Haryana’s claim to Shanan power project uncalled for: Shanta

Former Chief Minister Shanta Kumar yesterday said that Haryana had no right to claim share in the 110 MW Shanan Power Project situated at Jogindernagar in Mandi district. He added that the application moved by the Haryana Government in the Supreme Court recently staking claim to the project was uncalled for and not sustainable.

Shanta Kumar said that the dispute over the ownership of the project was between Himachal and Punjab. He added that as per State’s Reorganisation Act, 1966, the power project was given to the Punjab Government only for operating it and its ownership was never transferred to the neighbouring state.

He said that legally speaking, Punjab was never a signatory to the lease agreement signed during the British era. The signatories of the lease agreement were Raja Joginder Sen of Mandi, the then ruler, and the British representative Col BC Betty, who signed it on the behalf of the Viceroy.

Shanta Kumar said that it was the responsibility of the Central Government to ensure that the Punjab Government returns the Shanan Power Project to Himachal Pradesh, as its lease agreement had expired in March 2024. He added that the Central Government should do justice with Himachal and ask Punjab to withdraw its petition from the Supreme Court to end the legal battle. He urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene in the matter to safeguard the interests of Himachal.

Shanta Kumar said that as per the provisions of the State Reorganisation Act, 1966, after the expiry of the lease agreement in March 2024, the Himachal Pradesh Government became the rightful owner of the Shanan Power Project. He highlighted the historical oversight during the 1966 reorganisation of Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana. Though the Reorganisation Act stipulated an equitable distribution of resources, Himachal Pradesh was yet to receive its fair share of assets from Chandigarh and various power projects.

He said that the Act clearly intended that Punjab’s properties should be redistributed to the newly formed state, yet the Shanan Power Project remained an exception. Though it is located in Himachal Punjab had its overall control, illustrating injustice done to the state.

Shanta Kumar said that when he was the Chief Minister, he had raised the issue with the then Prime Minister Morarji Desai in 1977 and again with the Narasimha Rao government in 1990. Though the matter was raised with prominent national leaders in New Delhi, injustice persisted for over five decades, he added.

Small state dilemma

Himachal is a small state with only four MPs in the Lok Sabha, as such its voice goes unheard and powerful states continue to dominate.

Shanta Kumar, former chief minister