Manali, Vashisht in Kullu, Shimla, and other tourist places in the state such as Dharamkot, McLeodganj, Kasauli and Dalhousie have emerged as safe havens for cyber criminals.

Cyber criminals have a free run in the state, as the cyber cell in the state has no mechanism to monitor them.

Forensic experts at the two-day cyber crime awareness workshop for law enforcement agencies said cyber cafés and public booths have become a safe haven for cyber criminals. The workshop was organised by the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology in collaboration with the Data Security Council of India (DSCI).

Criminals choose cyber cafés and public internet outlets and booths to strike their targets, said Dr AS Kambli, senior director, Department of Electronic and IT (DEITY).

“There is a need to register cyber cafés and maintain their records. This is provided under the Information Technology (Amendment) Act, 2008, and under the guidelines of the national cyber security strategy,” he said.

Cyber forensic experts’ observation gets credence from the fact that Mumbai’s 26/11 terror attack’s mastermind accused David Coleman Headley’s divorced Morroccan wife, Faiza Qutalah spent her time in Manali in 2008.

The Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) had traced the whereabouts of Headley’s wife Faiza in Manali after she had crossed the Wagah border from Pakistan in 2008.

There were reports that she used to run a massage centre in Manali. The police had remained clueless about her connections with Headley then.

Moreover, ATS’s concern was important as Headley had surveyed all Chabad houses in various cities of the country before he allegedly masterminded the Mumbai 26/11 terror attack.

Israelis runs Chabad houses in Manali and Kasol, the main nerve centres of the Jews, and mainly young military personnel in the valley, revealed intelligence inputs.

Sources said the Leh-Manali highway was being used as a safe conduit for smuggling cocaine and heroin and other drugs from Jammu and Kashmir after these are smuggled from Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Moreover, the Kullu police had arrested a Nigerian national Mavelous Osaze Omoruyi, a resident of Benin city, and his local drug accomplice Prem Singh of Kasol under the NDPS Act, when they recovered 65-gm cocaine from him and Rs 19,000 from Prem in August last year.

Intelligence agency had also seized a huge heroin consignment in Kasauli as well, which speaks volumes about how easily criminals contact people, enforcement officials said.

Three Nigerian email frauds had also come to light in the state in which locals were duped on the pretext of getting ancestral property or award money, the police said.

Cyber cafés flourish in Old Manali, Kasol, Tosh and Dharamkot, frequented quite often by low-budgeted Israelis and other foreign and domestic tourists.

They get cheap accommodation and hashish here. Remote areas in Malana, Chalal, Tosh and Manikaran continue to be a safe haven for drug peddlers, sources in the enforcement agencies said.

A cyber forensic expert said: “Investigations reveal that criminals use fake SIM cards issued by mobile phone service providers, which needs to be made accountable. In several cases, they use fake visas and passports.”

Satwant Atwal, IG, Crime, and in charge of the state cyber cell, said the cyber cafés were being registering according to cyber crime rules as per the guidelines of cyber crime manual to keep a tab on criminals.

Shimla, October 31
The Department of Town and Country Planning (TCP) has issued an alert against duping by two housing projects being started at Sundernagar without the government approval.

Sandeep Kumar, Director, TCP, today said the two companies, Trinity Valley Home Care Solution and Sandlee Real Estate Promoters and Developers, operating in Sundernagar district, had floated advertisements for sale of flats and plots at Naulakha near Sundernagar, which had not been approved by the TCP under the provisions of the TCP Act.

He said such sale could only be done after prior approval from the Director TCP. Sale of such plots was illegal and could not be considered for grant of permission on individual basis and would be treated as unauthorised and liable for legal action. He said the department had sent an alert so that people could not be duped.

Tarun Gupta, Director, Trinity Valley Home Care Solution Pvt Ltd, said they had sold some plots but had stopped the sale at Naulakha. They had moved in documents for seeking permission from the TCP Department and were waiting for approval, he said.

Shimla, October 31
Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today announced a primary health centre at Kohbag in his Shimla rural constituency. He inaugurated and laid foundation stones of projects worth Rs 45 crore in his home segment.

On a tour of the constituency, the Chief Minster performed stone laying ceremony of the Rs 6.70 crore mini secretariat building at Dhami and also laid stone of Rs 1.50 crore HPPWD Bhawan there. He inaugurated the Rs 34.70 lakh Janiya-Mandhya at the Okhroo lift water irrigation scheme which will benefit around 400 persons.

He also inaugurated the Rs 15 lakh Okhroo veterinary building and laid the foundation stone of the Rs 2 crore additional block of Government Senior Secondary School at Okhroo.

