Power row: CMs to meet on Dec 28
From Ravi S. Singh
Tribune News Service

GURGAON, Nov 20 — The Centre today fixed December 28 for a joint meeting of the Chief Ministers of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh and head of the Union Territory of Chandigarh to find a solution to the three-decade-old dispute over the sharing of power from the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB).

The date for the meeting was announced by the Union Minister for Power, Mr P.K. Kumaramangalam, at the instance of Haryana Chief Minister Bansi Lal at the foundation laying ceremony of the power grid central office complex.

The enthusiasm shown by Mr Bansi Lal on the issue was pregnant with political meaning. There are many who felt that by upping the ante on the contentious issue, Mr Bansi Lal was keeping a "decent" distance from the BJP led government at the Centre. Even if the coalition government attaining more stability after the crucial assembly elections in four states, Mr Bansi Lal could calibrate his stand on the power dispute to suit his political expediency.

It is an open secret that Punjab avails more than its share of power from the BBMB. In fact the BBMB was constituted by the Centre, especially to solve the dispute over power and water after Haryana was carved out from Punjab in 1966. Both power and water are important for the two states.

According to political analysts, by demanding equal distribution of power, Haryana is alleged to be getting less share, Mr Bansi Lal could prove to be one up on the ruling Akali Dal which has shown tilt in favour of his political adversary the Indian National Lok Dal, at crucial junctures. Mr Bansi Lal’s Haryana Vikas Party (HVP) see the allotment of seats by the BJP to the INLD in Rajasthan and Delhi as another instance of the Shiromani Akali Dal ruling out its adversary’s chestnut out of the fire.

Significantly, the BJP is the common denominator in the governments in Haryana, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh. The BJP is in power in Rajasthan and hopes to form government after the assembly elections in the state. By implication, the BJP, both at the Centre and in some of the states, would not like the HVP making an issue on the distribution of power.

The Centre today wriggled out of the controversy over shelving of the meeting of the Chief Ministers on the issue fixed in September saying that all of them were not available on the scheduled date.

As if falling in a pattern, Mr Kumaramangalam, prefaced his speech with critical reference to roads in Haryana. The high-level officers of the Haryana visibly blushed when Mr Kumaramangalam added that Mr Bansi Lal saw the conditions of the road personally today. The negative reference to roads was more embarrassing to the government as it had taken major initiative to repair them.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chairman of Power Grid Corporation of India Limited, Mr R.P. Singh, said the integrated office-cum-residential complex of the company, a public sector unit, for which the foundations stone was laid, would be ready in about five years, at an estimated cost of Rs 125 crore. The Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) has already allotted 11.5 acres of land. However, power grid is seeking additional 23 acres of land. The complex proposes to be equipped with a hospital, a school, sport facilities etc.

Mr Bansi Lal announced that the government would provide land to set up a golf course for the officials of the company.

Mr Singh further said the company had plans to invest around Rs 70,000 crore in the next 15 years, including Rs 18.000 crore in the Ninth Plan in setting up EHV transmission links and the national grid. Presently, the company operates over 31.000 ckt km of transmission lines, which will increase to over 50,000 ckt km in the next five years. Moreover, the company emphasising on state-wise system improvement and augmentation schemes as well as creation of high capacity transmission highways leading to the formation of adequately flexible national grid.

According to Mr Singh, the company was taking a lead role to facilitate the establishment of the Power Trading Corporation which would act as single window clearing between IPPs and SEBs. Also, the company was taking steps for the development of SAARC grid. While exchange of power with Bhutan and Nepal was already taking place locations were being identified and related logistics worked out with Bangladesh for initially exchanging power to the tune of 100-200 mw, which later would be extended to 1.000-1,500 mw exchange of power. Similarly a dialogue with Pakistan was being initiated at their request for import of power, he added.

Power grid also planned to diversify into telecommunication business to effectively use its infrastructure facilities. Consultants for developing viable plans would be appointed soon and power grid would be entering into the telecommunication field by mid-1999, Mr Singh added.