DA hike on hold amid financial crunch: Himachal CM Sukhu

Yog Raj Sharma

The North News

Shimla, August 21

Himachal Pradesh employees awaiting their dearness allowance (DA) instalments will have to wait longer, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu told the state assembly on Thursday. Sukhu said the state’s fragile finances meant the 3 percent DA hike announced in May could not yet be implemented. “When the economic situation improves, the pending DA will be released,” he said, adding that all dues will eventually be cleared. The assurance came after opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislators staged a walkout from the monsoon session, demanding immediate payment of pending DA and arrears. Leader of Opposition Jairam Thakur accused the government of backtracking on its budget promise and said employees who helped the Congress come to power were being denied their rights.

Sukhu countered by accusing the BJP of politicising the issue, saying the party had mistreated employees during its tenure by ordering baton charges and failing to restore the Old Pension Scheme. He also claimed the Centre had withheld ₹1,600 crore in additional borrowing under BJP pressure, worsening the state’s financial condition.

The session also saw heated exchanges over legislators’ electricity bills. Sukhu said some MLAs had received bills for as many as 14 months, with Congress MLA Raghubir Singh Bali receiving a bill of over ₹6 lakh. He said an inquiry would be ordered and pledged to introduce smart and prepaid meters to ensure accurate billing.