Himachal targets 9 per cent growth

Shimla : Despite the dismal economic growth in the country Himachal Pradesh is hoping to achieve an annual growth of 9 per cent .

This was announced by the state chief minister Virbhadra Singh at the national development council held in New Delhi Thursday .

He has requested the Centre to restore the air traffic to the state to promote tourism and also provide subsidy on heli- taxi service on the pattern of north eastern states , besides upgrading and expanding of existing airports , particularly Shimla airport .

He asked the Centre to set up food processing industries in the state and increase the import duty three times more on imported apple to safe guard the interest of fruit growers .

The chief minister requested the union govt to continue  the subsidy on  L P G cylinders due to higher fuel requirements in the high altitude areas .

“In the absence of LPG subsidy the demand of  fuel  wood will increase leading to more pressure on forest wealth ,”he warned .

He also requested the revival of the industrial package to the state which ended in 2010 three years before its due date .