Haryana moves SC over power share
Gurpreet Singh Nibber
PATIALA:

Haryana government has moved apex court to claim its "right" over power generated at the five hydel generation units built over rivers in Punjab.
Punjab government will soon hire a counsel to defend its stand, for which court has given it four weeks.

In its petition filed last week, Haryana demanded a share in power from UBDC project, Mukerian hydel works, Anandpur hydel works, Thein Dam and Shahpur Kandi project. The petition did not specify the exact amount sought from each project, say sources.

For 25 years since 1984, the state has represented before various Central Government agencies including Union Power Ministry and the North Zone Council, a Union Home Ministry body which deals with interstate issues.

With Punjab refusing to relent, Haryana finally decided to go to court, said a senior irrigation department official working in the capacity of a consultant.

As per Haryana's claim, Punjab has been generating electricity over rivers from which water is supplied to the neighbour state. It also refers to an inter-state agreement of 1984, by which Haryana and Punjab agreed to settle the dispute in Supreme Court and let the court have the final word.

The agreement was signed in 1984 after Punjab sought water for cooling the units of its Ropar thermal plant, from BML system. "Punjab utilises its share of water from the Bakhra Main Line Canal system and the water is then released into Sutlej river, and further into Sirhind canal... but, at that time Punjab was under President's rule and the state had no option but to sign the agreement," revealed an informed source.

"Interestingly, Haryana has not sought share in electricity from Ropar thermal plant, but taking this very agreement as the basis, has moved apex court for power from five other hydel units," the sources added.

Officials here said that generating electricity involves nonconsumptive usage of water and all the aforementioned hydel generating units were built by Punjab, so by logic, the neighbour state has no right to power generated here.

Punjab Irrigation Minister Janmeja Singh Sekhon said that Punjab government would put up a strong defence in court and would not let Haryana take away what is duly Punjab's right.

Haryana has resorted to court action as its Hansi Bhutana canal has not become operational even after incurring Rs 400 crore expense, he added.