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Faridabad, Nov 17 (IANS) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu on Monday advocated the state’s legitimate right to 7.19 per cent of Chandigarh’s land and property.
This is as per the order under the Punjab Reorganization Act 1966. He also cited a 2011 Supreme Court judgment which had said that Himachal Pradesh was “entitled to 7.19 per cent share in overall Punjab on the basis of population proportion transfer under the Punjab Reorganization Act, and this was the basis for legitimate share in power generated by BBMB”.
The Chief Minister was addressing the 32nd meeting of the Northern Regional Council held in Faridabad, Haryana under the chairmanship of Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
CM Sukhu also demanded release of pending dues from Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) as per the Supreme Court decision and appointment of a permanent member from Himachal in the BBMB.
He also urged for implementation of the policy of giving 12 per cent free power royalty to the state in centrally operated hydropower projects and increasing the state’s free royalty to 50 per cent in projects where costs have already been recovered.
Sukhu urged that this issue be placed on the agenda of the next meeting of the Northern Regional Council to ensure that Himachal gets its legal due.
He requested that the hydropower projects which have completed 40 years in Himachal Pradesh be handed over to the state. The Chief Minister sought full central funding for the power components of the under-construction Kishau and Renuka dam hydropower projects and demanded that once completed, 50-50 per cent power should be provided to Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand respectively.
CM Sukhu urged the Center to review the disaster relief rules in view of the increasing sensitivity of the hill states and appropriately modify the pre- and post-disaster management norms. He called for an integrated, interdependent and sustainable development framework for the entire Northern Region in view of the increasing frequency of natural disasters caused by climate change and the extensive damage caused every year.
He said such a coordinated plan was necessary to protect the economy of hill states like Himachal Pradesh and reduce valuable human loss through collective and focused efforts. Highlighting the strategic location and tourism potential of the state, CM Sukhu stressed the urgent need to expand the air network in Himachal.
He said the state government is working on expansion of Kangra Airport to facilitate international level and requested the Center to bear the cost of land acquisition, provide full funding for the project and prepare a separate master plan for the development of smaller airports and heliports in the state.
The Chief Minister proposed setting up a high altitude research centre, ice hockey stadium, an adventure sports center and other training facilities in the border and high altitude areas to support local settlements and promote tourism. He also requested to start National Buddhist Institute project in the tribal area of Spiti.
The Chief Minister detailed the efforts made by the Government to promote border tourism from Shipki-La on the Indo-Tibetan border and reiterated the State’s demand to start the holy Kailash Mansarovar Yatra from Shipki-La.
Referring to the state’s fight against drugs, the Chief Minister said that Himachal Pradesh is taking multi-pronged action against drug trafficking.
–IANS
VG/UK