Himalayan ski village project to be revived, BJP slams move

The controversial Rs 1581-crore Himalayan Ski Village project which was abandoned by the previous BJP regime may be revived again with the Himachal government giving nod to the promoters to start the project afresh.
The project in picturesque Manali area of Kullu district promoted by Alfred Ford of the Ford Motor Company was started during the previous Congress government but was vehemently opposed by BJP and grounded by its government in December 2007.
The matter was reviewed at a high-level meeting presided by chief secretary S Roy and a decision was taken to allow the promoters of the Himalayan Ski Village to go ahead with the Rs 1,581 crore (USD293 million) project, envisaging the construction of 170 rooms in the Himalayas.

Roy said that the government was not in favour of further litigation with promoters of Himalayan Ski Village but the company must apply for fresh clearances.
The opposition BJP reacted sharply to the development, saying while Congress government has cancelled the lease of yoga guru Ramdev "who was encouraging local herbs and Ayurveda, it is inviting foreigners to start business in the state."
"It will never be tolerated," state BJP vice president Ram Swaroop Sharma said.

Alleging "some deal" behind the decision, he said the previous BJP government had cancelled the project as it was against the culture of the state as well as harmful to the environment and local businesses.

The Congress government has betrayed the people of the state by taking a decision to withdraw the case in the court, he alleged.
However, Roy said the project would bring investment to the region.
"We don't want to create any hurdles in the implementtion of the project provided the promoters got all the clearances afresh including the environment and environment impact assessment report," he said.
The project was sanctioned by the Congress government in 2005 but it evoked strong protests from opposition BJP and also local organisations and environmentalists.