Virbhadra govt’s populist measures may push state into debt trap

Mar 16, 2017

With the government reverting to its old ways of raising indiscriminate loans to fund its populist agenda in the election year, the provisions of the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Act are set to go for a toss.

Lack of political will to mobilise additional resources has landed the state in a difficult situation with the mounting wage bill, interest burden and other liabilities. With the revenue receipts not reflecting a proportionate increase, the state may be slipping into a debt trap.

The government will raise loans to the tune of Rs 7,345.55 during 2017-18 as against Rs 6,083.75 in the last financial year. As per the projections in the mid-term fiscal policy statement, the trend will continue and the total debt will shoot up from Rs 35,568 crore in 2015-16 to Rs 63,049 crore in 2020-21.

The revenue receipts are expected to increase from Rs 26,676 crore in 2016-17 to Rs 37,038 crore in 2020-21, while the expenditure will rise from Rs 27,613 crore to Rs 42,252 crore during the same period and deficit will increase from 3.51 per cent to 14.07 per cent.

The percentage of revenue deficit is projected to increase from 3.51 per cent in 2016-17 to 3.76 per cent in 2017-18, while the fiscal deficit as percentage of Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) growth will be marginally less at 3.50 per cent against 4.23 per cent during the current financial year.

The World Bank had given a loan to the state for fiscal restructuring to reduce the debt burden. The GSDP will increase from Rs 1,24,570 crore in 2015-16 to Rs 2,06,727 crore in 2020-21 and the percentage of debt to GSDP growth will be 30.55 per cent.

The percentage of fiscal deficit to GSDP growth has also been projected at 4.99 in 2020-21 as compared to 3.50 per cent at present, while the percentage of tax revenue will decline from 5.79 to 5.30.However, the percentage of the total debt to GSDP will be 32.92 per cent in 2017-18 and the total outstanding guarantee on loans will be 22.95 per cent.

The liability on account of payment of interest on loans will also mount from Rs 3,329.77 crore to Rs 4,457.34 crore but subsidies will be capped at Rs 1,037.52 crore meaning that power subsidy to domestic consumers and subsidy on foodgrain scheme will have to be cut.The tax revenue of the government will increase marginally from Rs 7,217 crore (2016-17) to Rs 10,963 crore in 2020-21, while the revenue expenditure will increase from Rs 27,613 crore to Rs 42,252 crore.

The expenditure on salaries, pension and interest payment will increase considerably from Rs 8,964.64 crore, Rs 4,133.67 crore and Rs 3,329.77 crore to Rs 14,642 crore, Rs 6,608 crore and Rs 4,457 crore.During 2017-18, the non-tax revenue will decrease marginally from Rs 1,825.86 crore to Rs 1,602 crore and income from the power sector will be down from Rs 923.68 crore in 2015-16 to Rs 650 crore in the next financial year.

The Central grants, including share in taxes, will increase from Rs 13,696 crore in 2016-17 to Rs 14,332 crore in 2017-18 and the grants under Centrally-sponsored schemes will increase from Rs 3,436 crore during the current financial year to Rs 3,833 crore in 2017-18.Marginal increase in tax revenue

The tax revenue of the government will increase marginally from Rs 7,217 crore (2016-17) to Rs 10,963 crore in 2020-21, while the revenue expenditure will increase from Rs 27,613 crore to Rs 42,252 crore
The expenditure on salaries, pension and interest payment will increase considerably from Rs 8,964.64 crore, Rs 4,133.67 crore and Rs 3,329.77 crore to Rs 14,642 crore, Rs 6,608 crore and Rs 4,457 crore
During 2017-18, the non-tax revenue will decrease marginally from Rs 1,825.86 crore to Rs 1,602 crore

Burden on the mount

The government will raise loans to the tune of Rs 7,345.55 during 2017-18 as against Rs 6,083.75 in the last financial year
The total debt will shoot up from Rs 35,568 crore in 2015-16 to Rs 63,049 crore in 2020-21
The revenue receipts are expected to increase from Rs 26,676 crore in 2016-17 to Rs 37,038 crore in 2020-21
But the expenditure will rise from Rs 27,613 crore to Rs 42,252 crore during the same period
Deficit will increase from 3.51 per cent to 14.07 per cent.

Story: The Tribune

BJP MLA, Virbhadra lock horns over transfers

Mar 15, 2017

The BJP today accused the government of misleading the Vidhan Sabha over the posting of 27 officers having doubtful integrity even as Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh said the list would be reviewed.

