Shah Nehar dominates debate
SHIMLA, March 10 — The Shah Nehar issue dominated the debate on motion of thanks on the Governor's Address in the Himachal Vidhan Sabha today.

CM's assurance on college fee
SHIMLA, March 10 — Mr P.K. Dhumal, Chief Minister, today assured the House that the government would ensure that the management of the private dental college at Sundernagar did not overcharge the students admitted against paid seats.

One dies of cold
KANGRA, March 10 — Cold claimed one life in this district during the last 24 hours.

PWD work-charged staff not paid
HAMIRPUR, March 10 — There is resentment among the daily paid and work charged employees of the Tauni Devi Divisons of the Public Works Department for not giving them salary for February.

Shah Nehar dominates debate
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, March 10 — The Shah Nehar issue dominated the debate on motion of thanks on the Governor's Address in the Himachal Vidhan Sabha today.

The issue was first raised by Mr Des Raj (BJP) who said that starting the work on the Shah Nehar project, which had been hanging fire since long, was a major achievement of the Dhumal government. He said the Congress Government failed to make any headway in the matter despite the agreement signed with Punjab after a prolonged agitation led by the BJP leader, Dr Rajan Sushant.

Mr Chander Kumar (Congress) refuted the charge and said the Punjab Government had rejected the initial claim of Himachal and the matter was referred to the Central Water Commission and further to tribunal for a final decision. Himachal got a favourable award from the tribunal.

At this stage Dr Sushant, the Revenue Minister, who sat on a marathon 11-month dharna in 1983 on the issue, raised a point of order and charged Mr Chander Kumar with misleading the House.

He said the agitation launched by him forced the Punjab Government to sign an agreement with Himachal to settle the issue. The Himachal Government was not even aware of its boundaries. In fact, Mr Chander Kumar, had tried to sabotage his agitation at that time.

Dr Sushant said the Shah Nehar project remained on files from 1983 to 1998 and even some of the offices opened during this period were located outside the project area. Mr P.K. Dhumal, Chief Minister, had rectified these wrongs by shifting the circle office to Fatehpur.

While Dr Sushant was continuing with his clarification, Mr Virbhadra Singh was on his legs pointing out to the Chair that the minister who rose on a point of order had in fact made a long speech.

Participating in the debate, Mrs Vidya Stokes, said there was no point in giving more responsibilities to panchayats without providing the requisite infrastructural support to these grassroot democratic institutions. At present three to four panchayats had only one secretary, that too unqualified. Moreover, women pradhans were facing problems in functioning as men were not cooperating with them.

She said there was nothing in the Governor’s Address for women and it also did throw any light on the government’s policy and programmes. She appreciated the efforts of the Horticulture Minister in handling the problems of apple growers but said that the policy of procuring fruit under the market intervention scheme and its disposal had boome ranged and harmed the interest of growers.

She urged the government to formulate comprehensive policies for tackling the problem of unemployment and ensure scientific exploitation of states herbal resources.

Mr Vipin Parmar (BJP) alleged favouritism in recruitment of Class IV employees in Himachal Pradesh University during the Congress regime and said the selected candidates were from a particular area. He said the Sodhi committee report had not indicated any one.

Mr Virbhadra Singh objected to the charge of Mr Parmar and challenged him to give the list of 125 employees along with their address to prove his charge of favouritism. Intervening at this stage Mr Dhumal sarcastically asked Mr Virbhadra Singh if he ever released the list of 35,000 workers, who he had been alleging for the past four years, were retrenched by the Shanta Kumar government.

Earlier replying to the call attention motion of Mr Singhi Ram, Mr Dhumal assured the House that the government would deal with the ongoing workers’ strike with a heavy hand and it would not allow them to disrupt law and order.

The strike was a result of inter-union rivalry involving INTUC and CITU. The two unions were also engaged in a legal battle. In such a situation it was not possible to mediate between workers and the management.

CM's assurance on college fee
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, March 10 — Mr P.K. Dhumal, Chief Minister, today assured the House that the government would ensure that the management of the private dental college at Sundernagar did not overcharge the students admitted against paid seats.

Intervening during the question hour, he said the government had set up a six-member committee, headed by the Vice-Chancellor of Himachal Pradesh University to decide the fee structure in accordance with the guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court. He said strict action would be taken if any complaints of overcharging or other malpractices were brought to the notice of the government.

Earlier replying to the main question Mr J.P. Nadda, Health Minister, told Mr Harsh Mahajan of the Congress that the annual fees for merit seats and payment seats was Rs 8000 and Rs 75,000, respectively. He said the government had so far not received any complaint of harassment or blackmailing of students by the management or fees being charged arbitrarily.

The Forest Minister, Mr Roop Singh, was caught on the wrong foot while replying to a question regarding the Kandi project. Mr Virbhadra Singh pointed out that his statement that negotiations were on with the World Bank for the second phase of the Kandi project was at variance with the assertion made by the Chief Minister in his Budget speech that the project had been extended by another five years.

Mr Dhumal intervened and told the House that the World Bank in principle had agreed to extend the project for another five years and the details were being worked out.

Mr Mohinder Singh, PWD Minister, informed Mr Ram Lal (Congress) that the Bailey bridge constructed at Ghamrola on National highway-21 on which Rs 62,28,997 was spent had been abandoned. He said there was no irregularity in the work and the bridge was installed to keep the important road open to traffic after the main bridge collapsed.

