HP remission for lifers
SHIMLA, Dec 21 — Mr P.K. Dhumal, Chief Minister, today announced a remission of two months in the sentence of lifers and one month for other prisoners.

Assembly session ends without ruckus
SHIMLA, Dec 21 — The 12-day winter session of the Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha saw consensus between the ruling BJP and the Opposition on almost all major issues. Though expected to be a fiery one, the session concluded yesterday peacefully except for some stray unruly scenes.

HP winds up three forest divisions
SHIMLA, Dec, 21—In a major decison to effect economy in the administration, the Himachal Government today wound up three forest divisions in the state. It has also ordered shifting of the Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) from here to Hamirpur.

Man convicted for possessing charas
SUNDERNAGAR, Dec 21 — Mr Samsher Singh, Additional Sessions Judge, Mandi division, yesterday sentenced Budhe Ram, a resident of Sainj valley in Kullu district to a 10-year rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh for possessing 600 gm of charas.

HP remission for lifers
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Dec 21 — Mr P.K. Dhumal, Chief Minister, today announced a remission of two months in the sentence of lifers and one month for other prisoners.

Mr Dhumal made the announcement after inaugurating the new model central jail at Kanda, near here, constructed at a cost of Rs 5.39 crore. The jail can accommodate 328 inmates. It has separate wards for male, female and juvenile prisoners, besides a hospital, administrative block and auditorium.

The Chief Minister also announced enhancement in washing allowance of the jail wardens from Rs 20 to Rs 30 per month on a par with Police Department. He sanctioned Rs 1 lakh for promotion of sports activities among the inmates and the staff.

The model jail had been set up with a view to improving the life of prisoners.

Mr Dhumal directed the PWD to expedite work on the road up to Kuftu and assured that the Rs 1.40 crore Kanda drinking water supply scheme would be completed by next year.

One of the main features of the jail was that inmates are imparted training in weaving carpets, blankets and bed sheets. Besides kerosene heaters, based on Japanese technology, were also being manufactured by the inmates.

Mr I.N.S. Sandhu, Additional Director-General (Jails), sought more staff for the smooth functioning of the jail and assured that sincere endeavour would be made to bring about improvements.

The Chief Minister went round the jail complex and expressed satisfaction over its upkeep. He also gave away commendation certificates, to Mr Om Prakash, Deputy Superintendent Jail, Bilaspur, Mr Krishan Dass, Head Constable, H.P.A.P. Battalion, Junga, and Mr Bansi Ram, Head Constable, first Battalion, Junga.

Mr Mahabir Singh, Pankaj Sharma, Kamaljeet Singh and Kapil Dogra were also given commendation certificates.

Assembly session ends without ruckus
From S.P. Sharma
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Dec 21 — The 12-day winter session of the Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha saw consensus between the ruling BJP and the Opposition on almost all major issues.

Though expected to be a fiery one, the session concluded yesterday peacefully except for some stray unruly scenes.

The only walkout by the Congress members was on the issue of the government’s role in dealing with the Orissa cyclone aftermath. On the domestic front, the party arrived on a virtual consensus on most contentious issues, including the White Paper on the state’s financial position.

Although the Dhumal government had for the past 20 months been building up an atmosphere as if the White Paper would contain startling disclosures, there was no such thing. However, the Congress members offered their support to meet the financial crisis in the interest of the state.

The Leader of the Opposition, Mr Virbhadra Singh, preferred to give his reaction after going through the sets of financial papers laid by Mr Dhumal on the table of the House.

Although tempers ran high during a discussion on recruitment by the present and the previous Congress government, the House saw on adjournment following assurance by the Chief Minister that it would be his endeavour to ensure the selection of candidates for various posts was fair.

The Congress members alleged the "services were being saffronised" by the BJP government.

The Cooperative Housing Society of IAS officers came under fire in the House for serious irregularities in the allotment of forest land to it for construction of houses. The issue was raised by Mr Babu Ram Mandayal and Mr Rakesh Pathania.

