State to bear cost of converting forest land for the Central University

According to sources, the State government will pay for the cost of converting forest land being allotted to Central University in Dehra and Dharamshala. The decision taken at a meeting of state and university officials comes because according to the orders of the Union Ministry for HRD, the land to be provided for the institute was to be provided free of cost. Now, because the demanded 7000 kanal land for both campuses has about 6000 kanals green area (consisting of more than 20,000 trees), it has become the liability of the State government to clear all hassles for land ordered by the Central University. Though the government is demanding the Central University authorities to scale down their demand for land, but in case they don’t, then the State government would have to shell out Rs 60 crore for converting the forest land into commercial use for the institute.