Himachal targets 9% growth

Despite the dismal economic growth in the country, Himachal Pradesh is hoping to achieve an annual growth of nine per cent this financial year.

This was announced by Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh at the national development council meeting held in New Delhi Thursday.

He has requested the Centre to restore air traffic to the state to promote tourism and also provide subsidy on heli-taxi service on the pattern of north-eastern states, besides upgrading and expanding of existing airports, particularly the Shimla airport.

He asked the Centre to set up food processing industries in the state and increase the import duty three times on imported apple to safeguard the interest of fruit growers.

He requested the Union government to continue the subsidy on LPG cylinders due to higher fuel requirements in the high-altitude areas.

“In the absence of LPG subsidy, the demand of fuel wood will increase leading to more pressure on forest wealth,” he warned.

Singh also requested the restoration of the central industrial package to the state which ended in 2010, three years before its due date.