HP industrial policy in
three months
Tribune News Service
SHIMLA, July 10 — Mr P.K. Dhumal, Chief Minister, today said the Virbhadra Singh government modified the industrial policy framed during the BJP regime in 1991 to grant additional benefits to the cement industry.
Intervening during question hour, he said the Congress vehemently opposed the cement plants in Opposition but on assuming power it prepared a "negative" list under which certain incentives were denied to selected industries, inapplicable to the "B" category blocks in which major cement plants were located.
He informed the House that the Centre had extended income tax exemption to industries in the state up to 2001. He also informed the House that the state had taken up with the Centre the case for extending the transport subsidy given to the state up to 2007, as was being proposed for the north-eastern states.
Earlier, replying to the main question of Mr Kaul Singh, Mr Kishori Lal, Industries Minister, said the government had set up a task force for formulating an industrial policy.
It's report was expected within three months.
Mr Roop Singh Thakur, Forest Minister, assured Mr Mohan Lal that the government would take all possible steps to contain the problem of soil erosion in the Tisa area of Chamba district.
He said landslides and sinking of land had damaged 17 km length of roads and endangered certain villages. The total loss had been assessed at Rs 2 crore. The government had already spent Rs 38 lakh on restoration measures.
He said the government would also consider the suggestion for setting up an independent agency for effectively implementing the soil conservation measures.
Mr Mohinder Singh, Rural Development Minister, told Mr Praveen Sharma that a mini secretariat building had been constructed at Rampur at a cost of Rs 2.81 crore.
Answering another question, Mr J.P. Nadda, Health Minister, informed Mr Yogendra Chand that against 160 sanctioned posts of the paramedical staff in various institutions, in the Chopal subdivision as many as 86 were vacant. He said efforts were afoot to train some categories of manpower to fill the vacancies.
Mr Mohinder Singh, Minister for Rural Development, informed the House that the government proposed to appoint a Gram Panchayat Vikas Adhikari (GPVA) for every two panchayats. He said the process for filling the 308 posts was underway.
Mr Narinder Bragta, Horticulture Minister, told the House that during the ensuing season, 2.57 crore boxes of apple were likely to be produced in the state. The government had made all arrangements for marketing of the crop and it had already signed an agreement with 1200 truck operators of Patiala and Ropar for transporation of the produce.

Crisis due to Budget deficit underplay
Tribune News Service
SHIMLA, July 10 — Mr P.K. Dhumal, Chief Minister, today blasted the previous Congress governments for underplaying the Budget deficit to the Ninth Finance Commission plunging the state into a perennial financial crisis.
Replying to the four-day debate on the general discussion on Budget in the state assembly, he said the Congress government had been misleading the people by stating that the commission, which adopted a normative approach, under-assessed the state's committed liabilities and over-assessed the revenue, whereas the fact was that it took 1989-90 as the base year for making the recommendations. The then Virbhadra Singh government had concealed the true Budget deficit for the year which cost dearly to the state. As against the actual deficit of Rs 171.75 crore, the Budget showed a deficit of only Rs 8.79 crore. The commission recommended devolution of funds on the same scale.
The Tenth Financial Commission provided some relief to the state but it also expressed concern over the increasing unproductive expenditure. It pointed out that against the national average of 52 per cent, the state's non-Plan expenditure was a high as 72 per cent. Similarly, the number of employees was also on the higher side. While the total employees constituted 5.5 per cent of the total population in Punjab, in Himachal the percentage was 7.2. The commission had observed that while the states were free to increase the number of employees, it would not be appropriate if the government had to borrow to pay them.
He said it would have been appropriate for the Congress leaders if they accepted the mistakes of their government rather than trying to put the blame on the Finance Commission.
Criticising the Congress government for indiscriminately raising loans, he said he had tried to make a new beginning by proposing a minor dose of taxes to mobilise own resources.
He said the Opposition members, barring Mr J.B.L. Khachi, opposed fresh taxes but they did not realise that it was a better option than raising loans. It was the worst type of taxation as the huge interest liability put an additional burden on the people. The previous government which presented four tax-free Budgets raised Rs 74.95 crore through backdoor taxation over the period.
