In a ray of hope for Himachal Pradesh, the long pending dispute for claiming dues from Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) after nearly 66 years may be realized after proposal of the Central government to settle the issue by amicable cashless settlement during a recent hearing in the Supreme Court of India.
Himachal Pradesh is contesting a case to claim its share of nearly Rs 4200 crores from Punjab and Haryana as settled by the Central government after the reorganization of states in 1966.
Though BBMB is giving 7.9 percent free electricity to Himachal Pradesh as state’s share in the BBMB projects since November 1, 2011 but both Punjab and Haryana governments have been dragging their hands from paying the compensation to the state, prior to that.
Since both Punjab and Haryana governments have shown their inability to make cash payment to Himachal Pradesh the Central government, which is also a party in the dispute in the Supreme Court has suggested both the governments to compensate Himachal by giving 13066 electricity units from their share for the state’s claim in the BBMB projects .
In addition Himachal Pradesh government has been exempted from paying its share of Rs 420 crore to Punjab and Haryana for Kashau Project, which will also be adjusted from the pending dues .The state will also not have to pay Rs 400 crore as a capital cost to Haryana and Punjab and this amount will be adjusted in the pending due.
During the hearing in the Apex court the Chief Justice Surya Kant Mishra also showed its displeasure over Punjab Government not agreeing to the Central government proposal observing it has the habit of not following the decree of the court.
The court has given two weeks time to the Punjab government to consider the proposal of the cashless settlement of the dues and categorically told the Attorney General of Punjab government that after the period the Supreme Court will decide the case on merit.
