•Says government’s efforts have led to major successes for state in the BBMB, Kishau Dam, Wildflower Hall and JSW cases
•Govt. aims to make Himachal country’s most prosperous and self-reliant state by 2032: CM
Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu was accorded a warm welcome with traditional musical instruments by people at his official residence, Oak Over, in Shimla today, upon his arrival from New Delhi following Himachal Pradesh’s victory in the BBMB arrears case in the Supreme Court. Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh, MLAs Harish Janartha and Suresh Kumar, Principal Adviser (Media) to the Chief Minister Naresh Chauhan, Shimla Municipal Corporation Mayor Surinder Kumar, Deputy Mayor Uma Kaushal and Advocate General Anup Rattan were also present on the occasion.
Speaking to the media, the Chief Minister said that Himachal Pradesh had achieved another historic victory in its fight to secure its rightful dues. He described the favourable Supreme Court verdict in the BBMB arrears case as the result of the present state government’s strong political will, firm resolve and sustained legal and political efforts. He said that justice in this long-pending matter was a major achievement in safeguarding the economic interests of Himachal Pradesh.
He said that despite a decree having been passed in the BBMB arrears case and the Supreme Court having ruled in favour of the state, the matter had remained pending for nearly 15 years. On several occasions, the necessary replies and responses had not been filed by the government within the stipulated time.
Sh. Sukhu said that as soon as the present Congress government assumed office in 2022, it made the fight for Himachal Pradesh’s rights a priority. The government firmly presented the state’s case at both the political and legal levels and continued its efforts to protect its rights without yielding to any pressure. He said that nothing had been able to weaken the Government’s resolve over the past three years.
The Chief Minister said that the groundwork for the success in the BBMB case had been laid during the discussions on the agreement relating to the Kishau Dam Project itself. He said that the state government had written to the concerned parties, making it clear that the state would move forward with the Kishau Dam Project only if the Haryana Government filed the necessary affidavit in the Supreme Court in favour of Himachal Pradesh in the BBMB arrears case. This condition was laid down to safeguard the interests of the state, and the Central government was also expected to extend its cooperation in this regard.
Sh. Sukhu said that during meetings with the Union Power Minister and concerned officials, he had consistently raised the issue of BBMB arrears. He had made it clear that the rights of Himachal Pradesh in the BBMB matter must be resolved before any further progress was made on the Kishau Dam Project. He said that the affidavits filed by the Haryana government and the Central government in the Supreme Court played an important role in securing the state’s interests. The Punjab government initially hesitated to file the affidavit, but the state government remained firm in its position. He said that through the Kishau Dam agreement, Himachal Pradesh had adopted a forward-looking political and legal strategy to protect its interests.
The Chief Minister said that Himachal Pradesh had agreed to the Kishau Dam Project agreement only after carefully considering the state’s interests. Had the state government not taken a firm stand, Himachal Pradesh might have been forced to accept terms that overlooked its interests. He said that safeguarding the state’s rights over its water and energy resources remained a priority and that there would be no compromise on this issue.
He said that the state government was exploring better options to ensure a fair price for the electricity received from the BBMB. If the electricity was sold at the rate of Rs. 6 per unit, the state could earn around Rs. 500 crore. However, the government was working towards securing a better power agreement that could increase the revenue to approximately Rs. 1,000 crore.
Sh Sukhu said that the BBMB arrears were expected to generate an estimated income of Rs. 15,000 crore to Rs. 20,000 crore for the state over the next 20 years. In addition, Himachal Pradesh would receive 11,973 million units of electricity. Similarly, the Kishau Dam Project is expected to generate revenue of around Rs. 12,000 crore over the next five years. He said that these achievements would play a significant role in strengthening the state’s economy and making Himachal Pradesh self-reliant.
The Chief Minister said that the present government had achieved success not only in the BBMB case but also in several other important matters concerning the interests of the state. The Wildflower Hall case had remained pending for the past 23 years, but due to the government’s efforts, the state was now receiving revenue from it.
Similarly, the government had effectively pursued the matter concerning the increase in electricity royalty from 12 percent to 18 percent in the JSW-owned Karcham-Wangtoo Hydroelectric Project. The state government secured a favourable verdict from the Supreme Court in this case as well. As a result of its sustained efforts, an annual revenue of around Rs. 150 crore is now expected to flow into the state exchequer.
Sh. Sukhu said that these achievements demonstrated that even the most difficult challenges could be overcome through strong political will and commitment to public welfare. He said that the Opposition had an important role to play in a democracy and was fully entitled to criticise the government. However, when it came to safeguarding the rights and economic interests of Himachal Pradesh, all political parties should rise above party politics and stand united for the state.
He said that the people of Himachal Pradesh had entrusted the present Congress government with the responsibility of protecting the state’s assets and resources for a five-year term. The government was fulfilling this responsibility with complete dedication. Even during the difficult period of natural disasters, the government had faced challenges with determination and taken effective steps towards the reconstruction of the state. He added that the state government’s disaster management efforts had also been appreciated by various institutions, including the World Bank and NITI Aayog.
The Chief Minister said that the state government was moving ahead with the aim of making Himachal Pradesh self-reliant. He expressed confidence that by 2032, Himachal Pradesh would become the country’s most prosperous and economically strong state. He said that the government had prepared a clear roadmap to achieve this goal and would make better use of the state’s natural resources to ensure economic self-reliance.
Shri Sukhu said that the state government was committed to living up to the trust placed in it by the people of Himachal Pradesh. Protecting the state’s rights, ensuring the proper utilization of its resources and strengthening its economy remained the government’s top priorities. He said that Himachal Pradesh would continue to fight for its rightful dues and move forward with determination towards the goals of development and self-reliance.
On the occasion of Diwali, the Chief Minister also extended his warm greetings to the people of the state. He said that Dhanteras had brought with it the promise of happiness and a brighter future of economic prosperity for Himachal Pradesh as well.
