HP to be fully electrified by 2000
SHIMLA, April 6 — Himachal Pradesh will achieve the target of 100 per cent electrification by the end of the current financial year. This was stated by Mr P.K. Dhumal, Chief Minister, in the state assembly while replying to the discussion on the budget estimates of the state electricity board for 1999-2000.

Separate sub-cadre for tribal areas
SHIMLA, April 6 — The Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal, today announced creation of a "tribal and difficult areas sub-cadre" in the services for speedy filling up of vacant posts in various government departments in tribal areas.

Forest Minister’s resignation sought
MANDI, April 6 — The Mandi District Congress President, Thakur Sher Singh, today demanded resignation of Himachal Forest Minister Thakur Rup Singh for alleged spurt in timber smuggling.

US Embassy official calls on Speaker
SHIMLA, April 6 — Ms Wylma C.S. Robinson, Second Secretary for Political Affairs, US Embassy, and Mr Dinesh Dubey, Political Adviser, called on Mr Gulab Singh, Speaker of the Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha, today.

HP to be fully electrified by 2000
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, April 6 — Himachal Pradesh will achieve the target of 100 per cent electrification by the end of the current financial year.

This was stated by Mr P.K. Dhumal, Chief Minister, in the state assembly while replying to the discussion on the budget estimates of the state electricity board for 1999-2000. He said as per a survey conducted by the government in 1988, 4182 villages were without electricity. Out of these, 3472 hamlets had been provided electricity by March, 1998. The target for last year was 320 and the remaining 390 villages would be covered during the current year.

Defending the government's decision to assign some important projects to the National Hydel Power Corporation, Mr Dhumal said while the state had no funds, the response of the private sector was far from encouraging and in the situation the best course to ensure speedy exploitation of vast hydro-electric potential was to offer projects to Central agencies.

He said the government was also trying to make best use of the manpower and expertise available with the board. It was executing the 126 mw Larji project and the 16 mw Kholli project. The government might eventually assign the Uhl staff-III project to it.

Referring to the opposition criticism of the Parbati project agreement, he said had the state gone for 25 per cent equity participation, it would have to invest over Rs 4000 crore, which was beyond its means. The state was already under heavy debt burden because of the 'expensive' loans raised by the Congress regime.

The decision to set up an electricity regulatory authority was in the interest of the board, the consumers and the state as it would get loans from the Power Finance Corporation at a lower rate of interest.

Earlier, Mr Virbhadra Singh, Leader of Opposition, cautioned the government that offering a large number of projects to Central agencies was not in the interest of the state. "One should not put all eggs in one basket, he said. The state had erred by not having any equity participation in the Parbati projects. As a result of this, it would have no say in the execution and management of the project, he claimed.

He further claimed that the Congress government had made a new beginning by having a joint venture with the Centre in the Nathpa Jhakri Project. The same arrangement should have been made for the Parbati project.

He also opposed the setting up an electricity regulatory authority on the ground that there was no need for such an agency at present.

Mrs Vidya Stokes said the state should pressurise the Centre for restoring the incentives for mini hydel projects. In the absence of incentives, the private sector was shy of taking up projects which involved a lot of investment.

Mr Kaul Singh urged the government to appoint a permanent chairman of the state electricity board at the earliest. The funds earmarked for the Larji project could not be utilised last year because of the alleged failure of the government to provide adequate staff. The consumption of power by industries had come down, which was a matter concern.

Mr Chander Kumar urged the government to make use of the remote sensing cell for preparing detailed reports for micro hydroelectric projects.

Mrs Asha Kumari said the Parbati project was not likely to provide employment to Himachalis as the NHPC would get the works executed through contractors. There should have been a clause in the agreement stipulating that a minimum of 35 per cent of the works be carried out departmentally.

Mr Yoginder Chand said environmental impact of the hydroelectric projects must be taken into consideration. The problem of silt should also be taken care of in view of the experience of Bhakra and Pong dam projects.

Mr Singhi Ram said employees of the board on secondment with the NJP should be repatriated and fresh recruitments made from among local youth.

Separate sub-cadre for tribal areas
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, April 6 — The Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal, today announced creation of a "tribal and difficult areas sub-cadre" in the services for speedy filling up of vacant posts in various government departments in tribal areas.

Mr Dhumal made this policy statement in the Vidhan Sabha.

He said that vacancies in under-staffed tribal and difficult areas of the state will be filled on priority basis and vacancies in other areas will be filled only after post in the tribal and difficult areas remained vacant.

He said that the BJP had raised the issue of the poor functioning of government institutions in tribal and difficult areas during the previous Congress regime. The matter has been raised in the Assembly from time to time.

