Title - State seeks help from Centre to complete projects

New Delhi: The Himachal Pradesh Government today sought a special assistance from the Centre for development projects underway in the state and requested Rs 500 crore to strengthen infrastructure network.In his meeting with Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram here, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh also requested that the Chandigarh-Baddi railway line be declared as a project of national importance, considering the geographical and strategic importance.Virbhadra urged the Union Minister to speed up the work on the pending Bhanupalli-Bilaspur railway line and provide funds for the rail project at the earliest. He reminded Chidambaram that it was decided by the Prime Minister’s Office in August 2007 that the state government would provide 25 per cent of the funds and the rest by the Railways for the project.Since Independence, the state has seen the construction of just 44-km rail line. Referring to the report submitted by the Central team on the loss caused by floods in the state, Virbhadra asked the Centre to expedite early release of funds so that development work in the flood-affected areas could be undertaken.

To take the industrialisation process in the state forward, he requested that the industrial package be extended till 2020. He clarified that providing incentive to the state would not affect investment in neighbouring states and as against the proposal of Rs 48,000-crore investment, only Rs 14,000-crore investment by industrial houses had materialised.The state also requested the release of Rs 2,100 crore for the annual plan of 2013-14 in view of the financial constraints and the Planning Commission’s nod to enhanced funds for the plan period.

State Revenue Minister Kaul Singh and Industries Minister Mukesh Agnihotri accompanied the Chief Minister in the meeting.