Addressing the public meeting, the Chief Minister said a committee had been formed which would decide the place to open college somewhere between Ghannatti and Dhami and as soon as it submitted its report, a college would be constructed. He also announced to open a primary health centre at Kohbag.

The Chief Minister also directed the PWD authorities to take over the Galog-Cheiyan-Kayartu road and construct a road from Okhroo to Nehra within six months and asked to construct a new primary health centre building at Nehra.

Shimla, October 31
Urban Development, Housing and Town and Country Planning Minister Sudhir Sharma today said the government would create a land bank for developing housing projects.

Urban Development Minister Sudhir Sharma presides over a meeting in Shimla on Friday. A Tribune photograph

He was presiding over the 33rd meeting of the Board of Directors of the Himachal Urban Development Authority (HIMUDA) here. He said to ensure the planned development of urban areas, the state government had proposed to bring all urban local bodies (ULBs) under the planning area which would also help in providing basic facilities.

He directed officers to identify more land so that a land bank could be created for developing housing projects. He said HIMUDA should focus more on real estate components such as shopping malls, software technology parks, leisure and entertainment facilities. He stressed on more aggressive policy for bringing investment co-realty estate project through the public-private partnership mode and to ensure completion of the projects in a fixed time frame and maintaining quality in construction.

The minister said HIMUDA should go beyond the conventional framework of development and allotment of residential and commercial properties besides creating quality urban infrastructure. The board approved purchase of land.

It also approved appointments of advocates, divisional accountants and data operators in HIMUDA. It was recommended by the board to amend the Act for declaring HIMUDA as local authority on the analogy of the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) as it was working on no-profit no-loss basis. This would exempt HIMUDA for paying service taxes.The board gave approval for allotment of houses, flats, plots in various housing colonies on first-come, first-serve basis.

The board approved payment of arrears of pension to those of HIMUDA who retired between December 3, 2004, and March 30, 2008.

Una, October 31
Industries Minister Mukesh Agnihotri laid the foundation stone of a handball stadium at the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex in Una here today.

The stadium will be constructed at a cost of Rs 13 lakh.

He also dedicated a high mast light for the sports complex, on which a sum of Rs 5 lakh has been spent.

Industries Minister Mukesh Agnihotri lays the foundation stone of a handball stadium at Indira Gandhi Sports Complex in Una on Friday

The minister said the Congress party had never brought politics into games, but a few people were dictating their own terms instead of promoting talent.

He said the district had given a number of national and international handball players. He promised more financial assistance for the promotion of games in the district.

Omkar Sharma, chief patron of the district handball association, said the stadium would boost the game and enable national level competitions to be held there.

District Congress president Varinder Dharmani, general secretary of the state handball association Parveen Dubey, senior vice-president Satish Bittoo, district general secretary Munish Rana and SDM Dhanvir Thakur were also present.

Mandi, October 31
Anil Sharma, Rural Development, Panchayat and Animal Husbandry Minister, today released a song, a caller tune and a monthly magazine, ‘Devbhoomi’, on sanitation during a state-level Swachh Bharat Abhiyan function. The minister also released books published by the Rural Development Department on sanitation and waste management and ‘carbin’, a dustbin to be used by motorists while travelling.

The minister said total sanitation could be achieved by constructing toilets in every household, management of waste, proper disposal of dirty water, upkeep of public places and personal hygiene. No campaign could succeed without the participation of public and their representatives, he added.

Sharma said the state government had launched several schemes, including Maharishi Balmiki Total Sanitation Award, School Sanitation Award and Mahila Mandal Encouragement Scheme, to improve sanitation condition in the state and Rs 4 crore was being spent on these schemes every year.

He said the government had achieved success in keeping rivers, water bodies and mountain slopes clean after it had imposed a complete ban on the use of polythene.

It was improper to think of a clean state without management of solid and liquid waste and under the sanitation drive, ~7- 20 lakh would be provided to the panchayats for the same.

On the occasion, Chief Parliamentary Secretary Sohan Lal Thakur urged people to support the initiatives taken by the government in the management of waste so that the drive could become a success.

Deputy Commissioner Sandeep Kadam exhorted mahila mandals, self-help groups, youth clubs and NGOs to find a place in their area for cleaning at least once a week. They must also launch cleanliness programmes in other areas so that every area could become clean and pollution free, he said.

Dr Puran Singh Yadav, a member of the State Institute of Rural Development, Haryana, gave a presentation on a waste management model being implemented in Kurukshetra under which panchayats were earning money.

Shimla: Himachal Pradesh Minority Finance and Development Corporation (HPMFDC) has been adjudged the best state undertaking by National Handicapped and Development Corporation.