The query about the posting of officers with doubtful integrity against sensitive posts was raised by Narinder Thakur during Question Hour. The Chief Minister, who also holds the portfolio of Home, said 67 officers were included on the list and 27 of them had been posted against sensitive posts.

These officers had either criminal or departmental proceedings against them in various courts or had been convicted or a major penalty against them by a court of law.“The reason why these 27 had been posted against the sensitive posts was because of their utility or the department feeling the need to have them there,” the CM said.

However, with Thakur accusing the government of trying to furnish information not based on facts, Virbhadra said the government would rethink about the postings of these 27 officers.

Thakur insisted that their postings had been done in violation of the Supreme Court directives. “There is no dearth of insignificant posts at the headquarters whether it is the Public Works Department (PWD), Irrigation and Public Health or Electricity Department,” he stated.

He sought an assurance from the CM that these officers would be posted out.The list furnished by the government has names of one IPS officer, two Indian Forest Service (IFS) officers and five Himachal Police Service officers, besides Superintendent Engineer-level officers in the PWD.

The 12 officers in the list is from the PWD, 14 from the Electricity Department, 11 from IPH Department, seven from Home (Police), five from Rural Development and three from Forest Department.

In reply to another query by Randhir Sharma, Gulab Singh Thakur, Ravinder Ravi, Virender Kanwar and Suresh Kanwar on the four-laning and national highway projects approved by the Union Ministry of Surface Transport, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh said no money had been received from the Centre even though in-principle approval had been received.

Leader of the Opposition PK Dhumal pointed out that the figure, cited in the CM’s Budget speech and the one in today’s reply, varied. “We do not know whom to trust and when we point out he (CM) gets irritated,” he said.The CM retorted by stating that he had been PWD Minister unlike Dhumal so he knew better.

Dhumal was prompt in correcting him when he said the CM was forgetting that he, too, was a PWD Minister.The CM said the whole process before the money was sanctioned was complicated and cumbersome.

“The in-principle approval has been received but the stage has not come where the money has been released,” said Virbhadra. Dhumal pointed out that since the DPRs had not been sent to the Centre, how could the money be released in advance.Arguments, counter

The reason why these 27 had been posted against the sensitive posts was because of their utility or the departments feeling the need to have them there, said CM Virbhadra Singh.
Sujanpur MLA Narinder Thakur accused the government of trying to furnish information not based on facts. Virbhadra said the government would rethink about the postings of these 27 officers
Thakur insisted that their postings had been done in violation of the Supreme Court directives

Story: The Tribune

Class XII physics, comp science paper leaked, exams cancelled

Mar 15, 2017

The Himachal Pradesh Board of School Education has cancelled physics and computer science exams of Class XII after question papers of the subjects were stolen from Nichar Senior Secondary School in Kinnaur district.

Four persons, including the principal, Centre Superintendent, Deputy Superintendent and chowkidar of Nichar Senior Secondary School have been suspended, said Deputy Commissioner, Kinnaur, NK Lath.

The incident came to notice of the board of school education after the principal yesterday informed it that the question papers of physics and computer science of Class XII had been stolen on the night of March 12.

The cancelled examinations scheduled for March 14 (physics) and March 21 (computer science) would be rescheduled in all 1,846 centres, sources in the board said.The police have registered an FIR for burglary and suspects were being questioned, said SP, Kinnaur, Rohit Malpani.

Preliminary inquiry revealed that the gate of the school and double lock of the cupboard where the question papers were kept were found broken and the chaukidar had been missing for past two days.

Apart from the question papers, the miscreants also broke the trunk where the answer sheets were kept and took 52 sheets of Class XII and 44 answer sheets of Class X.Informing the Vidhan Sabha about the theft, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh said the Director, Higher Education, had been told to conduct an internal inquiry and take action against the erring staff members.

Meanwhile, the board of school education had also ordered an inquiry into the incident, he added.Exams to be rescheduled

The question papers of physics and computer science of Class XII were stolen on the night of March 12
Answer sheets were also found missing
The examinations were scheduled for March 14 (physics) and March 21 (computer science)
These will be rescheduled in all 1,846 centres
The Director, Higher Education, had been told to conduct an internal inquiry and take action against the erring staff members

Story: The Tribune

Himachal Pradesh to develop 200 Organic Villages..!!!

Mar 14, 2017

Himachal-Pradesh-to-develop-200-organic-villages — Himachal Pradesh to develop 200 organic villages

Himachal Pradesh, whose economy largely banks on agriculture and horticulture, aims to develop bio villages by promoting organic farming. The state is also eyeing investment in cold chains. An additional 2,000 hectares will be brought under organic farming and there are plans to develop 200 bio-villages in the next fiscal, a government spokesperson told IANS. He said farmers in the bio-villages would use only bio-fertilizers and bio-pesticides and discourage the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticide for cultivating vegetables and fruits.

