New Delhi: Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Golay met with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman during the pre-budget meeting with chief ministers, finance ministers, and senior officials from various states at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi on Saturday.
During the course of the meeting, Sikkim CM drew attention to the severe impact of the South Lhonak Lake Glacial Lake Outburst Flood which resulted in massive flooding and widespread destruction across the state.
Golay stated, “I called for an additional special grant to support long-term recovery efforts and emphasized the urgent need to restore NH10, Sikkim’s primary arterial road”.
In a social media post, Sikkim CM further highlighted, “The risks posed by heavy rainfall and advocated for sustainable, lasting solutions. The significant cost disparity in construction and maintenance in Sikkim was another major concern, and I requested that this be considered in planning rehabilitation efforts”.
The October 3 GLOF destroyed the Teesta Stage 3 dam and Golay made a point to highlight the issue, stating, “I riveted the attention of the concerned authorities to the need for compensation for the annual revenue loss from the Teesta III project and called for a review of the shortfall in IGST settlements for 2023-24”.
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In his address at the meeting, Golay highlighted the vital role of cooperative federalism. He presented Sikkim’s pressing concerns, urging their favorable consideration in the Union Budget 2024-25.
Acknowledging the positive impact of long-term interest-free loans for capital expenditure, Sikkim CM requested a higher allocation for Sikkim. “I also proposed retaining the borrowing limit for states and increasing assistance under the National Social Assistance Programme”.
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