Shimla, November 12
The Left-supported apple farmer associations, the Sangharsh Samiti of the Theog-Hatkoti-Rohru road, and the Congress termed the November 14 Satyagrah Padyatra of former Horticulture Minister and BJP vice-president Narender Bragta a political drama.

Residents of Rohru, Jubbal Kotkhai, Chopal, Theog, who face rough rides daily, support the protest to press upon the government to make the road pliable for commuters, but they urge leaders not to make it political march to seek votes.

“I will be the first to take part in the protest march, but not under a banner of any political party whether it is Bragta or Rohit Thakur because it is a nightmare to travel on this road,” said Brig Daleep S Chajta, a resident of Ruildhar, Jubbal. “The politicians make calls and promises when in the opposition to seek votes, but they dump everything in the dustbins when they sit in power,” he said. The Left and Bragta detractors in the Shimla Zila Parishad, led by Neelam Saraik from Kotkhai, have decided to raise the issue and refrained from supporting Bragta’s march from Rohru to The Ridge in Shimla.

There is no denying the fact that the condition of the 90-km Rohru-Hatkoti-Theog, the lifeline for the apple belt, has gone from bad to worse for the last seven years, said Rakesh Singha, president, Himachal Apple Growers Association. The Kisan Sabha and the Sangharsh Samiti would convene a meeting in Rohru to chalk out a plan of action. The BJP had made it a political issue to get a political mileage, Singha added.

Similarly, Jubbal and Kotkhai Congress legislator and Chief Parliamentary Secretary Rohit Thakur said Bragta failed to do anything during the last BJP regime and apple farmers suffered huge losses due to the bad condition of the road. His padyatra is a political drama and people know this.

But the Himalayan Apple Growers Society, Jubbal, and the Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association, HP, have declared that the party did not matter for them as it was the genuine issue raised by Bragta and they would join padyatra so that the government wake up from its slumber. 

Shimla, November 12
The BJP, which will launch a satyagraha and padyatra from November 14, will approach the high court and human rights commission for the early completion of the 80-km stretch of road from Theog to Hatkoti in Shimla district, causing hardships to people.

Former state Horticulture Minister and BJP leader Narender Bragta, spearheading the agitation, said state BJP chief Satpal Singh Satti would launch the seven-day yatra from Rohru which would culminate on November 20 with former Chief Minister PK Dhumal submitting a memorandum to the Governor.

Bragta, who would accompany Satti from Rohru, said the people were fed up with the apathy of the government and their patience had exhausted. “We are suffering for the past four years as the Congress government has failed to complete the widening of road in spite of tall promises made by the party before 2102 Assembly polls.

The condition of the road was so bad that travelling is a nightmare. Dust on the road had led to increase in number of asthmatic patients, skin diseases were prevalent and health of people was in jeopardy and as such it was a fit case for human rights commission to intervene, he said.

Almost two years had lapsed after the Congress came to power, there was no progress on the ground except for re-tendering of the contract and the new company had also failed to expedite the work, he said, adding that the work was being done in patches and even on the stretches where widening work was complete tarring and metalling was not being done.

Apple growers had a harrowing time during this season as either the trucks were not available or the growers had to pay through their nose, said Dinesh, a resident of Kotkhai.

The road project had been mired in controversies from the beginning and the Chinese company, which was awarded the contract, could complete only 22 per cent of work in five years. But even after termination of the contract and re-tendering the project, the pace of work has not picked up.

As per the data furnished by the corporation, till August 2014 only 5.64 per cent of work of excavation, 5.38 per cent on embankment and 7.59 per cent of retaining walls and protection work has been carried out on the 48 km stretch from Theog to Kharapathar while construction of one box culvert is in progress.

In the 32-km stretch from Kharapathar to Rohru also, 10.21 per cent of excavation and 5 per cent of protection work has been finished while construction of one bridge is under progress and the deadline for completion of the project has been extended to June 2016.

Shimla, November 12
The Left-supported apple farmer associations, the Sangharsh Samiti of the Theog-Hatkoti-Rohru road, and the Congress today termed the November 14 Satyagrah Padyatra of former Horticulture Minister and BJP vice-president Narender Bragta a political drama.

