In a high-stakes series of meetings in New Delhi, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu made an impassioned appeal to the Union Government for comprehensive support to tide over the massive crisis unfolding in the state. With the early onset of monsoon triggering devastating flash floods, cloudbursts and large-scale infrastructural collapse, the Chief Minister held crucial discussions with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, and Dr Arvind Panagariya, Chairman of the 16th Finance Commission. His agenda was clear—to seek urgent financial support, policy flexibility, and long-term structural aid for rebuilding the hill state battered by nature and constrained by finances.
In his first meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, CM Sukhu described in detail the extent of the destruction that Himachal Pradesh has already faced, even as the monsoon season has only just begun. He informed the Home Minister that damages worth approximately ₹1000 crore have already been recorded, affecting lives, livelihoods and critical infrastructure including roads, bridges, water and electricity supply systems, irrigation networks, and public buildings. Emphasizing the urgency of liberal support, the Chief Minister said that without enhanced assistance from the Central Government, the state would not be able to carry out effective restoration or prepare for further climatic events forecast in the coming weeks.
The Chief Minister didn’t stop at highlighting current damages—he drew attention to a worrying trend. Since 2023, Himachal has endured repeated natural disasters, with cumulative losses now mounting to a staggering ₹21,000 crore over three years. Sukhu noted that although the state has been utilizing the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) to provide immediate relief, the escalating frequency and scale of disasters have rendered these mechanisms inadequate. He strongly urged the Union Government to revise the central guidelines, advocating for an increase in the eligible relief component from the existing 10% to 30%, especially for hill states like Himachal Pradesh that face unique geographical and logistical disadvantages. Amit Shah reportedly assured the Chief Minister of “all possible assistance,” signaling a positive response to the state’s demands.
The second meeting took place with Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, where CM Sukhu turned the spotlight toward the critical state of Himachal’s road network. Flash floods and landslides have severely damaged national and state highways, many of which are lifelines for tourism, trade, and disaster response in the region. He sought urgent repair and reconstruction of these roads, proposing that several be included under the PM Gati Shakti Yojana to fast-track execution and funding. Sukhu also highlighted the chronic delays plaguing ongoing National Highway projects and urged the minister to direct immediate action to remove the administrative bottlenecks.
In an important policy recommendation, the Chief Minister pressed for the adoption of tunneling techniques in upcoming highway projects in hilly terrain, citing it as a safer and more sustainable option in the face of recurring landslides. He also called for the sanctioning of additional ropeway projects to reduce vehicular congestion and improve last-mile connectivity in tourist-heavy regions. The Union Minister assured his full cooperation and instructed relevant departments to take prompt action, reaffirming the Centre’s support in rebuilding the state’s devastated infrastructure.
In his third engagement, CM Sukhu met Dr Arvind Panagariya, Chairman of the 16th Finance Commission, to discuss the long-term fiscal health of the state. The Chief Minister laid out a data-backed argument on why Himachal Pradesh deserves special consideration in the Finance Commission’s recommendations. He highlighted that the hill state incurs significantly higher per capita expenditure on public services and infrastructure due to its challenging geography, scattered population, and vulnerability to climate change.
He urged for the continuation of the Revenue Deficit Grant (RDG), which he said has seen a steep and unjustified reduction under the 15th Finance Commission. Himachal Pradesh, he argued, is now battling a fiscal crisis due to the rapid tapering of RDG assistance. Sukhu also proposed the creation of a ‘Green Fund’—a dedicated annual financial allocation for hill states aimed at promoting climate resilience, ecological protection, and sustainable development. The proposal had also been shared earlier with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during an earlier interaction.
Additional requests included relief from the mounting debt burden, special grants to local bodies, state-specific developmental grants, and structural reforms in disaster relief disbursement mechanisms. Dr Panagariya assured the Chief Minister that Himachal’s concerns would be taken seriously, and all constructive suggestions would be evaluated in the formulation of the Commission’s final recommendations.
The Chief Minister was accompanied in these high-level meetings by key senior officials including Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena, Principal Advisor to the CM Ram Subhag Singh, Secretary PWD Abhishek Jain, Principal Resident Commissioner Sushil Kumar Singla, and other relevant department representatives.
As the monsoon continues to batter the region and the state government grapples with growing fiscal and environmental challenges, CM Sukhu’s proactive outreach in Delhi sends a clear message: Himachal Pradesh is not looking for sympathy—it is seeking a structured, sustainable partnership with the Centre that recognizes its ecological fragility, economic constraints, and strategic importance. Whether these demands translate into tangible aid and policy shifts remains to be seen, but the urgency has never been clearer.
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