Dhumal questions Himachal Govt on Ski Village

Shimla, Jun 11: Former Himachal Pradesh chief minister P K Dhumal today questioned the government's interest in hurrying with the Himalayan Ski Village project without the company submitting the environment impact assessment (EIA) report.

''The Cabinet recently passed the DPR of the Himalayan Ski Village project without insisting on the EIA report and against the interests of the people of the state,'' he said at a press conference here after being elected to the Parliament from Hamirpur constituency recently.

Mr Dhumal said the government was resorting to all means to get work in the project initiated before the end of its term, ignoring the fact that it would cause irreparable loss to the valley's scenic beauty and culture.

Besides, the project was also unviable from the security point of the view and hence defence clearance was also necessary, he said.

He said when the state government has provided more time to the Himalayan Ski Village to submit the EIA report why was it pushing the project through.

Referring to the foreign direct investment (FDI) received in the project, he said the government should come out with the exact amount since the earlier mentioned amount of Rs 3,500 was not correct.

The former chief minister wondered if the black money was being channelised into the project since the government was yet to tell the exact amount of FDI in it.

UNI