Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh was accorded warm welcome on reaching Bhuntar Airport at Kullu by Transport Minister Shri G.S. Bali and Ayurveda Minister Shri Karan Singh. The Chief Minister was here today to preside over the closing ceremony of the International Kullu Dussehra. On reaching Dev Sadan, the Chief Minister hoisted 100 feet Monumental National Flag in the campus of Dhalpur ground (Rath Maidan).While addressing the ‘Kardars’ of the district in Dev Sadan, the Chief Minister said that the government would consider sympathetically to provide financial assistance to those age old temples of ‘Gair Mauafidaar Devtas’ whose land was not vested under the government.
Referring to the revolving fund, he said that it was only for those temples which were vested under the Government or were under the occupancy tenants (Mujaras). Adequate funding will be done for upkeep of such temples and sufficient financial assistance would be provided to them, even if the fixed limit increases beyond a certain point, the government will make sure that adequate assistance was given to these temples. “I don’t want that old temples be closed or there is no one to even light incense sticks or lamp in front of the idols of our Gods”, he said adding that our age olds temples were to be preserved.The Chief Minister warned those who play with the belief and faith of the people in name of deities and carry the palanquins of God and Goddesses on streets.He said that the life of people of the State revolves around its local deities and they were part of every household. He said we need to preserve the customs and culture of the State as our identity exists because of our traditions and culture and added that he had seen civilisation being forgotten which have not kept their culture alive.
He also distributed cheques of rupees 25 thousand each out of revolving fund of Rs. 10 crore, created for the maintenance and upkeep of temples of local deities of the valley to the Kardars of 24 deities initially for which the President of Kardar Sangh Dot Ram thanked the Chief Minister and district administration for the museum of local devtas which provides peep into the culture and customs of the people of the valley. He also demanded enhancement of 20 percent in ‘Nazrana’ of local Gods and Goddesses.Shri Virbhadra Singh later laid foundation stone of Multi Purpose Cultural Centre and Indoor Auditorium near Dev Sadan to cost Rs. 13.38 crore. The auditorium will have intake capacity of 680 persons besides it will house 18 suits and two dormitories for as many as 20 people and parking facility.He also laid foundation stone of Parking at Kala Kendra to be constructed with an outlay of Rupees 5 crore to have parking facility for 160 vehicles, indoor Sports Complex at Kullu to cost Rs.2.92 crore which will also have few shops, a pavilion and indoor badminton court. He also laid foundation stone of Rehabilitation Centre for Visually Impaired at Seobag.
The Chief Minister laid foundation stone of Rs. 40 crore Tourist Culture Centre Badagran near Manali to be constructed by department of Tourism and Civil Aviation with financial assistance from Asian Development Bank. The project will promote and preserve the vivid culture of the State and propagate art, culture and give boost to the local economy of the area. The main components of the project would be Food Court, commercial block comprising of 55 shops, residential blocks for inmates and a convention centre for 400 people, water bodies and an amphitheatre.He also inaugurated Polytechnic College constructed with an outlay of Rs. 9.75 crores. He gave approval to enhance intake capacity to 60 from present 40 in two trades of civil and electrical with total capacity of students to increase to 414 from the present 254.
Earlier, the Chief Minister also inaugurated ‘Dev Sangrahalya’ (Museum) dedicated to Local deities and showcasing Culture of Kullu,Parking of Municipal Committee completed with an outlay of Rs. 1.75 crore.The Chief Minister launched the Website of Kullu Dussehra and Gods and Goddesses of Kullu valley and released documentary on Shri Moulu Ram Thakur, a veteran writer of Kullu.The Chief Minister also visited the exhibition set up by various government departments and NGOs. He also paid obeisance to Lord Raghunatha at his camp.He also released three Books published by District Cultural Council Kullu, titled ‘Timeless Echoes’ an Anthology on Kullu containing excerpts by travellers in the last 1400 years who visited the valley,’ The Sacred Journey’ ,a coffee table book and the third on Kullu Cuisine edited and compiled by a noted Himachali writer and a poet Meenakshi Chaudhary.MLAs Shri Maheshwar Singh and Shri Sanjay Rattan, State Youth Congress President Shri Vikramaditya Singh, Chairman, Wool-Federation Shri Raghuvir Thakur, HPCC General Secretary Shri Sunder Singh Thakur, Chairman, APMC Kullu and Lahaul Shri Yupendar Kant Mishra, Director, HP Milkfed, Shri Kulwant Kashyap, DCC President, Shri Budhi Singh Thakur, Constituency President, Shri Bhubneshwar Gaud, OSD to Chief Minister, Shri Amit Pal Singh, Director, Art, Language and Culture, Shri Arun Sharma were also present on the occasion amongst others.