Congress delayed Parbati project: CM
SOLAN, Jan 4 — Fuller exploitation of Himachal's Hydel Power Potential, rated at over 25 per cent of the total one of the country, could solve the problem of chronic shortage of power being faced by the country's northern states in addition to providing the state with more than sufficient funds for development works.

CM for more DD programmes
SHIMLA, Jan 4 — The Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, has urged the Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Mr Parmod Mahajan, that the TV station here should make more programmes and cover news of the state.

Congress delayed Parbati project: CM
From Our Correspondent

SOLAN, Jan 4 — Fuller exploitation of Himachal's Hydel Power Potential, rated at over 25 per cent of the total one of the country, could solve the problem of chronic shortage of power being faced by the country's northern states in addition to providing the state with more than sufficient funds for development works.

Chief Minister PK Dhumal, who inaugurated a 33 KV power station at Kandaghat, 15 km from here today, said that his government was making concerted efforts in this direction and hoped that work on major projects like the 100 MV Nathpa Jhakri Phase II, and the 800 MV Kol Dam would begin at an early date.

Funds following from these and others the negotiations for which were in the pipe line could speed up the state's development works and, possibly, could make it tax free state by the year 2005 AD.

He chided the opposition parties which described the recently concluded agreement concerning the 2051 MV Parbati Project with the National Hydel Power Generation Corporation as a "sellout" saying that as against the 25 per cent share of free power demanded by the previous government, the present government had managed to get as much as 30 per cent out of the power to be generated in this particular project.

Giving details, he said that in addition to the mandatory 2 per cent free power and about 5 per cent 'bus bar' share provided to the generating state as per the relevant national policy, he had persuaded the Union Government to concede to Himachal the Central share of 15 per cent.

Ridiculing the Vir Bhadra Singh government for delaying the Parbati project for more than six years by raising impossible demands, Mr Dhumal said that now that the agreement had been signed, the state would gain by way of permanent revenues, and employment to at least 15000 unemployed after the project went on stream. The Centre had also conceded his demand for the return of Rs 26 crore spent by Himachal on the survey of the project with 13 per cent compound interest. The state would now get Rs 92 crore on his count.

He claimed that all this had been possible as the Centre, unlike in the case of the Congress government, had a soft corner for this hitherto 'deprived state'. In fact Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee who owned some property in Kulu district considered Himachal as his second home.

In this connection he said that he would never want to come back for seeking people's votes in the next elections in case of his failure to lead the sate towards an unprecedented era of prosperity. He also assured that his government would draw up development plans without giving any consideration to factors like regionalism and casteism.

The Chief Minister conceded long standing local demand of a road linking Kandaghat with 6000 feet high nearby Karol peak, repairs to the local primary school building, speeding up of the metalling of Kandghat-Chambaghat via Dharot road and upgradation of the primary school in Mahi Panchayat.

Minister of State for Town and Country Planning Mr RD Kashyap, former Minister MN Sofat and Chief Secretary cum Chairman of State Electricity Board, Mr AK Goswami also spoke.

CM for more DD programmes
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Jan 4 — The Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, has urged the Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Mr Parmod Mahajan, that the TV station here should make more programmes and cover news of the state.

The Chief Minister informed Mr Mahajan that the Shimla TV station was telecasting local programmes only for 30 minutes a day.

Mr Dhumal told the Union Minister that it was expected that the Doordarshan Kendra would present socio-economic activities of the state in the right perspective, but due to lack of adequate staff, the services of this station, set up at a cost of about Rs 35 crore, were not available to people beyond the 10 km radius and for just half an hour.

The Chief Minister urged the Union Communications Minister, Mr Jagmohan, to open a centre for development of telematics, latest communication technology for Himachal Pradesh especially for Chamba district which would help in beefing up and strengthening the security in border areas of the state.

He also urged the communications minister that far flung areas of the state required more telecommunication and postal facilities.

Snow in HP, Kashmir

CHANDIGARH, Jan 4 (UNI) — Higher reaches of Kashmir and adjoining areas in Himachal Pradesh had season’s first snow early today resulting in sharp fall in temperatures.

Reports here said that besides the tourist and world famous ski resort of Gulmarg, Khilanmarg, forward areas in the valley, including Kargil and Thoise had been experiencing light to moderate snow since last night. The minimum temperature in and around Srinagar, which was hovering around six to seven degrees below the freezing point, had the low of minus 3°C this morning.

High mountain peaks in the tribal district of Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur and the Pangi valley in Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh received the first snow overnight. Keylong, the district headquarters of Lahaul-Spiti remained overcast.

State’s capital Shimla and its adjoining areas continued to be dry with partly overcast sky. The minimum temperature this morning was at 5.9°C, four degrees above normal.

Official sources said the holy Amarnath cave in South Kashmir was also experiencing heavy snow since last evening. About a feet-high of snow has accumulated there.

Reports of snow were also received from higher reaches of Kupwara, Baramulla and Shopian and Sonamarg on the Srinagar-Leh National Highway.

The spokesman said rain could occur on the plains due to arrival of the ‘western disturbances’ (cold winds from the Caspian Sea) had arrived here after a long dry season. "Western disturbances and Arabian Sea moisture are mainly responsible for rain and snow in this region,’’ he pointed out.

The day and night temperatures showed slight improvement in the region. This brightens the prospect of rain or snow in the region in next few days.

Valley where poverty reigns
From Balkrishan Prashar

CHURAH (Chamba), Jan 4 — The fate of Churahis (inhabitants of the Churah valley) in Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh has not changed even after 50 years of Independence. The living conditions of people continue to remain deplorable as a sequel to utter neglect, on the part of the government.

Nestled in the bosom of soaring mountains, the residents of a number of distant villages in the Churah valley are living in penury. Their living conditions can be judged from the way a family, consisting of at least six members, resides and sleeps in a single dark room with no window to exhaust the vitiated inner air.

Several belts of the valley continue to remain unkempt due to the apathy of leaders who have represented this area in the state Assembly since Independence. The poverty is obvious to the naked eye. There is no sign of development and uplift of the residents in this ravine. Owing to their penurious conditions, they are unable to provide a nutritious meal to their families and have to rely on the diet deficient in ingredients.

Situated quite adjacent to the borderland of Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir at an altitude ranging from 1,800 to 3,700 metres about 102 km from the district headquarters town of Chamba and about 520 km away from the state capital, Shimla, the Churah valley is the most backward and far-flung corner of Himachal Pradesh.

This reporter's recent visit to most of these areas and contact with the local residents revealed their deteriorating state of affairs. Though the valley is rich in its natural resources, it is neglected. There is no high school, primary health centre (PHC) or veterinary dispensary within radius of 10 km. A number of single-teacher government primary schools are functioning in the area.

Explaining the pangs of the local residents, certain awakened persons of the area say that the valley's remote belts are without lifelines and women and children have to trudge at least 10 km to their nearby government high school, PHC or veterinary dispensary daily. There is a great dearth of doctors and paramedical staff in these PHCs. There have been instances when patients have breathed their last on way to the PHCs. There is also an acute scarcity of teaching staff in the schools of the area.

The residents have many a time made forceful representations to the state and Central governments to mitigate their trials and tribulations, but hardly anything has been done so far. They have expressed resentment against the state government for the step-motherly treatment meted out to them.

Official sources of the state government, however, maintain that "a backward area sub-plan" has already been launched by the government for the development of the valley and uplift of the poor with an outlay of Rs 22.39 crore for the current fiscal year.