Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has formally requested the central government to increase the royalty share for free power from Central Public Sector Undertaking (CPSU) hydropower projects beyond the current 12 percent threshold, particularly for those projects that have completed their initial 12-year critical period.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that the Chief Minister made this plea during a meeting with Union Minister for Power, Housing and Urban Affairs, Manohar Lal Khattar, in New Delhi on Tuesday evening. Sukhu specifically sought an enhanced free-power share, aiming for 50 percent, from the 180 MW Baira Siul Hydroelectric Project, which has been operational for 44 years.
The Chief Minister also highlighted the persistent delay in the payment of energy arrears owed to Himachal Pradesh from projects managed by the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB). He underscored the historical hardships faced by the people of Himachal Pradesh during the execution of these projects, including displacement and adverse environmental impacts. Sukhu pointed out that the rehabilitation and settlement of Pong Dam oustees remain incomplete, a long-standing issue for the state.
During the discussion, Sukhu urged Haryana and Punjab to grant their consent for the release of energy arrears amounting to 13,066 million units as of October 31, 2011. He further requested the inclusion of 6 percent interest on these arrears from that date onwards. The Chief Minister estimated that if these arrears were to be settled in monetary terms, the tentative amount, calculated with compound interest at 6 percent up to the present date, would reach approximately Rs 7,784 crore.
Another significant issue raised by Sukhu concerned the Shanan Hydroelectric Project and Himachal Pradesh’s recognized claim over it. The state government asserts its legitimate rights pertaining to this project.
Beyond hydropower concerns, Chief Minister Sukhu sought financial assistance from the Centre for the development of HimChandigarh and AeroCity in Kangra. These proposed projects are envisioned to drive planned urbanisation, stimulate economic growth, boost tourism, and attract investment within Himachal Pradesh.
He informed the Union Minister about the state’s initiative to propose projects worth Rs 1,179 crore under the Urban Challenge Fund, targeting 24 urban local bodies (ULBs). Sukhu noted that projects valued at Rs 660 crore have already been submitted to the Government of India for consideration in the first phase of this initiative.
Further financial requests included Rs 12.33 crore under the Clean Hilly and Himalayan Cities Initiative. This funding is crucial for the timely implementation of essential sanitation and waste management interventions across the state. The Chief Minister also appealed for the release of the remaining Rs 64.45 crore for projects previously sanctioned under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) scheme.
Sukhu also sought official approval for 43 projects spread across 14 ULBs under the AMRUT Mitra scheme. These proposals have been formally submitted to the central government for review and sanction.
In a move towards modernizing urban infrastructure, the Chief Minister informed the Union Minister that Himachal Pradesh is in the process of implementing a QR code-based digital door plate system across its urban local bodies. This system is designed to assign a unique identity to properties, facilitating better record-keeping and management. Sukhu requested financial assistance of Rs 18 crore, to be disbursed over a five-year period, to support the implementation of the second phase of this digital property identification project.
The Chenab Times News Desk