Dharamsala Shimla

No move to curtail panchayat powers
SHIMLA, May 11 — The Himachal Government has denied any move to curtail powers of Panchayati Raj institutions and asserted that apprehensions expressed by the state Panchayat Parishad in this regard were baseless.

Himachal Pradesh transfers
SHIMLA, May 11 — In a minor administrative reshuffle the Himachal government today transferred six IAS officers including two Deputy Commissioners and 11 Himachal Administrative Services officers.

Power board staff hold rally
SHIMLA, May 11 — Members of the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Employees Union, held a rally in front of the Vidyut Bhavan complex to protest against the failure of the board to implement their agreed demands.

70-yr-old mentally ill woman raped
PALAMPUR, May 11 — A rape case of a mentally deranged 70-year-old woman of Chhattri village under Dehra subdivision has come to light.

Balraj Sahni Awards
SHIMLA, May 11 — An English fortnightly, "Energy India" edited by Dev Pandi of Shimla, has been selected for the "Balraj Sahni National Award-98" by the Shimla based All-India Artists Association while Mr Prem Chand, Director, Public Relations, Himachal Pradesh, bagged the award for his Hindi novel "File gwah hai".

• Fire destroys building
• Sleet in Shimla

Shanta foresees BJP wave

DHARAMSALA, May 11 — Mr Shanta Kumar, a former Himachal Chief Minister addressed party workers meeting at Shahpur yesterday, virtually starting BJP's election campaign for Kangra Lok Sabha constituency. It was Mr Shanta Kumar's first meeting since the dissolution of Parliament last month. Shanta supporters including ministers and MLAs, met at his residence in Palampur, on Sunday, to prepare poll strategy. Those present were ministers Mr Vidyasagar, Mr Kishan Kapoor, Mr Ravinder Thakur, and MLA's Mr Rakesh Pathania, Mr Dulo Ram, Mr Shraveeh Chaudhary. They are believed to have asked Mr Shanta Kumar to contest the Kangra seat. Election committees, headed by ministers at the sub divisional level have been set up for the September-October election.

Addressing party workers at Shahpur, Mr Shanta Kumar said the wave was in favour of the BJP. He asked workers to highlight achievements of governments at the Centre as well as in the state.

It appears that the BJP will field Mr Shanta Kumar for Kangra Lok Sabha seat as he indicated that he was feeling fine and had no health problems.

The Congress is still undecided on the candidate for Kangra seat. The PCC chief, Mr Sat Mahajan, who had contested the 1996 and the 1998 Lok Sabha election against Mr Shanta Kumar, has expressed reluctance this time. Declaring that people of his constituency, Nurpur, want him to stay in Himachal politics, he is trying to back out.

Mr Mahajan not only expressed unwillingness to contest the election but he has floated names of a number of probable candidates in the Congress. He has suggested the names of Rajya Sabha member and the All-India Mahila Congress chief, Mrs Chandresh Kumari, sitting MLAs Mr Chander Chaudhary and Mr G.S. Bali and a former minister, Mr Vijai Singh Mankotia.

Mr Mahajan, had defeated Mr Shanta Kumar, in 1996, when he had, for the first time, contested the Lok Sabha election, but was defeated by the former Chief Minister, in 1998. This time Mr Mahajan fears largescale undercutting. However, it is only Mr Sat Mahajan who can give a good fight to Mr Shanta Kumar and is the best possible Congress candidate at the moment.

Congress party workers in the district say that as has been tradition in the Congress, the party will decide on the candidate at the last minute, giving a clear edge to its political rivals. They feel that decision on names of candidates must be taken as early as possible. However, the AICC's stand whether PCC chiefs and sitting MLAs would be allowed to contest or not will also to an extent determine the candidate that the Congress will field this time.

Meanwhile, the joint secretary of the HPCC and sitting MLA, Mr G.S. Bali, yesterday said that due to the sharp differences and conflicting statements of Mr P.K. Dhumal and Mr Sukh Ram, the BJP-HVC alliance was likely to come to an end before the Lok Sabha elections.

Talking to mediapersons here yesterday, he said the alliance had turned out to be a failure as the government had failed on practically all fronts. He said with the HVC chief, Mr Sukh Ram, demanding two Lok Sabha seats, there was bound to be a problem in continuing the alliance. "Moreover, the recent statements made by Mr Sukh Ram in favour of Mrs Sonia Gandhi clearly reflect his keenness to get entry into the Congress, he stated.

Mr Bali claimed that the Congress in Himachal was united under the leadership of Mrs Sonia Gandhi, and she was bound to be the next Prime Minister.

Sukh Ram firm on support to BJP
From Our Correspondent

JWALAMUKHI, May 11 — Former Union Communication Minister and Himachal Vikas Congress, Chief, Mr Sukh Ram, said here yesterday that his party would continue to support the BJP-led Dhumal government in the state.

Talking to mediapersons after paying obeisance at local temple, he said the BJP-HVC government in the state would complete its full term of five years and there was no question of the formation of any other government with the help of the Congress.

