Himachal Pradesh Seeks Financial Aid Amid Natural Disasters Impact

Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu met Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to request an increased borrowing limit, citing revenue losses and natural disasters. Despite efforts to improve finances, grants have reduced and disasters cost Rs 18,000 crore. Sukhu also seeks weather and disaster management assistance.

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Wednesday sought increased borrowing limits from Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, emphasizing the financial strain due to consistent revenue losses and natural disasters. Highlighting the state's decreasing revenue deficit grant, he pressed for additional support.

Over the past three years, the state faced around Rs 18,000 crore in losses and 1,321 lives were lost due to natural disasters. Sukhu requested assistance to navigate the challenging fiscal dynamics, worsened by reduced GST tax base.

The chief minister also met Union Minister of State for Science and Technology to request automated weather stations and Doppler weather radar to manage disaster warnings effectively, further underlining the need for a seismic lab and air monitoring systems in seismic-prone areas.

(With inputs from agencies.)