WATER SHARING DISPUTE: HP seeks royalty from neighbours

Adding yet another dimension to the decades-old water sharing dispute between Punjab and non-riparian states including Haryana and Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Wednesday asserted that his government would seek royalty from the neighbouring states.

Sending alarm bells ringing to the two warring states of Punjab and Haryana fighting over its claims over the capital city of Chandigarh, Thakur also made clear his intent to seek state’s share in the city’s babudom in terms of Punjab Re-organization Act of 1966, which is 7.19 percent.

At the same time, Thakur also made it clear that the hill state would also claim its share in the electricity generated from the power projects run by the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) with the governments of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan.

“The State Government would take up the matter of mutual interests with the neighbouring states of Punjab and Haryana,” said Thakur while addressing the media during ‘Meet the Press’ programme at Chandigarh Press Club.

Speaking on diverse issues concerning state, Thakur minced no words to claim Himachal’s “legitimate” share from the neighbouring states.

“All the water flows from Himachal Pradesh’s rivers…through BBMB projects water is being given to Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and even Delhi,” reacted Thakur when asked if his government would also charge royalty from other states as Punjab has issued notice to Haryana and Rajasthan to claim royalty for using its water.

He pointed that the former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Shanta Kumar, during his tenure, had raised the issue of demanding royalty but he was not taken seriously at that time. “Despite all, we would raise the demand of Himachal’s share in BBMB legally as per the Supreme Court order,” he said adding that some issues are nearing settlement.

Thakur pointed that he had met the Haryana Chief Secretary a day before, and Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar in the past too to discuss the issue. “I also wanted to meet Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh today but he is not in town,” he added.

Talking about Apex Court’s direction on Bhakra dispute, Thakur maintained that the state would take up the issue of its 7.19 percent share in electricity generated from BBMB power projects with Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan — a demand hanging fire since long.

In 2011, the Supreme Court had upheld the hill state’s claim of 7.19 per cent share in BBMB power projects located in its territory under the Punjab Reorganisation Act 1966.

Himachal has claimed that a compensation amount of Rs 4,249.45 crore is payable to it from Punjab — holding maximum share, and Haryana for the short supply of electricity from the date of actual supply and its entitlement, as per the Apex Court verdict.

The hill state had stated that it was entitled to Rs 2,724 crore on account of the Bhakra projects, Rs 1,033.54 crore in respect of Dehar Power project and Rs 491.89 crore with regard to the Pong Power project.

“We are planning to raise the issue of our claim with the states of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan. We will raise our demand as per the SC directions. We will get this matter expedited,” he said.

“We have been taking up the issue…But as of now, Punjab is not ready as the amount is huge…We are planning that all three states should resolve the issue amicably,” he added.

 GUIDELINES FOR TRANSPORTING SCHOOL CHILDREN

Shaken from the Nurpur tragedy claiming over a dozen young lives, Thakur maintained that the State Government had framed guidelines for safe transportation of school students, besides improving the black spots in major roads in the first phase.

“To stop private schools from buying government-auctioned buses, the government, under the new guidelines, has fixed the lifetime of school buses to five years. The SDMs have been directed to check the fitness of all the buses,” he said.

Pointing that there are over 200 black spots across the state, Thakur added that the Public Works Department (PWD) has also been asked to widen the roads where it was required, and build parapet or install crash barriers to secure the roads.

“We are also strictly monitoring the drunken driving in the state,” he added.

 “NOT A FREAK CHANCE”

Thakur also made it clear that his elevation as a Chief Minister was not a freak chance. Responding to query on the support he was receiving from various quarters within the party, Thakur said that the responsibility was new, but he was an old hand.

Underlining his decorated political careers in the saffron party, he said that he has served at various levels and headed the party at various positions including the state party chief, cabinet minister in the past.

“I have continuously won five elections in a row and remained State BJP chief and minister also…Choosing me as the Chief Minister was not a tough task for the party, in fact, the high command had made clear its intentions of giving me a big role during election campaign itself,” he said adding that he and his government has was getting full support of the senior party leaders in the state.

REPORTS SOUGHT FROM DEPTS WHERE FRAUD SENSED

Asserting that his Government does not believe in political vendetta and vengeance, Thakur made it clear that corruption at any level would not be tolerated.

“Wrongdoings have come to our notice in certain departments and we have also sought report on the same after taking serious cognizance on the same,” he said.