Shimla: With Supreme Court having dismissed a review petition filed by Punjab and Haryana governments, chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal laying claims to about Rs 4000 crore as rightful dues from Bhakra Beas Management Board asked the central government to expedite the recovery.
Making a suo motu statement in the Vidhan Sabha today, Dhumal said “through this august house and after the latest Supreme Court order, I make a plea to the central government to immediately plead acceptance of the award before the court so that Himachal could get all its rightful dues.”
Referring to the dismissal of the review petition filed on September 27, 2011 that was turned down by the apex court on March 29, 2012, he said, “I request the union government to record its acceptance of the Himachal Pradesh share in the Supreme Court so that the entire amount of the claim could be paid.”
Quoting from an affidavit filed before the Supreme Court in which the central government had categorically denied Himachal any dues from the BBMB project under the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966, the chief minister said that it was the constitutional duty of the union government to protect the states interests but in contrast it opposed them in the apex court.
Dhumal said that in accordance with the Supreme Court judgment, Himachal was now accepted as a full partner state in BBMB and employees for the state could now be deputed to the organization.
The judgment also upheld the states claim to 7.19 percent power in the Bhakra Dam, Dehar and Pong Dam projects that are under the BBMB management.
Having imposed Rs 5 Lakh suit costs on the defendants, the Supreme Court judgment had also decreed the central government on 27th September, 2011 to file a statement before the court about the amounts due to Himachal within 6 months.
As Editor, Ravinder Makhaik leads the team of media professionals at Hill Post.
In a career spanning over two decades through all formats of journalism in Electronic, Print and Online Media, he brings with him enough experience to steer this platform. He lives in Shimla.
