Haryana FM meets Jaitley, seeks compensation for CST loss

Haryana has demanded the release of Rs 4,800 crore from the Centre in respect of overdue CST compensation pertaining to 2012-13 as well as 100 per cent compensation for loss on account of CST for 2013-14 onwards.
State Finance Minister Harmohinder Singh Chattha submitted the charter of demands during his consultations with Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.
He demanded MSP of various crops should be fixed 50 per cent higher than the actual cost of cultivation as recommended by the working group on agriculture production headed by Chief Minister of Haryana.
Pending drawing up of such a policy, he demanded a bonus of Rs 300 per quintal for wheat. He also sought cheaper long- term loans for farmers and a package of Rs 500 crore for promoting under ground pipe-line, drip irrigation, sprinkler irrigation.

Chattha stressed 1459 canals and 15404 water courses along with 800 drains require maintenance because these are national assets as Haryana is among the top contributors of food-grains to the national pool and demanded an assistance of Rs 10,000 crores over the next five years for this purpose.
In the interest of faster pace of economic growth of the country, Chattha said industrial hubs of Haryana created at a huge cost, especially in NCR region, should be treated as national assets and a special package be prepared to boost manufacturing in industrial hubs of Haryana.

He said NCR is one of the fastest growing and vibrant economic regions of the country. It has further potential of creating lakhs of jobs.

For NCR region development of express ways, Regional Rapid Transport System, sewage treatment solid waste disposal, power supply, water supply and extension of metro connections were demanded.
Haryana also demanded launching of a national scheme for providing monthly scholarship schemes to students belonging to scheduled caste and other weaker sections of society.