29 Jan 2013Hindustan Times (Chandigarh)
Press Trust of India
BBMB projects: Himachal set to get R4,250- cr arrears

SHIMLA: Decks have been cleared for the payment of Rs 4,250 crore in arrears to Himachal Pradesh, with the Supreme Court asking the Centre to expedite the grant of compensation to the state under its share in the Bhakra Beas power projects.
According to chief secretary Sudripta Roy, the apex court has directed the union power ministry to provide the share to Himachal on account of the state’s 7.19% share in hydro-power projects under the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB), as per the Punjab State Reorganisation Act, 1966.
The BBMB is engaged in the regulation of supply of water and power from Bhakra Nangal and Beas projects to the states.
Himachal Pradesh had pleaded in the court that it should get 7.19% share in the projects on the basis of transferred population under the reorganisation of Punjab in 1966.
Later, in 2011, the apex court allowed the state 7.19% share in the power of all hydroelectric projects executed by the BBMB from the date of commissioning of the projects to Himachal Pradesh. That year, then Himachal Congress chief Virbhadra Singh had also written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, demanding an early grant of the share to the state.
A high- powered committee headed by the joint secretary ( hydel power) had conveyed to the HP government that Rs 4,250 crore due as compensation to the state had been reduced to Rs 3,400 crore.
However, Himachal Pradesh did not agree with the cut and the apex court decided in favour of the state.
“Now, with the apex court again asking the union government to expedite the payment of arrears, decks have been cleared,” the chief secretary said.