Cong rakes up controversy over Parbati project

Incidentally, this is the second time in the last decade that a BJP-led government has been accused of selling the interests of the state, after the Shanta Kumar regime was also accused of the same on the same project.

The latest agreement has run into a controversy now with the Opposition pointing out certain lacunae in the agreement, which are deterimental to the state’s interests.

In an apparent bid to get credit for the project agreement, the Prem Kumar Dhumal government failed to get the support of all in thanking the BJP government at the Centre as the Congress did not approve of the thanks-giving.

In fact as per terms of conditions of the Parbati agreement to help get 15 per cent more power for the state out of the Government of India’s share on generation cost and for providing more power for the state during the winter months of October to March, the state would have to enter into another agreement with the Centre.

As per provisions of the agreement, there are apprehensions of the state getting 15 per cent more power on generation cost out of share, and three per cent more power on the generation cost, besides more power during the winter months of October to March, as the state would get the same only subject to the Centre’s approval.

The Dhumal government had scrapped the earlier agreement on the Parbati project proposed by the then BJP-government led by Shanta Kumar, which had five per cent share of the state. Now the state has no share in the project, which the opposition is now raking up.

As per the earlier agreement entered between the five states of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi and Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat had 25 per cent share in the project, with Rajasthan having 40 per cent share, Delhi and Haryana having 15 per cent stake each and HP having 5 per cent share.After the Virbhadra Singh-led Congress regime came to power, it started renegotiating on the 5 per cent share of Himachal in the project, following which some other states had also offered to reduce their share, which finally could not come through. Later, the Congress government also initiated a move to entrust the project to the Centre for implementation, with HP as a partner state, on the analogy of the Nathpa Jhakri Power Project.

As per the new agreement, the state would be entitled to the 12 per cent mandatory free power, besides 18 per cent more power on the generation cost, which could be implemented only after the Centre’s approval, as the state would have to enter into another agreement with the Centre for the same.

There is also confusion over the getting of more power for HP during winter months, as the same would also be subject to the Centre’s approval. Besides, the condition pertaining to the Parbati project providing opportunities for the state people in Class III and Class IV employees category is also after the NHPC deploys surplus staff from all its other projects on the Parbati project. With the NHPC having enough surplus staff already at its disposal, say sources, the project is not likely to benefit the state much as for as employment opportunities are concerned.

Meanwhile, former Chief Minister and CLP leader Virbhadra Singh has also said that the Dhumal government has frittered away the prestigious project without giving due consideration to both short-term and long-term benefits of the projects. He said the signing of the agreement has been done in haste in a bid “to get rid of it,” even as he terms the agreement as half-baked.