Himachal seeks adequate funding for central projects

New Delhi, April 23 : Complaining of drastic reduction in funds for various centrally-sponsored schemes, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on Sunday urged the Centre to ensure adequate allocation to ensure their completion within set time frame.

He said allocations for schemes like Flood Management Programme, Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme, which is now part of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojna, and the National Rural Drinking Water Programme, have been reduced drastically, resulting in difficulty in completing these ongoing projects.

Speaking at the Niti Aayog Governing Council's third meeting here, the Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister said reimbursement claims of Rs 105 crore under the Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme and Rs 125 crore under the Flood Management Programme were pending with the Centre.

The state, he said, had received Rs 148 crore less under the National Rural Drinking Water Programme in three years, compared with funding in 2013-14.

Virbhadra Singh said fund allocation under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojna for the hill state has gone down to Rs 52.76 crore in 2016-17 compared with Rs 77.40 crore in 2013-14.

The Chief Minister also called for increasing allocations under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, keeping in view the high investment requirements in agriculture sector in hill states.

Virbhadra Singh said the state became 100 per cent free of open defecation in 2016 and a scheme to reward government primary and middle schools has been launched to promote hygiene and cleanliness in schools.

He said the state is preparing a 15-year vision, seven-year strategy and three-year action plans for inclusive and sustainable development of its economy.