Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu stated on Wednesday that the Himachal Pradesh government will not yield on its rights and interests, highlighting the recent agreement on the Kishau multipurpose project as a significant achievement for the state.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that the Chief Minister made these remarks during a public meeting in Sarahan, Sirmaur district, which marked the concluding ceremony of the Vaman Dwadashi Fair. He emphasized that securing consensus on the Kishau project had been a long-standing challenge for several years. Sukhu noted that the previous Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government had initially agreed to cover the cost of the power component of the project. However, the current administration maintained the position that states requiring water from the project should bear its expenditure.
The Chief Minister elaborated that this agreement would result in savings of approximately Rs 3,000 crore for Himachal Pradesh, which would have otherwise been spent on the power component. He further projected that once operational, the Kishau project is expected to generate an annual revenue of Rs 1,200 to Rs 1,500 crore for the state. Additionally, Sukhu expressed optimism regarding the payment of BBMB (Bhakra Beas Management Board) arrears due to Himachal Pradesh, anticipating a favourable outcome in the Supreme Court.
In relation to the Wildflower Hall case, the Chief Minister reported that the state had successfully concluded a legal battle spanning 23 years, leading to the crediting of Rs 401 crore to the state exchequer. The hotel, as a result, is now generating an estimated monthly revenue of Rs 2 crore for Himachal Pradesh.
Sukhu also addressed the financial challenges faced by the state, stating that the discontinuation of Revenue Deficit Grant support by the Central government has led to an estimated loss of Rs 8,000 to Rs 10,000 crore for Himachal Pradesh. Despite these financial constraints, he assured that the government is committed to ensuring the timely disbursement of salaries and pensions, as well as clearing all pending arrears.
The Chief Minister further highlighted the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme, which was implemented during the first Cabinet meeting of his administration. He expressed confidence that more employees would be brought under this scheme in the future. Sukhu also alleged that the BJP, if it were to return to power, might discontinue the Old Pension Scheme.
Turning his attention to past administrative decisions, Sukhu pointed to alleged irregularities in land disposal during the previous BJP regime. He claimed that over 5,000 bighas of land in Baddi-Barotiwala were allocated to industrialists at concessional rates, raising questions about the transparency of these transactions.
Industries Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan, speaking at the event, reiterated the government’s objective to foster self-reliance within Himachal Pradesh. He acknowledged that the government has navigated through both a natural disaster and what he characterized as a political crisis, alleging that the BJP had made attempts to destabilize the elected government.
The Chenab Times News Desk