Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu Presents 'Please-all Green Budget" 2023-24 in HP Vidhan Sabha, He Levies Rs 10 on Liquor Bottle to Fund 'Dugdh Ganga' Scheme

: Category: Latest; Published: 17 March 2023

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SHIMLA: Giving a shape to Green Himachal dream by 2025, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu presented the Rs 53, 413 Crore please all budget in Vidhan Sabha that left behind deficit of Rs 3704 Crore.

Apart from listing initiatives taken up to increase sources of income through water cess, new liquor auction policy, new green policy, Sukhu announced new Horticulture Policy, Dugd Ganga scheme, small traders scheme and series of subsidies and soft loans and startup for unemployed youth.

He announced a levy of Rs 10 a liquor bottle to fund the Dugdh Ganga Scheme.

In order to develop Himachal Pradesh as a ‘Green Energy State’ by 31st March, 2026, CM announced:

 A target to set up Solar Energy Projects of 500 MW in 2023-24.
 40% subsidy to youth of the State for setting up of Solar Energy Projects with the capacity ranging from 250 KW to 2MW on their own / leased land.
 Himachal Pradesh will be developed as a ‘Model State for Electric Vehicles’. Electric vehicles will be encouraged in a phased manner with the collaboration of private and
public sectors.
 In the first phase, 6 National and State Highways will be developed as Green Corridors for electric vehicles.
 The private bus/truck operators will be given subsidy of 50 percent with the maximum limit of Rs.50 lakh for
purchase of e-bus and e-truck. Private operators will be given subsidy of 50 percent for establishing Electric
Charging Stations.
 1,500 diesel buses of HRTC will be replaced with e-buses in phased manner with an expenditure of Rs.1,000 crore.
 A subsidy of Rs.25,000 each to 20,000 meritorious girl students for purchase of ‘Electric Scooty’.
 To make Himachal Pradesh a leading Green Hydrogen Based Economy, a Green Hydrogen Policy will be brought.
 Hydro Power Projects with capacity of 1,000 MWs will be completed.
 2 Gram Panchayats in each district will be developed as Green Panchayats on pilot basis.
 ‘Himachal Pradesh Power Sector Development Programme’ costing Rs.2,000 crore with help of World
Bank will be launched.
 6 EHV Sub-Stations, 5 transmission lines at a cost of Rs.464 crore and a ‘Joint Control Centre’ will be
established by the HPTCL.
 A ‘Centralized Cell’ will be set up for efficient management of sale and purchase of power.

Sukhu reiterated that the government would make Kangra as Tourism Capital of Himachal opening new windows for the locals developing tourist facilities and activities ranging from adventure and water sports to yachting and boating and tent tourism.

CM announced the revival of the Jathai Devi Satellite township project which was floated by the then Urban Minister Sudhir Sharma during the then Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh Regime to decongest Shimla.

But the project failed to take off as the BJP government did not pay any attention and there were few takers for this. Sukhu threw the Jathia Devi project in the court of the Centre announcing that the government has Made Rs 1300 Crore project report for funds from the Centre.

CM announced hikes for Rs 500 each for the daily wagers, ASHA workers, water carriers, hike for daily wagers, small traders and milk producers and a series of hikes for PRI representatives and outsourced employees in his maiden “pleas-all budget he presented in the Vidhan Sabha today in his own rustic style.

Chief Minister and announced filling up 25000 government jobs, job portal to connect with the international companies for unemployed youth.

He announced the first phase of Rs 1500 honourariam for women that will benefit over 2.5 lakh women as per Congress Guaranttee made in its election manifesto.

He also announced Rajiv Gandhi Digital mission scheme to make available job opportunities from actoss India and world for unemployed youth.

Laced with the “Shairs", Sukku used his tact and political humour to keep the estranged opposition BJP MLAs in good humour and sounding them with doses of jibes of “Vyastha Parivartan”. Chief Minister announced the setting up of the HP medical service corporation to streamline medical care, including the Emergency and Casality Services in government hospitals in the state.

Girls will get subsidy of Rs 25000 for electric scotty to schools and colleges.

