Himachal's loan liability is Rs 46,502 cr

Himachal Pradesh's loan liability stood at Rs 46,502 crore, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said on Monday.

"The situation in the state is such that it can't manage its affairs without loans. We will try to limit it by taking continuous measures, including austerity. At the same time we will see that the development is not affected," he told the assembly.

He agreed to the suggestion by the Communist Party of India-Marxist member Rakesh Singha to seek the release of 7.19 per cent share of the state on account of Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) projects along with arrears from neighbouring Punjab and Haryana.

The Supreme Court had passed an order in this regard in 2011, but the state has not got its due so far.

In reply to a question by Congress member Sukhvinder Sukhu, the Chief Minister said the government had taken a loan of Rs 1,000 crore in past three months.

Thakur said the previous Congress government had taken loans of Rs 18,787 crore in five years tenure.

Congress Legislature Party Leader Mukesh Agnihotri asked the Chief Minister as to whether the government will bring a resolution in the state assembly to impress upon the central government collectively for a bailout package of Rs 46,000 crore, equivalent to the loan amount, in one go.

--IANS

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