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Saturday,
December 8, 2001, Chandigarh, India  
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HP’s
plea on power tariff hike turned down HP may
shelve move to hike bus fare
Stokes’ loyalists complain against Virbhadra
Delay in
framing of charges annoys Judge |
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McLeodganj
waits for tourists Dharamsala, December 7 With hardly any hotel bookings being made for the Dalai Lama’s teachings, which are held every year around the Tibetan new year, “Losar”, the tourism industry here faces a bleak future as Mcleodganj wears a deserted look.
NRI’s
tale of woes CM lays stone of Bajaura bridge PARWANOO DIARY Pensioners
hold rally, demand hike Student
hurt as pillar collapses Scrap exam centre: DYFI
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HP’s plea on power tariff hike turned down Shimla, December 7 The board had sought modifications in the order in respect of night -time concession, surcharge on non-payment of bill by due date and replacement of faulty meters on the plea that it was facing practical difficulties in the implementation of the order. It had also sought certain clarifications regarding violation of peak-load exemption by large consumers. Instead of filing a review petition, the board merely filed an affidavit before the commission. It did not even specify under which Section of the state electricity regulatory commission Act it had applied for modification of the order and, as such, could not be entertained. However, since the board had questioned the practicability of the order, the outright rejection of the prayer would have shown it in a poor light. It, thus, decided to pass an order to set to rest the doubts raised by the board while rejecting the prayer. In its affidavit the board had urged the commission to maintain status quo in respect of surcharge as calculating the amount on a daily basis would involve much labour and pose practical problems in issuing of bills and collection of payment. Besides, it also wanted the surcharge for domestic consumers, which has been reduced to 2 per cent to be maintained at 10 per cent. The commission rejected both prayers and maintained that asking the consumer to pay surcharge for full month even for a day’s delay in payment was unfair. Similarly, levying a 10 per cent surcharge on domestic consumers and 2 per cent on industrial and other categories of consumer would be discriminatory. The board’s plea to reduce night-time concession timing by one hour (from midnight to 5 a.m.) on the grounds that its computers were programmed for five hours duration was also rejected. The commission directed the board to take into account the unmetered one-hour consumption on a prorata basis. It, however, granted three months to it for making the necessary modification in the computer software. The plea that the night-time concession should be granted only to those units which shifted their load to night hours was also rejected. The commission refused to relax its order asking the board to replace all existing defective electricity meters by March 2002 and, thereafter, provide only electronic meters as replacement. The board’s plea that it did not have funds for the purpose was not accepted by the commission. It maintained that enough funds had been made available to it by increasing the power tariff by 15 per cent and allowing a winter surcharge of 25 paise per unit. It has clarified that exceeding the peak load exemption limit would constitute violation. |
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HP may shelve move to hike bus fare Shimla, December 7 It is learnt that the report of the high-powered committee recommending a 15 per cent hike in the bus fare has almost been shelved as its approval might result in the BJP-HVC combine losing public support. The committee recommended the fare hike in September last, but the state government has not yet been able to take a decision on this issue. The 15 per cent hike was estimated to fetch an additional revenue of about Rs 22 crore for the HRTC which is suffering an annual loss of about Rs 75 crore. The Dhumal government had hiked the bus fare once in 1999 soon after coming to power. The activists of the ruling BJP are learnt to have pleaded that touching the issue at the moment would be like stirring a hornet’s nest and increase in fare should be avoided before the elections. The recommendation of the committee was reportedly listed on the agenda of a recent Cabinet meeting for taking a final decision on the issue, but it was kept pending. The committee is learnt to have also recommended partially withdrawing the provision of free and concessional travel to various categories. It is, however, learnt that the issue of hiking the fare has not been completely written off and could be taken up in view of the HRTC employees protest of diverting their provident fund amount worth about Rs 23 crore for meeting various expenses. The provident fund amount deducted from the salaries of the employees since 1998 was reportedly not transferred to the trust and was spent elsewhere. However, a sum of Rs 4 crore was recently deposited by the authorities in the account, it is learnt. |
