Noisy scenes in Himachal Assembly
SHIMLA, Dec 20 — Noisy scenes were witnessed in the Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha today while the Himachal Vikas Congress leader, Mr Sukh Ram, was giving an explanation on the remark made by a Congress MLA saying that his expulsion from the Congress would not be revoked.

Special road tax on all vehicles
SHIMLA, Dec 20 — The Himachal Government has decided to impose a special road tax on all carriages operating in the state in place of the existing passenger tax from January 1, 1999.

House adjourned sine die
SHIMLA, Dec 20 — The Himachal Pradesh Assembly was adjourned sine die by Speaker Gulab Singh Thakur here today after a 12-day winter session.

Instructions of CVC flouted
SHIMLA, Dec 20 — In utter disregard for instructions of the Central Vigilance Commission banning post-tender negotiations, the Himachal Forest Corporation has allotted a contract for the transportation of timber by river-floating to a party which did not apply for the tender.

Neogal project pact signed
SHIMLA, Dec 20 — The construction of hydroelectric projects in Himachal Pradesh will get a boost now with the Power Ministry transferring hydel projects of up to 25 MW capacity to the Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources.

Teachers’ union demands arrears
HAMIRPUR, Dec 20 —The HP Government School Teachers Union has served a notice on the state government asking it to grant them arrears as per the new pay scales within a month or face an agitation. This was decided at a meeting of the state executive committee of the union held here yesterday.

Teachers lament govt decision
BILASPUR, Dec 20 — The HP State Primary Contract Teachers Association has strongly condemned the government's decision not to extend their contracts and appoint matric pass "vidya upasak" on JBT posts in primary schools.

Centre to have ‘say’ in temple reforms
JWALAMUKHI, Dec 20 — The state Governor, Mr Vishnu Kant Shastri, has made it clear that the proposed reforms relating to the set up of temples in Himachal Pradesh will be undertaken in consultation with the Union Government.

Noisy scenes in Himachal Assembly
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Dec 20 — Noisy scenes were witnessed in the Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha today while the Himachal Vikas Congress leader, Mr Sukh Ram, was giving an explanation on the remark made by a Congress MLA saying that his expulsion from the Congress would not be revoked.

Mr Sukh Ram announced that neither had he sought re-admission in the Congress and nor he had any intention to merge his HVC with the BJP or the Congress.

He pointed out that apprehensions had been expressed even by the BJP camp that he might join the Congress. There was no truth in such reports as the HVC had been formed with the blessings of the people whose faith in the party had been increasing, he said.

There was pandemonium in the House as the Congress members, including Mr Virbhadra Singh, took objection to the points raised by Mr Sukh Ram and wanted him to confine his remarks to his personal explanation rather than tracing the genesis of the formation of his party.

Mr Sukh Ram said he had the right to explain his position and would not be cowed down by the Congress members.

The Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, also supported Mr Sukh Ram's right to explain his position.

Congress members were on their feet several times during the course of Mr Sukh Ram's explanation and nothing was audible in the din.

At one point, Mr Virbhadra Singh heard describing Mr Sukh Ram as a "monument of corruption".

The Congress members insisted that Mr Sukh Ram should not utilise the opportunity of giving a personal explanation for listing achievements of the employment generation committee of which he was the Chairman.

Mr Sukh Ram said he had resigned as Minister for Public Works and Power and the chairmanship of the committee was not a big thing for him.

Mr Virbhadra Singh demanded that he should confine himself to his personal explanation as any statement regarding functioning of the committee could only be made by the minister concerned.

Mr Sukh Ram said the state was prospering under the chief ministership of Mr Dhumal and not a single detailed project report regarding any power project had been prepared during the regime of Mr Virbhadra Singh.

During a discussion on recruitments made to various boards and corporations between January 1, 1994, and November 30, 1999.

Special road tax on all vehicles
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Dec 20 — The Himachal Government has decided to impose a special road tax on all carriages operating in the state in place of the existing passenger tax from January 1, 1999.

Stating this in a written reply the Transport Minister, Mr K.K. Kapoor, informed Mrs Viplove Thakur that the tax would also be levied on the buses of the State Road Transport Corporation and buses coming to Himachal from other States. The State Motor Vehicles Taxation Act had been amended to give effect to the new tax.

Mr Roop Singh, Forest Minister, today informed the Vidhan Sabha that 70 per cent of the posts in direct recruitment of forest rangers had been reserved for forestry graduates but they would have to clear the prescribed examinations to avail themselves of the quota.

