Uttarakhand CM Dhami meets PM, requests to extend GST compensation period

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Thursday during his visit to Delhi. During the meeting, he requested the Prime Minister to extend the period of Goods and Services Tax (GST) compensation beyond June 30, 2022 and to set up a branch of the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research in Uttarakhand.

The Chief Minister said that after the implementation of GST, with the objective of providing revenue security to the states, arrangements were made to compensate the loss in tax revenue for a period of 5 years till June 30, 2022 but due to structural changes brought about by GST and other reasons, the expected growth in revenue of the state could not be recorded after the implementation of GST. He said that considering the limited financial resources of the state, the period of GST compensation should be extended for a few more years after June 2022.

The chief minister requested PM Modi to set up a branch of the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research in Uttarakhand, and said that "this will boost drug research in the state, and land for this will also be made available by the state government."

The Chief Minister also requested PM Modi for early operation of air services from Pithoragarh airstrip and inclusion of Kumaon temples under the Centre's Manas Khand Mandir Mala Mission. Dhami also sought Centre's cooperation in transferring 25% equity shareholding of THDC India Limited from Uttar Pradesh to Uttarakhand.

Talking to the media, the Chief Minister expressed gratitude on behalf of the people of Uttarakhand for the guidance of the PM and the cooperation of the Central Government in the development of Uttarakhand. He said, “Under the able guidance of PM Modi, all-round development is taking place in the areas of health, education, roads, energy etc. Kedarnath and Badrinath Dham areas are also being developed as per the master plan prepared for them. According to the vision of PM Modi, Uttarakhand will be one of the leading states of the country in 2025.