New Delhi, June 17 (IANS). Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu met Union Energy and Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal Khattar in New Delhi on Tuesday. He requested the Union Minister to increase the share of free power royalty in Central Public Sector Undertakings in addition to the normal 12 percent free power royalty in projects that have completed the initial 12 years.
CM Sukhu urged the Central Government to increase the share of free power in the project to 50 percent as a result of completion of 44 years of operation of 180 MW Baira-Seul Hydroelectric Project. Chief Minister Sukhu also raised the issue of delay in payment of energy dues payable to the state in Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) projects.
He said that during the construction of these projects, the people of the state faced difficulties and thousands of people suffered the brunt of displacement. The state faced adverse environmental impacts and the rehabilitation of people displaced by the Pong Dam has not been completed even today.
CM Sukhu urged that both the states of Haryana and Punjab should give their consent and provide 13,066 million units of energy dues till October 31, 2011 to Himachal Pradesh along with 6 percent interest thereafter. If the energy dues are paid in the form of money, then as per the calculations so far at the rate of 6 percent compound interest, its estimated amount becomes Rs 7,784 crore.
Chief Minister Sukhu also informed about the background of Shanan Hydroelectric Project and advocated the state’s legitimate right over this project. He also urged the Union Minister to provide financial assistance for the development of the proposed ‘Aero City’ and ‘Him Chandigarh’ in Kangra. The objective of these projects is to promote planned urbanization, economic development, tourism and investment in the state.
He informed Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar that projects worth Rs 1,179 crore are being proposed by the state government in 24 urban local bodies under the ‘Urban Challenge Fund’. Of these, projects worth Rs 660 crore have been sent to the Government of India in the first phase.
Chief Minister Sukhu also requested for release of Rs 12.33 crore for time bound implementation of sanitation and waste management related works under ‘Clean Hilly and Himalayan Cities Initiative’.
He also requested for the release of the remaining Rs 64.45 crore for previously approved projects under the AMRUT scheme. Apart from this, he also requested for approval of 43 projects in 14 urban local bodies under the Amrit Mitra Scheme sent to the Central Government for approval.
Chief Minister Sukhu said that QR-based digital door plate system is under process in the state with the aim of providing unique identity to each property in urban local bodies. He also requested to provide financial assistance of Rs 18 crore in the next five years for the successful implementation of the second phase of this project.
–IANS
DKM/PM