SHIMLA : Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu called on Punjab Governor and Chandigarh Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria and raised several long-pending issues concerning the state’s rights and interests. He reiterated Himachal Pradesh’s claim to its 7.19 percent share in Chandigarh under the Punjab Reorganization Act, 1966, stating that the state, as a successor to the erstwhile Punjab, is entitled to its legitimate share. He also sought land for the construction of a new Himachal Sadan in Chandigarh, saying the existing Himachal Bhawan is no longer sufficient to accommodate the growing number of students, patients, and other visitors from the state. A 4.736-acre site in Sector 52 has already been identified for the proposed project.
The Chief Minister also urged the settlement of long-pending dues related to the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB), stating that the Supreme Court has recognized Himachal Pradesh’s entitlement to a 7.19 percent share in BBMB projects and associated benefits. He said the state has been awaiting its share of 13,066 million units of power and the corresponding financial dues for more than a decade and sought the Governor’s intervention for an early resolution.
Sukhu further raised the issue of the Shanan Hydroelectric Project in Mandi district, asserting that the project is located in an area that was never part of the “transferred territories” under the Punjab Reorganization Act, 1966. He noted that the erstwhile Mandi State merged with the Union of India in 1948 and later became part of Himachal Pradesh, making the provisions of the Act inapplicable to the project. Therefore, he maintained that no rights over the Shanan Hydroelectric Project can be claimed under the Punjab Reorganization Act.
