Himachal Pradesh to claim Rs 4,200 crore dues from BBMB
Faced with an acute financial crunch, the Himachal Government will vigorously pursue its claim over the
Rs 4,200 crore dues from the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB), as its legitimate 7.19 per cent share.
The issue has been pending in courts for the past about two decades. The Supreme Court had decided the matter in favour of Himachal in 2011 but efforts to get dues from Punjab and Haryana have proved to be futile. The matter is now listed for hearing in the Supreme Court for September 13 and a team of senior officials has left for New Delhi so as to plead for Himachal’s rights vociferously. Himachal is hopeful of getting its dues, as it has its rightful claim in BBMB projects. Himachal has started receiving additional power as part of its 7.19 per cent share but the arrears are still pending. Himachal had sought a share in the three BBMB hydroelectric projects -- Bhakra Dam (1966), Dehar project (1977) and Pong Dam (1978) -- as upheld by the apex court but the order has not been implemented. Punjab and Haryana are unwilling to pay the pending dues to Himachal but have agreed to provide free power to it.
Sources in the Power Department say that the arrangement for providing free electricity to Himachal is acceptable but there are some other unresolved issues that need to be taken up. “With a share of about 1,300 crore units free power from the two states, Himachal hopes to earn a revenue of around Rs 600 per annum,” an official says.
The issue that still remains unresolved is the payment of the operation and management cost of the power received as arrears from Punjab and Haryana. This cost works out to be anywhere between 10 paise and 67 paise per unit. The other issue is the sharing of the cost of the power projects already executed in Himachal and are being operated by the BBMB.
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu accuses the previous BJP government of failing to protect the interests of the state in the earlier signed agreements for the Dhaula Sidh, Sunni and Luhri hydroelectric projects. He has clarified that if the executing agencies do not agree to higher royalty and the return of the projects to Himachal, 40 years after their construction, he will not hesitate to cancel the agreements.
Considering the mounting debt and its grim financial health, Himachal is keen that the issue is resolved at the earliest. The debt liability of the state is touching Rs 90,000 crore, with a decline in revenue from the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and the Revenue Deficit Grant (RDG) received from the Central Government. The situation has become more complicated with the Central Government putting a cap on the loan-raising limit and funds to be received under externally-aided projects.
SC hearing on September 13
- The issue has been pending in courts for the past about two decades.
- The Supreme Court had decided the matter in favour of Himachal Pradesh in 2011
- The matter is now listed for hearing in the Supreme Court on September 13
- Himachal is hopeful of getting its dues, as it has a rightful claim in BBMB projects
