CM Sukhu said that Himachal Pradesh is steadily moving towards self-reliance and aims to become the country’s most prosperous state by 2032. He stated that in the last two and a half years, the state has generated ₹26,683 crore from its own resources—₹3,800 crore more than the average revenue earned during the previous government’s tenure.
After assuming office, the present government introduced an auction-cum-tender system for liquor vends, which resulted in a record revenue of ₹5,408 crore, compared to just ₹1,114 crore under the previous BJP government. The earlier regime followed a policy of renewing licenses annually with only a 10 per cent fee hike, whereas the new system significantly enhanced the state’s income.
The Chief Minister said the Congress government inherited a debt of over ₹75,000 crore, along with employee liabilities of about ₹10,000 crore. Due to this burden, the state is compelled to repay nearly 70 per cent of the inherited loans, amounting to ₹12,266 crore in interest and ₹8,087 crore in principal. Of the ₹29,046 crore loan taken so far by the present government, only ₹8,693 crore has been available for development works.
Highlighting major legal victories, the Chief Minister said the government fought a prolonged legal battle over the ownership of the Wildflower Hall property. In October 2025, the High Court declared the state as the sole owner of Mashobra Resort Limited, resulting in a financial gain of around ₹401 crore. Assets worth ₹320 crore, including bank balances and shareholdings, have already been transferred to the state, and the property is expected to generate over ₹20 crore annually.
He further stated that due to sustained efforts, the royalty in the 1,000 MW Karcham-Wangtoo Hydroelectric Project was enhanced from 12 per cent to 18 per cent, following directions from the Supreme Court to JSW Energy. This decision will bring an additional ₹150 crore per year to the state exchequer.
The government has also amended lease rules, capping land leases for major projects, including hydropower, at 40 years instead of the earlier 99 years. After completion of this period, projects such as 66 MW Dhaulasidh, 210 MW Luhri Phase-I and 382 MW Sunni will revert to the state, further boosting long-term revenue.
In addition, the government is pursuing the transfer of the Shanan Hydel Project in Jogindernagar to Himachal Pradesh, as the 99-year lease expired in March 2024 and both the land and project lie within the state’s territory.
The Chief Minister said efforts are also underway to secure Himachal’s legitimate 7.19 per cent share in Chandigarh’s land and assets, as upheld by the Supreme Court in 2011 under the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966. The state is also actively pursuing pending energy arrears from the BBMB.
Several administrative reforms have been introduced to enhance revenue and transparency. All public representatives, including MLAs, are now required to pay normal rent in Himachal Bhawan and state guest houses. The tender process timeline has been reduced from 51 days to 30 days, among other revenue-augmenting measures.
“These initiatives reflect the firm commitment of the present government to make Himachal Pradesh self-reliant,” the Chief Minister said. “With focused economic reforms, promotion of green energy and systematic debt management, we are determined to make Himachal fully self-reliant by 2027 and the most prosperous state by 2032.”
