Rs 34,490 crore credit scheme to boost agriculture, allied sectors: Himachal CM

Shimla, January 31

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu here today said that on the basis of the available resources and banking structure in the state, a credit potential scheme of Rs 34,490 crore has been prepared to give a boost to agriculture and other allied sectors.

3000 HRTC buses being replaced with e-buses

• The CM said the state transport has become the first department in the country to adopt e-vehicles. Along with this, 3,000 diesel buses of HRTC are being replaced with e-buses in a phased manner
• Under the Rs 680 crore Rajiv Gandhi Self-Employment Start-up Scheme, 50 per cent subsidy for the purchase of e-taxis is being provided
• The state government is also giving priority to exploit solar energy and a 32 MW capacity solar power project is being set up in Pekhubela of Una district

He was speaking at the inaugural function of the state credit seminar for the financial year 2024-25 organised by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) here today. “The credit scheme is 8 per cent higher than the amount last year,” he said. He also released ‘NABARD State Focus Paper-2024-25’ on the occasion.

Banks must extend loans

I urge the banks to extend their active support in providing loans for proper implementation of these schemes so that farmers, horticulturists and youth can avail maximum benefits of these schemes. Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Chief Minister

He said it was with the aim of socio-economic upliftment of the people that the state government has launched Mukhya Mantri Swablamban Yojana, Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture, Mukhya Mantri Laghu Shopkeeper Kalyan Yojana, Mukhya Mantri Green Cover Mission, Mukhya Mantri Rojgar Sankalp Seva, Mukhya Mantri Vidyarthi Yojana, besides start-up.

“I urge the banks to extend their active support in providing loans for proper implementation of these schemes so that farmers, horticulturists and youth can avail maximum benefits of these schemes,” he said.

He said as per RBI report none of the districts of the state falls in the category of ‘credit deficient’ districts. “Although the credit flow in these districts is normal, the loan to deposit ratio of the state is 36.39 per cent. What is a matter of concern is the ‘loan to deposit ratio’ in Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Kangra, Mandi, Una, Lahaul-Spiti and Chamba districts which is consistently less than 40 per cent,” he said.

Sukhu said that NABARD has a major role in making Himachal Pradesh self-reliant. Climate change affected Himachal as well but to cope up with these conditions the state government has taken many steps. “Green industry and e-vehicles are being encouraged in the state in a big way so that dependence on fossil fuel can be reduced,” he said.

The CM said that the state transport has become the first department in the country to adopt e-vehicles. Along with this, 3,000 diesel buses of HRTC are being replaced with e-buses in a phased manner and tender has been issued for 1300 e-buses.

He said under the first phase of Rs 680 crore Rajiv Gandhi Self-Employment Start-up Scheme, 50 per cent subsidy for the purchase of e-taxis is being provided and so far more than 1200 youth have applied. He added that e-charging stations are also being set up for smooth operation of e-vehicles. Till now, 17 such stations have been established on the Kiratpur-Keylong green corridor and many more are being established throughout the state.

“Operation of e-vehicles reflects the vision of the state government for environmental protection and taking a step ahead the purchase of petrol and diesel vehicles in government departments has been banned from January 1, 2024,” said.

He said the state government is also giving priority to exploit solar energy and a 32 MW capacity solar power project is being set up in Pekhubela of Una district, which will be ready this month. Apart from this, a project is being set up with Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) to generate green hydrogen of one megawatt capacity, for which the tender process has been started, he remarked.

Officer-in-charge of NABARD, Dr. Vivek Pathania welcomed the Chief Minister. Health and Family Welfare Minister Dhani Ram Shandil, Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Mohan Lal Brakta, MLAs Ajay Solanki and Bhuvaneshwar Gaur, Himachal Pradesh State Cooperative Bank Chairman, Devender Shyam, Kangra Central Cooperative Bank Chairman, Kuldeep Singh Pathania, Jogindra Bank Chairman, Mukesh Sharma, and senior officials were also present on the occasion.