Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu called on Union Finance Minister Smt Nirmala Sitharaman at New Delhi today. He requested the Finance Minister to review the limit imposed by the Department of Expenditure on Himachal Pradesh for availing external assistance and urged to restore the position as it has adversely affected the financial position of the state and many projects are stalled.
He further requested to consider funding of a reconstruction and rehabilitation proposal from HP for multilateral funding from the World Bank under a new window, which is over and above the ceiling imposed by the Ministry. Chief Minister raised the issue of reducing Revenue Deficit Grants. He said that state government has taken many steps for additional resource mobilization however these are insufficient to meet the budgetary obligations for financial year 2025-26.
He requested to allow the state an additional borrowing of 2 percent of the GSDP for 2025-26. Chief Minister also raised the issue of requirement of additional resources for creating infrastructure due to high cost construction due to tough topographical and weather conditions.
Smt Nirmala Sitharaman assured of sympathetic consideration of the demands as placed by the Chief Minister. Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena, Principal Advisor to CM Ram Subhag Singh, Resident Commissioner Smt Meera Mohanty also accompanied the Chief Minister.