Settle BBMB claims, border dispute: Himachal to Centre

A joint strategy should be evolved to tackle drug and alcohol menace as no state is able to address the problem at individual level. KAUL SINGH THAKUR, health and revenue minister, HP

SHIMLA : The Himachal Pradesh government has once again demanded the Centre to provide 7.19% power in all Bhakhra Beas Management Board (BBMB) projects in ratio of its population, besides calculating arrear claims against Punjab and Haryana as per inter-state energy settlement rate.

Beside this, it also raised the issue of inter-state border dispute with Jammu and Kashmir and the rising drug menace.

The state urged Centre to convene a meeting with Union minister of power and chief ministers of the states concerned, so that, Himachal can get its “legitimate right and share”. The demand was raised by health and revenue minister Kaul Singh Thakur, while participating in meeting of Northern Zonal, led by Union home minister Rajnath Singh, in Chandigarh on Friday.

He said that the state had been repeatedly requesting for 7.19% power in all BBMB projects, but so far, the state has not been given its legitimate share.

He said, calculation of arrear claims against Punjab and Haryana had been done at National Fertilizers Limited rates, which was unfair and should be charged as per inter-state energy settlement rate.

Thakur requested Centre to provide funds for construction of hydro power plant at Renukaji dam on 90:10 Centre-state sharing basis as the project is of national importance.