DW BUREAU / Chandigarh

Trashing the statement made by Himachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri regarding Shanan Power Project, Punjab Power Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO on Friday categorically said that Shanan Power Project is the property of the Punjab State thus Himachal Pradesh Government has no right on this.

Power Minister S. Harbhajan Singh ETO in a statement issued here said that Mr. Agnihotri should first aware of the facts regarding the ownership of Shanan Power Project instead of making unfounded statements. In lack of information about the facts, Mr. Agnihotri is denting the strong mutual relationship of the both states.

Harbhajan Singh ETO reminded Himachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and Cooperation Minister Mr Agnihotri that in 1966, the state of Punjab was reorganized, after that Government of India issued a notification on May 1, 1967 regarding the ownership of the assets and liabilities of the reorganized states. As per section 67(4) of the Punjab Reorganization Act 1966, the Government of India allotted the assets and liabilities of Hydro Power House Joginder Nagar to the Punjab State Electricity Board, which is now providing services in the state of Punjab as PSPCL, he added.

The Power Minister said that the Act enacted by the Parliament becomes a law, which is a document that can be implemented without any changes. He said that the Punjab Reorganization Act determines the rights of the states therefore, the Shanan project is the property of the state of Punjab in toto.

Harbhajan Singh ETO said that the Ministry of Irrigation and Power, Government of India, vide its letter No. EL11.77(45)/71 dated 22-03-1972, had informed the Secretary, Multipurpose Projects and Power Department, Government of Himachal Pradesh that the notification dated May 01, 1967 regarding the allotment of power stations would not be revised. Apart from this, the issue regarding ownership of the property was also raised by the Government of Himachal Pradesh with the Power Department, Ministry of Energy, Government of India, which was again clearly rejected by the Government of India in the year 1987. It becomes evident that the allotment of Shanan Power Project to the State of Punjab is absolutely correct, which belongs to Punjab.

The Power Minister said that Mr. Agnihotri's mentioned the Ruler of Mandi was given this on 'lease' of 99 years to the Government of India and the Mandi was never ever part of Punjab. He also reminded Mr Agnihotri that as per the agreement between the Ruler of Mandi and the British Government, the construction of site started in 1925, which had been completed in 1932. ETO pointed out that after the formation of India, every district of Himachal was part of Punjab. He said that by giving such fabricated statements Agnihotri was trying to mislead the people, which was totally unacceptable.

The Power Minister said that in the year 2023, the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh also mentioned the expiry of the lease of Shanan Power Project besides writing a letter to the Chief Minister Mr. Bhagwant Singh Mann for handing over the project to the Himachal Government. To end the unnecessary pressure being created by Himachal Pradesh regarding the Shanan Power Project and to protect the interests of Punjab, a petition has already been filed in the Hon'ble Supreme Court by the Secretary (Power) of the Punjab Government, which is under consideration. Therefore, Mr. Mukesh Agnihorti should refrain from making statements regarding the Shanan Power Project, he added

(editor@dailyworld.in)