BBMB meet: States fail to resolve issue

Even Punjab and Haryana have refused to concede Himachal’s claim terming the issue of giving share with the state fully resolved and can’t be opened after a lapse of four decades.

The meeting,which was one-on-one and second in the series to be convened after the Supreme Court directive to the Centre to reach at some settlement with the state within three months,remained inconclusive. “It is now up to the Supreme Court to take a final call,” said an official here.

Himachal Pradesh has filed a case in the Supreme Court alleging it has been denied its rightful and legitimate share in the joint assets of the undivided Punjab. According to the State’s Reorganisation Act,1966,the assets and liabilities of the states have to divided based on factors like population.

In the BBMB projects,including the Bhakra dam,Himachal Pradesh has not been given its due share except a 15 MW of power as ad hoc share. The state has also been deprived of its share in the BSL (Beas-Sutlej Link) and Pong dam,too.

At the June 23 meeting,state chief secretary Asha Swaroop had stressed for 12 per cent free power as royalty,beside 7.19 per cent share on the basis of population (prescribed in the states’ Recoganisation Act,1966,and payment of arrears of Rs 2,199.77 crore due as its pending claims.