Supreme Court directs Punjab, Haryana to supply Himachal Pradesh's energy arrears

New Delhi: In settling a three-decade-long inter-state electricity dispute between the states, the Supreme Court on Friday directed Punjab and Haryana to supply 11,973 million units of electricity arrears to Himachal Pradesh. The two states will supply the energy to Himachal at the rate of 653 MU per annum over 20 lean seasons, in the inter se ratio of 58:42 for the Bhakra-Nangal Project and 60:40 for the Beas projects, the apex court said.

A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant said the settlement would be implemented on a cashless basis, with the capital-cost liability being adjusted against the energy arrears and the remaining energy being supplied in accordance with the specified schedule. "We trust that all concerned parties will extend their cooperation and ensure that the directions issued by this court are implemented in their true letter and spirit," it said, bringing to a close a decades-long dispute over the sharing of power generated from the Bhakra-Nangal and Beas hydroelectric projects.

Himachal's liability towards its 7.19% share of the capital cost of the Bhakra-Nangal and Beas projects, representing the unreimbursed share of loan servicing undertaken by Punjab and Haryana since 1966-67, has been assessed at Rs 420.77 crore, comprising Rs 249.23 crore attributable to Punjab and Rs 171.55 crore attributable to Haryana, the judgment stated.