Punjab, Haryana elder brothers, should support Himachal: CM

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said Punjab and Haryana should act like elder brothers and not hesitate in giving Himachal its legitimate due. He was speaking at the valedictory session of the two-day national cooperative conference, here yesterday evening, where he inaugurated the Cyber Security Operations Centre of Himachal Pradesh State Cooperative Bank besides launching the bank’s cooperative anthem and releasing a souvenir. “Rather, the two neighbouring states should support the hill state generously and help Himachal,” he said.

The Chief Minister said Himachal Pradesh has had to fight for its rightful share on several issues. “Despite the expiry of the lease period of Shanan hydroelectric project situated in Himachal Pradesh, the project has still not been given back by Punjab and arrears due from BBMB had also been delayed due to obstructions posed by Punjab and Haryana despite a Supreme Court decision,” he said.

Himachal has time and again sought the intervention of the Central Government on getting Haryana and Punjab to agree to pay the Rs 4,200 crore pending arrears to Himachal. As per the Punjab Reorganisation Act 1966, Himachal was to get a share of 7.19 per cent in BBMB projects, which has worked out to be Rs 4,200 crore and the matter is pending before the Supreme Court.

Sukhu said despite suffering losses of nearly Rs 20,000 crore due to natural calamities over the past three years, the state had continued to sustain the pace of development. Referring to the safe rescue of 16,000 devotees stranded during the Manimahesh Yatra in Chamba district, he said that the spirit of compassion and service runs deep in Himachal’s culture with local people ensuring that no stranded pilgrim went without food or assistance.