Sukhu urges Centre to hand over Shanan project to HP

Himachal Pradesh chief ministerSukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Monday raised the issue of handing over the Shanan project to the state with Union power minister R K Singh in New Delhi.

During his meeting with the Union minister, Sukhu informed him that the 99-year lease period of the Shanan project would expire in March next year as per the lease agreement and asked for issuing necessary directions to thePunjabgovernment for taking mandatory steps for handing over the project to the hill state before the expiry of the lease period. Sukhu also apprised the Union minister about the facts regarding the share of the state in the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) and sought 12% water royalty for his state. He said due to the construction of various projects by the BBMB, many townships were forced to rehabilitate and even after 50 years, a number of oustees were yet to get compensation.