Dharamsala Kulu Mandi Shimla

Probe appointments, demands Virbhadra
 SHIMLA, Dec 8 — The Leader of the Congress Legislature Party and former Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh, has demanded an inquiry into all appointments by the BJP-HVC government in violation of rules and regulations since it came into power in March last year by a sitting Judge of the High Court.

Coop flounders in political mud
MANDI : The future of the Mandi Industrial Cooperative Society, which has 4613 members and a share capital of over Rs 1 crore — the largest in the state's cooperative sector — is now uncertain due to alleged political bungling.

Himachal staff threaten stir
DHARAMSALA, Dec 8 — The Himachal Employees Confederation has threatened that in case the government fails to fulfil their demands by March 25, next year, they will be forced to resort to direct action.

Governor visits Kangra temples
DHARAMSALA, Dec 8 — Himachal Governor, Vishnu Kant Shastri, today said that to make Himachal a financially sound state, the government should promote tourism and tap the immense hydel power potential.

New HP transport policy from Jan 1
PALAMPUR, Dec 8 — The new passenger transport taxation policy in Himachal will come into effect from January 1, 2000, which would benefit over 5000 transporters in the state.

7 die in mishaps
KULU, Dec 8 — Two persons were reported killed near Ropa village in the Hanjar sub division of this district yesterday, evening while the truck No HP-49-0977 rolled down into a deep gorge.

• Probe ordered into bitumen purchase

HP scheme put on hold
From Rakesh Lohumi
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Dec 8 — Launched with much fanfare last year, the time-share scheme of the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation has come a cropper. Poor market response has forced the management to keep the three-year scheme on hold from December 1.

Under the time-share concept tourists were offered inflation-free accommodation for a specified number of days in a year at various hotel complexes in prime destinations for a period of 20 years. The scheme envisaged sale of 9516 units, involving an investment of Rs 15,000 to Rs 1.25 lakh per week, depending on the season, to net Rs 48 crore.

However, the corporation could actually sell only 139 units during the past one year. The total investment in units came to Rs 68 lakh, less than 10 per cent of the anticipated amount.

Inappropriate timing coupled with indifferent marketing spelt doom for the scheme. Senior officers of the corporation point out that the scheme was launched at a time when the time-share market was at the lowest ebb. In fact, the time-share scheme had earned a bad name in the market as most private companies and certain public undertakings, which floated such schemes, did not fulfil the promise.

While huge funds were raised by promoters, the proposed properties were never built. Consequently, the investors lost faith in the time-share concept.

The scheme flopped despite all the attractive features due to poor marketing effort. Unlike other schemes, which involved a minimum of three years of waiting as properties were to be built from the funds raised through sale of units, the corporation had offered its functioning properties and the investor could immediately utilise the unit.

Besides, the entire investment was to be returned to the purchaser after the end of 20 years, the total period of the scheme. In case an investor wanted to withdraw at any point after a year, he was entitled to a refund of 60 per cent of the investment.

The purchaser could split exchange, transfer to another destination, advance, postpone, club together and gift the units.

The main reason for lack of response from the investors was that the corporation lacked professional skills to market such a scheme. It ventured into an area in which it did not have any experience. It also failed to seek the advice of experts or hire a marketing agency. The scheme was not properly advertised and investors were unaware of its salient features.

Senior officers of the corporation admit that the response was not encouraging but they refuse to accept the scheme as a failure. The main reason for the suspension of the scheme is that it may become a major hurdle in case the government decides to go for disinvestment or privatise some properties of the corporation. Sooner or later, privatisation is inevitable and as such the corporation cannot afford to sell out its accommodation for a period of 20 years.

However, those who have already purchased the units will be allowed to utilise these as per the scheme. Out of the 139 units sold, 71 were premium (peak season), 53 high and 15 normal. The maximum number of 27 units were sold from the Khajjiar complex, followed by 26 for Holiday Home, Shimla, and 24 for Hadimba Cottage, Manali.

Though the scheme has been officially suspended, ultimately it is likely to be wound up.

Hotel staff’s contract cut short
From Pratibha Chauhan
Tribune News Service

DHARAMSALA, Dec 8 — The abrupt and illogical decision of the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC), to disengage its 210 employees on contractual basis, has not only adversely affected the functioning of the hotels, especially during the tourist season, but has also left the employees in the lurch.

