BIR-BILLING: If the Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu is to be believed, Bir-Billing, feted as world's best paragliding site of repute, would soon be promoted as a tourist destination. But the big challenge remains, the site has no proper waste management system in place as of now. 

As many as 103 paragliding  pilots from five countries took part in the pre-world cup that concluded near here on Sunday.

While presiding over the closing ceremony of Accuracy Paragliding Pre-World Cup at Bir of Kangra district, Sukhu said the proposal to promote Bir-Billing as tourist destination would be prepared soon.

To facilitate better organization of paragliding competitions, land would be acquired around the landing site, he added.

Chief Minister said that the state government would consider organizing a carnival in Bir, in order to promote tourism.

He announced to upgrade Police Chowki Bir to Police Station.

In future Polytechnic College would be opened in Baijnath, in which new technical courses would be introduced.

He said that soon the state government would announce to make Kangra the tourism capital. 

For this complete blueprint is being prepared. The airport is being expanded to promote tourism in Kangra, he added.

He said in order to improve the environment of Himachal Pradesh, a provision has been made in the budget to give 50 percent subsidy on the purchase of e-trucks, e-buses and e-taxi.

though CM didnot talk about the problem of garbage management in Bir-Billing site, he announced that the taxi operators of Bir would be given e-taxi licenses, which would also increase their income.

He said that 20,000 meritorious girl students would be given a subsidy of Rs. 25,000 for the purchase of e-scoties.

He said that the state government was moving towards making Himachal a green energy state and despite the economic condition of the state in disarray it would not be allowed to slow down the pace of development of all.

He said that a 40 percent subsidy was being provided for setting up solar power plants from 250 KW to 2 MW, so that the youth get self-employment opportunities and to make them self-reliant.

 Apart from this, loans would be provided to poor students for higher education at one percent interest, so that no youth was deprived of education due to lack of money.

In the first phase, financial assistance of Rs. 1.5 lakh would be provided to 7000 single women to build houses. For the first time, the thinking of increasing the revenue was reflected in the budget of the state government, he added.

He said that the Medical College Tanda was being upgraded and was going to start Robotic Surgery in the next six months.

The Chief Minister congratulated the Billing Paragliding Association for organizing the event.

Earlier, Chief Parliamentary Secretary Kishori Lal said Himachal is going to get the Shanan Power Project in the year 2024 after the lease expires with Punjab.

Pre-World Cup Results:

Chief Minister honoured the winners:

In the team category, Team Dev Pashakot Adventure took first place.

Team Caro Nepal second.

Team Nepal earning third place.

Meanwhile in the Indian National Open category, Sohan Thakur placed first. Kumar second place  Chitra Singh in third.

Among the women, Aditi Thakur earned the top spot.

Rita Shreshtha second.

Alisha Katoch third.

In the overall competition, Chitra Singh took first place, Bishal Thapa second and Aman Thapa third.

But the local green activists have been raising issue of lack of proper garbage management system in Bir-Billing over the years. 

But their pleadings have fallen on deaf ears of the government, local authorities and the organisers.  

On the occasion Swami Ramanand Ji Charitable Trust and Billing Paragliding Association presented a cheque of rupees One Lakh each to the chief Minister towards Mukhya Mantri Sukh-Aashray Kosh.

Additionally, employees of HPSEBL Kangra, PWD Division Baijnath, Jal Shakti Vibhag and Non-gazetted employees Union also presented cheques of Rs. 51 thousands each towards Mukhya Mantri Sukh-Aashray Kosh.