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Himachal must have
equity in hydel projects: Virbhadra Work on Balh
valley project to begin soon BJP for consensus on state party chief Virbhadra calls on Governor |
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Farm insurance scheme to continue in HP Law enforcers
seek CM’s help Town planners
congress at Shimla Postal service
erratic in Hamirpur
Make public list
of favoured candidates: NSUI Horticulture
varsity amendment leads to lobbying Students’ rally
decries Pak support to terrorism Rehri workers’
strike enters third day Ex-serviceman
stoned to death 3 held under
Narcotics Act Bear kills boy;
parents to get relief Dental conference ends
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Himachal must have equity in hydel projects: Virbhadra Shimla, December 14 Presiding over the first Dr
Y.S. Parmar memorial lecture on “Role of water resource development on economic development in India”, organised by the Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam, here last evening he said the government had decided in principle to have at least 25 per cent equity participation in all projects and it wanted to renegotiate the agreements already signed for the 2051 MW Parbati project and the 800 MW Kol dam project accordingly. Mr Virbhadra Singh rejected the argument that the state did not have financial resources and maintained that the money market had undergone a sea change in recent years. Cheap loan was available in plenty and financial institutions were no more reluctant to fund hydel projects. He said the state would not mind having an equity participation in projects to be executed by independent power producers if they agreed to do so. The Chief Minister said the capacity of the Parbati project was likely to be reduced from 2051 MW to 1300 MW as one of the three stages of the project had not been found feasible because of environmental hazards. Mr
O.N. Singh, Director, Finance of the Nigam, said the state would be given its share from the day the Nathpa Jhakri project started commercial production and it would not be adjusted against loans as apprehended by the government. Dr Bharat Singh, Professor, IIT, Roorkee, said interlinking of rivers on a large scale was beset with problems. Besides enormous costs, large scale inter-basin transfer of water, particularly from Northern
Ganga-Brahamputra basin towards south, would have serious interstate and even international implications. A solution must be found among rivers south of the
Vindhyas. He underlined the need for making the optimum utilisation of available water resources which were sufficient to meet the requirement up to 2050. There would, however, be some basins or regions could fall short of the aspirations of farmers. He said hydel power development must get priority so that the 84000 MW potential could be harnessed expeditiously. He said the economic growth rate was directly dependent on power. The installed generation capacity of 1,05,000 MW had to be doubled to achieve a growth rate of 7 per cent. Mr
Apparao, Chairman of the nigam, spoke on hydel power development with focus on the Nathpa Jhakri project. |
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Work on Balh valley project to begin soon Mandi, December 14 Besides this, an allocation of Rs 5 crore had been made during the current financial year for small irrigation and drinking water supply schemes and another Rs 3.25 crore for the maintenance of the link roads in the Balh constituency. Referring
to the expansion of the education, he said Himachal, which had acquired the second position in literacy in the country, was poised to attain the first position shortly. At the time of its formation, the state had only 347 educational institutions. Now their number was over 14,000. “We are proud of having three universities, 65 colleges, 17 Sanskrit institutions, besides ITIs, medical, engineering and dental colleges”, he said. The minister said the government had drawn up a plan to open seven colleges, 20 senior secondary schools, 50 high schools and 200 middle schools during the next four years. He said Himachal was the second state in the country to make primary education compulsory under law and steps were under way to make education compulsory up to middle standard by opening 2000 additional middle schools in the state. |
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BJP for consensus on state party chief Shimla, December 14 According to party sources, the high command is keen to avoid a contest and has decided to convene a meeting of Mr P.K. Dhumal and Mr Shanta Kumar, leaders of the rival camps, to iron out the differences. It wants to ensure that there is no re-enactment of the unsavoury Jwalamukhi episode, which brought the party on the verge of a split. Besides the two leaders, Mr Sanjay Joshi, all-India organisation secretary, Mr O.P. Kohli, national secretary and in charge of Himachal affairs, and a senior functionary of the Sangh Parivar will be present at the meeting. As per the original schedule, the election for the state party chief was to be held before September 30. However, complaints of irregularities in the conduct of poll in Kangra and other districts delayed it. Thereafter, the high command deferred the process in view of the Assembly elections in five states. The high command had earlier carried out elaborate discussions with prominent leaders of the state to ascertain their views so that probable candidates for the top post could be shortlisted. Besides the three Members of Parliament — Mr Maheshwar Singh, Mr Suresh Chandel and Mr Suresh Bhardwaj — the names of Mr Khushi Ram Balnatah and Dr Rajiv Bindal emerged as the main contenders for the post. Mr Dhumal was also in the race but his candidature was vehemently opposed by leaders of the Kangra district unit. Mr Maheshwar Singh has expressed his willingness to contest the election for the state party chief if the anti-Dhumal camp so desires. |