Earlier, during question hour, Mr Dhumal said that preliminary investigation of 66 hydroelectric projects has been completed in the state. These have the potential to generate 6790 MW of power.

He said that a target of adding 2140 MW of power has been fined for the next four years.

He was replying to a question tabled by Thakur Kaul Singh, Mrs Viplove Thakur and Mr Singhi Ram (Cong).

In reply to a question tabled by Mr Chander Kumar (Congress), the Chief Minister said that 575 prisoners were lodged in various jails on March 18,145 of them lifers.

Row delays shops allotment
From Bijender Sharma

JAWALAMUKHI: Owing to apathy of the government and a row over the allotment of shops, the new shopping complex set up at Jawalamukhi has been lying unused for the past one and half years. While the people have been facing a lot of problems in the existing market, the government has also been suffering due to loss of shop rent.

The existing market in the heart of the town is very congested: The market presents a disorderly look with mud and garbage scattered all over and a stink in the air. Stray cattle around the market usually block traffic on Nadaun road, on which the market is situated.

The market has not been able to cater to the needs of the town's fast-increasing population. Both vegetable growers and consumers have to face a lot of hardship.The then Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh, approved a new shopping complex at Jawalamukhi in 1996 and the first phase of the complex was completed in 1998. Construction work is still going on. The shopping complex was constructed by the Dehra Samiti block and more than Rs 35 lakh have been spent on the project. The complex has a provision of 170 shops, including a 10 room guest house and a bank building.

Although construction of the first phase of the complex was completed 18 months ago, the administration has not been able to begin shifting the vegetable market to its new venue.

According to sources, the monthly rent of the shops is expected to be raised by over 50 per cent after allotment of shops. A dispute over shop allotment is said to be one of the reasons behind the inordinate delay. The local traders have been demanding that the shops be allotted to them at a reasonable rent, whereas the authority wants to rent out the shops at the market rate.

Enquiries made by this reporter reveal that at least 15 shops were recently allotted to certain persons. This has led to resentment among shopkeepers and they allege that the shops were allotted to those very persons who had encroached on the land where the market has been built or those who have been favoured by block officers. In some cases allotment has been made to those, who already own shops in the town.

It is further alleged that at least two shops were allotted to relatives of a senior functionary of the block samiti. Not only that, certain allottees have sublet these shops for handsome amounts. In the process, certain individuals have made a fortune whereas some have been deprived of their right.

Although Chief Minister, Prem Kumar Dhumal has assured shopkeepers of a high-level inquiry into the matter, but nobody has tried to solve the problem of traders and to investigate the state of affairs. Efforts have been made to hush up the matter.

Pong Dam as tourist spot
Tribune News Service

DHARAMSALA, April 6 — Governor V.S. Rama Devi today said that the Pong Dam should be developed as a tourist spot as water sports were getting popular.

The Governor was speaking at the inaugural function of National invitational water regatta at the dam today. She said the dam had immense potential to meet the requirements of water sports lovers. Mrs Rama Devi said by developing the site, the state could attract a large number of tourists.

The governor lauded the efforts of the Directorate of Mountaineering and Allied Sports in conducting such competitions.

As many as 12 teams from various states and eight teams from Himachal Pradesh comprising 250 participants are taking part in the four-day competition.

Forest Minister’s resignation sought
From Our Correspondent

MANDI, April 6 — The Mandi District Congress President, Thakur Sher Singh, today demanded resignation of Himachal Forest Minister Thakur Rup Singh for alleged spurt in timber smuggling.

He said the hotel where timber over Rs 1 crore was seized was ironically located in the constituency of the Forest Minister. If a beat guard of that area could be arrested by police, there was no justification for Mr Rup Singh to continue as Forest Minister.

Mr Sher Singh (Congress) had been defeated from Sundernagar by Mr Rup Singh (BJP) in the last elections.

He took strong exception to the construction of a multi-lakh fountain in front of the hotel of Mr Sukh Ram's son and alleged that HVC supremo was blackmailing Mr Dhumal for personal favours.

Mr Sher Singh also issued the list of vice-presidents, general secretaries and secretaries of 10 constituencies of Mandi district.

US Embassy official calls on Speaker
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, April 6 — Ms Wylma C.S. Robinson, Second Secretary for Political Affairs, US Embassy, and Mr Dinesh Dubey, Political Adviser, called on Mr Gulab Singh, Speaker of the Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha, today.

The speaker apprised them of the composition and functioning of the Himachal Pradesh legislative assembly. They also discussed matters of mutual interest, especially with reference to the developmental needs of the state.