More Himalayan Ski Village News, from August 1, 2008

From http://www.snow24.com/

"Himalayan Ski Village Faces New Questions

The Himalayan Ski Village project in India is facing new government questions following the change of government in India to the new BJP regime. Previously the $300 million project in Manali appeared to have appeased the original Congress Party government, but the BJP are re-examining some of the issues that had been dealt with before.

A government committee is asking for more details of the environmental, land, local rights, and use of natural resources in the project.

Ramsubhag Singh, Commissioner for Tourism told local media, “We have asked the promoters to send a point-wise response to all relevant issues related to environment, project area, locals’ rights or town and country planning issues. The committee will like to finalise its report within the next two months and the promoters have been told to act quickly.”
Courtesy of Snow24.

The latest news I could find on the Himalayan Ski Village

It is now August, 2008, and I am unable to find any news updates on the Alfred Ford Himalayan Ski Village project. After an extensive news search, this was the most recent I could find.

"Himachal High Court Disposes Case Opposing Himalayan Ski Village Project

April 30, 2008

Shimla: Alfred Ford’s dream project of setting up a world class ski village in the Himalayas may finally become a reality as the Himachal High Court today disposed of a public interest litigation opposing the $ 300 million Himalayan Ski Village project.

In its disposal order the court allowed the government’s plea to reconsider and review some points about the Memorandum of Understanding and Implementation Agreement, which it had entered into with the Himalayan Ski Village Company. However the court asked the government to settle the issue in a time bound manner.

Two separate PIL opposing the project had been filed in the court. While one was disposed off by the court earlier, the other one was disposed off today.

The matter had reached the court after environmentalists and local has opposed the country’s first ski village project on the ground that such a large project in an ecologically fragile zone was harmful to the mountain environment and would dispossess local people of their forest and water rights in the area.

The Himalayan Ski Village had become a controversial project from the time it was proposed as the BJP then in the opposition had opposed on various reasons including that such a project close to an international border was a national security threat.

The project was also opposed by some local people, who had held a conclave of Devta’s where opposition for the project was registered.

However the earlier congress government went head and signed an MOU and implementation agreement for the project with Alfred Ford, a son of the family of automobile pioneer Henry Ford..

The company had initially proposed to invest about $ 300 million dollars to set up a world class winter resort, complete with gondolas, private air strip, chalets, five star accommodations and a handicraft mart."

Please if anyone is in Kullu this summer and has any updates, email me! The address is Alpinebluesky @yahoo.com (without the space). I have not been able to find any more recent news, and the Himalayan Ski Village website is now asking for a password. Interesting.

Himachal plans to get Kullu shawls patented

India Gazette
Tuesday 29th July, 2008

The Himachal Pradesh government plans to get Kullu shawls patented to protect the rights of the local weavers, Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal said here Tuesday.

He said such steps would help safeguard economic interests of the craftsmen engaged in the making of shawls and other handmade products, an official release said.

The chief minister said there were many craftsmen in the rural areas who needed to be identified.

The hill state is known for many traditional products like Kullu shawl, Chamba 'rumaal' (handkerchief) and Kangra tea.

Hotel Shobla International, Kullu

Hotel Shobla International is located near Dusshra Ground in the heart of the city. The hotel has air-conditioned Executive Suites, Maharaja Deluxe and Deluxe Rooms. There are standard rooms as well. The rooms are spacious and cozy and face the river Beas for an excellent view of the valley.

For more photos and booking information click here.

The story of India (part 1) - 59 min

For over two millennia, India has been at the centre of world history. But how did India come to be? What is India? These are the big questions behind this intrepid journey around the contemporary subcontinent. In this landmark series, historian and acclaimed writer Michael Wood embarks on a dazzling and exciting expedition through today's India, looking to the present for clues to her past, and to the past for clues to her future. The journey takes the viewer through majestic landscapes and reveals some of the greatest monuments and artistic treasures on Earth. From Buddhism to Bollywood, from mathematics to outsourcing, Michael Wood discovers India's impact on history - and on us.

The story of India Documentary, Part 2, 59 minutes

Michael Wood takes on onto part two of the journey, "The Story of India"

Bijli Mahadev Temple video, part 1 of 3

Join Sylvia Brallier as she undertakes a personal odyssey towards healing on a pilgrimage the Bijli Mahadev temple in Kullu, India. This temple is dedicated to the aspect of Shiva that removes excess energy from a person's body so that they can live.

For more information, visit http://www.tantricshamanism.com/India.