Rs. 50 crore tourism development project has been sent for ADB funding for Mandi town to give boost to the tourism activities in area. This was stated by the Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur while presiding over the Platinum Jubilee celebration of Vallabh Government Degree College at Mandi today.Jai Ram Thakur said that under this project, a lake and other basic tourism infrastructure would be developed to take Mandi town on the world tourist map. He said that a helipad would be constructed at Kangnidhar in order to provide heli taxi facility to the region. He said that Medical University would be constructed at New Chowk to provide best medical education to the students and the cluster university would be made a fully fledged university soon. He said that a beautiful auditorium would be constructed in the college soon to facilitate the students.While nostalgically remembering his college days, Chief Minister said that college life was one of the best days in one's life, as we lead a carefree life during this period. He started his political career from this very college. He said that college life taught him vital lessons of life and helped him to shape his career. This college had given several renowned persons who had brought laurels to this institution. He said that it was heartening to know that the graph of this college was constantly increasing despite the fact that several new college had come up in the region.The Chief Minister while expressing concern over the use of drugs amongst the younger generation said that this social vice was ruining our society. He said that recently on his initiative, a meeting was held with the Chief Ministers of Northern States to chalk out a joint strategy to eradicate this social evil. He said that each one of us must work collectively with missionary zeal to wipe out this vice from the society.
Jai Ram Thakur said that one should always be ready to learn as life teaches us day in and day out. He urged the students to respect their teachers, elders and parents. He said that this college has big contribution in his life.He announced Rs 25 lakh for open air gymnasium to be constructed near Paddal and Rs. 3 crore for maintenance of road in Mandi town.Earlier, the Chief Minister laid foundation stone of cluster university building at Mandi to be constructed at a cost of about Rs16.19 crore. An amount of Rs 50 crore has been sanctioned for the cluster university to be setup in the State, initially covering four colleges of the region.He garlanded the statue of Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel on the occasion. He also visited the exhibition stalls and envisaged keen interest in the exhibition.The Chief Minister released three books written by the former student of the college Dr. Dharm Pal Kapoor. He also released the souvenir of the college.Later, the Chief Minister laid foundation stone of protection and soil stabilisation work for bypass road along Suketi Khud near old Suketi bridge to be completed at a cost of Rs. 618.10 lakh. Apart from protection and soil stabilisation, four rain shelters and public toilets would also be constructed for better space usage.He laid foundation stone of go-down of Food Corporation of India to be constructed at a cost of Rs. 5.52 crore with a total capacity of 3340 MT.The Chief Minister also laid foundation stone of channelisation of Skodi Khud to be completed at a cost of Rs. 604 lakh. He also laid foundation stones of girder bridges over Ganpati Nallah and another over Gard Nallah on Ganpati Kun Katar road to be constructed at a cost of Rs. 385.35 lakh.The alumni of the college, particularly classmates of the Chief Minister recollected some of the memories of their college days.
Education Minister Suresh Bhardwaj while speaking on the occasion said that this college had given various eminent personalities who had excelled in various fields such as medical, engineering, science and politics. He said that this college was established in 1948 and since then it had earned a special name for itself. He said that the cluster university would be name as Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel and it would start functioning at the earliest.
MPP and Power Minister Anil Sharma said that it was a proud movement for the College as one of the students of this college was Chief Minister of the State. He said that the people of the district were lucky to have Chief Minister from the district. He urged the Chief Minister for outdoor gymnasium at Mandi.Member of Parliament Ram Swaroop Sharma thanked the Chief Minister for laying foundation stone of cluster university at Degree College Mandi. He said that this was the ninth cluster university of the country which would ensure quality higher education to the students of Mandi, Kullu, Bilsapur and Lahaul and Spiti districts of the State.Principal of the College Dr. Ashok Awasthi read out the annual report of the college. He urged the Chief Minister for construction of additional building, staff residences and auditorium in the college.A colourful cultural programme was presented by the students of the college on the occasion.Members of Vidhan Sabha Welfare Committee Sukh Ram Chaudhary, Kishori Lal, Inder Singh Gandhi, Kamlesh Kumari, Rita Dhiman and Ravinder were also present on the occasion.Wife of the Chief Minister Dr. Sadhna Thakur, MLAs Col Inder Singh, Rakesh Jamwal, Jawahar Thakur and Vinod Kumar, General Secretary, Child Welfare Council Payal Vaidya, Chairperson Zila Parishad Sarla, Chairperson Nagar Parishad Suman Thakur, Secretary Education Arun Sharma, Director Higher Education Dr. Amarjeet Sharma, Deputy Commissioner Mandi Rugved Thakur, SP Gurdev Sharma were present on the occasion among others.