Shimla:
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu presented the state’s annual budget for FY 2025-26 on Monday. He said that the state government will promote religious and environmentally friendly tourism besides making less popular tourist destinations.
While presenting the budget for the financial year 2025-26, Sukhu said that the year is full of financial challenges, as the revenue deficit has been reduced and the Goods and Services Tax (GST) compensation has been stopped. He said that attention is being paid to promoting religious tourism and making less popular tourist destinations. In addition, tea gardens will be developed as environmentally friendly destinations.
Important budget announcements of budget
- The minimum support price of raw turmeric was up to Rs 90 per kg
- Minimum support price of buffalo and cow’s milk increased by Rs 6-6
- The minimum support price of natural maize was increased from Rs 30 to Rs 40
- The minimum support price of natural wheat was increased from Rs 40 to Rs 60
- Great relief to more than 20 thousand fishermen, fish foster farmers
- Now 7 and a half percent royalty will be replaced instead of 15 percent
- Government will give subsidy in buying new boat
- 7 new Eco Tourism Sight Developed
- 78 ECO tourism site will be developed next year
- A revenue of 200 crores will be earned from this in the next five years
- Kangra was declared a tourist area
- 2400 crore will be done to develop tourism
- Government will pay 5 percent interest in tribal areas
- Food van will be given grant for tourist destinations
- 200 new hotels and resorts will invite private sector to allow in a month
- Temples and new tourist destinations will be developed
He informed that the debt liability of the state has increased to Rs 1,04,729 crore, out of which the present government has taken Rs 29,046 lakh. He said that 70 percent of the loan taken in the last two years was spent on repaying the debt of the previous government and its interest. In such a situation, only Rs 8,093 was spent on development activities.
He announced to increase the minimum support price of cow’s milk by six rupees to increase it from Rs 45 to Rs 51 per liter and the minimum support price of buffalo milk from Rs 55 to Rs 61 per liter. Sukhu said that in 2025-26, a target has been set to bring one lakh farmers under natural farming. So far, about 1.58 lakh farmers have adopted natural farming.
He said that farmers who grow raw turmeric naturally will get a minimum support price of Rs 90 per kg. The Chief Minister said that the state government is planning to set up a masala park in Hamirpur. He said that the daily wages of workers engaged under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act have been increased by Rs 20 to Rs 320 per day.
In Himachal Pradesh, the Chief Minister also announced the formation of a special workforce (STF) to deal with drug addiction. He said that about 500 electric buses will be purchased in 2025-26 and Shimla ropeway project will be started in the next financial year. (Also from input language)
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