He announced New opportunities in Agriculture, Horticulture, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries sectors.

 Cluster approach based Integrated and Comprehensive Agriculture Development Scheme “Him Unnati”.
 Subsidy for using wire mesh for fencing fields under ‘Mukhya Mantri Khet Sanrakshan Yojana.’
 Tractors will be provided to farmers at a subsidy of 50 percent under ‘Sub-Mission on Agriculture
Mechanization’.
 To encourage start-ups in agriculture, animal husbandry, horticulture and fisheries, credit to be given at an interest of 2 percent.

To strengthening and Expansion of Health Services, he announced:

 Robotic Surgery facility will be provided in all Medical Colleges in a phased manner.
 The buildings of Medical Colleges of Hamirpur, Nahan and Chamba will be completed with a cost of Rs. 100 crore and dedicated to the public and Nursing Colleges in these Medical Colleges will be started.
 The Casualty Department of all Medical Colleges will be upgraded to Emergency Medicine Department.
 One health institute in each Assembly Constituency will be developed as “Adarsh Swasthaya Sansthan”.
 A ‘Centre of Excellence’ for Cancer Care and Nuclear Medicine Department will be set up in Medical College
Hamirpur with a cost of Rs.50 crore.
 PET Scan in all the Medical Colleges of the State.
 “Himachal Pradesh Medical Services Corporation” will be established for procurement of quality medicines,
machinery and equipment for health institutions.
 Pregnant women and children suffering from Type-I diabetes will be provided insulin pumps to protect them
from serious infections.

For Tourism Development, CM announced:

 Land acquisition process will be started for Mandi and Kangra Airports.
 Heliports will be constructed/developed at all district headquarters.
 Heli-taxi services will be operationalized from Sanjauli and Baddi shortly.
 Kangra district will be developed as “Tourism Capital” of Himachal Pradesh.
o A “Golf course” meeting international standards will be developed.
o “Tourist Village” will be established for promoting local art and culture.
o Old Age Homes will be developed for senior citizens.
o Development of Ice skating and roller-skating rinks.
o Promotion of water sports, shikara, cruise, yacht
facilities in Pong Dam.
o A zoo will be set up in Bankhandi at a cost of Rs.300 crore.
 A comprehensive tourism development scheme has been prepared with a cost of Rs.1,311 crore with the assistance of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for development of eco tourism, beautification of heritage sites and tourism facilities in Kangra, Hamirpur, Kullu, Shimla, Mandi and
other districts.
 To start skilling courses in tourism and hospitality sectors for the youth of Himachal Pradesh, the ‘Centre of
Excellence’ at Waknaghat will be completed at a cost of Rs.68 crore.

He announced the Initiatives for Improvement in Quality of Education:

 ‘Rajiv Gandhi Government Day-Boarding Schools’ will be opened in each Assembly Constituency with sports
facilities, swimming pools etc. These will be composite schools from pre-primary to class-12.
 To enable youth of the State to prepare for various competitive exams, construction of libraries with the
access to National Digital Library and other essential books.
 Employment Melas and special placement drives will be organized twice in a year in colleges.
 To improve quality of education and introduce Information and Communication Technology (ICT), library
room will be established in each Senior Secondary School,
Tablets will be provided for 10,000 meritorious students, digital hardware and software in 762 Schools under ‘ICT
Scheme’, Tablets for 17,510 primary regular teachers and arrangement of desks for 40,000 children will be made.
 Increase in diet money of students living in sports hostels from Rs.120 to Rs.240 per day.
 Value Added Courses in Technical Education, such as Robotics, Block-Chain Technology, Cyber Security, Cloud Computing, Data Analytics, Artificial Intelligence and Machine learning, Electric Vehicles Mechanic,
Maintenance Mechanic, Solar Technician, Drone Technician, Mechatronics and Internet of Things (IoTs)
Technician etc. to be introduced.
 Drone Service Technician Course will be started in 11 Government Industrial Training Institutes of the State in a
phased manner.
 Under the World Bank funded Project STRIVE, infrastructure and other facilities will be improved in 12 ITIs.
 ‘MERITE Project’ will be implemented in 4 engineering colleges and 8 polytechnics in the next five years.
 Kaushal Vikas Nigam will train 500 youth each in Drone sector, Electric Vehicle, and Solar Energy sector

