DW BUREAU / Shimla

Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri today here said that former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was well aware that Himachal Pradesh was a small hilly state and facing immense challenges in achieving economic self-reliance due to its difficult topography. Despite this, she accorded priority to the political aspirations and sentiments of the people of this region and granted full statehood to Himachal Pradesh from the historic Ridge. He said this while inaugurating a three-day brainstorming exercise 'Samriddh Himachal 2045' at Dr Manmohan Singh Himachal Pradesh Institute of Public Administration (HIPA) in Shimla. On the occasion of brainstorming Samridh Himachal 2045, deliberations were held through the symposium series to formulate a 20-year plan for the sustainable economic development of Himachal Pradesh.

Mukesh Agnihotri said that through collaborative discussions during this programme, innovative solutions would be sought to guide Himachal Pradesh towards achieving long-term goals while maintaining a balance between sustainable development and economic growth. He assured that the suggestions put forth by the speakers during brainstorming to make Himachal Pradesh self-reliant and prosperous would be implemented for the development of the state.

The Deputy Chief Minister said that Himachal Pradesh has limited sources of income. If the central government in New Delhi issues directives for states to implement its decisions, then a state like Himachal should not be evaluated on the same parameters as larger states. He pointed out that major states such as Delhi, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra have vast industries and multiple revenue sources, whereas Himachal Pradesh has comparatively limited resources. Therefore, special financial provisions should be made for hilly states like Himachal to implement central projects. Sh. Agnihotri further stated that decisions regarding housing schemes for the poor, water projects, power projects, the routes of railway lines, the construction of tunnels and the beneficiaries of housing schemes in Himachal Pradesh should be determined by the state itself and not by the central government. He said that those who consider Himachal as their second home should reflect seriously on this matter.

He said that Himachal Pradesh possesses abundant natural resources, including glaciers, perennial rivers and vast forest wealth, which, if utilized wisely could lead to self-reliance and prosperity. However in the interest of maintaining global environmental balance and mitigating the adverse effects of global warming the state refrains from deforestation. If glaciers continue to melt rapidly, India's rivers will dry up in the future, leading to a severe drinking water crisis.

(editor@dailyworld.in)