Now CM Virabhadra Singh Demands Special Category Status for Himachal Pradesh

19 March, Shimla

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, who also holds the portfolio of Finance presented his third budget of this tenure and 18 budget as five time Chief Minister, said that state would raised the issue of special category status with the Centre emphatically keeping difficult situation state finances.

Singh, said the state’s total debt has been gone up to Rs34,700 crore .

Singh said that efforts has been made in this budget to come up with new scheme under limited revenue resources, however, he would not termed the state finances as grim. The outlay has been enhanced for Education, Irrigation and Public Health, Agriculture, Horticulture, Labour and Welfare and MNRGA workers.

He said that new schemes have been announced to benefit various sections of societies in limited resources. Singh said that budget expenditure was being incurred from the state kitty, as it was not certain whether state would get special assistance from the Centre under the special category.

Singh said that after coming up of Niti Ayog, the state has to balance its budget as it is not sure new government at the Centre would continue the Central grants under the Centre-sponsored schemes.

State would come out with more developmental projects and schemes, in addition to those announced in the budget speech, if the Centre continued its on going CCS grants to the state. He said that budget was likely to provide more employment avenues to the people as efforts have been made to incentivise them.

The budget proposed to generate employment and increase its revenue continuing the harnessed left out Hydro electric power potential after commissioning up of more projects in the future .

He said that owing to the vast potential of nature and scenic beauty of the state, it could generate more revenues in hospitality and tourism industry as advance hospitality units and hotels chains would be invited in the future.