Residents of Rohru, Jubbal Kotkhai, Chopal, Theog, who face rough rides daily, support the protest to press upon the government to make the road pliable for commuters, but they urge leaders not to make it political march to seek votes.

“I will be the first to take part in the protest march, but not under a banner of any political party whether it is Bragta or Rohit Thakur because it is a nightmare to travel on this road,” said Brig Daleep S Chajta, a resident of Ruildhar, Jubbal. “The politicians make calls and promises when in the opposition to seek votes, but they dump everything in the dustbins when in power,” he said.

The Left and Bragta detractors in the Shimla Zila Parishad, led by Neelam Saraik from Kotkhai, have decided to raise the issue and refrained from supporting the Bragta’s march from Rohru to The Ridge in Shimla.

There is no denying the fact that the condition of the 90-km Rohru-Hatkoti-Theog, the lifeline for the apple belt, has gone from bad to worse for the last seven years, said Rakesh Singha, president, Himachal Apple Growers Association. The Kisan Sabha and the Sangharsh Samiti would convene a meeting in Rohru to chalk out a plan of action. The BJP had made it a political issue to get a political mileage, Singha added.

Similarly, Jubbal and Kotkhai Congress legislator and Chief Parliamentary Secretary Rohit Thakur said Bragta had failed to do anything during the BJP regime and apple farmers suffered huge losses due to the bad condition of the road.

“We admit the condition of the road is bad and we have given three months to CC construction to speed up works failing which stringent action will be taken against it”, he asserted.

But it was Congress which started this road and it would be complete by 2016-17 during the Congress time, claimed Rohit Thakur.

But the Himalayan Apple Growers Society (HAGS), Jubbal, and the Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association have declared that the party did not matter for them as it was the genuine issue raised by Bragta and they would join padyatra from November 14 to 20.

Panchkula, November 12
The appeal filed by the state of Haryana in the Jyoti murder case in the High Court termed the judgement of trial court a “miscarriage of justice”. It raised 20 points which the trial court did not consider while giving the judgement.

The appeal, the contents of which were available today, was filed two months after Doon MLA Ram Kumar Chaudhary and 11 others were acquitted in the murder case of Hoshiarpur girl Jyoti.

The state, in its appeal, said the trial court did not rely on the evidence of the prosecution by which the motive of Jyoti’s murder was very clear.

It said the investigations clearly stated that the MLA had feared threat to his career and Jyoti was demanding more time and money.

It was also mentioned in the appeal that small contradictions surfaced in the statements of police officials during the trial were given undue weightage.

Also, the facts and the disclosure statements of the MLA, and the main accused Paramjeet, Gurmeet and Dharampal were matching but were not considered.

The call details on hypothetical grounds were ignored even as Doon MLA’s mobile number and Jyoti’s mobile number had same tower location on the night of the murder.

It was also saidthe statements of Buti Ram, father of the victim, and Ishu, sister of Jyoti, were not given weightage even as both proved that Jyoti had relation with the Doon MLA Ram Kumar Chaudhary.

Shimla, November 12
Taxi services on restricted routes mainly for senior citizens and physically challenged will start in the city soon. Transport Minister GS Bali said this while addressing mediapersons here today.

Bali said the Himachal Roads Transport Corporation (HRTC) would provide monthly pass for Rs 300 for senior citizens and physically challenged people. Others would be charged Rs 20 per seat for travelling in taxis in the city. The seats would be first available for senior citizens and others would be allowed subject to the availability of seats, he said and did not give any time frame for the service.

Bali said the Transport Department had launched three interceptor vans to check over-speeding on the Kalka-Shimla, Kiratpur-Manali and Kangra-Dharamsala-Pathankot highways.

The HC had pulled the Transport Department for submitting wrong affidavit on taxi services in the city. But Bali evaded the reply on the issue saying they would submit a fresh affidavit.

Hamirpur, November 12
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders of the state have tried to divide the state on regionalism, religion and caste lines, but the Congress party has always believed in uniform and balanced development of the state.

