Dalai Lama's abode to be linked with ropeway

Dharamsala, Feb 13 (IANS) Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama's abode at McLeodganj in Himachal Pradesh, which has gained prominence for attracting a steady stream of Tibet enthusiasts, Buddhist scholars and backpackers, would be linked with a ropeway, an official said here Friday.

The cabinet meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, approved three ropeways.

Besides Dharamsala-McLeodganj ropeway, the other two approved routes are Shimla's popular Mall Road, which would be linked with the tourist information centre located at the Cart Road and Chamunda temple, located on the outskirts of Dharamsala, with the ancient hilltop temple of Aadi Himani Chamunda, a government spokesperson told IANS.

At present, the Aadi Himani Chamunda temple can only be reached by an uphill trek in the Dhauladhar mountain range in Kangra district.

Officials said the temple would be linked with a six-km-long ropeway with a carrying capacity of 1,000-1,200 people per hour each way.

It would be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs.200 crore, an official said.

The cabinet meeting, held here, also decided to reconstitute the Himachal Pradesh Administrative Tribunal with two benches having one judicial member and one administrative each having its jurisdiction throughout the state.

It approved expansion proposal of Jaypee Himachal Cement Plant at Baga village in Solan district for enhancement of clinker capacity.