Answering a volley of questions on the issue, he said that under the existing recruitment and promotion rules 55 per cent posts were filled through promotions from the Deputy Ranger cadre and the remaining 45 per cent through direct recruitment. The government had now reserved 70 per cent of the posts to be filled by direct recruitment for forestry graduates. They would, however, have to pass the examination like other eligible candidates.

Replying to a supplementary of Mr J.B.L. Khachi, he said there was difference in the curriculum of the courses run by the Forest Research Institute, Dehra Dun, and the State Horticulture and Forestry University and as such they could not be deemed as equivalent. All forestry graduates could not be appointed as rangers in the Forest Department.

Intervening in the matter, the Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal, said the candidates undertaking various courses could not be assured jobs within the state. They should be able to compete at the national level.

The Chief Minister informed Mr Yoginder Chand that the proposal for setting up a 1 MW micro hydel project in the Nerwa area of Chopal had been rejected by the UNDP, the funding agency. A non-government organisation had prepared the project report.

The Transport Minister told Mr Kaul Singh that out of the total 1831 buses of the Himachal Road Transport Corporation 420 buses had completed the stipulated mileage. The corporation had up to November 30, 1999 purchased 147 new buses and condemned 116.

The Chief Minister informed the House in a written reply that from April 1, 1998 to November 30, 1999 six chairpersons of boards and 20 officers went on foreign tours.

Suspension bridge turns death-trap

MANDI: A suspension bridge over the Bakhli, a tributary of the Beas, at the tail-end when it merges with Pandoh Dam, has become a death-trap. Early this month two girls, Rajni and Rooma, fell into the lake while crossing the bridge. They were going home from school.

As luck would have it a driver, Khushi Ram, saw the girls falling. Without missing a moment he jumped into the lake and saved the little girls. This is one of many such mishaps, say villagers. Neither has the BSL authorities nor the state government taken any steps to rebuild or at least repair the dilapidated bridge.

The bridge connects the most backward Nachan and Chachiot valleys of Mandi district. It is used by hundreds of people including children daily. Mules and horses use this bridge to carry essential commodities to the valley. The two girls who fell into the lake had gone to the side to give way because horses were coming from the other side. They fell down as the wooden railing on both sides was broken.

During a visit it was found that the wooden logs laid on the floor had worn out and developed holes. These had been covered with thin iron sheets which could give way any time. Some people were taking even Maruti vans over this bridge perpetrating the risk to pedestrians.

While the gigantic Beas-Sutlej Link Project constructed 22 years ago by linking the two mighty rivers of the Himalayas ushered in an era of prosperity in the beneficiary states of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan, it left a trail of miseries on the land where it was built. The fact that Himachal was denied a share in the project is another story.

The silt flowing from the open hydel channel and the Sundernagar reservoir has turned the fertile Balh valley into a desert. The BBMB has been evading construction of a channel to drain out the silt from the valley. Payment of paltry compensation is no solution to the problem.

All natural water sources atop the 26-km-long two tunnels of the BSL project have dried up causing untold hardship to people living in a large number of villages. No amount of compensation can restore the lost water resources.

The BSL and Bhakra projects were built largely on Himachal Pradesh territory. Despite the fact that these projects were financed by the Centre, people wonder why Himachal was denied its rightful share in these projects. Himachalis have undergone great hardship due to the construction of these projects. Thousands of Pong Dam oustees have been left homeless for three decades.

The residents of about 40 houses of Khiuri village where 13.10 km Pandoh-Baggi tunnel passes through the hydel channel live in fear because of the tremors caused by the strong water currents. The water here strikes with full force against 10-ft high RCC wall at the opening of the tunnel. Most of the houses have developed cracks.

The BBMB authorities should take appropriate measure to mitigate the miseries of the people caused by the construction of the BSL project, which is yielding huge income to beneficiary states.

Instructions of CVC flouted
From Rakesh Lohumi
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Dec 20 — In utter disregard for instructions of the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) banning post-tender negotiations, the Himachal Forest Corporation has allotted a contract for the transportation of timber by river-floating to a party which did not apply for the tender.

The case came to light in the Sawra forest division of the corporation. The Divisional Manager had floated tenders for various works, including the transporation of timber from Dodra Kanwar, through river-floating in the Ruping khud. Since the labour mates, who carry out felling and transporation, were on strike, there was no response. Thereafter, the corporation decided to invite applications for these works on August 27.

