Make revenue deficit grant at minimum level of Rs 10k cr annually: Sukhu to Sitharaman

Discussing fiscal issues of the state, whose debt has increased over Rs 1 lakh crore, the chief minister sought the Centre’s support to strengthen the financial condition of Himachal Pradesh. Sukhu strongly pleaded for creating a separate “Green Fund”, with an earmarked annual allocation of Rs 50,000 crore for hill states, with them being the Green Frontiers and Lungs of North India, keeping in view the ecological services being provided by them.

Sukhu also apprised Sitharaman about the revised formula proposed by the state for horizontal devolution for increasing the weightage for the criteria of Forest and Ecology. He said snow-covered-cum-cold desert areas above tree lines should be included, along with very dense forests and moderately dense forest areas, for their symbiotic relationship.

Sukhu stressed reframing the Disaster Risk Index developed by the 15th Finance Commission, pleading that the Himalayan regions cannot be equated with other areas of the country. “The state was deprived of adequate resources for its disaster relief despite facing heavy natural disasters.”

He urged for a separate DRI for hill states, considering their unique indicators and demanded a separate allocation for hill states.

The chief minister requested Sitharaman to extend support to Himachal by allowing additional borrowing of two per cent of the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP), stating “steep reduction in the RDG over the past few years has severely constrained the fiscal space available to the state”.

Takes up apple growers’ issues

Taking up the issues of apple growers with the Union Finance Minister, Sukhu urged her to impose a 100 per cent import duty on apples and enforce a seasonal ban on imports to protect Himachal’s apple economy.

Seeking urgent intervention against the rising influx of foreign apples, Sukhu demanded inclusion of apples under a ‘Special Category’, an import ban during the peak production season from July to November, and quantitative restrictions on imports.

The chief minister flagged concerns over duty concessions to apples from New Zealand, stating, “It hurts local orchardists.”

Sukhu questioned the BJP’s silence on the issue and urged the Opposition party in Himachal to raise growers’ concerns at the Centre.