Saturday, June 7, 2008

Himachal Pradesh seeks Rs.69.377 bn from central government

Himachal Pradesh Friday sought Rs.69.377 billion ($1.65 billion) in central allocation for meeting the revenue deficit and for various development programmes.

The state government raised this issue at a meeting here with the members of the 13th Finance Commission, headed by its chairman Vijay L. Kelkar.

'We have sought higher allocation of funds for infrastructure development and public services because the cost of infrastructure is much higher in the hills than in the plains,' Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal told reporters.

He said the Sixth Pay Commission recommendations would cost the state exchequer Rs.87 billion. The state's current debt is Rs.268.6 billion.

After meeting the chief minister and other ministers, the commission interacted with representatives of political parties, panchayati raj institutions and urban local bodies.

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