Shimla, Aug 24 (IANS) Himachal Pradesh has sought a special assistance of Rs.3,000 crore from the central government to overcome its financial liabilities, an official statement said here Tuesday.
Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal has sent a missive to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, asking him to provide the special financial assistance.
‘The state has sought a financial assistance of Rs.1,500 crore for the current financial year to tide over the gap caused by underestimation of the committed liabilities of the state by the 13th Finance Commission and Rs.1,500 crore as special plan assistance during the next fiscal,’ the statement quoting Dhumal said.
The chief minister said the state had a committed liability of over Rs.2,200 crore on account of salary and pension arrears from Jan 1, 2006 to Aug 31, 2009, caused due to the implementation of Sixth Pay Commission recommendations for its employees.
He said the 13th Finance Commission had underestimated state salary, pension and interest liabilities.
‘The under-estimation for the year 2010-11 alone on liabilities amounted to Rs.861 crore. There is a gap of Rs.617 crore between the budget estimates for salaries and the amount assessed by the 13th Finance Commission for this fiscal,’ he said.
