Lashing out at the UPA government for curtailing the “industrial package'' for Himachal Pradesh by three years, Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal said this was a ‘bad' precedent which could endanger the federal structure of the country.
Receiving the award for being the best State in overall development, Mr. Dhumal said the move had already impacted the investment environment in the State. He sought immediate restoration of the original package till March 2013 and said the matter was pending before Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to whom the State had made a number of representations.
Best in education
Himachal Pradesh was adjudged overall best big State in the country. The State was also adjudged best in education, investment and macro economy while it is ranked among the top States in agriculture, governance, infrastructural development and consumer market.
The award was presented by Vice-President Hamid Ansari at a function organised by a leading publishing house, according to an official release here.
Mr. Dhumal also criticised the Centre for starting Centrally-sponsored schemes in States for limited periods with meagre funding allocations.
“The majority of such schemes are transferred to the States after a short period and they are asked to implement them with their own meagre resources,'' he added.
He also lashed out at the 13{+t}{+h} Finance Commission for grossly miscalculating the committed liabilities such as pay, pension, interest and other things of the State. While every State received enhancement of around 125 per cent in revenue, Himachal Pradesh got only 50 per cent increase in its revenue which was the lowest in the country, he added.