In the meantime, the mates met the Chief Minister on September 10 and sought his intervention for the acceptance of their demands. They subsequently held talks with the Managing Director of the corporation and called off the strike.

Fresh tenders were invited by the corporation on September 21 and were opened on October 4. The Divisional Manager accepted the lowest tender and accordingly recommended to the higher authorities that work be awarded to Mr Shamsher Singh.

While he was awaiting a letter from the corporation for the award of the contract, the Managing Director allotted the work to another party, which had not applied for the tender, on October 14 on the basis of an application invited earlier.

This was not only against rules and procedure but also a violation of the instructions issued by the CVC to eliminate corruption and bring transparency in the process.

The plea of the corporation that the rate quoted in the application was much lower than the rate quoted in the tender did not hold as work could not be awarded on the application after inviting the tender. Even if the rate quoted in the tender was higher, negotiations should have been held with the lowest bidder. In case the negotiations failed, fresh tenders should have been invited. Moreover, the CVC has clearly laid down that no post-tender negotiations can be held, except in case of deals with the lowest bidder. However, this procedure was not followed.

Another intriguing aspect is that the party which quoted a very low rate in the application did not participate in the tender.

The aggrieved party has now sought judicial intervention.

House adjourned sine die

SHIMLA, Dec 20 (UNI) — The Himachal Pradesh Assembly was adjourned sine die by Speaker Gulab Singh Thakur here today after a 12-day winter session.

In all, there were eight sittings during the session during which various Bills were passed.

The Salaries and Allowances of Ministers (Himachal Pradesh) Amendment Bill, 1999, and the Salaries and Allowances of Deputy Ministers (Himachal Pradesh) Amendment Bill, 1999, were also passed by the House.

These Bills aimed at levying from ministers, ministers of state, deputy ministers, Chief Parliamentary Secretary and Parliamentary Secretary licence fee at the rate of 10 per cent of their salary per month for government residential houses occupied by them.

The House ratified an amendment to the Constitution to extend reservation to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes for another 10 years as already adopted by both Houses of Parliament.

Neogal project pact signed
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Dec 20 — The construction of hydroelectric projects in Himachal Pradesh will get a boost now with the Power Ministry transferring hydel projects of up to 25 MW capacity to the Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources (MNES).

This was announced here today by the Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, during the ceremony of signing of the power purchase agreement (PPA) for the Neogal hydroelectric project which is being constructed by M/s Om Power Corporation Ltd.

Mr Dhumal said he had received a letter from the Energy Minister, Mr P.R. Kumaramangalam, today along with a copy of the government notification transferring the projects up to 25 MW capacity to the Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources.

Earlier, projects of only up to 3 MW were controlled by the MNES. Now projects, up to 25 MW will also receive these incentives.

The PPA for the Neogal project was signed by Mr M.L. Gupta, Chief Engineer, HPSEB, and Mr C.P. Kothari, Managing Director, Om Power Corporation.

Interestingly, this was for the first time that leaders of the Opposition also took past in any such ceremony ever since the BJP government led by Mr Dhumal came to power.

Among those present on the occasion besides Mr Dhumal were former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, Congress MLA Thakur Ram Lal and senior Congress legislator J.B.L. Khachi.

Mr Dhumal said the presence of the Opposition leaders at the ceremony indicated the coming of a new era where all leaders had risen above party politics for development schemes.

He said it was his endeavour to undertake development with the support of the Opposition. He hoped other party leaders would rise above party politics for the purpose.

Mr Virbhadra Singh said industrialisation would receive a boost in Kangra district with the coming up of the Neogal project. Thakur Ram Lal described the project as a milestone in the development of the state.

The Neogal project in Kangra district envisages an installed capacity of 15 MW. Utilising a design flow of 4.4 cusecs and a net head of 389 metres, the generated power shall be stepped up to 33 KV and transmitted to the HPSEB grid system at Dehan (Palampur).

The project, likely to be completed at a cost of Rs 91 crore in a period of 54 months from now, shall generate 81.56 million units. On the completion of the project, the state shall get 12 per cent free power which will mean about 9.64 million units of energy per year. The HPSEB shall purchase the entire power generated from the project.

Uniform aid for martyrs not possible: Dhumal
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Dec 20 — Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister, said that it was not possible to have uniform economic package and other benefits for the families of Kargil martyrs and the jawans of paramilitary forces, who laid down their lives while defending the country, as they were governed by different laws and rules.

