Shimla, 18 October 2024: Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced that the state government is actively engaged in a robust legal battle in the Supreme Court to reclaim the Shanan Hydel Project, which is currently leased to the Punjab government for a period of 99 years. “We are fighting a strong legal battle to get back the Shanan Hydel Project,” Sukhu stated during an event in the Jogindernagar Assembly constituency of Mandi district, where he inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for eight projects totaling ₹76.31 crore.
Sukhu further emphasized that if the Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited (SJVN) does not accept the state government’s conditions, the government will proceed with the acquisition of several hydroelectric projects, including the 210 MW Luhri Hydro Electric Project Phase-I, the 66 MW Dhaulasidh Hydro Electric Project, and the 382 MW Sunni Hydro Electric Projects.
Accusing the previous “double-engine” government of significant financial irregularities from 2017 to 2022, Sukhu asserted that the current state administration is committed to enforcing financial discipline. “For political gains, the BJP distributed freebies worth ₹5,000 crore before the assembly elections and made electricity and water free. Big hotels were also given the benefit of subsidies. The present government has rationalized the subsidy, but no such burden has been placed on the common man,” he explained.
Sukhu noted that due to the financial discipline measures implemented, the state government has generated revenue of ₹2,200 crore over the past 20 months. “The state receives a share of the tax collected by the Centre from Himachal Pradesh, which is the legitimate right of the state. As the Chief Minister, I will not allow the wealth of the state to be looted,” he declared.
During his visit to Jogindernagar, Sukhu dedicated the newly constructed B and D block of the Mini Secretariat building, built at a cost of ₹23.9 crore. He also inaugurated a new auditorium at Government College Jogindernagar, constructed for ₹10.5 crore, and a bridge over Rana Khad on the Jogindernagar-Sarkaghat-Ghumarwin road, which cost ₹8 crore.
Moreover, he stressed a drinking water scheme developed in Gram Panchayat Pasal and Sagnehad at the cost of ₹3.7 crore. Sukhu also laid the foundation stone for improvements and expansions to the old drinking water supply scheme for areas including Gram Panchayat Dhelu and Nichla Garodua, with an investment of ₹13.66 crore.