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Virbhadra calls on Governor Shimla, December 14 According to sources, it was courtesy call during which the Chief Minister was understood to have discussed issues pertaining to Himachal Pradesh University. Much significance was being attached to the meeting which had come after the state BJP had submitted a memorandum to the Governor highlighting the alleged fallacies in the Arvind Kaul committee report and demanded an inquiry into the appointments made during the congress rule between 1993 and 1998. The Governor taking a suo motu notice had instituted two separate inquiries into the financial and administrative irregularities and both the inquiries had indicted Dr S.D. Sharma, Vice-Chancellor of the university, who was forced to resign. The Bill to replace the ordinance amending the Himachal Pradesh University Act was also to be passed during the session. Mr Kokje had made certain suggestions to make the law more effective for curbing financial bunglings and misuse of emergency powers by the Vice-Chancellor. The Katwal tape episode was also learnt to have figured in the talks as the BJP had submitted a memorandum to the Governor demanding a CBI probe into the expose. The BJP leaders had been claiming that Mr Kokje had assured them that he would take appropriate action in the matter. |
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Farm insurance scheme to continue in HP Shimla, December 14 The scheme will be implemented during the rabi season (2003-04) by the Agriculture Insurance Company of India and all farmers growing wheat and barley will be covered under it. The scheme is compulsory for loanee farmers who avail of credit for seasonal agricultural operations from financial institutions like commercial banks, cooperative banks, regional rural banks and primary agricultural cooperatives for insured crops within the stipulated period and optional for non-loanee farmers. The uniform level of indemnity for wheat and barley crops has been kept at 60 per cent of the average yield (threshold yield) in the scheme, which operates on the principle of area approach for widespread natural calamities. Small and marginal farmers will be eligible for 20 per cent government subsidy on total premium as per a provision of the scheme and they will be required to pay only 80 per cent of the total premium payable. Cut-off dates for accepting the crop insurance proposals from loanee and non-loanee farmers at primary agriculture cooperatives and bank branches are January 31 and March 31 next year. |
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Law enforcers seek CM’s help Mandi, December 14 An
influential official has succeeded in claiming damages from the
Assistant Engineer, a Junior Engineer, a Supervisor, two mates and
three daily-wagers (beldars) to the tune of Rs 2.5 lakh individually
from a civil court while the encroachment proceedings are still
pending before the Collector. The aggrieved PWD personnel, including
the Assistant Engineer (now retired), have represented to the Chief
Minister requesting the government to take up their case in appeal in
the state High Court. Narrating his experience Mr L.K. Vaidya, A.E.,
PWD (Retd.), said that in 1995-96 when he was posted on NH-21 at
Panarsa he filed an encroachment case against the influential official
for grabbing 0-0-16 bighas of prime land on the national highway in
the court of the Collector. The case was decided in favour of the
government on June 30, 1997, and respondent was directed to vacate the
encroachment within 30 days. Mr Vaidya said in the meantime he was
transferred to Bhuntar. The alleged encroacher filed an application
for review of the dismissal of the interim stay earlier granted to him
and succeeded to get the case remanded to the Collector. During the pendency
of the case the alleged land grabber filed a civil suit and
succeeded in getting damages of Rs 2.5 lakh from the A.E. and seven
others individually. |
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Town planners congress at Shimla Shimla, December 14 Briefing mediapersons about the congress which is being held here on the invitation of state government Major Vijay Mankotia, Tourism Minister, said the non-government organisations (NGOs) planners and politicians had been expressing concern over the haphazard growth of the capital town and the environmental degradation but no long-term plan had been evolved to stem the rot. Since Shimla was one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country it was appropriate to take the help of professional town planners to work out an effective strategy for its regulated development. He said Shimla-vision 2025 conference would take care of all aspects, right from traffic congestion to garbage disposal. The government would prepare a blueprint for the development of the city on the basis of the recommendations made at the conference. Mr D.S. Meshram, president of the Institute of Town Planners, said balanced development of hill capitals would give a fillip to sustainable, social and economic development of hill areas and help improve infrastructure. The conference would also focus on related issues like development of eco- tourism so that basic infrastructure required to promote it became an integral part of the plan. The existing structure plan for Shimla was prepared by the Central Town and Country Planning Organisation more than 30 years ago and it was up to 1991. Despite the fact that plan was being implemented, growth of Shimla had been haphazard and called for as fresh approach for development of hill capitals. |
