A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the 422 MW Kishau Multipurpose Hydro Project is expected to be signed shortly between the partner states and the Centre in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Ahead of the formal signing, the Centre has circulated the draft MoU to the participating states, inviting their comments and suggestions.
Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Tuesday chaired a high-level meeting to review the draft MoU for the 422 MW Kishau Multipurpose Project and issued necessary directions to the officials concerned. He reiterated that while the state government was fully committed to implementing the project, safeguarding the rights and interests of the people of Himachal Pradesh would remain its foremost priority.
He said a consensus on the implementation of the project was reached during a recent meeting, under which Himachal Pradesh would receive nearly Rs 600 crore annually as revenue without making any financial investment in the project.
Sukhu said the present state government had rejected the earlier draft agreement and successfully secured acceptance of Himachal Pradesh's proposed terms and conditions from all stakeholders. This, he said, would protect the state's long-term interests while paving the way for the project's implementation.
He added that under the revised arrangement, all partner states would receive their legitimate share of power and water, while Himachal Pradesh would also receive adequate water from the reservoir based on its requirements. The state has secured rights over 378 million cubic metres of water in the Yamuna basin, he said.
The Chief Minister said the present government had consistently placed the state's interests above all else and taken decisive steps to safeguard its rights. He described the agreement on the Kishau Multipurpose Project as a landmark achievement that secures Himachal Pradesh's rightful share and long-term benefits from the strategically important project.
Sukhu also said the state government had stepped up efforts to secure Himachal Pradesh's long-pending arrears of 13,066 million units of electricity from the BBMB projects. He said the matter had remained unresolved for nearly 15 years despite a Supreme Court decree.
The Chief Minister said the present government had recently resolved an eight-year-old deadlock over Himachal Pradesh's financial contribution to the Kishau Multipurpose Project. He said the government had succeeded in relieving the state of a substantial financial burden that would otherwise have fallen on the state exchequer.
According to the state government, the previous BJP government had agreed to contribute nearly Rs 800 crore as Himachal Pradesh's share in the project.
However, citing the state's financial constraints, the present government opposed the proposal and negotiated an arrangement under which Himachal Pradesh would not have to make any capital investment while continuing to receive its rightful benefits from the project.
Principal Advisor to the Chief Minister Ram Subhag Singh, Additional Chief Secretary R.D. Nazeem, Principal Secretary Devesh Kumar, and Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited Managing Director Abid Hussain Sadiq attended the meeting in Shimla. Chief Secretary Kamlesh Kumar Pant joined the meeting virtually from New Delhi.
Also read: Sukhu seeks Centre's support to recover BBMB dues
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