HM CM proposes Rs 9,989 cr budget plan for 2024-25

SHIMLA: Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today proposed an annual budget plan of Rs 9,989.49 crore for 2024-25, an increase of almost 5 per cent over last year. He presided over the first session of the MLA priority meeting with the legislators from Una, Hamirpur and Sirmaur districts. Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri also attended the meeting.

Sukhu exhorted the MLAs to come up with priorities that were in line with the government’s commitment to providing clean, transparent and accountable administration to the people of the state.

He said, “For 2023-24, National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has sanctioned Rs 918.81 crore, besides 62 works of the Public Works Department and 93 of the Jal Shakti Department.” He directed the officials of the PWD and the Jal Shakti Department to fully utilise NABARD’s budget outlay and submit reimbursement claims to the bank’s office before March 15.

The Chief Minister said that these meetings would pave the way for accelerating development in the state. “The government is committed to equitable development of all areas and every section of society. The government has adopted the Congress’ manifesto as a policy document. All ministers, MLAs and departments are working tirelessly to effectively implement the document,” he added.

He said that numerous steps had been taken to make Himachal a green energy state in the next two years. The government had recently signed an MoU of Rs 2,000 crore with the World Bank to carry out works under the Hydroelectric and Renewable Energy Development Programme for the next five years, he added.

Sukhu said that during the last monsoon, the state faced the worst natural disaster ever and though the Central Government did not provide a specail relief package, the state government provided Rs 4,500 crore from its own meager resources to the affected people. He added that electricity and water connections and gas cylinders were being provided free of cost to the affected people along with cement at government rates for the construction of houses.

The Chief Minister directed the Administrative Secretaries and the heads of departments not to show laxity in resolving issues and complaints raised by the MLAs and give due priority to their valuable suggestions. He also directed the departments and the Deputy Commissioner to review the works on the MLA priority lists every month and send a report to the government.

Later, Sukhu presided over a meeting with the MLAs from Solan, Chamba, Bilaspur and Lahaul and Spiti districts, who also listed their priorities during the second session. He said that to effectively resolve public grievances and provide efficient administration, the state government had started the ‘Sarkar Gaon ke Dwar’ programme.