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh said this while addressing a public meeting at Bijhari in Barsar assembly segment here today.

He said those who take credit for the development of Himachal Pradesh today are the same people who were once opposed to the formation of Himachal Pradesh.

“When such opportunists did not succeed in their motives, they indulged in creating rift and misled people on the pretext of upper and lower Himachal to grab political power in the state,” he said.

He said such people were fighting a political battle for their survival and could never be anyone’s well-wisher and true citizens of the country.

“I respect the Opposition, but whenever they come to power they try to frame false cases against me to eliminate me from politics,” he said.

He said Barsar segment was neglected by the BJP leaders for the past 15 years and only Congress government bothered to undertake development in the segment.

He said he had established sub-tehsil Bijhri 15 years ago and he also announced to upgrade it to a tehsil and announced to establish sub-tehsil at Bhota.

He said soon a tehsildar rank officer would take charge at Bijhari, which was a long pending demand of the area.

The CM said government was committed to overall development and welfare of Barsar people. He said the BJP had a chief minister from Hamirpur, but the people’s interest was completely ignored.

Earlier he dedicated and laid the foundation stones of projects worth Rs14 crore in the district, including the foundation stone of the boys’ hostel of College of Horticulture and Forestry at Neri to be constructed at a cost of Rs 3.65 crore, Library-cum-Information Technology Centre worth Rs 2.54 crore and a bridge over Shukkar rivulet worth Rs 3.74 crore in Barsar sub-division.

The CM inaugurated the first phase of laboratory block of the college constructed at a cost of Rs 1.53 crore and Book Distribution Centre and Teachers Holiday Home constructed at a cost of Rs. 87.20 lakh at Hamirpur.

The CM agreed to upgrade the PHCs as demanded by Chief Parliamentary Secretary ID Lakhanpal, including upgrade of a half-a-dozen middle schools to high schools which include middle schools at Berri, Salauni, Sathwin, Chakmoh, Phagoti, Balh Bihal in tehsil Barsar.

Earlier Chief Parliamentary Secretary and local MLA ID Lakhanpal apprised the CM about the demands of the public and urged him to upgrade the educational and health institutions in the Barsar Assambly segment.

Vice-chairman, HP State Disaster Management Authority, Rajinder Rana; vice-chairman, HP State Forest Corporation, Kewal Singh Pathania; vice-chairman, Kangra Central Co-operative Bank, Kuldeep Pathania; former MLAs Anita Verma and Urmila Thakur, member HP State Women Commission Promila Devi also accompanied the CM on the occasion among others.

Shimla, November 12
The Resident Welfare Association, members of the Citizens’ Council and the Kisan Sabha and councillors today raised a pitch against the monkey menace in the city and urged the state and the Centre to declare monkey as vermin as provided under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

Representatives of the association and NGOs made a call to declare monkeys as vermin and lift the ban on culling at stakeholders meeting here today. It was chaired by Shimla Mayor Sanjay Chauhan and Deputy Mayor Tikender Panwar and attended by Chief Conservator of Forest, Wildlife, PL Chauhan, police and other officials of the MC and other stakeholders in the city.

The sterilisation of monkeys had failed to deliver, but it had turned the monkeys even more violent and attacks on humans had increased menacingly, said Dr Kuldip Tanvar, president, Kisan Sabha, Vijay Kumar, senior resident SK Gupta and Satyavan Pundir from the Citizens Council.

“The idea to confine monkeys to a park has failed in Delhi. Another problem is monkeys may create problems on the outskirts where the government face opposition from villagers who are already facing the monkey menace,” they pointed out.

What makes monkey prowling around the residential areas is the fact that open garbage and overflowing bins have turned out to be the manmade ready feast for monkeys. There are over 23,000 households out of over 57,000 in the city areas which have no door- to-door collection facilities and hence the garbage end up in the nullahs or surroundings.

Even dhaba owners and vegetable and fruit wastes end up in the localities which attract monkeys, said victims of monkey menace.

