Land Transfer Dispute: Local BJP, Congress Leaders, and Acting VC Dr. D.K. Vats Face Criticism

Land Allocation for Tourism Town in Palampur Stirs Debate: College, Residents, and Leaders Divided
Proposed Project Raises Concerns about Education and Local Impact

PALAMPUR

RAJESH SURYAVANSHI

A proposal to allocate 100 acres of land belonging to Palampur Agriculture Jniversuty for a new Tourism Village has ignited a heated discussion among local residents, BJP leaders, and college officials.

Kangra District Magistrate’s Push and College’s Silence

While the Kangra District Magistrate has urged the college’s acting Vice Chancellor, Dr. D.K. Tanks, to provide a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for the land transfer, the college is yet to officially respond. This silence has added further fuel to the debate.

Land Ownership and Past Precedents

Adding to the complexity, official documents list the college land as belonging to the Agriculture Department, leading to speculation that the state might bypass the NOC requirement altogether. This is not the first instance of land re-allocation. Notably, the UPA II government allocated 25 acres of college land for a Science Museum.

Concerns and Opposition:

Residents of Palampur have expressed strong concerns, fearing the project’s impact on the college’s academic environment and potential disruption to the local lifestyle.

The state general secretary of the BJP, Trilok Kapoor while acknowledging the importance of tourism, has vocally opposed the project’s location within the esteemed educational institution. They plan to petition the Chancellor and Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh to reconsider the decision.