'Cut in funding of central schemes caused loss of over 3,000 crore to U'khand'
Earlier, as a special category state, Uttarakhand enjoyed a financial advantage as it got funds from the Centre for most centrally sponsored schemes in 90:10 ratio which has now been raised to 50:50, he lamented.
Alleging that the cut in funding pattern of centrally sponsored schemes weighs heavy on the Himalayan states, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat today asked the Centre to reconsider the decision as it will snatch away from the hill state an advantage which it earned through a prolonged and historic struggle.
"As per an estimate, the cut in funding pattern of centrally sponsored schemes has caused a loss of more than a whopping Rs 3,300 crore to Uttarakhand in 2015-2016.
"This is not fair to the Himalayan states which have to cope with a number of disadvantages because of their unique geographical situation," Rawat told reporters here.
Criticising BJP leaders for arguing that the cut in funding pattern is more than compensated by the 10% increase in the share of states in budgetry allocations, Rawat said benefits of this to a small state like Uttarakhand were very "limited" in comparison to big states like Maharashtra or Karnataka.
"The 10 per cent hike in the share of states is hardly enough to offset the loss caused to them by the cut in the funding pattern of centrally sponsored schemes," he said.
Earlier, as a special category state, Uttarakhand enjoyed a financial advantage as it got funds from the Centre for most centrally sponsored schemes in 90:10 ratio which has now been raised to 50:50, he lamented.
"How can the Himalayan states go halves with the Centre on the funding for centrally sponsored schemes? Some of them like drinking water projects have been completely left to us which means the Centre will not spend even a penny on them.
"It is beyond our resources," Rawat said, adding that this kind of funding pattern will snatch away from the state an advantage which it earned through a prolonged and historic struggle for statehood.
He said Chief Ministers of all Himalayan states shared his concern over the issue and the matter has been taken up by him with almost all the prominent leaders at the Centre including the Prime Minister but to no avail.
However, on a reassuring note, the Chief Minister said he was not scared and the decision had only strengthened his resolve to tackle the situation through increased resource generation and sharing the burden with the people at large.
"I won't let development to come to a halt in Uttarakhand come what may," the Chief Minister said when asked what if the Centre refused to reconsider its move.
When asked whether it may also lead Uttarakhand to go for increased borrowings from international financial instutions like the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, Rawat said the possibility could not be ruled out but as of now he was not planning any massive borrowings to deal with the situation.