For meeting the demand of organic manure, the government in its budget for 2017-18 has proposed to set up 20,000 vermi-compost units with 50 per cent assistance to the farmers. To promote organic farming, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh presenting the state Budget 2017-18 on March 8 said the best three organic farmers would be awarded Rs 3 lakh, Rs 2 lakh and Rs 1 lakh respectively. More than 36,000 farmers are already cashing in on the high demand and remunerative prices of organic food — be it fruits, vegetables or pulses, the spokesperson said.

Agriculture is the mainstay of people in the hill state, providing direct employment to 69 per cent population. To ensure balanced use of nutrients, the state’s soil health cards scheme is in operation. Over four lakh soil cards have been issued to the farmers. Interestingly, farmers in Himachal Pradesh’s landlocked valleys like Pangi in Chamba district and Dodra Kwar in Shimla district have never used pesticides and fertilisers for growing crops.

Rajeev Negi, a Dodra Kwar farmer, has been growing organic rajma (kidney beans) that command remunerative prices in the domestic market. “On an average, we are getting Rs 200 to Rs 250 for a kg of rajma. They are fetching 40 to 50 per cent higher prices in export,” he said. Most of the farmers who adopted organic farming are in the Rampur area in upper Shimla district, where pilot organic farming projects were launched in 2005. According to the Chief Minister, the World Bank aided Horticulture Development Project of Rs 1,134 crore would be made fully operational in 2017-18.

Under this project, besides enhancing productivity of tropical and sub-tropical fruits and vegetables, it is proposed to invest a large sum in improving post-harvest infrastructure like automatic packaging, grading lines, cold storage and processing plants. He said marketing infrastructure would be upgraded in all market yards of the state Agro-Produce Marketing Committee. To promote cultivation of Kiwi, the government will provide 50 per cent subsidy for purchasing of saplings in the next fiscal.

Story: The Financial Express

Himachal to launch single online portal for industry, says :CM

Mar 14, 2017

After reducing the industrial proposal clearance time frame to 30 days, Himachal Pradesh will now further ease doing business by launching a single online portal for project finalisation, an official said on Monday.

A single-point registration portal for setting up of industries will be operationalised in the next fiscal, an official with the industries department told IANS.

He said this would enable the entrepreneurs to obtain requisite multi-departmental approvals in a time-bound, transparent manner on single online portal.The official said even Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh made an announcement in this regard in his budget speech last week.

He said to attract investments the Chief Minister has announced that change of land use for service industries would also be allowed in all industrial areas.The hill state, whose economy largely depends on horticulture and cultivation of off-season vegetables, was focusing on inviting investments in the food processing sector, particularly in rural areas.

The vegetable and fish canning units would be funded by the government for which a budget outlay of Rs 10 crore has been made under the mission on food processing for the next fiscal, said the official.In the budget for 2017-18, the government proposed Rs 50 crore for promotion of exotic and off-season vegetables.

In the next fiscal, the government aim will also be on rejuvenating handloom and handicrafts.Under the Integrated Scheme for Development of Handloom and Handicrafts the aim will be on its modernization, besides providing training, product development, design and marketing support to the weavers and artisans in the state.

The state is known globally for the art of embroidery on the Chamba rumal (handkerchief) and Chamba school of miniature paintings originated and flourished in the 16th and 17th centuries, besides hand-knitted woollens like shawls, stoles, mufflers, socks, gloves, pullovers, caps and carpets.

Himachal Pradesh has 576 medium-and large-scale industries and 43,420 small-scale industries in operation.To woo investors, the state has announced freezing of the power tariff up to 2018 at one fixed rate for the new industry.

The rates of electricity are already 20-30 per cent lower in the state than the neighbouring states.Data shows that the state got maximum investment from 2003 to 2010 when there was a special industrial package by the central government.

Most investments were in pharmaceutical, food processing, textile, packaging and light engineering sectors. — IANS

Story: The Tribune

Govt under fire for vacancies of doctors, para staff

Mar 10, 2017

The government today came under fire from the Opposition for failing to fill vacancies of doctors, nurses and paramedical staff in health institutions all over the state resulting in people being denied quality medical facilities.

