Rusting aero-generator
From Mahesh Chander Sharma
SUNDERNAGAR: Thalot, a village situated on the national highway, 30 km from Mandi, has the only aero generator not only in Mandi district but in the central zone consisting of the five districts of Mandi, Kulu, Lahaul and Spiti, Bilaspur and Hamirpur, as well.
This wind generator, estimated to cost Rs 1 crore, was installed in November 1988. This wind generator of 25 kw capacity , has been imported from the Netherlands and is sufficient to cater the need of this village ( 60 to 70 houses). This aero- generator was installed following the state government's decision to promote non-conventional energy through the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board.
The residents of this village were happy when this unique machine which was producing electricity from wind energy was installed but their happiness was short-lived as the residents could enjoy this facility only for five months. The sails of this generator stopped moving in March 1989 due to a mechanical defect. After this the structure is standing idle for more than nine years. A school-going girl from this village told this correspondent that she had not seen its sails move since childhood.
When enquiries were made regarding the non-functioning of this aero-generator, the HPSEB officials said a fan of this machine had developed a defect. Details about the defect had been sent to Electrical Division, Gohar. The officials claimed that they had written a letter to the higher authorities in 1990. Since then the machinery is lying idle. An official seeking anonymity, told this correspondent that the firm which supplied this machinery did not exist at all that is why its repair could not be carried out.
Some officials say Himurja, a HP Government concern which deals with non-conventional energy, is not cooperating with it. On the other hand, Himurja says that control of the site is with the HPSEB and they never got any letter asking for repair of the aero-generator.
According to an official source, the repair involved is not much but the machinery has started to erode due to apathy. Repairs are being delayed due to negligent handling by the department and due to a communication gap between various government departments. The aero-generator could not generate electricity for more than nine years and there is no hope of power generation in the near future.
In March when a school party visited this place, the teacher, accompanying the students while explaining the working of this aero-generator, remarked about its non-functioning. A student then asked whether it could be called a white elephant. "Sure", the teacher replied.

Cong has open mind on Sukh Ram's re-entry
Tribune News Service
SHIMLA, July 16 — The newly appointed chief of the Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC), Mr Sat Mahajan, yesterday said that he had an open mind on the issue of the Himachal Vikas Congress leader, Mr Sukh Ram, returning to the Congress fold.
Mr Mahajan was talking to newsmen immediately after being formally installed as the HPCC chief in the headquarters of the party here in the morning.
He, however, made it clear that Mr Sukh Ram was expelled from the Congress by the AICC and it was for the party high command only to decide whether to revoke his expulsion or not.
He said he would study the differences among the leaders of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) and try to sort them out so as to give a united picture of the party. It would be ensured that there was cohesiveness in the CLP, he added.
Mr Mahajan said he would go in for a total revamping of the party.
He said he would not be subjective while tackling the problems within the party and would try to come up to the confidence reposed in him by Ms Sonia Gandhi.
The new HPCC chief said he would meet the grassroot level workers of the party in all the 12 districts before recasting the PCC and DCCs.
He said his main task was to "liquidate" the BJP government in the state which would most probably fall under its own weight.

CM-Ram Lal affinity alarms Congress
From Rakesh Lohumi
Tribune News Service
KOTKHAI (Shimla), July 16 — The growing affinity between Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister, and Mr Ram Lal, a Senior Congress leader, as evident during their two-day tour of Upper Shimla, has set alarm bells ringing in the main opposition Congress.
The development is politically significant as it could have serious implications for the faction-ridden Congress, which has already lost power in the state. It also indicates that the truce arrived at between Mr Ram Lal and Mr Virbhadra Singh, a former Chief Minister, on the eve of the assembly election was only a temporary affair and that the two leaders are drifting apart.
Mr Dhumal and Mr Ram Lal not only shared a common platform but also showered praises on each other. All the more significant was the fact Mr Ram Lal, instead of attending the party function at which Mr Sat Mahajan formally took over as president, chose to accompany the Chief Minister.
The veteran Congress leader, who caused much embarrassment to Mr Virbhadra Singh, who is also the CLP leader, by backing the government on certain issues in the Vidhan Sabha, went a step further by publicly announcing that he would extend unstinted support to Mr Dhumal in matters pertaining to the development of the state and appreciate his 'good work' irrespective of the consequences.
In his speeches, Mr Dhumal repeatedly reminded Mr Ram Lal that he has not been accorded the respect he deserved by Mr Virbhadra Singh, who had allegedly neglected his constituency and even humiliated him. The only 'fault' of Mr Ram Lal and the people of Kotkhai was that they had defeated Mr Virbhadra Singh, a sitting chief minister, in the 1990 assembly poll, Mr Dhumal added.
He said Mr Ram Lal was like his elder brother and he would not only accord due respect to him but also seek his valuable advice for speedy uplift of the state.
Mr Ram Lal reciprocated the gesture by complimenting the chief minister for securing an assistance of Rs 300 crore in just three months and taking a prompt decision on the support price for apple and other problems of the growers.
Mr Narinder Bragta, the Minister for Horticulture, who also hails from the Kotkhai area, has played an important role in bringing, Mr Ram Lal and Mr Dhumal closer. The BJP strategists feel that this approach would enable the party to expend its base in Shimla district, which has been a stronghold of the Congress.
Mr Dhumal has caused considerable concern in Congress circles by his latest move. The party, which suffered a jolt when its legislator, Mr Gulab Singh, was elected Speaker as a candidate of the BJP-HVC combine, is in for a tough time.