Through an order dated December 2, the HPTDC authorities have directed officials at the various units in Himachal to immediately disengage the services of these 210 employees, some of whom had been working with them for the past three to four years. The decision of the authorities has come as a surprise as the contract of these employees had to end on December 15 and could be renewed, depending upon the requirement.

Following the orders from the Managing Director, HPTDC, more than 24 employees engaged at the various hotels of the HPTDC in Kangra district have been removed from service with immediate effect. As a result, the situation has become so bad that there aren’t enough waiters and sweepers to run the hotels, including Dhauladhar Hotel, Yatri Niwas, Kashmir House, Bhagsu Nag Hotel and Tea-Bud Hotel at Palampur.

The employees of the HPTDC themselves admit that due to this abrupt decision the working of the hotels is getting affected, as it is the peak tourist season around Christmas and New Year. Sources in the corporation pointed out that the authorities had possibly acted in haste as the matter was likely to be raised during the Vidhan Sabha session by the Opposition members. "It is very strange that without bothering for the adverse effect that the decision would have on the services and the name of the organisation the authorities disengaged the services of these 210 employees in the state", commented one of the employees.

In the latest order, it has been directed that the staff on contractual basis who had to be disengaged by July 15, was still continuing and should be disengaged immediately. Due to legal problems there is the tradition of engaging people on contract basis during the tourist season and during the off season they are removed. However, with a few more days for the contract to expire these employees were suddenly removed and at a stage when the season was just picking up.

In the latest order it has also been made clear that if the persons on contract basis are not disengaged immediately, the recovery of the salary to these people will be made from the in charge of the unit apart from disciplinary action against them. At a stage when we were preparing for Christmas and New Year’s Eve in a big way the decision has come as a shock and it is a very well-known fact that the hotel industry is very competitive and lack of services could be very damaging in the long run," said one of the employees.

The employees on contractual basis who have been removed say the government has done great injustice to them. It has become a practice in the HPTDC that those who are removed during the off season period are engaged after that. As a result some of them have been associated with the HPTDC for years together.

Probe appointments, demands Virbhadra
Tribune News Service

 SHIMLA, Dec 8 — The Leader of the Congress Legislature Party and former Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh, has demanded an inquiry into all appointments by the BJP-HVC government in violation of rules and regulations since it came into power in March last year by a sitting Judge of the High Court.

In a statement here today, he rejected reports of the Harsh Gupta and Shukla committees against appointments during the Congress regime and described these as a "nefarious campaign by the Dhumal government to malign-me".

He alleged that appointments had been made by the present government in various departments, boards and corporations in violation of rules and regulations on political considerations. The government should inquire into these allegations if it was really concerned about upholding rules, regulations and norms in the matter of public appointments.

By not doing so, the government was only "exposing" itself and made it apparent that its sole motivation was to indulge in a false propaganda to "malign me and the previous Congress government".

He demanded that the commission of inquiry should also look into reports of the Harsh Gupta and Shukla committees to "nail the government".

The Harsh Gupta inquiry committee which had probed the alleged irregularities in recruitment to government jobs was reported to have submitted its report and the government had constituted a sub-committee under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary to look into it.

He demanded that in all fairness the names of persons along with departments in which they had been appointed, the date of appointment and the nature of alleged irregularities should be made public immediately.

If this was not done, the Congress would not hesitate to take recourse to legal action to cull out the facts and to put an end to "this campaign of calumny and disinformation", he warned.

Mansa Ram flays Virbhadra's charge
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Dec 8 — Mr Mansa Ram, Food and Supplies Minister, who also holds additional charge of the Social and Women Welfare Department has expressed surprise over the statement of Mr Virbhadra Singh, former Chief Minister, in accusing the present government of deliberately relegating to the background the Himachal Pradesh Maintenance of Parents and Dependants Bill, passed in 1996 by the Vidhan Sabha.

Denying the allegation, he said the Bill was sent back by the Government of India in 1997 during the Congress regime with certain observations for reconsideration. However, the Congress government failed to send the Bill back to the Home Ministry after doing the needful.

He said the present government took keen interest in the matter and got the Bill examined by the Law Department.

