CM to Centre: Won’t settle for anything less than our rightful claim in BBMB

Dhumal has taken exception to certain remarks of the Union power secretary,who recently had a meeting with the officials of four states concerned — Punjab,Haryana,Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh — after the Supreme Court’s directive. After hearing out top government officials of Himachal and the other three states,he had advised them to adopt a “give and take” approach to find a final settlement.

This has been strongly protested by Dhumal,who had earlier spoken to Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and also Shinde,seeking their intervention to help Himachal get its share of 7.19 per cent in the Bhakra and other projects,including Pong Dam. The state gets only an ad hoc share of 15 MW from Bhakra and not even a single MW from Pong. This is despite the fact that the state is entitled to 12 per cent free power as royalty from the projects in its territory.

“The minutes of the meeting do not inspire much confidence. We have been deprived of our legitimate rights due which we moved the apex court. We expect recognition of our legitimate rights and apportioning of consequential benefits,” the CM said in his letter.

He added: “Himachal Pradesh has suffered the most even though it did initially move with the spirit of ‘give and take’. That did not yield any tangible result. The state has now moved the Supreme Court to seek its dues without encroaching on any one’s right. It is again requested to the Government of India to find a solution based on the state’s lawful claims,which is based on hard facts and records. Any settlement outside that will not be acceptable to us.”

During the meeting held in the power ministry on June 23,Chief Secretary Asha Swaroop stressed on 12 per cent free power as royalty,besides 7.19 per cent share on the basis of population (prescribed in the states’ Reorganisation Act 1966) and also payment of arrears to the tune of Rs 2,199.77 crore due as its pending claims.