The issue of huge staff crunch, virtually crippling health institutions dominated the question hour in the Vidhan Sabha today. Replying to a query by Mahender Singh, Health and Family Welfare Minister Kaul Singh Thakur said 550 posts of doctor, 1,200 posts of nurses and pharmacists had been filed to tide over the shortage.

Even as Thakur claimed that walk-in interviews for doctors were being held every Tuesday and efforts were on to get faculty to make the medical colleges at Chamba, Mandi and Hamirpur functional, Ravinder Ravi pointed out that out of 1,351 posts sanctioned for Tanda medical College in Kangra, 524 were still lying vacant. The minister said interviews had been held at Amritsar, New Delhi and Jalandhar to recruit doctors

Urging the minister not to politicize the issue, BJP members rued that there was no point in opening new health institutions or upgrading the old one, when no additional staff is posted.

Rajiv Bindal pointed out that the poor state of affairs of the Health Department was more than obvious from the fact that 9,087 posts of various categories out of a total of 22, 212 were lying vacant in the Health Department. He said 1,085 posts out of a total of 2,278 were vacant at the IGMC, and 524 out of a total of 1,351 were vacant at Tanda Medical College, which reflected the poor state of affairs.

An agitated Vinod Kumar accused the government of discriminating with the Assembly segments represented by the BJP. “The community health centre in my segment has been upgraded to a civil hospital two year back but till now six posts of doctor, one radiographer and three lab technicians were lying vacant,” he remarked. He said the thrust was on opening new institutions when there was an acute staff shortage, resulting in inconvenience to people, especially in remote rural areas.

To a query on inadequate facilities for treating mental ailments, Maheshwar Singh demanded that all the posts of psychiatrist be filed in nine districts.

Story: The Tribune

Survey : Women power on the rise in HPU

Mar 9, 2017

Women power is on the rise in Himachal Pradesh University with more women holding key positions. The intake capacity of girl hostels almost doubles as compared to boy hostels.

As per the gender survey 2016 of the HPU release on International Women Day, women are holding key positions like Dean of Studies (Prof Girija Sharma) and Chief Warden (Prof Veena Sharma), directors of seven departments are women and 10 out of 29 chairpersons are women.

The strength of women assistant professor, associate professor and professors is 15, 11 and 27 and two women are members of the Executive Council, the highest decision-making body while the Academic Council has the representation of nine women members.

The capacity of 11 girl hostel in the university was 1,176 compared to 593 in four boy hostels, indicating that more female students are coming out of their homes for postgraduate courses. In the administration, two women hold the posts of Deputy Registrar while six are on the post of section officer. However, there are only 152 non-teaching women employees out of the total 959 employees.

As far as the Nominated Students Central Association (SCA) is concerned, three out of four positions are held by girls. These included president Naina Samber, vice-president Era Sood and joint secretary Nancy Thakur.

Himachal Pradesh University has taken many initiatives for the welfare of women which included constitution of an internal complaint committee to check sexual harassment and violence against women at workplace and constitution of the gender/harassment redressal and sensitisation cell.

The Centre for Women’s Studies and Development for ensuring gender sensitisation has been functional for the past four years. Training is being imparted to girl students in self-defence and campaigns for gender sensitisation campaign, debates and essay competitions on women issues and workshops on the declining child sex ratio are organised, said Director, Women’s Studies and Development, HPU Prof Mamta Mokta. Cultural and academic programmes were organised to mark the International Women Day in the HPU, various colleges and schools in Shimla.

Story: The Tribune

No principal in 48 govt colleges

Mar 8, 2017

Forty-eight of 115 government degree colleges in the state are without principals, still the government is boasting of raising the higher education standards.

The situation will worsen in the coming days as five more principals are retiring and nine new colleges announced by Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh are in the pipeline. In Kangra, 10 colleges are without principals followed by Shimla (eight), Mandi (five), Sirmaur, Kullu and Chamba (four each), Solan, Bilaspur, Hamirpur and Una (three each) and Kinnaur (one). Seventeen colleges have officiating principals.

The government in its present term opened 44 new degree colleges in far-flung areas, including 17 in 2016-17), but did not provide faculty and infrastructure. Even assistant professors appointed in the colleges to meet the shortage through the Himachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (HPPSC) are on contract.

Resentment prevails among college teachers over the extension to some principals. They said in the past one year, no meeting of the Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) was held. A large number of senior teachers are awaiting a promotion as 75 per cent posts of college principal are filled internally.

The government has refused to restore the advance increments given to teachers possessing MPhil and PhD degrees, stopped since October 2014.

General secretary of the Himachal Government College Teachers’ Association (HGCTA) Dr RL Sharma said the routine administrative work had come to a standstill as two posts of joint director were lying vacant in the directorate and there was no responsible officer even for the verification of the annual confidential report (ACR).