He said he had earlier offered his support to the Congress through the AICC and the state Congress Committee on the condition that Mr Virbhadra Singh would be "kept out of the government but this condition was not acceptable to the Congress. He said he had read statements of the PCC chief, Mr Sat Mahajan, in the press regarding the formation of an alternative government in the state, but clarified that he never had any discussion with Mr Mahajan in this regard. He made it clear that the Congress party was not "untouchable" for him as he had entered active politics from the Congress. But he further made it clear that he was not going to join the Congress.

The HVC chiefs said, there was no any contradiction on seat sharing with the HVC and the BJP and his party was keen to contest the four Lok Sabha seats with the BJP. He, however, made it clear that the BJP should also consider HVC's reasonable demands, particularly those related to seat sharing. He was confident that the Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, would consider HVC's plea.

Replying to another questions he claimed that raids conducted at his residences in Mandi and Delhi by the CBI were "politically motivated" and meant to "tarnish his image". He said the CBI had started its investigation in his case in 1993, but conducted the raids in 1996, when he was not in power. The CBI had failed to explain this delay of three years, he said and alleged that Mr Virbhadra Singh and Mr Rajesh Pilot were behind the raids.

Mr Sukh Ram said it was not proper on the part of the government to "delay" the CBI probe against former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh as it was causing misunderstandings. He, however, expressed full faith in the Chief Minister, Mr Dhumal.

He demanded an inquiry into the allegations of charges against Mr Virbhadra Singh by the CBI as soon as possible.

No move to curtail panchayat powers
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, May 11 — The Himachal Government has denied any move to curtail powers of Panchayati Raj institutions and asserted that apprehensions expressed by the state Panchayat Parishad in this regard were baseless.

An official spokesman here yesterday clarified the format for annual confidential reports (ACRs) of Block Development Officers (BDOs), which had been revised recently, did not take away the right of the Chairman of the panchayat samiti to report on the work and conduct of the officer. The state government, on the recommendations of Government of India, had decided to strengthen the district rural development agencies by posting additional Deputy Commissioners in 10 out of the 12 districts, excluding tribal areas.

Part-III of the ACRs would be filled by the Chairman of the panchayat samiti as the BDO acts as Executive Officer of the panchayat samiti also. However, with regard to various other functions relating to development activities the additional Deputy Commissioner had been authorised to report on the ACR. As such, the power of the panchayat samiti had not been taken away as alleged by the parishad.

Similarly, in the selection of beneficiaries under Gandhi Kuteer Yojna and Indira Awas Yojna the gram sabha had been given full powers and its powers had not been curtailed or taken back any time.

The spokesman pointed out that constitution of vigilance committees had been done in accordance with Section 7(4) of the Himachal Pradesh Panchayati Raj Act, which clearly envisaged the gram sabha might form one or more vigilance committees comprising not less than five persons who were not members of the gram panchayat to supervise the development works and other activities.

The supervision of works up to Rs 50,000 undertaken by panchayats had been given to vigilance committees appointed by the gram sabha. This had been done to remove bureaucratic control against which many complaints were being received from panchayats.

However, technical guidance would be made available to panchayats as and when needed. Incidentally, this practice had also been adopted by the Government of India in case of the newly introduced Jawahar Samridhi Yojna, earlier named as Jawahar Rozgar Yojna, he added.

Himachal Pradesh transfers
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, May 11 — In a minor administrative reshuffle the Himachal government today transferred six IAS officers including two Deputy Commissioners and 11 Himachal Administrative Services officers.

Mr Balram Sharma, Deputy Commissioner, Solan, has been posted as Director of Tourism vice Mr Ashwini Kapoor who goes as Deputy Commissioner, Kulu, in place of Mr R.D. Dhiman who will be the new Deputy Commissioner of Solan.

Mr Bharat Khera, subdivisional Officer (Civil) Nalagarh, is transferred and posted as Additional Deputy Commissioner, Shimla and Mr Maneesh Garg, Assistant Commissioner (Development) cum Block Development Officer, Nalagarh, takes over as Sub Divisional Officer (Civil) Kulu.

Mr Rahul Anand, Assistant Commissioner (Development) cum Block Development Officer, Una, district Una has been posted as sub divisional Officer (Civil) Paonta.

Mr K.R. Bharti Additional District Magistrate, Sirmaur has been posted as Director, Language Art and Culture, relieving Mr P.C. Katoch of the additional charge.

Mr L.R. Chauhan, Sub Divisional Officer (Civil) Paonta has been posted as Additional District Magistrate, Solan vice Mr S.C. Kalsotra, who goes as Joint Secretary (Revenue) to the government of Himachal Pradesh.

Mr Vikas Labroo, Sub Divisional Officer (Civil), Kulu, will be the new Additional District Magistrate of Sirmaur.

