Shimla: With the central government having filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court about not considering Himachal Pradesh claim towards 12 percent free power as royalty from hydropower projects managed by Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB), state CPI(M) has hit out saying that interest of the state have been ignored.
Member state secretariat CPI(M) Tikender Panwar states that as a successor state after the re-organisation of Punjab in 1966, Himachal has not been provided its legitimate share in the distribution of assets.
Whereas 12 percent free power has been permitted for projects that were set up after September 7, 1990, the central government by holding that Himachal was not entitled for such royalty power from BBMB projects as mentioned in the affidavit filed in the Supreme Court where the state has been pleading for its case, is denying its rightful share, says Panwar.
Despite the hydropower projects of Dehar, Pong, Berasul and Thein being located within the state boundaries, BBMB was only allocating 2.12 percent power against a legitimate share of 7.19 percent besides the free power claimed as royalty, he added.
These projects have inundated over 1 lakh hectares of fertile lands and the state, which is still grappling with rehabilitating uprooted people, has not yet been adequately compensated, he said.
Even though the state has a representation of two ministers in the union cabinet, yet the central government has failed to guard the interests of state, said Panwar.
As Editor, Ravinder Makhaik leads a team of media professionals at Hill Post.
Spanning a career of over two decades in mass communication, as a Documentary Filmmaker, TV journalist, Print Media journalist and with Online & Social Media, he brings with him a vast experience. He lives in Shimla.