“We will be compelled to boycott evaluation of the sixth semester examination if the DPC is not held and promotions are not given on time,” he added.

The pressure of work on government college teachers has increased after the implementation of the semester system and RUSA and additional work like evaluation of answersheets and assignments for internal assessments has made things worse as there is a shortage of 1,600 teachers as per the guidelines of RUSA. The government is on a college-opening spree and the faculty is not being provided. Teachers are being shifted to new colleges which is affecting the studies.

Story: The Tribune

Private Technical Institutions sans infra to be Closed: Bali

Mar 7, 2017

Himachal Technical Education Minister GS Bali today told the state Assembly that seats in private technical institutions are not being filled as these lacked quality education and all the institutes which did not possess proper infrastructure would be closed and students would be shifted to government institutions.

Replying to a question of Sanjay Rattan (Congress), he said all these institutions would be inspected and the ones lacking infrastructure would be closed and the students would be shifted to government institutions.

A committee could be constituted for inspecting the institutes and follow-up action would be taken , he added.

He said there were 17,911 seats in government-run ITIs and 17,198 seats in private ITIs while the intake capacity of government and private polytechnics was 2,108 and 7,088 in 2016-17. — TNS

Story: The Tribune

Air pollution rising at alarming rate in BBN

Mar 7, 2017

With the level of ambient particulate matter (APM) exceeding the National Air Quality Standards consecutively from 2011 to 2015 in the state’s industrial hub of Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh (BBN), the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has directed the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) to take effective steps to maintain pollution level within the prescribed norms.

Following these directions a slew of directions have been issued by the officials of the SPCB to various departments like Municipal Committees at Baddi and Nalagarh, BBN Development Authority and Regional Transport Official to devise suitable action plans to reduce air pollution within a time-bound period.

The response, however, has been lackadaisical and not even a single department has submitted any action plan so far, confirmed Brijbhushan, Executive Engineer, SPCB.
The BBNDA, which was undertaking various infrastructure development projects in the area, is supposed to play a key role to control air pollution and devise mitigation measures which include ensuring that civil contractors engaged in various developmental works and operating hot mix plants, ready mix concrete plants and stone crushers providing grit, sand, etc. have a valid consent to operate from the SPCB.

The authority is also supposed to ensure that the muck generated during construction and land development activities is handled scientifically and disposed of as per the provisions of the Construction and Demolition Rules, 2016. It was worth mentioning that open operations of such units were causing large scale air pollution which could trigger respiratory diseases.
The authority has also been directed to ensure that there was no encroachment by the scrap dealers and there was a complete ban on the biomass and garbage burning which was a major contributor to the air pollution.

The authority has also been directed to ensure proper landscaping and provision of interlocking tiles on the paved road as well as on the metalled pedestrian ways. With cases of open dumping of solid waste coming to fore, the authority has also been directed to ensure that such waste is managed as per the provisions of the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 and such waste is not burnt in the open before being scientifically disposed.

The large-scale presence of jhuggis was also considered a major contributor to the air pollution and the officials of the SPCB have directed the authority to ensure that use of fossil fuels should be discouraged besides ensuring their removal within a time-bound manner.
Chief Executive Officer, BBNDA, Rajiv Kumar, while confirming the news said a low cost housing policy has been put in place to rehabilitate the slum dwellers. He said contractors who come to seek registration would be encouraged to seek consent to operate from the SPCB and added that they would coordinate with the local MCs to contribute their bit in checking air pollution.

Story: The Tribune

Himachal Pradesh: 564 bird species found in state

Mar 6, 2017

As many as 564 bird species were reported from Himachal Pradesh in the Great Backyard Bird Count (GGBC) 2017 as per the data obtained from e-bird, which is nearly 45 per cent of the 1263 species found in India.

Till date, 2,833 bird check lists have been uploaded to eBird from all districts of Himachal Pradesh, with the highest number of species (453 bird species) being reported from Kangra district.

During four days of the GBBC-2017 conducted from February 17 to 20, 319 species were reported from across eight districts in Himachal, 83 bird check lists were uploaded to eBird, said Principal Chief Conservator of Forest cum Chief Wildlife Warden, Himachal S K Sharma.

The data was contributed by nearly 50 bird watchers, including staff of the state Forest Department and volunteers, and a detailed report is under preparation.

