Himachal To Approach Supreme Court For BBMB Share

By: Mar 24th, 2018 12:12 am

Himachal This Week, Shimla

The continuous denial by Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan to Himachal Pradesh for its due share of Rs. 4400 crore in Bhakhra Beas Management Board (BBMB) has forced the hill state to take the matter to Supreme Court again. Earlier, the honourable Supreme Court had given ruling in favour of Himachal Pradesh. According to sources, the three states gave an argument that they cannot give such a big amount, as they too have a share in projects. The state however is waiting relentlessly as they will give relief or not on the lines of Cauvery water dispute.   The BBMB dispute is pending for years in which Himachal has a due share of 7.19%. The court had given verdict in favour of Himachal, but neighbouring states did not agree to it. The Central government too has denied twice to mediate in the issue terming it as inter state dispute. Piyush Goyal, former Minister of State with Independent Charge for Power, Coal, New and Renewable Energy had also made the same comment during his tenure when he was addressing different states through teleconferencing. Notably, Himachal Pradesh had earlier urged the Union Government to mediate on the issue. But neither UPA-1 and UPA-2 nor Narendra Modi government showed any seriousness over the issue. Now the state is pining hopes on the verdict of Supreme Court which it gave in Karnataka – Tamil Nadu Cauvery water dispute, directing Union Government that they cannot escape from their responsibility.

The BJP has government both in the state and Centre. The state government in this perspective has cleared its stand by saying that taking due share from Punjab in BBMB dispute will be its priority.  Himachal has due share of about RS. 2900 crore pending from Punjab while the total share pending from all three states is Rs. 4400 crore. The state has started getting its due share of electricity, but the arrears. In such a case, Punjab either has to pay Himachal its share or make out some other way out.

* The BBMB matter has not been solved amicably. We hope that the court will again give ruling in favour of Himachal Pradesh, as the three states have failed to reach on a mutual agreement on the issue out of court.

– Jai Ram Thakur, Chief Minister, Himachal Pradesh


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