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Chinese sports gear boon for ice-skaters Shimla, December 14 Non-availability of skates and ice hockey sticks has been a major factor discouraging the youth from taking to the fascinating winter sport. While the only manufacturing unit in the country stopped making skates long ago, the ones imported from Western countries were very expensive. However, the Chinese winter sports gear, which is available at almost one-third of the cost, has solved the problem. A pair of Chinese skates is available in the domestic market for Rs 2,700 to Rs 2,900 as against the European makes, which cost anything between Rs 8,500 to Rs 10,000. Similarly, a Chinese ice hockey stick costs just about Rs 1,800 to Rs 2,000 whereas the price of those imported from other countries ranged between Rs 4,000 to Rs 5,000. The 83-year-old Shimla Ice-skating Club, which had been left with hardly any sports gear, has acquired new skates and ice hockey sticks. The club now has 200 pairs of skates and adequate number of ice hockey sticks, says Mr Bhavnesh Banga, secretary of the club. It was now in a position to hire out sports gear to young boys and girls who were keen to take up the sport. Most of the regular members had their personal equipment. This year the season got underway in the last week of November as usual, but only 13 skating sessions have been possible till today because of rain and cloudy weather. A clear sky is must for water to freeze naturally. Nevertheless, the management of the club is hopeful of a normal season with anything between 60 to 80 sessions. With snow becoming increasingly scarce in the “Queen of Hills” ice-skating is a major attraction for winter revellers. The winter carnival to be held in the last week of December, the annual Gymkhana in January are the high points of the season. The seasons come to an end by January 31 normally. However, if the temperature remains low and the weather condition is favourable, morning session is possible even up to February 15. Meanwhile, work has been started to construct a new pavilion with all modern facilities. The Union Ministry of Sports had provided Rs 52 lakh for the project. The club has hiked the membership fee from Rs 400 to Rs 500 for children and from Rs 750 to Rs 850 for others from this season. |
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Postal service erratic in Hamirpur Hamirpur, December 14 The majority of the residents now prefer to send their important mails by courier at rates higher than government rates to ensure timely delivery. The town is divided into eight beats as per load of mail fixed in 1984. Since then the population and the area of the town has increased manifold but there has been no change in the number of the beats. There are only seven postmen in the town to deliver registered and ordinary mail to a population of about 25,000, as against the immediate requirement of 10 postmen. Recently, two postmen died and one proceeded on leave. It is difficult for the others to cover the entire town. As such, they are able to deliver the mail only once as against twice daily. Residents of the town said today that during the past fortnight they had found mail lying at the entrances of their houses as it was kept during odd hours by postmen. One of the postmen said the root of the problem was the shortage of staff. He said the situation would become normal only when two more persons joined duty and started delivering mail in their respective beats. A spokesman for the Department of Posts said there was no question of increasing the beats and the number the postmen in the town. He claimed that the volume of mail had gone down in the town. However, a spokesman for the postal employees contested this claim of the department. He said the department was not measuring the volume of the mail received or sent from Hamirpur, including the newspapers, packed bundles and magazines. According to him, money for such mail was already collected by the department from senders. He demanded the posting of more postmen not only in the town but also in other parts of the district. |
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Make public list of favoured candidates: NSUI Shimla, December 14 Addressing a press conference here today, he urged the government to complete the inquiries into the recruitment scam pertaining to the State Subordinate Services Selection Board and Kangra Central Cooperative Bank. He said the computer hard disk exposures had rattled the BJP and it was using Mr S.M. Katwal, former Chairman of the Board, to malign Congress leaders. He said the connivance of the BJP was obvious from the fact that the Katwal tapes had "doctored" the conversation of Congress leaders alone and not a single BJP leader figured in it. The conversations were "manipulated" as evident from the tapes. The portion in which Mr Virbhadra Singh had chastised Mr Katwal for not doing justice to a meritorious candidate who appeared thrice for interview, had been erased and there was no continuity in conversation. He urged the government to conduct a probe into the entire record of telephone calls made from the offices of the Chief Minister and other BJP ministers to the Chairman of the board at Hamirpur so that the truth could be known. |
