Shimla, Sept. 12 -- Chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Thursday stressed to continue the Revenue Deficit Grant (RDG) for a revenue deficit state like Himachal.

Sukhu, who met the Chairman of the 16th Finance Commission, Arvind Panagariya, at New Delhi, requested not to taper RDG which should be determined on the realistic assessment of state's revenues and expenditure projections during the award period by 16th Finance Commission. He urged that RDG should be kept at a minimum level of Rs.10,000 crore annually.

Sukhu said that Himachal had been facing the brunt of natural disasters for the last three years and losing precious lives along with suffering a loss of more than Rs.15,000 crore. The damage to the environment and infrastru...