Special grants sought for 10 Himalayan states from Centre

Kuldeep Chauhan 
Tribune News Service
Shimla, July 27

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The Integrated Mountain Initiative (IMI), a civil society group, has sought “special grants” for 10 Himalayan states from the Centre during the conclave of Himalayan Chief Ministers at Mussoorie, tomorrow. 

It is for this time that Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Chairperson, 15th Finance Commission, NK Singh, Vice-Chairperson, NITI Aayog Dr Rajiv Kumar, Additional Principal Secretary to Prime Minister, Dr PK Mishra, member, NITI Aayog, VK Sarasvat, besides the Chief Ministers of Himalayan states and Chief Ministers from other states are participating in the conclave.  “IMI has submitted recommendations of special grants for Himalayan states to the 15th Finance Commission and NITI Aayog”, said Sushil Ramola, president, IMI, which is organising the conclaves, bringing all stakeholders together on a single platform. 

At the last year’s conclave in Shimla, the states had batted for a separate ministry for Himalayan states. NITI Aayog constituted Himalayan State Regional Council (HSRC) in November 2018, but not a single meeting has been held so far, said IMI members. 

On the recommendation of state CM Jai Ram Thakur, the Centre declared hydropower as the renewable source of energy (Himalayan states power potential is 1,15,000 MW ) and a common hydropower policy. 

The 15th Finance Commission must continue to give status of “special category states” to Himalayan states, Ramola said. They have weak resource base and low fiscal capacity and expenditure mounts on all services, he added.  IMI demands that the Centre should set up three separate funds-disaster rehabilitation fund for the rehabilitation of disaster affected villagers, a new recovery and reconstruction fund, and earthquake risk reduction fund as these states are in seismic zone IV and V.