The Tribune...Himachal

H I M A C H A L
P R A D E S H

Wednesday July 8, 1998

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today's calendar

HP plea to Centre on ecology
SHIMLA, July 17 — The Himachal government has opposed the move of the Centre to take out the hydroelectric projects from the purview of the Water (prevention and control of Pollution) Cess Act, 1977...

Palampur's role in HP politics
PALAMPUR: Palampur was earlier known as "palam", the land of brave soldiers who had laid down their lives for the unity and integrity of the country in three wars that took place after independence. It has also played a major role in the state politics in the past three decades...

Building bylaws being violated
DALHOUSIE, July 7 — Several land transactions, by way of "benami" deals on power of attorney have been detected here. The Town and Country Planning Department and the municipal committee seem to be ignorant of the unwarranted constructions in the core of the city...

Raising day of project celebrated
MANDI, July 7 — The four-day celebrations to mark the raising day of the Beas Sutlej Link (BSL) project concluded at Pandoh Dam site today. A large number of state government officials were present besides members of the BSL project...
CM lists 100 days' achievements
SHIMLA, July 7 — Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, Himachal Chief Minister, said today that bringing about emotional unity of people of different areas of the state, which had been impaired seriously by the vicious propaganda of the Congress during elections, was the biggest achievement of his government during its short term in office...
Appointment of Mahajan hailed
SHIMLA, July 7 — Appointment of Mr Sat Mahajan as chief of the Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) has been welcomed by senior partymen...
US envoy calls on Dhumal
SHIMLA, July 7 — The US Ambassador, Mr Richard Celeste, called on the Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, here today...

HP plea to Centre on ecology
Tribune News Service
SHIMLA, July 7 — The Himachal government has opposed the move of the Centre to take out the hydroelectric projects from the purview of the Water (prevention and control of Pollution) Cess Act, 1977.
Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, Himachal Chief Minister, has sought intervention of the Union Minister for Environment and Forests, Mr Suresh Prabhu, for keeping the matter in abeyance so that the entire gamut of issues concerning the environmentally fragile hill state could be discussed before arriving at a final conclusion.
In a letter to Mr Prabhu, he said the move to exclude hydrolectric projects from the list of specific industries which utilised water covered under the act would have a highly adverse effect on the resources of the fund-starved state and it would put a brake on the efforts of the state to combat overall ecological deterioration. He said it was a retrograde step and instead of going ahead with the Bill to amend the act the issue needed to be comprehensively referred back to the Parliamentary Standing Committee.
He pointed out that the Government of India was itself of the view that hydroelectric projects had an adverse impact on environment, in fact the

Ministry made environmental impact assessment and formulation of management plans thereof mandatory in respect of 29 categories of projects including hydro power generation.
The decision to bring hydel power plants in the purview of the act was taken in April, 1993 after carefully considering their adverse impact on environment. The main objective was to help augment the resources of the Central Pollution Control Board and the various state boards so that they could take effective measures to mitigate the adverse effects of these projects. While the state Pollution Control Board was in the process of levying the cess on hydel projects located in the state, the Ministry of Environment informed the board through a letter that these projects were being excluded from the purview of the act on the recommendation of the related standing committee of Parliament. It was advised to await final decision of the Government of India on the matter and not to proceed further with the imposition of the cess. He pointed out that the standing committee never consulted the state government or the state Pollution Control Board before making a recommendation for the withdrawal of hydel power plants from the list of specified industries on which cess was leviable under the act.
Mr Dhumal expressed surprise that on one hand the act was being amended to increase the chargeable rate of cess from four to 15 paise per kilo litre and on the other hydro electric power generation was being excluded from its purview altogther.
The government of Himachal Pradesh had assessed an amount of over Rs 360 crore, recoverable annually from bodies such as the Bhakra and Beas Management Board, the National Hydel Power Corporation and the state power boards of Punjab and Himachal which had set up projects in Himachal Pradesh. Since the cess was to be levied from April 1993, the arrears on this account came to over Rs 1800 crore.
Mr Dhumal said he would also take up the matter with the Prime Minister and urge him, not to introduce the proposed Bill to amend the act till the state's point at view was heard and considered.

