High Court extends interim relief granted to NHPC in Chamba power project case

The HP High Court has granted four weeks more to the state to file a reply to the petition filed by the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC), challenging the decision of the government to take control of the 180 MW Baira Siul Hydropower Project in Chamba.

While granting time, Justice Ajay Mohan Goel also extended the interim relief granted to the NHPC. The court had stayed the decision of the state government to take control of the project.

In its previous order, the court had directed the state government to maintain status quo qua the 180 MW Baira Siul Hydroelectric Power Project.

The court in its previous order had also directed that communication issued by the state on March 26, 2025, and the decision of the Council of Ministers qua the project shall not be given effect till further orders.

The NHPC is at present operating the project. The NHPC in its petition challenged an attempt by the state government to retrieve the project. The Baira Siul project, which started operations in 1980-81, was originally to be handed over back to the state government after 40 years of operation, as per the terms of the initial agreement. After the completion of this period, the state government took steps to regain control of the project. However, the NHPC opposed the move and claimed its permanent ownership on the ground that it had modernised the plant in August 2021.