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Indian millionaire buys 'ghost' town
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Washington, July 30: A Virginia-based Indian American philanthropist, who made a fortune selling medical devices and real estate here over 28 years after migrating from India, has bought a 'ghost' town in Canada for USD 5.7 million and hopes to develop it into an eco-tourist destination.

Krishnan Suthanthiran, 56, immediately bought the town, named Kitsault, 500 miles northwest of Vancouver in British Columbia after seeing a news story several months ago which said that it was on sale, 'The Washington Post' reported.


The town was abandoned by miners' families 22 years ago. It was built in the late 1970s by Amax of Canada Limited to reopen a mine, dormant since 1972, that produced molybdenum, a metal used to harden steel. When the price of molybdenum collapsed, it gave up.


Suthanthiran, who believes in simple living, breakfasts at McDonald's, flies economy class and asks for a doggie bag when he does not finish his meal at cheap motel restaurants, The Post said.


He told the paper that he jumped at the chance to buy Kitsault because, \"one, it is beautiful up there, and two, I couldn't believe it was not being used. I said if nobody else could figure out what to do with a town, I can.\"


His ideas for transforming the empty town, located in a majestic setting, include making it an eco-tourist destination or an artists' colony.


Suthanthiran plans to hold conferences, gather scientists for forums and evening salmon-roasts on the beach. Other uses he has in mind are wedding receptions, a corporate retreat, a movie set, skiing and hiking.


He said that he would ban smoking and cars but may have a high-speed hydrofoil to bring tourists 85 miles from Prince Rupert.


\"I feel like a kid in a candytown shop,\" he said.


Suthanthiran, said 'The Post', has avoided publicity in the past, content with his work and a growing list of philanthropy projects in India, Canada and the United States.


Many involve small scholarships, the kind of boost that enabled him to leave home for college at 15 with only a collection of donations from neighbours in his pocket.


\"I do believe in education,\" he said. \"If you are going to eliminate poverty, you need to eliminate ignorance.\"


In the last years, he has moved to buy half a dozen companies. Most are medical concerns that complement his own, Best Medical International. The purchases include a Vancouver video production company and now the 'ghost' town.


\"I guess Kitsault will bring me more into the open,\" Suthanthiran said with little enthusiasm during an interview to 'The Post'. (Agencies)


Published: Saturday, July 30, 2005


ANY TAKERS FOR MISSISSAUGA & BRAMPTON(OOPS! SORRY BATINDA)

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Speech by Thomas Friedman of The New York Times....

"When we were young kids growing up in America, we were told to eat our
vegetables at dinner and not leave them. Mothers said, 'think of the
starving children in India and finish the dinner.' And now I tell my
children: 'Finish your maths homework. Think of the children in India
who would make you starve, if you don't.'"