Animal rights activists said there was nothing for monkeys in the wild and they were forced to invade the residential areas. Devotees and even tourists at the Jakhoo temple feed monkeys with “chana” despite ban on feeding.

Leader of BJP councillors in the House Manoj Kuthiala and leader of the Congress councillors Chandra Shekhar Chinu and other councillors, who attended the meeting, urged the government to take stringent measures to contain the monkey menace. The Ripon hospital alone gets over 57 cases of monkey bites and 110 of stray dog bites every month, said Panwar. 

Shimla, November 12
Taking serious note of the monkey menace here, the high court today directed the Centre to file a compliance report regarding the steps taken by it to prevent monkey menace.

A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Mansoor Ahmad Mir and Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan further observed that various orders had been passed by this court, but despite that neither the state nor the Union Government had taken requisite steps to do the needful to check the monkey menace.

It further observed that “the growth of monkeys is at its peak and also the number of stray dogs is increasing, which is causing threat to everybody and it is shocking to record that in the last week, we have lost the precious life of a young woman.”

The Bench further said, “Keeping in view the orders passed from time to time and the above circumstances, this court has to pass coercive orders to save human lives and property of the state, but we refrain to pass such orders at this stage and deem it proper to direct the Centre to file a compliance report in terms of orders passed by this court from time to time and also file report as to what steps were taken in this regard.”

The court passed this order on a PIL petition. The court further listed the matter for further hearing on December 9. 

Kangra, November 12
Three persons, including a woman, succumbed to their burn injuries at Dr Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College, Tanda, during the last 24 hours, the police said here today.

The police today said Seema Devi (28), wife of Madan Lal, a resident of Jallarh village, had received burns at her residence following the bursting of a kerosene oil stove on November 5. She was rushed to a government hospital at Jawali where doctors referred her to the DRPGMC, Tanda. She died last night.

The police said in another case, Achloo Ram (55) of Rakkar sprinkled kerosene and set himself ablaze in an inebriated condition. He was rushed to the DRPGMC, Tanda, where he died.

In yet another incident, Balwant Singh (50) of Khanni was working on a kerosene oil stove when his clothes caught fire. He was rushed to a private hospital at Pathankot where doctors referred him to the DRPGMC, Tanda. He died late last night.

Mandi, November 12
The Horticulture Department has asked farmers to replace their old apple plants with the new, improved, high-yielding, disease-resistant and suitable varieties.

Deputy Director, Horticulture, Dr Prem Singh Chauhan said under the apple rejuvenation scheme, the government would give 50 per cent financial assistance to small and marginal farmers for one hectare.

Most of the apple plantations had lived their life and were giving little response to the modern horticulture practices, he said and adding that 45-50 year-old plants should be replaced with new varieties.

Chauhan said it was estimated that uprooting and re-plantation would cost nearly Rs 315 and Rs 180 per tree and, therefore, 50 per cent financial assistance would be provided to farmer for a maximum of one hectare.

The old uprooted standard variety would be replaced with improved spur varieties, including super chief, red chief, scarlet spur, Oregon spur-II, silver spur, well spur, bright-N-early, etc, he added.

He said a farmer should replace a plant of the standard variety with two plants of the spur variety and on one hectare, a farmer should plant 500 saplings of the improved variety.

The re-plantation must constitute 30 per cent suitable pollinisers of 2-3 types, he said and added that the farmers should buy the saplings from the government or registered nurseries only.

For replacement of their old plants, the farmers should contact their Horticulture Development Officer at the block level, Subject Matter Specialist or Horticulture Extension Officer, he said.

Shimla, November 12
Merger of loss-making public sector undertakings (PSUs) and rationalisation of government employees following computerisation of almost all offices are some of the harsh steps that are on the mind of the Cabinet sub-committee on resource mobilisation.

The sub-committee headed by Irrigation and Public Health Minister Vidya Stokes was constituted to improve the deteriorating financial health of the state and is in the process of finalisation of its report to be placed before the Cabinet shortly.

The committee which has Transport Minister GSBali and Industries Minister Mukesh Agnihotri as its other members has held two meetings to suggest ways to cut down on wasteful expenditure and suggest means for resource generation.

