Himachal University should be set up in Dharamsala alone: Min

"The Central University of Himachal was given to Dharamsala in 2007 by Congress President Sonia Gandhi and it should be set up in Dharamsala only," the Urban Development minister said addressing a press conference here.

It is a policy decision of Congress and accordingly the temporary study centre of University at Shahpur should also be shifted to Dharamsala, the minister said.

The project remained in doldrums for five years as the previous BJP government said that enough land was not available in Dharamsala and therefore 60 per cent of the project should be shifted to Dehradun, 45 kms from here, he claimed.

The first Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Furqan Qamar, had been appointed in December 2009 and Central Site Selection Committee visited sites proposed by the state government in Dharamsala and Dehradun but nothing was done, he said, adding the project should be started at the earliest.

The minister said that a circuit bench of High Court and an administrative Tribunal shall also be set up in Dharamsala as it is an important city of the state.

The Dhumal government closed down the administrative Tribunal working in Dharamsala, Mandi and Shimla five years back.

The Urban Development also said that

Dharamsala-Mecleodganj bypass should be completed on war-footing to give relief to Kotwali Bazar Traffic Choakings in Dharamsala.