He announced reduction on sales tax on edible oils from 8 per cent to 6 per cent quoting comparative rates of commodities for March, when his government assumed office, and July, he asserted that there was no abnormal increase in the prices.
The Chief Minister refuted the charge that his government had demoralised bureaucracy and alleged that it was the Congress regime which tried to politicise it. He said it was common knowledge that the previous chief secretary was considered for the party ticket and he was granted extension in service to deny the deserving seniormost bureaucrat his due. Besides, the Congress government also tried to pressurise officers to toe its line on the eve of election by advancing the process for writing annual confidential reports from April to January, which defied logic.
He took exception to the manner in which the government opened schools, dispensaries and other institutions which were not included in the Budget midway during the year to win votes. However, he declared that his government would make these institutions, which lacked buildings, staff and other facilities, functional.
Referring to the Budget priorities, Mr Dhumal said that despite a grim financial position, the allocation for core sectors had been enhanced substantialy. For instance, the outlay for education had been enhanced by over 90 per cent, for roads by 89 per cent and for social welfare by 121 per cent.
He dismissed the criticism of the decision to set up a subordinate selection board as misplaced and said it was being set up to end the unhealthy tradition of "recruitment on chits" started by the Congress government and ensuer fair play in the selection of candidates.
He declared that the government would not hesitate in taking action against economic offenders and anti-social elements and dispelled apprehensions of the Congress members on this court.
The House was adjourned for a nine-day recess during which the standing committees will scrutinise the demands for grants pertaining to various departments. The committee system has been introduced in the assembly for the first time.

Himachal BJP forms working panel
Tribune News Service
SHIMLA, July 10 — The state BJP chief, Mr Suresh Chandel, today constituted a 30-member working committee of the party with the Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal and Mr Shanta Kumar, MP, on it. The presidents of 21 frontal organisations and committees will be permanent invitees.
He also dissolved the district unit of Hamirpur and nominated Mr Anand Swaroop as the new district chief of the BJP.
The other members of the state working committee are Mr Maheshwar Singh, MP, Mr Nagin Chandra Pal, Mr Kishori Lal, Mr J.P. Nadda, Mr Roop Singh Thakur, Mr Vidya Sagar, Mr Kishen Kapoor, Mr I.D. Dhiman, Mr Mansa Ram, Mr Narendera Bragta, Mr Roop Dass Kashyap, Mr M.N. Sofat, Ms Shyama Sharma, Mr R.R. Kaundal, Dr Rajan Sushant, Mr Mohan Lal, Mr Parveen Sharma, Mr Vipin Parmar, Dr Shiv Kumar, Mr Karamdev Dharmani, Mr Suresh Bhardwaj, Mrs Renu Chaddha, Mr Subhash Sahor, Mr Ram Nath Sahni, Mrs Shakuntala Kanwar, Mr Ram Singh, Dr Ashok Kapahatia and Mr Kali Ram Kalet.
The special invitees are Mr Des Raj, Mr Virendera Sehgal, Mr Rakesh Verma, Mr Aswani Dogra, Mr Rakeshs Pathania, Mrs Pawna Chaudhary, Mr Gurcharan Singh, Mr Sat Pal, Mrs Vimla Kashyap, Mr Jay Ram Thakur, Mr Chander Sen Thakur, Mr S.K. Jasta, Mr Chet Ram Negi, Mr Ram Chand Bhatia, Mr Babu Ram Mandial, Mr Ganesh Dutt, Mr Karamvir Verma, Mr Anand Singh, Kanwar Vijay Singh, Mr Tulsi Ram and Mr Rohtash Chandra.
The permanent invitees include Mr Joginder Negi, Dr Harbans Rana, Mr Virender Kashyap, Mr Heera Singh Thakur, Mr Kanhaya Lal Thakur, Mr Anand Swaroop, Mr Ravinder Machhan, Mr Ram Dass Malangar, Mr K.K. Gupta, Mr Dinesh Sen, Mr Subhash Thakur and Mr Hishe Dogia.