Himachal Pradesh News
Himachal CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu Seeks ₹50,000 Crore Support at NITI Aayog Meeting, Raises GST and Disaster Loss Concerns
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu strongly advocated for greater financial support from the Centre during the 11th Governing Council meeting of NITI Aayog in New Delhi on Thursday. Addressing Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other senior leaders, Sukhu urged the Centre to establish a high-level committee to assess the financial impact of the discontinuation of the Revenue Deficit Grant (RDG), repeated natural disasters, and the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on the hill state.
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu strongly advocated for greater financial support from the Centre during the 11th Governing Council meeting of NITI Aayog in New Delhi on Thursday. Addressing Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other senior leaders, Sukhu urged the Centre to establish a high-level committee to assess the financial impact of the discontinuation of the Revenue Deficit Grant (RDG), repeated natural disasters, and the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on the hill state.
Speaking at the meeting themed “Inclusive Human Development for Viksit Bharat,” the Chief Minister said that the withdrawal of the Revenue Deficit Grant had significantly affected Himachal Pradesh’s financial stability. He argued that the existing compensation package of ₹25,000 crore was insufficient and called for it to be increased to ₹50,000 crore to ensure the continuation of key development projects across the state.
Himachal Seeks Compensation for Revenue Losses
Sukhu emphasized that Himachal Pradesh has faced mounting fiscal pressure over the years due to structural changes in central funding and tax reforms. He claimed that the state has suffered losses of nearly ₹25,000 crore over the past eight years because of the GST regime and requested adequate compensation from the Centre.
The Chief Minister also pointed out that central assistance worth ₹1,500 crore, announced earlier to support recovery from natural disasters, is yet to be released. Himachal Pradesh has witnessed multiple weather-related disasters in recent years, causing widespread damage to infrastructure and public assets.
Concerns Raised Over Hydropower and BBMB Dues
Highlighting the state’s contribution to India’s energy sector, Sukhu alleged that Himachal Pradesh was not receiving its rightful share of free power from hydropower projects generating nearly 13,000 MW of electricity. He further stated that arrears amounting to approximately ₹7,000 crore from the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) remain pending.
The Chief Minister urged the Centre to intervene and ensure that the state’s interests are protected in matters related to hydropower revenue and resource sharing.
Protection of State Interests in River Linking Project
Sukhu also sought safeguards for Himachal Pradesh in the proposed Chandrabhaga-Ravi-Beas river linking project. He stressed that while large-scale water management projects are important for national development, the interests and concerns of hill states must be adequately addressed during implementation.
Himachal’s Environmental Contribution Worth ₹90,000 Crore Annually
Drawing attention to environmental conservation, Sukhu highlighted findings from a study conducted by the Indian Institute of Forest Management, which estimated Himachal Pradesh’s ecological services value at nearly ₹90,000 crore annually.
He argued that despite making a significant contribution to environmental protection and maintaining forest cover, the state is not receiving adequate financial compensation for these ecological services. The Chief Minister called for a mechanism to reward environmentally sensitive states that contribute to national climate goals.
Education and Green Energy Achievements Highlighted
While outlining the state’s achievements, Sukhu noted that Himachal Pradesh was declared fully literate in 2025. He also highlighted the state’s strong performance in education, securing the sixth position nationally in the 2026 Performance Grading Index for school education.
The Chief Minister said the state government is aggressively promoting renewable energy through solar power projects, green hydrogen initiatives, pumped storage systems, and battery storage infrastructure. According to him, Himachal Pradesh is steadily moving towards becoming one of India’s leading green energy states.
Push for Better Connectivity and Anti-Drug Campaign
To strengthen tourism and economic growth, Sukhu requested improved air connectivity and expansion of Gaggal Airport. Better infrastructure, he said, would help attract more tourists and improve accessibility to the state.
The Chief Minister also briefed the NITI Aayog meeting on the government’s ongoing crackdown against drug abuse, particularly the menace of “chitta.” He sought greater cooperation from the Centre in intelligence sharing and inter-agency coordination to curb drug trafficking and addiction.