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Stokes’ loyalists complain against Virbhadra New Delhi, December 7 AICC sources said the leaders, including some MLAs, expressed their resentment over the way Mr Virbhadra Singh had come to a compromise with senior BJP leader Shanta Kumar over the defamation case filed by the former. The case was filed after allegations were levelled by Mr Shanta Kumar against Mr Virbhadra Singh about taking commission of Rs 3 crore in getting loans for the state government. The two had reached a compromise in August this year. Maintaining that Mr Virbhadra Singh had not taken party leaders into confidence before deciding on a compromise, the loyalists of Ms Stokes said the allegations had been made when Mr Virbhadra Singh was Chief Minister. Among the leaders who met Ms Gandhi were Ms Viplove Thakur, Mr Harsh Mahajan, Mr Raj Krishan Gaur and Mr Gian Chand Tutu. |
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Delay in
framing of charges annoys Judge Shimla, December 7 The action was taken by the high court while hearing the bail application of Bidhi Chand, who was arrested in connection with the rape case and who has been in judicial lock up for the past 10 months. According to the prosecution, the suspect committed the rape in January and the FIR was registered against him at Parwanoo police station under various sections of the IPC. The “zimni” order of the trial court showed that the case was adjourned for September 20 just for the purpose of consideration of charge without any reason. Though the case was again listed for consideration of charge on December 5, it was again adjourned to December 17 without any reason. The court further observed that the trial court failed to appreciate that the suspect was in custody all through the continuous adjournments. |
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McLeodganj waits
for tourists Dharamsala, December 7 The bookings for hotels are made much in advance for the annual discourse held by the Dalai Lama as foreigners from all over the world throng the place to attend the discourses on Buddhism. Eversince the attacks on the USA there has been a steep decline in the number of tourists visiting
McLeodganj. “Our worst fears that the recent happenings may affect the tourist inflow to McLeodganj around “Losar” seem to be coming true as we are not receiving any bookings”, said a travel agent. The “Losar” celebrations are followed by 10 days’ discourses by the Dalai Lama, which has been attracting the likes of Hollywood stars. Richard Gere and Pierce
Brosnan. “There used to be a mad rush to get hotel and guest house booked almost three months in advance for “losar” but this year we are still waiting to hear from foreign tourists,” said
Tenzin, who runs a guest house in McLeodganj. At the same time the business around Christmas and New Year too seems to be dull as there have not been much bookings of inquiries. Despite a dull tourist season expected in the next two-three months there is no let up in the large-scale construction of hotels and other commercial establishments. McLeodganj has been witnessing haphazard constructions. Even though the state government has imposed a ban on fresh construction in certain areas, work seems to be in full swing at most of the places in
McLeodganj. Hoteliers, however blame the government for not developing the place with regard to tourism. |
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Himalayan Festival
from December 10 Dharamsala, December 7 Stating this here yesterday, the president of the association, Mr Ajai
Mankotia, said the festival would begin on December 10, the day the Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, was conferred the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989. Mr Mankotia added that the Minister for Excise Taxation and Sports, Mr Praveen Sharma, would be the chief guest at the opening ceremony. The Tibetan Prime Minister, Prof Samdhong
Pinpoche, will be the chief guest at the closing ceremony on December 12. |
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NRI’s tale of woes Mandi, December 7 “On coming to India a friend in Delhi had lent his van for visiting Manikaran”, he said. But the callous official was adamant and kept on insisting that the private vehicle was being used as a taxi and moreover, it was carrying eight persons. He was shown the registration certificate where the seating capacity of nine persons had been approved, but it did not make any difference to him, Sarjeet Singh lamented. The official later asked us to pay Rs 5,000 and after repeated pleas he released our van after imposing a fine of Rs 3,000. |
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CM lays stone of Bajaura bridge Kulu, December 7 He was addressing a gathering at Bajaura in Kulu district after laying the foundation stone of Bajaura bridge over the Beas being constructed at a cost of Rs 4.5 crore by the National Hydro Power Corporation
(NHPC), which is constructing the 2051 mw Parvati hydel project. The Chief Minister said work on three stages of the Parvati hydel project had been started simultaneously by the NHPC and Rs 1200 crore would be spent on it. He said this would bring about a sea change in the economic condition of the people. A watershed project had been started for the Kulu and Naggar blocks which would help reclaim 11342 hectares of area. Similar projects had been proposed for the Banjar and Nirmand blocks. Work on an additional building for the Zonal Hospital, Kulu, would be started soon for which the NHPC had given Rs 2 crore. He said educational and health institutions would also be set up by the NHPC at
Nagwain. The Chief Minister sanctioned Rs 2 lakh for flood protection works at
Bajaura. Mr Karan Singh, Minister of State for Primary Education, said development in Banjar area had picked up momentum under the present government.