The fact that the employees’ ratio as per the state’s population was probably the highest in the country could see some cost cutting measures which could affect over 2.50 lakh government employees in various departments, Boards and Corporations by the way of rationalisation.

The committee could also recommend that no new government offices be opened unless and until it was very urgent as the stress should be on improving the quality.

“We need to understand that resources are meagre and the expenditure is more than the earnings so some steps will have to be taken,” Bali said. He said these were his personal views and not of the committee which was yet to finalise its recommendations.

Bali said one major step could be winding up or merger of PSUs which had continued to remain in the red for quite some time.

Sources said certain services at the doorstep of individuals being provided by the government could be charged for those who could afford to pay and fall in the higher income group. However, all this would be subject to approval of the Cabinet.

As per the report on the PSUs tabled in the Assembly in February earlier this year, 11 of the 20 PSUs were in the loss and the remaining nine too had registered only marginal profit.

The total losses of these 11 PSUs till March 2013 totalled to a whopping Rs 2,481.86 crore.

There are 41,547 employees in these 20 PSUs. The PSU which had incurred maximum loss include the HP State Electricity Board (HPSEB) which tops the list at Rs 1,940.24 crore and Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) a close second with a loss of Rs 764.39 crore.

Bali also felt that in the post computerisation era, there was need to undertake rationalisation of employees as a lot of manual work undertaken by the employees had been digitised.

“Besides, we need to also rationalise the medical reimbursement of government employees, for which the government shells out Rs 200 crore annually. The government could also become very stringent with regards to treatment at government hospitals only rather than at private hospitals even if they were empanelled by the government,” he said.

Bali said the government must put in all its efforts to get Rs 1,800 crore due from the neighbouring states as power arrears from the Bhakra Beas Management Board, as its share.

He said the issue of Rs 200 crore that Himachal Government had to pay to Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Ltd (SJVNL) as excess payment also needs to be settled.

Bali felt that there was a need to evolve consensus on issues such as development, infrastructure, unemployment and generating resources.

Shimla, November 12
The High Court has set aside the permissions accorded by the Cabinet sub-committee to fell 101 trees within the territorial jurisdiction of the Municipal Corporation (MC), Shimla.

A Division Bench comprising Justice Rajiv Sharma and Justice Sureshwar Thakur observed: “The Cabinet sub-committee has recommended felling of trees without the recommendations of the Tree Authority. Thus, the permissions are set aside.”

The bench observed: “Shimla town is losing its glory due to massive construction activity. The trees are replaced by huge concrete structures which can be termed only as eyesores. The queen of hills has lost its beauty due to massive destruction of the forest wealth within the territorial jurisdiction of the MC.”

The court further directed the Shimla MC commissioner to convene a meeting of Tree Authority within two weeks.

It further directed the principal secretary (forests) to place all applications from governmental agencies and private persons before the Tree Authority within three days from the receipt of this order and the Tree Authority is directed to take a final decision on all applications after holding inquiry as per law.

It further cautioned: “The Tree Authority shall record convincing and cogent reasons while permitting felling/cutting of trees posing threat to life and property in each case. It shall ensure while granting permission to fell/cut trees that the applicant shall plant another tree or trees of the same or other suitable species preferably on the same site within 60 days of the date when the tree is cut.

The court further directed the secretary (forests) to enumerate all green trees of all species standing within the territorial jurisdiction of the MC Shimla to compile a data for their safety and protection within six months. Every tree shall carry a particular number.

The Bench also directed the Forest Department to ensure the safety of all trees within the territorial jurisdiction of the MC Shimla by ensuring that no hoardings were put on the trees. The resistance to the removal of hoardings, wires etc by any person or agency shall entail contempt and the person would be liable to be proceeded for contemptuous action.

The court made it clear that till the entire process was completed for according permission to fell/cut trees posing threat to life and property, no tree should be cut/felled/removed within the territorial jurisdiction of the MC, Shimla. The court also directed the secretary (forests) to transfer the present DFO, posted in Shimla till the entire process was completed.

