Tibetan influx causes concern
DHARAMSALA, March 4 — The large influx of fresh arrivals from Tibet has become a cause of concern for the police as well as the Tibetan authorities, here.

Cong walkout in HP House
SHIMLA, March 4 — The opening of the Budget session of the Vidhan Sabha here today was marked by walkout by the Congress members who were protesting that many vital issues.

Plan to cut cost of housing projects
SHIMLA, March 4 — The Himachal Pradesh Housing Board plans to cut the cost of projects by using new building materials and involving the private sector in their execution.

Bains new Himachal INTUC general secretary
SHIMLA, March 4 — Chaudhary Waryam Singh Bains has been appointed general secretary of the Himachal Unit of the Indian National Trade Union Congress.

Government "ignoring" elected bodies
NURPUR, March 4 — Mr Ranjit Bakshi, ex-MLA, and Mr Ved Pathania, president, Nurpur Block Congress Committee, in a statement here yesterday alleged that the state government was ignoring democratically elected bodies of Panchayati Raj institutions.

Teacher commits suicide
HAMIRPUR, March 4 — Ms Ajita Raj, teacher of a local private school, committed suicide, allegedly, by consuming poison at the Shiva temple here this morning.

Tibetan influx causes concern
Tribune News Service

DHARAMSALA, March 4 — The large influx of fresh arrivals from Tibet has become a cause of concern for the police as well as the Tibetan authorities, here.

With such a large number of Tibetans arriving here every month, it has become difficult for the police, the intelligence agencies and the Tibetan authorities to identify the suspicious elements. Keeping in view the security of the Tibetan spiritual leader, Dalai Lama, the fresh arrivals have to be monitored.

The Director of the Tibetan Reception Centre, in McLeodganj, Mr Tashi Norbu, too admits that they have no foolproof method to verify the antecedents of the fresh arrivals. In the past there have been a number of instances when Chinese-trained spies have managed to get jobs in Tibetan Government institutions. A person who was wanted in a murder case in Tibet, was also found living at the reception centre. It was only when he fired at another inmate that he was arrested and his antecedents, revealed.

The local police, too, is concerned at the increasing number of fresh arrivals from Tibet. The SSP, Mr K.C. Sadyal, said that the reception centre at Nepal should do proper screening of those wanting to come to Dharamsala. He said that though various agencies monitored suspicious elements but it caused problems.

Last month the police deported eight Tibetans across the Shipkila Pass in Kinnaur, who were found without valid documents. The police keeps checking the documents of the Tibetans residing here, but due to the large number of Tibetan settlements mushrooming all over the state, it has become difficult for the police.

The police had also unearthed a fake registration certificate racket some time back in McLeodganj. A Tibetan had been selling fake certificates but till date the police has failed to arrest the person behind the racket.

As per the police estimate, over 300 Tibetans are arriving here from Tibet, every month. Majority of these are children in the age group of 6 to 14 years and monks and nuns. After crossing over to India through the Nepal border, they arrive at the reception centre in McLeodganj.

Mr Norbu said that over 200 fresh arrivals are reaching here from Tibet every month. "Since there are less number of Chinese security men on the border during winter, it becomes easy for the Tibetans to cross over to Nepal," he disclosed. He added that since the situation in Tibet was becoming more and more deplorable the number of Tibetans wanting to escape the repression was on the rise.

Mr Norbu, said that having limited accommodation, it became difficult for them to provide place to so many people. "We try and send the kids to the Tibetan Children Village Schools as early as possible and the monks and nuns to the religious institutions", he said. "Majority of the old people return back to Tibet after having an audience with the Dalai Lama," he added.

Mr Norbu, said that they had instructed the reception centre at Nepal, to properly scrutinise the Tibetans coming here and send them back if there was any suspicion. "A number of Tibetans are not issued letters by the Nepal Reception Centre and they are sent back to Tibet," he revealed. He said that they, along with the Department of Security, take steps to ensure that no suspicious element was given shelter at the reception centre.

Congress walkout in HP House
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, March 4 — The opening of the Budget session of the Vidhan Sabha here today was marked by walkout by the Congress members who were protesting that many vital issues, including "deteriorating" law and order, hike in power tariff and rising prices, were not included in the Governor's Address to the House.

The Congress members, who listened to the Address of the Governor, Mrs V.S. Rama Devi, staged the walkout when the House reassembled after a brief break after the Address.

Mr Virbhadra Singh, Leader of the Congress Legislature Party, protested that these vital issues were not included in the Governor's Address which was a reflection on the functioning of the government.

He said what was objectionable was that the hike in power tariff was ordered without taking the Vidhan Sabha into confidence although the House was in session at that time.

He said law and order was deteriorating and the prices of commodities under the public distribution system (PDS) had gone up. This had put a financial burden on the common man.

Taking strong note of the walkout, the Chief Minister Mr P.K. Dhumal, described it as an "undemocratic" step which was against the traditions of the House.

He said the walkout was unwarranted as the Opposition would have got ample opportunity to speak on the Address during a discussion on the motion of thanks.

By staging the walkout, the Congress had demonstrated that it was not interested in maintaining the decorum of the House and democratic traditions.

