Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu engaged in discussions with lawmakers from Kullu, Mandi, and Shimla districts during the MLA priority meetings for 2026-27. The focus was on understanding and addressing the development needs of their respective constituencies. The Chief Minister highlighted the state’s revenue generation of Rs 26,683 crore from internal sources over the past three years.
He mentioned that the government acquired the Wildflower Hall Hotel, resulting in a financial benefit of about Rs 401 crore, with an expected annual revenue of around Rs 20 crore. Additionally, efforts by the government led to an increase in the royalty share for the Karcham-Wangtoo Hydropower Project from 12 to 18 percent, translating to an extra income of nearly Rs 150 crore annually for the state.
Under the 15th Finance Commission, Himachal Pradesh received Rs 37,199 crore as Revenue Deficit Grant (RDG), distributed gradually over the years. However, the CM expressed concern over the 16th Finance Commission’s decision to discontinue the RDG, estimating a loss of approximately Rs 50,000 crore for the state. He emphasized the adverse impact on development projects, welfare schemes, and salary payments.
The Chief Minister appealed to the Central government to reinstate the RDG and offer special financial aid considering the unique challenges faced by the state. He also highlighted initiatives to promote border tourism, such as activities at the Shipki-La Pass on the India-China border. Despite the exclusion of Himachal Pradesh from the Buddhist Circuit announced in the Union Budget 2026-27, the CM emphasized the state’s significance in Buddhist culture and expressed disappointment over the lack of specific budget allocations for tourism development.