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Horticulture varsity amendment leads
to lobbying Solan, December 14 Substituting the existing provisions of allowing the seniormost head of department to act as Dean of college in his absence, it has now been provided that the seniormost professor could occupy the chair. A similar provision has been made for the post of Director of Research. Dr
A.R. Bhandari who is head of the Soil Sciences Department is holding the additional charge of Dean (College of Forestry). Dr Jagmohan who is Dean (College of Horticulture) is also holding the additional charge of the Department of Extension Education. Dr
A.N. Kaushal, being the seniormost professor in the college of forestry, is optimistic of occupying the post of Dean (College of Forestry) and Dr S.D. Sharma being seniormost in the college of horticulture is now vying to get the post of Director of extension education. While the amendment states that the changes should come into force immediately, dilatory tactics are reportedly being adopted by the authorities. With Dr
A.N. Bhandari due to retire on January 31, efforts are being made to ensure that no changes are made prior to his retirement. Resentment prevails among a section of scientists who feel that a crucial department like extension education was being handled on an additional basis. While a regular and independent head was being advocated for the post, it was observed that its working comprised mostly
DRDA-supported workshops. |
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Students’ rally decries Pak support to terrorism Palampur, December 14 Later a rally was also held on the campus of Capt Vikram Batra Degree College, where ABVP leaders said that despite ceasefire on LOC, terrorist activities in the Jammu and Kashmir had gone up and daily innocent people were being killed by militants. ABVP leaders urged the international community to ask Pakistan to dismantle all training camps in Pakistan. Only then peace could return to South Asia. Earlier the activists held a torchlight procession in the town and warned leaders of the nation against misusing public money. |
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Rehri workers’ strike enters third day Chamba, December 14 In a press statement issued here today, Mr Rijhu Ram, president of the union alleged that the local civic body was harassing the rehri owners for the past several months. He claimed that activists of the Students Federation of India (SFI) and the Naujawan Janwadi Sabha have also joined their hunger strike. |
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Ex-serviceman stoned to death Solan, December 14 Two persons identified as Geeta Ram of Malo-Ki-Baan village and Ramesh Kumar of Badhlag village were taken into custody by the police on the charge of committing the murder. SP Abhishek Trivedi said here today that the victim and the two arrested persons entered into a brawl after consuming liquor. Raju was first beaten up and then stoned to death. The victim belonged to Badota village.
— UNI |
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3 held under Narcotics Act Kangra, December 14 The house of Kishori Lal, alias Sonu at Khanna under Jawalamukhi police station was raided. Vijay Kumar, resident of Nangal Beheen, Dehra and Kuldeep Singh, resident of Manakpura Pati, Anandpur Shaib, were arrested from there. A case under Section 20, 61, 85 of the Narcotics Act has been registered. |
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Bear kills boy; parents to get relief Mandi, December 14 The mutilated body of the boy was brought to the village. The police handed over the body to the relatives after a post-mortem examination. The Divisional Forest Officer, Mr
G.R. Sahibi, said Rs 10,000 would be given to the parents of the boy as immediate relief under the Indian Wildlife Act. After completing formalities, the remaining amount of Rs 90,000 will also be disbursed to them, he said. |
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Dental conference ends Kumarhatti, December 14 The conference focused on the recent developments and inventions both in India and aboard. The specialists, while delivering lectures on different topics, today laid stress on more development in dentistry. The forensic development in the dentistry in country was the need of the hour, they stressed. The students later presented colourful culture programme. |
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Sundernagar, December 14 |
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Dist admn to hold Nalwaadi fair Bilaspur, December 14 April this year notification that states national and state-level fairs and festivals would be organised by district administrations with assistance of local bodies. The district-level fairs and festivals would be managed by panchayats or
temple/devta committees as directed by the deputy commissioners concerned. Deputy Commissioner Subhasheesh Pand has said here the Nalwaadi fair would be organised by the District Administration. During the past three years, the fair was organised by BJP-dominated Nagar Parishad here. |
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