Nahan, November 14
The Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) has finally constituted the much-awaited Site Selection Committee to identify a site for the state’s first Indian Institute of Management (IIM), which is slated to come up in Paonta Sahib of Sirmaur district.

The IIM was announced in the Union Budget and the state government was keenly awaiting the constitution of the committee. The committee comprises Amarjeet Sinha, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Human Resource Development, and Sanjay Murthy, Director IIM, Ahmedabad, and Principal Secretary, Technical Education.

Sanjay Murthy said: “The MHRD had convened a meeting of principal secretaries of the departments concerned of five states, where IIMs are supposed to be opened. Key issues such as the minimum area required for the institute with scope for extension among other crucial issues were discussed at length.”

Murthy said search was already on to locate an alternative site where a temporary campus could be set up where classes could resume till the institute building was set up.

The final site and the batch size would, however, be finalised once the committee visits the proposed site.

The committee members were yet to finalise their date of visit though the ministry tried to resume classes from the 2015-16 academic session from a temporary accommodation.

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh had already announced that the premier institute would be opened at Kolar in Paonta Sahib, where nearly 900-1,000 bigha land had already been identified.

GS Bali, Minister for Technical Education, said the state government was endeavouring to set up this IIM on a priority so that the premium institute could benefit the youth and local population.

Another committee headed by Director, Technical Education, Rajeshwar Goyal, was on the lookout for a site to house the temporary campus, where a public notice had also been issued and a building having at least 5,500 to 6,000 sq m area could be hired.

The location of this IIM had generated much political heat as various politicians had been vouching for their respective constituencies given the significance of this premier institute and the political mileage it could fetch.

As per the HRD norms, an IIM was to be housed on a site measuring 200 acres and the site selection committee was supposed to submit its report within two months from its first meeting. It would take into account issues involved in land procurement after holding talks with the state government. 

Shimla, November 14
Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today said Himachal had emerged as a power-producing state and power so produced would be given to the big industrial houses to set up their units in the state.

On the concluding ceremony of the Lavi trade fair at Rampur Bushair, the Chief Minister said, “The Lavi fair is known for its trade with Tibet, China and other countries and the government is promoting fairs, culture and customs of the state.”

“My priority is overall development and welfare of people of the state,” Virbhadra Singh said. “The Congress does not believe in dividing the people on the grounds of region, caste and creed. The state has progressed by leaps and bounds under Congress governments,” he said.

He said the government would do justice to the PTA teachers. Urging the state youth to excel in studies as education is biggest treasure of life, he said the government had opened 15 colleges mainly in rural areas of the state to strengthen education of girl child.

Remembering first Prime Minister of the country Jawaharlal Nehru, he said Nehru had brought revolution in agriculture and other allied sectors in the country.

Later, he presided over a cultural function and released the Lavi trade fair souvenir and distributed prizes among the winners of the exhibitions.

He said the Chati bridge in Rampur would be constructed on a priority basis. Power Minister Sujan Singh Pathania, former MP Pratibha Singh, CPC Nand Lal and other representatives and officials were present on the occasion.

Meanwhile, traders from Kinnaur received good response from the visitors and they displayed traditional goods, including dry fruits, woolens and others at the fair. 

Shimla, November 14
The BJP, protesting against the delay in the completion of 80-km Theog-Hatkoti road, today launched a padyatra from Rohru to Shimla.

BJP president Satpal Singh Satti, accompanied by former minister Narender Bragta, flagged off the padyatra from Rohru, for early completion of the road.

Hundreds of BJP workers and local people converged at the Rohru bus stand. Satti and Bragta attacked the government for neglecting the Rohru constituency, represented by Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh for 15 years.

They lashed out at the Congress for making false promises to the people during the Assembly elections that the road would be completed within 100 days after the Congress returned to power.

Bragta said the Congress government awarded the tender to a Chinese company in 2007 but neither did they acquire the land, nor obtained the clearances from forest and environment departments. The Congress government did not even seek permission to fell trees for construction of the road and no-objection certificate was obtained only for 13 per cent of the land required for widening of the road.

“It was the BJP that obtained 87 per cent clearances from the Forest Department and acquired the land from private owners after voted to power in 2007 but till the time the clearances were taken, the visa of the Chinese company was over and the UPA-II refused to extend the visa. As a result, the work stopped.

Satti said the anger and anguish of the residents could be gauged by their presence here.

He claimed that besides Pradhans and Up-pradhans of 48 out of 59 panchayats, farmer organisations, lawyers, youths, women and truck operators and residents had extended their support to the padyatra.

Convener and general secretary of the Phal Utpadak Sangh CL Singh and Harish Chauhan said they supported the agitation as it had become the need of the hour. The people of this area are suffering huge financial losses as truck operators were either wary of travelling on this road or charge huge tariff.

Retired teacher Balwant Khimta said the construction of the road was the common agenda of all residents. The seven-day walk which started from Rohru culminated at Hatkoti on the first day with hundreds of people participating in it.

Shimla, November 14
The role of state government officials could not be investigated for want of consent by the state government in an alleged purchase of 11.1 bighas in Solan by relatives of former minister of Haryana Ajay Singh.