He announced expansion in the Social Security Net:

 To implement one of the guarantees, 2.31 lakh women will get the pension of Rs.1,500 per month on which
Government will spend an amount of Rs.416 crore per year.
 A scheme "Mukhya Mantri Sukh-Ashray Yojana" for orphans, semi-orphans, specially abled, destitute women
and old people. The orphans/ persons upto the age of 27 years will be known as ‘Children of State’ and State
Government will look after them by following the principle of ‘Sarkaar hee Mata - Sarkaar hee Pita’.
 Under this scheme, ‘Mukhya Mantri Sukh-Ashray Kosh’ with the provision of Rs.101 crore, upgradation of Shelter Homes for children, destitute women and elderly persons with all modern facilities, construction of ‘Adarsh Gram Sukh-Ashray Parisar’ in Sundernagar and Jwalamukhi, educational tour outside the State once in a year for orphans including facility of air travel and stay in three star hotels.
 The expenditure on account of education, hostel, professional training and skill upgradation for the orphans between the age of 18-27 years will be borne by the State Government.

 “Mukhya Mantri Rojgar Sankalp Seva” will be started to provide employment opportunities to the youth at State, National and International level.

 Removal of the condition of income limit and Gram Sabha approvals to enable widows and Divyangjans to get
pension.
 9,000 new beneficiaries will be benefited under the Divyangjan “Raahat Bhatta Yojana.”
 40,000 new eligible persons under social security pension.
 A new scheme "Mukhya Mantri Vidhwa Evam Ekal Nari Awas Yojana" for construction of houses for 7,000 eligible widows and single women.
 Education loan at the rate of 1 percent under new scheme "Mukhya Mantri Vidyarthi Protsahan Yojana" for eligible poor children to pursue professional higher education.
 A subsidy of Rs.25,000 each to 20,000 meritorious girl students for purchase of ‘Electric Scooty’.
 Launch of "Mukhya Mantri Surakshit Bachpan Abhiyaan".
 Launch of “Nasha Evam Maadak Padarth Mukt Himachal Abhiyaan”.
 Concrete steps will be taken to stop drug trafficking and to arrest criminals. Illegal property earned through drug
trafficking will be confiscated.

He announced Rajeev Gandhi Swarozgar Yojna.

He said financial assistance will be given for projects related to machinery and equipments in Dental Clinics, purchase of e-taxi, installation of solar power projects up to 1 MW among others under “Rajiv Gandhi Swarozgaar Yojana”.
Subsidy of 50 percent will be provided to all eligible sections on purchase of e-taxi.

 A new "Industrial Investment Policy" and establishment of “Bureau of Investment Promotion”, to facilitate the
investors.

How state is increasing its sources of income

To reduce the loss of GST compensation, “GST Revenue Enhancement Project” will be started, he announced.
 Under 'Sadbhavna Yojana 2023' pending cases under various Acts of traders, manufacturers, wholesalers and
retailers will be settled.
 Changes in Excise Policy made to make it more transparent. Most districts have witnessed 20 to 66 per cent increase in liquor units .
 Milk Cess of Rs. 10 per bottle of liquor will be imposed, this levy will be used to increase the income of milk
producers.
 Imposition of ‘Water Cess’ on the water used for power generation to get Rs 4000 crore every year.

CM announced digitization of services.

 e-office system will be established in State Secretariat, Directorates and Deputy Commissioner Offices.
 Whatsapp and Chatbot facilities will be used for 'Mukhya Mantri Seva Sankalp Helpline'.
 A mobile application will be developed for citizens to report stray animals, which will be integrated with the
'Mukhya Mantri Seva Sankalp Helpline'.
 To eliminate delay in providing various benefits to beneficiaries, DBT portal will be developed.
 A comprehensive policy to promote drone usage and drone technology, and drone enabled administration.
 Expansion of State Data Centre.

