Himachal CM Sukhu presses claim to Chandigarh share, seeks Governor's intervention
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Friday urged Punjab Governor and Chandigarh Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria to help resolve long-pending issues, reiterating the state’s demand for a 7.19% share in the Union Territory of Chandigarh.
Meeting the Governor in Chandigarh, Sukhu argued that under the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966, Himachal Pradesh is a successor state to the erstwhile Punjab and is entitled to a share based on the population ratio of areas transferred to it. He stated that while Punjab and Haryana have benefited from Chandigarh’s land, assets and governance structure for over five decades, Himachal has yet to receive its rightful portion.
The chief minister also sought Kataria’s intervention regarding dues from the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB). He noted that the Supreme Court has recognised Himachal’s entitlement to a 7.19% share in BBMB projects and benefits, but the state has been awaiting realisation of 13,066 million units of power and associated financial dues for over a decade.
On the Shanan Hydroelectric Project located in Mandi district, Sukhu said the 99-year lease expired on 2 March 2024. He argued that since the area was never part of the territories transferred under the Punjab Reorganisation Act, the act’s provisions do not apply, and any claim to the project based on the expired lease is legally unsustainable. He expressed confidence that all matters could be resolved through constructive dialogue and cooperative federalism.