It was stated by the CBI in its fresh affidavit filed before the high court on the issue of land purchase in Solan allegedly by producing fake documents.

It was further informed in the affidavit that the CBI was conducting an investigation into a case relating to the delivery of Rs 15 lakh to Nirmal Yadav, a former judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Dduring investigation, the role of some state officials came under suspicion over the purchase of land in Solan by Nirmal Yadav. It further informed that since it was a separate allegation, a fresh FIR was required to be registered incorporating officials of the state government as accused in the matter.

The affidavit further revealed that the consent of the government was required to investigate the role of government officials of any state. Accordingly, a note was sent to the state government, but the consent was declined by saying that “request to grant consent of the state government cannot be accorded keeping in view the peculiar facts and circumstances of the case.”

It further informed that no criminal case was registered against the officials nor any investigation carried out against them in alleged purchase of land.

After hearing the matter for some time, a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Mansoor Ahmad Mir and Justice Dharam Chand Chaudhary adjourned the matter for December 18 by directing the petitioner to file his response to the affidavit of the CBI.

The court passed this order on a petition filed by the Anti-Corruption Front, Faridabad, alleging that it had learnt from the media report that a fraudulent land scam connecting a land transaction had taken place in Solan on the fake documents. 

Mandi, November 14
The Himachal Pradesh Revenue Officers’ Association and the Kanungo-Patwari Sangh have demanded the immediate arrest of the accused, who “attacked” two revenue officials yesterday.

Naib Tehsildar Gopal Singh Kataria and Patwari Kehar Singh were allegedly attacked by Chet Ram, Biri Singh and three others at Nela village under Sadar tehsil in the district, when they went there for the demarcation of land.

Talking to mediapersons here today, association chief media coordinator and Sadar Tehsildar Ajay Prashar said if the accused were not arrested within two days, they would resort to protest.

He said all revenue officials would wear black badges in protest against the attack during the working hours tomorrow.

He said both the appellant and the respondents were informed in advance about the demarcation of the land.

Prashar said the attack was sudden and unprovoked and the accused tried to kill the two officials. He said both victims were hit with belts and stones and the patwari suffered injuries.

He said the accused escaped with two files of the record and they would be responsible for any damage to the files.

Sangh district chief Deenanath Sharma said they would stop work if the accused were not arrested within two days.

Prashar said a case under Sections 353 and 333 was registered against the accused and so far they were satisfied with the working of the police.

He also demanded police protection for the revenue officials carrying out the demarcation on the disputed land.

Shimla, November 14
The Citizens’ Council, Shimla, today flayed the proposed hike in user charges on medical tests and facilities announced by the Rogi Kalyan Samiti (RKS) of Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC).

Health Minister Kaul Singh Thakur and other health officials yesterday approved the hike in user charges at a meeting of the RKS.

The council said the government was privatising the health services in the state to benefit a private company, which had been outsourced for the lab tests services in the hospital.

IGMC medical superintendent Dr Ramesh Chand said the RKS was not charging anything from the poor at the hospital and they could avail free treatment.

The proposed hike is only for the patients admitted to the special wards while the marginal hike in other services is still subjected to the government approval, he said.

Council president Ishwar Verma and secretary Satyan Pundir said people still pay 78% of medical expenses from their pockets and the hike in user charges aimed at benefitting the private firm.

They said instead of improving the quality of services at the hospital, the RKS was eyeing at generating money.

“We demand the status quo on user charges. The patients admitted to the casualty for more than 24 hours should get free food and free medicines,” they said. They also demanded that the government should probe into why ward boys were not paid salaries by the private firm. 

Shimla, November 14
Keen to convert the proposals at the investor meet in Bangalore, Ahmedabad and Mumbai into real investment, the state Industries Department is seeking proposals from over 100 industrial houses which had evinced interest in setting up their units in Himachal.

The department is keen that the proposals are received at the earliest so that these can be placed before the Single Window Committee for expeditious clearances. Enthused by the fact that proposals worth Rs 1,000 crore have already been received since the investor meet was held, the department is also preparing for a mega investor meet in Delhi, shortly.

“We have shortlisted about 100 investors to whom we are writing so that their proposals can be placed before the committee,” said Mukesh Agnihotri, Industry Minister. He added that though deliberations had been held with many entrepreneurs, including some big industrial houses, now the proposals are formally being invited from these.

Agnihotri said proposals worth Rs 1,000 crore had already poured in which included Rs 550 crore by Vardhman, Rs 350 crore by the Indo Rama group, Rs 150 crore by Rock and Star Distillery and Rs 60 crore by McLeods Pharma. He added that TVS Motor, which already has a unit in Himachal, had agreed to expand the existing unit with an additional investment of Rs 300 crore.

A number of companies had shown interest in the solar power, pharma and Information Technology (IT) sectors. “We will clear all projects within the stipulated time and the Industry Department will give its approvals within one week and the Revenue Department will do its bit within 15 days,” said the minister.

