Himachal CM Sukhu, ministers forgo salaries for 2 months. Here's why

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu (PTI Photo)

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced on August 29 that he and his ministers have decided to defer salaries and allowances for two months in view of the current financial stress the state is under. The hill state has faced devastating floods and landslides following torrential rainfall this monsoon and the previous year.

"After discussing in the cabinet, all the members of the cabinet decided that until the state sees good improvement in the coming times, we will not take any salary, nor TA, nor DA for 2 months... This is just a small amount, but it is a symbolic amount," Sukhu said.

He also requested all the MLAs, both from his party (Congress) and the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to volunteer to defer their salaries and allowances as well. The Congress party has 40 MLAs in the House while the BJP has 28.

Sukhu's decision was lauded by Public Works Department (PWD) minister Vikramaditya Singh, who dubbed it a "good initiative to overcome financial troubles".

"The CM has taken a good initiative to overcome the financial troubles we are facing in the state. We are trying to strengthen the resources in the state - be it through water resources or our excise policy and mining policy. We are also trying to legalise cannabis for limited purposes like for medical purposes. We have still not got the Post Disaster Relief Fund from the Centre. The state has received limited funds in NDRF and SDRF," Singh said.

Notably, nearly 30 people lost their lives in Himachal this month with several still missing after the state was inundated following cloudbursts in Kullu, Mandi, and Shimla. In the past three months, more than 100 people have died in similar incidents.

Earlier this week, the Chief Minister said that Himachal Pradesh received only Rs 433.70 crore as disaster relief from the Centre in 2023 while the state government released Rs 4,495.43 crore to tackle the catastrophe.

Replying to a debate in the state assembly on damage and loss due to monsoon disaster, Sukhu said the state suffered losses amounting Rs 9,000 crore during monsoon in 2023 and that he would again meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and demand compensation for the loss.

(With inputs from agencies)