Palampur's role in HP politics
From Ravinder Sood
PALAMPUR: Palampur was earlier known as "palam", the land of brave soldiers who had laid down their lives for the unity and integrity of the country in three wars that took place after independence.
Palampur has also played a major role in the state politics in the past three decades. During the Congress rule as well as under the BJP regime, Palampur always remained in prominence. Palampur not only produced a Chief Minister of the state, but also had three Congress presidents from the region. Till recently, PCC President Sant Ram, who belongs to this region, was the seniormost minister in the Congress government.
In the Himachal Pradesh politics, Palampur always shared a major part of the power. Prominent leaders like Kunj Behari Lal Butail, late Pandit Amar Nath Sharma and late Bakshi Partap Singh hail from this region.
It is the irony of fate that at present Palampur is neglected and unrepresented in the present government. It has become a "no man's baby". In the 1993 assembly elections, the Congress won four seats out of five. Mr Virbhadra Singh inducted three ministers in his Cabinet from this region. Pt Sant Ram, Mr Brij Butail and late Man Chand Rana. But in the recently concluded assembly elections of 1998, the BJP returned three

MLAs, but none of them was made minister by Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal.
Palampur, an important political centre, was once humming with political activities. The BJP as well as the Congress were giving due priority to the development of Palampur. There used to be all-important meetings of political parties here. In those days it was difficult for the common man to get a room in government owned rest houes and tourist bungalows.
Long queues of visitors and vehicles could be seen outside the private residence of Mr Shanta Kumar. Senior officials were also the regular visitors to senior BJP leaders. But because of the changed political scenario in the state, all political activities here have come to a standstill. Even government officials are feeling hesitant in calling on Mr Shanta Kumar. All rest houses here wear a deserted look. In Hotel Yamini, the residence of Mr Shanta Kumar, only a few visitors can be seen.
In the past three months it was noticed that officers loyal to Mr Shanta Kumar had failed to get choice postings. Last month 10 loyal MLAs of Mr Shanta Kumar submitted a joint written request to Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal for the posting of an IAS officer as Deputy Commissioner, Kangra, but the same was turned down by the Chief Minister.
The differences between Mr Shanta Kumar and Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal are known to everybody in the state. Both do not see eye to eye with each other. Mr Shanta Kumar keeps himself away from various political platforms, where Mr Dhumal is to preside over.
During the past week, Mr Dhumal visited Thural and Sullah, two adjoining constituencies of Palampur, in connection with the inauguration of a school building and a health centre, but did not enter Palampur. The differences between the two have not only affected the smooth functioning of the BJP government, but has also put a question mark on the future of various development projects going on here.
The BJP government has done a commendable job in the past three months in trying to come up to the expectations of the people, but BJP politicians of the region have failed to exploit the situation and get benefits.

Building bylaws being violated
From Our Correspondent
DALHOUSIE, July 7 — Several land transactions, by way of "benami" deals on power of attorney have been detected here.
The Town and Country Planning Department and the municipal committee seem to be ignorant of the unwarranted constructions in the core of the city.
Although the Dalhousie Municipal Act says that while getting a housing proposal passed, a provision of half an acre of plot has to be taken into account, yet in several cases the rules have been flouted. The plans are being approved without getting the land cleared by the revenue authorities.
The planning area beyond the municipal limits has been left out of the framework of development. As a result, unauthorised constructions and encroachments are springing up everywhere.
The Town and Country Planning Department, however, maintains that as many as 30 defaulters have been served with notices for violating the building by-laws and provisions of the Town Planning Act.
Residents of the area have urged the state Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, to order an inquiry into the matter.

Raising day of project celebrated
From Our Correspondent
MANDI, July 7 — The four-day celebrations to mark the raising day of the Beas Sutlej Link (BSL) project concluded at Pandoh Dam site today. A large number of state government officials were present besides members of the BSL project.
Maj Gen R.R. Oberoi, Chairman, Bhakhra and Beas Management Board, inspected the guard of honour in front of martyrs memorial arms were reversed in honour of 212 engineers and workers who laid down their lives while executing one of the world's largest hydel power project.
On this day in 1977 the BSL project had been completed. Maj Gen Oberoi said it was a historic event which witnessed the man-made confluence of the two mighty rivers flowing miles apart. The water of Beas had been diverted to Sutlej by constructing a 320-meter-high earth-cum-rockfill dam at Pandoh through a 38-km water conductor system, the largest in the world. The fall of Beas water at Dehar had been utilised for generation of 990 mw power.
He said the BSL project was a marvel of Indian engineering skill. The project was designed and executed by indigenous know-how.

