Thakur demands special grant for Mandi airport

Tribune News Service

Shimla, August 6

Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur met Chairman of the 15th Finance Commission NK Singh at New Delhi today and discussed state’s priorities and need for funds for upgrade of infrastructure in various sectors, airport connectivity, railway expansion.

He requested for a special purpose grant to the tune of Rs 2,000 crore from the commission for construction of international standard airport at Nagchala in district Mandi. He informed that the Airports Authority of India has completed a technical survey related to obstacle limitation surfaces and discussions are going on for construction of airport for operation of wide-bodied aircraft, a release issue here said.

Thakur said that the state is vulnerable to natural disasters like flash floods, cloudbursts, forest fires, droughts and avalanches. Therefore, there is a need for enhancing the size of State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF). He requested that the SDRF be funded 100 per cent by the Central government.

He further said that Himachal Pradesh needs to be compensated for the externalities arising from environment conservation and forest protection. The people of the state have always extended a hand in the development of nation by sacrificing their water rights, fertile agriculture lands through submergence of land and displacement of people for setting up of national hydro projects of Bhakrah, Pandoh and Pong dams.

Thakur requested the commission to recommend adequate revenue deficit grants so that not only the deficit is neutralised, but the state also has adequate revenue surplus to fund a part of the capital expenditure.