Demands resumption of RDG and Green Bonus
A delegation of Congress led by its State vice-president Surya Kant Dhasmana met the 15th Finance Commission at the State secretariat on Monday and demanded the Revenue Deficit Grant (RDG) to the state be resumed and Uttarakhand be given green bonus in lieu of the environmental services offered by it to the country.
The delegation said that due to its unique geography, Uttarakhand had been granted a status of special category state by the Union Government in 2001 which entitled the state a share of 90 percent of the Union Government’s fund in development projects.
Dhasmana said that though during 12th and 13th Finance Commission, the state had received RDG to overcome its revenue deficits it was deprived of RDG in the 14th Finance Commission which had cost the State dearly. He further said that the State has been losing Rs 2500 crore per year due to the cessation of RDG. Special Central Assistance (SCA) and Special Plan Assistance (SPA) to the state have also been stopped, he said.
The delegation is learnt to have told the commission that Uttarakhand has also been facing the adverse effects of the new GST regime as it is a manufacturing state.
The population density of the Uttarakhand is low due to which it has less consumer capacity and tax collections have witnessed a decline of 39 percent in the post GST regime, the State Congress leaders added.