Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh has demanded for uniform funding in the Central-State ratio of 90:10 for all the Centrally Sponsored Schemes in the Himachal Pradesh.Virbhadra Singh called on Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram in New Delhi today and told that at present there was difference in funding pattern to Special Category States like the Himachal Pradesh and North Eastern States. While the North Eastern States are getting funding in the pattern of 90:10 ratio, however the same is not applicable in the Himachal Pradesh. He told that State was getting funding which varies from 20% to 75% depending upon the schemes. He demanded that all Central Ministries should be directed to provide uniform funding for all schemes for Himachal Pradesh.
Chief Minister demanded the release of Rs 750 crore for providing balance amount under SPA/SCA through savings or additionallity in order to fully finance the annual plan of 2013-14. He demanded revival of special industrial package till the year 2020 by providing income tax and central excise duty exemption to the industrial units for next ten years. He told that special industrial package to Himachal and Uttrakhand was not adversely affecting the industrialization of neighbouring states as there was no flight of industries from bigger States to the Himachal Pradesh but only new industrial units and expansion plans were implemented in the State.Union Finance Minister Shri P. Chidambaram assured Shri Virbhadra Singh that Central Government would consider all the demands sympathetically and provide liberal financial assistance to the State for ensuring its overall developments.