Himachal Govt to acquire land at Bir paragliding landing site

Dharamsala, April 9

The land will be acquired around the landing site of paragliding in the Bir area of Kangra district. This was stated by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu, who presided over the closing ceremony of the Accuracy Paragliding Pre-World Cup, here today.

The demand for acquisition of land around the landing site was been made since long by the paraglider associations of the area. They had been alleging that buildings coming up around the land site were a threat to paragliding pilots.

The CM said Bir-Billing was the world’s best site for paragliding, which had gained international recognition. Bir would be promoted from the point of view of tourism and a proposal would be prepared soon and to facilitate better organisation of paragliding competitions, land would be acquired around the landing site, he added.

The CM said the state government would consider organising a carnival in Bir in order to promote tourism. On demand from local Congress MLA and CPS Kishori Lal, he announced to upgrade Bir police chowki to police station. The work to expand the Gaggal airport is underway.

Sukhu said the present government had presented the budget keeping in view the future of the youth and for strengthening the rural economy. As much as 40% subsidy was being provided for setting up solar power plants from 250 kW to 2 MW so that the youth get self-employment opportunities and become self-reliant.

Apart from this, loans would be provided to poor students for higher education at one per cent interest. Apart from this, in the first phase, financial assistance of Rs 1.5 lakh would be provided to 7,000 single women to build houses.

For the first time, the thinking of increasing the revenue is reflected in the Budget of the state government, he said.

Sukhu further said the medical college at Tanda was being upgraded and robotic surgery would be started there in the next six months.

The CM congratulated the Billing Paragliding Association for organising the event successfully. While welcoming the CM, Chief Parliamentary Secretary Kishori Lal said he had taken major steps to improve the economy of Himachal Pradesh.

In the paragliding pre-world cup in the team category, Team Dev Pashakot Adventure took the first place, Team Caro Nepal emerged second and Team Nepal earned the third place. In the Indian National Open category, Sohan Thakur came first, followed by Kumar in second place while Chitra Singh was third. In women category, Aditi Thakur earned at the top, Rita Shreshtha

finished second and Alisha Katoch was third. In the

overall competition, Chitra Singh took first place, Bishal Thapa was second and Aman Thapa stood third.

The CM presented cash prizes to winners. A total of 103 pilots from five countries participated in the competition. On the occasion Swami Ramanand Ji Charitable trust and Billing Paragliding Association presented a cheque of Rs 1 lakh each to the Chief Minister towards Sukh Ashrya Sahayata Kosh. The employees of HPSEBL Kangra, PWD Division Baijnath, Jal Shakti Vibhag and Non-Gazetted Employees Union also presented cheques of Rs 51,000 each to the CM.

Meanwhile, the CM today met Radha Soami Dera head Gurinder Singh Dhillon in the Paror area of Kangra.

Upgrade of police chowki on the cards

• The Chief Minister announced to upgrade the Bir police chowki to police station
• He said the demand of setting up polytechnic college in the area would be considered
• Blueprint to make Kangra the tourism capital of the state to be released soon
• In Phase 1, assistance of Rs 1.5 lakh will be provided to 7K single women to build houses