CM chairs MLA priority meeting with MLAs of Una, Hamirpur and Sirmaur districts
Punjab Newsline, Shimla-
CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu chaired a meeting of MLAs from Una, Hamirpur and Sirmaur districts on the first day of the first session to finalize MLAs priorities for the financial year 2026-27. He said that during 2025-26, the state government has already secured approval from NABARD for 73 projects worth Rs. 713.87 crore. Out of these, 55 MLA priority projects worth Rs. 512.31 crore were related to the Public Works Department, while 18 projects worth Rs. 201.56 crore pertain to the Jal Shakti Department.
The Chief Minister directed that the allocated budget should be fully utilized and reimbursement claims should be submitted to the NABARD office before 15 March, 2026. He said that the state government was also making efforts to get more MLA priority projects approved by NABARD by March 2026.
Sh. Sukhu said that in these three years the present state government have focused on public welfare policies, transparent governance and wide-ranging reforms. The aim of the government’s policies was to strengthen the State’s economy, empower youth and women, provide security to weaker sections and establish Himachal as a prosperous, green-energy and economically self-reliant state. He said that the government was committed to rapid, inclusive and sustainable development in all sectors and for every section of society.
Sukhu expressed serious concern over the decision of the 16th Finance Commission to stop the revenue deficit grant (RDG) provided to states under Article 275(1) of the Constitution. He said that this grant had been continuously provided since 1952 up to the 15th Finance Commission to ensure financial stability of states. Stopping it for the first time was unjust to hill states like Himachal Pradesh, which face difficult geographical conditions. He said that Himachal Pradesh contributes significantly to environmental protection by imposing a complete ban on tree felling and also supplies water to other states through rivers originating here. In such circumstances, discontinuing the RDG was against the interests of the state.
He said that the 15th Finance Commission had recommended a revenue deficit grant of Rs. 37,199 crore for the state. Additionally, during the COVID-19 period, the previous BJP government received Rs. 11,431 crore as revenue deficit grant based on the interim report of the Finance Commission. He said that stopping this grant would cause a loss of nearly Rs. 50,000 crore to the state.
The Chief Minister said that the state government would now have to take tough decisions to increase revenue along with ensuring efficient financial management. He criticized the upcoming Union Budget, saying that it ignores the middle class and farmers. Agriculture and horticulture were the backbone of Himachal Pradesh’s economy, yet the central budget has neither provided subsidies for orchardists nor mentioned infrastructure development for them.
He also said that no concrete announcement was made regarding the expansion of the Bhanupalli-Bilaspur and Chandigarh-Baddi railway projects. He described the budget as being against the spirit of cooperative federalism and said that instead of making small hill states like Himachal Pradesh self-reliant, it pushes them further into debt. He demanded restoration of the revenue deficit grant and a special economic package for the state.
Una District
MLA Chintpurni Sudarshan Babloo thanked the Chief Minister for providing Rs. 130 crore for the expansion of Chintpurni Temple. He demanded early completion of the Stothar Bridge and the Chowki-Manyar college. He also sought the construction of a sub fire station at Jol and strengthening of the road network.
MLA Gagret Rakesh Kalia thanked the Chief Minister for providing two crore rupee for Gagret Hospital and requested the release of the remaining funds to complete the project. He also urged completion of the Bhadrakali ITI building and buildings of six Government Senior Secondary Schools. He demanded sewerage facilities at Daulatpur Chowk and Mubarakpur and adequate funds for flood protection.
MLA Una Satpal Satti demanded a sewerage scheme for newly included villages in Una Municipal Corporation. He also sought strengthening of the city’s drainage system, construction of the Santoshgarh-Una bridge, completion of the BDO office building and strengthening of the Bhabhaur Sahib irrigation scheme.
MLA Kutlehar Vivek Sharma thanked the Chief Minister for providing Rs. 36.89 crore for various Jal Shakti Department schemes and Rs. 14.93 crore for new drinking water schemes. He demanded completion of the sewerage scheme at Bangana, strengthening of Bangana-Shantla and Thanakalan-Bhakra roads and opening of a Sub-Judge Court at Bangana.
Hamirpur District
MLA Bhoranj Suresh Kumar demanded early construction of the Ladraur-Patta drinking water scheme and strengthening of basic infrastructure in Bhoranj Nagar Panchayat. He also sought construction of a new Sub-Judge Court building, a sewerage scheme and thanked the Chief Minister for sanctioning Rs. 23.75 crore for a Critical Care Unit in Bhoranj.
MLA Sujanpur Ranjit Singh requested early completion of the BDO office and PHC Chabutra buildings. He demanded up-gradation of the Tauni Devi-Uhal Kakkar Janglaberi road and filling of vacant doctor posts in Tauni Devi and Sujanpur hospitals.
MLA Barsar Inder Dutt Lakhanpal sought construction of new bus stands at Barsar and Bhota. He also requested strengthening of health services, construction of a new building for Rally Jajri School and starting PHC Chakmoh. He demanded Volvo bus service from Deotsidh and a bus service between Barsar and AIIMS.
Sirmaur District
MLA Pachhad Reena Kashyap demanded promotion of tourism, stating that Habban Valley, Shirgul Maharaj and Bhureshwar Mahadev temples have great tourism potential. She sought early completion of the Government Senior Secondary School building at Habban.
MLA Nahan Ajay Solanki raised the issue of Nahan Medical College and demanded establishment of a cardiology department and filling of staff nurse posts. He thanked the Chief Minister for approving three road projects and requested construction of the Bhojpur Bridge. He also sought a solution to low voltage electricity problems.
MLA Shree Renukaji Vinay Kumar demanded promotion of religious tourism and de-silting of Shree Renukaji Lake. He urged faster completion of the process to bring lions to Shree Renukaji Zoo. He sought strengthening of the road network, health services at Adarsh Health Institute Sangrah, construction of a college building and bus stand at Dadahu and opening of an electricity division at Sangrah.
MLA Paonta Sahib Sukh Ram Chaudhary demanded early completion of under-construction educational institution buildings. He requested speedy completion of the Navghat Bridge connecting Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, strengthening of the road network, repair of Giri irrigation canals and improvement of power load in the Paonta industrial area.
State Planning Commission Vice-Chairman Bhawani Singh Pathania expressed hope that the valuable suggestions given by MLAs would accelerate the pace of development in the State.
Chief Secretary Sanjay Gupta presented the vote of thanks.
Principal Secretary (Finance) Devesh Kumar welcomed the Chief Minister.
Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri, Industries Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan, administrative secretaries, department heads, concerned Deputy Commissioners and other senior officers were present at the meeting.