CM Sukhu Urges Amit Shah for Enhanced Central Aid to Rebuild Flood-Hit Himachal; Seeks 30% Hike in Relief Norms.
New Delhi:
In the wake of devastating flash floods and cloudbursts, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on Tuesday, seeking enhanced financial support from the Centre for urgent relief and restoration work in the hill state.
During the meeting, CM Sukhu informed the Union Home Minister that Himachal Pradesh had already suffered damages worth around Rs. 1,000 crore in the early phase of the current monsoon season. “Precious lives have been lost, and critical infrastructure including roads, bridges, irrigation systems, water supply schemes, and power supply lines has been badly hit,” the Chief Minister said.
He emphasized that natural calamities have become a recurring crisis in the region, with cumulative losses mounting to approximately Rs. 21,000 crore since 2023. “The financial pressure on the state is overwhelming. Despite all efforts through the SDRF and NDRF, our resources are falling short in dealing with the scale of destruction,” he added.
The Chief Minister made a strong case for increased central assistance and pushed for urgent policy reforms in disaster relief mechanisms. Specifically, he sought an increase in the upper ceiling for central financial support for relief and restoration—from the current 10% to 30%, citing the state’s complex terrain and severe vulnerability to natural disasters.
“Our topography makes restoration work more expensive and logistically challenging. The existing norms are inadequate to address the needs of hill states like Himachal Pradesh,” CM Sukhu stated, urging the Union Government to recognize the unique challenges of the region in its policy framework.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah assured the Chief Minister of all possible support and said the Centre was committed to helping Himachal Pradesh recover from the damage.
The meeting marks another critical step in the state’s ongoing appeal for stronger disaster response mechanisms and long-term resilience planning amid intensifying climate-related events.
