The $350-million ski village project in Himachal Pradesh, the “biggest” foreign direct investment (FDI) in the country, has run into trouble
CHANDIGARH: The $350-million ski village project in Himachal Pradesh, the “biggest” foreign direct investment (FDI) in the country, has run into trouble after the enforcement directorate (ED) initiated an inquiry into the flow of funds.
The project floated by a US-based Ford company was cleared by the Congress government in 2006. The plan is to develop a tourist village near Manali in Kullu district and a ski resort spread over 300 acres.
The project, however, ran into controversy after it was alleged that the promoters would only construct residential flats for foreigners. The ED is believed to have sought details of the investment to be made by the company and has also questioned the project report.
Earlier, chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal had said the project was not acceptable to the state government in its present form as it involved security and environmental issues.
“We will take into account all aspects, including the clearance granted by the defence ministry and the Union environment ministry,” Dhumal said.
Questioning the process of allotting the project to Ford, the chief minister wondered why international bids were not invited and environmental impact assessment not carried out.
“We favour FDIs, but not at the cost of the state’s interests,” Dhumal reasserted, putting the fate of the ambitious project in jeopardy.
The project, comprising a variety of ski slopes, three five-star hotels with 700 rooms, 300 Swiss-style chalets, a 2,420-seat food court and a handicrafts village, will come up at a height of 14,000 feet near the resort town of Manali.
A base camp will also be developed with space for parking 1,000 vehicles. High-tech gondolas will ferry 500 passengers every hour to the village from the camp.
The great grandson of the legendary Henry Ford had visited the project site last year. The Himalayan Ski Village Company floated by him had proposed to buy around 140 hectares from private parties and another five hectares for the ski slopes from the government on a 99-year lease.
“First, we plan to hold international ski tournaments and are aiming to hold nothing less than the Winter Olympics,” Himalayan Ski Village Company managing director John Sims had observed last year, soon after the state cabinet led by Congress chief minister Virbhadra Singh cleared the project.
There is strong opposition to the project from locals as it involves large-scale environmental disturbances in the serene hilltops of Manali. The deeply-revered Kullu oracle also turned down the project, saying it was against the interests of the locals.
However, it was the visit of British high commissioner Michael Arthur which sparked more controversy. During his two-day stay, the high commissioner took stock of the progress of the project.
Dhumal had then asked the state government to clarify the role of the British in the US-promoted project.
Ford, which had hired Colorado-based architect Jack Zehren, soon started a campaign to educate people about the project’s positive economic implications. But this did not help much.
b_ajay@dnaindia.net
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