CHAMBA/SHIMLA: Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has squarely pointed fingers at the BJP-led Modi government for not releasing Rs. 10,000 crore stuck with the Centre to Himachal Pradesh.
This statement has come as Himachal Pradesh is reeling under a crippling financial crisis as it grapples with the aftermath of flash floods that caused a staggering loss of Rs. 8,000 crore.
With limited resources at its command, Himachal's financial stability has been hit hard by the calamity, making it an uphill task for the CM to manage the mounting crisis and restore and repair logistics in the state.
Sukhu is also facing music from the opposing group within the state Congress led by Congress President Pratibha Singh, who had recently taken the matter with the Congress High Command in New Delhi.
The group charged that the "government is not coordinating with the Party".
Addressing a gathering at the Minjar International Fair in Chamba, Chief Minister Sukhu minced no words as he called on the opposition BJP in Himachal to extend cooperation and press the Centre for the release of Rs 10,000 Crore from the Centre.
Himachal Pradesh has inherited a huge debt of Rs. 75,000 crore from the previous BJP government, a burden that has further added to the current financial woes.
However, in a bid to support its employees and acknowledge their role in the state's development, the government took the bold step of restoring the Old Pension Scheme, as promised in the Congress party's Pratigya Patra, Sukhu said.
Chief Minister said a team from the Union Government assessed the damages caused by the natural disaster in Himachal.
He said he would meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi shortly to urgently discuss the dire situation.
The state suffered an enormous loss of Rs. 8,000 crore due to the calamity, and the road to recovery will be long and arduous, demanding significant financial resources.
Despite facing adverse weather conditions, Sukhu said within a remarkable 48 hours of the calamity, electricity and water supply were temporarily restored to the affected areas. ”However, the restoration efforts are far from over and require immense resources and time”.
Sukhu said he could visit Holi to meet the affected people, but Deputy Commissioner of Chamba has been instructed to ensure swift compensation to all affected families.
He said state government increased compensation amount tenfold for those in need.
On his maiden visit to Chamba, Suku was accorded a grand welcome by Chamba people led by Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania.
Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu laid the foundation stone and inaugurated 14 developmental projects worth Rs. 82.14 crore for district Chamba during visit to Chamba today and participated in the Shobha Yatra on the conlduing day of the Minjar fair.
The people of Himachal Pradesh await swift action and financial aid to rebuild their lives and restore normalcy in Himachal. It remains to be seen what fruits does CM’s meeting with the PM bear in days to come.
