AMRUT projects need specific approval in hill states.

Shimla: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Friday urged the Centre to adopt distinct norms for hilly states like Himachal Pradesh for sanctioning projects under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transport (AMRUT) scheme, keeping in view the difficult terrain and topography.

The projects under AMRUT, he said, were sanctioned on the basis of population and the current population-based criteria was unsuitable for Himachal and hence needs to be relaxed to take maximum benefit under the scheme.

Sukhu was speaking during a meeting with Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal in Himachal Bhawan in Chandigarh. The recommendations of 15th Finance Commission should also be reviewed periodically as the cost of projects escalates overtime, he added.

Himachal was one of the best performing states under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) and urged for funds to be released for PMAY-2 once the funds under PMAY-1 were fully utilised.