Uttarakhand, HP agree on equal profit-sharing

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, May 16

The Chief Secretaries of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh on Saturday reached a consensus on equal sharing of direct and indirect benefits from the construction of the 660-MW multipurpose Kishau Dam, a joint venture between the two states.

At a meeting today, Uttarakhand Chief Secretary N. Ravi Shankar and Himachal Pradesh Chief Secretary P. Mitra agreed to iron out the differences on the issue of allowing Himachal Pradesh 50 per cent share in the five downstream projects, during the enhanced power production, in addition to the 50 per cent share in the Kishau project.

The draft of memorandum of understanding (MoU) to be signed by the states was also discussed. “The draft would be first approved by the cabinets of the respective states and then it would be signed by the two chief ministers,” said Uma Kant Panwar, Secretary, Power.

Cleared as a national project, it envisages 90 per cent share by the Centre and 5 per cent share each by the states of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

Later, the Chief Secretary of Himachal Pradesh met CM Harish Rawat and held discussions on the Kishau project.