Despite constraints, Himachal Pradesh earned ₹2,200 crore additional revenue with systematic reforms: CM Sukhu

Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu highlights financial reforms, revenue generation, and job creation under Congress government.

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Saturday (January 25, 2025) said that despite the financial constraints faced by the State, which he said was the legacy left by the previous Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government, the present Congress government in the past two years had generated additional revenue of ₹2,200 crore with systematic reforms.

Mr. Sukhu was addressing a gathering at the 55th ‘Statehood Day’ celebration at Baijnath in Kangra.

The reforms, he said, had been undertaken in excise, tourism, power, and mining policies, which had yielded encouraging results. “We have been in power for only two years, and the situation is such that loans are being taken to repay the principal and interest of the previous BJP government’s debts. In the last two financial years, the government has taken a loan of ₹30,080 crore, out of which ₹18,854 crore, approximately 63% of the total [loans taken], has been used to repay the principal and interest on loans taken by the previous government. Despite financial constraints, our focus has been on resource generation rather than dependency on loans,” Mr. Sukhu said.

“The previous government did not think of increasing Himachal Pradesh’s revenue. Our government has initiated significant efforts to transform the State through strengthening sectors such as dairy, natural farming, agriculture, horticulture, fisheries, and the rural economy. We are creating opportunities for employment and self-employment at the village-level. Employment generation is our priority. We have provided over 42,000 jobs in two years compared with 20,000 [jobs] provided in five years under the previous BJP government,” he said.

The Chief Minister said the Congress government had fulfilled six out of the 10 promises made in the party’s campaign for the State Assembly election in 2022. “Even though the forthcoming fiscal year is challenging, with the cooperation of the people of the State, the government will overcome these challenges,” Mr. Sukhu said.