Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu.
| Photo Credit: PTI
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Friday (June 5, 2026) claimed that while the hill State renders ecological services worth nearly ₹90,000 crore annually to the nation, it receives inadequate compensation from the Central government in return.Addressing a gathering on the occasion of World Environment Day in Shimla, he said Himachal Pradesh plays a vital role in providing clean water and fresh air to north India and is therefore known as the “Lungs of North India”. “The State contributes ecological services worth nearly ₹90,000 crore annually to the country but does not receive adequate compensation from the Central government for these services,” he said.“Rising global temperatures, changing weather patterns and increasing natural disasters clearly demonstrate that environmental protection is now one of the most urgent challenges of today’s time,” he said, referring to the devastating natural disasters that struck the State in 2023 and 2025.He said that thousands of families suffered heavy losses in 2023 and 2025, even as the State government stood firmly with affected families and provided support during difficult times. “There’s a need to reflect on why such disasters are occurring repeatedly. Protecting forests is vital as forests are the lifeline of Himachal Pradesh,” he added.The Chief Minister said the government has set a target of increasing forest cover to 32% by 2030. “Through the Mukhya Mantri Van Vistar Yojana, barren hills are being transformed into green landscapes. In addition, the Rajiv Gandhi Van Samvardhan Yojana and the Green Adoption Scheme are encouraging public participation in tree plantation activities,” he said.Mr. Sukhu said the Congress government is firmly committed to safeguarding the interests of the State and would continue to fight for the State’s rightful claim, which, he said, would be strongly raised before the Central government at the upcoming NITI Aayog meeting. Published - June 05, 2026 05:17 pm IST
