Himachal Pradesh Ignored in Union Budget, Says PWD Minister Vikramaditya Singh.
Shimla:
Himachal Pradesh Public Works Minister Vikramaditya Singh has expressed strong disappointment over the Union Budget presented by the Centre, stating that the hill state has been “unfortunately ignored” despite being disaster-prone and fiscally vulnerable.
Reacting to the budget, Singh said the absence of any provision for Revenue Deficit Grant (RDG) for Himachal Pradesh is deeply concerning. He pointed out that over the past few years, the revenue deficit grant allocated to the state under the recommendations of the Finance Commission has been steadily reduced and has now been virtually discontinued. This, he said, comes at a time when Himachal Pradesh requires enhanced financial support due to mounting losses caused by repeated natural disasters and a fragile economic situation.
The minister noted that the state’s economy is already under severe strain, with a significant portion of its resources being spent on salaries, pensions, interest payments and debt servicing. Limited tax revenue and frequent natural calamities, including landslides, floods and cloudbursts, have further aggravated the financial challenges. In such circumstances, Singh said, the withdrawal of revenue deficit support and the absence of a special financial package would directly impact crucial infrastructure works.
He warned that development projects related to roads, bridges, drinking water supply, irrigation and post-disaster reconstruction would suffer due to lack of adequate funds, slowing down the overall pace of development in the state.
Emphasising that the issue transcends party politics, Singh said it is not a matter of Congress versus BJP but one that concerns the long-term interests of Himachal Pradesh and its people. He urged the Centre to uphold the spirit of federalism by recognising the unique challenges faced by hill and disaster-affected states and to provide financial assistance without political considerations.
The Public Works Minister called upon the central government to immediately reconsider its decision and restore the revenue deficit grant for Himachal Pradesh. He also demanded a special financial package for disaster rehabilitation and infrastructure development, stating that such support is essential for effective reconstruction, sustainable development and for providing a stable and resilient economic foundation for the hill state.