Mr R.L. Markanda, Rural Development Minister, told Mr Gangu Ram Musafir that 57060 houses were constructed at a cost of Rs 105.80 crore from January 1, 1999, to February 15, 1999, in the state under Indira Awas Yojna and Gandhi Kuteer Yojna. Out of these 8948 houses were still imcomplete.

J.P. Nadda, informed Mr Singhi Ram that out of 50 posts of doctor in various institutions 30 were vacant and the government had posted 12 doctors two days ago. He said there was a shortage of doctors and against a requirement of 1498 only 1229 doctors were available.

The Industries Minister informed Mr Kaul Singh that as many as 2170 industrial units on which an investment of Rs 48.50 crore had been made were sick. During the past three years 112 sick units had been auctioned to recover Rs 11.01 crore. These include the units the assets of which had been auctioned partially.

Dalai Lama for talks with China
Tribune News Service

DHARAMSALA, March 10 — The Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, today reiterated his commitment to the "middle path approach", advocated by him for finding a political solution that ensures basic right and freedom for the Tibetan within the framework of the people's republic of China."

Addressing his people outside his palace in Mcleodganj, on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising Day, he said the only responsible way to address the problem was through dialogue, and there was no realistic alternative to it. "It is through reason, fairness and justice alone that the human mind and heart can be won over.

What is required is the political will, courage and vision to tackle the root cause of the problem and resolve it," he said. He felt that formal statements official rhetoric and political expediency will do little to solve the problem.

"I feel that the Chinese leadership is sometimes hindered by its own suspicions and is unable to appreciate even the sincere initiatives from my side," said the Dalai Lama. He added that the deep distrust between the Tibetans and the Chinese need to be overcome, and for this face to face meetings and sincere dialogue was required.

He regretted that for the past sometime there had been a noticeable hardening of the Chinese position on dialogue and this has been accompanied by a new round of intensified repression in Tibet.

He said the Chinese authorities identify the distinct culture and religion of Tibet as the root cause of Tibetan resentment and dissent and it was because of this that their policies were aimed at decimating this integral core of the Tibetan civilisation and identity. He also expressed his concern over the ecological imbalance in Tibet due to the wanton exploitation of fragile environment.

He made it clear that once a mutually acceptable solution to the Tibetan issue was found, he will not hold any official postiion. He said once a fair solution to the issue is found, he will use his moral authority to persuade the Tibetans not to seek separation from China.

While thanking the international community in extending support to the Tibetan cause, he said that this was vital in communicating a sense of urgency to the leadership in Beijing and in persuading them to address the issue in a serious and constructive manner.

Since the Tibetans are observing the 40th year of exile of the Dalai Lama, Tibetans from Mcleodganj and the surrounding areas had assembled at the main temple in large numbers. The chief Kalon, Mr Sonam Topgyal and the Vice Chairman of the Assembly of Tibetan people's deputy, Mr Thupten Lungrik, also addressed the gathering. The Tibetan national flag was unfurled amidst the singing of their national anthem by the children of the Tibetan children village school.

Thousands of Tibetan, including monks nuns and school children took out a procession from Mcleodganj to Dharamsala, demanding a free Tibet. The Tibetans who were joined in their march, by a large number of foreigners, carried placards demanding a free Tibet and the release of the Panchen Lama, held hostage by the Chinese. They trudged down to Dharamsala, where they burnt Chinese goods, giving a call for boycotting all items produced in China.

A batch of 150 Tibetans, led by the chief Kalon, Mr Sonam Topgyal and the Vice Chairman of the ATPD, Mr Thupten Lungrik, started a peace march for Tibet's independence from Dharamsala to Shimla, as it was in Shimla that independent Tibet concluded the Shimla agreement in 1914 with British India and China.

According to ANI Tibetan refugees settled in Bayalakuppe in Karnataka, today said they preferred the Dalai Lama’s method of peaceful negotiations with China to win freedom for their homeland.

"The method of negotiations suggested by the Dalai Lama is the best method," said 58-year-old Thechok, a garment shop owner in the refugee settlement.

"How can we fight China? It is such a huge country and we are so few," he said as the refugee community prepared to observe the 40th anniversary of the Tibetan armed uprising.

Bayalakuppe, some 220 kilometres from Bangalore, was the first settlement for Tibetans created in India.

PWD work-charged staff not paid
From Our Correspondent

HAMIRPUR, March 10 — There is resentment among the daily paid and work charged employees of the Tauni Devi Divisons of the Public Works Department for not giving them salary for February. There are 250 such workers in this division.

Mr Prem Chand Verma, District President of the Non-Gazetted Services Federation said here today that the failure to release the salary was a serious matter and wanted a probe.

He said, it was not understood why salary had not been paid to workers in the newly created Tauni Devi Division.

Mr Verma also expressed concern over the failure of the department to give livery articles to the work-charged staff in the division. Similarly, payment of Rs 12 lakh was due to the work-charged staff in the Baesar PWD Divison. This amount relates to from arrerrs January 1, 1996 till date.

He appealed to the Chief Minister to instruct PWD officers to release the salary to the staff in him.

One dies of cold
From Our Correspondent

KANGRA, March 10 — Cold claimed one life in this district during the last 24 hours. The district police chief, Mr K.C. Sadiyal, today said a 60-year-old unidentified person from Bihar died of cold at Jassure during the night and his body was found on the roadside this morning. The Kangra valley experienced cold wave conditions since Sunday last following snowfall on the Dhauladhar mountain ranges. However the weather improved today.