Maheshwar Singh, member of Parliament, thanked the NHPC for undertaking construction of the bridge at
Bajaura, which would benefit local people. He said Rs 95 lakh had been sanctioned for the stadium at Kulu. Mr Yogendra
Prasad, Chairman, NHPC, said on the request of the Chief Minister, the NHPC had started work on all stages of the Parvati project and assured that it would be completed by December, 2002. |
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PARWANOO DIARY Parwanoo In Parwanoo, the residents often start their day with a call from “Kalgi wallas”, a sect of traditional beggars. Formerly, they used to visit households once or twice a year, but now they come almost daily. By the end of the day each of these traditional beggars makes something between Rs 200 and Rs 300. Cars stopping at traffic lights have also started attracting beggars. They do not hesitate even to enter offices and factories. The beggars generally target young couples, girls and people carrying eatables and word their blessings to suit the object of their attention. Child beggars are also found picking pockets in crowded places. When accosted, they refuse to answer questions about their parents and the cause of their begging. When this correspondent tried to know about their homes, he found that most of them had migrated from other states. They keep moving from place to place.
* * * The annual fete of DAV School here was inaugurated by Mrs Sneh
Mahajan, Director of DAV Public Schools of North Zone. Mr Sanjay Sharma, Assistant Commissioner of
Parwanoo, was the chief guest. Among the guests of honour were Mrs Meenakshi Sharma, president of the Nagar
Parishad, Mrs Sarita Manuja, Principal of DAV School, Sector 8, Chandigarh, and the Principal of DAV Public School,
Rajgarh. Mrs Kiran Kapoor, Principal of the school, welcomed the guests. Several stalls were put by the students to serve snacks of different kinds. Some games of skill, lucky dips, music and raffle were also organised. The day-long celebrations ended with the draw of raffle by Mr Sanjay Sharma. According to the Principal of the school, funds raised through this fete will be utilised for providing better facilities to the students.
* * * Mr Parmod
Shukla, SHO of Parwanoo, has warned people against smoking in public places such as hospitals, cinema houses, schools and bus stands. A notification issued by the SHO has warned the people that anybody found smoking at such places will invite action under the law. |
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Pensioners hold
rally, demand hike Hamirpur, December 7 At a district-level rally at the Gandhi chowk here, they decided to go ahead with their agitation until all their demands were met. They demanded separate funds for the clearance of their medical allowance and enhancement of their pension. Mr B.D. Sharma, state president of the sangh, gave a call to the pensioners to be united to face the anti-pensioners stance of the state government. He said the government was not interested to solve their problems. He denounced the government for hike in the water and power charges and demanded their immediate withdrawal. |
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Student hurt
as pillar collapses Dharamsala, December 7 It was during the recess that the pillar fell on Sanjeev, when the students were playing near the primary school where a room is being constructed. The construction work, being carried out by the local panchayat, is being done under Operation Blackboard. Sanjeev was immediately rushed to the local Zonal Hospital by schoolteachers. He is being kept under medical observation, as there was an excessive loss of blood through his nose and mouth. Sanjeev, who hails from Una district, is residing with his parents at Dhagwar, near here. The schoolteachers alleged that the construction being undertaken was sub-standard. The district administration has given an immediate relief of Rs 5,000 for Sanjeev’s treatment, whose parents are away to Una. |
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Scrap exam centre: DYFI Shimla, December 7 In a statement here today, Mr Tikender Singh Panwar, general secretary of the federation, alleged that the school was chosen as a centre for the test on December 9 under the influence of the BJP government. He suspected foul play in the selection of the school as a centre as other colleges and schools ignored for this purpose. Mr Panwar also alleged that recruitments were being made by the Subordinate Services Selection Board under political influence. |
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