Dr Dhani Ram Shandil, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister and Union Minister Thaawar Chand Gehlot gave the prize at the National Conference in New Delhi. — TNS

Shimla, October 31
In a minor administrative reshuffle, the government yesterday appointed Manasi Sahay Thakur as Bilaspur DC in place of Ajay Sharma, who has been posted as Director, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj.

Selvam, Director, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj will continue to hold the post of Registrar, Cooperative Societies.

Pankaj Rai, Himachal Administrative Service (HAS) officer, serving as Additional District Magistrate (ADM), Mandi, has been posted as Commissioner, Shimla Municipal Corporation, in place of Amarjit Singh, who has been posted as Director (Personnel) in the HP Power Corporation Ltd.

Amandeep Garg, Director, Public Finances and Public Enterprises and Secretary, Finance, has been posted as Adviser, Planning. He will continue to hold the post of MD, HP State Civil Supplies Corporation.

Akshay Sood, Director (Finance and Accounts) at the HPSEB has been posted as Director, Public Finance and Public Enterprises-cum-Special Secretary, Finance. Rajeev Sharma, Director (Personnel), HP Power Corporation Ltd, has also been made Director, Finance and Accounts, in the HPSEB.

Transfer and postings of five HAS officers, including Vinod Kumar, Amarjeet Singh, Pankaj Rai, Pradeep Kumar Thakur and Naresh Thakur have also been ordered. — TNS

Kangra, October 31
The Anti-Ragging Committee (ARC) of DRPGMC, Tanda, today expressed concern over the lukewarm attitude of parents towards their children after they get admitted to the college. It was decided to take steps to involve parents in shaping the future of the students in the right perspective.

The decision was taken during the ARC meeting, chaired by the Principal Dr Anil Chauhan on the college campus today.

During the meeting, serious concern was shown regarding the lukewarm attitude of parents towards their wards. One of the members expressed concern over the non

formation of the parent teacher association (PTA) since the last four years.

He said the parents were least interested in taking care of their children after their admission in professional colleges, which he described was unfortunate.

Last year during the first PTA meet, only 14 parents out of 200 attended the meeting, which was not enough to hold elections. In the following meet, only one parent was present.

Dr Anil Chauhan said a parents’ meet would be organised shortly and the parents will be informed individually by the college authorities and through their children.

The Principal informed the committee that efforts were being made by the institution to help students staying outside the campus. Either more accommodation would be made available on rent or some building in the campus would be converted into first-year hostel.

He said 35 first-year girl students would be accommodated on the top floor of the Type V quarters, which will be completed shortly.

The issue of a blaze in the hostel was discussed and the Additional Director, who said repair work would be done as soon as possible.

The students raised the issue of overall repair work in the hostels. Dr Chauhan assured them that it would be done soon as sufficient funds were available for the purpose.

He added that a control room had been established on the college campus with telephone number 267001, which could be used by students and others in case of an emergency, ragging or any other eventuality.

The meeting was attended by civil and police authorities, media representatives, HoDs of various departments, representatives of Students’ Central Association (SCA) of medical college and nursing college, president of Resident Doctors Association and secretary of the Anti-Ragging Committee among others.

Nurpur, October 31
The local forest division organised a one-day workshop-cum-training camp for its field staff for the eradication of lantana weed through the Cut Rock Stock (CRS) method here yesterday.

The workshop was attended by over 200 members of the field staff, including the forest range officers, block officers, forest guards and forest workers of the Nurpur forest division.

The Himachal Pradesh Mid Himalayan Watershed Development Project staffs also attended the workshop.

The main objective of the workshop was to impart training to acquaint and educate the staff about the CRS method.

Sanjay Sen, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Nurpur, said the lantana was affecting the regeneration of flora and reducing fodder for cattle.

“As per the survey conducted in 2011-12, its spread in the division was about 45,233 hectares and is still spreading at an alarming rate. In the last 4 years, 1,566 hectare area has been infested with lantana,” he said.

Lantana, locally known as ‘panch fuly’ is considered as a threat to agriculture and forest land in the lower Kangra areas. The weed affects the growth of fodder and crops.

In order to eradicate the weed, the state Forest Department has adopted a Cut Root Stock (CRS) method in the state, which has started showing positive results.

Earlier, the field staff of the department used to remove weed through conventional cutting and uprooting method, which was not successful.

Una, October 31
The Una Forest Department impounded a truck loaded with illegal mango wood last night and nabbed the perpetrators who were in the same vehicle.

RK Dogra, Divisional Forest Officer, said the truck (HP 19C 2051), heading to Punjab was stopped at the forest check-post on the Daulatpur-Talwara road.

Dogra said the truck driver broke the barrier and the staff of the department chased the vehicle to Punjab and nabbed the driver and his accomplice. He said the vehicle was loaded with mango wood, which was cut without the mandatory legal permissions.