Each these choices have been taken at a gathering Monday.
The Punjab Reorganisation Act oversaw the formation of Haryana and the Union territory of Chandigarh, in addition to the switch of hill territory from Punjab to Himachal Pradesh.
The Act requires belongings and liabilities on the time of the reorganisation to be transferred to the successor states in proportion to the inhabitants ratio distributed between these.
Since 7.19 p.c of Punjab’s inhabitants on the time was transferred to Himachal Pradesh underneath the 1966 Act, the latter is entitled to 7.19 p.c of the full energy generated by the Bhakra-Nangal and Beas Tasks, stated Ok.S. Subrahmanyam, former chairman of the Central Electrical Authority, in a report dated 29 June 1979.
Himachal chief ministers over the previous six a long time have been demanding a share within the BBMB initiatives.
The difficulty kinds the most recent tug-of-war between Himachal and Punjab, after the previous’s bid to declare Shanan Energy Home — at the moment leased to Punjab — and the water cess it seeks to impose on hydropower initiatives within the state, which Punjab and Haryana say will make energy dearer for his or her shoppers.
Stated Himachal agriculture minister Kumar: “We aren’t asking for something further. Our share, which is 7.19 p.c, was determined in 1966 on the time of reorganisation. That’s pending until now and we’re simply demanding to settle it. Nothing extra, nothing much less.
ThePrint reached Punjab Chief Secretary Anurag Sharma over cellphone for a remark, however hadn’t acquired a response until the time of publishing this report.
A senior Punjab civil servant, who didn’t want to be named, acknowledged Himachal’s arrears with respect to the BBMB, dismissed its bid to stake declare over Chandigarh as a stress tactic.
Each the Aam Aadmi Social gathering (AAP), which leads Punjab, and the Congress are allies underneath the brand new Opposition alliance that has formed as much as tackle the BJP within the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Nonetheless, Himachal’s acknowledged declare on Chandigarh has additionally been dismissed by Sukhu’s Congress colleagues in Punjab.
Additionally learn: Six months in, Sukhu-led Congress govt in Himachal faces a grim fiscal outlook
Declare in Bhakra, Beas initiatives, Chandigarh
The Himachal cupboard subcommittee additionally has as members income minister Jagat Singh Negi and business minister Harshvardhan Singh Chauhan.
Elaborating on Himachal Pradesh’s declare, minister Kumar stated clause 78 of the Punjab Reorganisation Act reads thus: “Proper of the successor states in relation to Bhakra-Nangal and Beas initiatives are rights on account of their succession to the composite state of Punjab on the reorganisation of the composite state of Punjab.”
He additionally cited a 2011 Supreme Court docket judgment, which upheld Himachal Pradesh’s proper to 7.19 p.c of the facility generated by the BBMB. Himachal had moved courtroom in 1996.
Nonetheless, the arrears of this share, 13,066 million models of energy calculated from 1966, are nonetheless pending, claimed Kumar.
“Following the SC verdict, Punjab advised paying the compensation as free energy for 30 years. The arrear is roughly Rs 4,237 crore,” stated Kumar, including that Himachal Pradesh didn’t conform to this provide.
A senior civil servant within the Punjab authorities stated Himachal’s demand for a share in Chandigarh’s territory was a trick to stress Punjab to pay the 7.19 p.c share in BBMB income.
“Himachal received the case and received 7.19 p.c rights in BBMB initiatives in addition to an enormous arrear — which Punjab is just not ready to settle,” the official stated. “Himachal is pressuring Punjab for settling its rights declared by SC, by elevating demand for the same share in UT — which was an asset created out of Punjab reorganisation.”
Political selections
In response to sources within the Himachal authorities, the problem has change into additional sophisticated due to the AAP and the Congress each being a part of the brand new Opposition alliance.
When requested whether or not this might assist Himachal in getting its points simply sorted with Punjab, Kumar stated, “We’re speaking about Himachal Pradesh’s rights. We now have a legislation, SC ruling in our favour. Whosoever is in energy has to abide by it, regardless of the political positioning.”
The Congress authorities in Himachal Pradesh is, nonetheless, going through opposition from celebration colleagues in Punjab over its declare over Chandigarh.
Congress chief and chief of opposition within the Punjab meeting, Partap Singh Bajwa, advised the media on 2 July that not a single inch of Chandigarh would go to Himachal or Haryana.
“I, together with Congress celebration state unit, will oppose it,” he stated after Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann requested him to clear the celebration’s stand on Himachal’s declare over the UT.
Mann had advised the media in June that “Chandigarh is, was and can at all times be an integral a part of the state (Punjab)”.
(Edited by Poulomi Banerjee)
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