Punjab Newsline, Shimla-
CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu stated that the state has earned Rs. 26,683Cr in revenue over the past two and a half years from its own resources, with an increase of Rs. 3,800 crore over the previous government's average revenue.
The Government after coming to power initiated the auction-cum-tender process of liquor vends which yielded Rs. 5,408 crore revenue as compared to Rs.1,114 crore generated during the previous government's regime. The BJP government did not auction liquor vends and instead, it followed a policy of annually renewing licenses with a 10 percent increase in fees.
Our Government decided to introduce an auction-cum-tender process and the income to the State exchequer increased considerably that was not seen during the BJP's tenure.
During the formation of the congress government, the BJP had left a debt burden of over 75000 crore, besides Rs. 10000 crore as employees liabilities. Our government is forced to repay 70 percent of this enforced loan, i.e. Rs. 12,266 crore in interest and Rs. 8,087 crore in principal on the loan which was inherited from the previous government. Of the Rs. 29,046 crore loan taken by our government so far, only Rs. 8,693 crore remains for development projects.
He said that we fought a prolong legal battle for the ownership of Wildflower Hall property culminating in October 2025, with the High Court declaring the state the sole owner of the Mashobra Resort Ltd. (MRL) company. The judgment secured a financial benefit of around Rs. 401 crore. The assets like bank balances and shareholdings of Rs. 320 crore transferred to the Government. Embroiled in a legal dispute since 2002, the court's ruling provided Himachal's legitimate share to the State which will generate an income of more than Rs. 20 crore per year, he stated.
It was due the consistent efforts of the present government to get enhanced the royalty in 1000 MW Karcham-Wangtoo Hydroelectric Project from 12 to 18 percent with Supreme Court giving directions to JSW Energy Company to pay 18 percent royalty to the state which will generate Rs. 150 crore additional income per year to the State.
State Government amended the lease rules to cap land leases for major projects, including hydropower, at 40 years, a significant reduction from previous longer term of 99 years, aiming for a larger state share in revenue. The operating companies will have to hand over 66 MW Dhaulasidh, 210 MW Luhri Phase-1 and 382 MW Sunni hydroelectric projects back to Himachal after completion of 40 years which will also add to the income.
In addition the Government was fighting for a major ownership dispute over the Shanan hydel project in Jogindernagar to be handed over to the State as the land and project are within Himachal's territory and the 99 year lease period has expired in March 2024.
The State Government was making efforts for its legitimate 7.19 per cent share in Chandigarh’s land and assets. The Supreme Court’s judgment of 2011 has upheld Himachal’s share of 7.19 per cent in composite Punjab, on the basis of population ratio transfer as mandated in the Punjab Re-organization Act, 1966. The State is also actively pursuing substantial pending energy arrears from the BBMB.
Our Government mandated that all the public representatives i.e. MLAs will pay rent at normal rates in Himachal Bhawan/State Guest Houses. The stipulated time limit for the tender process was reduced from 51 days to 30 days, were other such decisions to amongst the measure aimed at enhancing revenue from existing resources.
All these measures show the commitment of the present government for making Himachal a self reliant state, which was never pursued before so effectively We are moving with a vision to make fully self reliant by 2027 and make it most prosperous state by 2032, focusing on economic reforms, green energy and addressing the state's debt, he reiterated.