BUDGET 2024-25: No disaster relief funds allocated for Himachal Pradesh, says Sukhvinder Sukhu

Shimla, July 23

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today gave an assurance in her Budget speech that financial assistance would be extended to Himachal for the reconstruction of infrastructure that was damaged during the monsoon disaster last year but made no specific budgetary allocation for the purpose.

Details of allocation for railway expansion not known

• The details of the funds allocated for the expansion of the railway network in Himachal Pradesh are not yet known, said Sukhu
• People were hopeful that funds would be allocated for the Manali-Leh and Una-Hamirpur railway lines to enhance connectivity
• He had urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi for allocation of funds for restoration work but no provision had been made in the Union Budget

The Congress government was not hopeful of any big announcements for Himachal but was disappointed as no specific allocation even for disaster management was made in the Budget. “The Finance Minister has presented a ‘political compulsion Budget’ to appease its allies while the demands of states like Himachal have been overlooked. The Centre has been magnanimous in extending financial aid to its alliance partners Bihar and Andhra Pradesh but has discriminated against Himachal,” said Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu.

He said, “Our claim for over Rs 9,000 crore relief based on the post disaster need assessment following damage suffered during the monsoon last year has not found a place in the Budget, which is very disappointing. Himachal should have been compensated for the losses suffered due to the monsoon disaster last year.” He added, “Himachal’s needs have been completely overlooked in the Union Budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, which clearly means that we have been discriminated against in terms of budgetary allocations,” he added.

“Himachal had suffered extensive losses due to flashfloods last year. Our government will provide financial assistance to the state for reconstruction and rehabilitation works through multilateral development assistance,” is what Sitharaman said in her Budget speech in Parliament. The details of this multilateral development assistance are yet to be known.

Himachal was hopeful that the Central Government would grant Rs 9,000 crore to compensate it for losses suffered due to unprecedented rains last year. “Himachal has not been given anything for disaster management. Sitharaman in her Budget speech has mentioned assistance for Sikkim and Uttarakhand but in case of Himachal, she used the term multilateral development assistance. This can also mean that we will get routine money under various schemes like the Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sadak Yojana or the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana but no special assistance that can help us reconstruct the damaged infrastructure,” he added.

Emphasis on skill development: The Budget’s provisions are designed to fortify our agricultural sector and promote sustainable practices through natural farming. The emphasis on skill development will equip our workforce with necessary tools.

It is disappointing that our claim for over Rs 9,000 crore relief based on the post disaster need assessment of losses suffered during the monsoon last year has not found a place in the Budget. — Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, CM

The Union Budget is directionless and has nothing for the development of Himachal. No concrete steps have been taken to check rising inflation and unemployment. — Pratibha Singh, HPCC chief

I had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for providing help to Himachal for the restoration of damaged infrastructure. I thank them for accepting my request. — Jai Ram Thakur, former CM

Himachal is going to benefit from this Budget, which has given special impetus to the educational and employment sectors. One crore youth will be given Rs 5,000 per month for self-employment. — Rajeev Bindal, BJP president