Uttarakhand feels cheated

Though the state has welcomed the announcement to set up an Apprenticeship Training Institute for Women, the proposed increase in service tax has disappointed hoteliers, who were actually seeking exemption from service tax for the next three years, besides waiver of interest on loans taken by them.

The interest on loans is getting compounded every month as business houses are unable to repay their loans. This is only adding to their problems, and is also adversely affecting the state’s economy, which is dependent on tourism. The hotel industry had suffered huge losses due to the natural disaster of 2013 and was expecting some relief in the form of exemption. The hotel industry feels it is ridiculous that entrepreneurs, who had taken loans to build and renovate their hotels, should be made to repay without any business. There is resentment among people that several states such as Bihar and Telengana have been selected for a special package in the Budget, but Uttarakhand has not got anything.

Loss of Rs 2,000 crore annually

Uttarakhand is likely to suffer a loss of Rs 2,000 crore annually due to the discontinuation of eight centrally-sponsored schemes. It seems the BJP government at the Centre has punished the state, which has not even been included in the new heritage protection scheme. No help is forthcoming in the field of food processing, where we are still trying to find our feet. — Harish Rawat , Chief Minister , Uttarakhand