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Shimla, September 11 (PTI) Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu on Thursday emphasized the resumption of the Disaster Risk Index (DRI) developed by the 15th Finance Commission, stating that the Himalayan region cannot be equal to the rest of the country, as far as various dangers and their related loads are concerned.
Sukhu, who met the President of the 16th Finance Commission, Arvind Panagariya in New Delhi, discussed various issues related to the state’s fiscal health and said that Himachal Pradesh had been facing the brunt of natural disasters for the last three years and was losing precious lives and facing maximum loss. 15,000 crores.
Developed uniform matrix is not included in dangers such as landslides, snow avalanches, cloudbursts, forest fire and glacial lakes floods (Gloffs) and there was a case in the increased frequency point of these dangers while recently influenced the mountainous region, he said in a statement issued here.
He said that due to low DRI, Himachal Pradesh did not get enough resources from the 15th Finance Commission to meet the requirement of disaster relief, despite facing the higher fault of disasters.
The Chief Minister requested that by considering the unique indicators mentioned above, a separate DRI can be designed for the hilly states and a separate allocation for the mountainous states, which can be distributed horizontally among these states based on the new DRI.
Sukhu also requested to continue the revenue deficit grant (RDG) for a revenue deficit state like Himachal Pradesh and said that the Jusing of RDG continuity and quantity has been submitted to the Finance Commission by the State Government in additional memorandum and main memorandum.
He requested RDG not to taper, which should be determined by the 16th Finance Commission on the realistic evaluation of state’s revenue and expenditure estimates during the award period. He urged that RDG gets a minimum level of Rs. 10,000 crores annually.
He also stated that the Supreme Court also made an observation in July 2025 that revenue at the cost of environment and ecology could not be acquired, and it could prove to be harmful to the entire state.
The hilly state of Himachal Pradesh has limitations in achieving revenue growth beyond a certain level. Essential public services have to be provided as part of constitutional obligations and more than 67 percent of our region, as forest land, had very little space to maneuver.
The Chief Minister said that a wide justification for increasing weightage for forest and ecology norms has been presented to the Commission by the State. He requested that the snow-covered-covered desert areas should be included above the tree line, as well as very dense forests and areas of medium dense forests to be included for their symbiotic relations.
He said that the state had also requested the construction of a separate ‘Green Fund’ with an annual allocation of rupees. 50,000 crore for hilly states for ecological services provided to the country in various forms.
This fund can be carved or kept as a plan as a special central assistance for Capital Investment (SASCI). The matter was discussed with the Prime Minister and even through a letter written by him.
The Chief Minister said that since the 16th Finance Commission was in the process of finalizing its report, the state’s presentations can be sympathetically considered by finalizing the recommendations, so that the finance of the state remains sustainable.
He said that the chairman assured that the state would make every effort to move towards the path of fiscal conscience.
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