Shimla: Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu called on Manohar Lal Khattar Union Minister for Power, Housing and Urban Affairs at New Delhi late last evening.
He requested the Union Minister for increasing free power royalty share beyond 12 percent over and above the normal free power royalty in the CPSU projects where the critical period of initial 12 years has been completed . He also urged the GoI to increase free power to 50 percent in the 180 MW Baira Siul hydroelectric project as it has completed 44 years of commissioning.
Chief Minister also raised the issue of inordinate delay in payment of energy arrears due to the state in BBMB projects. He listed out the difficulties faced by people of the state when these projects got executed. He said that thousands of people were displaced, state faced adverse environmental impacts and added that settlement of pong dam oustees is still far from sight.
Chief Minister requested that Haryana and Punjab may give consent to provide energy arrears of 13066 MU as on 31st October 2011 and with 6 percent thereafter. He added that in case the energy arrears are to be paid in monetary terms then the tentative amount will be 7784 crore calculated with compound interest at the rate of 6 percent till date.
He also narrated the history of Shanan hydro electric project and the legitimate right of the state. Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu requested Manohar Lal Khattar for financial assistance for development of HimChandigarh and Aero City at Kangra aiming planned urbanization, economic growth, tourism and investment in the state.
He apprised the Union Minister that state is proposing projects amounting to 1179 crore under Urban Challenge Fund in 24 Urban local bodies, out of these projects worth 660 crore have been submitted to GoI in the first phase.
He also urged for releasing 12.33 crore under Clean Hilly and Himalayan Cities Initiative for timely implementation of sanitation and waste management interventions. He also requested to release balance funds of 64.45 crore for earlier sanctioned projects under AMRUT. He also urged for approving 43 projects in 14 ULBs under AMRUT Mitra submitted to GoI for approval.
He informed that the state is in the process of implementing a QR based digital door plate system across ULBs to provide unique property identity. He urged for a financial support of 18 crore over a period of five years to facilitate the implementation of its second phase.
Chief Secretary K.K. Pant, Principal Advisor to the Chief Minister Ram Subhag Singh, Director Energy Rakesh Prajapati were present in the meeting.
