Uttarakhand CM meets PM, wants state to be treated on par with Northeast

Uttarakhand Chief Minister BC Khanduri on Thursday met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and requested that the hill state be treated on a par with the Northeast and granted Central aid in the 90:10 ratio so that it could meet its liabilities.

Khanduri raised the issue relating to long overdue pension liabilities to be paid by the government of Uttar Pradesh to government of Uttarakhand, after the partition of UP. He had discussed this issue earlier with the Union finance minister.

"He apprised the prime minister of the uncanny resemblance Uttarakhand bears with the northeastern states both geographically and economically. As such, Uttarakhand should be treated on a par with northeastern states and provided central funding on 90:10 basis," the state government said in a statement.

Khanduri reiterated that this should be done on a non-lapsable basis.

The state has also requested Singh to introduce a new scheme for development of Himalayan agriculture in XII plan. The region grows crops like aromatic plants, spices, pulses and red rice.

Bringing up a long pending demand, Khanduri asked the Centre to extend the industrial package up to March 31, 2017.

The BJP government also sought help in building all-weather roads, bridges, air-strips and helipads.

Khanduri sought Centre's intervention in the pending Railway projects in Uttarakhand and requested Singh to issue necessary directives to the Railway Ministry to bear the entire cost of development of new railway lines in Uttarakhand.