Himachal: Lease process for Palampur IIT campus completed

Palampur, Aug 29 (IANS) The lease process between the Himachal Pradesh government and IIT Mandi for the construction of the new Palampur IIT campus has been officially completed.

The announcement was made on Saturday by Chief Minister’s Principal Advisor (Digital Technology, Governance and Innovation) Gokul Butail in Palampur, Kangra district. A formal lease deed has been executed for approximately 550 kanals. An additional 800 kanals will also be leased and handed over to IIT Mandi following the completion of necessary forest clearance procedures. The proposed campus will span a total area of approximately 1,400 kanals, he said.

Butail added that preliminary campus construction surveys have already been completed by NIT Hamirpur. He said the project would significantly accelerate local education, employment opportunities and technological innovation, transforming the regional economy of Kangra district, particularly Palampur. He emphasised that the decisive actions of the state government had cleared the path for establishing this institution of national importance. He expressed optimism that IIT Mandi would expedite subsequent developmental procedures.

IIT Mandi Registrar Kumar Sambhav Pandey, present at the conference, affirmed the institute’s commitment to building a state‑of‑the‑art facility within the stipulated timeframe. He credited the collaborative efforts and dedication of Butail for facilitating the swift conclusion of the land lease process.

Municipal Corporation Commissioner Netra Meti, Tehsildar Sajan Bagga and ITI Mandi Principal Ajesh Kumar were also present.

Palampur is globally known for Kangra tea, an orthodox variety close to Darjeeling tea, registered under the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999. Tea cultivation was introduced in the Palampur foothills of the Kangra valley in the mid‑19th century. The Camellia tea planted by the British in 1849 grew so popular that Kangra tea won a gold medal at an exhibition in London in 1886 for its flavour and quality. However, a major earthquake in 1905 destroyed many tea gardens and factories, leading most European planters to leave and hand over their estates to Indians.

–IANS

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