Shimla, November 12
The Screening Committee headed by Chief Secretary P Mitra met once again to look into the issue of recommending the promotion of three senior IAS officers to the rank of Additional Chief Secretary (ACS).

Even though the committee had held its meeting on October 22 last month to recommend the names of three senior-most officers, no final decision has been taken so far.

It was being expected that the names of Tarun Sridhar, Principal Secretary (Revenue and Forest); Narinder Chauhan, Principal Secretary (Public Works Department), and PC Dhiman, Principal Secretary (Education), would be recommended, but that has not happened so far.

“The promotion of Sridhar and Chauhan is almost clear, but in case of Dhiman the matter will have to be re-examined as the government has granted permission to prosecute Dhiman in a case registered against Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) by the Vigilance Bureau,” sources said.

The Cabinet had given nod for three more posts of ACS in October so that all those belonging to the 1984 batch could be made the ACS.

Two other officers of the 1984 batch — Ajay Tyagi and Arvind Mehta — are currently serving in Delhi on Central deputation.

With the approval on the names of three ACS, their total number will go up to eight. The five Additional Chief Secretaries presently include Deepak Sanan, Ajay Mittal, Vineet Chawdhary, Upma Chawdhary and VC Pharka.

Mandi, November 12
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) today organised a consumer outreach programme.

Ramdev Arya, advisor, regional office, Jaipur, gave information to consumers, representatives of the telecom service providers and government officials about the functioning of the telecom authority, regulations, grievance redressal system and benefits of digitalisation of the cable TV.

He said TRAI had made it mandatory for the telecom service providers to provide mobile banking services and it would benefit subscribers in rural areas.

Under mobile banking, five services, including cash deposit, balance check, transfer of funds etc, would be provided to subscribers , he added.

Arya said to keep a check on cable operators and multi-system operators, TRAI had suggested that no multi-system operator should have more than 50 per cent share in market.

Talking about roaming charges, he said a consumer could avail a special plan from the service provider and after paying a fixed amount, the subscriber could avail free incoming and outgoing calls at local tariff.

Shimla, November 12
Hit by the labour crunch and limited resources of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), the strategic border roads, Manali-Leh, Powari-Sumdoh-Kaurik and Hurling-Kaza-Gramphu and Tandi-Sansari Nallah in the snowbound region of Lahaul-Spiti, Pangi and Kinnaur, have no takers.

The Ministry of Defence has pulled up the BRO’s project authorities for their failure to achieve the targets in constructing the strategic roads in the Himalayan region from Leh and Lahaul to Arunachal Pradesh.

But the BRO (Deepak Project) blamed the delay mainly on lack of contractors taking up works in Kinnaur, Lahaul and other highland region.

Some work has been done between Powari and Pooh in Kinnaur, 80 per cent of widening work on the Manali-Serchu road is done and the work on the Tandi-Sansari Nalla stretch has been started, said BRO chief engineer, Deepak Project, Brig SK Kataria.

But the main problem was that they were not getting contractors on these roads, Kataria said. They had a limited working season in summer because the works are stopped in harsh winter months, added BRO engineers.

The BRO had yet to award the works on the Gramphu-Kaza-Sumdoh road as the Centre had yet to complete the procedure to make the detailed project reports, said BRO engineers.

The Deepak Project maintains the 222-km-long Manali-Serchu part of Manali-Leh highway, 140-km Powari-Sumdoh-Kaurik and 146-km Hurling-Kaza-Gramphu and 160-km Tandi-Udaipur-Sansari Nallah in Lahaul-Spiti, Pangi and Kinnaur.

Commuters, including farmers and tourists, have resented that the BRO has failed to maintain the border highways as travelling continues to be a nightmare.

The condition of the Tandi-Udaipur-Sansari Nallah, Rohtang Pass-Koksar and Dalang-Tandi-Keylong, Gramphu-Cahtru-Kunjam Pass-Kaza road and the Wangtoo-Urni-Powari-Pooh stretch remains full of hazards of falling stones, potholes and boulders, said Tashi Karpa and Bijay Negi hoteliers from Keylong and Kinnaur.