In 2017, the Wildlife Wing of the state forest department took a pioneering initiative to participate in the GBBC and the PCCF and Chief Wildlife Warden, S K Sharma spearheaded this initiative while Lakshminarasimha R, zoo biologist and Santosh Thakur, Wildlife Guard, coordinated the entire exercise by collating and analysing the data.

Story: The Tribune

HPU capsule courses for students eyeing NET, SET

Mar 6, 2017

Himachal Pradesh University (HPU) is mulling over starting capsule courses for students preparing for National Eligibility Test (NET), State Eligibility Test (SET), Junior Research Fellowship (JRF), banking, journalism, military and paramilitary forces, commerce and management, politics and sports.

Vice-Chancellor, HPU, Prof ADN Bajpai said the courses would polish the skills of students. He laid emphasis on proper monitoring so that maximum funds could be used.

He said books and e-journals in the library should be purchased. Bajpai said the planning board must monitor the progress regularly to provide infrastructure and facilities to day scholars and hostellers.The VC said teachers should cement the teacher-student relationship. Job-oriented courses were the priority of the university, Bajpai said.

Story: The Tribune

BJP walks out over delay in irrigation project reports

Mar 3, 2017

prem kumar dhumal and other bjp mlas — Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal and other BJP MLAs stage a walkout in Shimla on Thursday

Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal and other BJP MLAs stage a walkout in Shimla on Thursday — Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal and other BJP MLAs stage a walkout in Shimla.

Miffed BJP legislators staged a walkout in the Assembly today as the reply, furnished by the state government about the preparation of detailed project reports (DPRs) for irrigation schemes, failed to satisfy the Opposition.

Tempers ran high while Revenue Minister Kaul Singh Thakur was replying to a query raised by BJP MLA Ravinder Singh Ravi during Question Hour. Ravi had sought details on the total number of DPRs prepared and sent to the Centre for funding under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojna (PMKSY) and the area they would cover.

Thakur said he held detailed talks with both Irrigation and Public Health (IPH) as well as Agriculture Department officials on the issue. “DPRs of seven schemes under the Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme, 118 minor schemes under Har Khet Ko Pani and six under the Command Area Development Water Management have been prepared and sent to the Centre,” he said.

He added that till February 15, 2017, surveys of 1,857schemes which would cover 1,86 lakh hectares had been completed. The Opposition members, including Maheshwar Singh and Mahender Singh, insisted that the delay in grant of Central funding was due to the fact that either the DPRs had not been sent or some formalities were yet to be completed.

“The reply by the minister about the Rs 390.850 crore scheme from Prini Nullah to Bijli Mahadev in Kullu was contradictory. He was claiming that the DPR sent to the Centre but in the next line he admitted that since the approval of the State Technical Advisory Committee was a must, it would be obtained and sent again,” said Maheshwar.

The BJP MLAs were on their toes as the minister stuck to his stand that delay was on the part of the Centre and not the fault of the state government. As the Speaker insisted that the next question be taken up, the BJP members left the House, staging a walk out.

Story: The Tribune

Will consider demand of merged area residents, says Virbhadra

Mar 3, 2017

Shimla: Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and the Urban Development Minister assured residents of merged areas led by members of the Upnagriya Jan Kalyan Samanvay Samiti (UJKSS) that the government would consider their demand for “one-time relaxation in compounding fee”.

The UJKSS delegation led by Kasumpati legislator Anirudh Singh met the Chief Minister and the minister in the Vidhan Sabha complex and pleaded the case of the house owners of the merged areas and Special Development Authority Areas (SADA). Accompanied by UJKSS’s president Chandrapaul Mehta, secretary Govind Chatranta, Bhupender Kanwar and others requested the Chief Minster to accept the residents’ demand.

In a 13-page memorandum submitted to Virbhadra, Mehta and Chatranta stated that the TCP Bill would benefit only builders while the actual targeted house owners would be left in the lurch.

They referred to a recent study declaring 44 big government buildings unsafe as these have been constructed in violation of the MC bylaws. The residents are being made to pay through the nose by charging them hefty compounding fee.

They also referred to the Nanavati commission report on the regularisation of illegal houses in the country as these catered to the housing needs of the people in urban areas . “We request the government to waive compounding fee or penalty as proposed in the TCP Bill- 2017 as a one-time relaxation,” the residents said.

The rates remain high and structural safety certificate of houses built decades ago make no sense. “This will kill the spirit of the policy to regularise houses on “as it is and where it is basis,” they said

Story: The Tribune

Mild earthquake hits Himachal

Mar 2, 2017

A moderate intensity tremor rocked Himachal Pradesh on Thursday, while authorities said no loss of life or damage to property has been reported from anywhere so far.
A moderate intensity tremor rocked Himachal Pradesh on Thursday, while authorities said no loss of life or damage to property has been reported from anywhere so far.

