7 ex-VCs urge Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu to review move to set up ‘tourism village’ on varsity land

Seven former Vice-Chancellors of agriculture and horticulture universities in the state today appealed to Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu to reconsider his decision on taking over 112 hectares of Himachal Pradesh Agriculture University land for setting up a tourism village.

In a letter addressed to the Chief Minister, the top educationists said the world-class academic culture of Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya (CSKHPKV), Palampur, was its hallmark as students from six countries and 14 Indian states came here to study.

‘Strengthen existing tourism infra'

The government should strengthen and make viable the existing tourism ventures rather than creating additional infrastructure. — Former VCs, in a letter to CM

“The quality of education and research imparted by the university is evidently shown by its ranking at the national level. It has so far attained the highest 11th position amongst 76 SAUs and institutes in the country,” read the letter signed by former VCs Prof Ashok K Sarial, Prof Tej Partap, Prof PK Sharma, Prof SK Sharma, Prof HC Sharma, Prof Parvinder K Kaushal and Prof Mandeep Sharma.

“The University has significantly contributed to the human resource development. Since its inception, more than 10,000 alumni have passed out and have served or serving in states across the country, besides abroad, in various capacities. Over the years, the human resource developed by the university has contributed enormously to transforming the farm scenario of Himachal Pradesh. The state has earned its name for diversification in hill agriculture,” it letter added.

Claiming that the CM was not getting proper feedback, the former V-Cs reminded Sukhu that because of the HPAU’s efforts of the state had become self-sufficient on the food front and earned the Krishi Karman Award of the Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India, for four times.

“The farming community has imposed faith on the university and has benefitted from it. Agriculture Minister Chander Kumar has already appreciated the contributions of the university and expressed his concern over reducing farm land of the university,” they said in the letter.

The former vice-chancellors categorically stated that the university alumni had excelled to occupy prestigious positions at national and international level. Nearly 100 per cent technocrats/professional manpower, including Directors in the State Departments of Agriculture, Horticulture and Animal husbandry, are from among the alumni of the university.

“The only field left untouched is perhaps politics as almost negligible number of the alumni has opted for this profession. But now circumstances warrant agriculture graduates from the university to show their presence in politics to save interests of the university and agricultural profession per se in the state,” they asserted.

They said according to a report presented in the Vidhan Sabha, the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC), a government-owned entity, is operating 35 out of the 55 hotels at a loss.

“These hotels are struggling financially, highlighting serious concerns about the management and strategic skills of the corporation. Enough infrastructure for tourism has been created in the state with the help of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) funding, which is lying defunct. Some of the glaring examples are: the Convention Centre in the Bhagsunag area of Dharamsala, tourist huts built in the Nagrota Surian area and tent accommodation on the banks of the Pong Dam Lake. These projects have proved to be sheer waste of public funds to the tune of crores of rupees. The government should strengthen and make viable the existing ventures rather than creating additional infrastructure,” the letter added.