Besides the shortage of contractors, BRO engineers also blamed the problems on the shortage of labour and its own limited resources. “We are trying the best to complete the works and maintain the roads in the snowbound areas,” said BRO engineers.

Shimla, November 12
State residents, business and industry faced a harrowing time today as the all-India strike of public sector banks threw bank services out of gear.

All-India Banking Employees and Officers Associations of 32 PSU banks observed a bandh and paralysed all banking services, to press for their demand of wage settlement, pending since 2012.

Even the customers of private banks failed to get respite as no clearing could take place.

Bankers staged protest in front of the zonal branch of Punjab National Bank on The Mall and lambasted the Indian Banking Association (IBA) for its failure to settle the wages.

The leaders of the bankers’ bodies said they had to resort to the strike as the IBA did nothing to settle the wage issues and its revision, pending since 2007.

“We are seeking 25 per cent wage hike but banking management are stuck at 11.5 per cent, which has become a major issue”, the leaders said.

The bankers said they would observe a similar protest on December 3 if the managements failed to resolve the issue before that. 

Chamba, November 12
The Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board (HPSEB) Employees Union has demanded that the state government evolve a proper mechanism with regard to the continuous disbursement of pension, gratuity and other social security in view of the commitment made in the HPSEB Restructuring Scheme, 2010.

The BBMB has to release arrears of enhanced power shares consequent upon the implementation of provisions of the State Reorganisation Act, 1966. The amount, whenever received, be put in the HPSEBL employees’ pension corpus for disbursing pension liabilities, they demanded.

The resolution was passed at a meeting of the Central Executive Committee of the HPSEB Employees Union, held today under the chairmanship of state president Kuldeep Singh Kharwara. State general secretary Hira Lal Verma apprised the meeting of the activities of the union.

The meeting demanded release of pending revised pay allowances on the Punjab State Electricity Board pattern, now PSPCL, such as conveyance, secretariat allowance, special allowance, shift duty allowance, ledger keeping allowance and mobile allowance etc, which had inordinately been delayed.

The union sought creation of additional technical and commercial posts as per the yardsticks and demanded that the vacant posts of all categories be filled from open market by expediting the recruitment process.

All incumbents who were declared surplus by Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation (HPPCL) may continue and the shortfall of about 256 unmanned posts be filled from the HPSEB Ltd so that the promotion avenues of the board employees were not affected adversely, the meeting said.

The union suggested that all the promotional posts transferred from the HPSEBL to the HPPCL be manned from amongst the employees of the HPSEBL to maintain promotional avenues of employees.

The union demanded that all contract and daily-wage employees appointed on compassionate grounds may be regularised. It also expressed concern over the delay in appointing next of kin of the board’s employees who expired while in service.

Kangra, November 12
Governor Urmila Singh today paid obeisance at the shakti peeths, including Brajeshwari and Jwalamukhi temples.

She arrived at the Brajeshwari temple in the afternoon, accompanied by the Additional Deputy Commissioner, Additional District Police Chief Shiv Kumar and Kangra Sub-Divisional Magistrate DM Ajit Bhardwaj. She was briefed about the history of the temple by Umesh Sharma, one of the trustees.

The Governor was told about the secular architecture of the temple, which has entrance like a gurdwara, first part like the tomb of a mosque and the main temple in Hindu architecture.

The Kangra SDM, also the Assistant Commissioner of the temple, presented a portrait of the goddess to the Governor.

Una, November 12
The three-day state-level Sombhadra Mahotsav concluded at the Indira Gandhi Sports Stadium on Tuesday. Himachal Pradesh Governor Urmila Singh was the chief guest at the last cultural night, where famous Punjabi singer Miss Pooja was the star performer.

The Governor lighted the lamp to mark the beginning of the cultural show. She was honoured by Industries Minister Mukesh Agnihotri and Deputy Commissioner Abhishek Jain.

Speaking on the occasion, she said such fairs helped in creating harmony in the society and also project the rich cultural heritage of locals.

Miss Pooja enthralled the audience with her songs and the youth danced to the music. The fair was declared officially closed at 10 pm.