New Delhi, June 16 (IANS) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu on Tuesday called on Union Home Minister Amit Shah here and succeeded in breaking the eight-year-old deadlock over the financial implications of the construction of the 422 MW Kishau dam project.

The Centre, in principle, agreed that an estimated cost of Rs 2,000 crore for the power component on the State’s side would be borne by the beneficiary States of the water component of this project: Delhi, Rajasthan and Haryana.

The Kishau dam project, proposed to be constructed on the Tons river on the border of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, is estimated to cost Rs 15,000 crore, a State government statement said.

At a high-level meeting held with Home Minister Shah, CM Sukhu strongly presented the State’s case. Due to his pursuit of the issue, the financial burden could be avoided, which the previous government could not achieve.

The Chief Minister said the previous government had agreed to give Rs 800 crore as the State’s share, which the present government refused in the interest of the State, keeping in view its limited resources.

He also mentioned that, for the water component, the Central government was providing a 90 per cent grant, and it was not fair that such assistance was not being given for the power component.

He further said while the State’s population in the project area will be displaced, the State will bear maximum loss due to the project. “Therefore, it is unfair for the State to bear financial burden further and its contribution towards the nation’s progress should be compensated suitably,” the Chief Minister said.

He added that the State will receive its share of 100 crore units per year from the power component of the project, amounting to about Rs 600 crore after construction, providing an addition to the State’s financial resources.

Union Minister for Power Manohar Lal Khattar, Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil, Chief Ministers of beneficiary States and senior officers of concerned ministries were present at the meeting.

–IANS

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