HP for SC status for "tarkhans"
SHIMLA, April 13 — The Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha today unanimously adopted a resolution asking the Centre to accord the status of Scheduled Castes to "tarkhans".

Air Force officer drowns in Beas
PALAMPUR, April 13 — An Air Force officer drowned in the Beas near Dehra yesterday.

HPAS officers demand gunmen
DHARAMSALA, April 13 — The HP Administrative Services Association said that despite the attack on the SDM, Chopal, they would continue to fight against the menace of copying in the examinations.

Spectre of drought in Himachal Pradesh

SHIMLA, April 13 — Concerned over the spectre of drought looming large over the state, The Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, today assured the House that the government would take all possible steps to mitigate the misery of people and ensure regular supply of water in scarcity-hit areas.

Making a suo motu statement in the Vidhan Sabha he said if the lowering discharge of water sources was any indication large areas of the state would be facing an acute shortage of drinking water. Summer had arrived much earlier and the situation in the beginning of April had become as serious as used to be in the month of June in the previous years. Reports of water scarcity had already started pouring in from different parts.

The government had prepared an elaborate plan to deal with the situation and instructions had been issued to Deputy Commissioners, Irrigation and Public Health Department and other concerned agencies to identify villages likely face water shortage with the help of panchayats and non-government organisations. They had been asked to make plans for alternative arrangements to supply water.

Besides ensuring uninterrupted power supply to lift drinking water schemes, faulty hand pumps would be repaired on a war footing and more hand pumps would be installed in scarcity villages on priority. Natural sources of water would be maintained properly and treated to ensure safe water.

A complete ban had been imposed on the use of drinking water for other purposes. Among the long-term measures, a plan had been prepared to harvest rain water from roof tops. In fact, water harvesting structure had been made compulsory in the urban areas for all buildings.

Earlier, Mr Virbhadra Singh, Leader of the Opposition objected to Chief Minister making a statement. He said it was a ploy to deny the Opposition the opportunity raise a discussion on the issue. However, Mr Gulab Singh, Speaker, overruled the objection and said the Chief Minister had given notice for making statement much earlier than members.

Mr Virbhadra Singh said the steps listed by Mr Dhumal were inadequate as they addressed only to the drinking water problem and there was nothing to deal with the impending crop failure, both agricultural and fruit, and shortage of fodder.

He said monsoon was far away and much would be required to be done for the affected people in between.

Mr Dhumal said the government was seized of the problem and it would take necessary steps as and when the situation warranted.

Meanwhile the Assembly passed the state Electricity (Supply) Amendment Bill seeking to make the choice for appointment of members and chairpersons of the state electricity board.

The amendment will pave the way for the appointment of members of Parliament and MLAs as member of the board.

Opposing the Bill Mr Virbhadra Singh, said his party was against the politicisation of a premier institution like the electricity board.

He said by allowing MPs and MLAs on the board floodgates would be opened for its politicisation. He said this also explained why the government had failed to appoint a regular Chairman of the board for the past over four months.

He urged the Chief Minister to withdraw the amendment which was a retrograde and politically motivated step.

Mr B.R. Mandyal said there was no justification in not allowing MPs and MLAs from becoming a member of the board, particularly when there were precedents when defeated politicians had been accommodated in institutions like the Public Service Commission.

Mr Dhumal allayed the fears of the Opposition regarding the politicisation of the board and said the amendment was only aimed at enlarging the scope of choice for appointing members. He said politics could be played by any one, not only by a politician.

The Bill was passed with voice vote. The House unanimously passed the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly (Allowances and Pension of Members) Amendment Bill without any discussion after incorporating an amendment. The Bill, seeks to increase the halting allowance for members from Rs 250 to Rs 300 per month, constituency allowance from Rs 4500 to Rs 5500 per month and secretariat and postal allowance from Rs 1000 to Rs 4500 per month.

Grant of trees to right holders
CM for consensus on vital issues
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, April 13 — Mr P.K. Dhumal, Chief Minister, today called for a consensus on vital issues like rationalisation of grant of trees to right holders under the timber distribution (TD) rules and strongly pleaded for a national policy to save the Himalayas.

