Pay security costs of Karmapa and Dalai Lama: HP to Centre

Himachal Pradesh has demanded Centre pay all security expenses of the Tibetan spiritual leaders Dalai Lama and Karmapa Lama .

The state's health and law minister, Kaul Singh, was speaking at the chief ministers' conference in New Delhi.

He said only a part of the expenses was being paid by the ministry of external affairs. The entire security expenses of the Karmapa were being borne by Himachal.

He said the state would set up a Tibetan refugee unit in the state intelligence department and a Tibetan refugee cell at Dharamsala to monitor the activities of 28,501 Tibetan refugees in the state .

Himachal also requested the Centre to provide liberal financial help to strengthen the police and civil units in the border areas of Himachal and China .

The state's tribal districts of Lahaul and Spiti and Kinnaur border Tibet.

Kaul Singh also pleaded for speedy and reliable connectivity in these areas. Subsidised round-the-year helicopter service was the only way, as these areas remain cut off due to heavy snowfall for several months.

He also requested the building of a broad-gauge railway line connecting Leh through Himachal.

Himachal also asked for 100 per cent funding of the state police's high mountain gear and disaster equipment to face challenges like rescuing tourists , cloudbursts, flash floods and avalanches .

The Centre has also been requested to provide technical, financial and logistic assistance to promote alternative crops in the mid-Himalayan terrain.