Shimla : Chief Minister Thakur Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu has demanded 12 percent free electricity from all the projects of Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) for Himachal Pradesh.
In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Chief Minister said that all the hydropower projects approved by the state government provide free electricity, whereas BBMB projects are not giving any free electricity to the state, rather with the establishment of BBMB projects, the immense possibilities of hydropower in Himachal Pradesh have ended.
The Chief Minister wrote that the state has suffered losses and has not got its due. Now with your intervention, this historical mistake can be rectified by providing 12 percent free electricity to Himachal Pradesh from BBMB projects.
In separate letters to Union Energy Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, the Chief Minister has urged that SJVNl be provided one percent additional free electricity from Nathpa Jhakri Power Project for Local Area Development Fund. This step should be taken on the lines of SJVNl's Rampur Jal Vidyut Project so that this decision can be taken in the larger interest of the affected families.
The Chief Minister has also urged the Union Energy Minister to give representation to the state by appointing a full-time member from Himachal Pradesh in BBMB. He said that despite repeated requests at various levels, Himachal Pradesh has not got proper representation as a full-time member in BBMB.
The Chief Minister has written a letter to Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and urged that the Haryana government give its consent in writing for the payment of outstanding energy received from BBMB. This payment is to be made with six percent interest and its consent should be given before the next hearing.
The Chief Minister said that Haryana and Punjab owe a total of 13,066 million units of energy to BBMB from November 1966 to October 2011. This amount can be paid to Himachal Pradesh in 15 years at the rate of 871 million units per year.
"Resolution of this issue will help both the states to move ahead with future plans and the proposed projects to meet Haryana's needs will also move ahead," he said.