Mr Amitabh Awasthi, Assistant Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Shimla takes over as Sub Divisional Officer (civil) Shimla (Urban) from Dr M.P. Sood, who has been posted as Secretary, State Welfare Advisory Board, on relieving Mr Amitabh Awasthi of Additional charge.

Mr Prem Dass, sub Divisional Officer (civil) Arki District Solan has been transferred as Assistant Settlement officer, Shimla and Mr Jai Sen Chauhan, Assistant Settlement Officer Shimla goes as sub Divisional Officer (civil) Arki Mr Raghubir Singh Verma, Regional Transport Officer, Kulu, has been posted as Assistant Commissioner to Deputy Commissioner, Kulu. He will also hold additional charge of the post of Regional Transport Officer, Kulu.

Mr S.C. Pal, under-Secretary (revenue) to the Government of Himachal Pradesh takes over a as Assistant Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Shimla, on Deputation basis.

Mr Kalyan Chand Assistant Commissioner to Deputy Commissioner, Kulu, has been posted as Subdivisional Officer (civil) Nalagarh.

Power board staff hold rally
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, May 11 — Members of the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Employees Union, held a rally in front of the Vidyut Bhavan complex to protest against the failure of the board to implement their agreed demands.

Addressing the rally, Mr Chander Singh Mandyal, general secretary of the union, said resentment prevailed among the employees over the non-payment of bonus to the C and D group of employees beyond permissible limit and inordinate delay in the release of enhancement of various allowances after the revision of pay-scales. Besides demands relating to seconded staff working in the Nathpa Jhakri Power Corporation were still hanging fire despite repeated assurances of the management of board and the state government. Further, no provision had been made for Class-III and IV employees of the board in the agreement signed with the NHPC for the execution of prestigious Parbati hydel project.

The union vehemently opposed the move to constitute state electricity regulatory commission which would pave way for the trifurcation of the state power board in the garb of economic reforms. The constitution of regulatory commission was neither in the interest of the consumers nor the employees of the board. The government should take a lesson from Haryana where the regulatory commission and the subsequent trifurcation of the state electricity board had been a failure.

It expressed concern over the direct interference of the government in the management of state power board. It charged the government with adopting two sets of principles holding negotiation with the NGO federation being sole representative body of employees in the government sector, whereas in case of the board it was inviting disruptive elements for negotiations in violation of the industrial law, which stipulated that the union having larger following was to be recognised by the employer as sole bargaining agent in an undertaking.

70-yr-old mentally ill woman raped
Tribune News Service

PALAMPUR, May 11 — A rape case of a mentally deranged 70-year-old woman of Chhattri village under Dehra subdivision has come to light.

According to sources, the incident took place on May 9 when 25-year-old truck driver allegedly raped her.

The matter was reported to the gram panchayat by family members and the fact was established during the interrogation by the panchayat.

When the panchayat alongwith the family members was going to register a case with the Dehra police, Pawan Kumar, the alleged accused, slipped away.

The SP Kangra, Mr K.C. Sadyal, said a case had been registered against Pawan Kumar and the woman had been sent for medical examination and the report was awaited.

Sleet in Shimla

SHIMLA, May 11 (PTI) — Shimla and its surrounding areas were lashed by heavy rains and sleet this afternoon.

The rains and sleet caused a sharp fall in mercury and considerably helped in settling the dust and controlling the fires smouldering in the forests.

The rains are considered beneficial for fruit and rabi crops and it would also help to save the natural sources of water.

Report from Dharamsala said that Dharamsala and its adjoining areas were also lashed by heavy rain for its fourth day today.

The Kangra district had been blessed with rain after a gap of more than three months.

The rain have helped in solving the acute water scarcity which had affected about 500 villages.

The state government had provided Rs 30 lakh to solve the drinking water problem, the report said.

Balraj Sahni Awards

SHIMLA, May 11 (PTI) — An English fortnightly, "Energy India" edited by Dev Pandi of Shimla, has been selected for the "Balraj Sahni National Award-98" by the Shimla based All-India Artists Association while Mr Prem Chand, Director, Public Relations, Himachal Pradesh, bagged the award for his Hindi novel "File gwah hai".

Mr Jagdish Chand Dutta, a former Director, Languages and Culture Department, has been chosen for the same award for lifelong contribution towards Indian performing arts. Dr J.S. Retola of HP Vidhan Sabha Hospital gets the award for distinguished services in medical field.

Noted correspondents to receive this award are Sita Ram Khajuria (Punjab Kesri), Jaidev Sareen (HindustanTimes), Ajay Srivastava (Jansatta) and Simir Sadosh (Ajit Samachar). The young journalist award goes to Shashikant Sharma (Dainik Tribune), according to association president Sudershan Gour.

The awards will be presented here on June 22.

Fire destroys building

SHIMLA, May 11 (PTI) — A double storeyed building was gutted in a fire near the High Court here today. The loss in the fire was estimated at Rs 1,00,000.

The fire brigade took more than an hour to control the fire while heavy rain prevented the fire from spreading to nearby buildings.