Intervening during the debate on illicit felling of trees, encroachments on forest land and misuse of timber distribution rights, Mr Dhumal said the irrational and undesirable practice of granting trees worth thousands of rupees to right holder for a meagre Rs 2 could not be allowed to continue endlessly. The huge difference in the price of trees allotted under these rules and the market value of timber was a great temptation for the right holders to sell timber on the black market.

The only way out was either to do away with the distribution of trees altogether or increase the allotment price suitably to reduce wide gap between market price and TD rates. However, such a decision could be taken only collectively. There was no point in trading charges against each other and the members must rise above party lines to arrive at the desired decision.

Mr Dhumal also called for a national policy to save the Himalayas, which should cover all the states. The hill states which were being deprived of the forest revenue must be compensated.

Referring to the menace of illicit felling, Chief Minister said anti-social elements whose only objective was to mint money indulged in such acts whichever party might be in power. Forest was an open wealth and as such was difficult to protect.

Initiating a discussion, Mr Kaul Singh said the forest mafia had again become active in the state and reports of illicit felling and smuggling of timber were pouring from various parts of the state. There had been numerous instances of timber of the forest corporation being set afire to cover the shortages.

The government was not making any serious effort to stem the rot. Several posts were lying vacant in the department and new barriers were not being set up. The field staff should be given weapons to take on the forest mafia.

Mr Yoginder Chand said the inability of the department to check encroachments on forest land could be gauged from the fact that there were over 9000 recorded cases of encroachments involving over 18000 hectares of forests. While the number of Chief Conservators had increased from one to 18 over the past 30 years, there had been hardly any increase in the field staff, even the divisions had not been organised rationally. There were seven ranges in Chopal division but only two ranges in Jubbal and Kotkhai.

Cases of illicit felling and other malpractices had increased after the formation of the forest corporation. He urged the government to wind up the corporation and hand over the timber extraction work to the department, which was doing earlier.

Mr Ram Lal Thakur, expressed concern over the depletion of forest cover and said illicit felling and smuggling of timber could not take place without political patronage.

Mr Sukh Ram said forest cover could be saved only if the people living in the hills were provided with alternative to fuel wood. He strongly pleaded for setting up small hydel projects to provide cheap power to villagers.

The Supreme Court verdict in the Kutlehar forest case had exposed the erstwhile rulers of state, who had been plundering the forest wealth. Efforts should be made to pin down those who aided and abetted in this loot.

Vidhan Sabha adjourns
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, April 13 — The Himachal Vidhan Sabha today adjourned sine die after a six-week Budget session.

The session had 21 sittings, including two private member's days. The session commenced on March 4 and Mr P.K. Dhumal presented the Budget on March 9. There was an eight-day recess from March 18 during which standing committees of the House scrutinised the budget which has finally passed on March 31.

About a dozen bills were passed, including the Bill seeking an increase in the allowances of members, protecting the depositors against unscrupulous non-banking finance companies, amending electricity supply Act to pave way for appointment of MPs and MLAs, as chairpersons and members of the state electricity board and imposition of special road tax on motor vehicles.

The new industrial policy and new transport policy were also discussed during the session.

HP for SC status for "tarkhans"

SHIMLA, April 13 (PTI) — The Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha today unanimously adopted a resolution asking the Centre to accord the status of Scheduled Castes to "tarkhans" (carpenters).

The House also discussed the setting up of a state transport development council to look into the problems of the transporters.

The proposed council also provides for opening of drivers' training schools in public and private sectors and exemption of taxes on bus services on unmetalled roads.

Air Force officer drowns in Beas

PALAMPUR, April 13 (PTI) — An Air Force officer drowned in the Beas near Dehra yesterday.

According to police sources, a group of Air Force officers and men had come to visit the Chamukha Mahadev Temple near Dehra and latter went to have a swim in the Beas.

Sqdn. Leader Pankaj Sharma drowned in the river after attempts to save him failed.

HPAS officers demand gunmen
Tribune News Service

DHARAMSALA, April 13 — The HP Administrative Services Association said that despite the attack on the SDM, Chopal, they would continue to fight against the menace of copying in the examinations.

In the meeting of the HPAS cadre and other Revenue Officers, here they resolved that they would continue their fight against anti-social elements involved in copying during examinations or encourage it. The members also demanded that since they were called upon to maintain law and order and take action against those violating the law, they should be provided with a gunman for their security.