The Minister of State for Cooperatives, Mr Rikhi Ram Kaundal, told the members that an inquiry would be held into the matter and action taken against the guilty.

Mr Pathania alleged as many as 181 trees were felled for clearing the ground for construction of the houses.

A Bill making it compulsory for all members to declare their assets every year was introduced by the Chief Minister. However, it was referred to a committee which has been asked to submit its report by the next session.

In a written reply to a question, the Chief Minister informed the members that a sum of Rs 45 lakh had been spent on the foreign tours of six Chairmen of various institutions and 20 officers.

Much heat was generated over the issue of "illegal" purchase of bitumen by the Mandi Circle of the PWD. Most Congress members accused the PWD Minister, Mr Mohinder Singh, of trying to shield the Chief Engineer. However, this was denied by the minister who said two inquiries had been ordered into the alleged scandal.

Five Bills were tabled in the House and four passed.

CM: NABARD to fund school construction
Tribune News Service

SOLAN, Dec 21 — The Union Government has conceded Himachal Government's demand for funding construction of rural schools by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) and also it's request for raising the upper limit of mini hydro generation projects for eligibility of government incentives for entrepreneurs from the present 3 mw to 25 mw.

Chief Mihister P.K. Dhumal made these announcements at a public meeting at Sadhupul, 30 km from here, today.

He said hitherto NABARD did not finance construction of rural school buildings. Now, the Centre had directed the Board of Directors of NABARD to fully finance Himachal Government's Rs 1.26 crore 'Saraswati bal vidya sankalap yojana', under which it planned to construct 13,612 schoolrooms in the next three years.

At present there were thousands of schools in Himachal which functioned either in the open or in ramshakle premises. The proposed plan would ensure at least three classrooms for each rural school in the state.

Mr Dhumal said his government, after having developed a network of roads, had drawn up suitable plans for developing tourism for generating revenue as well as tackling the unemployment problem. It also planned to give top priority to providing irrigation facilities to farmers.

Earlier, the Chief Minister laid the foundation stone of a Rs 80 lakh artificial lake over Ashni Khud at Sadhupul. The lake was expected to be constructed by the end of 2000. It would be spread over an area of 13275 square metres.

Mr Dhumal appealed to the people to participate in large numbers in the polythene hatao week', being organised from December 23 to 29 in the state.

HP winds up three forest divisions
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Dec, 21—In a major decison to effect economy in the administration, the Himachal Government today wound up three forest divisions in the state. It has also ordered shifting of the Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) from here to Hamirpur.

The Jubbal Division with two ranges, five blocks and 19 beats, has been merged with the Rohru Division. The Ratnari beat and part of Baggi beat up to Ghanasi ridge of Tikker range of Rohru Division has been transferred to Kotkhai range of the Theog Forest Division to make the boundaries of the latter co-terminus with those Theog tehsil. The Rohru Division will have sit ranges, 18 blocks and 63 beats following the reorganisation.

The Nichar Division and the Pooh Divisions have been merged to constitute Kinnaur Division with headquarters at Rekong Peo.

The Spiti Division has been merged with the Pin Valley National Park at Kaza. The Divisional Forest Officer, Spiti, will be the ex-officio Director of the national park.The new divisions will start/functioning from January 1, 2000.

With this, the total number of divisions has come down to 37 from 40.

Man convicted for possessing charas
From Our Correspondent

SUNDERNAGAR, Dec 21 — Mr Samsher Singh, Additional Sessions Judge, Mandi division, yesterday sentenced Budhe Ram, a resident of Sainj valley in Kullu district to a 10-year rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh for possessing 600 gm of charas.

The convict was nabbed on December 20, 1997 near Hanogi Bridge with 600 gm of charas. A charge sheet was filed against the convict under Section 20 of the NDPS Act, 1985.