RDG not Congress-BJP issue, but Himachal’s issue: CM Sukhu

CHANDIGARH: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has said that the discontinuation of the Revenue Deficit Grant (RDG) by the 16th Finance Commission is causing Himachal a loss of nearly Rs 10,000 crore every year. He said this would adversely affect the state’s development, but asserted that the government would fight to secure its rightful dues. Emphasizing that RDG is not an issue of Congress or the BJP, he said it is directly linked to Himachal’s interests and must be fought collectively. The Chief Minister was speaking at a conclave organised on Saturday to mark the 20th anniversary of Aaj Samaj newspaper.

Sukhu said that after taking oath as Chief Minister, he reviewed the state’s economy and found it to be in poor condition due to the policies of the previous BJP government. He alleged that for political gain ahead of elections, the BJP made announcements and opened hundreds of institutions without ensuring adequate staffing. He said his government subsequently raised the slogan of “systemic change” and set clear priorities. As part of this, the government completed 37,000 land mutations in three years, and property registration will now be available on mobile phones.

The Chief Minister said his government has identified seven priority sectors: health, education, rural economy, tourism, dairy development, environmental conservation and hydropower. Speaking on health, he said robotic surgery has been introduced in Himachal and machines have been installed in five medical colleges. Smart laboratories are also being set up in two health institutions.

On education, he said the government has focused on quality education over the past three years, as a result of which Himachal has moved from 21st to 11th position nationally. Major changes are being made in education infrastructure, and 140 schools will come under the CBSE system from the next academic session.

Referring to the rural economy, he said the state government has fixed a minimum support price (MSP) for milk. Naturally grown wheat is being procured at Rs 40 per kg and turmeric at Rs 80 per kg.

The Chief Minister said Himachal produces 14,000 MW of electricity and receives 12 per cent of this as royalty. He said projects that have completed 40 years should provide 30 per cent royalty to Himachal, and the state is fighting for this right. He added that people displaced by BBMB projects are from Himachal, while Punjab, Haryana and Delhi have benefited. Himachal’s share in BBMB stands at 7.19 per cent and should be granted accordingly. He noted that the Supreme Court has ruled in this regard and that the government is fighting to secure Rs 5,000 crore due under this provision. He described Himachal as the “water bowl of North India”, but said the state does not receive its full entitlement from these projects.

Sukhu said Himachal has suffered heavy losses due to natural disasters but has not received the assistance it should have from the Centre. He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced Rs 1,800 crore in financial assistance for Himachal, but the amount has not yet been released. Despite this, the state government has supported disaster-affected people using its own resources. He said climate change has altered weather patterns, leading to an increase in cloudburst incidents, and that the issue has been discussed with the Union Home Minister for further action.

Reiterating that the withdrawal of RDG has dealt a blow to Himachal’s development, the Chief Minister said the issue must be taken up collectively. He alleged that the previous BJP government left behind a debt of Rs 75,000 crore. His government has taken loans worth Rs 23,000 crore and repaid Rs 26,000 crore, meaning loans had to be raised even to repay existing debt. He said his government has closed all backdoors to corruption and is running a transparent and honest administration.