An earthquake measuring 3.8 on the Richter scale was recorded at 1.39 a.m., local Meteorological Office Director, Manmohan Singh said.

The epicentre of the quake was Chamba region, bordering Jammu and Kashmir.

This was the second mild quake recorded in Chamba in less than a month.

Story: hindustantimes

Himachal Budget session begins

Mar 2, 2017

chief-minister-virbhadra-singh-with-leader-of-the-opposition-pk-dhumal — Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh with Leader of the Opposition PK Dhumal during the first day of the Budget session in Shimla

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh with Leader of the Opposition PK Dhumal during the first day of the Budget session in Shimla

Shimla: The Himachal Pradesh fourteenth session of the 12th Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly begins today with the address of Governor Acharya Devvrat.

The Governor, in his over one-hour long address, said the government had accorded top priority to the education sector. He said the Government is working sincerely for the progress, prosperity and well-being of the people of the State, and has ensured balanced development of all areas.

Devvrat stated that the Government is committed to all round development of the State and has ensured that the fruits of development reach every citizen in every part of the State. It has ensured that the principle of “Sabka Kalyan-Samagar Vikas” is followed in its truest and fullest sense in all its endeavours.

The Chief Minister presented the Supplementary Demands for Grants for the year 2016-2017.

These Supplementary Demands for Grants aggregate to Rs. 3936 crore 55 lakh. Out of this, Rs. 2304 Crore 83 lakh is under Non- Plan Schemes, Rs 502 crore 78 lakh under the Plan and Rs. 1128 Crore 94 lakh under the Centrally Sponsored Schemes. Under the Non-Plan Expenditure; mainly, a sum of Rs. 1660 Crore 39 lakh for repayment of loans and ways & means advance, Rs. 160 Crore 91 lakh for Police and its allied organization, Rs. 149 Crore 03 lakh for energy charges of various Water Supply schemes, Rs. 108 Crore 74 lakh for payment to SJVNL on account of generation tariff and loan to HPPCL, Rs. 46 Crore 27 lakh for payment of compensation for construction of roads, Rs. 39 Crore 40 lakh for Language Art & Culture and Public Relations and Rs. 13 Crore 60 lakh has been kept for Administration of Justice.

Major expenditure proposed under the Plan Schemes are: Rs. 108 Crore 60 lakh for Construction & maintenance of various roads, buildings & bridges, Rs. 69 Crore 16 lakh for Bhanupalli- Bilaspur-Beri rail line and Vikas me Jan Sahyog, Rs 44 Crore 14 lakh for various works under NABARD & NRDWP, Rs. 34 Crore 52 lakh for construction of buildings of new Medical Colleges and new OPD block in IGMC, Rs. 30 Crore 47 lakh for Smart City Mission and Swachh Bharat Mission and Rs. 11 Crore 55 lakh under Scheduled Caste Sub-Plan for execution of developmental works in various departments. Under Centrally Sponsored Schemes, most of it is for funding ongoing or new schemes for which money has been received during the year from the Government of India.

Prominent among these are `446 Crore 96 lakh for Compensation to Renuka Dam Oustees, Rs. 187 Crore 33 lakh for Smart City Mission, Rs. 172 Crore 98 lakh for Construction of building of medical Colleges, Rs. 93 Crore 46 lakh for Urban infrastructure Development Scheme, Rs. 81 Crore 64 lakh for Disaster Management, Rs. 45 Crore for Construction of roads under Central road fund, Rs. 8 Crore 66 lakh under ICDS, ICPS and SABLA, ` 8 Crore 49 lakh for Housing for All and Rs. 8 Crore 01 lakh for upgradation of Judiciary infrastructure.

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, who is also holding finance portfolio, will present the 2017-18 Budget on March 10. The budget session have a total of 21 sittings and conclude on April 7.

Story: The News Himachal

Breakthrough in Rohtang tunnel delayed at Sissu!!!

Mar 1, 2017

Following heavy snowfall in January and February, breakthrough in the strategic 8.8-km Rohtang tunnel project — meeting of the ends of the North and South Portals — will be delayed at least by two months as the Rohtang tunnel is again passing through a critical phase due to poor rock conditions at the South Portal.

Chief Engineer Rohtang Tunnel Brig DN Bhatt said that at present the work is going on on the South Portal round the clock despite heavy snowfall. North Portal near Sissu, on the other side of Rohtang, remains closed from December till May 15 every year due to closure of Rohtang Pass during this period.

