State, Haryana to ink pact for Adi Badri Dam in July

Pratibha Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, April 17

Having thrashed out the long-pending inter-state issues, Himachal and Haryana have agreed to sign a memorandum of agreement (MoU) on July 15, paving the way for the Adi Badri Dam, which will ensure perennial supply of water to the Saraswati river.

All issues pending between Himachal and Haryana were discussed at a meeting between the Chief Secretaries of the two states on Tuesday. It is for the first time that the two states decided to resolve the issues.

Chief Secretaries of Himachal Vineet Chawdhry and Haryana DS Dhesi discussed several pending issues, including that of a permanent membership for Himachal in the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB). Senior bureaucrats from both states also attended the meeting.

“Issues concerning the protection of rights of people residing in two border villages in Sirmaur district and creating infrastructure for them were discussed,” said Chief Secretary Vineet Chawdhry.

He added that they had decided to sign the MoU on July 15 so that the interests of both states were protected and the rights of people remained intact.

Haryana has agreed to fund the construction of the 5.2-km road, connecting the two villages, which will be submerged due to the coming up of the Adi Badri Dam. The state has also conceded to Himachal’s demand that the drinking and irrigation rights of villagers of Himachal will remain protected even after the dam comes up.

The state on its part raised the issue of construction of the Panchkula bypass, which is crucial for the industrial hub of Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh, where almost 80 per cent of Himachal’s industry is concentrated. “Haryana has informed that the work for the construction of the road has already been awarded and the bypass will be readied within the next two years,” said Chawdhry.

Regarding the land acquisition for the laying of the Baddi rail line, Haryana has informed that out of the 52 acres, 27 acres is government land, while the remaining is privately owned. They have assured that the work would be expedited so that the rail line could be expanded.