Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu met with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi, successfully resolving an eight-year deadlock concerning the financial implications of the 422 MW Kishau dam project. The Centre has agreed in principle that the estimated Rs 2,000 crore cost for the power component on the State’s side will be covered by the beneficiary States of the water component, including Delhi, Rajasthan, and Haryana.
The Kishau dam project, planned on the Tons river at the Uttarakhand-Himachal Pradesh border, is expected to cost Rs 15,000 crore, as per a State government statement. During a high-level meeting with Home Minister Shah, CM Sukhu strongly advocated for the State’s position, managing to avert the financial burden that the previous government could not address.
Sukhu highlighted that the previous government had agreed to provide Rs 800 crore as the State’s share, a proposal rejected by the current government due to the State’s limited resources. He emphasized the disparity in Central government assistance, noting that while a 90% grant was offered for the water component, the same support was lacking for the power component.
He further pointed out that the State would bear significant losses and displacement of its population due to the project, emphasizing the need for fair compensation for the State’s contribution to the nation’s progress. Sukhu mentioned that post-construction, the State would receive around Rs 600 crore annually from the power component, providing a boost to its financial resources.
Union Minister for Power Manohar Lal Khattar, Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil, Chief Ministers of beneficiary States, and senior ministry officials attended the meeting.
