New Delhi: Union Minister Virbhadra Singh
on Tuesday pooh-poohed Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar
Dhumal's announcement of setting up an international airport
in the state, saying even an aero club could not be housed in
the area that has been earmarked.
"Can you build an international airport on 40 acres of
land? This kind of land is not even good enough for an aero
club," Singh, who has served as HP Chief Minister for five
terms, said.
"Moreover, where that much of land (40 acre) is available
in the hilly terrain of the state?" he said, adding: "I have
travelled over 80 per cent of the state on foot and do not
understand from where that much of land would come".
Earlier, Dhumal announced that the state's first
international airport would be set up near Shimla, with about
Rs 1,000 crore investment, under the public-private
partnership mode.
"Dhumal government is making only empty announcements and
doing nothing on the ground in HP," Singh said.
"I will give zero marks to the Dhumal government for its
performance in the past two-and-a-half years in the state,"
the veteran Congress leader of the hill state told PTI.
Asked if he would return to his home state to lead
Congress in the next assembly elections in 2012, Singh, who
would soon be completing 50 years in politics, said: "I have
no personal political desire left...but if the party
requires my service I will definitely come forward."
Singh, 75, who was initiated into politics by former
Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, has been elected member of
Parliament for five times and served as MLA for seven terms.
PTI
First Published: Tuesday, October 26, 2010, 18:41