Himachal CM Sukhu meets Amit Shah in Delhi, seeks redressal of state issues
The Newz Radar Network
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu paid a courtesy visit to Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on Wednesday (July 17, 2024).
On a four-day visit to Delhi, Chief Minister Sukhu held “meaningful talks” with the Amit Shah and raised various issues related to the state.
On Tuesday, the Chief Minister met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister for Road Transport and National Highways Nitin Gadkari. The CM urged PM Modi for supporting Himachal Pradesh for becoming a complete green state. He appraises the Prime Minister about the state government’s initiatives to achieve this goal.
The Chief Minister also requested for suitably compensating the state to come out of its obligation of purchasing thermal power. He highlighted the state’s goal of sustaining entirely on green energy in the near future. He said that switching over to electric buses, was one of the green initiative for which he requested approval for RIDF loans under NABARD to fund these buses. Apart from this, he also discussed the potential for generating 1,000 MW of hybrid solar and wind energy in Spiti, which could be transmitted through a green corridor utilising the solar, wind and hydro potential of the Sutlej basin. He sought support for a mega solar project in Spiti.
Sukhu raised several power-related issues pending with the Central Government. He mentioned the long-pending arrears of Himachal Pradesh’s share from BBMB and requested the restoration of the Shanan Project rights and assets as the lease period has expired. He also discussed the issue of free power royalty in power projects under SJVN and NHPC, urging for a favourable decision.
He informed the Prime Minister about state’s efforts to boost tourism, with Kangra being developed as the tourism capital. He emphasised the importance of expanding Kangra airport and requested the Centre to bear 50 per cent of the land acquisition costs and provide a special grant for the expansion.
At the meeting with Gadkari, the CM urged the minister to declare 39.20 km Ranital-Kotla and 41.50 km Ghumarwin-Jahu-Sarkaghat roads as national highways.