Mr J.P. Nadda, Parliamentary Affairs Minister and Mr Babu Ram Mandayal (BJP) also criticised Mr Virbhadra Singh for the walkout.

Talking to newsmen in the opposition lounge, Mr Virbhadra Singh made it clear that the walkout was after due deliberations among the CLP members. It was not correct to say that he had forced the Congress members to walkout.

He said the walkout was not a reflection on the Governor. It was a protest against the BJP government which had tried to put a lid on important issues.

Mr Virbhadra Singh said many states had not effected the increase in the prices of PDS commodities. Himachal Pradesh was one state which not only implemented the hike but the Chief Minister welcomed it.

He alleged that a concerted attempt was being made to saffronise the educational institutions and the government machinery. This would affect the very fabric of secularism which was the corner stone of the Constitution.

Mr Virbhadra Singh alleged that attacks on Dalits, particularly women, had increased and the police had failed to tackle the situation.

Earlier in her Address, the Governor, Mrs R.S. Rama Devi, said the law and order situation remained peaceful in the state. Wide ranging measures were taken by the government to improve efficiency in administration.

She said it was a matter of great satisfaction that the government enjoyed most cordial and fruitful relations with the Centre and the neghbouring states as a result of which long-outstanding inter-state issues had been resolved and the tempo of development was kept at a high level.

The first year in office of the government had been extremely eventual. The task of development was rendered more difficult by the opening defecit of a large magnitude. The situation was, however, managed effectively by impressing upon the Centre about the need for financial assistance and getting a sizeable help through the intervention of the Prime Minister and also attempting to raise resources and economising the unproductive expenditure.

She said the government had dedicated itself to make Himachal an economically self reliant state, largely through exploitation of hydroelectric resources. The government had offered various projects for private investment.

The Governor said the coverage under the centrally sponsored schemes of "integrated development of small and medium towns", was proposed to be extended to cover Dharamsala, Chamba, Kulu, Palampur, Solan and Theog for which proposals had been sent to the Centre. It had also been decided to constitute a nagar panchayat for Baddi to regulate planned development of this upcoming industrial town.

Mrs Rama Devi said priority was accorded to the road development programme. A provision of Rs 148.55 crore had been made in the current annual plan. An additional road length of 315 km had been constructed up to the end of December 1998.

She said several steps had been taken for the development of agriculture and horticulture. The irrigation potential had also increased.

The Governor said that the government had laid emphasis on implementation of development programmes for the Scheduled Castes, the scheduled tribes, the backward classes and the designated backward areas through special sub plans.

She said that the government managed to hold the price line effectively through the network of 3763 fair price shops. High priority was being accorded to the generation of employment opportunities through development programmes.

Plan to cut cost of housing projects
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, March 4 — The Himachal Pradesh Housing Board plans to cut the cost of projects by using new building materials and involving the private sector in their execution.

Stating this here yesterday Mr Ganesh Dut, vice-chairman of the board, said steps were also being taken to bring transparency in the functioning of the board and improve the quality of construction works.

Henceforth, allottees would be allowed to inspect houses during various stages of construction so that all their complaints regarding the quality of work could be removed during construction. Action would be taken against those who failed to maintain the quality of work.

Efforts would be to execute the projects in a time-bound manner so that there was no cost escalation. The board had also decided to create a land bank for the construction of colonies at Mandi, Chamba, Chail, Baddi, Hamirpur, Kandaghat, Bajaura, Shimla and Kulu.

The board had also been entrusted with task of constructing 906 houses for the police in vartious parts of the state within a year. These houses would be completed during 1999 at a cost of Rs 25 crore.

The board had constructed 5500 houses and developed 1500 plots.

It was arranging a loan of Rs 150 crore from HUDCO for the construction of educational institutions and hospital buildings in the state.

The baord had received awards from HUDCO for the past two consecutive years for its excellent performance. During the current financial year, the board had spent Rs 40 crore on the execution of various projects and an effort would be to increase this to over Rs 50 crore in the ensuing year.

Bains new Himachal INTUC general secretary
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, March 4 — Chaudhary Waryam Singh Bains has been appointed general secretary of the Himachal Unit of the Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC).

Mr Rajnesh Kumar Sharma has been appointed organising secretary and Mr O.P. Dhiman has been made president, INTUC Young Workers Council.

Government "ignoring" elected bodies
From Our Correspondent

NURPUR, March 4 — Mr Ranjit Bakshi, ex-MLA, and Mr Ved Pathania, president, Nurpur Block Congress Committee, in a statement here yesterday alleged that the state government was ignoring democratically elected bodies of Panchayati Raj institutions.

They said government funds were being misused at the instance of ruling party's favourities. They also alleged that the state government was misusing the Pong Dam Oustees Welfare Fund.

Teacher commits suicide
From Our Corrrespondent

HAMIRPUR, March 4 — Ms Ajita Raj, teacher of a local private school, committed suicide, allegedly, by consuming poison at the Shiva temple here this morning.

She came to the temple to offer prayers, but when she did not come out for more than two hours, the other devotees became suspicious and on investigation found her dead.

The police was informed immediately about the incident.

A suicide note was also recovered from her possession.