Shimla, Sep 28 (PTI) The Centre should immediately release Rs 1,500-2,000 crore as relief as per the norms to speed up relief and restoration work in disaster-hit Himachal Pradesh, chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said here on Thursday.

Talking to the media persons here, he said that this is the legitimate claim of the state which suffered losses of Rs 12,000 crore and added that the issue was raised with the Home Minister during the recent Regional Interstate Council meet at Amritsar.

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However, the state government is committed to giving special packages to disaster-hit people on its own in spite of the financial crunch, he said and indicated a cut in the budget allocation to manage resources.

Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha on Wednesday (September 20) adopted a resolution by voice vote, urging the union government to declare the recent calamity in the state as a national disaster and declaration of special relief package of Rs 12,000 crore for the state.

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The issue regarding the problem of infiltration of people of Jammu and Kashmir from Churah in Chamba district and people of Leh from Sarchu, who are grabbing lands in Himachal for past many years, was also raised with Lt Governors of twin Union Territories, who agreed for mapping by Survey of India and resolving the issue, he said.

Issues relating to handing over of Shanan power project in Jogindernagar (Mandi) to Himachal after the expiry of lease in March 2024 were also raised with Union Home Minister and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Maan, he said.

Demand for payment of arrears worth Rs 4,000 crore on account of 7.19 per cent share in Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) and permanent representative of Himachal in BBMB on the analogy of Punjab and Haryana was also raised.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)