Thereafter, it was put before the Cabinet which decided to constitute a committee consisting of different political and religious leaders to reach a consensus so that people belonging to all religions irrespective of their mode of worship agreed to look after their aged parents. He said the meeting of this committee was held on November 19, 1999 and its recommendations would again be put up before the Cabinet.

Mr Mansa Ram said the present government in the state under the leadership of Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal was committed to the welfare of all sections in the state, particularly the vulnerable and weaker sections of society.

Mr Karan Singh, Primary Education Minister, has also taken a strong notice of the statement of Mr Virbhadra Singh that the government had not taken any step to implement the state regarding compulsory primary education.

In a rejoinder issued here today he said the rules under the Act were published in the gazette dated November 25, 1999 and a copy of these rules had been sent to the Vidhan Sabha for placing on the table of the House.

Mr Karan Singh said with the coming into force of these rules and other path braking decisions like launching of the Saraswati Bal Vidya Sankalap Yojna, which aimed at improving infrastructure in the primary schools and construction of 13, 612 rooms within three years and recruitment and positions of "vidya upasaks" to meet the shortage of teachers in the schools, the primary education would be on a sound footing in the state. The present government was committed to achieve universalisation of primary education in the state at the earliest possible.

He said the schools which were opened by the previous government without any provision of staff, accommodation and budgetary provision to gain political mileage, had also been made functional.

Coop flounders in political mud
From Kishori Lal

MANDI : The future of the Mandi Industrial Cooperative Society, which has 4613 members and a share capital of over Rs 1 crore — the largest in the state's cooperative sector — is now uncertain due to alleged political bungling.

Established in 1982 for manufacturing vanaspati, the society had to abandon the project for many reasons. A huge piece of land had been allotted to it in the local Industrial Area the A part of land was taken back from it when it failed to set up the vanaspati unit.

After the vanaspati project flopped, its board of directors decided to set up a flour mill at the allotted site. A few months ago the Himachal Industries Minister, Mr Kishori Lal, laid the foundation stone of the flour mill.

A meeting of the general house called on October 31, to elect a new board of directors, was marred by hooliganism and bedlam. Most of the members present at Beas Sadan to elect a new body dispersed in the din as they were sore over the manner in which politics crept in and attempts were made to thrust a managing committee from above and pressure was allegedly exercised on government machinery to ensure that certain particular persons must be elected. This led to chaos.

It is alleged that handful of members stayed back when over 90 per cent of members left Beas Sadan and elected a self-styled managing committee. Legal experts are also questioning the validity of the so-called election.

An inspector of the Cooperative Department, Mr Hari Singh Saini, in a letter dated November 18, wrote to the Director-cum-Secretary of the society that "your case for loan of Rs 1.40 crore was being sent back because the election had not been held in accordance with law".

Mr Manjit Singh, one of the former directors, says the letter of the inspector is an official admission of the fact that the so-called election held on October 31 was illegal.

Mr Saini had further reported to the Assistant Registrar that the Mandi Urban Cooperative Bank should be directed to seal the entire accounts of the society till the new board of directors was duly elected in accordance with the law.

What has roused fears-among the shareholders is the letter of the Assistant Registrar dated November 20, directing the same inspector, Mr Hari Singh, to ensure that all records of the society should be handed over to the new managing committee. Members allege that the vested interests were out to grab the society through political pressure. They also fear misappropriation of society funds.

Members are pressing two main demands. First, proper election should be held through secret ballot in the presence of responsible officers. Secondly the board of directors should be elected zone-wise to ensure proportionate representation to all zones.

It has further been demanded that till the new elections are held an administrator should be appointed to look after the society affairs.

Himachal staff threaten stir
Tribune News Service

DHARAMSALA, Dec 8 — The Himachal Employees Confederation has threatened that in case the government fails to fulfil their demands by March 25, next year, they will be forced to resort to direct action.

Talking to reporters here today, the vice-president of the association Mr L.C. Patyal, Regional Secretary, Mr Sushil Nag and Mr V.K. Kaul, accused the government of taking decisions without taking them into confidence. "Even the decisions that the government is taking are not being implemented as has been the case in house rent allowance, in which the notification has not been issued so far," they lamented.

