Hand over assembly complex in Dharamshala to Central University of Himachal Pradesh: Shanta

Senior BJP leader and parliamentarian Shanta Kumar demanded Saturday that the assembly complex here be handed over to Central University of Himachal Pradesh (CUHP), which does not have a permanent campus even eight years after its establishment.

Kumar, a former Union minister and chief minister of Himachal Pradesh, said the assembly complex remains unutilised for most part of the year, hence it can be used by the university.

The assembly complex in Dharamshala, outside state capital Shimla, was inaugurated on 25 December 2006 by then chief minister Virbhadra Singh.

The winter session of the Himachal Pradesh assembly is held here every year.

Addressing the media, Kumar said, "The complex was built at a cost of Rs 7-8 crore and such a huge structure lies unused for most part of the year. And Rs 1.5-2 crore is being spent for a period of just four days (during winter session) annually. This is criminal waste of public money."