Uttarakhand Chief Minister B C Khanduri yesterday asked the Planning Commission at Centre to immediately provide the remaining Rs 400 crore of the pre sanctioned amount of central funded schemes, so that development works in the state could be carried out effectively.

Updating the press on his meeting with the Planning Commission Member, the Uttarakhand CM said that Rs 600 crore was sanctioned to Uttarakhand under various central government-funded schemes, out of which Rs 200 crore has already been provided.

Underlining the need for urgency to release the remaining funds, the Uttarakhand CM pointed out that courtesy the tough geographical conditions of the state the cost of the projects in hilly areas comes 1.5 times more compared to the plain areas.

Mr. Khanduri also asked the Planning Commission Official to consider the demand of green bonus to Uttarakhand as it is providing ecological services to the country by maintaining forests on 65 percent of its area.
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