The State Government would ensure all possible assistance to expedite the work of establishing Central University at Dharamshala and Dehra in Kangra district. This was stated by Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur while presiding over the review meeting of Central Projects being executed in the State here today.Chief Minister said that land measuring 303-37-74 hectares had been identified to establish the Central University at Dharamshala out of which around 278-43-79 hectares was forest land and around 24-93-95 hectares was government land. He said that a case for transfer of forest land in favour of proposed campus of Central University would be submitted to the Government of India for forest clearances. He said that he would personally take up the issue with Government of India so that work on this ambitious project could be completed at the earliest. Jai Ram Thakur said that the Union Government has agreed in principle for the diversion of 81.79 hectares of forest land for establishing South Campus of Central University at Dehra. He said that 34 hectares of non forest land had already been transferred for setting up of the South Campus of the University at Dehra. He said that new school building of Government Senior Secondary School (boys) Dharamshala has been provided to the Central University on temporarily basis.
He said that compensatory afforestation, NPV, cost of trees and departmental charges amounting to about Rs. 17.28 crore has been released to the Government of India for transferring the forest land measuring 81.79 hectares at Dehra. He said that a committee would be constituted to expedite forest clearances.Chief Minister said that the Union Government has also sanctioned an AIIMS for the State which would be established at Kothipura in Bilaspur district. He said that 681 bighas of land has been transferred to the Health Department and other related issues should be finalized at the earliest. Government of India has demanded additional 112 bighas of land for this project. He directed the concerned officers to immediately take up necessary steps to finalize the same so that this ambitious project could be executed at the earliest.Chief Secretary Vineet Chawdhry, Additional Chief Secretary cum Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Dr. Shrikant Baldi, Additional Chief Secretary, Forests Tarun Kapoor, Secretary Education Dr. Arun Sharma, Vice Chancellor of Central University Dr. Kuldeep Chand Agnihotri, Director Higher Education Dr. Amarjeet Sharma, Advisor Planning Basu Sood, Special Secretary, Environment, Science and Technology D.C. Rana and other senior officers attended the meeting among others.