Shanta Kumar urges Chief Minister Sukhu, Himachal leaders should together raise the issue of Shanan power project with the Prime Minister.

Shimla, 19 October (Hindustan Reporter). Former Chief Minister and former Union Minister Shanta Kumar has drawn attention to the injustice being done to Himachal Pradesh for the last 60 years. Shanta Kumar has urged Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu to along with prominent leaders of Himachal Pradesh—Jairam Thakur, Anurag Thakur and Jagat Prakash Nadda—discuss with Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding the rights of Jogindernagar's Shanan power project.

Shanta Kumar said that it is necessary that these four leaders, representing the entire Himachal, meet the Prime Minister and raise this issue effectively in the Supreme Court. He believes that the state should have the right over the electricity generated from the waters of Himachal and for this all the leaders should make united efforts.

Drawing attention towards this injustice that has been going on for 60 years, Kumar said that the time has come that Himachal should get its rights. He said that while Prime Minister Narendra Modi considers Himachal Pradesh as his second home for the last 10-12 years, still the natural assets of the state are not being utilized properly.

Shanta Kumar said in a statement on Saturday that giving the example of 110 MW Shanan power project of Joginder Nagar, he said that this project generates electricity from the water of Himachal, but its rights are with the Punjab government. He termed it a terrible injustice and said such injustice has not been seen anywhere else.

Referring to the Punjab Reorganization Act of 1966, he said that there was a clear instruction in this law that the rights to the property of common Punjab would go to the new territories. According to this, Shanan power project should have been given to Himachal in 1966. He also recalled raising the issue with Prime Minister Morarji Desai in 1977, when a committee was formed, but no concrete results emerged.

He said that the lease deed signed with the British government for the Mandi state has expired. He stressed that in every respect Shanan Power Project should be the property of Himachal Pradesh and this injustice happening for so many years is unfortunate.