NJPC flayed for discrimination

Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, who replied to the discussion admitted to the sad state of affairs at the NJPC project site and said the matter had already been taken up at the highest level and interests of the Himachal engineers and other staff would be fully protected.

Dhumal also assured the House that the government would seek repatriation of general manager ( civil) whose role had come under cloud. The CM said the government would examine whether NJPC could be brought within the preview of the Public Sector Undertaking Committee of the Assembly in view of the state government’s share of 25 per cent in NJPC.

Initiating the discussion, Thakur said there was wide spread resentment among engineers and funds to be the tune of several crores were being misutilised. Contracts were being awarded without following codal formalities and foreign tours were being undertaken frequently. He levelled some serious charges against a general manager posted at the project site and urged Dhumal to get him immediately shifted. He also alleged that Himachalis were being ignored in the matter of jobs.

Earlier the state Assembly adopted the Bill moved by Excise and Taxation Minister Mohinder Singh envisaging fresh sales tax on mine projects including lime stone. All Congress MLAs from Sirmaur, including Gangu Ram Musafir, Harsh Vardhan Chauhan and Rattan Singh, opposed the Bill. Viplove Thakur also alleged that the Bill would impose a tax burden on the people engaged in mineral works.

Replying to the debate, Mohinder Singh defended the provisions of the Bill and said it would not impose any extra burden. He invited the Congress members to support the government’s measures to mobilise additional resources.