The employees leaders demanded that the government should immediately give regular jobs and facilities to the Home Gaurd personnel who were performing duty equal to that of police men. They said that a CBI inquiry should be ordered into the charcoal scam, in the Mandi circle of the PWD and the stores should be sealed immediately.

The employees leaders said that though the government was crying hoarse over the financial crisis but it had appointed a large number of persons as Chairmen and vice-Chairmen of Corporations and Boards, which was putting unnecessary burden on the state exchequer.

The leaders said that awareness campaigns for the employees would be held at the sub-divisional level from January, 5.

Governor visits Kangra temples
Tribune News Service

DHARAMSALA, Dec 8 — Himachal Governor, Vishnu Kant Shastri, today said that to make Himachal a financially sound state, the government should promote tourism and tap the immense hydel power potential.

Talking to reporters at Kangra today, where he had come to offer prayers at the Brajeshwari temple, the Governor said that there was immense potential for tourism in Himachal, and tourists from all over the world should be attracted. "With the adverse impact on tourism in Jammu and Kashmir due to militancy, Himachal should try to encash on the tourist flow," he stated.

The Governor, said that power sector was another field where Himachal could do a lot and become a financially sound state. He was of the opinion that improvement should be made in educational institutions in the state by maintaining academic atmosphere.

Before arriving at the Kangra temple, the Governor offered prayers at the Jwalamukhi temple, along with his brother, Shri Kant Shastri.

JAWALAMUKHI: Mr Shastri also visited the shrine of Jawalamukhi in Kangra district.

Mr Shastri arrived at the local Rest House early this morning and drove to Jawalamukhi temple. During his two-hour long stay at the temple, the Governor offered prayers and performed havan. He was received at temple by the Deputy Commissioner Kangra, Mr B.K. Aggarwal.

Later, talking to the traditional priest and baridars of the temple, the Governor asked the priests to maintain the sanctity of the premises. He advocated to promote the temple tourism in the state.

He also visited the Brajeshwri Devi temple at Kangra and Chintpurni temple in Una district.

New HP transport policy from Jan 1
From Our Correspondent

PALAMPUR, Dec 8 — The new passenger transport taxation policy in Himachal will come into effect from January 1, 2000, which would benefit over 5000 transporters in the state.

Under the new policy circulated by the government, substantial relief had been given to the passenger transport industry of the state and long-outstanding demand of the industry to cut tax rates had been accepted by Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal. The state government expects that after the implementation of the new policy evasion of passenger tax would be checked.

According to reliable sources, the tax will be charged on the basis of per kilometre covered by the buses instead of 40 per cent of the total freight being charged from the transporters under old policy. It is revealed that the rate of road tax will be Rs 3.50 per km.

Under this scheme, the overall average occupancy of the passenger transport would be considered 31 per cent and in a year and the transporters will also get holiday of 30 days for repair and passing of the buses.

7 die in mishaps
From Our Correspondent

KULU, Dec 8 — Two persons were reported killed near Ropa village in the Hanjar sub division of this district yesterday, evening while the truck No HP-49-0977 rolled down into a deep gorge. The dead who died on the spot, were identified as Sita Ram son of Beli Ram and Devender Lal son of Mr Dolu Ram both residents of Sidhwan village.

One person Daulat Ram was injured and admitted to district hospital here. His condition was reported to be critical. Two more persons who were also travelling in the ill-fated truck had minor injuries.

The district administration has granted Rs 10,000 each to the next of kin of the killed and Rs 3000 as an immediate relief.

Mr Karan Singh, Minister of State for Primary Education, Mr Maheshwar Singh MP expressed grief and sympathy with the bereaved families.

UNI add: Five tourists were killed and eight others injured when a jeep carrying them skidded off the road and fell on the bank of the Beas near Marri, 20 km from Manali, in Kulu district in Himachal Pradesh today, police sources said here.

The deceased were being identified. One of the seriously injured was taken to a nearby hospital.

The jeep was going from Manali towards the Rohtang Pass, which was closed to traffic due to snow.

Probe ordered into bitumen purchase
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Dec 8— The state government today ordered the Divisional Commissioner of Mandi to inquire into the alleged irregularities in the purchase of bitumen by the central zone office of PWD, Mandi.