HP Cabinet clears SKI village DPR

Shimla, Jun 6 (UNI) The Himachal Pradesh Cabinet today cleared the detailed project report (DPR) of the 350 million dollars Himalayan Ski Village project in Kullu district.

The Cabinet, which meet with Chief Minister Virbahdra Singh in the Chair, while accepting the DPR asked the company to submit an environment impact assessment (EIA) by month end.

Himalayan Ski Village Corporate Director Ajay Dabra claimed that the project had been cleared by the Cabinet, saying that it would be spread out over 94 hectares of land.

Of the 94 hectares, 16 would be on government land and the remaining 78 hectares would be acquired from private owners to build a 670 room star hotel, 132 chalets and a suite hotel.

''We have been asked to submit the EIA for the project by June end.'' Mr Dabra claimed that the project would involve a FDI element and even Shapoorji Pollonji group, the largest shareholders in Tata Sons, have taken up a share in the project.

The project, being promoted by Alford Ford, a scion of Ford family of America which operates the world wide motor vehicle conglomerate, is being opposed by locals and the BJP who say it would affect environment and imperil national security.

The Cabinet also decided to set up the National Illness Assistance Fund in co-operation with the Centre for providing health care to the vulnerable sections of the society, official sources said.

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