09-03-2007, 02:27 AM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Priyanka deal enhances VVIP status of Shimla suburb </b>
pioneer.com
Rajeev Ranjan Roy | Shimla
Priyanka Vadera's four-bigha plus agriculture plot in downtown Shimla fills the void that makes the surroundings a VIP Enclave in the real sense of the term. From taxi drivers to the commoners, the area so far known for housing Retreat and Kalyani Helipad, is now identified with Priyanka.Â
Retreat, that provides scenic accommodation to the country's Prime Minister and the President, is only 500-metre away from where Priyanka's double-storeyed residence-cum-garden would come up. It is also one of the few locations in the scenic woodlands of Charabra in Shimla from where one can have the panoramic view of the Himalayas as well.
<b>"It was the best available land that we have got for the daughter of our leader Sonia Gandhi," KS Khacchi, a local Congress worker, said. "The best possible efforts would be made to ensure that the structure that comes up is unique and scenic in more ways than one," he added.</b>
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<b>Khacchi played a key role in buying the land for around Rs 46 lakh at the Government rate.</b> Otherwise the land would have cost much more, given the proximity of the plot to Kalyani Helipad, Kufri village, famous for receiving maximum snowfall in the town, Punjab Raj Bhawan and Himalayan School. The city's multi-star Oberoi Hotel is also not far off, only 500-meters away.
<b>"Robert Vadera and Priyanka, even Madam Soniaji, had liked the place at first sight, and expressed willingness to buy the plot measuring over 32,000-square feet to have their own summer vacation residence, where she could also do horticulture activities and grow apple as well," </b>Khacchi informed. The site, earlier owned by US-based Satish Kumar and Satinder Kumar, was till recently used for growing apple.
Given Priyanka's "grand family profile", being the daughter of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, the locals have no hesitation in identifying the area with Priyanka. "All places of prominence in the locality would pale into insignificance the moment Priyanka's dream Hill Resort comes up," Rajesh, the taxi driver who took us to Charabra, said.
<b> <span style='font-size:14pt;line-height:100%'>It is not that the Himachal Government has relaxed Section 118 of the Land Reforms and Tenancy Act only in the case of Priyanka, enabling her to buy the land. The section has been relaxed earlier too but the move hit the headlines because a VIP is involved this time. </span>The 1972 Act prohibits non-agriculturists, either Himachalis or outsiders, from buying the agriculture land. </b>
"There is no match between the VVIP glamour attached with Priyanka and the other elite people having bought houses and agriculture land in Shimla. It would not be an exaggeration to say that her presence in Shimla has added a new dimension to the Queen of Hills," a Government official dealing with land said. The only other place enjoying such prominence is Prini, located on Kullu-Manali Road.
The top retired bureaucrats and military officials having bought houses in Shimla are NN Vohra, AK Sarin, former Air Chief Marshal, General RS Dayal, Air Marshal BS Sikand, the list is endless.
"On an average, one to two persons get permission to buy land for housing or agriculture purposes in Shimla every month by relaxing Section 118 of the Land Reforms and Tenancy Act," Tarun Kapur, deputy commissioner, said <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
pioneer.com
Rajeev Ranjan Roy | Shimla
Priyanka Vadera's four-bigha plus agriculture plot in downtown Shimla fills the void that makes the surroundings a VIP Enclave in the real sense of the term. From taxi drivers to the commoners, the area so far known for housing Retreat and Kalyani Helipad, is now identified with Priyanka.Â
Retreat, that provides scenic accommodation to the country's Prime Minister and the President, is only 500-metre away from where Priyanka's double-storeyed residence-cum-garden would come up. It is also one of the few locations in the scenic woodlands of Charabra in Shimla from where one can have the panoramic view of the Himalayas as well.
<b>"It was the best available land that we have got for the daughter of our leader Sonia Gandhi," KS Khacchi, a local Congress worker, said. "The best possible efforts would be made to ensure that the structure that comes up is unique and scenic in more ways than one," he added.</b>
Â
<b>Khacchi played a key role in buying the land for around Rs 46 lakh at the Government rate.</b> Otherwise the land would have cost much more, given the proximity of the plot to Kalyani Helipad, Kufri village, famous for receiving maximum snowfall in the town, Punjab Raj Bhawan and Himalayan School. The city's multi-star Oberoi Hotel is also not far off, only 500-meters away.
<b>"Robert Vadera and Priyanka, even Madam Soniaji, had liked the place at first sight, and expressed willingness to buy the plot measuring over 32,000-square feet to have their own summer vacation residence, where she could also do horticulture activities and grow apple as well," </b>Khacchi informed. The site, earlier owned by US-based Satish Kumar and Satinder Kumar, was till recently used for growing apple.
Given Priyanka's "grand family profile", being the daughter of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, the locals have no hesitation in identifying the area with Priyanka. "All places of prominence in the locality would pale into insignificance the moment Priyanka's dream Hill Resort comes up," Rajesh, the taxi driver who took us to Charabra, said.
<b> <span style='font-size:14pt;line-height:100%'>It is not that the Himachal Government has relaxed Section 118 of the Land Reforms and Tenancy Act only in the case of Priyanka, enabling her to buy the land. The section has been relaxed earlier too but the move hit the headlines because a VIP is involved this time. </span>The 1972 Act prohibits non-agriculturists, either Himachalis or outsiders, from buying the agriculture land. </b>
"There is no match between the VVIP glamour attached with Priyanka and the other elite people having bought houses and agriculture land in Shimla. It would not be an exaggeration to say that her presence in Shimla has added a new dimension to the Queen of Hills," a Government official dealing with land said. The only other place enjoying such prominence is Prini, located on Kullu-Manali Road.
The top retired bureaucrats and military officials having bought houses in Shimla are NN Vohra, AK Sarin, former Air Chief Marshal, General RS Dayal, Air Marshal BS Sikand, the list is endless.
"On an average, one to two persons get permission to buy land for housing or agriculture purposes in Shimla every month by relaxing Section 118 of the Land Reforms and Tenancy Act," Tarun Kapur, deputy commissioner, said <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->