HP govt’s new power policy flawed: Congress
SHIMLA: Himachal Pradesh legislative assembly witnessed an uproar on the fourth day of monsoon session as opposition staged walkout over ‘flawed’ power policy and alleged revenue loss of ₹10,000 crore to the state.
Leader of opposition (LOP) Mukesh Agnihotri and Silai MLA Harshvardhan Chauhan had brought the discussion on new power policy of the state government under rule 63.
Initiating the debate, Agnihotri alleged that the eightmonth old Jai Ram Thakur-led government has watered down the hard work of all previous governments.
“By waving off the royalty on power projects, government will only weaken its case in the courts,” the leader of opposition said, adding that Himachal Pradesh is still fighting for its rights in the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) and other projects in the Supreme Court.
The current waiver of royalty is to benefit industrialists and sale of interests of Himachal, he alleged.
Participating in the debate, legislator Harshwardhan Chauhan said that so far 737 hydro power projects of 550 megawatt have been allocated in the state while 30 projects of 2,200 megawatt capacity are to be allocated.
The state was to receive 660 megawatt free electricity from the project.
“The government would have earned ₹864 crore annually by selling off this electricity for ₹10,400 crore in 12 years,” said Harshvardhan.
However, the new power policy of the state government has robbed off the state from these benefits, he added and demanded the government to roll back the decision given its impact.
Power minister Anil Sharma clarified that it was the previous government that waved off the upfront money and also deferred royalty on power projects to be built in Chenab basin.
“When previous government brought the proposal to return upfront money to Adani group, I had opposed it,” alleged Sharma, adding that previous government had reduced the upfront money.
“The previous government waved off the royalty on 45 projects to come up in Chenab basin and we have only deferred it,” he added.
SHIMLA WATER WOES ROCK HOUSE
Himachal Pradesh legislators on Tuesday expressed their concern over the Shimla water crisis which took place in the month of May and called for devising long term plans.
Congress legislator from Kasumpti Anirudh Singh initiated a discussion under rule 130 of Vidhan Sabha, urging the House to discuss Shimla water crisis.
Kasumpti legislator said that water problem in Shimla was not new and this time it aggravated due to “mismanagement” of the government, which also impacted tourism business in the Capital town adversely.