Maintain Uttarakhand's special category status: CM Harish Rawat to Centre

DEHRADUN: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat has asked the Centre to maintain the state's special category status and provide financial assistance to it in the ratio of 90:10 in centrally sponsored and externally aided projects.

Making the demand at a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi yesterday, Rawat said withdrawal of special status from the state as recommended by the 14th finance commission will cause financial losses to the state which is still battling the effects of the 2013 flood disaster, an official release here said.

The 14th finance commission is believed to have recommended withdrawal of special status to Uttarakhand and revision of centre-state ratio in centrally sponsored schemes from 90:10 to 50:50.

The chief minister also urged the Prime Minister to grant a central assistance of Rs 500 crore to the state for ardhakumbh mela to be held on the banks of the Ganga in Haridwar next year.

He sought early clearance of new PMGSY projects and increase in the annual allocations to the state from Rs 288 crore to 550 crore, it said.

Rawat demanded release of Rs 1200 crore which is part of a package sanctioned by the Centre for Uttarakhand in the wake of the 2013 natural calamity.

The Chief Minister also extended an invitation to the Prime Minister to visit Kedarnath and Badrinath besides seeking early clearance of 330 mega watt Lakhwad and 660 mw Kisau hydel projects.