Army chief meets Himachal CM

Army chief General V K Singh on Tuesday called on Himachal Pradesh chief minister P K Dhumal to discuss several important issues about the state.

A spokesman of the state government said they discussed various matters of strategic importance including construction of the railway line to Leh below the Rohtang Pass.

The relocation of the Dogra regiment from Faizabad to Una was also discussed, besides setting up of a canteen stores department (CSD) among other issues.

The Army chief did not speak to the media later, making unclear the matters discussed at the meeting.

Last month, General Singh had snubbed the state government by refusing to hand over the historic Annandale ground to the state government, saying that the plot of land would remain with the army due to its strategic importance as a chopper base.

 

Dhumal’s son Anurag Thakur, the MP from Hamirpur, had sparked of another controversy by leading a signature campaign to take back the ground and build a concrete BCCI ground here.

Locals in large numbers have opposed the move to build a cricket ground at this historic Raj-era Annandale ground which is surrounded by a thick pine forest .

They say if the ground is handed over to the state government, it should be used as a venue for holding public festivals and other sports activities without disturbing the fragile forest which lies at the edge of the ground .

General Singh is going to retire this month.