PUNJAB PROPOSES TO GIVE 7.19% SHARE IN BBMB PROJECT TO HP

CHANDIGARH:Punjab has proposed to give Himachal Pradesh its 7.19% share of power from electricity projects of Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) in a phased manner over 15 years as part of the settlement of an interstate dispute over share in power projects, an official said on Thursday.

“However, Punjab has not agreed to pay any financial liability as part of the arrears worked out by the Himachal government,” the official said. On Wednesday, Himachal CM Jai Ram Thakur had said his government would raise the issue of its share in electricity generated in power projects of BBMB.

In 2011, the Supreme Court had upheld the state’s claim of 7.19% share in BBMB power projects located in Himachal’s territory under the Punjab Reorganisation Act 1966. The state had worked out over ₹4,000 crore of arrears as per 7.19% share which was to be paid by Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan. Earlier, its share in power projects was 2.50%.

Meanwhile, the Punjab unit of the AAP rejected Himachal’s demand for royalty on water from Punjab and 7.19% share in Chandigarh. AAP MLAs Kultar Singh Sandhwan, Baljinder Kaur, Jai Kishan Rori, Amarjit Singh Sandoa, Harpal Singh Cheema and Budhram, and chief spokesperson Harjot Singh Bains termed the HP chief minister’s claim as “irresponsible”. The chief minister’s statement reflected his intention of misleading the people of HP for false acclaim, they said.