Prem Kumar Dhumal at the EXPRESS

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•SHEKHAR GUPTA: Many industries are shifting their manufacturing units (motorcycle units, vehicle assembly units), but Himachal Pradesh is environmentally very fragile. A huge amount of steel is bought in HP and taken away from there just for the tax benefit. Is the state benefiting from this or is it paying a greater price?

Environment is the most important thing for us. The industries are situated at the periphery of the state, close to Punjab in Baddi (just 22 km away from Punjab). So, our environment is not endangered at all.

•MANU PUBBY: We have been hearing a lot about the industrialisation. Is tourism taking a back seat in Himachal?

Mr Badal (the Punjab chief minister) and I have decided to have a ropeway in joint venture from Anantpur Sahib to Naina Devi. Anyone going to Naina Devi will go to Anantpur Sahib too and vice-versa. Also, in Kullu, from Bhunter to Bijli Mahadev, another ropeway is coming up. We are trying one from Panchang to Rohtang, too. But the problem is that tourists who go to Rohtang, pollute the place with polythene bags. This increases pollution and the snow melts very fast. We have also planned ropeways from Dharamshala to Driund, Palampur to Lugal. A large number of devotees go to Baba Balak Nath in Dyotsidh. So we have planned another ropeway from Shahtalai to Dyotshid. For the winter sports, there is a 300-metre skiing stretch at Manali. We are making a ropeway there as well, which should be ready by June. Baba Ramdev has promised to set up a Patanjali Peeth in Himachal. People will visit it and that will help boost tourism.

•JAIKUMAR: The government is exploring the possibility of an international airport in Mandi district. Are you going ahead with the project? You said no agricultural land would be acquired for any project so will no land be acquired for this too?

As far as the international airport is concerned, the survey has been conducted by the Airport Authority of India, the report is ready. I don’t think the people will oppose it. If the people give their land with their consent, we will facilitate the things to go ahead.

•D.K. SINGH: There is a large community of Tibetan refugees in HP. Is there any solution to their problems?

To be a refugee is a big curse. Unless they go back they will have to stay here because of Government of India policies. It is for the Centre to decide what is to be done. We won’t turn them out. We cannot stop them from any economic activity. They too have to survive. Certain problems have been there, but we have tried to stick to the policy of Atithi Devo Bhava. I have been meeting the Dalai Lama quite often - he’s a very true saint. For China, I feel the best thing for them would be to find a solution soon as possible — the Dalai Lama is the only leader in whom people have so much confidence.

•D.K. Singh: Shimla is becoming a concrete jungle. Are you thinking of some kind of regulations for this?

We have already imposed certain restrictions: one cannot construct more than four floors, for example. But Shimla as the capital has to develop. There are political compulsions too: whenever we shift any office, people oppose it. Even in Manali the Mall Road is too small, Rs 2 crore has been allocated for it. We have stopped cars from going to the mall.

•ZEENAT NAZIR: You had launched a scheme for women self-help groups who would be made authorised franchisees for the collection of electricity bills. How is the scheme doing?

We have been trying to strengthen women and ours is the only state where women have a holiday on Karva Chauth, Raksha Bandhan and Bhai Duj. Also, they don’t have to pay any fare if they travel in HRTC buses on Bhai Duj and Rakhi. We have recently enacted a law that gives 50% representation to women in Panchyati Raj associations and urban local bodies. We are also going to raise an India Reserve Battalion that will be totally a battalion of women.

•SONU JAIN: In the recent column you wrote for The Indian Express, you said that if the government is to compensate you for your forests you will accept that. But if it happens, will you say no to all the industries coming to the state?

Himachal has at present Rs 1, 50,000 crore worth of forest wealth. And we are always called a debt-trapped state. We have to pay approximately Rs 22,930 crore as debt. If we are to sell we can earn a lot. At times one doesn’t get permission to cut forests even to perform the last rituals as per the rules. Till 1976, these decisions were with the states. From the time the Centre has taken over, we have no rights. We cannot cut trees, we cannot impose a tax on power generation. Even if we could impose a tax of 10 paise per unit we would increase our resources. And, if we have proper resources we do not need polluting industries.

•SHEKHAR GUPTA: So you mean you should be compensated for your forests?

Yes. Our natural resources are being used. Wood worth thousands of crores is being exported. So illicit felling is taking place. We want forests (as they are regulated) not jungles. Sometimes for the growth of the forest we need felling, which we do not have the right to do. The Forest Conservation Act 1980 really needs an amendment. The court has declared that every land that is not agricultural land is a forest. How can a barren land be forest land? So we should be compensated. We have an income of Rs 3,000 crore only. And we have to pay Rs 2,000 crore as the interest on the loans that have been raised. Rs 1,000 crore goes as the installment of the loan repayment. Then Rs 5,000 crore goes in payment of the salaries and with the Sixth Pay Commission it will be Rs 2,000 crore for pensions. So we have to take more loans to repay previous loans, salaries, interests, and pensions. All these things have to be looked into.

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