He called upon engineers and workers to rededicate themselves for realising dreams of the common man.
Maj Gen Oberoi also distributed medals and prizes to the members of the BSL project for doing exemplary work in different spheres.
Earlier welcoming the chief guest Mr S.K. Duggal, Chief Engineer, disclosed certain facts about the gigantic Beas Sutlej link project.
He said about two lakh tonnes of steel was used in the construction of the project which was sufficient for laying a broad-gauge railway line between Delhi and Madras. Over one lakh tonne reinforcement steel was consumed in the project which was enough for building 1.5 lakh houses. The earthwork done to the tune of 330 lakh cubic meters could have constructed 20000 km road (16-foot wide). Twenty lakh cubic meters cement used in the project would have been sufficient to construct a single-lane concrete road covering the entire sea coast of the country.
During the four-day celebrations, the BSL authorities organised eye camps where operations were done and medicines and eye lenses were given free of cost.
Sport event were organised and funds were also collected by lottery tickets for the Red Cross. A fair was also organised at Sundernagar.
A photo exhibition displaying pictures of different stages of construction of the BSL project at Pandoh was an added attraction. A film of the BSL project was also exhibited.

100 days in office: CM lists achievements
Tribune News Service
SHIMLA, July 7 — Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, Himachal Chief Minister, said today that bringing about emotional unity of people of different areas of the state, which had been impaired seriously by the vicious propaganda of the Congress during elections, was the biggest achievement of his government during its short term in office.
Addressing a press conference to mark the completion of 100 days of his government here today, Mr Dhumal said the new regime had dispelled all misgivings spread against the BJP by its actions over the past three months. It had taken several decisions to show that it would not discriminate against any area or section of people.
Citing examples he said while the BJP was dubbed anti-apple growers, the first decision his government took was to increase the support price for apple. Unlike previous years, the price was announced well before the start of harvesting and without waiting for the growers to launch a stir. Similarly, it selected Hamirpur, where the BJP won all five seats, and Sirmaur, where the Congress made a clean sweep of all seats, for the upgradation of district hospitals into zonal hospitals, indicating that there would be no discrimination due to political consideration in the matter of development. Further, by securing central aid of Rs 300 crore, the government had allayed the growing feeling among the people that it would never get a fair deal from the Centre. Even in opening new schools, health and veterinary institutions emphasis was on covering the left-out areas, and removing imbalances created by the previous government.

The Chief Minister said that he had tried to redeem as many promises as possible in the first budget. Besides, despite financial crisis, it had increased the outlays for core sectors of the economy with a view to generating employment opportunities, eradicating poverty and ensuring equitable development of all areas.
Annual plan for 1998-99 had been increased to Rs 1425 crore from Rs 1008 crore for the preceding year, an increase of 41 per cent and out of this an outlay of Rs 316 crore had been provided for agriculture, irrigation and public health and rural development. Besides another Rs 276 crore would be spent under schemes sponsored by the Centre, National Bank for Agricultural and Rural Development and the Power Finance Corporation.
Rural housing programme had also been given priority and as many as 18,500 houses were proposed to be built during the year. Another 400 houses were to be built for government employees.
Top priority had been given to the hydel power generation sector with an outlay of Rs 318.29 crore.
Mr Dhumal said his government had adopted the party manifesto as a policy document and it would give due consideration to the manifesto of its coalition partner, The Himachal Vikas Congress since there were many common points. Implementing the two documents would not pose any problem.
He said the demand of the HVC for setting up a coordination committee for the smooth functioning of the alliance and handing over the charge-sheet submitted against Mr Virbhadra Singh by the party to the CBI were under consideration of the government.
He said a coordination committee would help sorting out mis-understanding on trivial matters between the two parties.
He said with more financial assistance coming from the Centre in the near future, the state would enter an era of economic prosperity with all sections of society getting a fair deal.

Appointment of Mahajan hailed
Tribune News Service
SHIMLA, July 7 — Appointment of Mr Sat Mahajan as chief of the Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) has been welcomed by senior partymen.
A former Chief Minister, Thakur Ram Lal, has said that Mr Mahajan has the capacity to rejuvenate the party. Ms Sonia Gandhi, AICC president, had done the right choice in making Mr Mahajan the PCC Chief.
A former speaker, Mrs Vidya Stokes said that there could be no other better choice than Mr Mahajan because of his wide experience in politics and organisational matters.
Congress MLAs, Thakur Kaul Singh, Mrs Viplove Thakur, Mrs Asha Kumari and Mr Harsh Mahajan have also welcomed his appointment.

US envoy calls on Dhumal
Tribune News Service
SHIMLA, July 7 — The US Ambassador, Mr Richard Celeste, called on the Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, here today.
They discussed the hydroelectric potential of the state and other issues of mutual interest.
Mr Celeste also called on Mr Gulab Singh Thakur, Speaker of the Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha.
The Ambassador went round the Legislative Assembly hall housed in the historic "council chamber" building constructed in 1925.