Alleging that the cut in funding pattern of centrally sponsored schemes weighs heavy on the Himalayan states, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat on Wednesday asked the Centre to reconsider the decision as it will snatch away from the hill state an advantage which it earned through a prolonged and historic struggle.
"As per an estimate, the cut in <g data-gr-id="13">funding</g> pattern of centrally sponsored schemes has caused a loss of more than a whopping Rs 3,300 crore to Uttarakhand in 2015-2016.
"This is not fair to the Himalayan states which have to cope with a number of disadvantages because of their unique geographical situation," Rawat said here. Criticising BJP leaders for arguing that the cut in funding pattern is more than compensated by the 10 per cent increase in the share of states in <g data-gr-id="19">budgetry</g> allocations, Rawat said benefits of this to a small state like Uttarakhand were very "limited" in comparison to big states like Maharashtra or Karnataka.
"The 10 per cent hike in the share of states is hardly enough to offset the loss caused to them by the cut in the funding pattern of centrally sponsored schemes," he said. Earlier, as a special category state, Uttarakhand enjoyed a financial advantage.