Himachal Pradesh Industries Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan has thanked the Central government for releasing ₹2,006.40 crore to aid disaster restoration efforts in the wake of the severe natural calamity that struck the state in 2023.
However, Chauhan reiterated the state’s pending demand for the full financial assistance of over ₹9,000 crore, which had been previously submitted to the Centre for the reconstruction of vital infrastructure and restoration of livelihoods.
Chauhan said, "We asked the central government to sanction Rs 9,000 crore, which is still pending. However, we thank the Central Government and Home Minister Amit Shah for sanctioning Rs 2,006 Crore. We have not received the amount we had demanded or what is due, and we hope the funds are rightfully ours. After requests we received post-disaster, the Himachal government prioritised and repaired roads and the water supply scheme. Even today, many roads have been restored, albeit temporarily. We must receive some compensation, and we believe the infrastructure shortcomings will be addressed."
On Wednesday, a high-level committee headed by Union Home Minister Amit Shah approved Rs 2,006.40 crore in central assistance to Himachal Pradesh under its Recovery and Reconstruction plan. The aid follows the devastating floods, landslides, and cloudbursts that struck the state in 2023.
The Home Minister’s Office shared the development on X, reaffirming the Narendra Modi-led central government’s commitment to supporting states during natural disasters.
According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, ₹25,425.16 crore has been earmarked for states in the 2024–25 financial year under the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF).
Himachal Pradesh witnessed one of the worst natural calamities in its 75-year history in 2023. The disaster claimed over 550 lives and caused estimated losses of nearly ₹10,000 crore. Vital infrastructure including roads, bridges, water supply systems, and public buildings suffered extensive damage or were completely destroyed.
In the aftermath, the Himachal Pradesh government passed a resolution in the Legislative Assembly, unanimously seeking substantial financial assistance from the Union Government. A detailed proposal estimating a requirement of Rs 9000 crore was submitted to the Centre toward the end of 2023. A central assessment team had also visited the affected areas to evaluate the scale of destruction firsthand.
The 2023 floods in Himachal Pradesh were triggered by intense monsoon rains that led to landslides, flash floods, and large-scale displacement of communities across districts including Kullu, Mandi, Shimla, and Solan. The state government has since been struggling to mobilize resources for rehabilitation and long-term infrastructure rebuilding.
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