Himachal seeks enhanced royalty, land return from Hydel power producers

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh on Tuesday the Himachal government would fight a legal battle to secure the state's interests.

This includes securing enhanced free power as royalty, the return of hydel projects after 40 years, and the return of excess unutilised land from various power producers.

Responding to a query by Chamba MLA Neeraj Nayyar during question hour in the Vidhan Sabha, the CM said the government would fight to secure Himachal's rights in various hydel power projects in the state.

"Whether it is the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB), National Hydro Power Commission (NHPC), or other power producers, the state government will seek the return of excess land, enhanced royalty, and the return of the projects after 40 years, as this is the right of the state," he said.

"We have already informed the Union Power Minister that we will take back the Luhri, Dhaula Sidh, and Luhri hydel projects if we are not provided enhanced royalty and the projects are not returned after 40 years. We know it will be a long drawn battle, but we are willing to fight it out in the court of law," he said.

The CM said the state government has written to NHPC to return 350 bighas of excess land in its possession in Chamba, back to the state government.

"Almost all power companies like BBMB, NHPC, and other agencies acquired hundreds of acres of excess land which is not being used. We will ask them to return this excess land," Sukhu said.

The CM said hundreds of acres of land have been acquired by power projects in Himachal, much of which is lying unutilised. "Despite land and water being our wealth, we have to seek permission from BBMB, NHPC, and other companies for everything," he said.

Nayyar raised the issue of the denial of jobs to people who have been uprooted due to the construction of NHPC hydel projects in Chamba district and the possession of hundreds of acres of surplus land by these power companies. He demanded that this land should be taken back by NHPC so that it can be utilised for development projects.

Churah MLA Hans Raj also raised the issue of the high-handedness of NHPC in denying the displaced their due and not spending money under corporate social responsibility for the development of the affected areas.