The Chief Engineer said heavy snowfall during the previous two months has also affected traffic movement on the approach road to the tunnel though the construction work at South Portal has not been stopped at any time.

During these two months avalanche sites became active and about 145 small and heavy avalanches have been recorded in Solang Valley, Dhundi and South Portal.

However, the loss to life has been averted by restricting movement of vehicles. In view of the avalanche threat the road between Solang and South Portal remained closed for traffic from 8 am to 5.30 pm every day. This has affected the disposed of muck from the tunnel.

Brig Bhatt said the construction at the South Portal of the tunnel is passing through a high overburden of above 1100 m due to which high stress conditions are being encountered.

Also, during the two months, the rock strata encountered has been very poor, slowing down the progress. If such poor rock conditions prevail in March as well the breakthrough may be achieved only in September 2017 not in July 2017.

Story: The Tribune

Face-saving Drama in view of Elections, says Rajiv Bindal

Mar 1, 2017

Terming the fight between the Congressmen on the issue of unemployment allowance as a high level face-saving drama in view of the upcoming elections, the BJP today warned the Congress that the conspiracy would be exposed.

The Congress government, which had thrown the party manifesto in a bin, is now mulling giving two three months unemployment allowance to the unemployed youth of the state to again mislead them ahead of the elections but this strategy would not work, said BJP chief spokesperson Rajiv Bindal while addressing the media persons here today.

Story: The Tribune

CM Virbhadra Singh praises Vajpayee, attacks Modi on planning commission issue

Feb 20, 2017

SHIMLA: Blowing the poll bugle for coming assembly election, Congress party on Sunday held “Sankalp Rally” at Kansa Chowk in Mandi district where Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh praised former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee for his economic policy while attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for scrapping Planning Commission.

While addressing the rally, Virbhadra Singh praised Atal Bihari Vajpayee by terming him as a leader of repute and a great litterateur. He said during the times of Vajpayee as Prime Minister, the Planning Commission had been functioning in an efficient manner and the economists involved therein knew about the financial needs of the states but today a totally opposite scenario has emerged.

He said that claims of NITI Aayog to build strong centre-states relations have failed, as states were left in lurch and not taken into confidence before the formation of Aayog. He said that states should have been consulted and draft of Aayog should have been prepared according to the financial needs and topography of the states.

He said that NITI Aayog had completely failed in its planning and states were not invited for any of the meetings, except few. He said that scrapping the Planning Commission overnight was not a pragmatic decision and it has halted the progress of the states to much extent.

He said Vajpayee, who is his good friend, never differentiated between states in terms of allocation of funds and is a nationalist leader, who sidelined political affiliations when it comes to the development of particular region.

He said that BJP leaders becomes more impatient when elections approaches and they start issuing irrelevant statements, try to misguide people and adopt to all sort of tactics. He said Congress believes in secularism and do not differentiate between region and religion.

“Though I faced lots of opposition from BJP for opening educational institutions, but the BJP failed to understand that education paves the way for development and disciplined society”, he remarked. He cautioned to be aware of forces creating rift amongst people on basis of region and religion. He said though people of state were wise enough to understand the tactics of those who divide people for their own selfish motive.

State Youth Congress President Vikramaditya Singh said that language being used by former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal about the Congress does not suit his stature. He said that Dhumal is well aware that it is difficult for BJP to win coming assembly election. He blamed Dhumal of conniving with few government officers to halt the progress of development works.

Himachal Pradesh to regularize part-time workers’ services

Feb 18, 2017

SHIMLA: Himachal Pradesh cabinet, in its meeting held in Shimla on Friday, decided to regularize the services of around 3,000 part-time water carriers and water carriers-cum peons who were working on daily wages in education department and were appointed under 1996 and 2001 policy.

Cabinet decision would cost around Rs 60 crore extra on the state exchequer. It was decided that those having completed 14 years continuous service in last year till March 31 and September 30 would be regularized as peons against the available vacancies throughout the state.

It also decided for framing Himachal Pradesh Conferment of Proprietary Rights (in certain cases, for small and marginal farmers) on Government Land Scheme, 2017. State assembly had passed a resolution on August 28, 2015, which stated that though the government is committed to take appropriate legal action against encroachment on government land but at the same time government is sensitive towards the welfare of small and marginal farmers, landless, homeless, poor and backward sections of the society.

Keeping in view, the problems of these sections who are occupying government land out of helplessness, the House passed a resolution for framing an appropriate policy to provide relief to them.

Story: Times of India

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