Replying in a discussion jointly raised by Mrs Viplove Thakur and Mr Kaul Singh, on the issue, the Chief Minister said while the Army personnel were covered by the military Act, the various paramilitary forces like the CRPF, the BSF and the ITBP had their own Acts. As such the martyrs of two different kind of organisations could not be treated uniformly.

Appreciating the members' concern for giving a better deal to the Army personnel and the jawans of paramilitary forces who made the supreme sacrifice during peace time, Mr Dhumal said that a policy would have to be evolved by the Centre in this regard. The issue had been discussed at the committe of the Chief Ministers set up the Prime Minister and it was likely to take all aspects into consideration and make suitable recommendations.

The state government had, on its own decided, pay Rs 3 lakh to the family of each Army jawan of the state who was killed in action after May 1, 1999, onwards. The amount would be divided among the widow, parents and children. Similarly, those who were injured and suffered more than 50 per cent disability would be paid Rs 50,000 each and those with lesser then that disability would get Rs 25,000.

Mr Dhumal said so far over Rs 11 crore had been collected under the Kargil Sainik Welfare Fund and out of this Rs 2.63 crore had been disbursed. He said the fund would be managed by a fourmember committee comprising two legislators and two former Army personnel and the entire fund would be used for the welfare of the families of martyrs.

He said during the past one year the government had provided jobs to kins of 95 paramilitary personnels, who had lost their lives over the past few years. He said, however, the state could not provide jobs like that as basically the paramilitary personnel were the employees of Central Government.

Earlier, initiating the discussion, Mrs Viplove Thakur, made a strong plea for giving all martyrs, including the paramilitary personnel, an equal treatment as the families of all deceased suffered equally. She said the jawans of BSF and other paramilitary forces also fought the enemy at the frontiers like the Army men and as such they should be given the same benefits. Moreover, they did not even have the weapons which the Army had to fight the enemy.

She said the wide disparity in the economic package and other benefits given to Kargil heroes and other Army martyrs had created heartburning and bitterness amont the families.

Mrs Thakur said the Kargil fund should be converted into a regular fund to take care of families of other martyrs as well.

Mr Kaul Singh said the valiant Army and police jawans, who laid down their lives in the undeclared war, should also be given financial aid and other facilities on par with the war martyrs.

Mrs Sarveen Chaudhary, however, said the Army and paramilitary personnels could not be treated equally as they had different responsibilities and duties. The military fought the direct war, whereas the paramilitary forces were meant for internal security duty.

However, she said the martyrs of paramilitary forces should also be given a decent financial package and other benefits. Mr Rangila Ram Rao and Mr G.S. Bali also participated in the debate.

Teachers’ union demands arrears
From Our Correspondent

HAMIRPUR, Dec 20 —The HP Government School Teachers Union has served a notice on the state government asking it to grant them arrears as per the new pay scales within a month or face an agitation. This was decided at a meeting of the state executive committe of the union held here yesterday. Mr Kashmir Singh Banyal, president of the union, presided over the meeting.

The union criticised the government for its alleged anti-teachers stance and said it would not tolerate it. It also criticised the state Education Director for his alleged anti-teachers role and demanded a separate directrorate for the school education.

The union asked all District Education Officers in the state to hold talks with the teachers’ representatives by January 20,2000, or they would be gheraoed

Through another resolution, union rejected the new seniority list of school Principals and demanded that it should be framed on basis of yearly seniority.

It also demanded lab allowance to the science teachers on Punjab pattern and immediate acceptance of the C and B teachers.

Teachers lament govt decision
From Our Correspondent

BILASPUR, Dec 20 — The HP State Primary Contract Teachers Association has strongly condemned the government's decision not to extend their contracts and appoint matric pass "vidya upasak" on JBT posts in primary schools.

In a statement issued here today top leaders of the association along with its senior vice-president, Mr Pradeep Gupta said it was breach of faith despite repeated assurances to the association by the Chief Minister and other government leaders. The decision was also contrary to the declarations made by BJP and Himachal Vikas Congress leaders before the last general election.

Association leaders said they were earlier assured that they would not be removed from service but would be adjusted against JBT posts.

Centre to have ‘say’ in temple reforms
From Our Correspodent

JWALAMUKHI, Dec 20 — The state Governor, Mr Vishnu Kant Shastri, has made it clear that the proposed reforms relating to the set up of temples in Himachal Pradesh will be undertaken in consultation with the Union Government.

The purpose behind advocating the Vaishno Devi set-up for these temples is increase the inflow of pilgrims.

Talking to this correspondent on Saturday night, he said the change in the present set-up would not deprive anybody of his rights.