 Setting up a registry ‘Him Parivar’ to have the relevant data of all families at one place. This will help people to get benefits of various Government schemes smoothly.
 Expansion of 4G and 5G services in the State.
 Launch of new scheme "Mukhya Mantri Sadak Evam
Rakh-Rakhav Yojana."

But will all these Budget announcements take shape on the ground? If yes, how long will it take the Chief Minister and the official machineries to give them shape?

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Sword of Uncertainty Over Six CPSs’ Fate Temporarily Lifted: Relief for Sukhu Government

In a major relief to the Himachal Pradesh government, the Supreme Court has stayed the High Court’s directive to initiate disqualification proceedings against six MLAs who were appointed as Chief Parliamentary Secretaries (CPSs).

This decision, welcomed by Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, has brought a temporary reprieve to his administration, which was grappling with the political and legal ramifications of the High Court’s order.

The Himachal Pradesh High Court had earlier quashed the appointments of the six CPSs, deeming them unconstitutional, and directed the Assembly Speaker to initiate disqualification proceedings under the anti-defection law.

However, the Supreme Court’s stay has effectively paused the implementation of this directive, offering the government some breathing space to strategize its next legal move.

CM Sukhu Hails Supreme Court’s Clarity

Speaking to media persons in New Delhi, CM Sukhu expressed his satisfaction with the Supreme Court’s interpretation, which he said provided much-needed clarity on the matter.

"The relief granted by the Supreme Court is significant, and we will deliberate on the next steps after considering all legal aspects,” he said.

The Chief Minister also emphasized that the apex court’s interpretation differed from paragraph 50 of the High Court’s verdict, which had been the basis of the controversial directive.

Opposition’s “Childish” Behavior Criticized

Shifting his focus to the opposition, Sukhu took a sharp jab at their tactics, describing their behavior as “childish” and lacking focus on real issues.

“There are no controversies here, but their behavior is simply immature. From toilet tax to ‘Samosa Politics,’ they are just distracting from the real issues,” he said.

Sukhu accused the opposition BJP of attempting to create diversions because of its failure to make a dent in the Congress’s strength during the Vidhan Sabha elections.

“Their ‘Operation Lotus’ was decisively rejected by the people, and Congress retained its 40-seat strength. Now, they resort to personal attacks to divert attention from our welfare schemes,” he added.

Relief Amid Mounting Challenges

The Supreme Court’s stay on the High Court’s order has momentarily eased the pressure on the Sukhu government, but the sword of uncertainty continues to hang over the six MLAs who served as CPSs.

With questions around their appointments still unresolved, the case remains a legal minefield.

The CPS appointments had drawn criticism for allegedly violating constitutional provisions, which prohibit the creation of such posts without legislative backing.

The High Court’s scathing remarks and the directive for disqualification had added fuel to the controversy, creating a storm in the state’s political landscape.

While the Supreme Court’s intervention provides temporary relief, the Sukhu government must now prepare for a protracted legal battle to defend the appointments and protect its legislative majority.

Opposition’s Counterattacks

The BJP, meanwhile, has been quick to pounce on the issue, accusing the government of flouting constitutional norms for political convenience. Party leaders have argued that the CPS appointments were a backdoor way to reward loyalists, a claim that Sukhu has staunchly denied.

The opposition’s attacks, combined with the ongoing legal scrutiny, highlight the precarious nature of the government’s position. For now, the Supreme Court’s decision is a welcome pause, but the final word on the matter could still have far-reaching consequences for the political stability of Himachal Pradesh.

Sukhu’s Call for Responsibility

Amid the controversy, Sukhu reiterated his commitment to governance and welfare. He called on the opposition to act responsibly and raise issues that matter to the common man.

“Significant progress has been made in improving the socio-economic status of the underprivileged during this tenure, and that remains our priority,” he stated.

With the legal wrangling far from over, the fate of the six CPSs—and the stability of the Sukhu government—remains inextricably tied to the unfolding courtroom drama.

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