Officials in the Industry Department point out that out of the proposals of Rs 4,200 crore when the state had the industrial package, actual investment of only Rs 1,000 could be made. They point out that it was owning to the cumbersome clearance procedures from several agencies which discouraged many investors.

It is only once CM Virbhadra Singh arrives here after his long tour that a final decision on creation of an investment promotion board or some other body like this, which will monitor the investment flow into the state, will be taken. Though there is a Single Window Committee for industrial projects, projects are expected to come in the power, tourism, education, health, horticulture and urban transport sectors, the need for creation of an investment cell is being felt.

Based on the feedback received from the investors, the state government can take some decisions whether these pertained to purchase of land and better transportation facilities. 

Kangra, November 14
The seven-day “Swachh Bharat — Swasth Bharat Abhiyan”, organised by the Students’ Central Association (SCA) of Dr Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College (RPGMC), Tanda, concluded here today.

RPGMC principal Anil Chauhan said the Medical Council of India (MCI) had directed all medical colleges to conduct a programme under the Swachh Bharat Mission.

Paramedics, nursing students, faculty and college staff today participated in the cleanliness drive. They also took out a rally, which was flagged off by Anil Chauhan, to sensitise others. SCA president Prashant Dhatwalia said students made shopkeepers aware of community participation in keeping the surroundings clean. — OC

Shimla, November 14
After a considerable delay and cost overruns, the 10-MW Ghanvi hydropower stage-II was dedicated to the people of the state by Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh here today.

HP State Electricity Board Limited (HPSEBL), which has executed this project, has enhanced its power capacity to 487 MW in the state.

Virbhadra said the project would generate about 56 million units of electricity in a year and revenue worth Rs 12 crore. It would also solve the problem of low voltage of 36,000 people in eight gram panchayats of Pandra-Bish area in Shimla and parts of Kinnaur districts, the Chief Minister said.

He was accompanied by Power Minister Sujan Singh Pathania and Chief Parliamentary Secretary Nanda Lal. The Chief Minister praised engineers of HPSEBL for their efforts in constructing the dam.

But, Ghanvi-II has turned out to be another expensive power project executed by the state-run HPSEBL after the 126-MW Larji power project in the state. The one megawatt cost of Ghanvi-II comes to Rs 17. 3 crore as the total cost of the project is Rs 173 crore that makes its one of the costliest projects executed by the board.

Engineers of HPSEBL attributed the delay to external factors, while floods in the Ghanvi khad, a tributary of the Satluj, added to their problems.

But HPSEBL is getting solace from the cost overruns as the execution of the project helps generate more electricity in the 22.5-MW Ghanvi-II downstream as well.

“Its barrage has a storage capacity of 48,000 cumecs of water that can allow Ghanvi stage I and 22.5-MW Ghanvi-II to take peaking power generation for three hours daily,” said Pratap S Negi, managing director (MD), HPSEBL, who was on the project site overseeing arrangements for inauguration tomorrow.

The project has two 5 MW each turbine and an underground powerhouse and will generate about 56 million units in a year. HPSEBL has constructed 3-km-long 66 KV double-circuit transmission line connecting Ghanvi -II and Ghanvi -I. “This project has a computerised system to perform functions of control, automation, data acquisition and plant optimisation,” Negi said.

Before inaugurating the project, Virbhadra laid the foundation stone of Rs 1.27 crore 22-KV control sub-station at Jeori. The control sub-station will benefit consumers of Jeori, Gaura, Pandra-Bish areas and some villages in Kinnaur up to the Chaura area, said engineers.

“The control sub-station will end the problems faced by them to maintain the power supply,” they added. 

Mandi, November 14
Health and Family Welfare Minister Kaul Singh Thakur today inaugurated the 22nd Himachal Pradesh State Children Science Congress at Vijay Government Senior Secondary School here.

More than 700 students from the state are participating in the four-day event. Speaking on the occasion, the minister said, “The present era belongs to the science and the main aim of the scientific discoveries is the welfare of the mankind.”

He said the spread of education, farming on barren land and industrial revolution were possible only due to achievements of the science. He said the theme of this year’s children science congress was the understanding of weather and climate which was relevant in the present situation.

“We should make extra efforts to protect our environment and speed up measures to contain global warning for the future,” he said and added that it was important to reduce the release of poisonous gases in the atmosphere.

He said the Himachal Pradesh Council for Science, Technology and Environment was making efforts to develop interest of students in science and environment and they had decided to open a research centre at Shoghi in Shimla. 

Shimla, November 14
Nature Watch India, an NGO working for protection of wild animals, has strongly rejected the demand to declare monkeys as vermin and allowing their culling.

In a memorandum submitted to the CM, convener of Nature Watch India (NWI), Rajeshwar Singh Negi, said the demand for culling monkeys or their translocation or export was not only legally untenable, but also contravened the provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.

Negi said: “The fruit and vegetable production has increased from 1,200 MT in 1952 to 10.27 lakh MT in 2012-13 as per government statistics and the share of agriculture in GDP was 14 per cent. Hence it is preposterous to claim that wild animals are causing loss of ~2,000 crore per annum to the crops.”— TNS